Chapter 161
Sheng Xuan was immersed in a sense of satisfaction and high morale as he prepared to "conquer" Master Su Yan. He carefully released his arm from Su Zhelan, prepared to turn around and go out to find that stubborn pharmacist to "grind" out a result.
Just then, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open.
Xiao Qiyun appeared at the door. He was still dressed in a dark-colored casual suit, his posture upright and his expression calm. However, when his deep eyes swept over the two people embracing in the courtyard, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly, before returning to their usual calm.
His gaze fell on Su Zhelan's slightly flushed cheeks, which carried a hint of shyness and dependence. He then glanced at Sheng Xuan's smug and triumphant expression, as if he had won a battle, and a faint but meaningful smile appeared on his lips.
"It seems I've come at the wrong time?" Xiao Qiyun's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. He slowly walked into the courtyard, his gaze finally settling on Su Zhelan. "What, Mr. Su ran into a snag, so you're only thinking of asking Sheng Xuan for help?"
Su Zhelan's body stiffened instantly. He hadn't expected Xiao Qiyun to witness his clumsy, almost coquettish behavior! A strong sense of shame burned like fire on his cheeks and ears, making him want to disappear into the ground. He instinctively tried to run, but Sheng Xuan instinctively pulled him closer.
Upon seeing Xiao Qiyun, Sheng Xuan immediately frowned, his expression clearly wary and displeased: "Why are you here?" His tone was harsh, obviously displeased with Xiao Qiyun's sudden appearance.
Xiao Qiyun ignored Sheng Xuan's hostility, his gaze fixed on Su Zhelan, a hint of barely perceptible amusement and...probing. He took a few steps closer, stopping in front of Su Zhelan, leaning slightly forward, his voice lowered, carrying a magnetic quality that only the three of them could hear, almost a whisper: "Zhelan, why don't you beg me? With Master Su Yan, my words carry far more weight than this headstrong fool, don't they?"
His words, like feathers, gently scratched at Su Zhelan's sensitive nerves, carrying a hint of allure, and also a trace of... barely perceptible jealousy and dissatisfaction. He saw Su Zhelan's dependence on and coquettishness towards Sheng Xuan, which quietly stirred up a dark possessiveness and sense of imbalance in his heart.
Su Zhelan's cheeks flushed even more, a light pink tinge spreading across his neck. He lowered his eyelashes, unable to meet Xiao Qiyun's all-seeing eyes. His heart pounded in his chest, a fierce torment of shame and desire for his target tearing at him.
He knew that what Xiao Qiyun said was true.
But... I just begged Sheng Xuan like that, and now I have to do it to Xiao Qiyun... This feeling is... too shameful! And too... opportunistic!
However, the dark, stagnant place gnawed at his mind day and night, like a leech. This longing eventually overwhelmed all shame and hesitation.
Su Zhelan took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and slowly raised his head. He avoided Xiao Qiyun's overly sharp gaze, his eyes falling on the dark blue collar of Xiao Qiyun's robe, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly, and... filled with a desperate resolve:
"...Then...I beg Your Highness..." he began with difficulty, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, burning with heat, "...please also...plead for me...is that alright?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Zhelan felt his cheeks burning hot. He could even feel Sheng Xuan's arms around his waist tighten instantly, with a hint of surprise and... a deeper possessiveness.
Looking at Su Zhelan, who was so embarrassed she was practically bleeding, yet still managed to finish her request, a dark glint flashed in Xiao Qiyun's eyes, as if some lurking beast had spotted its prey finally falling into its trap. The playful smile on his lips deepened slightly.
He didn't answer immediately, but instead took another half step forward, almost breathing in Su Zhelan's ear. He lowered his head slightly, his warm breath brushing against Su Zhelan's burning earlobe, his voice low and deep, like a lover's whisper, carrying an unmistakable sense of control:
"When asking for help... you should act like one, shouldn't you?" His fingertips lifted slightly, almost touching Su Zhelan's chin, but stopped just before they touched, his gaze tracing Su Zhelan's lips, which trembled slightly with nervousness. "Didn't you do a good job with Sheng Xuan just now?"
Just as Sheng Xuan was about to open his mouth in anger, Su Zhelan suddenly raised his hand and pressed it on Sheng Xuan's arm. His fingertips were icy cold and trembling slightly, yet they carried an undeniable sense of restraint.
He turned his head slightly, avoiding Xiao Qiyun's burning gaze that seemed to peel his skin off and tear him apart. His voice was so low it was almost inaudible, yet it carried a hint of pleading: "Sheng Xuan... why don't you... go find your master first?"
