BAAF Chapter 82

Shen Liuxiang leaned his back against the door, letting Zhou Xuanlan hold him for half an incense stick’s time. Seeing no sign of him letting go, he blinked his phoenix eyes. “Are you done?”

 

The head resting on his shoulder moved slightly, opening black eyes, a bit more sober now, raising a voice slightly hoarse from drinking.

 

“A little longer.”

 

Shen Liuxiang raised an eyebrow. What was so comfortable about hugging someone? And he was so enthusiastic about it. “Then I’ll give you another half a cup of tea’s time.”

 

As he finished speaking, beside his ear, a lazy voice said: “One cup of tea.”

 

Shen Liuxiang turned his face, one hand feeling Zhou Xuanlan’s smooth forehead. Not sick, just taking advantage of being drunk, actually bargaining with him.

 

He was silent for a moment, then said: “But my legs are getting tired from standing.”

 

Zhou Xuanlan paused for a moment, released his hold, creating distance between them. After staring at the person against the door for a moment, he bent down, one arm circling under Shen Liuxiang’s knees, lifting him horizontally, and walked into the room without further ado.

 

Shen Liuxiang was startled, noticing his very unsteady footsteps, and quickly wrapped his arms around his neck.

 

“I was joking, my legs aren’t tired, put me down… careful, slow down… don’t fall!”

 

Entering the inner room was just a matter of about ten steps, but Shen Liuxiang felt it took quite a while, his heart pounding in fear. Only after Zhou Xuanlan’s figure swayed slightly and placed him on the bed did his suspended heart finally settle.

 

He breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and instead pressed Zhou Xuanlan to sit on the bed. After staring at him for a while, he said with a serious expression: “You can’t hold me casually in the future.”

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s drunkenness gradually faded: “Why not?”

 

Shen Liuxiang couldn’t judge whether Zhou Xuanlan was drunk or sober at this moment, or perhaps half-drunk. After thinking for a while, he said ambiguously: “This is something only Dao companions can do.”

 

Zhou Xuanlan was stunned for a moment: “Master has no Dao companion, only disciples.”

 

Shen Liuxiang was speechless. What kind of statement was that? He said: “I will in the future!”

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s expression instantly cooled, his eyes revealing undisguised killing intent, his voice cold: “Master cannot have a Dao companion.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “?” Who are you cursing, damn it!

 

Shen Liuxiang was so angry that one of his cheeks puffed up. He didn’t argue further, reaching out to untie Zhou Xuanlan’s robe belt, intending to remove his outer robe and make him go to bed.

 

Zhou Xuanlan sensed his anger, lowered his long eyelashes, and obediently allowed him to proceed.

 

But his thin lips parted slightly, insisting: “Master has no Dao companion, doesn’t need a Dao companion, and can’t possibly have a Dao companion.”

 

Three consecutive “no” words made Shen Liuxiang’s temper flare.

 

“Zhou Xuanlan! Try saying that one more time!” Is this how drunk people speak the truth?

 

Being mocked by his disciple for being single, Shen Liuxiang was so angry he could cough blood.

 

Shen Liuxiang reached out, cupping Zhou Xuanlan’s infuriating handsome face, bringing his face closer. His phoenix eyes locked with the nearby black eyes, and through gritted teeth, he said: “Look closely! Your Master is as beautiful as a flower, beloved by all. Why couldn’t I have a Dao companion?!”

 

Faced with the fury on the handsome face, Zhou Xuanlan frowned, his expression surprisingly calm.

 

After a while, his thin lips opened: “Because I won’t allow it.”

 

The deep voice, each word distinct, struck Shen Liuxiang’s heart. “Having a disciple is enough for Master.”

 

Shen Liuxiang suddenly widened his eyes, stunned for a moment. “Say that again.”

 

But just as he spoke, a commotion came from outside, mixed with people’s exclamations: “Young Lord!” “Emperor!” “Be careful!”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s expression changed. He told Zhou Xuanlan to wait for him in the room and hurriedly went out.

