Town Marketplace

In the bustling streets of a certain town, two young men dressed in simple but elegant clothes are walking while holding each other's hands. And between the two of them, the person dressed in black and purple silk robes has a certain mysterious air around him, particularly his delicate face, half-covered by a cloth mask.

As for the slender person dressed in a silk green robe, although his appearance is normal, the elegant atmosphere around him causes the people to mysteriously get attracted to him. Of course, just the way the two young men are dressed already displays that their identities aren't simple.

"I have never walked this far and for so long without my legs giving up. It feels unusual and pleasant at the same time."

"Don't worry, as long as I am holding your hand, then there will be no problem for you to walk for a long time."

Yusheng thoughtfully and carefully observes Wang Ling's every movement as they walk towards the marketplace, and despite the sweat beads on the slightly pale face, the man continues on with an indescribable bright light in the usual calm and firm eyes.

At the same time, Wang Ling's eyes curiously flicker all over the place, completely having the appearance of seeing the world for the first time despite having traveled all over the place. Well, it doesn't stop Yusheng from thinking that the man has a rather adorable side.

"Yes, it's rather wonderful and amazing. Next time, there is no need to ask my opinion, I'll allow you to hold my hand whenever you want."

Habit is terrifying, if used wisely to bind a person, it can lead a person unable to become inseparable from the one who causes it.

Completely ignorant at the dark thought of a completely deceptive person digging a pit, Yusheng's lips twitch before glancing at the soft smile that appears on Wang Ling's pale face for a split second.

At the same time, he also notices the gentle squeeze on his hands before finally nodding his head.

"I'll gladly accept it."

Yusheng can only secretly sigh about how Wang Ling can easily accept their unusual situation.

Even though knowing and being able to cure the supposedly incurable illness is one of the main reasons for Wang Ling to accept what Yusheng revealed a while ago regarding their strange power and a certain bug existence.

No matter what, the open mindedness of Wang Ling is a far better response than being seen as a lunatic.

Soon, the two of them finally arrive in the marketplace with most farmers selling in their own spots. There are also hunters and fewer merchants around, which is understandable since the town they are staying in is more in a suburban part where the travellers rarely pass by.

"What dish are you going to make?"

While walking hand in hand, Yusheng glances at the curious Wang Ling looking around the marketplace, although the place looks simple and isn't luxurious, it doesn't stop the man from being curious at the scenery around them.

"Some chicken soup."

It's usually the most chosen dish a person will decide on when considering what a person with certain illness would be better to take for nourishment.

Yusheng's purple right eye turns towards the chinese shiitake mushroom before gazing at the freshly picked spinach and cucumber, already planning to make a simple side dish.

"Is there a food you prefer to eat? Do you like sweet food? Plain? Spicy?"

"Because of my health issues affecting my appetite, I don't have much preference, so you can decide what food you will be cooking."

After hearing the young man's careful and thoughtful question, Wang Ling gently smiles while lowering his head, appearing to be looking at the bunch of vegetables being sold by a middle aged man.

Although, he is actually just trying to hide the emotions that have started to brew in his usually pool of stagnant eyes.

After years of hardship and complicated life, Wang Ling has been unable to feel any strong waves of emotions capable of affecting his heart. And yet, the young man's simple words alone have managed to cause a stir in his heart.

Nonetheless, Wang Ling understands the fact that he needs to hide whatever chaos he has in mind. At the same time, an emotion that can lead to crossing a certain line, be it a mere curiosity or doubt, needs to be firmly hidden from the person before him.

Because Wang Ling already perceives the fact that the second prince of the Su Empire doesn't have any other thought in his mind besides the act of taking care of his safety and health for the sake of a goal.

Although it isn't unusual since the two of them only know each other for not even a day, he also felt that the certain wall that the young man has built up against him is quite unusual.

