I Don’T Want To Be This Master For A Day Anymore. Chapter 19

He Kissed Me

The night before the wedding banquet, Yao Ye arrived.

Yao Ye held a wine gourd and leaned against the doorway. “Yin’an, when will this rain stop? Can you use a Technique to control the rain and make it stop? My sister’s wedding banquet is tomorrow, and it’s all wet and muddy. It makes things difficult for the servants.”

“Do you think I’m an immortal who can control the clouds and rain?” Qiu Yin’an put down his chopsticks, having just finished eating. He glanced at the wine gourd in Yao Ye’s hand and asked, “Did you come here to drink with me?”

Yao Ye gave a listless hum, then stepped into the room with his soaking wet boots.

Yao Ye sat down. Wan Qiongju stood up, intending to excuse himself, but Qiu Yin’an grabbed him. “You keep eating.”

Wan Qiongju, who was half-standing, sat back down and picked up his chopsticks to continue his meal.

“Why do I feel like you’ve grown taller again?” Yao Ye stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping over Wan Qiongju. “Stand up straight, let me see.”

Wan Qiongju put down his chopsticks, but before his backside could leave the bench, Qiu Yin’an pressed him back down.

Qiu Yin’an said to Yao Ye, “He’s eating well. Why are you bothering him?”

Yao Ye put down the wine gourd, took three overturned porcelain cups from the table, and replied carelessly, “I just wanted to confirm.”

Wan Qiongju said, “The food at Jiuling Mountain is good, so I grow fast.”

Yao Ye paused while flipping the cups, then smiled and patted Wan Qiongju’s arm twice. “Well said.”

Yao Ye picked up the wine gourd and poured a cup of wine for Wan Qiongju. “Try this. This wine is unique to Jiuling Mountain.”

“Master, may I drink this?” Wan Qiongju looked at Qiu Yin’an.

Qiu Yin’an nodded. “Drink it if you want.”

Yao Ye sighed with emotion. “Why is this child so well-behaved? He has to ask you even to drink wine.”

Qiu Yin’an countered, “Isn’t it good to be well-behaved? I like him being obedient like this.”

Yao Ye picked up a cup, poured another one, and handed it to Qiu Yin’an, supporting the bottom of the cup. “Alright, alright. A thousand good things are not as good as a single word of liking from Virtuous Venerable Muyang.”

Yao Ye had a low tolerance for alcohol; he would pass out after a few sips. Seeing that the cup Yao Ye poured for himself was about to overflow, Qiu Yin’an picked up his own cup, intending to swap them. As his hand reached out, Yao Ye pushed it back.

Qiu Yin’an advised, “Don’t pour yourself so much. Tomorrow is your sister’s wedding banquet, and everything inside and out depends on you.”

“I know. I’ve already asked someone to prepare hangover medicine,” Yao Ye sighed. “I’m in a bad mood, so I just want to drink some wine.”

Yao Ye downed several full cups in succession and was already showing signs of intoxication shortly after.

When Qiu Yin’an saw Yao Ye pouring wine into the dishes and then picking up an empty cup to drink from, he snatched the wine gourd from Yao Ye’s hand. “Stop drinking. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

“If I don’t drink a lot, I won’t have the courage to speak up,” Yao Ye slumped into Qiu Yin’an’s arms. “Yin’an, what should I do? My sister is getting married. I’ll be the only one running Jiuling Mountain from now on. The pressure is huge.”

“Haven’t you been looking forward to this day? Now that you have your freedom, you act like this.” Qiu Yin’an patted Yao Ye’s back, coaxing him like a child. “It’s fine. Your sister has a Cloud-Riding Bell, so it’s not hard for her to come back and see you.”

“I feel like I won’t be a good Sect Venerable.” Yao Ye suddenly lifted his head, grabbing Qiu Yin’an’s arms. “Yin’an, you should take the position of Venerable Lord of Jiuling Mountain. I’ll remain the Young Lord.”

