These military thugs had spent years terrorizing the countryside, killing and fighting with the arrogance that came from their brute strength.
But none of them had ever witnessed anything as horrifying as a live vivisection. Some turned deathly pale, others vomited on the spot, and the air was filled with a chorus of wails as if their very souls were being frightened out of their bodies.
The Prefect slumped in his chair, retching until he was incoherent, his official dignity completely vanished.
Who could have imagined that this Chancellor, who looked like a Transcendental Immortal, could be such a ruthless, decisive, and terrifying man?
Having achieved his goal, Gu Huaiyu unhurriedly picked up his tea. He took a light sip before speaking. “This Chancellor has clarified the facts of the case. The rest shall be handled according to the law.”
With that, he rose and entered his sedan, offering a single command: “Return to the ship.”
Pei Jingyi stood by the roadside, repeatedly scrubbing his hands in a bucket of water. The commoners beat a hasty retreat the moment they saw him.
By the time he returned to the ship, Gu Huaiyu was already dining in the cabin. The local dishes of Longde Prefecture weren’t as refined as those of the south, but they possessed a unique, rustic charm.
Pei Jingyi sat down beside Gu Huaiyu uninvited. “When does the Chancellor intend to visit the barracks?”
Gu Huaiyu chewed slowly and swallowed before answering, “In three days.”
Three days was enough time for the news to ferment throughout the Provincial Army camp. It was enough time for every soldier who had yet to see the Chancellor in person to start shivering—to fear his reputation more than the man himself.
When it came to military strategy and leading a charge, Gu Huaiyu was no match for Pei Jingyi. But when it came to reading human nature and manipulating a situation, he was leagues ahead.
His frail constitution might not have been able to command respect through force, but his intellect was worth more than ten thousand horses and men.
Pei Jingyi propped his chin on one hand and stared at him, his dark eyes bright with an unmasked, almost devout admiration.
Gu Huaiyu wasn’t annoyed; instead, he found it quite agreeable. There were precious few people in this world who could truly appreciate his brilliance.
“What is it?” Gu Huaiyu arched an eyebrow. “Has this Chancellor made your heart flutter?”
Pei Jingyi replied candidly, “More than just flutter. This official is practically dying to offer his body in marriage.”
Gu Huaiyu let out a huff of laughter and continued his meal.
Once he set down his chopsticks, Pei Jingyi sniffed his palm and said with a touch of resentment, “Would the Chancellor like a scent? I fear this smell of blood will never be washed away.”
Gu Huaiyu didn’t even look at him as he wiped the corners of his mouth. “Since when did you care about such things?”
Pei Jingyi naturally didn’t care, but he wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity for a reward. “Won’t the Chancellor give me a little prize?”
The moment Gu Huaiyu heard the word “prize,” the tips of his ears grew faint with heat. He narrowed his eyes. “What are you planning now?”
This time, Pei Jingyi truly didn’t have any intentions of taking physical liberties. He leaned in close. “I want to ask the Chancellor… to finish what we started last time.”
Gu Huaiyu genuinely couldn’t remember which “last time” he was referring to. “What matter?”
Pei Jingyi didn’t beat around the bush. Beneath his high brow, his hawk-like eyes were as deep as the night. “Last time, the Chancellor promised to count for me. But as it turned out, the Chancellor fell asleep.”
Gu Huaiyu feigned ignorance, frowning. “Did such a thing happen?”
Pei Jingyi leaned in even closer, his hot breath brushing against Gu Huaiyu’s cheek. “The Chancellor has ruined my body. Without the Chancellor’s counting…”
At this, his voice dropped to a low, husky rasp, carrying a deliberate hint of grievance. “…that thing of mine refuses to let go. It’s aching from the pressure.”
Gu Huaiyu turned his face away, his profile cold and detached. “Oh? Is that so?”
In truth, he felt quite satisfied deep down. To think that this body, which was invincible on the battlefield, had been tamed so thoroughly by him.
Pei Jingyi knew perfectly well that Gu Huaiyu wasn’t a “kind master,” but he wasn’t a submissive dog either. He immediately reached out to grab Gu Huaiyu’s wrist. “The Chancellor doesn’t believe me? You can feel for yourself.”
Gu Huaiyu snapped his hand back and said indifferently, “Since that is the case, I shall allow it.”
Pei Jingyi’s eyes suddenly lit up. He licked his canine teeth with a restless tongue. “When?”
“Now.”
Gu Huaiyu rose and walked toward the inner cabin. Since it wasn’t convenient to inspect the army for the next three days, why not play with the dog to pass the time?
Pei Jingyi followed close behind. He still had some sense of propriety, stopping at the threshold between the inner and outer rooms. His hand was already on his belt, and his breathing was so heavy it felt as if it might catch fire.
Suddenly, he heard a lazy summons from within: “Come in.”
Pei Jingyi’s brows twitched. He abandoned all restraint, lifted the curtain, and strode inside.
Gu Huaiyu sat leisurely on the edge of the bed. After surveying Pei Jingyi for a moment, his slender, pale fingers moved to the ties of his own outer robe. Under Pei Jingyi’s burning gaze, he undid the ties one by one and casually slipped the robe off.
Pei Jingyi watched without blinking, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently.
However, Gu Huaiyu simply tossed the outer robe to him and gave a casual command: “Cover it. If even a fraction of an inch is exposed, I will personally cut off that lance of yours.”
Pei Jingyi grabbed the purple silk robe and took a deep breath, the familiar fragrance instantly filling his lungs.
He then sat brashly in a chair with his legs spread, facing the beauty on the bed.
With a clatter, he yanked his belt free. Beneath the concealment of that outer robe, he began to move without any attempt at discretion.
Gu Huaiyu’s loose, snow-white silk inner garment revealed his delicate collarbones. His ink-black hair draped over his slender shoulders, making his red lips and white teeth appear even more exquisitely beautiful.
Yet those mesmerizing eyes simply watched Pei Jingyi. The upward tilt of his eyelids acted like tiny hooks, snagging the heart and fueling wild fantasies.
It didn’t take long for Pei Jingyi to feel the heat. His large hand moved visibly beneath the thin robe as his gaze unashamedly licked over every inch of the man on the bed.
