Chapter 19: Strong Desire

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Strong Desire

Yizhou hadn’t been waiting for very long really—perhaps only two or three hours.

When he first arrived and found Sui Sui’s room empty, he wasn’t particularly bothered. Instead, he leaned casually against the wall and decided to wait.

After all, he had originally intended to surprise his junior brother.

He quite enjoyed catching Sui Sui off guard. Every time it happened, the little one’s reactions were surprisingly entertaining.

Sometimes there would be a flash of fear in his eyes before it quickly turned into annoyance, followed by reluctant acceptance. Other times, his lips would puff into a small pout, his cheeks puffing up slightly as though he wanted to complain but didn’t dare to voice it aloud.

Rather like an aggrieved little cat.

The image alone was enough to amuse Yizhou.

However, as time slowly passed and Sui Sui still failed to return, the faint smile on Yizhou’s lips gradually disappeared.

One incense stick.

Then another.

The room remained empty.

His fingers lightly tapped against the armrest beside him, the rhythmic sound echoing through the otherwise silent room.

That little one...

He actually dared to make him wait.

The more Yizhou thought about it, the more dissatisfied he became.

Perhaps he really should teach his junior brother a small lesson.

By the time Sui Sui finally pushed open the door, Yizhou was already sitting inside the room, quietly waiting. His expression appeared calm as ever, yet there was something unreadable lurking within his eyes that instinctively made Sui Sui feel a chill run down his spine.

"...Senior Brother, you’re here." Sui Sui rubbed the tip of his nose awkwardly before forcing out a smile. "Have you been waiting long?"

"What do you think?" The corners of Yizhou’s lips slowly curved upward into a smile. It was a perfectly gentle smile, however for some reason, Sui Sui felt it was far more frightening than if Yizhou had simply glared at him.

He laughed dryly.

"..."

Alright, He admitted this one was entirely his fault.

He had become so absorbed in reading that he hadn’t noticed how much time had passed.

Still...Couldn’t Yizhou have simply asked around if he wanted to find him?

The fact that he was in the library wasn’t exactly a secret. If Yizhou had really been in a hurry, all he needed to do was ask Shi Qing next door and he would have pointed him in the right direction. The fact that he had chosen to sit here and wait instead probably meant he wasn’t in such a rush after all.

However, Sui Sui didn’t dare voice those thoughts. Instead, he apologized once more, promising that if he ever had to stay out late again, he would leave a note so Yizhou wouldn’t have to wait for him without knowing where he was.

Hearing his sincere apology, Yizhou was only barely appeased. Although he was still somewhat dissatisfied, he decided not to pursue the matter further. He lifted a hand and beckoned. "Come here."

Without thinking much of it, Sui Sui obediently stepped forward. The moment he was within reach, Yizhou wrapped an arm around his waist and effortlessly pulled him onto his lap.

"Careful..." Sui Sui let out a small sound of surprise as he nearly lost his balance. Fortunately, Yizhou’s grip was steady, allowing him to quickly regain his footing before he could fall any further.

Only after settling down did Sui Sui realize something was different. Usually, whenever Yizhou held him during their nightly blood-feeding, they would both face the same direction, with Yizhou seated behind him. This time, however, they were sitting face to face.

Yizhou’s hand rested securely against his waist, preventing him from slipping away, while Sui Sui instinctively placed both hands on Yizhou’s shoulders to steady himself.

The distance between them was so close that Sui Sui could clearly feel the warmth radiating from Yizhou’s body. An inexplicable sense of awkwardness crept over him and his ears gradually warmed, and he quietly averted his gaze, unable to meet Yizhou’s eyes.

Yizhou, meanwhile, silently observed every subtle change in his expression. The embarrassment flickering across Sui Sui’s face, the faint flush spreading to the tips of his ears, and even the way he stubbornly refused to look at him—somehow, all of it was strangely pleasing to watch.

The irritation from waiting for hours quietly melted away. Without another word, Yizhou reached up and began loosening the outer layer of Sui Sui’s robes.

Today’s clothes were different from what Sui Sui usually wore during their blood-feeding. Instead of the simple robes or loose nightwear that exposed his neck with little effort, he was dressed in the layered uniform of Wenjian Sect. The high collar and overlapping garments made it far less convenient, forcing Yizhou to patiently undo each layer one at a time.

Sui Sui suddenly felt like a banana being carefully peeled. As Yizhou reached for the final layer of clothing, Sui Sui quickly raised a hand to stop him.

"This should be enough, right?" he asked softly, his fingers lightly pressing against Yizhou’s wrist. "Can’t you just move the collar aside?"

Yizhou glanced at him before lowering his eyes to the robes still covering his neck.

"But if I don’t remove it, what if some blood gets on your clothes?" he said matter-of-factly. "Wouldn’t it leave stains? They’d be troublesome to clean."

"But if I don’t remove it, what if your blood gets on your clothes?" he asked with a perfectly reasonable expression. "Wouldn’t it leave a stain? It would be troublesome to clean afterward."

Hearing that, Sui Sui hesitated. "...That makes sense."

