The Green Tea is Always Targeting The Wrong Person (GREENTEA)
"Come to my side."
As soon as the training session ended, Yue Chu was summoned by Lafa.
Lafa sat high on his throne with his deep gaze fixed intently on his child, feeling as though he could never get enough of looking at him.
Whether it was the serious expression while attentively listening to the lessons or the gentle smile when relaxed, every inch of him was mesmerizing and made Lafa wish he could keep him by his side forever and only allow himself to admire him closely.
He should have given Yue Chu more time to socialize and network, but these principles of diligence seemed irrelevant when it came to Yue Chu. Lafa even felt justified in believing that no one in the world was stronger than him, and naturally, Yue Chu would learn more by staying with him.
Moreover, they were father and son, closer than anyone else.
It had already been seven hours since he last had an intimate conversation with Yue Chu, so it was only natural that he wanted to see him immediately.
Lafa thought he was being quite "restrained," at least for now, as he only wanted Yue Chu to sit at his feet and listen to him recount the day's trivial matters in his captivating voice.
Yue Chu knelt half at Lafa's feet but didn't maintain a respectful distance.
Instead, he directly rested his face on Lafa's thigh while slightly tilting his head. His long eyelashes fluttered as he gazed up at Lafa with clear, enchanting eyes.
His voice was as clear as a babbling brook in the forest, softly calling out to Lafa: "Father..."
Lafa almost instantly froze upon feeling the cold temperature and soft skin of Yue Chu's face through the thin robe.
It was as if his entire body had been drugged, tingling and numb, as if being bitten by ants.
Before he could react, his fingers had already touched Yue Chu's eyes.
The long, thick lashes brushing against his fingertips that send a shiver of itchiness through him.
He really wanted to...
"Father?"
Yue Chu's puzzled voice brought Lafa back to his senses and realized that he had unconsciously been caressing the soft corner of Yue Chu's eye.
Yue Chu blinked uncomfortably and the corner of his eye turned slightly red, like a faint blush after drinking and adding a rosy allure.
Lafa, as if burned, quickly withdrew his hand and placed it behind his back then stiffening his posture to mask his awkwardness.
Yue Chu didn't notice Lafa's discomfort and just attributed it to the intimacy between father and son. He even took the initiative to pull Lafa's hand and rest it against his cheek.
Yue Chu: "Father, Elder Rotz has arranged the time and place for this trial, but I've already made my own plans and don't want to follow his instructions."
Salu intercepted a message released by Anna, which indeed contained the time and location of the Blood Clan's counterattack.
According to Salu, this was a method of communication used by the Church.
The small flying insects were specially bred and trained, known as Green-eyed Dragonflies.
They had a sac in their abdomen where a jade bead the size of a fingernail could be placed to carry messages. Moreover, the Green-eyed Dragonflies could recognize directions based on pre-set marks, and their small size made them very inconspicuous.
She knew this because, before being sold to the Blood Clan, she had been trained as a handmaiden in the Church. Unfortunately, when disaster struck, the Church in her hometown withdrew but did not take her with them.
When she returned home, her parents saw her as a burden and eventually sold her to a merchant for a bag of rice, who then sold her to the Blood Clan.
Salu not only knew how to use the Green-eyed Dragonfly but also knew that this little bug was particularly fond of the scent of white magnolias. Thus, she silently intercepted the message Anna had sent out.
It was only then that Yue Chu realized that within the human empire, apart from the nobles, commoners, and Hunters, there existed another faction.
This revelation suggested that the mystery behind Anna was far more complex than he had imagined.
How intriguing.
With that, the recollection came to an end.
At this moment, Yue Chu's words could be described as quite willful, but as he had once said, one can afford to be willful only because they are indulged. His straightforwardness and complete display of trust filled Lafa with boundless joy.
Lafa looked at him with gentle eyes: "Do whatever you wish."
Yue Chu's lips curved into a sweet smile, his soft petal-like lips generously spilling sweet words that left Lafa utterly enchanted.
Yue Chu: "I knew Father would protect me. It feels so good to have someone looking out for me. Father has no idea how happy I am. I used to only envy others, but now it's finally my turn to be envied."
Lafa gently stroked Yue Chu's soft hair, feeling as though his heart had melted into a pool of spring water.
What a silly child.
Yue Chu continued: "There's one more thing I'd like to ask Father's permission for. I want to send someone into the human empire to gather intelligence."
Lafa frowned as a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he firmly grasped Yue Chu's shoulders before saying sternly: "Humans are dangerous. I forbid you to go!"
His tone was extremely harsh. If it had been Xino, he would have exploded long ago, but Yue Chu, being older, understood clearly. Despite Lafa's harsh tone, the concern behind it was undeniable.
Yue Chu chuckled before straightening up and taking Lafa's hand to rub against his cheek.
Yue Chu: "If Father keeps spoiling me like this, I'm really going to become spoiled."
What nonsense.
Lafa's expression softened and feel a twinge of regret for his earlier intensity. He was just too worried about Yue Chu because he was afraid that he might suffer severe injuries again, which is something he couldn't bear, not even to imagine it.
Lafa: "As long as you're happy, I'll give you everything you desire. But you must not engage in anything dangerous."
Yue Chu wrapped his arms around Lafa's waist then burying himself in that firm, cold embrace and mumbling: "I'll listen to Father. But recently, I've discovered that humans seem to understand us better than we thought. Although they aren't as powerful as us, they excel at research and learning, using various tools and methods to counter us."
