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Bitter-sweet-ness
“I’m not angry with you,” Qingcang managed to utter a muffled response, his voice barely audible above Lina’s breathing.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in Qingcang’s words. She could not believe what she was hearing. “Y-you’re not?” she stammered, her heart racing with anticipation.
Qingcang let out a sigh. “No,” he replied impatiently, his tone short and clipped.
She felt a wave of awkwardness wash over her as she realized she had been embracing Qingcang for far too long. She quickly pulled away from him, feeling embarrassed and self-conscious. ‘So, I’ve been acting like a fool for nothing?’ she thought, her cheeks flushing with heat as she looked up to see him raising an eyebrow at her.
Looking up at Qingcang, Lina saw that he was studying her closely, his arms crossed over his chest. She felt a shiver run down her spine as she met his gaze, unsure of his thoughts. She shifted nervously on her feet, her heart pounding as she prepared to ask the question that had been gnawing at her for hours. She cleared her throat, the sound harsh and grating in the tense silence of the room. “Did you find the wrongdoer?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Qingcang exhaled slowly through his nose; his eyes fixed on Lina’s face as he read the anxiety etched there. He could tell she was trying to change the subject, to brush off their intimate encounter with casual conversation. But he decided to indulge her. “I found the magician,” he said evenly, “but he was not the real culprit.”
Lina’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean there was someone else?” she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Qingcang nodded, his expression remaining impassive as he replied, “That’s right.”
Lina’s brow furrowed. “What did you do to the magician?” she asked, her tone suddenly sharp.
Qingcang’s lips curved slightly, the hint of a smirk playing at the corners. His emotionless eyes raised somewhat in response, looking directly into the window of Lina’s soul through her eyes. “I took care of it,” he said cryptically. “He won’t bother you anymore.”
Lina regarded Qingcang suspiciously, her eyes narrowing. “You didn’t kill him, did you?” she inquired, her voice low and cautious.
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Earlier today:
At around four o’clock in the afternoon, Dongfang Qingcang found the culprit responsible for casting the death curse on Lina. The offender was a magician.
Qingcang’s voice was menacing as he demanded information from the magician. “Tell me who hired you, or else…” he threatened, his sneer emphasizing the seriousness of the situation as the magician whimpered in fear.
The magician stuttered in fear as he responded, “If I tell y-you, I will die anyways. This is the c-contract I have with my w-workers.”
Qingcang held the magician firmly, ready to inflict significant pain but not enough to kill him. He spoke with a terrifying voice, “You don’t know me. If you don’t tell me, I’ll force you to choose what I should remove first: your skin or your limbs, little by little,” he continued with narrowed eyes, staring deep into the magician’s frightened eyes. “Don’t try my patience,” he warned, his intimidation clear.
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“You didn’t kill him, did you?” Lina inquired.
Qingcang’s expression turned serious as he met Lina’s gaze. “No,” he replied firmly, his voice steady. “I didn’t need to.”
Lina’s eyes widened further in surprise and curiosity. “Wait, you didn’t need to? What happened?” she asked, leaning forward eagerly.
“As I was about to extract information from him,” Qingcang began, “those creatures killed him instantly.”
Lina’s mouth fell open in shock. “You mean…” she trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper.
“The same creatures that have been hunting you,” Qingcang replied grimly. “I demolished his cabin and every dark object that belonged to him, just in case.”
Lina nodded in understanding, a small smile of gratitude on her face. “Thank you,” she said softly. “So, you don’t know who is behind it all?” she asked as her curiosity piqued.
Qingcang’s gaze was unwavering as he met Lina’s eyes. “I can’t say for certain yet,” he replied in a low voice. “But I have my suspicions.”
Lina was consumed by curiosity about the person who wanted to kill her. She could feel her heart pounding, urging her to press on and get answers. “Who?” she asked eagerly, unable to hold back any longer.
But Qingcang’s response was cautious, his voice low and measured. “Let’s not discuss that now,” he said, eyes locked onto Lina’s. “The less you know, the better it is for you.”
