Facing Mu Xueshi’s fearful expression, the Third Prince’s dark and sinister gaze gradually softened. He gently rubbed Mu Xueshi’s hair and said calmly,
“It’s nothing. Linhan Palace is damp and cold. An abnormal reaction on your face is hardly surprising. Just don’t keep touching it.”
But Mu Xueshi had already lost the good mood he had earlier.
Originally, he had planned to enjoy a moment of happiness before revealing his true identity. After all, the injustice done to the body’s original owner had finally been cleared—perhaps that could be considered a form of compensation.
Yet this sudden accident dragged his heart closer to the harshness of reality.
Seeing the dimness in Mu Xueshi’s eyes and the forced smile on his face, the Third Prince’s mood also darkened.
Those two servants had slapped Mu Xueshi twenty times that very morning. If his face were now completely ruined, the cause would be far too obvious.
The Third Prince carried Mu Xueshi back to the room and gently laid him on the bed, covering him with a quilt. Once the thin facial membrane was reapplied, his appearance returned to normal, hiding any abnormalities beneath.
“Sleep. You’re tired,” the Third Prince said softly, brushing Mu Xueshi’s long eyelashes.
Such rare tenderness only made Mu Xueshi more uneasy.
The kinder the Third Prince treated him, the more selfishly he wished to keep this face… this identity… for himself.
He hated his hypocrisy. Hated his selfishness.
Even though he knew he would never truly do such a thing, he still could not stop himself from imagining it.
“Xi… if my face never recovers… will you dislike me?”
The Third Prince had originally intended to immediately report the matter to the Emperor, but hearing Mu Xueshi’s words made him stop.
At last he understood what Mu Xueshi feared.
Looking into those beautiful eyes clouded with sorrow, a faint trace of pleasure unexpectedly stirred within his heart.
Mu Xueshi had begun to care about the image he held in the Prince’s eyes—begun to worry that a flaw might cause him to be abandoned.
Whether it had been the aloof Mu Xueshi of the past or the playful one who laughed all day long, none had ever looked this pitiful and endearing.
Fresh from the bath, Mu Xueshi’s skin carried a rosy hue—even across his chest—smooth and tender like that of a newborn.
No wonder so many ministers had stared blankly during the court session earlier that day.
Just thinking about their lecherous expressions filled the Third Prince with disgust.
Without hesitation, he pressed his thin lips against Mu Xueshi’s soft red ones.
It seemed as though he did not care at all about what Mu Xueshi’s face might become.
Perhaps he only wanted to give him silent reassurance—
that even if no cure could be found, he would never abandon him.
Their tongues intertwined tightly.
Mu Xueshi’s body was already stirring with desire, while the Third Prince—having been separated from him for several days—soon found his breathing growing uneven as well.
Seizing the moment while the Third Prince was distracted, Mu Xueshi’s nimble hand slipped beneath his clothing and began sliding across the smooth, firm chest beneath. A mischievous, lustful grin spread across his face.
The Third Prince found the expression amusing, though his face remained calm.
Seeing little reaction, Mu Xueshi grew dissatisfied. With a snort, he pulled his hand back and wriggled out of the Prince’s embrace.
Seeing him pretend to be angry, the Third Prince deliberately teased him further. Before long, Mu Xueshi was already gasping for breath beneath his touch.
Though his expression still held stubborn defiance, his body had long since surrendered.
Soon enough, Mu Xueshi had been stripped bare and pinned beneath the Third Prince.
Unwilling to suffer alone, he reached to tug at the Prince’s clothing, even trying to overturn their positions.
But the Third Prince subdued him effortlessly with a single hand.
Mu Xueshi attempted several times to seal the Prince’s acupoints—each attempt ending in failure.
When he saw the Third Prince reaching for a bottle of fragrant lubricant, Mu Xueshi suddenly grew nervous. Burying his face in the blanket, he muttered,
“Don’t use that… it’s been so long since it was used. What if it’s gone bad? If it doesn’t work… it’ll hurt me to death again.”
The Third Prince showed no intention of yielding. He even ordered Qingya to bring it directly into the room.
The moment Mu Xueshi saw Qingya enter, he hurriedly covered himself with the quilt, his face burning red like a cooked shrimp.
Wouldn’t everyone in the courtyard know what the Third Prince was doing to him now?
The thought made his embarrassment intensify.
Suddenly, something soft began licking at his most sensitive place.
Mu Xueshi shuddered with pleasure and instinctively tried to move, only to be firmly held down.
The Prince’s tongue explored gently, sending waves of sensation through him.
“Mm… no…”
Even as pleasure overwhelmed him, one of the Prince’s fingers slipped inside, spreading the fragrant oil and probing deeper.
When he found a particular sensitive spot and pressed down upon it, Mu Xueshi’s body trembled violently.
After locating the spot, the Prince continued stimulating it again and again.
Mu Xueshi’s broken moans mingled with half-hearted pleas for mercy, filling the bedchamber with springlike passion.
Why had Heaven created humans with so many weaknesses?
