Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 11

Huo Fenghua woke up from the pain in his shoulder.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that dawn was just starting to break. They were on a rocky shore overgrown with weeds. Farther off he could faintly hear the sound of water, maybe from behind the low ridge ahead.

He also realized he was leaning in Su Zeyang’s arms. Part of his clothes had been torn open, exposing the arrow wound in his shoulder.

“You’re awake?” Su Zeyang asked.

Huo Fenghua nodded, braced himself, and sat up facing him.

Su Zeyang was sitting on the ground too, sword in hand. “I’m going to pull the arrow out for you. Bear with it.”

Huo Fenghua went pale. “Pull it out? How am I supposed to bear that?”

Su Zeyang grabbed his sleeve, cut off a strip with his sword, folded it a few times, and motioned to him. “Come here.”

Huo Fenghua understood what he meant. Thinking about the pain of having the arrow yanked out of his body, he couldn’t help trembling. Cold sweat poured down his face. He’d lost a lot of blood too, and he was already weak to the point of collapse. With a pale face he took a few deep breaths. After making up his mind, he copied the position from before, leaning back and half reclining into Su Zeyang’s arms, then said, “Do it.”

Su Zeyang stuffed the cloth into his mouth for him to bite down on, then lifted a hand and gripped the fletched shaft at his shoulder.

Huo Fenghua clenched the cloth between his teeth and shut his eyes tight.

Su Zeyang suddenly exerted force. With one swift motion he yanked the arrow out. Blood surged from the wound at once. Su Zeyang poured on the hemostatic powder he carried and tightly wrapped the wound with strips torn from a clean undershirt.

Huo Fenghua’s face was white as snow, drenched in sweat. It felt like he’d died once already. Slumped in Su Zeyang’s arms, he didn’t move except to gasp for air. Even the cloth in his mouth was taken out by Su Zeyang reaching over to remove it.

Across two lifetimes, he’d never felt pain like that. It hurt so badly he nearly blacked out.

At this moment, Su Zeyang said, “Go.”

Huo Fenghua froze. He didn’t even have the strength to lift his head to look at him. After panting for a long while, he finally asked, “Go where?”

“Anywhere,” Su Zeyang said. “If you don’t want to go back to the capital, find someplace to hide.”

Something felt off. Huo Fenghua struggled upright, forcing himself to endure the stabbing pain in his shoulder. He turned to look at Su Zeyang and saw that Su Zeyang’s face was also an unnatural pale, yet he calmly wiped down his sword with a soft cloth. Huo Fenghua couldn’t help asking, “You’re not coming with me?”

Su Zeyang lifted his eyes to him. “When I fell, my left leg slammed into a piece of broken stone. It’s fractured.”

Huo Fenghua looked down in surprise. Su Zeyang’s left leg was indeed lying limp on the rocky shore. No wonder he’d stayed seated while pulling out the arrow instead of standing.

“What do we do?” Huo Fenghua asked.

Su Zeyang looked up at the cliff they’d fallen from. “The Xichou soldiers will come looking for you. You go first.”

Huo Fenghua said, “And you? If I run, do you think they’ll let you off?”

Su Zeyang’s expression stayed flat. “Life and death are fate.”

“Cut it out. Your General Feng is still waiting for you to get back so you can be together again,” Huo Fenghua said, and even he thought the words sounded sour coming from his mouth.

Su Zeyang didn’t respond. He only lowered his head to look at his sword, as if he truly didn’t care about his own life.

Huo Fenghua sighed. Using his uninjured right hand, he pushed himself up. Darkness swam in front of his eyes. He steadied himself through the dizziness, squatted down in front of Su Zeyang, and said, “Come on, Senior Brother. We’ll go together.”

Su Zeyang stared at his back as if dazed. “If you carry me, we’ll just die together.”

“When we fell from up there, I thought we were going to die together anyway,” Huo Fenghua said.

Su Zeyang didn’t respond.

Huo Fenghua urged him, “Hurry. I’m riding on one burst of momentum right now. If I wait, I won’t even have the strength to stand up.”

Only then did Su Zeyang brace himself with his hands, rise with support from his right leg, and climb onto Huo Fenghua’s back. The instant Su Zeyang’s weight settled, Huo Fenghua’s whole body shook. Su Zeyang almost thought he would collapse, but Huo Fenghua gritted his teeth and forced himself to hold.

Huo Fenghua breathed hard and used his right hand to hook under Su Zeyang’s leg. “Which way?”

Su Zeyang raised a hand and pointed toward the direction of the water. “Find the river and follow it downstream. There should be people living there.”

Huo Fenghua nodded, clenched his teeth, and carried Su Zeyang around the back of the low ridge.

Daylight had fully arrived. The mountain air in the morning was fresh, and the temperature was low.

Huo Fenghua stumbled over the rocks, one foot deep and one foot shallow. His breathing was harsh and heavy, and as he walked he kept talking. “I know you don’t actually want to die with me. There’s only Feng Tianzong in your heart. If I really die, you’ll just toss me farther away. Out of sight, out of mind.”

Su Zeyang said, “Earlier you said you wanted me to bury you.”

Huo Fenghua gasped for breath. He felt the person on his back slide down a bit. He hauled him up with effort, paused to rest in place for a moment, then continued forward. “Your leg’s broken. What burying? Just throw me to the side.”

Su Zeyang didn’t answer.

Huo Fenghua kept going anyway. “Such a pretty pair of legs. Too bad you won’t be able to hook them over Feng Tianzong’s shoulders anymore.”

“That’s enough,” Su Zeyang said coldly. “If you’ve got strength to talk nonsense, save it for walking.”

“I can’t,” Huo Fenghua said. “If I don’t talk, I’ll feel like I can’t hold on. Even nonsense is fine. I’ll just talk. If you don’t like listening, then don’t.”

