OVPBM 10

Chapter 10 – These Things Are Not Shameful

Lu Yunwan’s voice curled around Chu Xuanzhou’s ear like spider silk. “Whether in the jungle or the stars, a skilled hunter is always adept at disguise.”

Hunter. Disguise.

The Regent’s tone was unbelievably sincere, yet the man’s disgraceful past never stopped reminding Chu Xuanzhou that Lu Yunwan’s words could not be trusted.

If the interstellar realm were a jungle, Lu Yunwan would undoubtedly be the finest hunter.

So was his sincerity at this moment just another disguise?

Chu Xuanzhou couldn’t help suspecting that Lu Yunwan might be like a cat.

He wouldn’t kill his prey in one blow. He would keep teasing it instead, continuing a boring hunting game while admiring its despairing struggles and the pitiful scene before death.

Even though he was temporarily the disadvantaged “prey,” Chu Xuanzhou was not afraid.

The instinct to survive told him to seize this chance. He had to play along with Lu Yunwan…

The youth paused, then slowly lifted his arms and, for the first time, returned the Regent’s embrace.

The fragile merman lowered his head and buried his face in the hollow of Lu Yunwan’s shoulder. His tears instantly soaked the Regent’s black silk shirt.

Along with them came the warmth of his breath.

Hiss…

Unlike the earlier moments, this was the first proper embrace between Lu Yunwan and Chu Xuanzhou.

In his previous life, Lu Yunwan had been chronically ill and died at only eighteen. Let alone falling in love, he had barely met any living person outside his own family.

The moment they hugged, his skin flushed from the tips of his ears down to his cheeks.

Fortunately, Chu Xuanzhou didn’t see it.

* * *

A few days later, on the Capital Planet.

Inside the deep blue undersea palace, it was so “lively” it bordered on chaotic, with countless masked men and women standing in the banquet hall.

Their clothing was seductive, their gestures suggestive.

From the corners of the hall came sounds that stirred the imagination, and even the organ music couldn’t suppress them.

“Your Excellency the Regent, what do you think of this little merman?” A man wearing a gray mask approached, bringing along a young merfolk and winked exaggeratedly at Lu Yunwan.   

News about the Regent and Chu Xuanzhou had long spread across the stars. This man was certainly not the first to “cater to his preferences.”

Lu Yunwan smiled and turned his gaze to the youth beside him.

Under a cherry-pink mask hid delicate features. A pair of pale violet eyes looked timidly at Lu Yunwan. “Good morning… Your Excellency.”

Just from the Regent’s light glance, the young man nearly forgot what he was supposed to say next.

Lu Yunwan said nothing. Instead, he lifted the young man’s chin with his fingers, examining him like a hunter evaluating his prey.

The silk glove was especially cold. The moment Lu Yunwan’s touch met his skin, the young man shivered involuntarily.

“Very pretty,” Lu Yunwan’s voice dropped slightly. When he spoke, the air around them seemed to still for an instant. “But a little tacky.”

Though called “tacky,” being able to approach the Regent at such close distance was enough to make the young man’s breath grow unsteady.

A faint blush spread across his cheeks. His eyes were full of reverence and fear. “Th-thank you… Your… Your Excellency the Regent.” The young merman even began to stutter. 

Seeing his nervousness, Lu Yunwan withdrew his hand with a faintly amused look.

Perfect! Put on another good act.

Affected by their migratory period, merfolk never suppressed their desires. Their lives were always licentious and indulgent.

Today’s event was actually the birthday banquet of the King of the Empire, the father of Chu Xuanzhou.

Though the nominal ruler of the Empire, the King had long lost his ability to govern due to excessive indulgence and overuse of medication during his migratory period, which damaged his mental core.

It was precisely because of this that the Empire had a “Regent”.

As for the original host, though he was not as wanton as the merfolk, a Regent who climbed from the bottom to the throne certainly wouldn’t refuse such occasions.

After discovering his embarrassment-induced blushing problem, Lu Yunwan had locked himself in his room and practiced with holographic projections.

Judging from today, his targeted training had truly paid off.

After listening to his subordinate’s flattery, Lu Yunwan finally seemed to remember Chu Xuanzhou standing beside him. He turned to look at the youth.

Their gazes intertwined in midair.

Chu Xuanzhou wore a silver mask. He stood there with his lips pressed tight, saying nothing.

His eyes were filled with disgust and discomfort, utterly incompatible with the atmosphere here.

Seeing Chu Xuanzhou’s expression, Lu Yunwan could not help but give him silent praise in his heart. Worthy of being the protagonist! As expected, he remains untainted even when emerging from filth.

If he weren’t the “Regent,” Lu Yunwan would have dragged Chu Xuanzhou away from this place already.

