Chapter 95 - Longing (Part Six) (1/2)

Translated by K of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Lan WangJi didn’t listen to him. His eyes were still glued to Wei WuXian as though he was scared that if he blinked once, Wei WuXian might run away. Wei WuXian reached out to shut his eyes, and he buried the lower half of his face into the water, letting out a series of bubbles. Wei WuXian laughed as he lightly pinched his cheek, “Er-Gege, how old are you?”

He grabbed the soap and cloth from the side, and wiped from Lan WangJi’s face downwards. As he wiped away, his movements suddenly paused.

Back then, Lan WangJi took off his hair tie and forehead ribbon on his own. His hair fell and covered his upper body. But now, after he moved Lan WangJi’s wet, black hair behind his shoulder and began to wipe his chest, the thirty-or-so discipline whip marks and the brand at his chest could be seen with clarity.

Wei WuXian took the cloth and moved to his back.

The whip marks climbed from Lan WangJi’s back all the way to his chest, shoulders, arms, sprawling across the smooth, white skin. These almost hideous scars, whether dark or light, destroyed what could be called the perfect male body.

“…”

Wei WuXian was suddenly silent. He dipped the cloth in water and traced the whip scars.

He was extremely gentle, as if he didn’t want to hurt Lan WangJi, but these were old wounds already. They’d never hurt again. And even if they were fresh scars, with Lan WangJi’s personality, he definitely wouldn’t display a single sign of weakness, even at the most painful times.

Wei WuXian really wanted to use this opportunity to ask him just how in the world he got these scars. In the GusuLan Sect, the only people with the right to punish Lan WangJi like this were Lan XiChen and Lan QiRen. Just what did he do for his brother, the one closest to him, or his uncle, the one who single-handedly brought him up and took pride in him so much, to do such a cruel deed? The QishanWen Sect’s brand that he’d never seen, and the question that he’d always held in the back of his mind, the question he wanted to ask the most—

HanGuang-Jun, just what do you think of me?

But every time it was close, he’d find some reason to blur things over. Like maybe he shouldn’t be so eager and ask after he played with him long enough; like not being so casual and asking after they sat down properly; like maybe the words of the drunk weren’t to be trusted.

Despite all these excuses, he knew the real reason quite well.

It was probably because he was afraid. He was scared he’d hear an answer different from what he hoped for.

Suddenly, Lan WangJi turned around and glanced at him. Wei WuXian finally noticed that as he scrubbed him, his mind began to roam around, rubbing the snowy skin on Lan WangJi’s back so red that it seemed like someone had beat him up. Wei WuXian thought the look Lan WangJi gave him might mean he wasn’t satisfied with the work, and so he stopped at once, “Sorry, sorry. Does it hurt?”

Lan WangJi didn’t say anything, only shaking his hand. Seeing how he looked, all quiet and obedient, sitting in the tub, Wei WuXian felt quite sorry. Curving his finger, he scratched his chin to show comfort. Just the chin wasn’t even enough. Feeling his fingers itch, he even wanted to poke Lan WangJi’s abs, but before it was even halfway there, his wrist was suddenly caught by Lan WangJi, whose voice was low, “Do not touch me.”

A few transparent drops of water still remained on his eyelashes and his handsome features. His expression seemed cold, but his eyes were searing.

Tonight, Wei WuXian had already done countless frivolous little things to Lan WangJi. He’d long since gotten used to Lan WangJi letting him do whatever he wanted. Right now, having been stopped so suddenly, he was still brave, “Why not? Haven’t you let me touch you for so long already?”

Lan WangJi’s lips were sealed. He said nothing, whether angered or not. Seeing this, Wei WuXian was a bit guilty, “Fine. I won’t touch you anymore. Do it yourself.”

As he spoke, he tossed the cloth away and was about to leave. Yet, not only did Lan WangJi refuse to let him go, the hand around his wrist gripped even tighter. He ordered, “Do not go.”

Wei WuXian struggled for sometime and couldn’t get out of it. He steeled his nerves, “HanGuang-Jun, now you’re at fault here. You told me to wash your face, didn’t let me touch you, and didn’t let me go. Just what do you want me to do?”

“…” After a moment of silence, Lan WangJi’s tone was almost unreasonable, “In any case, you may not go.”

Wei WuXian splashed some water onto Lan WangJi’s face, “Look at you, all domineering and unreasonable!”

Lan WangJi didn’t flinch or dodge even as the water splashed onto his face, “I told you not to touch me.”

This seemed like a warning. Perhaps because the wine really had a strong aftereffect, Wei WuXian’s head felt abnormally feverish. The corner of his mouth curved up, “If I’m touching you, no matter what, what can you do to me? Punish me by making me copy scriptures? Have me grounded? Or silence me?”

Lan WangJi’s eyes were locked on him. Sparks seemed to flash across his gaze. He appeared to be angered.

The face, the expression, the eyes, the situation, and the person. Wei WuXian drew in a breath.

As though having decided to go all out, he shoved his other hand into the water, found a certain part of Lan WangJi’s body, and scooped, “HanGuang-Jun, don’t tell me you don’t like it when I touch you like this?”

Wei WuXian’s daring words and act finally enraged his opponent.

Lan WangJi seemed as if he’d been bitten by a poisonous snake, pulling violently. Wei WuXian felt a terrifying force sweep over. He couldn’t help from being pulled in.

Water splashed everywhere. Things had gotten out of hand. It was all the same, no matter who started it first. When Wei WuXian felt a bit more clear-headed, he was already sitting on Lan WangJi’s legs.

The two embraced and kissed each other in such a position for quite a long while. Wei WuXian’s arms were wrapped around Lan WangJi’s neck as they kissed wildly and inseparably. Suddenly, he exclaimed with an ‘ah.’

Opening his eyes, he wiped a tinge of blood from his lips as he scolded, “Lan Zhan! Why are you biting like a dog again?!”

His lips were kissed red in the first place. Stained with blood, they looked even more vivid. To his ill-timed dissatisfaction, Lan WangJi responded with another bite. Sore from all the biting and sucking, Wei WuXian frowned. He reached down again in vengeance and rubbed him hard again.

In all likelihood, nobody had ever done such a shamelessly brave act to Lan WangJi before. Once wasn’t even enough—Wei WuXian had to do it twice. His face changed immediately. The arm he embraced Wei WuXian with tightened, fingers leaving behind clear marks.

Wei WuXian grinned as he caught his breath, “How’s that? You angry yet? You don’t know this, Lan Zhan, but I love it when you’re angry…”

His tone was full of a fearless excitement. After he spoke, he pecked the corner of Lan WangJi’s lips and removed his drenched top.

Lan WangJi’s skin was so hot that he seemed like he’d burst into flames. One hand locked around WeiWuxian’s waist, he slammed the edge of the wooden tub with his other hand. It split into pieces at once. The room immediately turned into a mess, the sight unbearable to the eye.