An Long shamelessly engaged Song Qingshi in an evening-long conversation about witchcraft and pharmacology, intentionally angering him five times, getting scolded five times, and pacifying him five times in return. Oddly enough, while An Long would normally twist off the head of anyone who dared to curse him, he found himself particularly submissive in front of Song Qingshi. Whenever he saw Song inflate like a pufferfish, grasping for words to chastise him—yet failing to deliver any effective insult, cycling only through terms like "shameless," "scoundrel," and "despicable"—An Long was inexplicably delighted.
An Long had long known that despite the Medicine King's seemingly stern and aloof demeanor, he actually had a good temper. As long as he didn't cross the line, An Long was fearless. After all, Medicine King Valley had all sorts of healing elixirs, and he himself brought along curative and detoxifying insects. He could play to his heart's content without fearing death. If he did get seriously injured, it would provide an excellent excuse to stick around and enjoy Song Qingshi's unparalleled medical expertise and caregiving—a truly delightful prospect.
Today, Song Qingshi was so worn out by Alaskan antics that he couldn't be bothered to read. He retreated to rest.
Humming a cheerful tune, An Long returned to his peaceful annex to continue drinking.
Suddenly, he sensed something strange within the annex. With a sweep of his divine sense, he realized that all the medicinal attendants were gone. A person sat in the room, and he instantly understood who the visitor was.
"Ha, the young one dares to take the initiative and seek me out? You're quite bold."
Though An Long had some suspicions about Yue Wuhuan's identity, he had never considered the Qi-cultivating cultivator a threat. Whistling nonchalantly, he swung the door open and jeered, "What brings you here? Surely you're not so smitten with my dashing allure that you're offering yourself to share my pillow?"
Yue Wuhuan languidly lounged on a divan by the window, seemingly enjoying the moonlight outside. His hair was undone, cascading freely around him, inviting anyone to admire it. His feet were adorned with wooden clogs, and his attractive toes peeked out from his stately robes, swaying lightly.
Hearing the door open, he slowly turned around and smiled.
A striking tear mole accentuated his noble phoenix eyes, forming an irresistibly captivating tableau.
Seeing the scene before him, An Long paused.
Yue Wuhuan slowly sat up, allowing the moonlight to illuminate his flawless face. With an ethereal, saintly demeanor but a voice tinged with an indefinable decadence, he said, "Immortal Lord, didn't you want to see Wuhuan's true face? I dare not defy. I have come to let you inspect me closely, without hiding a thing."
An Long felt his throat tighten. Not wanting any misunderstandings, he quickly shut the door and whispered, "What do you mean?"
Yue Wuhuan chuckled derisively. Licking his lips to moisten them, he gracefully untied his jade belt with dexterous fingers. His simple cyan robe silently slid to the ground, revealing a red inner garment made of ice silk. The fabric clung to his skin, outlining his irresistible figure. A thin golden cord was loosely knotted around his waist, seemingly ready to unravel at a touch.
Shedding his saintly exterior, he revealed a visage of desire.
He moved seductively toward An Long, the ice silk slipping off his shoulder to reveal a tantalizing clavicle that invited further exploration. His legs were barely visible beneath the hem of his clothes, embodying a perfection that defied scrutiny. "So, is Immortal Lord waiting for Wuhuan to offer himself as well?"
Panicked, An Long retorted, "Don't, don't come any closer. I'm not into men like you! I... I actually prefer women!"
"How can you know you don't like men if you've never experienced one?" Yue Wuhuan closed in, his fingers tracing down An Long's chest. His eyes were filled with unabashed desire as he shamelessly suggested, "Men know how to please men. As the Immortal Lord, a connoisseur of myriad pleasures, shouldn't you also explore this one? Wuhuan knows many techniques to satisfy you…"
An Long was at a loss for words, his face flushed, as he retreated until he stumbled into an armchair.
Yue Wuhuan glanced at his lower body, provocatively licking his lips and saying, "I've long heard tales of the Gu King of the Western Forest's extraordinary physique and stamina. Meeting you today, you certainly live up to your reputation…"
His gaze, his touch, his body, his voice—every inch of him was fanning the embers of a potentially raging fire.
He controlled the tempo of it all, like a demon pulling a desired sacrifice into an abyss of lust.
An Long had encountered many women in brothels—some coquettish, some pretending to be naive, and some audaciously bold. Through various information and images, he had conceived an image of Yue Wuhuan as a mere seductress relying on beauty and wit. He never expected that the creature meticulously nurtured by the Jin Feng Estate for the sake of desire could be so devastating, nearly destroying his much-prided self-control.
Whether he preferred men or women became inconsequential.
What did it matter if his heart belonged to someone?
Once reason succumbed to this web woven from devastating allure, he became a moth desperately struggling for freedom.
Yue Wuhuan slowly sat down at a table nearby, pulling An Long's rigid fingers to rest on the last golden cord that shielded his waist. He softly intoned, "Immortal Lord, make sure you inspect every part of Wuhuan's true face, leave nothing unchecked."
Finally recovering some semblance of rationality, An Long wrenched his hand free, slamming it on the table. Several deadly bugs sprang forth as he threatened, "Are you seeking death?"
"Good," Yue Wuhuan perked up at the word 'death.' He leaned forward, arching his back, his eyes ablaze with intense desire. Looking down at the agitated man before him, he commanded, "Then kill me."
The last string in An Long's mind snapped.
In a flash, he bundled up this demon and threw him, clothes and all, out the front door, only to find his ears burning fiercely.
