Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 79

After breakfast, Huo Fenghua hurried out again. He went to see Xiong’er to continue dealing with the mess Shenlong Docks had left behind, and he also had people search the whole city for Bao Jinshu. To those sent to hunt him down, he said, “Spread the word: if he doesn’t show himself, I’ll kill his mother.”

Of course he wouldn’t really kill her, Huo Fenghua told himself. It was just to scare the boy, force him to come out on his own. That would be best.

He stayed busy all day. By the time Huo Fenghua got home, it was already evening.

He rubbed his shoulder tiredly. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Wen Heyi squatting on the ground catching crickets. Huo Fenghua walked over and kicked him in the butt.

Wen Heyi pitched forward into the grass, bracing himself with his hands. He hurriedly turned his head. When he saw it was Huo Fenghua, he covered his backside with a wronged look and called, “Dad.”

Huo Fenghua said, “You’re filthy from head to toe. I work myself to death every day just to raise you, and all you do is play at home!”

Wen Heyi lowered his head and didn’t speak.

Huo Fenghua flicked his hand dismissively and continued into the inner courtyard.

When he returned, Su Zeyang had already come back as well and was waiting to eat with him.

The three of them sat down at the table. As Su Zeyang ladled rice into their bowls, he said, “Dong Jun says he saw Shao Feijie at the Xichou border.”

Dong Jun was one of Feng Tianzong’s shadow guards. Back at the General’s Manor, Huo Fenghua had often heard that name.

Huo Fenghua took the bowl from Su Zeyang, staring in shock. “Shao Feijie?”

Su Zeyang said, “He was alone and looked down on his luck. I’m guessing he fell out with the remnants of Xichou’s forces, or there was mutiny among his men and he escaped on his own.”

Huo Fenghua grabbed his chopsticks and tapped them into alignment on the tabletop. He bit the tip of one and said, “If that’s true… could Martial Uncle losing his mind have something to do with mutiny under Shao Feijie?”

Su Zeyang didn’t answer. He looked at Feng Tianzong instead.

Feng Tianzong nodded. “Maybe.” His expression had turned heavy.

Huo Fenghua tilted his head at him. “What’s wrong?”

Feng Tianzong looked at Huo Fenghua, then at Su Zeyang. He said to Su Zeyang, “You stay here and help Fenghua.”

Su Zeyang’s brow lifted. “Why?”

Feng Tianzong said, “I want to go find Shao Feijie. No matter why he left the remnant army and ended up wandering alone, I want to get evidence from him—proof that the Wang family colluded with Xichou to frame me.”

Huo Fenghua poked at the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks. “You don’t even plan to go back and be a general anymore. Why care?”

Feng Tianzong shook his head. “I can’t spend my whole life hiding like a fugitive, becoming your burden. And my elder brother’s family is still in Yujing.”

Huo Fenghua froze, then asked, “How is the Left Prime Minister?”

Su Zeyang replied, “Under house arrest in the Prime Minister’s Manor. No one is allowed in or out.”

Feng Tianzong said, “Fenghua just took back Shenlong Docks and can’t leave. And he’s short on people he can truly trust. Zeyang, it’s best if you stay and help him. I’ll take Dong Jun and the others to find Shao Feijie. Once it’s handled, I’ll come back.”

Su Zeyang looked at Feng Tianzong, then glanced at Huo Fenghua. He neither agreed nor refused.

Huo Fenghua set his bowl down. His fingers clenched his chopsticks so tightly it was like he might snap them in half. Finally he raised his head and said, “Senior Brother and I are going with you.”

Feng Tianzong smiled, reached out, and patted Huo Fenghua’s head lightly. “You haven’t fully secured your footing here yet. If you leave now, will Shenlong Docks rise again? Will Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian seize power? Even if Xiongda and Xiong’er are loyal to you, do they have enough ability to stabilize things? It’s all uncertain. You can’t go.”

Huo Fenghua had already thought it through. “Everything I have here, I fought for with bare hands. If I leave for a few months and everything changes, then I’ll just find a way to take back the share that belongs to me. Besides, by then I’ll have you and Senior Brother to help me. Forget a little Wuhetan. If I wanted all of Donglin, it might not even be impossible.”

He grinned smugly.

Feng Tianzong couldn’t help laughing. “That really might be impossible.”

Huo Fenghua pointed his chopsticks at him. “You’re not sincere. You had the guts to help Donglin wipe out Xichou, but you don’t have the ability to help me wipe out Donglin?”

Su Zeyang said then, “You want to wipe out Donglin?”

Huo Fenghua shook his head. “No need. I don’t want to be emperor. I can’t handle a harem of three thousand. Two beauties, one on each arm, is plenty.”

After dinner, Feng Tianzong sat by the oil lamp reading secret letters brought back by the shadow guards, the ones Su Zeyang had retrieved.

Huo Fenghua tugged Su Zeyang’s sleeve. “Senior Brother, play a game with me.”

Su Zeyang asked curiously, “What game?”

Huo Fenghua pointed at himself. “I’ll play the foolish tyrant.” Then he pointed at Su Zeyang. “You play my beloved consort. In a bit I’ll cover my eyes and you’ll play hide-and-seek with me.”

Su Zeyang said, “What’s fun about that?”

Huo Fenghua grabbed his hand. “You don’t understand. When I was little and watched dramas, this was my favorite scene. The beloved consort has to wear less, half-covered, half-revealed. While running away, you still have to keep drifting back toward me. And once I catch you, I can touch and caress wherever I want.”

As he spoke, he pulled off Su Zeyang’s outer robe, tugged his inner collar open a bit too, exposing his chest.

Su Zeyang let him do it. Then he helped tie a silk scarf over Huo Fenghua’s eyes, knotting it behind his head.

Huo Fenghua rubbed his hands together and laughed. “Beauty, I’m coming. Where are you?”

Su Zeyang stood still, not moving, not speaking. Even his breathing went so light it was hard to hear.

Huo Fenghua couldn’t tell where he was and grumbled, “That’s not how you play. You’re supposed to say, ‘I’m here, Your Majesty, come catch me!’”

“Your Majesty?” Feng Tianzong repeated as he read the letter, completely unable to understand where Huo Fenghua got these strange ideas.

Huo Fenghua immediately lunged at Feng Tianzong, hugged him, and sniffed at his neck. “Nope. You’re not the beloved consort. Don’t interrupt our game.”

Feng Tianzong grabbed him, hauled him onto his lap, and smacked his butt hard several times.

Huo Fenghua cried out and almost at the same moment, urgent knocking sounded outside. Ruan Qin’s voice came through the door. “Master Su, a man named Luo Shicheng says he wants to see you. He’s waiting at the main gate right now.”

Huo Fenghua sprang off Feng Tianzong’s lap, yanked the blindfold scarf away, and hurried to open the door. He asked Ruan Qin, “Luo Shicheng? How many of them?”

Ruan Qin’s expression was grave. “Five or six. I didn’t dare let them in. They’re all waiting outside.”

Huo Fenghua’s voice went low. “Why would he come this late? Did he catch wind of something? Did someone leak the news?”

Ruan Qin shook her head slowly. “It won’t be anyone from our household.”

Huo Fenghua drew a deep breath. He turned back toward the room. Su Zeyang had already pulled his clothes back into place, and Feng Tianzong had stood up from the table. Huo Fenghua could only say to Ruan Qin, “Take them somewhere and hide them first.”

Ruan Qin said, “There’s a cellar under the residence.”

Huo Fenghua nodded. “Go. I’ll go meet Luo Shicheng.”

On the walk from the inner courtyard to the front, a dozen thoughts raced through Huo Fenghua’s head.

If Luo Shicheng had heard rumors and insisted on searching his residence for Feng Tianzong, what would he do? Refusing to let them search would make him look guilty, but what if they found Feng Tianzong if he let them search? Would he kill them all?

But there were still so many Donglin troops waiting on the far bank. If they called for reinforcements and surrounded Wuhetan, then Feng Tianzong really wouldn’t be able to get out.

Huo Fenghua reached the front courtyard and had the gatekeeper open the main doors. Sure enough, under the lanterns on the walkway outside, Luo Shicheng stood holding the reins of a horse. Four or five Donglin soldiers followed behind him.

“Deputy General Luo,” Huo Fenghua cupped his hands. “What wind blew you here this late?”

Luo Shicheng smiled, passed the rope to a subordinate, and returned the greeting. “Master Su, apologies for the intrusion. Would it be convenient to invite us inside for a cup of tea?”

Huo Fenghua looked hesitant, glancing at the men behind Luo Shicheng.

At that moment, the young man closest to Luo Shicheng barked loudly, “Why waste words? Make him open the gate. We’re going in to search!”

Huo Fenghua looked at him. Luo Shicheng also turned and scolded, “Don’t be rash!”

But the young man snorted, lifting his chin and puffing out his chest with an air of authority. “Su Qiang, someone made a secret report to Deputy General Luo. They said a few days ago you brought back a poisoned young man from outside and even hired a doctor to detox him and treat his wounds. Is that man Feng Tianzong?”

Huo Fenghua frowned slightly. He didn’t answer. Instead he asked Luo Shicheng, “Who is this, Deputy General Luo?”

Luo Shicheng chuckled. “This is Wu Sheng of the Left Guard of the Imperial Guards. He used to be with the imperial escort force tasked with transporting Feng Tianzong back to the capital. Now he’s joined my unit in pursuing Feng Tianzong.”

Wu Sheng’s official rank was actually lower than Luo Shicheng’s, but he came from the Imperial Guards in Yujing and had backing from Deputy Commander Pan Yuanjun and the Wang family. He looked down on Luo Shicheng. Ever since joining this pursuit, he’d acted domineering and independent, and Luo Shicheng had no choice but to give him some leeway.

Huo Fenghua looked at Wu Sheng. “Who made the report?”

Wu Sheng said coldly, “What, does it matter who reported it? Hiding a court fugitive is a capital crime!”

Huo Fenghua’s face went stern. He said to Luo Shicheng in a low voice, “Deputy General Luo, have you forgotten? I was the one who invited you into the city to search for Feng Tianzong.”

Luo Shicheng still wore that lazy smile. “Of course I remember, of course. Master Su, don’t be anxious. Since someone reported it, we can’t just ignore it. I believe you absolutely aren’t hiding anyone, but you also need to make things convenient for us.”

Huo Fenghua asked, “Convenient how?”

Luo Shicheng looked past him at the two bronze doors standing open behind Huo Fenghua. “We’ll have to search.”

Huo Fenghua said, “And if I don’t allow it?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Wu Sheng drew his blade. Steel flashed.

Wu Sheng said, “Then you’ve confirmed you’re harboring a court fugitive and by law, you deserve death!”

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 78

Huo Fenghua slept so hard it was like the world had gone dark. When he finally woke, he had no idea what time it was. He lifted a hand to rub his eyes, then stretched his arms and gave a long yawn.

Feng Tianzong was bent over him, face close, asking, “Awake?”

Huo Fenghua came back to himself, lifted an arm around Feng Tianzong’s neck, and kissed him on the lips. “Where’s Senior Brother?”

Feng Tianzong laughed. “You’re in my bed, and you’re asking about your Senior Brother?”

Huo Fenghua looked at him. “Strictly speaking, this is my bed. I can want whoever I want.”

Feng Tianzong caught his lower lip between his teeth and gave it a gentle bite. “Don’t want me?”

Huo Fenghua decided instantly. “I want you.”

They clung to each other and kissed deeply, tongues tangling, filling the space between them with slick, intimate sounds. Huo Fenghua had slept his fill and was brimming with energy. Restless, he slid a leg between Feng Tianzong’s and rubbed against him.

Feng Tianzong pulled open his collar. His kisses, wet and warm, traveled down from Huo Fenghua’s throat. His tongue circled the hard peak at Huo Fenghua’s chest.

Huo Fenghua tangled his fingers in Feng Tianzong’s hair and let out a low moan.

Huo Fenghua proactively reached out and unbuttoned Feng Tianzong’s pants, burying his head and taking his hard, throbbing cock into his mouth.

Feng Tianzong propped himself up on the bed with his hands, lowering his head to watch Huo Fenghua’s actions. The wet, soft heat made him gasp softly. The poison in his body had only recently been cleared, and he hadn’t released himself for a long time, making his body exceptionally sensitive. 

Huo Fenghua used the tip of his tongue to lap at the slit, then licked down along the shaft, thoroughly covering the entire length with his spit before withdrawing to pull down his own pants. Kneeling in front of Feng Tianzong with his legs still spread, he grabbed Feng Tianzong’s cock and slowly lowered himself onto it.

Feng Tianzong’s chest rose and fell rapidly. He stroked Huo Fenghua’s supple waist and pressed his thumb against his nipples.  

Once Huo Fenghua had completely taken his entire cock, he asked, “Do you like it?”

Huo Fenghua tilted his head back and swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Feng Tianzong’s penis was thick and long, reaching deep inside him, giving him a strange sense of satisfaction. He looked down at Feng Tianzong, licked his lips, and said, “I like this position.”

Feng Tianzong thrust upwards, pleased to hear Huo Fenghua moan, and asked, “Why?”

Huo Fenghua hugged his shoulders tightly, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, “It makes me feel like I’m the one paying you for sex.”

“Paying me for sex?” Feng Tianzong squeezed his waist, pressing him down harder, completely burying himself inside Huo Fenghua. “Then you have to pay me good.”