Lina’s frustration was evident in her stuttering response, “B-but…”
Qingcang’s reminder of their previous agreement was firm. “Didn’t you agree not to fight me on this and obey me?” he asked, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Lina felt like she had hit a wall. She had made a promise to Qingcang, and she was not about to break it now. “I see…” she trailed off, realizing that the subject she wanted to change had ended. She turned to leave, but he stopped her by holding her hand firmly.
“Wait right there,” Qingcang ordered, his grip on Lina’s hand refusing to let go.
Lina turned around slowly, raising an eyebrow and looking confused. “What?” she asked as she tilted her head, trying to understand what Qingcang wanted from her.
Dongfang Qingcang and Lina stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a tense stare-down. The atmosphere between them was palpable, charged with unspoken words and a hint of uncertainty. He scrutinized her every move with his piercing gaze and observed a slight change in how she gazed at him now.
Lina, on the other hand, could not help but feel a strange mix of emotions swirling within her. At first, she had been confident and courageous in Qingcang’s intense scrutiny, meeting his gaze head-on. But now, as he continued staring at her, she became increasingly nervous and fidgety.
Qingcang noticed the change in Lina’s demeanor but brushed it off, thinking, ‘It’s probably a side-effect of removing her black magic after I saved her in the sky.’
Qingcang knew that Lina wished to avoid him like the plague. He sensed her heart and how tense she had become tonight after she pulled away from embracing him. He also knew that she felt at peace when she held him tightly.
The irony of the situation was not lost on Qingcang. He could not feel pleasure from physical touch or affection as an emotionless being. So, Lina was the one experiencing the joy and comfort of their embrace, not him.
As the two stood there, locked in their silent exchange, Qingcang could not help but feel perplexed by Lina’s actions. He wondered why she would relish holding him when he could not return the sentiment. And why was she worried that he had left her for good? Did she not used to think that he would not remain in this world?
Meanwhile, Lina was lost in her thoughts, ‘Why is he holding my hand?’ as her eyes flicked down to their intertwined fingers. The answer eluded her, leaving her with a mystery about their association.
Qingcang summoned the sphere that Lina had thrown onto the couch before embracing him, and it landed on his other hand. The sphere looked like it was made of a precious gemstone, with its smooth surface shimmering under the light. He marveled at the intricate details of the sphere, his eyes glued to its vibrant colors. He opened her hand that he held and placed the sphere in her hand. “Take it, now,” he said impatiently.
Lina raised an eyebrow and replied, “I can’t.” Her voice was soft, but her tone was firm.
Qingcang tilted his head, curious about Lina’s answer, and asked, “Why?”
“I know you worked hard on making this medicine, but…” Lina said, pouting. Her eyes were fixed on the sphere in her hand, but she refused to look up at Qingcang.
“But what?” Qingcang interjected, his impatience growing. He could feel his temper flare up, but he tried to keep it in check.
“It’s too big. I can’t swallow it,” Lina continued, her face down, eyes upward in Qingcang’s gaze.
Qingcang sighed briefly, getting annoyed. “What do you want?” he asked, his voice tinged with irritation.
“I’m not being ungrateful! It’s just; I can’t…” Lina pouted, her words trailing off.
Qingcang sighed deeply this time, taking the pill from Lina and gazing at her pitiful eyes. He crushed the pill in his hand into five smaller pieces. The sound of the medicine being crushed was like the shattering of glass. “They’re small. You can take them now, right?” he said, offering the smaller pieces to her.
Lina smiled kindly at Qingcang, feeling overjoyed for experiencing his kindness, and nodded. She took one piece from his hand and paused to look delighted with him as she began to value their friendship more by the minute. She placed the piece in her mouth, and he leaned closer to see if she was swallowing it.
However, there was one problem.
“IT’S SO BITTER! GAH!” Lina screamed in agony. Her face twisted in pain as she tried to tolerate the medicine, but it was too bitter. Tears streamed down her face, and Qingcang could see the suffering in her eyes.
