I'm a good person

Feng Shu frowned. Never mind a suspect-even an ordinary demon slave who dared to hurt someone like that deserved severe punishment, if not a beating to death. Even if this demon slave was connected to the Sect Leader's poisoning, surely there was no need to indulge him so much. What exactly was Master thinking?

Of course, Feng Shu's question was soon voiced by Feng Yi, who never thought before he spoke.

"Master, you're treating him so well. Don't tell me you've really taken a fancy to him?" Feng Yi said.

Silence fell over the room. Feng Shu closed his eyes briefly. Seeing that Feng Yi was about to keep talking, he hurried forward, clapped a hand over his mouth, and dragged him out of the room.

Lin Qingyang watched his two disciples, somewhat speechless. When he turned back, he found Qi Mo staring at him with eyes full of wariness. Clearly, he had taken Feng Yi's words seriously.

"What are you looking at, Little White-Eyed Wolf? Want to take another bite out of me?" Lin Qingyang asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

Remembering his earlier misunderstanding, Qi Mo's face flickered with embarrassment, and he lowered his head awkwardly.

Lin Qingyang got off the couch and walked over. Sensing his approach, Qi Mo immediately glared at him warily again.

"Why so tense? Afraid I'll molest you?" Lin Qingyang teased him deliberately.

As he spoke, he moved a little closer still. Qi Mo did not move, but his body was taut, his wolf-like eyes fixed on the man inches away, filled with vigilance.

"Relax. I'm not interested in men, especially ones like you who haven't even grown all their hair yet," Lin Qingyang said, patting his shoulder.

Qi Mo frowned without speaking, his eyes still doubtful.

Lin Qingyang shook his head, somewhat speechless, and continued, "I know you weren't the one who poisoned the Sect Leader. Don't worry. I'll help clear your name."

Strictly speaking, he had not been the one who poisoned the Sect Leader and framed Qi Mo, but wearing this identity still left him feeling somewhat guilty. Once he saved the Sect Leader, though, the truth would naturally come out. He would probably have already fled by then, so for now, he would look after Qi Mo as a little compensation.

Qi Mo's heart jolted at those words. After so many days of torture, this was the first time he had heard someone say they believed him. An indescribable emotion surged up within him. His expression remained tight, but his eyes reddened despite himself. Yet that emotion was immediately replaced by the enormous question that had been lingering in his heart.

"Why are you helping me?" Qi Mo asked hesitantly.

Why did he keep saving him? Why was he treating him so well? If he truly had no designs on him, then what value could he possibly have to him?

Lin Qingyang gave a soft snort. "Why else? Because I'm a good person!"

Qi Mo froze for a moment. Clearly, that answer had been beyond his expectations.

Lin Qingyang said nothing more and walked straight past him into the bedroom.

Qi Mo's gaze followed him, but cold mockery slowly surfaced in his eyes. A good person? I don't believe that! How could there be any good people in the Human Clan? His past experiences had taught him that this kind of inexplicable kindness was more dangerous than outright malice. The man definitely had another purpose; he had simply hidden it deeper. His hand tightened inside his sleeve, still gripping the curved saber from earlier.

In the bedroom, the Windflower Sword was still snoring on the bed. Lin Qingyang rummaged through the wardrobe. Most of the original owner's clothes were drab grayish colors, stuffed inside in wrinkled heaps. Lin Qingyang found a dark set of clothes, walked out, and tossed it to Qi Mo.

"Your clothes are so torn you shouldn't wear them anymore. Change into these."

Qi Mo stood holding the clothes, stunned for a moment. This man was actually letting a demon slave wear his clothes.

"If you don't like those, there are others in the wardrobe. Come pick something yourself," Lin Qingyang said when Qi Mo remained motionless for a long while.

Qi Mo paused without speaking. He merely looked at the clothes in his hands, then turned slightly away and began changing.

Lin Qingyang averted his eyes awkwardly. How could this kid just strip like that? Although he had already seen him last night, it was still somewhat awkward with him awake. He turned and went back into the bedroom.