Huo Fenghua trembled slightly from the thrusting, reaching for his undergarments that he had thrown on the bed. After a while, he pulled out a jade pendant, hooking it on his finger and dangling it in front of Feng Tianzong.

Feng Tianzong looked at the jade pendant and smiled softly, “This is what I gave you.”

“Mm—mine is yours,” Huo Fenghua’s words were broken by the thrusting. “Everything here is yours, and I… I’m yours too.”

Feng Tianzong couldn’t help but hold him tighter, increasing the speed of his thrusts. He looked at the jade pendant dangling before his eyes, opened his mouth, and gently bit the edge, then looked up at Huo Fenghua. Huo Fenghua lowered his head and saw this scene, then opened his mouth and took the other side into his mouth, like a different kind of intimate connection of lips and teeth, and bodies intertwined.

The large bed in the room shook violently, the sheets and blankets were crumpled, and the pillows were scattered haphazardly. The jade pendant had fallen onto the blanket, still warm with the body heat of both men.

Feng Tianzong was on the verge of climax, his back muscles tensed, wanting to push Huo Fenghua down onto the bed.

But Huo Fenghua refused to let Feng Tianzong get up, insisting on riding him. He bobbed up and down, squeezing and thrusting on Feng Tiangzong’s thick, long cock while muttering under his breath.

At first, Feng Tianzong couldn’t hear what he was saying. When he leaned in closer and listened carefully, he could hear Huo Fenghua repeatedly muttering, “I’m going to drain you dry!”

Feng Tianzong was both annoyed and amused. He gripped Huo Fenghua’s ass tighter and started to pound into him, repeatedly targeting that most sensitive spot.

Huo Fenghua trembled and began to shake his head, gasping, “No—” He hugged Feng Tianzong’s shoulders tightly, his body tensed and suddenly felt an itch on his back. It turned out that Feng Tianzong was gently scratching the two brand marks on his lower back with his fingers. Thinking of the origin of the brand marks, Huo Fenghua felt even more overwhelmed, his erection throbbed even harder before he came.

At this moment, Feng Tianzong pressed him down onto the bed and lifted his legs. He fully withdrew, then with a sweeping motion, thrusted back in until he was buried to the hilt. He repeated this action rapidly for ten more times with all his strength before spilling inside Hup Fenghua.

After he came down from the climax, Feng Tianzong collapsed onto him, fully spent, while still buried inside Huo Fenghua. Huo Fenghua was covered in sweat and panting heavily. After his head cleared, he asked again, “Where’s Senior Brother?”

Feng Tianzong took a deep breath and said, “He went out.”

Huo Fenghua’s languid eyes suddenly opened wide. He pushed Feng Tianzong aside and tried to get out of bed. Feng Tianzong half-hard cock suddenly slid out of him, causing him to tremble. His legs felt weak as he tried to get up and the cum started to dribble out, flowing down his thighs.

Feng Tianzong lay on his side on the bed and asked him, “Where are you going?”

Huo Fenghua hurriedly searched for his clothes, “The Donglin soldiers are searching the city right now, how can Senior Brother go out at this time?”

Feng Tianzong wasn’t in a hurry, saying, “Don’t worry, without me dragging him down, it’s impossible for him to be discovered if he hides his tracks alone.”

Huo Fenghua asked, “Why does he have to go out now?”

Feng Tianzong propped his head with one hand, his long and solid body exposed before Huo Fenghua. Though his penis had gradually softened, it was still impressively shaped, like a snake lying in the grass. “Because my men have arrived at Wuhetan.”

When he and Su Zeyang escaped from Xichou, they left secret signals for his secret guards along the way, and now his secret guards had found Wuhetan.

Feng Tianzong didn’t want to expose Huo Fenghua’s residence, so he didn’t let the secret guards come in, but instead had Su Zeyang go out to communicate with them.

Huo Fenghua was still a little worried, “At this time, won’t it expose us?” However, he didn’t continue dressing but instead returned to bed naked. Feng Tianzong hugged him, “No, they know their limits. They won’t do anything without my orders.”

Huo Fenghua lay down, staring at the canopy above for a while, and said, “How long have I been asleep?”

Feng Tianzong gently kissed his forehead, “You slept for a day and two nights.”

Huo Fenghua asked, “What time is it now?”

Feng Tianzong said, “Early morning.”

Huo Fenghua touched his stomach, “I’m hungry.” He turned over and got out of bed, this time slowly putting on his clothes, and went out to call someone.

After a while, Ruan Qin brought him a bowl of beef noodles from the kitchen.

Although Feng Tianzong and Huo Fenghua were already dressed, the bed was a mess, and it was obvious what had happened in the room. However, Ruan Qin remained calm, telling Huo Fenghua about some things that Xiong’er had mentioned the previous night, while personally tidying up the bedsheets into a basket and changing them for a new set.

Currently, Wuhetan was still calm and peaceful. The Donglin soldiers didn’t dare to act openly, secretly searching for Feng Tianzong’s whereabouts in Wuhetan. However, as long as they didn’t search this residence, they wouldn’t be able to find him at all.

Those who had guessed Feng Tianzong’s identity, including Wei Kai, had already been instructed not to reveal any information to the Donglin soldiers.

Shenlong Docks had also been completely taken over by them.  Those subordinates who were fiercely loyal to Bao Wentong were either killed or driven out of Wuhetan, and the remaining people were willing to surrender. The only problem was that they still hadn’t found Bao Wentong’s eldest son.

Huo Fenghua, who had been eating his noodles, looked up and asked, “Bao Wentong’s eldest son, is that tall boy who’s already seventeen?”

“Bao Jinshu,” Ruan Qin said while making the bed. 

Huo Fenghua stirred his bowl with his chopsticks. He had seen Bao Jinshu twice, and his impression was of a young man with a cruel and ruthless temperament, just like his father. He couldn’t help but feel worried and asked, “What about Bao Wentong’s wives and concubines?”

Ruan Qin replied, “Xiong’er said they have all been temporarily placed under house arrest.”

Huo Fenghua asked her, “Is Bao Jinshu’s birth mother among them?”

Ruan Qin nodded. “Bao Jinshu is Bao Wentong’s legitimate eldest son, and his mother is Bao Wentong’s wife.”

Huo Fenghua felt a vague unease. “If Bao Jinshu wants to avenge his father, he will definitely cause us trouble. It would be fine if he escaped from Wuhetan, but if he’s still hiding in Wuhetan, we have to find a way to flush him out.”

Ruan Qin asked, “How?”

Huo Fenghua glanced at Feng Tianzong, who frowned slightly, so he said, “Let me think about it some more.”

Ruan Qin left the room, carrying the basket of used bedsheets.

Feng Tianzong saw Huo Fenghua looking at him, “It’s easy to lure him out, but I don’t approve of this method.”

Huo Fenghua slurped a noodle into his mouth, “You know what I’m thinking?”

Feng Tianzong said, “Men fight on the battlefield to protect their wives and children. My soldiers never kill women and children. I certainly don’t approve of threatening Bao Jinshu with his mother’s life.”

Huo Fenghua scratched his cheek. “I didn’t say I was going to kill his mother. Let me think about it some more.”

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 77

That night, Huo Fenghua was dressed in black nightwear as he lay in ambush with a little over a hundred men in a desolate patch of weeds along the Wu River. From there, they could clearly see what was happening at the Wu River ferry crossing. Shenlong Docks had gathered nearly two hundred men at the crossing. Tonight they were going to ferry Donglin troops across the river.

By the riverbank, the ferryboats bobbed and swayed. People moved on and off continuously. Torches blazed all around, lighting up the crossing, and faintly, they could also make out unrest among the Donglin cavalry on the opposite shore.

There were close to five hundred Donglin soldiers in total. Each ferry could carry at most around fifty people at a time, and with warhorses added in, it would probably take more than ten trips tonight to get them all across.

On the broad river, the waves rolled gently. The night air was cold, and the river wind kept sweeping over. After standing for a while, Huo Fenghua felt his hands go icy. He turned around and warmed them by placing both hands on Wen Heyi’s neck.

Wen Heyi immediately shrank and struggled but didn’t dare make a sound. His soft body twisted as he flushed slightly.

Before they set out, Huo Fenghua had warned Wen Heyi that tonight’s operation couldn’t make even the tiniest noise. Wen Heyi’s head was usually muddled, but at critical moments he could still be useful. He was a little afraid of Huo Fenghua, and especially obedient to him.

Huo Fenghua grinned as he watched Wen Heyi squirm, then suddenly noticed Wen Heyi seemed to be chewing something. He pulled his hands back and asked in a low voice, “What’re you eating?”

Wen Heyi clamped his mouth shut.

“Open up. Let me see,” Huo Fenghua said.

Wen Heyi timidly opened his mouth.

By the thin moonlight, Huo Fenghua saw something glittering inside, like candy. He asked softly, “Malt candy?”

Wen Heyi nodded.

Huo Fenghua snapped, “I told you no candy. Spit it out!”

Wen Heyi puffed his cheeks, glaring at him without speaking.

Huo Fenghua rolled up his sleeves and hissed, “Open your mouth!”

Wen Heyi sulked a bit longer, but with Huo Fenghua staring him down, he finally opened up.

“Wider,” Huo Fenghua ordered. Then he stuck a finger into Wen Heyi’s mouth, yanked out the whole sticky chunk of malt candy stuck to his teeth, and tossed it on the ground. The candy was horribly tacky. Huo Fenghua wiped his hand on Wen Heyi’s sleeve, thinking as he did it that this “son” of his was nothing but trouble.

Ji Jing had been standing beside them the whole time, watching silently. Hu Dong had ordered Ji Jing to bring men tonight and follow Huo Fenghua to the riverbank to intercept the ferryboats. He carried his usual twin sabers on his back. All night, aside from monitoring the crossing, he’d been secretly sizing Huo Fenghua up, thinking this “Guangtou Qiang” looked unreliable while also knowing, deep down, that the man was dangerous and not to be underestimated.

Besides Ji Jing, Lan Shuilian had sent people too. It was a young woman named Hua Yuan, bringing along more than twenty tall, sturdy men. Tonight they would all follow Huo Fenghua’s command.

Hua Yuan and Hua Yang were twins. Since childhood they’d followed Lan Shuilian, learning to read and practice martial arts. They were famous in Wuhetan, and also Lan Shuilian’s most troublesome and formidable aides.

As Huo Fenghua wiped his hand on Wen Heyi’s sleeve, Hua Yuan quietly offered a silk handkerchief. Huo Fenghua paused, took it, and smiled. “I’ll return it after I wash it clean, Miss Hua.”

Hua Yuan turned her head away and said softly, “No need.”

Hua Yuan wore tight black clothes. In the moonlight she looked both alluring and graceful, her features clear and lovely. Ji Jing had long been interested in her, and at that moment he felt distinctly displeased. He gave a low cough and said to Huo Fenghua, “The ferry’s moving.”

Huo Fenghua planted one foot on a large rock beside him and looked toward the crossing. Sure enough, the covered ferryboat began to sway forward, moving along the rope stretched across the Wu River toward the far shore.

Upstream, seven or eight men in waterproof suits with ropes tied around their waists slipped beneath the surface and swam soundlessly toward midstream. Their job was to drill the boat once the first batch of Donglin soldiers boarded, when the ferry had left the far shore but hadn’t yet reached the center.

Huo Fenghua held his breath and focused. Only when the ferry reached the far side and the first group of Donglin soldiers had fully boarded did he raise one hand high and hook all five fingers inward, signaling them to move.

The ambushers followed, creeping closer to the crossing.

Huo Fenghua and Wen Heyi were in front. Each held a short blade. They snuck up behind the outer sentries, clamped hands over their mouths, and slit their throats.

The ferry, meanwhile, wobbled away from the far shore. Before it reached the middle of the river, sudden commotion broke out onboard. Someone had discovered water coming in through the bottom. With seven or eight men drilling at once, the water poured in fast. Moments later, the boat was flooded and began to sink, forcing the men aboard to jump into the river to save themselves.

Because the ferry hadn’t reached midstream yet and was much closer to the far shore, the Donglin soldiers who jumped in all swam back toward their own side.

The Shenlong Docks men at the crossing had no idea what was happening when a shout rang out, “Ambush!”

Huo Fenghua’s group stopped hiding and charged the crossing with loud yells. In an instant, they smashed through Shenlong Docks’s men, scattering them in every direction with no chance to fight back.

Huo Fenghua pulled a signal firework from his robe, lit the fuse, and launched it. It burst in midair, bright enough that all of Wuhetan could see it clearly.

At the same time, Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian had led their people to surround Shenlong Docks. Hu Dong accepted Bao Wentong’s severed head from a subordinate, then tossed it into Shenlong Docks’s inner courtyard over the wall and shouted, “Resist and die!”

After Third Master Luo’s power changed hands overnight, Wuhetan’s strongest force, Shenlong Docks, was also wiped out in a single night by the combined effort of Huo Fenghua, Hu Dong, and Lan Shuilian.

At the Wu River crossing, corpses lay everywhere. Those Shenlong Docks men who threw down their weapons and surrendered were now squatting on the ground, penned into a corner, forbidden to stand.

Huo Fenghua stood by the riverbank, gathered his inner energy, and shouted across the water, “Which general is leading troops on the far side? General, be at ease. This is an internal dispute within Wuhetan. It has nothing to do with Donglin. If you wish to enter the city to search for someone, send a messenger over and we’ll discuss terms!”

