Yi Kumquat darted after Xue Tuzi, seizing his arm with a firm grip and yanking him backward. Xue Tuzi spun around, his sharp, enraged eyes flashing like steel, his body tense with fury. Before he could swat Yi Kumquat's hand away, however, the latter uncorked a small vial and splashed its contents onto Xue Tuzi's face.
The liquid spilled across Xue Tuzi's veil, soaking it instantly and seeping through the delicate fabric. He staggered, the damp cloth clinging to his skin, suffocating him. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he clawed at his chest, his knees buckling beneath him. Collapsing to the ground, he choked violently, his vision flickering between blinding light and impenetrable darkness.
Behind him, Yi Kumquat sneered, his eyes gleaming with wicked anticipation as he approached cautiously. Xue Tuzi's hands trembled uncontrollably, his body wracked with the effects of the mysterious liquid. His blurred vision swam as he fumbled for the ribbon that bound his long, silken hair. Clutching it tightly, he attempted to lash out with a desperate whip of the ribbon, but his movements were sluggish, uncoordinated. The ribbon slipped from his weakening grasp and fluttered uselessly to the ground.
A sudden, unbearable heat surged through Xue Tuzi's body, spreading like wildfire. His cheeks flushed a deep crimson, his body shivering uncontrollably even as beads of sweat rolled down his brow and dripped onto the dirt below. His breaths became shallow, his lips parting as though to speak, but no sound emerged. His once-graceful form crumpled to the ground, helpless and vulnerable.
"A flower has lost its thorns," Yi Kumquat crowed with a cruel laugh, his voice filled with triumph. He stepped closer with renewed confidence, his gaze devouring the sight of Xue Tuzi sprawled motionless before him. The beauty's chest rose and fell faintly, his slender fingers twitching as he tried in vain to summon Jiao Jiao, whom he had tucked into his qiankun pouch. The knot securing the pouch was beyond his reach, his body rendered completely numb and immobile.
Yi Kumquat knelt down, his twisted smile spreading as he reached for Xue Tuzi. "I've waited so long to claim this beauty," he murmured to himself, licking his cracked lips. His greedy eyes roved over Xue Tuzi's delicate features, the lust in his gaze unmistakable. As his hand stretched closer, trembling with anticipation, his foot suddenly pressed down on something unfamiliar.
Snap!
The ground beneath Yi Kumquat shifted, and a hidden mechanism sprang to life. Before he could react, a net shot up from the earth, ensnaring both him and Xue Tuzi. The trap hauled them into the air, leaving them suspended from a sturdy tree branch.
Yi Kumquat flailed wildly, his limbs contorted in an awkward crouch beneath Xue Tuzi's limp form. He gritted his teeth, his ears filling with the sound of Xue Tuzi's labored breaths, which puffed hot against his neck. He squirmed and thrashed, trying to disentangle himself, but each movement only tightened the net further.
"Curse this infernal trap!" Yi Kumquat spat, his earlier bravado crumbling as he struggled to maintain balance. Above him, Xue Tuzi remained silent, his glassy eyes half-closed, his body swaying faintly with the motion of the net. For the first time, a flicker of unease crossed Yi Kumquat's face. He had waited so long to have this beauty at his mercy, yet now, dangling in a humiliating tangle of ropes, he was powerless to act on his desires.
How disgusting, Xue Tuzi thought, his chest heaving with labored breaths. The intense heat surged through his body, his veins feeling as though they carried molten fire instead of blood. His vision remained hazy, his limbs limp, but his mind was sharp—razor-sharp. This burning sensation… His thoughts narrowed in on the peculiar liquid. It must be an aphrodisiac . A faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips despite the sweat trickling down his face.
Yi Kumquat thought he could trap me, but the fool doesn't realize—it is he who shall be trapped, Xue Tuzi mused darkly. Beneath his apparent helplessness, there was a spark of cunning, a predator's patience hidden beneath the mask of vulnerability. His delicate fingers twitched faintly as he began to regain control of his trembling body.
As the net swayed gently, their bodies pressed awkwardly together, Xue Tuzi's lips curved into a mischievous, almost wicked grin. He tilted his head just slightly, his gaze settling on the old man below him. His cheeks were still flushed, the effect of the aphrodisiac making him appear deceptively delicate and submissive—a cruel irony that only amused him further.
