Chapter 77: Debauchery 

“Now you call Luo Xu,” Luo Xu crossed his arms and scooped Ming Zhuo back up, “and not scoundrel?”

Ming Zhuo’s back was leaning against his chest and he couldn’t see his face—he was only able to catch the sound of his breathing. This was a kind of position that should originally be considered intimate. However, in this situation, any intimacy would be considered as “taking liberties”.(1)

“Scoundrel!” Ming Zhuo cursed as he liked, “Scoundrel, scoundrel, scoundrel!”

Luo Xu picked him up and left the bed. As the curtain was half lifted, the humid air of the bathhouse hit their faces. Ming Zhuo sensed something was wrong and hadn't had time to ask "What are you doing?" before he was already in the water.

Water splashed everywhere, and both of their robes were immediately soaked. The bathing pool had four bronze water beasts at its corners, each engraved with a "manji" fire charm that could both supply hot water and calm the mind. Luo Xu used to come here to meditate whenever he felt pain.

"Whether it's Luo Xu or a scoundrel," Luo Xu said, holding Ming Zhuo tightly, "you can only call one now."

Ming Zhuo shivered from the hot water, his clothes clinging to his chest in layers, and the blood curse itching slightly. He avoided Luo Xu's breath. "I'll call you whatever I want."

The mist was thick, and with them being so close, Luo Xu's reaction was getting worse. He loosened his grip slightly, and Ming Zhuo immediately twisted away, his elbow pushing against Luo Xu's neck. Luo Xu then tightened his arms again, forcefully pulling him back.

Underwater, it was a chaotic tangle of legs and knees. Ming Zhuo, being held around the waist, almost couldn't catch his breath. "You... you vulgar degenerate!"(2)

Luo Xu said, "…Stop panting."

Ming Zhuo's neck and chin were covered in water. He opened his mouth to retort, but he was indeed panting. It wasn't just him; Luo Xu was panting too. From the bed to the water, they hadn't separated, and now their upper bodies were pressed tightly together, with water droplets from Ming Zhuo's chin falling onto Luo Xu's chest.

Luo Xu stared at him for a while, then suddenly raised a hand and pressed it on the back of Ming Zhuo's head, speaking harshly, "Stop looking at me!"

His words were severe, but his movements were utterly clumsy. He pressed Ming Zhuo's face close to his neck, his whole body never once relaxing.

The sound of flowing water surrounded them in their position of almost embrace. Ming Zhuo's wet hair clung to his cheek, and he half-closed his eyes, panting against Luo Xu's neck.

Their old clothes were pushed aside, the outer robes hanging loose. After an indeterminate amount of time, Luo Xu's fingers tightened slightly. He realised that even though Ming Zhu wasn't looking at him, it didn't alleviate anything. He truly was a scoundrel; even the calming water and the purification charms couldn't save him. His mind was filled entirely with—

Ming Zhuo.

Steamed by the hot water, Ming Zhuo's expression shifted several times. He raised a hand and grabbed Luo Xu's collar, feeling tricked. "I'm not panting anymore!"

He wasn’t panting or looking, yet Luo Xu hadn’t calmed down—in fact, he felt even more provoked. Ming Zhuo's tug on his collar overlapped perfectly with the countless times Luo Xu had imagined a leash being pulled, snapping the thin, restraining line that had been holding him back.

“Huālā.”

Ming Zhuo was lifted by his waist, and Luo Xu leaned back, feeling the cool pool wall against his back. As he slid down, Ming Zhuo was pulled down with him.

The water reached their chests in an instant. They hadn’t separated; they had just switched positions, with Ming Zhuo now on top.

Luo Xu should have said something, but he didn't. He loosened his grip and slightly tilted his head back, making sure he could meet Ming Zhuo's gaze.

It was good to look at him.

He bit down on his tongue, creating a slight pain. He was dealing with it himself, his gaze dark and obscure as Ming Zhuo tugged at his collar.

Gasping for breath.

Ming Zhuo gradually understood, tightening his grip on Luo Xu's fingers. "You—"

His panting grew heavier.

Luo Xu stared intently at Ming Zhuo. Despite his actions being undeniably lewd, his gaze was fierce and unyielding. He didn't restrain Ming Zhuo; Ming Zhuo could get up anytime. Yet, holding Luo Xu's collar, Ming Zhuo didn't look away.

