The Vicious Beauty Faked His Death Three Times [Transmigration] - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Disarray

“Has the Second Sect Leader returned?” Lin Qinghan asked casually upon returning to the sleeping palace, not looking at Xiao Wu.

“No,” Xiao Wu replied honestly.

Lin Qinghan nodded, beckoned the boy over, and handed the medicinal packets in his hand to him: “Go prepare the water.”

Xiao Wu hurriedly stepped forward to take the medicine. Lin Qinghan treated him well, and by now the panic he felt when they first met had dissipated; he even grew bold enough to peek at the Grand Sect Leader’s expression.

The other man seemed extremely exhausted. After giving his instructions, he slumped onto a reclining chair, closing those beautiful eyes and not looking at him at all.

After taking the medicine, Xiao Wu didn’t leave immediately. He stared expectantly at Lin Qinghan for a while, and seeing no movement, he sighed and bounced the packets in his hand, preparing to go boil the water as instructed.

“When you’re finished tidying up, you are permitted to go to the small kitchen to find some food. Do not be greedy.”

“Many thanks, Grand Sect Leader!”

With that single sentence, Xiao Wu was instantly filled with energy, wishing he could boil the water and deliver it to Lin Qinghan this very second.

He hopped and skipped out of the palace, not watching the path ahead, and collided full-force with an incoming person—hitting them right in the chest. The impact made his eyes sting so much that tears almost fell.

“You…” Xiao Wu looked up, about to demand an apology, but he met those cold eyes that held not a trace of emotion. Instantly, like a punctured balloon, he withered away, clutching the medicine packets tightly to his chest, not daring to make a sound.

Ling Yanhe scrutinized him from head to toe, his gaze pausing on the medicinal packets cradled in his arms: “Where is the Grand Sect Leader?”

Xiao Wu didn’t dare provoke this man and replied in a muffled voice with his head lowered: “The Grand Sect Leader is resting in the sleeping palace.”

“What are you holding?” The cold voice fell again.

“The Grand Sect Leader gave it to me; he ordered me to prepare the water,” Xiao Wu replied truthfully, feeling a bit resentful in his heart in the time it took to have this conversation, he could have already started the fire.

This servant of the Grand Sect Leader truly had no situational awareness; he was busy!

“Is he unwell?” Ling Yanhe asked.

“Yes, the Grand Sect Leader looked quite listless today.”

This is an urgent errand. If you know, then get out of the way; I’m waiting to report back to the Grand Sect Leader, Xiao Wu thought to himself.

“Give it to me.”

“Huh?” Xiao Wu looked at the man in surprise.

Seeing this, the other man’s brow furrowed, making him look even more terrifying.

But Xiao Wu didn’t understand his meaning and asked blankly: “Are you going to prepare the water for the Grand Sect Leader and steep this in it?”

“Are you an idiot?” The other man seemed angered by his denseness, and his words felt like knives.

Xiao Wu didn’t feel the sting; instead, he was very happy. If he handed the task to the man in front of him, he could go to the small kitchen himself!

However, he didn’t dare act too jubilant. Instead, he kept a stiff face, mimicking the manner of other servants. He handed the medicine over with an air of self-importance and added earnestly: “The Grand Sect Leader is truly tired today. You must prepare it well; there must not be the slightest error.”

The moment the medicinal packets landed in the other’s hand, a sharp wind blew past, coating Xiao Wu’s face in dust and leaves.

“Pah, pah!” Xiao Wu wiped his face. When he opened his eyes, the person beside him had vanished.

“Such an impatient temper, nothing like the Grand Sect Leader at all.” Xiao Wu grumbled and prepared to head to the small kitchen, but before he had gone two steps, he was tripped and fell to the ground, yelping in pain.

Xiao Wu looked at the empty ground, which was devoid of any obstacles, in surprise: “There’s nothing here?”

A cold wind blew in.

