"What do you mean you can't find him?!" Ye Rou's voice thundered through the room as he threw a stack of papers across the table, sending them scattering over his men. His eyes blazed with fury, barely containing the storm of emotions threatening to spill over. Ever since the argument with Zhong Qing, Ye Rou had searched high and low, but Zhong Qing had vanished without a trace.
One of his men hesitated before speaking, his voice shaky. "Boss… I think… I think he went to that man you told us to watch out for. Um… Luan Xie, I believe is his name."
Ye Rou froze for a moment, the name hanging in the air like a dark omen. His fingers clenched into fists, knuckles turning white as the realization settled in. There was a high chance. No, it wasn't just a chance. Ye Rou knew, deep down, that Zhong Qing had gone to Luan Xie. It was inevitable.
The truth of it gnawed at him, biting at the last thread of hope he'd clung to. Zhong Qing had sworn loyalty to him—love, even. He had whispered those words so many times, and Ye Rou had believed him, trusted him. But this? This was the ultimate betrayal.
Even so, a flicker of hope remained. Maybe Zhong Qing hadn't chosen Luan Xie over him. Maybe there was still a chance that Zhong Qing was confused, that he could be convinced to come back. But as Ye Rou stared down at the papers scattered across the floor, the finality of it all hit him like a blow to the chest.
That hope was gone. There was no turning back.
"Prepare a group," Ye Rou ordered, his voice low but seething with barely contained rage. His men stiffened at the tone. "We're going to get A-Qing back. Now."
The men hurried out, not daring to speak another word, leaving Ye Rou standing in the silence of the room, his chest heaving with anger.
As soon as they were gone, the dam inside him burst. Ye Rou slammed his fist against the table, sending everything on it crashing to the floor. His face twisted with a mix of heartbreak and rage, the betrayal cutting deeper than anything he'd ever experienced.
Zhong Qing had told him he loved him. He had said those words with conviction, with devotion. But in the end, he chose Luan Xie over him. Luan Xie. The one person Ye Rou despised the most, the man who had always been a thorn in his side. What kind of love was that?
His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to regain control of himself, but the hurt ran too deep. Everything he had built, everything he had believed in, had been shattered in an instant.
And now, all that remained was anger. If Zhong Qing wanted to betray him, then fine. Ye Rou would take him back, one way or another. Even if it meant tearing Luan Xie apart to get to him.
"Zhong Qing… My A-Qing," he muttered under his breath, staring at the chaos in front of him. "You think you can run from me? You think Luan Xie will protect you?" His voice turned cold
Ye Rou's anger lingered, swirling inside him like a storm he couldn't calm. Each moment he thought about Zhong Qing, the betrayal deepened. How could he have let someone get so close, let someone crawl beneath his skin, only to be abandoned?
His thoughts drifted back to the moments they had shared—the laughter, the trust, the love. Zhong Qing had been by his side through everything, his most trusted advisor, his confidant. And yet, all of that had crumbled, torn apart by Luan Xie's mere presence.
The man who had taken Zhong Qing from him. The man who Ye Rou could never fully defeat, no matter how hard he tried. Luan Xie was always one step ahead, always finding a way to escape, like a ghost haunting his every plan.
Ye Rou stood there, breathing heavily as the broken pieces of his office lay scattered around him. His hand still trembled from the force of his earlier outburst, but now a steely resolve settled over him. If Zhong Qing thought he could run to Luan Xie and that they could live in peace together, he was wrong.
Ye Rou wouldn't allow it.
He stormed out of his office, determination burning in his eyes as he made his way to the courtyard where his men were gathering. The soldiers stood in formation, their faces blank but serious. They had served Ye Rou long enough to know that something was different today. This wasn't just another mission or a routine search. This was personal.
"We move now," Ye Rou said, his voice cold and calculated. "Luan Xie has taken something that belongs to me. Zhong Qing has made his choice, but that doesn't mean we let them live happily ever after."
His men exchanged quick, uneasy glances but said nothing.
"We'll split into two groups," Ye Rou continued, pacing in front of them. "One will search the city. The other will follow me to the outskirts. Luan Xie may think he's clever, hiding with Zhong Qing, but we will find them."
As he gave orders, the weight of his words sank in. This wasn't just about finding Zhong Qing. It was about proving something—to himself, to Zhong Qing, and to Luan Xie. Ye Rou was not the kind of man who let things slip through his fingers without a fight.
The soldiers snapped into action, preparing for their mission. Ye Rou felt the fire inside him grow, a cold, vengeful heat that fueled him as he walked toward the stables. He mounted his horse, feeling the familiar power in his grip as he pulled the reins tightly.
