Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

---

Chapter 19

Huo Fenghua waited the entire night in the tent and still didn’t see Su Zeyang come back. Lying on the couch, he sighed, rolled over limply, and drawled out a long, soft “Senior Brother…” without even knowing who he was calling it for.

In the end he was too exhausted. Even with his eyes closed, he still fell asleep. He slept for a long time. When he woke again, daylight was already bright and outside came waves of hoofbeats and the footsteps of soldiers patrolling the camp.

He got up and saw Su Zeyang still hadn’t returned. He lifted the tent flap and tried to go out.

Two spearheads crossed in front of him. The guards said, “The General has given orders. Young Master is not permitted to leave the tent!”

Huo Fenghua froze. “Why am I not permitted to leave the tent?”

The soldier didn’t argue with him, only said coldly, “The General has given orders. They must not be disobeyed!”

Anger rose in Huo Fenghua’s chest. “Fine. Then I’ll stand right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

The soldier said, “Please return inside the tent, Young Master!”

Huo Fenghua looked at the two of them, but they didn’t look back at him and only bore cold, indifferent faces. Helpless, he retreated one step back into the tent. He stuck only his head out from behind the curtain and said, “The General didn’t say I can’t stick my head out of the tent, did he?”

The two soldiers said nothing.

Huo Fenghua smiled again. “And the General didn’t say I’m not allowed to talk, did he?” Then he raised his voice and shouted, “Senior Brother! Senior Brother! Save me!”

After shouting like that for a while, the curtain of the central command tent not far away lifted, and Su Zeyang walked out. He glanced at Huo Fenghua first, then came over slowly.

Huo Fenghua looked up at him pitifully. “The General won’t let me come out.”

Su Zeyang said coolly, “Let him go.”

The two soldiers knew Su Zeyang’s status was anything but ordinary, and they looked troubled. “But the General has orders…”

Su Zeyang said, “I’ll take responsibility.”

The two soldiers exchanged a look and drew their spears back.

Huo Fenghua hurried out. Seeing Su Zeyang turn to leave, he chased after him and asked softly, “Senior Brother, General Feng isn’t here?”

Su Zeyang headed back into the central tent. “He went to scout.”

Huo Fenghua said, “Does the General still need to scout personally?”

Su Zeyang didn’t answer. He only asked, “Have you eaten breakfast?”

“Not yet.”

Su Zeyang pointed to a small table in the corner. Bowls and plates were set out, along with steamed buns and hot tea. “Go eat something.”

Huo Fenghua really was hungry. He sat at the table, drank a mouthful of hot tea first, then took a big bite out of a bun.

Su Zeyang stood before a sand table and studied the terrain intently.

After eating and drinking his fill, Huo Fenghua went over and looked at the sand table with him. At first glance he saw a mountain range. Between two peaks stood a small sign that read: Luofeng Ridge.

He pointed at it. “So this is Luofeng Ridge?”

A short distance east of Luofeng Ridge sat their current camp.

Su Zeyang said, “This is Luofeng Ridge.” His long fingers indicated Luofeng Ridge, then moved slowly southwest, to the very edge of the sand table where the terrain was unclear. There was only a sign that read: Tiantou Stronghold.

For some reason, Huo Fenghua felt the name was familiar.

Su Zeyang’s slender finger tapped Tiantou Stronghold. “Tiantou Stronghold sits in dense forest on a hillside. It covers a wide area and is easy to defend, hard to attack. The terrain layout is unclear. Xichou’s remnants are very likely camped there.”

Huo Fenghua suddenly remembered that Wen Heyi had mentioned Tiantou Stronghold. He pressed his lips together, stole a look at Su Zeyang, and decided to pretend he knew nothing.

It was true he liked Su Zeyang, and he didn’t want to go back to Xichou and become a prince of a fallen state, but he also didn’t want to help Feng Tianzong attack Xichou. Whether Donglin or Xichou lived or died had nothing to do with him. He had no feelings for either side.

“Senior Brother,” Huo Fenghua said, “you treat the General too well.”

Su Zeyang looked at him.

Huo Fenghua reached out and took his hand. “If you treated me half as well as you treat the General, I’d be satisfied.”

Su Zeyang said evenly, “I don’t treat you well?”

Huo Fenghua held his hand and pulled him to sit on the couch in front. This couch was where Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang had been together the night before. Huo Fenghua squatted by Su Zeyang’s feet and couldn’t help stroking the tiger pelt on the couch, only to find the fur was coarse and prickly. It only felt right if you stroked it in the right direction.

He couldn’t help asking, “Senior Brother, did the fur prick your ass?” The image from last night flashed through his mind, and his face heated in spite of himself.

Su Zeyang looked at him coldly and didn’t answer.

