Gu Mang was brought up by the steward.
A chain lock was fastened around his neck, clinking all the way as he was led forward barefoot from the shadows.
Unlike the last time Mo Xi saw him, when Gu Mang had been calm—as if being in his own territory had left him without the slightest unease—this time, although he was still outwardly composed, his muscles were tightly drawn. Behind his long eyelashes, sharp and dangerous eyes swept across everyone in turn.
Their eyes met by accident.
Mo Xi’s heart stirred slightly.
He knew his position here was awkward. If Gu Mang suddenly mentioned their previous meeting at Falling Plum Estate, it would not cause him much trouble, but it would still be inconvenient.
Yet logic aside, somewhere deep inside him, there was a quiet, hidden voice that hoped Gu Mang would show even a trace of special reaction toward him.
Unfortunately, Gu Mang disappointed him.
Gu Mang showed no interest in him at all. It seemed he only regarded Mo Xi as one of those strange guests. He did not linger on his face even for a moment—only glanced once, then calmly looked away without attachment.
“……”
Mo Xi’s expression darkened. He picked up a delicate jade cup from the table and lowered his gaze, silently turning it in his hand.
“Mm, the once-famous beast of the divine throne.” Murong Lian said with a fake smile. “Gu Mang, why are you so tense? You grew up serving in my household. Returning to an old place—what is there to fear?”
“Come.” He gestured. “Come here.”
Gu Mang slowly took a few steps forward, his gaze landing on the incense burner in front of Murong Lian.
Then, as if overwhelmed by the scent of “Fusheng Ruomeng,” he sneezed—and suddenly turned and ran.
Murong Lian had not expected this and froze for a moment before shouting sharply, “Catch him!”
Gu Mang’s spiritual core had already been destroyed, yet his movement technique remained sharp. With a sweeping kick, he knocked over three or four people, then pushed off the ground and leapt like a hunting leopard, dodging the servants trying to grab him and landing smoothly again.
His movements were fluid and fierce.
After kicking people aside, he glanced back, scratched his cheek, and continued running.
“…Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Even a crippled Gu Shuai is still better than these useless fools.” Murong Lian said, glancing at Mo Xi. “What do you think, Xi He Jun?”
Mo Xi stood with arms crossed, silent, watching Gu Mang dart through the hall. The servants of Wangshu Manor finally managed to subdue him after great effort, all of them sweating and bruised.
“Master, he’s bound.”
“Look at all of you panting like oxen. Anyone who didn’t know would think the one whose core was destroyed was you, not him—idiots!”
The servants lowered their heads even further.
“Bring him back.”
Gu Mang was dragged once again to the center of the hall. Because he kept resisting, they bound him tightly with binding spells and forced him in front of the seat.
“Kneel!”
Gu Mang refused. A brutal kick to his knee forced him down to the ground.
His mouth, neck, abdomen, and knees were all tightly bound by black restraining cords. His gaze was chaotic and furious. His robe had been pulled open, exposing much of his pale chest.
Murong Lian descended from the couch, still holding the silver spoon he used to stir incense. He leaned down and examined Gu Mang closely.
“The vast lands of Chonghua are all mine… General, where do you think you can run?”
Then he suddenly slapped him.
“PA!”
The sound was sharp and heavy. Five red marks immediately appeared on Gu Mang’s face.
His head was knocked aside, but he made no sound.
Mo Xi’s eyelashes twitched slightly.
“You still haven’t learned your manners after two years of discipline.”
Murong Lian straightened up, inhaled the remaining scent from the spoon, then turned to look at Mo Xi.
“I’ve heard Xi He Jun is excellent at discipline. Back when you took over Gu Mang’s former ‘Black Tortoise Army,’ many tried to rebel but were persuaded by your words on the battlefield. Since you’re so capable, why not help me discipline this former commander as well? Teach him to behave.”
He waved his hand, signaling the servants to drag Gu Mang over to Mo Xi.
“Speaking of which, he once stabbed you in the chest. This delayed apology—Marshal Mo should receive it properly.”
Murong Lian said slowly, “Now the butcher is the knife holder, and he is the fish. You can do whatever you want with him.”
Gu Mang understood only fragments of complex speech. “Butcher” and “fish on the chopping board” meant nothing to him—but the word “torment” hit him like a stick striking a beaten dog.
He flinched violently, eyes widening. He struggled to turn his head, but the chains forced him down, the metal nearly cutting into his mouth and flesh, making it hard to breathe.
All eyes in the hall focused on Mo Xi and Gu Mang.
Yue Chenqing covered his eyes but peeked through his fingers. “Marshal Mo… even if you have grudges, please don’t kill anyone in front of me. I’m still young…”
“……”
Mo Xi said nothing.
He slowly bent down and knelt on one knee. One arm rested on his thigh while the other gloved hand lifted Gu Mang’s chin.
Gu Mang could not speak through the chains. He could only glare fiercely while struggling, making the chains rattle.
