Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Cold War

After such a dispute, the sky had already darkened. Rao Chen was physically and mentally exhausted, as if all his strength had been drained, and his mind was on the verge of detachment.

Although he knew that the man didn’t have his address and couldn’t possibly find him, he still couldn’t help but look back frequently as he walked away. He fantasized about that person appearing with an anxious expression, panting as he pulled him into his arms, kissing his cheeks gently, and coaxing him back with soft words.

The more he thought about it, the more bitter it became. Rao Chen shook his head hard, closed his eyes tightly, and dialed a number. In a low voice, he said, “Uncle, let’s act tonight. I can’t wait any longer.”

The voice on the other end was mature and deep, tinged with surprise at Rao Chen’s sudden decision. “Tonight? Isn’t that too hasty? The Rao family’s foundation runs deep, and Rao Feng’s territory isn’t something you can just mess with.”

Rao Chen knew this was a gamble, but his blood was boiling, and he was impulsive and reckless, as if he had lost his reason. He needed to do something to calm himself down.

Closing his eyes and exhaling, he insisted, “I want to take the risk.”

Lu Yong’s voice came again, “Didn’t you say a few days ago that it was too dangerous and that you wanted to spend more time with the one you like?”

“We had a little conflict. Maybe I won’t be able to go back these days,” Rao Chen said irritably, running his hand through his hair.

The other man chuckled lightly. “You? Having a hard time? And he’s bold enough to bully my nephew? How ungrateful.”

Rao Chen frowned and stopped him softly. “Uncle, don’t talk about him like that.”

Even though he was angry at that person, he wouldn’t allow anyone else to criticize him, not even his uncle, who had done so much for him.

After hanging up, Rao Chen’s gaze darkened. He walked dozens of meters, then turned back for one last deep glance before disappearing into the night.

…

2 a.m.

The hospital room that belonged to Rao Chen should have been dark by now, but it was still lit.

He Lang, who had promised to return to the apartment, hadn’t gone back. Instead, he lay on the bed where the two of them usually slept together, waiting for him to return.

The image of Rao Chen angrily slamming the door and storming out lingered in his mind. He feared that if he really went back, it would make the boy even angrier, or that if the boy suddenly came back and didn’t see him, he might do something impulsive.

According to his usual schedule, He Lang should have been asleep long ago. But without any sign of Rao Chen returning and no word from him, he couldn’t settle down. Even lying down, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

He had called Rao Chen nineteen times and sent thirty messages, but there was no response.

The cold smile and shadowy look in Rao Chen’s eyes as he left still haunted him, leaving He Lang uneasy about what his impulsiveness might lead to.

Previously so certain that his own stance was correct, He Lang now began to waver. Perhaps his tone had been too stern, hurting him? If he had embraced him, spoken softly in his ear, and discussed the matter gently, would it have been better?

He Lang rubbed his temples. To be honest, who would have thought that Rao Chen, who seemed so indomitable and strong as an alpha, would be more fragile than glass on the inside?

Their personalities weren’t inherently compatible. Their relationship could only continue if one of them compromised. But clearly, Rao Chen’s stubbornness ran deep; even if it was a flaw, he would insist on being himself.

Getting out of bed, He Lang gazed at the vast darkness outside the window, a vague uneasiness in his heart. Before he knew it, he had walked to the hospital gate, reaching into his pocket to find a pack of cigarettes given to him by a doctor during a meeting.

The last time he smoked was when Jiang Jingda locked him in the bedroom. Reacquainting himself with the bitterness of tobacco, He Lang exhaled deeply, a puff of smoke dispersing into the faint light, merging with the hazy night.

After half an hour, the temperature dropped, and the cold wind made him shiver. He turned to go back to rest, but faint sounds came from a distance, accompanied by staggered, heavy footsteps.

He paused and turned around, only to see that figure stumbling toward him.

A large black coat enveloped Rao Chen’s entire frame, exuding a solemn air. The oversized hood obscured his lowered face. He Lang sensed something was wrong and stepped forward, only to find bruises on his face and traces of blood on his forehead.

“What happened?!”

Rao Chen swayed, unable to speak, his vision blurring. Even the familiar figure in front of him seemed hazy. Finally seeing the person he longed for, he felt a sense of relief but couldn’t respond. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed forward.

Catching the unexpectedly heavy figure, He Lang’s heart tightened, the strong smell of blood filling his nostrils.

Looking down, he saw Rao Chen’s pale lips. He was clearly suffering from severe blood loss, lying in his arms, barely alive.

Despite his immobility, a faint consciousness lingered in Rao Chen’s mind. Hearing the man’s worried and urgent questioning, his taut nerves suddenly relaxed, allowing himself to fall into his embrace.

It felt good. This person still cared for him.

…

Late at night, nurses and doctors were contacted to perform emergency treatment, and it took almost three hours before He Lang could lie down.

Knowing that Rao Chen would definitely feel uncomfortable when he woke up, He Lang simply slept with him on the hospital bed, keeping a certain distance in between to avoid pressing against his wounds.

Rao Chen rarely told him about his activities outside, so He Lang had no way of knowing what he had been through. At this moment, guessing what happened was equally challenging.