Is this not what you wanted, old man? he thought, his eyes glittering with dark intent. Slowly, deliberately, Xue Tuzi shifted his weight, pressing against Yi Kumquat with a feigned fragility. Beneath the act, his mind danced with schemes, calculating every possible way to turn this humiliating situation into his advantage.
Yes, you wanted to possess me, didn't you? Let's see how you handle being the prey instead of the predator. His lips curled further into a devious smile, the aphrodisiac had taken full possession of Xue Tuzi's body, he was hard and fully erect flopping like a dying fish on top of Yi Kumquat.
Yi Kumquat was startled out of his twisted reverie, jerked his head up with a sharp intake of breath. His eyes darted wildly, the confident smirk he wore just moments ago replaced by a flicker of unease. The oppressive weight pressing down on his back had shaken him, sending an involuntary tremor through his hands. He shifted awkwardly, his earlier bravado now melting into nervous tension, his chest rising and falling in uneven rhythm.
"No… it wasn't supposed to play out like this," Yi Kumquat muttered to himself, his voice trembling with panic as he squirmed desperately. His hands pushed and shoved at Xue Tuzi's limp body, but the more he tried, the heavier the weight seemed to grow. Xue Tuzi, grunting with effort, pressing down harder, his lifeless form flopping against Yi Kumquat like a fish stranded on dry land. Every movement was deliberate, fueled by sheer willpower as Xue Tuzi used what little control he had left to pin the man beneath him.
Buried between the two, Jiao Jiao, struggled for air, squirming frantically as the weight pressed down on him. With a determined wiggle, the tiny creature managed to slip free, emerging just in time to see Xue Tuzi flopping weakly on top of Yi Kumquat. The sight spurred the Gu worm into action. Jiao Jiao leapt forward, his tiny body springing into motion as he darted toward Yi Kumquat's face.
Yi Kumquat's panicked breathing turned into a startled cry as Jiao Jiao lunged at him, sinking his sharp little fangs deep into the man's cheek. The Gu worm's venom spread quickly, coursing through Yi Kumquat's veins like wildfire. His body seized, his limbs locking up as paralysis overtook him.
Xue Tuzi groaned in disgust, his face contorting though his body was still immobile, his sharp eyes flickered with annoyance, signaling wordlessly to Jiao Jiao. There was no need for words between them; the Gu worm understood immediately. With a determined chirp, Jiao Jiao scurried under Xue Tuzi's robes, wriggling against his pale skin as he began the arduous task of extracting the drug that coursed through his veins.
High above them, Xiao Zongzi, swung gracefully through the dense forest on shimmering silver threads. Her glossy web gleamed like starlight in the darkness as she moved from branch to branch, her sharp eyes scanning the forest floor below. Finally, her gaze landed on Xue Tuzi, tangled in the net alongside Yi Kumquat. Her breath hitched at the sight, and with a swift motion, she descended, cutting the net loose with a flick of her clawed legs.
The two bodies tumbled free from the trap, and Xiao Zongzi wasted no time untangling Xue Tuzi from Yi Kumquat's inert form. The old man lay crumpled and unmoving, the paralyzing poison rendering him utterly useless. "I… I can't move," Xue Tuzi stammered, his voice weak and trembling. His lips, bruised and swollen from over-salivating, moved sluggishly as he spoke. The veil that once covered his face had been lost, revealing flushed cheeks and redden eyes. He gasped for air, his breaths uneven as he tried to compose himself, his pale skin tinted faintly with rose from the burning heat consuming his body.
"Second Master…" Xiao Zongzi's voice wavered, laced with worry as she crawled beside him. Her dark eyes darted briefly to Yi Kumquat's lifeless form, and she gasped, recognition dawning instantly. Her lips parted in shock as she looked at the old man.
"You… know him?" Xue Tuzi panted, his voice strained. Each word cost him more strength than he had to spare, but his sharp gaze fixed on her with piercing intensity. Xiao Zongzi hesitated, turning her face away from his searching eyes. She knew better than to hide the truth from him, yet the admission was still difficult. With a heavy sigh, she finally spoke.
"He's the man whom Master sold—," she trailed, her voice barely above a whisper. She risked a glance at his expression before quickly averting her gaze again.
Xue Tuzi's brows furrowed, his lips pulling into a grimace. That idiot… he thought bitterly, his mind swirling with a mixture of frustration and disgust.
