CH 97

Chapter 97: He’s My God, But You’re My Heart.

“Afraid?” Qin Yicang looked at Lin Baihu in disbelief and asked: “Do you even know what ‘fear’ is?”

Lin Baihu froze and lowered his eyes, pondering for a moment. Then, he looked up at Qin Yicang again, revealing an uncertain expression.

However, this trace of uncertainty was only because Lin Baihu didn’t know how to express his feelings.

Because he understood what fear was.

Many years in the past, when Xiongqi killed his people in Pingding Mountain, tearing them apart, fear clutched Lin Baihu’s heart.

However, he wasn’t afraid of having the same end.

He was afraid of no longer being able to hear the voices of his people, and not see them again.

The same way he was afraid of not seeing Qin Yicang again.

At the thought that Qin Yicang might die because of the spell, Lin Baihu felt a chill run down his spine. He could even feel every inch of his body tensing with a tingling pain, especially on his chest. The pain was so intense, he almost felt that he could suffocate.

When Qin Yicang realized that there was something wrong with Lin Baihu, he thought he had asked something that he shouldn’t have. So, he hurried to change the topic: “Alright, fear is fear. Who hasn’t been afraid of something? By the way, I know a way to make people forget their fears, would you like to give it a try?”

Lin Baihu nodded his head.

Qin Yicang smiled, approached Lin Baihu, and said: “Then come and give me a kiss! I promise you that it’ll make you forget your fears right away!”

Lin Baihu: “Although I don’t possess, nor understand, lust, it’s not like I don’t understand how it works.”

Although Qin Yicang wasn’t really expecting Lin Baihu to be so easily fooled, his eyes still showed some disappointment. However, he soon covered his depression with a laugh: “I’m not lying. After a kiss, you won’t remember the things you’re afraid of. Ah, why are you still sitting? Hurry and lie down to rest. Does the injury in your shoulder still hurt?”

Lin Baihu didn’t speak, nor did he move. He simply looked at Qin Yicang with determination as he spoke.

At that moment, Lin Baihu had remembered what the elders of his clan used to say.

The Tiger King of the Kunlun Mountain was the manifestation of the Seven Constellations of the West. Upon ranking into the immortal class, it transformed into the Seven Constellations of the West, showing its mighty appearance that intimidated all beasts, and whose roar spread through all the mountains and forests.

‘That’s a really majestic description, but is it really used to describe Qin Yicang? Qin Yicang, who’s so playful and lowers himself in front of me to try and cheer me up?’

All of a sudden, Qin Yicang’s words appeared once again in Lin Baihu’s mind.

-Do you really not know what I am doing this for?-

‘For my sake….’

‘So, let’s toast to the east wind, please stay a little longer and don’t leave in a hurry. At that time, we visited so many places hand in hand, seeing all kinds of colorful flowers1.’

‘How can the Way of Heaven see my loyalty, but not my unwillingness to be trapped in a cage?’

Lin Baihu rarely had mixed thoughts, since he had always known what he should do, and what he wanted.

But now, he was so confused. Little by little, he tried to order the chaotic thoughts that arose within his mind, until finally, he was able to understand what he really wanted.

Thus, Lin Baihu stretched out his hand, held Qin Yicang’s shoulder, and kissed his lips.

In that instant, both of them stopped being the ‘loyal’ and the ‘devoted’. At that moment, it seemed as if the endless mountains and the infinite vastness of the earth and sky were trembling, while Lin Baihu’s cold lips had rendered Qin Yicang speechless. After gently kissing Qin Yicang’s lips with his own, Lin Baihu stepped back, raised his head, and waited for Qin Yicang to say something.

Qin Yicang, on the other hand, remained stupefied for three full seconds. Then, he foolishly touched his lips and muttered: “You….you….”

With a frightened face, Qin Yicang said: “Who are you?! Where’s the Little White Bird? Why are you pretending to be him?! What are your intentions?!”

Lin Baihu: “….”

Still expressionless, Lin Baihu transformed his arm into a white feathered wing. After turning it back into a human arm, Lin Baihu looked up at Qin Yicang.

Qin Yicang, once again, froze in surprise.

