Mistakes Never Die

The cold-hearted man in front of him let out a bitter chuckle, a fire blazing in his gaze as he spoke in a mocking tone.

"You do realize how much I could torture you, correct? I could tear your heart out, flog you, and feed your intestines to the dogs, all in one go. Who would save you? The useless rat that you call your master? He's elderly and frail now. You're helpless, yet here I am… only choosing to spare you because I am a merciful being! Your life is mine, so you should be eternally grateful for my act of kindness." He chuckled darkly. The tone of every word that he uttered was one of mania, and he gave a simple flick of his wrist, his sword pointed at Xiong Yang's throat.


As he saw the sight unfold before him, Xiong Yang's eyes were full of tears, and he crashed down to his knees. He knew that he deserved it. He deserved it for abandoning this man when he needed him the most. As guilt swarmed through his blood, he could barely bear the ache anymore. "I'm sorry."


Yin Xing smirked at the pathetic appearance of his former friend, and he knelt in front of the man, grabbing his chin violently.

"Now don't go crying, darling. You are so much more useful to me when you smile. It feels as if someone actually loves me! I don't want to see your pathetic tears. So, you want me to forgive you? Then tell me, why should I? What can you offer in return? Do not dare to think I would ever spare you a second glance without a favor in return." Yin Xing was a man who did not bargain, and it was very evident. Xiong Yang should have never double-crossed the young emperor. This fate was all a consequence of his own actions. He felt helpless. He couldn't do anything except beg this cold-hearted creature for mercy, or better yet, try to trick the man.

That was it! Xiong Yang could try to trick him.
But he couldn't make it obvious, so he continued being pathetic, this time partially acting to egg it on.

Xiong Yang didn't know how to reply. He didn't know how he could repay his old friend.

He slowly looked up, the tears threatening to slip. He didn't want to cry— he despised showing his weak side, but he was downright terrified. "I'll do anything you ask of me." Xiong Yang added in his soft tone, his voice threatening to crack as he gulped down his saliva, wishing for some type of hydration—any type of hydration! He really needed water.

Yin Xing looked delighted as he clapped his hands as if praising the sight before him. "Anything? That is excellent, very excellent." He leaned in close to Xiong Yang, proceeding to hiss his next words very clearly into the other man's ear.

"Then, I command that you will be my loyal servant. You will serve me, and me alone. I will keep you locked in a room that nobody but me has access to, and you will live a life of servitude. You will dress however I want you to, and you will accompany me the split second that I decide you're worth my presence. Understood?" Xiong Yang sucked in a sharp intake of breath, fear flickering in his eyes. This wasn't what he wanted! He didn't want this at all. Why was this happening to him? He abandoned Yin Xing for the man's own good. He didn't think that years later, he would turn into somebody this cruel! If he had known, he would've never done what he did. He looked at the elegant robes of the emperor before him, and finally, Xiong Yang spoke, despite how difficult it was.

Xiong Yang knew that he barely had a choice left, and as his lower lip quivered and he slowly stood up, he nodded, knowing this was what his life had come to: "If that's what you wish..."

Yin Xing grinned cruelly and patted his head before lowering his sword, which was held in his free hand. "Very good. Now, if you would excuse me, I have my concubines to attend to. But don't you worry; I will come back and check in on you. I will leave you with one final gift, though, to make your transition easier. I will be having my healer stitch your mouth shut. We wouldn't want you to blab to anyone about your situation if you managed to escape, would we? We can't have the image of such a reputable place tainted."
Xiong Yang was speechless.

Concubines... 

If Yin Xing already had several beautiful women, why would he need a man by his side too? This was absolutely ridiculous! Outrageous! 

Yin Xing would be better off killing him instead of trapping him when he already had plenty of people to entertain him! Xiong Yang was disgusted. "I refuse…" He spat out bitterly, and Yin Xing's eyes seemed to widen with a sinister gaze as he slammed his foot into Xiong Yang's stomach, sending him crashing into the wall. He coughed out the slightest bit of blood and flinched as the man came closer. He scrambled backward as far away as he possibly could, and he held out his hands to shield himself.

"I didn't give you the option, you good-for-nothing bastard. Look at you, practically slobbering all over the floor like a dog and begging for me to spare you! Now I will tell you one more time: come with me... or I will drag you by force." Yin Xing chuckled bitterly, taking a step closer to the terrified man as he raised his sword once again. It was burning with an overwhelming and demonic energy.

Xiong Yang had no more room left to retreat, and he just looked up at Yin Xing, hoping that his pleading peach-blossom eyes would knock some humanity into the emperor. But there was no avail. "I said I refused!" Xiong Yang cried out, and before he could think of a better option, he knocked the sword out of Yin Xing's hand, fell forward, and kissed the man right on the lips. Xiong Yang hadn't wanted to kiss him; the very thought of kissing a man disgusted him! But he was left with little to no options; maybe he could push his pride aside and pretend to love the man. Then would he be freed? Yin Xing seemed to blush, and Xiong Yang was at a loss for words.

What in the…

"Now then, little dog, do you have any requests?" It took a moment to see Yin Xing's once-embarrassed face twist into a horrible expression of pure hatred.

He had done this just to make Xiong Yang let down his guard, and he had even called him a dog!

Before he knew it, he had a hand directly around his throat, slamming him into the wall and trying to crush his windpipes.

Xiong Yang cried out, trying to escape.

How was he going to make a request if he couldn't even breathe? This man had surely lost his mind. Any sense of sanity must've been long gone.

Yin Xing had a terrible smile on his face, and he spoke in a melodic tone as if he were singing, "It is no trick. You are the only one I want. You should be glad that I chose you!" He crushed Xiong Yang's throat even harder, and Xiong Yang felt his vision blurring in and then blurring back out.

"I just... you wanted to stitch my mouth shut a second ago, and now you..." His gaze slowly moved up to meet Yin Xing's. He could hardly speak; each word was caught in a wheeze of breath. He was fighting desperately for any way of getting free. But yet, he couldn't.

Yin Xing smirked at the naive mindset of such a boy, and he finally spoke. "I am Yin Xing, the most powerful man in the land, and you dare question me? You are the most beautiful man that I have ever seen. You are a gift from the heavens; I will not give you to anyone else."

A gift?!

Xiong Yang's vision slowly began to go black, but before he could have the tranquility of unconsciousness, Yin Xing had thrown him onto the ground carelessly. Xiong Yang lay there in pain, his head throbbing from the impact, but he didn't dare make a single sound. He breathed heavily and hoarsely as if he were trying to gulp up every ounce of the air in the land, and maybe he was.

He looked reluctant, but he nodded, accepting the words of his cruel former friend.

"Then I will do my best to live up to your expectations." He said softly.

He was disgusted, so disgusted. He was not attracted to men. Why did his tormentor have to be a man?