Chapter 6

Chapter 6

On the neighboring wooden building, a tall figure stood leaning against the railing, black hair lifting in the erratic wind, the silver ornaments at the back clinking with a clear, eerie sound.

Today, Ming Feiyu was adorned in a blood-red robe with intricate, bizarre patterns that made him appear even more bewitchingly ethereal. Xie Zhigui couldn't tell if it was an illusion, but he seemed a bit more mature than when he had seen him a few days ago.

"You live here?" Xie Zhigui asked in surprise.

Ming Feiyu smiled faintly without a word, his bright eyes fixed on him.

Xie Zhigui suddenly recalled the peering gaze from earlier—it was very likely Ming Feiyu's.

If it was indeed him, then he must have seen the entire scene of the altercation.

True to form, the next second brought Ming Feiyu's mocking voice, "Xie Zhigui, do you realize that boy was waiting for you outside your door before dawn, eagerly hoping to see you, only to be kicked aside by you? That kick shattered his wholehearted sincerity. Don't you feel even a hint of remorse?"

"Why should I apologize?" Xie Zhigui found this person utterly nonsensical, wondering why he should meddle in his affairs.

Moreover, the way Ming Feiyu looked at him was as if a husband had caught his wife in the act of cheating, which made him uncomfortable, igniting an inexplicable anger inside him.

"His so-called love was to spread rumors about our relationship against my wishes, which led to my friends distancing themselves, necessitated talks with teachers, and he still wouldn't leave me alone even after I made it clear we were nothing. He drove away everyone close to me, forcing me to be with him, and you call this suffocating possessiveness love?"

Ming Feiyu was silent for a while, his eyes filled with an emotion Xie Zhigui couldn't comprehend. He spoke softly, "You were the one who enticed him first, and you allowed his infatuation to grow. You wanted to use his feelings for your own ends without taking responsibility. When you deceive someone, that's heartlessness."

How this sounded like a mixture of complaint and reproach.

Xie Zhigui's ears felt terribly uncomfortable.

"I've repaid him," he retorted firmly, "Whatever he's done for me, I've returned it all. I owe him nothing!"

Not indebted?

Ming Feiyu's words were laced with mockery and disdain, as he scoffed, "Is emotional debt so easily repaid?"

"Do you think this is a business transaction? That you can put a price on sincerity, take it on credit, use it, return it when it's no longer wanted, pay a little extra, and think it's settled? Have you considered how much pain you cause when you trample over someone, or do you not care at all?"

"…This seems to have nothing to do with you," Xie Zhigui's cheeks flushed with agitation, but his gaze was ice-cold as he confronted Ming Feiyu.

Ming Feiyu was a stranger to him; he had no right to interfere in his matters, and this was his firmest stance.

He warned with a reminder, "Mr. Ming, please mind your words."

Ming Feiyu's eyebrows lifted slightly, as if to say, I've overstepped, what are you going to do about it?

“……”

This was someone else's territory; it wasn't wise to stir up trouble.

Xie Zhigui had to endure.

"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Having said that with composure, he walked away toward his dwelling, almost as if fleeing.

But the piercing heat of that gaze followed him all the way.

Ming Feiyu's voice chased after him swiftly, cool with a hint of derision, the derision tinged with resentment.

"Xie Zhigui, such heartlessness will have its karmic retribution; initiating chaos and then abandoning it, betraying others wherever you go – you'll face the consequences."

Xie Zhigui's form stiffened for a moment.

The words struck like a vile curse, yet also like a last desperate act of a hopeless romantic trying to hold onto their lover.

Xie Zhigui's mind was already in disarray. He could maintain composure in front of a raving Zheng Hao, but this relative stranger, through a seemingly calm conversation, managed to scatter his thoughts with but a few sentences.

Why did the sight of Ming Feiyu's eyes instill fear in him? Why did he avoid speaking with him? Why did his head spin with heat every time he caught Ming's scent?

Xie Zhigui quickened his pace, becoming more and more frantic.

Retribution, is it? He wasn't afraid of any retribution.

Indeed, he wasn't.

"Thanks for the warning; I’ll be waiting," he tossed back the words.

With that, Xie Zhigui bounded up the wooden stairs in strides and ducked into his room, slamming the door shut with a bang.

Quite the temper indeed.

Ming Feiyu stood still, his face impassive as the railing in his grip was silently crushed into dust, scattering into the chill wind.

A flash of dark red crossed his eyes, turning the door panel transparent. Through it, he saw Xie Zhigui leaning against the door, his temples damp with sweat, his breathing clearly erratic.

Ming Feiyu’s gaze fixed on the pale, jade-like nape of Xie's neck, seemingly fragile enough to shatter with a pinch, marked with faint pink bruises that were almost invisible now.

