LUO YAN noticed that Shen Ji Yun was just standing there and not reacting to what he just said.  Did he not hear him?  "Brother Ji Yun, did you not hear what I said?"

Of course Shen Ji Yun heard it.  In fact, it was still echoing in his mind right now.  Like some broken record.  'Rip my clothes… rip my clothes… rip my clothes…'– that's all he could hear for the past few seconds.  He suddenly felt hot.  And he didn't know why.  But he was certain that it's connected to those words.

Because just now, inexplicable images just flashed inside his mind.  One of Luo Yan in that red robe ripped off in various places, showing his satiny white skin.  Looking at him with those big peach blossom eyes, his lovely face blushing a beautiful red.  Calling him 'Brother Ji Yun' with his sweet voice.  If they were not in VR right now, he'd probably be already showcasing a nosebleed right now.

Suddenly, he wanted to punch himself.  What the hell was he thinking?  Just when did he become so depraved that he would imagine those things?  And the one involve in his imagination was not someone else but Luo Yan!

Although he's not a genius when it came to things like emotions, but even he knew that something was wrong.  Well, not really wrong, but at least something that he couldn't explain just by using his own logic.  But before he could analyze things further, Luo Yan spoke again.

"Brother Ji Yun?" the rabbit said, calling his attention.

Shen Ji Yun tried to clear his mind and no longer thought about those things.  He took a deep breath.  "Is there really a need to rip your clothes?" he just asked.

"Yes.  To look more realistic.  Although I know that's quite ironic, since we're in VR and all," Luo Yan said with a bit of joking tone.  "So, Brother Ji Yun, could you help me?  I'm sure you have a dagger with you or something."

Shen Ji Yun knew that he couldn't dissuade Luo Yan, so he just took out the small dagger hanging on his side.  He emptied his mind and just mechanically tore off bits and parts of Luo Yan's red robe.  But even so, he still made sure that he wouldn't hurt him.  When he was done, he looked up and saw that Luo Yan's long black hair was now in a wild disarray.

Earlier, Luo Yan still looked like the high class courtesan he was playing.  But now?  He looked like he'd been abused and violated.   And… there went his crazy imagination again.

"Is this enough?" he just chose to ask, trying his best not to stare too much.

"Still need dirt and blood," Luo Yan said before kneeling and smearing dirt from the ground to his face and clothes.  He stood up and looked at Shen Ji Yun.  "Could I borrow the dagger?"

"What for?"

"So I could prick my finger and smear the blood to my face and clothes," Luo Yan answered, reaching for the dagger in Shen Ji Yun's hand.  But before he could do so, Shen Ji Yun already lifted the dagger away from him.  "Brother Ji Yun?" he asked, confused.

"Let's use my blood." Even though Shen Ji Yun knew this was just VR, how could he let Luo Yan bleed?  So, he slashed his palm without another thought and smeared the blood on Luo Yan's clothes and on his face.  "This time, is this enough?"

Luo Yan gazed down himself, satisfied by what he saw.  Then he looked around and stared at one part of the wall where chains were attached.  He walked towards there and then turned to Shen Ji Yun and smiled.  "You just have to chain me up and we're done."

Shen Ji Yun looked at the chain on the wall then back at Luo Yan.  He couldn't help the sigh that escaped him.

Seeing Shen Ji Yun still not moving, Luo Yan said, "Brother Ji Yun, come on, we have to be quick.  Madam Ru still has companions around, hiding somewhere.  We wouldn't get the information we need if those people suddenly make their entrance and rescue Madam Ru."

Shen Ji Yun sighed again and walked towards Luo Yan, ready to chain the rabbit up.

----------

"Are you sure you saw the second young miss coming in this direction about over an hour ago?" Duan Yu asked the maid in front of him.

"Yes.  She looked panicked, maybe even a bit scared," the maid answered.

They were now currently in the courtyard of Xinyi – the wife of the second master.  The one who was a former courtesan of Yuexing Pavilion.  Duan Yu learned a great deal about her since he left the courtyard where the corpse of the second young miss was.  Courtesy of all the maids and servants he talked to.

Apparently, Xinyi was the former number one courtesan before Shishi.  The second master – the old prince second son – fell in love with her at first sight a year ago and decided to marry her as his wife.  Prince Lin Rong, of course, opposed the marriage.  How could a member of the royal family marry a mere courtesan?  But his opposition didn't go anywhere.  In the end, the second master still managed to marry Xinyi.

Because they were just so in love.

Duan Yu almost snorted when he heard that.  He bet there was another reason why the second master was so adamant in marrying Xinyi.  And it definitely had something to do with Wei.  If he dug more information, an important piece that they needed to solve the Mysteries in this door would surface.

"And you saw Xinyi going out just minutes after?" he asked the maid again.

"Yes," the maid confirmed.

He smiled.  [Oh, naughty Madame Xinyi what are you up to?]

*****

Mini-theater:

[Inside JiYun's imagination]

YanYan wearing a ripped robe, showing parts of his porcelain white skin, his lovely face blushing.  He raised his big peach blossom eyes at him and called in his sweet voice: Brother JiYun…

JiYun felt like his temperature just rose a hundred more degrees, he couldn't even think properly.

YanYan picked up a chain and handed it to JiYun: You have to chain me up now.

JiYun felt hot liquid dripping from his nose.

YanYan reached for JiYun's hand: You promised you would tie me up.

And JiYun just experienced a nosebleed waterfall.

o(≧▽≦)o