This stretch of the Wu River was nearly three hundred zhang wide. On the far shore, people were only faint silhouettes, yet Huo Fenghua’s voice carried over clearly.

A moment later, Huo Fenghua saw someone on the opposite bank raise a torch and wave it in a regular pattern.

He couldn’t read the signal, so he asked casually, “What’d they say?”

Wen Heyi suddenly said, “It means they’re willing to negotiate.”

Huo Fenghua’s heart jumped. He stared at Wen Heyi in shock, but Wen Heyi still looked blank and dazed. When he saw Huo Fenghua looking at him, he called out ingratiatingly, “Dad!”

Only then did Huo Fenghua relax a little. He figured it was something in Wen Heyi’s buried memory that slipped out, without him understanding it. He said to his men, “Send a small ferry over. Bring two people here for detailed talks.”

Not until before dawn did Huo Fenghua finally meet the commander leading the Donglin pursuers on the riverbank.

This was a garrison force stationed on Xichou’s northern border after Feng Tianzong had destroyed Xichou despite being ill. Their commander was a deputy general, nearly forty years old, named Luo Shicheng.

After meeting Luo Shicheng, Huo Fenghua realized this man wasn’t particularly passionate about capturing Feng Tianzong. Maybe from years steeped in camps and battlefields, his personality was slick and lazy. It had been him who’d sent men into the city to contact Bao Wentong and offer terms to get Bao Wentong to agree.

They met on a small ferryboat moored at the crossing. Huo Fenghua had people bring wine and dishes onboard, saying he wanted to share a cup of morning wine with Deputy General Luo.

Luo Shicheng lounged as he sat down, unfastened his shoulder armor and helmet, lifted the cup to his nose and sniffed. “Good wine.” Then he set it down again. “I don’t care about your Wuhetan affairs, but we must enter the city to search for Feng Tianzong. If not, I’ll have no choice but to send for reinforcements and fight our way in.”

Huo Fenghua smiled at him. “Deputy General Luo, rest assured. Isn’t that exactly why I’m inviting you into the city?”

Luo Shicheng looked at him.

Huo Fenghua said, “Wuhetan isn’t big. Five hundred troops entering the city would cause a stir. To be blunt, I’m just running gambling houses here to make money. I’m not Wuhetan’s master, and I can’t control all the people here. I’m only afraid that you won’t find Feng Tianzong and you’ll end up provoking other trouble.”

“So what are you proposing?” Luo Shicheng asked.

Huo Fenghua raised one hand, five fingers spread. “Fifty. Fifty men enter the city, and you can search however you want, but don’t disrupt Wuhetan’s order. If you bare your fangs and offend someone you shouldn’t, I can’t help you.”

Luo Shicheng stared at the cup, seemingly weighing it.

Huo Fenghua asked, “Deputy General Luo has definite intel that Feng Tianzong is in Wuhetan?”

Luo Shicheng replied, “Not exactly. Only that someone noticed they headed north. We have to search Wuhetan once, that’s all.”

Huo Fenghua smiled. “Then it’s perfect. I make things convenient for you, you make things convenient for me. After you’ve searched Wuhetan, you can go back and report. I keep making money here. We stay out of each other’s way. How about it?”

Luo Shicheng sized Huo Fenghua up, then finally lifted his cup.

Huo Fenghua clinked his cup against his. “Come, I’ll toast you.”

Luo Shicheng recalled the two men he’d previously sent in secret to contact Bao Wentong. Then he personally selected fifty men and entered the city to search for Feng Tianzong.

Huo Fenghua, together with Hu Dong, hosted Luo Shicheng’s squad, providing food and lodging to facilitate their search in Wuhetan, while also placing them under tight surveillance.

Afterward, Huo Fenghua met again with Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian at Shenlong Docks. They sat down and divided up Shenlong Docks’s territory. Huo Fenghua didn’t want to monopolize the Wu River route. He only wanted to open the waterway, so his next step could be building large ships and sending Bu Xian Xian to the Donglin coast, luring wealthy merchants onboard to indulge themselves.

But Shenlong Docks had been a massive organization. Even with the head cut off, the body was still tied together by tendons. Huo Fenghua had to stay outside, grinding through arrangements with Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian until everything was settled and nothing could go wrong. Only then did he hand off the current matters to Xiong’er to watch and return home to rest.

By then, two full days and nights had passed. During that time, Huo Fenghua barely slept.

He reached his bedroom door and was about to push it open when Su Zeyang happened to open it from inside, stepping out.

“Senior Brother…” Huo Fenghua drew the words out, then dove headfirst into Su Zeyang’s arms. He wrapped his arms around Su Zeyang’s waist and fell asleep on the spot.

Su Zeyang froze for a moment, then lifted him into his arms, carried him inside, and laid him gently on the bed.

---

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 76

Before dawn the next morning, Huo Fenghua was jolted awake by knocking outside the door.

Ruan Qin stood outside and said, “Master Su, someone from Master Hu’s side is here. He says there’s something important he needs to tell you in person.”

Huo Fenghua flipped out of bed at once. He didn’t bother washing his face or combing his hair. He shoved his feet into his boots, threw on an outer robe, and headed out. “Have him wait for me in the guest room.”

Hu Dong had indeed sent someone in a rush that early, because there was urgent news. Hu Dong had long planted his own men in Shenlong Docks. They’d learned that late last night, Shenlong Docks secretly let two Donglin soldiers into the city to meet Bao Wentong. No one knew what benefit they’d promised him, but Bao Wentong had agreed to let the Donglin troops cross the Wu River tonight and enter Wuhetan to search for Feng Tianzong.

“That son of a bitch Thermos!” Huo Fenghua slammed a hand on the table. He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment, then told the messenger to take a message back to Hu Dong, asking Master Hu to meet at noon. After that, he also sent someone to invite Lan Shuilian.

After seeing the visitor off and returning to his room, Huo Fenghua shut the door and let out a roar, like he was venting frustration. Then he went to the cabinet, opened it, and rummaged until he pulled out a cowhide map.

He carried the map to the table and said to Feng Tianzong, who was seated there, “Move.” Then he spread the map out across the tabletop.

Both Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang were already up. Feng Tianzong sat at the table while Su Zeyang helped tie up his hair. Feng Tianzong shifted aside to look at the map Huo Fenghua had laid out. It showed the entire terrain of Wuhetan.

Huo Fenghua stared at it, frowning as he thought. After a moment, his finger traced the winding Wu River outside the city walls, and he asked Feng Tianzong, “If I want to launch a sneak attack tonight while Shenlong Docks is ferrying the Donglin troops across, and seize control of the Wu River from Shenlong Docks, how should I do it?”

Feng Tianzong tapped the map lightly with long fingers. “This is the ferry crossing. Then this should be where the Donglin troops are encamped?”

Huo Fenghua nodded.

Feng Tianzong continued, “Besides the crossing, which other stretches of the Wu River does Shenlong Docks have men stationed at?”

Huo Fenghua pointed to three spots in succession. “Here is the dock where cargo gets unloaded from the river route. And here, and here too. The terrain and current are gentler there, so Shenlong Docks’s afraid people will try to sneak across. They posted guards.”

Feng Tianzong asked, “Do you have enough manpower?”

Huo Fenghua knit his brows. “If you add my people to Hu Dong’s and Lan Shuilian’s, three groups together should be enough to take the river. But to take the Wu River, we also have to pin Shenlong Docks down at the same time, so Bao Wentong has no chance to shift men around. We’ll probably need to discuss carefully how to deploy everyone.”

Feng Tianzong thought for a moment. “Will there be any loading or unloading at night at the docks?”

“Usually not,” Huo Fenghua said. “They’re afraid they won’t be able to count the goods properly in the dark.”

“Then you don’t need to worry about those three points,” Feng Tianzong said. “The main thing is the crossing.”

Huo Fenghua nodded. “I think striking while the Donglin troops are crossing is the best time, but I’m also worried. If our trouble with Shenlong Docks spills over to the Donglin soldiers and blows this up, and Donglin sends reinforcements, Wuhetan really won’t be able to hold.”

Feng Tianzong fell silent for a moment, then asked, “Do you have men who are strong swimmers?”

Huo Fenghua looked at him.

Feng Tianzong pointed at the crossing. “Have them slip underwater and drill holes in the boats while the Donglin troops are crossing. When everything on the water turns chaotic, seize the shore. Don’t draw blades against the Donglin troops. Just replace Shenlong Docks and negotiate with them directly.”

Huo Fenghua scratched at his chin. “Negotiate?”

Feng Tianzong said, “First, make them explain who the two men who infiltrated last night were. Then agree to let a small number of troops into the city to search. The point is that everything stays under your control.”

Huo Fenghua nodded slowly. He turned and patted Feng Tianzong on the shoulder. “That makes sense. It’s workable. I’ll have Xiongda and Xiong’er gather people right now. We’ll move tonight.”

He spun to run out, but Su Zeyang grabbed his wrist. “Wait.”

Huo Fenghua turned back, looped an arm around Su Zeyang, and kissed him once. “Be good, Senior Brother. Just wait here.”

Su Zeyang didn’t let go. He only said, “You’re going out like that?”

Huo Fenghua’s gaze swept the bronze mirror on the cabinet. Realizing his hair was loose and his appearance was a mess, he hurried to sit at the table and tugged Su Zeyang closer. “Senior Brother, comb my hair first, quick.”

Huo Fenghua went out to arrange for Xiongda and Xiong’er to gather manpower. At noon he also found time to meet Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian. He’d meant to agree on a two-pronged plan tonight, he would lead people to the Wu River crossing to stop the Donglin troops from coming over, while Hu Dong led men to surround Shenlong Docks. But Lan Shuilian brought him a new piece of information: tonight, Bao Wentong would likely not be at Shenlong Docks. He was going to Xueyue Tower to meet his old flame, Miss Qingru.

Seated at the table, Huo Fenghua’s fingers tapped the tabletop again and again. He thought for a moment, then said to Lan Shuilian, “That’s good news, Sister Lian. Don’t change your plan to attack Shenlong Docks. I have someone who can kill Bao Wentong alone, clean and fast.”

Hu Dong looked at him curiously. “Who? Your silly ‘son’? I’m afraid he’s too dumb to be reliable.”

Huo Fenghua raised an index finger and wagged it. “My son, of course, is coming with me. I’m talking about someone else.”

Hu Dong stood, clasped his hands at his chest, and paced behind Huo Fenghua. “Guangtou Qiang, tell me the truth. Is Feng Tianzong hiding in Wuhetan?”

Huo Fenghua looked genuinely surprised. “Uncle, why would you ask that? How would I know where Feng Tianzong is?”

Hu Dong stared at him. “Then why are you trying so hard to stop the Donglin troops from entering the city?”

Huo Fenghua crossed one leg over the other, smiling as he said, “Uncle, don’t be stupid. Let me ask you. What terms do you think the Donglin troops offered Bao Wentong that made him agree to let them in?”

Lan Shuilian had always liked Huo Fenghua. She laughed and asked, “So what do you think the terms were?”

Huo Fenghua patted his chest. “If I were Bao Wentong, I’d only consider agreeing if the Donglin troops told me that once they entered the city, they wouldn’t touch my power base, and they’d even help me wipe out all the other forces in Wuhetan and fold them under my command. Then Donglin became Shenlong Docks’s backing in the future. Only then would I think about it.”

Hu Dong’s expression tightened.

Huo Fenghua bounced his crossed leg. “So the key isn’t whether the Donglin troops enter the city. The key is not letting Bao Wentong be the one who brings them in. Once we take the crossing, we immediately renegotiate with the Donglin troops. We still let them enter, but this time the terms are set by us.”

Lan Shuilian ran a hand through the long hair at her chest and said nothing.

Hu Dong still seemed hesitant. He stepped behind Huo Fenghua and set a hand on his shoulder. “But if you take the Wu River, then Wuhetan will be yours to call the shots.”

Huo Fenghua knew what Hu Dong was worried about. He quickly said, “That’s not fair, Uncle. Tonight our manpower is being mixed and split up anyway. At the crossing, a third of the men will be yours. I’m just the one giving orders. What are you worried about? Besides, Shenlong Docks is still in your hands. Bao Wentong’s been raking in money for years. I want you to cut me in, too.”

Hu Dong didn’t respond.

Huo Fenghua stood. “There’s no end to the money in the world. A million taels or ten million taels, it doesn’t make much difference to me. I couldn’t spend it all in a lifetime of eating, drinking, and having fun. What I want is what comes next, our ‘Bu Xian Xian’ future. We should look farther ahead. Don’t be short-sighted, clinging to one river like Bao Wentong, becoming someone else’s stumbling block and thorn in the eye.”

Lan Shuilian laughed out loud. “Fine. Your sister believes you.”

Hu Dong pinched Huo Fenghua’s shoulder, voice low. “Since you’ve already called me Uncle, then like you said, I’ll trust you as family. Don’t let me down.”

Huo Fenghua raised one hand. “I, Guangtou Qiang, swear to heaven I won’t betray my uncle and Sister Lian. If I do, may lightning strike me and may I die a miserable death.”

After saying that, he blinked innocently.

After night fell, Bao Wentong went to Xueyue House to see Miss Qingru.

