Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Wen Yu's lips moved slightly, murmuring something in an extremely faint, almost inaudible whisper.

Luo Qianyu closed the folding fan.

Although the Imperial Fragrant Pill wasn't a fast-acting cardiac pill, and an unconscious person would need at least seven or eight minutes to show any reaction, he knew that once Wen Yu regained consciousness, his formidable combat skills—ranking solidly within the top three in the original book—would make him an opponent no one could match.

But to be safe and prevent any unforeseen complications, it was better for him and Chun Sheng, as mere passersby who had lent a hand, to make a quick getaway.

However, Chun Sheng, with his naturally sharp hearing, frowned and whispered, "Young Marquis, that handsome man seemed to say something?"

"How is that possible?" The Young Marquis was taken aback, instinctively leaning closer. He observed Wen Yu's tightly closed eyes and somewhat labored, uneven breathing, as if his internal energy was still resisting the drug's effects. "The Imperial Fragrant Pill doesn't work that fast. An ordinary person would need at least a quarter of an hour; even with the best constitution, it might only shorten it slightly. How long has it been?"

Chun Sheng nodded, not doubting him. "Then Your servant must have misheard."

Luo Qianyu had initially intended to leave the man right there, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the place was creepy and unlucky. What if Wen Yu, before the drug wore off, was captured and tied up? Wouldn't that make their rescue pointless?

Adhering to the 'see it through' principle, he instructed Chun Sheng, "Let's carry him outside."

"Yes, Young Master."

But once they started to actually do it, they realized it was more difficult than imagined. Using all their strength, they barely managed to lift Wen Yu. Luo Qianyu's arms ached, he nearly lost his balance, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Although Wen Yu looked like a refined, jade-like scholar, his actual weight was more akin to a martial artist's. Fortunately, Chun Sheng had returned to find him; if he had tried to move him alone, he might not have succeeded.

Though the Little Beauty was unconscious, his body hinted at a hidden strength. His shoulders were broad, his waist and abdomen firm, with smooth, non-exaggerated lines. His fair skin and bone structure held an aesthetic beauty, yet were imbued with a firm, resilient strength.

Even in his current unconscious state, he gave an impression of balanced power, completely unlike the typical frail, delicate beauty shou.

Luo Qianyu had felt it once before, but up close, he couldn't help but secretly envy it.

"Young Master... you seem to care deeply for this gentleman. Is he someone you know?" Chun Sheng couldn't resist his curiosity.

"...No, I don't, I haven't, never met him before." The Young Marquis delivered a triple denial.

Chun Sheng let out an "oh," sounding somewhat disappointed.

This gentleman was exceptionally handsome, clearly an upright and honorable man. As a friend, he seemed a much better match for the Young Marquis than those frivolous, fair-weather friends like Lou Xian.

Lost in such thoughts, Chun Sheng inadvertently loosened his grip. The weight shifted unexpectedly, pressing down on the Young Marquis's side.

They had managed, with great difficulty, to move a few steps and finally reach a spot. Just as Luo Qianyu was adjusting his direction, the force first bore down on his arm, then abruptly onto his unprepared neck and chest.

Before he could react, Luo Qianyu lost his balance and was sent sprawling.

Their bodies hit the floor with a heavy thud. Luo Qianyu gasped in pain as his back struck the cold ground, sucking in a sharp breath.

What alarmed him more was Wen Yu's face, now mere inches away, his lips almost brushing against Luo Qianyu's neck. The warm breath washed over his skin, sending a shiver through Luo Qianyu. The sensitive nerves on the side of his neck seemed to ignite, the sensation instantly spreading throughout his body.

The Young Marquis couldn't handle it, trembling involuntarily. Pinned under the heavy weight, unable to push the man away, his neck quivered slightly, and his face flushed red.

"Chun Sheng... what are you standing there for? Come help!" Luo Qianyu couldn't help but call out, his voice unusually tinged with flustered annoyance.

Chun Sheng snapped out of his daze and hurried forward, dragging and pulling his Young Master free from the other man's grasp.

The Young Marquis glanced at Wen Yu, then at Chun Sheng's apologetic face, and understood. He cursed inwardly: indeed, the power of beauty was unfathomable. This beauty buff had even distracted his own servant, causing him to momentarily forget his strength.

