37 Tribulations

"No way." What a joke! It was my own idea to come here and suffer. How could I drag Bingzi into this and then despicably try to escape?

"Feiwu, step back. I told you. I'll protect you." His tone was the same, but tinged with a strange emotion.

"No." You can't order me around like that.

"Listen to me." While Lu Buwang was roasting that strange thing over the newly lit brazier, Bingzi suddenly turned her head, grabbed my face tightly with both hands, and forced me to face her serious gaze.

"My master told my fortune." What did he mean by saying that? What kind of time is this to be telling fortunes? Looking at his resolute eyes, I felt a pang of heartache.

"I am destined to face a calamity." I nodded. Does it refer to now? If so, then I feel even more guilty.

“It’s a love tribulation.” I stared wide-eyed at the deep, ocean-like eyes that held a tender, indulgent affection.

"I can never become an immortal, because my mortal ties are not yet severed." I didn't understand. I shook my head. The warmth of his hands touched my face, but at this moment, that warmth stirred a deep unease within me. For no reason, I felt a surge of tears.

“So, I started to feel some hostility towards you because my master said you were my destined one.” He said with difficulty. I looked into his eyes, my gaze drifting to Lü Buwang who was approaching. My heart was pounding, and my face was burning.

"I've always resisted it. I've cultivated myself my whole life to attain enlightenment, but it seems I can't resist it. Fei Wu, I..." His eyes were full of emotion, and I think I understood what he was trying to say. What have I, Fei Wu, gained or gained? Why do heroes bow down to me?

"Stop with the sweet talk, it's so cheesy." Lu Buwang's sarcastic voice echoed in our ears, creating an eerie atmosphere in the empty cell.

“If we get out of here alive, Feiwu…” He didn’t finish his sentence because I could sense the pain in his heart.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been so reckless in making this sacrifice, especially sacrificing such a righteous person. But it's no use saying anything now; my martial arts skills aren't refined enough to compare to Bing Zi and Lü Buwang. However, my mind is still clear, and now, I can only rely on it.

"Seeing how devoted you are, I specially gave you a beautiful mark. How is it? Pretty, isn't it?" Lu Buwang brandished the branding iron in his hand, a strange black iron shaped like a centipede. It was a foot long and a foot wide, with hundreds of legs on its body—disgusting. Having dealt with poisonous insects and plants for so long, I thought I was fine, but this insect that seemed to come back to life today made me particularly nauseous. I felt like vomiting.

"Of course you can't bear to see Young Master Feiwu suffer, right? Come on, let's see how much you can endure." Lu Buwang grinned wickedly, pressing the piece of iron close to Bingzi's chest.

“No.” I reached out, and the shot put I pushed made a clanging sound.

Bing Zi didn't move an inch. His expression remained cold, his gaze calm. He didn't even grit his teeth; he just stood there, elegant and unyielding, without flinching or showing any fear. The moment Luo Tie burned him, my heart stopped beating. Such guilt should have been borne by me. (No way, adversity is too dear to you; I'd rather torture the seme than the uke.) Such pain should have been mine to bear. But you carried it all alone. If I could be stronger, I would have rushed over and shielded you from it.

Lu Buwang did it on purpose; he lingered on the branding iron against the icy purple chest for a long time. White smoke billowed from the once pristine white chest, a truly desolate sight. The sound of burning flesh and the smell of roasting filled the air. I couldn't help but vomit. I knew my heart was bleeding. My whole body ached, a pain that seemed far more excruciating than any physical injury.

"That's it? Anything else?" Bing Zi's head remained haughty as he stared unblinkingly at the furious Lü Buwang. Not getting the expected reaction, Lü Buwang felt a sense of pride and defeat.

"Hmph, look at your thick skin. Just you wait, I'll make you wish you were dead." Before the words were finished, Lü Buwang swept his palm across the room. Bing Zi's head tilted to the side, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He closed his eyes, circulated his qi, and then circulated it again. After a long time, he finally calmed down. I looked worriedly at Bing Zi in Lü Buwang's hand.

