BAAF Chapter 80

Shen Liuxiang lifted the small black dragon’s head and fiddled for quite a while before finally managing to tie it around its neck.

 

Upon closer inspection, he felt it wasn’t suitable.

 

In human form, the jade pendant should hang at the waist; wearing it around the neck seemed somewhat inappropriate. Shen Liuxiang’s gaze roamed over Zhou Xuanlan’s body before finally settling on the dragon horn.

 

He shrank the jade pendant to the size of a fingertip and carefully tied it to the dragon horn.

 

Giving a jade pendant carried the meaning of pledging one’s love. When Zhou Xuanlan woke up, he would notice it immediately, and his reaction would reveal his feelings.

 

Shen Liuxiang smiled, his fingertip lightly flicking the jade pendant hanging from the dragon horn.

 

But after staring at it for a moment, the smile gradually faded from his lips. What if Zhou Xuanlan didn’t like him? What if, upon seeing his intentions, he fled back to the Eight Cardinal Realms and never saw him again?

 

Shen Liuxiang had liked many foods and enjoyed many activities, but this was the first time he had liked a person.

 

Suddenly, anxiety welled up in his heart.

 

Shen Liuxiang had always thought that upon meeting someone he liked, the best strategy would be to cut through the confusion swiftly—to confess with thunderous momentum and win the person over.

 

But now he realized what it meant to have someone so close yet dare not act rashly. The reason was simple: he feared that the slightest misstep would scare the person away, not even giving him a chance to pursue.

 

Shen Liuxiang hesitated for a moment, then slumped his head and removed the jade pendant from the dragon horn, filled with a sense of dejection.

 

He stared at the small black dragon on the ice and, while it was still asleep, couldn’t resist poking its head with his slender white finger. “Are other people’s disciples as good as you… willing to wait on the path when their master has been drinking?”

 

Back at Qingling Sect, Shen Liuxiang, with nothing to do, would occasionally go drink and chat with Linghua.

 

After drinking late into the night, as he walked back with a hint of intoxication, there would always be a tall, young figure waiting at the peach blossom forest halfway up the mountain—regardless of wind or rain.

 

Shen Liuxiang had told him not to wait, but Zhou Xuanlan had ignored him, so he let it be. Moreover, having always been alone in his original world, this was the first time Shen Liuxiang experienced having someone wait to take him back. Though he didn’t say it outwardly, his heart was filled with joy.

 

Even then, Shen Liuxiang had wondered how Zhou Xuanlan could be so good.

 

Now he asked it aloud, but Zhou Xuanlan couldn’t answer, lying motionless on the Zen Spirit Ice. Losing heart blood was a severe injury; though there were signs of awakening, it wasn’t yet time.

 

Shen Liuxiang stared for a long while, feeling restless. He rubbed his disheveled dark hair, his gaze wandering over Zhou Xuanlan, uncertain how to act when he woke up.

 

While conflicted, Shen Liuxiang’s gaze fixed on a small scar on the dragon’s back.

 

He lowered his head to examine it carefully. The scar seemed quite old, yet with a dragon’s formidable healing ability, it still hadn’t vanished—suggesting how severe the injury must have been.

 

Shen Liuxiang remained silent for a long time.

 

In his subconscious, he had always regarded Zhou Xuanlan as the all-powerful Lord Xuan from the original story, blessed with all the world’s fortune, capable of achieving anything he desired.

 

But now he suddenly realized that Zhou Xuanlan wasn’t innately powerful. Whether saving him at Sword Sect, breaking his dragon horn to shatter the formation, or using his heart blood to suppress the Gu—each time, he had protected him with utter disregard for himself, giving his all.

 

He was never the Lord Xuan from the original story, nor the legendary villain black dragon—he was merely his disciple.

 

To him, the best disciple in the whole world.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s black eyelashes lowered slightly, countless thoughts surging in his heart. Inadvertently, he met a pair of black eyes that had just opened.

 

He was startled, quickly hiding the complex expressions on his face. Noticing his finger was still pressing on Zhou Xuanlan’s head, he withdrew it and said dryly: “When did you wake up?”

 

Zhou Xuanlan had been awake for a while. The moment he opened his eyes and sensed the familiar presence, he immediately looked toward Shen Liuxiang. Seeing him lost in thought and not noticing his gaze, he happened to witness the incredibly vivid expressions on his handsome face.

 

Master had first blinked, then pursed his lips and frowned, eventually puffing his cheeks in a conflicted expression, occasionally sighing with melancholy.

 

It was somewhat… cute.

 

Zhou Xuanlan felt a slight tingling in his heart but naturally wouldn’t show it. He raised his head slightly, intending to transform back into human form, but remembering Shen Liuxiang’s interest in touching his dragon horn, he lifted his dragon head, actively moving closer to Shen Liuxiang’s hand.

 

“Master, didn’t you want to touch the dragon horn?”

 

Shen Liuxiang wanted to say he had already secretly touched it, but then thought: touching it again would be a pure gain!

 

He decisively kept quiet, raising his index finger to touch the dragon horn. Now that Zhou Xuanlan was awake, the horn had become softer, unlike its previous hardness. The patterns on the horn had also changed somewhat—previously dull, now shining with gold-thread-like radiance.