His breathing rhythm altered, a murky expression flickering through his eyes. Thinking of something, he ground his teeth in lingering thought, greedily licking his lips.

With a regretful and wicked sigh, he mused, "Seems I bit too gently, to leave you with enough strength to argue with me."

But what's the use of resistance... Does a tantrum think to soften my heart?

Not anymore, never again – you’ve forced my hand.

"Xie Zhigui, just wait, your retribution is coming soon."

I will absolutely not let you go.

The faithless one shall pay a bitter price for his betrayal.

……

Behind the door, Xie Zhigui took some time to collect himself, taking several deep breaths.

Once his emotions settled, he approached the table intending to drink some water, only to find a basket of small wild fruits on it, cradled in a woven wooden basket, vibrant red and emitting a faint fruity aroma.

Who placed them there?

Xie Zhigui picked one up curiously, examining it. It was identical to the fruit that Ming Feiyu had used to hit him.

Were they from Ming Feiyu? But why would he...

Xie Zhigui stealthily peered out the window towards the neighboring building; it was empty now.

Has he left?

It’s for the best if he has left, he sighed in relief, planning to catch up on sleep during the daylight.

He hadn't slept well these past days, even a slight strain on his mind caused pain.

At night, as soon as he showed signs of falling asleep, that strange fragrance would coil around him like a snake, dragging him into a world of burning heat, embarrassment, and chaos.

He was groggy, almost drowning in the endless tide of warmth, until he managed to cling to a red float, its cool touch soothing his heat. But the float, as if sentient and malicious, repeatedly pushed him back down with a sneering intention.

Several times he almost suffocated, waking up to find himself sore all over, the corners of his mouth swollen and cracked, clueless about when and how he was injured.

He had tried to locate the source of the fragrance, turning his room inside out, but he found no trace.

He had even considered that Ming Feiyu might be sneaking in while he slept, though he couldn’t fathom what his intentions might be.

For precaution, he placed inconspicuous slips of paper at the door and windows, and tied a bell by the bed that would jingle if anyone approached, ready to wake him instantly.

But the next day, the slips of paper remained undisturbed, and the bells had not rung, suggesting no one had entered.

Peering through the window, he observed the neighboring wooden building with its dark doors and windows always shut tight, eerily silent even during the day, not resembling a place someone lived. Did Ming Feiyu... really reside within?

Where he resides bears no relevance to him.

Xie Zhigui retracted his gaze, taking in the confines of his own room.

The room was small, a quick glance was sufficient to see its entirety; it certainly had no hiding place for anyone.

"How peculiar, has it come to seeing ghosts now?" he wondered.

The oppressive heat of the night continued unabated.

Days of poor sleep, compounded by inexplicable irritability, left dark circles under his eyes, a visible weariness that screamed 'Do not provoke!'

While the group gathered to discuss their next move by the fire, he nodded off several times, nearly plunging into the flames if not for his friend’s quick reflexes pulling his hair, yanking him back to safety.

His friend slapped his face vigorously, "Zhigui, wake up, come on!"

"Hmm?"

"You haven't been sleeping well, have you?"

"Mm, nightmares," Xie Zhigui's voice was nasal, his eyelids at war, his gaze unfocused, on the brink of succumbing to sleep once again.

His friend suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, how did your hair get so long?"

"What?" Puzzled, Xie Zhigui reached for his hair, snapping awake considerably at the touch.

If he remembered correctly, it had only reached his earlobes not so long ago; now, within a matter of days, it had grown to shoulder length. Looking at his companions, who had entered with him, their hair had grown only slightly, nothing as extreme as his.

"Have you ingested some hair growth remedy, or have you been bewitched? Zhigui, what's with your poor condition lately?"

"I—I don't know."

Too strange. An accumulation of oddities brought on a great tide of anxiety that overwhelmed him in an instant.

Xie Zhigui stared at the long strands in his hand, somewhat at a loss.

His friend, running fingers through the silky black hair, marveled, "Did you use some kind of hair growth miracle? Share it with the rest of us, will you? I'm almost going bald!"

Xie Zhigui swatted away his hand, replying irritably, "No, I have no clue how it grew."

The friend, nursing the back of his hand, yelped in pain, "If it's a no, then it's a no, but don’t hit me!"

He glanced inadvertently behind Xie Zhigui’s neck and suddenly his eyes widened as if he had spotted something unbelievable. He gripped Xie Zhigui’s shoulder to still him and lifted the hair at the back of his head with his other hand.

Ignorance was bliss until one startling revelation.

Xie Zhigui, feeling awkward, tried to shrug him off, "Why are you grabbing me?"

The friend pressed down harder, "Don't move around!"

Xie Zhigui turned his head in confusion, "What's going on?"

His friend shouted in alarm, hastily beckoning others, "Everyone, come and see this, Zhigui, why is the back of your neck so red? Have you been bitten by an insect?!"