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Shen Yuan was exhausted. Ten days and nights of non-stop travelling, sleeping on the cold hard outdoors with only the grass as his bedding. The only saving grace of his journey was his adorable little sidekick tucked safely between the folds of his clothes; a dark ball of fluff, a strange creature Shen Yuan had no idea of its origins, despite his current job description.
Xiao Hei snuggled up to him, bumping its head on his chin, whining for pets. Shen Yuan adjusted his robes as he gave his little companion what it demanded. He was glad to have taken the time to take a quick jump into the stream before coming to the auction. Shoulder to shoulder with strangers, he didn't want to be subject to their gazes if he showed up smelling as he did before. Though perhaps if he did, he wouldn't be at risk of being crushed. The stench would've kept everyone away from him.
Bored out of his mind, Shen Yuan played with the furry ball on his lap, surveying the place. He was on ground level with the rest of the common folk. The upper floors with different rooms for privacy were reserved for the VIPs. A normal scene in most auction houses.
"The next item is a thousand-year-old jade hairpin. Worn by one of the first rulers in the Southern Kingdom."
Several murmurs broke out. Everyone eyed that jade hairpin with visible desire. But most if not all on the ground floor did not have the guts nor money to even think of bidding for the item.
Then, as expected, several offers came from the rooms upstairs one by one. The price slowly rose like the brows on Shen Yuan. After a while, from one of the rooms, a bidding tablet was thrown onto the stage. When the auctioneer read out the price, a deep silence fell over the hall.
Shen Yuan couldn't even comprehend the amount being read out as everyone whipped their heads to look at the room, the person inside, obscured from view, all but five slender fingers, drumming against the window sill.
There was a sense of foreboding when Shen Yuan looked at those digits and he shuddered quietly in his seat, averting his gaze.
Near the end, after hours and hours of waiting and after most of the affluent bidders had left. It was now time for him to pay attention.
With little fanfare, the item Shen Yuan made the entire journey for was brought out. A few merchants bid for the silverweed grass, the kind that grew only in the demonic abyss but Shen Yuan managed to edge them out by a fair amount. He'd been saving up for this item.
When it was clear that he would be the one to walk away with the said grass, Shen Yuan stretched his limbs, eager to grab his things and get moving. But his relaxed celebration came to a glaring halt when he heard a voice, powerful and succinct, travel down from above, like a god from the heavens bellowing out a divine decree. "Wait."
From the room upstairs, the one that had gotten their hands on the hairpin, a wooden tablet came flying down. The auction house staff were quick to pick it up and hand it over to the auctioneer whose brows touched his hairline. "Th… this, my liege, this."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, no, not a problem. If the gentleman from earlier doesn't have any offer to give, my liege can have the item."
"How much?" Shen Yuan piped up. He was annoyed. He'd travelled all the way with no rest for ten days and nights, he'd be damned if he didn't try to get what he came for.
The auctioneer looked at him in pity and showed the tablet. Shen Yuan felt the air in his lungs escape him.
While he was busy trying to form a coherent rebuttal, the silverweed grass was sold and soon another item was wheeled out. Shen Yuan was in a daze. Who had that much money to burn? Spending so much for silverweed grass. It was expensive, but not that expensive. He could buy ten whole houses with that sum he saw.
Mouth dry, Shen Yuan walked towards the back. He'd come here only to waste his time and now with no silverweed grass, he would have to change his initial plans. He was dejected and felt like stumbling onto his soft bed back in his old world. One of the few things he missed from that old life.
Xiao Hei crawled out from his sleeves after napping for most of the duration of the auction and sat on his shoulder, nudging his cheek to cheer him up. He was a smart creature, he knew Shen Yuan was sad and was trying to lift his mood.
"Wait, what if I go ask whoever it was to sell it to me. I have a few pills I refined last week. Maybe he'll want them?"
Xiao Hei made a noise almost as if to say that's impossible. Nobody would want those pills of yours.
"Hey now. We won't know unless we try."
"I'll go ask the staff about that person's room number. He should still be there right?" Shen Yuan ignored all of Xiao Hei's little squeaks and bulldozed inside a back room where some workers were arranging the items.
Shen Yuan was embroiled in a heated discussion with the auction house employees for an eternity.
"Young master, it is against house policies to disclose the details of our patrons. There's nothing we can do about it."
Another one added, "Please come next month, we should have a new shipment then."
