Chapter 102

Chapter 102

Shen Wang's eyes were wide as he couldn't help but ask, "What are they doing...?"

Gu Dongting glanced once and quickly looked away, adhering to the principle of 'not staring at private moments'.

Hearing Shen Wang's question, he instinctively wanted to look again but his manners prevailed, and he stammered, "I... I don't know."

Unlike Gu Dongting’s discretion, Shen Wang observed closely for a while, witnessing the couple’s affectionate interactions, feeling a pang of jealousy.

Hearing Gu Dongting say he didn't know, Shen Wang wasn't too surprised: Everyone knows Gu Dongting is an old-fashioned cultivation fanatic, hardly the type to pay attention to others' romantic affairs.

Shen Wang turned to Shi Yan, sitting beside him, and whispered for clarification, "What's their story?"

Shi Yan, adept at socializing and currently engaged in lively conversation, glanced where Shen Wang pointed and casually remarked, "Oh, them... that's Chou Yin and Bai Jia's young master, Bai Fuchun."

Chou Yin?!! Shen Wang was startled again.

He looked closely, noticing the taller man only showing a small part of his unscarred face. When more of his face became visible, the smooth yet terrifying scarred visage was revealed.

Shen Wang couldn't help but wonder, how could such a disfigured man have a partner? He felt a twinge of envy, thinking of his own solitary world.

"Chou Yin didn't always look like this," Shi Yan explained, sensing Shen Wang's thoughts. "Before his injury, he inadvertently saved Bai Jia's young master. Bai Fuchun then clung to him despite his annoyance. He was so focused on cultivation and hardly paid any attention to Bai Fuchun."

"Later, for some reason, Bai Fuchun got kidnapped by someone overseas. Bai Jia's family couldn't reach there, so Chou Yin went alone to rescue him."

"His face was injured during that incident... The Bai family tried everything, but couldn't restore his face."

After listening, Shen Wang nodded thoughtfully, "So Bai Fuchun offered himself in gratitude? His family didn't object?"

His own child with a man, and a disfigured one at that... Could the Bai family elders really accept this?

"A life-saving grace, plus Bai Fuchun's dramatic insistence – what could the Bai family do?" Shi Yan smiled with a hint of melancholy, "They even passed the family elders' approval. Now, they don't hide their relationship in public."

In short, they're a couple that openly displays their love everywhere, becoming the most famous gay couple in the world of cultivation.

Shen Wang was amazed by the twists and turns of their relationship.

In modern society, thanks to the internet, Shen Wang wasn't ignorant about same-sex relationships; and while such couples were rare in the cultivation world, many cultivators indulged in desires, regardless of gender, often without emotional attachment, driven purely by physical needs.

But in modern society, Shen Wang had only read about such relationships online, and in the cultivation world, he was too busy with cultivation to pay much attention to these matters.

This was the first time Shen Wang witnessed two men kissing, breaking the mold of the mythical stories in his mind.

"It brought something seemingly unattainable, tangibly close to me."

Shen Wang felt a complex mix of emotions, glancing again at the couple: "Public displays of affection, what a spectacle."

Shi Yan: "...Okay, we get it, you're single. No need to be bitter."

Shen Wang rolled his eyes, turned sharply, and unexpectedly locked eyes with Gu Dongting, both momentarily startled.

Their usually casual and understanding glances at each other felt strangely off at that moment, prompting both to hurriedly look away.

Shen Wang lowered his head, touching his nose tip: "The metaphysical world is really liberal."

Gu Dongting pursed his lips: "A gentleman should be strict with himself but lenient towards others. As long as they don't harm anyone, there's no issue."

The previously light and pleasant atmosphere now felt like a lump of damp cotton stuck in the chest, causing a sour sensation in the heart and resembling a budding flower on the tip of the heart, shyly unfolding its first petal with the first drop of spring water.

Neither of them spoke, standing out awkwardly in the increasingly lively atmosphere.

Shi Yan had left at some point, leaving only Shen Wang and Gu Dongting in the small corner.