Qin Yicang then revealed a kind of tangled look, as if he was trying to convince himself to face reality.

Finally, Qin Yicang raised his head and asked: “Did you just take the initiative to kiss me?”

Lin Baihu nodded.

Qin Yicang lowered his head and thought about it again. Then, he raised his head and advised: “There’s no need for you to do this.”

Lin Baihu was stunned to hear this, and his heart cooled.

Qin Yicang added: “I won’t take advantage of Bian Zhonghua missing his Mana to beat him up. Although I really wanted to take you away from him in the past, I’m not a treacherous villain. I won’t take advantage of other people’s complications. Don’t worry, there’s no need for you to coax me.”

Lin Baihu: “…..”

Feeling helpless, Lin Baihu held his forehead.

After the two men looked at each other in complete silence for a long time, Qin Yicang finally came back to his senses. Again, as he looked at Lin Baihu, Qin Yicang carefully asked: “Why did you kiss me just now?”

Lin Baihu asked in return: “Why do you like me?”

Qin Yicang didn’t know how to reply and remained silent for a while.

Lin Baihu took Qin Yicang’s hand and placed it on his chest. Then, he said: “Qin Yicang, you’re the only one who gradually made me understand what the seven emotions and six desires are. After all this time, I’ve realized that even though Lord Bian is my God, you’re….”

“You’re my heart.”

Qin Yicang’s shoulders trembled. He was afraid that if he shook his head, he would realize it was all but a dream.

But the heat coming from that palm was real. And under the warmth of that palm, a steady heartbeat could be faintly felt.

The feeling of the touch coming from his fingertips transformed into the palpitation of his heart.

It was too real to be true.

Qin Yicang stretched out his hand and slowly embraced Lin Baihu, the same way he did in the past, as if he was walking on thin ice.

Lin Baihu hugged him back as tightly as he could, without the slightest hesitation.

…

As the morning light faintly emerged, the dawn had finally arrived.

When the first rays of the morning sun lightly fell upon the Imperial Palace, torn banners and broken armors were revealed, scattered all over the ground. Not only that, but outside the Imperial Palace, a river of blood spread all over the floor, revealing the tragic fight that took place last night.

Although this mess was supposed to be cleaned up, no one could be seen inside or outside the Palace. Only two sparrows, unaware of everything that happened in this place, fluttered on the ground to peck at the halberds pitifully lying on the ground.

It was unknown whether those in power had consolidated the Country and secured the throne. Nor was it known whether those in power had been forced to resign their positions, while the rebels had seized power through a coup.

However, all these life and death situations had become the talk of idle people coming and going outside the Capital.

“Hey, have you heard? Something happened in the Imperial Palace last night!”

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure, but it surely is what has always happened in Royal Families since ancient times!”

“Hey! If you don’t even know what’s going on, then why mention it?”

At the teahouse, a waiter who was serving water sharpened his ears to hear the conversation between two customers.

“Don’t wander around!” The waiter’s boss suddenly called out to him. “Hurry up and fetch a bucket of water from the well over there!”

The waiter grimaced and complained in his heart. Then, he carried a bucket towards the well.

The well was dug by and for the sole use of the teahouse. This teahouse usually didn’t get many visitors, and today was no exception. As the waiter yawned carelessly, he suddenly saw a bag lying by the well, perhaps abandoned by someone.

From an exposed corner, you could barely see what was inside the bag. The object inside the bag shone as golden as the sun, drawing the waiter’s gaze and full attention.

The waiter’s eyes lit up as he rushed over to grab the bag. Once he opened it, he confirmed that it was indeed a bag full of gold!

The waiter turned his head left and right, and when he saw that there was no one around, he decisively stuffed the gold into his arms.

“Hehehehe, it’s so easy to see through your desires.”

Suddenly, an eerie laugh seeped through the waiter’s ears. As soon as he heard it, the waiter looked up in horror, only to see a black cloud rushing straight to his forehead.

Before the waiter could do anything, the black cloud had already merged into his body.

Then, the waiter revealed a strange, eerie, smile. After throwing the ‘gold’ on the ground, the ‘waiter’ got up and walked towards the Capital.