 

From the sound of it, Di Yunyu had arrived. If he discovered Xu Xingchen drunk, he, the culprit, would certainly not escape blame. Moreover, hearing these calls, could it be that Xu Xingchen had done something?!

 

Shen Liuxiang rushed out the door. The moment he appeared in the corridor, his lips twitched.

 

Di Yunyu stood outside the door, with a pair of arms wrapped around his waist. The owner of the arms was sitting sprawled on the cold floor, his meticulously worn purple-gold crown nowhere to be seen, leaving only disheveled black hair.

 

His head rested against Di Yunyu’s long legs, his face showing both drunkenness and grievance as he tearfully accused: “Why is Imperial Father so tall? I can’t see anymore. Your child can’t see Imperial Father’s face anymore.”

 

The group of people from the Imperial Palace around them had reddened faces, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

 

Di Yunyu looked at the normally obedient Xu Xingchen, now in a sudden drunken frenzy, and managed to squeeze out a calm statement: “If you raise your head, you’ll be able to see me.”

 

Xu Xingchen sobbed: “But I’m dizzy, I can’t lift my head.”

 

Di Yunyu: “…”

 

On the side, Xu Xinglian tried to reach out and help his brother up, but Xu Xingchen turned his head, refusing to let go of Di Yunyu no matter what.

 

After a long silence, Di Yunyu’s slender hand fell on Xu Xingchen’s head, patting it awkwardly, his tone filled with the calm before a storm: “Alright, don’t cry. Now tell me, who made you drink during the day?”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s heart skipped a beat, having the urge to turn and flee, but while the monk could run away, the temple couldn’t—such a thought could only remain a thought.

 

Xu Xingchen was very familiar with Di Yunyu’s speech and mannerisms, and even in his drunken state, he keenly sensed that Imperial Father’s words contained a hint of anger.

 

Xu Xingchen slowly turned his head, shaking it, trying to protect the culprit: “If I say, Imperial Father will punish him. I can’t say.”

 

Di Yunyu lightly “hmmed,” saying unhurriedly: “Then tell me, who is he?”

 

Xu Xingchen blurted out: “Elder brother.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

 

He wrote the words “touched” on his face. Xu Xingchen… had heart!

 

Instantly locked by a gaze, Shen Liuxiang blinked, meeting the light-colored eyes. He saw Di Yunyu raise the hand that had been stroking Xu Xingchen’s head and, from a distance, pointed his clearly-jointed index finger at him. The meaning was unmistakable.

 

You, wait there, don’t run.

 

Shen Liuxiang immediately felt like a frost-bitten eggplant, but thinking of the small black dragon in the room, who might soon be his, he raised an eyebrow, feeling it was worth it. Let the punishment come.

 

Di Yunyu took Xu Xingchen back to his room, comforted him, and upon leaving, saw Shen Liuxiang standing in the corridor, along with Zhou Xuanlan, who also seemed somewhat intoxicated.

 

After a moment’s contemplation, he said: “Go to the confinement room, copy the palace rules one hundred times, then come find me.”

 

Shen Liuxiang’s brows moved slightly, and the next moment he heard Di Yunyu add: “No using magic, no having others do it for you.”

 

Shen Liuxiang: “…”

 

Having copied countless sutras and palace rules before, Shen Liuxiang went routinely to the confinement room in the Archive Tower. The so-called confinement room was actually a narrow room where, no matter what one did inside, not a sound could be heard outside—like a place of deathly silence, isolated from the world.

 

Zhou Xuanlan accompanied him, having drunk a bowl of sobering soup, though he still felt somewhat dizzy, occasionally rubbing his brow.

 

Shen Liuxiang wanted to bring up the previous matter, but with people following them all the way, he could only remain silent. Once in the confinement room, with the door closed, Zhou Xuanlan wouldn’t be able to hear anything he said anyway.

 

Shen Liuxiang had to suppress his thoughts, light the lamp, and find the book recording the palace rules from the bookshelf.

