Chà Chà Novel

“Will this really work? If Master finds out, he’ll probably be even angrier.”

“Don’t worry. Immortal Lord Lin can’t see. Just make sure you don’t give yourself away.”

After enduring the cold all night, Lin Huaiqing woke feeling as though frost had formed on his eyelashes.

Even wrapped in his quilt, he could not stop shivering. He had even dreamed of being trapped in an ice cave.

Just as he was about to get up and wash, shouting and sounds of fighting erupted outside.

Everything beyond the door seemed to be in chaos, while he remained trapped inside, helplessly anxious.

The fighting grew louder. Had his senior brother brought the Xuantian Sect’s disciples to rescue him?

The thought that Chu Xiuyuan might die because of him made it impossible to stay still. He rushed to the door and pounded on it.

“Anyone there? Is anyone outside? Let me out!”

After only a few cries, he heard movement. Someone burst in, then hurriedly shut and locked the door.

The newcomer reeked of blood. Lin Huaiqing noticed it immediately; whoever it was must have been badly wounded.

He stood nearby, reaching out to help, only to freeze.

“Master… it’s me.”

Only at Qin Du’s weak voice did he realize who it was.

“Qin Du?! Who hurt you this badly?”

The heavy smell of blood had overwhelmed his familiar scent. No wonder Lin Huaiqing had not recognized him.

He tried to help Qin Du from the floor to the bed, but the moment he touched him, his hand came away covered in blood.

Qin Du obligingly let out a muffled groan.

The sound sent Lin Huaiqing into a panic, and he hurriedly withdrew his hand.

“Qin Du, did I touch your wound? I’m sorry. Can… can you get up by yourself?”

For the first time, Lin Huaiqing bitterly regretted his blindness.

The disciple he had raised was so badly injured, yet he could not even see him, much less be of any help.

“It’s all right… I can still manage.”

Flustered, Lin Huaiqing helped him toward the bed. It was only a few steps away, yet they staggered the entire distance.

Qin Du leaned heavily against him, seeming to place even more than his full weight on Lin Huaiqing. Without spiritual energy to assist him, Lin Huaiqing could only strain to support him.

Watching his master worry for him, Qin Du felt a bittersweet flutter in his chest.

“Qin Du, what exactly is happening outside?”

“Cough… You’ve already guessed, Master. Why ask?”

His answer was deliberately vague.

“Was it my senior brother? Or Mu Yunting? Who injured you? Let me out. I’ll speak to them!”

Whoever had attacked him must have come to rescue Lin Huaiqing. If he appeared, everything would be all right.

But as he tried to rise, Qin Du caught him with a blood-covered hand and pulled him back.

“Don’t go, Master! Stay here with me. Please?”

“All right.”

Lin Huaiqing did not know what had come over him. Qin Du looked so pitiful that he agreed without thinking.

“But you’re badly injured and you’ve lost so much blood. Release the seal on my acupoints. I’ll transfer spiritual energy to you. It will help!”

Feigning weakness, Qin Du replied in a low voice, “I sealed your spiritual energy because I didn’t want to fight you or risk hurting you. Now, even if I wanted to undo it, I can’t.”

Lin Huaiqing’s heart sank further. Qin Du was too badly injured even to release the seal. Without stopping the bleeding, he might not have long to live.

“Bear with it! I’ll stop the bleeding first.”

He began pulling at Qin Du’s clothes.

Even Qin Du had not expected him to be so direct. If Lin Huaiqing felt his body and discovered there were no wounds, only pig’s blood poured over him, wouldn’t the whole act be exposed?!

Without time to think, Qin Du caught the hands moving over his body and stirring him up, holding them firmly in his own.

“Master! Wait! There’s something I need to tell you!”

“Be good. Let me stop the bleeding first. After that, I’ll listen to anything you have to say!”

“But…”

Qin Du’s voice caught.

“I’m afraid that if I don’t say it now, it’ll be too late.”

If he waited any longer, Lin Huaiqing would discover the truth!

Lin Huaiqing went rigid, his hands trembling slightly.

“Then tell me. I’m listening.”

Qin Du struggled upright and clasped his master’s hands, slick with blood. His gaze brimmed with affection.

“I’ve loved you for a long time, Master. Please acknowledge me as your partner, so I can openly remain by your side and care for you for the rest of my life.”

Already overwhelmed with sorrow, Lin Huaiqing froze at the confession.

His mental CPU burned out. Only after a long while did he recover enough to snatch his hands away.

“What… did you say?”

“I’ve loved you for a long time. Haven’t you felt it at all?”

Truthfully, Lin Huaiqing was beginning to doubt his own hearing.

“But…”

The next instant, his lips were covered again. Unlike the previous rough kiss, this one was tender beyond measure, as though Qin Du held the world’s most precious and fragile treasure in his arms.

When they parted, a fine silver thread lingered between their lips, a trace of their intimacy.

Lin Huaiqing was only slightly breathless, but otherwise seemed utterly dazed.

“Do you still not understand, Master? Do you truly not understand how I feel?”

Lin Huaiqing sat stunned. At this point, he could not pretend ignorance even if he wanted to. Qin Du’s words were unmistakable: he was declaring his love.

But they were both men. More than that, they were master and disciple.

Why would Qin Du develop feelings for him?

In all fairness, apart from that one night, Lin Huaiqing had treated him only as a disciple, a junior.

He had never crossed the line.

His mind was too tangled to think.

“Let me treat your wounds first. If we don’t, how are you going to have a future at all?”

“Does that mean you agree, Master?”

Qin Du sounded delighted.

He hardly sounded like someone gravely wounded.

But Lin Huaiqing was too caught up in the situation to notice. He protested, “When did I—”

At that crucial moment, dozens of demon officers and soldiers burst into the room and dropped to their knees.

“Your Venerable Majesty! The rebels outside have been eliminated. We’ve come to take you for treatment!”

“Cough… Leave us for now.”

Qin Du silently cursed their timing.

“Your Venerable Majesty, the military adviser says your wounds are severe and must be treated immediately. There can be no delay!”

Ignoring his objections, they lifted him straight off the bed and carried him away.

Lin Huaiqing was left alone, his mind feeling as though it had been bombarded by cannon fire.

Rebels?!

So it had not been the Xuantian Sect.

But Qin Du had clearly said…

And the blood on his hands. Lin Huaiqing raised them to his nose. It did not seem like human blood, much less demon blood.

It smelled rather like… pig’s blood…

“Why did you have them carry me out? Couldn’t you see I was at a crucial moment?!”

“My lord, if you’d stayed any longer, Immortal Lord Lin would have rejected you. You’ve said what you needed to say. Let him think it over tonight.”

Qin Du nodded.

“You have a point.”

Then, apparently remembering something, he added, “By the way, put a few more charcoal braziers in Lin Huaiqing’s room tonight. He’s cold all over.”

Especially when Lin Huaiqing’s hand had touched his lower abdomen earlier. It had been cold enough to make him shiver.

“Well, well! You’ve already felt him all over, my lord? Things are moving quickly!”