Chapter 32: Do You Still Have Red Lotus Herb?

Chapter 32: Do You Have More Red Lotus Herb?

The question left Ling Xuance silent for a moment.

He started to question his own existence—he didn't know what kind of image he had in Lin Yu's mind.

Who the hell carries love potions on them all the time?

Inside the small world, Lin Yu stroked his chin, his eyes lighting up like he'd just had a brilliant idea.

"Brother Che! Do you have more Red Lotus Herb?!"

Ling Xuance, at the front of the group, stopped dead in his tracks.

Seeing him stop, the whole Taiyi Sect procession behind him halted too.

Ling Xuance furrowed his brow slightly and asked in a low voice, "What do you plan to do with it?"

He grumbled inwardly—Red Lotus Herb was pointless to keep. Was this A Yu actually thinking of planting it?

Or had his performance last time not been good enough?!

The next second, Lin Yu's bright voice rang through his mind. "We'll use it!"

Ling Xuance stiffened, his Adam's apple bobbing violently.

Before he could respond, Lin Yu added another line, his tone full of excitement.

"Once we use this, we'll be tied together forever, never ever apart!"

Ling Xuance lowered his gaze, the ripples in his eyes melting into soft, lingering smiles.

His usually cold voice dropped to a low, husky register, dripping with affection as it reached Lin Yu through their spiritual link.

"Silly fool, you and I don't need Red Lotus Herb. We'll never be apart."

Lin Yu in the small world froze, that sweet confession hitting his heart and making it burn.

Realizing how reckless his words had been, his cheeks burned red and he whipped his face away in a panic.

Ling Xuance sensed the young man's fluster, and a warm, tender feeling quietly spread through his chest.

Behind him, the disciples stood in silence, watching Ling Xuance's odd expression, none daring to make a sound.

Elder Duan, seeing no movement for a long time, figured there might be hidden danger ahead. He stepped up quietly and asked in a low voice, "Elder Lin, is something amiss up ahead?"

That one remark snapped Ling Xuance back to reality. He hid the tenderness flooding his eyes, his expression turning cool and composed.

"It's nothing."

Though he looked calm, the lingering warmth in his heart hadn't faded yet. The usual coldness in his brow was softened by a gentle warmth.

Some disciples noticed and couldn't help whispering to each other.

"Senior Uncle Lin must be secretly talking to Junior Uncle!"

"Why do we never get to see Junior Uncle's face..."

"What do you know? With Junior Uncle's godlike looks, Elder Lin treasures him like crazy—of course he wouldn't let him come out and risk danger."

"No, no, I heard from the outer sect that Elder Lin set up a Beast Cage on purpose, locking Junior Uncle inside to protect him, scared Junior Uncle might leave him!"

"If you ask me, Elder Lin's worrying for nothing. With Elder Lin's strength, Junior Uncle would want to stick to him 24/7—why would he ever run!"

The disciples got more and more into it, chattering away happily, completely missing the atmosphere up front freezing over.

When they finally stopped talking, dead silence stretched around them—not a single voice of agreement.

The disciple who'd been joking felt a chill run down his spine. Snapping back to reality, he looked up to meet a pair of icy, piercing eyes.

Ling Xuance stood before them, his overwhelming aura pressing down, making everyone's hearts shake.

That disciple's legs went weak instantly. He hurriedly bowed his head and prostrated himself. "This disciple was wrong! Please spare me, Elder Lin!"

Elder Duan's face darkened, cursing the fool in his head.

"Gossiping about your elders in private, showing zero respect for your superiors! When we get back to the sect, I'll report this to your master. On top of that, you'll get three hundred strokes of the rod at the Law Enforcement Hall and half a year's allowance taken away!"

Cold sweat instantly soaked his robes. His body went rigid as he trembled and answered, "Yes, this disciple accepts the punishment."

Once it was settled, Elder Duan looked up nervously at Ling Xuance and asked quietly, "Elder Lin... is this punishment fitting?"

Ling Xuance gave a slight nod, his expression indifferent. "Handle it as the rules dictate."

He swept his gaze over the silent Taiyi disciples, his voice clear and sharp, ringing through the woods.

"No need for baseless speculation. You all think A Yu depends on me, but from start to finish, it's always been me who can't stand being without A Yu."

"If we're talking about attachment and dependence, it's me who clings to him desperately."

Those words landed, and absolute silence fell.

Every disciple was stunned, unable to believe that the always cold and aloof Ling Xuance would say something like that in public.

Before anyone could recover, Ling Xuance's form shifted, turning into a faint streak of light and vanishing.

It took a long while before the crowd slowly snapped out of it, exchanging looks full of shock and curiosity. The gossip fire burned hot in their hearts, but no one dared say another word.

Elder Duan cleared his throat, pushing down his own shock, and spoke sternly.

"What are you all standing there for? Keep moving!"

The group set off again, marching in orderly steps.

In the middle of the group, Ming Qiuge looked around, and seeing no one was watching, quietly tugged Yun Yan's sleeve and whispered.

"Senior Brother, is it really Elder Lin who's the one clinging to Junior Uncle?"

Yun Yan helplessly raised a hand and gave her forehead a light flick.

"Ow!" Ming Qiuge winced in pain, furrowing her brow and glaring at him.

Yun Yan looked at his clueless junior sister, smiled helplessly, and explained gently, "Silly girl, in matters of love, there's no such thing as one person clinging to another."

"Elder Lin and Junior Uncle are deeply in love, their bond as strong as metal. The two are intertwined to the bone, unable to be apart—that's all."

Ming Qiuge blinked in half-understanding, mulling over his words, then softly replied, "Oh... so that's how it is."

On the other side, Ling Xuance, having concealed his form, landed at the very back of the group, walking slowly along.