He couldn't let the betrayal slide. Not without consequences. Not when everything he had worked for had been torn apart by one man.
And so, with the sun high in the sky, casting long shadows over the courtyard, Ye Rou led his men out. The sound of hooves echoed through the streets as they rode toward the edge of the city, where Luan Xie and Zhong Qing would no longer be able to hide.
The path ahead was clear—he would find them, and when he did, there would be no mercy.
---
Meanwhile, in a small house nestled in the forest on the outskirts, Luan Xie and He Shun sat in tense silence. Zhong Qing had stayed in the corner of the room, not saying much after his initial explanation, though his presence still felt like a looming shadow. Luan Xie kept his distance, watching Zhong Qing with guarded suspicion.
Luan Xie scoffed, but the anger that flared inside him was mixed with a confusion he couldn't quite shake. Part of him wanted to believe Zhong Qing, but the memories of betrayal still burned fresh in his mind.
He Shun, sensing the tension, moved closer to Luan Xie. "We can't stay here forever. If Ye Rou is really after Zhong Qing, it's only a matter of time before he finds us."
"I know," Luan Xie said, his voice quieter now. His mind raced, considering their options. Could they really trust Zhong Qing? Could they risk staying hidden with a target on their backs?
Before Luan Xie could think any further, a faint noise reached his ears. The unmistakable sound of hooves, fast approaching.
His heart dropped. "They've found us."
Zhong Qing looked up, alarm flashing in his eyes. "Ye Rou…"
He Shun moved to the window, his face paling. "He's here. He brought an army."
Luan Xie stood, his mind snapping into action. "We need to move. Now."
He Shun grabbed a small bag they had prepared, but Zhong Qing remained frozen in place, his expression torn.
"Zhong Qing," Luan Xie snapped. "You wanted to prove your loyalty? Now's your chance. Help us escape."
Zhong Qing blinked, the weight of Luan Xie's words settling on him. He stood, nodding slowly. "I'll lead them away. You go. Take He Shun and get as far away from here as possible."
Luan Xie didn't respond immediately, his eyes locking onto Zhong Qing's. For a brief moment, he saw something in his old friend's gaze—remorse, perhaps even desperation.
"Fine," Luan Xie said, his voice low. "But if you betray us again, I'll kill you myself."
Zhong Qing nodded solemnly. "I won't."
Without another word, they sprang into action. As the sound of Ye Rou's men grew louder, Zhong Qing led the way out the back, disappearing into the trees. Luan Xie and He Shun followed, their hearts pounding, knowing that this was their only chance to survive.
And as they ran through the thick forest, leaving behind the small house that had once been a refuge, the chase had only just begun.
"Zhong Qing!" Ye Rou's voice boomed through the trees, echoing with an anger that rattled the leaves. His horse skidded to a halt, dust kicking up beneath its hooves as he scanned the area with sharp, piercing eyes. The fury bubbling within him had reached its boiling point—he could feel it in the tension of his muscles, in the way his heart pounded with the need for vengeance.
He was close. Too close to lose them now.
The men following behind came to an abrupt stop, their faces tense as they awaited his next command. Ye Rou's gaze shifted, narrowing as he caught a glimpse of movement between the trees. A shadow—quick and fleeting, but unmistakable.
Zhong Qing.
Ye Rou's grip tightened on the reins, his jaw clenched. His rage surged, uncontrolled. "You think you can run from me, A-Qing?!" His voice dripped with betrayal, his chest heaving with the force of his fury. "After everything—this is how you repay me?!"
But there was no response. Only the soft rustle of the forest, taunting him with silence.
For a brief moment, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind. Could Zhong Qing have truly turned his back on him? Abandoned everything they had built for Luan Xie?
But doubt quickly gave way to rage again. Ye Rou wouldn't let this slide. Zhong Qing belonged to him. No one else. He'd find him, and when he did, there would be no mercy.
"Fan out!" Ye Rou barked at his men. "Find him! Don't let them escape!"
The men nodded, spreading out into the woods, their footsteps heavy and deliberate as they hunted for their prey. Ye Rou spurred his horse forward, his eyes scanning the dense forest, ears straining for the faintest sound. The chase was on, and he wasn't going to stop until he had Zhong Qing back at his side—whether he came willingly or not.
Through the trees, Ye Rou caught another glimpse of movement. This time, it was more distinct—a figure darting between the shadows.
It was him.
Without hesitation, Ye Rou dismounted, his boots hitting the ground with purpose. His hand moved to his sword, the blade glinting in the sunlight as he advanced, his anger sharpening with every step.
