Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 6
Someone in the room lit a lamp.
Huo Fenghua saw Su Zeyang standing by the bed, dressed in a light-colored inner robe with a plain white long gown draped over it. Meanwhile, beneath Huo Fenghua’s soaked clothes were two bare, pale long legs, his garments wrinkled into a miserable mess. Embarrassed beyond belief, he hurriedly crawled off Su Zeyang’s bed.
Su Zeyang glanced at Huo Fenghua, then turned to Gu Guangji. “Master, it’s so late. What do you want with your disciple?”
Huo Fenghua had just reached the edge of the bed when his movements stiffened. He lifted his head to look at Su Zeyang. No wonder, he thought. How could Gu Guangji have a disciple inside the General’s Manor? So it was Su Zeyang!
Gu Guangji smiled and beckoned at Huo Fenghua. “Come, you. Get over here.”
Huo Fenghua walked over slowly. He heard Gu Guangji say to Su Zeyang, “This is the new disciple I took tonight. My closed-door disciple1. Your junior brother2.”
1The last disciple the master is willing to take on.
2[Shidi] (师弟) It’s a term usually used to refer to a younger or lower rank male who is your junior with whom you share the same master/teacher or sect with.
Su Zeyang’s expression remained indifferent, but the look he gave Huo Fenghua turned more complicated. He asked Gu Guangji, “Master, do you know who he is?”
“Who is he?” Gu Guangji grinned as he patted Huo Fenghua on the shoulder. “I picked him up right here in your General’s Manor. Saw that he was quick-witted and had unusual aptitude, so I conveniently took another disciple. Besides, a while back I went to have my fortune told, and the master said I should have two disciples in this lifetime!”
Su Zeyang shook his head. “He’s Feng Tianzong’s male concubine.”
“Male concubine? Hahah—” Gu Guangji laughed halfway, then abruptly drew back his smile. “Huh? You mean the hostage prince from Xichou, the male concubine that brat Feng was forced by the Emperor to marry into the household?”
Su Zeyang answered, “Yes.”
Huo Fenghua had been standing quietly to the side listening, when he suddenly caught the words “hostage from Xichou.” In an instant he realized his original identity might not be so simple after all. No wonder Qingqing always clammed up whenever she mentioned his background.
Gu Guangji looked troubled. “Oh my, I casually took in a disciple. Doesn’t that mean I’ve wronged you?”
Su Zeyang said, “How have you wronged me?”
Gu Guangji pinched Huo Fenghua’s shoulder. “This brat is competing with you for your husband. You ought to hate him. He’s your enemy. If I take him as your junior brother, isn’t that wronging you?”
Su Zeyang’s gaze fell on Huo Fenghua’s face. After a moment he said flatly, “I don’t hate him, and I don’t care.”
Huo Fenghua felt it was the truth. He’d never sensed hatred from Su Zeyang, and he didn’t think Su Zeyang cared about his status. Maybe Feng Tianzong truly didn’t like him at all, so Su Zeyang felt no threat.
Gu Guangji stepped closer and examined Su Zeyang’s expression. “Really?”
Su Zeyang nodded calmly.
Gu Guangji patted his own chest and smiled. “Good. If my good disciple doesn’t mind, then Master doesn’t need to worry. Come on, little disciple, pay respects to your senior brother.”
Huo Fenghua thought the situation was awkward and asked Gu Guangji in a low voice, “Master, is this appropriate?”
Gu Guangji lifted his chin. “Why wouldn’t it be? From now on, the General’s wife is your senior brother. Who in this General’s Manor would dare mess with you?”
Gu Guangji said it with such swagger that Huo Fenghua suddenly realized he was right. He should acknowledge Su Zeyang as his senior brother and not give him the chance to deny it. He hurriedly clasped his hands together and bowed. “Senior Brother Su.”
Su Zeyang looked at him coldly.
Huo Fenghua was used to Su Zeyang’s coldness and didn’t mind. He only said, “From now on, I’ll have to ask Senior Brother to look after this junior. In a high gatehouse like this, don’t let others bully your junior.”
