Without hesitating, Qin Yuanxi made his move, setting the granary on fire, causing chaos within the stronghold. He was satisfied with the result, but he also felt increasingly uncomfortable. The burning sensation in his body intensified, and he couldn’t quite explain the strange feeling.
He suspected that those bastards might have drugged him with some despicable and shameless concoction. The mere thought of it made Qin Yuanxi’s face flush and his breathing heat up. He tried to suppress his discomfort and asked Zhao Tuo, “How do we leave the mountain now?”
The current situation was unclear. Although Zhao Tuo claimed to have requested reinforcements, there was no guarantee they were genuine allies. In this uncertain situation, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t trust anyone blindly. What if they accidentally stumbled upon the enemy while descending the mountain? If the reinforcements were real, it would be good news, but if not, they would be walking straight into a trap.
“Let’s take the side path,” suggested Zhao Tuo, aware of Qin Yuanxi’s concerns. He carried Qin Yuanxi on his back and continued, “Your Majesty, it’s safer for you to return to the palace.”
“I won’t go back,” Qin Yuanxi stubbornly responded.
Although he didn’t want to admit it, Zhao Tuo was right. His safety outside the palace was indeed at risk. If that Prince Lu harbored any ill intentions, there would be nowhere he could go. Keeping him outside would be a potential threat that needed to be dealt with quickly. In contrast, the palace was the safest place for him. Inside those walls, he was still the Emperor, and even if Prince Lu wanted to make a move, he would have to risk regicide. Outside, the situation was entirely different.
Just like this time, without Zhao Tuo, he would have been violated without understanding anything. It would have been a miserable and tragic situation.
Qin Yuanxi was not a native to this land, and he felt a bit out of place. His immediate reaction upon realizing the dangerous situation was to flee, but as an emperor, where could he possibly escape to?
Even if the main protagonist really doesn’t care about him and just ignores him, could Qin Yuanxi pass the test in his own heart?
No, he couldn’t. Since the moment he was reborn, he had suspected Lu Bohuan countless times that he had prepared a killer move, then Zhao Tuo for a while, the bandits, and now he doubted Zhao Tuo’s reinforcements. Whenever an unexpected situation arose, he would start to doubt, living like a frightened bird. In this state, even if he truly ran away, he wouldn’t be able to live a peaceful life.
He couldn’t feel at ease in his heart, so how could he lead a carefree life? Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t achieve it.
“Zhao Tuo, am I destined to return to the palace and continue being a puppet?”
The truth was the truth, but he still felt a little unwilling. Going back to play the role of a puppet as described in the books? Constantly watching Prince Lu’s mood and fearing for his own life, not daring to take a breath. Whatever Prince Lu wanted him to do, he would do, even if he became Emperor, what meaning would there be in living like this?
With a touch of stubbornness, Qin Yuanxi said, “Rather than going back to the palace as a puppet, I might as well die here.”
“Your Majesty, don’t worry about Prince Lu. Zhao Tuo will surely eradicate this traitor and protect the country, restoring the rule of the dynasty.”
Zhao Tuo spoke every word with utmost sincerity, his words resonating like a big mountain,, providing a stable support for Qin Yuanxi.
Almost instinctively, Qin Yuanxi embraced Zhao Tuo’s neck, feeling uncomfortable with the turmoil inside his body, lost and bewildered about the way forward. In just a few short sentences, Zhao Tuo seemed to assure and console him, genuinely making Qin Yuanxi feel protected.
“Where are we now? How long will it take to go down the mountain? Zhao Tuo, I’m feeling really bad.”
Qin Yuanxi lay on Zhao Tuo’s back, the fiery sensation inside him burning more intensely. If they didn’t go down soon, he feared he wouldn’t be able to endure it.
His fingers inadvertently brushed against Zhao Tuo’s neck, feeling slightly cool and comforting, easing his restless desires. Qin Yuanxi wasn’t exactly a saint, so he followed his own impulses and reached out to touch him.
He was now taking advantage of his own situation, knowing that if he acted a little out of line, he could always brush it off later with confidence.
Zhao Tuo was the type he admired – simple, honest, and with a loyal-dog-like appearance. Previously, he had entertained some wicked thoughts, but his cowardice held him back. So he could only think about him in the middle of the night. However, now, with just a light touch, his thoughts spiraled out of control. Qin Yuanxi’s breath grew hotter, and he couldn’t resist gently biting Zhao Tuo’s nape.
Then everything spun, and Zhao Tuo reacted strongly. Before Qin Yuanxi realized what had happened, Zhao Tuo had already shielded him in his embrace, and they both tripped down the hill, rolling a few times before hitting a tree, stopping just in time.
“Your Majesty! Are you injured?”
Qin Yuanxi was dizzy and disoriented, taking a moment to recover. Though he felt terrible all over, he was still conscious. Now that they had stopped, he could guess what had happened. He couldn’t control himself, had done something he shouldn’t have to Zhao Tuo, and as a result, they both fell down.
