Even Chambers Grow Cold

Xiong Yang lay alone in his chamber, gazing up at the ceiling lost in thought. He wondered if it was because he had kissed the man that he hadn't had his lips stitched shut after all.

Yin Xing had gone to do who knows what with his concubines, and Xiong Yang was temporarily at peace. Occasionally, a somber-faced man would open the door, slide some food into the room, and lock the door shut again. It wasn't that the food was bad; it was just incredibly spicy. He hated spicy food, and Yin Xing knew this. He assumed that it must have been some minor form of torment while he was away with his concubines. Xiong Yang was well aware that Yin Xing had always been the type to intentionally inconvenience others for his own entertainment, even before he had gone mad.

Sometimes, Xiong Yang refused to eat at all. Other times, he would barely even touch the food. As hours turned to days, and days turned to months, he became very weak. His once plump cheeks were now hollow and sunken, and his originally bright eyes had dimmed like a candle that had been long since put out. Yin Xing still hadn't returned, and he had almost clung to the faint hope that he was free when the door finally creaked open.




"Sir, I already told you that I don't like spicy food. Don't bother giving me any food. I would rather die of starvation than stay trapped like a slave with no life." Upon hearing the chuckle in response, Xiong Yang shot his head up in fear, realizing that the emperor had returned. This wasn't the solemn servant from before who brought him the food.




"You would rather die of starvation? I didn't think I was treating you that poorly. I thought I was holding back fairly well, hmm?"




When the words escaped Yin Xing's mouth, Xiong Yang bit back the words that he wanted to say. He would really rather not die of murder today. So instead, he clamped down on his tongue with his teeth until he tasted the metallic trace of blood and choked down his sassy retort. He would rather die by his own hands.

"Mm. How are your concubines doing?" Xiong Yang inquired bitterly, and he would've rolled his eyes if he wasn't in fear of having them gouged out. This emperor was… honestly embarrassing.




Before he knew it, Yin Xing had come in close, his warm breath fanning Xiong Yang's face. "…" He had no response to this. He just stared, now deciding that being killed might actually be a more pleasant outcome than suicide.




Yin Xing inspected Xiong Yang's face in amusement, he clearly found the man very interesting. He could tell that Xiong Yang was holding back from speaking, so he tipped his head to the side and grabbed Xiong Yang's chin in his ice-cold grip. "You were saying?" Yin Xing's gaze seemed to be egging him on, daring him to utter another word.




When Yin Xing noticed the stubbornness in the other man's eyes, he sighed softly and pried Xiong Yang's lips apart with two strong but slender fingers, inspecting the blood. Xiong Yang seemed furious at this and bit down on Yin Xing's finger sharply. Yin Xing moved his hand back, looked at the faint spot of blood from the bite, and then a crack echoed through the air as his palm collided with Xiong Yang's cheek. The man— who had been slapped, didn't make a sound, but he did visibly flinch.




Yin Xing sneered in a sickly sweet way and raised himself, not bothering to draw out his sword this time. Perhaps he had grown lazy from doing nothing but lying around with those concubines of his.




"You'll learn how to be a good servant soon enough. You will soon kill for me so that I don't have to bloody my own hands! I'll take it as a thank-you gift for being your friend for so long." Xiong Yang had no choice but to be obedient, so fighting back his pride, he simply nodded. He didn't dare try to respond verbally. He feared that the uncertainty in his tone would show. For now, he had to manipulate his way out, no matter what extreme measures that method would take, even if it meant pretending to be in love with him.

Yin Xing let a smirk quirk up his lips, his next words chilling Xiong Yang to the bone. "Don't worry, I am not the demanding type. As long as you do the basic things I tell you to, you should be fine. You could even break my rules once in a while; I love the thought of a good chase." Xiong Yang fought back his disgust and kept his head lowered helplessly.

Why did he even betray him?

It

was his fault that the man had turned so cold-hearted, wasn't it? His heart banged in his chest like a ceremonial drum, but this was not to be mistaken for love. It was pure and delicate fear, covered by a fragile spider web and on the verge of snapping at any moment.


"And to think you were so afraid of me just a moment ago—what's that sound, hm? It seems like your heart is pounding. Do you like me? Such a naive little thing. Wouldn't it be fun to do a few interesting deeds?" Yin Xing looked very amused, and Xiong Yang had to hold back with all of his strength the urge to yell:

'It's not beating quickly because I like you. I'm being held captive, and I'm genuinely terrified of whatever the hell is wrong with your head.'

But he remained silent, keeping his head ducked as the tyrant stroked his hair.

He felt disgusted.

So disgusted.

He knew the man was only saying this to provoke a reaction and likely didn't mean it, but all that he could manage to choke out was a singular "I..." before he realized the second half, and his face was on fire. "You would do deeds with another man!?" Xiong Yang was in disbelief. He was originally trying to torture him, yet now he was trying to do things with him that only lovers do.

"Just because we are both men does not mean I do not find you attractive. You do not need to be a woman for me to like you. A soul as beautiful as yours should be worshipped, no matter what container holds it." Upon hearing Yin Xing's words, he was enraged! "You have so many women, and you dare try going for me as well? No matter how you try to put it, I will never love you! You aren't my friend! You are just a shell of the person he once was! My friend wouldn't say such crude words! And I will not come in second place; even if I were a cut sleeve, I wouldn't go for a man with concubines unless he got rid of all of them first!" Xiong Yang shouted these words, breaking into a fit of coughing. His ribs hurt from shouting, and his body was weak from not eating much. "People change. I changed for the better. Now look at me! The land is at my feet. I am no longer a pathetic man. I create fear, I turn tides, and I spill blood. If I get rid of my concubines, as you wish, and you run off, then what will I do?" Yin Xing chuckled darkly, distancing himself at last. He turned his back and began to walk out.


"You say you're no longer pathetic, but you weren't pathetic originally. You have chosen to be this way. What man takes so many lives with his own hands? Imprisons his own friend? You walked the wrong path, and you can't expect anybody to help you light it. You trapped yourself in this darkness." Xiong Yang hissed out every word, and with some of his remaining strength, he spat the blood from his bleeding tongue onto Yin Xing's shoes. Shockingly, the man didn't react. Xiong Yang didn't dare meet his gaze; he didn't want to see the expression. At this point, he didn't know what to do. "You will receive a special bath that no one else has ever had." Yin Xing said simply: He grabbed Xiong Yang by the sleeve and dragged him with inhuman strength towards a room with a giant tub.


"You can bathe here. I trust you not to do anything bad. You smell filthy." Xiong Yang was confused. He had just insulted this man to his face. He had physically spit blood onto his clean boot, and he was offering him... a bath? He was sure it was a trick to lure him into being drowned, but without another word, the man left and slammed the door shut.

Xiong Yang stared at the water, and an idea that he knew he would likely regret popped into his head. But he couldn't make it too obvious.