Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The two soldiers said nothing.

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

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

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

Su Zeyang said coolly, “Let him go.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Not yet.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Su Zeyang looked at him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Su Zeyang asked, “You want to go?”

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

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

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

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

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

Su Zeyang’s fingers stopped moving.

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

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

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

Su Zeyang said softly, “Not for now.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I did,” Su Zeyang answered.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 18

Huo Fenghua untied Feng Tianzong’s belt, took a deep breath, and pulled down his pants a little, revealing his cock hanging between his legs beneath a thick patch of pubic hair. Even though it was still soft, it was quite large.

He reached out and grasped it, then thought he should compliment Feng Tianzong, so he said, “General, you are truly magnificent and powerful!” After saying this, he looked up at Feng Tianzong but saw Feng Tianzong staring at him expressionlessly.  Feeling foolish, he lowered his head again, lifted the heavy organ, and, following the techniques he’d learned from Japanese movies in his previous life, licked it with his tongue.

After licking it, he found there was no unbearable odor, so he opened his mouth again and took the rounded head into his mouth, trying to swallow a section of it. Soon, Feng Tianzong’s penis hardened and swelled in Huo Fenghua’s mouth, making his entire mouth feel uncomfortable. He then spat it out and gently licked it with the tip of his tongue.

Huo Fenghua breathed slightly, thinking that since he had gone this far, he might as well try to please Feng Tianzong and make him lower his guard so he could find a way to escape.

He glanced at Feng Tianzong, then pressed his face against his large glans, gently rubbing against it. This was a subtle act of submission, as if worshipping, allowing a man to have his cock pressed against one’s face, which could bring the other party great satisfaction.

Sure enough, Huo Fenghua felt the thing in his hand harden even more. He looked at Feng Tianzong and saw that Feng Tianzong was still expressionless, but his eyes were slightly red, and his lips were tightly pressed together. Then, Feng Tianzong grabbed his erection and slapped Huo Fenghua’s face with it. Huo Fenghua slightly turned his face away, suppressing the curses that almost escaped his mouth. He bit his lip and said, “The General is truly amazing.”

Feng Tianzong’s voice was slightly hoarse, “Since you think I’m so amazing, why don’t you continue?”

Huo Fenghua then lowered his head again, opening his mouth to take Feng Tianzong’s cock that was now hard as steel.

This time, Feng Tianzong reached out and grabbed the back of his neck, pressing his head down. The thick, fleshy column immediately poked deep into his throat, causing him to gag reflexively. He tried to lift his head, but as soon as he did, Feng Tianzong pressed his head down again, each time deeper than the last.

Huo Fenghua felt his head throbbing with pain. The feeling of something repeatedly being thrust deep into his throat was unbearable. Besides nausea, he also had difficulty breathing. He began to whimper, raising his hand to press against Feng Tianzong’s arm, then gripping it tightly.

After Feng Tianzong had thrust his cock in and out more than a dozen times, he suddenly released his grip.

Huo Fenghua immediately fell backward, his face flushed red, saliva dripping from the corners of his mouth. He propped himself up with his arms, retreating backward repeatedly, and said in a hoarse voice, “General, please spare me, I can’t take it anymore.”

Feng Tianzong’s eyes were red, and he glared at him fiercely. After a long pause, he shouted, “Zeyang, come in!”

Su Zeyang, who had been waiting outside the tent, lifted the curtain and entered. He first glanced at Huo Fenghua, then slowly walked to Feng Tianzong’s side. Feng Tianzong roughly grabbed his arm, flipped him over, and pressed him down onto the couch beneath him, forcefully kissing his face and neck.

Su Zeyang gently pushed Feng Tianzong away, frowning at him. After being stared at by Su Zeyang for a while, Feng Tianzong’s expression softened slightly. He lowered his head and gently kissed Su Zeyang’s earlobe, then his kisses slowly moved from his jaw to his lips. This time, Su Zeyang accepted Feng Tianzong’s kiss.

Huo Fenghua was still lying half-prone on the ground. He looked at the two for a while, then rolled over and tried to sneak out of the tent.

“Don’t leave!” Feng Tianzong’s hand had already slipped inside Su Zeyang’s clothes, but he simultaneously distracted himself to stop Huo Fenghua, “Wait outside the tent!”

Huo Fenghua quietly replied, “Yes, General,” and quickly retreated outside.

Two of Feng Tianzong’s personal guards were standing on either side of the tent entrance. As soon as Huo Fenghua took a step, two long spears blocked his way. He quickly said, “I’m not leaving, I’m not leaving. I’m just changing to a more comfortable position.”

After saying that, he simply leaned against the tent and sat down.

At this point, he realized that the tent’s single layer of fabric wasn’t soundproof at all. Sitting by the entrance, he could clearly hear the sound of the two people’s clothes rubbing against each other, and even faint moans. He looked up at the two guards, seeing that their faces were calm and completely unmoved, so he had to lower his head and continue listening.

Things inside the tent seemed to be getting more intense. Huo Fenghua pressed his ear against the tent flap and heard Su Zeyang’s low gasps.

He couldn’t resist his curiosity and lifted a corner of the curtain, only to find that Su Zeyang had been stripped naked. His fair and smooth body was half-lying on the tiger skin rug on the couch, his long hair disheveled, and he was breathing slightly, his head tilted back. Feng Tianzong had already removed his upper garment. His skin had the healthy complexion of someone who had spent years honing his body on the battlefield, with broad shoulders, a slender waist, and firm muscles. He knelt by the edge of the bed, spreading Su Zeyang’s legs apart, and then bent down to gently bite and suck on one of his nipples.

Su Zeyang seemed to enjoy it immensely. He closed his eyes, moaning, one hand resting on Feng Tianzong’s shoulder, the other on the tiger skin rug, his fingers sinking into the golden-yellow tiger fur.

Huo Fenghua felt as if his heart was being squeezed.

Suddenly, Su Zeyang opened his eyes, and from his angle, he could see Huo Fenghua secretly peeking from outside the tent.

The two stared at each other for a long time without looking away. At this moment, Feng Tianzong reached out and lifted Su Zeyang’s head, their lips meeting. Su Zeyang opened his mouth to receive Feng Tianzong’s intrusion, while simultaneously reaching out to grasp Feng Tianzong’s large cock, gently caressing it with his fingertips.

Su Zeyang’s face was flushed from Feng Tianzong’s kisses, but he still didn’t avert his gaze from Huo Fenghua.

Huo Fenghua suddenly felt his own face flush. His body began to heat up, and he could only press his face against the curtain, reaching out to slightly pull open his collar.

Su Zeyang’s gaze slowly followed Huo Fenghua’s opened collar, and at this moment, Feng Tianzong’s calloused hands forcefully kneaded Su Zeyang’s firm ass. Su Zeyang couldn’t help but groan loudly, his eyes hazy, his hands tightly wrapped around Feng Tianzong’s shoulders.

When Huo Fenghua noticed Su Zeyang looking at his collar, he suddenly had an idea. He pulled his collar open a little more, until one of his pale nipples was exposed. Su Zeyang’s body trembled. He hugged Feng Tianzong tightly and whispered in his ear, “Tianzong—”

Feng Tianzong said in a deep voice, “Do you want it?”

Su Zeyang nodded slightly.

Feng Tianzong persisted, “Do you want it? Tell me?”

Su Zeyang said, “I want it.”

Feng Tianzong then lifted his legs and pressed his cock against Su Zeyang’s ass. He slowly, but firmly, pushed the head in through the tender opening and gradually inserted himself into Su Zeyang’s body.

Su Zeyang gasped for breath, his body supple, his legs easily bending back to his chest. He reached out and hugged Feng Tianzong, kissing him passionately. After the kiss, Feng Tianzong rested his head against Su Zeyang’s neck, thrusting powerfully; his back covered in glistening sweat, his breathing becoming heavier and more rapid.

Huo Fenghua slumped to the ground, one hand supporting himself against the edge of the tent flap and gently stroked his chest.

Su Zeyang clung to Feng Tianzong’s back, his eyes fixed on Huo Fenghua’s chest as he licked the sweat from Feng Tianzong’s shoulder.

Huo Fenghua instantly felt a swelling in his lower body, and he silently reached out and grasped himself.

Meanwhile, Feng Tianzong increased the speed of his thrusting. He straightened his back, using all his strength to completely push himself into Su Zeyang’s body, feeling the wet, soft embrace. Su Zeyang groaned continuously, clearly experiencing repeated waves of pleasure. He reached out and touched Feng Tianzong’s face, calling his name, “Tianzong, Tianzong…”

Feng Tianzong whispered in his ear, “I love you.”

Then followed even more intense lovemaking and thrusting. …

When everything had calmed down, Huo Fenghua found himself completely drenched. He pulled his clothes together and, leaning on the doorframe, stood up.

Feng Tianzong had released himself once inside Su Zeyang, but he didn’t feel satisfied. He finally thought of Huo Fenghua and, without looking back, said, “You can go now.”

Huo Fenghua saw Su Zeyang give him a satisfied look, and said in an unsteady voice, “Thank you, General.” Then he walked outside.

A cold wind blew outside the tent, and Huo Fenghua couldn’t help but shiver. He pulled his clothes tighter, feeling his throat dry and sore. He looked up at the distance and couldn’t help but shout, “Oh god!”

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 17

After that, Feng Tianzong didn’t make things difficult for Huo Fenghua again. Instead, he led his men and focused on traveling as fast as possible. In less than two days, they were back at the garrison camp.

