| The Paternity Guard (PATERNITY) |
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"Master!" Xing Beiming was listening to Ying Er's report when Shi Qi rushed in like a gust of wind. Xing Beiming gestured for Ying Er to step aside and urgently asked about something he already knew.
"Of course, I already know." He naturally needed to keep track of the Shadow Guard's movements.
"Master, you know that Yin Ji is watching us closely?! Why did you let Brother Qi take on this mission alone? What if..." Shi Qi's voice raised a bit, thinking about Yin Ji's past actions.
"He wants to go, why should I stop him? Since he's willing to take on this mission, he must have his own ideas. If I don't allow it, do you think he won't find another way?"
"Bring him back, it's too dangerous..."
"Do you want him to come back and then be punished according to the Shadow Guard's rules?" Xing Beiming snorted, "What he did is not wrong. You should leave and rest”
"Understood... I'll take my leave..." Shi Qi hesitated, saluted and somewhat awkwardly withdrew, not seeing Xing Beiming angrily throwing the paper behind him.
Shi Qi sat on the bed while holding the baby's hand in a daze. Shi Er popped up from above, curious, "Did you go to find Master? What did you say? Why do you look like that?"
Staring blankly at the floor for a while, Shi Qi recounted what had happened. Shi Er sighed, "You're really getting fed up with it, aren't you? Ying Qi is not an ordinary person so this mission won't be difficult for him."
"It's not about that."
Shi Er clicked his tongue, tossing a walnut that landed on Shi Qi's head, who didn't dodge it but caught it. "The life-and-death pact, do you think everyone can play with it casually? If it weren't for caring too much, why would you agree to this agreement? Yin Ji does, Master does too. If it weren't for Yin Ji provoking you first, Master wouldn't want to teach him a lesson. The path of emotions has to be walked by oneself; do you think the World's Supreme Fortress can protect Ying Qi forever? He himself wouldn't want such protection. Do you understand?"
Ying Qi wasn't impulsive. He must have thought it through before taking this step.
But Ying Qi should tell the truth that night. It was that night that left a thorn in his heart…
Shi Er snorted, “You shouldn't be thinking about Ying Qi now that you've offended the Master. If you didn't think about how to apologize and make him happy, hmm! Someone's butt is in trouble!"
Shi Qi wilted.
Shi Er chuckled, "Are you that bold now that you dare to defy Master like that?" Shi Er remarked, surprised by Shi Qi's uncharacteristic behavior. Normally he's so dull and wouldn't dare to argue with Master.
Images of their journey together flashed through Shi Qi's mind.
Ying Qi was right last night, Master had done a lot for him. From cautiously accepting his care at the beginning to naturally reciprocating, their interactions had diminished the formalities.
He admitted, he had been reckless. But would Master give him the chance to be reckless?
The next day, Shi Qi, who had agonized all night, met Xing Beiming on the corridor. Surprisingly, Xing Beiming hadn't returned to the Main House last night, which made Shi Qi a bit panicked. "Master..."
Xing Beiming glanced at him and replied indifferently, "Hmm," then turned and walked away.
Shi Qi slumped in disappointment on the ground, feeling like he had messed up.
Not far from where he had left, Xing Beiming gritted his teeth.
Why did that idiot just sit there?! Does he not know that should come after him?!
Whose fault was it yesterday? Challenging me for someone else, hmph!
Dejected, Shi Qi left World's Supreme Fortress, although the baby's full moon banquet received many gifts, Shi Qi wanted to buy a gift for the baby himself. He had hoped that Xing Beiming might come with him but now...
Shi Qi emitted a gloomy black mist, scaring away passersby.
"Soy milk, buns..."
"Sesame pancakes, egg drop soup..."
It was breakfast time and the street was filled with shouts, blending into one. Shi Qi rubbed his belly.
He hadn't eaten last night either, so he was really hungry.
Ordering a basket of buns and a bowl of rice porridge, Shi Qi picked up his chopsticks to start eating.
"Smack!"
A white jade dagger landed across from him, and someone sat down without ceremony while shouting, "Waiter, two baskets of buns, a bowl of...the same porridge as him! Hurry!"
Shi Qi found the voice familiar but it had nothing to do with him. He was about to eat a fat white bun when the person across from him reached out to pat his arm. He reflexively dodged with his eyes fixed on the person, who seemed surprised then smiled, "Oh my, I didn't expect to encounter someone with such skill on the road. This Yueming City is indeed where I like the most! Hey, I ask you, do you know the Lord of World's Supreme Fortress, Xing Beiming?"
Shi Qi movements paused, inwardly wary. “Why are you asking about Lord Xing?”
This young man before him was cute and clever but why is he asking about their Master?
The young man smiled mischievously, 'It's said in the Martial Arts World that Xing Beiming is handsome, skilled in martial arts, and has piles of women wanting to marry him. Is that true? I... no, I greatly admire him. Can you tell me, does he have someone in his heart?'