Shen Wang racked his brains, finally coming up with a topic: "Your sister... she's really different from you. Does your family tailor your education to each individual?"

Rigorous education for the gifted, and a laissez-faire approach for the less talented.

Gu Dongting paused, looked around, and noticed Gu Manling surrounded by a group of young people, her expression proud, naturally enjoying the attention like a proud white swan.

Her eyes and brows held a hint of arrogance towards everyone, but softened slightly when her gaze fell on a particular individual.

"And that person was Tang Jiu."

Gu Dongting subtly furrowed his brow, a mix of 'how did they end up together' puzzlement and a vague sense of inevitability.

It seemed as if Gu Manling and Tang Jiu were destined to come together.

Gu Dongting didn't even interrupt their conversation to bring his sister back, but instead said indifferently, "The Gu family is headed by my uncle, and I've been learning swordsmanship with him since I was young. However, Manling, being a girl and quite young, couldn't endure the rigors of sword training and her parents were worried about her health, so they took her back."

"Gu Dongting started wielding a sword from the age of three, still unsteady on his feet."

"As for Gu Manling, it wasn't until she was ten that Grandfather Gu sent her to the Gu household for forced cultivation."

Shen Wang nodded, "No wonder then."

"Though it was just a few years' delay in cultivation, the implications behind this are worth pondering."

"Gu Dongting's parents handed over three-year-old Gu Dongting to his elder brother, fully entrusting him. They might have felt heartache but never once mentioned taking him back."

"As for Gu Manling's parents, not only were they unwilling to let their daughter suffer, their worry about her getting injured indicated not so much their love for her, but rather a lack of trust in their elder brother, doubting his judgment."

"This makes Gu Manling's family's eventual betrayal traceable."

"It was a fissure that existed decades, even tens of years ago, widening over time, and apart from Gu Dongting himself, no one knew how extensive it had become."

Shen Wang's gaze fell on Gu Manling and Tang Jiu: "Dongting, do you trust me?"

Gu Dongting was slightly stunned, then answered without hesitation, "Of course."

"If you trust me..." withdrawing his gaze, Shen Wang looked earnestly into Gu Dongting's eyes, speaking softly yet firmly, "your uncle's family is up to no good, be wary of them."

"Gu Dongting's pupils contracted slightly."

"Shen Wang sighed inwardly, not really expecting his words to be believed immediately, and tried to explain: 'They say birds of a feather flock together, people are known by the company they keep. Your sister and Tang Jiu getting together suggests that they…'"

"'I believe you.'"

"'Are cut from the same cloth... Huh?' Shen Wang abruptly turned to Gu Dongting, utterly astonished."

"'I will investigate.' Gu Dongting’s expression remained calm as he earnestly promised, 'If there's an issue, I'll inform the other elders in the family to handle it.'"

"Shen Wang fell silent for a long while, then suddenly burst into laughter. He grabbed Gu Dongting by the shoulder and pulled him into an embrace, laughing, 'Thank you for choosing to trust me.'"

"On one side was a blood relative, and on the other, a friend known for not so long. Anyone would know what choice to make."

"Yet Gu Dongting chose the friend... chose himself."

"Shen Wang's eyes were smiling, feeling incredibly reassured inside."

"Gu Dongting, startled by Shen Wang's sudden move, stood dazed in his embrace, his chest pressed tightly against the other's, feeling the steady heartbeat."

"A laughing voice breathed into his ear, and two closely beating hearts became erratic, one setting off the other to increase its pace."

"'Umm...' The person nearby waited for several minutes, seeing no sign of them separating, and awkwardly interjected."

"Shen Wang and Gu Dongting snapped out of their trance, hurriedly letting go of each other and casually turned to the newcomer."

"Upon seeing them clearly, Shen Wang slightly raised his eyebrows, exchanging a quick, subtle look with Gu Dongting, as if sharing a secret."

"The speaker looked quite young, much shorter than the man beside him, with fair, translucent skin, a round face with baby fat, and round eyes, like a teenager in his teens."

"His non-threatening, cute appearance shone even more brightly in contrast to the man beside him."