Feng Tianzong had originally led two hundred thousand troops on a campaign against Xichou. Now, aside from a small amount of territory along the border, he could be said to have nearly occupied all of Xichou. The two hundred thousand troops were stationed across Xichou as garrisons to prevent unrest among the people and to guard against counterattacks by Xichou’s remnants.

The force currently at his side was only close to twenty thousand. They had pushed deep into Xichou’s heartland precisely to hunt down Xichou’s grand marshal Shao Feijie, his remaining troops, and that Xichou crown prince Huo Fengnian who’d been seized out of Huijing.

These twenty thousand men were camped at a place in Xichou called Liangcheng Slope. When Feng Tianzong had left the camp with fifty personal guards, he had only left one deputy, Cong Wenhao, behind to hold the fort.

Cong Wenhao had been worried all along that Shao Feijie had lured Feng Tianzong away, and he feared Xichou troops would raid the camp. He’d ordered the soldiers to stay on high alert. Today, when he heard that Feng Tianzong was returning with troops, his spirits lifted at once, and he went out beyond the camp to greet him.

Feng Tianzong returned with a little over ten personal guards. He didn’t look outright bedraggled, but he was covered in travel dust, and with only a bit over ten surviving out of fifty, it was obvious how brutal their ordeal outside had been.

From afar, Cong Wenhao knelt and saluted. “This subordinate pays respects to the General.”

Feng Tianzong rode alone to the camp gate, leapt down from his horse, handed the reins to a waiting soldier, then strode into the camp as he said, “Get up. Prepare water for me. After I bathe and change, summon all commanders to the central command tent to discuss matters.”

He didn’t spare Su Zeyang a glance, nor did he say how Su Zeyang should be settled.

Cong Wenhao did recognize Su Zeyang. When he lifted his head and saw Su Zeyang dismounting, he blurted in surprise, “Madam*?” Then, afraid Su Zeyang wouldn’t like that form of address, he quickly changed it. “Young Master Su, why are you here?”

*[Furen] (夫人) It’s a respectful title and form of address to a married woman.

Su Zeyang didn’t answer. He only raised his head to look at Huo Fenghua on horseback. “Can you get down?”

Huo Fenghua held out one hand. Su Zeyang took it and helped him down.

Cong Wenhao had seen Huo Fenghua in Yujing, and once at the General’s Manor as well. He’d previously heard the General’s wife and concubine had gone missing together, but he hadn’t expected they’d both ended up in Xichou. He was quick-witted. After a moment of stunned silence, he saluted Huo Fenghua too, then immediately ordered soldiers to arrange tents for the two madams and to prepare hot water and clean clothes.

Su Zeyang nodded to him in thanks and supported Huo Fenghua as they walked into the camp.

Only then did Cong Wenhao grab Peng Po as he passed by and ask, “What happened?”

Peng Po sighed. “It’s a long story.”

The tent Cong Wenhao arranged for Su Zeyang and the others wasn’t far from the central command tent. Wooden tubs filled with hot water were already set up inside, and soft, clean new clothes were placed nearby. Feng Tianzong hadn’t given instructions, and Cong Wenhao didn’t think too deeply about it. He only thought that since they were Feng Tianzong’s wife and concubine, putting them in one tent for the time being wasn’t inappropriate.

After they entered the tent, the attending soldiers withdrew, leaving only the two of them.

Su Zeyang had Huo Fenghua bathe first. He himself sat leaning against one side of the tent entrance, wiping down his sword.

Huo Fenghua slowly removed his clothes, endured the aching soreness all over his body, and stepped into the tub. The relief of hot water soaking into his skin made him groan. He lay against the rim of the tub and panted for a moment before lifting his head and saying, “Senior Brother, come wash with me too.”

Su Zeyang bent one leg, tilting his head slightly back, his attention fixed on the sword in his hands, and didn’t respond.

So Huo Fenghua said, “Senior Brother, is that sword called Qinghong?”

Su Zeyang’s movements paused slightly, though his gaze didn’t shift. “You’ve heard of it?”

Huo Fenghua said, “The Qinghong Sword. Its name is legendary.”

Su Zeyang showed no reaction, as if he didn’t care about fame or titles at all.

Huo Fenghua stared at him. “General Feng seems angry.”

Ever since Su Zeyang had saved Huo Fenghua from Feng Tianzong’s whip, on the journey back Feng Tianzong had stopped speaking to Su Zeyang, leaving only a face cold as frost.

Su Zeyang set the sword down now. Looking somewhat troubled, he said, “Yes, Tianzong’s angry.”

Huo Fenghua sighed. “How about I go tell him it was me who forced you, and that you’re still completely devoted to him, so he shouldn’t be mad at you.”

Su Zeyang looked at him. “I told you not to bring up what happened that day again, and you still don’t understand no matter what anyone says.”

Huo Fenghua lifted a hand to press his chest. “Maybe it’s only once in a lifetime. How could I bear to pretend it never happened? I’m going to think about you for the rest of my life.”

This time Su Zeyang didn’t speak. He only picked up the sword with one hand, then silently set it aside again.

After Huo Fenghua finished bathing, Su Zeyang called someone in to replace the water with a clean tub. Then he stood by the tub and began undressing.

Huo Fenghua sat on a soft couch, his clothing only loosely tied, his chest open as he lowered his head to examine his injuries. A large bruise spread across his ribs, all from being scraped on the ground, and there were bloody scratches at his collarbone where stones had cut him. He only felt wretched.

When he happened to look up, he found Su Zeyang was already naked. His build was even, his legs long, and even the thing between his legs was pale and pleasing. Huo Fenghua’s breathing quickened. Unable to help himself, he rose from the couch and walked to the tub to look more closely.

Su Zeyang sat down into the tub, feeling a bit tired himself, and leaned back against the tub wall with his eyes closed.

Huo Fenghua leaned over the rim. “I’ll wash your hair.” As he spoke, his fingers hooked a strand of Su Zeyang’s black hair, smooth and slippery to the touch. Then he bent to scoop water from the tub and slowly poured it over Su Zeyang’s head.

Feng Tianzong convened his subordinates to discuss matters. After the meeting ended, he stopped Cong Wenhao and asked, “Where’s Su Zeyang?”

Cong Wenhao hurriedly replied, “I’ve already arranged the left-side auxiliary camp for the two madams.”

“The two madams?” Feng Tianzong’s face darkened at once.

By now the sky was fully late. Aside from a faint pale glow lingering at the far edge of the heavens, everything around had sunk into darkness, and torches were lit inside the tents.

Cong Wenhao sensed Feng Tianzong’s mood was bad, but he didn’t know what he’d done wrong. He half-knelt uneasily, lowered his head, and said, “Yes. The two madams are temporarily settled in one tent.”

Feng Tianzong said in a low voice, “Bring Su Zeyang to see me.” After a brief pause, he added, “Bring Huo Fenghua as well.”

After Cong Wenhao withdrew, Feng Tianzong lay half-reclined on a couch, the back of his hand lightly stroking the tiger pelt spread over it. He and Su Zeyang had been together for years. He understood him too well. Su Zeyang was cold by nature. If it wasn’t someone he cared about, he wouldn’t even spare them a second glance. How could he possibly protect someone in every way like this? On the road back, Feng Tianzong could’ve forced Su Zeyang to explain, yet in the end he couldn’t bring himself to ask. It wasn’t so much that he couldn’t bear it as that he didn’t dare. He was afraid Su Zeyang would truly admit he cared for Huo Fenghua. If that happened, Feng Tianzong honestly wouldn’t know what to do with himself.

He narrowed his eyes and slammed his right fist down hard on the couch.

At that moment, Su Zeyang had already reached the tent entrance. He lifted the curtain and was about to step inside when Feng Tianzong suddenly said, “Stop.”

Feng Tianzong saw Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua appear one after the other outside the tent. Both had changed into clean clothes, their long hair loose. Fury surged, and he changed his mind. Pointing at Huo Fenghua, he said, “You come in. Zeyang, wait outside the tent.”

Huo Fenghua’s heart jolted. He looked to Su Zeyang for help.

But Su Zeyang had no intention of shielding him at this moment. He simply stood quietly outside the entrance.

Huo Fenghua had to draw a deep breath and push the curtain aside with one hand as he went in. Inside the tent he hesitated, then knelt, respectfully saying, “This one pays respects to the General.”

Feng Tianzong leaned back on the soft couch; his right arm hooked around his bent right leg while his left leg stretched out. He looked at Huo Fenghua with a wild, unrestrained posture and said, “Come closer.”

Still kneeling, Huo Fenghua shuffled forward a little.

Feng Tianzong reached for the Fulong Whip beside him. “Do you want me to force you?”

Huo Fenghua hurriedly got up, trotted a few steps to Feng Tianzong, and dropped to his knees again. His nose was almost against Feng Tianzong’s knee as he said, “General, please give your orders. There’s no need to use the whip.”

Feng Tianzong grabbed Huo Fenghua by his still slightly damp hair, forcing him to tilt his face up, and examined him closely.

Huo Fenghua had delicate, handsome features. His skin was fair, his eyes round, his lips small. Back when he’d lived a life of indulgence as a hostage in Yujing, Feng Tianzong had already known he looked decent. But no matter how good a face was, in Feng Tianzong’s eyes he was nothing but a waste of food and drink. Even after marrying him into the General’s Manor, Feng Tianzong had never once looked at him properly.

Up to now, this was the first time Feng Tianzong had studied Huo Fenghua’s face so carefully, wanting to see what skill he had that could bewitch Su Zeyang.

