Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 33

Compared to Jiang Jingda, He Lang felt much more at ease. The thought of gradually maturing according to his age, becoming independent, and possessing his own abilities brought him a great deal of joy.

What pleased him even more was that now, with just the income from his antique trading, he could already earn a substantial amount. If he were to invest this income, it might play a significant role in the future.

With this in mind, He Lang felt light-hearted and prepared to sleep, but his rest was abruptly interrupted by an uninvited guest who burst into his room.

Since the lights were off, the room was pitch black. He could only make out Jiang Jingda’s vague silhouette approaching him with an unknown pressure. He found himself unable to flee and could only tilt his head warily, reaching out to find the switch for the bedside lamp.

A cold hand suddenly grasped his searching hand, stopping him from turning on the light, as if intending for all communication to take place in the darkness.

He Lang couldn’t understand his intentions; he only instinctively sensed that Jiang Jingda was somewhat agitated. However, because of the darkness, he couldn’t see his expression clearly, which made him feel a bit uneasy.

Suddenly, a heavy body pressed down on He Lang, who hadn’t had the chance to get up, and quickly pinned his hands with one hand, easily preventing him from struggling any further.

He Lang felt like he was prey that had been targeted by a wild beast, and that any misstep could lead to a fatal bite. So, he didn’t dare to act rashly and only tentatively pushed at Jiang Jingda’s chest, calling out to him softly.

Jiang Jingda didn’t respond, but his sense of despondency was palpable, and it made his behavior even stranger. He nuzzled his head against He Lang’s neck, taking a deep breath of his scent. Although this calmed the turmoil within him, it didn’t extinguish it entirely; instead, it moved down to his lower abdomen, sparking a strange desire.

After a long while, he finally spoke in the darkness, his voice sounding weary, his actions slowing down, as if he were an animal gently rubbing his head against He Lang’s hair, occasionally planting a light kiss on his cheek.

“Lang Lang, are you going to sleep? But brother can’t fall asleep.”

If it were just these gentle kisses, He Lang’s reaction wouldn’t have been so strong. But while he was still pondering how to respond, Jiang Jingda impulsively flipped him over, pinned his hands behind his back, and bit down on the nape of his neck.

This bite sent a tingling sensation down He Lang’s spine, making his whole body go limp, as if all his strength had been drained.

Taking advantage of He Lang’s momentary weakness, Jiang Jingda, completely abandoning his usual gentle and steady demeanor, acted like a reckless boy. He panted heavily for a moment, then brazenly extended his tongue, rolling He Lang’s earlobe into his mouth, lightly biting it. The warm, wet sensation made He Lang widen his eyes in shock, momentarily forgetting to struggle.

Jiang Jingda, now seemingly satisfied, grabbed He Lang’s hands with one hand and pulled them above his head. He continued to kiss down his neck, all the way to his back, even managing to tear open two buttons on his shirt.

He Lang’s eyes widened slightly in disbelief at Jiang Jingda’s unexpected actions. The exclamation stuck in his throat could no longer be suppressed. “Brother, don’t.”

But Jiang Jingda ignored his refusal, which left He Lang both embarrassed and angry. Jiang Jingda had always been the one who would never overlook He Lang’s feelings, but now, he was deaf to his pleas.

At this moment, Jiang Jingda couldn’t care about anything else. All he knew was that this intimate contact brought him immense comfort, making his heart race and filling him with intense joy. Only through this could he dispel the dark thoughts that had plagued him.

The smoldering flame in his heart, fanned by his anxiety, had finally grown into a fierce blaze, leading him to act so recklessly and intimately.

His gaze was obsessive, and when faced with He Lang’s rejection, a hint of cruelty rose within him. Even if it meant causing He Lang pain and discomfort, he still wanted to continue tormenting him.

He was truly unwilling to let go. Since it was He Lang who had clung to him first, he wouldn’t allow him to run away now, leaving him to lose control and feel abandoned. He wouldn’t let He Lang treat him like a mere brother with a distant relationship.

Jiang Jingda had never deeply examined where his feelings originated. He only knew that, over time, in every little moment, day after day, his desire to control He Lang had grown. He couldn’t allow He Lang to leave his side.

However, he had never questioned why, if that were all there was, he would naturally start engaging in these intimate actions more suited to lovers.

He Lang knew he couldn’t break free, so he closed his eyes and turned his head, allowing Jiang Jingda to nuzzle against his shoulder, which finally began to soothe him.

The final kiss should have landed squarely on He Lang’s lips, but he turned his head in time, leaving Jiang Jingda’s kiss to fall on the corner of his mouth instead.

Fortunately, this last bit of comfort was enough to make Jiang Jingda release him. He Lang turned over, ready to demand an explanation for this outburst in the middle of the night.

But before he could voice his frustration, Jiang Jingda pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.

“Go to sleep now. I won’t cause any more trouble.”

