Li Zhameng glanced back at his Shizun, as Yin Huli gently held his hand and led him down the dimly lit hallway. His heart was heavy with unanswered questions about his mother, and despite the uncertainty swirling in his chest, he didn't mind the idea of sharing a room—or even a bed—with the enigmatic fox demon. The questions burned brighter than his doubts.
The room they entered was modest but warm, the soft glow of a single lantern casting flickering shadows on the walls. As soon as they were inside, Yin Huli pulled down his hood and unwrapped his scarf with practiced ease. His silver hair tumbled free, cascading down his back like a shimmering waterfall, the light catching on the fine strands. His velvet fox ears twitched, immediately picking up the sound of footsteps pacing outside in the hallway.
Yin Huli's sharp frown deepened. "What now?" he muttered under his breath, tail flicking in irritation as he swung the door open with force.
Xue Laohu stood there, his face a mask of barely contained anger. "You are not sleeping in this room!" he barked, pointing an accusing finger at Yin Huli, who leaned nonchalantly against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Tch." Yin Huli clicked his tongue dismissively, turning his head slightly, his expression filled with disinterest.
"Shizun, please!" Li Zhameng quickly stepped between them, his voice soft but urgent. "I—I don't mind sharing a room with Yin Gongzi—"
"Daddy," Yin Huli interrupted smoothly, a smirk curling his lips.
Xue Laohu's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. "Why you—" he started, but his words choked off as he audibly exhaled through his nose, steam practically rising from his ears.
Li Zhameng looked nervously between them, his gaze lingering on his Shizun's rigid posture. "I… I have so many questions to ask him about my mother. If it's okay with Shizun, I'd really like him to keep me company," he finished quietly, his voice almost pleading.
Xue Laohu froze, his expression shifting. For a moment, the conflict in his eyes was clear. If he said no, he would look like a tyrant in Li Zhameng's eyes, but if he agreed, he couldn't shake the thought of the lecherous fox demon taking advantage of the situation.
"Fine," Xue Laohu finally ground out, though his voice carried a frustrated edge. He glared daggers at Yin Huli, his stare so sharp it could have sliced through steel. "But if he tries anything funny, call me immediately." With that, he spun on his heel, the hem of his robes snapping behind him as he stalked away.
The door closed with a soft click, and Yin Huli's smirk widened into something more amused. "Your master is quite… impotent," he said, his tone laced with mockery. His tail swished lazily behind him as he turned to face Li Zhameng.
"Please don't speak poorly of Shizun," Li Zhameng said softly, lowering his gaze to the floor. "He's just worried about me, that's all. If it weren't for him…" He hesitated, his voice catching. "If it weren't for Shizun, who knows what would've happened to me."
Yin Huli raised an eyebrow at his defense, but for once, he held his tongue. His gaze lingered on Li Zhameng's downcast expression before he sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "Fair enough," he said, his tone softer now. "But you don't need to worry so much. I won't bite… unless you want me to."
Li Zhameng's cheeks flushed, but he said nothing, fiddling nervously with the hem of his sleeve. "Anyways what do you mean by if it weren't for your master?" Yin Huli asked, his confusion evident in the slight flicker of his tail. His golden eyes, glinting faintly under the lantern light, met Li Zhameng's hesitant gaze.
Li Zhameng sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as if the weight of the past clung to him. He walked over to the bed and sat down, pulling the ribbon from his high ponytail. Ink-black hair tumbled down, falling past his waist, its silky strands glistening like spilled ink in the dim light. His slender figure seemed even more delicate now, framed by the cascade of darkness.
"When my mother got sick, I accumulated a lot of debt," he admitted softly, his voice strained with guilt and sorrow. His fingers absently combed through his hair, the repetitive motion betraying his unease. "I wanted to heal her… I tried everything, but nothing worked." His voice wavered, each word weighed down by the memory of his failures.
Yin Huli's sharp gaze softened slightly, his ears twitching as the memories of his own past stirred. He glanced down, his thoughts drifting to the old man's illness, the same sickness that must have claimed Li Yunwu years later.
"When she passed," Li Zhameng continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "I was left with nothing. I couldn't pay the debts. I… I was sold at an auction." He took a deep breath, as though the confession itself drained the air from his lungs, and laid back on the bed. His muddy green eyes stared at the ceiling, unfocused and lost in the past.
