After Transmigrating as the Villain's Subordinate and Rebirthing, I’ve Become a Total Salted Fish - Chapter 1

The tinkling of jade pendants filled his ears. Xu Xing opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by furnishings that were both strange and intimately familiar.

Wasn’t this the Nanfeng Brothel where he had first arrived all those years ago? How could he be back here?

Xu Xing stood up, pushed aside the beaded curtain, and walked to the window. Outside, the night was hazy, looking exactly like the night he first transmigrated. His head throbbed with a dull ache. As he rubbed his temples, trying to process his situation, the door creaked open.

“Young Master, Xu Xing is inside. Let him serve you well.”

The harsh, sycophantic voice made Xu Xing turn around. He froze when he recognized the man entering the room.

It was He Sitao.

The novel’s villain, and the master Xu Xing had followed for years. But this scene was clearly a flashback to their very first meeting.

Did I not only transmigrate into a book, but now I’ve been reborn back to the start? Recalling his past life of working like a slave—suffering under “007” levels of stress (9 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week)—Xu Xing had no desire to repeat history. According to the original plot, assassins would soon arrive to kill He Sitao. In his last life, he had risked his neck to save the man. This time, he decided on a different path.

“Xu Xing, come here! Master He has redeemed your soul (bought your freedom). From now on, you belong to him. Thank your benefactor!” the pimp urged.

Redeemed? This was completely different from his previous life.

“Please, have a seat, Young Master.” Though confused, Xu Xing stepped forward.

He Sitao’s eyes swirled with complex emotions, hidden from everyone but himself. Having never actually learned how to “serve” anyone in his two lives, Xu Xing awkwardly poured a cup of wine.

“Young Master, please.”

Xu Xing didn’t plan on pleasing He Sitao this time. In his past life, he had worked himself to the bone to earn He Sitao’s protection, only to die a miserable death anyway. This time, he would let nature take its course. As the saying goes: If the King of Hell wants you dead at the third watch, no one can keep you until the fifth. Why fight fate?

He Sitao downed the wine in one gulp. His eyes never left Xu Xing. In fact, since entering the room, his gaze had been fixed on him.

Feeling the intensity, Xu Xing sensed something was wrong. This wasn’t how He Sitao acted in their first meeting last time. To deflect the attention, Xu Xing deliberately leaned in and brushed his fingers provocatively against He Sitao’s silk sleeve.

“What is the Young Master thinking about?”

Xu Xing knew He Sitao hated physical contact; he usually couldn’t stand anyone touching even the hem of his robe. Doing this was practically a death wish. To his surprise, He Sitao didn’t get angry. He simply continued drinking, cup after cup.

“Why did you redeem me?” Xu Xing asked.

He Sitao didn’t answer. After slamming the final cup onto the table, he finally spoke.

“Xu Xing.”

Xu Xing had heard that voice countless times in his past life. Usually, it meant there was a troublesome mission or a difficult person to “handle.” He had developed a Pavlovian response: when He Sitao called his name, trouble followed. But they had only just met…

“Hmm?” Xu Xing looked up, puzzled.

He Sitao’s eyes darkened. He reached out with long fingers and pinched Xu Xing’s chin. Before Xu Xing could react, a handsome face blurred into his vision, and his startled cry was muffled by a pair of soft lips.

He Sitao kissed him!

I followed this man for ten years and never knew he swung that way! And he’s willing to touch a brothel host?

This shattered everything Xu Xing thought he knew about the man. But then, he reasoned: If He Sitao wasn’t into men, why come to a male brothel in the first place? Even for a mission, he didn’t need a host to “serve” him. If the assassins hadn’t interrupted us last time, maybe he would have slept with me then, too!

Where are the assassins? Xu Xing had never prayed for an assassination attempt more than in this moment.

As if hearing his plea, the sound of a window smashing rang out.

The assassins!

Xu Xing tried to push He Sitao away, but the man grabbed him by the waist, spun him around to dodge a hidden projectile, and threw a powerful palm strike toward the window. Screams erupted outside.

When he was pressed down onto the soft couch, Xu Xing still hadn’t realized what was coming. He kept waiting for more assassins to burst through the door. They never did.

