Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]-Chapter 149: Fluttering Poppies — X

Bai Huiqi trudged beside the Heavenly Demon in a daze while clutching the satchel Cheon WuHui bought—apparently—for him. "I... Have nothing to give you in return." In a shaky voice, he spoke up, stiffly turning his head to look at the man by his side.

Cheon WuHui, so astonishingly unlike himself, gave a shrug in response. "You need not. What you and the Spectre of The Blood Moon have given Us is so much more than We can repay for." Almost too pointedly, he sent a fleeting glance where the surgeon and the nine-tails were trying to hide.

"I did not do mu—"

"—We do not wish to hear this again," firmly, the Heavenly Demon interrupted before Bai Huiqi could discredit himself further. "Let us be well on our way to watch the dance," he paused, shooting the two men in hiding a very overt glance before he continued. "Would Doctor Li and Young Master Hu care to join us?"

Bai Huiqi stiffened at the sudden call-out. Surprise washed over him as he turned around to look in the same direction as Cheon WuHui, his sapphire eyes searching for his companions. "What are you—? Oh, I see them."

Ah shit, busted. The surgeon froze as he saw their eyes land on him and Hu Lijing with a focus that could rival any vulture. Well, now that their cover was blown... He glanced up to look at the nine-tailed fox spirit.

They should go near them instead.

Li Xinyuan grimaced upon being discovered so easily. Somewhat displeased, he coughed into his fist and walked out from behind the stall. In doing so, he did not forget to lightly jab his elbow at Hu Lijing.

The fox spirit frowned but said nothing and walked out while rubbing the place the surgeon hit him. The two scuttled towards the Heavenly Demon and Bai Huiqi, their faces showing neither shame nor the chagrin of being caught.

The surgeon tucked away his displeasure, and as he approached them, he wore a slight—shit-eating—grin instead. Hu Lijing reluctantly trailed after him, muttering to himself in disgruntled fashion.

"Ah," Li Xinyuan began, his tone light and breezy. "We were just perusing the goods in that stall. They are decent."

Cheon WuHui raised an eyebrow, exasperated and amused all at once. "Perusing them behind the stall while spying on Us?"

"Perusing them indeed." Ignoring the evident exasperation in the man’s voice, the surgeon shamelessly insisted and turned his attention to face Bai Huiqi instead. "What did you buy, Huiqi?"

Being on the receiving end of the surgeon’s attention seemed to startle the four-tailed fox spirit, making him jolt slightly. Despite the flinch being only slight, it did not escape the nine-tailed fox spirit’s notice and prompted a silent, amused snort from him.

"H-huh?" He let out a squeak. "Me?"

Li Xinyuan pursed his lips together to bite back a chuckle as he nodded sagely. "Why, yes, you." He offered a gentle smile of encouragement.

"Oh," Bai Huiqi blinked a few times as if comprehending and digesting the notion of someone asking him. Anything at all. "This, well, it is a perfume..?" He answered, sounding unsure of himself.

Li Xinyuan raised both eyebrows as he nodded, gazing down at the satchel the fox spirit was holding gingerly. "It does look beautiful." ƒгeewebnovёl_com

"Does it?" The Heavenly Demon interjected with a saccharine smile. "We chose it, after all."

The surgeon let out a soft noise as he hummed, smile deepening. "You have eyes." He nodded, the tone of his voice somewhat clipped and faint. "I suppose."

Beside him, Hu Lijing pulled a face, gesturing to Bai Huiqi to follow him away from them. "You do not want to be caught in between." He explained once they were far enough.

Bai Huiqi nodded very slowly as he trailed after him and turned to look over his shoulder. "What’s the matter with them?" He muttered in confusion as he watched them.

"Ah, do not attempt to understand him." Hu Lijing shrugged, waving his hand. "It will just confuse you more. Let them be."

Bai Huiqi nodded, eyes narrowed and lips pursed softly. "Oh, I see... Where are we going?"

"To watch the lantern dance."

Bai Huiqi paused for a brief second. "Oh," he replied, voice low. "I thought I would be watching it with WuHui."

Hu Lijing raised an eyebrow, turning to look back at him on hearing the Heavenly Demon’s name. "Why, disappointed?"

"Ah, no! Not at all!" Bai Huiqi’s face reddened as he waved his hands in denial. "It isn’t that!"

Hu Lijing bit his lip, mouth twitching as he snorted. "I can understand if you are."

In the meantime, Li Xinyuan watched them leave before turning back to Cheon WuHui. "Now then, let them spend some time together. Why don’t we have a few words instead?"

The Heavenly Demon thought himself too high to roll his eyes, otherwise he would have done so at the man’s audacity.

"Why, yes, are We such an interesting person to you, Doctor Li?" He smiled tightly.

"Ah, no. I just surmised we speak for a bit." Li Xinyuan offered him a wide smile that made his eyes close. "Until the two of them return?"

Cheon WuHui breathed out, still flabbergasted at the man’s audacity. But despite the exasperation clouding his judgement, he could not help but marvel at himself for harbouring a feeble sliver of admiration. "Very well," the most feared of men in JiangHu relented, sweeping his arm with a graceful flourish. "Let us go then."

Li Xinyuan continued smiling, eyes bright as he started walking. "I knew you would be sharp enough."

"What an astute observation," the man wearing a disguise replied dryly, lumbering after him.

Li Xinyuan strode a few feet ahead of him and halted to look back with narrowed eyes. "Quit stalling," he sighed, waiting for the man to reach him, "and wasting both our time."

"Oh, but We are simply a common man and you a martial artist," the Heavenly Demon bemoaned sorrowfully.

Oh heaven, if Li Xinyuan could stab him and escape unscathed, he would.

Furiously, his lips twitched as he drawled. "Oh, but my pace is barely any faster than a simple stroll."

The Heavenly Demon stopped beside him, hands poised behind his back as he smirked meaningfully. "Perchance, have you considered—for even a brief moment—that your company is underappreciated by Us?"

Li Xinyuan pressed his lips into a thin line, exhaled forcefully through his nose and in a less than impressed voice, retorted. "And I appreciate your company any more than you do mine?"

The Heavenly Demon in disguise tilted his head to the side in the slightest and hummed, seemingly deep in thought. "Well, your actions would suggest a rather vested interest in Us," he paused for a long moment. "To an ignorant bystander, of course."

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