When the Mountain King returned, he saw Mu Xueshi leaning his head against a bamboo cabinet, staring blankly at a spot in the distance. He suddenly remembered the smile Mu Xueshi had shown Lu Fei and Lu Fan during the day. Compared to how he looked now, it was as if they were two different people. It was the most beautiful expression the Mountain King had ever seen on Mu Xueshi’s face, yet unfortunately, it had not been directed at him.
Several bandits jostled at the doorway for quite a while before finally deciding a winner. The victor happily carried the freshly prepared dishes into the Mountain King’s house.
Mu Xueshi glanced sideways at them and still had no appetite.
The Mountain King walked over to Mu Xueshi and crouched down in front of him. Even while squatting, he was as tall as Mu Xueshi sitting on the chair. Taking both of Mu Xueshi’s hands into his palms, he looked at him with dark eyes that carried an air of unquestionable authority.
“Beauty, in a few days, you’ll become my stronghold lady.”
Biting his lip, Mu Xueshi looked directly at the Mountain King and asked softly, “If I refuse, how will you deal with me?”
“I’ll make you agree.” The Mountain King’s broad hand slowly caressed Mu Xueshi’s cheek and teased the area around his ear, making Mu Xueshi repeatedly dodge away.
Seeing the seriousness hidden beneath the Mountain King’s playful behavior, Mu Xueshi sighed inwardly. Perhaps the method Lu Fei and Lu Fan had suggested was the only option left: marry the Mountain King and use the opportunity to spread news of his whereabouts.
If the Third Prince was still willing to come rescue him, he would obediently return with him and listen to him from then on, never acting recklessly again. If the Third Prince would not come, or if rescuing him proved too difficult, then he would simply adapt to circumstances and live here for a while, waiting for another chance to escape.
“I’ll agree to it!”
Seeing the delighted expression that immediately spread across the Mountain King’s face, Mu Xueshi quickly added loudly, “Don’t hug me, don’t pinch me, don’t lift me up, don’t carry me on your shoulder… In short, don’t do any of those things you do when you’re happy.”
The Mountain King’s hand had already reached halfway toward him, but after hearing the warning, he could only lower it helplessly. Even so, it did nothing to diminish his good mood. Looking at Mu Xueshi with an indulgent expression, he asked, “Then my wife should tell her husband her name now, shouldn’t she?”
The moment he heard the word “wife,” Mu Xueshi felt his stomach churn. Letting out two awkward laughs, he replied, “What difference does it make whether you know it or not? I’ll be staying here from now on anyway. A name serves no purpose.”
“Who says you’ll always stay here? Tomorrow I’m taking you hunting. There’s a place called Pingye Mountain nearby. It’s full of wild birds and beasts. Would you like to come along?”
The moment Mu Xueshi heard the word “hunting,” his eyes lit up. It was something he had always wanted to do, but the Third Prince had always been too busy, and he had never dared go out on his own, so he had never had the chance. Rather than sitting around here feeling miserable all day, he would much rather go out and enjoy himself. Perhaps he might even find an opportunity to escape.
The Mountain King immediately knew from Mu Xueshi’s excited expression that he had agreed. He followed up at once. “Then my wife should tell me your name now, right?”
The smile on Mu Xueshi’s face instantly froze. Turning toward the Mountain King, he asked, “Why do you insist on knowing my name?”
“You’re marrying me, yet I don’t even know your name. Isn’t that ridiculous? Even if you’re a man, I still can’t skip the betrothal gifts. You’ll have to tell me which family you belong to so I can pay them a visit.”
Mu Xueshi wanted to tell him he was from Qinyi Villa, but remembering Lu Fei and Lu Fan’s warning, he decided against revealing his identity. If the person who came looking for him was not the Third Prince and he ended up falling into another den of bandits, things would be even worse.
“I have no parents and no family. I’m alone in the world. There’s no need for betrothal gifts.”
A complicated look crossed the Mountain King’s face. Leaning closer, he stared into Mu Xueshi’s eyes and asked, “But you said you’re an official in the imperial court. Surely you must have an estate somewhere?”
Being stared at so intensely made Mu Xueshi uncomfortable. Finally, with no other choice, he said, “My name is Chen Youzai. I’m just an insignificant nobody, not some great official. I was exaggerating before.”
The Mountain King nodded as though he understood. Seeing that Mu Xueshi was uninterested in the subject, he did not press further. Instead, he placed the newly prepared dishes in front of him and insisted on feeding him. Unable to refuse, Mu Xueshi was forced to eat a few bites.
