Li Zhameng stood before Xue Laohu's door, hesitating for a brief moment before raising his hand to gently knock. "Shizun," he called, his voice soft but clear.
"Come in," Xue Laohu hollered from within. Inside, he was pacing around his study, rifling through a chaotic spread of papers filled with scribbled notes, plans, and half-formed schemes. He had spent countless hours crafting ideas to push Shudu and Xue Tuzi's romance forward, yet each attempt felt like a failure. His brow furrowed in frustration as he shuffled the papers aside, hearing Li Zhameng's soft footsteps approach.
"Well…" Li Zhameng began, only to pause as he knelt on the floor, his gaze respectfully lowered. Xue Laohu let the papers slip from his hands, the sheets scattering at his feet, and lazily flicked open his fan, creating a light breeze as he approached. He stopped just short of Li Zhameng, close enough for the faint fragrance of sandalwood on his robes to linger in the air. His robes, carelessly draped, revealed a bare chest, the pale skin tracing along his collarbone and broad, defined shoulders—a stark yet graceful contrast to Shudu's powerful, muscular frame. Xue Laohu was breathtaking, his beauty almost ethereal, though grounded by a subtle, natural masculinity.
Li Zhameng dared a quick, upward glance, only to meet Xue Laohu's piercing gaze as he brushed a hand through his disheveled hair, strands falling haphazardly across his intense, discerning eyes. "It is as Shizun says—they truly do make a good match, but…" Li Zhameng's voice trailed off as he hesitated, his words catching in his throat.
"But what?" Xue Laohu repeated, his voice edged with irritation, his fan snapping shut with a sharp click.
Li Zhameng took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "But they truly despise each other, Shizun," he admitted with a sigh. "Are you certain that Shudu Gongzi and A-Tuzi are destined to be together?"
Xue Laohu took a deep, indignant breath, his chest rising with frustration. He snapped his fan shut with a sharp flick of his wrist, the sound echoing in the quiet room, before placing his hands defiantly on his hips. His gaze narrowed as he spoke with an air of finality, "If the oracle says they are, then they are. It's really not up to me." His tone was firm, but underneath it, there was a trace of resignation, as if he were trying to convince himself as much as Li Zhameng.
Li Zhameng, having heard the familiar sharpness in his Shizun's voice, slowly stood up, intending to proceed with the conversation. But before he could even take a single step, his foot caught on one of the paper scrolls scattered haphazardly across the floor. He let out a startled gasp as his body lurched forward, unable to regain his balance in time.
"Watch out!" Xue Laohu's voice rang out in panic, his reflexes quick despite the lazy air he often wore. He lunged forward, hands shooting out to grasp Li Zhameng by the waist, pulling him toward the bed to break their fall. The momentum of the unexpected collision sent them both tumbling onto the mattress, Xue Laohu hitting the bed's headboard with a dull thud. He groaned in discomfort, rubbing his head as a small, pained whine slipped from his lips.
"Ah," he hissed through gritted teeth, his face contorting in irritation. "Li Zhameng…"
Li Zhameng, still straddling Xue Laohu in the aftermath of their fall, immediately shifted his weight, concern flashing across his face. "Shizun, does it hurt?" His voice was soft, laden with worry. He gently reached up, his hand brushing through Xue Laohu's disheveled hair, feeling the pronounced bump already forming on his Shizun's head. His touch was careful, almost reverent, as he tried to soothe the pain.
Outside the bedroom, Lord Mao, who had been passing by, suddenly froze at the sound of what he could only describe as a stream of inappropriate obscenities drifting from within. His eyes widened in disbelief as he rushed to the door, flinging it open with force. The sight before him was nothing short of scandalous—Li Zhameng was perched atop Xue Laohu, his back arched as he tenderly rubbed his Shizun's head. Xue Laohu lay beneath him, his expression a mixture of discomfort and annoyance.
"Grandmaster Xue, explain!" Lord Mao's voice boomed, laced with disbelief and outrage. His eyes swept the scene before him, appalled at the sight of a master and his student so entangled, their proximity far too intimate for the decorum he expected.
