Chapter 41: The Monk Forced to Break His Vow

Chapter 41: The Monk Forced to Break His Vow

Pleasure?

Yi Li's mind exploded, staring at him in disbelief. His clear eyes blinked rapidly in confusion, and he defensively retorted, "I... I did not."

Qi Xie advanced towards him, his tone full of pressure and unabated intensity, "Twice and still not satisfied?"

Overwhelmed by his explicit and blunt words, Yi Li, uncharacteristically, felt a surge of anger, "Stop talking! I want to sleep, leave!"

The shame overwhelmed Yi Li. So what if it happened twice? It wasn't of his own volition. Qi Xie had assisted in finding a doctor, and Yi Li wanted to express his gratitude. However, he never imagined Qi Xie would make such an unreasonable and outrageous demand.

Throughout the ordeal, he felt dominated, both stifled and deeply embarrassed.

For two decades, he maintained discipline and clear-headedness, devoting all his energy to his studies. While other adolescent boys were navigating their youth in various ways, he was fervently writing exams and solving countless sets of problems. His understanding of the word "climax" was limited only to its biological textbook definition.

But now, he felt like a monk forced to break his vows, unable to come to terms with it and realizing the impropriety.

A faint blush crept up his ears. Yi Li felt both anxious and furious, resembling a rabbit ready to bite. Sadly, he neither possessed sharp claws nor teeth strong enough to pierce through flesh. With little strength in his hands, he couldn’t even push the person in front of him, rendering him impotently enraged.

Qi Xie observed him silently for a moment before suddenly lifting Yi Li by the waist.

Caught off guard and lifted into the air, Yi Li instinctively clung to Qi Xie's neck. By the time he regained his composure, he found himself seated on a wardrobe divider, causing the entire cabinet to wobble slightly.

At this height, he was eye-level with Qi Xie, able to gaze directly into eyes colder than those of a venomous snake.

It felt very insecure.

Dangling in the air, still recovering from the shock, Yi Li tensed up, sensing an ominous premonition. He anxiously shuffled further into the cabinet.

Looking up at Qi Xie again, fear and anger painted Yi Li's fair face. His voice trembled with indignation, "What are you trying to do now?"

The very next moment, his fears were confirmed as Qi Xie grabbed his ankles and pulled him closer, dominant and assertive.

With his ankles firmly gripped, Yi Li felt even more vulnerable. He involuntarily kicked, and when he actually struck Qi Xie, he hurriedly apologized, "I'm sorry, did I hurt you? Please, let go of my foot."

Struggling intensely, Qi Xie momentarily released him, advising, "Stop retreating; you might hurt your head."

Unmoved, Yi Li took advantage of his slender frame to nestle among the clothes, looking out with an expression of palpable fear.

He was truly terrified.

Qi Xie's fist tightened at his side, restraining the urge to pull him out. After a moment, with one hand on the wardrobe door, he inquired, "Is your knee hurting?"

Yi Li shrugged, not responding.

"Roll up your pants."

Suspicious, Yi Li stared back, "What for?"

Qi Xie lightly tapped Yi Li's knee, murmuring, "Little lame one."

The reminder made Yi Li remember the bruise on his knee. Feeling a renewed sting from the tap and an unrecognized sense of grievance in his voice, he replied, "You're name-calling…"

"Did I say something wrong?" Qi Xie arched an eyebrow slightly, "What happened?"

His eyes, reminiscent of a viper, fixed intently on Yi Li, seeking an answer. Reluctantly, after a considerable pause, Yi Li admitted, "I accidentally bumped into a camera when I went downstairs last night..."

Considering the stairway was decently lit with wall lights, Qi Xie glanced at his nose bridge and queried, "How severe is your myopia?"

Yi Li's voice softened, "Over a hundred degrees."

Qi Xie: "You don't usually wear glasses?"

Yi Li shook his head, "They're uncomfortable."

Qi Xie pulled out a brand-new bottle of red flower oil from his pocket, commanding, "Roll it up. I got medicine."

Yi Li's pupils flickered, "When did you buy it?"

Unscrewing the cap, Qi Xie said with a hint of self-mockery, "While you were out with someone else."

A pungent medicinal aroma filled the air. Beyond that, Yi Li sensed an inexplicable sourness.

Somewhat puzzled by Qi Xie's disjointed remarks, Yi Li said defensively, "It was a coincidence... I didn't know you were waiting for me... I even told you not to. Who asked you to wait?"

Growing frustrated, he couldn't fathom why Qi Xie was placing blame on him for going to get the medicine.

Listening to Yi Li's rambling explanation, Qi Xie continued his task, "Extend your leg."

As Yi Li rolled up his pant leg, he uttered, "I don't owe you anything..."

"Do I need to remind you again?" Qi Xie paused for a moment, his gaze deepening, "I wasn't pleased."

Overwhelmed by Qi Xie's aggressive logic, a sense of helplessness gripped Yi Li, as if shackling him with heavy chains.

In a resigned tone, Yi Li asked, "What do you want then? How can you be..."

However, he was too embarrassed to utter the last word.

As if he hadn't heard, Qi Xie gripped Yi Li's leg, which had curled up in agitation, yanking it towards himself and firmly locking it in place.

Desperation mounting, feeling like his plea fell on deaf ears, Yi Li blurted out, "Do you want to do to me what you did last night? Will that satisfy you?"

His voice choked with emotion, a dull ache throbbing in his head, presumably from the overwhelming anger.