 

Combined with the ice mist covering the dragon horn, it felt especially comfortable to touch. Shen Liuxiang couldn’t help but stroke it for a while longer.

 

On the Zen Spirit Ice, the moment the sensation from the horn contact came, Zhou Xuanlan’s mind became chaotic.

 

He had overestimated his self-control.

 

As a dragon, Zhou Xuanlan’s desires were naturally strong. Ancient texts recorded many instances of dragons unable to control their passions and spreading their affections widely. But Zhou Xuanlan had extremely strong self-discipline, able to suppress his nature even in moments of dragon-form arousal.

 

The only one who could make him lose control was Shen Liuxiang—so severely that for a period, even hearing his voice through the jade slip would affect him.

 

But Zhou Xuanlan hadn’t expected that now, just having his horn touched would make his body heat up.

 

He had no choice but to withdraw his dragon horn from Shen Liuxiang’s hand. Transforming into a streak of dark light, he resumed his human form and was about to speak when a knock at the door interrupted: “Young Lord, the medicine the Emperor instructed to be prepared.”

 

The door opened, and a maidservant handed the medicine bowl to Shen Liuxiang. He lowered his head to sniff it; the aroma was pleasant. “This medicine Imperial Father prepared for you smells so nice.”

 

Shen Liuxiang blinked: “Let me taste it for you first.”

 

Shen Liuxiang picked up the bowl and took a small sip. In the next moment, his entire face turned green. Resisting the urge to spill the medicine, he covered his chest with one hand while placing the bowl on the table with a clang. “So hard to drink…”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s tongue went numb, his mouth filled with bitterness, tears welling in his eyes. As he hurriedly looked for water, he was pulled back by the arm.

 

Zhou Xuanlan had somehow produced preserved fruits from somewhere, extending them with his slender fingers.

 

Like a parched man finding sweet rain, Shen Liuxiang immediately bit into it, his tongue tasting a hint of sweetness. He couldn’t help but lick a little more.

 

With this lick, both froze.

 

Zhou Xuanlan had just been on the ice, and residual cold remained on his fingertips. Now wrapped in the warmth of Shen Liuxiang’s mouth, with the soft tongue inadvertently brushing against them, his body stiffened slightly.

 

“What are you two doing?!”

 

At the wide-open door, Xu Xingchen stood with shock on his face. His loud shout startled both back to their senses.

 

This time, the evidence was irrefutable!

 

Xu Xingchen first yanked Shen Liuxiang over, then turned to glare at Zhou Xuanlan with a look that clearly meant ‘you just wait.’

 

Taking him to a secluded spot, Xu Xingchen released his grip and snorted coldly: “Is there anything left to explain?”

 

He had long felt something was amiss between the two, but Shen Liuxiang had always denied it. Now that he had caught them in the act, he felt a sense of vindication, waiting to see how the silver-tongued Shen Liuxiang would explain himself.

 

But surprisingly, Shen Liuxiang touched his chin and nodded seriously: “No, it’s exactly as you saw.”

 

Xu Xingchen was momentarily stunned, his eyes widening. Suspecting something was one thing, but hearing Shen Liuxiang admit it was another. He stepped back in shock, pointing at Shen Liuxiang: “You! You admitted it! You two are indeed having an affair!”

 

Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow, sighed, his expression changing from candid to melancholic. “No, I have unrequited love.”

 

Xu Xingchen: “?!!!”

 

Now Xu Xingchen couldn’t remain calm: “How pathetic! No! I’m going to tell Imperial Father! You must have been bewitched by the Ninth Demon King!”

 

Shen Liuxiang grabbed him. “You can’t tell Imperial Father. You must keep this secret for me.”

 

Xu Xingchen paused, momentarily thinking his ears had deceived him.

 

Keep it secret? Dream on!

 

Xu Xingchen let out a cold laugh: “Impossible. I will not aid the wicked. I will never help you hide this from Imperial Father!”

 

Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow: “I’ve only told you about this.”

 

Xu Xingchen: “So what?”

 

Shen Liuxiang looked at him with his phoenix eyes, his face sincere: “Because I trust you the most.”

 

Xu Xingchen was stunned… trusted him the most.

 

Of course.

 

For such an important matter, Shen Liuxiang had chosen to tell him. Was it because he didn’t want to lie to him? Because deep down, he felt Xu Xingchen was trustworthy and would definitely keep his secret?

 

Realizing this, Xu Xingchen was profoundly moved. He had never imagined that in Shen Liuxiang’s heart, he held such a position.

 

Withdrawing his extended foot, Xu Xingchen’s face showed an unnatural expression: “Then… I’ll help you keep it secret for now.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s lips curled slightly, nodding with satisfaction. “Since that’s the case, there’s one more thing.”

 

Xu Xingchen inquired puzzledly: “What?”

 

Shen Liuxiang moved closer, lowering his voice. After listening for a while, Xu Xingchen’s face showed disbelief.

 

“…”

 

He wanted him, Xu Xingchen, to play matchmaker for them?

 

—Had he gone mad?!

 

 

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