CH 78

Feng Ci opened his eyes.

He stared at the canopy of the bed above him. It took him quite a while to finally realize where he was currently. 

LangFeng City, LinXian Terrace.

Feng Ci sank deeply into the soft bed. Behind him was the body of a familiar figure. The regularly cold body was warm and cozy at the moment, pressed closely against Feng Ci’s back. Feng Ci quietly leaned into it and felt the other’s steady breathing and heartbeat.

He let out a silent breath of relief.

……He was still here. 

Fortunately.

That brief life in the Sumeru World, when reminiscing about it, seemed like a wonderful, almost fantastical dream. There was no suffocating responsibilities, no scheming, no hatred or enmity. They had grown up together and loved each other without worries.

Pity it was too short.

Pei QianYue only lived 25 years in the Sumeru World. Twenty years after they met each other, Pei QianYue’s body suddenly deteriorated rapidly. In a short mere three months, he left Feng Ci.

Perhaps Feng Ci was destined to lack personal connections in his life. Even in the Sumeru World, he couldn’t escape this curse.

The Sumeru version of him lost his father at 3, lost his mother at 17, and lost his lover at 25.

The world was so big and boundless, but he had no relatives or friends.

Death and separation, Feng Ci has already seen too much of that in this life. But the Sumeru version of him, who had no memories, has never experienced any of that. 

The oppressive despair and hopelessness, which made it suffocating to breathe— even when recalling it now, Feng Ci still felt post traumatic fears.

The person behind him suddenly moved.

“How come you woke up so early?” Pei QianYue buried his face into Feng Ci’s neck and nuzzled softly: “Another dream?”

Considering nothing good ever happens when Feng Ci dreams, Pei QianYue was extremely sensitive to Feng Ci’s dreams. 

It can also be called post traumatic fears.

“No.” Feng Ci allowed Pei QianYue to pull him into his embrace.

A familiar scent covered him. Back pressed closely against Pei QianYue’s chest, Feng Ci felt the steady and powerful heartbeat inside the other’s chest before he could finally chase away the haunting mental images of Pei QianYue breathing his last breaths in his arm.

“Then what’s the matter?” Pei QianYue continued to ask: “Are you thinking about what happened inside the Sumeru World again?” 

To even ask.

They had already returned from the Sumeru World for several days, but Feng Ci still has not walked out of that experience completely. He’d often wake up in the middle of the night in alarm and stare at Pei QianYue in a daze. One look and an hour would pass by.

This was most likely Pei QianYue’s secret scheme.

Feng Ci had once left him behind, causing him to constantly worry about potential losses, forever afraid that Feng Ci might leave him once again. Now the roles have switched. Up to his old tricks again, Pei QianYue finally gave Feng Ci a taste of this apprehensive and worrisome feeling. 

Asshole.

Feng Ci thought indignantly. He was also too lazy to explain any further and turned around, wanting to get out of bed.

But he was pulled back again.

“Where are you going?” Pei QianYue asked. 

Feng Ci said with a temper: “Can you be humane, City Master Pei. LangFeng City still has a lot of work waiting for you. Didn’t you see Xiao Que becoming one size smaller already?”

Pei QianYue: “……”

This was clearly not within the scope of City Master Pei’s considerations.

Before going to the Sumeru World, Pei QianYue had announced to the outside world that because he was gravely injured in the previous big battle, he needed to go into secluded cultivation. However, after he returned from the Sumeru World, Pei QianYue’s first order was to hide the news of their return. 

As a result, for the past few days, the two of them have been messing around in this inner hall.

Not even exiting the door.

Naturally, if City Master Pei felt remorse because of this or suddenly came to his senses, he wouldn’t be called Pei QianYue.

“No rush.” 

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With barely any struggles, Feng Ci lowered his defenses.

He already lacked resistance towards this person previously. Not to mention, now they had lived through those things in the Sumeru World. The Feng Ci and Pei QianYue of the Sumeru World have never experienced any complications. They were the purest versions of them. All of the choices that they made were decided on the most basic instincts, including the respect and love they felt towards each other. 

Feng Ci was pressed down into the soft bed. In a daze, he heard Pei QianYue’s voice: “Don’t be afraid, Master.”