"Second Master, please wait—I'll be back with Master," Xiao Zongzi said urgently, her voice trembling with worry. She hesitated for a moment, glancing over her shoulder to see Xue Tuzi still lying motionless on the ground. His body appeared so fragile in the dim light, his face pale and drenched in sweat. A pang of guilt struck her as she forced herself to turn away departing with swift, spider-like grace, darting through the forest at breakneck speed.
"Ugh…" Xue Tuzi groaned weakly, his brow furrowing as another wave of discomfort wracked his body. When I see him… he thought bitterly, the anger in his mind momentarily distracting him from the burning heat still coursing through his veins. His fingers twitched as he recoiled slightly, the motion feeble and barely noticeable. Jiao Jiao remained latched onto his chest, the tiny Gu worm diligently sucking out the remnants of the aphrodisiac. His small, translucent body pulsed faintly with effort, working tirelessly to save him.
Meanwhile, Xiao Zongzi reached the towering tree where she had last seen her Master. Her sharp eyes scanned the area frantically, but there was no trace of him. A sense of dread began to build in her chest, and she leapt from branch to branch, searching high and low. When her search of the surrounding forest proved fruitless, she finally darted toward Xue Tuzi's quarters, her movements quick and purposeful despite the rising frustration boiling within her.
When she arrived, she found Shudu lounging lazily by the window, nonchalantly clipping his toenails as though the world around him had ceased to exist. The sight made her blood boil. Her narrowed eyes burned with barely contained rage as she muttered a string of profanities under her breath, her hands clenching into fists as she stormed into the room.
"Xiao Zongzi, report," Shudu said calmly, his tone flat and indifferent, as though she were merely delivering a routine update instead of news about the dire situation his beloved was in.
She glared at him, her irritation bubbling over. "Second Master has been poisoned!" she exclaimed, her voice sharp with both anger and urgency.
Shudu froze, the nail clipper slipping from his hand and clattering to the ground. His normally composed expression cracked, giving way to shock as her words sank in. Without another moment's hesitation, he sprang to his feet and, with a grace that defied his earlier indifference, leapt straight out of the window, following Xiao Zongzi back toward Xue Tuzi's location.
When they arrived, Shudu's heart clenched at the sight before him. Xue Tuzi lay sprawled on the ground, his robes in disarray, his chest partially exposed. His body looked lifeless, utterly vulnerable. His usually sharp, calculating eyes were now glossy, distant voids, and drool trailed from the corner of his plump, round lips. The saliva shimmered faintly in the moonlight, sliding down his chin, past the delicate mole at the bottom on his lip, and vanishing into the hollow of his throat.
Jiao Jiao was still latched onto Xue Tuzi's chest, his tiny body bloated from tirelessly extracting the aphrodisiac. The little Gu worm puffed out his cheeks in frustration at the sight of Shudu. For a brief moment, it seemed as though Jiao Jiao might swat at Shudu with his tiny tail out of annoyance, but he quickly decided against it. He knew Xue Tuzi still needed him, and there was no time for petty displays of temper. Instead, he wriggled slightly, his movements firm and diligent as he continued his life-saving work, all the while casting a faintly disapproving glance in Shudu's direction—as if silently scolding him for his delayed arrival.
Shudu gently picked Xue Tuzi up, cradling him close to his chest. His arms trembled as he adjusted Xue Tuzi's disheveled robes, each movement careful yet betraying the fury bubbling just beneath his calm exterior. His hands shook as his knuckles whitened, cracking audibly as his rage simmered. His dark, piercing eyes flicked toward Yi Kumquat, who lay paralyzed on the forest floor, his body motionless under the lingering effects of Jiao Jiao's venom.
"Master, there's no time to waste," Xiao Zongzi urged, her many legs tapping rapidly on his shoulders in an almost frantic rhythm. Her voice was steady, but her urgency was clear. Shudu gave a curt nod, drawing a deep breath to steady himself. Carefully, he lifted Xue Tuzi into his arms, holding him as though he might break at the slightest jolt. Without hesitation, he darted into the dense forest, his steps swift and purposeful.
