After sending away Bai Ling with a "I hope she doesn't think you escaped from an asylum," look.
Chu Nuan was about to rest when rustling from outside of the courtyard alerted the young woman in an instant.
"Who's there!?" Indigo chains appeared with the flick of the wrist as soon as Chu Nuan shouted in questioning. They shot outwards akin to snakes locked onto prey the moment it left the young lady's wrist.
A thread of spiritual power opened the double doors as the summoned chains dashed out with speed that cut apart wind.
It charges towards a specific direction within the wide courtyard not illuminated by the moon.
"Clang! Clink!"
Right hand twist once to allow the chains to wrap a circle around before fingers tighten in preparation to exert.
Chu Nuan gave a strong pull the moment she felt a slight resistance caused by the movements on the opposite side.
"Ngh." A familiar muffled sound of pain resounded in the silent area followed by the appearance of a certain figure.
Surprised by the appearance of an unexpected late night visitor. Chu Nuan released her chains the moment she realized the identity of the person on the other side.
"Xie Luochen?!"
Running up to the youth in a tumble of staggering steps, the young woman expressed her apologies while pulling off the chains.
"Sorry! I didn't know it was you! What are you doing here so late?"
_____
"... …"
Xie Luochen gazes at the woman in front of him in silent scrutiny as dark irises swirl with an array of complicated emotions.
He had just discovered a secret.
The young man arrived at the courtyard moments ago in order to see if Chu Nuan was satisfied with the living arrangements.
There wasn't a serious need for him to come so late into the night just to ask if everything was satisfactory. It could have waited until the next day but a certain feeling compelled the young man nonetheless.
However, who would have expected the first thing he hears when entering this place were the screams of a man and shouts of a woman.
From Chu Nuan's voice behind the chamber door, Xie Luochen heard clearly what she said.
[Take it off!]
What could she mean by "take it off!" in this temple that belongs to his sect? Take what off?
[Be good, this will end quickly.]
End quickly? End what quickly? End it with whom?
[Bai Ling]
Bai Ling, his master's name.
The young man froze in shock at that moment as all trains of thought halted at the realization of one truth.
[Take it off!]
Take his master's clothes off.
[Be good, this will end quickly.]
His master is too fast, if he's not a minute man then maybe a five minute one.
[Bai Ling]
Bai Ling.
His master is having an affair with the envoy.
With Envoy Chu!?
Wait. His master is single... Isn't he?
What could be the exact occurrence of events, the young man cannot be sure of. The place he was standing at was too far away to hear every single word.
But Xie Luochen was one hundred percent sure he had heard the most important parts of the conversation. Anything more would be disrespectful towards his master.
So, with a heart full of complicated emotions brewing akin to a storm at sea, Xie Luochen moved towards the center of the courtyard.
With the intent to give the two inside some personal space.
Perhaps it was because the youth was in a daze. Or maybe he was acting upon subconscious desires, but the sound of movement alerted the young woman inside.
Chu Nuan burst open the doors to send chains towards his direction with the intent to confine.
With no aims to resist, the young man allowed those chains to wrap tight around his body. Like a famished boa constricting around its prey, those chains dug into the skin as they bruised into a painful purple.
The man watched emotionless as the young woman revealed a look of shock and horror. Before running up to him in flustered actions to release the youth from those shackles.
"... …"
Xie Luochen remained motionless to the fluster behaviors exhibited by Chu Nuan. Head and eyes lowered in slight motions to create a shadow that prevents the exposure of his complex thoughts.
Thin lips quiver for a second before opening to reply in slow articulation.
"Nothing much, I just came by to see if you like the arrangements."
_____
[This is bad.]
[This is really bad!]
Chu Nuan's obsidian eyes trembled from left to right in panic as numerous thoughts invaded her mind.
[This is bad.]
[Really bad!!]
Sneaking a glance at the youth in failure to connect gazes, the young woman distresses in her mind even more.
[The rabbit I'm about to catch is about to run away!!]
If she could, Chu Nuan would definitely turn back time and give her past self a kick to the face!
Why didn't she look outside carefully first before throwing out her chains? Or maybe, she could have just thrown a teacup at him instead. It's small and easy to dodge.
Why does it have to be the chains?!!
Those chains of all things!!
Look at him now, he's all bruised up!
Heavens! Part of the neck is turning into a dark purple while the arms under those long sleeves must be experiencing the same.
"Either way, follow me first!" Chu Nuan commanded as she pulled the man towards her room without hesitation.
Xie Luochen was dispassionate at first under the barrage of questions asked by the young woman.
However, that mask of tranquility worn on the surface began to crack the moment Chu Nuan began tugging him towards the chamber.
"Wait!"
Bewildered eyes widened as the entranceway to the chamber grew close under the pull of Chu Nuan's strong grip.
Unable to release himself and just as he was about to reject the offer in a more firm tone.
"Ah!"
The young man stumbles inside.
Xie Luochen: "... …"
Keen eyes raise to sweep through the area in an instant for fear of seeing something he should not. Fortunately, other than the black dog that rests curled up in one corner, there is no one else in the room.
His master had disappeared.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Xie Luochen then allowed Chu Nuan to lead his legs towards the nearest chair.
"Hold on." The young lady said while rummaging through her pockets.
Not long after, she took out a small jar of ointment, "roll up your sleeves I'll help you rub this on."
Although the words were hinting for the young man to roll up those sleeves himself. Chu Nuan's evil claws had already slipped in, sliding the fabric up before the youth even had the chance to react.
