After Xiao Man finished her ablutions, she went to bed.
Nangong Yu, having been trapped by the black dragon in the demon realm's forbidden land and nearly having his reason devoured, had not rested. Now that he could relax, he was also extremely weary and fell into a deep sleep.
Xiao Man's sleep was usually light, but recently her nerves had been stretched taut, and she hadn't rested well. Moreover, having found Nangong Yu, she finally put her heart at ease and unexpectedly slept very soundly.
Wu Huan entered Xiao Man's room soundlessly and stood by the bed, looking at the sleeping Xiao Man with a complex expression. Miao Shao had said that he was moved, but how could someone without a heart be moved? Moreover, to be moved by a man, it was simply preposterous!
Miao Shao had said that whether one was truly moved by someone could be known by holding their hand.
Wu Huan's gaze fell upon Xiao Man's hand, which lay outside the quilt. Xiao Man's hands were slender and fair, like freshly peeled scallions. He looked at his own hands, his fingers distinct, calloused from years of sword practice, and his hands much larger than Xiao Man's.
"A handsome person's hands are even more beautiful than others'," Wu Huan muttered, taking Xiao Man's hand. Their fingers intertwined. Dong, dong, dong. Wu Huan felt a heartbeat, but he couldn't tell if it was Xiao Man's heartbeat or his own!
Wu Huan pressed one hand to his chest and held Xiao Man's hand with the other, placing it on his chest. He clearly felt a heart beating within his chest!
Wu Huan, startled, immediately withdrew his hand, as if in disbelief. He placed his hand on his chest again. Dong, dong. The sound of his heartbeat was strong and steady. It was his own heartbeat, not Xiao Man's!
Wu Huan released Xiao Man's hand and retreated several steps. The realization that he was moved by Xiao Man struck him as incredible. How could he be moved by someone he had only recently met, and moreover, someone who was a man? It was impossible, absolutely impossible!
Wu Huan quickly left Xiao Man's room. As he went out, he ran into Miao Shao. Seeing Wu Huan's strange expression, Miao Shao hurried after him.
Wu Huan walked straight out of Ghost King City and went to the Three Lives Tavern. It was here that he had brought Xiao Man to drink Floating Life Brew. Xiao Man had said that the Floating Life Brew in the Ghost Realm was too unpleasant and had treated him to her own brew.
"A cup of Floating Life Brew." Wu Huan sat down, took the Floating Life Brew from the innkeeper, and drank it in one gulp. Yet, he couldn't taste anything. Originally, Floating Life Brew was the only thing he could taste, but now he couldn't even taste the flavor of Floating Life Brew.
"Another cup!"
This realization made Wu Huan somewhat flustered, but he drank ten cups of Floating Life Brew in a row, still unable to discern any flavor.
"Miao Shao, what does Floating Life Brew taste like?"
"Spicy with a hint of blood."
"Why do I remember Floating Life Brew as being sweet and refreshing, rich and fragrant, leaving a lingering taste?" Wu Huan asked Miao Shao, "Why does the Floating Life Brew you drink taste different from mine?"
"Everyone's perception of Floating Life Brew is different. Perhaps I am too shallow."
"No, it's not that you're shallow. It's that I'm drinking the Floating Life Brew brewed by Xiao Qin." Wu Huan looked at the crimson liquid in the wine cup before him, like fresh blood, and a hint of disgust flashed in his eyes. Since when did he even detest Floating Life Brew?
"Your Majesty, you are drunk," Miao Shao reminded him. Floating Life Brew was unique to the Ghost Realm. How could Xiao Man possibly brew it? Even if she could, it wouldn't be the Ghost Realm's unique Floating Life Brew.
"Miao Shao, have you ever had Peach Blossom Drunk?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, no."
"I have. It has a light peach blossom fragrance. One sip down, and it's as if you see a thousand miles of peach blossoms, all in full bloom, a breathtaking sight." Wu Huan extended his hand to Miao Shao. "Hold my hand." Sudancn.com
Miao Shao took Wu Huan's hand, not caring how strange it looked for two grown men to hold hands in an interlocking grip. He would only obey orders unconditionally.
Wu Huan held Miao Shao's hand with one hand and pressed his other hand to his chest. However, there was no heartbeat whatsoever. There was nothing in his chest cavity, let alone a heartbeat, not even a heart.
Wu Huan released Miao Shao's hand and said with evident disdain, "Holding your hand, I can't even hear a heartbeat."
Miao Shao replied calmly, "When I held Your Majesty's hand, I also felt no stirring of the heart. If I were holding Miss Xin Yu's hand, my heart would surely pound uncontrollably."
Wu Huan's expression flickered slightly. "You like Xin Yu, so your heart pounds uncontrollably. Then, if I touch someone I like, will my heart also pound uncontrollably?"
"Normal people are like that, but you are not," Miao Shao said in a flat tone. "To be moved, one must first have a heart."
Wu Huan stood up and walked out. Yes, to be moved, one must first have a heart. He didn't even have a heart, so why would he feel a heartbeat? Why would he feel pain? It was all too abnormal!
"Your Majesty, have you been moved?"
"I don't even have a heart, how can I be moved?" Wu Huan asked sarcastically. "Even if I were moved, I probably wouldn't know it myself."
Miao Shao fell silent. For ordinary people, being moved was a common occurrence. But for Wu Huan, he didn't even know what it meant to be moved.
"One day, Your Majesty will regain everything that belongs to him."
"Including my heart?"
"Including it."
"Miao Shao, can someone without a heart truly not be moved?"
Miao Shao did not answer, because the answer was cruel. A person without a heart was like a stone. Even if you tried your best to warm a stone, you couldn't feel its heartbeat because a stone has no heart!
"Forget it, I won't make it difficult for you." Wu Huan headed towards the royal palace. He felt his heartbeat, a tangible heartbeat. For the first time, he felt like a living person, with blood, flesh, and a heartbeat. Even though everyone told him it was impossible for him to be moved, he truly felt his heartbeat!
A light flashed in Wu Huan's eyes, and a plan began to form in his heart.
Miao Shao followed Wu Huan in silence. He didn't know what had provoked Wu Huan, or why he was suddenly asking these questions. He knew that His Majesty had never been confused by such matters before. He didn't care about having a heartbeat or being unable to taste food, but now he did.
All of this was because of Xiao Man!
Miao Shao's eyes held a deep confusion. Xiao Man was merely a Golden Core stage cultivator, yet neither Ghost General Cang Feng nor he could harm her in the slightest. What puzzled him even more was that Xiao Man could actually bewitch His Majesty and make him waver.
Miao Shao stopped, watching Wu Huan enter the sleeping quarters. After a long silence, he headed towards Xiao Man's residence. He had been by His Majesty's side for many years and understood him too well. Once His Majesty became interested in someone, that person would absolutely not escape his grasp.
Although he had only interacted with Xiao Man for a short time, he knew she was someone who would rather be shattered jade than intact tile. To avoid a situation where both sides were harmed, he had to send her away before His Majesty made a move, so as not to affect the subsequent plan.