When there was only silence after the meaningful question, Shao Cheng's attention turned toward the Go game board in front of the young man. And after a while, Shao Cheng once again spoke, this time, his cold voice carrying a certain heaviness in it.
"Cai is only 14 years old."
Although in ancient times children tended to mature early, especially in the world that Shao Cheng has transmigrated into, it also didn't change the fact that young people are easily influenced and manipulated.
No matter how smart, obedient and sensible Shao Cai had been in important situations, during the time that Shao Cheng had interacted with his younger brother, there was still a hint of naiveness, childishness and innocence in Cai's eyes.
And the young man before Shao Cheng definitely wasn't a simple person, especially when he detected how he behaved similar to how those sly old guys acted when he was facing them in the Royal Courts after dealing with the Empire problems.
"Young Master Cheng, aren't you misunderstanding something? Cai and I are simply friends."
Finally, the young man answered in the same gentle and calm voice in which he had spoken when greeting Shao Cheng, who arrived without any invitation or warning a moment ago.
Shao Cheng didn't even detect any hint of unusualness in a young man's expression, who he knew had been able to understand the hint of what he was trying to say.
"Then, stop being friends."
"Young Master Cheng, Cai and I have known each other for a long time. Besides, it isn't that easy to stop being friends just because you want it to."
"Cai will listen to me."
Between us, whom do you think Cai would choose if I told him to stop being friends with you?
Shao Cheng understood that he wasn't being fair and was acting unreasonable but there were just certain situations which needed to be decisively put into halt.
As for the reason why…
Well, completely invisible to others, Shao Cheng's eyes were glowing in purple color while staring at the young man before him.
"..."
Finally, the young man showed a slight change in his expression after hearing the undoubtedly blatant threat from the person before him. And yet, he also understood how much Cai loved and adored his third brother after knowing him for many years.
If Cai was given a choice, it was undoubtedly a fact that his third brother would matter most to him, no matter how uncomfortable and distressing the situation was.
"Even if you are Cai's older brother, aren't you acting completely unreasonable?"
"Aren't you the one being selfish?"
Shao Cheng instantly retorted back, completely uncaring of how he had spoken so many words to a person he wasn't close to begin with, and at the same time, taking the silver mask off his face.
When facing the young man, Shao Cheng understood that he needed to show how serious he was. Of course, he also noticed how there was only a normal surprise flashing in the young man's eyes after witnessing his beautiful appearance before it quickly returned to normal.
This person is one of the rare people who don't care about a person's appearance.
Of course, there was also the rare fact that there might already be someone in the young man's heart who couldn't be replaced even if there was an unparalleled beautiful woman standing completely naked before him.
So, Shao Cheng's beautiful appearance that could easily attract other people and could even make one go crazy wasn't been able to cause a certain wave in the young man's heart.
"... Why am I selfish?"
When Shao Cheng noticed how there was a darkened emotion that swiftly flashed in the young man's eyes, he didn't hesitate to release an overwhelming murderous intent, causing the stifling atmosphere to turn dangerous.
"If you can't wait to die from your illness, then I can fulfill it for you right now."
Since you can't decide to let go, I will do it for you.
"...!!!"
Suddenly, the hidden guards around instantly made a move after sensing the danger to their Master's life.
"Stop!"
It was already too late when the old servant who had been silently paying attention to the entire situation reacted.
Swish
Swish
Swish
Of course, Shao Cheng planned the entire situation, and was already prepared for the reaction of the hidden guards around. Swiftly he moved toward the young man who had finally shown a surprised and shocked expression on his face.
Lin Renshu was unable to predict that Shao Cheng was daring enough to make his move, particularly when the person in their discussion could appear anytime.
Shao Cheng swiftly picked a few of the white go pieces in the game board before flickering them towards the oncoming hidden guards, accurately hitting a certain accupoint in their bodies that instantly caused them to become paralyzed.
Of course, the perfect and flawless control put into the small go pieces didn't destroy the objects, instead turning them into a hard and dangerous weapon.
And when the hidden guards dropped on the ground, unable to move, Shao Cheng casually waved his left arm, causing the long wide sleeves to flutter in the air, firmly blocking the sharp knife that had come from the old servant who had made his move.
