The midnight hour’s darkness was like ink, soaking the plants and trees in the courtyard into deep black silhouettes.
Li Xuan arranged the medicinal liquids and crystal stones for tomorrow’s ambush one by one on the table, the bitterness and coolness of herbs still lingering at his fingertips.
He removed his black outer robe, leaving only a moon-white inner garment.
The fabric lightly clung to his skin, outlining the young man’s lean yet firm shoulders and back.
Just as he was about to lift the blanket and get into bed, the door was lightly knocked upon. The sound carried a deliberate hint of flirtation, piercing through the stillness of the night.
“What are you here for?” Li Xuan frowned and turned around.
Moonlight leaked through the window lattice, falling upon his sharply defined face and casting a layer of cool radiance.
Chu Wanran pushed the door open and entered, his black robes brushing silently across the floor.
He lowered his head slightly. His upturned fox-like eyes were now filled with grievance, his thin lips slightly pouting like a neglected pet.
“Ah Xuan, did you forget? We agreed that tonight I would accompany you.” His voice was soft and sweet, carrying deliberate coquettishness.
He was completely unlike the alliance leader who normally strategized and commanded.
Li Xuan turned and walked back to the bedside, tightening the ties of his inner robe.
“Get some proper rest. Tomorrow’s battle cannot afford mistakes.”
Yet alarm bells were already ringing wildly in his heart:
“If the mission fails because of excessive indulgence and weak legs, that would be ridiculous.”
He did not want to become the laughingstock of the Wanjin Alliance, nor did he want this carefully planned ambush to fail.
Chu Wanran quickly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Li Xuan’s waist from behind.
Warm breath brushed against his neck, carrying the faint scent of sandalwood, making one’s heart itch.
“Ah Xuan… please?” His fingers gently rubbed the soft flesh at Li Xuan’s waist.
His voice was low and seductive, the final syllables drawn out long.
“Haven’t you always wanted to try being on top?”
Li Xuan suddenly turned around, his pupils shrinking.
“You know what I mean by being on top?”
He had thought it was only a casual joke.
He never expected Chu Wanran to actually respond to it, with understanding amusement still hidden in his eyes.
Chu Wanran curved his lips into an innocent smile, like a harmless little fox, and slowly nodded.
Fine beads of sweat formed at Li Xuan’s temples. His Adam’s apple bobbed.
With uncertain probing, even his voice trembled slightly:
“I… I can do whatever I want?”
“Of course.”
Chu Wanran loosened his hold and sat upon the bed, lazily leaning against the headboard.
His black robe slipped from his shoulder, revealing a stretch of pale skin. Faint red marks still lingered near his collarbone—the traces left from last night.
He smiled brightly at Li Xuan, though a trace of slyness hid deep within his eyes.
“As long as Ah Xuan likes it, I’ll go along with you.”
Li Xuan’s face instantly burned hot, his heart pounding as though it might burst through his chest.
He stared at Chu Wanran’s breathtakingly beautiful face. His mind had already gone blank.
Only wild thoughts remained growing uncontrollably:
“Is this heaven giving me a chance? Can I finally be the top? I can do this and that to him… try every pose I saw in comics?”
He blushed deeply. His fingers trembled slightly as he slowly reached out and untied Chu Wanran’s robe.
The fabric slipped down, revealing smooth lines of firm, toned muscles.
Every inch carried the explosive strength of youth, glowing with healthy honey-colored radiance beneath the moonlight.
Li Xuan’s gaze stuck to Chu Wanran like he wanted to devour him whole.
“This chest, these muscles… he’s practically a masterpiece.”
Chu Wanran watched the undisguised greed and excitement in Li Xuan’s eyes, the corners of his lips lifting into a wicked smile.
Heh. Who was Chu Wanran?
Known as “Fox Chu,” how could he truly be willing to stay underneath?
This was merely a trap to lure this clueless little hamster willingly into the net.
He laughed inwardly:
“My Ah Xuan is really too adorable. Every desire is written plainly on his face. It makes people unable to resist teasing him.”
He reached out, lightly grasped Li Xuan’s wrist, and pressed that burning hand against his chest.
His voice softened deliberately with feigned shyness:
“Ah Xuan… you can… touch as much as you like.”
The skin beneath his fingertips was warm and firm, carrying a strong heartbeat, astonishingly smooth to the touch.
Chu Wanran lifted his eyes. His gaze rippled like water, naturally seductive to the bone.
