Soulbound: Chronicles Of A Shadow Assassin-Chapter 56: Unsatiable Hunger

"I don’t want it!" Lin Xiaoyan’s voice rang out, laced with defensiveness, but Master Zhang’s only response was a raised eyebrow, his expression silently asking, ’are you sure?’.

Lin Xiaoyan let out a frustrated sigh and raked his hand through his hair, calming himself. "I’m not taking it for fun, okay?" he said, launching into an explanation without prompt. "I have really bad insomnia, and it helps me sleep. That’s the only reason." His words spilled out in a defensive rush, eager to justify himself, despite Master Zhang’s silence.

Master Zhang merely cackled in amusement, his eyes glinting with mirth as he watched Lin Xiaoyan’s face redden in embarrassment while walking away. Master Zhang’s eyes danced with amusement at the sight, and his lips curled up into a mischievous grin.

"Do you know what else can cause sleepiness aside from insomnia?" Master Zhang asked rhetorically, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he stood up and walked towards Lin Xiaoyan, who was now standing in front of his closet. And then, with a flourish, Master Zhang dropped the bombshell: "Loneliness."

Lin Xiaoyan remained silent, his face a mask of calmness that belied the turmoil brewing inside him. His eyes seemed to bore into Master Zhang’s soul, as if daring him to continue. But Master Zhang was undeterred, his bravado growing with each passing moment.

"You should have gotten married when you were still young," Master Zhang said, his voice taking on a teasing tone. "Or... are you still not over your crush on Lady..."

Lin Xiaoyan’s reaction was instantaneous. He whipped his head around as fast as lightning, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity that almost immediately halted Master Zhang’s words before he could mention that one name that had a huge effect on Lin Xiaoyan.

"My bad, my bad," Master Zhang said, raising both of his hands in mock surrender as he burst into a fit of cheerful laughter. The sound of his laughter was like a balm to the tension, calming the storm that was brewing.

With a playful grin, Master Zhang pushed Lin Xiaoyan away from the front of the closet, his movements quick and agile. "Out of my way," he said, his voice dripping with amusement as he opened the closet and grabbed the jar of wine which fortunately still remained in the same position as the last time he had been snooping in Lin Xiaoyan’s room.

Caught off guard, Lin Xiaoyan’s eyes widened in alarm, and he tried to grab Master Zhang’s arm, but Master Zhang’s next words made his hands freeze in the air:

"It’s empty." Master Zhang spoke with a fallen expression as he shook the jar, feeling for the emptiness.

The realization dawned on Lin Xiaoyan, and his face contorted in a mixture of shock and dismay. "What?" Lin Xioayan said in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You finished it!" Master Zhang almost yelled, feeling frustrated as it dawned on him that his efforts to get wasted for the night had been in vain.

Lin Xiaoyan snatched the jar from Master Zhang’s already loosened grasp, wanting to confirm for himself. He even went as far as raising the jar to his lips, as if expecting wine to magically flow out of the empty jar.

"How’s this possible?" Lin Xiaoyan demanded, his voice rising in indignation. "I only take a cup every time I couldn’t sleep. Just one!"

Master Zhang scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess you were unbelievably lonely." The words were like a knife to Lin Xiaoyan’s heart, and he reacted with a ferocity that caught Master Zhang off guard.

Lin Xiaoyan slammed his fist on his closet, rendering Master Zhang silent as he yelled, "Who dared?!!!" The sound of his voice was like thunder, shaking the very foundations of the room.

....

Back at the infirmary, Mingyu stood tall at the top of the stairs, his arms clasped behind his back in a dignified pose that commanded attention. The soft glow of the infirmary’s lanterns cast a warm light on his face, accentuating the sharp lines of his features.

Jiang Yichen stood below, a little distance from the stairs, his eyes locked onto Mingyu’s with an intensity that bordered on reverence. The air was thick with seriousness, the only sound the distant hum of the infirmary and the soft rustle of the wind through the nearby trees.

