Li Shuang’s neck was braced with a wooden board, barely supporting her injury inflicted by Jin An. The healer advised a month’s bed rest, but time was a luxury she couldn’t afford.
At dawn the next day, Li Shuang rose early. She penned a letter to the army at the foot of the mountain, instructing them to hold their position. After entrusting someone to deliver it, she slowly made her way towards the dungeon, her head feeling a hundredfold heavier than usual.
As she reached the dungeon entrance, she found Wu Yin, still bleary-eyed, unlocking the door. “General Li,” he remarked, his drowsiness giving way to amusement at the sight of her supporting her neck. “Shouldn’t you rest for a few more days?”
Li Shuang shot him a glance, but Wu Yin maintained his smile. Unable to reprimand him as he wasn’t under her command, she could only maintain a stoic silence as Wu Yin activated the dungeon’s mechanism. Together, they descended into the depths.
“I heard the Jade Silkworm’s host remained quiet last night,” Wu Yin reported as they walked down the stairs, observing Li Shuang’s reaction in the flickering torchlight. “It’s been his calmest night since arriving at Mount Changnan. The Jade Silkworm’s reputation for loyalty is well-deserved. It’s just a pity that I’m not its master this time.”
Li Shuang finally turned to him, her voice hoarse: “You can’t blame others for being born at the wrong time.”
Taken aback, Wu Yin paused before responding, “General Li, you’re not one for niceties. But I don’t blame you. Perhaps the Jade Silkworm choosing you as its master is fortunate for me.”
Li Shuang raised an eyebrow, prompting Wu Yin to continue: “You might not have noticed, but your body is already changing, becoming different from ordinary people.”
Li Shuang froze, suddenly recalling the recent incident in the Northern Frontier when Wan Shan Chang brought news of a mysterious black-armored figure. When Li Shuang had approached Wan Shan Chang’s chest, the parasites had frantically fled his body…
Wu Yin explained, “After finding a host, the Jade Silkworm integrates into their bloodline, granting immense power until the host’s death. The host’s first taste of fresh blood determines their master, to whom they become utterly devoted. The master’s presence is the only thing that can soothe the Jade Silkworm and strengthen its bond with the host. This causes the host to crave their master’s company, constantly seeking the essence in their blood, even desiring… physical union.”
Li Shuang stiffened, nearly missing a step. Wu Yin steadied her, then continued, seemingly oblivious to her shocked expression: “My father’s Jade Silkworm host was a beautiful woman. After his death, she fled during a power struggle. She wanted a male host.” He smiled, eyeing Li Shuang suggestively. “This current host’s physique and appearance are truly exceptional. You’re quite fortunate, General.”
Li Shuang coughed, her voice raspier than ever.
“Once the host and master have prolonged contact or physical intimacy, the master also takes on the Jade Silkworm’s essence,” Wu Yin added. “As the Jade Silkworm is the king of parasites, other bugs fear it. So even without any repelling techniques, no parasite would dare approach you in our Five Spirits Gate.”
Li Shuang’s ears burned at the mention of “physical intimacy.” Her encounters with Jin An had been innocent, though there were those forced kisses…
Eager to change the subject, she asked, “Then why do you still seek him?”
“Honestly, finding the Jade Silkworm doesn’t matter much to me,” Wu Yin explained. “Our Five Spirits Gate was respected even without it, but the elders insisted on recovering this sacred relic. When we heard of an extraordinarily skilled hero in the Northern Frontier, I led a team to investigate. I had planned to extract the Jade Silkworm from him, as I had no interest in a man constantly lusting after me.”
Li Shuang found the image of Jin An pursuing Wu Yin as he did her both amusing and bizarre.
“But unexpectedly…” Wu Yin gestured to the door before them, “he was more stubborn than I anticipated, refusing to let me remove the parasite.”
Through the iron door’s mesh, Li Shuang saw a scene similar to yesterday’s. After Wu Yin had taken him away, no one dared approach. Two of the wall chains were broken, with three still restraining the neck and feet of the occupant. Unlike last night, however, the muscular man had transformed into a child.
Clothed in rags, he lay curled up on the cold floor, sleeping peacefully. It was Jin An, unmistakably.
Wu Yin peered inside. “He’s truly calm. It’s been a while since I’ve seen him sleep like this.”
“Why is he…?” Li Shuang struggled to ask.
“There might have been complications during the Spirit Woman’s parasite cultivation. I’m not sure of the specifics, but since we captured him, he’s been like this – small by day, large by night,” Wu Yin explained, then added curiously, “You spent so much time with him in the Northern Frontier, yet you didn’t know?”
Li Shuang remained silent. She hadn’t known. She had even suspected Jin An might be the black-armored man’s son, but this… who could have imagined such a relationship? It was beyond normal comprehension.
“He’s probably our most unique parasite host in years. Though you’re quite an unusual master yourself,” Wu Yin continued. “Traditionally, only the Five Spirits Gate’s leader could be the Jade Silkworm’s master. They’re trained in parasite arts from childhood and view the host as merely a human-shaped bug. My father would have necessary contact with his host but wouldn’t embrace or kiss her, nor feel for her as he did for my mother.”
Li Shuang frowned as she listened, her gaze fixed on Jin An.
“Be careful about investing such emotions in a parasite, General,” Wu Yin warned, his tone the most sincere it had been. “He’s a bug without humanity, lacking memories or identity. His dependence, affection, and loyalty stem solely from being a parasite-host. He must be loyal to you. You should maintain boundaries.”
Boundaries? What boundaries?
To Li Shuang, Jin An wasn’t just a parasite. He was a living, breathing person with a past and an identity – the identity of Jin An, the legendary figure of the Northern Frontier.
He was human, not a mere bug.
Li Shuang pushed open the iron door. The child stirred at the sound, lifting his head. Upon seeing Li Shuang, his eyes lit up as if illuminated by a thousand suns.
Li Shuang felt her resolve soften. She knelt before Jin An, gently wiping the dirt from his face.
Jin An reached out, lightly touching the wooden board on her neck. His clear eyes immediately reddened. “Pain…” he stated, not asking but affirming as if a knife had pierced his own heart.