Don't Move

When his consciousness sank to its deepest depths, Chi Li forgot many things. In the end, he remembered only the gentleness that had enveloped him. That gentleness felt strangely familiar, yet he could not recall where he had experienced it before.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw a vast stretch of rooftops obscured by vines. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between overlapping leaves.

This was an enormous glasshouse. Vines climbed the iron framework surrounding it, while flowers and plants of every color grew freely. The overly magnificent scene was like a paradise beyond the world, leaving Chi Li briefly dazed.

Chi Li tried to remember something, but someone suddenly spoke, interrupting him.

"Awake?" The voice came closer. Chi Li's train of thought abruptly stopped. He even forgot what he had been trying to do, forgetting to maintain even his usual vigilance and aggression as he followed the sound.

An exceptionally beautiful man stood there. His pale blue hair gave off the mysterious aura of the ocean beneath the sunlight. Clad in a white robe trimmed with gold, he resembled an elf from the mountains and fit this secluded paradise perfectly. He possessed an extraordinary bearing, yet he did not seem distant because of it. Instead, an inexplicable warmth radiated from him.

Chi Li froze. He did not know this person, but this man had clearly saved him. Before he could speak, the man smiled and introduced himself. "You can call me Bai Qi."

The name sounded familiar. A few seconds later, Chi Li's eyes trembled.

The former Emperor's only lover had also been named Bai Qi.

Chi Li looked uncertainly at the man before him. "You are that..."

That inexplicable warmth became even stronger when the man smiled, as though he knew what Chi Li wanted to say. "Yes, I am. There is no need to bring up those old matters of mine. Let's look at your injuries first." At his words, the attendant beside him stepped forward.

When the former Emperor had still been alive, the tale of his love with the Empress had spread far and wide. Yet Bai Qi had been exceedingly low-key, and his identity was shrouded in mystery. Few people knew much about this Empress. They only knew that the two had loved each other deeply. After the Emperor died, Bai Qi, who had already kept a low profile, vanished completely.

It was no wonder Chi Li had not recognized him at once. He had never expected to encounter Bai Qi.

Since Bai Qi did not wish to discuss it, Chi Li offered his thanks. Bai Qi merely continued smiling gently and told him there was no need to be so formal.

The attendant beside them added, "Mr. Bai is kind-hearted. He has helped many people, and his medical skills are excellent as well."

The wounds on Chi Li's body had already been treated. They still hurt, but they were clearly much better than before.

Bai Qi had the attendant change his dressing. "Do you remember what happened? When I found you, you were lying in the woods not far from the shore, covered in injuries."

It was as though the thoughts interrupted when Chi Li first awoke finally resumed. The events of that night played through his mind like a recording sped up several times over.

An even stranger feeling rose from the depths of Chi Li's heart. The string that had always kept him alert at the edge of danger had not stirred, yet he felt as though he had forgotten something very important.

After Bai Qi asked, Chi Li fell silent for a while.

As though Bai Qi had guessed what Chi Li was worried about, he smiled. "At the time, I only saw you there alone. If you do not want to talk about it, then don't. You can recover here, and you may leave whenever you wish."

Chi Li caught the implication hidden in Bai Qi's words and was about to ask.

Bai Qi suddenly coughed several times. The attendant's expression tightened as he reminded him, "Sir, you should go rest. I can handle things here."

At that, Bai Qi rose to leave and smiled apologetically at Chi Li. Chi Li stopped himself from asking further. As Bai Qi walked out of the room, Chi Li heard several more muffled coughs. Bai Qi did not seem to be in good health.

The attendant gave an apologetic smile. "Sir is in poor health and has been recovering here for a long time. He rarely goes out, so not many people know about it. Please keep this confidential after you leave. Though probably no one would come to visit him anyway, Sir prefers peace and quiet, so it is better to have one less trouble..."

Chi Li responded softly. From the attendant's words, he learned that this was a private estate near the sea, though it should still be some distance from the shore where he had been. Bai Qi also had a small residence by the coast.

As the attendant changed Chi Li's bandages, he said, "If there is anything you want to ask, you can ask me. Looking at you, you must be rather confused too."