Miss Qingru was the top courtesan there. Bao Wentong had fallen for her at first sight and was mad about her. He’d always wanted to buy out her contract and bring her back to Shenlong Docks as a concubine, but she’d never agreed. She seemed to prefer staying at Xueyue House, continuing to entertain with her body.

When Bao Wentong came, Qingru wouldn’t receive any other clients. The two of them stayed in an upstairs room with the door shut. Bao Wentong drank wine and ate dishes while listening to Miss Qingru sing for him.

The private room had no windows, only a bed and a table. Before entering, Bao Wentong would have people inspect it to make sure there was no ambush. The food and wine would also be tasted by the brothel’s attendant first, to confirm there was no poison.

After that, Bao Wentong would get intimate with Qingru inside, while two guards stood watch at the door, both first-rate fighters in the gang.

Miss Qingru’s slender fingers plucked the strings, her voice soft and sweet. Bao Wentong took a sip of wine and closed his eyes, listening to her clear singing woven with the zither. For a moment, even the viciousness on his face eased.

Just then, the string snapped abruptly between Miss Qingru’s fingers with a harsh, grating sound. Miss Qingru cried out softly and hurriedly clutched her finger.

Bao Wentong opened his eyes. “You hurt yourself?”

“It’s nothing,” Miss Qingru said.

Bao Wentong beckoned. “Come here.”

Miss Qingru went to him and sat down. Bao Wentong took her hand and examined it. Seeing a bead of blood, he put her finger into his mouth and licked the blood clean.

Miss Qingru smiled faintly. “It’s a pity that song isn’t finished. I’ll ask the new luthier the house just hired to replace the string.”

Bao Wentong frowned slightly. “No need.”

Qingru held his hand. “Don’t worry, Boss Bao. That craftsman is blind. He can’t see and can’t do anything except repair instruments.”

“Blind?” Bao Wentong seemed to think of something amusing. He tugged Qingru into his arms. “Then call him in. Let him fix it.”

Qingru rose, went to the door, and opened it to call someone.

A moment later, the door opened again. The guard outside said, “Boss, the man to repair the zither is here.”

Bao Wentong said, “Let him in.”

As the words left his mouth, a white boot stepped over the threshold. Bao Wentong couldn’t help lifting his head to look.

The person entering was a young man in a white long robe. He was tall and slender, his steps light and unhurried. Long black hair fell loose down his back, with two strands at his forehead hanging all the way to his chest. A strip of white cloth was wrapped across his face, covering his eyes precisely. But the forehead, the bridge of his nose, and his chin left uncovered were smooth and pale, delicate and striking. His jawline was fine and clean, leading down to a long, snow-white neck, even the Adam’s apple elegant and pleasing.

After the young man entered, the door was shut.

Bao Wentong had never been fond of men, yet he couldn’t stop his gaze from lingering on that face.

Qingru stepped forward and called, “Master Huo.”

The young man nodded and cupped his hands toward the direction of her voice.

Qingru took his arm and guided him to the low couch where the zither rested. The young man knelt on a cushion beside it, and his pale, slender fingers brushed over the strings.

Bao Wentong kept watching him. When he saw the young man’s hands, he swallowed, the sound unusually loud in the quiet room. Then he said, “Take the cloth off your face.”

He was curious what kind of eyes a person this beautiful might have.

The young man seemed to pause. He lifted his head toward Bao Wentong’s direction. After hesitating, he shook his head.

Qingru looked at Bao Wentong and tried to dissuade him. “Master Huo is blind. Boss Bao, it’s better not to look.”

But Bao Wentong’s curiosity had been hooked until it itched. He was convinced that beneath that face there had to be a pair of seductive, captivating eyes. Blind or not, he wanted to see. He stood, strode up, and roughly pinched the young man’s chin to force his head up, then yanked the white cloth away.

In that instant, Bao Wentong saw a pair of eyes shining with watery brilliance. They held no light of focus, yet the pupils were dark and clear, like they could reflect a person’s heart.

He froze slightly. The hand gripping the young man’s chin tightened.

Then, in the very next moment, he saw something even brighter than those eyes, a flash of silver. A sword plunged straight into his chest. He didn’t even see where the blade came from, or how it had entered his body.

He only saw the young man’s eyes slowly gather their sharpness, and with a cold, indifferent glance, the young man drew his sword back out of him.

---

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

---

Chapter 75

Su Zeyang traveled day and night for several days, finally catching up with the imperial envoy and the imperial guards escorting Feng Tianzong back to Yujing in Xichou territory.

The group consisted of nearly a hundred people, tightly guarding Feng Tianzong’s prisoner cart as they traveled along the narrow mountain path. They had been rushing to get away from Feng Tianzong’s army, but for some reason, they slowed down as they approached the Xichou border.

Su Zeyang was alone, maintaining a distance from the escorting army, not daring to get too close. He could only see from a distance, from a high vantage point, that Feng Tianzong was trapped in the prisoner cart, his head bowed, looking unwell.

Su Zeyang remained calm and waited until nightfall.

That night, the escorting army camped in a valley. They divided into teams of five, taking turns on guard duty, while the others lay down and rested.

Su Zeyang moved soundlessly through the forest, like a sleek hunting leopard, closing in little by little on the valley where they’d made camp. Once he was close enough, he finally saw clearly by the firelight: Feng Tianzong sat in the prison cart with heavy shackles on both wrists and ankles. The cage was low, forcing him to hunch his back. Only his head was outside the bars. His hair was disheveled, his face drawn and haggard. He leaned crookedly against the wooden frame, eyes shut, impossible to tell whether he was asleep or unconscious.

Su Zeyang gripped his Qinghong sword. The last time he had seen Feng Tianzong was on the morning of the fire at Huo Fenghua’s side courtyard. After that, because he was angry with Feng Tianzong, he refused to see him until Feng Tianzong left Yujing and returned to Xichou.

He never imagined that the next time he saw Feng Tianzong, he would be in such a weak and dying state. Su Zeyang carefully observed the guards in the valley. The wooden cage holding Feng Tianzong was thick and sturdy; he knew he couldn’t cut it open with his sword without harming Feng Tianzong. Even if he could instantly kill the five guards, he wouldn’t be able to open the cage and take Feng Tianzong away without alerting others.

He slowly exhaled. After seeing Feng Tianzong in this state today, he had already decided that he would act tonight. If necessary, he would kill everyone here. He couldn’t leave Feng Tianzong here any longer; he was afraid that if he missed this opportunity today and they entered the city tomorrow, he wouldn’t have such a good chance to strike again.

Su Zeyang looked up at the sky. It was still early. He sat down and waited quietly. He planned to strike at the fifth watch of the night, when people were sleeping most soundly and the guards were most tired.

As the fifth watch was about to pass, Su Zeyang stood up and gripped the sword hanging at his waist.

The five guards on duty had been on watch for nearly an hour, and in a moment they would be relieved by the next shift. It was the darkest moment before dawn, and soon it would be daylight. The night had been uneventful, and these men were about to complete their guard duty, so they seemed somewhat relaxed. One of them was even dozing off leaning against the wheel of the prisoner’s cart.

Su Zeyang moved like the wind, swiftly pouncing on the outermost guard, covering his mouth and slitting his throat with a single sword stroke, then gently laying him down on the ground. He didn’t dare to relax for a moment, immediately thrusting his long sword into the chest of the next man, killing him with a single thrust before he could make a sound.

He killed four men in quick succession, but unfortunately, the fifth man discovered him. Before Su Zeyang could kill him with a sword thrust, the man let out a terrified scream, instantly waking the other guards. Su Zeyang was well-prepared. He had followed this group of people all day and knew that the leader was a young officer, clad in armor and wearing a helmet.  The officer was now sleeping by a campfire in a corner of the valley. He was startled awake by the commotion and hastily reached for his sword to stand up.

Su Zeyang had already stepped over the crowd and landed beside him, grabbing him and placing his long sword against his neck, shouting, “Open the lock!”

The guards, just waking from their sleep, didn’t know what was happening. They only saw that their commanding officer had a sword at his throat, so they all gripped their weapons defensively, but no one dared to rush forward.

Su Zeyang dragged the young officer to the prisoner cart.

The young officer said, “How dare you! This man is a criminal wanted by the imperial court! You dare to hijack a prisoner!”

Su Zeyang didn’t listen to him, and with a flash of his sword, he drew a bloody line across the officer’s neck. “Give me the keys.”

The young officer instantly panicked. He endured the pain in his throat and took out a bunch of keys from his chest pocket, handing them to Su Zeyang, hoping to ambush him while he was unlocking the cart.

But Su Zeyang didn’t reach out to take them, only saying to him, “Open the lock!”

The young officer had no choice but to open the prisoner cart, and under Su Zeyang’s coercion, he also unlocked the shackles on Feng Tianzong’s hands and feet.

Feng Tianzong silently slumped down.

Su Zeyang grabbed the young officer and jumped onto the prisoner cart. Suddenly, he slashed his sword, cutting the young officer’s throat. This single strike only cut the officer’s windpipe but didn’t sever his carotid artery. Then, he forcefully struck the horse pulling the prisoner cart and pushed the young officer to the ground. 

Blood poured from the captain’s neck in a horrific sight, yet he didn’t die outright. He writhed on the ground as his men clustered around him. He couldn’t speak, only pointed frantically at the prison cart already racing down the mountain road, signaling them to pursue.

Meanwhile, Su Zeyang had already leaped onto a horse and galloped away, ignoring the shouts of the pursuers behind him, running at full speed.

Ahead, the mountain path forked into two paths, one going up and the other down. Su Zeyang rode his horse down the mountain path, but then he returned to the prison cart, picked up the unconscious Feng Tianzong, and jumped off the cart, heading towards the mountain path going uphill.

After that, he dared not travel on the mountain path anymore, but instead traveled through the forest, tying the unconscious Feng Tianzong to his back with a cloth belt, and continued forward without stopping.

He didn’t continue heading east, as Feng Tianzong would surely be wanted by Donglin, and he couldn’t return to Donglin now, so he chose to continue heading north.

Feng Tianzong remained unconscious until noon the next day, slowly waking up on Su Zeyang’s back. When he opened his eyes, he was initially a little dazed, then he smelled the familiar scent of the person in front of him. He slowly raised his arm, which was weakly hanging by his side, and touched Su Zeyang’s neck.

Su Zeyang, who had been traveling continuously, finally stopped. He didn’t speak, but stood still, quietly listening to the sounds behind him. Hearing no footsteps of pursuers, he carried Feng Tianzong to a hidden cave and laid him down to rest.

Feng Tianzong leaned against the cave wall, watching him without blinking.

Su Zeyang silently tore off a clean sleeve from his inner garment, wet it in the mountain spring water at the cave entrance, and returned to Feng Tianzong’s side to wipe his face. Feng Tianzong’s face was pale, and the areas wiped with the wet cloth didn’t even turn red. He spoke with difficulty, “Are you not angry anymore?”

Su Zeyang didn’t answer but simply used the wet cloth he had used to wipe Feng Tianzong’s face to wipe his own face and neck.

Feng Tianzong said, “You must be tired. Come and rest for a while.”

Upon hearing this, Su Zeyang turned and lay down in Feng Tianzong’s arms, resting his head on his lap. After a while, he turned over and looked up at him. Feng Tianzong was also looking down at him. Neither of them spoke, but simply gazed at each other silently, then their hands slowly clasped together, fingers intertwined.

They didn’t rest in the cave for long before Feng Tianzong fell unconscious again. Su Zeyang carried him on his back and continued on their journey.

This time, he walked until dark before finding a small wooden hut in the mountains where an elderly hermit lived alone. The old man didn’t dare let them into the house but agreed to let them sleep on a pile of straw in the corner of the yard, giving them a dirty blanket and two bowls of thin porridge.

Su Zeyang drank his porridge, but Feng Tianzong remained unconscious. The next morning, Su Zeyang became worried. He knelt on the straw pile, bent down, and gently patted Feng Tianzong’s face, “Tianzhong.”

Feng Tianzong didn’t respond.

Su Zeyang patiently called his name more than ten times before Feng Tianzong showed signs of waking up, slowly opening his eyes.

“Drink some porridge,” Su Zeyang helped him up and brought the warmed porridge to his lips.

Feng Tianzong was probably too weak; he choked on the porridge after only one sip, coughing violently, and the porridge he had drunk spilled from his lips. Su Zeyang set the bowl aside and carefully wiped the porridge from the corners of his mouth with his fingers. Then he borrowed a spoon from the old man and slowly fed him, spoonful by spoonful.

By the time Feng Tianzong finished the bowl of porridge, he was breathless. Su Zeyang helped him lean against his chest and said, “They poisoned you.”

Feng Tianzong hummed in agreement. “They wanted to kill me before we reached Donglin.”

Su Zeyang brushed the hair from his face, “I’ll take you to a doctor, but we can’t go into the city, so we probably won’t be able to find a very good doctor.”

Feng Tianzong only said one word. “Okay.” 

He didn’t ask Su Zeyang where they were going, nor did he ask Su Zeyang to leave him behind. They had been together for so long that many things didn’t need to be said; they already understood each other perfectly.

Even if they fought before, in the face of life and death, it was no longer worth mentioning.

Su Zeyang carried Feng Tianzong on his back again, and this time they traveled for a whole day. Along the way, Su Zeyang ate a roasted sweet potato and broke another one into pieces, mixing it with water to feed Feng Tianzong.

