Watching the Gate Master's somewhat childish behavior, Yan Feili felt a dark sadness in his heart, unable to describe the complex feelings.
In today's era, male homosexuality was not popular; the 'cut sleeve' preference was extremely despised and scorned by people.
No one would like to embrace a man, especially when that man was their subordinate.
Yan Feili knew that with the Gate Master's pride, he would absolutely find it hard to accept this fact.
If it weren't for the drug's unparalleled 'enchantment' effect that could completely control a person's mind, Beitang Ao's temperament would never have compromised no matter how much he was tormented.
His legs and waist were sore and weak, and the lingering tingling after desire between his thighs reminded Yan Feili of the painful yet ecstatic passion just now.
Yan Feili had to admit, although it was a rough union, he liked being embraced by the Gate Master.
This terrifying realization made him discover that not only did he hide a distorted emotion in his heart, but his body also craved this perverse, immoral desire.
After venting his anger, Beitang Ao turned and saw Yan Feili standing silently in disheveled clothes.
He felt a bit guilty in his heart.
But at this moment, he truly did not know how to face this always loyal and silent subordinate.
"Gate Master, please don't take it to heart.
Your subordinate did this willingly."
Seeing the embarrassment hidden beneath the Gate Master's usual cold expression, Yan Feili took the initiative to break the silence and spoke softly.
Beitang Ao turned his head away without looking at him, only saying faintly, "Let's go!" Then he turned and used lightness skill, swiftly leaving the forest.
Yan Feili struggled to follow behind.
His legs weakened several times, almost falling, but he gritted his teeth and, as usual, stayed three steps behind the Gate Master, never falling behind.
After returning to the Floating Residence headquarters, although Beitang Ao did not deliberately avoid Yan Feili, their relationship became much more distant, and both involuntarily avoided mentioning that day's incident.
Two months later, a rebellion broke out at the Northern Branch of the Four Heavenly Gates.
The branch leader Zhou Yan supported the Ming loyalist Yan Yuanjun's rebellion, attempting to usurp the Ming throne.
This matter enraged Beitang Ao greatly.
Beitang Ao was a member of the Ming royal family, holding a high position, one of the top three heirs to the throne; the Ming ruler was his maternal grandfather.
How could he tolerate such a thing? So he decided to personally lead troops north to suppress the Ming rebellion and the Heavenly Gate traitors.
This time, Beitang Ao did not bring Yan Feili along.
Before leaving, he only instructed him: "Guard the headquarters well and adapt as necessary!" Then he led the troops away.
After the Gate Master left, Yan Feili handled the affairs of the sect.
Originally, the two were separated north and south, meeting again after some time; with time, that incident would naturally fade.
Beitang Ao thought this was the best solution.
Although still somewhat awkward, he certainly could not explain or bear any responsibility to a big man like Yan Feili! Surely Yan Feili wouldn't want that either.
It was better for both to avoid each other, letting time dilute everything, and then let the matter fade away like a spring dream.
But man proposes, heaven disposes. No matter how wise and invincible Beitang Ao was, no matter how precise his calculations, he never expected Yan Feili's special constitution would cause, because of that accident, to conceive secretly! Not long after, Yan Feili fainted on the training ground due to physical discomfort, but this became an opportunity to learn from Doctor Qiu a shocking truth about himself.
At first, knowing that a fetus was growing inside him shocked Yan Feili deeply; he was anxious and uneasy every day, not daring to write a letter.
But as time passed, one afternoon, while working in his study, exhausted, Yan Feili actually fell asleep leaning on the sandalwood desk.
In a haze, he suddenly felt a gentle movement inside his abdomen and woke up abruptly.
After hesitating for a moment, he placed a large hand on his lower belly.
After a while of stillness, there was another movement, stronger than before, obviously the fetus moving its limbs inside.
Only then did Yan Feili truly feel the reality of a life growing inside him; he was stunned, and a flood of complicated emotions overwhelmed him.
Yan Feili had never been so panicked and conflicted.
He both hoped the Gate Master would return safely soon, yet also wished he wouldn't come back too soon.
He didn't know how the Gate Master would react if he knew about the child, but knowing Beitang Ao's pursuit of perfection, this child would probably never be accepted.
Time passed in Yan Feili's conflicted waiting, and finally, near the year's end, Beitang Ao triumphantly returned from the north, bringing back a gentle and beautiful fiancée.
What happened afterward felt like a chaotic nightmare to Yan Feili.
The moment he realized the beauty beside the Gate Master was his fiancée, Yan Feili's heart ached so much he could hardly breathe.
Although he had long known this day would come and had prepared countless times, when facing it truly, all efforts seemed so powerless.
But in this nightmare, the only real thing was the pain brought by the small life struggling to be born inside him.
The only warmth was the small one quietly and softly sleeping in his arms.
Yan Feili knelt in the overwhelming, relentless snow, like a wounded roc in winter, falling to the ground, powerless to fly.
Scenes from the past flashed through Yan Feili's mind, finally settling on the sleeping face of the small infant beside him.
He remained motionless, head bowed low, expression unreadable.
The cold wind howled, white snow fluttered.
When Doctor Qiu finally found him in the Shenmei Courtyard, he was stunned by Yan Feili's appearance.