It was only human nature, and he couldn't blame Chun Sheng. Luo Qianyu remained silent, letting his servant brush off the dust and straighten his robes.

The Young Marquis's robes were disheveled, a faint blush still lingered on his neck, and he looked both disheveled and flustered.

Seeing his Young Master hesitate to speak, yet not utter a word of blame, Chun Sheng hung his head even lower in guilt, his eyes reddening as he helped adjust the Young Marquis's clothes.

Just as he was breathing a sigh of relief, Luo Qianyu suddenly felt a tightness around his ankle.

Looking down, he froze—a red hair ribbon was mysteriously tied around his left ankle.

With a knot at the end.

What was this...?

Looking closer, wasn't that the very ribbon he had lost earlier on the building's eaves, the one he later saw on Wen Yu's wrist during their first proper meeting as depicted in the story at the Donglang Bridge night market!?

When had Wen Yu tied it on him during the earlier chaos?

No... Wen Yu wasn't fully awake yet. Since he hadn't regained consciousness, was this a subconscious act?

Luo Qianyu's gaze fell on the red hair ribbon. In his daze, a sudden realization dawned.

Perhaps Wen Yu's pursuit of him all along wasn't necessarily to unmask him or obsess over his true identity, but simply to return this red hair ribbon to its rightful owner.

Because Wen Yu's nature was that upright, not because Luo Qianyu himself was important.

And after all this back and forth, the ribbon had returned to him... For the protagonist shou, did settling this lingering obsession mean they were now completely even?

Thinking this, Luo Qianyu felt a flicker of emotion. This was actually a good thing. Hesitating, he didn't reach to untie it.

"Chun Sheng, let's go."

"Yes." Chun Sheng paused mid-step, as if remembering something. "Young Master, the bamboo basket is still inside the hall. Let Your servant retrieve it; the folding fan and incense are still inside."

The Young Marquis acknowledged. Chun Sheng turned and hurried back into the main hall.

Not long after, a dull thud suddenly echoed from inside the hall, as if something heavy had fallen to the ground.

Luo Qianyu's heart skipped a beat. He looked toward the hall; Chun Sheng's figure had vanished inside the door, and there was no further sound.

"Chun Sheng?" the Young Marquis called out, but received no response. A sense of foreboding tightened in his chest, and he quickly ran toward the hall.

As soon as he entered, he saw Chun Sheng collapsed on the floor, the bamboo basket fallen beside him, its contents—the folding fan, incense, and water flask—scattered around. Chun Sheng's face was pale, and a trickle of blood seeped from under his nose.

"Chun Sheng!" Luo Qianyu immediately crouched down, reaching to help him up. However, as his hand touched Chun Sheng's shoulder, he felt a sudden warmth on the back of his hand. Looking down, he saw a drop of blood had fallen there.

Luo Qianyu froze, instinctively raising a hand to his own nose. His fingertip came away stained with a drop of bright red—his nose was bleeding too.

This is bad!

Sure enough, when the Young Marquis tried to stand, he found his legs weak and powerless. A wave of dizziness washed over him, his head feeling as heavy as a thousand pounds, and his vision began to blur.

A thin haze seemed to veil his surroundings, even Chun Sheng's face becoming indistinct.

In the last moment before losing consciousness, only one vague thought remained in his mind.

Wen Yu had also inhaled the incense, its effects deeper and longer-lasting, yet he showed no symptoms like nosebleeds. Luo Qianyu and Chun Sheng had only inhaled a small amount; it shouldn't be this severe. Which step... had gone wrong?

-

At the mountainside, the Company Commander saluted and took his leave first.

When Luo Shifu looked up, he found his elder brother had long since disappeared, indeed not waiting for him. He quickened his pace alone, ascending the stone steps up the mountain.

The night deepened, mist spreading, the silhouette of Cold Mountain Temple appearing increasingly serene under the moonlight. Luo Shifu remained silent, yet felt the quiet was too profound.

Just as he reached the temple gate, he spotted a figure sneaking out from a side door, a cloth covering its face, holding a stick of incense, its hurried, furtive steps.

Luo Shifu frowned, suspicion rising in his heart. He quickened his pace, seized the person's wrist, twisted it back, making the person cry out in pain.

"Ouch, ouch, it hurts!!"

