Chapter 88: The Master’s Call

Zeng Rongsu brought Ji Xiao straight to his room and searched for medicine.

…

Ji Xiao sat on the bed, watching him apply the medicine with trembling hands, and said softly, “I really don’t hurt.”

Zeng Rongsu nodded vaguely, scooped up a large glob, and smeared it on his face.

After he finished applying the medicine, Ji Xiao grabbed his hand and looked at him. “Young master, are you going to promise me that you won’t marry?”

Zeng Rongsu: “Marrying was for my parents. Not marrying is for you.”

“Why?”

Ji Xiao met his gaze, staring into his eyes. “For me, is it okay to defy your parents’ orders?”

Having been doted on by his parents since childhood, Zeng Rongsu loved them deeply and was very obedient. So when Lu Xiao pressured him, he resisted.

Later, after being tricked and coaxed, though he ‘fell in love’ with him, he was still torn because he didn’t want to disobey his parents. It wasn’t until his parents discovered his ‘suffering’ under Lu Xiao’s gradual guidance that they didn’t blame them and allowed them to be together.

Now, Zeng Rongsu felt no resistance toward him at all, and without any hesitation, he stood by his side.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Rongsu was also confused. “I don’t know.”

Ji Xiao patiently guided him. “When you’re intimate with me, you don’t resist at all?”

He shook his head.

Ji Xiao gently pulled him into his arms and stroked his head. “I really want to see. See your true self.”

Zeng Rongsu leaned into his arms, bewildered. “See what?”

Ji Xiao pressed him onto the bed, his gaze tender as he caressed his face. “You always blend into every mission target. So what is the real you like? What personality and appearance? What is our relationship, that you follow me life after life?”

Zeng Rongsu’s face flushed slightly. He opened his mouth but made no sound.

“Young master,” Ji Xiao lowered his head and touched his lips, speaking softly. “I want you. May I?”

Zeng Rongsu looked toward the door.

Ji Xiao chuckled softly. “I locked it.”

So Zeng Rongsu obediently nodded.

Ji Xiao had no more reservations and bent down to kiss him.

I will find you. Screw the system. Let it die.

…

In this world, Zeng Rongsu couldn’t speak, but his breathing sounds were beautiful.

Main courtyard.

When Madam Zeng returned and saw Old Master Zeng leisurely playing chess with a concubine, she angrily went over and overturned the chessboard.

Old Master Zeng frowned. “What madness has taken you? I was about to win!”

Seeing the madam’s fury, the concubine quickly rose, took her leave, and slipped away.

“You have the leisure to play chess here while your son is being ruined by a servant!” Madam Zeng sat across from him, slapping her hand on the table.

“What are you worrying about?” he said dismissively. “So he’s taken a liking to a servant. How is that ruining him? Which maidservant? Should we give her a title?”

“A title? A maidservant?” she sneered. “It’s Lu Xiao. What, are you going to take a male concubine for Su Su?”

“Lu Xiao?” He was startled, then after a moment of silence said, “Never mind. I wondered why Su Su refused a bed-warming maid two years ago. It seems he prefers men. We offered the wrong thing.”

“Aren’t you afraid Su Su will be bullied?”

“He wouldn’t dare!”

Seeing her still furious, Old Master Zeng said gently, “Madam, we’ve watched Lu Xiao grow up. He’s clever and lively, and always puts Su Su first. I think he’s quite docile. Maybe he only submitted because Su Su likes him.”

Lu Xiao had been very good to Zeng Rongsu over the years. That was why Zeng Rongsu trusted and favored him so much.

Madam Zeng was still angry. “You don’t know, Su Su actually glared at me for that servant Lu Xiao! As a servant, the treatment Su Su has given him over the years is comparable to a young master’s, yet he repays kindness with enmity by seducing Su Su…”

“I don’t think so,” Old Master Zeng sighed lightly. “Maybe it’s repaying kindness with his body.”

“Madam Zeng…”

“Look, madam, has Su Su ever shown dissatisfaction toward us over the years? Now that he glared at you because of Lu Xiao, doesn’t that prove he likes Lu Xiao? As long as he likes it, what can’t we give him?”