"The enemy knows us so well, yet we know nothing about them. This is very dangerous for the Blood Clan. Therefore, I want to send someone to gather intelligence in the human empire, so that when we deal with them in the future, we won't be at a loss."
Yue Chu looked up with a light laugh with his blood-diamond-like eyes filled with endless tenderness, like blooming blood flowers luring travelers into his beautiful trap.
Yue Chu: "But Father can rest assured, I won't go myself. I'll just send my subordinates to gather information. There won't be any danger."
Only after hearing his assurance did Lafa relent.
Faced with that eager little face, he had no intention of refusing.
Lafa said, "Just name the people you need, and from now on, they will be entirely under your command, with no interference."
Yue Chu smiled charmingly, "Thank you, Father."
Lafa's chest stirred, and he swallowed hard before pulling his most beautiful child tightly into his embrace.
Every inch of their skin pressed together, as if they wished to merge into one and never to part again.
The embrace lasted too long, so long that Yue Chu couldn't help but shift slightly, only to be immediately held even tighter. Lafa's strong arms tightened, leaving no room for escape.
Yue Chu's smile, hidden in Lafa's clothes, was profound, but it soon turned innocent as he hooked his fingers onto the hem of Lafa's garment.
Yue Chu said, "Father, would you like to go to the Moon Spring? The water temperature is very comfortable, and with the full moon tonight, we can chat while admiring the moon."
A hot spring bath?
Lafa's heart was filled with fantasies, and the alluring images set off alarms in his mind so the boundaries of reason finally kicked in to suppress the stirring desires.
Reluctantly, he let go before slightly lowering his eyes to hide the intense heat within, and said in a deep voice, "I have matters to attend to, so next time."
Yue Chu didn't insist, but as the heavy door closed behind him, the smile on his lips became quite intriguing.
The Moon Spring was located in the northwest of the royal city.
The clear spring water steamed with a mist-like heat, dancing like a veil under the silver moonlight, gracefully floating in the air. The full moon in the night sky resembled a jade plate, reflecting in the water and creating a breathtaking scene of two moons shining together.
Yue Chu wasn't just making empty promises; he truly intended to come here for a hot spring bath. Unfortunately, the person he wanted to share it with was unwilling to come.
He crouched down to test the water temperature with his hand.
It was a bit hot, but for the cold-blooded Blood Clan, it was just right.
At that moment, five or six bats silently flew in before perching on branches and rock walls all around with their crimson eyes staring unblinkingly at Yue Chu from every angle.
Yue Chu seemed oblivious to the eerie presence as he slowly removed his outer robe and stepped into the water.
His skin was smooth as porcelain and was glowing with a silver sheen under the moonlight.
When he wore clothes, he appeared somewhat slender but now, the thin, elegant muscles were clearly visible that were exuding a sense of strength and beauty that made one want to touch.
Water droplets slid down his skin as his lean, powerful waist slowly submerged into the water.
He quietly closed his eyes as his thick lashes fluttered slightly and hid those clear, dewy eyes. His features were as exquisite as jade carvings, resembling a mesmerizing siren in the faint mist that were luring people closer.
Yue Chu's ears twitched slightly when he caught the sound of light footsteps approaching.
A faint, eerie smile curved his lips.
A beautiful human girl, like a lost fawn, nervously clutched the lace-trimmed hem of her skirt while her eyes filled with confusion and fear as she looked around, stumbling in search of an exit.
Yet, out of all the directions, she headed straight for the Moon Spring.
Upon seeing the enchanting youth in the water, she couldn't help but gasp before shyly covering her face with her hands.
Anna, both startled and shy, spoke with a pitiful tremor in her voice that make it hard for people to scold her.
"I-I'm sorry but I got lost and I didn't mean to intrude..."
Yue Chu raised his sword-like brows slightly.
A green tea meeting another green tea—could this be considered a match of equals?
The sound of splashing water was particularly clear in the serene moonlight.
Yue Chu casually draped his clothes over his shoulders and revealed his still-damp chest as he gracefully approached Anna.
Anna seemed somewhat frightened but could only close her eyes and retreat.
In her nervousness, she accidentally stepped on the hem of her long skirt and, with a soft scream, tumbled into the water.
The water wasn’t deep, and Anna quickly struggled to her feet. However, the pool had soaked through her clothes, causing her white dress to cling tightly to her body that revealed her graceful curves and even glimpses of her snow-white skin beneath.
Anna’s face flushed like a peach blossom.
Shyly, she crossed her arms over her chest to cover herself and her pearl-like teeth lightly biting her red lips. A misty layer of tears welled up in her eyes, amplifying her beauty to its fullest.
Yue Chu chuckled softly as he approached her and comforted her in a gentle voice, "Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you."
As he spoke, he was about to drape his outer robe over Anna.
But at that moment, the previously silent bats suddenly went berserk. It flapped wildly toward Anna before ruthlessly tearing at her hair and skin with their sharp claws and teeth.
Anna let out a genuine scream this time while frantically waving her arms to fend off the bats’ attacks. Her disheveled appearance was a far cry from the alluring beauty she had just displayed.
Yue Chu was momentarily stunned, then nearly burst out laughing.
With such a jealous streak, it’s no wonder he’s always so reserved—it must be exhausting for him.