"Wait. What?" Yin Huli's voice shot up in disbelief, his silver ears twitching with irritation. His tail flicked sharply as his confusion morphed into anger. "You were sold? Like some kind of—"
"It was Shizun who bought me," Li Zhameng interrupted, sitting up slightly, his tone soft but resolute. "At first, I thought he had… ill intentions, but Shizun isn't like that." His gaze dropped to his hands, which rested nervously on his lap. Slowly, one hand brushed over his lips and trailed to the faint scar on his lower lip. The memory of their first meeting played in his mind—a moment of fear that transformed into safety.
"Tch." Yin Huli clicked his tongue sharply, his nose scrunching in distaste. "What kind of man buys humans? He's despicable." His voice was cold, laced with disdain.
"Shizun is not like that!" Li Zhameng shot back, sitting upright. His muddy green eyes burned with rare defiance as they locked onto Yin Huli's. His brows furrowed, and his voice carried an unusual firmness. "Shizun has never—never—tried to take advantage of his disciples. He's kind. He saved me!" His chest rose and fell as he tried to suppress the sudden rush of anger and protectiveness.
"Hmph. Right," Yin Huli muttered, rolling his eyes. He crossed the room with an air of indifference, sitting on the edge of the bed and placing his feet up casually. He studied Li Zhameng from the corner of his eye, the irritation in his tone replaced by a flicker of curiosity.
After a long pause, Li Zhameng hesitated, his fingers nervously fumbling with each other. "So… about my mother… you and her…" His voice trailed off, his cheeks tinged with a nervous blush.
Yin Huli smirked, leaning in closer until his lips were just a breath away from Li Zhameng's ear. "You know," he murmured, his voice low and velvety, "you look just like her."
Li Zhameng froze, his breath hitching as Yin Huli's golden eyes seemed to pierce through him.
"Those golden eyes, with swirls of jade… like leaves turning in the autumn breeze," Yin Huli whispered, his lips brushing against the shell of Li Zhameng's ear. His voice was almost hypnotic, each word sinking into Li Zhameng's skin like the touch of a feather.
Before Li Zhameng could respond, Yin Huli tilted his head and planted a soft kiss on his neck. A shiver ran down Li Zhameng's spine, his body betraying him as his heart raced. He bit his lip to suppress a gasp, but his flushed cheeks gave him away.
Yin Huli smiled, clearly pleased with the reaction. He leaned in closer, brushing a light kiss against Li Zhameng's cheek. Li Zhameng's face burned red, his wide eyes darting away.
"You're far too easy to tease, Li Meng," Yin Huli chuckled softly, his tone playful yet laden with an undertone of affection.
Yi Ming tossed and turned in his bed, frustration bubbling just beneath his skin. No matter how many times he flipped his pillow or adjusted the blanket, sleep evaded him. The same intrusive thought kept creeping back into his mind.
"That perverted fox!" he muttered, glaring up at the ceiling. "Since he couldn't have Li Zhameng's mother, now he's after her son? Does he have no shame?" His voice rose with irritation as he raked his hands through his hair, tugging in exasperation.
Unable to contain himself any longer, he sat up and called out, "Hey, system! Wake up!"
A hacking, choking noise reverberated in his mind, followed by the sound of a loud, wet gag and an exaggerated gurgling spit. Yi Ming's face contorted in disgust, and he stuck his pinky in his ear, shaking it vigorously.
"Ugh, could you be any more obnoxious?" he groaned.
The system's familiar neon screen materialized in his mind's void, glowing brightly as text began to scroll.
WELCOME USER TO—
"Don't!" Yi Ming interrupted, waving his hands as if to shoo away the unnecessary theatrics. "No need for the long-winded title. Just get to the point. I need info on this Yin Huli character. Who is he?"
His arms crossed tightly, and his foot tapped impatiently as he waited, the swirling void around him only amplifying his frustration.
The system beeped in response, displaying the requested information in crisp, glowing text:
YIN HULI: AGE 2,573
FOX DEMON FROM EXTINCT CLAN
FORMER LOVER: LI YUNWU
CURRENT LOVE INTEREST: LI ZHAMENG
Yi Ming's eyes widened as he read the final line, then narrowed in fury. "I knew it!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the void. "That dirty, old fox! He's after Meng Meng!" His fists clenched at his sides, as he began pacing back and forth, huffing and puffing under his breath.
