Chi Cheng paced around the Grandmaster's room, anxiously awaiting his return. His heart had yet to heal from the hurtful implications of Han Yijun's words.
Was he truly worth nothing at all? And undesirable?
His mind drifted off to reminiscing about their shared memories over the last few months, their sweet encounters and Han Yijun's unwavering support in his cultivation ventures despite being the laughingstock of the seven major clans.
"Your kind words and encouragement… were they just all part of your act? But why… I used to think that having you by my side would help me accomplish anything I dreamt of… "Chi Cheng's words trailed off into silence, the tears escaping his eyes and this time he couldn't control them.
He ceased his pacing, sinking into the comfort of a soft cushion placed beside the low-structured table in the middle of the room. Huddling the coat closer to him, Chi Cheng drew his legs against his chest and buried his face in his knees.
A tight ball formed in the back of his throat, and he fought hard to swallow it. A small part of his heart, the deepest part which still held some affection for Han Yijun, had fervently prayed that all of it had been a cruel nightmare.
He believed he would awaken cheerfully the next morning and Han Yijun would be seated beside him with a soft smile, awaiting him so that they could engage in their usual strolls or study sessions.
Chi Cheng's ears were alerted to the sound of something chiming, a delicate jingle that sounded with the movement of each step that accompanied it. He hastily seated himself properly, crossing his legs and wiping away the tears from his eyes.
The door slid open, indicating the Grandmaster's arrival. He returned with a covered basket and a small bucket of water in the other hand.
"You haven't removed your robes yet?" He raised an eyebrow as he approached the younger male.
"I…remove my robes?" Chi Cheng questioned, cocking his head to the side.
"Then how do you propose I tend to your wounds?" The Grandmaster settled down beside him, placing the items he returned with on the table. "Your back is injured, and the blood has soaked through your robe."
'I could just do it myself,' Chi Cheng sighed mentally. 'But I don't want to be on the receiving end of his anger so I'll just listen for now.'
Chi Cheng reluctantly removed the coat and the upper half of his hanfu, slipping out of it and wincing when the fabric clung to his open wounds but he endured the pain, recalling that he'd brought such troubles upon himself.
"Turn around," the Grandmaster instructed him so that he would be seated behind Chi Cheng.
The younger male obliged, exposing his back to him. The Grandmaster gathered Chi Cheng's long red, chestnut hair and draped it over the front of his shoulder so he could assess his injuries better.
He dipped a soft cloth into the bucket, wringing out a few droplets before he dabbed away the blood from the cuts and gashes on Chi Cheng's back.
The younger male gritted his teeth, the wet cloth cooled him but it stung his wounds and he closed his eyes tightly to prevent himself from pathetically whimpering in pain.
'He looks lithe with clothing but has the body of a moderately seasoned warrior… ' The Grandmaster acknowledged, studying the remnants of past scars across Chi Cheng's back and the honed muscles of a hard-trained body. 'Why didn't he fight back? Was he afraid of repercussions?'
The Grandmaster rinsed out the cloth and wiped away the remaining traces of blood, dabbing it with another clean fabric.
"These aren't wounds from a blade," the Grandmaster stated. "How did you get them?"
"A broken nail… " Chi Cheng bitterly recalled how roughly his 'ex' lover had treated him. "From when Han Yijun forced himself… "
"I won't beat around the bush, Chi Cheng," the Grandmaster said warningly. "I expect you to answer truthfully to whatever I ask you."
"I understand Grandmaster…" Chi Cheng complied, searching for a name.
"Han Xuelian," the Grandmaster replied as if reading his thoughts. "It seems you paid more attention to my nephew than my identity when you were invited here."
"Forgive me… " Chi Cheng pressed his lips together, ashamed of how entangled he was in his fantasies with Han Yijun that he didn't even recall the Grandmaster's name. However, there was no doubt that his father mentioned it to him more than once.
"No matter," Han Xuelian brushed it off, reaching for a herbal paste from the basket. "What's your relationship with Han Yijun and why were you in that room?"
