Chapter 43 The Scheming Disciple and the Charming Master 43

Chapter 43: The Scheming Disciple and His Alluring Master 43

"Is your plan actually going to work? If Master finds out, he's just going to be even angrier."

"Don't worry, Immortal Lord Lin can't see. As long as you don't blow it, we're good."

After freezing his ass off all night, Lin Huaiqing woke up in the morning feeling like frost had formed on his eyelashes.

Wrapped up in his blanket, he couldn't stop shivering, and it even gave him nightmares about being trapped in an ice cave.

Just as he was about to get up and wash up, he suddenly heard the sounds of fighting and shouting outside his door.

It was complete chaos outside, but Lin Huaiqing could only stay trapped in his room, anxious and helpless.

The sounds of battle outside kept getting louder—could it be that his senior brother had brought Xuantian Sect disciples to the demon realm to rescue him?

The thought that Chu Xiuyuan might die because of him made it impossible to sit still any longer. He ran to the door and pounded on it frantically.

"Hey! Is anyone there? Let me out!"

He'd barely shouted a few times when he actually heard movement outside. Someone burst through the door and, the second they got inside, quickly shut and locked it behind them.

The person who barged in reeked of blood—Lin Huaiqing could smell it the instant they entered. They had to be seriously injured.

Lin Huaiqing stood off to the side, wanting to reach out and help, but at the same time, he found himself frozen in place.

"Master... it's me." Qin Du's weak voice came through, and only then did Lin Huaiqing recognize him.

"Qin Du?! Who did this to you?" The heavy smell of blood had masked his usual scent, so no wonder he hadn't recognized him.

Lin Huaiqing wanted to step forward and help Qin Du off the floor and onto the bed, but the moment he touched him, his hand came away soaked in blood.

Qin Du played along and let out a muffled groan.

That pained sound sent Lin Huaiqing into a panic, and he quickly pulled his hand back.

"Qin Du, did I hit your wound? I'm sorry. Can you... can you get up on your own?"

This was the first time Lin Huaiqing had ever regretted his blindness.

The disciple he'd raised since childhood was this badly hurt, and yet he couldn't even see him, couldn't help at all.

"It's fine... this disciple can still manage."

Lin Huaiqing clumsily helped Qin Du over to the bed. It was only a few steps, but they stumbled the whole way.

Qin Du leaned against Lin Huaiqing, his weight pressing down on him—way heavier than his own frame. And with no spiritual power to help him, Lin Huaiqing was barely holding on.

Looking down at Lin Huaiqing, who was so worried about him, Qin Du felt a strange, itchy ache rise in his chest.

"Qin Du, what the hell is going on outside?"

"Cough, cough... Master must have already figured it out. Why ask?" Qin Du answered vaguely.

"Is it Senior Brother? Or Mu Yunting? Who did this to you? Let me out—I'll go talk to them!"

Whoever had done this, they were surely someone trying to rescue him. As long as he showed his face, everything would be fine.

Lin Huaiqing was about to get up when Qin Du grabbed him with a blood-soaked hand and yanked him back.

"Master, don't go! Stay here with this disciple, okay?"

"Okay." Lin Huaiqing didn't know what had come over him—he just saw how pitiful Qin Du looked and agreed without thinking twice.

"But you're badly hurt and bleeding so much. Let me unseal my acupoints and give you some spiritual power—it'll make you feel better!"

Qin Du pretended to be weak and said in a low voice:

"When I sealed Master's spiritual power, it was because this disciple didn't want to fight you, and was afraid you'd get hurt. But now, I'm afraid it can't be undone."

Lin Huaiqing's heart sank even further. Qin Du's injuries were so bad that even his acupoints couldn't be unsealed—if the bleeding wasn't stopped soon, he might not make it.

"Hang in there! Your master will stop the bleeding first."

With that, Lin Huaiqing started pulling at Qin Du's clothes.