He froze mid-step, realization dawning on him. His eyes darted back to the glowing screen. "Wait a minute… the system just gave me information. For free?" His voice dropped to a whisper as he stared at the display in suspicion. "Could it be… has the system's latest update provided insider information?"
Before he could revel in the thought, a loud wheezing noise erupted, so jarring that he clamped his hands over his ears and winced.
INFORMATION ONLY AVAILABLE DUE TO CHARACTER UNDERGOING A FLASHBACK.
"Great," Yi Ming muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he dismissed the screen with a wave of his hand. He flopped back onto the bed, but no matter how he positioned himself, unease gnawed at him. Something about Yin Huli's presence with Li Zhameng didn't sit right.
"Why do I even care?" he mumbled to himself, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. "It's because it's not right. Yes, that's exactly why." He nodded as if reassuring himself, sitting upright with his arms crossed.
His imagination spiraled as he thought of the fox demon with his docile little NPC. He could see it vividly—Yin Huli's tall, muscular frame, sculpted like some ancient god, his silver tail wagging in anticipation as his predatory gaze locked onto Li Zhameng. Those sharp fox ears would perk up, his golden eyes glinting with hunger, and his tongue might even glide across his lips as he closed in on his prey.
In his mind, Li Zhameng would be trembling, his soft voice stammering, "P-please… stop," while his hands, delicate and shaking, feebly tried to push the fox demon away. But Yin Huli would only grow bolder, pressing his powerful body closer, his strong arms wrapping around Li Zhameng in an unrelenting hold.
Yi Ming could almost hear the tearing of fabric as the demon's claws shredded Li Zhameng's robes. He imagined the fox's teeth grazing the younger man's bare shoulder, leaving behind faint marks. Li Zhameng would gasp in fear, too terrified to resist. Then Yin Huli would proceed to mount Li Zhameng, penetrating him ferociously, grunting loudly.
Li Zhameng's lips would quiver, tears streaking his pale cheeks, his soft, pained cries of "Shizun! Shizun!" breaking through the silence. The vividness of the scene struck Yi Ming like a bolt of lightning, jolting him wide awake. His heart hammered in his chest, and for a fleeting moment, he could almost feel Li Zhameng's desperate voice in his ear, a soft, pleading whine that sent chills down his spine.
"Stop!" Yi Ming yelled, shaking his head violently to rid himself of the vivid imagery. His face burned with both embarrassment and rage.
"This is exactly why that fox demon can't be trusted!" he growled, slamming his fist against the bed. "He's a savage! A menace! I have to make sure Meng Meng is safe."
Yet, deep down, Yi Ming couldn't ignore the flicker of something else—a feeling he wasn't ready to confront. Instead, he buried it under layers of indignation, vowing to keep a watchful eye on Yin Huli and Li Zhameng, no matter what.
Throwing on his robe, he stormed out of his room, his footsteps heavy and echoing through the quiet hallway. His mind raced, piecing together what he feared was happening.
As he reached Li Zhameng's door, his sharp hearing picked up the faintest sounds—a soft, muffled whimper.
"Please… stop," Li Zhameng's voice carried through the door, barely audible but laced with vulnerability.
Xue Laohu's jaw clenched tightly, his teeth grinding as anger flared in his chest. "I knew it," he hissed under his breath, his fists curling at his sides. The image of that conniving fox demon flashed in his mind, his tail curling smugly, his golden eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
Fueled by rage, Xue Laohu threw the door open with a resounding bang, his eyes blazing with fury. "Yin Huli, you—!" he began, but the words died in his throat as the scene before him unfolded.
Yin Huli was perched on the edge of the bed, his silver tail tickling Li Zhameng, his lips curled into an amused smirk. Li Zhameng lay sprawled across the mattress, his face flushed, his hands feebly pushing against Yin Huli's tail as laughter erupted from his chest.
"Please, stop!" Li Zhameng gasped between giggles, squirming helplessly as Yin Huli mercilessly tickled his sides.
"Not until you admit defeat," Yin Huli teased, his tone dripping with playful mischief. His velvet fox ears twitched with delight, and his golden eyes sparkled as he leaned closer, his tail dancing across Li Zhameng's ribs.
Xue Laohu stood frozen in the doorway, his righteous fury replaced by utter bewilderment. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. The tension that had gripped his body evaporated, replaced by a growing sense of embarrassment.
