"It"s because you don"t dare kill me isn"t it? After all, my life is much more precious than this man"s. Imperial brother still needs me to sit upon that chair, but his worth is based only on the premise that Imperial brother likes him. Apart from that, he is nothing."
Bai Xiuran"s fingers ran through Bu Bai"s inky hair and looked at his quick-witted appearance, even if it had lost its vitality. He stooped down to the side of his ear and whispered, "I still like you, do you believe this?" Like that pair of eyes that are as pure as water and like possessing the person who has these eyes even more. However, we are doomed to be unable to be together. So this sort of outcome is the best result for me.
"If Imperial brother won"t speak, then I will take it as tacit acquiescence. I will take this person back with me first." Bai Xiuran laughed and used his hand to pull out the sword in his shoulder. The edge of the sword cut his flesh, revealing his bones vaguely.
Bu Bai lay in the crook of this badly damaged arm silently. He didn"t speak, nor move. He was serene. Bai Xiuran felt like he had probably won against Bai Yu this time. Won with his determination to make this man pay, even if he had to destroy everything. He knew what he wanted right from the start, but Bai Yu did not. Even now, he still didn"t understand what the man within his arms was to him.
Otherwise, by virtue of his ability, he wouldn"t have only come out of his mood now.
Bai Xiuran gazed at the lifeless Bu Bai and asked, "If you had seen this scene before, would it have still been worth it?"
"I"m afraid that you"re only now realizing that the scenery before your eyes has never been the same as ours."
Many people witnessed this scene, but none of them came out to stop it. Everyone"s eyes were focused on their master. They may only move with Bai Yu"s command.
"Capture him for me."
A clear and melodious voice sounded out. Bai Xiuran was instantly surrounded by countless swords. Many of them pointed directly at his vital parts. His eyebrows wrinkled and he knew that he would be unable to take Bu Bai out today.
Crossing over layer upon layer of armed soldiers, Bai Yu arrived before Bai Xiuran. In spite of his unthreatening resistance, he s.n.a.t.c.hed the man back into his embrace and guarded him closely.
"Send the emperor back to the palace." Bai Yu commanded and then carried Bu Bai away alone. Dark sleeves glided through the air in a curve. The cold winter breeze was unable to blow away people"s sorrows.
Within Bai Xiuran"s black eyes, his retreating figure made him seem as though he were isolated from the world. He burst out laughing suddenly, and it was like there was a great happiness contained inside.
Bai Yu, are you in pain? Then I can be at ease.
After tidying up the bloodstains on his body a little, Bai Xiuran was once again that elegant and graceful emperor. And as though he had never placed anything within his eyes, his black eyes were completely pure. Black and pure.
Bai Yu wandered within his mansion for a long time. He didn"t know where he wanted to go, nor did he want to go anywhere. He soberly watched as he fell into a terrible mood because of the death of his lover.
Without reason, not knowing how to stop and rest. This kind of feeling was indescribably familiar. It was as if he had walked like this millions upon millions of years ago but now, he had returned to that despair and desolation.
Unconsciously, he had walked to Bu Bai"s courtyard. The verdant bamboo was covered with a thin layer of snow that drifted up in the winter wind. It fell upon Bu Bai"s b.l.o.o.d.y red waist and was dyed by the color. It was no longer its original pure white but it magnified the chill in the air to the deepest level and even his soul became lonesomely cold.
Lin Lang was still standing by the door in the same position. When she saw that her master had returned, she hurriedly approached.
Upon seeing the obviously serious injury on Bu Bai"s body, a thread of intolerance flashed through her eyes. However, it was very quick and before others could see clearly, it had already disappeared.
Lin Lang was an intelligent person. Without needing any instructions from Bai Yu, she already opened the door and ushered them in before she took a step back, closing the door gently, and then departed far away from the courtyard.
Thus, when Bu Bai woke up, the only person he saw was Bai Yu. A certain person who was usually very solemn was dead earnestly gazing at the wound on his lower waist. His entire person permeated with a decadent and dispirited air. Bu Bai couldn"t endure it and called out, "Bai Yu."
The astonishment in Bai Yu"s eyes merely flashed by. Soon after, he very naturally felt Bu Bai"s forehead. It was warm and soft, exactly the same as the tactile sensation from within his arms last night. His heart was instantly settled.
"How are you feeling?"
"Just excessive blood loss. It"s not much of a problem."
"That"s good."
"You don"t have anything you want to ask me?" For example, why did someone who had just died come back to life?
"I only care about the result. In the end, you came back. Why and how you returned to me is not important."
Bu Bai cleverly nodded his head. Naturally, him not being investigated wasn"t a bad thing.
"Bai Yu, I want to ask you, if Bai Xiuran insists on demanding for me, would you agree?"
The man"s eyes were fixed on him and his uneasy expectation could be seen with just a glance.
Bai Yu"s heart inexplicably became soft.
"I won"t. Since I brought you back, I will be responsible for you for a lifetime. This is my promise."