What a mess! What to do now?
Bracing his throbbing head, Qin Yuanxi felt like he wanted to die, especially since, in this situation, his inexplicable desire had not dissipated but intensified. And on top of it all, Zhao Tuo was showing genuine concern. Qin Yuanxi felt a bit like a hungry wolf, wanting to pounce.
What kind of medicine did that bastard slip him? It worked so well! With such a miraculous drug, why would anyone stay hidden in a mountain den? They could just create something and make a fortune!
Taking a deep breath, Qin Yuanxi said, “Get away from me, I’m really uncomfortable now. That bastard gave me an aphrodisiac. When can we go down the mountain? If we don’t hurry, I’ll die here from lust.”
Zhao Tuo fell silent briefly before replying, “We’re lost.”
“Lost? What do you mean?!” Qin Yuanxi’s voice suddenly raised.
He looked utterly shocked and couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “How is that possible? How could you get lost?!”
Qin Yuanxi had recognized Zhao Tuo’s wilderness survival skills. They had traveled at night before, through desolate forests, and Zhao Tuo had always found suitable shelter and water sources promptly. Could he suddenly lose his sense of direction?
Qin Yuanxi couldn’t accept it. Under normal circumstances, getting lost might be understandable, but his current situation was different. How could they get lost? How was it possible?
Raising his head, Qin Yuanxi noticed that the night was exceptionally dark. There wasn’t a single star in the sky. In this vast mountain hollow, finding a path was indeed challenging. Darkness engulfed everything, and the occasional breeze made the leaves rustle. Qin Yuanxi leaned against the tree behind him, his voice becoming hoarser.
“So what do we do now? We have no idea which way to go. Should we find a place to stay for the night and wait until it’s daylight again?”
He really didn’t want to spend the night with Zhao Tuo as the only two men in this situation. For Qin Yuanxi, it would be a tremendous torture. He felt like he couldn’t hold on much longer. Raising his arm, he rested it against his forehead and sighed, feeling a bit helpless. “Can’t you just knock me out?”
Perhaps being unconscious would make it less agonizing. It was the only solution Qin Yuanxi could think of at the moment.
“There seems to be a thatched hut over there. Your Majesty, do you want to go there to rest?”
Zhao Tuo’s voice was a bit hoarse, but Qin Yuanxi was too preoccupied with his own discomfort to notice the unnatural tone.
Glancing in the direction Zhao Tuo pointed, all they could see was pitch darkness, making it impossible to discern anything. Qin Yuanxi’s legs were now weak, and he couldn’t take another step. Shaking his head, he replied, “Forget it, I can’t walk.”
“I’ll carry Your Majesty over there.” Zhao Tuo crouched down in front of Qin Yuanxi again, but this time, Qin Yuanxi refused to be carried. Instead, he turned on his own and said, “No, I’ll walk by myself.”
He dared not have any physical contact with Zhao Tuo now. The potency of that medicine was too strong. Zhao Tuo was like a piece of delicious braised pork to him, and at any moment, he might lose control of his desires.
“Is this the right direction?”
Zhao Tuo had been following behind Qin Yuanxi, but seeing him stop every few steps, Zhao Tuo walked ahead to lead the way. The road through the dark forest was treacherous, and Qin Yuanxi almost stumbled several times. Each time, Zhao Tuo was there to steady him, and eventually, it turned into Zhao Tuo holding his arm, guiding him forward.
The thatched hut was indeed there, quite run-down with some daily necessities inside, such as a sickle and a pot. It looked like a temporary shelter for those who went up the mountain. It was a small place, and there was a wooden plank bed with only some straw but no mattress. Qin Yuanxi felt it was not much better than staying outside; at least, there was more space outside for him to catch his breath.
“Your Majesty, rest here for a moment. I’ll go find some water.”
Just as Zhao Tuo was about to turn around, Qin Yuanxi grabbed him. “Where are you going to find water? Have you also been affected? Why are you avoiding me?”
Initially, Qin Yuanxi didn’t notice anything unusual about Zhao Tuo. He was too focused on his own discomfort and had no spare energy to pay attention to Zhao Tuo. Only when Zhao Tuo held his wrist and brought him towards the thatched hut did Qin Yuanxi sense something was wrong. Zhao Tuo’s body temperature seemed a bit high, although not as obvious or severe as his own symptoms. But Zhao Tuo’s breathing was irregular.
Especially now, Zhao Tuo’s hurried attempt to distance himself confirmed Qin Yuanxi’s suspicion.
Back in the stronghold, there was a problem with the incense in that room. Qin Yuanxi had no resistance to it and was exposed to it for a long time. Therefore, his reaction was particularly strong. When Zhao Tuo came in, he only got a whiff and then extinguished the incense. Besides, he was a martial artist, Zhao Tuo’s condition should be slightly better than his.
“Hey, why don’t we help each other out?”
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