"I can't wait for another month. Do you know how long it took for me to come here and how hard it was on my body?" Shen Yuan bristled. "Just tell me which room he is in, you don't even need to tell me his name or anything. Just the room of that gentleman that bought my silverweed grass!"
"Yours?" A voice sounded behind him. "I wasn't aware the grass belonged to you."
Shen Yuan turned around to bargain. Only when he finally laid his eyes on the man, all of the words died on his tongue. His throat was parched all of a sudden and he felt himself involuntarily blush, eyeing the man shamelessly.
The man was handsome. Incredibly so. It wasn't humanly possible for a person to be so beautiful and enchanting. Those dark black eyes looked innocent at first glance, but the hint of red in them gave the man a dangerous air. Thrilling and exciting.
"I… " Shen Yuan tried his best to keep his voice stable. "I came to get that grass. But you ripped it away from me at the last moment. You weren't even interested in it until I was about to walk away with it."
Shen Yuan had no idea where he'd gotten his sudden courage from, but he thanked the sudden burst of strength and made his grievances known.
The man looked on in amusement as Shen Yuan grew redder and redder with each word that escaped his lips. Those dark eyes were trained on them, fixated on the way they moved, opened and closed with that sharp tongue making his pupils go wide.
"I suppose we can come to an agreement," The man spoke, eyes flicking up to stare at that impudent gaze. "Of course, this young master must make a decent offer in exchange."
Shen Yuan chippered up at the mention of a negotiation. He had pills of various kinds, treasures he'd picked up along the way, and precious documents and scrolls he himself had written of the wonders that existed in this world.
"Shall we move on to a more private room for our discussion?" The man brought it up and no sooner after he said it, the employees were rushing out to prepare one for them even before Shen Yuan had yet to agree.
"Sure, alright." Shen Yuan, not knowing better, agreed without any complaint. After the two left the back room, one of the workers sighed softly. "Poor fool is going to end up dead."
"Is the Emperor as terrible as they say?" A young man asked, head tilted to the side.
"You'll know soon enough." An older man shook his head as he instructed several other workers to keep their cleaning supplies ready. Blood was hard to clean off after it'd seeped into the floors.
Shen Yuan marveled at the grandiosity of the room they were in. Priceless vases and tables made of fine oak decorated the place. The shelves were adorned with gems and trinkets, all of which would fetch a handsome price in the market. This auction house was impressive.
"Take a seat," the man ordered and Shen Yuan did as told, head still swivelling around to look at the place. The bed at the far end of the room behind the thin silk curtains looked magnificently soft and fluffy. He had the urge to jump on top and sink into the mass of clouds.
"Earlier you spoke of your willingness to exchange anything for that grass of yours." The man quietly sipped his tea, motioning for Shen Yuan to drink his as well.
"Thank you." Shen Yuan lifted the cup to his lips. "Yes, you see I'm a beast tamer. I also train and domesticate them so I'm in need of the silverweed grass. I'm willing to exchange any of my pills, homemade of course and these." Shen Yuan brought out all of his treasures and pills for the man to peruse from.
The man cast a throwaway glance to the items on the table and said, "There is nothing of value I desire on that table."
"Oh?" Shen Yuan visibly deflated and missed the small grin on the man's face.
"However, there is something I want from you."
"But I don't have anything left on me."
"Think harder."
Several thoughts ran inside his head and Shen Yuan looked down at his chest, then lap. "You want my clothes?"
"Not that far off." The man put his cup down. "I want your body."
There was a long silence that followed the man's statement. Body? His body? His body?
Shen Yuan stared at the man. He should be aghast, disgusted, furious, wanting to leave the place in a huff after a tight slap, yelling how dare you, you beast! But his body, ever the traitorous harlot, betrayed him.
The man was handsome and Shen Yuan could not deny he was attracted to him. Moreover, he hadn't been intimate with a man in years. Not since he'd been dumped in this strange world. He felt his body heat up, cheeks painted a peachy hue as his eyes travelled the length of the man's body.
Long dark hair, lustrous and thick, shapely brows, a straight and high nose bridge, high cheekbones, plump red lips, a prominent Adam's apple framed by fine black silk lined with a sensual red. Shen Yuan swallowed audibly.
And when he heard the low brassy chuckle he squirmed uncomfortably on his chair. He really was pent up, wasn't he? "If... I, you know, lay in bed with you, you'll give me the silverweed, is that it?"
"Yes, if you lay in bed with me, I will give you your precious grass."
"Can we sign an agreement then?"