This time they found a small mountain village, but they didn’t enter the village until evening.

Su Zeyang inquired among the villagers and learned that there was an old man in the village who knew a little about medicine and could prescribe some remedies. So he carried Feng Tianzong to see him.

The old man took Feng Tianzong’s pulse and said that his pulse was relatively stable, but he couldn’t help him detoxify. He could only prescribe some nourishing medicine to remove toxins and replenish his energy. He brewed the medicine in his own small courtyard and gave Feng Tianzong two doses.

Su Zeyang didn’t dare to stay there for long. The next morning, after Feng Tianzong finished his medicine, he took another dose of medicine with him and left with Feng Tianzong. They continued their journey through the mountains and forests until evening, when they found a clean and secluded cave to rest in. 

Su Zeyang couldn’t brew the medicine, so he could only take out the herbs, chew them in his mouth, and then feed them to Feng Tianzong, telling him to swallow them.

Whether the medicine had any effect or not, Feng Tianzong was slightly more conscious today, and his spirits were better by evening.

When he swallowed the last herb, he gently held Su Zeyang’s tongue, preventing him from leaving.

Even though his strength was failing, Feng Tianzong gently and tenderly kissed Su Zeyang’s lips. The bitter taste of the herbs lingered in both of their mouths. Feng Tianzong carefully licked his tongue and teeth, as if to lick away all the bitterness.

Su Zeyang’s breathing became slightly rapid.

When Feng Tianzong pulled away from his lips, he said, “Come here.” He had Su Zeyang lean against him, and with one hand, he reached down to Su Zeyang’s legs, unbuttoned his pants, and reached inside to grasp his semi-hard erection.

Su Zeyang’s cheeks flushed, and he panted softly against Feng Tianzong’s chest.

Feng Tianzong’s fingers lacked strength, but his movements were meticulous. He massaged Su Zeyang’s cock and balls, then squeezed the slit with his fingertips until he felt Su Yang’s shaft pulsate, becoming even thicker, and precum spilled out.

Su Zeyang called his name, tilting his head back to ask for a kiss. When Feng Tianzong lowered his head to kiss him, he wrapped his arms around Feng Tianzong’s neck and pressed his body tightly against him. Feng Tianzong knew Su Zeyang’s body intimately, and he knew that Su Zeyang wouldn’t be satisfied yet. He held Su Zeyang’s throbbing cock and said, “Get up, take off your pants.”

Su Zeyang got up, straddling Feng Tianzong’s legs, kneeling in front of him. He took off his pants and then unbuttoned his shirt. He didn’t dare to sit down, afraid that Feng Tianzong’s current strength wouldn’t be able to bear his weight.

Feng Tianzong continued to gently caress Su Zeyang’s penis with one hand, while the other hand reached behind him. He first inserted one finger into Su Zeyang’s soft hole, then added another, repeatedly pressing into the most sensitive spot inside him.

Su Zeyang was intensely aroused. He hugged Feng Tianzong’s shoulders, his body trembling slightly as he panted continuously.

Feng Tianzong looked up and took one of Su Zeyang’s nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling and sucking on it.

After a long time of this, Su Zeyang finally climaxed in his hands.

For the past few days, Su Zeyang had been carrying him while traveling. Now, after his body was satisfied, he felt incredibly tired. He lay silently in Feng Tianzong’s arms, pressing his face tightly against Feng Tianzong’s lower abdomen. Feng Tianzong stroked his hair and said, “If we continue north, that’s Wuhetan.”

Su Zeyang only responded softly after a moment, “Mm.”

Feng Tianzong said, “Wuhetan is fine. Wuhetan isn’t in the Donglin territory. The forces there are tangled and chaotic. Maybe we can hide for a while.”

Su Zeyang said softly, “Let’s cure the poison first.”

Feng Tianzong understood his meaning. No matter what they did later, they had to find a relatively safe place to cure the poison in his body. So he nodded and said, “Let’s go to Wuhetan.”

Su Zeyang didn’t answer. After a while he looked up and saw Feng Tianzong still watching him, gaze soft and overflowing with affection. He couldn’t help catching Feng Tianzong’s hand and pressing it to his own chest. “You seem better today. You don’t want to sleep?”

Feng Tianzong said, “That medicine is invigorating. It’s rare to be so clear-headed. You sleep for a while. I’ll watch over you.”

Su Zeyang lowered his gaze, “Why do you keep watching me?”

Feng Tianzong smiled slightly, “I want to look at you, for as long as I can.”  

When the medicine wore off tomorrow, he would likely fall back into unconsciousness, leaving all his weight to Su Zeyang again.

Su Zeyang sighed softly. “Then watch for a lifetime.”

---

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

---

Chapter 74

That evening, Huo Fenghua had Ruan Qin arrange a full table of food and wine at the residence.

The reason he called Xiongda, Xiong’er, and Ruan Qin to sit down and eat with Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang was to make one thing clear to his brothers and sisters: Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang were extremely important to him. This matter wasn’t something he would half-handle. He was going to see it through to the end.

Su Zeyang draped a cloak over Feng Tianzong’s shoulders. Feng Tianzong took his hand and asked Huo Fenghua, “You’re going to reveal your identity to them?”

Huo Fenghua was sitting on the threshold, elbows on his knees, both hands propping up his face. He looked a little troubled. “That’s what I’m thinking. Only if I tell them who I am will they understand there’s no turning back. They have to help me all the way.”

Feng Tianzong felt Su Zeyang’s hand was a little cold, so he drew it against his chest through his clothing. Then he continued, “But you’re also afraid that once you tell them, they’ll look down on you?”

Huo Fenghua straightened his back at once. “Who would look down on me? Who’s even qualified to look down on me? I, Huo Fenghua, am a proper man. I’ve got a fortune behind me, I’m supporting two wives, one big and one small. Why would anyone look down on me?”

He finished his passionate speech, only to find Feng Tianzong smiling at him. Realizing Feng Tianzong was teasing him, he turned his head and gave a soft snort, then rested his chin on both hands again and fell silent.

After a while, Wen Heyi came running in from the courtyard, cheerful as ever. Seeing Huo Fenghua sitting on the threshold with his back to him, he pounced onto Huo Fenghua’s back and shouted, “Dad!”

Huo Fenghua wasn’t prepared. He got crushed forward and sprawled on the ground, sucking in a breath before he groaned, “Son, you’re not little anymore. This is patricide.”

Wen Heyi thought he was playing around. He leaned in and kissed Huo Fenghua on the cheek with a crisp “pop.”

Su Zeyang looked displeased and snapped, “Martial Uncle, get up!”

Wen Heyi was a little afraid of him. He climbed off Huo Fenghua’s back, went to the round table, and sat down. He glanced at Huo Fenghua, who still hadn’t gotten up, then sneakily looked at Su Zeyang and Feng Tianzong. He grabbed a piece of flaky candy and quickly stuffed it into his mouth.

By the time Huo Fenghua got up, Ruan Qin had already brought Xiongda and Xiong’er over.

Facing Feng Tianzong, both Xiong brothers had complicated expressions.

To the people of Donglin, Feng Tianzong was genuinely a great hero. Xiong’er held him in awe, but at the same time, he was also a common man who’d clawed his way through mud to survive. National righteousness didn’t always outweigh having a full stomach and staying alive.

As for Xiongda, he didn’t have so many twists in his head. Seeing Feng Tianzong made him visibly excited, and he kept gesturing with his hands.

Huo Fenghua watched and laughed, translating for Feng Tianzong. “My big brother says he’s always admired General Feng. Getting the chance to meet you today is the luck of three lifetimes, and he wants to drink a cup with you.”

Xiongda raised his wine cup.

Feng Tianzong raised his as well and smiled. “Thank you, big brother. Sitting here today, I’m the one who ought to be thanking you.”

He lifted his cup to drink, but Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua both raised a hand at the same time to stop him, one on either side. “You’re not fully recovered.”

Feng Tianzong said, “It’s fine. This cup, I have to drink.”

After he and Xiongda finished, he poured himself another cup and raised it to Xiong’er. “Next, this one is for Brother Xiong’er.”

Xiong’er froze, then reached for his cup and looked at Feng Tianzong.

Feng Tianzong said, “My wife is unruly. These days, he’s caused you no small amount of trouble. Thank you for taking care of him along the way. This cup, I, Feng Tianzong, toast you.”

All at once, Huo Fenghua felt a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and rubbed his fingers along the rim of his porcelain bowl.

Xiong’er didn’t understand. He looked blankly at Huo Fenghua, then turned to Ruan Qin.

Ruan Qin, seated beside him, tilted her head in confusion at first. Then her expression shifted to surprise.

Huo Fenghua sighed and said to the Xiong brothers, “I’m sorry I deceived you. I’m not Su Qiang. My surname is Huo Fenghua. I’m General Feng’s…”

He didn’t like the words “male concubine,” so he only shot Feng Tianzong a glare and stopped there.

But the moment they heard the name “Huo Fenghua,” Xiongda, Xiong’er, and Ruan Qin all reacted at the same time. Their faces were full of shock. The room went quiet, and nobody spoke.

Wen Heyi had no idea what was going on. He only reached for more flaky candy, trying to do it secretly.

After a long moment, Xiong’er was the first to speak. “You’re Huo Fenghua? The Xichou hostage prince, Huo Fenghua?”

Huo Fenghua scowled. “I’ve got so many identities, and you had to pick the one I hate most.”

Xiong’er hurriedly looked him up and down, completely disbelieving. “How is that possible?”

In name, Huo Fenghua was already dead. But his current identity didn’t matter much in Donglin, so news of his death hadn’t spread widely. Still, everyone in Donglin had heard the name Huo Fenghua. Back when the emperor issued an edict ordering Huo Fenghua to marry into the General’s Manor as a concubine, Donglin, Xichou, and the Central Plains had all been in uproar, with endless gossip and debate.

No matter how Xiong’er tried to think it through, he couldn’t have imagined that Su Qiang was Huo Fenghua.

Huo Fenghua stood up and placed a piece of meat into each of their bowls. Then he said, “I treat you as my own people, so I chose not to keep hiding it. But the truth is, Huo Fenghua can be considered dead anyway. From now on, I’m still Su Qiang. We’re going to keep building our lives in Wuhetan. You’re my closest brothers and sisters.”

Xiong’er hesitated. “But if you’re Huo Fenghua, then you and General Feng…”

Feng Tianzong said in a low voice, “Once this is resolved, I won’t return to the battlefield.”

Xiongda gestured anxiously, trying to ask why Feng Tianzong wouldn’t go back to war.

Feng Tianzong’s expression was calm. “To fight for Donglin and bring down Xichou was my goal since childhood. Now that goal has been achieved. If this war has to continue, I’m afraid it would go against what I originally intended.”

Xiong’er immediately understood. Xichou was already destroyed. If Feng Tianzong kept leading troops, who would he fight next? Now the emperor had already ordered him escorted back to the capital, and the imperial guards had poisoned him on the road. At this point, Feng Tianzong truly couldn’t return to Donglin anymore.

Ruan Qin asked softly, “General, are you planning to stay in Wuhetan with Master Su?”

Feng Tianzong answered, “It’s not that I haven’t considered it. But before that, there are things I must do. Otherwise, if I stay in Wuhetan, I’ll always be your trouble. You’ll have to deal with pursuers at any time. Worse still, Donglin could send troops against Wuhetan.”

Xiong’er’s brows knitted tightly.

Seeing his worry, Feng Tianzong tried to reassure him. “Brother Xiong’er can rest easy. Once the poison in my body is fully cleared, Zeyang and I will leave Wuhetan immediately. I only hope the Donglin army still hasn’t realized we were ever here.”

Xiong’er hurriedly said, “That’s not what I meant.”

Feng Tianzong smiled, raised his cup to Ruan Qin, and said, “The last cup, I toast Miss Ruan.”

Ruan Qin paused slightly and stood up. “How could a lowly woman deserve that?”

Feng Tianzong said, “Miss Ruan’s abilities have been obvious to all of us these days. We’ve brought you a great deal of trouble. Thank you.”

He drank the wine in one go, set the cup down, and waved a hand. “Those three cups only. Any more and I wouldn’t dare. Let Zeyang and Fenghua drink in my place.”

The moment his words fell, hurried footsteps sounded outside. They ran all the way to the door, knocked, and called, “Miss Ruan!”

Ruan Qin stood, gave a slight bow, and went to open the door. She stepped out and shut it behind her. After exchanging a few words with the person outside, she pushed the door open again and came in, looking at Huo Fenghua. “Master Su, Donglin’s pursuers have shown up. They’re on the opposite bank of the Wu River right now, and they want the people of Shenlong Docks to ferry them across!”

Huo Fenghua shot to his feet. He glanced at Xiong’er. “Go immediately and contact Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian. I’m going to see Bao Wentong. We have to stop them. We can’t let them enter Wuhetan.”

Earlier, Xiong’er had still been arguing with Huo Fenghua over whether Feng Tianzong should be allowed to stay. But now he understood there was no way out. He nodded quickly, stood up, and headed out.

Huo Fenghua called for Wen Heyi and hurried out as well. After two steps, he turned back to Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang. “You two stay here. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll handle this.”

Feng Tianzong nodded. “Go.”

Huo Fenghua rushed out. By the time he returned to the Boonie Bears residence, it was already deep into the night.