“Truly a man of principle…” Lu Buwang clicked his tongue twice. “The more I look at him, the more alluring he becomes. Such a strong person has suddenly made me fall in love with him.” His wicked voice rang in my ears.

"Stop." Bingzi suddenly opened her eyes, looking contemptuously at the person who was about to make a move.

"Hehe, there's a reaction." Lu Buwang chuckled lewdly, reaching out to grab Bingzi's groin. Bingzi tried to resist, but Lu Buwang grabbed her wrist.

"What are you doing?" I cried out in terror. I couldn't imagine such a proud and arrogant person being insulted; he definitely didn't want to live anymore.

"I suddenly realized, your skin is quite nice." Lu Buwang grabbed the helpless Bingzi, pulling at his chains while stroking his exposed chest. "I should have branded you with this instead. That way you'd remember the humiliation you suffered every time you showered." Lu Buwang muttered to himself.

"Hmph." Bing Zi's icy gaze, carrying a flying knife, pierced towards the thief, Lü Buwang.

My heart was pounding, fearing that Lu Buwang would really insult someone as proud as Bingzi.

"You haven't done it with him yet, have you?" Lu Buwang completely forgot my existence and just looked at Bingzi with wicked intent.

"Probably not, hehe. In that case, I'll give you an unforgettable night. In front of the person you love most, I'll strip you naked and see if that Young Master Feiwu still wants a piece of trash that's been played with." With that, he tore open Bingzi's clothes.

My blood froze, my heart was about to burst, but I was so far away from Lu Buwang that I couldn't use any martial arts. How could I help Bing Zi? I couldn't reach her, I couldn't reach her, I couldn't reach her…

"I'd rather die than be with you." Bingzi didn't push Lu Buwang away, but took a step back, straightened her torn clothes, and said calmly.

“You won’t die. Your little lover is still in my hands. How could you abandon him and die alone?” Lu Buwang said, resting his chin on his hand. “I’ll give you a choice: either you submit to me, or I’ll take care of him. How about it? Actually, you don’t need to think about it at all. You simply can’t stand your lover being played with by me, especially in front of you.”

I shook my head, looking at Bingzi. He turned his head and smiled at me. It was a sorrowful expression, one I will never forget. So helpless, he couldn't abandon me, so he couldn't commit suicide; at the same time, how could he endure such humiliation?

"Don't think I can't sit down just because Young Master Fei Wu knows poison. Hehe, I have plenty of ways." Lu Buwang pulled out a thick clapper from the side. "I have plenty of ways to make him suffer terribly. Have you thought it through? Then let's enjoy ourselves. Let's see how I'll train you, who seems so pure and innocent, to beg me to be my boy. I'll tear off your hypocritical facade." As he spoke, he picked up the stick, whose purpose was unknown, and gently walked behind Bing Zi.

"What are you doing?" I asked in a hoarse voice, having never seen two men get into anything like this. I didn't know what that big thing was for, but I knew how despicable Lu Buwang was; he would definitely do what he said he would. How could he be so vile, shameless, and despicable? No matter what kind of physical punishment Bing Zi would endure, she wouldn't even blink, but when it came to matters of dignity, it seemed Bing Zi wouldn't live on. He might even commit suicide after rescuing me.

"What do you think? So Prince Yelü didn't teach you that?" Lü Buwang grinned wickedly, his eyes filled with a cold light as he pointed the stick at the icy purple area. I was immediately dumbfounded.

Bingzi closed her eyes. "Feiwu, close your eyes. Don't look."

"No!" I couldn't hold back any longer; tears streamed down my face. My heart ached unbearably, and my vision blurred. My body felt like it was being torn apart. My blood was boiling.

"Please, Fei Wu. Let me retain my last shred of dignity." Bing Zi turned to look at me, a smile playing on his lips. His eyes held only sorrow. "I love you, Fei Wu. I will definitely protect you."

Don't say that. I slowly knelt down.