Meng Gui immediately froze when he heard his question. He slowly turned and saw Shang He's serious face. He almost forgot. Shang He was hiding in his wardrobe, so he must have heard his and xiao San's conversation earlier.
If this was before, he would've told Shang He off for prying into his life. But, now, they have already resolved their conflicts. Meng Gui, also, could be said to have raised Shang He while Shang He was in the critical phase of his life by determining which is right and wrong, so he knows Shang He isn't deceiving him right now, and he is asking him the question sincerely and not hiding any evil intentions.
So, he answered him honestly. "Yes. My real name is Qingbai Yan. I am the son of the Qingbai Kingdom's Prince Regent Qingbai Yu." He said. "The king, Wu Ran's father, his name is Qingbai Yang. Wu Ran's real name is Qingbai Ye, hoping for him – the heir, to lead the kingdom in glory (ye). But, who guessed that a tragedy would happen?" he asked and heaved a sigh.
Shang He didn't speak and just remained listening.
"The Qingbai Kingdom became the Wuran Kingdom after Wu Ran changed his name after his life changed. Father, together with my uncle Qingbai Yun – the youngest of them three brothers, escaped along with my mother and I who has just been born." Meng Gui continued. "After Wu Ran ruled, everything fell in depravity. My father died of sickness while my uncle took me and my mother away to hide after Wu Ran started to look for us. In order to stall Wu Ran, uncle decided for us to split up. Then, we ended up in xiao San's county." He explained. "After xiao San and I escaped to your county, the rest… you already know." He finished.
Shang He fell into a long silence. After a while, he spoke. "So, you became a demonic leader to take the throne?" he asked.
Meng Gui didn't answer. Just when Shang He was about to speak, he heard Meng Gui finally spoke.
"Before, I didn't." Meng Gui answered.
Shang He looked at him.
"When I met you, I didn't think anything like that." Meng Gui raised his head and met Shang He's gaze. "But, after you 'betrayed' me, I finally decided to become the king… the emperor." He spoke.
Shang He felt his heart ached. "Ah Yan…" he called.
Meng Gui bitterly smiled. He held Shang He's hand and placed it on his cheek. "But, even if I will become the king in the future, I won't forsake you just for the throne." He softly said.
Shang He's eyes narrowed. "I won't let you do that!" he said and pushed Meng Gui to the bed.
But, Meng Gui just chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Shang He asked, mad, as he glared at Meng Gui.
Meng Gui smiled. "Boss Shang." He called. "Even if there'll come a time that I will want to forsake you, I couldn't." he said. Before Shang He could flare up, he continued. "Du Xiang is already dead, and we will kill Ma Wen. Together." He spoke. "If I'll forsake you after all these, wouldn't that make me someone heartless?" he asked.
Shang He frowned and didn't answered.
Meng Gui laughed as he hooked his arms around Shang He's neck and pulled Shang He down, making their lips almost touching each other. "I may be a demon who crushes someone's dream, but I definitely won't crush your dream." He said. His lips are brushing against Shang He's lips as he spoke. He looked into Shang He's eyes. "Instead, I'll turn your dream into a reality. So – " he said as he raised his head and placed his lips next to Shang He's ears, then whispered. " – boss Shang, what is your dream?" he spoke in a low voice, seducing Shang He.
Shang He can't hold back anymore and pushed him down again, then started to do him. Boss Shang has always been a man of action, so he answered leader Meng's question with a demonstration starring themselves. Fortunately for Meng Gui, after he and Shang He reunited as demonic leaders, they became 'enemies' with benefits who would meet up from time to time, spoke a few words to each other during the day and do some actions during the night. Or else, his waist and body would've been broken today if they didn't touch each other during these past ten years of separation, no thanks to that girl.
So, after that day they met each other as demonic leaders, the same night they rolled in the sheets. Meng Gui's waist really broke the morning after. Fortunately, he is now a no ordinary human like his uncle. He recovered in the afternoon, but the same night he and Shang He rolled in the sheets again. They expressed their missing of each other ten years' worth. But, because of their misunderstanding that also lasted for ten years like their missing of each other, they are hostile towards each other.
The mouth says 'no' but the body says 'yes'. So, even though they are 'enemies', but they are lovers in secret. They can deceive themselves but they can't deceive their body and feelings.
"I love you." Meng Gui heard Shang He spoke before he entered him.
Meng Gui cried. He gasped as he clung to Shang He. His nails dug on the skin on Shang He's back, making him bleed. "I love you, too – " he spoke and whispered Shang He's real name.
Shang He's pupils trembled. Then, his actions became faster, drilling into Shang He. As for Ma Wen's people? They can wait the next day.
…
Xiao Ming. "…"
Xiao San awkwardly smiled and scratched his cheek. "Uhm… da ge…" he stammered. He doesn't know how to explain to them why Meng Gui still didn't arrive, nor could he tell them that he caught Shang He crouching inside Meng Gui's wardrobe.
But, even though they don't know the whole situation, but based from xiao San's transparent emotions, they could already guess what happened.
"Forget it." xiao Ming spoke.
Xiao San secretly sighed in relief. Then, he looked at Ma Wen's people they caught today. "What should we do to them?" he asked. Although he Meng Gui's right-hand man, but he doesn't like torturing people for information.
Xiao Ming's expertise, however, is this. "As leader's words." He answered, treasuring his words like gold, as usual. His expression is indifferent. More precisely, cold.
Those who grew up with them – xiao San, Meng Gui and Shang He, the ones they call 'brothers', call Meng Gui as 'da ge' like xiao San. Meanwhile, those who were recruited after, call Meng Gui 'leader' as a sign of respect. Meng Gui doesn't require them to worship him – only respect and loyalty are what he needs from them.
"Then, I'll leave them to you." He told xiao Ming, which he received only a nod in response. "…" forget it. This is how xiao Ming is. He thought and left the prison, before he went back to the manor.
But, he didn't go to Meng Gui. Not because he knows he and Shang He are currently… ehem. Instead, he wanted to speak to the righteous cultivators Qiu Yuan and Yin Jun, and Shen Shen – who looked the smartest of them three, if possible. But, Shen Shen is currently in a coma…
He passed by a servant and nodded at her before he raised his hand to knock on the door. "Yin-daozhang. Qiu-daozhang. Are you in?" he asked. Although he knows those aren't their real names, but he still called them with respect.
This is what Meng Gui instilled to him when he raised him. In the world, nothing would go wrong if you respect others. Instead, you'll get in trouble if you do the opposite – this has always been true.
"Come in." Fei Yin spoke from inside.
"Please excuse me." xiao San spoke before he opened the door and entered, only to see Fei Yin alone with Cheng Sheng. "Huh? Where's Qiu-daozhang?" he asked in surprise.
"Are we not allowed to go out?" Fei Yin asked.
"You are allowed." xiao San sincerely answered.
"Then, he went out." Fei Yin spoke.
Xiao San. "…" sir, I didn't mean anything when I asked.
Fei Yin. "^_^" I didn't mean anything, either, kid. I'm just messing with you.
Xiao San coughed to break the awkward silence. "I came here to tell you about the antidote." He spoke.
"Shouldn't it be discussed tomorrow?" Fei Yin asked.
Xiao San stared at Fei Yin before he sighed. "I know you are wary of us, and knows we are wary of you." He directly said.
Fei Yin didn't speak.
"That's why I came to you right now with sincere intention." xiao San continued. "Although there are six days left before your lov… friend's time is up, but I know you also know that his situation is worsening each day that pass." He said.
Fei Yin's eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me?" he asked.