Huo Fenghua blinked. Softly, he said, “General, my neck’s really sore. Can you let go and talk properly?”

Only then did Feng Tianzong slowly release him.

Huo Fenghua let out a breath, raised a hand to rub the back of his neck, and seeing Feng Tianzong’s expression was still icy, he quickly knelt properly again and said, “What are your commands, General?”

“Commands?” Feng Tianzong lifted his head. In the torchlight, he could see Su Zeyang’s silhouette cast on the tent. He knew Su Zeyang could hear their conversation clearly. He let out a cold laugh, spread his legs, and pressed Huo Fenghua’s head down between them. “Serve me first. Once you’ve served me well, then I’ll think about what to command.”

Huo Fenghua looked up at him, stunned.

Feng Tianzong said, “What? Aren’t you my male concubine? I’m not allowed to touch you?”

A fine sheen of sweat rose across Huo Fenghua’s forehead. He wanted to turn back and look at Su Zeyang, but Feng Tianzong was staring at him too tightly, and he didn’t dare move lightly. He weighed the consequences of resisting. After turning it over again and again, he could only think, ‘A real man knows when to yield and when to stand. It was better than getting beaten. As long as the green hills remain, there’ll be no worry about firewood*.

*Idiom referring to as long as the foundation is preserved, there will always be an opportunity to rise again and grow stronger  (aka where there’s life, there’s hope). Basically he’s saying better to endure it now, and he’ll find a way out/take revenge/ect. later.

He could only nod. “You can. You can.” Then he reached out and lifted Feng Tianzong’s robe hem.

The author has something to say:

Yesterday I said I’d explain Su Zeyang’s character a bit, because the story is mainly from Huo Fenghua’s point of view, so there’ll be very little psychological narration for Su Zeyang. He’s actually a very free-spirited person. If he likes someone, he can do anything. If he wants to marry, he marries. He doesn’t care about anyone else’s gaze, and he doesn’t care about ethics or morality. When he marries into the General’s Manor, if Steward Lu tells him to follow the rules, he will follow them. A lot of things are insignificant to him. That includes the Emperor forcing Feng Tianzong to take in a concubine. He doesn’t get angry about it.

On the surface, he should be the kind of person who needs relatively little from feelings. He doesn’t need some intense emotional payback. But he’s quite willing to give to the person he likes. Right now he likes Feng Tianzong, and later he also likes Huo Fenghua. In fact, he already fell for Huo Fenghua back when Huo Fenghua carried him on his back to go find someone and nearly exhausted himself to death on the road.

It’s still not very easy to explain clearly, but since it’s a threesome, the strong possessiveness in love doesn’t really make sense, so you should be able to understand this kind of character setup, right?

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 16

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

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

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

Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua both startled awake.

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

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

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

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

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

Su Zeyang reached out and helped him stand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peng Po rode forward at once. “General?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huo Fenghua whimpered miserably, “Senior Brother…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Su Zeyang asked, “And your elder brother?”

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

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

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

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

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

Su Zeyang gave his hand a gentle squeeze in return.

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

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

Peng Po hesitated and looked toward Feng Tianzong.

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

All the guards answered, “Yes!”

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

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

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

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 15

Only after all of Shao Feijie’s troops had withdrawn did Feng Tianzong lead his remaining personal guards, taking Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua out of the valley.

At first he worried Shao Feijie might still have an ambush, so he kept his whip cinched tightly around Huo Fenghua’s neck, pinning him in front of him as a hostage. Su Zeyang rode a different horse, following not far behind Feng Tianzong.

With the whip tight around his throat, Huo Fenghua often couldn’t catch his breath. He could only clutch Feng Tianzong’s whip so Feng Tianzong wouldn’t actually choke him to death.

After they’d ridden far away from Luofeng Ridge, Feng Tianzong finally snapped his whip and flung Huo Fenghua backward to his deputy, Peng Po. Peng Po caught him and settled him in front of himself, saying, “Careful, young master.”

They all thought Huo Fenghua was Huo Fengnian. For an imperial son of a fallen state, they didn’t know what form of address was most appropriate.

Feng Tianzong turned his head and glanced at Huo Fenghua.

Only then did Huo Fenghua see his face clearly. Feng Tianzong had swordlike brows slanting upward and sharp, piercing eyes. He was clearly a dashing noble young lord, yet he also carried the ferocity of a wild beast.

Qingqing had once told him, “If you’re going to marry, marry a man from the Feng family.”

Only now did Huo Fenghua realize Sister Qingqing hadn’t lied to him at all.

That glance from Feng Tianzong was cold and unfeeling. Then Feng Tianzong halted his horse, turned to Su Zeyang at his side, and his expression softened. He reached out one hand toward him.

Su Zeyang took Feng Tianzong’s hand and was yanked up with force onto Feng Tianzong’s horse. One of Feng Tianzong’s guards immediately led away the horse Su Zeyang had been riding.

Feng Tianzong loosened the reins and let the horse walk forward slowly. He lifted a hand and gently stroked Su Zeyang’s chin in his arms, then suddenly tilted his face up and pressed a hard kiss onto his lips.

Huo Fenghua was still touching his own throat, only just coming back to himself, when he saw Feng Tianzong kissing Su Zeyang. He straightened at once. He hadn’t even spoken yet when he saw none of the others react at all. He could only soften again and lower his head.

He reached out and tugged the horse’s mane. The fine horse under him grew restless, and the man behind him immediately grabbed his collar and said in a low voice, “Behave.”

Huo Fenghua didn’t dare argue. He stole a look at Su Zeyang and saw one hand gripping Feng Tianzong’s arm tightly, his chest rising and falling, a faint flush blooming on his cheeks. He looked thoroughly stirred. Huo Fenghua’s resentment only grew. He simply buried his face against the horse’s neck and refused to look at them.

That kiss lasted quite a while before Feng Tianzong finally ended it. He released Su Zeyang’s lips, lifted his head, wiped away the saliva at the corner of Su Zeyang’s mouth with his thumb, and asked softly, “Why did you leave without a word and slip out of the capital on your own?”

The reason Feng Tianzong had fallen into danger on this trip was that not long ago he’d received a message sent by carrier pigeon from Steward Lu in the capital, saying Su Zeyang and Huo Fenghua had both gone missing and might have left the city. There was a traitor at Feng Tianzong’s side, a mole planted by Xichou long ago. That traitor forged a second letter using Lu Xi’s handwriting, saying they’d found a note Su Zeyang left behind and that he’d taken Huo Fenghua to Xichou to search for someone. After that, someone really did spot Su Zeyang’s movements within Xichou’s borders.

Feng Tianzong panicked out of concern. He took several dozen personal guards and left the army camp to retrieve Su Zeyang, only to be surrounded by Xichou troops and nearly die at Luofeng Ridge. Now he’d escaped, but those guards had been personally selected and personally trained by him, each capable of fighting a hundred. Now only a little over ten remained alive. The loss was still catastrophic.

He carried resentment in his heart, but he couldn’t bear to vent it on Su Zeyang. He could only suck and lick and bite at Su Zeyang’s lips and tongue with ruthless intensity.

Su Zeyang’s lips were a deep red. He turned his head to look at Huo Fenghua and said, “He isn’t Huo Fengnian.”

Feng Tianzong said coldly, “Then who is he?”

He wasn’t Huo Fengnian, but in Feng Tianzong’s eyes he looked even less like Huo Fenghua.

Su Zeyang caught Feng Tianzong’s sleeve and murmured into his ear, “He’s Huo Fenghua.”

Feng Tianzong glanced back as well. Seeing Huo Fenghua still buried face-down against the horse’s back, refusing to lift his head, he gave a snort of laughter. “Now he does look a bit like Huo Fenghua.” Then he lowered his head to Su Zeyang. “Tell me. What exactly happened?”

Su Zeyang blinked lightly. A sense of absurdity suddenly washed over him, and he didn’t know where to begin. He suddenly remembered the day he woke up, disheveled, only to find Huo Fenghua had already fled.

Feng Tianzong brushed his lips against Su Zeyang’s earlobe. “Why are you spacing out?”

Su Zeyang came back to himself and only said simply, “Huo Fenghua was abducted from Yujing by Xichou people, so I chased after them. I chased all the way to Xichou. Along the way I fought with them and got a little injured. When I arrived here, I ran into you being ambushed.”

“You were injured?” Feng Tianzong’s first reaction was to reach for Su Zeyang’s waist and abdomen.

Su Zeyang pressed down his hand. “It’s my leg. I’ve been resting it almost twenty days now. It’s fine.”

Feng Tianzong sighed. “Let me see it tonight.”

Su Zeyang nodded.

Feng Tianzong fell silent for a moment, then said, “He’s Huo Fenghua. Shao Feijie sent men to retrieve Huo Fenghua and even tried to pass him off as Huo Fengnian. What does that mean?”

Su Zeyang didn’t speak.

Feng Tianzong continued, “Then where’s the real Huo Fengnian? Xichou people took the risk of going deep into Donglin’s capital just to bring Huo Fenghua back. Could it be the real Huo Fengnian is already gone?”

This time Su Zeyang met his eyes, and both of them felt it was possible.

Feng Tianzong let out a soft laugh. “If that’s really the case, then Huo Fenghua finally has some value for existing.”

Worried Shao Feijie would send pursuit, they spurred their horses hard the whole way. Only after night fell, when they slipped into a dense forest, did they finally stop to rest.

