The soft late-afternoon light filtered through the pale purple curtains of the palanquin, casting a gentle, soothing glow that illuminated the enclosed space. The light flickered slightly as the palanquin swayed, creating shifting patterns on the walls. Yao Yuxuan blinked groggily, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep that clung stubbornly to his tired, unfocused eyes. It took him a few moments to fully grasp his surroundings, his mind sluggish as it transitioned from the hazy realm of dreams to the stark reality of the present. When his senses finally cleared, he realized with a jolt that his head was resting in Snowfall's lap.
For a moment, he simply lay there, the absurdity of the situation preventing him from moving. He looked up at the man who appeared half-asleep himself, his expression relaxed yet inscrutable. It was as though the weight of the world had momentarily lifted from Snowfall's shoulders, allowing a rare moment of peace to settle over him. This was the first time Yao Yuxuan had seen him up close and without any facial coverings since their brutal encounter as children in the bloodied snow.
Snowfall's features were striking—angular and sharp, each curve and incline seemingly sculpted by the hands of a master artist. The pale light highlighted the contours of his face, accentuating the symmetry of his features. His lavender eyes, glowing softly in the dim light, complemented the honey-like tone of his skin, giving him an ethereal quality. His long, multi-colored hair was meticulously tied into a high ponytail, held in place by an ornate silver crown that gleamed in the soft light. Two thick, silky strands of hair escaped the tie, framing his face as they fell in front of his ears, adding a touch of wildness to his otherwise immaculate appearance. A tight frown had settled on his lips, contributing to the aloof expression that seemed to be his default.
'Handsome…' Yao Yuxuan couldn't help but think, his mind briefly captivated by the sight. 'He really isn't human.'
Even after growing up in a pleasure house where beauty was commonplace, Yao Yuxuan had never encountered a man who possessed such otherworldly allure. He had always been indifferent to the appearances of others, focusing more on their actions and words. But now, as he lay there in Snowfall's lap, he found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the man's face. It was as if he were seeing beauty for the first time, in a form so pure and untainted that it left him momentarily spellbound.
"Good morning," the man said bitterly, his sharp gaze lowering to meet Yao Yuxuan's. His voice was laced with irritation, the serene moment shattered by his harsh tone. "You insufferable prick. Get your head off me. My legs have been asleep for hours, and I had to change robes because you vomited on me. Thrice."
Yao Yuxuan glared back at him, complying with the demand as he pushed himself upright. His muscles ached in protest, stiff from hours of disuse, but he forced them to move. "Whose fault is it that I'm in such a sorry state? If you didn't want to take care of me, you should have let me die or not have broken the barrier." He spat the words angrily, his voice thick with resentment. After a brief pause, he added, "And call me by my name, filth. It is Yao Yuxuan."
"…Fine," Snowfall replied with a hint of irritation, his brows furrowing slightly. "But you have to call me by mine as well."
Yao Yuxuan shot a sideways glance at him, waiting in vain for Snowfall to reveal his name. The silence stretched on, the tension between them palpable, until Yao Yuxuan finally hissed in annoyance, "Which is? How am I supposed to know it if you don't tell me?"
"Liu Haoyu," the man finally said, the name hanging in the air like a challenge. His tone was flat, yet there was an underlying edge to it, as if daring Yao Yuxuan to mock it.
"That's…" Yao Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, momentarily taken aback. The name seemed almost too ordinary for someone like him. He finished his thought with a slight smirk, "...fitting, I suppose."
Liu Haoyu didn't bother responding. Instead, he crossed his legs and let out a relieved sigh, leaning tiredly against the window of the litter. Silence enveloped the space between them, the tension hanging heavy in the air. The rhythmic sway of the palanquin and the muffled sound of hooves crunching through snow outside were the only noises that filled the void. Twenty minutes passed before Liu Haoyu finally spoke again, breaking the silence with his voice, now laced with a touch of fatigue.
"You've been unconscious for around sixteen hours. We camped for fourteen of them while I waited for you to recover. I got bored and decided to start traveling again. We've been on the road for two hours," he explained with casual indifference. He spoke as if they were merely discussing mundane travel plans, not the aftermath of a life-and-death battle. "We're on our way to Zhonglao Center."
Yao Yuxuan's eyes widened in surprise. "Only sixteen hours? With the injuries I sustained, I should have been out for at least a week."
"I got fed up with you retching blood every half hour and decided to heal you enough to stop it. It was fucking disgusting," Liu Haoyu remarked, his expression one of deep displeasure.
"Oh," Yao Yuxuan replied, his voice softening as he absorbed this new information. The idea that Liu Haoyu had spent hours channeling spiritual energy into him, even if it was out of annoyance, left him feeling strangely conflicted.
Liu Haoyu's face darkened with irritation. "Aren't you going to thank me? I had to sit there and channel spiritual energy into you for hours. You're such a pain in the ass."
