The Handsome, Powerful, and Tragic Master Has Been Reborn [Transmigration] - Chapter 10

“Why not go in?” Yue Wuji walked to Jun Lianyi’s side, reaching out as if to take his hand.

Jun Lianyi retreated a step by pure reflex. Once he realized what he’d done, he froze, averting his gaze. He didn’t dare look Yue Wuji in the eye.

“Sigh…” Yue Wuji let out a soft, weary sigh and withdrew his hand. “Did you not have something to ask your teacher? Come inside and speak.” His expression was one of profound helplessness as he led the way into the house.

Stunned, Jun Lianyi watched Yue Wuji’s back for a moment before silently following him inside.

Yue Wuji walked to the table and reached for the teapot, intending to pour tea for them both.

“Shizun, let me.” Jun Lianyi habitually reached out to take the teapot. Their fingers brushed, causing his heart to skip a beat. He stole a glance upward.

Yue Wuji didn’t fight him for it. He smoothed his sleeves and sat down, his eyes meeting Jun Lianyi’s just as the boy was looking away. Startled, Jun Lianyi’s hand shook, and hot tea splashed across the tabletop.

Dammit, Jun Lianyi cursed internally. Fearing the tea would scald Yue Wuji, he reached out to wipe the spill with his bare hand, but a firm grip caught his wrist before he could touch the wood.

Yue Wuji frowned slightly. “The tea is boiling. Be careful not to burn yourself.”

That simple note of concern was the final straw. Jun Lianyi’s composure shattered, replaced by a wave of overwhelming grievance. He set the teapot down and collapsed to his knees, wrapping his arms around Yue Wuji’s waist and burying his face in the man’s chest. “Shizun…”

His nose burned and his eyes grew hot. He trembled against Yue Wuji, his throat so tight with emotion that he couldn’t speak.

A bitter ache rose in Yue Wuji’s own heart. He let out a hollow, silent laugh. His hand hovered in the air for a long, long time… before finally, gently, patting the boy’s back.

Once, twice. Light and tender.

The sensation only made Jun Lianyi’s tears flow harder. He didn’t want to lose face in front of his “shou,” so he surreptitiously wiped his eyes where Yue Wuji couldn’t see. Once he had steadied his breathing, he looked up and sniffled. “Does Shizun know what I want to ask?”

Yue Wuji paused, then nodded.

“I never doubted you,” Jun Lianyi said, forcing a small smile to soften the edge of his words. “I believe there must be a reason for the Fish Pill and for Qingji. But… Can Shizun tell me why?”

He watched the young man’s face intensely. When Yue Wuji’s brow furrowed, Jun Lianyi’s heart did a nervous somersault.

Yue Wuji looked back at him. After a long silence, he reached out to brush the stray hairs from Jun Lianyi’s forehead. “Regarding the Fish Pill, I do not know why it failed. Those pills are distributed by the sect. I will report this to the Sect Leader tomorrow for a thorough investigation.” His gaze softened, and a faint smile touched his lips as he stroked Jun Lianyi’s cheek. “It is fortunate I gave you the Sleeve Fox, otherwise… the consequences would have been unthinkable.”

Hearing this explanation, Jun Lianyi’s doubts vanished instantly. He felt a wave of relief and deep gratitude for Shizun’s foresight.

“But there is still one more thing…” Jun Lianyi looked at him expectantly.

Yue Wuji’s expression remained unchanged, though he seemed to hesitate. “Lianyi, sometimes I require your understanding as well.”

Jun Lianyi’s chest tightened with confusion.

Yue Wuji’s brow smoothed over. He helped Jun Lianyi into a chair and took his hand, raising his other hand toward the heavens. “As for that matter, I can swear to the heavens: I never had any intention of gifting you to Qingji as a furnace. If I lie—”

Seeing him actually prepared to take a heavenly oath, Jun Lianyi lunged to grab his hand, shaking his head. “Don’t swear, Shizun. I believe you.”

Yue Wuji’s eyes turned warm. He squeezed Jun Lianyi’s hand and continued, “The day I received your plea, I intended to leave immediately. However, a desperate message came from Fengyue Tower. The barrier there had been damaged, and it required my personal presence.”

Fengyue Tower stood at the border of the Western Realm, right on the edge of the Demon Domain. Its disciples were the elite of every sect, tasked with the lifelong mission of guarding the seal against the demons. An emergency call from them was a matter of life and death for the entire human race. No one could refuse it.

The choice was clear. As for the moment in the water mirror, Jun Lianyi naturally attributed it to the snake demon’s trickery and thought no more of it. With the knot in his heart untied, he felt only a deep sympathy for Yue Wuji. Truly, with great power came great responsibility.

