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In this way, You Daolin bore the blame entirely for this incident, so that despite the fact that he would likely lose his right arm permanently if his injuries weren't treated quickly, none of his formerly attentive shixiong and shijie were willing to even glance at the malicious idiot who'd brought such shame to Golden Lion Valley. Gradually, the teenager who was carelessly thrown into his room stopped grunting for help, his eyes that stared at the wounds on his body filling with a mute, chilly hatred instead.

As for the rest of the parties involved, Zhuo Biming was comforted by various sympathetic disciples and Ning He was predictably ignored, but Chen Yu didn't mind. After all, this was just the first part of the show, he didn't want to be disturbed when he had to find a chance to help the second act begin. And the opportunity came rather quickly, having noticed the lovelorn Wenren Shishi lingering for a glimpse of her shifu out of the corner of his eyes, Chen Yu promptly took advantage of the coincidence by imperiously holding up his arms to Moqi Baihui and demanding, "Shishu, carry me."

At this sudden recognition from his little shizhi, Moqi Baihui's heart overflowed with ecstasy. Was his darling shizhi finally acknowledging their relationship? Maybe he'd been too traumatized by the violence today and only wished to feel connected to someone else for the moment? Even if that was so, since the boy was his now, of course he wouldn't let him go. Thus, unable to suppress his brilliant grin, he immediately bent down to lift the youth up and whispered, "Shizhi, shizhi, what did you call me? Say it again!"

Striding next to the two figures, Moqi Lirong was dissatisfied at being discarded for his twin, but his cold face soon smiled as well when he heard Ning He loftily refuse, "Hng, I don't want a deaf shishu!" Even as he was relieved that the boy didn't seem to have been so distressed by what had occurred just now that he had lost his cute arrogance, however, the man's mood plummeted again when he brooded, wasn't this just another indication that the youth had suffered so much abuse that he'd become inured to it? While the issue had been resolved this time, what about in the future?

From a short distance away, he threw a thoughtful glance over his shoulder. Perhaps that other disciple from Jade Snow Mountain should be informed of the truth since he had, at least on the surface, been saved by Ning He. It was only natural that he be made to return the favor.

Once the trio reached the suite they were sharing, Moqi Lirong therefore pulled his brother aside to suggest the idea to him since he always served as the spokesperson for both of them, then rushed him out of the room with the excuse that they never knew when someone else would attack Ning He. Having become quite anxious from the memory of how so many teenagers had been aggressively surrounding the child when they'd arrived in front of Zhuo Biming's room, Moqi Baihui didn't notice the gleam in his twin's eyes, he instantly left without any argument.

Although Chen Yu had been lounging on the large bed inside the suite throughout this exchange, he could basically guess what had taken place. It didn't matter that Zhuo Biming would be told about Ning He's 'noble' intentions behind his bullying, since he'd factored this development in when he'd been deciding whether or not to implicate the protagonist in You Daolin's punishment. If anything, his interest in how Zhuo Biming would behave after he realized the 'truth' had swayed him toward allowing the protagonist to preserve his reputation, as had Chen Yu's initial determination to be somewhat merciful to Zhuo Biming.

Of course, his greatest motive had been that protagonists made for the best playthings, they were so durable compared to mere cannon fodder characters. Why would he incinerate someone he could recycle for his entertainment over and over again?

But Chen Yu's thoughts shifted as he gazed at the black twin, who was eagerly closing the door. Who would have guessed that the muscle head could outsmart the research nerd? The issue was, what did Moqi Lirong plan to accomplish with this body after chasing his brother out?

He soon confirmed his theory when the man climbed onto the bed behind him and embraced his back, his long fingers suggestively wrapping around and sweeping down each of Ning He's smaller ones. In a calming tone, Moqi Lirong coaxed, "Shizhi, tell me what really happened."

Oh, Chen Yu sneered, this one had added him into his family tree as well? But what to do, it would be awkward to have to call out 'shishu' to everyone all the time...