Sheng Xuan suddenly looked down at him, her eyes filled with disbelief: "Su Zhelan?! You..."
"Please..." Su Zhelan's voice trembled even more noticeably. He didn't even dare to look Sheng Xuan in the eye, but he pushed Sheng Xuan's arm weakly, "...You go first..."
Sheng Xuan glared fiercely at Xiao Qiyun, who stood calmly to the side, seemingly in complete control of everything. Her chest heaved violently a few times before she finally gritted her teeth and reluctantly released her grip.
"Fine!" He practically roared, glaring at Xiao Qiyun with a strong warning before turning around abruptly, striding out, and slamming the courtyard gate shut with a loud bang.
The heavy wooden door separated the interior and exterior spaces.
In an instant, only Su Zhelan and Xiao Qiyun remained in the courtyard, along with the rising, humid steam from the hot spring. The air seemed to freeze, leaving only Su Zhelan's rapid and suppressed breathing.
Su Zhelan stood stiffly in place with her back to the courtyard gate, head down, not daring to turn around.
Xiao Qiyun did not act immediately. He leisurely watched Su Zhelan's slightly trembling, thin back, as if admiring a rare butterfly that had fallen into a trap and had nowhere to escape. The playful smile on his lips deepened.
He walked slowly forward, his footsteps so light they were almost inaudible, yet they carried an invisible pressure as he approached Su Zhelan step by step.
He stopped when his chest was almost pressed against Su Zhelan's back, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive nape. He leaned down slightly, turned his head, and his thin lips almost touched Su Zhelan's reddened earlobe. His voice was low and amused, with a hint of mischievous teasing: "Now...it's peaceful. My Zhelan...how do you want to beg me?"
Su Zhelan's body trembled violently, as if burned by the overly intimate address and the close proximity. He turned around abruptly, trying to create distance, but unexpectedly bumped into Xiao Qiyun's deep, seemingly sucking-in eyes.
Gone was the usual gentle composure; all that remained was an undisguised, aggressive desire for control and... expectation.
A fierce battle raged within Su Zhelan between immense shame and a burning desire to achieve his goal. He stared at Xiao Qiyun's mocking face, so close to his own, his mind blank, consumed by a single thought—he had to get his help!
All reason and restraint collapsed completely at this moment.
Su Zhelan suddenly closed her eyes, as if she were going all out, and stood on tiptoe, trembling as she pressed her lips to Xiao Qiyun's!
Xiao Qiyun didn't move. He didn't respond to the kiss, or even close his eyes. He simply lowered his eyes, quietly watching Su Zhelan's eyelashes tremble with nervousness and shame, feeling the soft yet cool, slightly trembling touch on his lips.
His eyes were as dark as a deep pool, revealing no emotion, as if he were assessing a gift that had been delivered to his door and was expected.
Su Zhelan's courage seemed to last only a brief moment. Their lips touched briefly before parting, and he recoiled as if startled, staggering back, his cheeks flushed crimson.
He was breathing heavily, his eyes darting around in panic, not daring to look at Xiao Qiyun again. His voice was choked with sobs and utter despair: "...As long as...as long as you can get Master to agree...I'll do anything...please...Your Highness..."
Xiao Qiyun finally made a move.
He reached out, his fingertips lightly brushing against the corner of his lips, as if savoring the fleeting sensation from just moments before. Looking at Su Zhelan's utterly surrendered and subservient demeanor, the dark light in his eyes finally transformed into a satisfied smile, radiating absolute control.
He stepped forward, reached out and lifted Su Zhelan's chin, forcing her teary and panicked eyes to look at him. His thumb gently caressed Su Zhelan's smooth jawline, his voice soft and almost seductive, yet carrying an undeniable power: "If only you had been this obedient earlier, wouldn't it have been perfect?"
He released her hand, patted Su Zhelan's shoulder, and spoke in his usual calm tone, as if the dangerous confrontation had never happened: "Go back to your room and rest. Leave this little thing to me."
He turned and walked calmly out of the courtyard, his voice trailing off with a hint of pleasure: "Wait for my good news."
As Xiao Qiyun's figure disappeared behind the courtyard gate, Su Zhelan's tense body suddenly relaxed. He subconsciously took a step back, his back gently resting against the cool courtyard wall.
The burning heat on her cheeks became incredibly intense, like a fire. She practically fled into her bedroom, rushing to the washbasin stand in the corner, where a basin of water, drawn that morning, had long since cooled.
Cool water droplets slid down my burning cheeks, taking away some of the unsettling heat.