“Humans are born, get old, get sick, and die. That’s their fate, which cannot be reversed. Naturally, there will be separation and loss.” Pei QianYue said: “But I won’t.”

“Because you’re my fate.”

“I will never leave you. There’s nothing to worry about..” 

Feng Ci stared unblinkingly at Pei QianYue. After a moment, he chuckled softly: “Easy for you to say.”

The other’s brittle white hair hung down right next to Feng Ci. Feng Ci reached out and grabbed a strand, playing with it between his fingertips: “Before you say that, fix your hair first. What an eyesore.”

If it were merely that short dreamlike Sumeru World, Feng Ci might not have sunk so deeply within it. Yet it just so happens…… it just so happens that he had almost lost this person previously as well.

How could he not feel lingering fears? 

“Not to mention, if you really thought it through so clear ……” Feng Ci raised his hand and brushed at the other’s black ribbon covered eyes: “How come you still refuse to let me return these eyes to you?”

After Feng Ci regained his physical body, the first thing he wanted to do was naturally to give Pei QianYue’s eyes back to him.

However, this person has yet to agree.

Everytime Feng Ci mentioned this, Pei QianYue would divert the topic with all sorts of reasons or fall silent and not say anything, dragging this issue onwards until even before going to the Sumeru World, he still did not relent. 

Once Feng Ci was so annoyed by him that he even wanted to simply tie Pei QianYue up and forcibly cast the spell directly.

But he didn’t do that.

He knew why Pei QianYue refused to agree.

Pei QianYue had once said that he wanted Feng Ci to be indebted to him for all eternity. 

This was his method of finding a sense of security in their worrisome relationship.

A clumsy and self-abusive method.

Even today, after hearing Feng Ci say it in this manner, Pei QianYue still didn’t agree immediately. He propped himself up with both hands by Feng Ci’s side and paused his original intent to lean down and kiss Feng Ci. He looked as if he were contemplating, but also like he was hesitating.

Feng Ci started smiling: “Could it be that you believe… I’d still leave you?” 

Pei QianYue froze.

If this were three months ago, Feng Ci definitely wouldn’t have said these words. In this lifetime, he made plenty of careless promises. Amongst these, the one that created the most harm was probably 3000 years ago, when he had said to Pei QianYue ‘Wait obediently for me to come back’.

As a result, he didn’t really dare to promise anything to Pei QianYue again.

But it wasn’t the same now. 

It’s not that Pei QianYue couldn’t be without him, but rather… he, who couldn’t be without Pei QianYue.

“You said you’d compensate me.” Feng Ci said: “What if the compensation I want… is to see your eyes again?”

Pei QianYue still remained silent.

Feng Ci didn’t rush him either. He grabbed Pei QianYue’s arms and flipped over, easily switching their positions. Feng Ci straddled over Pei QianYue’s body, imitated the tone that his Sumeru self often used, and said quietly: “Pei XiaoYue, are you really unwilling?” 

Taking the chance to wrap his arms around Feng Ci’s waist, Pei QianYue also started smiling: “What did you call me?”

Feng Ci: “……”

Here we go again.

Who knows why Pei QianYue felt so obstinate about that address and always loved to use different ways to coax Feng Ci into calling him that. And it just so happens that the Sumeru World Feng Ci always gave him what he wanted, agreeing to all sorts of outrageous demands. 

But the Feng Ci right now wasn’t that young man. Does he, the Saint Sovering QianQiu, not want any respect?

“Give you an inch and you’ll go for the mile. Asshole.” Feng Ci cursed with a smile: “If you’re not willing, then forget it. There’s no way this Venerable One—”

As he said this, he started to get up. Pei QianYue hastily hugged him: “I was wrong. Master, don’t be angry.”

“……I’ll listen to Master.” 

Pei QianYue’s eyes were taken away by Feng Ci in the form of a sacrifice and merged with his physical body. Now to return it, Feng Ci has to cast the spell himself.

However, Feng Ci has never used this kind of magic before. Not to mention, those eyes have already left Pei QianYue’s body for over 300 years. Feng Ci really wasn’t very sure if they could be healed successfully.

After Pei QianYue yielded, Feng Ci went to the Shaman Valley in person to spend several days studying various ancient records.

Half a month later, he finally began to cast the spell. 