As if he'd read Chen Yu's unwillingness simply from the way the boy had tilted his head, Moqi Lirong generously yielded the title to Moqi Baihui, explaining, "My brother tends to be faster than I am in a lot of things, so he snatched you up more quickly; that doesn't mean I didn't want to as well, I was just hesitant to pressure you all at once like he did. Anyway, what I mean is that you can still stick to shishu when you refer to Baihui..." Slyly peeking around to the youth's face, Moqi Lirong continued, "And I can just be Master, all right?" In fact, he wished that he could be the sole person whom Ning He called shishu or Master or anything else, but he was aware that he couldn't monopolize the boy, at least not until everyone who was aiming for him was destroyed.

Whereas Chen Yu was silently imagining beating this pervert up until he understood who the master here was, Moqi Lirong, who'd taken his lack of response as agreement, pushed onward, leaning down to breathe against the boy's shell-like ear. "Shizhi, don't you have anything to tell your Master?"

At the hot, wet touch that was tickling his earlobe, Chen Yu woke up from his daydreams. Ah? What was the pervert pestering him for now? What did he mean, what really happened? What alternative version of the truth had that brain produced?

Well, there was no reason to fulfill all of his wishes, he would simply waste time with some nonsense for now. Thus, huffing irritably, Chen Yu rubbed his ear to get rid of the lingering sensation and pushed the man away, turning around to face him with a serious expression. Then, despite his great reluctance, he opened, "Master Moqi—"

But of course the tiresome animal wouldn't accept this proper form of address, the rest of his words were blocked by the black twin's huge hand placed across his mouth and the man stubbornly insisting, "Just Master."

Sighing at the trials he was forced to bear, Chen Yu gritted out, "Master, it was like this..."

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the inn, Moqi Biahui's scholarly façade was nowhere to be seen as he choked Zhuo Biming against a wall. Even as long minutes passed, he observed the teenager's purpling face with indifferent eyes, his heart becoming angrier as he reviewed every suspicious detail and every potential consequence—while he had allowed You Daolin to carry the pot for this incident because he was certain that the youth had really attempted to kill his shizhi, in reality both he and his twin knew that the youth wouldn't have held such great animosity toward Ning He if Zhuo Biming, the sole other disciple who personally had reason to hate his shizhi, hadn't provoked him.

Thus, although he could logically understand that this Zhuo Biming had endangered his Ning He due to his ignorance of his shizhi's kindness, he truly wanted to choke the life out of him here and now. Nevertheless, reminding himself that his Ning He would be sad if someone from Jade Sword Mountain died, he disgustedly threw the heaving body down and stomped on the teenager's throat.

Lying feebly on the floor, Zhuo Biming was a mess, his face covered with tears and snot from choking and every single muscle trembling in shock. What he had just confronted was the might of real power, this was strength that could crush mountains and rivers and simultaneously be used to minutely hold an enemy on the edge of life and death forever. How did Ning He deserve to have such a mighty supporter, why did everything good go to him? Wasn't he so much more worthy?

Having identified the scornful incredulity that flashed past the youth's eyes, Moqi Baihui stomped on the vulnerable neck to at least ensure that no insulting words about Ning He could be voiced, then flatly described what he and his brother had discovered regarding the medicine with its Golden Honey Flowers extract and the cuts on their shizhi's back, his speech interspersed with criticisms of how terribly the other disciples in the sect had treated the poor child.

Unable to speak, Zhuo Biming could only stare wide-eyed at this fantastic tale, but his disbelief was clear to see, as were mocking questions such as, if Ning He had been suppressing everyone else so that he could save them, why had he bullied him in private, when there were no prying eyes to witness his act?

To this repudiation, Moqi Baihui merely spit out, "Then if, as you claim, he's so jealous that he can't stand the existence of someone more talented than he is, why didn't he just kill all the geniuses? Or at least cripple them permanently? Why didn't he tell everyone what scum you are earlier, how you tried to burn your peak master's son and also frame him for it? Can you even fathom how much he must have been hurt by your betrayal? Yet he still defended you and gave you a chance to escape blame."

Moqi Baihui was a well-learned man after all, he had presented his convictions in a supremely undeniable way, so that when he left with a simple, "When you drink water, think of its source," Zhuo Biming stayed curled up on the ground, pondering everything in a new light.