The moment they dismounted, Feng Tianzong’s guards split up with clear roles: some lit a fire and boiled water, some erased the traces of hoofprints, and others set traps and trip lines in several directions to guard against pursuers.

Feng Tianzong sat down with his back against a large tree. Though he was dusty from travel, he didn’t look disheveled. He lifted his head and gazed up at Su Zeyang, who stood on a treetop.

Su Zeyang was checking for pursuers with Feng Tianzong’s men. When he jumped down from the tree, it was obvious his left leg didn’t dare bear weight. Feng Tianzong clearly saw it too. He beckoned. “Come here.”

Su Zeyang walked over and sat down beside him.

Feng Tianzong took hold of Su Zeyang’s left ankle, pushed up his trouser leg, and gently kneaded his calf. “The injury’s here?”

Su Zeyang said, “The leg bone broke.”

Feng Tianzong drew a deep breath, as if suppressing emotion. He lowered his head and kissed Su Zeyang’s left leg once. When he lifted his head again, he pulled Su Zeyang tight by the waist and kissed his lips.

The guards all pretended not to see.

Only Huo Fenghua had been tossed under a tree by Peng Po, his hands and feet bound with rope. He struggled upright and stared blankly at Su Zeyang and Feng Tianzong locked together in an intimate embrace.

He always said he wanted to bless General Feng and Su Zeyang with a long life together, but he’d never realized that seeing it with his own eyes would feel so bleak and suffocating.

Feng Tianzong’s palm pressed tightly to Su Zeyang’s lower back. After the deep kiss, he murmured into his ear, “What a pity the timing isn’t right.” He didn’t finish the sentence. If the timing were right, what he wanted to do hardly needed spelling out.

Su Zeyang also lifted a hand to hold the back of Feng Tianzong’s neck. Leaning against the tree, he pressed his face into Feng Tianzong’s hair at the crown and said softly, “In two more days—” He also didn’t finish, because he suddenly noticed Huo Fenghua staring without blinking. At once he felt awkward and dropped his gaze.

A guard softened jerky and dry rations in hot water and brought them to Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang.

In front of Huo Fenghua, Peng Po only tossed a cold, hard coarse flour cake onto the ground. Huo Fenghua looked up at Peng Po, but Peng Po didn’t look back. He turned and walked away.

Huo Fenghua took a deep breath and used his bound hands to pick up the cake. He slapped it against his leg to knock off the grass bits that had stuck to it, then raised it to his mouth and took a bite.

That bite didn’t even break it. He had to use more force and tear off a piece with his teeth. Chewing it, he found it tasted even worse than what he’d eaten during the days Tao Yifei’s group had held him. The cake was dry and hard, neither sweet nor salty. He chewed for a long time. The more he chewed, the sadder he felt. Finally he couldn’t help it and looked up at Su Zeyang.

Su Zeyang was looking at him too. At that moment he picked up the jerky in his hand and stood.

Feng Tianzong didn’t say anything. He only watched Su Zeyang in silence.

Su Zeyang took the jerky over, crouched before Huo Fenghua, and held it to his mouth.

Huo Fenghua lowered his eyes to glance at it, then looked at Su Zeyang. “It’s too big. I can’t eat it.”

So Su Zeyang sat cross-legged, tore the jerky into small pieces, and fed them to Huo Fenghua piece by piece. The jerky had been cured and air-dried, but after soaking in hot water it was at least passably fragrant and soft.

Huo Fenghua ate a small piece of jerky, then took a bite of the cake. Without realizing it, he finished more than half the cake.

Su Zeyang fed him patiently, one piece at a time, until Huo Fenghua shook his head. “I’m full.”

During that process, Huo Fenghua kept glancing up at Su Zeyang, eyes glossy with moisture. Su Zeyang never once looked up. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to. He didn’t dare.

After Huo Fenghua finished eating, Su Zeyang stood and returned to sit beside Feng Tianzong.

Feng Tianzong lounged at an angle against the tree trunk and asked in a deep voice, “Why?”

Su Zeyang looked at him. “He’s your male concubine, after all.”

Feng Tianzong didn’t speak, only stared at Su Zeyang.

So Su Zeyang continued, “He hasn’t really done anything wrong. If some things aren’t handled properly, it might drag you into it.”

Feng Tianzong rested an arm on his knee, idly twirling a blade of wild grass between his fingers. He lifted his head and said, “Peng Po, bring him over.” His gaze went to Huo Fenghua.

Huo Fenghua had been sitting quietly and was already dozing with his eyes closed. At the words, he snapped them open, tense as he watched Peng Po approach. Peng Po grabbed him and shoved him in front of Feng Tianzong.

Feng Tianzong had to tilt his head up to look at him. “Sit down.”

Huo Fenghua glanced at Su Zeyang and carefully sat.

Feng Tianzong said lowly, “Why did Shao Feijie want to take you back to Xichou?”

Without thinking, Huo Fenghua blurted, “He knows I’m your male concubine. He thinks I embarrassed Xichou’s imperial house by being lost outside, so he wants to take me back and execute me.”

“Bullshit,” Feng Tianzong said coldly. “If he wanted to execute you, why would he spare me at Luofeng Ridge? He could’ve simply shot an arrow and killed both you and me.”

Huo Fenghua said, “He saw you mistook me for Huo Fengnian, so he just went along with it.”

Feng Tianzong suddenly leaned in and seized Huo Fenghua by the collar, yanking him close. “If you say one more word of nonsense, do you believe I won’t let you off? Killing you isn’t worth it right now. I’d rather geld you.”

Huo Fenghua turned pale with fright and stammered, “Yes, yes, yes. I’m talking nonsense. Then you tell me why Shao Feijie wanted to take me back. Do you think he’d tell me?”

Feng Tianzong glared at him for a long moment, then released him and shoved him away.

Huo Fenghua fell backward onto the ground and didn’t manage to sit up for quite a while. Only later did Su Zeyang reach out, take his hand, and pull him up.

“I was abducted from Yujing. You can ask Young Master Su. He saw it with his own eyes,” Huo Fenghua said, his chest heaving, breathing slightly fast as he spoke. “And all along I tried to escape. I didn’t want to come back to Xichou with them.”

Su Zeyang said softly, “That’s true.”

Huo Fenghua added, “And back at Luofeng Ridge, if I hadn’t deliberately jumped down, do you think you’d have been able to catch me?”

As soon as he said that, both Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang looked a little surprised. In unison they asked, “You did it on purpose?” Though the feelings behind the words were completely different.

Huo Fenghua looked at Su Zeyang. “Of course I did it on purpose. I’m not stupid. That rock was huge. Did you really think I believed I could push it? I just couldn’t bear to watch you—all of you—get trapped and die there. Jumping off a cliff is something I’m willing to do.”

That last line was spoken entirely for Su Zeyang’s benefit.

Feng Tianzong still hadn’t noticed. He pressed on. “Then tell me. Where exactly is Huo Fengnian?”

Huo Fenghua shook his head. “After they grabbed me, I was on the road the whole time and went straight to Luofeng Ridge. I didn’t see Huo Fengnian and I didn’t hear anyone mention him. He’s of noble status. I’m sure he wouldn’t personally risk himself.” He didn’t tell Feng Tianzong the truth. He was afraid that if Feng Tianzong learned Huo Fengnian was already dead, he’d completely become Feng Tianzong’s hostage.

Feng Tianzong frowned slightly at the fire and sank into thought.

Huo Fenghua then stole a look at Su Zeyang and mouthed silently, pitifully, “Senior Brother.”

Su Zeyang placed a hand on the rope around Huo Fenghua’s wrist and sent force through it, shattering the rope.

Feng Tianzong noticed and looked at Su Zeyang.

Su Zeyang said, “I’m worried his blood flow will be cut off. If it goes on too long, he’ll be injured.”

Huo Fenghua immediately rolled his wrists and said obediently to Feng Tianzong, “Thank you, General, for your mercy.”

With that, Feng Tianzong couldn’t really flare up at him again. He only looked at him with some confusion. “Are you really Huo Fenghua?” The Huo Fenghua in his memory had been timid and cowardly too, but not quite like this. For a moment Feng Tianzong was at a loss, as if he couldn’t even recall what Huo Fenghua was supposed to be like anymore.

After all, ever since Huo Fenghua married into the Feng household, Feng Tianzong had never once looked at him properly, much less tried to understand him.

Huo Fenghua hurriedly said, “Of course I’m Huo Fenghua.”

Since Feng Tianzong couldn’t get anything useful out of him, he called Peng Po. “Take him to rest.”

But Huo Fenghua suddenly reached out and grabbed Feng Tianzong’s arm. “General, I married you, so I’m your person. It isn’t appropriate for you to make me sleep next to another man, is it?”

Feng Tianzong lifted his chin slightly. “What do you want?”

Huo Fenghua pleaded, “Let me sleep at your and Young Master Su’s feet. I promise I’ll behave. I won’t do anything. All right?”

Feng Tianzong’s side was much closer to the fire, and there was a thick layer of dry grass spread on the ground. The night air was cool. Ever since Huo Fenghua had been brought over here, his body had warmed noticeably. He didn’t want to go back to that cold, damp tree on the other side.

Peng Po, hearing Huo Fenghua’s request, leaned close to Feng Tianzong and said in a low voice, “General, beware he’s plotting something.”

What plotting could Huo Fenghua possibly have? Since marrying into the General’s Manor and getting taught a lesson by Feng Tianzong, he’d lived cautiously in a side courtyard. Whenever he saw Feng Tianzong, he’d wanted nothing more than to hide far away. Now that they were in Xichou, why did he seem like a completely different person?