Hearing that, Su Zeyang reached out and touched Huo Fenghua’s forehead. It was slick with cold sweat. When he pulled his hand back, it was drenched.

Huo Fenghua kept muttering as he walked. After nearly half an hour, they rounded the ridge and saw a small mountain river. The water rushed happily, crashing into the rocks along the bank and splashing up countless white sprays.

Huo Fenghua reached the river, set Su Zeyang down, and they drank some river water. After resting for a while, he hoisted Su Zeyang onto his back again and kept going.

This time they followed the river downstream. Huo Fenghua was still talking, but Su Zeyang could barely make out what he was saying. Later he heard a steady humming and realized Huo Fenghua was humming a tune.

The melody was strange. Su Zeyang couldn’t help asking, “What song is that?”

“‘Love For Sale’,” Huo Fenghua said.

Su Zeyang murmured, “Weird.”

Huo Fenghua’s enunciation cleared a little and he sang one line: “Selling my love, forcing me to leave, when I finally learn the truth, my tears fall…”

Su Zeyang gave a cold snort. The lyrics were too vulgar to be elegant, but tiredness washed over him and he leaned his head onto Huo Fenghua’s shoulder.

Huo Fenghua continued singing for a while, then stopped. He had no strength left. Carrying Su Zeyang, he’d already walked more than twenty li, and still they hadn’t seen any sign of civilization.

He didn’t dare stop. He was afraid that if he stopped, he’d never stand back up.

In the forested mountains there was only his heavy breathing and his unsteady footsteps.

Now and then, Su Zeyang would wipe the sweat from Huo Fenghua’s forehead so it wouldn’t run into his eyes, but he also didn’t dare tell him to stop. A nameless panic kept pressing down on him, terrified that Huo Fenghua would suddenly collapse and never wake again.

But Huo Fenghua made it through. After another li or so, he suddenly saw terraced fields and wooden houses. He tried to speak, only to realize his throat was hoarse and he could barely get a sound out.

Su Zeyang said by his ear, “It’s a small mountain village. I see people. You can stop and rest for a while.”

Huo Fenghua stopped. His chest heaved violently. He first tried to crouch and set Su Zeyang down at the roadside, but his legs couldn’t support him. He dropped to his knees, then pitched forward and lost consciousness.

Su Zeyang immediately slid off his back, gathered Huo Fenghua’s head into his arms, and called, “Huo Fenghua?” As he called, he rubbed at his chest, wiped away the cold sweat from his neck and chest, and listened. Only when he confirmed the heartbeat was steady and the breathing even did he relax slightly. He held Huo Fenghua close, lifted his head, and shouted to someone approaching, “Brother!”

Huo Fenghua and Su Zeyang were brought back by a village household. Su Zeyang gave them a few taels of silver and asked them to fetch a doctor and buy two sets of clean clothes for them to change into.

This place sat on the border between Xichou and Donglin. The villagers were all Xichou people. Because the mountains hemmed them in and the place was remote, the war hadn’t reached them, but outside the village toward the towns, the situation seemed much more severe.

Huo Fenghua had lost blood and overexerted himself until he was drained. He lay in bed for two or three days before he had the strength to get up. Su Zeyang’s spirits were better, but his leg bone was broken. Although the doctor had set it, it was healing slowly so he didn’t dare to move much.

Mountain folks were poor. The family barely managed to clear out a bed for them. For these days, the two of them could only sleep in the same bed.

When Huo Fenghua woke up, he rested his head on Su Zeyang’s shoulder and rubbed against him for a while. “Senior Brother, why did you change into clothes from outside and you still smell good?”

Su Zeyang ignored him, leaning against the bed and staring at his sword as if lost in thought.

Someone knocked at the door. It was the host’s daughter bringing food. Huo Fenghua rolled off the bed. When his feet hit the floor, his legs still felt weak and he nearly collapsed to his knees.

He steadied himself, went to open the door and took the basket, thanked the girl, then shut the door and returned to the bed. He said to Su Zeyang, “Senior Brother, I’ll feed you.”

Su Zeyang straightened. “My hands aren’t broken.”

Huo Fenghua immediately covered his left shoulder with his right hand. “Then you should be feeding me.”

Su Zeyang didn’t bother with him.

After they finished eating, Huo Fenghua took the basket out himself. Outside was a small courtyard. The household had five people: a husband and wife, a son and daughter, and an elderly father.

Huo Fenghua chatted with the old man, who was squatting on the ground smoking a water pipe. He asked where this was, which direction Donglin lay in, and how long it would take to return to Donglin.

The old man rambled on and told him a lot.

When Huo Fenghua returned to the room, Su Zeyang asked, “What, thinking of running?”

Huo Fenghua sat by the bed. “How could I? I’m waiting for your leg to heal so I can take you with me.”

Su Zeyang glanced at him and said nothing.

Huo Fenghua took Su Zeyang’s hand. Seeing that Su Zeyang didn’t struggle, he pressed that hand against his own chest. “I know too. If we go back, you’ll never be close to me again. It’s rare to get the chance to share a bed like this. I’m counting each day I get. How could I bear to leave?”

Su Zeyang’s beautiful eyes blinked lightly. The look he gave Huo Fenghua was no longer his usual cold indifference but rather complicated.

Huo Fenghua held Su Zeyang’s hand tight against his chest, but what he was really thinking was that once Su Zeyang’s leg healed, he truly wouldn’t be able to run anymore. He had to seize the chance while Su Zeyang wasn’t mobile and slip away first.