"Who are you? ... Let go, let go!" The person's voice trembled, and as they struggled, the face covering slipped off. Combined with their attire, it was actually the Abbot of Cold Mountain Temple.

Luo Shifu's gaze turned icy, his grip unrelenting as he coldly demanded, "What are you doing, sneaking around like this?"

The Abbot's face paled with pain, realizing this was no ordinary visitor, and stammered excuses, "Sir, please be gentle! This old monk, I..."

"Dare to lie, and I'll cut out your tongue right now."

The Abbot, never having faced such a menacing presence, confessed outright, "Mercy, sir!! This humble monk was only following orders, I dared not disobey!"

"Orders? Whose orders?" Luo Shifu's voice was low, carrying an unquestionable, chilling authority. "Or would you prefer to wait until you're in the imperial prison to speak!"

"S-sir, spare me!" The Abbot's pupils trembled, and he knelt down shakily, forced to spill everything: "Some days ago, two separate individuals approached this humble monk, giving me silver. They instructed me not to open the temple gates today, to replace the incense every hour, and to stay far away, not to disturb their affairs... This humble monk truly had no choice but to comply."

Upon hearing this, Luo Shifu's expression changed drastically. He asked, "Did a young master enter the temple just now?"

The Abbot thought for a moment, nodded, and said tremulously, "Yes... there was such a young master, accompanied by a servant. They went straight into the main hall. This humble monk followed the instructions, didn't dare to ask any questions, only watched from afar..."

"Where is he now?"

Cowed by his demeanor, the Abbot dared not withhold an answer: "The main hall... in the main hall! This humble monk replaced the incense as instructed before they entered, then retreated. As for how the young master is now, this humble monk truly does not know!"

Luo Shifu had no more time to waste on the Abbot. He turned and strode swiftly toward the main hall.

He hurried along the path, stepping quickly into the temple. Inside the hall, the incense burner was gone, and it was empty.

"Elder Brother!" Luo Shifu called out loudly, but received no response.

His gaze swept the surroundings, when suddenly he heard a faint sound coming from behind the hall.

Passing through the corridor, he found himself in another temple hall.

Luo Shifu's eyes scanned the area and immediately spotted the scattered bamboo baskets, the spilled water jug on the ground, and Chun Sheng, collapsed and unconscious.

*

The black-clad man carried the unconscious Little Beauty over his shoulder, his figure flitting like a shadow, moving swiftly through the dense forest outside Cold Mountain Temple.

The night was silent, the thick canopy blotting out the moonlight. All around was pitch black, with only the sound of wind brushing past his ears.

His footsteps were light, almost merging with the night. The occasional snap of a dry twig was covered by the wind, startling a few birds.

At that moment, his ears twitched, catching a sharp, whistling sound from afar. The next instant, a cold gleam shot straight toward his face!

The black-clad man's pupils contracted. He swiftly sidestepped, the hidden weapon grazing past his ear and thudding into a tree trunk behind him with a dull *thud*.

"Who's there?!"

The black-clad man growled, without stopping, continuing to dash forward. However, before he could run more than a few paces, he suddenly felt his arm tighten. A soft silk ribbon, from out of nowhere, tightly wrapped around his arm.

The ribbon seemed light, yet contained immense force. As it tightened, it bit into his flesh like an iron band, making him grunt in pain, his arm aching sharply.

The black-clad man frowned, trying to break free, but found the ribbon only wound tighter, even threatening to cut through his sleeve. A chill went through him, realizing the newcomer was not only hostile but also highly skilled. Forced to halt, he used the ribbon's pull to leap up, landing on a thick branch.

Bracing himself against the tree trunk with one hand, his other arm tightly held the unconscious Luo Qianyu. His gaze was alert, scanning the surroundings.

"Who's there?"

"If you're brave enough to attack from hiding, be brave enough to show yourself!" the black-clad man coldly shouted.

From within the darkness came a light chuckle, followed by a low, lazy male voice: "Fool, so fixated on your prize, you didn't even check who you've tied up?"

The black-clad man's brow furrowed tightly, his gaze fixed intently on the direction of the voice... it was right above him!

A slender figure slowly emerged from the tree shadows. Moonlight filtering through the leaves and branches fell upon the person, illuminating a face both beautiful and coldly severe.