“You are truly drunk,” Qiu Yin’an pulled him back to his seat. “Your sister has protected you for so many years. The fact that she’s finally willing to marry means that in her eyes, you’ve finally made progress and can shoulder the responsibility of the Jiuling Mountain Venerable Lord. Stop belittling yourself.”

“It’s not that I’ve made progress; it’s out of necessity. She really has to get married,” Yao Ye grabbed Qiu Yin’an’s wrist, pulling him closer, and whispered, “My sister is pregnant.”

Hearing this, Qiu Yin’an was slightly stunned. He recalled seeing Yao Yu last time, and she did look a bit rounder.

Yao Ye tugged Qiu Yin’an’s wrist. “You absolutely must not tell anyone. Although people won’t dare say anything to her face, they will definitely say unpleasant things behind her back.”

Qiu Yin’an said, “Your sister and Liu Senyuan of Fengyun Manor have been devoted to each other for so many years. It’s only natural. What do outsiders have to say?”

Yao Ye replied, “Some people just lead boring lives and love to focus on others. They’d die if they couldn’t gossip.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t talk carelessly.” Qiu Yin’an raised his chin and gave Wan Qiongju a look. “You too.”

Wan Qiongju nodded.

Yao Ye continued, “Before, I always hoped she would marry so I could be free, but now that she’s really getting married, I—”

Yao Ye couldn’t finish his sentence and burst into tears. “She hasn’t even left Jiuling Mountain yet, and I already miss her so much.”

Yao Ye covered his face, sobbing incessantly.

“Can she get used to that broken place, Fengyun Manor?”

“Liu Senyuan refuses to marry into our family. What kind of integrity is he trying to show?”

Qiu Yin’an said, “He waited for your sister for so many years, so he must be a devoted person. After guarding her for so long, he’s finally taking her home. He will treat your sister well. Don’t worry.”

Yao Ye asked, “Yin’an, honestly, now that my sister is gone, I don’t know if I can manage Jiuling Mountain alone. What if those Elders try to fool me?”

Qiu Yin’an reassured him, “Don’t worry. Qingxuan Peak isn’t far from here. If anything happens, just come find me. I’ll also visit you often. Wan Qiongju likes it here, so I’ll occasionally bring him to stay for a short while.”

“Yin’an, with my sister gone, I only have you left.” Yao Ye hugged Qiu Yin’an, crying bitterly. He was still cursing Liu Senyuan. “What does my sister even see in him? His two front teeth are rounder than his eyes. It would be so much better if my sister was with you.”

“When your sister and he were together, we were still catching frogs in the pond to scare Yu Jingyan. Your sister would run away when she saw me holding a frog. How could I compare to him?”

Bringing up childhood memories, Yao Ye babbled on and on. Occasionally, when he mentioned something funny, he would hold his stomach and laugh heartily. When he was tired of talking and laughing, Yao Ye leaned on the table and stood up. He tugged at the front of his robe. “I feel hot all over. I’m going out for a walk to catch some cool air.”

Qiu Yin’an offered, “I’ll go with you.”

Yao Ye waved his hand. “It’s better if I walk back alone and clear my head.” He pointed at Wan Qiongju. “You should look after the little one. This wine has a strong kick.”

Qiu Yin’an turned his head and saw that Wan Qiongju’s face was already flushed. He raised the back of his hand and pressed it against the boy’s forehead; Wan Qiongju’s face was burning hot.

The wine tasted very sweet and wasn’t harsh, making it easy to drink too much without realizing it.

Qiu Yin’an looked at the bottom of the cup. He hadn’t drunk much, though.

Yao Ye had only poured half a cup for Wan Qiongju, and there were still two sips left at the bottom. Wan Qiongju had drunk at most three sips, yet his face was this red?

Qiu Yin’an muttered, “Another one who can’t hold his liquor.”

