Yu YongTian lingered in his seat, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at Shen YiJun who was still perched on the edge of the bed. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable, before he finally broke it with an offhand remark.
"The room's not bad, is it?" he said, his voice light and dismissive, clearly trying to avoid his question. His fingers traced the rim of his teacup, the sound of porcelain against his fingertips sharp in the otherwise quiet room. "It can't be. It's mine after all, and I only have what the best. Though, it's a bit too quiet, don't you think, YiJun?"
Shen YiJun's gaze remained steady and unmoving, his body still as a statue. His sharp eyes met Yu YongTian's with no hint of uncertainty. His tone, however, was clipped and precise, determined to get an answer. "Why?"
Yu YongTian went silent for a while then chuckled, that soft, languid sound he always made when he found amusement in another's frustration. He leaned back, looking at Shen YiJun with lazy curiosity. "What's the rush now? Wasn't it you earlier who chose to go after a lowly spirit fox rather than catching the Demon Lord when you had the chance? I almost thought you forgot how I looked like... hahaha."
Shen YiJun said nothing more. His jaw set tightly, his posture unwavering. His silence spoke volumes, and though he had no intention of showing it, frustration was rising in him.
"Don't be angry. I'm only... Haiya! Why are glaring at me now?" Yu YongTian feigned fear when Shen YiJun looked at him in an unpleasant way. "Then tell me, did you really give up... hunting me down?" His voice was filled with curiosity, and a bit of anticipation.
"No." Shen YiJun replied firmly, and did not explain further, though his gaze shifted away from Yu YongTian, to his sword that was also on the table.
Yu YongTian followed his sight. "Then... if I'm correct, you already knew I'd follow you."
Shen YiJun stood up slowly but did not move. "Since you decided showed yourself, you need something of importance to you, from me."
"Smart as always." Yu YongTian commented with a smirk, before it fell and was replaced by a dark, serious look. "I do want something from you, or should I rather say, information?"
Yu YongTian rose gracefully from his seat, the movement fluid, like a predator shifting its stance. He stepped closer to Shen YiJun, his gaze heavy, yet still playful in a way. He stood before Shen YiJun now, close enough that Shen YiJun could feel the warmth mixed with a cold aura radiating from him, and the faint scent of incense lingering in the air between them. For a moment, the weight of Yu YongTian's figure in front of him was suffocating, that Shen YiJun's jaw subconsciously tightened.
"What is it?" Shen YiJun asked, greatily feeling troubled by something but the years of training control were useful. He very well masked his discomfort.
"I want to know where..." Before Yu YongTian could ask, a knock and a feminine voice calling out 'Palace Lord' interrupted them.
Yu YongTian's smirk returned instantly, his expression shifting into something dangerously teasing. "Excuse me for a moment," he said, his voice almost too light, too pleased with the interruption.
He went to the door and a few silent murmurs exchanged between him and the lady, who then left after conveying whatever message she had brought.
"It seems I've been called away." With a final glance at Shen YiJun, Yu YongTian turned to leave, a sinister, calculating smile carved on his lips. "Don't go anywhere."
Shen YiJun stood still, watching Yu YongTian exit with all the nonchalance of someone used to controlling every moment. The door shut softly behind him, leaving Shen YiJun in the heavy silence of the room.
For a long moment, all that could be heard was the low breathing of the two remaining occupants.
Ling You, still seething from being ignored by his master all that while, turned back to Shen YiJun, his fur bristling with unspent frustration. He sighed dramatically, casting a sympathetic look at the man who sat in quiet tension.
"Poor guy," Ling You muttered, his voice laced with a mix of exasperation and pity. "You think you have it bad now? Wait until he starts playing his games with you. He's got a twisted sense of fun, you know. And you'll be stuck right in the middle of it."
Ling You shook his head, his tail flicking with annoyance. "But hey, if you survive this… you'll be stronger for it. That's the only silver lining." He paused, eyes flicking to the door Yu YongTian had just exited. "He might not kill you outright, but that doesn't mean you're safe."
"He won't do anything." Shen YiJun uttered, his voice full of certainty.
With that, Ling You huffed, flicking his tail in a proud arc. "Huh. Both of you are alike, never heeding my lectures... Don't say I didn't warn you." And with a last look at Shen YiJun, he scurried out of the room, tail high, his small form disappearing as quickly as he'd arrived.
Shen YiJun sat there, the weight of Ling You's words lingering in the air. He said nothing, his mind working over the strange turn of events, while also wondering what information Yu YongTian wanted from him. Unfortunately, nothing came up. So, in that moment, all he could do was wait for whatever came next.
___________________
End Note
"Even the most skilled deceivers falter before those who truly know them."