Instead, he felt his belt being unfastened. He struggled, pushing against He Sitao’s chest.

“Young Master, outside…” There are killers!

He Sitao blocked his words with another kiss. “It’s fine.”

Xu Xing realized for the first time that He Sitao was surprisingly… lustful. If he sleeps with me, will he kill me afterward to keep it a secret? If I die now, can I go back to the modern world?

Amidst the chaotic thoughts, Xu Xing eventually stopped struggling. Whatever. I like men anyway. As they say, “To die under a peony flower is to be a romantic ghost.” Sleeping with He Sitao isn’t a bad deal.

Feeling the person in his arms soften, He Sitao’s expression flickered through various emotions before finally committing to the act.

“Ah!”

Xu Xing gasped at the sudden, forceful movement. “Young Master…!!”

“Call me Sect Leader (Men Zhu).” He Sitao bit his ear, demanding the change. That was what Xu Xing had called him in their past life.

“Sect Leader… gentler…”

The sheer clumsiness of He Sitao—acting like a complete virgin—made Xu Xing instantly regret his “not a bad deal” thought. With this lack of technique, it was hard to say who was getting the short end of the stick.

It was a restless night. The commotion outside didn’t affect the heat inside. He Sitao’s men efficiently handled the corpses, bribed the witnesses and the brothel owner, and even stationed two guards at the door.

“The Sect Leader really likes this flavor, huh?” Song Jie whispered, gesturing toward the room.

Liang Heng, the taller guard, glared at him. “Gossiping about the Sect Leader. Go back and take twenty lashes.”

The next morning, the door opened. He Sitao walked out in the same clothes as yesterday. He glanced at the guards.

“Your name is Song Jie?”

Song Jie trembled. “Yes.”

He Sitao looked at Liang Heng, who understood immediately. Liang Heng stepped forward, subdued Song Jie in a few moves, and dragged him away.

“Sect Leader! I was wrong! Please!” Song Jie’s pleas went unanswered.

“Sect Leader,” Liang Heng returned shortly, his hem stained with fresh blood. “Everything has been handled. The assassins, and Song Jie.”

“Mhm. Arrange a carriage. Make sure the cushions are thick.”

Inside, Xu Xing opened his eyes and tried to sit up, only to let out a cry of pain.

Damn! Is my waist broken?!

He Sitao walked back in. “You’re awake?” He sat on the bed and began massaging Xu Xing’s waist.

Xu Xing, being ticklish, slapped his hand away. “Don’t…”

The air froze. Xu Xing stared at his own hand in horror. I just slapped He Sitao? He looked up cautiously, but the man didn’t seem angry at all.

I guess having a “pillow talk” connection changes things, Xu Xing thought. He suddenly felt bold. “I’m thirsty.”

He Sitao gave him a cryptic look, making Xu Xing’s heart race, but the man actually got up and poured him a cup of water.

“Drink.”

As Xu Xing drank, his dry lips turned a vivid, plump red. He Sitao watched him, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“Thank you, Sect Leader,” Xu Xing said, handing back the cup.

Instead of taking the cup, He Sitao grabbed his wrist. The cup fell and rolled across the floor. As he was kissed again, Xu Xing panicked. Is he serious? Again?! Is he possessed by a lecherous ghost?

He grabbed He Sitao’s wandering hand. “Sect Leader, it still hurts!”

He Sitao frowned. “Should I call a doctor?”

“No! Just let me rest!” Xu Xing cried out in shame.

He Sitao finally let go. “Pack your things. You’re coming back to the sect with me.”

“Why?” Xu Xing blurted out. “I don’t know how to do anything.” In his last life, He Sitao had always said the sect “didn’t keep idle people.”

He Sitao narrowed his eyes. “Do you want to stay here and keep seeing customers?”

Xu Xing knew that look. If he said yes, the brothel would be ashes by noon. “Of course not!”

He Sitao leaned down and pecked the corner of his mouth. “Then hurry up and pack.”

Xu Xing had a sudden epiphany. The reason He Sitao was acting so differently from the previous life wasn’t destiny—it was because he’d finally tasted “meat” and couldn’t get enough!