Wan Qiongju was slightly different from Yao Ye. Yao Ye didn’t get flushed when drunk, but Wan Qiongju’s face, neck, and hands were all tinged with a light pink.

Qiu Yin’an playfully flicked Wan Qiongju’s little red face and asked, “How are you feeling? Dizzy?”

Wan Qiongju looked vaguely ahead and shook his head. “A little dizzy.”

Qiu Yin’an chuckled.

“I’m done eating. I’m full.”

Wan Qiongju supported himself on the table and staggered back to the inner room. He didn’t even take off his boots, collapsing spread-eagled onto the bed.

Qiu Yin’an followed him in and saw Wan Qiongju’s entire face buried in the quilt. He quickly flipped the boy over. “Are you trying to suffocate yourself?”

Wan Qiongju squinted, smiling foolishly at Qiu Yin’an, mumbling something unintelligible.

“What are you muttering?” Qiu Yin’an leaned his ear closer to hear, when suddenly, two warm lips pressed against his cheek.

Oh my heavens, Wan Qiongju was kissing him.

Qiu Yin’an shot upright, his eyes wide as he looked down at Wan Qiongju. “Can you even recognize who I am?”

He patted Wan Qiongju’s cheek twice, but the boy remained in a daze and didn’t answer him.

Qiu Yin’an touched the spot where Wan Qiongju had kissed him. The warm sensation lingered, and the feeling wasn’t exactly unpleasant.

Seeing Wan Qiongju with half-closed eyes and a hazy look, drunk to this extent, Qiu Yin’an dropped his hand. “Forget it. I won’t hold it against you.”

He began to undress Wan Qiongju and remove his boots, wanting him to sleep more comfortably. He took off one boot, and just as he was about to take off the second, Wan Qiongju rolled over and solidly kicked him.

The kick nearly hit Qiu Yin’an’s eye. He quickly ran to the bronze mirror, holding a candle holder to check. Fortunately, it was only a scratch near his eye corner.

Qiu Yin’an leaped back to the bedside in two steps, grabbing Wan Qiongju’s hair to flip him over. “You little brat, you are forbidden to drink alcohol from now on. Not a single drop. Do you hear me?”

Wan Qiongju was muddled with intoxication. The tug on his scalp made him groan twice, but he clearly hadn’t registered what Qiu Yin’an said.

However, Qiu Yin’an was impatient. He insisted that the little drunkard promise him right now.

He grabbed Wan Qiongju’s collar, propped one hand on the bed, and warned him solemnly, “Wan Qiongju, you are not allowed to drink alcohol ever again. This is my command, your Master’s command to his disciple. You must obey.”

This time, there wasn’t even a groan. Although Wan Qiongju’s eyes were open, they were blurry and confused.

“Did you hear what I said?”

Qiu Yin’an knelt on the bed with one leg, leaning his upper body down. They were very close now. He raised his voice. “You—you are not allowed to touch a single drop of alcohol from now on. If you dare to—”

Before he could finish, Wan Qiongju raised his arm, pulled him closer, and firmly sealed his mouth with his own.

“Mmm—”

Qiu Yin’an braced his hands on the bed, trying to push away, but the boy’s embrace was unusually strong, and he couldn’t break free.

“Yin’an, here’s the hangover medicine you should give—”

Yao Ye, who failed to knock on the door when he should have, saw the scene and the medicine in his hand clattered to the floor.

In a panic, Qiu Yin’an used a Technique to escape. He stood up and looked at Yao Ye. “It’s not what you think.”

Yao Ye clapped his hands. “I knew something was going on between you two! And you kept lying to me that there wasn’t.”

“There really isn’t.” Qiu Yin’an was anxious to prove himself. He stood up straight and said, “Look at me, my clothes are properly on. And that other thing—I wasn’t even ready.”

“Did I scare it limp?” Yao Ye slapped himself. “I swear I’ll change my habit of not knocking from now on. Please don’t develop any lasting issues. Hurry up and continue. I’m leaving.”