Huo Fenghua glanced up, unable to read his mood. He changed the subject. “Senior Brother, can I leave this place?”

Su Zeyang asked, “You want to go?”

Huo Fenghua sat down by his feet and pressed his face against Su Zeyang’s leg. “What else? Stay here and watch you two be intimate?”

Su Zeyang lifted a hand and lightly wound a strand of Huo Fenghua’s hair around his finger. “You can’t go. You’re coming back to Yujing with me.”

“And then what?” Huo Fenghua couldn’t help getting worked up. “Be locked in that side courtyard in the General’s Manor for the rest of my life? You never even come to see me!”

Su Zeyang answered slowly, “I’ll come see you.”

Huo Fenghua said, “That still won’t do! Unless you move in with me. We’ll be together day and night, just the two of us!”

Su Zeyang’s fingers stopped moving.

Huo Fenghua knew perfectly well Su Zeyang would never agree, and he’d never truly expected to live with him like that, but seeing Su Zeyang’s reaction still made him feel a little sad. He fell silent, tilting his head to rest on Su Zeyang’s knee.

Su Zeyang’s fingers were cool as they brushed lightly over Huo Fenghua’s cheek.

After a moment of silence, Huo Fenghua asked, “Other than going back to the General’s Manor, do I have any other choice?”

Su Zeyang said softly, “Not for now.”

Huo Fenghua sighed inwardly. He’d expected that, and he knew he couldn’t blame Su Zeyang. Still, he felt bitterly melancholy. He stared ahead, lost in thought, thinking that since Su Zeyang wouldn’t let him go, he’d have to slip away on his own. Going back to the General’s Manor wasn’t impossible. At least slipping away from Su Zeyang would be easier than slipping away from Feng Tianzong. He’d behave for a few more days and see how Feng Tianzong planned to arrange things.

But then Su Zeyang said, “Maybe later there can be. I’ll always find a way. I won’t trap you there for a lifetime.”

Huo Fenghua froze. He lifted his head to look at Su Zeyang and saw Su Zeyang looking back at him. His emotions churned. He turned to face Su Zeyang, knelt upright, straightened his back, and caught a lock of Su Zeyang’s long hair, tugging just enough to make him bend down. Then he pressed his lips to Su Zeyang’s and kissed him.

Unfortunately, before the kiss could deepen, hoofbeats sounded outside the tent, coming fast from far away, then stopping abruptly at the entrance.

Huo Fenghua hurriedly shoved Su Zeyang backward. Feng Tianzong lifted the curtain and strode in. Huo Fenghua went with the motion, putting both hands on Su Zeyang’s leg as if he were massaging it, cold sweat soaking his forehead.

Feng Tianzong marched in, and seeing Huo Fenghua, demanded, “Who let him out?”

“I did,” Su Zeyang answered.

Feng Tianzong shot him a hard look but didn’t flare up.

Su Zeyang stood and guided Feng Tianzong to sit on the couch.

Huo Fenghua tried to stand too, but Feng Tianzong said, “Did I tell you to get up?” So Huo Fenghua obediently stayed kneeling, feeling the heat of Feng Tianzong’s body mixed with the chill of his armor wash over him.

Su Zeyang reached out to help Feng Tianzong remove his armor. One of Feng Tianzong’s long legs stretched out in front of Huo Fenghua. Huo Fenghua glanced at it and reached out to knead it.

Feng Tianzong said, “We found two Xichou men to guide us to Tiantou Stronghold.”

His voice sounded a little rough. Su Zeyang turned to pour him a cup of tea and brought it to his lips.

Feng Tianzong looked at the cup, then suddenly said, “Feed me.” As he spoke, he wrapped an arm around Su Zeyang’s waist and pulled him down onto his thigh.

Huo Fenghua was kneading Feng Tianzong’s leg and nearly got his hands crushed. He quickly pulled them back, hesitated, then continued kneading Feng Tianzong’s calf.

Feng Tianzong had already been with Su Zeyang for half the night, yet now it seemed his interest had risen again. He made Su Zeyang hold the tea in his mouth, then kissed him and drew the water over, all while sliding one hand under Su Zeyang’s robe hem to knead his waist.

Huo Fenghua heard Su Zeyang let out a soft hum. Rage and resentment flared. Without realizing it, his hands tightened.

Feng Tianzong suddenly released Su Zeyang and lowered his head, barking, “What are you doing?”

Huo Fenghua snapped back to himself and realized he’d kneaded all the way down onto Feng Tianzong’s instep. He paused, then said, “The General’s tired from riding. I’m helping massage your feet.”

Feng Tianzong didn’t respond to him. He only said to Su Zeyang, “Tomorrow at dawn we’ll break camp. I’ll send men to escort you back to Yujing. You’ll leave tomorrow morning as well.”

---

<<< || Table of Contents || >>>