"It's not what you think. It's not what you think," Xue Laohu repeated himself, his voice rising in irritation as he continued rubbing his head, trying to soothe the dull ache left by the impact. His posture was defensive, though the awkwardness of the situation was undeniable. Li Zhameng, still kneeling, flushed a deep shade of red, his hands instinctively flying to his face as his thoughts raced wildly. Shizun and I—an inappropriate, intimate relationship? The very idea made his heart skip, and he inwardly squealed, the thought both thrilling and romantic.
His mind spiraled, imagining scenarios far beyond the reality of the situation. He couldn't help but think—Did Shizun… want to have his way with me? His cheeks burned hotter at the thought, and a frenzied excitement began to stir deep within him, his eyes reddening with a mix of shame and internal anticipation. Was this his plan all along—to use the excuse of discussing Shudu and Xue Tuzi's romance to coax me into bed with him? The very idea of his Shizun being so daring, so filthy in his wants, sent a jolt of something electric through him. He glanced up briefly at Xue Laohu's handsome, boyish face, his heart racing in his chest, he felt an overwhelming mix of confusion and desire.
"Li Zhameng, please excuse us," Xue Laohu grumbled, his voice tinged with exasperation as he slowly pulled himself off the bed, clearly eager to end this uncomfortable moment. Li Zhameng, still dazed and flustered by his errant thoughts, stammered in response.
"Yes, Shizun," he managed, his voice trembling slightly. He quickly bowed before retreating, trying to escape the suffocating tension and the swirling confusion in his mind.
As the door closed behind him, Lord Mao, who had been standing in the doorway with an incredulous look on his face, cocked an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between the two men. His expression quickly turned into a glare as he turned his attention to Xue Laohu. "You've got him all flustered now," he said, his tone heavy with disapproval. "Grandmaster Xue, you know relationships between master and student are strictly prohibited at Sect Mount Dingbu."
Xue Laohu, now standing and brushing himself off, sighed in frustration. "Yes, yes, I know," he muttered, his face flushed with both embarrassment and irritation. He gave a nervous laugh, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm telling you, there's nothing between us. You just walked in on an odd scene, that's all." He paused, his expression shifting to one of clear exasperation as he continued. "I'll clear up any misunderstandings with my disciples, but there's no romantic interest on my part. For fuck's sake, they're my disciples! Any teacher who goes after their students is disgusting."
His words were sharp, tinged with a venomous distaste that only seemed to heighten the discomfort in the room. In the modern world, Yi Ming mused internally, a relationship like that would be seen as sickening—there's a term for it, even. He rolled his eyes at the thought, a brief flash of distaste flickering across his features.
Despite the age gap, and even though he inhabited a body that had lived for over a thousand years, Yi Ming had no interest in Li Zhameng, who, was twenty five compared to his nineteen year old original self. In his eyes, Li Zhameng's thoughts were nothing more than delusional.
Shudu tossed and turned in his bed, the ache in his body radiating from every bruise and scrape, each one a reminder of his recent beating. His eyes fluttered open to the soft, chilling touch of Xue Tuzi's fingers brushing against his cheek. Xue Tuzi loomed above him, his gaze icy and unyielding, like a storm about to break. Shudu's brows knit together in irritation as he muttered, "You…"
But before he could finish, Xue Tuzi's finger pressed against Shudu's bruised lips, tracing the fresh scabs with a kind of cruel fascination. Shudu's breath hitched as he felt the rough edge of the scab yield to the pressure. Xue Tuzi leaned down, his lips hovering just beside Shudu's ear, his breath cold yet strangely magnetic as he whispered, "Where does it hurt?"
A strange warmth flooded Shudu's chest at the question, cutting through the pain. A smile spread across his face, stretching wide and almost childlike, as he raised a trembling hand to point at his groin. "Here," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.
