The worse thing was: he himself had this ability, yet he didn't trust it.
Last time he got locked into someone else's memory for trying. Besides, he couldn't work without the full body, while the Hàng Wàng official heirs were experts—could do it in any way, but preferred to do it with the full human body because releasing the soul from the mouth was an act of respect, and it made things easier for the souls.
Besides, he would hide it anyway like his other two abilities. The world wasn't ready for that blow—that a boy who was just a caretaker's son was smiling and carrying around those dangerous things like balancing mountains on his fingers effortlessly.
And since Wàng Wùjī was the official heir of the Hàngwō clan with this signature ability—someone he knew, someone loyal, who could actually keep a normal face even after carrying so many secrets—he was the best option in many angles.
The reality actually felt painful.
'They have gone this quickly for the ritual?'
'He has been going through this much..and still going.'
Lìngxiāo sniffed while pressing his napkin over his nose which had gotten tomato red from his presses. He couldn't believe how bad luck could be.
'They were supposed to go after a week. they had more functions to attend to. After all, I do not keep all the information of them either..just as much as he tells me or Làncǎi gēge says from his side.'
He hung his head.
His eyes felt watery from the cold but refused to sleep. If he slept now, he would probably fall asleep for too long. And he was not going to waste any time while there were a lot of things to do.
Lots of things to think....
But with such a messed-up head, he couldn't think about where to start. He exhaled, palm on his forehead while half-lying this way.
"Gōngzǐ, you should not stress out." Mō Qīn muttered quietly beside him. He looked like he wished this news was not what it was.
He lightly suggested something to do now. "We have a lot of time on the Red Robe gûi case. You may focus on the heir. Would you do the one hundred steps forever..or do the.."
Lìngxiāo's lightly glassy eyes turned at him while half his face was buried into the sleeves of his arms. Cheeks flushed into double. That look already sounded like a whine he was sure of.
He didn't want to think about this right now.
"No. Why are you so eager about this single thing?" Lìngxiāo muttered as he hid his face lower to clear his nose again.
"Because my damn effort would go to waste, of course..!" Mō Qīn groaned, rolling down, laying like a worm had any poison. "You want me to die for this guy? I did my part. When will you start yours!"
He paused, knowing how he would make faces about it. "Or finish the matter quickly with one shameless but helpful way? And you can at least check the waters by it too..to see how he works as the container."
"Two weeks, Qīn. We have time here too. Besides, this case has no head or tail from this direct gûi side. I do not think they are trying to say anything to me at all." Lìngxiāo exhaled, sitting up. "I suspect his zhù fù here all over again. But he does not let me be either."
"His zhù fù seems to have more critical issues than Hàng Wàng Fèng. Well, he looks pissed off greatly in life, and Wàng Fèng 'might' be pissed off at future since he is gripping his rope..tight too." Mō Qīn said, his tiny legs hugging himself. "Poor boys are gonna lose their mind with zhù fù issues."
"But he always stands at the middle of the storm I create to see the faces of his zhù fù. But I am still not letting go of the way I was investigating on the gûi too." Lìngxiāo's chin back to his palm as his finger now thoughtfully stroked Mō Qīn's belly.
Mō Qīn flushed immediately, purring, twisting and turning his head to him too, smirking lazily "Ah, right there, there. That is the sweet spot, Gōngzǐ. It feels awesome~"
Lìngxiāo faintly turned his lips into a round shape, almost pouting. "You could stop..moaning this way by just some scratches. Or I would not do more." He lightly moved away his hand.
"No no no! I worked hard. For the third time so hard! Do not take away the magic hand!" Mō Qīn looked his feet around Lìngxiāo's hand, clinging to his arm even after removing it.
Lìngxiāo sighed. "Alright." Then he got back to patting him.
He thought about everything else and what Mō Qīn said about his 'third time'. His smile softened. No matter how much Mō Qīn hid it, he was still bitter about this.
A history belonged to Mō Qīn—too big to speak aloud. But not much old either.
But somehow both had one thing in common: both had been weakened three times.
Lìngxiāo had his first at the day his father died, his second when his uncle died, and now this—his third.
"You had your third breakdown..and maybe..the third time of mine is on waiting.." Lìngxiāo felt almost amazed thinking about it.
He tilted his head, looking at the candles. "But I do not know..if I would survive this one or not. I have almost died twice. I cannot..always be saved in a lucky way which is also..cursed, right?"
He added almost like accepting. "If I break again..this time.. do not save me. I would free you the day I would be gone. So that you can find her again.."
Mō Qīn paused, looking at Lìngxiāo with an almost weakly scolding gaze. "You are talking like that again. What is your problem—seriously?? Let that go. That was the trauma loop."
Lìngxiāo chuckled faintly. "It is just..tiring to see cursed life repeating like you are living there..in every few months..and then realize you are six years older than before. You at least do not watch your losses happen over and over again."
"AAAA—CHUU!!"
A loud sneeze from near to the door broke the silence like a glass. Lìngxiāo's dry eyes flew open and stood up in one jump while Mō Qīn tangled over his arm like a tree branch.
"The fuck..my poor peace." Mō Qīn hushed in amazement, eyes wide.
Lìngxiāo cleared his throat, his smile tight. "Perhaps..Fēi Gōngzǐ has something to speak about.."
Lìngxiāo moved to the door and opened it. A disciple was standing there.
Chóng Fēi was passing by. He tilted his head at him with that same dry look for catching a cold, his face held that unreadable stubbornness.
A little embarrassed too.
'Is he..alright..?'
'Or..does he remember that story he shared every time he looks at me?'
'W..well..I really DO NOT support it, but even after I try to suppress it..somehow it is always clear in the reflection of my eyes or smile..which feels judgmental..'
Lìngxiāo blinked lightly—those invisible white things in his eyes felt too alive today. Mō Qīn peeked out, now tangled over his neck, a lock of Lìngxiāo's hair over his head like brown silk, a little uncomfortably curled over something.
"Question-answer time.." Mō Qīn rolled his eyes, mostly giving a bored stare at the disciple.
'I hope my face does not look like..I am again uneasy by the whole presence of him. Not only with the risk of hurting him again, accidentally reminding him what happened, but..what he might think about me if he has any interest that way..'
'I can only confirm it if..I could see if he still remembers the old me.'
Then he quickly dropped the thought.
'I hope he does not. I am not Xiǎo Lìng anymore. I am Lìngxiāo.'
'Why do they have to justify their misunderstanding with a matter even I do not know what happened when I have been there..?'