His grip gradually loosened before he obediently withdrew his hand, allowing Yizhou to continue.

His mind was probably a little muddled at the moment, causing him to overlook such an obvious fact.

For cultivators, removing bloodstains from a robe was hardly difficult. A simple cleansing spell was enough to wash away any trace of dirt or blood, he could just ask Yizhou and it wouldn’t even take three seconds.

Unfortunately, Sui Sui’s first instinct was still that of someone from the modern world. The moment he heard the word "stain," his mind immediately jumped to doing laundry rather than using spiritual techniques.

It wasn’t until much later in the future that he would realise that Yizhou’s explanation had been little more than a convenient excuse. For now, however, he accepted it without the slightest suspicion.

As the final layer of his robe slipped away, Sui Sui couldn’t help but feel unusually exposed.

Having rarely been under the sun, his complexion was exceptionally fair, almost devoid of color. His delicate skin bruised at the slightest touch. As embarrassment slowly settled in, a soft flush bloomed across his collarbone and crept up the base of his neck.

Instinctively, Sui Sui lowered his head, avoiding Yizhou’s gaze altogether.

Yizhou’s gaze lingered there for a brief moment before slowly drifting downward. His eyes settled upon the two small red dots on the youth’s chest.

They were a vivid shade of crimson, standing out sharply against Sui Sui’s fair skin, making them impossible to ignore. For some inexplicable reason, Yizhou found his gaze lingering there far longer than it should have.

An unfamiliar impulse quietly surfaced within him.

He suddenly wanted to touch them... to tease them until they turned an even deeper shade of red.

The thought caught even himself by surprise.

Yizhou frowned almost imperceptibly.

He had never experienced such strange impulses before.

In his previous life, he had devoted himself entirely to cultivation, tempering both his body and mind while severing himself from worldly desires. Matters of affection and intimacy had never once crossed his mind.

It was only after his rebirth, when he abandoned that type of cultivation path, that he no longer consciously suppressed the emotions and desires that naturally belonged to him.

Even so, it wasn’t as though just anyone could stir such feelings.

To Yizhou, nearly everyone in the sect was unworthy of his attention. He found most people unpleasant to be around, and unnecessary physical contact often filled him with instinctive revulsion. Had his self-control not been so strong, merely brushing against some of them would have been enough to make him sick.

Yet...

This junior brother of his was a bit different. For reasons he couldn’t explain, Sui Sui wasn’t so unpleasant. Instead, every interaction felt strangely natural, as though Yizhou’s body instinctively accepted his presence without resistance.

Perhaps it was because, even in his previous life, this foolish little junior brother had treated him with nothing but genuine sincerity. Without asking for anything in return, he had laid his heart bare before Yizhou, placing all of his trust in him without the slightest reservation.

It was precisely because of that sincerity that Yizhou found himself able to tolerate him... although just a little.

He suddenly began to wonder what had become of Sui Sui in his previous life.

Yizhou’s train of thought was interrupted by a soft voice.

"Senior Brother... you can bite here." Sui Sui tilted his head slightly, exposing the familiar spot on the side of his neck as though they had already gone through this routine countless times.

Looking at the well-behaved gesture before him, Yizhou’s eyes darkened ever so slightly.

How could this person still act like this..so pliant...After everything he had done to him.

He quietly let out a slow breath before lowering his head. This time, his movements were noticeably more restrained than usual.

Sui Sui wasn’t sure whether it was simply his imagination, but tonight’s blood-feeding felt much gentler. The sharp sting he had gradually grown accustomed to was barely noticeable, replaced instead by nothing more than a faint tingling sensation.

The only difference was that it lasted much longer than before.

Having spent the entire day buried in books, Sui Sui was already exhausted. The quiet room, coupled with the warmth surrounding him, slowly made his eyelids grow heavier.

Before he realized it, his head had gradually slumped forward until it came to rest lightly against Yizhou’s shoulder.

His breathing evened out as he had fallen asleep.

Only then did Yizhou finally lift his head.

His gaze rested silently on the sleeping youth for a long moment before he raised two fingers, gathering a wisp of spiritual energy at their tips. He gently pressed them against the small wound on Sui Sui’s neck, allowing the lingering trace of blood to disappear as the wound closed before his eyes.

After making sure it had completely healed, Yizhou carefully adjusted Sui Sui’s robes. He slipped the outer robe off entirely, leaving only the softer inner garment so the other could sleep more comfortably.

Only after everything was in order did he gently lay Sui Sui back on the bed. He pulled the blanket over the sleeping youth with uncharacteristic patience, tucking the edges around him before taking a step back.

For a brief moment, Yizhou simply stood there. Seeing Sui Sui unconsciously curl up beneath the blanket, he frowned almost imperceptibly.

"...Still cold?"

With a flick of his fingers, a transparent barrier quietly spread throughout the room, sealing out the night’s chill. At the same time, the formation would alert him should anyone enter or leave while Sui Sui was asleep.

After he was satisfied, Yizhou cast one last glance toward the peacefully sleeping figure. Only then did he quietly leave the room and make his way back to his own courtyard.