"Then can I ask for more?" Bu Bai paused for a moment, then said, "I want to stand behind you, just like a real wife."
"You"re badly injured. Take a rest first."
Bai Yu helped him lie down and covered him with the blanket. His palm brushed across his eyes. His refusal could be felt clearly even across the palm of his hand.
However, Bu Bai smiled. He didn"t want to cry. He had shed enough tears already and would rather face everything with a smile. There was a thread in his heart. Within it was the pride that he would never lose no matter what the case was.
Ever since that day, Bai Yu disappeared. He vanished from Bu Bai"s life. Whenever he wanted to find him, there would always be people obstructing him in every way. After this happened many more times, Bu Bai finally understood that man"s intentions.
"Boss, he won"t meet me." Bu Bai was a little aggrieved. He had tried his best to approach Bai Yu and gain his trust. However, he didn"t understand why every time he felt that he had taken a step closer, Bai Yu pushed him away even further.
"Just let nature take its course and leave it be." Regarding the missions and such, Boss had never considered how to complete them. The quality of its hosts had always been too high before and he had been unable to intervene from the very start. Over time, he gave up his own ego.
Moreover, his luck in choosing people was considerably good. Although Bu Bai appeared—and was actually—as weak as a fowl, he fortunately had an innate aura for completing missions and always managed to kill the villain.
Thus, he wasn"t very worried this time around either. Only, that person"s air felt somewhat familiar. It seemed like things weren"t as simple as they appeared to be.
"Bu Bai, I want to make a trip back first. You can settle these days yourself."
After saying this, Boss disappeared without a trace, not giving Bu Bai a chance to even respond.
Bu Bai had always done things as he wished freely and the dull days of recuperating didn"t suit him. Most of all, after Boss left him, things were even more quiet and lonesome.
Lin Lang didn"t like talking. Sometimes, she could watch the spring water for half a day, devoid of the adorableness belonging to girls her age. Bu Bai always couldn"t help but tease her, hoping that she might laugh and add a bit of brightness to these days. Unfortunately, he never succeeded.
However, when he intentionally got Lin Lang"s attention, he always received a somewhat cold look or tightly wrinkled brows. Bu Bai inexplicably felt somewhat guilty and no longer disturbed her, only stealthily peeking at her a few times when he was extremely bored.
However, he was unaware of the fact that those few peeks were all noticed by Lin Lang. Only, she refused to answer and deliberately ignored them.
The first person who was willing to step upon the snow at the doorway and destroy Bu Bai"s lonesome life was unexpectedly Yun Qing whom he had only met once. Bu Bai remembered the wide palms that had stretched out towards him within the darkness and that battered and exhausted appearance that he saw when he opened his eyes. He really appreciated his kindness.
When he recognized him, he became a bit enthusiastic. His pair of twinkling eyes looked at him, the corners of his mouth lifted up slightly, filled with three parts of a smile and seven parts of warmth.
"Thank you very much for that day, Yun Qing."
Yun Qing, who had just entered the room was stunned by this sentence. "You know who I am?"
"I remembered your appearance on that day and found your name by asking around." There was a bit of pride within Bu Bai"s eyes, seeming like they were filled with stars.
Yun Qing was even more stunned.
He mocked his own determination for a moment then walked forward and sat down before Bu Bai"s bed, maintaining a proper distance.
"I heard that you were ill and took advantage of my father coming to visit the regent to come and see. How are things? Are you still good?"
"Much better."
Bu Bai secretly hid the wound on his waist. He smiled at Yun Qing, saying that he didn"t want his benefactor to worry. After experiencing those things that weren"t what people would normally expect, finding such a warm-hearted character, Bu Bai was very happy.
After becoming happy, he began to chat endlessly. Bu Bai really was extremely lonely. Having caught a person, he couldn"t help but say everything on his mind. Moreover, Yun Qing didn"t stop him and was a very attentive and earnest listener. From time to time, he would ask an appropriate question and make Bu Bai laugh.
Before he left, Bu Bai caught his sleeve with two fingers and asked, "Will you come again next time?"
The defenses around Yun Qing"s heart loosened once again and he actually agreed to this rude request. "I"ll come to visit you when I have time."
Only then did Bu Bai release him. His brows bent as he watched the man walk far away, his heart feeling that this friend was really good.
Yun Qing"s pace was very slow. It took him a long time to walk out of Bu Bai"s courtyard. It was only when he was far away that he opened his tightened hands which were already covered with tepid beads of sweat.
He found himself in a state of wavering the entire time. He longed to leave and yet also longed to stay. It wasn"t like him to be so tangled. A single meeting had attracted him thoroughly. Yet against reason, the other person was really and truly unguarded, looking at him like he would a friend. He felt ashamed yet at the same time, couldn"t help but feel a glimmer of ecstasy. For, only such a one-sided corruption was the safest and most long-lasting and he was unwilling to never see him again.
Translated by StormFrost
Edited by Misogi