The man wore a light cyan robe with dark pink floral patterns embroidered on the sleeves. In his hand, he held half of a silk ribbon, the broken end seemingly concealing metal, faintly gleaming with a cold light under the moonlight.

"Where did this greenhorn come from? You dare call me a fool? What have I done to you? What do you want?" Seeing his opponent's temper, the black-clad man glared back, a vein bulging on his forehead.

The cyan-robed man chuckled softly. With a *swish*, the ribbon unfurled. Its soft end had somehow already wrapped around the waist of the unconscious person. He gave it a gentle tug, his tone carrying a hint of mockery: "Risking your neck for your master, yet not knowing you've tied up the wrong person—isn't that foolish?"

"Wrong person?" The black-clad man glanced down at Luo Qianyu in his arms, utterly unconvinced. "A renowned beauty of the capital, a red hair ribbon tied on him—who else could it possibly be?"

Then, as if remembering something, he added with a cold sneer, "Besides, if I've tied up the wrong person, why are you chasing after me?"

"If you fancy him and want to snatch him, just say so. Stop with the cryptic act!"

Hearing this, the man's lips curled into a cold smile. "Snatch? You're mistaken."

"I chased you because the person you've tied up is mine to begin with."

"Bullshit!" The black-clad man wasted no more words. His mission came first. His figure flashed, instantly closing in on the uninvited guest.

Holding a short blade, not wanting to waste time here, his moves were swift and vicious, each strike aimed at the vital points of this arrogant man. The other, however, remained unhurried, his movements graceful and effortless. The ribbon in his hand, using flexibility to counter strength, entangled and deflected, evading every one of his attacks.

Originally intending a quick finish, he realized the man, though appearing unhurried, was actually extremely fast, like a ghost. Blades and shadows intertwined, flashing amidst the dense forest. The surrounding leaves were swept up by the fierce wind, rustling as they fell.

The black-clad man gritted his teeth. His short blade drew a sharp arc of light, aiming straight for the other's throat. The cyan-robed man's footwork was bizarre, nimbly dodging, consistently preventing him from landing a hit.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, a sharp whistling sound suddenly pierced the air.

The next moment, several streaks of cold light shot straight toward them!

Both men were startled, swiftly dodging aside. They saw several throwing darts embed themselves into the tree trunk behind them with such force that the trunk trembled slightly.

"Who?!" the black-clad man growled low, his gaze warily scanning the surroundings.

The cyan-robed gentleman frowned, a flash of surprise in his eyes. Clearly, he was not unfamiliar with these darts. He muttered under his breath, "Tsk, him again."

Before his words faded, a figure followed closely behind the darts, burst from the darkness. The blade in his hand glinted, his eyes filled with a chill, resolute determination.

"Let go of my elder brother." Luo Shifu spoke word by word, his voice icy.

The frozen rage in those gritted-out words seemed capable of tearing them apart.

Seeing this, the black-clad man's heart sank, feeling a moment of sheer panic.

He thought to himself, *What a damn nuisance! This task seemed easy—just burn some incense and tie someone up. But once it's done, the path to reporting back is exceptionally treacherous!*

*One after another wants to snatch him. Before one is dealt with, another comes charging with darts and a short blade, risking their lives to take him. They say beauty leads men astray, but this is taking it too far, leading too many astray. Just how many people are coveting this beauty?!*

So, gripping his cleaver, he swung it toward Luo Shifu with a mix of frustration and desperation.

Amidst the fierce struggle, more and more leaves drifted down, rustling softly.

Seizing the opportunity, the man in green suddenly flashed forward. Taking advantage of the moment when both men were blinded by bloodlust, his figure shot toward Luo Qianyu. He tightened the silk ribbon that had already wound itself around the other's waist, reached out, and in one swift motion, scooped him up firmly in his arms.

"Take your time fighting, you two." The man in green pushed off the ground, streaking off into the distance like an arrow from a bow. His voice, full of mockery, lingered briefly in the air before fading. "I'll be taking him."

"How dare you!" Luo Shifu bellowed, swinging his saber directly toward the fleeing figure.

However, the man had no intention of lingering. Banking on Luo Shifu not daring to land a killing blow with someone in his arms, he narrowly dodged and vanished into the depths of the dense forest in the blink of an eye.

The black-clad man had exchanged dozens of blows with Luo Shifu, but his final move met empty air. He froze, standing on a tree branch, only to realize the surroundings had somehow returned to a sudden calm. He felt bewildered.