But where would he slip to? This was the border between Donglin and Xichou. He didn’t plan to become a wild man forever. He had to find a bigger town to live in. Xichou had just gone through war, and its territory had been seized by Donglin. Donglin would definitely send more troops and officials to fully take over. When that happened, every household might have to re-register. For him, that might be a chance to change his identity and stay.

So should he go back to Donglin again?

Both countries had people who wanted to capture him. Which side would be safer, comparatively?

That night, Huo Fenghua lay in bed thinking. In the end he made up his mind. No matter where he went, he had to shake off Su Zeyang first.

After settling on that, he suddenly felt he’d wronged Su Zeyang. Su Zeyang had come all the way out of Yujing to find him. To save him, he’d fallen off a cliff and broken his leg. Yet Huo Fenghua still wanted to sneak away.

Guilt gnawed at him. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He flipped over onto his stomach, propped his head with his right hand, and stared at Su Zeyang in a daze.

Su Zeyang’s brows, eyes, nose, and lips were all beautiful. Heaven knew how the gods had crafted such a beauty. Even just looking at him made a person itch with longing. It was a pity, though, that his heart already belonged to someone else.

Huo Fenghua thought, even if he didn’t care that Su Zeyang was a man, Su Zeyang would never like him. There was only Feng Tianzong in his heart. This time, Su Zeyang had chased after him across great distances. Even if he didn’t say it, Huo Fenghua understood. If his hostage identity, married into the General’s household, got dragged back by Xichou remnants to take the throne and restore the kingdom, the entire General’s residence would be implicated. Su Zeyang chasing him back was, in the end, still for Feng Tianzong.

Thinking that, Huo Fenghua let out a heavy sigh.

In the darkness, Su Zeyang opened his eyes. “Why aren’t you sleeping? What are you staring at me for?”

“You’re handsome,” Huo Fenghua said.

Su Zeyang looked back at him without a sound.

They stared at each other in silence for a long time, and neither seemed uncomfortable. Then Huo Fenghua said, “Senior Brother, we went through life and death together. You jumped off a cliff for me, and I nearly worked myself to death for you. Let me kiss you once as a keepsake, okay?”

Su Zeyang didn’t speak.

Huo Fenghua didn’t wait for an answer. He leaned in and kissed Su Zeyang on the lips.

At first, Huo Fenghua thought he’d be pushed away immediately, but he wasn’t. Su Zeyang didn’t close his eyes and didn’t open his mouth. Huo Fenghua could only press against his soft lips, use his tongue to push between his lips, lightly lick along his teeth, then, after playing enough, take Su Zeyang’s lower lip into his mouth and suck at it. He kept kissing until Su Zeyang’s lips were smeared with his saliva. Only then did Huo Fenghua lift his head, wipe Su Zeyang’s mouth with his hand, and smile. “Let’s sleep.”

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 10

Huo Fenghua hurriedly pulled his clothes closed, then chased after Su Zeyang toward the exit. The two corpses on the floor lay at awkward angles, and he almost tripped over the innkeeper’s body. A thought struck him. He reached out and pulled the packet of knockout powder from the innkeeper’s belt, stuffed it into the inner pocket of his clothes, and only then said in a rush, “Senior Brother, wait for me,” as he chased him up the stairs.

These were two underground rooms. The passage spiraled upward the whole way. When they climbed out of the hidden tunnel, Huo Fenghua realized he was in a spacious kitchen, probably the inn’s kitchen.

Su Zeyang said, “This is a shady inn.”

Huo Fenghua asked curiously, “How did you find this place?”

Su Zeyang glanced at him. “Didn’t you leave me a sign? I guessed they were probably heading to Xichou. Based on the route your mark indicated, I got here a day earlier than you.”

Huo Fenghua thought it over. “So Jia Duo’s stomachache was because they drugged him?”

Su Zeyang pushed open the kitchen door and headed for the back courtyard. “They drugged the food, but you didn’t touch either of the two things.”

Huo Fenghua followed. The moment he stepped outside, he felt the strong wind and heavy rain lashing at his face. He had to lower his head and raise a hand to shield himself.

Su Zeyang led a horse out from the stable and said to Huo Fenghua, “Get on!”

Huo Fenghua quickly said, “I can’t ride a horse.”

Su Zeyang grabbed his arm with one hand and supported his waist with the other, lifting him onto the saddle. Then he sprang lightly onto the same horse, sitting behind Huo Fenghua. When he took the reins, he also pulled Huo Fenghua into his arms.

“Senior Brother,” Huo Fenghua tried to speak, but the moment he opened his mouth, rainwater poured in. He could only turn his head and bury his face against Su Zeyang’s chest.

Su Zeyang squeezed the horse’s belly with his legs. The horse immediately galloped toward the open gate. Right then, thunder cracked, and the downpour pounded the ground so violently it almost drowned out the sound of hooves. The two of them on one horse slipped out of the inn without a sound.

The rain had soaked his clothes through. His inner and outer robe were plastered to his body. Huo Fenghua could barely open his eyes. When he managed to look ahead, he saw only darkness. Occasionally lightning split the sky, and he couldn’t help trembling. In that brief flash, he saw the outline of a ridge in the distance, like a giant beast crouching in wait.

He wished he could turn around and cling to Su Zeyang instead. All he could do was press his lips close to Su Zeyang’s ear and say, “Senior Brother, it’s so dark. Do you even know the way?”

Su Zeyang didn’t answer.

Huo Fenghua said again, “We’re drenched. If we keep going like this, I’m afraid I’ll get struck by lightning. Why not find somewhere nearby so we can shelter from the rain?”

Su Zeyang finally replied, “We’re going up the mountain.”

They had already ridden far from the town and onto a mountain road. The path was rough to begin with, and in a stormy night like this, the horse slowed more and more, occasionally sinking into mud. Eventually, even when Su Zeyang tapped it with his scabbard, it refused to move.