Sensing that the man had moved away, Qi Mo turned his head slightly to look after him. So he really isn't interested? Without betraying anything, Qi Mo put on the clothes and hid the blade at the back of his waist again.

Lin Qingyang's earlier outfit was covered in dirt and blood, so naturally, he could not wear it anymore either. After searching the wardrobe for quite a while, he dug out a pale gray gauze robe and changed into it. Looking at his bearded face in the mirror, he could see why that little white-eyed wolf was so wary of him. He did look a bit like a sleazy middle-aged man.

So he washed his face and shaved, slowly revealing his own familiar face. As for his long hair, he had no idea how to use the dust-covered hair crowns and hairpins on the table. He found a hair ribbon in a matching shade, gathered the hair on either side toward the back, and tied it, leaving the rest loose.

Outside, Qi Mo had changed and was clumsily trying to tie his sash, but the injury to his right hand kept him from exerting any strength. Even after struggling for a long time, he could not fasten it.

"Need a hand?"

Lin Qingyang's voice reached him. Qi Mo was just about to refuse, but when he looked up, he froze and said nothing for a long while.

Before him was a face that made it impossible to look away, its features as exquisite as a painting. His brows and eyes were clear and open, his beautiful, slightly upturned eyes carrying a careless smile. The mist-gray gauze robe hung loosely on him, its collar slightly open. His long hair was casually tied, a few loose strands falling across his forehead. He leaned languidly against the doorframe with his arms folded, looking at Qi Mo with the hint of a smile.

"What, you don't recognize me now that I've shaved?"

Qi Mo came back to himself and lowered his head somewhat awkwardly, but Lin Qingyang deliberately stepped forward and leaned close.

"Take a good look. With this face, who couldn't I reel in? Would I need to set my sights on a little brat like you?" Lin Qingyang asked, raising an eyebrow.

Qi Mo stared blankly at the face so close to his own, seemingly not listening to a word he said, only gazing straight at him.

Now it was Lin Qingyang who felt uncomfortable under his stare. He lowered his head and coughed softly. Seeing that Qi Mo was still holding the sash and that his wrist was still swollen, he pulled the sash from his hands and helped him tie it.

Qi Mo looked at the man with his head lowered before him. The position exposed his pale neck, where the bright red tooth marks were still conspicuous. He stared at those marks, something shifting suddenly in his eyes. Then, as though compelled by some strange impulse, he lowered his head toward them and gave them a gentle lick.

Lin Qingyang was fumbling with the sash when he felt a warm, wet tickle over his wound. Realizing what Qi Mo was doing, he abruptly lifted his head and looked at him with shock and bewilderment.

Those amber eyes watched him nervously, as if observing Lin Qingyang's reaction, yet also like a wild beast waiting for its chance to strike. Qi Mo himself could not explain why he had done it. Perhaps he had wanted to test him, to see whether he truly had no other designs on him, as he had just claimed. Or perhaps the man's dismissive attitude had roused his temper, making him want to provoke him. Either way, doing something like this in his current circumstances was unwise.

"Are you treating my wound?" Lin Qingyang asked. Considering that this kid's true form was a wolf, having such a habit did not seem strange.

Qi Mo paused, then nodded somewhat stiffly. In truth, even within the Wolf Clan, licking wounds was something that happened only between those who shared the closest relationships.

Naturally, Lin Qingyang knew none of this. He merely assumed Qi Mo felt embarrassed about mistakenly biting him earlier. He smiled and said, "Forget it. It wasn't entirely your fault. You're a virgin. I get it." As he spoke, he looked him over with a wicked grin.

"But don't be so impulsive again. You were lucky to run into me this time. If you'd bitten someone else, you'd have been in serious trouble."

As he spoke, Lin Qingyang returned to the couch, stretched, and lay down. He casually picked up a spirit fruit from the plate and took a bite. Although he did not know what it was, it tasted quite good. He took another and tossed it to Qi Mo.

Qi Mo caught it steadily. He looked at the bright red fruit in his hand, then raised his eyes to the man reclining by the window. Sunlight streamed in and fell over him, enveloping him in a faint halo. For a moment, Qi Mo was lost in a daze.