Shi Qi paused, feeling uneasy. He put down the bun he had barely bitten into, shook his head, "Not sure, are you not from Yueming City?"
The person laughed, "Ha! If I were, Yueming City would be entirely under my control. I'm just kidding! Hey, are you from Yueming City? How come you don't know anything?"
Shi Qi ignored him, but the person persisted, "Tell me what you know, I heard something about the World's Supreme Fortress Full Moon Banquet, is that Xing Beiming's son? He has a son now, I can't believe it..."
Losing his appetite, Shi Qi pushed away the lukewarm porridge, stood up and said to the person, "Yes, so you have no chance."
Huh?
The person looked at Shi Qi's back in bewilderment, surprised that even with his unmatched beauty, there were times he wasn't likable?
But he wanted to know things here. So even if it is from the past till now, all he wants, he will get it.
He opened a paper in his hand while grinning mischievously.
Failing to buy anything and feeling unusually sour, Shi Qi's dragged his steps back to the fortress. As soon as he entered, he faced an annoyed face, Xing Beiming asked, "Where were you?"
Shi Qi explained his intention on why he left the fortress.
"Fine then, since you don't take such important matters seriously enough to let me accompany you and you still don't respect this Lord, you need to be taught a lesson!" Xing Beiming's gaze turned cold as he ordered his Shadow Guards to stay and guard the Main House, leaving Shi Qi flustered. "Master? What are you..."
A harsh slap landed on the buttocks that had only recently recovered from serious injuries a month ago. Xing Beiming suppressed the urge to rub them and still slapped them with his icy voice. "Hmph, it seems you've once again disregarded this Lord's authority!”
The Shadow Guards in the dark covered their eyes, unable to watch.
Shi Qi was thrown onto the bed but the bedding was soft, so it was not painful at all. Just as he lifted his head, Xing Beiming pressed down and then pinched his cheeks, his tone filled with anger, "Did you sleep well last night, huh?"
‘Not at all’, Shi Qi thought but his mouth was forced to close so that he couldn't speak.
Xing Beiming's eyes darkened. He lowered his head to press his lips forcefully against Shi Qi's before biting down on his unsuspecting tongue and sucked till their saliva that can't be swallowed flowed down his neck. The room was filled with the sound of lips and tongues entwining. The bodies that hadn't entwined for almost three months heated up while rubbing against each other.
Clothes loosened and their hot chests touched. Simultaneously, both almost gasp for air.
Fingers brushed over the dark red spots on their chests and felt them harden. Lips that had been lingering on Shi Qi's neck moved up teasingly and then bite!
Shi Qi gasped lightly, wanting to stop this ticklish and painful sensation but his hand was held down and pressed against the pillow.
Xing Beiming's mind flashed back to Gu Weijing's advice before leaving. “If you want Shi Qi's body to be in good condition in the future, don't rush into intimacy. A month and a half is enough but after two months is preferable.”
He exhaled a breath, wanting to let them both release once but...
Rumble…
Someone's stomach protested hungrily and Xing Beiming felt utterly weak, "You didn't eat breakfast?"
Shi Qi nodded, thinking about the bun he had only nibbled on in the morning and then thought of that young man. Considering it, he decided to tell Xing Beiming, unsure if that young man had any ill intentions. Xing Beiming didn't care about the person and hearing someone's stomach rumble again, he frowned, "How long has it been since you last ate to be this hungry?"
Shi Qi had intended to say this morning but if Xing Beiming knew the truth, he would add another charge, so Shi Qi told the truth, "I haven't eaten since last night."
Xing Beiming pulled him up before straightening his clothes and said without much kindness. "Go eat."
Shi Qi looked at his eyes and cautiously asked, "Master, are you not angry anymore?"
Xing Beiming felt foolish for tossing and turning in the study last night and getting upset. "What's there to be angry about? Should I be angry that you value Ying Qi more than this Lord? Angry that you questioned me for him? Or should I be angry that you finally look like a father to the baby?"
Xing Beiming's anger softened with each question and Shi Qi lowered his head until he could almost see the back of it. Although Shi Qi didn't quite understand the meaning of the last sentence, he still responded, "Master, I'm sorry."
Xing Beiming's heart sank but seeing Shi Qi raise his head and speak earnestly, "I'm sorry, I was just too worried about Brother Qi. But I also understand Master's intentions but what you said earlier was wrong. Brother Qi is Brother Qi, Master is Master. You two are not the same, so there's no..."
He awkwardly tries to convey his meaning, not sure if he could make Master understand. Fortunately, the warmth on his lips at the next moment relaxed him and suddenly he felt even hungrier...
Xing Beiming listened to the drum-like rumbling and laughed, "Don't worry, I understand! Come, let's go feed the Lord of World's Supreme Fortress's Shadow Guard!”