Subscribers to my email list get free early access to future chapters!
Table of Contents
Click HERE to see a list of all the chapters and disclaimer. And do not steal my work.
Bitter-sweet-ness
“I’m not angry with you,” Qingcang managed to utter a muffled response.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in Qingcang’s words. She could not believe what she was hearing. “Y-You’re not?” Her heart raced.
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?’ Her cheeks flushed 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. “Did you find the wrongdoer?”
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.”
“You mean there was someone else?”
Qingcang nodded, his expression remaining impassive. “That’s right.”
Lina’s brow furrowed. “What did you do to the magician?”
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?”
~*~
Earlier today:
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.”
~*~
“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. “Wait, you didn’t need to? What happened?”
“As I was about to extract information from him, those creatures killed him instantly.”
Lina’s mouth fell open in shock. “You mean…”
“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?”
Qingcang’s stoic gaze met Lina’s. “I can’t say for certain yet,” he said 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?”
But Qingcang’s response was cautious, his voice low and measured. “Let’s not discuss that now. The less you know, the better it is for you.”
“But…”
Qingcang’s reminder of their previous agreement was firm. “Didn’t you agree not to fight me on this and obey me?”
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.
Qingcang took her hand. “Wait right there.”
Lina turned around slowly and lifted an eyebrow. “What?” She tilted her head.
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. Why would she 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 use 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, getting annoyed. “What do you want?”
“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 at 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?”
“I’m going to add some chocolate to it!” She placed the pill on a small plate and handed it to him. “Here, hold on to it. I’ll be right back!” With that, she playfully hopped into another room, leaving him speechless.
Dongfang Qingcang looked at the pill piece that Lina had put in her mouth. 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 plate with a scowl.
Lina returned cheerfully, carrying a glass jar with chocolate paste. “Oh, I’m back!” Unaware of his annoyance, she nonchalantly grabbed the pill from his hand and went in another direction.
Irritated, his impatience crawled under his skin. “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 left the room.
Dongfang Qingcang’s eyes widened, and his scowl deepened as Lina’s actions stupefied him. His frustration grew, and he could not help but mutter under his breath, “Ridiculous…”
~*~
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.” 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 picked up the chocolate-covered pill and put it in her mouth. ‘He’s so hot-headed.’
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.
She suddenly raised her head. “Wait.”
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?” His voice was sharp.
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…”
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 