Dongfang Qingcang, a man of great discipline, was losing his patience with her antics. He gritted his teeth and asked, “It shouldn’t be big, and it shouldn’t be bitter! What do you want, indeed?” The frustration in his voice was apparent, and his expression was a mixture of annoyance and anger.
Lina, determined to find a solution, uttered a cheesy tone and exclaimed, “Wait! Waaaaait! I know!” She looked up with a bright smile and met Qingcang’s raised eyebrow.
“What?” Qingcang asked, annoyed.
“I’m going to add some chocolate to it!” she declared with excitement. She then handed Qingcang the pill that was in her mouth earlier and said, “Here, hold on to it. I’ll be right back!” With that, she playfully hopped into another room, leaving him speechless.
Dongfang Qingcang, known for his excellent hygiene, looked at the pill piece that Lina had put in her mouth with irritation. He was dumbfounded, frustrated, and even angry. He muttered in a menacing tone, “That Silly Little Human…” He was about to throw the pill away but refrained at the last minute, remembering his effort to cultivate it. He went to sit down on the couch, holding the saliva-covered pill in his hand with a scowl.
As Qingcang sat there, fuming with frustration, Lina returned cheerfully, carrying a glass jar with chocolate paste. “Oh, I’m back!” she exclaimed. Unaware of his annoyance, she nonchalantly grabbed the pill from his hand and went in another direction.
Qingcang asked, irritated and impatient, “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to wash the pill before taking it with chocolate. It’s not hygienic to take it like that after it already went in my mouth,” Lina replied matter-of-factly before leaving the room.
Dongfang Qingcang’s eyes widened, and his scowl deepened as Lina’s actions stupefied him. He thought, ‘If this Silly Little Human knew that it’s not proper hygiene, why did she give me this after she put it in her mouth? I’m not her servant!’ His frustration grew, and he could not help but mutter under his breath, “Ridiculous…”
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Lina walked towards Qingcang, holding a glass jar with a big smile. The pot had a white lid, and the light reflected beautifully, making it appear more pristine. “Here it is, Pretty Eyes!” she exclaimed, offering him the jar. “I cleaned the medicine and added some chocolate paste to it. Do you want some chocolate too? It’s delicious,” she added. They were standing in the kitchen, basking in the warm glow of the ceiling light.
Qingcang, however, did not share the same happy expression. His face was marked by frustration and impatience; his arms crossed over his chest as he stood before Lina. He was tired of her tendency to avoid taking her medication, and his tolerance for her behavior was thin. He eyed her carefully, weighing his patience, and it was not looking good.
“I get it; I get it. Don’t look at me like that; I’ll take the pills. Geez,” Lina responded cautiously, attempting to soothe Qingcang’s annoyance. She sensed his displeasure and was trying to calm him down. ‘He’s so hot-headed,’ she thought as she picked up a chocolate-covered pill and put it in her mouth.
She savored the taste of the chocolate, enjoying its sweetness as she chewed. Qingcang watched her closely, ensuring she had swallowed the prepared pill as he was vigilant and attentive.
But there was another issue that arose.
“Wait,” she suddenly interrupted, her head raised in deep thought.
Qingcang looked at her with irritation, his patience wearing thin as she began to nag again, merely for taking a damn pill. “What? Are you going to make a fuss about it?” he asked, annoyed. His voice was sharp, reflecting his frustration.
She stood there, looking helpless. The medication was unbearably bitter, overpowering even the chocolate. She tried to suppress her gag reflex, but it was challenging. “Dongfang Qingcang, I’m sorry… I don’t know how I can take it like this…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Qingcang’s tense expression softened as he recognized her genuine effort to comply with his wishes. He closed his eyes, attempting to regain his composure.
‘I think he’s annoyed with me now,’ Lina thought, disappointed in her inability to tolerate the bitter taste of the medication.
“Open your mouth,” Qingcang instructed in a deep yet soft voice.
All original additions in “The Moon Supreme, Dongfang Qingcang” are copyright © 2022 by Aurora Luxi. All rights reserved.
Aurora Luxi 