108 Only for Those Who Like It

The valley was awash with falling plum blossoms as Qi Yi and Jue Chen sat side by side.

“This is actually quite a cliché story,” Qi Yi said softly with a smile. “In the past, this valley wasn’t as desolate as it is now. Plum Valley was like a hidden paradise where many people lived in seclusion. One day, a young man went to gather herbs and accidentally fell off a cliff.”

“Very cliché indeed,” Jue Chen sneered. “He was probably saved by a beautiful girl, and then they fell in love.”

Qi Yi chuckled quietly and nodded. “Exactly. The young man broke his leg and couldn’t move. At that moment, someone appeared before him—a beauty he had never seen before. She took care of him patiently until his leg healed. During that time, they grew fond of each other. The young man promised to return to his family in the valley and come back to marry her.”

Qi Yi paused, tilting his head towards Jue Chen. “Brother, would you like to guess what happened next?”

Jue Chen raised an eyebrow. “The young man never came back to marry her, and she was actually a plum blossom demon who, in a fit of rage, killed everyone in the valley.”

Qi Yi looked at him with disdain and pursed his lips. “Brother, that’s far too melodramatic. The young man did return and marry her. But because he was incredibly handsome, many in the valley secretly coveted him with ill intentions. Although those youths were unaware, he saw everything clearly.”

“One day, while the young man was away on business outside the valley, those people went to his home. He was alone, yet he showed no surprise as he sat calmly sipping tea. None of them dared approach; they just stood there dumbfounded,” Qi Yi said, taking a sip from a flask and passing it to Jue Chen. “Brother, you were right to say he was indeed a plum blossom demon.”

“But he wasn’t just a plum blossom demon—he was a man. Every night, he used magic to bewitch the young man. Even before he was a blossoming peach flower, he had seen the young man, who was then just a child. Every day, the young man would come to play with him. Among all the plum trees in the valley, the young man liked only him.”

Jue Chen wiped the wine from his lips and smiled faintly. “So it was he who caused the young man to fall off the cliff.”

Qi Yi nodded. “Yes, everything was part of his plan, including the young man’s trip outside the valley. He killed all who came that day, consumed their essence, and buried them under the plum trees as fertilizer.”

“Suddenly, many people in the valley vanished without a trace. Rumors spread that a demon had appeared. People claimed the last place they saw those missing was the young man’s home. Since the plum blossom demon was not a native, they all went to burn him alive.”

Qi Yi grabbed the wine from Jue Chen's hand and flopped onto a rock. “The young man, of course, refused to believe his wife was a demon. But the plum blossom demon admitted it—he was a thousand-year-old spirit with great power and fearlessness. He wasn’t afraid of the people in the valley. He wanted to take the young man away but forgot one thing—the young man grew up there. That valley was his home; he was born there and would die there.”

“So he committed suicide?” Jue Chen said casually. “Because he couldn’t accept that the woman he married was a demon, and couldn’t accept that she killed the people in the valley, he took his own life.”

Opening his eyes to the vast blue sky, Qi Yi rested his head on his hands and nodded. “Yes, he was selfish and cowardly. He didn’t know that after his death, the peach blossom demon slaughtered everyone in the valley and sacrificed his thousand-year cultivation to stay with the young man forever in the valley. Since then, no matter the season, peach blossoms bloom—buds or flowers alike.”

Closing his dark phoenix eyes slowly, Qi Yi smiled softly at the sky. “Brother, if it were you, what would you have done?”

Jue Chen turned his head, looking down at the youth. His dark green eyes were cold, devoid of warmth. “If it were me, I would never have liked him from the start.”

The soft lashes fluttered against his skin as Qi Yi slowly opened his eyes. Their gazes met—one filled with affection, the other indifferent. Yet Qi Yi smiled slowly. “Too bad, Brother, you’ve already fallen for me.”

Still lying down, looking up at Jue Chen, Qi Yi spoke gently, “Brother, I’m actually a fierce spirit. I climbed out from the eighteen levels of hell, layer by layer—perhaps just to meet you.”

Jue Chen frowned. Qi Yi’s gaze and tone were gentle, but Jue Chen could feel the chill radiating from him, as if he truly was a vengeful spirit from hell. “Qi Yi, I do like you, but only that much.”

A slow, tender smile spread on the youth’s lips. “Brother, that tiny bit of your affection is enough. Because I know, besides me, you will never like anyone else. One must learn to be content to find lasting happiness.”

Falling plum petals drifted onto the youth’s forehead, brushing the striking vermilion mole there. Jue Chen lay down beside him. The wind tangled their long hair together as Qi Yi reached out and intertwined his fingers with Jue Chen’s.