Without a word, Xue Tuzi's hand settled over Shudu's groin, fingers pressing into his skin with an unexpected tenderness, massaging in slow, deliberate jerks. Shudu's heartbeat quickened with the touch, each pulse a mix of pain and excitement that sent a shiver down his spine.
Shudu moaned, gazing at Xue Tuzi with wanton eyes, that followed his every move. Xue Tuzi gathered his hair, tying it up on a high bun before settling in and sitting on Shudu. He wore a malicious smile, as he grinded on Shudu's hard shaft, his hips shifting back and forth forcing Shudu into frequent pants.
"Take off your pants," Shudu breathed, his voice laced with a barely-contained excitement that trembled in the air between them. His chest rose and fell with shallow, rapid breaths, each one charged with anticipation.
Xue Tuzi's gaze softened, his wide, doe-like eyes staring back at Shudu sensually. His lips, full and inviting, pouted slightly, drawing attention to the delicate mole nestled at the corner of his bottom lip—a tiny dark accent against his otherwise pale skin. He tilted his head just so, the light catching on his features, highlighting the softness that seemed out of place in this intense moment. His voice was a low murmur, almost a whisper, as he asked, "Do you want me to?"
Shudu's pulse quickened, as he saw Xue Tuzi place his hands on his waist undoing his belt, from a distance he could hear his name be repeatedly called followed by a few harsh shakes he flung his eyes open only to realize it was a dream.
"Hey, you're awake." Xue Laohu's voice was soft, his smile warm as he held up a bowl of dark, bitter medicine.
Shudu stirred, a lazy grin spreading across his face as he reached out to brush his fingers over Xue Laohu's hand. "I was dreaming of a beauty, but I awoke to a handsome god." His eyes gleamed with a playful spark, savoring the moment.
Xue Laohu rolled his eyes, though the hint of a smile still lingered as he lifted the bowl toward Shudu. "Here. Drink up."
Shudu's expression soured instantly as he eyed the medicine. "It's too bitter. I require something sweet." He leaned forward, his gaze darting to Xue Laohu's lips. "Perhaps your lips will do."
Before he could close the distance, Xue Laohu jerked back, forcing his head sharply to the edge of the table. A loud thud echoed through the room as he crumpled forward, muttering in frustration. Why does this keep happening to me? Yi Ming thought, banging his head once more on the table in dismay. First Li Zhameng, now Shudu? Who's next-Xue Tuzi? His inner exasperation flared. Fuck!
Shudu froze, eyes widening in shock as he watched the self-inflicted injury. He hadn't thought his flirtation would push Xue Laohu to such an extreme. Am I that despicable? The thought prickled at his pride and stung his heart, leaving him silent and troubled. His brows drew together, his gaze narrowing in frustration.
Before he could find the words to respond, Xue Tuzi burst into the room, his gaze instantly zeroing in on the fresh, bleeding gash on his Shizun's forehead. "Shizun!" Without a second's hesitation, Xue Tuzi crossed the room and grasped Shudu by the throat, his fingers clenching with a fierce protectiveness. Xue Laohu stumbled forward, eyes widening. "Stop! Stop! I did this to myself. Let him go." His voice was firm, breaking through the tension that had filled the air.
Xue Tuzi released Shudu immediately, though his jaw clenched with lingering irritation. He took out a handkerchief, his movements softening as he reached for Xue Laohu. Gently, he dabbed at the wound, lifting Xue Laohu's face tenderly, his touch a stark contrast to the cold fury he'd shown only moments before.
From the bed, Shudu watched the exchange, a heavy ache forming in his chest as he clutched the sheets tightly in his fists. His gaze wavered, and a faint shimmer glistened in his eyes as the rejection settled in, sharp and unmistakable, filling him with a silent longing and an ache he couldn't ignore.
Blah Blah Blah:
About the twin snakes, the female snake is named Si and the male snake is named Yinmai. Shudu wanted a taste of Yinmai's venom, as he is a Gu expert and specializes in poison. Yinmai agreed as long as Shudu would marry him, but Shudu tasted the poison and left.