On the other hand, the moment he stepped out of the teenager's room, Moqi Baihui's gloomy face brightened, the deadly aura around him disappeared without a trace as he swiftly strode back to reunite with his shizhi. Suddenly, however, he realized that Moqi Lirong had been oddly adamant when he'd shoved him out the door, causing him to curse and rush even more. That fool better not have done anything to his Ning He, or he would show him how superior his cultivation techniques were!

Unfortunately, when he arrived at their suite, what greeted him was the sight of his shizhi chattering energetically with his brother, who was holding him tightly from behind and fiddling with his hands. The pair looked so cozy and affectionate, as if they were in a world of their own, sending a pang of pain through Moqi Baihui's heart. Still, he didn't hesitate to disrupt the harmonious atmosphere, he directly ignored his twin to lean down and kiss Ning He's forehead, then warmly reported, "I'm back," like a husband returning to his wife after work.

Actually, Chen Yu, who was at last able to take a pause from spewing out a torrent of words in order to distract Moqi Lirong, really was glad that he'd arrived, but for taking so long, he resentfully glared at the man and wiped off his forehead. The man's tardiness, which wouldn't usually have annoyed him, was important in this situation because whereas Chen Yu was fairly confident that his lover could be found between the Moqi brothers, since he couldn't confirm exactly who it was, he didn't want to risk his hips in the future by being too intimate with either of them yet. Surely, having both twins around him to guard against each other would prevent him from going too far with either of them.

But, contrary to his expectations, Moqi Baihui seemed to be too afraid of hurting him to tug him away from his brother's tight clasp, instead he rolled up his sleeves and dotingly laughed, "All right, shishu was wrong for making you lonely, I'll make it up to you with a good massage, okay?"

Chen Yu raised his brows at this blatant excuse to molest him and glanced back to gauge the black twin's reaction to this, curious whether he would stop Moqi Baihui. Which would win, his jealousy or his desire?

Indeed, behind him, Moqi Lirong was frowning at seeing his brother position himself between Ning He's slim legs, which were revealed in all their glory by the gown he'd spread open, and stroke his hands along the tender skin. A moment later, however, his expression turned pleased, as he scoffed, "Baihui, since when have you ever given a massage? You probably just read about it somewhere, I'm the one who has real experience."

Saying so, he slipped Ning He's robe down to expose his exquisitely defined shoulder blades and reflexively pressed his lips against them, then kneaded the fine parts in the youth's delicate neck. Hidden from view, the man planted small marks on the white skin, his eyes lowered to cover the darkness that was roiling with the urge to bite through this nape until he could gnaw on the boy's bones and engrave his mark in the deepest part of him. With these fantasies and the view that he was enjoying, his breathing became heavier and heavier and eventually, he had to conduct the massage with one hand as he was using the other to comfort himself.

On the other side, after somewhat guiltily glancing at Ning He due to the accuracy of his brother's accusation, Moqi Baihui hardened his resolve and held the boy's arched foot in his hands, gently searching out his pressure points and kneading them, shuddering faintly whenever Ning He cried out in response to a particularly sensitive spot being rubbed. As he continued up the youth's graceful calves, Moqi Baihui couldn't help but squeeze harder than necessary, partly because he was anxious to make his claim on his shizhi obvious and partly because the feeling of his fingers sinking into that supple flesh was too addicting, then he watched as if fascinated at the red marks his hands had created.

Aroused unbearably by these brands, the man gradually also shed his restraint, he simply assured himself that Ning He wasn't looking at him through his slackened, half-lidded eyes and pretended to accidentally move the jade-like feet against his erection. Despite not daring to stimulate himself too frequently, he managed to relieve himself in the end with the additional spark of the youth's moans.

Although Chen Yu was well aware of how thoroughly the perverts were exploiting their little show, he no longer cared once he felt how pleasurable it was, he simply relaxed and let them do whatever they wanted to. Once he was limp from the pleasure, he didn't even bother to stifle his half-pained, half-pleased gasps and sobs from leaking out.

Of course, he wasn't aware that standing outside the door and listening to these ambiguous noises was Wenren ShiShi, who had come to invite her shifu to dinner.