Chapter 48: The Absurd Night

Chapter 48: A Wanton Night

In the dim candlelight of the bedroom, the warm yellow glow softened Su Hang's features. He released his grip on the bedding wrapped around him, lifting his gaze, his moist, glistening eyes cautiously fixed on Immortal Venerable Lingqing.

Su Hang extended his fair, slender fingertips, his lips trembling slightly as he leaned forward, trying to draw closer to the Immortal Venerable Lingqing, who stood motionless. The half-concealing bedding wrapped around him slowly slipped down with his sudden movements, revealing a body as smooth and lustrous as polished jade.

Under the flickering candlelight, his bare body was laid fully bare before Immortal Venerable Lingqing.

His fingers gently hooked onto the Immortal Venerable's ice-cold hand. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered softly, "Immortal Venerable, you..."

Do you... despise me now?

A trace of caution and fear crept into Su Hang's tone. He waited for a long moment, only to find that Immortal Venerable Lingqing remained rooted in place, not a hint of emotion shifting in his expression.

His heart seized, his body trembling uncontrollably. He bit his lower lip, a hint of panic flickering in his eyes as he gazed at the Immortal Venerable.

This was the only thing the Su family had ever taught him.

He didn't know what he had done wrong.

He didn't want to be abandoned.

Su Hang's eyes glistened, the corners flushing a delicate red. The strength in his fingers, still hooked around the Immortal Venerable's hand, slowly slackened. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, thinking that even the last shred of himself was unworthy of the Immortal Venerable's notice.

His fingertips slipped from the Immortal Venerable's cold hand. Just as Su Hang was about to withdraw, his fingers were suddenly seized in a fierce, crushing grip, as if intending to grind his fingers into dust.

Su Hang looked up to find Immortal Venerable Lingqing staring intently at him. Desire roiled in the Venerable's eyes, his breathing growing deep and heavy. His bare, unguarded gaze seemed to sear Su Hang's alluring form into his very soul.

"Immortal Venerable?"

A hint of confusion tinged Su Hang's voice. His expression was youthful, his voice tender, yet his pale, slender frame radiated a soft luster. His lips looked thoroughly kissed—rosy and swollen. Seeing that the Venerable did not respond immediately, he leaned in even closer, his warm breath carrying a hint of moisture, brushing against Immortal Venerable Lingqing like a curious puppy nuzzling.

Innocent, and yet utterly seductive.

It stirred the most vulgar, depraved desires in Immortal Venerable Lingqing.

Su Hang, seated on the bed, seemed to sense a chill and trembled slightly—but was suddenly pushed down onto the bed by Immortal Venerable Lingqing, his body splayed across the bright red bedding.

Startled by the sudden push, Su Hang let out a soft, involuntary moan. Instinctively, he tried to push against Immortal Venerable Lingqing, but the Venerable yanked his hair back, exposing his smooth, slender neck.

"Immortal Venerable? Ah—"

Su Hang had just been calling out to Immortal Venerable Lingqing with a bewildered, kitten-like cry when, the very next instant, his neck was bitten hard.

He couldn't help but cry out in shock, tears flooding his eyes. A single, crystalline tear slid down his cheek, landing on the Venerable's face and drawing a soft chuckle from him.

The wind and snow raged outside, yet tonight the moon was exceptionally bright, casting a silvery glow over the snow-covered ground, making it seem even more starkly beautiful than usual.

*

Su Hang lay in bed, roused by the harsh light. His face was pale, his hair disheveled, with dried traces at the corners of his eyes... and marks on his neck... as if he'd been...

He struggled to sit up, and the ache between his legs... caused him to let out a few involuntary sounds. A thin sheen of sweat immediately broke out on his smooth forehead.

Su Hang propped himself up against the bed, his brows slightly furrowed, his mind a complete blank.

He... last night... with Immortal Venerable Lingqing...

At that thought, Su Hang tightened the bedding around himself, his round eyes darting around, his cheeks suddenly burning...

How could he have... just because he wanted the Venerable to look at him a few moments longer, he had... seduced the Venerable?

The two of them, master and disciple, committing such an act—Su Hang dared not imagine what severe damage this would do to the spotless reputation of the pure and noble Immortal Venerable Lingqing.

He wanted to pretend nothing had happened, but every scene from last night seemed seared into his mind as if by some spell, replaying endlessly.

And worse still, a voice within him whispered: he had only Immortal Venerable Lingqing left now. The Venerable was the best, the kindest person in the world. If... if he were to ask the Venerable to take responsibility, surely the Venerable wouldn't refuse...

Su Hang's thoughts wavered, as if two little figures were battling inside him.

On one side stood the Venerable's reputation—the Venerable had been so good to him, how could he possibly...

On the other side stood his own selfish desires—wishing for his beloved to look at him just once more, by any means necessary...

Just as Su Hang was locked in this internal struggle, a soft, slightly hurried footstep sounded from outside. Su Hang looked up at the sound, instinctively guessing the newcomer was Immortal Venerable Lingqing. But not knowing how to face him, he simply lay back down and feigned sleep.

The footsteps drew closer, finally stopping beside Su Hang. It seemed the visitor wanted to check if Su Hang was awake, as he slowly leaned down.

Su Hang's eyelashes trembled, his heartbeat quickening instantly. He could even feel the man's warm, shallow breath, yet he dared not open his eyes.

"Heh."

A soft laugh rang out abruptly. Then Su Hang felt the figure seem to move away, and the intense sensation of being watched vanished instantly.

"Still not awake, huh? This Venerable will have to come back later."

It was Immortal Venerable Lingqing's voice, carrying a hint of lightness and... contentment?

The Venerable seemed to be in an unusually good mood today.