No one else was in sight.

"...?"

Seeing that both men had abandoned him and left, he finally realized—his hard-won prize had been snatched away! The black-clad man gritted his teeth in fury. Just as he was about to snatch up his blade and give chase, he suddenly sensed a gust of wind from behind.

He had just tangled with two opponents and, in the process, had accidentally lost the little beauty. He hadn't even caught his breath... and now a third one was here!?

But this time was unlike any before.

Before the black-clad man could even react, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. An overwhelming force slammed him to the ground, and instantly, his vision went dark, his consciousness nearly snuffed out.

He coughed, feeling as if his internal organs were trembling. A metallic taste rose in his throat. Unable to sit up quickly, he propped himself up on the ground and spat out a large mouthful of blood.

"Wh-what...?"

He barely lifted his head. In his blurred vision, he saw a graceful yet lethal figure flash past his eyes, speeding forward.

That person held a Jade Spirit Sword in hand, its blade gleaming with a cold light that reflected a face as clear and cold as the moon. Though the black-clad man didn't recognize him, an inexplicable sense of dread surged within him.

Who exactly was this person?

...With his own skills, how could he have been knocked down in a single move?!

Before he could figure it out, he completely lost consciousness.

-

"Second Watch"

Luo Qianyu gradually regained consciousness from his coma.

His eyelids felt as heavy as if weighed down by a thousand-pound cauldron. He struggled to open them, feeling utterly exhausted. The first thing that met his eyes was a warm, gentle light.

The light and shadows softly spilled in, like a thin veil, not at all harsh.

The Young Marquis blinked, his vision gradually clearing, though still slightly blurred. He realized he was lying on a bed.

He tried to move his body but found he couldn't budge an inch. However, he sensed that the bed didn't feel as stable as usual; it seemed to carry a slight, gentle sway, as if rocking rhythmically.

A thought struck Luo Qianyu. Drawing from his past experiences in the world of pleasure, he immediately realized where he was.

This is... a painted pleasure boat?

How did he end up on a boat?

The Young Marquis turned his head slightly, his gaze silently sweeping over the room's furnishings. Silk drapes hung on the walls, embroidered with vivid snowflakes—somewhat unique.

On one side of the room stood a carved redwood table. On it rested a gilded incense burner, from which a faint sandalwood fragrance wafted, spreading and permeating the entire room.

...This time, at least, the incense seemed ordinary and harmless.

Having been tricked twice before, he was now extremely sensitive to such things, practically turning into a connoisseur of scents.

It was just a bit strange. Upon closer look, most of the patterns that could be embroidered or carved in this room were related to "snow." The owner seemed almost obsessive about it.

Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard light, nimble footsteps outside the door, followed by the sound of the door being gently pushed open.

"You're awake."

The voice carried a hint of sweetness, clearly tinged with surprise.

Luo Qianyu was taken aback, evidently seeing someone unexpected: "...Liu Er?"

Holding a handkerchief, Liu Er moved closer and said softly, "Don't move just yet. Your esteemed body hasn't fully recovered; it's probably not suitable for too much movement."

The Young Marquis pressed his lips together, not responding to that remark. He thought to himself that right now, even if he wanted to move, he couldn't.

So he asked, "What happened? How did I end up on a pleasure boat?"

"I went up the mountain to the temple to burn incense and pray. Who would have thought that inside the temple hall, I would find you, young master, lying unconscious on the ground?" Recalling the scene, as if still shaken, Liu Er pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes welling up. "This humble servant feared that you had fallen victim to some vile scheme. If we stayed there long, disaster might strike again. So I hurriedly found some helpers and had you carried onto this pleasure boat. Although it's a place of pleasure, at least it can keep you safe."

Luo Qianyu was startled and quickly asked, "When you found me, did you see anyone else nearby? For example, someone dressed in servant's attire, or... that young master you once saw in the Carved Flower Pavilion?"

Liu Er shook her head, somewhat confused. "I didn't see anyone. Only you were there."

"My attendant wasn't there either?"

"No." Liu Er replied softly. "He probably thought you were in danger, that enemies had come to force the issue, and in a moment of panic, fled down the mountain."

Luo Qianyu let out a sigh of frustration.

What was going on?