He pushed the door open, exhausted, and saw that Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang still hadn’t gone to sleep. They were clearly waiting for him.

Feng Tianzong sat at the edge of the bed. Su Zeyang leaned against his chest with his eyes closed. Neither of them spoke until Huo Fenghua came in, and Su Zeyang opened his eyes to look at him.

Huo Fenghua took off his outer robe and hung it on the rack, then casually kicked off his boots and climbed onto the bed, dropping headfirst into Feng Tianzong’s arms.

Su Zeyang reached out and lightly stroked his hair. Huo Fenghua caught his hand and pressed it to his own cheek.

Feng Tianzong asked, “How did it go?”

Huo Fenghua sighed. “There are probably more than five hundred Donglin soldiers. They’re all gathered on the opposite bank right now, waiting to cross into the city. Hu Dong, Lan Shuilian, and I tried to persuade Bao Wentong not to let them cross. For now, Bao Wentong hasn’t acted. But I’m worried this won’t hold for long. The Donglin troops don’t look like they’re going to withdraw, and Bao Wentong is under pressure too. He’s afraid that if the standoff drags on, Donglin will send reinforcements and attack Wuhetan.”

Su Zeyang asked softly, “Who is Bao Wentong?”

So Huo Fenghua explained the current situation in Wuhe Tan.

After listening, Su Zeyang said flatly, “Kill Bao Wentong.”

Feng Tianzong couldn’t help laughing. He turned and kissed Su Zeyang on the forehead. “You want to go kill Bao Wentong?”

Su Zeyang gave a quiet “Mm.”

Huo Fenghua rolled over and lay face-down across Feng Tianzong’s legs, looking up as he said, “Killing Bao Wentong isn’t hard. The key is how we take over Shenlong Docks’ power. The worst-case scenario is we kill Bao Wentong on our side, and his people panic on theirs, and that chaos ends up letting the Donglin troops into the city.”

Feng Tianzong asked, “Who’s leading the Donglin forces?”

Huo Fenghua frowned. “I don’t know.”

Feng Tianzong said, “Go find out again. Also, set an ambush along the Wu River. Be careful they don’t secretly let people in.”

“I know,” Huo Fenghua said.

Feng Tianzong added, “You originally wanted to get rid of Bao Wentong anyway, didn’t you?”

Huo Fenghua sat up on his knees on the bed and nodded. “It’s not just me. Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian have been dissatisfied with him for a long time.”

Feng Tianzong lifted a hand and gave Huo Fenghua’s butt a light pat. “Then this counts as an opportunity. First, join forces with Hu Dong and Lan Shuilian and talk it through. If you really mean to kill Bao Wentong, you need to be prepared. And even if you kill Bao Wentong, the Donglin pursuers will still be there. How to deal with that, you should think carefully.”

Huo Fenghua’s mind was a mess, and his body felt worn out. He lay back down on the bed and said, “Let’s sleep first. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

---

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

---

Chapter 73

When Huo Fenghua woke up early the next morning, he still felt as though there was something inside him. He was lying facedown, limp all over, and didn’t want to get up.

He was sleeping on the outer side of the bed. Beside him was the Feng Tianzong still asleep, and Su Zeyang was sleeping on the inner side. Under the quilt, Huo Fenghua’s body was bare. When he rolled over, his thigh pressed against Feng Tianzong’s leg, and he reached out to lightly hook a strand of Feng Tianzong’s hair with his fingers.

Feng Tianzong still didn’t wake.

Propping his head up with one hand, Huo Fenghua stared at Feng Tianzong for a moment, then looked at Su Zeyang, who had his face buried against Feng Tianzong’s shoulder as he slept. For an instant, Huo Fenghua felt that this was probably the life he’d always been chasing: wealth and glory, with beauties in his arms. Wasn’t this far happier than following Shao Feijie and the others around as an exiled imperial prince?

He extended a finger and pointed at Feng Tianzong in the air: Beauty Number One. Then he pointed at Su Zeyang: Beauty Number Two.

Thinking of that, he couldn’t help but laugh silently. At that moment, Su Zeyang shifted slightly and slowly opened his eyes to look at him.

Huo Fenghua blew him a kiss. Then something suddenly occurred to him. He rolled over, wanting to get out of bed. He’d tossed his long robe aside carelessly last night, and it was now on the floor not far from the bed. Reluctant to leave the warmth of the quilt, he only bent at the waist and stretched out an arm to grab it.

But his arm still couldn’t reach. He leaned farther and farther, and ended up accidentally sliding right off the bed, landing bare-assed on the footstool in front of it. The pain made him yelp. Only then did he manage to snatch his clothes, stand up, and throw them on.

It had been a long time since he had sex. Last night’s indulgence had left his body thoroughly satisfied, but first thing this morning his backside wasn’t feeling so great. After a moment’s thought, he decided it must be because Su Zeyang’s technique still had room for improvement and wasn’t as good as his.

After getting dressed and pulling on his shoes, hair loose and unbound, Huo Fenghua hurried out of the room. The moment he stepped outside, he saw Ruan Qin entering through the courtyard gate. He called out, “Sister Qin, you’re up early. Perfect timing.”

Ruan Qin said, “I figured you were about to wake up.”

Huo Fenghua leaned close to her ear and told her to arrange some people. Whether through disguises or spreading rumors, they needed to maintain the illusion that Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang were still stranded within Xichou territory. After thinking it over, he added, “Best if people believe they escaped to Zhuyue City.”

Ruan Qin nodded. “Understood. I’ll go now.”

Huo Fenghua smiled. “Thanks for the trouble.”

That morning, Wei Kai came again, carrying his medical case. The day before, after returning, he’d stayed up through the night consulting medical texts, and at last he’d figured out what poison Feng Tianzong had been afflicted with and how to treat it.

Today, he first performed acupuncture on Feng Tianzong. After that, he wrote a detoxifying prescription and handed it to Huo Fenghua, telling him to send people to fetch the herbs.

While Wei Kai sat at the table writing the prescription, the door to Huo Fenghua’s bedroom was open. Wen Heyi stood outside, half his body hidden behind the doorframe, peeking in.

Noticing someone outside, Wei Kai turned to look once, then turned back and asked Huo Fenghua, “Why didn’t I see that young lady from yesterday?”

Huo Fenghua sensed that Wei Kai seemed rather interested in Ruan Qin, so he smiled and said, “Sister Qin has some business today. If Doctor Wei comes tomorrow, she should be here.”

Wei Kai had mentioned before that if he did acupuncture to draw out the toxin for five consecutive days, Feng Tianzong would recover faster. Huo Fenghua wanted to coax him into coming every day.

Wei Kai glanced at him, packed up his medical case, and said, “I’ll come again tomorrow.”

Huo Fenghua smiled as he escorted him out. Passing the doorway, he shot Wen Heyi a glare, and Wen Heyi immediately shrank back.

After Huo Fenghua saw Wei Kai out and returned to the room, he found Wen Heyi standing by Feng Tianzong’s bed, looking at him. As Huo Fenghua entered, Su Zeyang also returned from the next room, where he’d been temporarily avoiding notice. When Wen Heyi saw the two of them, his face lit up and he called happily, “Dad, Mom!”

Huo Fenghua laughed to himself. “Good boy.”

Su Zeyang said, not entirely approving, “Did you get someone to look at Martial Uncle Wen’s injuries?”

Huo Fenghua quickly replied, “Of course I did. The doctor said it can’t be cured. There’s nothing I can do.”

Su Zeyang walked into the room. “We can’t just leave him like this forever.”

Wen Heyi was staring at Feng Tianzong on the bed. Feng Tianzong was awake and was looking back at him.

Wen Heyi asked, “Why are you looking at me?”

Feng Tianzong chuckled softly. “Then why are you looking at me?”

Wen Heyi asked him, “Who are you?”

Feng Tianzong didn’t answer.

So Wen Heyi turned to Huo Fenghua. “Dad, who is he?”

Huo Fenghua answered casually, “He’s your second mother.”

Wen Heyi opened his mouth in surprise.

Su Zeyang let out a helpless sigh.

Wen Heyi stared at Feng Tianzong for a while longer, then asked Huo Fenghua in confusion, “Dad, was I born from Mom, or from Second Mom?”

Huo Fenghua told him, “If you were born from Second Mom, I’d tell you he’s your mom, and this one would be your first mom.”

Wen Heyi turned the sentence over and over in his head for a long time, then suddenly understood. “So I was born from Mom.”

Su Zeyang finally couldn’t hold back. “You weren’t born from me. You’re my martial uncle.”

Wen Heyi seemed scared. He hid behind Huo Fenghua. “I’m not a martial uncle.”

Huo Fenghua patted the back of his hand. “You’re not a martial uncle. You’re Yi’er.”

Su Zeyang said to Huo Fenghua, “Don’t keep deceiving Martial Uncle. We should find a way to treat him as soon as possible.”

Huo Fenghua was helpless too. “Then tell me what I’m supposed to do. I’ve had plenty of doctors in Wuhetan examine him. Wei Kai took his pulse too and said it’s an injury inside his head. What, are we supposed to cut his skull open with a knife to treat it?”

Su Zeyang said, “If no one in Wuhetan can treat him, then we’ll look for doctors elsewhere. There has to be a way.”

For several days in a row, Wei Kai came to perform acupuncture on Feng Tianzong. The detox prescription he wrote also had Feng Tianzong drinking three bowls a day. By the fifth day, Feng Tianzong hadn’t fully recovered, but he was already able to get out of bed and walk around.

Feng Tianzong’s face was still a little pale. Wearing an outer robe, he sat on a stool and said to Wei Kai, “Thank you, Doctor Wei.”

Wei Kai couldn’t help sizing him up a few times. He waved a hand, packed his things, stood, and then turned to look for Ruan Qin. Grinning, he said, “Miss Ruan, when I came today, I bought a box of rouge on the way. I thought it’d suit you perfectly.”

Ruan Qin’s expression didn’t change. She only said politely, “Doctor Wei, I’ll see you out.”

Wei Kai slung his medical case on his back and followed her out with light steps. When he reached the doorway, he turned back and told Huo Fenghua, “I’ll keep coming tomorrow.”

Huo Fenghua asked, puzzled, “Aren’t five days of acupuncture supposed to draw out the toxin?”

Wei Kai spoke as though he didn’t particularly care. “Tomorrow I’ll take his pulse again, write a new prescription, and adjust things.”

Huo Fenghua quickly said, “Then I’ll be troubling you, Doctor Wei.”

After Ruan Qin saw Wei Kai off, Huo Fenghua walked to the table. Seeing Feng Tianzong extend a hand toward him, he placed his hand into Feng Tianzong’s palm. Feng Tianzong gave a slight pull and tugged Huo Fenghua down to sit on his lap.

Huo Fenghua went along with it, but said, “General, you really do have good stamina,” and didn’t dare put his full weight down, afraid Feng Tianzong might not be able to handle it.

Feng Tianzong wrapped both arms around Huo Fenghua’s waist. He was slightly out of breath, yet still smiling as he said, “I have to save some strength to hold you.”

Huo Fenghua looped his arms around his neck. “Do you feel better?”

Feng Tianzong said, “Much better. Maybe in another five days I’ll recover completely.”

Huo Fenghua asked, “And then what do you plan to do?”

Feng Tianzong didn’t answer. He only held Huo Fenghua tighter, one hand slipping under the hem of Huo Fenghua’s clothes to rub along his side at his waist, against bare skin.

Huo Fenghua flinched. “In broad daylight, what are you trying to do?”

Feng Tianzong smiled and lifted his head to look at him. Huo Fenghua met his gaze for a moment, then lowered his head and kissed him.

Just as their breathing began to heat up, hurried footsteps came running in from outside the courtyard. Huo Fenghua assumed it was Wen Heyi and didn’t pay attention. He only lifted his head to glance toward the door, and instead saw Xiong’er standing there, staring in shock.

Seeing Huo Fenghua sitting intimately on Feng Tianzong’s lap, Xiong’er’s eyes widened. He pointed at them, stammering, “You, you two—”

At that moment, Su Zeyang came over from the next room carrying a food box. Wen Heyi followed behind him, calling, “Mom, give me some!”

Su Zeyang walked past Xiong’er into the room and said, “You can’t eat any more, Martial Uncle.”

Inside the box were flaky malt candies. Huo Fenghua had sent people to buy them from an old, well-known shop in Wuhetan. When he noticed Su Zeyang liked this kind of candy, he had them buy quite a lot. As a result, Wen Heyi pestered Su Zeyang every day for sweets.

Xiong’er was still standing there, dumbfounded.

Wen Heyi suddenly reached into Su Zeyang’s arms to snatch the box. Su Zeyang pivoted neatly, dodging his hand, and tightened his grip on the box. “Martial Uncle, if you eat too much your teeth will hurt.”

Wen Heyi said anxiously, “Give it to me!”

Huo Fenghua slapped the table and stood up. “Who told you you could lay hands on your mother?”

Wen Heyi shrank his neck in fright and stood frozen in place, not daring to move.

After yelling at Wen Heyi, Huo Fenghua looked toward Xiong’er at the door. “Don’t just stand there. Come in and talk.”

Xiong’er looked completely bewildered. He still didn’t understand what on earth was going on.

Huo Fenghua said to him, “Since you’re back and the General’s awake too, perfect timing. Tonight, call your big brother over. We’ll all have dinner together.”