Yao Ye scurried away in a hurry.

Qiu Yin’an shouted at Yao Ye’s retreating back, “I’m not limp! I’m perfectly fine! I don’t need to continue!”

“Damn it, why does Yao Ye always walk in on us? Is he timing this?”

Qiu Yin’an sighed and slumped onto the bed. He turned to look at Wan Qiongju, who was already sound asleep. He raised his hand, intending to slap him a few times, but couldn’t bring himself to do it as his hand descended.

Qiu Yin’an pinched the boy’s face and scolded, “It’s all your fault. I haven’t even kissed anyone yet, and you were the first.”

The boy groaned a few times with his eyes closed, tilting his head and tugging at the front of his robe. The beautiful, faint pink on his neck immediately caught Qiu Yin’an’s attention.

But Qiu Yin’an was lucid. This was his beloved disciple, not his beloved wife. He knew that if he kept looking, he would start having inappropriate thoughts. He averted his eyes, no longer looking at Wan Qiongju, and instead began to savor the memory of the kiss.

He had been too busy trying to escape just now to properly taste it.

Qiu Yin’an put two fingers together and placed them on his lips, then pursed his mouth, imitating the kiss they had just shared. But no matter how he adjusted the direction of his fingers, he couldn’t recapture the feeling. His fingertips weren’t as warm and soft as Wan Qiongju’s lips.

They had kissed, yet he hadn’t even figured out what it tasted like. Qiu Yin’an cursed inwardly, What a damn waste.

He turned his head to stare at Wan Qiongju. The instigator was sleeping soundly, leaving him alone with a troubled mind.

Qiu Yin’an continued to undress Wan Qiongju, intending to tuck him into the quilt. He was annoyed, so his movements were a bit rough, which woke Wan Qiongju up.

“Master, where are you? Which one is you?” Wan Qiongju reached out to grab, but missed him several times.

Qiu Yin’an raised his hand and slapped Wan Qiongju’s wildly grabbing little paw. “I’ll beat you up, and then you’ll know which one is me.”

Wan Qiongju wasn’t afraid of pain and reached out again. Just as Qiu Yin’an was about to slap him again, the boy grabbed Qiu Yin’an’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

Qiu Yin’an tried to shake him off twice, but the more he struggled, the tighter Wan Qiongju held on.

Qiu Yin’an’s fingers were being squeezed painfully. He hissed, then bit Wan Qiongju’s hand and cursed, “You’re dead when you sober up tomorrow.”

Wan Qiongju let go when he was bitten. He looked at Qiu Yin’an and said, “Master, I want to see the moon.”

“See the moon my ass, it’s been—”

Qiu Yin’an listened closely. The sound of rain hitting the ground had stopped. The rain had ceased. Through the paper window, he could see the bright moonlight outside.

Qiu Yin’an pulled the quilt over the boy. “No. Go to sleep.”

“Qiu Yin’an!” Wan Qiongju kicked the quilt off like a maniac. “I want to watch the moon with you.”

“What the hell did you just call me?” Qiu Yin’an glared fiercely at the drunken boy.

The boy sensed the anger in his gaze and stared blankly at him, not daring to speak again.

Qiu Yin’an glared at him, then rearranged the quilt. “If you keep messing around, I’ll punch you so hard you’ll see stars all over your eyes, and you won’t be able to stop seeing them.”

Wan Qiongju stopped making a fuss and finally closed his eyes to sleep obediently.

Qiu Yin’an instructed someone to clean up the outside, leaving only Yao Ye’s wine gourd. He sat alone under the porch, drinking by the moonlight.

As he drank, he thought again about the kiss from Wan Qiongju. The feeling was strange and made him want to savor it.

He wanted to do it again.

Realizing he was having such an absurd thought, he immediately put down the wine. He wouldn’t drink anymore.

