Chapter Fifty-Three: The Innocently Fantasized Youth

When Luo Changning arrived at Ma Qingyun’s location, he found him clutching the neck of a boy of about thirteen or fourteen. The boy’s eyes were tightly shut, his face already taking on a purplish hue, yet he showed no sign of regaining consciousness. His brows were slightly furrowed, betraying a restless unease.

“Brother Ma, let go of him!” Luo Changning quickly called out, afraid that Ma Qingyun might truly strangle the unconscious boy to death.

Though Ma Qingyun cared little for the lives of others, he released his grip upon hearing this. After all, the boy’s unconscious state was clearly not feigned.

“What happened to him?” Ma Xue’e, who had just arrived, cried out in alarm at the sight of the comatose boy.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps he was beaten and then fainted while fleeing,” Luo Changning replied, his analysis not entirely off the mark.

“Could he have escaped from the bandit stronghold? How pitiful! Brother, let’s take him with us and save him,” Ma Xue’e pleaded with her brother, her kind and gentle heart unable to bear seeing others suffer.

The boy lying on the ground was covered in wounds, his clothes torn and bloody—the hardships he had endured were impossible to guess.

Suddenly, Luo Changning recalled a film he’d seen in his previous life, “Brokeback Mountain,” and some popular online phrases—like “dropping the soap” and others even more unspeakable.

Back on Earth Dragon Continent, his disabilities had kept him within the orphanage walls, but he still had weekly access to a computer and the internet. He knew that certain forbidden behaviors existed between men.

Moreover, he’d read historical anecdotes of similar liaisons—there were emperors and nobles in history known to favor such affections. The most famous story was that of Liu Xin and Dong Xian from the Western Han dynasty, from which the term “cutting the sleeve” originated.

Of course, while Luo Changning was moved by Emperor Ai and his lover Dong Xian’s tale, he could not comprehend or accept such a twisted romance, for he was as straight as a man could be.

This boy, though not as handsome as himself, was still more attractive than most boys—no surprise if he had drawn unsavory attention.

Wasn’t the chief of Mount Tianmen, Lin Ruhai, known for his fondness for young men? Perhaps this boy had fled unbearable torment...

A multitude of inappropriate thoughts flashed through Luo Changning’s mind, making him feel debased and sordid.

Was it because he’d begun to mature that his thoughts had grown so impure?

Recalling his recent nocturnal emissions, Luo Changning’s face flushed even hotter. Ahem, surely no one else in this world had gone through a second round of puberty as he had...

Ma Xue’e tilted her head, watching Luo Changning’s ever-changing expression with curiosity. “Brother Changning, what’s wrong? Don’t you want to save him?”

Clearly, she had misunderstood the reason for his embarrassment.

“Ahem, I’m fine.” Faced with her innocent gaze, Luo Changning felt as though his moral fiber had abandoned him entirely—how mortifying!

Avoiding her eyes, Luo Changning prepared to hoist the boy he’d just so wantonly imagined onto his back, but Uncle Zhong stopped him before he could stoop.

“Master, let me do it.” Without waiting for a response, Uncle Zhong deftly lifted the boy and strode ahead.

Seeing this, Luo Changning gave up.

Though they now had an unconscious patient in tow, their pace did not slacken. Soon they returned to the inn at Dingjiapu. By then, the morning was half gone, and the others from the clinic were still out gathering information.

Outside the inn, Luo Changning took out a signal cigarette and lit it.

After a cup of tea’s time, those sent to gather news all returned to the inn.

“Greetings, Young Master. Greetings, Steward!” the group greeted in unison.

“We’ve already learned where Shopkeeper Su is. Once you’ve packed your things, you can return. Make sure to fulfill your duties at the clinic—saving lives is a way to bring fortune to Aunt,” Luo Changning instructed them calmly.

Then, pointing to one of the servants, he said, “Go at once to the Luoyang Martial Arts Hall and find Young Master Xiang. Tell him your shopkeeper has been captured by bandits from Mount Tianmen, and ask him to bring capable disciples to assist.”

News that Su Mengzhen had really been taken by bandits startled the group, and they grew worried for her safety.

Yet they knew their own skills were too lacking to be of any real help, and it would be better to serve the clinic diligently.

“Understood, Young Master.”

They hadn’t brought much luggage, so they quickly packed and returned to Qingyang County.

Once they departed, the inn was left half empty. It was the off-season, and there were few guests.

Those who remained—Luo Changning and his companions—hurried through lunch and retired to their rooms.

There was still a tough battle ahead that night for Luo Changning and Ma Qingyun. Mount exploration was no simple task; they would need all their strength for what was to come.