With that, he nonchalantly pulled the bewildered He Lang back down, loosely draping an arm over his waist. It seemed casual, but the lingering possessiveness was still evident.

He Lang’s body still trembled slightly from the earlier encounter. It was his first time being treated this way. Though he lacked the emotional capacity to feel truly moved or embarrassed, he was still indignant, wanting to continue questioning Jiang Jingda. But when he turned to look, he saw that Jiang Jingda had already fallen asleep, his breathing steady.

Feeling helpless, He Lang sighed, pushed Jiang Jingda’s hand away, and wrapped himself in the blanket, turning to sleep on his side.

Watching He Lang’s now-relaxed back, Jiang Jingda slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with confusion.

As the heat of the moment subsided, his mind cleared, and he began to realize just how bold and reckless his actions had been, completely out of line for brothers.

Jiang Jingda was astonished to find that he could behave in such a way—reckless, impulsive, passionate, and forceful. Just a moment ago, he had seemed to lose his senses, his mind a whirlwind, his heart filled with a growing sense of abandonment and rejection, which had driven him to rush into the adjacent room…

He hadn’t wanted to frighten Lang Lang, but in the end, he had gone against his intentions and upset him. Jiang Jingda sighed inwardly, realizing that despite his attempts to appear mature, he was still a young man inexperienced in handling his emotions.

He blamed his inability to control his mindset and emotions in front of He Lang, which had led him to act rashly. Especially after learning that He Lang wanted to become independent and no longer rely on him, his anxiety had taken over, allowing unfamiliar emotions to overwhelm him. He felt uneasy, panicked, and utterly helpless.

Why did he feel as if he were sinking into quicksand, powerless, sinking deeper and deeper, unable to save himself?

Perhaps it was that first, pure and passionate smile, as radiant as the midday sun, or perhaps it was his soft, seemingly sincere repetition of “I like you, brother.”

Even though time had changed things, Jiang Jingda still chose to turn back, resolutely and without hesitation.

…

To be honest, He Lang was genuinely frightened by what happened that night. Although he noticed that Jiang Jingda quickly fell into a period of inner conflict afterward, giving He Lang a brief moment of freedom, and though Jiang Jingda’s guilt over that day made him back off time and again, He Lang still didn’t intend to stop there. He was determined to cut through the ambiguity with a sharp blade, not allowing this brotherly relationship to develop any further into something unclear.

When the new school year started, He Lang enrolled in a new high school as an art student. The school offered the option to board, but applying for a dorm required parental consent. The moment Song Qinglian saw that her son wanted to live on campus, her brow furrowed deeply—not out of opposition, but out of concern for how he would manage on his own.

Jiang Jingda, on the other hand, immediately objected when he heard about it, his tone serious.

“I don’t agree.”

He rubbed his forehead, worrying as usual—was the food outside safe? Would Lang Lang meet good or bad friends at school? Not seeing him for an entire week, how could that not drive him to worry?

Seeing that Song Qinglian was still considering it, He Lang glanced at Jiang Jingda coolly and said, “Mom and Dad haven’t said anything.” The implication was that as his brother, Jiang Jingda had no right to control him.

In truth, Song Qinglian didn’t really agree with her pampered son going to school and suffering hardships, but she couldn’t resist He Lang’s serious expression and firm attitude. Seeing that no one could change his mind, she had no choice but to consent.

Watching as the application form was signed, Jiang Jingda crumpled the newspaper in his hand into a ball. He took a shallow breath, smoothed out the paper, and suddenly smiled at He Lang. “Fine, go ahead then. Do what you want to do.”

Although He Lang was puzzled by his change in attitude, it was clear that Jiang Jingda had reverted to his original self—accommodating in every way—which, for He Lang, was undoubtedly a good thing. He felt relieved and, when he went upstairs to pack, Jiang Jingda even lent him a hand.

Even though the school’s dormitory was already considered a decent environment, it was still a far cry from what He Lang was used to. Experiencing this kind of communal living for the first time, He Lang found the first day novel, though the cramped quarters made him uncomfortable. Still, he dutifully organized his belongings and tried to settle in.

However, being accustomed to a life of luxury, communal living was something he couldn’t easily adapt to.

Even in his original world, where he was an unfavored prince, he still had two servants to assist him. The treatment in the palace was far from poor, so he had never truly experienced hardship. Now, on his own, he had to manage everything—food, clothing, shelter, and transport—which was no easy task.

Communal living involved sharing space with many others, and He Lang was not naturally sociable. The noise and mischief of his dorm mates, coupled with the cramped space, meant he couldn’t even spread out his rice paper for calligraphy, let alone practice or read. His disrupted routine naturally led to a foul mood.

But a stubborn streak within him refused to let him give up after just a few days. Gritting his teeth, he managed to endure the first week.

**Author’s Note:**

I hope to have you with me every month from now on. (づ￣3￣)づ╭❤️