Lin Qinghan frowned at the chill.

He felt as if he were submerged in a raging fire; his entire body was burning intensely.

Since daytime, his thoughts had gradually become restless. It felt as if a fire had been lit within him, burning his consciousness into a daze.

Yet, he could still muster a few shreds of logic to think about his current situation.

Hua Xueqiong was avoiding him. Why?

Was she afraid he would ask questions? Did she think that if he asked, she would have to tell him everything?

Thinking of the 100 Favorability points above her head, Lin Qinghan truly wasn’t sure she might actually tell him something.

Tomorrow he would send people to keep watch again, not just at her sleeping palace, but in every corner of the Hundred Demons Sect. He didn’t believe Hua Xueqiong could hold out for several days without returning!

The breeze blew again. The coolness brushed against Lin Qinghan’s forehead, but it didn’t suppress the fire within him; instead, it seemed to make it burn even more fiercely.

“Ungh…” Lin Qinghan had no mind to think of anything else. He curled his body up on the reclining chair, attempting to alleviate the scorching heat inside.

Why isn’t that servant back yet? Lin Qinghan thought hazily.

Suddenly, that draft blew through the hall again. This time, instead of just brushing past him, a pair of warm hands landed on him and lifted him from the chair.

The newcomer carried the chill of the outside air. Lin Qinghan’s face pressed against the other’s chest and was cooled by it, allowing his thoughts to return briefly. He looked up and met those familiar dark eyes.

In an instant, his mind cleared.

“Why are you here?” Lin Qinghan asked in surprise. He tried to struggle out of the other’s embrace, but perhaps because the fire within him had robbed him of strength, or perhaps for some other reason, he failed to break free.

“Mm,” the other man responded with a single cold syllable.

Hearing this, Lin Qinghan stopped struggling. Anyway, the other man was his servant now; it was only right for him to serve. He should enjoy it properly.

Besides, the Trust value hadn’t dropped, so what was there to fear?

Ling Yanhe’s pace was steady. He carried him without a hint of wobbling and, in a few steps, brought him to the side of the bath barrel.

As the rising steam surged up, Lin Qinghan reached out a hand and felt the water.

The temperature was just right, and the herbs were already steeping inside.

He used his wet hand to pat Ling Yanhe, signaling for him to put him down.

But the other man didn’t move. Lin Qinghan lifted his eyes; suddenly opening them, he was stung by the light. Before he could clearly see the other’s expression, he was set down.

Ling Yanhe stood beside him, his expression carrying an unexplainable strangeness. Those pitch-black eyes landed on him, and within them, it was as if a dark mist were rising, brewing some kind of storm.

Lin Qinghan had no time to deal with him, assuming he had angered the man by splashing water on him.

But he had no energy to coax him right now.

“Now that I’ve been delivered, leave.” Lin Qinghan spoke, then walked behind the screen to prepare to undress.

The expected sound of footsteps did not come; the other man seemed to remain standing in place.

Is he going to settle the score with me?

Lin Qinghan snorted coldly in his heart, intending to leave the man out there to cool off. He didn’t stop his movements, and in a few strokes, he had stripped off his outer robes, leaving only his thin inner garment.

Even with his clothes off, he was still burning. Lin Qinghan felt a rare sense of irritation, assuming this was a lingering effect of his disordered internal energy. Right now, he only wanted to soak in the medicinal bath as quickly as possible.

Lin Qinghan walked out from behind the screen and saw the person by the bath barrel.

Ling Yanhe indeed hadn’t left.

Lin Qinghan glanced at him, then stepped into the bath barrel with a composed expression. He had no intention of minding him, nor did he intend to hide the fact that he was wearing only a thin layer of underclothing.

If Ling Yanhe wanted to look, let him look; why would a grown man like him fear being seen?

Lin Qinghan leaned back in the barrel and closed his eyes. His head tilted back slightly, revealing his fair, delicate neck.