"Tsk," Yue Wuhuan, visibly disappointed, picked himself up from the ground and straightened his clothes. The desire in his eyes evaporated as he leisurely knocked on the door. When there was no response from inside, he gently coaxed, "Immortal Lord, don't be angry; I was just joking with you."
A furious roar echoed from inside, "Get lost! Can't you act like a man for once?"
Yue Wuhuan paused and then couldn't help but laugh.
Act like a man?
His father and older brothers were all tall, imposing warriors. Had things gone differently, he would have grown into a tall, handsome man.
From a young age, he knew he was attracted to men. He had once envisioned a beautiful future where he would be a formidable swordsman like Mo Yuan. With single-minded devotion, he would practice until he met a charming, gentle, somewhat dim-witted yet captivating young man. He would pursue him relentlessly, wooing him with music and swordplay, doing every ridiculous thing under the sun to win a smile, until the young man agreed to be his Dao companion.
They would be like lovebirds, inseparable for life, until death did them part.
He would cherish him, love him for a lifetime…
Now, all of that had become an unattainable dream.
His body had been trapped in the form of a frail youth and could grow no more. He had lost the right to love. Forced to learn how to entertain guests, he was repeatedly stripped of his dignity as a man until he became numb, resigning himself to being nothing more than an object.
Now, what could he use to be a man, to pursue the one he loved?
Even if he confessed his feelings and was lucky enough to have them reciprocated, he would only turn the one he loved into a laughingstock in the eyes of the world.
He had met this person too late...
With broken wings, the bird could never fly again.
The only thing he could do for the one he loved was to suppress his emotions and avoid tarnishing their reputation.
That's why he was envious of An Long, who could freely express himself and say whatever he wished in front of the one he loved.
Yet every step he took had to be carefully measured, every word weighed in his mind before being spoken, not a single detail could be overlooked.
He had promised not to hurt himself...
Therefore, he couldn't die carelessly.
This life, at the very least, had to serve some purpose for the one he loved, to shield them from the uglier aspects of the world.
Yue Wuhuan forced down his trembling and slowly turned around, walking alone into the darkness.
...
An Long uncorked a jug of wine and took several swigs, finally calming himself down.
He had nearly lost control and killed this shameless creature, but that would cross a line with Song Qingshi, severing their relationship beyond repair.
It wasn't worth jeopardizing everything over such a petty scandal.
He had considered revealing Yue Wuhuan's lascivious behavior to Song Qingshi, but the young master's reputation was already well-known. Song Qingshi had personally brought this demon back from Jin Feng Estate and must have been aware of his nature. Combined with his own notorious reputation and dark history, revealing this would only make people think he had coerced Yue Wuhuan, tarnishing his own name in the process.
How could this situation be described in a flattering manner?
"The prized disciple of Yao Wang Valley lusted after my body, tempted and seduced me? Self-offered to share my bed? But I, being a virtuous man, vehemently refused?"
Song Qingshi would certainly unleash his poisonous fire and burn him alive for such shamelessness!
People would mock his masculine dignity.
After pondering back and forth, An Long couldn't help but curse under his breath, realizing he was stuck in an irrevocable predicament.
He took another few sips of his drink to soothe the frustration welling up in his heart.
Suddenly, he wondered: What's the point of all this fuss?
Given Yue Wuhuan's background, he couldn't possibly match up to Song Qingshi. Investigations so far have revealed no acts of betrayal against the Medicine King Valley, nor any contact with outsiders. His current standing is about as good as he could possibly hope for.
Song Qingshi had no desires beyond his medical pursuits; he couldn't be seduced by such tactics. Additionally, he was somewhat of a neat freak. Though he didn't judge others for their lifestyles, he himself would never engage in such frivolous behavior.
While he was reluctant to answer, his reaction suggested that Yue Wuhuan was undoubtedly ill in some way.
Could it be... an illness related to sexual starvation? Quite unlikely for a man as handsome as him.
If he continues to approach...
What if that seductive figure thinks I'm interested and becomes relentless, sticking to me like glue?
The thought of that horrifying scenario sent shivers down An Long's spine.
No way! I should steer clear of this guy at all costs!
...
As Yue Wuhuan walked along the dark garden path, he quickly straightened his attire. In a matter of steps, his robe was neat and his hair was tidily tied up, a picture of orderliness. By the time he left the Quiet Heart Pavilion, not a trace of his previous flamboyance remained; he was back to his usual austere, restrained demeanor.
This appearance temporarily restored his calm.
He knew full well what dirty thoughts were in the mind of the Western Forest Gu King and that An Long was suspicious and hostile, intending to drive him away from Song Qingshi. With no cards left to play, if he doesn't strike first, his feelings would be exposed, and An Long—the wolf in sheep's clothing—would not only tear him apart but make his life irredeemable. So there was no turning back...
Whatever he had to go through tonight, as unpleasant as it might be, was worth it.
He had calculated the outcome: from now on, the Western Forest Gu King would let down his guard somewhat, thinking him not a threat and losing interest in getting close. Alternatively, the Gu King might even force himself on him or kill him in anger—a better outcome, as far as he was concerned. He had long been disgusted with his own body, and dying would be a small price to pay, especially if it could reveal the Gu King's true nature and make Song Qingshi abandon him for good.
Since he had dared to probe, he should be prepared to be probed in return.
From tonight's escapade, he discovered two interesting facts:
First, An Long seemed rather interested in men.
Second, An Long was quite naive about such matters, most likely still a novice.
If that's the case, then many of the rumors surrounding An Long certainly warrant further investigation.