"Rest assured, I always keep my word. It's you who I should be worried about." The man leaned into Shen Yuan's face, pinching his chin. "One night with me and you'd beg to warm my bed every night. I'd have to throw you out in the morning by force."
"Just one night! I won't pester you after that. Don't worry about that!" Shen Yuan swore. He didn't intend to stick around in any way. He had places to be, beasts to tame. The whole reason he agreed was to get an item to tame a beast in the first place.
"Good. Since that's sorted, let's go to the bed. You've been eyeing hungrily at that for a while now." The man pressed his thumb on Shen Yuan's lips, enjoying how he trembled under his ministrations.
Shen Yuan was even more grateful for throwing himself into that stream for a quick bath now.
As Shen Yuan let himself be led towards the bed, he enjoyed the view while it lasted. It wasn't every day he came across such an attractive man who was also interested in him, short-lived or not. Take life one day at a time.
Hands groping each other, breaths hitched and low groans reverberated in the room as Shen Yuan melted into that man's touch. He didn't even know his name and now they were about to sleep together.
Long into the night, at the height of their pleasure as their limbs tangled and large hands massaged his belly, even as Shen Yuan teetered on the edge of ecstasy he still had some sanity left in him to ask. "Na-name… your name. What, hngh… is it?"
Shen Yuan screamed incoherent sounds in the next instant as sharp teeth nipped him in the shoulder, making him cry out loud.
Drowned out by the sound of his moans, he nearly missed the strange man's words. "... Binghe. Call me Luo Binghe."
The shock at hearing that familiar name vanished almost immediately as Luo Binghe slammed into him, pushing all thoughts out the window as Shen Yuan soon forgot about it and descended into pleasurable madness.
Luo Binghe watched as the man slept soundly in his arms. The man that bore a striking resemblance to his Shizun but so different from the man that haunted his thoughts every day. Shen Yuan, he was called, it was easy to bribe the auction house for details. He reminded him of that other Shizun, sweet, caring, and gentle. And oh so easy to bully.
When he swept lazily on the ground during the auction, his eyes immediately focussed on him. Sitting there, bored, patting that giant black ball of fluff and for a moment, Luo Binghe wanted that hand atop his own head. It was strange. He didn’t know the man. But he wanted to. And if he purposefully bid on the silverweed grass just to get his attention, no one needed to know.
And it just so happened that as he went looking for the man the auction house said was called Shen Yuan, Shen Yuan himself was looking for him. How serendipitous.
Soft cheeks against the pillow, lips slightly parted, hair falling over his face, Luo Binghe wanted the moment to last just a bit longer. One night, he’d declared boldly. One more night wouldn’t hurt, he told himself. He wanted to know what this man tasted like. One night wasn’t enough to taste all of him, he reasoned with himself.
When Shen Yuan reached his hands for some invisible soul in the air, Luo Binghe moved into his arms, letting the man hug him, embrace him close to his heart. And if Luo Binghe fell into a peaceful slumber for the first time in his whole life, he didn’t dwell on the fact that it was in this man’s warm embrace, listening to the gentle beat of his heart. One more night wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
Waking up with an aching body, Shen Yuan bit his lips so he wouldn’t make a sound. The sun hadn’t even risen over the horizon yet. Luo Binghe was cuddled up to him, that handsome face had shed his severe façade and looked ever so innocent in his sleep.
Shen Yuan almost felt bad for what he was about to do but then recalled this was Luo Binghe, Emperor of all the realms, the man who ruthlessly tortured his own Shizun to death. There was no need for him to feel bad for this dangerous man, he could snap his neck in a heartbeat if he so wanted.
One night, no strings attached. That’s what Luo Binghe said last night. Shen Yuan had no intention of overstaying his welcome. It was better to leave before he woke up and found him still in bed after yesterday’s explicit condition.
Carefully, Shen Yuan extracted himself from Luo Binghe’s hold, making sure to not wake him up. When he finally managed to free himself, Shen Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, Luo Binghe didn't seem to notice anything despite being jostled. Who knew the Demon Emperor was such a heavy sleeper.
Putting his clothes back on, Shen Yuan lifted Xiao Hei who’d been having a wonderful dream from the looks of it, and tucked him inside his sleeves, got his silverweed grass from the table, and left. Then halfway across the room, he turned back and hastily wrote a short note and crept out of the room.
Outside, he looked around for Luo Binghe’s guards and waited for the right moment to sneak away. He didn’t want to be thrown inside a dungeon. Years and years of sneaking up behind dangerous beasts in the wild had given him the necessary practice to evade capture and he thanked his foresight for it.
