VOLUME I: Chapter Four

VOLUME I

Chapter Four

Ritian discovered that he had the innate potential to hate every animals who walks with two legs. There are only two types of these animals that is very accessible for the village people. It's chicken and ducks. 

Chickens doesn't come in pairs. Oftentimes they like to travel alone the dirt patches and strive to find a worm or two. Ducks were also the same.

Unity seldom comes for these little fiends. It is when a person walks in, carrying containers full of their food.

It was late in the morning when Ritian found out what the 'old' him likes to do during the daytime. By the blessed day that the Lord decided to gift him; he spent it not to do work on the paddy fields or hunt a meat to stuff his belly later but to capture the vigilant animals under his nose and forcefully feed them.

He couldn't even comprehend why does he need to play with these unsuspecting animals. He should be helping the old on harvesting crops by now or walk through the woods and find any edible fruit to eat.

The winter will come sooner that when the villagers had expected. That explains why the people were eager to finish the necessary preparations and hoard food as much as the nature allows them to.

The cold season was on its way harboring bad intentions yet Ritian stood and had no care for the world to see.

It's not that he doesn't care, but he had no room to make fuss about it.

After sending a hen flying on an unknown direction, Ritian lowered his arms and finally patted the beads of sweat on his forehead with his sleeves. He can now admit to himself that the village women pranked him again.

This is not new for Ritian by now.

It was five in the morning when they ordered him to fetch several drums of water for their bathe. Honestly, he hates it. He can't do anything about it.

The chief of the village gave him a warning for causing an uproar yesterday. He didn't even ask who started the fight and just firmly believed that Ritian brought Satan's breath on the place himself. Wenren gave him a sympathetic frown but even the guy was not comfortable about how he acted.

Ritian was too tired that time to think about anything else. The place where he came from, women and men were treated as equals in every aspect. So in front of the villagers whose minds still lives in the feudal era, Ritian was ungentlemanly and rude.

Now even the elders were avoiding him.

Ritian needed their guidance right this very second, but since their gaze at him were all askance, he won't bother asking for it anymore. He will deal with it himself!

Ritian walked gingerly. Preventing his foot from stepping the innocent animal discharge laid quietly like a trap in front of him. Ritian know this little bit of dung can give horror that can last for a month. The foul smell coming from the scattered ordure almost made him feel regret. He shouldn't have taken this task.

Ritian eventually left the conference of chickens. The abominations huddled together to fight over the spilt pellets. Ritian retreated a few steps before running.

Wenren chose that time to show up and block his path. Ritian bumped on his chest. He fell two steps backwards. The impact hurt his nose.

"Wenren!" Ritian stuck a finger out and pointed it to him. "Give me a break, okay? You scared me to death!"

He wanted to nag the man longer. He couldn't forget how Wenren ruthlessly tossed him here. The guy hope that he can befriend those girls who wants to flay him alive. Wenren is too nonchalant in this matter. As though whether Ritian ends up being pecked to death is not one of his concerns.

Heartless! Really ungrateful!

"Move along now. You spent three hours in feeding them. Did you enjoy it this much?" Wenren shook his head and wordlessly reached for his sleeves. His intent of dragging him along was made clear. Ritian swatted his hands. "I can just follow you. You don't need to guide me."

"Really?" Wenren's eyes flashed. His lips quirked up. Ritian readied himself. This guy is going to mock the living daylight in him. He knew him that well by now. "Wait, did Cheel came to your hut again?"

Ritian blinked. He was relieved that the taunt didn't come. Ritian can't stand Wenren's daddy jokes. He couldn't stop cringing everytime he does that proud father laugh afterwards. By some luck, or his pure charm, the people seems to like Wenren's warm attitude. Ritian thought the people were forced to smile because it wasn't even that funny!

Ritian shook his head. He was reminded of Wenren's furious face last night. He explained the hazardous effects of those spiritual stones to normal people. He was told that the spiritual stones were used as a currency in the Central Planes, where Wenren originally came from. Although its value is incredibly high, a mere mortal shouldn't possess it. They could be sanctioned or even punished. The spiritual stone's advantage for mystical beings had adverse effects towards those who don't have the potentials or spiritual roots.

The more Ritian listens to Wenren, doubles the horror he felt inside. This world can't even stand being low-key and decided to go all out with its power agenda!

Ritian, with his determined face, forcefully threw out every bit of Cheel's belonging that the guy had left. No. He had no plans touching any mystical things. This development is already crazy for him. Any more and he'll blow his head out.

Turns out, Cheel was just around the area and never left his post. When Ritian woke up to find the scattered things outside, they were all gone and swept away.

'Why can't you all let me live in peace?' Ritian scratched his head. Lifting up his eyes and directly saw Wenren's gradually deepening smile.

Thump.

Wenren's hair was braided by one of the villager's children. The single centipede style only used a knot at the tip of his ink black hair. Wenren's wild charm wasn't diminished by this hairstyle. In Ritian's opinion, it only made him look extra great.

Wenren's crooked nose shows how fun-loving the guy was. So much that he would wrestle a cattle when he's bored. The scar on his forehead made his face distinct and rogue. Although every features screamed manly and demands authority, his eyes softens his expression.

Ritian's willingness to carry a lit torch over someone who have that deep, expressive, warm honey colored eyes never changed. After being given a second chance to live, it only intensified.