Xiao Qiyun calmly walked towards the medicine courtyard. Before he even entered, he could already hear Sheng Xuan's loud, impatient voice coming from inside:
"...Mr. Su, please trust me just this once! You know my skills, and Gu Linzhao knows them too! I promise I'll stay by his side every step of the way! No matter how evil that Youzi Cave is, with me protecting him, I guarantee he won't lose a single hair! Besides, if he doesn't get rid of this mental illness, and stays cooped up in the courtyard all day, depressed and unhappy, that'll really harm his health! You..."
"Nonsense!" Master Su Yan's signature roar immediately rang out, rudely interrupting Sheng Xuan's incessant chatter. "You brat! Don't make things worse! Can his body withstand this? In the middle of nowhere, what if something happens to him? Can you take responsibility?! Shut up!"
Sheng Xuan was clearly not deterred by the scolding; instead, his voice rose even higher, filled with a stubborn determination to get his way: "How am I making things worse?! I'm doing this for his own good! Look at him these past few days, he can't eat or sleep properly, isn't it all because he's thinking about that place? Sir! I beg you! Let him go! I swear on my life..."
Su Yan seemed to be getting a little overwhelmed by Sheng Xuan's relentless pestering. His voice, besides being angry, also carried a hint of exhaustion and helplessness: "You...you brat...sigh..."
Just as the stalemate was at hand, Xiao Qiyun pushed open the door of the pharmacy.
With a soft creak, the courtyard fell silent instantly.
Su Yan was flushed with anger, one hand on his hip and the other pointing at Sheng Xuan. Gu Linzhao stood to the side, his brows furrowed, watching the two arguing with concern. Sheng Xuan, on the other hand, stubbornly refused to back down, adopting a stance that suggested, "If you don't agree, I'll talk until the end of time."
All three of them turned their gazes to Xiao Qiyun, who stood calmly at the door.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze swept across the courtyard, taking in Su Yan's anger, Gu Linzhao's worry, and Sheng Xuan's stubbornness. He remained silent for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully, before slowly speaking, his voice steady and reassuring:
“Sir, your concerns are justified.” He first nodded slightly to Su Yan, his tone sincere, “Su Zhelan’s health is indeed of utmost importance and cannot be taken lightly.”
Su Yan's expression softened slightly, as if he had found an ally, and he let out a heavy snort.
However, Xiao Qiyun changed the subject, turning his gaze to the anxious Sheng Xuan beside him, before slowly returning it to Su Yan, and continued, "However, if the knot in his heart is not untied, it will not help his recovery. The matter of Youzi Cave is a worry for him, and thinking about it day and night has only become a burden."
He paused, then spoke with even greater seriousness: "This trip is not to indulge his misbehavior, but to help him resolve his inner conflict and cut off the root cause. Only when the inner conflict is resolved can he truly rest and recuperate in peace, achieving twice the result with half the effort."
Su Yan opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to refute, but looking at Xiao Qiyun's calm yet authoritative gaze, and then at Sheng Xuan's eager expression that seemed to say, "Look, he said so too," he was speechless for a moment.
Seeing this, Xiao Qiyun immediately presented a pre-prepared plan, which was clear, logical, and watertight:
"I personally arranged the itinerary and the duration of the stay to ensure everything was in order. There were rest stops, supplies, and guards along the way."
Sheng Xuan will accompany and protect Su Zhelan closely, and will not allow Su Zhelan to act without authorization.
"If Su Zhelan feels any discomfort during the journey, even in the slightest, he must immediately stop the trip and return to the General's Mansion. There will be no mistake, and there will be no room for discussion."
With each statement he made, his tone grew more forceful, his gaze fixed directly on Su Yan, conveying an absolute commitment and sense of control.
Looking at Xiao Qiyun's calm yet authoritative gaze, then at Sheng Xuan's stubborn "I won't give up until I get my goal" attitude, and recalling Su Zhelan's distraught state over the past few days, Su Yan finally felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He sighed heavily and waved his hand dejectedly.
"Fine, fine... I can't control you all anymore! Go, go!" His tone was full of helplessness and deep worry, but he finally relented. "But remember this! If you come back with not a single hair missing, I'll skin you alive!"
Gu Linzhao shook his head helplessly beside him, but said nothing more. He turned and silently walked towards the medicine cabinet, carefully selecting and packing emergency medicines and pills that might be needed on the journey. Actions speak louder than words.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan's face lit up with joy. He patted his chest forcefully, his voice booming with youthful vigor: "Don't worry, Master! I've got it covered!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com