The once invisible dog leash appeared.

The knot of Ming Zhuo's throat bobbed slightly. In the hot and humid atmosphere, he suddenly realised something: when he wanted to control Luo Xu, he didn't need a contract; a look was enough. Hearing Luo Xu's heavy breathing, Ming Zhuo felt an unfamiliar and novel rush of power, giving him a subtle sense of control.

"You," Ming Zhuo leaned in, getting close, but instead of kissing, he commanded, "Now speak, ah."

Besides the place where they sat, they had no other direct contact, just eye contact. Luo Xu tilted his head back slightly, almost as if he were the one being pawed at.

"Ming Zhuo," he said, his gaze invasive, biting out the name, "Ng?"

It was the first time he called Ming Zhuo by his name, here, at this moment. It was both a desecration and a form of worship. His breathing was slow and deliberate, his gaze intense enough to devour Ming Zhuo, making his lower back tingle with the hint of exciting numbness.

Those who control pain also control pleasure, and every stimulation was given by Ming Zhuo. Their gazes were locked, as if retreating would mean surrender. The blood shackle curse hurt a bit, and the pain quickly transferred to Luo Xu. His silver hair was half-dishevelled, and there were two scratch marks on his neck.

Ming Zhuo was pleased. He smirked. "Weren't you very good at biting just now?"

Luo Xu was sweating. Ming Zhuo was so close that if he tilted his head a little more, he could kiss Ming Zhuo, but he didn’t have permission. He answered obediently, "Didn't you forbid it?"

It was a cunning response. He hadn't sought consent when he kissed earlier, yet now he acted as if he'd never crossed any lines.

Finally, Ming Zhuo touched him, lifting his chin with two fingers, mimicking his earlier action. Luo Xu's breathing grew heavier. Ming Zhuo, matching his breath, said, "I'll reward you once."

The two fingers slid down, pinching the knot of Luo Xu's throat, making it difficult for him to breathe. The water rippled as Luo Xu, not yet satisfied, used his free hand to pull Ming Zhuo down, forcefully kissing him.

In the steamy mist, Ming Zhuo pinched him hard, and Luo Xu didn't hold back, biting down on Ming Zhuo’s tongue. The kiss stole their breaths, lasting so long that they nearly sank into the water.

Their hearts raced, indistinguishable from one another's. When they finally broke apart, both were panting heavily. Ming Zhuo pushed Luo Xu away and climbed out of the pool. Luo Xu, with half-closed eyes, grabbed the hem of his robe.

Ming Zhuo’s belt loosened, and with the tug, his outer robe almost fell off. The place was filled with "manji" fire charms; soaking too long made the blood shackle curse itch. Not bothering to look back, he braced himself on the edge of the pool and said, "The reward is over."

"Done rewarding and you're leaving," Luo Xu said, catching his breath. "Don't you want my gratitude?"

"I don't," Ming Zhuo’s hair was completely loose, sticking to his body uncomfortably. He casually combed it back. "Your biting skills are terrible—"

Luo Xu suddenly got up, grabbing Ming Zhuo’s waist and pulling him back. He had just tasted some sweetness, and the lingering effect hadn't faded yet. His voice was hoarse, "Terrible? Ng—yes, my skills are terrible."

The bronze beasts at the corners of the bath were still diligently pumping out hot water. Ming Zhuo’s blood shackle curse couldn't withstand the heat, and it began creeping towards his collarbone again. He frowned, about to say "Let go," but before he could, Luo Xu propped himself up with one arm and lifted them both out of the pool. They were both drenched, leaving a trail of water wherever they stepped.

Luo Xu pulled out a towel from the side, grabbed Ming Zhuo’s hand, and started drying him off. Ming Zhuo’s face was wrapped in the towel, and as he was rubbed with varying pressure, his head tilted further and further back.

"Was it too hard or too painful?" Luo Xu asked. "Should I be gentler or more forceful? You need to be clear about it."

He conflated "biting" with "kissing" and acted like he was earnestly seeking guidance, making it seem quite convincing.

"Why don't you go ask Prime Minister Hua," Ming Zhuo suggested. "It's the best at biting people."