Yao Yuxuan turned away, staring out the window with a bitter smile. "No, I won't thank you. Who kidnaps someone only to complain about having to care for them? What are you, a toddler? Or better yet, a dog?"
"Who are you calling a dog?!" Liu Haoyu's voice thundered as he slammed a closed fist against the wooden wall of the litter, causing the entire structure to shake violently. The force of the blow reverberated through the small space, making the air between them even more charged. "I ought to skin you alive and feed you to the lower demons!"
The atmosphere grew even more tense, the silence that followed thick with unspoken threats. Yao Yuxuan frowned inwardly, lamenting the waste of such a handsome face on someone with such a vile personality. The gods must find life a cruel joke to allow devils like Liu Haoyu to walk around with such bewitching looks. He couldn't help but pity any girl who might fall for them. The contrast between Liu Haoyu's outward appearance and his cruel nature was almost laughable, if not for the serious danger it posed.
After a lengthy pause, Yao Yuxuan finally broke the silence. His voice was low, almost cautious as he asked, "Why are we going to Zhonglao Center?"
"To rest," Liu Haoyu replied lazily, his tone dismissive as if the question wasn't worth his full attention. "We're leaving Beiyin and need to prepare for the journey. I didn't plan on traveling with a useless, crippled immortal, so I need to gather a few supplies."
Yao Yuxuan raised a questioning brow, sensing there was more to the story. "Leaving Beiyin? Why?"
"You'll see," Liu Haoyu said coldly, his tone hinting at a hidden agenda. "Unless, of course, you annoy me too much, and I decide to kill you on the way."
"Sounds preferable to dealing with you every day indefinitely," Yao Yuxuan retorted, his voice sharp and dripping with sarcasm.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he found himself violently pinned against the wall of the palanquin, the sudden force knocking the breath out of him. A dagger was embedded in the wood beside his head, its blade quivering slightly from the impact. Liu Haoyu's glowing purple eyes bore into his, their intense light reflecting the raw, untamed power within. Their noses were nearly touching, the proximity sending a shiver down Yao Yuxuan's spine. The silver-haired man's handsome features were twisted into a wicked grin, his gaze flickering with dangerous intent as he loomed over Yao Yuxuan like a predator toying with its prey.
"Don't think for a second," Liu Haoyu hissed in a low, hoarse voice that sent a chill down Yao Yuxuan's spine, "that just because I'm keeping you alive for now, it means I'll let you continue to live. If you keep talking to me like this, I'll kill you—and the spoiled Young Miss you care for so much."
Yao Yuxuan initially shivered at the chilling threat, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious. But he forced himself to relax, drawing on the remnants of his courage. Rationally, he knew that Liu Haoyu wouldn't kill him—not yet, at least. As long as he remained with Liu Haoyu, the man couldn't leave to harm Han Yiran without Yao Yuxuan knowing. Taking a deep breath, he narrowed his eyes at the silver-haired demon, refusing to let fear control him. He remained silent, his defiance evident in his gaze as he stared back at Liu Haoyu.
"This reminds me," Liu Haoyu continued, his voice deceptively calm as he reached up to brush the side of Yao Yuxuan's face. The touch was warm, almost gentle, yet it held a sinister undertone. "Why do you always wear a mask?"
Yao Yuxuan's heart began to race, the unexpected question catching him off guard. He became hyper-aware of the warmth of Liu Haoyu's hand against his skin, the sensation sending a shiver down his spine. Was this fear, or something else entirely? He swallowed nervously, and struggled to maintain his composure. The truth behind his mask was something he had sworn to protect, but he couldn't let Liu Haoyu discover the real reason. Thinking quickly, he fabricated an excuse. "The Emperor hates my face and ordered me to wear it."
Liu Haoyu raised an incredulous brow, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "You must be really fucking ugly, then. Let me see."
"Wait—" Yao Yuxuan protested, but it was too late.
Liu Haoyu's fingers deftly unhooked the mask from Yao Yuxuan's ears, allowing the fabric to fall away and reveal the features hidden beneath. The moment Yao Yuxuan's face was exposed, Liu Haoyu's expression shifted dramatically. His lavender eyes, which had previously been filled with disdain, now widened in shock. His gaze flickered over Yao Yuxuan's features—first lingering on the birthmarks beneath his left eye, then tracing the bridge of his nose, before finally settling on his lips, which were slightly purple from blood loss.
Liu Haoyu stared at Yao Yuxuan as if he had just seen a ghost. The sudden shift in his demeanor was so pronounced that it left Yao Yuxuan feeling both confused and uneasy. He knew he wasn't ugly—in fact, he had always considered his looks far above average—so why did Liu Haoyu seem so shaken by what he saw? Anger and frustration bubbled up within Yao Yuxuan as he tried to decipher the man's reaction.
After what felt like an eternity, Liu Haoyu spoke again, his voice barely above a whisper. The incredulity in his tone was unmistakable. "You're really not a woman?"