※※※

“Your Highness,” Zhuang Ming hurried in, “the 'Dark Pavilion' just reported—they lost their tail.”

Zhao Yixiao, who was watering flowers, glanced at him and then returned to his task. “I understand.”

Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Zhuang Ming asked, “Your Highness, did you anticipate this?”

Zhao Yixiao shook his head. “No.”

“I thought you had...” Zhuang Ming’s voice rose suddenly. “Your Highness, you paid ten thousand taels of gold for this... Now they’ve lost the target, why aren’t you worried?”

Plucking withered leaves, Zhao Yixiao replied casually, “Why should I worry? They haven’t returned to the manor. They’re just temporarily lost. I trust the skills of the 'Dark Pavilion.'”

Zhuang Ming nodded but still looked uneasy. “And if they really lost them?”

Carrying the watering can to another flowerpot, Zhao Yixiao said nonchalantly, “Master Zhuang, rest assured. Even if they lose them, so be it. After all, the ten thousand taels weren’t mine.”

Zhuang Ming looked utterly baffled. Swallowing nervously, he whispered, “Then, Your Highness, I’ll go check for any news.”

Without turning his head, Zhao Yixiao nodded. “Go.”

“Brother, are you hungry?” Qi Yi asked.

Jue Chen raised an eyebrow. “I am not.”

Qi Yi turned to face him, grinning with his perfect white teeth. “But I’m hungry.” Then he whistled sharply. Jue Chen closed his eyes to rest, ignoring whatever Qi Yi was doing.

After a while, a large eagle circled overhead. Qi Yi whistled again. The eagle cried out in response and swooped down to where they sat.

Dropping whatever it held in its beak, the eagle nestled affectionately in Qi Yi’s arms, rubbing against him. Qi Yi patted its wings, laughing and scolding, “Alright, alright, stop crawling on me. You’re too big to fit.”

The eagle reluctantly stepped back. Qi Yi stroked its feathers and pointed to Jue Chen. “This is my big brother. Say ‘brother.’”

The eagle let out a loud call. Jue Chen slowly opened his eyes and looked at him. Seeing Jue Chen’s gaze, the eagle howled excitedly, flapped its wings, and straightened its posture.

Forgetful of the person beside him in his excitement, the eagle accidentally flapped its wing against Qi Yi’s face. Qi Yi’s expression darkened as he slapped the eagle’s back heavily. The thick-skinned eagle thought Qi Yi was tickling it and flapped his wings to pat Qi Yi’s back in return. Qi Yi’s face darkened further. “Xiao Hei! Get over there!”

Startled by Qi Yi’s shout, Xiao Hei looked at him with some grievance, then glanced at Jue Chen before obediently moving aside and sitting down. Jue Chen finally burst into laughter.

“Brother!” Qi Yi glared at him, rubbing his reddened cheek, irritated. “How can you take pleasure in my misfortune?”

The youth’s half-flawless face flushed crimson. Jue Chen reached out and covered Qi Yi’s hand as it rubbed his cheek. Qi Yi was stunned, staring at the gentle smile on Jue Chen’s lips. “Brother...”

Jue Chen gently squeezed Qi Yi’s hand and asked with a smile, “Does it hurt?”

Qi Yi, still looking lovestruck, shook his head. “No!”

Jue Chen lowered the hand he was holding. “You said you’re hungry. Let’s eat.”

“Mm.” Qi Yi smiled brightly and nodded. “Brother, are you hungry too?”

Looking at the youth’s radiant smile, Jue Chen nodded slowly. “I’m hungry. But...” He leaned closer, whispering, “More than food, I want to feast on you.”

Qi Yi’s dark eyes widened sharply. He blinked and suddenly pushed Jue Chen down, pouncing on him. “Brother! You’re the feast!”

As he spoke, he eagerly tried to undo Jue Chen’s pants. But Jue Chen flipped effortlessly aside, picking up the food Xiao Hei had brought. “If you’re hungry, eat.”

Offering a piece of meat to Xiao Hei, who was watching eagerly, the eagle howled once and swallowed it whole, then snuggled into Jue Chen’s arms, wriggling happily.

Qi Yi, stung by Jue Chen’s teasing and subsequent dismissal, turned to see Xiao Hei cheerfully clawing and wrestling in Jue Chen’s embrace. His reddened face darkened instantly. Narrowing his eyes, he walked over, grabbed Xiao Hei by the neck, and tossed him aside. “Go away. This one’s mine.”

Xiao Hei let out disgruntled squeaks but shrank away, drawing small circles on the ground, while Jue Chen watched, amused.

Author’s note: I forgot to update yesterday = = Today I’m posting early so I don’t forget again.

The eagle is so adorable~ And this story is almost finished, probably about 5,000 words left~ 166 Reading Network