Chapter 164 - Dawn

Xiao Chiye gazed at Shen Zechuan, their distance infinitesimal. His voice was raspy as he murmured, "I love you so much."

A shudder ran through Shen Zechuan. It was the tremor of defeat. In the dimness, he was like captured night, enveloping Xiao Chiye even as it spread. He was held too tightly, revealing everything in his eyes to Xiao Chiye.

Xiao Chiye leaned closer, their lips almost touching. With malicious intent, he whispered wickedly, "I love you so much."

Shen Zechuan felt himself being corrupted by Xiao Chiye's words. They had pierced him repeatedly. There was nowhere for his pretense to hide; the last vestiges of "Shen Zechuan" were laid bare before Xiao Chiye. This was a side of himself that Shen Zechuan could not even bear to face—his hypocrisy, cunning, and malevolence were swept away by the tide of desire.

Shen Zechuan gasped for breath.

The word "love" meant giving without reserve.

Xiao Chiye's gaze made Shen Zechuan's eyes mist over. As Shen Zechuan leaned against the table's edge, the sensation of being filled rushed through his body, making him whimper softly as he clung to Xiao Chiye's warmth without restraint.

Xiao Chiye bound Shen Zechuan's wrists together. Above his waistline was a crescent moon, which Xiao Chiye used to press against him, exerting absolute force with each thrust. It was as though he wanted to carve the words "I love you so much" into Shen Zechuan's flesh and embed them deep within his bones.

The jade beads glistened with moisture.

Outside the military tent, patrol teams moved about, and laughter echoed not too far away, carried by the wandering wind. But all that belonged to another world, a world that didn't include Shen Zechuan. All he could hear was the sound of the table being pushed aside, the waves of their union, and Xiao Chiye's heartbeat.

Each beat said, "I love you so much."

It was too much for Shen Zechuan to bear; he felt as if he would overflow, whether it was with sound or something else. Trembling, he couldn't even stand steady. In the depths of his voiceless state, he reached out his finger and gently hooked onto the corner of Xiao Chiye's clothing.

That one hook tugged at Xiao Chiye's heartstrings.

Xiao Chiye kissed Shen Zechuan on the nape of his neck, as if he were enfolding him in his embrace. He was fierce yet tender all at once. Shen Zechuan leaned back against Xiao Chiye, their bodies fused together from their chests to every other part.

Their waists formed a beautiful curve.

Xiao Chiye released Shen Zechuan from his restraints, but Shen Zechuan let go of the table's edge. There was nothing in this world he could rely on except Xiao Chiye. Xiao Chiye whispered something into Shen Zechuan's ear, as if goading him on and praising him simultaneously.

Shen Zechuan was a precious pearl.

Xiao Chiye kissed him again.

Tears welled up in the corners of Shen Zechuan's eyes. With dampened lashes, he tried his utmost to suppress a quiver in his voice as he called out softly, "Aye."

Xiao Chiye buried his face in Shen Zechuan's neck, drunk with desire. He had been constantly haunted by this wicked man's whimsical chanting of his name, each utterance like an invitation. He nuzzled back, as if just awakened, responding naturally, "Mm?"

"Ce An," Shen Zechuan tilted his head, their noses almost touching, calling out innocently, as if learning to speak, "I... love... you... so much."

Xiao Chiye's grip on Shen Zechuan's waist lost its restraint. His mouth was parched, and he struggled to pull away, lifting the man off the ground swiftly. With a few steps, he reached the bed and turned Shen Zechuan around.

Xiao Chiye took Shen Zechuan's hand and kissed it deeply. They faced each other, wanting to see every unflattering and beautiful expression in each other's eyes. Xiao Chiye pushed aside Shen Zechuan's damp hair, their imperfections fitting together seamlessly. All the wickedness, peculiarity, even cruelty between them vanished, leaving no gaps.

They indulged in secret intimacy, reveling in their joy.

Amidst the wind on the battlefield, their sweat flowed ceaselessly.

* * *

At the third hour of the morning, Xiao Chiye carried Shen Zechuan across a frosty field.

"Hurry," Shen Zechuan wrapped his cloak tightly around his neck, burying his face in Xiao Chiye's back, his voice muffled, "Run."

"I'll die from exhaustion," Xiao Chiye jostled him playfully.

Shen Zechuan tugged at the small braid Xiao Chiye had tucked into his collar, saying, "I'm exhausted."

It was still early, and the eastern mountain range obstructed some of the view. The wind was strong, and the two of them huddled under the same cloak. Before dawn, they had already left Camp One. To the north stood a small watchtower, now abandoned, which was where Xiao Chiye had come.

Huddling together under the cloak, they sat on the dilapidated watchtower, facing east to await the sunrise.

"I thought you were here to propose," Xiao Chiye said, tilting Shen Zechuan's head back onto his shoulder. "I was almost an old man waiting for you."

Shen Zechuan was sensitive to the cold, and with such a fierce wind, he used half a finger to lift the edge of the cloak before slipping inside, wishing he could bury himself in Xiao Chiye's chest to escape the wind.

"I'll wait until you're eighty," Shen Zechuan replied. "Your father won't be able to cut me down anymore."

Xiao Chiye pressed his chin against the top of Shen Zechuan's head through the cloak, saying, "You're going to be a marquis someday, so you should have the courage to elope." He continued, thinking, "The old man appreciates you."

Did Shen Zechuan truly want an assassination unit along the Tea Stone River? Such a team required superhuman self-restraint, given how useful it would be. How long would Shen Zechuan need to prepare for this? After putting in so much effort to succeed, the question returned to the beginning: Could this team remain stationed along the Tea Stone River? Did Shen Zechuan genuinely only want to use them there? It was a blade for wanton killing, its darkness reflecting another side of Shen Zechuan.

If not for Xiao Chiye.

Xiao Chiye pulled down the cloak slightly, revealing Shen Zechuan, and said, "They're here."

Shen Zechuan gazed eastward with half-open eyes, while Xiao Chiye lifted his chin directly.

Dark clouds billowed across the horizon, and the wind raged through the dimming sky. Suddenly, golden rays pierced through the gaps, resembling arrows of light darting through the clouds. A sun emerged from the cloud waves as if carrying immense weight, crushing the flowing clouds into dust and rising grandly. The vast grasslands were instantly illuminated, and the thin frost ignited, shimmering and sprinkling across the earth. The withered grass seemed to glow in their final moments, and the sound of surging tides echoed clearly in their ears.

"Xiao Ce'an," Shen Zechuan said inexplicably.

Xiao Chiye prodded his cheek.

Shen Zechuan held onto him, revealing the red marks on his wrists. He seemed to be pondering something.

The sky was rippling with resplendent golden waves, and the blue resembled soaked xuan paper, soon dyeing the space above their heads. The snow-capped peak of the Hongyan Mountain loomed white amidst the clouds, and an eagle circled overhead, crying out loudly. Both Shen Zechuan and Xiao Chiye were bathed in golden light by the wind.

The wind was so fierce that Shen Zechuan felt as if he would be swept away.

But Xiao Chiye stood firmly behind him, gradually taking hold of his hand.

"Whatever you want," Xiao Chiye whispered, "you won't fall with me here."