I randomly found a house

A man stepped in front of Lai Yiteng's jail cell. Tall, with dark purple clothing and boots with gold embroidery. One that made Lai Yiteng's blood run cold as he suppressed shivers from erupting.

"He is awake," the man noted in a dry, apathetic tone. "You may call me Junshen, I won't bother asking for an honorific." He clapped his hands and a shorter person ran over within a few seconds, carrying a bowl.

Lai Yiteng wanted to speak, but his throat was so dry it was raspy.

It was hard to comprehend that what seemed like only moments ago, he was at Lotus Sect's Tranquility courtyard. Lai Yiteng coughed, his abdomen stinging, before he said, "I do not know your intentions nor identity, but do you think Lotus Sect will allow this?"

In return, Junshen had no change in expression, as though he'd dealt with such words countless times. "Your dear Sect already believes you to be dead, all thanks to your little junior-brother. I would not expect to be saved."

Lai Yiteng chewed his lip. His heart was flickering with terror, then he heard a pained groan from another cell. It was far too dark to see what other person was inside of it.

The servant with the bowl took out a key and unlocked Lai Yiteng's cell, stepping in towards him.

He still believed that his Master and Sect would not abandon him. This man called 'Junshen' could be spouting lies. How would Lotus Sect not know something terrible happened to him after his blood was spilled all over Tranquility Courtyard? How could it be that snake-bastard Yu Wang would not get his just punishment?

Impossible.

The younger man came closer, and Lai Yiteng saw a thick and black liquid inside the bowl. It smelled horrible, like rotting meat and fruit.

Lai Yiteng firmed his expression. "Stay back! If you do anything to me, I don't care if my Sect is ignorant of my situation, I will personally bring you all to justice. This kind of evil will always be unearthed by someone."

"Oh?" said Junshen seeming bored, and he spoke towards the servant. "So righteous-minded. I think that his Lordship Gojun will take a fancy to this one. But I suppose that depends on how well his mind holds up."

The man before Lai Yiteng placed the bowl onto a small table beside them and pulled out a short knife from his belt. He reached up towards Lai Yiteng's wrist, and Lai Yiteng could only watch and bear with the pain as his flesh was sliced into.

Blood dripped off his arm and the bowl was held out to capture some of it.

"What are you…" mumbled Lai Yiteng, having never seen such a disgusting concoction before.

The servant just swirled the bowl, mixing in the blood. His mouth opened slightly in focus while doing so, and Lai Yiteng saw that he had no tongue. It had been cut off, left as a rough stump in his mouth.

Junshen said, "It's in your best interest not to be too noisy. It's also in your best interest to be obedient and drink."

Lai Yiteng was prickling with rage and disgust as the bowl was lifted towards his lips.

"I won't," he seethed. "Why should I?"

Junshen gave a thin smile. "My, you are naïve. It's not as though I'm trying to say this liquid isn't something awful, but that it's no use trying to avoid taking it. You see, if you refuse, then your jaw will be dislocated. A funnel will be crammed down your throat, and you will drink it while choking. Since you'll have to drink it either way, I am merely suggesting you choose the easier route."

"I..."Lai Yiteng clamped his mouth shut.

That was when it finally dawned on him, how used to torture Junshen was. How many times before they must have already done such things. How it was useless to resist when he was chained to a wall and injured.

But he did not want to admit it. It was too terrifying, it made everything around him seem to warp and spin. His whole body shuddered.

The lip of the bowl was pressed onto his lips.

Lai Yiteng slowly looked down at the tongue-less man standing in front of him. Their face was hollow and blurred out, with no clear feature besides a wide smile.

A smile stretched ear to ear, grinning cheerily at him.

…

Lai Yiteng woke up out of breath. His body curled up as he held his head in his hands.

He glanced around wildly right afterward, in fear of murky air and gray stone walls, but there was only wood paneling. Something smelled pleasant, actually, stew that had been kept warm in a pot above a stove.

Far from any prison, he was inside a small, one-room house. The lighting in the room was dim, rays of light barely visible through the shuttered window. Lai Yiteng sucked in a breath. What time was it? How long was he unconscious?

At the peak of his apprehension, he felt something. A slight movement that brushed against his leg beside him on the bed. Lai Yiteng's mind went blank as he threw out his arm and shoved the thing next to him away.

Xian Wu fell onto the floor with a THUNK and groaned.

Lai Yiteng focused his eyes on him in confusion.

"…Xian Wu?" His throat was dry and cracked.

"Mhm." Xian Wu was rubbing his head on the floor, making angry grumbles. He picked himself up and brushed off his inner robe. "You're awake," he added flatly.

Lai YIteng dug his fingers into the quilt on the bed, but after a few moments his body lost its tension, becoming slightly more at east...it was just Xian Wu. The man must have been sleeping beside him on the bed. Once again, Lai Yiteng knew that he had Xian Wu to thank for securing his life from whatever strange ailment he had.

Lai Yiteng bowed his head, a sense of guilt finding its way into his heart.

"Apologies, I didn't mean to do that."

Xian Wu paused, his mouth slightly agape. He'd never expected an apology to come out of Lai Yiteng's mouth. After all, Lai YItneg had insulted him without regard and even kicked him in an unmentionable place, but never showed signs of regret...Xian Wu could not help but soften his expression. He grabbed the teapot and poured a cup of water.

"Yi'er, have something to drink," he said, placing it into his hands. "And remember to call me gege."

Lai Yiteng almost choked on his last gulp of water when he heard that. He hesitated, his heart jumping a beat. He finished carefully drank up the water.

"…gege," he said quietly. Saying it brought a strange feeling into his heart. He almost wanted to refuse using such an address because of that, but...another part of him liked calling Xian Wu with familiarity. He could not fathom why. Lai Yiteng just banished that thought from his mind as he asked, "Where are we?"

"I randomly found a house, of course! What else could it be?" Xian Wu smiled slyly and added, "This place is out in the middle of nowhere. No one will find us here for a while. You've been unconscious for three days, but I was able to secure your life."

"Randomly?"

"Well yeah, it's not like I had time to search for one. I chanced upon this place while carrying you through the mountain forests."

Lai Yiteng saw some signs of wear around the place and could only consider Xian Wu lucky, being able to find such a well-built place for free.

Besides that, what nagged at Lai Yiteng was that he once again owed the debt of his life to Xian Wu. This was truly bothersome as he did not have the means to repay anything. Lai Yiteng had even put Xian Wu into danger on Deathly Howling Mountain because of his illogical thoughts and obsessions. And sure, although it seemed that Xian Wu's arm had healed from its paralysis, so he didn't have to feel responsible for causing the man a permanent injury, he was still irritated.

Lai Yiteng opened his mouth and spoke bitterly, "I only cause trouble… wouldn't it be better to just leave when you had the chance…" he let his words fall off, not sure what else he wanted to say, then furrowed his brow.