Chapter Ten

@Behind the Ming Restaurant, in a room in the Ming Guest Manor.

Hmmm...fluffy fluffy….fuzzy...soft. What is this fur? Warm.. and furry….hmmhehe..

Yu Long slowly opened his eyes to see only white. White fur. Fox? He looked about to see an infinitely long body. Snake?

"It's a Mystic five-tailed fox."

Yu Long raised his body slowly to look in the direction the voice came from.

A young man dressed in all black with a white belt with embroidered dragon with black and golden threads; hair well tied in a knot and pin with white jade headdress, sat across the table laid in the other end of the room, just opposite to the bed. He was busy working on the table it appeared as he was painting in a scroll. The way he moved his brush, the gentle strokes of black and sound of the brush moving on the paper, everything seemed smooth and clean.

"Wh-Where is this place? Why am I here? ...What happened of that attendant? Aaa...How long was I out? Wait... Who are you?"

"If you throw so many questions at once, I can not answer them. Take a breather. I will answer all your questions one by one." XinYi said without even sparing a glance.

Yu Long nodded and sat quietly for the first time analysing the room. The room was well decorated with just the right number of furniture needed for spending a few days in that room. There was an inner room separated by the blinds. Yu Long looked quizzically at the blinds and wondered what was there.

"There is the bath pool all rady with warm water and scented oils. What to take a bath?" XinYi said while grinning.

"N-No. I was just curious about that…"

"You can if you want."

"No need. But who are you? And where is this place?"

The movement of the brush came to a halt. XinYi sighed.

"This is the Ming Guest Manor. Before I tell you how about you tell me. Who are you?"

"Don't answer my question with a question. Who are you?"

XinYi got up from his chair and motioned towards Yu Long. He sat at the edge of the bed. Yu Long slowly shifted on the silk sheets.

"I am the Young Lord RuYi from ZhaoShu."

"Z-ZhaoShu?"

"Yes. Is it a problem? Now Taijing is a province in the Kingdom of ZhaoShu. In fact all the three kingdoms are now turned into six provinces in the ZhaoShu kingdom."

"I-I get it."

" So who are you?"

"I am WaYi. I am from a merchant family. We travel from one province to another."

This introduction made XinYi lift his left eyebrow in fascination. A straight faced lie told to the greatest emperor.

But this reaction of XinYi made Yu Long wonder if his lie was caught?

Did he realise that it was a lie?

But this doubt was cleared as XinYi made the next remark.

"Hmm...so what do you deal with?"

"A-Artifacts." Is this guy an idiot? Does he not know I am the most wanted runaway prince of Qinshen? Or does he know and is acting all unknown to the fact. No. No. If he knew he would have handed me over already. He didn't. I can take advantage.

Yu Long grinned at this thought.

XinYi smiled back.

You liar prince of Qinshen. I want to lock you up and punish you for lying. Right here right now. But let's play this game for a little longer.

"Artifacts? I like collecting artifacts. How about you sell me some?"

"S-Sure. Let me go and get you some."

"How about I accompany you?"

"Why would I give my customers so much trouble? How abou-"

"I insist. It won't be troublesome."

Unlike his so called customer, Yu Long was definitely troubled.

He is so stubborn. It is creepy. I need a good excuse to run from this troublesome situation. Think Yu Long. Think.

" RuYi gege , I cannot take u there. I have to go home. You see I have my daughter waiting."

"Daughter? You are married?"

"I have a wife. A-And a daughter." Yu Long couldn't look his saviour in the eyes when he said this.

"You look too young to be married. You look like you are yet to turn to an adult." XinYi scanned Yu Long from head to toe.

"I am an adult." Yu Long frowned.

" Hmm...so doubtful."

" It is getting late. I must go back to my dau-" his voice was cut off by a loud rumbling sound. He clutched his stomach with his both hands. He skipped his day's meal and he fought till exertion. He was very hungry.

"Looks like you have a beast in there."

"It is nothing. I am leaving. It is getting really late. I don't want to worry my family."

"It is not even dark. Please I insist join me for a meal." XinYi didn't wait for Yu Long to respond. He clapped his hands signalling his maids to report.

"Get us a warm meal. Make it light."

The maids bowed and proceeded to make arrangements.

"Since you didn't have a meal in the restaurant and fought a fight with all your strength, you would want to have a good meal to regain all your lost energy. A light meal will make you comfortable and you will be able to rest properly. Please come to this table for you meal."

"Thank you. But you see my family will be waiting for me. I am really grateful but I don't think I ca-"

"Is this how you merchants return favours? I saved you in that fight and still you can't accompany the poor me just for a meal. I must say this is really a terrible attitude."

"Are you now trying to distinguish based on our stand in society, Poor gege?"

"No, I am not. But you can do just a slight favou-"

"Fine!" Yu Long yelled as he motioned to the table and sat with a thud.

He was pissed but worried. Worried about his sister, his brother and little Bing. They must be so worried about me.

But as Yu Long agreed, XinYi couldn't control his smile. He was pretty pleased with the reaction.

The food was served. It had a clear soup of Lamb and vegetables. There was pieces of well cooked fish seasoned with pickled soya and some roots. Meal was served hot. But Yu Long failed to notice it as he tried to swallow down his soup.

