Chapter 5: Bathing Together Once Again

That night, the sky was pitch black. Within the precincts of Lix Manor, corpses lay scattered, the courtyard shrouded in gloom. The air was thick with a pungent scent of blood that refused to dissipate. Standing vigil by the bodies of his father and mother, Beigong Qiyi’s youthful face—already revealing hints of future stunning beauty—remained untouched by sorrow or joy. He wore a spotless white robe, the hem stained with flecks of crimson, echoing the vermilion mark between his brows.

He raised his head to look at the person approaching him. Though his features were still boyish, his composure was unnaturally calm and steady for one so young.

The newcomer reached out with unsettling ease to lift his chin, eyes brazen and unrestrained, making Qiyi frown in disgust.

Yet just as Qiyi was about to strike, the man collapsed at his feet first. Qiyi stepped back quietly, and as he looked up, he saw a face full of hostility and a pair of rare, dark green eyes.

In that instant, Qiyi’s heart tightened painfully. The man’s dark green coat was splattered with blood, the stains blooming into shadowy halos. His long hair was carelessly tied back into a braid and simply fastened with a dark, spiral gold crown. A few strands had slipped free, trailing along snow-white skin, highlighting its pallor. Thick lashes drooped, veiling those green eyes; his lips, full and crimson, were pressed into a cold, iron-like line.

Qiyi stared at him in a daze. The little boy from his memory had grown into a man with an overwhelming presence. Suddenly, he remembered the warmth of that boy’s embrace, but this man did not pick him up as he once had. The man merely cast him a cool glance with those green eyes, even frowning slightly when his gaze landed on the vermilion mark at Qiyi’s brow.

Qiyi’s heart quietly fell. He withdrew his gaze, which had clung so tightly to the man, and forced a faint, weak smile. “Big Brother… you’re back…” Beigong Juechen nodded silently, stepped forward, and took his cool hand. “Come,” he said.

Qiyi looked at their joined hands and sighed softly.

The little boy from childhood was now only a memory.

Juechen escorted Qiyi back to Idleness Pavilion. As Juechen turned to leave, Qiyi hurriedly called after him, “Big Brother…” Juechen looked back, raising an eyebrow, “What is it?” Qiyi pouted, lowering his eyes with a hint of disappointment. “Can’t Big Brother stay with me tonight?”

Juechen’s slanted brows furrowed. He gazed at the boy’s dejected face, then finally nodded. “Alright.” Instantly, Qiyi’s eyes lit up and a brilliant smile spread across his crimson lips. He ran up, threw his arms around the man, and mumbled into his chest, “Big Brother, you’re the best.”

Juechen frowned and reached out as if to push him away, but his hand instead landed gently atop Qiyi’s black hair, ruffling it. “Enough, go wash up and get to bed.” Qiyi lifted his face from Juechen’s embrace and asked, “Can we use the grand bath in Huaxu Hall?” Juechen tapped his brow with faint amusement and scolded softly, “No.”

Qiyi pursed his lips, looking a little more despondent. “Alright then, Big Brother, bathe with me.” Juechen shrugged indifferently, pulled Qiyi from his arms, and said, “Let’s go.” With that, he led Qiyi toward the back wing.

The bathhouse inside was not small, though less grand than that of Lix Manor. On the vermillion railings, bronze stands held groups of three candles, forming triangles. Their flames flickered softly. The bath itself was built from pale yellow marble, petals of peach blossom floating atop the water. Juechen walked over, picked up a petal with his fingers, arched a brow at Qiyi, and smiled, “So you like bathing with flower petals.”

On his slender, ivory fingers, the blush-pink petal rested lightly, droplets of water tracing down to his palm. Qiyi blinked, forcing himself to look away from that hand. He murmured, “Mother had them placed here.” At the mention of Helian Jia, the gentle warmth in the room faded. Juechen let the petal fall back into the water, removed his dark green coat, and revealed that beneath, he wore only white undergarments.

Qiyi stared at Juechen’s pale but well-toned chest, feeling almost blinded by its brightness. Catching the boy’s gaze, Juechen carelessly hung the coat on a nearby rack, then stripped off his trousers, let down his hair, and stepped naked into the bath. He turned to Qiyi, “Aren’t you coming in?”

Qiyi quickly undressed and leapt in from a distance, sending up a spray of water. Juechen wiped droplets from his face, then gave the boy’s thin back a light slap, “Don’t be reckless.” Qiyi surfaced and dove toward Juechen, offering eagerly, “Let me wash your back, Big Brother.” Juechen nodded indifferently and turned to lean against the edge of the pool, revealing a flawless, sculpted back.

Qiyi’s black eyes contracted; suddenly, the task he’d volunteered for felt more like a torment.

With Juechen’s long black hair swept aside, his entire back and nape were laid bare before Qiyi. Qiyi felt an odd heat rise to his nose, as if a warm rush was about to spill out. He quickly tilted his head back, steadying his breath, and with effort, suppressed the nosebleed. Thank goodness, he thought, that his current body was still that of an undeveloped ten-year-old child…

“Aren’t you going to wash my back?” Juechen glanced over his shoulder, his green eyes misty from the steam, lending an unexpected softness to his usually severe features.

Qiyi swallowed, picked up a sponge, and Juechen lazily rested his sharp chin on his folded arms. After a moment, he murmured, “Is that all the strength you have?” His voice was low and magnetic, causing Qiyi to shiver and unconsciously apply more pressure.

“Mm…” Juechen sighed contentedly, but Qiyi’s hand slipped and dropped the sponge into the water, sending ripples across the surface.

“Big Brother, my hand’s tired…” Qiyi said softly, head lowered. Juechen turned, a faint sneer on his lips, “Is that all you’ve got?” Far from offended, Qiyi grinned and nestled up beside Juechen. “Then you should teach me martial arts, Big Brother.”

Juechen pursed his lips thoughtfully, then abruptly seized Qiyi’s wrist. Feeling his pulse caught, Qiyi showed no sign of fear. After a brief pause, Juechen released him with a quiet chuckle. “Not bad, though your internal energy is weak.” Qiyi blinked. “Will you teach me, then?” Juechen smiled, stood, and stepped out of the bath. On the rack hung only a short white towel.

He wrapped himself in it, the length barely reaching the tops of his thighs. He flicked his now dry hair free, saying in a low voice, “Very well, I’ll teach you.” With that, he walked out.

Behind him, Qiyi clutched his nose as bright red blood seeped through his fingers, slowly trickling down his arm and staining the jade-green water with crimson.