The Mountain King then told him various things about hunting. Since Mu Xueshi found the topic fascinating, he listened with great interest, and before he knew it, it was already late into the night.
Yawning repeatedly, Mu Xueshi noticed that the Mountain King still seemed completely energetic. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, “Don’t you ever need to sleep?”
Propping himself up on one arm, the Mountain King looked at Mu Xueshi with a smile at the corner of his eye. “In weather this hot, I can only sleep up in the trees. Ever since you woke me up that day, I haven’t been in the mood to sleep anymore.”
Rolling over so his back faced the Mountain King, Mu Xueshi secretly rolled his eyes several times. Did sleep depend on one’s mood? He had no mood for anything either, yet he still needed sleep. Only by sleeping could he gather the energy to figure out how to deal with the Mountain King.
As the Mountain King watched Mu Xueshi’s back, it felt as though countless ants were crawling and biting inside his heart, leaving him unbearably restless. Such a peerless beauty lay beside him, utterly incapable of resisting, yet he had refrained from touching him all this time. Even the Mountain King himself no longer understood what he was thinking.
Could one wish from this person really be more important than the desire he had been suppressing for two full days?
The Mountain King felt that he could no longer endure it. Mu Xueshi was like a precious jewel that had fallen from the heavens. Once such a treasure was in one’s hands, how could one not want to admire it freely? If he locked it away and waited until later to savor it properly, what if Heaven decided to take it back?
On the surface, Mu Xueshi appeared to be asleep, but his nerves remained taut. Although the Mountain King had behaved himself these past two days, that did not mean he would not suddenly lose control. Hot-blooded men like him were impulsive by nature. Once their blood heated up, everything else would be forgotten.
The moment the Mountain King’s hand reached Mu Xueshi’s clothing, Mu Xueshi immediately grabbed it with both hands. Secretly praising his own quick reaction, he was then pressed beneath the Mountain King before he could even celebrate, his entire body immobilized.
“The bed is plenty big. Why do you have to steal my space?” Mu Xueshi forced a grin and laughed awkwardly.
The Mountain King laughed as well, using one large hand to tear at Mu Xueshi’s clothes. The official robes bestowed upon him by the Emperor were reduced to shreds in an instant.
“I’ll give you more room, okay?” Mu Xueshi shouted as he tried to crawl out from beneath him.
To the Mountain King, this only added to the amusement. Watching the struggling figure beneath him with obvious interest, he could have subdued Mu Xueshi with a single hand, yet he deliberately left a narrow opening, allowing Mu Xueshi’s bare body to twist and struggle beneath him.
Every place touched by Mu Xueshi’s body seemed to burst into flames, the heat quickly gathering toward a single part of him. The gentleness in the Mountain King’s eyes suddenly gave way to a violent intensity, like a lion baring its claws and fangs before devouring its prey.
Even at a time like this, Mu Xueshi could not help wondering why every man who saw this face seemed to become aroused, while the Third Prince, who spent every day with him, always acted indifferent and restrained.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t touch me before the wedding?” Mu Xueshi demanded.
The Mountain King’s large hand wandered over Mu Xueshi’s smooth skin as a savage, wicked smile appeared on his face.
“But you’ve already agreed to be my wife. What difference does it make whether it’s sooner or later?”
“How can you break your promise? If the Mountain God finds out, he’ll strike you down!”
“Haha… Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise and leave your body intact. But surely I’m allowed to touch you a little. Otherwise, your husband will suffocate from holding back before the wedding.”
“…”
With that, the Mountain King fixed his gaze on the lips that were still trying to argue with him and claimed them in a domineering kiss. Unlike the Third Prince’s deep kisses, cold and faintly fragrant, the Mountain King’s kiss carried a wild, untamed ferocity. It left no room for breathing and filled the other person’s mouth with his fierce, overpowering presence.
Mu Xueshi did not feel particularly humiliated. After all, he was a man himself and could hardly cry and wail over it. Yet he suddenly remembered the promises he had once made to the Third Prince, and it felt as though knives were twisting through his heart. Why was it that he had never managed to keep any of the promises he made to the Third Prince, while every promise the Third Prince made to him had been quietly honored all along?
That stormy night, when the Third Prince had held him after rescuing him and repeatedly said, “No one else is allowed to have you,” those words now echoed clearly in Mu Xueshi’s mind.
Only after leaving did he realize how good the Third Prince had been to him. Only after leaving did he understand how deeply engraved those once-forgotten words truly were.
Futile Devices Scans 
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