Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 16

The whole night in the woods passed without incident. No Xichou pursuers showed up, and no wild beasts wandered into their campsite.

In the middle of the night, Huo Fenghua turned over a few times in his sleep. Half-awake, he snuggled up against Su Zeyang’s leg, burying his face beside it and sleeping soundly.

At dawn, Feng Tianzong was the first to wake. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Huo Fenghua with one arm wrapped around Su Zeyang’s leg. Irritation flared in him. He lifted his foot and kicked Huo Fenghua in the shoulder, sending him sliding forward across the grass. He almost got kicked into the pile of charcoal, already extinguished but still warm.

Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua both startled awake.

Feng Tianzong had already flipped up to his feet. As he strode outward, he barked, “Prepare to move.”

Huo Fenghua was frightened, and his shoulder also began to throb fiercely. Back then he and Su Zeyang had been injured at the same time. Both injuries were serious. He usually guarded his left shoulder carefully and didn’t move it much, so he could still get around. It was different from Su Zeyang’s leg injury.

But now, with Feng Tianzong’s kick, it felt like the old wound had been jolted. Pain washed over him so hard his face turned ashen, and he let out a low groan.

Su Zeyang rose and crouched in front of him. Seeing him clutch his left shoulder, he asked, “Did you aggravate the old injury?”

Huo Fenghua nodded, face pale. Putting on a show of toughness, he said, “It’s nothing. Senior Brother, pull me up.”

Su Zeyang reached out and helped him stand.

Huo Fenghua turned his head. Feng Tianzong wasn’t close to them. He was discussing their route with his men. Huo Fenghua lowered his voice and said to Su Zeyang, “Senior Brother, about what happened that day… Are you mad at me?”

Su Zeyang lowered his gaze. His long lashes trembled slightly. “Don’t bring up what happened that day again.”

Seeing Su Zeyang trying to draw a line between them, Huo Fenghua panicked. “Senior Brother, I meant it. That day I just couldn’t help myself—”

Su Zeyang suddenly swung his sword horizontally, blocking between them and cutting him off. His tone dropped slightly colder. “I said, you’re not allowed to mention it again.”

Huo Fenghua saw how resolute he was and could only shut his mouth, letting out an aggrieved sigh.

Feng Tianzong’s personal guards removed the traps around the camp and erased all traces of the fire and their bivouac. Then the group mounted up and continued on their way.

Today, Su Zeyang and Feng Tianzong each rode their own horse. Huo Fenghua’s hands were loosely tied with rope, and he still rode together with Peng Po in front of him.

Both men and horses had rested a night. At daybreak they urged the horses hard. After more than an hour of fast riding, they left the woods behind and entered a barren stretch of sandy wilderness. The warhorses began to tire, and they slowed to a steady pace for a while.

Su Zeyang rode side by side with Feng Tianzong. Suddenly Feng Tianzong spoke. “What ‘thing’ was it that day?”

Su Zeyang froze briefly and immediately understood that Feng Tianzong had overheard his conversation with Huo Fenghua. All morning Feng Tianzong had seemed anxious to hurry onward and hadn’t said a word. So he’d been holding it in until now.

Su Zeyang held the reins, eyes forward. “Nothing.”

Feng Tianzong turned to look at him. “Zeyang, we’ve known each other for years. We’ve even been married. Do you think I don’t know you well enough?”

Su Zeyang’s brows tightened slightly, and his lips pressed together without him meaning to.

The more he refused to speak, the more resentment piled up in Feng Tianzong’s chest. He suddenly called out, “Peng Po!”

Peng Po rode forward at once. “General?”

Feng Tianzong hadn’t called him because he needed him. He only drew Peng Po closer, then suddenly snapped his long whip up, lashing toward Huo Fenghua in front of Peng Po.

Huo Fenghua had been sitting obediently on the horse when disaster fell out of nowhere. He thought Feng Tianzong was about to whip him. Terrified, he leaned backward.

But the whip didn’t land on him. The tip hooked deftly around the rope tied at his wrist. With a hard yank, Feng Tianzong dragged him right off the horse’s back.

“Tianzong!” Su Zeyang seemed to know what he intended and cried out under his breath.

Feng Tianzong clamped his legs to his horse’s belly and surged forward at a gallop. Huo Fenghua had already fallen from the horse, and with the whip jerking him along, his body skidded over the ground. The whole area was yellow sand and wasteland, all grit and dust. In panic Huo Fenghua opened his mouth to scream, only for sand to blast straight into it. He had to clamp his mouth shut, making only muffled, frantic sounds.

Seeing Feng Tianzong dragging Huo Fenghua across the ground, Su Zeyang immediately spurred his horse up alongside him and shouted, “Stop!”

