Qie Ranzhe could hear a faint whisper coming from the sword calling to him by name as an indescribable force was urging him to pick it up and possess it. He seemed to believe that this sword ould give him the power he yearned for. Absent-minded he lightly traced the sheath with his long slender fingers his dark eyes brimming with obsession. In this room, it was just him and this sword stuck in an infinite dark void oblivious to his surroundings. The vile root within constricted his heart urging him to unsheath Hei An Zhi and bind himself to it. Just as he was about to comply a soft warmth brushed against his lips.
A potent sweet peach scent assaulted his senses as the warmth lingered for a few more seconds. Qie Ranzhe immediately snapped out of his trance only to see a blushing Zhao Huangzhi walking out and a dazed Lee Jienjie, Lin Jingxie pair staring at him with blank expressions. He had just been kissed by Zhao Huangzhi while under the mysterious enchantment of Hei An Zhi.
Qie Ranzhe's entire world crumbled cursing loudly, "Shit!" but the person who had taken advantage of him had run off like a petty thief. He felt both anger and guilt unable to face Lin Jingxie at this moment. He ran past them rushing off to rinse his mouth multiple times.
Wen Qinxi wanted to congratulate Qie Ranzhe for having his first kiss but judging from his expression it wasn't the right time to say it. Just as a shrieking Lee Jienjie left Wen Qinxi grabbed the neglected sword heading for Qie Ranzhe's room patiently waiting for his return. The sun sank into the horizon but Qie Ranzhe hadn't reappeared yet so Wen Qinxi went to the kitchen to reheat his dinner and packed it back into the wooden bento before heading back to his room to continue waiting.
Qie Ranzhe only came back when it was completely dark outside. Though he had calmed down he was still gloomy so Wen Qinxi chose to say nothing except push the bento in his direction uttering one word, "Eat." Qie Ranzhe obediently ate a few mouthfuls which seemed to lift his spirit.
Seeing him finally relax, Wen Qinxi comforted him, "Its just a first kiss and a peck at that. It wasn't explicit or anything so there is no need to be this upset. I know you don't like her but the more you get worked up over this, the more it turns into a much bigger deal than it actually is," in a gentle tone. Actually, he was a little irritated when he saw that scene. He felt an inexplicable painful sting when he saw her take advantage of a destructed Qie Ranzhe.
Qie Ranzhe paused for a moment looking down at his food with his mind adrift. Without thinking he confessed, "Its not my first kiss," though he knew the one who initiated it didn't remember anything.
Wen Qinxi was dumbfounded by this sudden revelation and couldn't help but ask, "Who was your first kiss?" Even though he had spent so much time with Qie Ranzhe, this was the first time he had heard of this interesting piece of news. Alas, there was a glimmer of hope. There was a girl out there that Qie Ranzhe might actually like.
Qie Ranzhe didn't look up replying in a low voice, "They initiated the kiss but don't even remember that they kissed me. That's all l can say for now," before stuffing his face with a juicy piece of braised pork.
"Okay, thanks for sharing. This is exciting news," said an excited Wen Qinxi while poking the system in his head, 'Who the fuck kissed Qie Ranzhe? Find out who she is so we can get them together when he reaches the capital.'
Jolie, '....'
'l...ah.....um.....l really don't know who could have done such a thing but l will try and find out,' said Jolie before going offline just in case Wen Qinxi interrogated it further.
As soon Qie Ranzhe was done eating, Wen Qinxi packed the bento away before addressing the elephant in the room. He placed the wooden case on the table with a loud bam and said, "Try it out and see if you like it." Qie Ranzhe let out a sigh while unsheathing the sword that had been calling to him all day. He had to admit, the sword fascinated him but after what happened, he didn't even want to look at it.
To satisfy Lin Jingxie he tried it out skillfully slashing with great agility. He could feel a massive load of power surging through his body inciting the urge to conquer the world. Though it felt addictively good it still didn't feel right. He craved power but craved for Lin Jingxie more.
Wen Qinxi was mesmerized by the powerful aura radiating from Qie Ranzhe from the moment he touched that sword. 'That's so fuking badass,' he thought behaving like a fanboy who had just met his idol. Wen Qinxi eventually snapped out of his trance when Qie Ranzhe sheathed Hei An Zhi and ruined the moment by saying, "Since you have this sword now its time to give back what belongs to Ceaser," stretching his hand out to grab the sword he gave to Qie Ranzhe but his hand came out empty when Qie Ranzhe beat him to it.
He placed Hei An Zhi in the box while saying, "No, l am fine with this one. I will give this sword back to the Zhao family." Faced with such a stubborn Qie Ranzhe, Wen Qinxi was at a loss for words but had to persist as he didn't know what effect this might have on the plot. He was just glad Jolie was mature enough not come out and have an I told you so moment.
'Hahaha...I fuckin told you so!' said the system appearing at the right moment watching the good show.
Wen Qinxi ignored the system as he continued coaxing a stubborn Qie Ranzhe, "Qie Ranzhe give me that sword this instant. You can use this one now. Didn't I tell you this sword was on loan and that you had to give it back when you get a better one?" like a parent persuading a child that a Toyota was as good as a Maserati.
"It has my freaking name on it and I love it so why should I give it back when you personally designed it for me? Aren't you being unreasonable?" he said hiding the sword behind his back looking like a bullied child.
Realising he was fighting a losing battle, Wen Qi gave in saying, "Fine, forget it. You can keep it," trying to look as natural as possible but he was actually planning to take it away while Qie Ranzhe was sleeping and claim that little elves broke in during the night and stole it.
His plan would have worked if he was dealing with a six-year-old but Qie Ranzhe was almost nineteen and a genius to top it all off. Qie Ranzhe stood up tightly clasping that sword as though afraid that it would vanish into thin air at any moment. Wen Qinxi yelled after him asking, "Where are you going?"
Without hesitation, he replied, "To hide my sword," while walking out of the room but soon paused when he heard Lin Jingxie say,
"Are you hiding it in Machu's room?"
With a mobile expression, Qie Ranzhe yelled, "No!" before frog-marching out of the room thinking of another place to hide his precious sword.