Huo Fenghua said, “Senior Brother, stop hitting it. That’s cruel.”

Su Zeyang jumped down and said, “Get down. We’ll walk.”

Huo Fenghua froze. When he swung himself off, he nearly fell, but Su Zeyang grabbed his collar and steadied him. Huo Fenghua asked blankly, “What about the horse?”

Su Zeyang had already turned and started walking forward. Huo Fenghua held the reins and called out, “Hey!” Seeing Su Zeyang had no intention of stopping, he could only tell the horse, “Go back the way you came, to that town. Better wait until the rain stops before you move. Find somewhere to shelter first.”

Only then did he hurry after Su Zeyang, stumbling along the muddy road, wiping rain from his face now and then. “How long are we going to walk?”

Su Zeyang didn’t answer, only said, “You’re kind to a horse, at least.”

Huo Fenghua said, “It’s still a life.”

Gamblers were more or less superstitious. He had even followed his dad for a time to eat vegetarian meals and go up the mountain to release turtles. Gambling was basically cheating people, so he felt especially soft toward animals, like he was trying to make up for something. As for what he was making up for, even he couldn’t say clearly.

He followed Su Zeyang along the mountain road for nearly half an hour. Su Zeyang never slowed. Huo Fenghua couldn’t take it anymore. He dropped to the ground and said, “Senior Brother, I really can’t walk anymore. Why don’t you go on without me?”

Su Zeyang stopped and looked back.

Huo Fenghua panted, pressing a hand to his chest. “I’m serious. I can’t.”

Su Zeyang tilted his head and scanned the surroundings. After a moment he said, “Less than ten feet ahead there’s a cave. We’ll take shelter there for now.”

Huo Fenghua propped himself up and tried to look, but ahead was nothing but darkness. He couldn’t see any cave at all, so he said, “Senior Brother, you’re lying to me.”

Su Zeyang said coldly, “Suit yourself,” and turned to walk on.

Huo Fenghua swallowed. The rain in the mountains roared in his ears, and he couldn’t see anything around him. If he left Su Zeyang, he truly might not survive. So he followed again.

This time Su Zeyang hadn’t lied. They went less than ten feet, and there really was a cave above the slope. Su Zeyang sprang up to the entrance and held out a hand.

Huo Fenghua rose onto his toes, took his hand, and was pulled up.

The cave was shallow. After barely a dozen steps, it ended. Still, it didn’t leak, and it was dry inside.

Huo Fenghua pulled out an oilpaper-wrapped bundle from his chest. Inside were the token and manual Gu Guangji had given him, the knockout powder he had just taken off the dead man, and a fire striker.

He blew the striker to life. He had just made out Su Zeyang’s outline when Su Zeyang reached over, snatched the fire striker, and capped it with the bamboo tube. “Put it out.”

Huo Fenghua asked, “Why?”

Su Zeyang said, “This cave is too shallow. If someone comes after us, they’ll spot the firelight easily.”

Huo Fenghua hugged himself. “But I’m freezing. At least let us light a fire to dry our clothes.”

“No,” Su Zeyang said, leaving no room for argument.

“Then if I…” Before he could finish, Huo Fenghua sneezed twice in a row. Only then did he add weakly, “If I freeze to death, I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother, to bring my body back. Don’t bury me too far. Bury me in the front courtyard of the General’s Manor. When you pass by now and then, spare me a glance, and I’ll be satisfied.”

“Shut up,” Su Zeyang said. He shifted and sat down beside Huo Fenghua, then pulled him into his arms.

Huo Fenghua leaned against his chest, stunned, and murmured, “Senior Brother.”

Su Zeyang closed his eyes and circulated his internal qi.

Huo Fenghua felt the faint warmth from him. It was still cold, but much better than before. He adjusted his position, pressing his cheek to Su Zeyang’s chest, smelling rainwater on him. “Senior Brother, is your white robe turning gray?”

Su Zeyang didn’t respond at first. After a while he said coldly, “So much nonsense. If you still have energy to talk, should we keep traveling?”

Huo Fenghua immediately shut up. He closed his eyes and rested quietly in Su Zeyang’s arms.

He seemed to have dozed off. He didn’t know how much time had passed when a chaotic rush of hoofbeats startled him awake. He opened his eyes. The cave was still pitch-black, but the rain outside seemed to have stopped. Everything was eerily quiet.

As the hoofbeats neared the cave, they suddenly slowed. He heard someone say, “Commander, we’ve chased this far and still haven’t seen them.”

Another voice sounded very much like Tao Yifei. “Since the horse is on the mountain road ahead, they must have fled this way. Keep chasing.”

In the darkness, Huo Fenghua widened his eyes and didn’t dare move. He barely breathed. He could feel that Su Zeyang above him had also awakened, and the arm around him tightened abruptly.

The cave was too close to the road. The voices outside were perfectly clear. After a few more words, the group didn’t stop. They continued chasing forward.

Huo Fenghua finally let out a breath, but he also felt uneasy. That voice had sounded like Tao Yifei, yet the hoofbeats were far more than three horses. Had Tao Yifei met up with more men and was searching everywhere for him?

Worried, Huo Fenghua braced one hand on the ground and sat up. He turned to Su Zeyang and asked, “Are they gone?”

Before Su Zeyang could answer, an arrow suddenly tore through the air. It came from far away and struck into the earth at the cave entrance, burying itself deep in the mud. The feathers at the tail still trembled.

Su Zeyang gripped his sword and rose in a blur. “No.”

Huo Fenghua hurried to his feet, but Su Zeyang pressed a hand lightly to his chest and said, “Wait here.” Then Huo Fenghua heard Su Zeyang draw his blade and leap out of the cave.