It wasn't just because of them being strangers no matter how close and intimate they appeared in other people's eyes. The invincible wall seemed to be an act of preparation for a complicated situation from occurring in the future.

Young Bloodthirsty Prince, your silent act just caught my attention more than ever… 

Wang Ling hides the sharp light that quickly flashes on his eyes while gently playing with the jade accessories hanging on the side of his belt while glancing at the extremely focused young man busy picking up the fresh ingredients. 

Well, he can wait patiently, especially when there is a high chance that he can live a longer life than what he had considered in the past. All he needs to do is to weave a complicated net where the young man won't be able to escape from his grasp.

So no matter what happened in the future, or how their life turned out to be, he still retained a certain control regarding their situation.

Despite the fact that Wang Ling has just met the young man, and his feelings aren't strong and deep enough, it doesn't change the fact that he wants the young man to have someplace in his life.

And he will just have to wait and see what will befall between them in the future.

Of course, the main reason is the fact that there is a high chance that this person carries the similar soul mark that he had been obsessing about at a young age.

"Where are we going next?"

Wang Ling silently watches how the young man has pointed three thin children and one older man sadly sitting in the entrance of an alley before hiring them to carry the ingredients he bought without hesitation.

In which, Wang Ling secretly considers the young man's acts of being gentle and caring towards the poor and pitiful common people.

Just by the look of it, the children and older man that the young man had called out are definitely having a hard time in life and need money to buy food from how thin they look.

"Buy some old hen, fish, and some meat before going to the medicine store."

"Medicine store? Is it for my medicine? You know about some medicinal skills?"

"Hmm, a bit. Don't worry though, I will add them into the food I will cook, and I promise that it will taste delicious, unlike the taste of those concocted medicines."

Yusheng had tasted the bitter and weird taste of the medicine that he had taken when injured and sick in this world and he can't just imagine how Wang Ling lives his life taking medicine all the time because of the unusual illness that has wrecked his body since a young age.

Their identity is honorable, and yet, their life is full of bitterness and hardship. It doesn't matter what and who they are since the unfairness in life doesn't discriminate when it befalls a person.

"Well, I can't wait to taste it."

Yusheng glanced at the curious Wang Ling who is obediently following his lead and couldn't help but think that this is also another person trying to survive in his own way. So, in a split second, he can't help but gently pull the man into a certain stall before buying a delicious-looking candied hawthorn.

"Here you go."

"... Thank you."

Although the candied fruit is mostly bought for children, Wang Ling gently takes the offered candied fruit with a warmer expression on his face and without hesitation, taking a small bite in front of the young man.

And when the hard crunch of the sugar resounds out, Wang Ling's numb heart suddenly feels warm, before a hint of sweetness flashes by after the soft and meaty fruit entered his tastebud.

… this situation feels good...

Wang Ling, after all the years of living with a weakening body along with the appearance of all kinds of illness, it's the first time he has felt that being taken care of by someone is also great and amazing.

So, when he sees how the young man has also bought candied fruit for the children carrying the ingredients they bought behind them, he suddenly finds himself offering the candied fruit he has bitten after seeing the empty hand of the young man.

It seems that the young man doesn't have the idea of eating candied fruit.

"Try it?"

A certain gentleness appears between Wang Ling's eyebrows when the young man doesn't hesitate to lean down to take a bite of the candied fruit he has offered before receiving a casual 'it's sweet' words as they continue to a certain location.

After making sure that the young man isn't paying attention, Wang Ling can't help but take a bite of the candied fruit in the position where the young man had bitten before gently licking his lip and once again hiding the unusual light that quickly flashes in his eyes.

"... It's really sweet."

… I don't really feel any loathsome feeling from doing such an ambiguous act...

Wang Ling secretly glances at the focused young man walking by his side before a more warmer and genuine smile quietly appears on his face. 

Somehow, he can't wait to see how their future will turn out to be.

In an unexpected time, a glimmer of light suddenly penetrated his usually dark and cold world.