Those fox-like eyes were now filled with mist, long lashes trembling lightly.
He looked utterly ripe for the taking.
Li Xuan only felt hot blood rush straight to his head.
A warmth surged through his nose, and scarlet drops of blood rolled down, staining his white inner robe like blooming red plum blossoms.
“Ah Xuan! You’re bleeding!”
Chu Wanran pretended to panic, grabbing a handkerchief from beside the bed and pressing it to Li Xuan’s nose.
His cool fingertips contrasted sharply with the warmth of his palm, though hidden laughter lingered in his eyes.
Li Xuan, however, felt no pain at all.
His eyes sparkled excitedly.
“It’s fine! I’m just full of youthful vigor!”
His heart was already blooming with joy:
“Opportunity must not be missed! How could I pass up the chance to ravage Chu Wanran? Everything tops do to bottoms—I’m trying it all! Hahaha!”
He waved away the handkerchief in one motion, both hands pressing against Chu Wanran’s chest.
His fingertips carried scorching warmth as they lightly traced the red marks upon his chest.
The marks had already been faint, yet after his fingers brushed over them, they seemed to bloom like smudged rouge, becoming even more alluring.
A low sound spilled from Chu Wanran’s throat, somewhere between satisfaction and temptation, the final note drawn long enough to make one’s heart itch.
“Ah…”
That sound became a catalyst, making Li Xuan completely lose control.
He leaned down, staring at Chu Wanran’s skin, pale and flawless like fine white jade.
Like gazing upon the ultimate delicacy, he could not resist extending his tongue and giving it a gentle lick.
A smooth, delicate sensation met him, carrying a faint sandalwood scent.
Unable to restrain himself any longer, he suddenly pressed a kiss against Chu Wanran’s lips, sending the grass-and-wood scented Purifying Heart aura into his mouth—
The aura was gentle yet burning hot, like a prairie fire instantly igniting the flames in Chu Wanran’s eyes.
Chu Wanran’s whole body trembled.
The heat inside him was instantly set ablaze, his lower body already reacting, an obvious bulge pressing against the dark robes.
He raised a hand and loosened the clothing around himself, pale skin glowing beneath the moonlight.
Taking Li Xuan’s hand, he guided it downward, his breathing heavy and his fox-like eyes misty with desire.
“Ah Xuan… touch me.”
Li Xuan lowered his head, his face burning even hotter.
Though he had already experienced it before, seeing “Little Wanran” so directly still left him stunned.
“How can someone look more beautiful than a woman and yet be so ridiculously endowed? This is completely unfair!”
His fingertips brushed scorching heat.
Sensing the dampness at the tip, carrying a faint sweet scent, an absurd thought suddenly surfaced in his mind:
“I wonder what it tastes like? Would it really be sweet, like comics say?”
Almost as if possessed, he lowered his head.
“Ah Xuan… you…”
Chu Wanran clearly had not expected such initiative from him. Surprise flashed briefly through his eyes, quickly swallowed by something deeper.
His breathing grew heavier.
Li Xuan pressed his lips together, looking as though he were sampling some delicious delicacy.
His eyes sparkled with astonishment.
“So it really is sweet!”
Chu Wanran chuckled at his blunt honesty, his chest trembling slightly.
“Thankfully, I take good care of my health. That’s why Ah Xuan praises me so highly.”
He lifted a hand to stroke Li Xuan’s hair, his voice coaxing softly.
“You can take your time and savor it more.”
Given permission, Li Xuan seemed to lose all restraint.
“Damn! I’ve wanted to do this forever! This is exactly what tops do in comics! New move unlocked!”
He inwardly cheered, growing increasingly invested.
Meanwhile, Chu Wanran’s fingers threaded through his hair, his breathing growing heavier.
“Ah Xuan…”
The atmosphere in the room thickened with heat and closeness.
Then, suddenly—
The transmission stone hidden inside Chu Wanran’s robes began vibrating with a persistent buzzing sound, abruptly breaking the warmth between them.
“What’s that sound?” Li Xuan panted lightly, some clarity returning to his eyes.
Chu Wanran ignored it, lowering his head as though reluctant to stop.
“Don’t mind it.”
He had not had enough—how could he bear interruption?
But the buzzing continued stubbornly, louder and louder, as though urgently demanding attention.
Li Xuan pushed lightly at his shoulder.
“Wait—go check it! What if it’s something important?”
Only the core members of the Wanjin Alliance used transmission stones.
