Force-Bound to My Brooding Junior Brother - Chapter 3

The next morning, the tether thread between us had truly vanished.

At least that proved contact as mild as holding hands had some effect.

In excellent spirits, I cut through the hemp rope and released Zhou Lingxue after his full night in bondage. Dark shadows lay beneath my junior brother’s eyes. He clearly had not slept at all, and his already pale complexion looked weaker than usual.

For once, guilt pricked me.

I pulled the sword sheath from his mouth and rebuked him with the disappointment of one who expected better.

“Junior Brother, if you cultivated diligently, how could an ordinary hemp rope keep you trapped? You need to reflect on yourself.”

Zhou Lingxue worked his aching jaw before answering hoarsely, “Have you ever met a spell cultivator who excelled at close combat? You tied up the hands I use to draw talismans. How was I supposed to escape?”

So if I tied his hands, I could do whatever I wanted to him?

Noted. Very useful.

Unfortunately, this was not the moment to put my new knowledge into practice.

Before Zhou Lingxue could realize what I was thinking and start cursing, I formed a sleep spell and flung it at him. Anyone who had spent the whole night awake ought to catch up on his rest.

As for me, I naturally had to seize the time to continue studying the Lovebinding Knot.

I flew west on my sword throughout the morning. Nothing impeded me, and the vanished tether thread did not reappear.

So after “intimate contact,” the bound pair could separate without any apparent limit on distance.

That was the best news I had received so far.

It did not last.

Shortly after noon, my vision blurred. When my eyes cleared, I was back in my room, standing before a Zhou Lingxue who had yet to wake. The tether thread had reappeared between our wrists.

Holding hands all night bought us only one morning apart.

The disciples’ tournament, however, would not confine itself to mornings. If one of us drew a morning match and the other an afternoon match, half a day of freedom would never be enough.

Holding hands alone was not sufficient after all.

What else should one expect from a treasure created by the Joyous Union Sect?

For our auras to mingle more thoroughly—and for the separation to last longer—we would need more intimate contact.

I did not mind.

But my junior brother would not even hold my hand willingly. I had to tie him up just to touch him once. Would he let me do anything more outrageous?

Probably not.

In that case, there was nothing to discuss.

Feeling apologetic, I took out the new rope I had bought that morning.

“Forgive me, Junior Brother.”

…

When Zhou Lingxue woke, he discovered that he had been tied up again.

His hands, in particular, had been secured firmly behind his back. There was absolutely no chance of wriggling free.

A vein throbbed at his temple. “Xie Heng, what kind of madness is this now?”

“It isn’t madness. Also, you should call me Senior Sister,” I corrected pleasantly.

Murder flashed in Zhou Lingxue’s eyes. “The senior sister who tied me hand and foot in my sleep so she could violate me?”

Violate was a bit much.

“I haven’t done anything to you. I was only afraid you might disagree with my next proposal, so I made a few preparations in advance.”

My junior brother raised his chin and ordered me to explain the proposal.

“Well… for us to compete in the tournament without trouble, I may need to do something rather more intimate than hold your hand. Are you willing?”

Zhou Lingxue said nothing.

Then shock and fury collided on his face. “In your dreams!”

I knew he would refuse.

“See? This is why I had to prepare.” I sighed regretfully and reached for his sash. “If you won’t agree, I’ll have to find a solution myself.”

“Are you some kind of pervert? Let go!”

Zhou Lingxue thrashed beneath my hands like a carp flung onto shore.

With his decidedly unfriendly assistance, I successfully worked loose the sash trapped beneath the hemp rope. Once the sash was off, his outer robes followed easily.

Before long, the refined young master who normally arranged even the curve of his hem to perfection had been stripped down to a single inner robe.

The humiliation flushed his face, but it also made him stronger. This time, he did not cry.

I hesitated. “Why aren’t you crying?”

Had I driven him into such despair that he could no longer even weep?

Zhou Lingxue snapped, “So I can add to your enjoyment?”

Was that truly the sort of person my junior brother thought I was?

I attempted to clear my name. “Exceptional circumstances demand exceptional measures. My hand was forced. Your senior sister truly has no peculiar inclinations.”

“You’ve always disliked me, so you can’t want outsiders learning about our bond. I resorted to this not only to protect my ranking in the tournament, but also to preserve your reputation.”

I sniffed hard and covered my face, hiding the corners of my mouth as they tried to soar.

“I’m a sword cultivator. I could have ignored your wishes and simply forced you, but I didn’t. It’s bad enough that you never appreciate my care. Now you slander your senior sister again and again. I’m truly hurt.”

Zhou Lingxue, tied to the bed and already half undressed, stared at me. “?”

His brows knitted. He sensed that something was wrong but could not quite identify it. Seeing how wounded I appeared, he stopped trying to reason it out. Instead, he nudged me awkwardly with one knee.

“Hey. That isn’t what I meant. Are you really upset?”

“Xie Heng? Stop fooling around. There’s no chance you’re crying… Tsk. Fine, I was wrong. Just act normal—you’re frightening me.”

I peered at him between my fingers. “Do you truly understand what you did wrong?”

“…Yes.”

“And you understand the care I’ve taken? You’ll cooperate properly from now on?”

Zhou Lingxue nodded after a moment’s hesitation. “All right… as long as you don’t go too far.”

I remained silent.

Grinding his teeth, Zhou Lingxue amended his answer. “As long as there’s a reason for it, going a little too far is fine. Happy?”

Oh?

So I was allowed to go further?

I dropped my hands at once. With perfect ease, I slipped one hand through his collar and gave him an honest, teasing squeeze.

My junior brother might look frail, but with the rope cinched around him like this, there was rather more substance to him than expected.

“All right. As long as you keep your word, I’ll forgive you this once.”

Zhou Lingxue, who had instinctively begun to recoil, froze at those words.

“…I understand.”

After a long silence, he turned his face aside. Black hair slid over an ear gone scarlet.

“I’ll cooperate.”