Chapter 68: Lin Kuo’s Conscience Was Scattered

Lin Kuo thought carefully. Walking with Zhang Yi earlier, he hadn’t noticed anything unusual, so Zhang Yi must have only just been possessed by Rain Woman. The reason Zhang Yi was tiptoeing was because the ghost had placed her own feet on the backs of his heels, then taken control of him step by step, hand over hand.

For a man as tall and broad as Zhang Yi to walk with such delicate grace… Lin Kuo figured Rain Woman herself must truly be elegant, but seeing Zhang Yi like this was something he just couldn’t accept.

He averted his eyes. “No umbrella.”

Perhaps because every inch of Lin Kuo radiated rejection—and combined with his naturally aloof aura of keep your distance—Zhang Yi lowered his lashes, sighing wistfully. Then, step by step, he descended the veranda steps and disappeared into the curtain of rain.

Rain quickly drenched Zhang Yi’s shoulders and soaked his clothes. Lin Kuo noticed the water dripping from him was tinged red, meaning Zhang Yi must have been gravely injured inside Echo of the Valley, so much so that he’d become vulnerable to Rain Woman’s possession.

Zhang Yi stood in the rain, gazing at Lin Kuo with sorrowful eyes. As Lin Kuo looked back, Zhang Yi’s irises shifted subtly—at first almost imperceptibly, but then openly: his pupils were being swallowed by inky black.

A supernatural force seemed to pulse in the air. Zhang Yi crooked a finger at him. “Come here…”

Lin Kuo hadn’t expected this trick. Caught off guard, he succumbed; like a soul in a trance, he stepped into the rain. Cold droplets struck his face, but he showed no reaction, only walked blankly toward Zhang Yi.

Just then, Sheng Wen, who had gone out to look for him after noticing his absence, arrived—and what he saw was Zhang Yi beckoning coquettishly, while Lin Kuo reached out a hand as though to take his.

Sheng Wen cursed under his breath, his footsteps a blur. “Try touching him and I’ll cut your hand off and feed it to the dogs!”

Lin Kuo froze mid-step, then looked toward Sheng Wen, dazed. Sheng Wen charged down the steps and yanked Lin Kuo behind him, making sure to stand fully between him and Zhang Yi. Then Sheng Wen glared at Zhang Yi, voice like ice. “Get lost.”

Zhang Yi’s body trembled. The Rain Woman controlling him suddenly remembered the fear of being overpowered by an S-ranked hunter. Her elegance forgotten, she darted into the rain and vanished without a trace.

Sheng Wen turned to Lin Kuo, waving a hand in front of his eyes. Seeing no response, Sheng Wen’s expression darkened, his killing intent carefully restrained. He slipped an arm under Lin Kuo’s knees and lifted him like a child, pressing him close.

The way he carried Lin Kuo had them chest-to-chest, no space between them. One hand braced Lin Kuo’s legs while the other slid behind his head, fingers threading into his damp hair, tucking him against his neck. Feeling Lin Kuo’s faint breath, Sheng Wen’s fury ebbed. He leaned close, lips brushing Lin Kuo’s ear. “Wrap your legs around me.”

Lin Kuo didn’t react.

Sheng Wen guided him patiently, wrapping Lin Kuo’s legs around his waist. “If you don’t, you’ll fall,” he warned with a low growl.

Lin Kuo finally reacted, though weakly. His grip was loose from his scattered consciousness, so Sheng Wen tightened Lin Kuo’s hold himself before freeing one hand. Supporting Lin Kuo’s weight with one arm, Sheng Wen shielded his head with the other, using his palm to block the rain as best he could.

Carrying him back, Sheng Wen kept glancing at Lin Kuo, who stayed nestled against his neck. All Sheng Wen could see was the back of his head. He adjusted his gaze forward. “You’re too skinny. From now on, two bowls of rice at every meal.”

Back at their quarters, the others were still there. Lin Zhi gasped when she saw Lin Kuo in Sheng Wen’s arms and rushed over. “Ge…”

Guan Miao was shocked. “What happened to Lin Kuo?”

Sheng Wen shot him a cold look. “Rain Woman was brought out. You didn’t even notice?” Guan Miao froze, chastened. Sheng Wen lowered his voice slightly, though it was still frosty. He said to Lin Zhi, “He encountered Rain Woman. He’ll be fine by morning.”

Lin Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. Guan Miao added gently, “If Sheng Wen says it’s fine, it will be.”

Though they didn’t know Sheng Wen’s exact background, his natural air of authority carried reassurance—his presence alone meant safety.

Sheng Wen placed Lin Kuo on the bed and went to the washroom to find a towel. The others, sensing his foul mood, quietly excused themselves. By the time Sheng Wen returned with a clean towel, the room was empty but for the two of them.