Even Qin Du hadn't expected Lin Huaiqing to be this direct. What if Lin Huaiqing touched his body and found no wounds—just pig's blood splattered all over? Wouldn't the whole act come crashing down?!

Without a moment's hesitation, Qin Du grabbed the hands that were roaming all over his body and held them firmly in his grip.

"Master! Don't do that yet! This disciple has something to say!"

"Be good! Let me stop the bleeding first, and I'll listen to whatever you have to say!"

"But—" Qin Du choked up, "this disciple is afraid that if I don't say it now, there won't be a chance later."

If he didn't say it soon, Lin Huaiqing was going to figure it out!

Lin Huaiqing froze on the spot, his hands trembling slightly.

"Then say it. Your master is listening."

Qin Du struggled to sit up, tightly gripping Lin Huaiqing's blood-slicked hand, and said with deep affection:

"This disciple has admired Master for a long time. I beg Master to give me a proper title, so that I can serve Master openly and honorably for the rest of my life."

Lin Huaiqing, who had already been swept up in grief, was stunned by Qin Du's confession.

His brain completely short-circuited. It took him a long moment to react before he yanked his hand out of Qin Du's grip.

"You... what did you just say?"

"This disciple has loved Master for a long time. Can Master really not feel it at all?"

Honestly, Lin Huaiqing was starting to wonder if he'd heard that right.

"But—"

The next second, Lin Huaiqing's lips were sealed by a kiss. Unlike the last one—violent and brutal—this kiss was incredibly gentle, as if the person in his arms was the most precious, fragile treasure in the world.

When they parted, a thin strand of silver still connected their lips, a testament to the tender moment that had just passed.

Lin Huaiqing was breathing lightly, but his whole being seemed dazed.

"Does Master still not understand? Can Master truly not grasp this disciple's feelings?"

Lin Huaiqing stood there, dumbfounded. At this point, pretending not to understand was no longer an option. Qin Du's words were so direct—he was clearly confessing his love.

And yet, they were both men. On top of that, they were master and disciple.

Why on earth would Qin Du develop feelings for him?

To be fair, aside from that one night, he'd always treated Qin Du like a disciple, a junior.

He'd never once crossed that line.

His mind was a total mess right now—he couldn't think straight at all.

"Let me tend to your wounds first. If we don't stop the bleeding, you won't have much of a future left."

"Master, so you're saying yes?" Qin Du's tone was filled with surprise.

He really didn't seem like someone who was badly hurt.

But caught up in the moment, Lin Huaiqing didn't notice anything off. He retorted:

"When did I ever say..."

Right at that critical moment, a bunch of demon soldiers burst in through the door. The second they came in, they all dropped to their knees in unison.

"Reporting to the Sovereign! The rebels outside are taken care of. Let us escort you to get treated."

"Cough... all of you, get out for now." Qin Du cursed inwardly—why did these guys have to show up at the worst possible time?

"Reporting to the Sovereign, the military advisor said your injuries are serious and you need treatment right away—no delays!" And with that, ignoring Qin Du's objections, they hauled him right off the bed.

That left only Lin Huaiqing in the room, his mind feeling like it had been hit by a cannon blast.

Rebels?! So it wasn't actually the Xuantian Sect after all.

But Qin Du had just said...

And the blood on his hands—Lin Huaiqing brought it to his nose and took a sniff. It didn't smell like human blood, and it didn't smell like demon blood either.

Actually, it smelled kind of like... pig's blood...

"Why did you have them drag me out of there? Didn't you see I was at a crucial moment?!"

"Master, if you hadn't come out, Immortal Lord Lin would've turned you down. Anyway, you've said all you needed to say. Let the Immortal Lord mull it over tonight."

Qin Du nodded. "You have a point."

As if something suddenly occurred to him, he added: "Oh, and add a few charcoal braziers to Lin Huaiqing's room tonight. He's cold all over."

Especially when Lin Huaiqing's hand had been on his lower abdomen just now—it was so icy it made him shiver.

"Nice, Master, you've already gotten your hands all over the Immortal Lord? Moving fast!"