If someone was contacting him at this hour, it could not be trivial.
Chu Wanran reluctantly lifted his head, desire still lingering in his eyes.
His expression darkened slightly as he picked up the transmission stone.
“What is it?” he asked coldly.
“Master! You finally answered! I was about to despair!”
Shen Qingci’s exaggeratedly pitiful voice burst out from the stone, instantly shattering the heavy atmosphere in the room.
Chu Wanran frowned faintly.
“What happened?”
“Master, I got kidnapped!” Shen Qingci sounded as though he were about to cry.
“Kidnapped?” Chu Wanran sounded unconvinced, as if hearing a ridiculous joke.
With Shen Qingci’s skills, how could ordinary people possibly kidnap him?
Li Xuan hurriedly leaned closer.
“Little Shen got kidnapped?”
Concern immediately filled his voice.
He had a good impression of Shen Qingci and had not expected this sort of trouble.
“Brother Xuan, you’re there too!”
Shen Qingci instantly sounded brighter.
“Isn’t it because you weren’t around? The Alliance Leader had me impersonate you! That guy Li Yunpeng had people tie me up and drag me to Fanyang City. I went six whole days without food or water—I’ve lost muscle!”
His voice was full of complaints, though strangely tinged with pride.
“Are you hurt?” Li Xuan asked quickly.
“Not really,” Shen Qingci replied cheerfully.
“Li Yunpeng even tried hiring me! Master, I swear I’m loyal. My heart belongs only to the Wanjin Alliance—and to you!”
“I doubt you’d dare otherwise,” Chu Wanran replied coolly.
Yet his fingers unconsciously rubbed the back of Li Xuan’s hand in reassurance, the darkness in his expression easing slightly.
“Hehe, Master, what should I do now?”
“Stay there. Continue pretending to be Ah Xuan.”
A calculating look flashed through Chu Wanran’s eyes.
An unexpected bonus.
Leaving Shen Qingci in the Li residence might prove useful.
“Really?!” Shen Qingci practically sounded overjoyed.
“You’re that happy staying in the Li residence?” Chu Wanran asked dryly.
“N-not exactly…”
Shen Qingci’s tone turned guilty.
“The food’s good, the beds are comfortable, and they pay me well…”
His voice trailed off quietly.
“Remember whose face you’re wearing,” Chu Wanran warned.
“If you expose yourself, you’ll answer for it.”
“Got it! I definitely won’t mess up!”
“Also,” Chu Wanran added suddenly, as if remembering something, “watch Mo Feiyan. See who she interacts with in the Li residence. There are people of ours outside the Li estate—you can contact them.”
“Got it!” Shen Qingci agreed readily.
“Rest.” Chu Wanran said flatly, already losing patience.
“Wait, Master! Remember to raise my salary!”
Shen Qingci hurriedly called out, his tone full of expectation, afraid he would be forgotten.
The transmission ended.
Chu Wanran immediately turned around and pinned Li Xuan onto the bed, his burning kiss falling once more, intent on continuing the warmth from earlier. His desire had not diminished in the slightest.
“Stop messing around.” Li Xuan pushed him away, his eyes now a little clearer.
“It’s getting late. We still have to set out for Luoxia Ridge early tomorrow morning.”
He did not want tomorrow’s important mission ruined because of indulgence.
Chu Wanran puffed his lips like a wronged child, rubbing against Li Xuan’s neck in dissatisfaction.
“I’m not finished yet…”
His fingers still lingered on Li Xuan’s skin, unwilling to stop.
Li Xuan gently held him and sent a strand of gentle Purifying Heart energy into his body, calming his restless aura.
“Enough. Don’t be childish. Tomorrow is the key battle—whether we can capture Lingxi depends on this one move. I want everyone to be safe, and I’ll protect you too.”
His voice was soft yet firm, filled with unquestionable seriousness.
Chu Wanran tightened his arms and held him even closer, resting his chin on the top of his head.
His voice turned deep and steady.
“It should be me protecting you. With me here, no one can hurt you.”
His embrace was warm and powerful, carrying a reassuring sense of safety.
Li Xuan’s tense heart slowly eased.
Moonlight poured through the window lattice, falling over the two of them as they lay entwined.
The heat of desire gradually faded, leaving only steady breathing and the quiet of the night.
Outside the Wanjin Alliance, in the depths of the darkness, killing intent was already silently gathering—
Waiting for dawn at Luoxia Ridge, where a storm of blood and strategy was about to unfold.