But unfortunately, before so many people and under thousands of watchful eyes, Lu Yunwan had no choice but to keep acting…

Lu Yunwan rested his hand lightly on Chu Xuanzhou’s shoulder, whispering in his ear, “Your Highness, that young man just now was chosen to resemble you. They all think you are my pretty little canary.”

He could feel Chu Xuanzhou’s shoulder tremble faintly.

“Do you not mind?”

“No…” Chu Xuanzhou lowered his head slowly, his voice hoarse.

Lu Yunwan smiled and shook his head. “No, you do mind.”

“Clearly a prince, yet everyone despises you and naturally views you as my possession,” Lu Yunwan said, coldly exposing the truth. “You would never be indifferent to that.”

Lu Yunwan finally lifted his gaze. Although the youth had not spoken a single word, Lu Yunwan saw the plea in his eyes. Chu Xuanzhou’s pride was begging him not to continue.

A few seconds passed. Under the Regent’s quietly amused watch, Chu Xuanzhou finally gritted his teeth and nodded with difficulty. “Yes… I do not want this.” His voice was unbearably fragile.

“That is the meaning of strength, Your Highness.” Lu Yunwan slowly stepped back, stopping half a meter away as he spoke. “If you are strong enough, you can make anyone your vassal…”

He paused for a few seconds and let his eyes sweep the room.

Finding no suitable example, his gaze ultimately fell on his own cane. He then smiled and gave the youth a playful wink. “Even me.”

As he spoke, the palace lights abruptly shut off.

In the vast hall, only the faintest natural light filtered through the seawater.

The atmosphere grew even more suggestive.

Chu Xuanzhou subconsciously curled his fingers into his palm and turned to leave for the corridor.

But he barely took two steps before Lu Yunwan gently caught his wrist.

“Your Highness, you cannot leave.” The Regent, wearing a dark red mask, tugged him toward the deepest part of the hall. “Try to appreciate it,” Lu Yunwan said softly.

…Appreciate?

The youth slowly lifted his head.

Under his mask, in the dim hall, Lu Yunwan didn’t notice that there wasn’t the slightest discomfort in Chu Xuanzhou’s eyes.

His mother had once been a famous courtesan in the interstellar realm.

And he himself had grown up on a lower-class planet filled with merfolk. Chu Xuanzhou, though he did not enjoy scenes like this, had long been used to far more outrageous spectacles.

Everything before him was Chu Xuanzhou’s disguise.

As the protagonist, he had always been a model student.

Lu Yunwan spoke as he guided him through the banquet hall. Unlike merfolk who adapted easily to the dim underwater lighting, Lu Yunwan could barely see, his vision nearly swallowed by darkness.

By the time he sensed something was wrong, he had already led the protagonist straight toward a pair of merfolk locked in a fervent kiss. They were so lost in each other that they hadn’t even noticed his approach.

Lu Yunwan stood there in silence.

How exciting. Do I get to watch this for free?

“Your Excellency? You have come here…”

The scene seemed to startle the protagonist as well.

Even though he was screaming internally, the moment he remembered the protagonist standing right beside him, Lu Yunwan immediately told himself not to chicken out.

In the original novel, Chu Xuanzhou, who became master of the interstellar realm, despised fragile humans and merfolk controlled by their desires with equal harshness.

His rationality had always reigned over instinct; in his entire life, he had never once succumbed to desire, and his self-control was almost inhuman.

So… a few mad ramblings from a lunatic like him probably didn’t matter, right?

Lu Yunwan immediately slipped back into character.

“Your Highness, power is also a form of desire.” He led Chu Xuanzhou around the pair, lost to their instincts, heading toward the far end of the hall.

In the darkness, Chu Xuanzhou gave a faint nod.

Those beautiful dark violet eyes gradually turned toward Lu Yunwan.

Whatever Lu Yunwan’s intentions were, he was the most skilled hunter in the stars. Every word he spoke was worth remembering.

By now, Lu Yunwan had reached the windows.

He stopped and turned to look at Chu Xuanzhou.

In the faint light from outside, the youth’s features finally became clear.

Lu Yunwan smiled and removed his mask. As he casually brushed his fingers over the dark shards of crystal embedded in it, he slowly raised his head.

The dim glow lit the Regent’s crow-black eyes. He reached out and stroked Chu Xuanzhou’s cheek, whispering, “Whether it is the desire for power, or… appetite, the desire to survive, the thirst for knowledge… even lust, and the countless other desires that remain… All of them are innate to us.”

“They are the gift the heavens bestowed upon intelligent beings.”

Lu Yunwan’s smile deepened. “As higher beings, we must not be ruled by desire, nor become its slaves, ugly and debased.”

“But do not reject it either. Your Highness, desire itself is not shameful. Learn to acknowledge it and take control of it…”

“And you must also learn to enjoy desire.”