This story was far too coincidental and somewhat absurd. Liu Er went to burn incense and just happened to encounter him, who had been rendered unconscious by incense. Chun Sheng wasn't by his side, and Wen Yu wasn't outside the hall either.

Never mind that Wen Yu had already taken the Imperial Fragrant Pill, which should have neutralized the effects of the intoxicating incense. And Chun Sheng, like him, had also been affected—how could he have escaped? And even if he did escape, how could he possibly abandon him without a care?

Before Luo Qianyu could speak, Liu Er's red lips parted slightly as she said, "I've already found a physician to examine you, young master."

"Hmm?"

"What you were affected by this time... I'm afraid it was Lust Incense." Liu Er answered in a small voice, the last few words seeming to be uttered with great difficulty.

Luo Qianyu's brow twitched slightly. "...What?"

"In the past, I was fortunate to receive your care and favor, young master. Liu Er has never forgotten it. Now that you face this predicament, it is precisely the time for Liu Er to repay your kindness... I would face ten thousand deaths without complaint, without a shred of resentment." A blush spread across Liu Er's face, as if she found it hard to speak of such things, yet her hands began deftly untying Luo Qianyu's robe.

"Wait a—"

The Young Marquis was stunned, his heart filled with alarm. He hadn't fully grasped what was happening, but he knew if he didn't speak up to stop it, he'd likely be stripped bare in no time!

So he cried out, "Liu Er, wait!"

"I have... no interest in you, miss."

The Young Marquis pressed his lips together, wishing he could tuck his collar all the way up to his neck. Unfortunately, his will was strong but his body was weak. He could only say, "Even if it is Lust Incense, doing... that sort of thing... won't cure it. There's no need to trouble yourself, miss."

"Hasn't the young master always longed to be alone with me?" Liu Er's movements paused slightly. Her voice grew a shade deeper than before, as if ignoring his words, and she continued with persuasive, almost hypnotic tones. "Isn't this scene exactly what the young master has been dreaming of?"

"...No!"

Before Liu Er could continue her advances, Luo Qianyu couldn't hold back any longer. Throwing all caution to the wind, a torrent of words burst out: "Dream come true, my ass! Who wants to be alone with you? You've cooked up this whole pile of crap—you think I buy a single word of it? I said I'm not interested, can you understand that? It means I can't get hard for you! I'm straight, do you get it? If you don't, go back to the factory and get rebuilt... you!"

Before he could finish, the Young Marquis suddenly stopped speaking.

Not only did he stop, his expression stiffened as well. His gaze shifted elsewhere, lips pressed tightly together, fists clenched until they shook.

"My apologies... did I startle you?" Liu Cixue chuckled softly, this time completely reverting to a man's voice.

"But you don't seem surprised. Did you already know I'm a man?"

...

"That's strange. I should have hidden it well, left no clues. It's been like this since I arrived in the capital... How did you know?"

Luo Qianyu's face turned pale, remaining silent.

"You really aren't simple." Liu Cixue's eyes lit up with delight as he leaned down, studying the young lord's face intently, coaxing, "Young Marquis, how did you figure it out?"

"..."

"Don't want to talk, huh?" Liu Er didn't seem to mind, his voice soft and gentle. "It's fine. Later, this servant has plenty of ways to make you cry out."

He then leaned down further.

His hand hooked onto the Young Marquis's belt, carrying a hint of scent as his figure gradually descended.

Luo Qianyu gritted his teeth. He had been waiting for this moment, and though his body felt weak and limp, he spotted an opening. With almost all his strength, he lifted his foot and kicked squarely at the other's shoulder.

The young lord, despite his disadvantage, kept his face blank, lying on the couch as he coldly stared at the man. "You dare tie me up knowing who I am? You must be tired of living."

Luo Qianyu hadn't expected this kick to cause any real damage—it was purely to vent his anger. But as soon as he landed it, he saw Liu Cixue's expression visibly change.

The man grunted, and soon, blood began to seep from his shoulder.

Luo Qianyu froze, stunned. He stared at the man's shoulder as if trying to discern something, his gaze lingering for a long time.

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

"Young Master, didn't you despise this servant's hands?" Liu Cixue sneered, releasing the hand covering his shoulder. His blood-stained fingers pressed against the Young Marquis's lips, stroking gently as his eyes gradually filled with fervor. "How would it feel to be touched all over by the hands of someone you despise?"