Fortunately, Rao Chen’s recovery ability was quite strong. By the time the sun rose the next day, he was already showing signs of waking up.

He Lang, who was keeping watch by his side, noticed immediately and leaned forward to gently pat his cheek, trying to wake him.

When Rao Chen opened his eyes, their gazes locked, and a torrent of emotions surged between them. It seemed the rift that had existed between them had dissolved overnight.

The coldness and questioning in He Lang’s expression from the previous day were now replaced by concern and urgency. Rao Chen’s eyes no longer carried the madness and violence of that day but were instead serene and relaxed.

Noticing that he wanted to speak, He Lang quickly poured a glass of water, tested its temperature, and brought it to his lips. “Drink some water to soothe your throat first, then tell me what happened.”

Rao Chen took a sip of water, glanced at him, and shamelessly shifted the blame. “It’s all your fault.”

“Me again?” He Lang chuckled bitterly.

Although Rao Chen’s wounds had not yet healed, with his head still wrapped in bandages and his appearance frail, his energy surged when the topic was brought up, and he began to argue with righteous indignation.

“You actually wanted us to sleep apart! I thought you didn’t want me anymore. If that’s the case, why would it matter to you whether what I did was dangerous or not?”

He Lang was momentarily speechless. Seeing how reasonable and justified Rao Chen made himself seem, he could only relent. “I was just… Never mind. Were you really angry? I’m sorry; it’s all my fault. I apologize. This won’t happen again.”

Knowing Rao Chen liked being close to him, He Lang took the opportunity to strike while the iron was hot. Seeing Rao Chen’s icy demeanor thawing, he gently lifted Rao Chen’s scarred hand to his lips, leaving a string of tender kisses.

Rao Chen was silent for a moment but couldn’t help sneaking a glance at He Lang’s apologetic expression. Feeling the gentle kisses on his hand, his lips curved upward involuntarily.

He didn’t tell He Lang that his anger had completely dissipated the moment he saw He Lang’s numerous missed calls and messages. No matter how much he grumbled about this man, all his negative emotions vanished in an instant upon seeing him.

His tone softened. “I went out to handle something important. How could I possibly be truly angry at you?”

He Lang sighed. “I’m glad you’re not angry at me. But that important matter you handled was far too dangerous. Why didn’t you tell me anything about it? Don’t you know how worried I’d be?”

Warmth spread through Rao Chen’s heart, revitalizing his barren inner world. His lips naturally curled into a smile. “Of course I knew. That’s why I wanted you to be worried.”

Fighting with Rao Feng for territory was indeed a fierce battle. When it was over, his body was so exhausted that he could barely stand. His bones felt shattered, and blood still trickled from his head. But the moment he checked his phone and saw He Lang’s messages and missed calls, he immediately sobered up. He didn’t even bother with treatment. All he could think about was his Lang Lang waiting for him. No matter how little strength he had left, he dragged himself back to Yuan Kang.

He Lang couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction, pinching his face lightly. “You’re happy just because you saw me worrying about you?”

“Knowing that you care about me—how could I not be happy?” Rao Chen looked at him, his gaze suddenly deep and affectionate. He gently cupped He Lang’s chin, pulling him closer. Their breaths intertwined, and their lips met in a tender kiss.

He Lang responded by holding the back of his head, gently squeezing his nape. He parted his lips without resistance, even taking the initiative to tangle his tongue with Rao Chen’s, kissing him until all his anger melted away. Only after a while did he reluctantly pull back to catch his breath.

“You know I worry about you, yet you always keep everything to yourself. Isn’t it exhausting to bear it all alone?”

Rao Chen shifted into a more comfortable position, lying in He Lang’s arms. He raised a hand to gently caress He Lang’s cheek, his gaze darkening. “If I told you I killed someone yesterday, would you be afraid of me?”

He Lang held his hand. “What nonsense are you talking about? I’m only worried about how dangerous it was for you.”

If this was the path Rao Chen had to walk, He Lang wouldn’t concern himself with the lives of others. Still, he was surprised by Rao Chen’s apparent indifference. He had always thought of this man as loving and kind, with no tolerance for filth in his eyes.

But wasn’t this better? Even if Rao Chen was steeped in blood, He Lang could still embrace him without hesitation.

Rao Chen closed his eyes, as if reminiscing, and leaned close to whisper in He Lang’s ear. “It was a battlefield, with bullets flying everywhere. Many people died that night.”

His tone was light and casual, but He Lang felt a pang in his heart.

“But do you know something?” Rao Chen opened his eyes and locked gazes with He Lang. “When bullets whizzed past my ears, my first thought wasn’t whether I’d survive but… that we hadn’t made up yet and that I hadn’t cooked you lunch for tomorrow.”

He Lang chuckled, tapping his forehead. “Why talk about death so casually?”

Rao Chen took a deep breath and ignored He Lang’s words, continuing with a slightly fiercer look in his eyes. “But if I really did die, someone else might take you away. Just for that reason, I can’t afford to die.”

To go through this life without marking you, without marrying you—dying like that would be far too unworthy.

Author’s Note: The relationship is heating up! QWQ Honestly, I feel like this world is the sweetest one (?).