It didn't help that the guy loves to smile. The lilt of the man's mouth suggested obscene ideas in him. His cat-like grace and scorching gaze can move a mountain if it persevered.

It might be exaggerated for others but Ritian will petition for the truth. The said mountain is nestled between Ritian's thigh, and it will stand as a proof.

Having a boner for a straight guy's smile is already a nightmare for his state of mind. It didn't help that they stood between madly cackling animals nagging their feet for food.

Ritian closed his eyes and turned around without any warning. He'd rather let the ducks peck his eyeballs out than to see Wenren's grinning face. It's toxic to his heart! The wanting wouldn't stop!

"Did Ritian already have anything to eat for dinner?" Wenren called, "I'm about to go down the valley! You don't want to pick fruits? Hurry up or we'll have nothing left!"

Ritian abruptly change his direction and hastened his steps. "Why didn't you say so? I was waiting for that line. I've been starving here! Come. Stop dawdling! Why bother with them? You can't eat those chickens anyways.  The chief won't allow us to take one..."

Food will certainly be atop of everything. Before Ritian became a sexually-excited individual, he was a human first. One who cannot go on without food.

"Isn't he so selfish?" Ritian badmouthed the chief. Wenren kept his silence while giving him a reproachful glances. Ritian wasn't detered and instead, it inspired him to use his colorful words. "…he doesn't even speak to me. Forget about it! Those persons like that don't wash their cats and—"

"Who washes their cats?" Wenren's brow creased. His expression becoming serious. It held more strict air to him than the 'fish' encounter they had when they first met. "Cats clean themselves. No need to wash them. Who taught you that?"

'Are we talking about the same cats?' Ritian frowned. Maybe the cat species in here doesn't require the owner giving them a personal bath. In the world where Ritian belongs, cat-owners often cry about washing their pets. Cats of the earth are fierce and often likes to raise their hackles because of trivial matters. Ritian likes the cats here. They're responsible. It looks like they know how to do bathing alone.

"Oh, ignore that." Ritian rolled his eyes. "So, uhm, do you give your cats soap or…"

Ritian paused his feet when he saw confusion clouding over Wenren's eyes. He raised a brow and shrugged.

Wenren lowered his lashes. Mouth pursing into a thin-lipped smile, he nodded. "Cats lick themselves clean. No need to worry about soap. Do you like to have a pet?"

Ritian's breath caught for a second before he issued a loud laugh. There's no way he's going to admit being stupid. And as much as he would like to wince, roll his eyes and shout a big fat no, he couldn't do it in front of Wenren. The guy is obviously an animal lover.

They couldn't be together romantically but there's no way that he's ruining their chance in friendship.

Wenren is a martial hero, a government official, and the biggest guy in the area. He couldn't let the man with the thickest thigh go. Wenren is his golden backer. Ritian can understand very little of the hierarchy system here. He would rely on that teensy-bit of knowledge and befriend the most powerful man.

Although he can't lay on his chest and play a mistress' role, they can be bossom friends.

Ritian must not offend him!

"Oh, not at the moment. You see, ah." Ritian held his head. "My house can't even afford giving me the feeling of security every night. A cat won't like it."

Wenren gave him a nod. Eyes gaining their light again as he walk past him. Ritian's gaze caught his muscular back. The narrow waist and the full globes on the back screams the word 'winner' in rainbow glitters. Ritian's hand turned into a fist, using it to block his mouth.

'The Lord is great! The Lord is wonderful!'

"Ritian, I'll show you how to distinguish the ripe one, the young and those inedible fruits." Wenren started to gesticulate while walking. Ritian stopped his ogling and painted a wide smile on his face. "You can pinch them but don't use too much force. Colors are…"

Ritian should have minded Wenren's babble. The guy has taken his retard reputation to heart. But in all honesty, he felt cared for. Especially when Wenren's face expresses his concern for him, his heart shook in glee.

They walked for half an hour. Ritian had lost his track of time but the fumes coming from the heated soil gave him a vague feeling that says it's already the peak of the day. It looks like they won't be stopping for a brief lunch.

Ritian's intuition told him that Wenren's basket doesn't have any snack.

'Oh, manly guy won't need it. This is just a walk on the park for him!'

"So… about the paddy field. When can I start working with the big guys? I have to earn too, you know. I can't eat fruits forever." Ritian, pulling the sticky fabric from his chest, grumbled in dissatisfaction. The endless walk under the sun parched his throat. His voice came out hoarse and dry. "Wenren, I feel like dying…"

It was not surprising to know how weak his constitution was. The situation is just embarrassing now that he's with a handsome guy that he secretly wanted to date.

The guy simply gave him a glance from the side. He patted his shoulder. The force almost made his knees fall upfront.

He grunted before tidying his collar. A rustle came to his ears. "Here." Wenren handed him a ripe mango from his basket.

Ritian's pre-matured tiredness instantly cleared up. With renewed strength, he took the fruit with gentle hands. Wenren grinned at his antics. "Well, if your body had already recuperated then I'll start teaching you how."

"Really?" Ritian's mouth watered. The sweet scent coming from the fruit is truly refreshing. He wanted to have a nice meal. Wenren's sweet potatoes are fine, but he can't eat it straight for the days to come.

Working on the field is no biggie for Ritian. For him, it's more tolerable than taking care of those nasty chickens.

"I'm fine now. Teach me!"