The instant Su Zeyang appeared, Huo Fenghua heard arrows slicing through the air outside. Tao Yifei shouted, “Take him down! It doesn’t matter if he’s dead or alive!” Then came the shrill, grating clash of weapons.

Huo Fenghua held his breath in the cave. Outside, torchlight flared at some point. Screams rang out now and then. He couldn’t stand it anymore. He ran to the entrance, pressed himself to one side of the cave wall, and peeked out.

Five or six torches burned along both sides of the mountain road. Seven or eight men in black were surrounding and attacking Su Zeyang alone. Another three or four were hidden in trees, longbows in hand, loosing cold arrows at Su Zeyang whenever they had a shot.

Su Zeyang’s white robes flared as he moved. His sword flashed like silver. Fighting eight men by himself, he still looked unhurried, batting away incoming arrows with his blade now and then.

The clashes grew fierce and rapid. Su Zeyang’s sword moved faster and faster. With a flash of his sword, he severed one attacker’s arm. The man screamed and staggered back. Tao Yifei, who had been watching from horseback, drew a long saber and leapt down, charging at Su Zeyang with murderous force.

Huo Fenghua watched in terror and couldn’t help leaning his head out a little more.

An archer hidden in a tree noticed and called, “Someone’s there!” He raised his bow and shot an arrow straight toward Huo Fenghua.

Tao Yifei looked up and roared, “Stop! Don’t hurt him!”

But it was too late. The arrow had already left the string, whistling straight for Huo Fenghua’s face.

A white shadow flashed. Su Zeyang sprang back to the cave entrance, chopped the arrow in two, grabbed Huo Fenghua’s hand, and dragged him as they jumped down together.

Huo Fenghua was still sweating cold. Scheming, he said, “Use me as a shield. They won’t dare kill me.”

Su Zeyang held his wrist with one hand and used his sword to drive enemies back with the other. “They can shoot my back.”

Right then, an arrow aimed at Su Zeyang’s back flew in, and he knocked it aside with a slash.

Huo Fenghua said, “Don’t remind them!”

Tao Yifei met Su Zeyang head-on, saber swinging. Sparks burst when saber and sword collided. Tao Yifei said, “Your Highness, come back with us. Don’t forget you’re from Xichou!”

Huo Fenghua blurted nonsense, “I’m not. Marry a chicken, follow the chicken*. I married Feng Tianzong, so I’m a Donglin man now!”

*It’s an idiom referring to a woman will unconditionally follow her husband after marriage. The full idiom is “A woman follows her husband wherever he goes, whether he’s a chicken or a dog.”

Tao Yifei’s blood surged with fury. “You!” His rage intensified, and he poured true qi into his strikes, hacking at Su Zeyang again and again.

Su Zeyang had fled all night with Huo Fenghua, then faced an eight-man siege. No matter how strong he was, his strength was running thin. With his left hand gripping Huo Fenghua’s wrist, he could only fight with his right. Tao Yifei’s fierce yang qi surged into the sword. Su Zeyang couldn’t hold and retreated two steps.

Two archers in the trees had been aiming for a long time. They released their arrows one after the other. The two shafts flew close together, both aimed at Su Zeyang’s back, while Su Zeyang’s one hand barely held off Tao Yifei’s saber.

Huo Fenghua’s heart jolted. He didn’t have time to think. He spun and threw himself behind Su Zeyang. The first arrow struck squarely into his left shoulder. The second arrow followed, about to pierce his right chest, when a sudden force from behind shoved him outward off the mountain road.

One side of the road was a cliff face, the other a drop. It wasn’t a sheer plunge, but it was high.

After he was shoved, a clump of grass snagged his foot. He pitched forward, stepped into empty air, and tumbled down the slope. He couldn’t even focus on the pain in his shoulder. Shocked, he cursed, “Which bastard pushed me?”

Both sides wanted him and didn’t dare kill him. Even in the middle of this fight, he should have been the safest one. Instead, he had taken arrows for someone and then been shoved off a cliff.

He rolled only a short distance before a white figure appeared above. Su Zeyang grabbed his arm and went down with him. They rolled a bit more, then the slope suddenly turned steep, and the ground vanished beneath them as they dropped.

Su Zeyang drove his sword hard into the rock wall, anchoring it between cracks and stabilizing them for a moment.

Huo Fenghua hung there, terrified. He looked up and said, “Senior Brother, someone pushed me.”

Su Zeyang said, “I did.”

If he hadn’t shoved Huo Fenghua away, Huo Fenghua would have two arrows in him by now.

Su Zeyang was gripping Huo Fenghua’s left arm, and the arrow was in Huo Fenghua’s left shoulder. The pull was agony. His face went pale. “Senior Brother, let go. I can’t. My arm’s going to tear off.”

Su Zeyang looked down and saw blood soaking the entire shoulder. His heart lurched. Afraid the arm would be ruined, he drew in a breath and said, “Then I’m letting go.”

Huo Fenghua glanced at the empty void below and thought he was going to die if he fell. Su Zeyang really was going to abandon him. A sudden sadness rose in him. “Senior Brother, in the end I truly loved you. When you come to collect my body someday, find a beautiful place to bury me. Don’t take me back to the General’s Manor. I don’t want to watch you and the General being sweet together.”

Su Zeyang had heard enough. He yanked the sword out of the cliff and let them drop.

Huo Fenghua felt them plunging again and saw Su Zeyang still holding his arm. Stunned, he blurted, “What?” He had no strength left to speak after that. His lips were white, his face drained, helpless as they fell.

Su Zeyang held the sword in one hand and drove true qi into it, letting the tip scrape shallowly along the cliff wall to slow their descent.

At the final, critical instant before they hit the ground, he wrapped an arm around Huo Fenghua and turned, taking the impact himself. Huo Fenghua landed on top of him.