The bruise on his knee had darkened to a deep purple, standing out starkly against his fair, delicate skin.

Qi Xie's tone softened, "Let's apply the medicine first."

He poured the red flower oil into his palm, rubbing it warm before gently massaging it onto Yi Li's knee.

Yi Li's breath hitched, and his calf twitched slightly.

Qi Xie looked up at him, "Does it hurt?"

"No," Yi Li turned his head away, his vision blurring slightly, "Can I get down? This cabinet might collapse."

He suddenly realized his weight, nearly 150 pounds, might be enough to crush the cabinet with the slightest movement.

Qi Xie's gaze was intense, but his voice, unusually gentle, coaxed, "It won't if you stay still."

For the next few minutes, Yi Li remained rigid. If not for his breathing, one might mistake him for a lifeless doll.

The warmth spread from his knee where the medicinal liquid was slowly absorbed. Qi Xie's broad palm cradled his calf, head slightly bowed. When Yi Li looked down, he could see the top of Qi Xie's head and that scar-covered hand.

Scars he had inflicted, as a form of self-punishment for not pleasing him?

Yi Li couldn't comprehend.

Qi Xie was truly puzzling; every word, every action, remained an enigma.

Reflecting on his recent behavior, Yi Li wasn't sure he wouldn't become Qi Xie's most fervent detractor in the future.

The act of applying the medicine was just that, his hands remained gentle without any ill intent. However, Yi Li's patience wore thin, he demanded, "Tell me, what do you want from me?"

Only once the medicine had been completely absorbed did Qi Xie release Yi Li's pant leg, lifting him down, all without uttering a single word.

Yi Li's shoes had gone missing during his earlier struggles, the cold floor sending chills up through his bare feet.

Just as he was about to search for his shoes, a soft knock echoed.

"Yi Li, are you asleep?"

It was Shen Yao's voice. Yi Li shuddered upon hearing it, coughed nervously, and responded, "Not yet. Why?"

"I noticed you left your rabbit lamp in the car. I brought it back for you," Shen Yao said. "May I come in?"

The doorknob seemed to be turning. Anxiety made Yi Li's heart race, "Don't come in. I'm changing."

Outside, Shen Yao pressed his lips together. The hand on the doorknob slowly let go as he courteously remarked, "Alright, I'll wait until you're done."

As their eyes met, Yi Li hastily pushed Qi Xie into the bathroom. Aside from his slightly reddened eyes, everything seemed normal. Taking a deep breath, he went to open the door.

Shen Yao caught a whiff of a sharp medicinal scent and frowned, asking, "Are you hurt?"

"Yeah, bumped my leg earlier." Sweat formed on Yi Li's forehead. He kept the door slightly ajar, blocking Shen Yao's prying gaze.

"Is it serious? Let me have a look," Shen Yao, with a look of grave concern, bent down to inspect, but paused seeing Yi Li's bare feet. "Why no shoes?"

"I forgot. The injury isn't severe. I've applied medicine." Yi Li intercepted him, taking the rabbit lamp from his hand. "Thank you. Anything else?"

Shen Yao shook his head, "No, that's it."

Yi Li's eyes had a distant look, "Then I'll rest now."

Less than a minute later, the door shut again. Shen Yao lingered outside for a moment. Since returning, he felt something was off with Yi Li, as if someone was hidden inside the room.

However, Shen Yao soon dismissed the absurd thought. Perhaps Yi Li was simply tired. Shaking his head, he headed upstairs.

Just as the door closed behind him, the bathroom door swung open. Qi Xie emerged after washing his hands, his gaze intensely settling on the rabbit lamp on the desk.

Yi Li awkwardly remarked, "I bought it on the way."

The small light within the rabbit lamp had dimmed, casting a grayish hue.

Qi Xie approached and cast a cold, unchanging glance, asking, "Where's the amulet?"

Yi Li looked up, fingers tense, bewilderedly asking, "You want it back?"

A subtle tremor passed Qi Xie's eyelids, "Did you give it to your sister?"

Biting his pale lips, Yi Li murmured in affirmation. Once something's been given away, it can't be taken back, "If you want it back, when I have time, I'll get another one for you..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted, "This is yours. Don't give it to anyone else."

Then, Qi Xie produced an amulet, identical to the previous one, and pushed it into Yi Li's hand.

Yi Li's eyes widened in surprise, "Did you get two of these?"

A deep voice sounded from above, "Yes."

Yi Li looked bewildered. The amulet in his hand felt even more intense than the previous one. He said incredulously, "You're giving both to me? Keep one for yourself."

The voice from above grew deeper, "If you don't want it, throw it away."

Throw it away? How could one discard such a thing? Yi Li gripped the amulet tightly, "Thank you."

A stifling sensation pressed against Qi Xie's chest. He reached out to touch Yi Li's short, slightly prickly hair, "Including the one just now, you've thanked me three times today."

Thank you, thanks, thank you.

Suddenly, Yi Li froze. Recalling the unpleasant memories from the previous night, all seemingly triggered by those words, he whispered with a tremble, "Are you threatening me again?"

"Didn't you want to know what pleases me?"

Qi Xie cornered him, lowering his head. His tone was a mix of frustration and menace.

"I'll tell you. Do you dare to listen?"

Author's Note:

I'm both coarse and long. Don't accuse me of being short. Those who do, better lock their doors and windows, for I'm skilled at sneaking through water pipes.