Chapter 10

His feelings for Zhao Yang were genuine, and he was willing to endure others' hatred, except for Zhao Yang. Throughout their time together, Li Jun had realized that Zhao Yang was someone who had become central to his world.

Zhao Yang was like a breath of fresh air, and without him, Li Jun couldn't imagine living. Thinking this, Li Jun leaned closer to Zhao Yang's face until their lips met. Initially, the kiss was small and tense, but it grew deeper, larger, and more intense. Li Jun's entire body heated up, and he felt tingles as his lips connected with Zhao Yang's soft ones.

While kissing, Li Jun's other hand gently held Zhao Yang's chin. Li Jun momentarily broke the kiss, allowing Zhao Yang to catch his breath. As they locked eyes, Li Jun's intense emotions were directed solely at Zhao Yang. They locked lips once more, kissing as if the world were about to end. The kiss was filled with sweetness, passion, and the love Li Jun felt for Zhao Yang. Li Jun explored every corner of Zhao Yang's lips, eliciting a moan from him. The intensity of this kiss surpassed the first one. Li Jun's hot breath travelled down to Zhao Yang's neck, where he began to leave his mark.

Sucking and nibbling on Zhao Yang's neck, Li Jun's actions overwhelmed him, causing moans to escape his lips. While continuing his assault on Zhao Yang's neck, Li Jun's hand that was on his chin slowly moved downward, opening Zhao Yang's robes until he was half-naked. His hands played with Zhao Yang's nipples, teasing and pleasuring them, turning him into a moaning mess. After Li Jun had his fill with Zhao Yang's neck, he proceeded to focus on his nipples.

Li Jun's mouth sucked and bit Zhao Yang's nipples, intensifying his moans. Zhao Yang's body trembled, feeling weak and on the verge of collapsing. Fortunately, Li Jun kept his hands pinned against the hill, preventing him from falling to the ground. After satisfying Zhao Yang's nipples, Li Jun gave him one last kiss before releasing his grip on his hands. Zhao Yang fell into Li Jun's arms, appearing disheveled. His lips were red and swollen, his neck adorned with reddish-black bruises, and his nipples were red, swollen, and marked with bites. Li Jun, on the other hand, only had swollen lips.

Li Jun carried Zhao Yang back into the cave and lay down with him on top. As their breathing gradually calmed, Li Jun looked down and noticed that Zhao Yang had fallen asleep. He couldn't help but smile, planting a gentle kiss on the top of Zhao Yang's head. After a while, Li Jun, too, drifted off to sleep.

During the night, the moonlight seeped into the cave, disturbing Li Jun's slumber. Irritated, he used his free hand to shield his eyes, still holding onto Zhao Yang. Unbeknownst to him, his slight movement had awakened Zhao Yang. Li Jun turned to face Zhao Yang, intending to check if he was still asleep. However, he was met with a wide-awake Zhao Yang. They locked eyes, and a deep blush spread across Zhao Yang's face as he recalled the events of the morning.

"Aren't you supposed to be leaving today? It's already nighttime. Shouldn't you go?" Zhao Yang spoke, averting his gaze, unable to look at Li Jun after what had happened.

"Do you truly want me to leave, my dear?" Li Jun asked, gripping Zhao Yang's chin and turning his face to meet his gaze. Li Jun's expression displayed displeasure, unhappy with the fact that Zhao Yang refused to make eye contact. Seeing no response from Zhao Yang, Li Jun stood up and walked toward the entrance of the cave, where he stood for a while before being joined by Zhao Yang.

"You know I wouldn't ask you to stay, even if I wanted to. You have your own obligations, and I won't hold you back," Zhao Yang spoke, his gaze fixed on Li Jun, who met his gaze in return.

"Yang," Li Jun uttered before pulling Zhao Yang into a tight embrace. The hug was filled with desperation, as if Li Jun feared that if he loosened his grip even slightly, Zhao Yang would vanish. That night, both Li Jun and Zhao Yang quietly made their way out of the cave. If one listened closely, they could hear their faint footsteps. Surprisingly, they faced no challenges in navigating the inner and middle zones of the forest, perhaps due to the aura emitted by Li Jun. No mischievous creatures dared to approach them. Without taking any breaks, Li Jun carried Zhao Yang on his back, swiftly traversing the forest in just 30 minutes. They reached the forest's entrance.

Perhaps due to the lateness of the hour, there wasn't a soul in sight. This was advantageous for Li Jun and Zhao Yang, as they didn't want to be noticed by others. Gently, Li Jun set Zhao Yang down and tightly held his hand. They both gazed into the distance, where the radiant lights of the Kingdom could be seen. Both knew they had to part ways, yet neither wanted to let go of the other. The realization that it might be a while before they saw each other again, or perhaps never, caused Zhao Yang to squeeze Li Jun's hand.

"I suppose this is goodbye," Zhao Yang said, his eyes locked with Li Jun's. The weight of those words sank heavily upon Li Jun, as if they implied a permanent separation.

"It's goodbye for now. We will definitely meet again," Li Jun replied, leaning in for a kiss. This kiss was different from the previous ones—it was gentle, sweet, and filled with longing. They savoured the kiss for a little longer before reluctantly breaking apart. The chill left by the parting of their lips filled them with sorrow. Despite their reluctance, Zhao Yang and Li Jun released each other's hands.

Li Jun watched as Zhao Yang walked towards the direction of the city. His absence left Li Jun feeling lonely, causing all the emotions on his face to disappear, leaving behind a cold and impassive expression. He stared intently at Zhao Yang's figure, which grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight.

"Speak," Li Jun commanded with authority, though he didn't turn around to look at the figure clad in black descending from the tree branch. Li Jun continued to face the direction in which Zhao Yang had departed.

"Master, in your absence, we managed to capture the target," the black-clad figure reported, bowing respectfully to his master.

"Did he talk?" Li Jun inquired, keeping his words to a minimum while conveying his message.

"The target remains silent even after torture. The person behind him must be formidable. What shall we do, Master?" the figure asked, his gaze fixed on his master, who wore a sinister expression that sent shivers down the figure's spine.