Chapter Ninety-Nine: I Know I Was Wrong

The whistling wind filled my ears. Wangchuan’s robe was massive, cocooning me in that familiar scent.

I was exhilarated, thrilled—truly, incredibly happy!

Wangchuan is the first man in my life. Although he isn't exactly human, and his ways are somewhat eerie, and his thinking is purely primal, he truly cares about me. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to find me. Furthermore, I held such high hopes that the relationship between Wangchuan and me would mend.

Yet, the moment I thought of that, the entire world turned gray.

He said that once I returned with him, there would be no relationship between us... He said that once I returned, I would still have to face punishment.

At the thought of this, I trembled in fear. To be honest, I was terrified of that forest, and even more so, I had no idea what would become of me.

With a thud, I was tossed aside. I bounced once, then gazed in a panic at the darkness that still obscured my vision, trapped within the robe.

The next moment, that familiar figure pressed down on top of me. He pulled back the robe covering my face, revealing a visage that looked somewhat like an oversized infant. I blinked, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Pei Mu had left at some point without a sound. We were no longer in the place where Wangchuan usually slept. I glanced around; it was even more luxurious than that place. I had been here before—it was the Chongye Palace. It was the place once usurped by Pei Mu, Wangchuan’s original bedchamber.

The bed felt cold. I watched silently as Wangchuan pressed his weight against me. To be honest, I longed for him to be intimate with me. Just like in the past—to touch me, to tease me, even if he were to strike me twice or whisper those blush-inducing words. As long as he was still willing to do these things to me, then it wouldn't be true that we had "no relationship."

Whenever those words, "no relationship," crossed my mind, my heart would twitch in agony. But Wangchuan always keeps his word, so I knew full well that once I returned here, there would be nothing between us. I remained his guardian cat; I would still live my old life and suffer the penalties for failing my duties. These were the conditions I had accepted.

Yet, I had still knelt and begged him to bring me back...

But why was he pressing against me like this? Was such intimacy really appropriate?

I pouted slightly, feeling both displeased and nervous. My heart was in a tumult, hoping he would make a move, yet terrified that he might. Time seemed to stand still, until my protruding duck-lips were pinched by Wangchuan’s two fingers.

"Mmph—" I stretched my neck, glaring at him.

Wangchuan released my lips, then rested both hands beside me and sniffed my neck.

"A very familiar scent. Did you miss it? Was it for Youluo, or for me?"

"!@#￥%... For Youluo." I babbled incoherently, not knowing how to answer, and finally turned away, too indignant to acknowledge him.

What a wretched jerk! Even if he smelled me in heat, he didn't have to ask like that, did he?! If it were for Youluo, why would I have come back so shamefully? Why would I have been so pathetic as to kneel and beg him, and... so humiliatingly shout it out loud!

Wuwu, just thinking about it was unbearable. How could he be so cruel! Although this truly avoided a battle with the Underworld and prevented a massive conflict, I felt so aggrieved...

Wangchuan watched my expression, his gaze suddenly turning cold. He pulled away and lay to one side.

"What? Regret it?"

Wrapped in his robe, I tried to pull my hands out, only to find there was nowhere to pull them from. My entire body was bundled up like a hibernating insect; Wangchuan seemed to have fastened the buttons, deliberately keeping me trapped!

"Yes! I regret it! Let me go!" I sulked, turning my head away from his face.

But the next moment, I was flipped over to face him directly. He pinched my cheek, watching me lazily.

"It’s too late for regrets. Just wait for your punishment."

After he said that, I felt my face burning under his touch.

"Jerk..." I whispered.

"That’s one more count."

"You—" I glared.

"Adding another."

With that, I finally fell silent.

Wangchuan sat up and adjusted his clothes. Because his large coat was on me, he appeared to be wearing a simple, ancient-style shirt underneath.

"If you won't speak, I'm leaving."

After tidying up, he moved to the edge of the bed as if to depart.

"Don't go!" I rolled like a giant worm toward the edge of the bed.

"What are you doing?" Wangchuan looked down at me with an amused expression.