Feng Tianzong’s expression was cold and dark, and he didn’t answer.

Su Zeyang had no choice but to clamp his legs tight and lean over to snatch the Fulong Whip from Feng Tianzong’s hand. Feng Tianzong, of course, refused to yield. He slapped Su Zeyang’s hand away and shoved him back onto his own saddle.

The two exchanged several moves on horseback. Su Zeyang failed to seize the whip. When he turned his head and saw how miserable Huo Fenghua looked being dragged along the ground, he didn’t dare waste another moment. He leapt from his horse, landing beside Huo Fenghua. With one hand he seized the whip’s tail, and with the other he scooped Huo Fenghua up from the ground.

Huo Fenghua whimpered miserably, “Senior Brother…”

Su Zeyang didn’t have time to respond. The whip still dragged them forward several steps until Feng Tianzong finally reined in his horse and, with a sharp motion, hurled the whip down onto the ground.

Feng Tianzong sat on his horse and turned back, expressionless, watching Su Zeyang hold Huo Fenghua in his arms. His men also halted their horses at a distance behind them. No one dared step forward now.

Huo Fenghua was truly terrified. He’d almost thought Feng Tianzong would drag him to death. Now, pressed against Su Zeyang’s chest, he trembled and clutched Su Zeyang’s sleeve, calling over and over, “Senior Brother… Senior Brother…”

Su Zeyang murmured, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

Huo Fenghua’s clothes had been rubbed through by sand and stone, and several bloody scrapes marked his jaw. Fortunately, he’d kept his head lifted and hadn’t damaged that fair, handsome face. He buried his face against Su Zeyang’s neck, breathing in the faint scent of sandalwood on him. Only after a long while did he gradually calm down.

Feng Tianzong’s back was ramrod straight, his voice low and chilling. “He calls you Senior Brother?”

Su Zeyang lifted his head to look at him. “He’s my master’s final disciple.”

Feng Tianzong gave a cold laugh. “Gu Guangji took him as a disciple? Has he truly gone mad?”

Su Zeyang said, “Then go ask my master.” He was somewhat angry now, and his tone couldn’t help turning cold and resentful.

Feng Tianzong stared at him blankly. “Zeyang, you’re going to treat me like this?”

Su Zeyang lowered his gaze and took a deep breath before he said, “Huo Fenghua was married to you by imperial decree. He officially entered your Feng household. If you lose your head and torture him to death, how will you explain it to His Majesty when we return to the capital?”

Feng Tianzong suddenly roared hoarsely, “I, Feng Tianzong, don’t need to explain myself to anyone!”

Su Zeyang asked, “And your elder brother?”

Even if Feng Tianzong could ignore his own consequences, Feng Tiansheng still held office at court. With internal and external forces squeezing the Feng family, they were already walking on thin ice. How could they hand others such a huge handle against them?

Feng Tianzong went slightly still, his eyes cold and empty as they fell on Huo Fenghua.

At this moment, his deputy Peng Po stepped forward on horseback, coming to Feng Tianzong’s side and urging softly, “General, we need to keep moving. We can make other plans once we return to camp.”

Su Zeyang called, “Tianzong—” His voice softened. He let Huo Fenghua stand on his own, untangled the Fulong Whip from the rope around Huo Fenghua’s hands, picked up the whip, and walked to Feng Tianzong’s horse. He raised his hand and offered it back.

Feng Tianzong looked at him for a while. Then he bent down, took the whip, and at the same time clasped Su Zeyang’s hand.

Su Zeyang gave his hand a gentle squeeze in return.

After they released each other, Feng Tianzong said, “Move out.”

Peng Po moved to haul Huo Fenghua back onto his horse, but Su Zeyang spoke up. “No need. He’ll ride with me.”

Peng Po hesitated and looked toward Feng Tianzong.

Feng Tianzong tilted his head slightly back and said loudly, “You all heard it. He isn’t Huo Fengnian. He’s the male concubine in my household, Huo Fenghua. Let him ride on the same horse as my wife, and we’ll hurry on.”

All the guards answered, “Yes!”

Su Zeyang helped Huo Fenghua up onto his saddle, then mounted behind him.

Huo Fenghua was weak and exhausted, leaning back against Su Zeyang’s chest. When he turned his head and saw Feng Tianzong watching him coldly, fear surged in him. He awkwardly shifted and lay forward on the horse’s back, panting faintly as he thought, Damn Feng Tianzong. One day I’ll run off with your wife. I’ll slap two green hats* on your head to pay you back for today!

*It’s slang for getting cuckhold (cheated on by your partner).

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