 

In the flickering candlelight, he began copying the countless palace rules.

 

Zhou Xuanlan sat by the desk, his brows slightly furrowed. As the drunkenness completely disappeared from his face, his gaze fell on the figure writing, his eyes obscure and unreadable.

 

Shen Liuxiang was preoccupied with finishing the copying quickly so he could go out and clarify things with Zhou Xuanlan. He didn’t notice the gaze beside him as he dipped his pen in ink and placed it on the paper, obediently copying. If sounds could be heard, there would certainly be the rustling of “swish, swish, swish.”

 

After half an hour, Shen Liuxiang put down his pen, rubbed his sore wrist, and took a short break, looking at the figure beside him.

 

Zhou Xuanlan had one hand propping up his forehead, his long black eyelashes lowered. The candlelight illuminated his handsome face, the play of light and shadow accentuating his sharp, pleasing jawline.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s gaze traced inch by inch across his face.

 

He rarely observed him so carefully. Looking closely now, this face was simply flawless.

 

After looking for a while, Shen Liuxiang thought that it must be because the surroundings were too quiet that Zhou Xuanlan had quietly fallen asleep. Otherwise, with such a blatant stare, he would surely have noticed.

 

Realizing this, Shen Liuxiang’s gaze became even more unrestrained, and he even moved his face closer.

 

At close distance, his gaze inevitably fell on Zhou Xuanlan’s lips.

 

Lightly moistened thin lips.

 

Shen Liuxiang blinked, suddenly having a thought.

 

He reached out, his fingertip tentatively poking Zhou Xuanlan’s cheek. Finding him motionless, he felt more at ease and murmured softly: “You’ve kissed me so many times, surely one in return is fair… Your silence means you agree.”

 

In the silent room, Zhou Xuanlan couldn’t hear, naturally giving no response.

 

Shen Liuxiang took this as consent. In the complete silence, he pursed his lips, quietly moved closer, staring at the lips so near to him, and carefully touched them with his own.

 

A subtle sensation exploded at the corner of his lips.

 

A light breath fell on his face as Zhou Xuanlan silently opened his eyes. His black pupils stirred with towering waves, while fireworks exploded across the skies of his heart.

 

It felt as if he were in a dream.

 

Master… was secretly kissing him!

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s entire body froze, not daring to move at all, even holding his breath, afraid that the slightest noise would scare away the person who was kissing him with closed eyes.

 

But Shen Liuxiang still opened his eyes.

 

While Zhou Xuanlan was hesitating whether to continue pretending or not, Shen Liuxiang’s phoenix eyes opened.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s pupils suddenly contracted.

 

The sensation on his lips vanished in an instant. Zhou Xuanlan was stunned, his slender fingers curling, the blue veins beneath the skin on the back of his hand prominently bulging.

 

Since you’ve come close, don’t retreat!

 

Zhou Xuanlan’s hand reached for the back of Shen Liuxiang’s head, about to pull him back, when in his line of sight, he saw Shen Liuxiang recover from the initial shock, blinking his eyes.

 

Unexpectedly, he returned, boldly and audaciously touching the corner of his lips again.

 

With the thought that this might be the last time, Shen Liuxiang took full advantage.

 

Then, with satisfaction, the corner of his lips curved into a provocative smile. Throughout, he displayed his heart’s words through his every action and expression.

 

“I’m doomed, I’ve been discovered!”

 

“I just want to kiss you! What, do you want to kiss me back?”

 

Zhou Xuanlan understood, his gaze becoming dark and deep. He gripped the slender, fair wrist, pulling the arrogant person who had lit a fire in his heart into his embrace.

 

He lowered his head to capture those soft lips, his breath carrying a forceful energy as their lips and tongues intertwined.

 

Shen Liuxiang’s dark eyelashes trembled lightly. One hand clutched Zhou Xuanlan’s lapel, his slender, fair fingers tightening, as he found it somewhat hard to breathe.

 

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Opened: 1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter (๑>◡<๑)