In the depths of the secret realm, the spiritual energy was crisp and clear, mingling the scent of grass and blossoms with the cool mountain breeze—serene and soothing.

His spiritual perception sank into the small world, and he called to the youth in a low, gentle voice: "A Yu, would you like to come out for a walk?"

Inside the small world, Lin Yu was briefly startled, hesitation flickering in his eyes.

The small world shared a spiritual-energy link with the outside; even hidden inside, he could clearly feel Ling Xuance's presence. But a whole world still separated them, and he couldn't reach even a sliver of warmth.

He'd always craved the feel of Ling Xuance's touch. After a brief pause, he nodded firmly.

"Okay."

A flash of light, and Lin Yu landed steadily beside Ling Xuance. The next moment, he reached out and clung tightly to Ling Xuance's forearm.

The warm, soft pressure against him made Ling Xuance's heart flood with tenderness, his usual icy aura dissolving entirely.

Still using his usual gentle, affectionate tone, he murmured in reassurance: "Don't be scared. I've hidden us—no one can see us, and no one will come."

Lin Yu nodded obediently, nuzzling his cheek against the man's sleeve.

"I know. I just wanna be a little closer to Brother Che."

That kind of dependence made the corners of Ling Xuance's lips curl into a faint smile, his voice laced with subtle temptation: "Oh? Then wanna get even closer?"

Lin Yu looked up, confused, his gaze sweeping over their pressed-together bodies. He was already practically hanging off the man's arm, almost completely nestled against him.

How could they possibly get any closer?

After a moment of thought, he seemed to have a sudden realization.

Before Ling Xuance could react, he raised his hands and looped them around the man's neck in one smooth motion. With a small leap, his legs hooked around Ling Xuance's waist, leaving his whole body dangling off him.

Hanging in midair, the youth looked at the man and asked softly, testing: "Brother Che, like this?"

Ling Xuance hadn't expected that at all. His gaze flickered, and he raised his hands to steady the youth's thighs and rear, keeping him from slipping. He leaned down, bringing his lips to the youth's ear, his breath warm.

"If this is how you want it, that's fine too."

With that, he strolled slowly toward the deeper woods off to the side.

Lin Yu, arms around Ling Xuance's neck, glanced back at where the Taiyi Sect group had gone and asked, confused.

"Brother Che, they didn't go this way. We're going the wrong way."

Ling Xuance kept walking, his gaze deep, his tone loaded with meaning.

"I've already scouted this area. They can handle themselves fine without us tagging along."

He looked down at the innocent youth in his arms, his voice dropping low, warm and intimate: "Let's deal with our own matters first."

Lin Yu blinked, completely bewildered.

"What matters do we need to take care of?"

The next instant, the hand at his waist tightened and gave his rear a gentle squeeze.

The sudden, subtle sensation made Lin Yu's body stiffen. He instantly understood what the "matter" meant.

Heat rushed to his cheeks in an instant. Too embarrassed to look up, he buried his face in Ling Xuance's neck, pressing his lips together and not daring to say another word.

Deep in the cave, it was dry and secluded, utterly silent except for the two's faint, intertwined breaths.

Ling Xuance waved a hand, spiritual light flickering from his storage ring. A simple cushion spread across the ground, turning the cold, empty cave into something warm and safe.

He leaned down and set the youth down gently, then his fingers moved swiftly, forming seals to weave a barrier.

A transparent barrier slowly spread out, sealing the cave completely, cutting off the inside from the outside—locking away all sound and aura.

As the barrier formed, a sealed, enclosed atmosphere suddenly wrapped around them.

Ling Xuance put away his seals and turned slowly, immediately meeting the youth's flustered look.

A dark glint rippled in his eyes. He stepped forward, bent down, and lifted the youth by the waist. His warm breath ghosted across the delicate skin of Lin Yu's nape, carrying the crisp scent of pine and snow.

In a slow, tender tone, Ling Xuance murmured against his ear, his voice husky and impossibly alluring.

"Weren't you just saying you wanted to get closer to me?"

A delicate, warm tingle spread from the back of his neck through every limb. Lin Yu squirmed slightly, his ears red enough to bleed, and stammered in a flustered defense:

"I... I didn't mean it like that..."

"No?" A faint, deep smile curved the corner of Ling Xuance's lips. His long, warm fingers traced the edge of the youth's robes, slow and tender, parting the taut fabric bit by bit.

"But I mean it exactly like that."

He lowered his head slightly, his teeth grazing the reddened ear, his breath scorching.

"A Yu, I want to be closer to you too."

The subtle sensations beneath his clothes—an unfamiliar, unbearable strangeness—spread slowly from his chest, numbing and scorching, disturbing his thoughts.

Lin Yu's body trembled slightly, his voice soft and boneless, laced with fragmented breaths.

"Mmm... okay, I'll listen to Brother Che."

The obedient, soft reply fell into his ears, and all the tenderness in Ling Xuance's eyes faded away, replaced by surging darkness, steeped in intense possessiveness.

He leaned down, precisely capturing the youth's soft lips, landing a kiss that was gentle yet forceful.

In the sealed cave, their breaths became completely intertwined.

As the lingering kiss came to an end, Lin Yu's hair was slightly disheveled, his lips flushed red, and his once-neat robes hung loose, revealing the delicate, fair skin of his shoulders.

Ling Xuance raised his hand, his fingers gentle yet swift, removing every barrier between them.

In the cold cave, they embraced in warmth, layers of intimate, lingering kisses falling one after another.

Lin Yu's body went completely limp, waves of numbing, aching sweetness piling up layer upon layer. Fragmented, trembling sounds spilled from his lips in a soft, languid murmur: "Brother Che..."