Gu Guangji slapped Huo Fenghua hard on the back and praised loudly, “Well said!”
Huo Fenghua’s back flared with pain from the slap, but he managed to keep standing and smiled at him. “Thank you for the compliment, Master.”
Su Zeyang’s brows furrowed slightly. He asked Gu Guangji, “Master, what exactly did you come to the General’s Manor for tonight?”
Seeing it was late and he’d caused enough chaos, Gu Guangji finally sobered his expression and said, “I really did come tonight for something important.”
Su Zeyang waited quietly for him to continue.
Gu Guangji rummaged around in his robes for a long time before pulling out a black iron token. He gripped it in five fingers, extended his arm, and said to Su Zeyang, “Do you know what this is?”
Su Zeyang looked at it. “The sect leader’s token.”
Gu Guangji nodded and said in a deep voice, “Disciple Su Zeyang of the sixth generation of the Xianyuan Sect, heed my command!”
Su Zeyang lifted his robe and knelt.
Gu Guangji continued, “Today, Gu Guangji, fourth sect leader of the Xianyuan Sect, passes the position of sect leader to my disciple Su Zeyang. You must remember the teachings of our sect: punish evil and uphold good, eliminate demons and defend the righteous path, and carry our sect forward!”
Huo Fenghua, standing off to the side, was stunned. He hadn’t expected that Gu Guangji had snuck into the General’s Manor at night to pass the position of sect leader to Su Zeyang. A sour discomfort rose in his chest.
Gu Guangji finished, “Receive the token.”
Su Zeyang lifted his eyes to the token but didn’t reach out.
Gu Guangji gave a puzzled grunt and said again, “Receive the token.”
This time Su Zeyang shook his head and said slowly, “This disciple cannot accept the position of sect leader.”
“Why?” Not just Gu Guangji, even Huo Fenghua watching the drama found it strange.
Su Zeyang said softly, “This disciple has already married Feng Tianzong as his wife. Traveling the martial world and upholding righteousness is something I now have the will but not the ability to do. I cannot, in good conscience, say I can strengthen the sect. And with my status as a male wife, if I became sect leader, I fear I would bring shame upon the sect.”
Gu Guangji froze, then sighed. “You brat! Why are you so rigid?”
Su Zeyang said, “I’m sorry, Master. I will not be sect leader. Please take back the token.”
Gu Guangji suddenly panicked. “If you won’t do it, who else can I find?”
Su Zeyang lowered his head slightly and didn’t speak.
Gu Guangji reached for his arm, actually trying to force the token into his hands. “No. I’m seventy this year. The other day I decided I’m going traveling. I probably don’t have many days left. I have to pass the sect leader position to someone I can trust. Take it, quickly.”
Su Zeyang clenched his hand into a fist and refused to accept the token.
Huo Fenghua watched them shove and refuse for a long time before he finally couldn’t hold it in. He dropped to his knees and said to Gu Guangji, “Master, this disciple is willing to accept the position of sect leader and shoulder the duties of the sect leader.”
Su Zeyang immediately looked at him. Gu Guangji also froze, then stared at him for a long while before saying, “You’ve only just entered our sect. Isn’t that… not appropriate?”
Huo Fenghua said, “How long one has been in the sect doesn’t matter. What matters is whether a person’s heart is trustworthy. Senior Brother has no intention of being sect leader. Even if Master forces it on him, it’s meaningless. Better to let this disciple take the position. In the future I’ll diligently train in the sect’s martial arts, punish evil and uphold good, eliminate villains and defend the righteous path, become a great hero of my generation, and bring glory to the Xianyuan Sect!”
Gu Guangji sank into thought.
Su Zeyang stood up, brushed the dust off his knees, and looked at Huo Fenghua again.