Feng Tianzong lifted a hand. “It’s fine. Let him sleep by my feet. I want to see what kind of plot he can possibly have.”

“No plot, no plot,” Huo Fenghua said, waving his hands. “Many thanks, General. General and Young Master Su should rest early.”

With that, he lay down crosswise at Feng Tianzong and Su Zeyang’s feet. After he settled in, he glanced at Feng Tianzong, then secretly reached out with a finger and scratched at Su Zeyang’s ankle.

Su Zeyang immediately drew one foot back, rested his head against Feng Tianzong’s shoulder, and only then closed his eyes to rest.

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 14

This time, they hurried on for a full day and night, arriving deep among towering, uninhabited mountains. The trails were rugged and narrow, and the horses could no longer climb any higher, so they left the horses at the foot of the mountain with one man to guard them. Under Wen Heyi’s lead, the rest relied on their own legs to scale the heights.

They hadn’t slept all night. After spending most of the night climbing, they reached the summit just as daybreak was beginning to lighten the sky.

Along the way, Huo Fenghua had crawled with both hands and feet. His palms were cut open in several places by brush, and he was miserable. Now he was disheveled and weak, clinging loosely to Wen Heyi as he said, “Martial Uncle, I can’t walk anymore.”

Wen Heyi said, “You’re a dignified imperial prince. What kind of sight is this?”

Huo Fenghua waved a hand. “I’m done being one. I’ll give the position to you, old man, all right?”

Wen Heyi shot him a glance. “Stop fooling around. We’re already at Luofeng Ridge.”

Huo Fenghua lifted his head and looked at the layers of mountains in the distance, green peaks piled upon peaks. A thought suddenly came to him, Luofeng Ridge. Just hearing the name felt ominous for Feng Tianzong. Was the plan really to bring down that surname Feng here?

Wen Heyi kept moving. Huo Fenghua grabbed his arm and had him drag him along for a stretch. Two soldiers in armor and helmets approached from ahead, saluted Wen Heyi, and led them farther in.

After they walked some distance along the ridge, Huo Fenghua saw numerous soldiers lying in ambush in the grass ahead, along with two huge boulders that would’ve taken several people hugging them together to encircle.

A tall man wearing silver dragon armor strode toward them. He looked to be in his thirties, with rugged, imposing features and an impressive bearing. When he saw Huo Fenghua, he drew in a deep breath, dropped to one knee, and said in a deep voice, “Shao Feijie, Grand Marshal of Xichou’s forces, pays respects to His Highness the Eldest Prince!”

Before Huo Fenghua could respond, Shao Feijie had already raised his head and looked at him intensely. It was obvious he and Wen Heyi had already coordinated long ago, planning to disguise this useless Second Prince as Xichou’s Eldest Prince.

Wen Heyi pinched Huo Fenghua’s lower back.

Huo Fenghua let out a soft “ow,” and reluctantly said, “Marshal Shao, please rise.”

Shao Feijie stood, glanced at Wen Heyi, and said, “In urgent times, we act as necessity demands. My troops are currently lying in ambush for Feng Tianzong. We’ll speak of ceremony after we return. Your Highness may observe the battle from the side for now.”

Huo Fenghua nodded. “I understand. Marshal Shao, do what you need to do. Don’t worry about me.”

Wen Heyi said, “I’ll protect Your Highness.”

Shao Feijie gave a slight nod and turned back toward the cliffside.

Huo Fenghua also walked to the edge and leaned over to look down. Below was a long, narrow ravine, squeezed between peaks on both sides. The entrance was extremely tight, and deeper inside it ended in a dead end.

The two boulders he’d seen earlier were meant to be pushed down once Feng Tianzong and his men entered the ravine, sealing off their retreat.

At that moment, Huo Fenghua heard faint hoofbeats. His whole body tensed as he strained to look outward. He could feel the soldiers lying in ambush on the ridge tense as well. Everyone entered a state of readiness, and not a single sound was made.

Feng Tianzong led fifty personal guards and ran into a two-sided ambush by Xichou’s forces, who deliberately drove them toward Luofeng Ridge. When they retreated all the way to the ravine entrance, Feng Tianzong took one look at the towering peaks on both sides and knew there was an ambush.

He shouted, “We can’t retreat any farther!” and was the first to wheel his horse and charge back to the front. The long whip in his hand snapped out, coiling around a Xichou soldier and flinging him onto jagged rock. In an instant, blood burst out and the man died with his eyes split wide.

His whip rose again, spattered with enemy blood, sweeping through the soldiers before him. He pointed forward and roared, “Kill them all! No one retreats!”

Huo Fenghua could vaguely make out the two armies below, but he still couldn’t see Feng Tianzong. He couldn’t help moving toward the ravine entrance, drawing close to the boulders and craning his head to figure out which one was Feng Tianzong.

Wen Heyi reached out and grabbed his belt, yanking him back. “Do you want to fall?”

Huo Fenghua gave a dry laugh and pointed to a straight-backed figure below, dressed in purple-gold armor with a dark cloak. “Is that Feng Tianzong?”

Wen Heyi looked at him like he was crazy. “Isn’t he your husband? You’re asking me?”

Huo Fenghua said, “I’m Huo Fengnian. What husband do I have?” Even as he spoke, he kept trying to peer at the man. There was mist in the mountains, and the distance was too great, so he still couldn’t make out Feng Tianzong’s face.

Even though Feng Tianzong had fallen into an ambush, his fifty personal guards were all elite. Under his lead, they counterattacked with all their strength. On top of that, the ravine entrance was long and narrow. Xichou’s two thousand ambushers were gathered outside the mouth of the ravine and couldn’t form a true encirclement. For a time, they actually couldn’t force Feng Tianzong’s group back. The fight stalemated at the ravine mouth. In the chaos of battle, the soldiers lying in wait on the summit didn’t dare shoot arrows either, afraid of hitting their own men.

Tao Yifei stood beside Shao Feijie and asked, “Marshal Shao, what do we do?”

Shao Feijie’s eyes were sharp, locked on the battlefield. “Don’t worry. No matter how fierce Feng Tianzong is, he only has fifty men. We’ll fight a war of attrition. Even if he refuses to back into the ravine, sooner or later he’ll be worn down to the last man.”

But they’d still underestimated just how ferocious Feng Tianzong was. With only a single long whip, he’d already slaughtered countless enemies at the foot of Luofeng Ridge, and he showed no sign of fatigue at all. He also knew that if he fell into a tight encirclement, being attacked from front and back would be even worse. So he held the ravine entrance tightly, neither advancing nor retreating, focused only on killing.

Shao Feijie’s expression grew heavy. Suddenly he called softly, “Heyi?”

Wen Heyi turned his head and said, “Feng Tianzong may have reinforcements.” Otherwise, why would he keep holding out when he knew it was ultimately a dead end?

That was exactly what Shao Feijie feared.

Huo Fenghua had never seen such a bloody scene. He sat down by the cliff, gripping a vine with one hand as he looked down. His feelings were complicated. It was as if he both wanted Feng Tianzong to die here and wanted to see him escape. Yet whether Feng Tianzong lived or died, with Su Zeyang’s temperament, he probably wouldn’t be willing to come back for him. Thinking of that made Huo Fenghua feel even more dejected.

Just as the battle reached a deadlock, a wave of agitated cries rose from outside the ravine. Huo Fenghua immediately leaned out to look. On the battlefield below, a figure in white had appeared.

The man in white held a long sword. Stepping on the heads and shoulders of Xichou soldiers, he drifted in from outside the ravine, charging straight into the very center of the battlefield. With a light leap, he landed before Feng Tianzong’s horse. Sword light flashed, and he killed a Xichou soldier in a single strike.

Huo Fenghua clearly heard Feng Tianzong cry out, “Zeyang!”

Su Zeyang’s white robes fluttered. His sword was so fast it was almost formless. In the blink of an eye, he’d already killed two or three men. Only then did he lift his head to glance at Feng Tianzong and give a slight nod.

Huo Fenghua stood up at once. He’d seen it clearly. Even though Su Zeyang moved quickly, his left leg still couldn’t put in full strength. He definitely wasn’t fully healed. The words “Watch your leg” almost burst out, but he forced himself to swallow them.

Su Zeyang’s sudden appearance caused a slight shift in the battle. Feng Tianzong and his personal guards seemed to regain momentum at once, letting out deep shouts as they vowed to break out of the encirclement.

Shao Feijie’s face grew even grimmer. Suddenly he said, “Drop the rocks!”

Tao Yifei froze. “But that could injure our own soldiers.”

Shao Feijie didn’t speak. He only looked toward Wen Heyi.

Wen Heyi nodded.

Shao Feijie made his decision. He grabbed the command flag from a personal guard at his side and swung it. “Drop the rocks!”

“No!” Huo Fenghua immediately tried to stop them. “You can’t drop the rocks!” What kind of joke was this? It would crush Su Zeyang!

Wen Heyi raised an arm to block him. “It’s none of your business. Just watch.”

As he spoke, Huo Fenghua saw three or four soldiers work together, using wooden poles to pry at the two massive boulders on the summit. The stones soon began to wobble, tilting toward the ravine.

Huo Fenghua lunged to the cliff edge and shouted down, “Su Zeyang, watch out for the rocks!”

Su Zeyang had just killed an enemy commander and landed lightly back on horseback. Hearing the shout, he looked up toward the summit and saw Huo Fenghua standing at the cliff, waving his arms at him.