Taking this (possibly) once in a lifetime chance, Chu Nuan covertly let her hands roam around the expanse of Xie Luochen's arm. Applying the ointment onto the skin in light actions for fear of creating discomfort for the man.
Chu Nuan: "... …"
Expression serious and focused akin to a surgeon in the midst of surgery. The young woman's calm emotions were miles apart from her whirling thoughts.
[Wow, his skin is so smooth! He must work out regularly to create these firm muscles. Why didn't my chains wrap around his waist instead? If it did, my hands would be…] Imagining so, the young lady's sight lowered towards the youth's abdomen.
Obsidian irises darken with faint radiance as a flicker of solemnity crawls on those soft features. Appearing as if a general that's about to sacrifice themselves for the sake of their beliefs.
Just as the young woman was weighing the risks that come with her sudden impulsion. A touch of something soft brushes against her cheek at the same juncture Xie Luochen's voice rang out beside her ear.
Startling the young woman almost to the point of releasing a string of complicated curses. The young lady barely held herself back from the subconscious intent to deny her fervent intentions to molest out loud.
Fortunate enough, Chu Nuan was able to close her mouth before those sentences escaped.
Beads of sweat formed and slid down the back of her skin as Chu Nuan tried hard to calm her guilty heart.
_____
"... …"
Xie Luochen's thoughts become more chaotic as he stares at the absent-minded woman in front of him.
There is a portion of the young man where he wishes to ask about Chu Nuan's relations with his master.
When did they meet?
What were they doing in the chamber a while ago and…
If she already has his master, why did she…
But fear held the young man back.
So many questions but nary an ounce of courage to pry.
Xie Luochen was wallowing deeper into this state of confused distress that tinges with a gleam of suppressed anger. When a cooling sensation spreads on the surface of his arm in soft nudges.
Pulling the youth out of his reverie, he noticed Chu Nuan spreading ointment on his wounds.
"... …"
The young man watched in silence as the young lady skimmed her slender fingers across his arm in gentle motions. Leaving behind an itchy trace of warmth that traveled all the way up to his chest.
That trace of heat sparked an ember of flame which compelled dark irises to follow the path of those jade-like digits.
[Thirsty]
Xie Luochen inched forward in gradual motion whilst licking his slightly parched lips. Hooded eyes blink with a reveal of primal hunger locked onto the prey within reach.
Brushing his lips against her soft cheeks before hovering beside her ear in a low whisper of her name.
"Chu Nuan."
Xie Luochen released a faint chuckle after sensing the young woman's trembles in response to his words.
Breathing in the delicate fragrance of her scent, the young man started to speak in slow articulation. Telling a tale of his past.
"Ever since I remember, I've always been alone."
"Not even the kids in the orphanage would approach me for any other reasons but to mock me."
"I thought my days would continue this way, hiding in a corner while watching everyone else have fun. Until one evening, someone came specifically to ask for me. Me, out of all the other childrens in the building, they asked to see me."
"That person was my master, Bai Ling."
Chu Nuan felt a stinging pain in her heart as she listened with bated breath to Xie Luochen's soft tone of voice. The actions of her fingers became more tender akin to the touch of a feather against skin.
"Ever since that day, my life has been filled with warmth."
"Master has always been kind and patient with my teachings and my senior brothers are very accepting of me as well."
"Once, I accidentally broke one of my master's favorite vases. Instead of being upset with me, the first thing he did was to ask if I got hurt."
"But that night, I saw him holding onto those shattered remains of the vase with tears in his eyes." The young man sighed while snuggling into the curve of Chu Nuan's neck.
"Ever since that day, I told myself not to approach the things that my master likes. Whether people or objects in case I make him sad again."
"... …"
"Envoy… Chu Nuan, although my master looks very solemn he is in fact, a very delicate person on the inside. Almost, almost like-"
Recalling the embarrassing image of her trusty subordinate at once. Chu Nuan couldn't help but to blurt out her thoughts without a shred of hesitation. "Like a flower?"
"?!" Chu Nuan froze in shock the moment those words came out and she realized the meaning behind them. Mouth hanging open with eyes widening in bewilderment, there is only one thought that runs through her mind at this time.
Squeezing her eyes tight, the young woman's mind screams with the sentence.
[AHHHH!!! I've been poisoned by that fool! So embarrassing!!]
Contrary to Chu Nuan's silent shock, a flash of surprise streak past in Xie Luochen's sight as he pauses before asking in a low tone. "Is that what you see him as?"
[You view him as a flower?]
"... …"
Revealing an indecipherable smile tinged with a faint layer of bitterness, Xie Luochen moved away from Chu Nuan's neck.
The young man edged slowly back to his seat until his vision rose to overlap with the young woman's.
Startled from seeing his own reflection within the depths of those bright irises, the youth lowered his gaze at once.
Giving himself a few seconds to sort through his thoughts, thin lips opened to explain in a low tone. "I'm not sure when the two of you met, nor the reason you have hidden the truth away from me. From us."
Chu Nuan: "??"
"But ever since I was young, I have always wondered why my master has remained single for so many years. He's handsome, smart, kind, and patient."
Chu Nuan: Excuse me?? Are we talking about the same person here?
"However, now I realize the truth…"
The youth paused for a second as if trying to form the right words.
"Either way, Master has always been a father figure to me and as his son…"
Chu Nuan: "?????"
Wait.
Hold on.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Xie Luochen hesitated for a moment before lifting his eyes up once again to look directly at Chu Nuan. Expression gradually became determined in show of his resolve. "As his son, I will also accept you, Mother."
"Clang!"
The ointment jar dropped out of Chu Nuan's hand.