A strange shiver rose in Mo Xi’s chest.
He did not know why, but seeing Gu Mang bound and disheveled like this caused an inexplicable thrill to rise from within him.
Was it the satisfaction of pinning a hunted beast beneath one’s feet? Anger at his downfall? Or something else entirely?
He did not know—and did not wish to know.
He lowered his gaze coldly. In the flickering light, Gu Mang’s vicious yet pitiable face filled his vision.
“……”
After a long moment, Mo Xi closed his eyes.
“Take him away.”
“Hm? What does Xi He Jun mean?”
Mo Xi turned his face away. “I’m not interested in him.”
Murong Lian smiled. “Is that so? I thought I had touched some sore spot of Xi He Jun.”
He leaned back, inhaling from his water pipe, then exhaled a haze of smoke while glancing sideways.
“Still, I must admire you. After years of war, you remain as proud and aloof as ever. Men, women, none of them catch your eye. I’m curious—what kind of heavenly beauty would it take for you to be satisfied?”
Mo Xi said nothing, his expression darkening.
Yue Chenqing tried to speak, but Mo Xi didn’t even turn.
“Stay back.”
“…Oh…”
Murong Lian chuckled through smoke.
“You think a little incense would addict Young Master Yue? Don’t worry—it’s impossible.”
“Good.” Mo Xi’s gaze cut through the smoke like a cold blade.
Murong Lian pressed on.
“You still haven’t answered me. Out of all the men and women in my Falling Plum Estate, not even one catches your eye?”
“…My private matters are none of your concern.”
Murong Lian exhaled smoke lazily.
“Why be so restrained? Life is about pleasure. Those things like dignity and integrity are just passing clouds—”
He smiled faintly through the mist.
“Look. They disappear in an instant.”
Mo Xi said coldly, “Dignity?”
“So you refuse men and women—what is it for, if not dignity?”
Mo Xi replied indifferently, “Because I’m a germaphobe.”
Murong Lian paused, still exhaling thin streams of smoke.
After a long standoff, he sneered and reclined back on the couch.
“How boring. A clean freak.”
He waved his hand.
“Enjoy yourselves.”
“After tonight’s banquet, whoever still has energy left in their arms and hasn’t been thoroughly drunk—I’ll consider them physically weak. From now on, Falling Plum Estate won’t be able to serve you.”
The steward leaned in. “Master… should Gu Mang be taken back or kept here?”
“Keep him here,” Murong Lian said lazily. “Why take him back? Since Xi He Jun has no interest, doesn’t mean others don’t want him.”
He glanced at Mo Xi.
“Xi He Jun, you truly don’t care, right?”
“If you don’t want him, I’ll let the others have their fun.”
“……”
Seeing Mo Xi remain silent, Murong Lian smiled. A cold glint slid through his eyes.
“Fine.”
He pointed at Gu Mang.
“This one is too ugly for Xi He Jun. He doesn’t want him. Take him down—let the gentlemen enjoy him.”
The others were naturally delighted. For humiliating ordinary courtesans they might still feel some shame, but humiliating Gu Mang brought cheers from everyone.
After all—he was Chonghua’s traitor.
Laughter erupted as they surrounded him, searching for ways to humiliate him.
Someone threw a braised bone in front of him.
“If you want to eat, eat.”
Gu Mang sniffed it carefully, then cautiously bit it, chewing while watching everyone like a wary beast.
Mo Xi turned his face away, unable to look.
But the sounds still pierced him.
“Hahahaha! Gu Shuai, you really eat bones like a beast!”
“Weren’t you so clean before?”
“Where’s your pride now?”
The contempt filled the hall, yet Gu Mang remained silent, finishing the bone carefully.
Then he looked at the platter of braised meat.
“…Give me.”
For the first time since entering, he spoke normally.
The crowd grew excited.
“Give you what?”
“Meat.”
Laughter exploded again.
Someone handed him a piece, only to mock him as they crushed it into smoke with spiritual power.
Gu Mang stared at his empty hands, confused.
“…The meat is gone.”
More ridicule followed.
Someone mixed wine, vinegar, oil, and saliva, forcing it into a cup.
“Drink this, divine nectar!”
Gu Mang, thirsty and hungry beyond reason, still took it, sniffed it, and cautiously licked it.
Then he spat it directly into the man’s face.
Silence.
Then laughter.
Violence followed.
Gu Mang was beaten, restrained, and dragged under attacks, blood in his mouth, unable to speak.
Someone forced the filthy cup toward him again.
“Swallow it!”
“Drink it all! Don’t leave this room otherwise!”
The beatings intensified, spells raining down like stormwater.
Gu Mang was surrounded, unable to breathe, unable to understand why.
Then—
From the far corner of the hall, a sound rang out.
Bang.
Mo Xi suddenly stood up, throwing his cup onto the table.
He raised his eyes.
His face was dark beyond measure.