"Aa- burn..tsk...wa..water."

"Slow down. Do you want to kill yourself by burning a hole in your stomach. Drink this slowly."

Yu Long snatched the tumbler full of water and gulped it down as said. But the insides of his mouth was burnt and was on the verge of bleeding. His tongue was burning and swollen. His tear filled eyes were glistening and threatening to let loose any minute.

XinYi's eyes followed his each and every action.

"Let me see." XinYi slowly stood up and moved closer to Yu Long, who was sitting across him. Yu Long flinched and slowly shifted away from the approaching trouble.

"Stop moving from your place. Sit still. Let me see the extent of the damage you have done to yourself."

Yu Long's body still shifted by his instinct. But this time XinYi was faster, he held Long's arms and pulled him to a stop.

"So, let me see. Open your mouth, WaYi."

"It is okay, RuYi gege. It is slightly burnt but it is okay. Let us continue with the meal. I want to go back as soon as possible."

"Yes. Let us make it quick then. Hurry. Open your mouth."

XinYi lifted Yu Long's chin with his index. Yu Long knew how stubborn this man was and arguing with him was only a waste of time. He hesitantly opened his mouth.

"You have a small mouth. Can't it open a bit bigger?"

Bigger? How much bigger? My lips will crack open. How did I get myself in this situation? Aaaa….I want to scream as loud as possible. Leave me, you stupid Elite.

XinYi saw all this struggle in the frowned expression on Yu Long's face. "This is fine. Don't strain yourself."

"AAA..aaah..aa"

"I can't understand. And shut up for a while. See your inner cheeks are all swollen red. Hmm...you won't be able to eat any solids or hot fluids. Sad. But you can have a cold soup. I have a special potion that can help with burns."

"Thank you so much, RuYi gege. But I have all the potions and pills. Now if you let me go."

XinYi didn't let go of his chin. Instead his index finger went surveying Long's soft lips.

Softer than a maiden's lips. What are these? What are you, Yu Long? I want you so more.

"RuYi ge-hmmm…."

XinYi didn't hold back his desires for this time. He captured the quivering lips and forced in his tongue slowly soothing the burn wounds in the mouth. The places he touched, appeared to have been completely healed. He slowly explored the never ever explored regions.

Yu Long was unsure how to react to what was being done to him. The burning mouth was slowly cooled and the pain had disappeared. But this was not the treatment he wanted. He couldn't move his jaws. It was as if there was clamp placed in his mouth to stop him from shutting it. His jaws were hurting. He closed his eyes trying to hold back the tears. He tried pushing XinYi off but failed as he was unable to concentrate his strength. He tried to use his magic but it was as if his magic was sealed off. He was desperate to runaway from this man's grasp.

XinYi definitely took all precautions to prevent his prey from escaping. He used his spells to seal off Yu Long's magic and resist all obstructions in his moment of pleasure. Unlike Yu Long, he simply needed to concentrate and he could use magic without chanting. His control in air magic was beyond any man's understanding. His was a monster when it came to cultivation and use of magic.

Sorry Yu Long. I don't want to let you go.

Yu Long choked in mid of this 'sort-of- romantic' session.

He found it tough to breathe. As if there was no air surrounding. As if he was in a vacuum space. He clasped XinYi's hair trying to signal him to stop invading and let him breathe.

XinYi, who was engrossed in savouring the soft, now swollen lips, looked up to see Yu Long's had an endless stream of tears. He could see Yu Long's eyes and creased brows begging to stop. He then realised that his puny prey was choking. He let go of his lips and undid his magic spell which he had accidentally activated. XinYi controlled air. He could easily cut off the supply of air and choke his opponent to death if they were anywhere near him. He had done this with Long this time. Even after he let his lips and jaws free, Yu Long was unable to breathe. Yu Long pulled XinYi's long hair while trying his best to pronounce 'I can't breathe.' His lipsing was enough to make XinYi get a clue. Even though he had undid his magic, Yu Long was unable to get all the air he wanted as there was a vacuum in his windpipe.

"Stop panicking." XinYi reconnected his lips with Long's and slowly created to channels for air flow. He manipulated the airflow direction so that air could be blown in and out in the same windpipe. He slowly advanced with this mechanism till Yu Long had sufficient amount of air and could normally.

XinYi was worried that if he hadn't stopped at the right moment he could have lost his Yu Long forever.

After XinYi let go of his lips, Yu Long slowly breathed through his mouth.

Yu Long wasn't scared or worried. He was angry. His right hand immediately went forward to give a tight slap on the smooth left cheek of the elite's well structured handsome face. The slap left behind a red handprint on the pale skin.

He stood up and rushed out of the door and soon out of the manor.

XinYi was caught by surprise as to what had happened. He slowly touched his left cheek which felt warm due to sudden impact. It didn't hurt but still caused him pain.

His Yu Long had slapped him.

It was his fault to begin with, but little did he know that for once in his lifetime he would be slapped by someone. By the time, he realised and rushed out of his chamber, Yu Long had left.

"Lai Jin." XinYi roared with anger.

Jin didn't take a while to respond.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Do you need something?"

"Get me Yu Long."