---

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

---

Chapter 72

Su Zeyang’s fingers touched the porcelain bottle, and he suddenly tried to snatch it from Huo Fenghua’s hand.

Huo Fenghua seemed to have anticipated this, quickly withdrawing his hand holding the porcelain bottle, dodging to the side, and shaking the bottle, saying, “I’ll drink this myself.”

Upon hearing this, Su Zeyang said calmly, “So you still need to rely on medicine.”

Huo Fenghua looked slightly embarrassed, but he quickly decided to be shameless to the end, saying, “Yes, otherwise how can I satisfy you? Senior Brother, you’re too lewd.”

Su Zeyang let out a soft “hmph,” not trying to snatch the porcelain bottle from Huo Fenghua’s hand, but instead looking up at the display cabinet. Seeing that there were more than a dozen identical bottles, he struck the edge of the cabinet with his palm.

All the other porcelain pieces on the cabinet remained still, but only those dozen or so porcelain bottles wobbled and fell from the cabinet. Huo Fenghua was startled and quickly dodged, lifting his robe to catch all the small porcelain bottles. He stared at the bottles with lingering fear and said, “I only have these left. Senior Brother, you’re too heartless.”

Su Zeyang said, “I don’t need these.”

Huo Fenghua put the small porcelain bottles back one by one, keeping the last one in his hand, and said, “Perfect, since you don’t need them, let me have them.”

Su Zeyang stretched out his hand towards him, “Give it to me.”

Huo Fenghua was stunned, “You said you didn’t want them.”

Su Zeyang insisted, “Give it to me.”

Huo Fenghua didn’t know if he had calmed down, but he weighed the situation and decided it was best not to defy him anymore. So he said helplessly, “Here, take it, but you’re not allowed to be angry with me anymore.”

Su Zeyang didn’t say anything. As he took the porcelain bottle from Huo Fenghua’s hand, he grabbed Huo Fenghua’s wrist and pressed him against the cabinet behind him.

Huo Fenghua heard the porcelain on the cabinet rattling from the impact, and his heart trembled. After all, they were all priceless and precious porcelain pieces; he would be heartbroken if they were broken.

Su Zeyang pressed him against the cabinet, facing him, holding the porcelain bottle in his hand, shaking it, and looking inside.

Huo Fenghua said, “You said you didn’t need it.”

However, Su Zeyang still poured all the liquid from the porcelain bottle into his own mouth. But then, he kissed Huo Fenghua’s mouth, feeding all the liquid into Huo Fenghua’s mouth, and using his tongue to press against the base of his tongue, forcing him to swallow all the liquid.

The kiss didn’t end. A bitter, astringent taste spread in both their mouths.

They hadn’t seen each other for a long time, and they hadn’t had such intimate contact for a long time either. Just a kiss, and both of them felt their breathing quicken. Due to the effects of the drug, Huo Fenghua’s groin quickly hardened. Although Su Zeyang had given the medicine to Huo Fenghua, he still swallowed a small amount himself. His face, which remained fair and delicate despite being exposed to the elements, was slightly flushed. He lifted one of Huo Fenghua’s legs and mercilessly tore off his pants.

Huo Fenghua quickly said, “No.”

Su Zeyang asked, “Do you want to fight?”

Huo Fenghua was unwilling to give in. He leaned closer to Su Zeyang, “Senior Brother, let me do it.”

Su Zeyang coldly replied, “No.” Then he pulled off his clothes and opened his mouth to kiss his collarbone.

Huo Fenghua’s breathing quickened. He leaned against the edge of the display cabinet, which acted like a screen, separating the door from the bed.  If he turned his head, he could see Feng Tianzong lying on the bed through the gaps in the cabinet.

Feng Tianzong made no sound, and Huo Fenghua didn’t know if he was still conscious.

Su Zeyang had no intention of letting go of Huo Fenghua.  Huo Fenghua could resist if he wanted to, but he wasn’t sure he could overpower Su Zeyang. His whole body was burning with discomfort, and Su Zeyang’s caresses and kisses provided some relief. So he sighed inwardly, closed his eyes, and began to enjoy it.

Su Zeyang lifted Huo Fenghua’s leg, and inserted his fingers into him, gently massaging his insides to prepare to insert himself. Huo Fenghua hugged his neck, trying to relax, but still couldn’t help but say, “Be gentle.”

Su Zeyang said, “It won’t hurt once I’m inside.”

His words sounded like he was comforting Huo Fenghua, but after he was truly inside, Huo Fenghua did feel less pain. The tender flesh inside involuntarily wrapped tightly around Su Zeyang, and he hugged Su Zeyang’s neck tightly, softening his voice as he called out, “Senior Brother…”

Su Zeyang lifted both of his legs, resting them on his wrists, and began to thrust in and out of Huo Fenghua’s body.

Huo Fenghua’s back was against the edge of the display cabinet, and he had to be careful not to knock over the porcelain on the cabinet. Maintaining this position was very difficult, so he could only hold onto Su Zeyang tightly. His body was stretched open, and the repeated friction and impact relieved the unbearable heat he had felt since taking the aphrodisiac that day. He desperately wanted to fuck Su Zeyang, but at the same time, he also craved to have his body filled.

After a while in this position, both of them became uncomfortable. Su Zeyang put him down on the ground, letting him turn his back to him, and had him prop his ass against the cabinet.

Huo Fenghua changed his position, and Su Zeyang held his waist with both hands and thrusted himself into him again. He couldn’t help but tilt his head back, panting heavily and moaning softly.

From this angle, he could clearly see Feng Tianzong through the gaps in the display cabinet.

He knew that Feng Tianzong wasn’t asleep but was just lying quietly on the bed. Huo Fenghua knew that he was powerless at this moment, but he couldn’t help but feel mischievous, deliberately moaning loudly and calling out to his Senior Brother, each sound meant for Feng Tianzong to hear.

Sure enough, Feng Tianzong’s hand moved slightly, then went still again. The effects of the medicine in Huo Fenghua’s body were intense; although his erection was hard as steel in, his hole was soft and moist. He wondered if the medicine had changed its effects after he ingested it.

Even after Su Zeyang came inside him, he still felt unsatisfied and hugged Su Zeyang, wanting to do it again.

Su Zeyang picked him up and carried him to the bed, gently laying him down. He lay beside Feng Tianzong, watching Feng Tianzong slowly open his eyes and look at him.

Huo Fenghua’s clothes were already scattered, hanging on his arms. At this point, he simply took off all his clothes, resting his head on Feng Tianzong’s lower abdomen, and spread his legs towards Su Zeyang, who was outside the bed, saying, “Senior Brother, I want more—”

However, Su Zeyang only took off his boots and climbed onto the bed, holding him in his arms, sitting with his legs spread open in front of Feng Tianzong while caressing his body.

Huo Fenghua trembled. He saw Feng Tianzong reach under the pillow and pull out something, and his face immediately flushed. He thought to himself that he had forgotten about that thing.

It was a jade dildo, which he had found in Third Master Luo’s former room after taking the medicine and being unable to relieve himself. He thought it was dirty then, so he boiled it in water for a long time to clean it and then put it under his pillow.  He had never actually used it before.

Feng Tianzong slowly raised his hand. The jade dildo was crystal clear and exquisitely carved, with a tassel hanging from the end. He asked, “What is this?”

Huo Fenghua panted and said, “What else could it be?”

Feng Tianzong held the jade dildo and placed it against Huo Fenghua’s legs. The cold jade shaft instantly made him tremble slightly, and then he felt the smooth, rounded head of the dildo pressing against his hole, slowly pushing inside.

This was a completely different sensation compared to a real penis. Huo Fenghua tilted his head back, breathing heavily, as Su Zeyang leaned down and kissed his lips.

Feng Tianzong held the tassel between his fingers, slowly pulling the jade object out a little. He watched the shimmering moisture on the jade shaft, then pressed his slender fingers against the base of the jade object and slowly pushed it back in.

Huo Fenghua was tormented by the sensation, his legs tensed, and he called out, “Faster, General!”

Feng Tianzong, however, remained unhurried, playing with him with the jade object for a moment before pulling it out. Huo Fenghua felt his body being pushed forward, and he lay prone on the bed as Su Zeyang entered him from behind once more.

The warmth of the flesh made him exhale deeply. His face rested against Feng Tianzong’s arm, and he closed his eyes in relief.

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 71

Ruan Qin had someone invite the best doctor in Wuhetan, a man named Wei Kai. He looked only a little over thirty, but his medical skills were superb, though he had a somewhat eccentric temperament.

When Ruan Qin sent someone to fetch him, Wei Kai didn’t want to come at first. It was only after the servant promised him a hefty sum that he finally agreed to bring his medical case and follow the servant to Huo Fenghua’s residence.

To avoid arousing suspicion, Huo Fenghua had Su Zeyang step out. Only he and Ruan Qin stayed in the room to receive Wei Kai.

Even though Wei Kai had come for the money, his expression was still unpleasant. He set the medical case hanging at his side down heavily on the table, then strode to the bedside. “Who is it? What’s wrong with him?”

Huo Fenghua didn’t speak. Ruan Qin answered instead. “He’s our Master’s cousin. He came from Donglin to seek refuge with our Master, but on the road, he ate a fried pancake someone gave him and was poisoned.”

Wei Kai glanced at Ruan Qin. Seeing her gentle, delicate features, he couldn’t help taking a second look and asked, “Miss, what’s your surname?”

Ruan Qin shot Huo Fenghua a look, then retreated half a step behind him. “My surname is Ruan. This is my master, Su Qiang.”

Huo Fenghua smiled and cupped his hands toward Wei Kai. “Sorry to trouble you, Doctor Wei. Please take a look and see what poison my cousin has been afflicted with.” As he spoke, he walked to the bed, gently lifted the blanket, and took Feng Tianzong’s wrist, placing it at the edge of the bed.

Feng Tianzong was awake, lying there without speaking.

Wei Kai first checked his complexion, then his eyes and lips. After that, he sat down by the bed and took his pulse. His fingers rested on the wrist for a long time before he let go and asked, “When you ate that poisoned pancake, what reaction did you have?”

Feng Tianzong said, “At the time, nothing much. I just gradually felt weaker. After a while, I got drowsier and drowsier. I ended up asleep more than I was awake.”

Huo Fenghua heard how his voice lacked strength. He crouched at the bedside, wanting to hold his hand, but he was afraid Wei Kai would get suspicious, so he forced himself to refrain.

Wei Kai frowned. “This poison seems like it built up over time. Someone gave you a poisoned pancake? I doubt you ate only one.”

Feng Tianzong gave a quiet laugh, his lips deathly pale. “Doctor truly is impressive. I traveled with that person for a stretch. He said he’d brought cakes from home and shared them with me along the way. I didn’t expect there would be poison in them.”

Wei Kai didn’t think anything was amiss. He only said, “I’ll write a prescription tailored to the symptoms first. Have someone go prepare the medicine. As for completely purging the poison from his body, I’ll have to go back and consult some medical texts.”

Huo Fenghua hurriedly said, “Thank you, Doctor Wei.”

Wei Kai rose, went to the table, sat down, and wrote out a prescription in swift strokes, then handed it to Ruan Qin.

Ruan Qin took the prescription and escorted Wei Kai out.

Only Feng Tianzong and Huo Fenghua remained in the room. Huo Fenghua crouched by the bed, took Feng Tianzong’s hand, and said, “Don’t worry. Wei Kai’s incredible. He’ll definitely be able to cure the poison in you.”

Feng Tianzong said softly, “I’m not worried. After all these years, it’s rare to have a chance to do nothing, think nothing, and just lie quietly in bed.”

Huo Fenghua looked at him. “You woke up and saw me here, and you don’t seem surprised at all.”

Feng Tianzong withdrew his hand from Huo Fenghua’s grasp, then laboriously lifted it to stroke Huo Fenghua’s face. “When you left, I kept thinking that one day, we’d still see each other again.”

Huo Fenghua said, “Sounds like you didn’t mean it when you told me to go.”

Feng Tianzong only smiled and asked, “Did you sell that jade pendant?”

Huo Fenghua fell silent for a moment, then pulled the pendant from inside his clothes.

When Feng Tianzong saw it, he reached out as if to touch it.

Huo Fenghua quickly drew it back. “You gave it to me, so it’s mine. There’s no reason to take it back.”

Feng Tianzong smiled. “I won’t take it back. As long as you want it, it’s yours.”

Huo Fenghua said, “Senior Brother is mine too.”

Feng Tianzong wasn’t angry. He smiled. “He’s yours.”

A sudden sadness rose in Huo Fenghua. His eyes reddened. “You’re mine too.”

Feng Tianzong said, “Alright. I’m yours.”

Huo Fenghua clasped the hand resting against his cheek and kissed Feng Tianzong’s palm. “Senior brother is still angry. He won’t forgive me.”

Feng Tianzong said, “He just doesn’t want to drag you down.”

Huo Fenghua’s voice was heavy. “He treats you as family, but not me. That’s why he talks about dragging me down.”

Feng Tianzong sighed. “But you were determined to leave. What do you expect him to think?”

Huo Fenghua said, “You lied to him too. It makes no sense he’s only angry at me and not at you.”

Feng Tianzong shook his head. “How do you know he isn’t angry at me?” He was probably even angrier.

Huo Fenghua suddenly thought of something else. “He’s afraid of dragging me down. Why aren’t you afraid of dragging me down?”