Chi Li asked a few questions, carefully avoiding the important matters.

The attendant said, "It was the night before last that Sir brought you back. Sir likes going to the seaside, and he happened to be there that day. You were lucky. If Sir had not discovered you in time, and if his medical skills were not so good, you would have died from injuries like those."

The strange feeling within Chi Li grew stronger, but whenever he neared the answer, it was obscured by mist once more.

Chi Li suddenly asked, "How did Mr. Bai Qi find me?"

The attendant scratched his head, clearly not expecting Chi Li to ask that. "Sir often picks up small animals at the seaside. This really is the first time he has picked up a living person, though. Well, he found you while taking a walk..."

The attendant did not know either. Chi Li knew he would not get anything more out of him.

Still, it was too much of a coincidence. Chi Li frowned slightly.

The attendant continued, "Your injuries clearly have an unusual origin. I do not know whom you offended, but my Sir has always only saved lives and never meddled in other people's affairs. I could tell just now as well. But when you are in an unfamiliar place, it is only natural to be wary. Still, rest assured, Sir has no interest in anything beyond these flowers and plants. Only by minding one's own business can one live a long life..."

The attendant rambled on to Chi Li for quite some time. Nine out of every ten sentences praised Bai Qi.

Over the following days, Chi Li continued observing and found that most people here were like that attendant, harboring deep admiration and affection for Bai Qi.

It seemed Bai Qi truly treated them well, Chi Li thought.

Chi Li was in no hurry to contact Si Jinyan. Before that, he still needed to confirm one thing. Bai Qi did not visit again after that day, and once Chi Li was able to get out of bed and walk around, he sought Bai Qi out.

However, Bai Qi only said, "I told you, I only saw you there alone. I do not know how you received those injuries either..."

Everything Bai Qi said conveyed the same meaning: he had no intention of involving himself in Chi Li's grievances. He had only saved him because he happened to come across him.

Bai Qi, who had been pruning the plants, suddenly changed the subject. "Human life is far too fragile. If people could be as full of vitality and as easy to care for as these plants, that would be wonderful."

Chi Li paused, thinking Bai Qi might have been moved by the sight before him. He hurriedly thanked him and left.

Chi Li was unsure whether any of the mercenaries from that night had escaped. He was also unsure whether Bai Qi had already recognized him. After all, the news about him and Si Jinyan had caused a tremendous uproar throughout the Empire. When Bai Qi saw the chaos that night, had he also begun to suspect Chi Li's identity...?

Yet Bai Qi kept silent, seemingly truly unwilling to meddle in anything. Chi Li could only take things one step at a time, but it was clearly no longer safe to remain in the Empire.

Si Jinyan appeared before him sooner than Chi Li had expected.

That day, Chi Li was loosening up on the lawn when the string that had kept him on edge at the border of danger for years suddenly tightened.

When he turned around, he saw someone he had not seen in a long time.

Si Jinyan strode toward him with a dark expression. Chi Li stood frozen in place, his heart pounding wildly. The next second, Si Jinyan's strong hands had already clamped down on his shoulders.

They were extremely close. Chi Li could even sense Si Jinyan's irritable pheromones, deliberately restrained yet still leaking out. Looking closely, there seemed to be dark blue-black veinlike patterns beneath Si Jinyan's skin, and even his eyes reflected a strange metallic gleam. He was like a fierce beast that had lain in wait in the jungle for far too long.

Chi Li had never seen Si Jinyan like this. Even at Si Jinyan's worst loss of control, he had never been this frightening. At that moment, Si Jinyan carried an unease and terror that made him impossible to look at directly. Chi Li's heart lurched, and he instinctively tried to break free from the restraint.

Thinking it, Chi Li acted on it. But the moment he struggled, Si Jinyan pinned him down even more tightly and barked in a low voice, "Don't move!"

The next instant, Si Jinyan yanked open the clothes Chi Li was wearing.

Chi Li wore a loose robe similar to Bai Qi's. It was soft and comfortable, but also easy to undo. With a light tug from Si Jinyan, a large expanse of skin was revealed.