Despite not directly facing the Grandmaster, Chi Cheng could sense the commanding nature in his words. It demanded the absolute truth and nothing less or more.
"We courted for a few months," Chi Cheng solemnly admitted, his eyes heavy with exhaustion and puffy from weeping. "He said he had completed his chastity oath and we were to meet each other in his room since I hadn't seen him for a while."
Han Xuelian's brows furrowed, disgruntled with the pathetic act his nephew had maintained for so long just to manipulate Chi Cheng. But to what end? And for what reasons?
Did Chi Cheng seduce Han Yijun?
Before he responded to the younger male, he recalled another set of lines from the Chi clan's letter which was equally threatening as the rest.
'If my son comes to harm, I'll remind you of the events that earned me my exile from the Wind sect and why they allow me to run free.'
Those audacious words constantly replayed at the back of the Grandmaster's mind. And he would much rather avoid unwanted troubles that would pose themselves as obstacles in his path.
"Do you know why you are here, Chi Cheng?" Han Xuelian shifted his pattern of questioning, coating his fingers in the greenish herbal paste and applying it to the wounds.
Chi Cheng relaxed when Han Xuelian's icy fingertips gently rubbed over his injuries, sending a nervous shiver along his spine but at the least, it was a cold comfort.
"My father sent me here as part of the junior apprenticeship exchange course," Chi Cheng answered softly. "In truth, he simply wanted me to arrive a day early so that my younger brother would be comfortable and adjust better knowing that I'm around."
'So he's completely unaware of his father's ruse… ' Han Xuelian mentally noted. 'And I suppose the old fool would want to keep it that way. Then I suppose I can't discuss anything about his condition with him.'
"If you have any troubles in future, you're welcome to report them to me." The Grandmaster extended his generosity to him.
"Thank you, Grandmaster Han… "
"I'm going to bandage your back wounds before I tend to the others," Han Xuelian confirmed before he retrieved an array of bandages from the basket. "Lift your arms for me."
Complying with what he was told, Chi Cheng felt the Grandmaster's arms reach around him from behind, making their contact more intimate and causing his heart to thump faster.
Han Xuelian placed one end of the bandage around Chi Cheng's chest, continuing to wrap around it to his back with two more layers until he secured it with a moderately tight knot, but not tight enough to put strain on Chi Cheng's injuries.
"Lean back." Han Xuelian moved closer, prompting Chi Cheng to rest his head back against his chest, tilting his chin upwards.
Han Xuelian was much taller than Chi Cheng, he even towered a bit over Han Yijun. Seated in this position, he could access any part of Chi Cheng easily since his broader frame practically embraced the younger male from behind.
The Grandmaster administered the herbal paste to the marks around Chi Cheng's neck, the ones that were like a brand left by Han Yijun's hand. The sensation was somewhat ticklish, making the younger male gulp from the smooth movements of the Grandmaster's fingers.
'How can he do all this with such a straight face?' Chi Cheng felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment but all he could do was comply and accept the Grandmaster's kind gesture to attend to his wounds.
But he was sure to hide the burn wound on his right palm, fearing that he would face a greater punishment if the Grandmaster had realized he injured Han Yijun.
Han Xuelian cleaned up the remaining injuries caused by Han Yijun's severe bites, applying the herbal paste to them and covering them with a medicinal plant leaf before he finally bandaged Chi Cheng's neck loosely.
He presented him with a clean, simple black hanfu to change into and then extended his hand to Chi Cheng.
"Change into this," Han Xuelian's hand took Chi Cheng's into his own, his gaze narrowing when noticed the younger male give him his left hand instead of the right which clutched onto his robe. "I'll escort you back afterwards."
But there was more to their touch. The Grandmaster sensed a foreboding warning and a subtle fear of something unknown that emitted from Chi Cheng when he held his hand for longer this time.
Beneath the emerald green irises of the younger male's eyes were the beginnings of something he couldn't fathom or figure out by observations alone.
'Chi Cheng… you're going to be the start of many troubles for me from now on…'