He toweled Lin Kuo’s hair, his hand pausing when he felt the wet fabric clinging to his shoulders. Sheng Wen began to consider whether to bathe him in warm water. As he deliberated, Guan Miao poked his head back into the room.

“Sorry,” Guan Miao said.

Sheng Wen gave him a cold glance. “Your skills have gotten rusty.”

Guan Miao hesitated, then said, “I’ll… leave him to you.”

Sheng Wen hummed in acknowledgment, and Guan Miao slipped away.

After a moment, Sheng Wen decided Lin Kuo needed a proper bath. Lin Kuo wasn’t delicate enough to fall ill from simple rain, but that storm felt wrong. A bath to cleanse the lingering aura was necessary.

He gestured to cut their live-feed camera and carried Lin Kuo to the bathroom. “Stand here. Don’t move.”

Lin Kuo stood still.

Sheng Wen filled the tub with warm water, testing the temperature himself. “Want me to help you?”

Lin Kuo stared at him blankly.

Sheng Wen sighed and reached to undress him. But Lin Kuo’s icy hand pressed down on his. Sheng Wen’s gaze darkened. He chuckled softly, self-mocking. “Still on guard against me, huh?”

He started to withdraw. “Fine. Wash yourself. I’ll stand guard outside.”

But Lin Kuo gripped his hand tightly, refusing to let go.

Sheng Wen crouched, patient. “Say something. Otherwise, I can’t tell what you’re thinking.”

Lin Kuo’s hand clung to his, his eyes following Sheng Wen’s every move as if afraid he’d leave. He forced his lips to part. “The rain… is wrong. You got wet. Take a bath.”

Something in Sheng Wen’s chest tightened at the words. He licked his dry lips. “Little Bunny Lin, are you inviting me to bathe with you?”

Lin Kuo took his time to process the teasing tone, then finally replied, “You bathe. I’ll stand guard.”

He had always played the protector—shielding Lin Zhi, protecting the weak. Even now, unconscious instinct guided him: he had let Sheng Wen sleep on the inside of the bed, and now, even foggy-headed, he only knew that the rain carried danger and worried that Rain Woman would follow the dampness to their door. So he wanted Sheng Wen to bathe, while he kept watch.

Sheng Wen was silent for a long time, emotions flickering in his eyes. Then, without a word, he hauled Lin Kuo under the shower spray with him, kicking the door shut behind them.

…

Just before dawn, a scream shattered the quiet courtyard.

Lin Kuo’s eyes flew open, the echo of the scream still ringing. He threw off the covers to investigate, but a hand pressed him back. Sheng Wen’s languid voice followed: “The cameras aren’t blocked. You sure you want to walk out there like that?”

It took Lin Kuo a moment to parse his words. He cautiously peeked under the covers—

“…” He was speechless. “Why… am I not wearing clothes?”

He never slept naked!

Sheng Wen yawned and reached for his phone. “I messaged Guan Miao to bring clothes. As for what happened last night, you’re welcome to recall it at your leisure.”

Since live-stream rules meant only Guan Miao had item permissions, Sheng Wen had to call him in.

Lin Kuo’s mind raced as he tried to reconstruct the previous night. He remembered Zhang Yi approaching him, seeing him possessed by Rain Woman, then being ensnared and losing consciousness—only to be rescued by Sheng Wen.

And after being carried back? He dug deeper. They’d… bathed together. A vivid memory flickered—

They stood under the shower’s cascade. Lin Kuo had stared seriously at Sheng Wen. “Like this, it’s not clean.”

Sheng Wen had blinked. “You mean, we have to strip completely?”

He nodded. “The rain is cursed. Must wash thoroughly.”

Sheng Wen had raised a brow as Lin Kuo fumbled with his shirt, patiently letting him undress him piece by piece.

When only his underwear remained, Sheng Wen asked, “This too?”

Lin Kuo had insisted, “Must wash thoroughly.”

“Sure about this? Don’t blame me tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

So Sheng Wen removed it, submitting wordlessly to Lin Kuo’s scrutiny. Because Lin Kuo remained anxious, he had showered quickly, but Lin Kuo shook his head. “Not clean,” he’d said firmly. “The rain was wrong. Must wash clean.”

“I am clean.”

“No.” He pointed at Sheng Wen’s chest, his waist, each spot he named, his eyes following. “Here. Here. Here. Not clean.”

Sheng Wen had chuckled. “Understood.”

And so, under Lin Kuo’s watch, Sheng Wen scrubbed himself meticulously… only for Sheng Wen to later drag Lin Kuo under the spray and return the favor.

Back in the present, Lin Kuo froze, mortified.

A wave of shame crashed over him, making him wish he could crawl into a crack in the floor and vanish.

Beside him, Sheng Wen lowered his phone. “Probably Rain Woman claiming another victim. Guan Miao’s on his way. We’ll go check once he’s here.”

Lin Kuo forced his voice steady, coolly answering, “Mm.”