Before he casted the spell, Feng Ci gathered a great number of people to set up spells around LinXian Terrace to prevent people from approaching. Then he extinguished all the candles within the bedroom and sealed the windows to ensure that not even the slightest light could enter.

He probably wasn’t even this nervous back then, when he challenged the Heavenly Principles.

However, the process of casting the spell… didn’t even cost 5 minutes.

Feng Ci withdrew the spirit energy surging inside his palm and carefully observed Pei QianYue’s expression: “How does it feel? Does it hurt? Uncomfortable? Any symptoms of rejection?” 

Pressed down into the recliner by Feng Ci, Pei QianYue chuckled exasperatedly upon hearing those words: “Don’t be nervous. It doesn’t hurt.”

“Then……” Feng Ci pressed his lips together and rested his hand on the black ribbon in front of Pei QianYue’s eyes: “I’ll uncover it?”

Pei QianYue: “En.”

Feng Ci leaned forward and unraveled the black ribbon tied behind Pei QianYue’s head. The black ribbon slipped away from his face. The latter had his eyes closed. His long slender eyelashes trembled faintly. 

Feng Ci looked down at him. Soon afterwards, those eyelashes trembled gently again before they slowly opened.

Revealing a pair of clear, pale golden eyes.

Feng Ci’s breathing stagnated.

Perhaps out of discomfort or still somewhat unaccustomed to the feeling, Pei QianYue blinked softly and frowned slightly. Feng Ci was so nervous he didn’t even dare to breathe loudly. He watched as the other’s gaze moved upwards and focused little by little to finally meet Feng Ci’s eyes. 

“How is it?” Feng Ci’s voice was tight: “Can you see?”

Pei QianYue didn’t answer.

Those pale golden eyes looked transfixed at Feng Ci. With a slight stinging sensation, his vision gradually changed from blurry to clear.

The young man stood in front of him, wearing the same plain white robes from his memories, expression extremely anxious. 

Using spirit energy to observe things, Pei QianYue could only see the general outline of things. It was as if all the colors and splendors of the world faded away, leaving behind only white fuzzy shadows. However right now, this white hazy world has finally regained the colors and details that it possessed originally. Even the young man’s expression became vivid and lively.

Pei QianYue dazed out somewhat from the view, until Feng Ci asked him anxiously one more time.

“I can see.” Pei QianYue started smiling, his eyes shining faintly with light: “You’re so beautiful.”

Pei QianYue’s eyes haven’t been used for hundreds of years. To return to their original condition prior to the injury, Pei QianYue still needed to recuperate for a period of time. Right now, he still couldn’t look at things for long periods of time. His eyes were extremely sensitive to light. Even the slightest ray of light can cause him excruciating pain. 

Feng Ci hunted down the two brothers, Xiao Que and Xiao Guo, in turns to examine Pei QianYue. Verifying that this situation was only a temporary, he finally felt somewhat relieved.

As for why it’s somewhat, that’s naturally because Pei QianYue was a troublemaker.

Before the treatment, this guy was still hesitating endlessly. Now that his eyes are healed, he’s happier than anyone else, spending most of his days staring at Feng Ci. Feng Ci told him several times to rest his eyes, but he always pretended to not hear.

“Pei. Qian. Yue!” Feng Ci couldn’t help but scold: “If you peek again, don’t even think about getting in bed tonight.” 

Next to him, Pei QianYue froze and slowly readjusted the corner of the black ribbon that he had tugged down.

Worried that Pei QianYue would use his eyes excessively and damage the recovery process, Feng Ci forcibly requested Pei QianYue to wear the black ribbon again to block his eyes. Unfortunately, this person really had poor self-control, or perhaps he basically didn’t even consider restraining himself. He’d always take advantage whenever Feng Ci’s not paying attention to quietly uncover the black ribbon to sneak peeks at him.

It was the same right now. Feng Ci was currently helping Pei QianYue examine the documents that had accumulated during their absence.

This originally should have been the job of City Master Pei. To give him more time to rest, Feng Ci voluntarily called dibs on all this work. Unfortunately, the other didn’t actually appreciate his kindness and stole glances at Feng Ci as he worked. 

And to peek several times in an hour.

After being scolded, Pei QianYue didn’t really say anything in response. He only returned to his chair and hung his head, looking extremely sulky.

