Chapter 117: Swordsman Online 3 BL (XI)

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Chapter 117: Swordsman Online 3 BL (XI)

After the brief gathering, everyone returned to their respective lives. The only real change was that the already close-knit guild had grown even closer. The distance between people had lessened, though of course, this only applied to certain individuals.

Miao Lichen opened the photo album the guild leader had handed out before they left. It was filled with photographs of everyone, some wearing their Swordsman Online 3 outfits and others dressed in modern clothes. Of course, not every photograph was entirely normal. There were pictures of men with men, men with women, and even women with women. Some were intimate, while others merely looked harmonious on the surface. In photographs, everyone was always smiling. After all, cameras only captured beautiful moments.

Soft footsteps sounded nearby. Miao Lichen’s ears twitched slightly, and he reached out to close the photo album. Before long, a pair of hands covered his eyes from behind, and the girl’s delicate fragrance filled his senses at such close range. Miao Lichen helplessly reached up and skillfully pulled her hands down. Wang Yumo was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit that outlined her perfect figure. It seemed somewhat at odds with her youthful face, yet somehow the combination looked perfectly natural. Her body pressed tightly against Miao Lichen’s, a sweet smile on her lips.

After her hands were pulled away from his eyes, the girl did not get angry. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her gaze lingered on his delicate neck, where the blood vessels beneath his fair skin were clearly visible. His Adam’s apple moved slightly as he spoke, subtle yet somehow alluring. Beneath it lay one of the most vulnerable parts of the human body, the trachea. Even a small weapon would be enough to end his life.

But not yet. Miao Lichen was not completely off guard around her, and she had never managed to uncover his true background. More importantly, this was not the right time. She needed to wait for that person’s orders. When the time came, regardless of the consequences, she would act without hesitation.

“Momo, let go.” Miao Lichen stood up, with Wang Yumo practically hanging from him. He lightly tapped her wrist with his finger, and she instinctively released him. Lowering her eyes, she seemed confused as she stared at her own fingers, but deep within her eyes, a dark glint flashed.

“A’chen, why does this patient keep coming into your office? This can’t go on forever. Doesn’t the sanatorium have private rooms? Why not give her one?” Mu Kuiqiu had just pushed open the door to Miao Lichen’s office when she saw Wang Yumo standing in front of him. Although the girl was mentally unstable, Mu Kuiqiu could not stand seeing her touch Miao Lichen so intimately. This stranger could simply throw herself at him whenever she wanted. It was absolutely unforgivable.

The private rooms in the mental hospital were similar to isolation rooms. Although they were not often used, every hospital needed them. After all, extremely dangerous patients could be admitted at any time, and placing such patients together with ordinary ones would be irresponsible. According to what Mu Kuiqiu had heard, when this girl had first arrived, she had even tried to attack one of the doctors with a knife. Someone like her could hardly be blamed for being locked away.

A trace of fear appeared in Wang Yumo’s expression as she backed away from them. Her fingers accidentally brushed against the desk, knocking the photo album onto the floor. The photograph on top showed Yang Qifeng embracing Miao Lichen. Because of the angle, they appeared to be on the verge of kissing. More importantly, neither of them was wearing their character outfits. They were dressed casually, one in red and one in black, their clothes intertwined in a particularly captivating scene. It was a photograph taken at MoonisColdHeartisCruel’s insistence.

Mu Kuiqiu looked at the photograph with some distaste but still bent down to pick up the album. Her gaze shifted toward Wang Yumo, and she frowned slightly. The girl had curled herself up on the sofa, looking particularly frail. Combined with her youthful face, she was almost impossible to scold. That kind of vulnerability naturally inspired a man’s protective instincts, and it reminded Mu Kuiqiu of someone she did not particularly like. Sure enough, Rong Hansheng and Wang Yumo were equally irritating. Both had similarly childish faces, and perhaps beneath those innocent appearances lay the same darkness.

“No need. As long as I’m here, she won’t hurt anyone here.” Miao Lichen casually took the photo album and placed it in a drawer. He looked up at Mu Kuiqiu. Ever since their previous guild gathering, the three of them had been coming to his cramped little sanatorium whenever they had free time. They could have gone to an elegant café, yet instead they preferred listening to psychiatric patients here.

“You can’t stay here forever. You should go out once in a while.” The gentle-looking young man pushed open the office door without knocking, carrying a bag in his hand. Even through the plastic, the aroma of food was impossible to conceal. “This patient doesn’t seem simple. You should be careful, A’c. Otherwise, if something happens to you, wouldn’t all our competition become meaningless?”