Luo Qianyu's throat tightened.

His real interactions with Liu Er were few, so recalling this was relatively easy. Despising the other's hands... it had indeed happened twice.

Once when Liu Er offered a toast, and the manager egged him on to feel her hand—he refused.

Another time when Liu Er went upstairs, he ran his mouth to tease her, only to have his hand grabbed, which he quickly withdrew, refusing to let her touch him.

Seriously... holding a grudge like this?

Luo Qianyu knew this person couldn't be analyzed with normal logic. But recalling past events, rather than surprise, the current scene left him feeling dazed, even somewhat bewildered. Unconsciously, he blurted out, "Wasn't it Wen Yu you wanted to defile?"

The man's movements clearly paused.

After a long while, his gaze remained fixed on Luo Qianyu's face, but his voice was unprecedentedly excited as he whispered, "Sweetheart, how do you even know that?"

Luo Qianyu fell completely silent.

The man, however, didn't seem to care whether he answered, continuing:

"I heard you're in need of a personal guard. How about me?"

"In your dreams!"

Hearing this, the Young Marquis first felt a surge of anger, inwardly cursing the man for having no shame whatsoever. But then he calmed slightly, he fell into thought.

Wait.

He had never mentioned wanting a personal guard to anyone.

The only time he had ever entertained this thought, or voiced it aloud, was that day in the hot spring, when he had accidentally let it slip!

The libertine from the hot spring... was actually Liu Er!?

Liu Cixue had appeared as a man back then!?

Liu Cixue seemed to have pierced through Luo Qianyu's thoughts, chuckling softly before saying in a low voice, "You're right. I did intend to target Wen Yu. I had no interest in you before."

"Spending lavishly to secure a spot, frequently sending extravagant gifts to show favor, acting arrogantly and flamboyantly in daily life, yet hollow and shallow inside, using nothing but outdated tricks—truly annoying and clingy." Liu Cixue no longer bothered pretending in front of him, his voice lazy, his expression showing impatience and disdain as he recalled the past. But then his tone shifted, growing increasingly fervent, still using his male voice: "But that day in the hot spring, the Young Marquis was so merciful, giving this servant a feast for the eyes..."

"You let me look, and showed me so much. After that, this humble woman could think of nothing but that scene."

"No one else could catch my eye anymore..."

So it was him!

The Young Marquis's suspicion was confirmed. The mystery left unresolved in the original work, the unfilled plot hole that sparked endless forum debates—the truth was revealed here.

While shocked, Luo Qianyu felt a shiver run down his spine. Who showed you anything? You were the one who invited yourself, okay?

Luo Qianyu sighed inwardly, feeling a headache plus a sense of creeping disgust. He knew Liu Cixue was a pervert—the original work had made that abundantly clear. But he couldn't understand the gay man's wiring. Seeing someone bathe gave him a hard-on, and his target changed so easily. Never mind that conditions during ancient military campaigns were harsh and crude, with groups of men bathing together being commonplace. If he encountered a bathhouse-like place, wouldn't his eyes be dazzled? Could he even enter?

Unaware of the Young Marquis's inner turmoil, the man continued softly, "Later, I realized just looking wasn't enough. I wanted a taste."

Taste your mother!

Seeing the man's expression change, Luo Qianyu realized he hadn't suppressed his words and had actually cursed aloud.

"Thanks to the Young Marquis, my mother is no longer with us."

Liu Cixue's smile faded as he lowered his gaze, pressing against the Young Marquis's lapel before slowly moving to his chin. "But, Young Master, this humble woman has one more question."

"What does 'time-travel' mean?... And what does 'this body' refer to?" Liu Cixue lowered his eyelids, his eyes reflecting the shimmering lake light as he spoke slowly and deliberately. "You are clearly the most favored young master of the Luo family. Why do you refer to yourself as 'this Young Marquis' as if you were an outsider?"

Luo Qianyu's expression shifted slightly.

That day in the hot spring, thinking he was alone, he had muttered quite a few things to his little bird. He had no idea how much this man had overheard!

"You are not Young Marquis Luo."

Liu Cixue's gaze was piercing, staring directly at Luo Qianyu with an almost scorching intensity:

"Sweetheart, just who in the world are you?"