Feng Ci definitely couldn’t stand seeing him like this. He sighed, even his voice softened: “Xiao Guo said that at most, you need to recuperate for one more month. No need to rush these few days. Be good.”

Pei QianYue: “…….En.” 

His tone still sounded very aggrieved.

Feng Ci has always been soft-hearted. How could he concentrate on other things with Pei QianYue looking like this? Reading for quite a while, Feng Ci didn’t comprehend a single word. As a result, he simply threw away the documents in his hands and got up to walk in front of Pei QianYue.

“You’re hopeless.” He chucked briefly and lowered his head to kiss the other’s eyes through the black ribbon: “You already looked at me for 3000 years, aren’t you tired yet?”

“Not tired.” 

Those 3000 years, he only saw the unconscious and unresponsive Feng Ci. How could that compare to this living person standing in front of him right now.

Feng Ci then asked: “Didn’t you also look in the Sumeru World?”

“That’s not the same.” Pei QianYue said: “The physical body of a mere mortal definitely can’t compare to you.”

Although their physical appearances in the Sumeru world were extremely similar to their original, they were still not the real deal. They were only the result of Feng Ci’s transformation magic. How could there be a mortal body in this world that can compare with Saint Sovereign QianQiu’s grace and flair. 

Feng Ci was completely speechless.

It’s not like he was unaware of how long Pei QianYue had waited for this day. Seeing the other behave like this, it’d be a lie to say that he didn’t feel any heartache. Feng Ci thought briefly and lowered his head. His lips moved downwards following the high bridge of Pei QianYue’s nose to cover over his soft lips.

“……Then let me indulge you?” The second time using this method to indulge Pei QianYue, Feng Ci still wasn’t too proficient yet. The lighting inside the Great Hall was dim. The documents piled on top of the table have long since been forgotten. There was only the sound of rustling clothes echoing unceasingly inside the darkness.

It didn’t take long for Feng Ci to lose strength all over, yet the person being indulged still didn’t feel satisfied. 

In the throes of passion, Pei QianYue said quietly: “I want to see you.”

“You… ca, can’t…..”

Feng Ci almost compromised. Fortunately, he remembered at the last second why he was indulging the other.

However, Pei QianYue was used to going for the mile after gaining an inch. He embraced Feng Ci and leaned close to kiss him adoringly: “Just one last look, okay? I won’t look anymore today.” 

“…… I want to see you.”

“Master……”

“Alright.” Feng Ci’s heart softened under the other’s pleas. He raised his hands in surrender: “Then it’s agreed, you can only take one look.”

The black ribbon before Pei QianYue’s eyes slipped off. The world was filled with colors and splendors once again. 

This was the first time Pei QianYue saw this kind of Feng Ci.

The originally immaculate young man was now covered in a faint red flush all over his body, both eyes brimming with watery light, elegant and enchantingly beautiful. Appearing slightly embarrassed, he turned his head and refused to look at Pei QianYue, revealing a small area of his slender and delicate neck.

His plain white robes were loosened. A row of red marks extended from his neck to the back of his ear.

Bite marks that Pei QianYue had just created. 

The visual impact was even more intense and stimulating than the stimuli from all other senses. Pei QianYue’s head blanked for a moment. Immediately afterwards, Feng Ci’s expression also blanked.

Above the Great Hall, the air flowed silently.

Feng Ci slowly lowered his head, almost slightly incredulous: “You……”

Pei QianYue: “……” 

For a second, Pei QianYue had quite an interesting and remarkable expression. Feng Ci finally returned from his thoughts and realized what had happened.

Feng Ci: “Pfft.”

Pei QianYue: “……”

Even if Feng Ci wanted to hold back, he couldn’t. Therefore, he simply stopped holding back and laughed so hard in Pei QianYue’s arms that he rocked back and forth: “Hahaha Xiao Hei, how did you…… You really can’t do it huh ahahaha, isn’t this too quick—” 

With a crash, all the documents and writing utensils on the table were swept to the ground. Receiving a vicious push, Feng Ci’s back hit the surface of the table. His laughter also stopped in the other’s subsequent movements.

“Let me show you if I can do it or not.”

Biting Feng Ci’s lips, Pei QianYue threw down these last words indignantly.

On LinXian Terrace, a wild gust of wind suddenly swept upwards and engulfed the night.