Chapter 64: The Feeling of Being Kept Is Not Bad

Xue Ziyan leaped away, enduring the searing pain as she looked down at her left chest, now missing a chunk of flesh. Her body trembled as she gazed at Gu Feng, whose eyes brimmed with hatred toward her. Her heart was burdened with sorrow, injustice, and a bitterness she could not name. She had given him her first time, given him everything, and yet he treated her so cruelly. Sour tears streamed down her cheeks like rain.

Gu Yan stared at Gu Feng, whose mouth was still stained with blood and whose visage had become frighteningly unfamiliar. It was as if he had become a different person altogether. Then she looked at Xue Ziyan, whose chest was bleeding profusely and whose face was streaked with tears. Gu Yan felt a pang of guilt and remorse—what a sin this was!

Xue Wen, too, was terrified by the sight of her aunt's misery and the cold brutality on Gu Feng's face.

Weeping, Xue Ziyan took a step toward Gu Feng, sobbing, "Do you really hate me so much? I gave you my first time, I gave myself to you. Even if I'm a little older, I've given you everything. I'm your woman too, so how could you be so heartless?"

As she spoke, Xue Ziyan knelt before Gu Feng, burying her head in his lap.

An awkward scene unfolded—Gu Feng, blood still fresh in his mouth, could not conceal his arousal.

He looked down at the back of Xue Ziyan's head, her words stirring something deep within him.

Gu Feng wondered if perhaps he truly was in the wrong. No matter what, she was a woman who had been with him, old or unattractive as she might be. Could he really kill her? Could he bring himself to do it? In the end, he realized he could not. But then, what should he do?

He wanted to take responsibility, but resentment gnawed at him—he was only sixteen, how could he bear responsibility for a woman in her sixties or seventies? More importantly, he had to consider Gu Yan's feelings. For him to accept other women would be deeply unfair to her.

Gu Yan gazed at Xue Ziyan, her kind heart easily moved. In a gentle voice, she said, "Brother, you bit her and she's still bleeding. A woman's chest is very important. She's really hurt. Brother, please don't hurt her anymore, all right?"

Gu Feng turned to Gu Yan, swallowing hard. "Yan'er, but what should I do?"

Gu Yan forced a smile, feigning cheerfulness. "Brother, I'm all right. You should accept her—and this sister too."

As a girl herself, Gu Yan understood all too well how deeply it would hurt a woman to give herself to a man, only to be discarded.

Gu Feng could see through Gu Yan's brave facade. His heart ached and tears welled up as he said, "Yan'er, I only like you. I don't want you to be sad!"

She came up behind him, hugging him from behind. "Brother, I'm fine. They're with you now, and I was there when it happened. I couldn't stop it, and you didn't do it on purpose. Just promise me that from now on, you'll care for the three of us only, and I'll be satisfied."

Gu Feng breathed in her delicate fragrance, scarcely daring to believe it. "Really, Yan'er?"

Gu Yan glanced at the wounded Xue Ziyan and quickly replied, "It's true, Brother. I'm not lying. Please, heal her wounds."

At her words, Gu Feng's gaze returned to Xue Ziyan. His eyes were complicated as he drew a deep breath, gently lifted her head, and brushed the hair from her tear-stained face.

He was stunned. Though Xue Ziyan was older, she had cared for her appearance. Despite the fine lines at her eyes, she wasn't as old as he had imagined. In fact, she possessed a mature allure that neither Gu Yan nor Xue Wen had.

He looked down at her torn, bleeding chest; blood soaked her body. Pain and guilt flashed in his eyes as he quickly took out healing pills and helped her swallow them.

Obediently, Xue Ziyan took the medicine, and soon the pain in her chest faded. The wound grew warm, then itchy. Looking down, she saw with astonishment that her injury was visibly healing.

When all was done, Gu Feng glanced at the brightening sky. He rose and put on his tattered leather armor, saying to the three women, "Get dressed. We have things to do."

At his words, the three women quickly put on their clothes.

Gu Feng watched them, still unable to believe what had happened. Overnight, he had gone from boy to man, with three women at his side—one of whom was old enough to be his mother. Worse yet, his system revealed that Xue Wen and Xue Ziyan were related by blood. This was practically incest. He swore that if the Xue family ever found out, they would kill him without hesitation.

The women finished dressing and looked at Gu Feng, who seemed lost in thought.

Xue Wen and Xue Ziyan stood together, not daring to speak for fear of provoking his displeasure.

Gu Yan walked up and wrapped her arm around his, her chest brushing against him, and teased, "Brother, what are you thinking about? Wasn't last night enough, having all three of us?"

Gu Feng was unfazed, but Xue Wen's cheeks flushed crimson, and Xue Ziyan's face, too, burned with embarrassment. Last night had not been Gu Feng's initiative, but her own...

Remembering her own wildness, Xue Ziyan blushed like a shy apple, lowering her head and nervously fidgeting with her skirt.

Gu Feng shot Gu Yan a look and coughed, saying, "Let's not bring that up. Let's go collect some debts." He still remembered that the Ke, Dong, and Liu families owed him money. Debts had to be repaid, and he was in need of funds.

Xue Wen and Xue Ziyan were momentarily confused. Xue Ziyan asked softly, "What debts?"

Gu Feng spread his hands. "Some people owe me money, and I'm short right now, so I have to collect."

Seeing Gu Yan holding Gu Feng's arm, Xue Ziyan walked over and took his other arm. "How much do you need? I've saved quite a bit over the years. Here, it's all yours."

With that, she handed him her spatial ring.

To Xue Ziyan, she already belonged to Gu Feng, so everything she owned was his.

He was stunned, but accepted the ring. She had already erased her mark on it, so as he searched its contents, he was amazed by the mountain of gold coins within, glittering like sunlight. There were also many priceless treasures, aside from Xue Ziyan's clothing and jewelry.

Gu Feng swallowed, gazing at Xue Ziyan, who clung to him with birdlike devotion. He wondered if this was what it meant to be kept. The thought secretly pleased him.

Xue Ziyan, seeing him lost in thought, worried she had displeased him. "What's wrong?" she asked anxiously.

Just then, Gu Feng noticed a crystal token in her spatial ring glowing with dazzling white light.

He took it out.

Xue Ziyan exclaimed, "Oh no! I forgot. My big brother sent me to bring Xue Wen back to the family." She looked at Gu Feng, her voice turning gentle. "Feng, my brother wants me to take Xue Wen home. The Feng family is pressing for the marriage."