“But…”

“No more buts. I think Su Su’s temperament means he doesn’t want to marry a girl either. Now that he has a confidant by his side, what’s wrong with never marrying? Can’t we still protect him?”

“We’ll leave first eventually.”

“When we’re gone, there’s still the eldest brother.”

Madam Zeng’s anger gradually subsided. “Fine. If Su Su likes it, then let it be. But if he dares to hurt Su Su, I’ll skin him alive!”

Old Master Zeng smiled. “That’s more like it.”

…

When Ji Xiao had called for two buckets of water and finished bathing, the Black Cat cautiously said, “Host, can I take a leave?”

Ji Xiao: [Leave?]

Black Cat: “Yes, tonight is our team leader’s birthday. I want to attend, but we can’t leave our post without permission. So, can I take a leave? Just one day.”

Ji Xiao: [Oh, no.]

The Black Cat said aggrievedly, “Please, pleeease, host. There will definitely be many benefits at the team leader’s birthday. I want to go! Whimper.”

Black Cat: “No, he… don’t change the subject.”

Ji Xiao: [Fine, just one day.]

Black Cat: “Now! I want to pick a gift for the team leader. I can’t go empty-handed, that would be so embarrassing.”

Ji Xiao: [Go ahead.]

Black Cat: “Thank you, host. I love you, muah!”

Ji Xiao gently massaged Zeng Rongsu’s waist. Sensing that the connection with the system in his mind was fading, almost to nothing, he opened his eyes slightly. “Young master, do you really not remember anything of the past?”

Zeng Rongsu turned over and looked at him blankly. “What?”

Ji Xiao looked down at him. “We’ve been through so many worlds. Don’t you have any impression at all?”

Zeng Rongsu raised his hand and gestured. “What are you talking about?”

Ji Xiao leaned his head on his shoulder and smiled bitterly. “Nothing.”

Zeng Rongsu looked at him with concern and gently patted his back.

Ji Xiao turned over, pulling him into his arms. “Tired? Rest well.”

He obediently said ‘ah’ and closed his eyes.

Ji Xiao began to concentrate, trying to recall the fragments that had flashed through his mind before.

Xie Chenyang… He should know this person. He was also a host, but he had no memory. Maybe he had done something in the past, had his memory wiped by the system, and started over. Isn’t that how it always goes in novels? The system has the authority to erase memories. Even, perhaps this stupid cat system hadn’t belonged to him before.

Demon race… Or demon cultivator… Regarding Jiang Li he met in the apocalypse, what he was familiar with was demonic energy? In the mangaka world, he reacted when Jier called him ‘disciple.’ That script…

His thoughts were chaotic. He lowered his head and looked at Zeng Rongsu, who was sleeping quietly in his arms. He boldly had a guess. Was it that they knew each other in the cultivation world? Were they master and disciple? Was it that he fell in love with him, wanted to stay in the cultivation world and ascend with him, and didn’t want to do tasks anymore, so he was punished and lost his memory?

If that was the case… He gently brushed Zeng Rongsu’s hair. “Did you use a magical artifact or a secret technique to find me? Or did you successfully ascend and use a celestial artifact or immortal means to find me?”

Then why no memory?

[Disciple, come here.]

[You lazy thing.]

[Disciple…]

“Ugh…”

The explosive pain in his head forced Ji Xiao to stop his deep thoughts. He gradually emptied his mind.

[Disciple, don’t be afraid, come here.]

Afraid of what?

[Disciple, don’t go. Your master will help you.]

Help with what?

[Disciple…]

“Ah…”

With a buzz in his head, Ji Xiao lost consciousness.

Zeng Rongsu jolted awake. Seeing him drenched in sweat, frowning and passed out, he anxiously got up. No matter how he pushed and shook him, he wouldn’t wake. He quickly got up, dressed, and stumbled to open the door.

“Young master, what’s wrong?”

Zeng Rongsu grabbed the maid’s hand, led her into the room, pointed at Ji Xiao, and forgetting even to gesture, anxiously yelled, “Ah, ah…”

The maid saw Ji Xiao’s terrible state and understood immediately. “Young master, don’t worry. This servant will go call the house physician.”