Both of them fell unconscious.

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 9

Huo Fenghua was snatched out of the brothel by a man in black. Before he could even react, someone struck him hard on the back of the neck, and he passed out.

He didn’t know how long he’d been unconscious. When he came to again, he only felt that the ground beneath him was cold and hard. Beside him there seemed to be a fire, roasting him until he felt parched with heat. He was about to open his eyes when he suddenly heard someone say, “He’s not awake yet.” So he closed his eyes again and stayed silent, pretending he hadn’t woken up.

The speaker was a young man.

A moment later, another young man said, “Look at how delicate and weak he’s gotten after being kept in Donglin all these years. He probably won’t wake up for a while.”

The first man scolded softly, “Jiang Yuan, don’t talk nonsense.”

The man called Jiang Yuan said, “Am I wrong? Xichou was wiped out by Donglin, and he, the dignified Second Prince, not only didn’t find a way to save the country, he actually debased himself and married our enemy Feng Tianzong as a male concubine.”

At that moment, a third voice spoke up. It was a middle-aged man’s voice, low and steady. “He was sent to Donglin as a hostage at eight years old. Even the maids serving him were Donglin people. What could he possibly have done to save the country?”

Jiang Yuan said, “If I were him, I’d rather kill myself than suffer this kind of humiliation from Donglin!”

Huo Fenghua’s heart pounded. He’d guessed before that as a hostage handed over by Xichou, his status had to be royal somehow. But he hadn’t expected he was Xichou’s Second Prince. After the initial shock, though, he thought that Xichou was gone. A prince of a fallen nation didn’t sound like anything worth celebrating. Even if he returned to Xichou, it would only mean a life on the run.

Then the first young man said, “If the Second Prince truly committed suicide, Xichou’s royal bloodline would be cut off as well.”

Suddenly the middle-aged man spoke again. “Since you’re awake, why aren’t you getting up?”

Huo Fenghua froze. That was directed at him. He put on a just-waking-up act, stretched languidly, propped himself up with one hand, rubbed his eyes with the other, and said, “Where am I?”

When he opened his eyes, he realized he was in a ruined temple. Under him was nothing but dried straw; no wonder it felt so cold. Not far away a fire burned, and three men sat around it.

Seeing him sit up, one of the middle-aged men stood and went over. He dropped to one knee and saluted. “Imperial Guard Commander Tao Yifei pays respects to the Second Prince!”

The other two men, seeing their commander kneel, had no choice but to stand and kneel behind him, saluting Huo Fenghua as well.

The real Huo Fenghua had left Xichou at eight and grown up in Donglin. He definitely wouldn’t recognize these people. That saved Huo Fenghua the trouble of faking amnesia. He just widened his eyes and stared at the three of them, pretending to be frightened. “How did you end up here?”

He saw contempt flash across one young man’s face, though the man still kept his head lowered respectfully.

Tao Yifei looked to be in his thirties or forties, broad-shouldered and powerfully built, the very image of a military officer. Hearing Huo Fenghua’s question, he shook his head with something like helplessness. “Second Prince, do you truly not understand the situation back home?”

If Huo Fenghua said he didn’t know, he’d be overacting. So he said, “I know Xichou has fallen, but I don’t know the current state of things. I’ve been a hostage in Donglin since I was young. There’s never been a single person I could trust at my side.”

The three exchanged looks. Finally Tao Yifei spoke. “When Xichou fell, Feng Tianzong led his troops into Huijing. His Majesty set fire to Yongle Hall and died with the country. The Imperial Guard escorted the Crown Prince out of Huijing and met up with what remained of General Shao’s forces. We planned to gather the remaining strength in the country and rise again to restore the nation. But who would’ve thought… the Crown Prince caught a plague while fleeing. He died despite treatment. Now the entire royal bloodline of Xichou has only one person left: you, Second Prince.”

Huo Fenghua’s emotions surged at the account. For a moment he didn’t know what reaction he was supposed to have.

Tao Yifei, thinking he’d been struck dumb by grief, sighed inwardly and said, “Second Prince, this is still the outskirts of Yujing. We can’t stay long. Please come with us at once.”

As he spoke, the two young men behind him moved to help Huo Fenghua up. Huo Fenghua pretended to be weak, legs powerless, but they didn’t care. They practically hauled him out of the ruined temple.

Huo Fenghua hurriedly asked, “Then where are we going?”

One of them said, “To meet up with General Shao.”

Huo Fenghua asked again, “And after we meet up, then what?”

The man said, “Naturally we’ll gather the remnants of Xichou, kill Feng Tianzong, and restore the country.”

The man holding him on the left was Jiang Yuan. He said irritably, “Jia Duo, you don’t need to tell him so much.”

Tao Yifei extinguished the fire inside the ruined temple and carefully erased the traces of their stay before leaving as well.

Outside, several horses were tied to a tree. Huo Fenghua immediately said, “Wait, I can’t ride a horse.”

Tao Yifei said, “Jiang Yuan, take the Second Prince with you. Ride together.”

Jiang Yuan’s expression was rigid. He answered, “Yes,” then helped Huo Fenghua onto a horse first. He then swung himself up in front of him, tugged the reins, and said, “Don’t fall off.”

Huo Fenghua hadn’t even processed that when Jiang Yuan kicked his heels into the horse’s belly. The horse lunged forward at once. Huo Fenghua pitched backward and hurriedly wrapped his arms around Jiang Yuan’s waist so he wouldn’t tumble off.

With Huo Fenghua clinging to him, Jiang Yuan’s face looked even worse. He spurred the horse on harder.