I still felt unable to climb down from this pedestal of pride, so without another word, I lunged forward and bit down hard on his thigh!

I couldn't help it; I was still reeling from the humiliation! I couldn't help it; my limbs were trapped, and I couldn't move anything but my mouth! I couldn't help it; I was truly terrified he would leave, and I didn't know what else to do to make him stay!

After biting him, I looked at Wangchuan in a panic. He didn't cry out in pain because his legs were incredibly hard; my teeth felt like they were about to shatter.

"Do you know what the penalty is for biting your master?"

I shook my head. I had never bitten him before, nor had I ever seen anyone else do it. But for such a grave offense, perhaps I was just waiting for death?

Looking at Wangchuan, I suddenly felt sad. I don't know why, but lately, I’ve become more thoughtful and sentimental. I truly knew I was wrong about what happened earlier, but I am a person, and sometimes I can be stubborn and headstrong—it’s just instinct. It was like how I clearly didn't want him to leave, yet I still mentioned in front of him that I had feelings for Youluo, and wanted to be with him...

I wondered if Wangchuan was angry? I really am pathetic; I already reflected on it, yet I committed the same mistake again. I didn't dare look at Wangchuan, but then I felt him stroke my face—not with a harsh pinch, but with a touch that felt almost tender.

Wangchuan’s hands felt icy both times he touched my face. That chill was like a lack of blood. Only then did I remember that Wangchuan had just recovered from his injuries.

Had he come to find me the moment he woke up? It had only been two days; he had barely recovered, yet he came for me...

Although the method he used to bring me back was a bit humiliating, it truly avoided a battle with the Underworld—a battle Wangchuan might not necessarily have won, or else he wouldn't have brought Pei Mu along. Wangchuan doesn't fight battles he is destined to lose, yet for my sake, he had sought out Pei Mu to help rescue me.

The only thing he could rely on was that I loved him—I loved my master, I worshipped him, I depended on him. So I would do anything, endure anything, as long as I could return. Youluo also wanted to win and didn't want to provoke the great trouble that is Wangchuan. Coupled with such a heavy, insulting bargaining chip for a human, he agreed to the gamble.

The price was my own choice.

Wangchuan really was gambling. But if I hadn't thought it through and had chosen Youluo, what would he have done? Perhaps that was why he said he knew his own cat, and knew what was in my heart...

He trusted me so much! He believed that I would definitely follow him back!

As I thought about this, I began to cry, and then, uncontrollably, I sobbed. I wailed, a heartbreaking cry that made my lungs and heart ache.

Wangchuan crouched by the bed, watching me sprawl there like a giant, ugly worm, crying my eyes out. He used his fingers to wipe away the tears that streamed down my face. Like rain hitting glass, my tears wouldn't stop, and I kept on howling.

In the end, I knew I must have looked hideous, but I could only bury my face into the bedding and keep crying! I couldn't stop! The more I cried, the harder I sobbed, until eventually, I cried myself to sleep.

I don't know when Wangchuan left. I was woken up by the feeling of suffocation, as my face was pressed into the quilt and I couldn't breathe properly.

Under my face, it felt cold—damp from my tears. The room was pitch black, just like the time Wangchuan first tied me up in this room. The only difference was that this time, I was bundled like a worm.

Was he still afraid I would run away?

"Wuwuwu—" In an instant, I started crying again. While crying, I grumbled, "You jerk... you didn't even untie me... wuwu... I know I was wrong, yet you still leave me in this pitch-black room... wuwu..."

As I cried, my grumbling turned into self-reproach.

"I was wrong... I shouldn't have said I didn't want the baby... I was wrong... why did you throw me here..."

I cried for a long time, muttering a string of foolish things, until I tried to move and suddenly felt a pair of hands pull me over, rolling me across the bed!

"Cried enough?"

In the pitch-black night, eyes gleamed brightly.

Blue-green and sparkling. If it weren't for the voice being Wangchuan’s, I would have screamed.

He hadn't left?!

My god! My whole body convulsed!

I! Am! So! Embarrassed!