Rong Hansheng gave Wang Yumo a warning look. When he met her clear, watery eyes, he frowned. His instincts told him that this woman was not as simple as she appeared. But if she truly was pretending, then she was exceptionally good at it. Her eyes held nothing but innocence, as though she were a newborn child untouched by the dust of the world. She even trembled slightly when their eyes met.

“Ah, I’ll take good care of myself.” Miao Lichen watched as Rong Hansheng habitually unpacked the lunch boxes from the plastic bag. There was clearly enough food for three or four people. Although all of them had their own work and lives, their weekly Sunday meals had somehow become a tradition.

“Chenchen, I’m back.” Hearing that voice, Miao Lichen nodded naturally. He did not even need to look up to know who it belonged to. Yang Qifeng sat down beside him with an air of familiarity and skillfully placed food on his plate. His gaze toward Rong Hansheng and Mu Kuiqiu still carried some hostility, though it was no longer as obvious as when they had first met. His slightly pursed lips held a cold edge, and there were faint shadows beneath his eyes, as though he had not slept well in a long time.

Rong Hansheng and Mu Kuiqiu paused while opening their lunch boxes. Yang Qifeng had said, “I’m back,” rather than, “I’m here.” That single difference carried a great deal of meaning. No matter how hard they tried to get closer to Miao Lichen, they were still guests here, while Yang Qifeng was already acting like half the owner. What gave him the right?

“Mm.” Miao Lichen seemed completely oblivious to this. He walked over to Wang Yumo, bent down, and looked at the girl curled up on the sofa. He calmly soothed her until the fear gradually faded from her face. He then took her hand and patted her shoulder with his other hand. “It’s time to eat. Let’s go.”

Hearing his gentle voice and seeing his face so close, a dazed look flashed through Wang Yumo’s eyes. No matter how many times she heard it, she still found herself lost in this man’s gentleness. His kindness seemed ingrained in his very nature. To him, it might have been nothing more than a habit, but to them, it was an addictive poison. Even when they were completely immersed in it, they willingly accepted it.

Her gaze seemed to casually sweep toward Mu Kuiqiu, and a trace of fear naturally appeared in her eyes. Miao Lichen patiently guided her until she sat beside him. There was not the slightest trace of annoyance in his eyes, as though he possessed an endless supply of patience for her. For an instant, Wang Yumo’s eyes softened. Her fingers curled into a fist, brushing against the weapon at her waist.

The cold touch instantly brought her back to her senses. The person she loved, the person she was willing to sacrifice everything for, had always been the same person. The man before her was merely a pawn on the road toward her goal. His existence was only to serve a purpose when he eventually died.

They said great ambitions always required sacrifices. Her hands were the blades she had dedicated to that person’s success. Her entire life belonged to one person alone. She had made that promise long ago and would never betray it. Looking at Miao Lichen again, she watched as he fed her. Aside from being able to walk, she behaved like a speechless child, all to get closer to her target. Yet for some reason, she was beginning to regret it.

If this man died, she would give him the most magnificent grave. With that thought, Wang Yumo felt somewhat better, and the smile on her lips became more genuine.

Yang Qifeng ate the food in front of him, finding it almost tasteless. In truth, whenever there were more than the two of them at the table, none of them could truly enjoy the meal. Yet they continued these almost self-tormenting gatherings so that no one else would have an opportunity to spend time alone with Miao Lichen. At the same time, this meant that none of them could spend much time with him either. Their relationship seemed completely stagnant, neither progressing nor retreating. It was much like the unchanging smile on Miao Lichen’s face, impossible to read.

Yang Qifeng stared at Miao Lichen for a long time before a smile slowly appeared on his lips. Soon… this kind of life would come to an end.

The game continued as usual. The people he needed to see continued appearing before him, constantly making their presence known, and time continued to pass. Yet some things had already begun to change. Once one person began laying out the pieces and the others either willingly or unwillingly stepped onto the board, this story was destined to reach its conclusion.

“Momo.” Miao Lichen watched the sports car carrying the three of them disappear into the distance, the corners of his lips curving slightly as he stroked the girl’s long hair. He turned his head slightly, and their eyes met. They were close enough to smell each other’s skin, their breaths mingling. It was impossible to tell who was more nervous, but neither could calm their racing hearts.

Wang Yumo parted her lips, almost unable to stop herself from speaking and revealing her true identity. But Miao Lichen pulled away from her, the smile on his lips unchanged, as though nothing had happened.

A soft sigh seemed to vanish into the wind, yet it was etched clearly into Wang Yumo’s mind, becoming a curse that would follow her for the rest of her life.

“The answer I want is about to appear.”