Huo Fenghua noticed his pale thighs had accidentally been exposed again. He hurriedly yanked his robe down to cover himself properly, then looked at Su Zeyang. In the candlelight, Su Zeyang’s cheeks were smooth and luminous, his thin lips pink. Mischief suddenly rose in Huo Fenghua and he blew a kiss at Su Zeyang
Su Zeyang had never seen a flying kiss. From Huo Fenghua’s frivolous look he knew it wasn’t anything decent, and his brows immediately knit.
Gu Guangji hadn’t noticed the silent flirting between them. He thought it over and finally slapped his palm, saying to Huo Fenghua, “Fine. Since you’re so responsible, the position of sect leader will be passed to you!”
Huo Fenghua was delighted beyond belief. He bent down and kowtowed once to Gu Guangji. “Thank you, Master.”
Gu Guangji handed him the token, his face beaming as he helped him up. “Since you’re now the sect leader of the Xianyuan Sect, I have a few things to tell you.”
Huo Fenghua hurriedly said, “Please instruct me, Master.”
Gu Guangji stroked his gray-white beard. “Our Xianyuan Sect has a total of four people.”
Huo Fenghua immediately said, “Master, wait. What did you say?”
Gu Guangji said, “I said our sect has four people. Today, three are here. The other is my junior brother, Wen Heyi. He was clever from childhood and highly skilled, but after he went down the mountain as an adult, he vanished without a trace. Before my master—your grandmaster—died, he told me I must bring him back. From now on, that matter is yours.”
Huo Fenghua looked dumbfounded.
Gu Guangji continued, “Our sect is weak and thin now, the gates are quiet. In the future you must take more disciples and expand the sect, understand?”
Huo Fenghua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Master, you haven’t even taught me any martial arts—”
“Oh right!” Only then did Gu Guangji remember. He pulled a manual out of his robes. “This is our sect’s internal cultivation manual. Start training from now on. If you don’t understand something, you can ask your senior brother.”
His senior brother looked at them indifferently, as if he had no intention of teaching him how to cultivate at all.
Clutching the manual, Huo Fenghua said to Gu Guangji, “Master, you’re being way too irresponsible!”
“Aiya.” Gu Guangji scrunched up his face. “Master’s old. I’m going off to travel the world. Who knows, maybe I’ll go and never come back. I had to find someone to shoulder the sect leader burden, otherwise I wouldn’t even be able to die in peace. Hold onto that token. Don’t forget what you promised me today. If you dare do evil in the future, I’ll personally come back and clean house!”
With that, Gu Guangji actually turned and started walking out.
Huo Fenghua grabbed his arm in shock. “Master, you’re leaving just like that?”
Gu Guangji clasped his fingers and pried them off. “Right, don’t forget to find your martial uncle.” As he spoke, his body swayed, then he rose lightly into the air and vanished from the courtyard.
Huo Fenghua stared after him, dumbfounded. He kept looking at the empty courtyard for a long time, then turned back to Su Zeyang and said, “You knew all along, didn’t you? That’s why you wouldn’t take the sect leader position. You set me up on purpose, didn’t you?”
Su Zeyang didn’t want to bother with him. “Go back. I’m going to sleep.”
Huo Fenghua held the sect leader token and the cultivation manual in his hands, feeling an inexplicable sense of frustration. He turned in place, walked over to Su Zeyang’s bed, and sat down along the edge.
“No. Since I’m the sect leader now, you have to follow my orders.”
Su Zeyang looked at him without speaking.
Huo Fenghua had fallen into water and been out in the wind all night. Now he was so angry his throat hurt. He said, “Senior Brother, go pour me a cup of hot tea.”
Su Zeyang walked slowly to the bedside and looked at him for a moment. Then he suddenly reached out, grabbed Huo Fenghua by the shoulder, and flung him out the door.
“Out!”
Huo Fenghua was tossed out of the room and landed in the courtyard. When he looked up, he saw Su Zeyang raise a hand and shut the door with a sweep.
Furious, Huo Fenghua slapped the ground. Only after a long while did he finally haul himself back up.
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