Chapter 81: Showing the shameless nature of the villain
He tried carrying Yu Shi on his back, and it indeed seemed to make Yu Shi feel a bit more comfortable.
Yu Shi’s furrowed brows relaxed, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around Feng Xuexiang’s neck, closing his eyes and falling asleep peacefully, looking like a child.
When Yu Shi was awake, he never mentioned anything about his eldest brother, but now, in his unclear state of mind, he blurted it out, showing how much he subconsciously missed and worried about this “big brother.”
The space inside the house was small, so Feng Xuexiang wrapped Yu Shi in a coat and carried him outside.
Whenever Feng Xuexiang stopped, the person on his back would nuzzle his head against Feng Xuexiang’s shoulder, and the hands draped around his neck would restlessly scratch at him.
Feng Xuexiang had never seen him like this before; his heart was filled with a mix of jealousy and affection as he carefully carried him around.
In the early hours of the morning, the guesthouse near the ancient town was still asleep, quiet and cold, with not a soul on the streets.
In his feverish haze, Yu Shi couldn’t distinguish reality from dreams; it felt as if he had returned to his childhood, with his big brother carrying him outside when he was sick.
But the cold morning air suddenly brought him some clarity, and he abruptly realized that the person carrying him was not his big brother.
The other person’s delicate features were blurred in the morning light, and when he looked up, he could see earlobes as pale as jade, glowing softly, with a few strands of hair clinging to them.
Most of the long hair was draped over one side, pressed beneath him, and a faint lotus scent wafted from the strands.
“Feng Xuexiang?” Yu Shi murmured in his daze, “Why… are you carrying me?”
“You don’t have to do this…”
Feng Xuexiang’s expression was unreadable as he stopped under an old tree at the street corner with Yu Shi on his back.
Was it because Feng Xuexiang wasn’t the big brother he yearned for, so he didn’t want to be carried by him?
Yu Shi’s remaining consciousness was faint; he couldn’t make out Feng Xuexiang’s expression and only saw a purple butterfly suddenly flutter by.
One after another, they filled his entire vision, quickly pulling him back into a haze.
Feng Xuexiang had used illusions to confuse and kill many demons, spirits, and even people, but this was the first time he used an illusion not to kill but to weave a beautiful dream for someone.
Whoever Yu Shi wanted to see, that’s who Feng Xuexiang would become.
However, Feng Xuexiang’s illusions didn’t always work on Yu Shi, so he wasn’t entirely confident.
He waited quietly for a moment until Yu Shi opened his eyes again and softly called him “big brother.” Only then did Feng Xuexiang confirm that Yu Shi had indeed fallen into the illusion.
He responded to the name, saying, “…Mm.”
Yu Shi didn’t remember what had just happened; he only remembered that he was sick, and his big brother was carrying him.
As they walked, his big brother asked him, “Are you still feeling uncomfortable?”
Yu Shi mumbled, “Not anymore.”
His big brother then asked, “So, what do you want to eat, Fourth Brother?”
Yu Shi felt so unwell that he didn’t want to eat anything.
His big brother sighed heavily, “I’m not good at cooking. How about I ask your second brother to make you some soup?”
Oh, right, none of the brothers in the family were good at cooking.
His big brother was willing to cook, but what he made could only be described as edible in the most generous sense.
No matter how much Yu Shi respected eldest brother, he wasn’t eager to eat his cooking every day, especially when he was sick.
His second brother could make some simple dishes, but he was cold by nature, and Yu Shi was the only one who, when he was little and sick, had the good fortune of eating the congee his second brother made.
For anyone else in the family to get a taste of his second brother’s cooking was a near impossibility.
Thinking of this, Yu Shi once again seemed to hazily see his second brother.
It was his second brother as a teenager, dressed in a school uniform, sitting calmly by his bed, gently touching his forehead.
Yu Shi reached out and grasped his second brother’s hand.
“Second Brother… I’m hungry.”
His second brother was silent for a moment before asking, “What do you want to eat?”
“I want you to make me some millet porridge.” Yu Shi clung to his second brother’s hand, reluctant to let go.
Even though his second brother was right in front of him, Yu Shi subconsciously felt that if he let go, he might never see him again.
“I’ll go make it for you; now, sleep.”
His second brother gently touched his eyelids with his fingers. Yu Shi felt a coolness on his eyelids and peacefully closed his eyes.
Feng Xuexiang walked until the sun came up before carrying him back, but just as he laid him down on the bed, his hand was grabbed.
In his daze, Yu Shi called him “Second Brother” and said he was hungry.