The steaming heat brought a flush to Lin Qinghan’s jade-like face. Beads of sweat slid from his brow and fell outside the barrel with a “drip-drop.”

Ling Yanhe looked down at the person in the bath. The man, who was usually calm and composed, was currently pale yet flushed with an abnormal red from the heat. He leaned halfway against the barrel, his thick eyelashes clumped together by sweat.

Those thin, eloquent lips were half-pressed together, appearing somewhat white.

“Mmph…”

A weak gasp escaped but was quickly suppressed.

Ling Yanhe’s eyes darkened as he looked at Lin Qinghan.

Originally, he had only come to check the status of the Gu parasite. Within three days of the first antidote, a second dose had to be given, otherwise the Gu would arouse intense desire.

He hadn’t told Lin Qinghan, coming only because he wanted to see him in a state of disarray.

But now, looking at him, Ling Yanhe only felt that the heat in the room was overwhelming. The steam seemed to spray onto his own body, causing a powerful thought to rise within him for no reason.

He wanted to see Lin Qinghan in an even more wretched state.

Hot.

It was still so hot.

Lin Qinghan couldn’t help but frown.

He was currently soaking in the formula he had requested from Ye Zhaoyan that afternoon. The scent of herbs rushed at his face; the bitter clarity of the smell awakened his consciousness but did not suppress the dry fire within his body.

“Tap—”

A slight sound of footsteps moved, but they were not moving away—they were drawing near, finally stopping behind him.

Lin Qinghan lifted his eyelids and looked up at Ling Yanhe, who was leaning over.

The steam rose like a veil before him, making it difficult to clearly see the other’s expression.

But he could vaguely guess that the other man must be very angry.

The “chosen one” of the heavens had been lectured for a whole afternoon. He probably came here to vent his frustration, only to be ignored. He was certainly harboring a lot of anger in his heart.

“Heh.” At this thought, Lin Qinghan let out a low laugh without reservation.

his brows quirked slightly, and the corners of his eyes were reddened from the heat. He looked at Ling Yanhe, making no attempt to hide his malicious provocation.

Suddenly, the other man moved. Those dark eyes looked straight at him, the emotions within churning like a tidal wave, becoming gradually clear before him.

A child, unable to hold back his temper.

As Lin Qinghan thought this, the Black Bone Fan suddenly appeared in his hand beneath the water. He thought that if the other man attacked, he would have to summon his spirit to resist.

The youth’s handsome face drew closer and closer, and the smile in Lin Qinghan’s eyes grew deeper.

The hand holding the Black Bone Fan slowly rose, poised and waiting to deliver a lethal blow.

“Clatter—”

The bone fan fell into the water, sending up a splash.

Lin Qinghan’s beautiful eyes suddenly widened.

A warm, soft sensation landed on the corner of his lips. Taking advantage of his momentary daze, his thin lips were forced open, and something drove straight in. In an instant, his wrist was seized and pinned firmly against the other side of the wooden barrel.

His thin back collided with the barrel; the pain snapped Lin Qinghan back to his senses. He tried to struggle, but his hands were tightly restrained.

He lifted a leg to kick the other, but his strength had been snatched away by the dry fire. In the end, he only managed to step limply against the other’s abdomen.

Lin Qinghan steeled his heart and bit down.

“Hiss.”

The youth’s displeased voice rang out, and that powerful sense of being controlled finally retreated.

Lin Qinghan tried to break free during this opening, but before he could move, he was pinned against the barrel once more, even more tightly restrained.

He lifted his eyes to confront the man, meeting eyes that looked like they wanted to devour him.

Then, before he could react, the youth leaned down again.

The taste of blood mixed with a biting kiss surged toward him. The stinging pain in his mouth made Lin Qinghan realize late Ling Yanhe had kissed him.

It wasn’t an accident or a necessity of the situation he had simply, directly, and for no reason, kissed him.

Support