Beside the Shaling River, after a cursory wash, Xie Jue rubbed at the bite marks left on his neck—more than one. Fang Chuning had treated him like a beast marking its territory, seemingly eager to leave a trail of teeth marks across his entire body. Some had even drawn blood. His thighs, rubbed raw and swollen, could only find slight relief in the cold water of the Shaling River. Fang Chuning sprawled nonchalantly to the side, making no attempt to cover his lithe and robust body. Moonlight poured over him, layering his figure in a luminous sheen. His entire being exuded a lazy satisfaction. "Tingfeng, you always act like a stranger the moment you pull your pants back up." Xie Jue: "...Not pretending anymore?" Google seaʀᴄh 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽 "You’re the one who dropped the act, not me," Fang Chuning scoffed softly. "I kind of miss our time in Beiman." Their first lapse of control happened in Beiman. In fact, all of their slip-ups—the stolen kisses, the desperate embraces—had taken place there. Both were hiding under false identities, and Fang Chuning had even been dressed as a woman. In Beiman, there was no Xie Tingfeng, no Fang Chuning, only two lovers pretending but slowly succumbing to their own masquerade. They embraced, they kissed, they slept under the same quilt, even whispering vows of eternal devotion to each other. Yet, once they crossed the border of Beiman. All that remained were Xie Tingfeng and Fang Chuning. Bound by rules, restraint, and unspoken limits, they buried every emotion, every lapse, every bit of greed and longing beneath layers of feigned indifference. They didn’t dare cross the line, not even to test it. Xie Jue scrubbed the marks off his body, carefully donned his clothes, and wrapped himself up tightly, leaving only an alabaster-white, sharp yet breathtakingly beautiful face exposed. Fang Chuning propped himself on an elbow, lying sideways on the grass, gazing up at him. He recalled how that cold, frosty face would flush with passion when consumed by desire, and suddenly his mouth went dry. What he loved most about Xie Tingfeng was that alluring contrast. Xie Jue turned and picked up the clothes he had just cleaned for Fang Chuning. The two of them had been fooling around by the river for nearly three hours. The night wind was fierce, and the clothes were already dry. Sweeping up the garments, he threw them over Fang Chuning. "Put them on!" Even in summer, the Ningzhou Battlefield had drastic temperature drops between day and night. Fang Chuning chuckled lightly, dressed himself, and deliberately opened his shirt to reveal the gash across his chest. "You’re part dog too. Neither of us has the right to blame the other." The pressure he’d been under recently was obvious, even to the usually oblivious generals, let alone Fang Chuning. Truth be told, indulging in physical desires was indeed the best way to temporarily ease the body and mind. After being dragged around and tormented by Fang Chuning all night, a rare sense of relaxation settled over him—both mentally and physically. Even the heavy burdens weighing on his heart began to untangle, bit by bit. No wonder people were so easily drawn to such things. Seated beside Fang Chuning, Xie Jue gazed at the moonlight. The Shaling River at night was utterly serene. The moon and stars mirrored in its waters, swaying gently amidst the aquatic plants, painting a breathtaking scene. Fang Chuning, intoxicated by lingering pleasure, dressed and circled his arms around Xie Jue from behind, resting his head on Xie Jue’s shoulder, wrapping his hands around his waist. An embrace of absolute possession, control, and dependence. He greedily inhaled Xie Jue’s scent, reminiscent of a wolf in the Sha Ling Tian Mountain, searching for its mate while on the hunt. While Fang Chuning’s spirit remained heightened, his body was visibly exhausted. Xie Jue turned his head and glanced at his half-closed eyes, then, unable to resist, planted a kiss on his forehead. Neither spoke, leaving only the sound of their gentle breathing. After a long silence. Xie Jue spoke, "I’m going to agree to Dugu Jing’s peace proposal. The war in Ningzhou will soon subside. You’ll take Zhongzhou’s troops south to Jiangnan first. Once I secure Ningzhou, I’ll come meet you." "You’re not willing to make peace. How did Xie Zhixu convince you?" Xie Jue was indeed unwilling, but for the greater good, he had to back down. "A gentleman takes revenge, even if it takes ten years. I can’t let myself be entangled by Dugu Jing, standing idly by while Jiangnan falls into a stalemate. Besides, I need Dugu Jing’s testimony to expose Yuwen Jing’s collusion with the enemy and his betrayal of our country. Dugu Jing’s testimony is essential." Fang Chuning rubbed his cheek against Xie Jue’s neck and asked softly, "Does it hurt?" "It matters to me," Fang Chuning said, his voice tinged with melancholy. "That night three years ago..." "Anning, it’s all in the past!" "How could it possibly be in the past? You can’t even lie to yourself—how could you expect to fool me?" Fang Chuning tightened his hold on Xie Jue, speaking with resolute determination. "Tingfeng, once everything settles, let’s go back to Beiman. I swear, I’ll deliver Dugu Jing’s decapitated head to you with my own hands." Xie Jue’s heart felt as if it had bitten into a sugar-coated lemon, a bittersweet emotion surging within. He didn’t believe in promises, but when it came to Fang Chuning, he rarely broke his word. Beiman had been both the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion’s nightmare and the place where he and Fang Chuning had shared their fleeting dream. "Alright!" Yet, Xie Jue felt a pang of fear deep down. He feared that once the wars in Beiman and Jiangnan ended, he and Fang Chuning would turn their blades on each other. To mask this fear, Xie Jue said, "Anning, once Sannan retreats, I won’t wait any longer. Regardless of whatever stance the Marshal takes, once Sannan withdraws, I will lead my armies from the Capital City. You, as Zhongzhou’s commander, consider this your early warning."