Chapter 29: Take Me Away from Here

Chapter 29: Take Me Away From Here

Soft footsteps slowly became audible, accompanied by a faint glow of light, growing brighter, brighter still...

It was a lantern.

Until the lantern fully illuminated the path ahead, carried by a strikingly handsome Buddhist master draped in a red fox-fur robe.

A crimson mark between his brows, radiating nobility and refinement.

The moment Pei Yuhuai saw Lan He, his tightly wound heart completely gave way, as if something inside him was ripping apart even as it grew wildly.

His sense of grievance surged instantly.

Pei Yuhuai immediately pushed himself up against the wall, stumbled toward Lan He, and threw his arms around him, tears streaming down his face: "Stinky monk, you're not dead! You finally came to save me. Do you have any idea I was about to die?"

He grabbed Lan He's robe to wipe his tears and face, smearing a big dirty patch on it.

Lan He froze, rooted to the spot, his eyes wide with shock.

When he got no reaction, Pei Yuhuai felt even more wronged: "You damn monk, why didn't you come save me? I was actually worried you might've been chopped to pieces."

Lan He knit his brows. "You... what happened to you?"

"??" Pei Yuhuai pulled his head back and burrowed into his arms, still shaken. "I went to your place to find you, but then—then I saw this thug there. He'd slaughtered everyone. I tried to run, but I couldn't get away."

"Did you get a look at who the thug was?"

Lan He curled his fingers into his palms, his heart racing.

Pei Yuhuai shook his head, crestfallen. "I didn't see. From behind, it looked like an older man, and..."

His frantic words cut off abruptly. He hung his head in fear, not daring to say another word.

He didn't dare say that the thug had done things to him.

Lan He's breath caught for a moment. He breathed an almost imperceptible sigh of relief, and with trembling hands, he pulled Pei Yuhuai into his arms, pressing him hard against his chest, holding him close.

This fool.

He had never once suspected him.

Pei Yuhuai leaned into his chest, dazed, breathing in his familiar scent. As he remembered what had happened before he passed out, his heart ached with a crushing pain.

His voice trembling, he gave a gentle tug at Lan He's fox-fur robe: "Lan He, take me away from here, quick. I'm scared. I—I want to wash up. I'm dirty."

This place was filthy.

And so was he.

Lan He patted his back soothingly: "Don't be scared, I'm here. I came to get you out. The bad guy's been caught. It's over. We're safe now."

"Then let's get out of here fast, okay?"

"Okay."

Lan He let go of him, taking one hand while holding the lantern in the other, slowly making his way down the long, winding corridor, opening door after door.

Pei Yuhuai clung to Lan He in fear. Every step sent a jolt of pain through his body, making it almost unbearable.

Lan He seemed to notice. He stopped and asked Pei Yuhuai worriedly: "What's the matter? Are you not feeling well?"

"No... I'm fine."

He didn't want to tell Lan He about that kind of thing, so he kept it to himself.

Lan He didn't push it. He unhooked the water flask from his waist and handed it over: "Have some water. Your lips are all dry."

Pei Yuhuai grabbed it and chugged, finally soothing his parched, raw throat.

They kept walking. But after just a few steps, Pei Yuhuai's body went limp, and he crumpled into Lan He's arms, his eyes fluttering shut.

Lan He casually tossed the lantern aside and scooped him up into his arms.

He gazed at Pei Yuhuai with a look of obsession, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across his face: "Pei Hang, in this life, you have to keep trusting me like this, okay?"

"Look at you, so obedient now. Isn't that wonderful?"

He walked out of the hidden chamber, step by step, slipping past everyone without being seen, and carried the man into a room in the side courtyard of Jiyuan Temple.

Venerable Nun Nianzhen was already there waiting.

"Venerable Nun, he's been through some hardship. Could you please prepare some hot water? This humble monk will bathe him."

"It's already prepared. Right this way, Master Lan He." Nianzhen led him into the courtyard. "I can't stay long. Master Lan He, do be careful in everything."

"Thank you, Venerable Nun."

"The Chan master once saved my life. It's the least I can do. I'll be going now."

Nianzhen hurried off.

She assumed Lan He had fled here after being attacked and hunted down today. Lan He didn't bother to explain, only asking for a place to stay, saying he still had someone to pick up.

To repay the life-saving debt from years ago, Nianzhen readily made the arrangements.

Little did she know, Lan He had been hiding in the temple for days, only showing himself to find a place to stay when he saw Pei Yuhuai was about to fall apart.

As for what was happening down the mountain, he didn't care, and he didn't know.

Lan He sat at the bedside.

He felt a twinge of regret over his recklessness, but he didn't regret it. Whether it was Pei Hang in his past life or Pei Hang in this one, he could only ever belong to him.

Buddha?

Ties and constraints?

They couldn't stand in their way.

Pei Yuhuai slept soundly after taking the medicine.

Lan He shrugged off his outer robe, lay down on his side in the bed, and wrapped both arms around Pei Yuhuai, nuzzling his nose against his neck.

Every breath was filled with Pei Yuhuai's scent—clean and sweet, making his heart stir.

He knew.

He had never once been able to resist Pei Hang.

Still half-asleep, his mind was foggy. In that hazy state between sleep and waking, he felt something hard chafing his legs, leaving them burning and raw, so he instinctively squirmed.

He wanted to escape the discomfort.

But struggling was useless.

It felt like an octopus had wrapped itself around him completely. One tentacle reached out, hooked easily into the bend of his knee, and lifted it gently.

The tentacle sucked hard, greedily drawing on every inch of that sweet, delicious skin.

It tasted everything—sweet, salty, all of it.

Pei Yuhuai's face burned crimson, his breath came fast and hot, and he moved purely on instinct.

The next morning, early.

Sunlight flooded the room, bright and full.

Pei Yuhuai smacked his lips a few times. His mouth felt sticky and tasted bitter and strange, and his whole body ached like hell.

"Mm..."

He reached back with effort to rub it, but the moment he touched, a sharp, cold pain shot from his tailbone through his whole body.

And where the hell were his clothes?

Pei Yuhuai suddenly remembered the dreamlike-yet-real experience in the secret chamber and broke out in a cold sweat. He sat up with a jolt, gritting his teeth so hard they nearly cracked from the pain.

The room was clean, simple, and elegant—and he was alone in it.

Where was Lan He?

Panicking, Pei Yuhuai grabbed the edge of the bed and shouted out: "Lan He? Lan He, are you there? Lan He..."

He couldn't stand being alone.

The door swung open immediately.

Lan He walked in carrying a bowl. His cold, expressionless face instantly made him feel incredibly safe. What he didn't know was the deep, hidden look in Lan He's eyes when the blanket slipped from his shoulder.

"The young lord's awake."

Lan He's voice was somewhat hoarse as he closed the door: "This is the medicinal broth I prepared for you. Your body is not well—don't get out of bed."

"Uh..."

Pei Yuhuai only then noticed his disheveled state, frantically pulling the blanket up to wrap himself, his gaze darting everywhere: "My clothes... where did they go?"

"You kept complaining about your back aching and feeling hot last night, so I gave you a massage."