Budding Anemone — IV

"What happened?" Before he could stop himself, the amber-haired man blurted out, no longer caring for the wasted food or the spilt liquor. "Is everything alright, Master?"

It was a futile question.

Never once had Hu Lijing seen Li Xinyuan in such a state of distress much less in tears and dishevelled. No, not since Li Xinyuan was able to understand everything on his own.

Hu Lijing's heart thumped. What had caused such a strong reaction from his usually calm master to the point where he would scream in the way he did?

"Master," Hu Lijing pursed his lips, stepping closer to Li Xinyuan as he tentatively reached out to touch the man's shoulder. "What happened?" He whispered, hoping for a clear answer.

The moment his voice fell, the amber-haired man felt the doctor tremble, his deceptively frail shoulder shook under his touch as he all but crumbled, the dam of his emotions breaking loose.

"Lijing," Li Xinyuan gasped, tears escaping his beautiful golden eyes as he pushed his long ebony hair back, pulling at the loose strands in frustration. "I'm so fucking screwed."

Hu Lijing's brows drew together even more as he listened to Li Xinyuan babble almost senselessly while leading the surgeon into his room and making him sit on the bed.

"What happened?" He asked, rarely did he ever speak in such a gentle voice. "Please, tell me clearly, so that this Lijing can be of help, Master."

Li Xinyuan gritted his teeth, feeling his nerves on fire, the surgeon exhaled forcibly and held up the novel in his hand, shaking it slightly as he spoke.

"This— this— this damned book." He panted in anger. "This damned book has damned me to some stupid…◼◼◼◼—"

The moment Li Xinyuan heard the distortion of his voice, his face paled not from anger but from shock. Meanwhile, Hu Lijing stared at him, confused.

Why was Li Xinyuan mouthing something to him and not speaking? He wondered briefly as he held the man's hand and said.

"Master, calm down and tell me slowly. I cannot hear your voice for some reason."

On the other hand, the surgeon came to realise the influence this book — or rather the novel plot — had on the world itself. Somewhat horrified and mildly interested, Li Xinyuan bit his lower lip and freed his hands from Hu Lijing's hold and opened the last page of the novel.

Sure enough. Its contents had changed.

[> Host is advised to not delve into information about the system or the plot to the people of the world. While they are as real as they come by, it wouldn't be so good if they were to find out their fates, no?]

Li Xinyuan snapped the book shut and took a deep breath. No, calm down. Calm down Xinyuan, you've been through worse. This isn't even close to what you've been through, he told himself.

Panicked as he was at the sudden turn of events, Li Xinyuan forced himself to rationalise the situation and managed to calm himself down significantly.

When he opened his eyes again, the surgeon bowed his head, looking at Hu Lijing who sat by his feet, his hands placed on Li Xinyuan's knees as he watched the changes in his emotions carefully.

"Have you managed to calm down, Master?" He asked, tentatively. Li Xinyuan nodded, unsure of how he was going to explain this situation to the man. "Then it's good. Would you like to eat something?"

Li Xinyuan blinked. He… wasn't going to probe? Or even just ask?

Silence reigned between them as the amber-haired man stood up, hand on his own knees as he scrunched his nose at the lack of response from Li Xinyuan.

"Do you want to have dinner or not?" He asked again, this time with some impatience that the surgeon was familiar with.

"I… I do not wish to have supper tonight." The surgeon replied finally, feeling warmth and gratitude swirling in his chest as his attendant's — albeit awkward — attempt to give him some space that he definitely needed.

"Very well," Hu Lijing nodded, sharply as he cleared his throat and turned to leave the room. "If you need something just call for me, Master." At last, he said, hand resting on the door handle.

After completely calming down Li Xinyuan couldn't help but find the situation to be rather amusing. He didn't think that it was healthy to make jokes about his own near breakdown but he did it anyway.

"Not going to ask me about why I was behaving like that earlier?" He asked, immediately regretting his words afterwards. There he was, not hitting his foot with an axe but stepping on the axe knowingly.

Hu Lijing — who was just about to leave — turned around, pulling his hand away from the handle to instead rest on his hips.

"Does the Master wish for this Lijing to ask?" He questioned, sharp but rhetorical. Li Xinyuan bit back a wince.

Well, kind of deserved, he supposed.

"Not really?'' he replied, chagrined. In response, Hu Lijing gave him a deadpan look. "I was just surprised that you aren't curious, because you know, you guys are supposed to be curious…?"

Hu Lijing frowned at him. "I wouldn't ask you the questions I know you will not answer, Master. And yes, while we are supposed to be curious creatures, we also learn from our mistakes. No more unnecessary curiosity now."

Li Xinyuan nodded slowly, turning his words over in his mind as he sat back down on his bed. "I suppose that is true." He hummed, a second later. "Well, then I shall retire for the night."

Hu Lijing nodded, eyes soft as he walked out of the door. "May merry dreams grace your slumber, Master."

Li Xinyuan pulled the blanket on his lap and leaned against the wall. "Likewise, Lijing." He smiled softly, a grave frown overtaking his features the moment Hu Lijing left the room.

Now what?

That was the question which was destined to haunt his dreams.

As Li Xinyuan bit down on his plush lips, worry plaguing his mind extensively, another individual shared the same thoughts albeit on an entirely different matter.

In the Northwestern Frontier.

A tall man with a lithe figure stood under the cloudless night sky, the full moon shining in the darkness as the only natural source of light as the man walked at the border of the military camp.

His handsome face, chiselled features and high nose with sharp jawline stood out in the moonlight as his silver-white long hair seemed to shine as it fell to his waist, fluttering with the wind as he walked clad in dark robes with golden and silver embroidery and hands folded on his back.

Red eyes shone under the fluttering eyelids as the frown on his striking face deepened. With a long sword hanging on his waist and wrist guards protecting his arms, he looked up at the sky, lips falling open as a sigh left him.

A deep, baritone voice rumbled in his chest as he murmured to heaven.

"Now what?" The man asked no one in particular. Suddenly from behind him, a voice called out, making him turn around gracefully.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince!"