He was the grandson of the Prince Lin of the Qi Kingdom, the beloved young master of the Lin Manor, spoiled beyond measure. Arrogant, unreasonable, and utterly lawless, he was a notorious young tyrant.
He dared to beat the imperial princes and bully the common people. His grandfather, Prince Lin, was a sworn brother of the founding emperor of the Qi Kingdom, honored as the "Side-by-Side King." The Lin Manor was the most feared residence in the entire kingdom—even the current emperor had to treat them with deference.
Prince Lin had sons, but Lang Wuxie was his only grandson. His love for the boy knew no bounds. So much so that when Lang Wuxie took a fancy to the Second Prince simply for his handsome face, Prince Lin unhesitatingly pressured the emperor to grant a marriage between the two, with no regard for the royal dignity.
Since ancient times, there had never been a marriage between two men, especially not involving a member of the imperial family. To the Second Prince, this was nothing short of humiliation.
Yet this once-pampered young master now lay dying among a pile of jagged rocks. Had Lang Wuxie's soul not taken over this body, he would have been nothing more than a pitiful corpse abandoned in the wilderness.
"Both legs are crushed, three left ribs broken, right wrist dislocated. To fall from such a height and not turn into a pulp… quite extraordinary."
Another voice echoed within Lang Wuxie's body. The black cat that had accompanied him for more than a decade had unknowingly merged itself into this new body.
"I'm still alive."
Lang Wuxie lay among the rocks, his face calm and unmoved, as if the agonizing pain in his body had nothing to do with him.
"Congratulations, Master. You've cheated death again."
Black smoke drifted out from Lang Wuxie's chest, condensing into the shape of a black cat, circling around him.
Alive, but barely.
Life was fading fast, drawing him closer to death. Cold rain washed away the last trace of warmth in his body, hastening his end.
First, find shelter. Preserve body heat.
In the pouring rain, Wuxie searched for anything usable beneath the cliff. Finally, he spotted a cave not far away.
Dragging himself forward with his hands, Lang Wuxie's eyes remained perfectly calm. He was only calculating his chances of survival.
His clothes were soaked through. Droplets of rain and sweat covered his entire body. The wounds on his legs left a long trail of blood, quickly washed away by the rain. The black cat leaped ahead, guiding its master toward the cave.
No one could imagine how much endurance that short crawl required.
The pain of shattered bones throughout his body was enough to make even the strongest-willed person faint countless times.
By the time he crawled into the pitch-black cave, Wuxie's pale face had lost all color. Leaning against the cold stone wall, he was finally free from the downpour.
Suddenly, a ghostly voice echoed from deep within the darkness.
"Who's there?"
The cautious black cat jumped in fright, arching its back and standing in front of Lang Wuxie.
"Go check."
Lang Wuxie spoke in a cold voice. His condition was critical. Without medical supplies, he could not treat himself in his current state. He had to find another way. A living person… might be able to help him.
Led by the black cat, Lang Wuxie inched slowly toward the source of the voice. In the darkness, Wuxie sensed an unfamiliar presence.
"You're dying."
A low, teasing voice sounded above him, deep and hoarse yet bewitchingly charming, filled with an alluring aura.