Learning To Live As A Cultivator

Chapter One Hundred And Twenty Four - Do you like me?

Jin Li looked at the youth before him, ignoring the beating of his heart in his own chest. It was definitely no illusion, those lips really were that soft and tasted just a little sweet... he buried that thought down and replaced it with a harsh notion of ridicule. Right now, Leon looked as dumb as the runt as he stared up at him... not at all cute... but still...

"What is it?" Jin Li sneered at the dazed youth, tilting his head arrogantly to one side.  "Was my appreciation not sufficient enough for you? I suppose you require more."

"Yes?" Leon murmured, who still looked a little lost in the moment.

Well, if you insist, Jin Li's sneer turned a little wicked as he bent down to eat a little more tofu...

"Jin Li! How could you leave me... again!" Leon snapped from the spell woven over him by Jin Li's audacious behaviour and his own wishful thinking and quickly stepped away from Jin Li. The taller youth clicked his tongue in irritation, but sat lazily down upon the bed as if it mattered neither way for him. Sun, unaware of what he had interrupted, appeared in the doorway, continuing his tirade; "That man seems to think that a four day break is unnecessary! If it weren't for Teacher Corne wishing to take him out for a drink and a meal, I would still be swinging a sword about in the arena!"

"What m-man?" Leon asked, as he furiously began to scrub the dishes, hoping his face wasn't too red.  What had just happened?  Fortunately, Sun seemed too bothered with his own problems to be concerned with whatever had been occurring before he arrived.

"Sun attracted the attention of a new Teacher," Jin Li replied, with a slight smirk, unconsciously licking his own lips as his eyes caught sight of Leon's flushed face.  "That Teacher took Sun on as his personal student."

"Oh, c-c-Congratulations...?" The questioning sound of the word came as Sun began to glare the moment he began to speak.  Clearly Sun had issues too...

Sun stared at the alchemist for a moment and then asked; "I don't suppose you know of a recipe that might create a sleeping pill or draught?" 

Leon couldn't remember reading of such in his diaries, but then he didn't know of the white warming potion until given the recipe by Pharmacist Clawse, so could only shake his head.  Jin Li rolled his eyes and stated; "Don't you think a pill of such an effect created by an apprentice could overwhelm a man of Corvus' cultivation?"

"It could work," Sun pouted, before flopping down upon the floor.   Leon remembered his manners, dried his hands and served fresh tea.  His hands shook a little as he passed Jin Li his cup, but the other did not seem to notice, just taking the beverage as his due.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Jin Li asked of Sun.  And why did you deem it necessary to interrupt me, wasn't this Lord simply resolving this whole kissing matter once and for all?  Surely once one had sated this curiosity, one would be able to stop dwelling upon it.

"Well, I was going to soak in a herbal bath, on Teacher Corvus' instruction," he replied.  "And then I remembered about that weird, flower stuff of Leon's and that we hadn't tested whether it's better or worse that what we get at school and I figured you'd be here anyway, Jin Li, seeing as you disappeared so early this morning..."

"Weird flower stuff?" Jin Li questioned.

Leon considered all of Sun's words.  "You m-m-mean the b-bath salts?"

"Hmm," Sun agreed. 

"I c-can p-pack you some, if you l-like," Leon replied, before wondering what he had spare to store it in. 

"No need," Jin Li interrupted whatever Sun had to say in the next breath.  Both youths turned to him.  "If he wishes to use it, he should just use it here!  Unless you wish others to look down on you as you bathed in bath water better suited for women..."

Sun flinched, then chuckled loosely.  Jin Li was right, the bath salts may be useful, but they had a perfumed scent that would definitely be favoured by girls.  At least Chi Elixir had a more grassy smell, could be used by either gender.  Jin Li was a good older brother to remind him.  How foolish would he have looked if he had followed his thoughts through and used them in the communal baths?!  It was difficult enough when comparing his smaller, slender frame with his lack of bulky muscles and refined chest to others.  But at least no one ever dared comment about his thing!

"However," Jin Li suddenly added as he sipped his tea in a carelessly refined manner, "he can still get the water for his bath himself."   Sun blinked, feeling as if he had missed part of the conversation (which he had as Leon was saying that he may need to get water from the lake first) before widening his eyes pitifully at Jin Li.  Why was he being asked to do servants work, when Jin Li's servant was conveniently here?  "The lake is that way," Jin Li pointed in its general direction.  "And there is a barrel outside of the door."

Sun pouted as he rose to his feet and stormed out of the hut.

"Sh-shouldn't we h-help him?" Leon asked, thinking that a barrel full of water was too heavy for a boy such as Sun.

"Don't pity him," Jin Li sneered, with a touch of annoyance, "he carries greater loads daily.  'Tis Nothing for a secondary stage Martial Artist." He placed down his tea cup on to the table. "Now that the obstacle in the room has been removed..." Leon felt his wrist tugged before he fell back upon the bed and Jin Li's shadow fall over him. 

He pressed his hands against Jin Li's chest, the image of what was beneath the cloth flashing across his mind.  "W-w-w-w-what are you d-d-doing?" Leon whispered, his heart racing and butterflies fluttering in his stomach.  He knew of his own feelings for Jin Li, but was confused by Jin Li's actions.  He had kissed him again earlier and seemed to want to do this again for a third time, but why?  What did he mean by it?  Was this really just giving thanks? 

"This Lord wishes to end what was started," Jin Li confirmed Leon's notions with dry sentiment, before removing the barrier that was his glasses.  His thin lips then pressed once more upon Leon's, the tip of his tongue instinctively pressing forward to taste.  Leon's lips parted with a slight sigh, welcoming in that appendage, which slid in after a moment's hesitation.  Jin Li's tastebuds confirmed his notion that Leon's mouth tasted sweet and dived deeper to explore more thoroughly the depths, his mouth moving until it more comfortably dominated over the youth beneath him.  They parted a minute or so later, slightly breathless.  Jin Li inwardly preened as Leon's flushed face and large glazed eyes.  That was much more satisfactory.

Leon blinked a couple of times before asking; "J-Jin Li, d-do you l-like m-m-me?"

Author's note; Really sorry that this is so late today!  I've been reading Chinese translation novels and totally lost track of time x. Sunday may also be a wee bit late, mainly as I haven't written it yet!