Time was tight and danger was pressing, so Tao Yifei had only summarized. In truth, ever since Huijing fell, he’d fled with the Crown Prince Huo Fengnian through countless hardships. They had finally reunited with the remnants of General Shao’s forces, only for Huo Fengnian to contract the plague and die in the end.

If that hadn’t happened, they never would’ve thought of the Huo Fenghua who was still in Donglin.

Huo Fenghua had been timid and cowardly since childhood, dull in aptitude. That was why he’d been sent as a hostage to Donglin. In these nearly ten years in Donglin’s capital Yujing, he’d run with Wang Anzhi and other pampered young wastrels of the city, eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and doing nothing of worth. It was precisely because he drifted along in a haze that he survived. If he’d shown even a little promise, then when Xichou fell, his life as a hostage would’ve ended right then.

Whether it was Xichou or Donglin, no one had ever taken this Second Prince of Xichou seriously. To suppress the Feng family’s rising momentum and to humiliate the already fallen Xichou, the Donglin Emperor issued an edict marrying Huo Fenghua to Feng Tianzong as a concubine. One didn’t want to marry, one didn’t want to take him, but an imperial command was not something they could defy. In the end, a soft sedan chair carried Huo Fenghua from the hostage residence into the General’s Manor. Trapped in a side courtyard from then on, he threw himself into the lake and ended his life.

If Huo Fenghua stayed in the General’s Manor, his life was worthless. But if he was taken out of Donglin and brought back to Xichou, the situation flipped entirely—Donglin would have to be on guard.

So this time, Tao Yifei led two highly skilled subordinates, Jiang Yuan and Jia Duo. The three disguised themselves and slipped deep into Donglin, lying in wait near Yujing for almost ten days. At last they seized an opportunity to pull Huo Fenghua out of Yujing, and now they rode without pause, determined to deliver him back to Xichou.

From the moment Huo Fenghua woke, they drove the horses hard. Other than brief pauses to let the horses graze and rest, they didn’t stop for a moment, until night fell and they finally halted in a forest.

Across two lifetimes, Huo Fenghua had never ridden for this long. When he dismounted, his legs trembled uncontrollably. The insides of his thighs burned with pain. When he reached down and touched them, his hand came away with blood—he’d been rubbed raw.

He leaned against a tree and looked down at the abrasions.

Jia Duo came over and handed him a small box of ointment. “This is a hemostatic wound medicine.”

Huo Fenghua took it. Jia Duo then offered him a piece of dried flatbread. Huo Fenghua bit into it, found it dry and rock-hard, impossible to swallow, and immediately spat it out.

Jiang Yuan leaned against another tree, watching him coldly.

Huo Fenghua didn’t care about their looks. He was exhausted, his spirit drained. In his previous life his family had been poor, and he’d suffered some hardships as a child, but it had still been far more comfortable than this. And after getting used to the fine food and clothing in the General’s Manor, just one day of hard travel already made him feel like his body couldn’t take it.

But hardship was only one side of it. The soul in this body wasn’t Xichou’s Second Prince. He felt no attachment to Xichou, and he wasn’t yearning to return and restore the nation. He’d studied history as a kid—very few princes of fallen kingdoms who screamed about restoration ever succeeded. He wanted to escape the General’s Manor, yes, but what he wanted was to change his name, live as an ordinary person, run a small business. He didn’t want to be a fugitive prince. If Donglin’s army caught him then, it would be a dead end, a miserable death.

He took a few swallows from the waterskin. Seeing Tao Yifei sit down by the newly lit fire, he spoke. “Commander Tao.”

Tao Yifei looked over.

Huo Fenghua said, “Is it really true that the Xichou royal line only has me left? Even collateral relatives—if they’re of the Huo clan, they still carry the royal blood, don’t they?”

Before Tao Yifei could answer, Jiang Yuan snapped, “What are you implying?”

Huo Fenghua smiled. “I’m thinking… Everyone in the world knows I, Huo Fenghua, married Donglin’s Feng Tianzong as a male concubine. If I return to Xichou and we actually manage to restore the country, even if I become emperor, I’d be an emperor who used to be a male concubine. Wouldn’t that make Xichou a laughingstock under heaven?”

The moment the words left his mouth, the other three men’s expressions turned dark and ugly.

Huo Fenghua continued, “I have no grand ambitions. Why don’t you let me go? Go find another royal-blood heir to take the throne. I’m willing to change my name, live in seclusion in the mountains, and never appear again.”

Jiang Yuan and Jia Duo both looked to Tao Yifei.

Tao Yifei raised a hand, cutting Huo Fenghua off. “Second Prince, there’s no need to say more. You married Feng Tianzong as a male concubine not of your own will, but because you had no choice. When we capture Feng Tianzong someday, you can personally kill him. Victors write the history. No one under heaven will dare mock you then. And the royal bloodline cannot be confused. Besides you, who else could unify Xichou and make the people follow with one heart to resist the enemy?”

Huo Fenghua grew anxious. “I—”

“Enough!” Jiang Yuan suddenly barked, cutting him off. “Coward!”

“Jiang Yuan!” Tao Yifei said heavily. “Mind your manners!”

Jiang Yuan glared at Huo Fenghua, then sat by the fire with his rations and waterskin, head lowered.

Huo Fenghua had no choice. He punched at his stiff legs and shoulders, picked up the dry, cold flatbread, and chewed it in small bites, forcing it down.

They slept in the forest that night. Huo Fenghua was exhausted; leaning against the tree, he fell heavily asleep. Sometime later he woke up. The fire still hadn’t gone out. He glanced at the other three and saw their eyes closed, then braced himself to stand quietly.

He’d only just risen when Jia Duo asked, “Second Prince, where are you going?”

Huo Fenghua couldn’t help letting out a bitter laugh. “To piss.”