Mu Xueshi thought miserably.
The next moment, another finger entered, and soon his breathing was entirely controlled by the Prince.
“Sit on it yourself,” the Third Prince commanded, sitting before him.
Mu Xueshi glanced downward at the formidable sight between the Prince’s legs and shivered.
“M-maybe not… I’ll just use my hand to help you…”
But before he could finish, his hand was seized and he was pulled directly onto the Prince’s lap.
Left with no choice, Mu Xueshi swallowed and slowly lowered himself.
A real man must bend when necessary.
Crying like a woman would only be more embarrassing.
Yet when it was only halfway in, he already felt as though he might split apart.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he could go no further.
Each tiny movement made the satisfaction on the Prince’s face grow more obvious.
Finally, gritting his teeth, Mu Xueshi forced himself down all the way.
“Mm—!”
Unable to bear the pain, he instinctively bit down on the Prince’s shoulder, leaving two neat rows of teeth marks on the smooth skin.
The pain on Mu Xueshi’s face stirred both pity and a darker desire within the Prince.
He began moving slowly.
Mu Xueshi’s pleading voice echoed through the room.
“Please… wait… I’m not ready yet…”
“Ready for what?” the Prince replied coldly.
“Preparing to summon more singers from Changxin Courtyard?”
“N-no…”
“Or perhaps inviting your master to admire how enticing you look right now?”
He thrust again.
“Ah—! Don’t say that… you’re just taking revenge…”
“Move yourself.”
“I don’t want this position anymore… ah…”
“Why not? This position goes deeper. Weren’t you always saying you wanted to be on top?”
Mu Xueshi had no answer.
Outside, near the courtyard wall, two shadows stretched across the ground beneath the setting sun.
“Ah… it’s been a long time since I heard such exciting talk,” someone clicked his tongue.
“The Third Prince always looks so cold. Who knew he’d be this passionate in bed?”
“Who told you to stand up? Squat down!”
Sun Ye pointed his sword at Mo Ru, his expression filled with disgust.
Even hearing the shameless commentary made him angry.
Eavesdropping on others’ private affairs—and then speaking of it so brazenly.
Yet Mo Ru seemed delighted by Sun Ye’s irritation. Squatting with his head in his hands, he watched with the air of someone enjoying a lively show.
Ever since Mu Xueshi had punished him—forcing him to guard the courtyard every night—Mo Ru had appeared with perfect punctuality, more reliable than a rooster announcing dawn.
He even looked forward to receiving this “punishment.”
The Third Prince’s courtyard contained many strange things—and countless Gu insects. Enough to keep a Gu master fascinated for quite some time.
At first he only came at night.
Later he stayed the entire day, impossible to drive away.
The wandering Gu master who once roamed the martial world freely now rarely left Qinyi Courtyard at all.
Just as Sun Ye raised the hilt of his sword to strike the restless Mo Ru, a dark shadow suddenly flashed through the trees.
In an instant Sun Ye leapt over the wall in pursuit.
Mo Ru followed close behind.
The shadow moved astonishingly fast.
Even with Sun Ye’s excellent lightness skills, catching up proved difficult.
After several leaps, the shadow suddenly doubled back into the courtyard, almost as if teasing him.
Finally, once inside familiar terrain, Sun Ye caught up and confronted the intruder on the mountain behind the estate.
The man in black stood tall and agile, his hair tied high. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.
In his hand he held a simple staff.
It looked ordinary—yet when he swung it, a nearby rock shattered into pieces despite Sun Ye dodging the blow.
Sword against staff.
The two fought fiercely for dozens of exchanges atop the mountain.
Mo Ru watched from the side, frowning deeply, seemingly lost in thought.
Sun Ye’s sword was swift and precise.
The man’s staff strikes were powerful and ruthless.
Each had strengths—and weaknesses.
Their battle continued without pause, until endurance became the deciding factor.
After hundreds of exchanges, sweat beaded on Sun Ye’s brow.
Yet the man in black showed no sign of tiring.
Seizing the moment when Sun Ye paused to breathe, the stranger unleashed a series of rapid strikes.
Sun Ye faltered.
A heavy blow descended toward his shoulder.
Just as he struggled to evade, Mo Ru suddenly dashed forward and took the strike on his own back.
With a cry, he collapsed to the ground.
Sun Ye stared in disbelief.
A complicated emotion stirred within his heart.
The man in black moved to finish the fight—
But suddenly he sensed something strange in the air.
Poisonous Gu energy.
Realizing the danger, he quickly threw a letter toward Sun Ye and held his breath.
“My master ordered me to deliver this to the Third Prince.”
With that, he leapt away and vanished into the night.
Sun Ye caught the letter.
Then he glanced at Mo Ru, curled on the ground.
“I’ll deliver this to His Highness first,” he said helplessly.
“Then I’ll come back to save you.”
Mo Ru nodded weakly.
But once Sun Ye disappeared from sight—
a satisfied smile slowly spread across his face.
Futile Devices Scans 
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