But Qiu Yin’an had never been drunk since birth; his tolerance was excellent. Blaming his lack of restraint on intoxication was illogical.

He knew this himself, so after a moment of thought, he muttered, “Well, men are like this when they see someone attractive.”

Then he picked up the wine gourd and drank it dry.

Qiu Yin’an admitted he was a lecher. Once he accepted this premise, he felt less inclined to restrain himself.

He just wanted to recall the feeling of kissing Wan Qiongju. The warm, moist lips, soft, felt incredibly good the moment they pressed against his.

The more he thought about it, the more immersed he became. Wan Qiongju’s drunken appearance kept popping into his mind—the hazy eyes, the faintly pink neck. The boy was a thousand times more captivating when tipsy than usual. Qiu Yin’an felt increasingly hot and turbulent inside, until his emotions surged beyond control.

He was done for. He was truly ready now.

Qiu Yin’an quickly recited the Heart Cleansing Mantra several times, suppressing the rising heat. He patted his head, reminding himself that Wan Qiongju was his disciple, not just any beautiful boy. Even if he had desires, he had to be moderate. He needed to treat his little disciple well, not use him for pleasure.

Qiu Yin’an let out a long breath, calming his ragged breathing. He decided to stop fantasizing about Wan Qiongju and think about things that gave him a headache, such as how to restore Bai Chengying’s meridians.

After Yao Yu’s wedding banquet tomorrow, he and Wan Qiongju would set off for Cold Ridge White Cliff. Although having an obedient eagle to help search would make it easier, it didn’t guarantee they would find the Sitting Buddha Hand.

What if they couldn’t get it? Was the only path left truly dual cultivation with Bai Chengying?

Bai Chengying was excellent—handsome, refined, and dignified—but Qiu Yin’an simply didn’t like him. If he didn’t like him, he didn’t want to trifle with the other person’s feelings.

“Dual cultivation?” Qiu Yin’an muttered to himself, looking up at the night sky. Images seemed to form in his mind. He quickly waved his hand in front of his eyes, confirming that he truly couldn’t accept that.

Although dual cultivation between two men was not uncommon in the Cultivation World, Qiu Yin’an had never imagined he would face this issue. Regarding male dual cultivation, he didn’t care about others, but for himself, he preferred to let fate decide.

Somehow, Wan Qiongju’s face popped into his mind again—the flushed, more alluring face. He thought that if the person for dual cultivation were Wan Qiongju, it didn’t seem so hard to accept.

As he thought, the corner of his mouth unconsciously curved into a smile, which he quickly suppressed by pursing his lips.

“Damn it, Qiu Yin’an, stop thinking about it! He’s your disciple.” He irritably ran his hands through his hair, making his dark locks as messy as his mind.

A cold breeze blew past, and Qiu Yin’an shivered. He stood up, ready to go back inside. Turning around, he saw Wan Qiongju pouting and accusing him, “You wouldn’t let me look at the moon, but you’re secretly looking at it here all by yourself. Master is mean.”

Qiu Yin’an tapped Wan Qiongju’s head with the empty gourd. “How many moons can you even see right now?”

Wan Qiongju was already dizzy. The tap made him stumble, and he fell straight forward.

Qiu Yin’an quickly caught him. “You’re like this. Go back to sleep. Be obedient.”

“Master, it’s stuffy inside.”

Wan Qiongju leaned against him bonelessly. “Please, just stay out here with me for some fresh air. You’re the best to me.”

Wan Qiongju’s pleading was Qiu Yin’an’s weakness.

Qiu Yin’an immediately carried him to the porch and sat down with him. He let Wan Qiongju lean on him and said softly, “Look then.”

Wan Qiongju hung his head, resting against Qiu Yin’an.

Qiu Yin’an asked, “Why aren’t you looking up?”

Wan Qiongju pointed to the puddle on the ground. “The moon is here.”