Seeing that Su Zeyang still didn’t retreat, Huo Fenghua panicked. He rushed over and shoved aside a soldier who was pushing the boulder, trying to stop them. But the boulder was already moving. It swayed at the cliff edge, then began to roll down.

He tried, overestimating himself, to push the boulder back inward. But the rock was far too heavy. Not only did his shove fail to steady it, the huge force knocked him off balance, and he tumbled toward the cliff below.

“Your Highness!” No one had expected him to be so reckless. Wen Heyi immediately shot forward, grabbing a vine hanging from the cliff with one hand, trying to save him.

At the same time, as the boulder rolled down, soldiers on both sides of the fight fell back in alarm.

Only Feng Tianzong suddenly sprang up from his horse. He actually climbed toward the falling boulder. His limbs were powerful and agile. His fingers hooked into cracks in the cliff face, using them to propel himself upward. In an instant he slipped past the rolling rock and reached toward the falling Huo Fenghua.

But Wen Heyi was one step faster. He wrapped an arm around Huo Fenghua’s waist and, gripping the vine tightly, was about to pull him back up when a white figure flashed before him. A silver sword, trailing sword light, slashed toward his arm. Wen Heyi had no choice but to let go, watching as Huo Fenghua fell into Feng Tianzong’s hands.

Wen Heyi hung from the vine at the cliffside, facing Su Zeyang with a cold laugh. “Martial nephew. Long time no see.”

Su Zeyang clung to a jutting rock with one hand. Seeing that Feng Tianzong had already caught Huo Fenghua, he released his grip and dropped back down, calling calmly, “Martial Uncle.”

The distance between them abruptly widened.

Wen Heyi kicked off and sprang back to the summit. The moment he landed, he heard Shao Feijie roar angrily, “Are you out of your mind?”

Wen Heyi turned to look at him.

Shao Feijie’s anger hadn’t faded, but he still forced himself to steady it. “I’m not talking about you. I’m talking about Huo Feng—nian. What exactly is he doing?”

Wen Heyi shook his head. “His heart is no longer with Xichou.”

The falling boulders kicked up a massive cloud of dust. The entire Luofeng Ridge seemed to tremble. Some soldiers who couldn’t get away in time were buried beneath the stones. And Feng Tianzong and his personal guards, now fewer than twenty, were finally trapped inside the ravine, the exit sealed shut.

Now Shao Feijie could order arrows fired and slaughter them all in the deep valley of Luofeng Ridge. But Feng Tianzong held one man in his grasp: Huo Fenghua.

Feng Tianzong carried Huo Fenghua back onto the horse. His long whip coiled around Huo Fenghua’s neck. With a single hard pull, he could take his head clean off. He raised his head and looked up at Shao Feijie. “If you don’t withdraw, I’ll kill Huo Fengnian. We’ll die together.”

Shao Feijie’s eyes went wide. For a long time, he couldn’t say a word.

Pressed close against Feng Tianzong’s chest, Huo Fenghua looked up but still couldn’t see his full face, only the sharp lines of his jaw. Hearing that low, heavy voice, he murmured quietly, “I’m not Huo Fengnian.”

Besides Feng Tianzong, probably only Su Zeyang, standing at the horse’s side, heard that.

Su Zeyang lifted his eyes and looked at Huo Fenghua.

Feng Tianzong’s pupils tightened slightly, but his expression never changed. His whip suddenly cinched tighter. Huo Fenghua’s breathing instantly became difficult. In pain, he raised a hand to claw at the whip around his throat.

Feng Tianzong smiled faintly and asked, “Well?”

Shao Feijie’s face went pale.

Wen Heyi suddenly said softly, “Withdraw.”

Shao Feijie drew a deep breath and said to the guards behind him, “Withdraw.”

The guards raised their command flags and sounded the retreat horn. The Xichou soldiers blocking the ravine began to pull back.

Shao Feijie shouted at Feng Tianzong, “Let him go!”

Feng Tianzong replied loudly, “Once we’re out, we’ll naturally release him. Marshal Shao needn’t worry. Have your ambush withdraw as well.”

Shao Feijie’s voice was icy. “All of you, withdraw.”

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 13

Huo Fenghua traveled for two days straight and finally reached Licheng, a large frontier city on the edge of Xichou. Licheng had only recently been through the flames of war. Now Donglin troops were stationed inside and getting in and out required strict inspection. The city’s livelihood was bleak and withered. Every household kept its doors shut.

The moment he entered the city, he felt a twinge of regret. But when he glanced back at the soldiers guarding the gate, he didn’t dare leave right away for fear of drawing suspicion. He could only steel himself and keep walking deeper in.

He’d left Yujing in a hurry and hadn’t brought much silver with him. After wandering outside for so long, he had even less left. Before this, he’d been hoping that once he got to Licheng, he could find a gambling den and win some money back. Now, even if Licheng had gambling houses, they probably wouldn’t dare open.

Thinking of that, Huo Fenghua let out a heavy sigh, feeling he really should’ve just gone straight to Donglin, then headed east all the way to the wealthy coastal towns.

It wasn’t too late to regret it. He planned to find somewhere to stay in the city for one night, then leave first thing tomorrow. It was just that seeing soldiers moving around everywhere made him feel uneasy, and he couldn’t help slipping into secluded little alleys.

He had just ducked under an eave when something suddenly struck him on the head. Startled, he looked up and saw a man standing on a second-floor balcony across the street. The man looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wearing a light blue long robe. He was handsome and refined, and he smiled at Huo Fenghua. “Young man, come up and have a cup of wine.”

Huo Fenghua said, puzzled, “Did you throw something at me?”

The man nodded. He pinched a peanut between his fingers and tossed it toward Huo Fenghua again, saying, “I’ve got wine and some snacks. Want to come up and drink a couple cups?”

Huo Fenghua was suspicious. He didn’t know why this man would invite him for no reason. But he didn’t have much money himself, and he was thinking about the road ahead, so he didn’t dare eat or drink too lavishly. Since someone was offering to treat him, he might as well go take a look first.

So he cupped his hands toward the man. “Sure. Many thanks, brother. I’ll come up right now.”

Across the street was a small wine shop, not very big and tucked away in a secluded spot. Huo Fenghua entered the main hall and saw it was chilly and empty, with hardly any guests. Only after he went upstairs to the second floor did he see two or three tables where people ate in silence. The man who’d invited him sat alone on the balcony. In front of him, a table held three or four dishes and a jar of wine.

Huo Fenghua walked over and cupped his hands again. “Brother, you’re so generous. May I ask your honored name?”

The man picked up the wine jar and poured himself a cup. He didn’t answer. Instead he asked, “You’re from Donglin, aren’t you?”

Huo Fenghua hesitated briefly. “Yes.”

The man smiled. “I’m from Donglin too. It’s rare to meet a fellow countryman in a foreign land. Tell me, shouldn’t I treat you to a cup of wine?” As he spoke, he invited Huo Fenghua to sit across from him, and he filled Huo Fenghua’s cup to the brim as well.

Huo Fenghua said, “Yes, yes!” but he didn’t actually want to drink. He only picked up his chopsticks and ate two slices of beef first. When he saw the man didn’t react, he said, “My name is Su Fenghua. How should I address you, brother?”

“You’re Su Fenghua?” The man lifted his eyes to him, smiling faintly. “My name is Wen Heyi. I’m a bit older than you. You can call me Brother Wen.”

Huo Fenghua hadn’t even swallowed the beef and almost choked. He picked up his cup and took a sip of wine, then wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “You’re Wen Heyi?”

Wen Heyi’s gaze held a trace of doubt. “You know me?”

But Huo Fenghua was thinking, ‘How could it be this coincidental?’ Back then, when Gu Guangji passed the position of sect leader to him, the only thing he’d told him to do was to find the missing martial uncle, Wen Heyi. At the time, Huo Fenghua had thought the world was vast and the sea of people endless. How could he possibly find him? He hadn’t taken it to heart.

And yet now, after circling around and around, in Xichou a stranger invited him for wine, and that stranger turned out to be Wen Heyi.

He lowered his voice and leaned in a little. “Are you Wen Heyi of the Xianyuan Sect? Do you have a Senior Brother named Gu Guangji?”

The confusion in Wen Heyi’s eyes deepened. “You know who I am, and you know my Senior Brother too?”

Huo Fenghua cupped his hands toward him. “This isn’t a convenient place for proper rites. Disciple Su Fenghua pays respects to Martial Uncle Wen.” In truth, he just didn’t want to kneel to Wen Heyi.

Wen Heyi raised his head and narrowed his eyes slightly as he sized Huo Fenghua up. “You’re Gu Guangji’s disciple? Gu Guangji only has one disciple. I remember the name was Su Zeyang.”

Huo Fenghua said, “I’m his final disciple. And after taking me as his disciple, Master also passed the sect leader position to me.” With that, he pulled out the sect leader token Gu Guangji had given him and set it on the table.

Wen Heyi reached out, picked up the token, and examined it carefully. After a moment, he placed it back on the table. “It really is the sect leader token. You’re truly my martial nephew? The sect leader of our sect?”

Huo Fenghua was a little excited now. If he’d found his martial uncle, things would be easier. He could borrow some silver from him. If he got even luckier, and Wen Heyi was willing to follow orders from him as sect leader, that would be even better.

He said, “Of course. Before Master went traveling, his final instruction to me was to find Martial Uncle and bring you back to the sect. I just didn’t expect Martial Uncle to look so young.” He’d always assumed Wen Heyi had to be at least forty or fifty. He hadn’t expected him to still look like a young man.