Feng Xuexiang had thought there was only a big brother, but now Yu Shi was mumbling about a second brother. Who was this second brother?
No matter who this second brother was, Yu Shi wanted to drink the millet porridge made by him.
This put Feng Xuexiang in a difficult position.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t tried to help Yu Shi in the kitchen before, but he never seemed to be of much help.
When Yu Shi cooked, it was with effortless skill; nothing was too challenging for him, and whatever ingredients he touched turned into a fragrant dish. Compared to him, everyone else seemed clumsy.
Feng Xuexiang closed the door and went to find the kitchen. An hour later, he returned with a bowl of what appeared to be decent millet porridge—bought from outside.
He had failed each time he tried to make it himself. One time, it was too watery, so he added more millet, but it didn’t cook properly.
Another time, it was too thick, so he added water, but the result was strange and tasted bad.
Worried that Yu Shi might starve, Feng Xuexiang gave up on trying to cook and opted to buy a bowl instead.
But since Yu Shi had asked for something made by him, Feng Xuexiang felt like a student cheating on an exam, nervously holding the purchased porridge as he tried to feed it to Yu Shi, fearing that he might suddenly frown, realize it wasn’t right, and accuse him of not making it.
Fortunately, in his sick and dream-filled state, Yu Shi couldn’t tell the difference. He obediently drank the porridge “Second Brother” fed him, then lay back down, satisfied.
As he watched Yu Shi snuggled under the covers, Feng Xuexiang felt a strange sense of fulfillment.
Being cared for by him, and caring for him, both felt incredibly good.
If only he could see him now, instead of mistaking him for his big brother or second brother—that would be even better.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
Feng Xuexiang, sitting by the bedside, said, “Come in.”
“Ninth Master.” The Feng family member, who had rushed over after receiving the news, stood nervously at the doorway.
Feng Xuexiang paid him no mind and looked at the doctor he had brought along. “You, come in and give him an injection.”
A sudden sharp pain in his arm made Yu Shi open his eyes. Before he could struggle, someone pressed down on his arm.
A soothing voice said, “It’s just an injection; it’ll be over soon.”
His vision was blurry, and it took Yu Shi a moment to make out who it was.
“Third Brother?”
He thought, yes, it should be his third brother.
The only time he had fallen ill as an adult was just a minor fever, and his third brother, working late into the night, had brought back medicine to give him an injection.
“Don’t worry, Third Brother is a doctor; my injection skills are top-notch.”
His third brother, yawning, probably after working overtime for who knows how long, had a disheveled hairstyle that he could barely keep up, looking as worn out as he was. Yet, even in such a state, he still looked incredibly handsome.
Yu Shi was concerned about whether his third brother was hungry after work and wanted to suggest he go to the kitchen and cook some instant wontons.
His third brother chuckled softly with exasperation, tossed the used needle aside, and pressed a cotton ball to Yu Shi’s arm to stop the bleeding.
“Fourth Brother, this isn’t the time to be worrying about whether your brother is hungry. I’m not going to starve to death. Now, get some rest.”
He ruffled Yu Shi’s hair.
Yu Shi had always been good at taking care of others. From a young age, he had willingly taken on the responsibility of looking after his brothers, driven by a deep desire to be loved by his family.
Over the years, it might have seemed like he was the one caring for his brothers, but deep down, he knew that, in truth, he was more dependent on them.
He wanted a home, wanted his family to love him, and wanted “home” to remain unchanged forever, with every family member always by his side. That’s why he held everyone together so tightly.
He thought, as long as he had these few family members, it was enough.
“Third Brother…”
The doctor administering the injection by the bedside felt the heavy, oppressive aura of Ninth Master Feng beside him and didn’t dare to make a sound.
Feng Xuexiang slowly clasped Yu Shi’s hand, which was tightly gripping his own.
“Yes, I’m here.”
The Feng family members were waiting outside the door, and before long, they saw Ninth Master personally carrying someone out. Startled, they quickly lowered their heads and rushed to open the car door, helping to place Yu Shi inside.
Yu Shi’s illness was largely due to the yin energy of the water ghost that had entered his body. Ordinary medicine could only do so much, so to help him recover quickly, Feng Xuexiang decided to visit the Ming family.
The Ming family’s main residence wasn’t far from there, and upon receiving the news early, they had already arranged for someone to wait at the door when the Feng family’s car arrived.
Despite past minor conflicts and disagreements, the four great families had supported each other for many years. Naturally, the visit of a spirit demon from one family was taken seriously.
Especially since Ming Tang, the spirit demon of the Ming family, had not yet awakened from the last trip to the Chi Heng Tomb.