Qiu Yin’an smiled lightly.

The sound of the wind whistled in his ears. Qiu Yin’an asked, “Are you cold?”

Wan Qiongju replied, “No.”

Qiu Yin’an still took off his outer robe and draped it over both of them. “You’re seeking coolness. Be careful not to catch a cold.”

Wan Qiongju said, “Master, you are more beautiful than the moon.”

This time, Wan Qiongju wasn’t looking at the puddle; he was looking at Qiu Yin’an’s instantly flushed face.

“Then don’t look at the moon. Look at me every night.”

Qiu Yin’an’s face was red and his heart was pounding from Wan Qiongju’s compliment. It was a long moment before he realized what he had just said.

It’s fine, it’s fine. Wan Qiongju is drunk. He probably didn’t even hear what I said clearly.

Qiu Yin’an reassured himself.

But Wan Qiongju really did start staring at him. In his hazy eyes, there was a hint of emotion that was hard to miss.

Qiu Yin’an nervously raised his hand to smooth the stray hairs on his forehead, tucking them behind his ear. Then he suddenly felt like a young maiden and immediately dropped his hand, praying that Wan Qiongju hadn’t seen that moment.

But it was too late. All his shyness and panic had already been absorbed by Wan Qiongju, turning into a sweet smile on his lips, treasured in his heart.

Qiu Yin’an pretended to be calm. “I was just joking with you, Master. You should still look at the moon. Look as much as you like.”

The haziness in Wan Qiongju’s eyes gradually faded. He raised his hand to help smooth the stray hairs on Qiu Yin’an’s forehead. “Master, your face is so red. Are you drunk too?”

“Yes, yes, I’m drunk.”

Wan Qiongju had given him a respectable excuse, and he had to take it.

Qiu Yin’an rubbed his face. “This wine is strong. It’s too easy to get drunk. I drank much more than you.”

He held up the wine gourd and shook it in front of Wan Qiongju. “See, I drank it all.”

“It’s good that you’re drunk.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Wan Qiongju pressed against the back of Qiu Yin’an’s head, and their lips met again.

Why was this little brat kissing him again? What was wrong with him? Did he love kissing people when he was drunk?

Qiu Yin’an thought, I really can’t let Wan Qiongju drink outside anymore. Kissing me is one thing, but it would be bad if he ruined someone else’s innocence.

With the experience of the first time, Qiu Yin’an wasn’t as flustered this time.

He wanted to try to calm down and truly feel what kissing tasted like.

But the situation didn’t allow him to calm down. The more he tried to be calm, the faster his heart beat.

His heart thumped uncontrollably. In the quiet night, he could clearly hear his own heartbeat, thump, thump, thump.

Qiu Yin’an remained rigid and motionless, allowing the boy to pry open his mouth and explore with his tongue.

Qiu Yin’an was completely stunned. He only remembered struggling slightly when he felt like he couldn’t breathe. Wan Qiongju then stopped exploring and pressed his nose against Qiu Yin’an’s.

Warm breath sprayed onto Qiu Yin’an’s face, reminding him of what he had just done with his beloved disciple.

Qiu Yin’an couldn’t make a sound in his throat, swallowing nervously. In fact, even if he could speak now, he wouldn’t know what to say.

Wan Qiongju was unconscious, but he himself was lucid, and he hadn’t pushed him away.

Just as he wondered how to end this farce, Wan Qiongju suddenly slumped onto his shoulder. A moment later, steady breathing sounds followed.

Wan Qiongju had fallen asleep.

Qiu Yin’an felt relieved, but at the same time, he worried about whether Wan Qiongju would remember this tomorrow.

One voice told him, So what if he remembers? He was the one who initiated it. Another voice asked him, Then why didn’t you push him away?

After struggling internally, Qiu Yin’an decided he would deny it to the death. If asked, he would say it was just a wet dream.

Yes, that’s right. They were still the best Master and disciple.