When Luo Binghe woke up, the sun was already up, songbirds singing pretty tunes, he had an uncharacteristic smile on his face, genuine, happy, and warm. His eyes were still shut as he stretched his well-exercised muscles, hand reaching for the soft body beside him.
Only, instead of warm skin, his hands touched cold sheets. He snapped his eyes open and looked to his side, empty, the bed was empty, the whole room was empty. Indignation and fury made him march over to the table on the far end of the room.
“Hah, that little-”
Shen Yuan was gone. Taken his loot with him and he even had the gall to leave behind a note that said, ‘Thank you for exchanging the grass with me. Please be well.’
Please be well. Please be well? Luo Binghe was far from well. How dare that simpleton wanderer treat him like some common harlot?! Throwing him aside after a night of passion with some paltry note wishing him well. How dare he?!
Luo Binghe summoned his guards, growling at them. “Where is he?! Where did he go?! How did you imbeciles not know anything about him leaving?!”
After throwing a fit inside the room, destroying furniture and the likes, and a few guards with bloody and battered faces, Luo Binghe stepped out of the room with fury in his steps. The smile he woke up with was all but gone, now replaced by anger.
He sent his demons out to look for Shen Yuan. He would not be able to escape his grasp. He would find him, lock him up, tie him to his bed, and only when Luo Binghe grew tired of him would Shen Yuan be allowed to leave.
For weeks on end, Luo Binghe spent resources and men on the search for Shen Yuan who somehow managed to evade them, as if he disappeared into thin air.
It wasn’t until Luo Binghe was out on one of his visits to one of the towns under his rule that he would be able to find that elusive figure.
Astride his massive Midnight Blood Wolf, Luo Binghe was leaving the town after an inspection when he saw a familiar figure near the edge of town. He climbed down from his mount and made his way through the maze of bamboo in the mountain range.
But just as he got a hold of that man, he was met with disappointment. Wrong person.
Walking back to his wolf, disappointment clear in his gait, the giant beast was nowhere to be found. Luo Binghe walked around looking for the beast, calling for it, but nothing. Then with no choice left, he activated the blood parasites and finally found the ferocious beast hunched over, gnawing at something. Someone.
He saw a leg, then an arm, shaking. What poor fool had managed to become his wolf’s snack?
“Stop!” It wasn’t until he heard that shriek that Luo Binghe rushed forward. Fear gripped his heart. That was Shen Yuan’s voice. No no no. He couldn’t let him get hurt.
“Stop! It tickles!” Shen Yuan knelt on the ground clutching his belly as the great big beast nuzzled him, licking his face, tail wagging uncontrollably.
“You-What’s going on?”
Shen Yuan stilled when he saw Luo Binghe, so did his mount. The two looked like children who’d been caught sneaking sweets from the kitchen.
“Bi-Binghe. Fancy meeting you here, ahaha.” Shen Yuan tried to brush it off with a wry laugh.
“Yeah, fancy meeting you here. What are you doing to my wolf?” The worry in his heart was now swapped for displeasure and a tinge of hurt, like a jilted lover which was preposterous.
“He’s yours?” Shen Yuan’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know that. He just came up from behind. And he was so sweet, so I-I was…” playing with your killing machine of a demon wolf? It sounded comical even to his own ears, Shen Yuan winced.
“Shen Yuan,” Luo Binghe stepped over to where Shen Yuan was still kneeling, “you left.”
Shen Yuan couldn’t understand what he was trying to get at. “Yeah, you said it was just a one-time thing.”
Luo Binghe bent down on one knee, eye to eye with Shen Yuan. He recalled how soundly he’d slept, how he felt at peace with himself when Shen Yuan was in his arms. It was a feeling he wanted to feel once more. Luo Binghe told himself, just one more night. He’d soon get tired of Shen Yuan after that. He just wanted to know what it would be like to be that other Luo Binghe. Playing house with the sweet and gentle Shizun. He wanted someone like that for himself.
Perhaps, Luo Binghe could even turn this man into his own gentle Shizun as well, he certainly had his face. Just one more night of deluding himself into thinking he was loved and then he’d throw him out like trash once he got bored, Luo Binghe told himself.
“Well, I changed my mind.”
As he was hauled up on top of the lovable wolf, waist encircled by Luo Binghe, stopping him from fleeing, Shen Yuan had a distinct feeling that despite the numerous beasts he had tamed over the years, Luo Binghe would be the hardest of them all.