Well, what a sly old man, trying to act like he wanted to stop the hidden guards' attack, but in the end was secretly planning to make his move.
After using the combination of the purple and internal energies, Shao Cheng tilted his head to the left while staring with his murderous sapphire eyes toward the young man who had become stiff.
After all, Shao Cheng was casually grasping the young man's neck after blocking the old servant's attack, which was also the reason why the old servant didn't make his next move but only showing a wary look with a dark expression on his face.
"The news about you is completely wrong…"
"You too, aren't as simple as you look."
Despite how Shao Cheng calmly replied back, various thoughts and calculations continued to flash in his mind, before finally erasing the murderous intention that he had planned to release.
"Is it wrong to be friends with Little Cai to the point that you showed me your true face and wanted me dead?"
"It's this friendship that will cause my younger brother deep pain and sorrow in the future. Since you already know that you will die in a few years, why continue to associate yourself with Cai?"
The deeper your relationship with him, the deeper Cai's pain will be.
Shao Cheng's special eyes were able to see the life aura of every living being, and interestingly, he witnessed the unusual scene of something covering up the young man life aura, which was the main reason why young man's two legs were unable to move.
"..."
When the young man remained silent, unable to form a word, Shao Cheng really didn't need to hear the answer because he understood that it was just selfishness.
Nonetheless, if it was just going to make his younger brother feel the deep heartbreak if he let the two of them continue to associate with each other, when the other was clearly fated to die early, then it was better to cut everything off when it was still early.
It seems that I finally understand the reason for Shao Cai's actions of burning off his study in the previous life with complicated emotions on his face. Watching as the books, and painting he has always treasured were burned and turned into ashes.
Short term pain is better than longer term…
Although it wasn't deep, Shao Cheng also noticed the hint of adoration in his younger brother's eyes when gazing at the young man before him.
Honestly, Shao Cheng felt utter disbelief about how the brothers of the Shao Family appeared to be going on the route of being bent by some men.
I am bent on Ren Yuan… Cough…
My Second older brother has a high chance of becoming bent by Mo Xuan, now I just witnessed the possibility that my younger brother is becoming bent by this young man...
So... will my older brother also be bent in the future???
"...I… just honestly desire to spend my remaining time with Cai… I had desperately tried to find a treatment for my illness, but I just couldn't find it. So, before my time is up… I just want to be with him."
I don't mind if I can only be friends with Cai in this life. Even if I can't reveal my genuine feelings to him until the day I die.
When Shao Cheng was about to decide to just kill off the young man, even if there would be serious trouble that he might face from doing so, the hopeless despair that the young man openly showed in his eyes finally caused his hands to stop from making a move.
Oh, it wasn't because Shao Cheng suddenly felt pity, his heart was far more ruthless, cruel and colder than anyone else, especially when a decision was made.
The main reason was that Shao Cheng saw a familiar look in the gaze of the young man, which was like a perfect replica of Ren Yuan in the previous life, whenever the man was in his rare drunken moments of spilling his loneliness and regret about being unable to be with him.
And Shao Cheng's heart couldn't help but twist in pain when he was reminded of the heartbreaking and miserable appearance of Ren Yuan drinking his sorrow and regret in a lonely night.
The chance they missed with each other.
Even though Shao Cheng was back in the past, before everything started, it didn't change the fact that their experience in the previous life was also important and real.
"... Don't look at me like that…"
I want to kill you more…
Although Shao Cheng's movements stopped, his mood couldn't help but lower down more after being unable to stop the countless images of Ren Yuan's lonely appearance flashing in his mind.
A genuine murderous intention rose in Shao Cheng's heart, the reason this time not being his younger brother's sake.
And when Shao Cheng wanted to finally break the young man's neck with his left hand, Ren Yuan's bewildered voice caused his rare loss of emotions and blurry reason to swiftly become sober.
"Little Cheng?"
Purple that was able to become privy of certain thought of his Papa bug instantly hid, unsure if the betrayal he made of guiding his Mama bug to his Papa bug's location had been right.
Ah, Papa bug is in his rare dangerous moments!