Yin Huli glanced up lazily, catching sight of Xue Laohu standing there like a statue. "Oh, look who it is," he drawled, his smirk widening. "What's the matter? Did you think you'd catch me doing something scandalous?"
Xue Laohu's jaw hung open as he stood frozen in the doorway, watching Li Zhameng roll on the bed, his face flushed from laughter and his eyes watery with tears. "Shizun," Li Zhameng called softly, wiping his eyes as he held his belly, still trying to catch his breath.
Yin Huli's became irritable after Li Zhameng shifted his attention to Xue Laohu. His golden eyes narrowed, and his flicking tail stilled, then lashed angrily behind him. "What do you want?" he asked coldly, his voice laced with disdain.
Xue Laohu clenched his teeth, his hands curling into fists at his sides. "Meng Meng, I've decided it's best if you sleep in my room tonight. Yin Huli can have this one to himself," he said curtly, his tone leaving no room for debate.
Li Zhameng's face turned a deep crimson, the thought of sharing a bed with his Shizun sent butterflies fluttering wildly in his stomach. His mouth opened to protest, but the words refused to form. Instead, he stammered unintelligibly, his heart pounding in his chest.
Without waiting for a response, Xue Laohu stepped forward, grabbing Li Zhameng's arm firmly and pulling him away from Yin Huli. The grip tightened as if to assert dominance, and Li Zhameng winced. "Shizun… it hurts," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Xue Laohu's grip slackened immediately, guilt flickering across his face, but it was too late. Yin Huli was already on his feet. With a single shove, he forced Xue Laohu back and gently pulled Li Zhameng into his arms. His touch was soft yet possessive, his other hand examining the reddened bruise on Li Zhameng's arm.
"Does it hurt?" Yin Huli asked softly, his voice dripping with concern as he summoned a flickering blue flame into his palm. The cool fire danced over Li Zhameng's skin, easing the discomfort.
Xue Laohu's face twisted in frustration. Of course, now I look like the villain, he thought bitterly, watching as Yin Huli's tender gaze lingered on Li Zhameng. The fox demon pressed a feather-light kiss to Li Zhameng's hand, his silver tail curling around him protectively.
"Ahem!" Xue Laohu barked, clearing his throat loudly. "Meng Meng, this isn't a request. It's an order. Or do you plan to disobey me?"
The words were sharp and commanding, but as soon as they left Xue Laohu's mouth, regret sank in. He sounded like a jealous over possessive manipulative lover, not a master. Yet the idea of leaving Li Zhameng alone with the sly fox was unbearable.
Yin Huli's tail snapped down in frustration, his golden eyes glaring daggers at Xue Laohu. Before the tension could escalate further, Li Zhameng gently pulled his hand away and lowered his head. "I'll come, Shizun," he murmured, his voice small and hesitant.
Li Zhameng trailed after Xue Laohu, his heart pounding as questions swirled in his mind. Have I upset Shizun? Is Shizun mad? His emerald eyes, flecked with gold, darted nervously toward Xue Laohu. "Shizun…" he began timidly, but before the door could close behind them, a hand shot through the gap.
"I've decided to sleep here as well," Yin Huli declared smoothly, stepping into the room with a smirk.
"What? No, you can't!" Xue Laohu snapped, his face reddening as he stomped his foot in frustration.
Yin Huli's smirk widened. "Listen, little man," he said, pressing his index finger firmly against Xue Laohu's forehead and shoving him back effortlessly.
"Who are you calling little man?" Xue Laohu snarled, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Li Meng told me all about you," Yin Huli said coolly, brushing a strand of silver hair his tail flicking lazily.
"Told you what?" Xue Laohu demanded, his voice sharp and his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"That you bought him at a human auction. You lecherous man," Yin Huli accused, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Please, let's not argue," Li Zhameng interjected, his hands raised in a frantic attempt to pacify the tension. "Can we just… sleep?"
With great reluctance, the two men relented. They settled into the bed with Li Zhameng caught awkwardly between them. Xue Laohu pulled him close to his chest protectively, the dim candlelight casting warm shadows on Li Zhameng's flushed face.
But Yin Huli was relentless. He slipped onto the other side, draping his arm over Li Zhameng's waist and wrapping his fluffy tail securely around him.
Li Zhameng lay stiffly between them, his face burning as his Shizun and the fox demon bristled silently on either side of him. Sandwiched between their opposing warmths, he could only hope morning would come quickly.