"Zhong Qing!" he called again, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "You can't hide forever!"
Zhong Qing cast a fleeting glance in the direction Luan Xie and He Shun had taken. They were disappearing into the trees, running toward safety. His heart tightened, knowing what he had to do. With a resigned, bitter smile, he turned on his heel and sprinted in the opposite direction, into the depths of the forest.
The sound of his footsteps seemed to echo louder now as if the forest itself were amplifying his choice, making it impossible to turn back. He had made his decision. By drawing Ye Rou and his men away, he was giving Luan Xie and He Shun a chance—a chance they wouldn't have if Ye Rou caught up to them.
His breath came fast, his side throbbing from the wound, but he kept moving. He could hear the distant voices of Ye Rou's men, their footsteps crunching through the underbrush, growing louder with each passing second. He was the bait now, and they were closing in on him.
But that didn't matter.
He just hoped Luan Xie would forgive him now.
"Zhong Qing!" Ye Rou's voice thundered through the trees, laced with fury and desperation. His shout echoed across the forest, sending a shiver down Zhong Qing's spine, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop. The pain in Ye Rou's voice cut through him, but it wasn't enough to turn him back. Not this time.
Zhong Qing quickened his pace, weaving through the dense forest, branches whipping at his face as he dodged between trees. The pounding of footsteps behind him grew louder, relentless in their pursuit. He knew Ye Rou would stop at nothing to catch him, to force him back to his side. But he wouldn't let it happen.
Not after everything.
"Zhong Qing!" Ye Rou's voice rang out again, closer this time, sharper—an order, a plea, and a threat all at once. But Zhong Qing ignored it, gritting his teeth as he pushed himself to move faster.
The memories of their years together weighed heavily on his heart, but he couldn't afford to falter. He had chosen his path—he had chosen to help Luan Xie, and there was no going back now.
He could hear the snap of twigs behind him. Ye Rou was closing in.
Zhong Qing's breath came in sharp gasps as he sprinted through the underbrush, his feet crunching on fallen leaves. Every fiber of his being ached to stop, to give in to the part of him that had always followed Ye Rou's commands without question. But he couldn't—not anymore. He had made his choice, and he wasn't going to turn back now.
The forest seemed endless, each tree blurring into the next as he darted forward. He could hear the men chasing him, their footsteps thundering behind him. Ye Rou's voice pierced through the air again, full of rage and hurt.
"Zhong Qing! Don't you dare run from me!"
The desperation in Ye Rou's voice tugged at Zhong Qing's heart, but he steeled himself, shaking off the emotional weight. He knew what Ye Rou was capable of. He knew how manipulative Ye Rou could be, how he twisted emotions and loyalty to keep people bound to him. For years, Zhong Qing had been a prisoner to that love, but no more.
He stumbled over a root, nearly falling, but managed to regain his footing. His mind raced as he tried to think of a way to shake them off his trail. But the forest was dense, and he was running out of places to hide.
As he approached a rocky outcrop, he paused for a split second, glancing behind him. The sound of Ye Rou's men crashing through the undergrowth was growing louder. They were too close. Too close for him to slip away unnoticed.
Zhong Qing glanced in the direction Luan Xie and He Shun had run. He could still sense their presence somewhere in the distance, fleeing toward safety. He clenched his fists. He had to buy them more time.
With a heavy heart, Zhong Qing turned in the opposite direction, away from Luan Xie and He Shun. He would lead Ye Rou and his men deeper into the forest, away from them. It was the only way.
As he moved through the trees, his footsteps became deliberate, louder—enough to ensure Ye Rou and his men would follow. He wasn't running anymore; he was luring them, drawing them into a trap of his own making.
From behind, he could hear Ye Rou closing in, his voice dripping with frustration. "Zhong Qing, you think you can run from me? After everything we've been through?"
Zhong Qing swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep going. He couldn't let Ye Rou's words get to him, not now. The pain in his chest was nothing compared to the knowledge that Luan Xie and He Shun were getting farther away. He was buying them the time they needed.
The footsteps behind him grew even closer. He could hear Ye Rou's heavy breathing, feel the heat of his anger bearing down on him. Zhong Qing felt a pang in his chest, a familiar ache. He had once loved Ye Rou—perhaps a part of him always would. But that love had turned into something dark, something poisonous. It had trapped him for far too long.
Suddenly, a clearing opened up in front of him. It was his chance to make a stand, to face Ye Rou once and for all.
Zhong Qing stopped in the middle of the clearing, his heart racing, his breath ragged. He turned around, waiting for Ye Rou to catch up. The men chasing him burst through the trees, their weapons drawn, their eyes locked on him.