He squeezed Yue Wuji’s hand and said seriously, “I will work hard on my cultivation from now on, so I can help Shizun protect everyone.”

Yue Wuji’s lips tilted up in a gratified smile.

“Oh, right!” Jun Lianyi let go of his hand and began pulling treasures from his storage space—rare finds from the deep sea.

Yue Wuji looked on in surprise. “For me?”

Jun Lianyi nodded vigorously. He filled a jar with water and placed the strange little four-legged fish inside, setting it before Yue Wuji. “This fish is so funny. I hope it makes Shizun feel a little better every day.”

Yue Wuji’s gaze grew tender as he looked at the fish. He gave a soft smile and accepted all the gifts.

*****

That night, Jun Lianyi wasted no time. As soon as darkness fell, he lit a night-pearl to study by. He planned to memorize the sword manual cover-to-cover so he could begin practicing in earnest the next morning.

However, he had only read a few pages when there was a knock at the door. On this vast mountain, there were only the two of them. Jun Lianyi knew exactly who it was.

He rushed to open the door and found Yue Wuji standing there, holding a steaming bowl of porridge.

“Shizun made this himself?” Jun Lianyi’s eyes widened in shock.

Yue Wuji nodded, stepped inside, and set the bowl on the table. “Taste it.”

Jun Lianyi was over the moon. He didn’t even stop to blow on the first spoonful before shoving it into his mouth.

“Hoo, hot, hot!” He puffed and panted, unwilling to spit it out. He swallowed the scalding porridge without even tasting it, yet he still gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “Delicious!”

Watching his frantic pace, Yue Wuji’s lips curved upward.

Jun Lianyi ate while stealing glances at his master, his happiness written all over his face. When the bowl was empty, he handed it back, intending to ask for more, but then he noticed the tips of Yue Wuji’s fingers were bright red. His heart squeezed. He grabbed the man’s hand. “How did this happen?”

“It’s nothing. I was just careless with the heat.” Yue Wuji tried to pull his hand back, but Jun Lianyi held on tight, insisting on blowing on the burns and applying medicine.

After tying a cute little bow with the bandage, Jun Lianyi looked at him reproachfully. “Shizun’s hands are for holding a sword, not for pots and pans. You aren’t allowed in the kitchen anymore.”

Yue Wuji looked at him with a trace of uncertainty. “I thought… you would like it.”

His voice was so soft and small, almost like he was the one feeling aggrieved. Jun Lianyi’s heart melted. “Shizun, I loved it. But if it means you get hurt, my heart will ache.”

Yue Wuji watched him in silence for a long time. Jun Lianyi met his gaze openly, wishing the world would just stop in this moment.

But time doesn’t stop. Yue Wuji eventually stood up to clear the dishes, but Jun Lianyi beat him to it. “It’s late, Shizun. Go rest. I’ll take care of the cleaning.”

As he walked out with the bowl, he paused at the door to remind him one last time: “I really loved the porridge, but don’t do it again tomorrow, okay?”

Yue Wuji gave a faint smile. “Alright.”

*****

After that day, their relationship seemed to take another step forward. In the past, Jun Lianyi was always the one trying to get closer, only to be subtly avoided. But now…

During their practice session, for the nth time since transmigrating, Jun Lianyi was knocked to the ground. This time, he didn’t get up. He sprawled on the grass, whining, “Shizun is so cruel. That really hurt!”

Yue Wuji immediately descended, landing beside him with a worried expression. “Where does it hurt?”

The pout on Jun Lianyi’s face instantly transformed into a broad grin. He grabbed Yue Wuji’s hand and gave a sharp tug, pulling the man down on top of him.

Yue Wuji could have easily steadied himself, but looking at that radiant face, his mind wandered for a split second—long enough for the boy to succeed. Jun Lianyi wrapped his arms tightly around him and rolled over, pinning his master beneath him.

Looking at that peerless face just inches away, his heart hammered like a drum. The desire he had suppressed time and again came rushing back. He leaned down slowly, closing his eyes. “Shizun…”

As Jun Lianyi’s face drew closer, the tremors of both suppressed affection and buried hatred stirred within Yue Wuji. His face turned pale. He knew he should stop this, yet his hand against the boy’s chest had no strength to push him away.

Just as their lips were about to touch, Yue Wuji let out a sudden, tragic smile. As if surrendering to fate, he cupped the back of Jun Lianyi’s head and rolled over, reversing their positions. He pressed his lips against the mouth he had once pined for, and now—secretly—only wanted to tear apart.

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