Upon hearing that Feng Xuexiang intended to help awaken Ming Tang this time, the Ming family warmly welcomed him. They opened the main gates and led the car inside, having already prepared guest rooms for their visitors.
The Ming family’s buildings had many features resembling temple architecture, primarily intended for the exorcists in the family to practice. Most of these buildings housed powerful demons.
After settling the unconscious Yu Shi, Feng Xuexiang went to see Ming Tang.
The elder lay on the bed, his face thin and worn, his expression peaceful, with two worried-looking middle-aged men standing by his side.
One of them brought a chair for Feng Xuexiang and invited him to sit down.
Feng Xuexiang glanced at the comatose Ming Tang on the bed, his expression unchanged, as he placed his hand over the elder’s closed eyes.
Ming Tang’s coma was largely Feng Xuexiang’s doing. To prevent him from sabotaging the plan to kill Feng Houzhan, Feng Xuexiang had used Mei Yeyao’s abilities, exploiting Ming Tang’s lack of defense against Mei Yeyao, to suppress his consciousness within an illusion.
If it weren’t for his current need, Feng Xuexiang would have preferred Ming Tang to remain comatose until death. Unfortunately, such a perfect opportunity would not come again.
The moment Ming Tang opened his eyes, a powerful force suddenly erupted in the room. Feng Xuexiang’s expression changed, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“Uncle!” “Uncle!” The two middle-aged men, overjoyed at seeing him awake, were immediately horrified when they saw that he had injured the Feng family’s spirit demon.
“Get out!” Ming Tang waved his sleeve, throwing the two younger men out of the room, and the door slammed shut behind them.
“I came here in good faith to wake you, Master Ming. What are you doing?” Feng Xuexiang said, clutching his chest.
Ming Tang sat up in bed. “It was you, wasn’t it? No need to pretend.”
Feng Xuexiang lowered his hand and kept a respectful distance. “I’m not here to cause trouble today. I have a favor to ask of you, Master Ming.”
Ming Tang knew he was telling the truth. A man like Feng Xuexiang wouldn’t lower himself unless he needed something. The fact that he didn’t even try to dodge the earlier attack, taking it head-on, confirmed that he was sincere.
However, Ming Tang was completely unmoved by such submission.
“The younger generation has wronged Master Ming and is willing to apologize and make amends,” Feng Xuexiang said softly, wiping away the blood at the corner of his mouth.
The Ming family’s spirit demon was naturally resistant to illusions, and the relationship between the two families had always been distant.
Ming Tang’s eyes could see the sins on a person’s body, even their fate and misfortunes. The first time he met Feng Xuexiang, a young spirit demon of the Feng family, he disliked him.
Feng Xuexiang bore the blood sins of his relatives, destined to be a cold-hearted person who would bring disaster and bloodshed. No matter how beautiful and ethereal he appeared, deep down, his heart was nothing but a swamp of filth.
A presence like Feng Xuexiang’s could only pull everyone around him into the same mire, much like a water ghost in a lake, unaware of its death, dragging the living down to accompany it.
“I cannot afford your so-called apology. Leave the Ming family at once!” Ming Tang said sharply.
“Why be so hasty? I am sincerely offering my apologies,” Feng Xuexiang replied, his expression calm as he continued:
“There is someone close to me who bears the Five Yin Fate. His constitution is unique, making him susceptible to attracting dark and ominous energies. I seek your help, Master Ming, to dispel these energies and remove his misfortunes. Additionally, I would like to request a protective talisman for him.”
“I am not asking for much—just your Millennium Pearl. With eighteen of its beads, I wish to create a bracelet for him.”
“I am willing to swear a blood oath, promising never to act against any member of the Ming family, and I will even offer to do one thing for you in return.”
Ming Tang laughed, seething with anger. “An apology? This is nothing short of a threat!”
Feng Xuexiang smiled. “How could this be a threat? If I were truly threatening you, I would say…”
He met Ming Tang’s gaze, his smile warm and disarming. “Master Ming is unwilling to oblige me because he’s not afraid of this insignificant illusion of mine, but are the rest of the Ming family not afraid as well?”
Ming Tang’s expression darkened with fury.
“You may not fear me, and I have no qualms if the Ming family wishes to confront the Feng family. After all, their lives mean little to me.”
After this brazen statement, Feng Xuexiang watched Ming Tang’s reaction closely. Then, he softened his tone, lowering his stance as he added quietly:
“I care only about this one person. If Master Ming agrees to help me, you will have leverage over my greatest weakness. You will never need to fear me again, isn’t that a favorable outcome?”