And then, there he was—Ye Rou, stepping into the clearing with a look of pure fury on his face. His usually calm, composed demeanor was gone, replaced with raw, unfiltered rage. His eyes were wild, his chest heaving as he stared at Zhong Qing.
"Why?" Ye Rou demanded, his voice hoarse. "Why did you betray me?"
Zhong Qing stood tall, facing him with resolve. "I didn't betray you, Ye Rou. You betrayed me. You betrayed all of us."
Ye Rou's expression twisted in anger. "I gave you everything, Zhong Qing! My trust, my love—and this is how you repay me?"
Zhong Qing clenched his fists, his voice shaking. "You never loved me. You only used me. I was just another tool for you to control. But I'm done being your pawn."
Ye Rou's eyes darkened, his hand reaching for his sword. "You think you can walk away from me? From everything we've built together?"
Zhong Qing took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "I'm not walking away. I'm taking my life back."
Ye Rou's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, his lips curling into a snarl. "You'll regret this, Zhong Qing. You'll regret ever crossing me."
Zhong Qing squared his shoulders, ready to face whatever came next.
"You're coming back to me, A-Qing," Ye Rou said, his voice laced with confidence, though a hint of desperation seeped through. He stood tall, convinced that, no matter what, Zhong Qing would choose him. He always had.
But Zhong Qing scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. His heart twisted painfully, torn between the past he could never reclaim and the freedom he had longed for. In front of him was Ye Rou, the man he had once sworn loyalty to, the man he had loved. But behind him, the cliff beckoned—a final escape from it all.
Two choices: surrender to Ye Rou's control or take back his freedom, even if it meant death.
Zhong Qing's decision was clear.
Ye Rou's breath hitched as he watched Zhong Qing approach. The brief flicker of hope in his chest bloomed as he thought, for a moment, that Zhong Qing was coming back to him. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. Maybe Zhong Qing still loved him. His grip on the hilt of his sword loosened slightly as Zhong Qing closed the distance between them.
For the first time, their lips met. It was soft, delicate—a chaste kiss that held no passion, no love. It was empty, a kiss that spoke of finality rather than reunion. Ye Rou froze, his breath caught in his throat. This wasn't the kiss he had imagined, the one filled with the affection he so desperately craved from Zhong Qing.
Zhong Qing pulled away, his lips curling into a small, sad smile. "Goodbye," he whispered against Ye Rou's lips, his voice soft but resolute.
Before Ye Rou could process it, Zhong Qing pulled back, his expression filled with a kind of sorrow that cut deeper than any blade.
Ye Rou blinked, his mind trying to catch up with what was happening. The warmth of Zhong Qing's lips still lingered, but the reality of those words crashed down on him. "W-Wait—A-Qing!"
But before he could react, Zhong Qing had turned, his steps quick and determined. His path led straight toward the cliff's edge, the jagged rocks below beckoning like an inevitable fate.
"No!" Ye Rou shouted, his voice thick with desperation, lunging forward.
But it was too late.
Zhong Qing's figure disappeared over the edge, his body falling into the abyss below. The sound of his name echoed through the forest, swallowed by the wind as Ye Rou skidded to a halt at the cliff's edge, staring down in disbelief.
For a moment, everything was silent—just the distant rush of the wind and the pounding of Ye Rou's heart in his ears. His knees hit the ground, hands gripping the edge of the cliff, knuckles white with shock. His mind refused to accept what had just happened. Zhong Qing couldn't be gone. He couldn't have chosen death over him.
But he had.
The kiss, the goodbye—it was all clear now. Zhong Qing had made his decision.
And Ye Rou was left with nothing but the echo of that final kiss, cold and empty as the void that had just swallowed the only man he had ever truly cared for.
Ye Rou collapsed onto his knees, the weight of everything crashing down on him like an unbearable wave. His hands clutched at the ground beneath him as though it could anchor him to the reality he didn't want to face. His lips, still tingling from that empty kiss, trembled.
For the first time in as long as he could remember, tears welled up in his eyes, unchecked and uncontrollable. He had fought so hard to keep control over Zhong Qing, to keep him by his side, believing that power, manipulation, and dominance would bind them together. But in this moment, as the tears broke free, rolling down his cheeks and falling silently onto the dirt, Ye Rou realized how wrong he had been.
Zhong Qing was gone.
He was really gone.
The man he claimed to love had chosen freedom over him, death over being by his side. And that kiss—it wasn't a reconciliation. It wasn't Zhong Qing's return. It was a farewell.