Feng Tianzong said, “I am. But I can’t even get out of bed. It’s not like I can crawl out of here. When your Senior Brother killed the imperial guards and carried me away, he fled into the mountains with me on his back. I kept slipping into unconsciousness. I wanted to tell him to leave me behind and save himself. But I didn’t. Do you know why?”

Huo Fenghua felt his chest ache. He said softly, “Because even if you said it, he wouldn’t listen.”

Feng Tianzong gave a faint laugh. “Exactly. So I said nothing. And with you, I’ll say nothing too.”

Huo Fenghua tightened his grip on his hand.

Feng Tianzong said, “Get up. I want to kiss you.”

Huo Fenghua stood and leaned in. After a moment, he slowly pressed his lips to Feng Tianzong’s. Feng Tianzong’s lips and tongue were cold and weak, with a faint bitterness.

When Huo Fenghua pulled back, he asked, “Did I get poisoned too?”

Hearing that, Feng Tianzong closed his eyes and chuckled, then slipped back into unconsciousness.

He slept until night. When he woke again, it was already dark.

Feng Tianzong opened his eyes and saw Su Zeyang sitting by the bed, staring at him without blinking. He said to Su Zeyang, “You’re tired. Go rest.”

Su Zeyang replied, “I’m not tired. I rested this afternoon. You haven’t eaten in a long time. Eat something first, then drink your medicine.”

Just as he finished speaking, the door opened from outside. Huo Fenghua came in personally, carrying a food box. As soon as he entered, he said happily, “General’s awake? Perfect. I brought dinner.”

The dinner was for Su Zeyang and Feng Tianzong. Huo Fenghua had already eaten outside with Xiongda and Xiong’er. He had Su Zeyang go sit at the table to eat, while he carried a bowl of porridge to the bedside and fed Feng Tianzong.

When the porridge was cooked, Huo Fenghua had specifically told Ruan Qin to procure premium ginseng. He minced chicken finely, added greens, and simmered everything slowly in a clay pot until it turned thick and silky, fragrant enough to fill the air, before pouring it into a bowl and packing it into the food box.

Huo Fenghua helped Feng Tianzong sit up against the headboard. He sat beside him, scooped up a spoonful of porridge, patiently blew until it wasn’t hot, then fed it to Feng Tianzong.

As he fed him, Huo Fenghua kept chattering, “You knew someone was trying to kill you, so why did you just let yourself get escorted back to Yujing? And the food on the road, if you knew it was poisoned then don’t eat it. Look what it’s come to now.”

Feng Tianzong humored him. Between swallows, he even answered, “Zeyang and my elder brother were still in Yujing. What did you want me to do, raise an army and rebel?”

Huo Fenghua knew that route was impossible. He was only complaining because he couldn’t stand seeing Feng Tianzong reduced to this. “How would I know what to do? I’m not the Great General of the Western Expedition. If you don’t even know what to do, what kind of general are you? You might as well go home and farm.”

Feng Tianzong was choked into silence. After a moment, he could only say, “I’ve wanted to resign and go home to farm.” But now he was a fugitive accused of treason. What came next couldn’t be decided overnight.

Huo Fenghua didn’t push it further. After feeding Feng Tianzong the porridge, he had him take his medicine, then helped him lie back down.

Feng Tianzong kept his eyes open, looking a bit more alert.

Huo Fenghua watched him. “Looks like Wei Kai’s medicine really does work.”

Su Zeyang, hearing that, came over too.

When Huo Fenghua saw him standing beside him, he couldn’t help lifting his hand and lightly brushing the back of Su Zeyang’s hand with his own.

Su Zeyang felt it and didn’t move his hand away.

Huo Fenghua turned to look at him. “Senior Brother, why aren’t you asking me how I managed to get such a huge residence in Wuhetan in such a short time?”

So Su Zeyang asked, “How?”

There was no sincerity in it at all. Huo Fenghua immediately felt dejected. He grabbed Su Zeyang’s sleeve and shook it. “Senior Brother, do you not miss me at all?”

Su Zeyang lowered his head slightly. After a moment, he said, “I do.”

Seeing Feng Tianzong still unable to get up from the bed, Huo Fenghua finally dared to grasp Su Zeyang’s hand and pull him around the room, telling him how he’d dealt with Third Master Luo on his first night in Wuhetan and seized his vast fortune.

Su Zeyang didn’t speak. He simply listened quietly.

Getting excited, Huo Fenghua also mentioned how that night, he’d discovered Third Master Luo was impotent and could only get hard by taking medicine. He picked up a small porcelain bottle from the cabinet and held it out to Su Zeyang. “This is the stuff. It’s amazing. Senior brother, want to try it with me?”

Su Zeyang stared at the bottle.

Huo Fenghua glanced at the bed and lowered his voice. “Anyway, the General’s fine now, and he can’t get up either.”

Su Zeyang lifted his eyes to him, then reached out, his fingertips touching the porcelain bottle.

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 70

Huo Fenghua had a carriage brought over and took Su Zeyang and the unconscious Feng Tianzong back with him.

Before the carriage rolled into Huo Fenghua’s residence, Su Zeyang lifted the curtain a sliver and looked at the plaque above the gate, murmuring, “Boonie Bears?”

He glanced at Huo Fenghua.

Huo Fenghua held his hand and gently rubbed it against his cheek. “This is my home now.”

Su Zeyang didn’t pull his hand away.

The carriage entered the residence. Huo Fenghua was the first to get down. He said to Ruan Qin, who came forward to greet him, “I brought two people back. Set them up in my room. Don’t let it spread. Go find the best doctor in Wuhetan.”

Ruan Qin looked surprised and glanced toward the carriage. She didn’t ask who they were. She only nodded and immediately went to find people and arrange everything.

Huo Fenghua personally carried Feng Tianzong back to his room and gently laid him on the bed.

Su Zeyang and Wen Heyi followed in. Wen Heyi walked behind Su Zeyang, stealing curious looks at him. Whenever Su Zeyang turned to look back, Wen Heyi immediately averted his gaze, but a moment later he couldn’t resist edging closer and whispering, “Mom?”

Su Zeyang sighed helplessly. “Martial Uncle, what happened to you?”

Wen Heyi quickly hid behind Huo Fenghua.

After a while, Ruan Qin knocked outside. “Master Su, Master Xiong’er is back. He wants to see you.”

Huo Fenghua knew he couldn’t hide this from Xiongda and Xiong’er, and he didn’t plan to. He turned and called out, “Let him in. You come in too. I’ve got something to tell you both.”

Ruan Qin replied, “Alright.”

Once Ruan Qin left, Huo Fenghua saw Su Zeyang looking at him and heard Su Zeyang murmur softly, “Master Su?”

Huo Fenghua stepped over and took his hand. “I was thinking about you every moment, so I used the alias Su Qiang here in Wuhetan.” His gaze was sincere as he looked at Su Zeyang.

Su Zeyang lowered his eyes and didn’t respond.

A short while later, Ruan Qin knocked again. “Master Xiong’er is here.”

Huo Fenghua immediately said, “Come in, quick.”

Ruan Qin pushed the door open from outside and let Xiong’er step in first. Seeing so many people in Huo Fenghua’s room, Xiong’er froze for a moment. Then he looked in shock at Feng Tianzong lying on the bed, and after that he couldn’t help studying Su Zeyang carefully.

Ruan Qin entered and shut the door. She didn’t seem as curious. She simply stood quietly to the side, waiting for instructions.

Xiong’er swept his gaze around the room and finally asked Huo Fenghua, “Who are they?”

Huo Fenghua pulled him aside and whispered into his ear, “The man on the bed is Feng Tianzong, the Great General of the Western Expedition.”

Xiong’er’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Huo Fenghua. “Feng Tianzong? Didn’t he get accused of treason and escorted back to Yujing?”

Huo Fenghua raised a finger to his lips and shushed him. “This Young Master Su is his wife. He rescued Feng Tianzong from Donglin’s imperial guards and brought him here to Wuhetan. We don’t know whether the pursuers have discovered their whereabouts yet.”

A storm of thoughts flashed through Xiong’er’s mind before he finally said, “Hiding him like this will bring us trouble!”

Huo Fenghua slung an arm around his shoulders. “Besides you and Ruan Qin, nobody knows I’m hiding him. And this is Wuhetan, not Donglin. What are you so afraid of?”

Xiong’er lowered his voice. “So what if it’s Wuhetan? Even if the whole place banded together, we still couldn’t fight the Donglin army. And we’ve only just gotten our footing!”

Huo Fenghua patted his chest. “Don’t panic, don’t panic. I’m thinking of a way. First, have people scout toward Xichou and see if any pursuers are coming. Also check whether outsiders have been slipping into Wuhetan lately, or whether any rumors about their arrival have started spreading. If nothing’s leaked, we should be safe for now. I’ll think about how to handle the rest.”

Xiong’er looked agitated. He craned his neck and glanced at Feng Tianzong again. Earlier, he hadn’t really taken him in, his attention had been caught by Su Zeyang’s looks. Now he looked again at the man whose name shook the Central Plains. He looked terribly weak, his face ashen, lying there soundlessly, like anyone could kill him with one hand.

Huo Fenghua soothed him with a steady pat on the shoulder. “Brother, calm down. If you don’t take risks, how are you supposed to accomplish anything big?”

Xiong’er said, “Then tell me. Why do you want to save him?”

Huo Fenghua thought for a moment. “Fine. Find a time and we’ll sit down and talk it through slowly. I won’t hide anything from you or your brother. Don’t worry.”

Xiong’er hesitated a bit longer, then finally nodded and left after opening the door.

Only then did Huo Fenghua turn to Ruan Qin. “You heard all that just now too?”

Ruan Qin nodded, far steadier than Xiong’er.

Huo Fenghua said, “Their identities absolutely can’t get out. Otherwise it’ll bring trouble for all of us.”

“I understand,” Ruan Qin said.

Huo Fenghua smiled. “Sister Qin has always been bold but careful. I didn’t really need to say any of that. Right now we just need a skilled doctor. And it’s not convenient to have servants here, so I’ll have to trouble you with a lot of things.”

Ruan Qin said, “I already sent someone to fetch a doctor. I also told the maids not to come near this room. I’ll handle everything personally.”

Huo Fenghua nodded. “Then please have someone bring a bucket of hot water and find two sets of clean clothes. If I think of anything else, I’ll call for you.”

Ruan Qin answered, “Alright,” and left the room.

Su Zeyang walked to the bed and adjusted Feng Tianzong’s blanket, then said, “Once he’s a bit better, we’ll leave immediately.”

Huo Fenghua neither agreed nor refused. He only said, “Let’s get the poison out of him first.”

All this while, Wen Heyi stayed hidden behind Huo Fenghua, secretly watching Su Zeyang.

Su Zeyang looked over at Wen Heyi with concern and asked Huo Fenghua, “What exactly happened to Martial Uncle?”

Huo Fenghua tapped his own head. “Seems like he injured it. When I ran into him in Wuhetan, he was already not clear-minded.”

Su Zeyang couldn’t understand. “Even if he’s not clear-minded, how could he end up thinking you’re his father?”

Huo Fenghua didn’t answer this time. He scratched his chin with one finger and changed the subject. “When the water comes, Senior Brother, you wash up and change first. I’ll have someone bring some pastries too. Eat something.”

Su Zeyang didn’t press the question. He only lifted his head to look around the room. “You’ve been living well in Wuhetan.”

Huo Fenghua smiled. “It’s all taken from someone else. But that person wasn’t anything good, so you don’t have to feel sorry for him.”

Su Zeyang said, “If I’d known you were in Wuhetan, I wouldn’t have brought Tianzong here.”

That stung. Huo Fenghua leaned against the display cabinet and lightly stroked a small porcelain bottle sitting on it. “Do you really hate me that much? You won’t forgive me?”

Su Zeyang shook his head. It wasn’t that he refused to forgive him, he only blamed himself for disrupting Huo Fenghua’s life. Since Huo Fenghua had chosen to stay away, he should have truly drawn a clean line.

Not long after, Ruan Qin had the hot water delivered.

Huo Fenghua chased Wen Heyi out of the room and latched the door. He let Su Zeyang bathe inside with the hot water while he dampened a piece of cotton cloth and wiped Feng Tianzong down.

In his memory, from the first time he’d met Feng Tianzong, he’d never once seen him so fragile and defenseless. He stripped Feng Tianzong bare, then started with his face and slowly worked downward with the wet cloth, along his neck and torso, saying as he wiped, “You’re filthy. You’ve gotten my bed and blanket all dirty. Later I’ll have to ask Sister Qin to change them.”

Su Zeyang sat in the tub, his long hair floating on the surface, and said softly, “We’ve been running for our lives.”

There hadn’t even been time to find a doctor to detox Feng Tianzong, let alone bathe.

Huo Fenghua spread Feng Tianzong’s long legs and scrubbed firmly between them.

Suddenly, he heard a faint groan from above. He looked up and saw Feng Tianzong had opened his eyes.

Feng Tianzong was still weak. He frowned slightly at first, as if he didn’t know whether this was real or a dream. Then his brow eased, his lips curling faintly upward as he said, weak and breathless, “You can be a little gentler.”

Huo Fenghua’s hand clenched hard around the cloth. He stared at Feng Tianzong, his eyes turning a little wet, but he still muttered, “I’m going to cripple you, then I’m eloping with Senior Brother.”

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