Zeng Rongsu let her go. She quickly lifted her skirt and ran out.

Zeng Rongsu took a handkerchief, sat by the bed, and wiped Ji Xiao’s sweat. Feeling his body tremble slightly, he quickly hugged him, tears falling.

…

As soon as the maid ran out, she quickly called a guard to fetch the house physician. She ran slowly. The matter in Zeng Rongsu’s courtyard reached Old Master Zeng and Madam Zeng.

Madam Zeng panicked. “Could something have happened to Su Su?” She quickly trotted over. Old Master Zeng hastily followed. Because they doted on their son, Zeng Rongsu’s courtyard was right next to theirs.

Seeing Ji Xiao lying on the bed with a pale face, frowning in agony, and Zeng Rongsu holding him and crying softly, Madam Zeng sighed in relief but then felt a pang in her heart. She quickly pulled Zeng Rongsu up. “Su Su, don’t be afraid. The house physician will be here soon.”

Zeng Rongsu’s tears still didn’t stop. Old Master Zeng sighed too. “It’s okay, Su Su. Next time be moderate. Don’t indulge too much. For men… it’s harder to bear.”

Upon hearing this, Zeng Rongsu thought it was because of what happened earlier that he had exhausted him. He nodded with a pale face. Madam Zeng comforted him gently, sighing inwardly. She thought her son’s frail body would be ruined, but unexpectedly… True, after all, Lu Xiao was a servant. How would he dare to outrage his superior?

The house physician arrived quickly. Though he was almost out of breath, seeing the situation, he immediately put down his medicine box to take the pulse. While panting, he said, “This is caused by excessive fatigue. There’s no danger to life. I’ll give him a few acupuncture needles to relieve it first.”

“Thank you for your trouble, physician.”

Madam Zeng coaxed Zeng Rongsu to go out. “Alright, the physician said it’s fine. Stop crying. Let’s wait outside, okay? If Lu Xiao wakes up and sees you like this, won’t his heart ache?” She was afraid her son would feel distressed seeing Lu Xiao, so she thought to coax him out. Old Master Zeng also went out.

Perhaps because the physician said it was fine, under Madam Zeng’s comfort, Zeng Rongsu gradually stopped crying, but he kept looking towards the door, his worry undiminished. Old Master Zeng cleared his throat. “My son, don’t panic. It’s your father’s oversight. Later, I’ll find you some books and have the physician prepare some medicine. If you pay attention, this won’t happen again.”

Zeng Rongsu nodded. It was all his fault. He should have been careful and not let Ji Xiao ask for so many times. Now he was exhausted, and he was heartbroken too. The couple exchanged a glance and continued to comfort their frightened precious son.

When the house physician came out, Zeng Rongsu had calmed down a lot and looked at him eagerly. The physician wiped his sweat and said, “Young master, rest assured. He is fine. I’ve prescribed medicine. He just needs to rest quietly.”

Zeng Rongsu bowed to him and quickly entered the room. Old Master Zeng and Madam Zeng exchanged a look. Old Master Zeng: “I’ll go find Su Su some books.” Madam Zeng: “I’ll have a word with the physician.”

…

Zeng Rongsu returned to the bedside and reached out to hold Ji Xiao’s hand. Ji Xiao instinctively held his back. “Master…”

Zeng Rongsu was stunned. Ji Xiao still had his eyes closed and didn’t speak again, as if the voice just heard was an illusion.

Tears gradually welled up in Zeng Rongsu’s eyes. He thought of that gentle and refined tutor. Because Lu Xiao wanted to learn, when the tutor taught him, he brought Lu Xiao along to study together. Lu Xiao didn’t like to call him ‘teacher’ formally; he always teased the tutor into calling him ‘master.’

Zeng Rongsu held his hand and wiped his eyes, then went into the study, wrote a letter, and handed it to a servant. The servant looked at the addressee. “Young master, is this for Mr. Mo?”

Zeng Rongsu nodded.

“Young master, rest assured, I’ll go right away!”

Zeng Rongsu nodded with tears, then returned to the room. He gently stroked Ji Xiao’s furrowed brow: Don’t frown, don’t be sad. I’ve already sent a letter to your master for you.

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