The sobs began to tear through Ye Rou's chest, violent and raw, as he clutched his heart in anguish. The pain was unbearable. The thought of never seeing Zhong Qing again, never hearing his voice, never feeling his presence—it was too much.
Ye Rou's vision blurred, but he made no effort to wipe the tears away. For once, he let them flow, his pride and cold facade crumbling to dust in the face of his loss.
In the end, he had nothing. Not even Zhong Qing. Ye Rou stared at the ground, his heart heavy with despair as he grappled with the question that echoed in his mind. Was it really worth it?
He had sacrificed so much—his integrity, his friendships, his humanity—all for the sake of a twisted love that had only resulted in betrayal and loss. He had tried to manipulate Zhong Qing into submission, believing that love could be forced, that loyalty could be bought. Yet, in this moment of reckoning, the truth was painfully clear: his actions had driven Zhong Qing away, and now he was left with nothing but an emptiness that gnawed at him.
As he knelt there, overwhelmed by grief, memories flooded back—laughter shared in secret, stolen moments under the stars, the warmth of Zhong Qing's hand in his. Those fleeting moments of joy were overshadowed by the heavy realization of what he had lost, and the lengths he had gone to in pursuit of a love that now felt more like a cage than a sanctuary.
Was it worth sacrificing his own happiness?
With Zhong Qing gone, Ye Rou felt like a ghost of himself, haunted by what could have been. The anger that had driven him now felt hollow, a desperate grasp for control that had ultimately led to his downfall. In chasing power, he had lost the one thing that had truly mattered—the genuine connection he had shared with Zhong Qing.
The tears continued to flow, mixing with the dirt beneath him as he confronted the truth: he had pushed too hard, too far. And in doing so, he had lost the very essence of what it meant to love someone. The power he had wielded had only blinded him to the reality that love cannot be forced; it must be nurtured, cherished, and allowed to flourish freely.
Ye Rou hung his head, the weight of his choices pressing down on him. No, it was not worth it. The fleeting moments of control and the facade of strength were no match for the deep, gnawing emptiness that now filled his heart. What good was power if it drove away the one person who had ever truly understood him?
As he sat there, raw and vulnerable, the path forward seemed uncertain. The world around him felt muted, overshadowed by the enormity of his loss. Yet, amidst the despair, a flicker of clarity began to emerge. Perhaps this pain, as unbearable as it was, could serve as a lesson—a chance for redemption.
Maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to change. To let go of the need for control and power, and learn what it meant to love unconditionally. But for now, all he could do was mourn the love he had lost and grapple with the emptiness that remained, asking himself time and again if it had truly been worth it.
If only Luan Xie hadn't influenced Zhong Qing. Ye Rou's mind replayed the bitter truth over and over, his heart twisting with the weight of loss and betrayal. Zhong Qing was gone, his life slipping away like sand through fingers, and there was no turning back. The cliff had claimed him, and with it, any hope Ye Rou had of reconciliation, of possessing Zhong Qing completely.
But this was not an end. This was a beginning. A beginning of retribution, of making them both pay—Luan Xie most of all.
Luan Xie had taken everything from him. Ye Rou's lips still burned from that final kiss, a haunting reminder of what could have been. Zhong Qing's loyalty, his devotion, had once belonged solely to him, but Luan Xie had turned it into something else. Something unrecognizable.
Zhong Qing had jumped for freedom, but it was Luan Xie who had pushed him over the edge.
"Pay," Ye Rou whispered, the word venomous as it left his mouth. Luan Xie would pay for Zhong Qing's life. He would pay for every stolen moment, every word that swayed Zhong Qing's heart away from him. There would be no mercy, no forgiveness. Only revenge.
Ye Rou clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms as rage and grief coiled tighter within him. Luan Xie had infected Zhong Qing's mind, planting ideas of hope, love, and freedom where once there had been only loyalty and duty to him. That was unforgivable.
He would ensure that Luan Xie suffered the same loss, the same unbearable grief that now clawed at his soul. It wasn't enough to kill him—no, Ye Rou needed to watch him break. To see the light fade from his eyes when he realized there was no escape, no redemption.
"I will make you suffer as I have suffered," Ye Rou vowed under his breath, the fire of vengeance burning hotter with each passing second.
He wouldn't rest until Luan Xie understood the true cost of what he'd done. Until every last shred of his life was torn apart. Because now, the only thing left for Ye Rou was the cold, consuming desire for vengeance. He would make Luan Xie pay for Zhong Qing's life.
With that final thought, Ye Rou's resolve solidified. The hunt was on, and he wouldn't stop until Luan Xie was at his mercy, begging for an end that would never come swiftly enough.