Drunk on Madness - Chapter 15

After Su Mo quietly finished the cucumber in his hand, she met his gaze with composure. “When we first met, I was covered in filth, barely clinging to life. Before I entered your residence, you said you would personally verify my identity.”

She blinked and continued, “Now I want to know, what did you find out back then? Why was I left to wander the streets?”

Su Mo hadn’t expected this question. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes before he slowly began recounting the events at the Bright Moon Pavilion in the capital.

Li Xiang listened quietly, her heart growing colder with each word. So Chen Bolin hadn’t lied to her. She really had been sold into a brothel and had attempted suicide by smashing her head against a wall to preserve her purity. After that, she was driven out, her mind broken.

But if she was already insane, why would she later slit her wrists? Unless… unless she had been faking it? Or perhaps, in a moment of clarity, Li Lanyan had found life so hopeless that she chose to end it?

Li Xiang’s thoughts snapped back to the present. A faint mist gathered in her eyes as she forced a weak smile. “If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known how tragic my past was.”

Before Su Mo could respond, she squeezed out another hoarse question: “If I weren’t untouched, would you still be with me?”

Su Mo’s pupils constricted sharply, his face twisting in shock. Words lodged in his throat, choking him into a coughing fit.

“You- cough!” The question had stunned him so much he nearly lost his breath. Once he recovered, he rasped, “Xiangxiang, don’t joke about something like this.”

Li Xiang said nothing, silently watching him. There was no trace of jest in her gaze.

Seeing her reaction, Su Mo realized she wasn’t teasing. His eyes darkened with fury, his voice trembling. “Who was it?”

Li Xiang had anticipated his rage, but speaking the truth now felt cruel. She averted her gaze and answered calmly, “Who it was doesn’t matter anymore. I just want to know what you think.”

Su Mo narrowed his eyes, his stare boring into her familiar figure. “How could it not matter? You’re still protecting him. Did you meet him last night?” His expression was dark, feverish, like a rabid dog on the verge of losing control.

Suppressing her panic, Li Xiang reassured him, “It’s not what you think. Last night, he sought me out. I didn’t even know him. He-”

Su Mo’s beautiful eyes churned with unreadable emotions as he watched her. “He told me things about my past. He said I already belonged to him and tried to make me leave with him.” Seeing Su Mo’s crumbling composure, she couldn’t help but explain.

The young man’s handsome face stiffened. A breeze stirred the strands of hair across his forehead, his sharp phoenix eyes swirling with emotions Li Xiang couldn’t decipher. “Then would you have gone with him?” Su Mo asked.

“Of course not! Otherwise, why would I have asked if you’d mind that my first time was gone?”

Pain flashed in Su Mo’s eyes. His fingers trembled slightly around her wrist. “Of course I mind. I’m so jealous I could go mad. I want to kill him right now.” Hearing this, Li Xiang struggled faintly, trying to pull free.

But Su Mo held fast, his grip unyielding. A trace of tenderness flickered in his gaze. “As long as you don’t leave, as long as you never see him again, I can let go of everything that happened before.” With his other hand, he wiped away her tears. Only then did Li Xiang realize she had been crying without noticing.

Li Xiang let out a soft laugh, her tear-streaked smile as intoxicating as aged wine. Su Mo gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and gazed into her eyes, saying, “Xiangxiang, I’m terrified. What if one day you remember all the moments you shared with him? Would you abandon me and run off with him without a second thought?”

She shook her head firmly. “No, even if I remember, I won’t go with him,” Li Xiang replied with conviction.

Su Mo’s expression softened slightly at her words. “Why?”

“He treated me poorly. Look.” She pointed to her neck. A flash of fury crossed Su Mo’s eyes. “I’ll avenge you.”

Suppressing her own fears, Li Xiang softened her tone and pleaded gently, “I don’t want you to seek revenge. It’s not worth it.” Though she was deeply afraid of Chen Bolin, the thought of killing was unthinkable to her. She couldn’t bear the idea of Su Mo staining his hands with blood for her sake.

Su Mo’s gaze darkened, but he pulled her into a light embrace and murmured, “Alright.”

The Songshan Academy’s horse grounds spanned over ten acres and also served as a training field.

Dozens of white-robed students were engrossed in their drills when Su Mo arrived. Just then, Gu Ci happened to ride past him on horseback, pausing in mild surprise. Su Mo’s face was shadowed with fury, like a madman burdened with endless hatred, ready to lash out at anything in his path.

Before Gu Ci could dismount to ask what was wrong, Su Mo’s eyes darkened. “Where’s Chen Bolin?” A flicker of surprise crossed Gu Ci’s gaze, but he remained silent, subtly nodding in a direction.

Su Mo strode toward the distant figure. Clad in black, he stood out starkly among the students, drawing uneasy reactions. Yet no one noticed the storm brewing in his eyes, dark as ink, concealing a madness tinged with blood-red.

Chen Bolin was practicing archery with a few others when he sensed something amiss. By then, Su Mo was already upon him.

In a flash, Su Mo leaped into the air, his hand clamping onto Chen Bolin’s arm like an unyielding iron vise. With a single motion, he unleashed a devastating punch. Before Chen Bolin could even gasp, a brutal kick sent him sprawling across the ground, his body skidding until it slammed into a wall.

The onlookers stood frozen, stunned by Su Mo’s fluid, ruthless skill. Seeing Su Mo wasn’t done, Gu Ci rushed forward and grabbed him with both hands. “Calm down!”

But Su Mo’s icy glare was unrelenting. With a single shove, he sent Gu Ci tumbling to the ground.

“Su Mo, stop!” Zhou Mingxuan emerged from the crowd.

At his voice, the crimson rage in Su Mo’s eyes faded instantly. He cast a glance at Chen Bolin, who was coughing up blood in the distance, and muttered, “Consider yourself lucky.”

Without another word, he turned and left. Zhou Mingxuan lowered his gaze and helped Gu Ci up. “You alright?”

Gu Ci’s eyes shimmered with disappointment. “He even attacks his own. Are we still brothers?”

Though Zhou Mingxuan was worried about Su Mo, the sight of Gu Ci’s aggrieved expression made him feel both pity and amusement.

His gaze then shifted to Chen Bolin, who was being helped to his feet, and his eyes darkened slightly. Su Mo had changed his mind abruptly and come straight here to beat Chen Bolin, Li Xiang must have explained everything. And if Su Mo had struck, it was undoubtedly for her sake.