Wen Heyi nodded. “So that’s how it is. But when did you change your surname to Su?”

“What?” Huo Fenghua was still feeling puzzled when he suddenly heard the sound of several people climbing the stairs. He turned his head and saw the leading man dressed in gray-white coarse cloth, made up like a farmer, but it was unmistakably Tao Yifei, the one who’d brought him all the way to Xichou.

Damn it! Huo Fenghua cursed inwardly. Before he could think, he suddenly dove under the table, hiding by Wen Heyi’s legs.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Heyi lowered his head and asked.

Huo Fenghua tugged Wen Heyi’s robe hem up in front of his face, keeping his voice low. “Martial Uncle, these people want to catch me. Help me. Don’t let them take me away.”

“Why do they want to catch you?” Wen Heyi asked.

Huo Fenghua didn’t dare answer, because Tao Yifei and his group had already reached their table. He could only think bitterly how enemies always met on narrow roads*. He’d run in a huge circle to get here, and yet he still ran into them.

*(冤家路窄) Idiom referring to encountering people you don’t want to meet (like enemies). 

This time, it looked like he couldn’t escape. He could only rely on Wen Heyi. Wen Heyi was Su Zeyang’s martial uncle, after all. Maybe his martial arts were even stronger, and he could get Huo Fenghua out of here safely.

Huo Fenghua pinned all his hopes on Wen Heyi saving him. But Wen Heyi suddenly reached down, grabbed the back of his clothes, and tried to pull him up. Huo Fenghua clung tightly to Wen Heyi’s leg, and Wen Heyi couldn’t yank him out in one go.

Wen Heyi couldn’t help letting out a snort of laughter. “Enough. Cowering like that, what do you look like? You’re at least the dignified Xichou imperial prince.”

“What?” Huo Fenghua stared up at him, stunned.

This time Wen Heyi yanked Huo Fenghua up and tossed him to the men already gathered around the table. Tao Yifei immediately seized his wrist, his voice full of resentful anger. “Your Highness, you made us search so hard.”

Huo Fenghua’s eyes widened as he glared at Wen Heyi. “Martial Uncle?”

Wen Heyi rose from the table, smoothing the wrinkles in his robe with an easy, unhurried air.

Huo Fenghua still couldn’t believe it. “Martial Uncle, aren’t you from Donglin? How did you become Xichou’s lapdog?”

Wen Heyi didn’t get angry. He only said to Tao Yifei, “Commander Tao, have him shut his mouth first. Otherwise I’m afraid we won’t be able to leave Licheng.”

Tao Yifei said, “Yes, Mr. Wen.”

As soon as he finished speaking, someone pressed a wet cloth over Huo Fenghua’s mouth and nose. He didn’t know what kind of drug was on it, but in an instant it made him lose consciousness. He went limp and collapsed into Tao Yifei’s arms.

When Huo Fenghua woke again, it was on horseback, jolted awake by the bouncing. When Tao Yifei had brought him from Donglin’s Yujing to Xichou, he’d still shown respect for his status as a prince and treated him with courtesy along the way. But now, under Wen Heyi, there was no mercy at all. They’d tied him crosswise over the horse’s back, belly pressed into the saddle, head and feet hanging down. After a few jolts he felt like death would be kinder, and he yelled, “Let me go! The blood’s rushing to my head, I’m going to die!”

Someone rode alongside him and asked in a low voice, “Second Prince, are you all right?”

Huo Fenghua struggled to lift his head and saw it was Jia Duo. He hurriedly said, “Untie me! I’m going to throw up.”

“Jia Duo!” Wen Heyi suddenly barked. “I’ve said it already. From now on he’s no longer Huo Fenghua, but Huo Fengnian. Did you forget?”

Jia Duo immediately answered, “Yes, Mister Wen. This subordinate was careless.”

Huo Fenghua was still dazed when Wen Heyi slowed his horse and rode up beside him. “If you stop yelling, I’ll let you go.”

Huo Fenghua hurriedly said, “I won’t yell anymore. Let me go first.”

Wen Heyi leaned over, grabbed Huo Fenghua at the small of his back, and with a jolt shattered the ropes binding him. He hauled him up and set him onto the horse properly.

The moment Wen Heyi let go, Huo Fenghua hugged the horse’s neck in panic. “I can’t ride!”

Wen Heyi’s tone stayed calm. “Clamp your legs to the horse’s belly and hold the reins tight. If you fall, that’s your own problem.”

Huo Fenghua had no choice but to grab the reins at once and clamp his legs tightly to the horse. He tugged the reins a little and felt the horse’s speed slow somewhat, and only then did he ease up.

“Eldest Prince,” Wen Heyi called to him from the side.

Huo Fenghua didn’t dare get distracted, but he still asked, bewildered, “What did you call me?”

Wen Heyi said, “I told you. Starting now, you’re no longer Huo Fenghua. You are Xichou’s crown prince, Huo Fengnian.”

Huo Fenghua lifted his head. They were in wild hills and forests. Their group, nearly ten men, rode hard as if they were already far from Licheng. He vaguely understood what Wen Heyi meant, but he didn’t dare be sure. “Why?”

Wen Heyi laughed once. “No reason. What I say goes.”

“Wen Heyi!” Huo Fenghua said furiously. “Have you forgotten I’m the sect leader of the Xianyuan Sect?”

“You aren’t anymore,” Wen Heyi said lazily. He drew the sect leader token from his chest. “This token is mine now. I’m the sect leader. And you are Xichou’s eldest prince, Huo Fengnian. Remember that.”

Huo Fenghua was furious, but he forced himself to calm down. He hadn’t expected Wen Heyi to be even more shameless than he was. For the moment, he couldn’t think of any way to escape their hands.

So he asked evenly, “Why do I have to be Huo Fengnian?”

Wen Heyi glanced at him with disdain. “Because Huo Fenghua is Feng Tianzong’s male concubine. How can a male concubine become a country’s ruler?”

Huo Fenghua said, “Plenty of Xichou people have seen Huo Fengnian. You think I can pretend to be him forever?”

Wen Heyi suddenly reined in his horse and looked at Huo Fenghua with suspicion. “Are you really Huo Fenghua?”

Huo Fenghua quickly said, “I’m not. I told you, my name is Su Fenghua.”

Wen Heyi snorted. “If you were Huo Fenghua, you wouldn’t be ignorant that you and your elder brother Huo Fengnian are twins. From face to build, there isn’t a single place you don’t resemble him.”

Huo Fenghua froze. From the moment he’d come here until now, this was the first time anyone had told him that the two Xichou princes were twins. How would he have known?

While he was still stunned, Wen Heyi suddenly flicked his whip at the horse’s rump under him. The horse immediately broke into a sprint. Huo Fenghua had to grip the reins tightly so he wouldn’t be thrown off.

Wen Heyi said, “Stop wasting time. Marshal Shao is still waiting for us.”

They hurried on for another seven or eight days. Huo Fenghua’s inner thighs were rubbed raw and bleeding, and he was shaken so badly that even in his dreams he was still riding. He deeply regretted abandoning Su Zeyang and running off. Miserably, he wondered if this was his punishment for bullying and betraying Su Zeyang.

And it seemed that to avoid Donglin troops, they took nothing but rugged mountain paths the entire way. Sometimes the weeds on a hillside were so thick they nearly covered the horses’ bellies. It could hardly even be called a road, but they still forced their way through.

That day, when they passed a dilapidated post station, a man in black came out and handed Wen Heyi a sealed letter.

Wen Heyi opened it and swept his eyes over it once, then smiled.

Tao Yifei asked, “Mister Wen, are we heading back to Tiantou Stronghold now?”

Wen Heyi said, “We’re not going back to Tiantou. We’re going straight to Luofeng Ridge. Feng Tianzong has fallen into Marshal Shao’s trap. He’s already headed to Luofeng Ridge with fifty personal guards. We’ll hit him from both sides and make sure he doesn’t leave alive.”

At once the group’s morale surged, and they raised their hands and shouted, “Yes!”

Only Huo Fenghua sat there gaping, silently repeating that familiar name in his mind: Feng Tianzong.

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

Chapter 12

After two more days of recuperation, apart from the injury in his shoulder, Huo Fenghua had basically recovered. Su Zeyang was also fine overall, but a fractured bone still needed rest, so he couldn’t easily get out of bed.

Huo Fenghua grew increasingly restless. Once Su Zeyang recovered, he truly wouldn’t be able to get away. Even with Su Zeyang missing the use of one leg, if Su Zeyang wanted to keep him in place, Huo Fenghua might not have any chance to escape.

That evening, after dinner, Huo Fenghua carried the basket out and saw the host’s daughter in the courtyard, boiling Su Zeyang’s medicinal brew. He walked over and chatted with the girl.

A mountain girl like her had never seen such a handsome young man. After a few sentences, she got shy and fell silent, only fanning the stove with a palm-leaf fan.

Just then, her mother called to her from inside. The girl sat up straight and turned her head to look. Huo Fenghua casually took the fan from her hand and smiled.

“I’ll do it. Go see what your mother needs.”

The girl glanced at him and ran inside.

Huo Fenghua fanned the stove twice, lifted his head and checked that there was no one else in the yard, then poured the packet of powder he’d stolen from the innkeeper at the black shop into the clay pot of medicine.

He took the spoon beside it and stirred the powder in, thinking to himself, ‘Senior Brother, don’t blame me. We’ll part ways here. Once you’re well, you can go back and be a perfect pair with the General, and I’ll find a place to live my own quiet life, marry, have children. We’ll never see each other again.’