Luo Xu rarely used towels himself; he usually solved such problems with a spell. But today, he was determined to act like a rogue, so he didn't even mention it.

Ming Zhuo was still fiddling with his long hair. When he finally looked at it after drying his face, he saw black and silver strands intertwined, belonging to both of them. He wasn't too pleased and gave a slight tug.

"When will this curse disappear?" Luo Xu's gaze fell on the blood shackle curse. "If it climbs any higher, it'll reach your neck."

"Once it cools down, it will naturally disappear. It's normal for it to crawl up my neck; sometimes it even climbs onto my face." Ming Zhuo tugged again. "How long are you going to keep drying?"

"Until your hair is dry," Luo Xu replied. "When did Ming Han cast that spell on you?"

"Who knows," Ming Zhuo said, staring at the knot of Luo Xu's throat. He had just gripped it, yet there wasn't a mark left. "Maybe when my brother died, or perhaps when Ming Han decided to give me to you."

He didn't say "contract" but "give." The word hung lightly on his teeth like a hook, effortlessly catching Luo Xu's gaze.

It was intentional.

In this little game, Ming Zhuo felt that vague pleasure again. Savouring it, he seemed to have found a new amusement.

"Since it's a command spell," Luo Xu's hand exerted a bit more pressure through the towel, "what does he command you to do?"

"He doesn't command me," Ming Zhuo said. "He commands Hui Mang. Do you know why I'm called a 'secret treasure'?"

Luo Xu looked down. "Because you're a demigod."(3)

That's what Ming Zhuo had told Luo Xu's father. He claimed his successor was a demigod, an unprecedented revelation since ancient gods never associated with mortals, let alone had offspring with them. The so-called descendants of deities were usually just the first tribe to hear the gods' words boasting of their lineage. For example, the Mings claimed to be descendants of the Sun God simply because they were the first in the Guang Prefecture to hear and interpret the Sun God's language.

So, when Ming Han mentioned "demigod" and presented Ming Zhuo, the Imperial Lord of the Heavenly Sea agreed without hesitation.

"Ming Han said you're a descendant of the Sun God, and since my father uses the 'manji' fire spell to guard the Heavenly Sea, he believed that if I could form a life-and-death bond with a descendant of the Sun God, my lifespan would extend by a hundred years and my cultivation would greatly improve," Luo Xu explained.

That was why Luo Xu expressed surprise in Peidu when he discovered Ming Zhuo didn't practice fire.

"Unfortunately, I have nothing to do with the Sun God, nor am I a demigod," Ming Zhuo said coldly. "According to Ming Han, I'm just a vessel, a container to hold Hui Mang's remaining soul. But as you saw that day, Hui Mang is nothing but a waste, so—"

He let go of the silver hair wrapped around his fingers and instead grabbed Luo Xu's wrist. The towel slid down slightly, revealing his face, his expression curious.

"Even so, do you still want to kiss, to bite, to do indecent things to me?"

The Author Has Something to Say

Thanks everyone for following my updates. I actually spend 5-8 hours writing each day, with a normal typing speed of 400/500 words per hour. However, when I get stuck, my writing time can increase indefinitely. In theory, the time should be sufficient, so why do I still end up struggling? (x)

The reason is the frequent revisions and rewrites. If the outcome of my writing doesn't meet my expectations, I keep rewriting. Sometimes, I spend 3 to 4 hours on a single scene, and it's common for me to get caught up in the dialogue. For example, the "Blowing Fine Snow" chapter, which is 2500 words, should have been completed quickly, but it ended up taking two days and a total of more than ten hours. The process involved constant deleting and rewriting to find the most fitting expression.

This process is actually very enjoyable, but it's very slow. I will do my best to return to updating at 7 PM...!

Thanks for reading! I appreciate everyone's patience!

Foot Notes

1. The word is 狎褻 (xiá xiè) which is perhaps better translated as “debauchery”. In any case, the narrative acknowledges that Luo Xu’s actions are improper.

2. 下流胚 (xiàliúpēi) is made up of “下流”, “lowly, vulgar, or obscene” and “胚”, egg/embryo. This is used to describe a lewd, lascivious person—usually a man.

3. Just so there is no confusion, he says 半神 (bàn shén), which literally “half-god”.