At least not as cold as he'd been before.

Hearing the footsteps growing more distant, Su Hang opened his eyes without hesitation, letting out a quiet sigh of relief—only to hear the Venerable's soft chuckle right behind him.

He instinctively turned his head at the sound and caught sight of Immortal Venerable Lingqing standing directly before him. Silver hair cascading like a waterfall, white robes like snow, and that usually cold, expressionless face now wore a faint, meaningful smile.

Su Hang awkwardly lowered his gaze, raising a hand to scratch his nose. He didn't know what to say or what to do, his eyes darting everywhere, silently praying the Immortal Venerable wouldn't bring up last night.

Seeing Su Hang's look of resigned desperation, Immortal Venerable Lingqing found it rather amusing. His gaze then drifted, almost unconsciously, over the pale skin visible above Su Hang's bedding.

The red bedding did not conceal the body he had so fervently claimed last night, leaving faint pink marks half-hidden beneath...

Immortal Venerable Lingqing decided not to look any further.

He averted his gaze, a little awkwardly, shifted his posture, and returned to his usual aloof demeanor.

As for last night, Immortal Venerable Lingqing was indeed somewhat taken aback.

But what shocked him wasn't Su Hang's actions themselves, but that Su Hang had made such a move so soon...

He wondered if he had... pushed Su Hang too far.

Zhihua's departure, the loss of Su Hang's family, combined with his own cold attitude—these should have been taken step by step...

He had been momentarily overcome with anger when he saw Su Hang getting close to Zhihua that day...

And Su Hang, completely unaware of the thoughts running through Immortal Venerable Lingqing's mind, had been haunted since childhood by those voices that came and went—those disgusting, sticky, desire-laden voices that coiled around him like venomous snakes.

Su Hang had always believed this ability was his curse. If everyone's inner thoughts were like that, he would rather not hear them at all.

That belief had only faded after meeting Immortal Venerable Lingqing. By the Venerable's side, it was as if the whole world fell silent. He didn't know what technique the Venerable used, but Su Hang could no longer hear those filthy words.

But now, he only wished he could hear the thoughts of Immortal Venerable Lingqing, to know what the Immortal Venerable was thinking at this moment.

Su Hang's handsome brows furrowed tightly, the seed of desire in his heart on the verge of bursting forth. His feelings for the Immortal Venerable seemed to have intensified after last night's reckless affair. He opened his mouth several times, his gaze toward Immortal Venerable Lingqing growing increasingly resolute.

"Im-Immortal Venerable! Yesterday... yesterday we, I think, I want, I want..."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Su Hang's speech came out stumbling and incoherent, his breathing growing rapid, as if his tongue was tied in knots, unable to form a complete sentence.

Immortal Venerable Lingqing's thoughts were interrupted by Su Hang's sudden voice. He raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his lips, a flicker of surprise in his eyes—surprised that Su Hang would dare to broach yesterday's matter so directly. He had assumed he would be the one to bring it up first.

A thin layer of sweat broke out on Su Hang's forehead. Finally, he simply closed his eyes, lowered his head, and blurted out the words without any regard for consequences: "Immortal Venerable, I will take responsibility for you!"

It seemed that sentence had drained all of Su Hang's strength. After saying it, he hung his head low, his entire body flushing red as if he had a fever, his eyes squeezed tightly shut, not daring to meet Immortal Venerable Lingqing's eyes.

"Heh." Only when he heard a soft laugh did Su Hang dare to sneak a peek at Immortal Venerable Lingqing's expression. It seemed the Immortal Venerable was truly delighted today—the cold aura around him had melted away, replaced by a touch of warmth. He spoke softly, "Alright."

Su Hang was stunned. He abruptly opened his eyes and lifted his head, staring straight at Immortal Venerable Lingqing, completely unabashed, as if completely floored by the Venerable's words.

"What? Reluctant?" Immortal Venerable Lingqing saw Su Hang's reaction, the amusement in his eyes deepening. His tone even carried a hint of teasing, as if he were poking fun at Su Hang.

"No, no!" Su Hang snapped back to reality. Ignoring his current state—naked and covered in bruises—he forgot the pain entirely, flinging himself into Immortal Venerable Lingqing's arms, rubbing his face against the Venerable's chest, a grin he couldn't hold back spreading across his face.

What could be happier than having the person you love accept your feelings?

Just as Su Hang was lost in his happiness, a voice suddenly rang out slowly.

'Too obedient. If I chained him up on Falling Snow Peak, would he cry?'

Su Hang: ???

His joyful expression gradually faded. The voice just now was indeed Immortal Venerable Lingqing's, but he clearly hadn't felt the Venerable speak out loud.

Su Hang pulled back from Immortal Venerable Lingqing's embrace, looking up at him with a look of utter disbelief.

Immortal Venerable Lingqing merely raised an eyebrow. His lips clearly didn't move, yet his voice cut straight into Su Hang's mind.

'Hm? Found out? Then what should I do?'

==========Author's Note:==========

Thank you to the precious readers who've followed this far! Love you all so much!

Thank you to reader 83758344 for the royal vote! Love you so much!

Let me out! Let me out! I really can't revise anymore. I don't even know where the scenery descriptions went wrong, so I just turned everything into punctuation. I never want to see... descriptions again.

You heartless, cold-hearted people, ugh, let me out!!

I can't revise anymore, I really can't. There are no banned words in it either.

Where else could there be violating words? I didn't even write anything below the neck. This is the seventh time! Everything's basically been turned into punctuation marks!!!

Eighth time, only the subjects remain! And what does it even mean when scenery descriptions are marked in red? I can't figure out what the scenery is even hinting at???

Deleted everything, deleted the punctuation too.