"I have served ten masters before," Jiang Yichen began, his voice low and solemn, his words dripping with conviction. "People think I was kicked out, but the truth is, I left on my own. And now, I have finally found my true master." Jiang Yichen’s gaze never wavered from Mingyu’s, his eyes burning with a fierce devotion. "I shall kneel before you and swear to serve you as my master, forever."

Mingyu’s eyes scanned the surrounding area, ensuring they were alone. He found the whole display dramatic and unnecessary, but he played along, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

Though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he couldn’t deny that on the inside, he found it exhilarating. The deference, the devotion, it all served as a poignant reminder of the superiority he had not felt in a long while.

Just as Jiang Yichen began to kneel, Mingyu’s words stopped him. "On one condition," he said, his voice firm but measured, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. Jiang Yichen’s eyebrow rose, his attention riveted on Mingyu.

"You mustn’t tell anyone about our relationship," Mingyu continued, his voice low and even. "In the eyes of everyone, you will continue to be my owner, and I’ll continue to be your servant."

Jiang Yichen nodded, understanding etched on his face. But Mingyu wasn’t finished.

"Our relationship as master and pupil will only last until you become the best you can be and help me restore my spiritual powers. The moment I get my powers back, and return to being Mingyu, we will no longer be master and pupil."

Jiang Yichen’s eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. "Why?" he asked, his voice low and even.

Mingyu’s expression turned enigmatic, a hint of mystery dancing in his eyes. "Because by then, you should no longer have a reason to protect me, neither should I have a reason to go easy on you and the others."

The air hung heavy with tension as Jiang Yichen digested Mingyu’s words. Finally, he nodded, though his expression betrayed a hint of discontent. "So you want to part ways once our deal is done? I see... Alright. Once I’m no longer of use to you, you may abandon me. Then I’ll respect your decision and let you leave."

A small, amused smile played on Mingyu’s lips as he took a step down the stairs. "Now, kneel before your master," he said, his voice firm but tinged with a hint of triumph.

Without hesitation, Jiang Yichen knelt, his eyes locked onto Mingyu’s. "I, Jiang Yichen, your pupil, promise to serve and protect my master, Yinzhi, with all my heart."

Mingyu nodded, a smug smile of pride spreading across his face as he gazed down at Jiang Yichen. Having knelt before his master countless times in the past, it felt strange but secretly satisfying to have someone kneel before him in respect.

Meanwhile, at the library, Lin Xiaowei and Feng Zhenyu were seated at a table, but instead of books which should have been expected to be on the table, what was instead on the table was a small jar, and two cups in front of each of them.

Lin Xiaowei poured himself a cup and gulped it down in one go. "Hah!" He released a sigh as the liquid hit the right spots in his body.

"This is the wine that my uncle hides in his room. It tastes quite nice. Here, have some." He took the jar and tilted it above the cup meant for Feng Zhenyu, but to Lin Xioayan’s surprise, Feng Zhenyu moved the cup backwards.

"I’m good." Feng Zhenyu’s said, answering the silent ’why?’ which was clearly written all over Lin Xiaowei’s crestfallen face.

"That guy, Yinzhi..." Feng Zhenyu began, a little bit of hesitancy in his voice, "Yichen recently brought him from the Golden Lotus brothel, right?"

Lin Xiaowei was a little taken aback by the sudden question, but he remembered Yinzhi’s sacrifice for Yichen, and a small smile formed on his lips as he nodded his head.

"He put his life on the line for Yichen even though they only just met. Don’t you find that strange?" Feng Zhenyu asked.

Lin Xioayan pouted his lips, thinking about Feng Zhenyu’s words. "I guess he just felt indebted to Yichen. Yichen was the one who saved him from having to become a sex worker at the brothel, after all. I heard the poor guy hated the job so much that he even pretended to be blind just so he could escape."

Feng Zhenyu’s eyebrows quirked up in surprise. "Did you say blind?" He asked