The room fell so silent that Taohua could hear the vivid beating of Nick's heart. His eyes looked so stunned like he smacked with a big fluffy ball and he didn't know how to attack.
Taohua tried to leave but the grip tightened almost suffocating him. He finally gave up with letting go and stay limply in Nick's arm.
After a long while, Nick finally regained his senses. He turned Taohua to face him and then tilt his head.
" You left because you loved me?"
Taohua felt something uncomfortable in his heart. It made him feel like lowering his head and hiding from the world. The last time he felt this way was when his shifu had dragged his ear once in front of all the disciples for stealing the Jade empress immortal fruit.
But he had to answer, the fate of the girls were hanging on him.
" Hmm"
"I... I thought you couldn't love."
The uncomfortable feeling grew even more.
" I thought so too , who knew that you will be the one to make me fail my love tribulation..who knew that it would hurt stitching that damn dao leak for over 10 years in that cave ? Who knew that you made it difficult for me to pass such a simple task "
The more he talked , the more aggrieved he felt. Why did he have to bear the consequences of having feelings while Hong Jin threatened him? His vision turned blurry and he looked aside.
Nick was quiet, so quiet it was unusual. He just stared at him blankly, only his heartbeats and heavy breathing making sounds.
At last Nick whispered " Do you still love me?"
" if i didn't , would i still be here ? My dao is about to get torn to pieces looking at you and the stitch I put in place may come off …"
"What happens if you don't pass the tribulation?"
Taohua pouted his lips, his voice was soft " I don't know, all I know is that there's a punishment involved. The only sure thing is that I'll never be able to become a god"
"How can I believe you're not lying to me Taohua?"
Taohua resist the urge to slap Nick to death "If anything happens to those girls…"
"Three months"
Taohua looked at Nick, confusion in his eyes.
Nick looked back at him before lowering his head. Their lips touched one another slightly, almost like a butterfly touching the surface of a lake before Nick separated from him and standing a distance.
His voice then became soft " Give me three months. Let me love you for three months, when it's over , Stab me in the heart. "
Taohua stiffened "What?"
"No …" Nick shook his head " I changed my mind. Let's get married, marry me and love me for three months. Then stab me in the chest"
The urge to slap hong Jin grew stronger.
" You're saying it like it's something easy to do !!!"
" But If you don't kill me , you can't pass right?"
" Who told you this…" Taohua rubbed his forehead "The prerequisite is that I have to love my divinity over anything else "
"If it doesn't work then so be it. It's better than watching you get punished " he grabbed Taohua wrist and pull him closer , his voice was harsher than he intended" Promise me you'll marry me "
Taohua tried to take his wrist back but it was impossible, his voice was lower than a mosquito.
"Hong Jin"
"I am giving myself up to you. I am a demon and I will just lose one of my life. I have nine lives remember?"
"The requirements is that you die not that I steal a life from you!!!"
"So be it then "
"Hong Jin, let me go."
" Say you will marry me or I'll kill those girls "
Taohua swallowed hard. His head ached, his chest felt heavy, and every part of him screamed to run—but there was nowhere left to go. Nick's grip on his wrist burned like a shackle.
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes.
"Fine. You want marriage? You'll have it."
The grip on his wrist tightened "You promised me "
" Yes I promised you " Taohua pulled on Nick's fingers , he seemed really tired now " Let me go , I want to rest"
Nick didn't say a word. He only pulled Taohua close to himself. The scent of Jasmine floated around Taohua and his eyes started to lower.
"You promised me okay?"
"I promised you yes , how many times do you want me to say it ?" Taohua eyes lowered completely and his body relaxed against Nick's own, his voice went softer and softer till it became faint " What do you keep adding in your
body fragrance.."
"I really don't know either…"
The world turned quiet and dark.