When he saw the powder dissolve into the medicine without color or smell, he set the spoon aside, sat down on the low stool, and fanned the fire attentively.

That night, Huo Fenghua watched with his own eyes as Su Zeyang bent forward and drank the entire bowl. Huo Fenghua took the bowl out and set it on the windowsill. Returning, he closed the door, climbed into bed, and lay flat, saying “Let’s sleep.”

Su Zeyang slowly lay down as well.

Huo Fenghua reached out and tucked the blanket over him. “Senior Brother, you’ve been lying down all day. If the weather’s good tomorrow, how about I carry you out to see the scenery?”

Su Zeyang sounded a little tired as he said softly, “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“I saw the moon earlier,” Huo Fenghua said. “It’ll probably be clear tomorrow.”

This time Su Zeyang didn’t answer.

Huo Fenghua lay silently for a while, then rolled over to face Su Zeyang. By the moonlight slipping in through the window, he saw Su Zeyang’s eyes were closed and his breathing was calm, as if he’d fallen asleep.

He called softly, “Senior Brother.”

There was no response.

Afraid Su Zeyang was only ignoring him, Huo Fenghua reached over and took Su Zeyang’s hand.

“Senior Brother, are you asleep? If you’re not asleep, let me kiss you.”

Still no response.

Huo Fenghua thought that knockout powder from that shady inn really worked. Su Zeyang hadn’t been asleep long, yet he was already out cold. Even so, Huo Fenghua didn’t dare be careless. He was afraid Su Zeyang had only just fallen asleep and might wake easily, so he lay there a while longer. When Su Zeyang still didn’t move, Huo Fenghua quietly sat up, planning to get dressed and leave.

Just as Huo Fenghua reached out to pick up the robe draped over the side of the bed, he suddenly heard Su Zeyang let out a soft groan. He was instantly startled and froze, remaining motionless in his sitting position on the bed. After a while, Su Zeyang seemed to stir, letting out a faint groan.

This time, Huo Fenghua felt something was wrong. He turned to look at Su Zeyang and saw that his eyes were tightly closed, but his brows were slightly furrowed, and his breathing was rapid.  He reached out and touched him, finding his palms wet and hot, and his forehead covered in sweat.

“Senior Brother?” Huo Fenghua became a little nervous and leaned closer to him, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Su Zeyang had been fine until that evening, but now he was suddenly acting strangely. Huo Fenghua was anxious and regretful, and he couldn’t leave, only thinking about how he had given Su Zeyang that unknown substance.

Su Zeyang’s lips were slightly parted, and he was breathing heavily. Huo Fenghua felt that his neck was covered in sweat, so he quickly reached out and loosened his inner garment collar, then pulled back the blanket covering him.

Upon doing so, Huo Fenghua was stunned. Su Zeyang’s clothes were thin, and the outline of his white underpants was clearly visible.  Combined with his sweating and heavy breathing, Huo Fenghua immediately understood that the packet of medicine was not just ordinary sleeping powder; it was probably an aphrodisiac.

Su Zeyang was unconscious but not completely knocked out. He seemed to want to move his body, his legs restlessly curling up.

Huo Fenghua was afraid he would injure his broken left leg, so he quickly reached out and held his legs down, saying, “Senior Brother, don’t move.” But after that, he didn’t know what to do. If he left Su Zeyang alone, he didn’t know if the medicine would harm him.

After much internal struggle, Huo Fenghua heard Su Zeyang’s breathing becoming more rapid and distressed. Finally, he sighed, gently pulled down Su Zeyang’s trousers a little, and reached out to grasp his erection. Huo Fenghua had never carefully examined another man’s genitals before, but now, holding Su Zeyang’s, he didn’t feel any revulsion. He only thought that Su Zeyang was handsome, and that his cock wasn’t bad either; it was light in color, straight, and quite large.

He sighed. Since things had gone this far, he simply reached out and unbuttoned Su Zeyang’s shirt, exposing his body completely to his view.

Su Zeyang’s skin was fair and supple, his waist slender, and his abdomen flat. There wasn’t an ounce of excess fat on his entire body; his thin muscles were evenly distributed.  Anyone, male or female, would find this body attractive, and Huo Fenghua was no exception.  Using the moonlight from the window, he stared intently at Su Zeyang, seeing his nipples erect and cherry-red. He couldn’t help but swallow, changing his position to kneel over Su Zeyang, caressing his swollen lower body while simultaneously sucking on one of his nipples.

Su Zeyang let out a low moan. “Mm—” The sound was trembling and full of desire.

This moan made Huo Fenghua slightly shiver as well, feeling his pants suddenly tighten. He, a man, was getting aroused by another man in bed.

When Huo Fenghua released Su Zeyang’s nipple, a silver thread of saliva stretched from his lips. He thought that if anyone was to blame, it was probably this body; perhaps it had always been attracted to men, truly shameless.  

Yet, he raised his left hand to loosen his own clothes. His left shoulder wound hadn’t healed, and his fingers trembled, making it difficult to move. It took him some time to loosen his clothes and pull down his pants. He remained in the same position, legs spread apart, lying on top of Su Zeyang, and lowered his head to kiss his lips.

Tonight was different from that night. Su Zeyang easily opened his mouth, his soft, wet tongue intertwining with his. Two equally fair-skinned bodies were pressed tightly together. Huo Fenghua felt his nipples harden, and the friction against Su Zeyang’s chest made him feel both tingly and itchy, causing him to gasp for breath and his body to tremble slightly. His lower body was also pressed against Su Zeyang’s. 

Unable to use his left hand, he supported himself with his right, mimicking a thrusting motion, rubbing haphazardly against Su Zeyang’s groin.

Both men became increasingly aroused. Huo Fenghua felt an insatiable desire. He looked up at Su Zeyang, whose eyes were flushed, his expression dazed. He leaned close to Su Zeyang’s ear and whispered, “Since you like it, Senior Brother, why don’t we take it a little further?”

After saying this, Huo Fenghua felt somewhat shameless, his cheeks burning intensely, whether from arousal or embarrassment. He helped Su Zeyang lie on his side, spreading his legs and straddling Su Zeyang’s right leg.  He carefully lifted Su Zeyang’s left leg, resting it on his uninjured right shoulder, and reached down to explore between Su Zeyang’s ass.

At this moment, Huo Fenghua noticed a phoenix-shaped brand on Su Zeyang’s left waist while his fingers touched Su Zeyang’s opening. He quickly withdrew his hand, instead of gripping his own erection, and attempted to penetrate Su Zeyang.

He had never done this with a man before and only realized how narrow the opening was when he tried to enter. When he used too much force, Su Zeyang would frown and moan softly, clearly in pain.

Huo Fenghua’s lower body ached with frustration, unwilling to give up. He hugged Su Zeyang again, kissing and caressing him, making him wet and soft all over. Then he spat some saliva to use as lubrication, gritted his teeth, and forced himself inside. Su Zeyang’s body was hot and wet, his cavity tightly gripping Huo Fenghua’s cock. He almost came immediately but quickly stopped to regain his composure before holding Su Zeyang’s legs again and beginning to thrust.

At first, Su Zeyang probably felt uncomfortable. Huo Fenghua waited until the movements became smooth, then changed angles, thrusting until he saw Su Zeyang’s brows relax slightly and his moans become a little more intense. Only then did he speed up and thrust vigorously, shaking the bed until it creaked and groaned.

After countless rounds, Huo Fenghua couldn’t hold back any longer. His whole body tensed, and he came inside Su Zeyang with a shiver. His vision blurred, and he almost collapsed onto Su Zeyang. 

However, at the crucial moment, he still considered Su Zeyang’s leg injury, carefully withdrawing himself and gently lowering Su Zeyang’s legs before rolling over onto his back on the bed, breathing heavily.

After a while, he heard Su Zeyang still moaning. Turning to look, he noticed that Su Zeyang’s cock was still hard and swollen. His face flushed, and he whispered, “This junior brother has been injured repeatedly these past few days, so his stamina is really insufficient.” 

He rolled over, reaching out to caress Su Zeyang’s penis, still feeling dissatisfied, and added, “I haven’t done this in a long time, unlike you and the General who indulge in debauchery every night.”

After saying this, Huo Fenghua felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, and he quickened his movements until Su Zeyang climaxed in his hand. He smeared the viscous fluid onto Su Zeyang’s flat abdomen and said, “If the General ever leaves you, or if you stop loving him, come find me. I—” He stopped halfway, feeling that it wasn’t right. 

He couldn’t just wait forever for the day Su Zeyang would come to him. He could only sigh deeply, embrace Su Zeyang’s face, and kiss him tenderly. When he let go, he saw that Su Zeyang’s expression was calm and his breathing steady, knowing that the effects of the medicine had probably worn off. He then rolled over and got out of bed. When he reached the bedside, Huo Fenghua’s legs went weak and he almost fell, quickly grabbing onto the back of a nearby chair for support. He thought to himself, “Dying for a beauty is a worthy death*,” but unfortunately, he didn’t want to die yet, so he had to run away.

*To die under the peony, (even as a ghost, is still romantic). It’s an expression in the past used to convey dying for love without regret, though recent reference to it is more of a vulgar connotation; aka even if it kills me, it’s worth it (referring to pleasure/sex).

He straightened his inner garments, wrapped himself in his outer robe and put on his cloth boots. He gathered his belongings and tucked them into his chest, gritted his teeth, and without looking back at Su Zeyang, quietly opened the door and slipped out.

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