"Shen Wang recalled for a moment, remembering the name Shi Yan had mentioned earlier: 'Bai, Bai Fuchun?'"

"Bai Fuchun, surprised that Shen Wang actually knew him, quickly nodded: 'You know me, big shot!'"

"Shen Wang exchanged another glance with Gu Dongting, a hint of amusement flickering in both their eyes: 'I've heard of you.'"

"Bai Fuchun looked at Gu Dongting cautiously, a shy and timid smile on his face, his eyes sparkling: 'Brother Gu, I'm a big fan of yours, can we take a photo together?'"

"Shen Wang gave Gu Dongting a teasing look with a smile, silently mocking."

"No wonder this kid was so upset earlier, getting a tongue-lashing from his idol... That would break anyone's heart."

"But even after being scolded, he still mustered the courage to ask for a photo. He must really admire Gu Dongting."

"Gu Dongting, before his transformation, truly was the 'white moonlight' of the metaphysical world."

"Gu Dongting coldly refused the young fan's request for a photo, leaving Bai Fuchun dejected, leaning against Ugly Drink."

"Ugly Drink, with a calm look in his eyes, showed a hint of sympathy and reassuringly held Bai Fuchun's hand, nodding slightly towards Shen Wang and Gu Dongting: 'Let's have a match sometime in the future.'"

"Shen Wang: '...'"

"Thinking about challenging someone to a fight at this time, the battle maniac persona is unshakable."

"After they left, the atmosphere between Shen Wang and Gu Dongting returned to normal, as if all the previous awkwardness had never happened. They chatted and laughed, in perfect sync with each other."

"Gu Dongting didn’t drink, and Shen Wang, seizing the opportunity to save money, heard that the banquet was paid for by several organizers using high-quality liquor, and he drank a lot."

"Even with a cultivator's strong constitution, it couldn’t withstand his drinking like water. By the end of the gathering, he was somewhat unsteady, but just managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy."

"Gu Dongting half-supported Shen Wang, escorting him back to his room, still somewhat concerned: 'Can you take care of yourself?'"

"Shen Wang felt his mind was very clear, and said discontentedly: 'I’m fine, I’m not drunk, what could happen?'"

"After speaking, he buried his head back into Gu Dongting’s neck, taking a deep breath: 'You smell so good.'"

"Gu Dongting: '...'"

"Gu Dongting's face remained unchanged, as pale as ever, but his earlobes involuntarily flushed red, the blush spreading down his neck to the area hidden by his clothes."

"Tilting his head, feeling Shen Wang sniffing like a puppy in the hollow of his neck, the hot breath on his bare skin causing a light blush, Gu Dongting felt a mix of helplessness and amusement: This man really doesn’t miss any chance to take advantage."

"Taking out the room card for Shen Wang, he opened the door, half-hugging and coaxing Shen Wang into the room: 'I know you're not drunk, but it’s late and you should rest...'"

"While speaking, Gu Dongting had already helped Shen Wang to the bed. Just as he was about to tuck Shen Wang in, a sudden force came from beside him. Gu Dongting's vision blurred as he was pushed onto the bed."

"He blinked in bewilderment, seeing a handsome face with traces of intoxication before him."

"Like a predator pinning down its prey, Shen Wang looked down at Gu Dongting beneath him with satisfaction, his gaze stunning yet evaluative, as if pondering where to start."

"Gu Dongting, dressed in white, almost merged with the white sheets, a pure white."

"Yet, he had jet-black, dense hair that contrasted sharply with the white, spreading softly beneath him, creating a striking and intense contrast."

"His usually calm face, like a finely carved jade statue, was now flushed with life, his eyes hazy and innocently looking at Shen Wang, showing no resistance."

"Shen Wang’s gaze landed on his crimson lips, his voice slightly hoarse: 'What does it feel like... to kiss a man?'"

"Gu Dongting's pupils dilated, showing panic for the first time, hurrying to speak: 'Shen Wang, you’re drunk... Mmph!'"

"The rest of his words were muffled."