Xue Tuzi, though feigning immobility, subtly watched Shudu from beneath his lowered lashes. His sharp gaze lingered on Shudu's face—handsome and taut with tension. Shudu's thick, dark brows were furrowed deeply, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked as if it might shatter. He ground his teeth audibly, the expression on his face one of self-loathing. "Ugh," Shudu groaned to himself as he leapt from tree to tree with startling speed. "How could I have been so careless?" His voice was low, filled with a weight of guilt that even he couldn't hide.
The forest blurred into streaks of green and shadows as Shudu moved, every leap propelling them closer to Sect Mount Dingbu. Finally, they reached Xue Tuzi's quarters. Shudu gently lowered him onto the soft bedding, his movements deliberate and reverent, as though he were handling fragile porcelain. Xue Tuzi's eyes remained shut, his breathing steady as he continued to feign unconsciousness.
Shudu strode to the water basin, dipping a clean cloth into the cool water. His movements were methodical, but his trembling hands betrayed the storm of emotions within him. Twisting the cloth to wring out the excess water, he returned to Xue Tuzi's side and began softly dabbing at his damp, pale face. His touch was tender, almost hesitant, as if he feared hurting him further.
His fingers brushed over Xue Tuzi's swollen lips, lingering for just a moment too long, on the mole in the bottom corner of his lips. The sight of the beauty stirred something deep within him, but before he could pull his hand away, Xue Tuzi's eyes snapped open, sharp as blades. Without warning, he delivered a swift, resounding punch to Shudu's face.
"Bastard!" Xue Tuzi exclaimed, his voice trembling with fury. His delicate brows furrowed, his pale face twisting into an expression of righteous anger.
"I'm sorry," Shudu muttered, his voice quiet and tinged with sadness. He averted his gaze, unable to meet Xue Tuzi's piercing glare. He knelt down beside the bed, his head bowed in shame.
"Sorry isn't enough," Xue Tuzi snapped, his tone cutting. Without hesitation, he delivered another punch to Shudu's face, the sharp sound echoing in the room.
Shudu lowered his head further, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He clutched the hem of his pants tightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did I cause this?" he asked, his tone riddled with guilt.
"Yes—yes, you did," Xue Tuzi spat bitterly, his sharp words laced with venom.
"I'm the villain, then?" Shudu asked, still hanging his head, his voice quiet and resigned.
"You are," Xue Tuzi replied coldly, his words cutting like a blade.
Shudu sighed deeply, his chest heaving as he brought his fist down against the ground in frustration. "I'm always the villain," he muttered bitterly.
"You instigated that disgusting lecher," Xue Tuzi said, his voice trembling with anger and disappointment.
Shudu flinched at the accusation, lifting his head slightly. "But it's not like he had his way—" he started to defend himself but was cut off.
"Is that all you care about? Is that all anyone cares about? To have their way." Xue Tuzi interrupted, his voice rising with emotion. "I'm in so much pain, and all you and everyone else care about is who gets to have me!" His voice broke slightly, but he bit back his tears, refusing to show weakness.
Before Shudu could inch closer, Jiao Jiao sprang into action, wrapping Xue Tuzi in a cocoon of shimmering silk. The translucent threads glimmered faintly under the candlelight, forming a protective barrier around him. The little Gu worm glared at Shudu with visible disdain, his tiny body bristling with anger as he swished his tail threateningly.
Xiao Zongzi sighed heavily, her many legs shifting uncomfortably. "Master… is he truly no more than a plaything to you?" she asked, her voice soft yet accusatory.
"Of course not!" Shudu exclaimed, his voice rising with frustration. "I mean, sure, he's got great sex appeal, but…" His words trailed off as his gaze fell upon Xue Tuzi, cocooned and vulnerable, tears silently rolling down his delicate face.
"But what?" Xiao Zongzi pressed, her tone sharp.
Shudu's expression softened as he stared at the beauty before him. "He's caring and nurturing… when he wants to be," he said, a small, wistful smile tugging at his lips. He touched the bandages on his abdomen, recalling the time Xue Tuzi had tended to him. "He's sweet and gentle but can be cold and poisonous. Feisty and vicious. I like all of that," he admitted, his eyes shimmering with a strange mix of admiration and longing.
His gaze lingered on Xue Tuzi's tear-streaked face, his hand reaching out instinctively. But before he could touch him, the silk threads snapped tight, ensnaring his fingers and forcing him back. Shudu sighed, his heart aching as he watched the beauty retreat further into his protective cocoon, knowing he had no one to blame but himself.