Jia Duo stood. “This subordinate will accompany you.”

Huo Fenghua sighed to himself. He could only nod. “Fine.” In his heart he knew there probably wouldn’t be a chance to escape on this trip.

Before they set out the next morning, Huo Fenghua suddenly had an idea. He left a mark on the ground. He thought Su Zeyang had no reason to let someone kidnap him and simply ignore it. If Su Zeyang came after him and saw the mark, he’d at least know which direction they’d gone.

At first he didn’t know what mark to leave. Then he remembered the sect leader token from the Xianyuan Sect in his chest. There was a half-circle symbol on it. He didn’t know what it meant, but Su Zeyang would. So before leaving, he drew that symbol on the ground. When Tao Yifei called him to depart, he hurriedly mounted up and followed them west.

After that came a relentless rush, day and night. Nearly twenty days passed before they reached a small town. It lay close to Donglin’s border. After the war, it was eerily deserted. Every household had their doors shut tight and windows bared. There was only one inn in the whole town, and not a single guest stood outside.

When Huo Fenghua got down from the horse, he looked up at the sky. Dark clouds gathered overhead showing signs a rainstorm was imminent.

Tao Yifei was looking at the sky too. “We won’t travel today. Ahead is wilderness. If the storm hits, there’ll be nowhere to shelter. We’ll stay here tonight.”

Jiang Yuan and Jia Duo went to tie up the horses. Tao Yifei took Huo Fenghua inside first and asked for two upper rooms.

They’d mostly slept outdoors these past days, or begged shelter at farmhouses. A proper night in an inn was rare. Huo Fenghua couldn’t help saying, “Why not take four rooms? I’ll pay the difference.”

Tao Yifei glanced at him and told the innkeeper, “Two rooms.”

They sat in the common hall and ordered some food. By the time Jiang Yuan and Jia Duo came in after tying the horses and feeding them hay, the rain had already begun pouring down.

There were no other guests in the hall besides them. Huo Fenghua stood and went to the window to look outside. The rain fell in sheets, blotting out the world as if night had dropped all at once. Cold wind, carrying the rank smell of wet earth, slapped through the open window, making him shiver.

As Jiang Yuan served food, he said coldly, “Come back, Young Master. You’re weak. Don’t catch a chill.”

Huo Fenghua now wore coarse cloth, but his skin was still pale and fine, his features still refined. No matter how you looked at him, he still seemed like a pampered young master. And after all the injuries, illnesses, and sleepless travel, he looked even thinner and more fragile, like a strong gust might knock him over.

He returned to the table, saw the rough, coarse rice, and deliberately said, “Just looking at it kills my appetite. I’m not eating.”

These past days he’d acted spoiled on purpose, hoping Tao Yifei would get fed up and dump him. But somehow, all the way until now, Tao Yifei had endured it.

Jiang Yuan flared. “Eat if you want. If you won’t, then don’t!”

But Tao Yifei shook his head and told Jiang Yuan, “Get the young master a bowl of noodles. Slice two liang of beef.”

Jiang Yuan immediately protested, “This—”

Tao Yifei waved him off. “Go.”

Jiang Yuan had no choice. He shot Huo Fenghua a resentful look and raised a hand to call the server.

When the noodles and beef arrived, Huo Fenghua carried his bowl to another table closer to the window. He ate while watching the storm outside. The inn stood on the town’s edge; ahead truly was a vast, bleak wilderness with nothing to block the view. The rain fell fine and dense, unending as it hammered the earth. The sight was oddly magnificent. In his previous life, Huo Fenghua had lived in a city. He’d never seen anything like this. Curious, he kept staring out.

After dinner, they returned to their rooms. Tao Yifei and Jiang Yuan shared one; Huo Fenghua shared the other with Jia Duo.

With nothing to do, Huo Fenghua sat on the edge of the bed and made small talk. “What exactly is your plan for this trip back? Feng Tianzong is still in Xichou territory with his army, isn’t he?”

Jia Duo lay on a straw mat on the floor. Hearing that, he said, “This isn’t a place to talk. Young Master shouldn’t speak recklessly.”

Huo Fenghua sighed, bored stiff.

Just then, a gust of wind blew the window wide open. Cold air and rain burst into the room. Jia Duo jumped up to close it, but they heard someone downstairs shout, “Whose horse got loose?”

Jia Duo leaned out to look. In the yard, a horse seemed spooked, pounding its hooves as it bolted for the exit. His heart jolted. He shouted, “It’s our horse!”

From the next room, a window was shoved open. Tao Yifei appeared, looked down into the yard, and called to Jia Duo, “Don’t go. Jiang Yuan will chase it.”

Huo Fenghua heard someone from the next room climb out into the wind and rain; it was probably Jiang Yuan.

He stayed seated on the bed and said, “The horse wasn’t tied properly? How did it run off?”

Jia Duo stared outside without blinking. His face gradually went pale. “I don’t know.”

Something in his tone felt off. Huo Fenghua looked at him more closely and saw a sheen of sweat on his forehead, his lips trembling faintly. “What’s wrong with you?”

Jia Duo turned back, one hand pressing his lower abdomen, embarrassed. “This subordinate suddenly has terrible stomach pain.”

“Diarrhea?” Huo Fenghua asked.

Jia Duo’s eyes flickered away. “It’s swollen and aching. I can’t endure it much longer.”

Huo Fenghua waved him off. “Then go. Why are you still holding it in?”

Jia Duo looked at him, hesitant.

Huo Fenghua said, “I’m not going to run. Your commander is right next door. Besides, with rain like this, where would I even go?”

Jia Duo nodded. Seeming unable to bear it any longer, he clutched his belly and hurried out of the room.

Huo Fenghua found it somewhat amusing. He stretched his arms and lay back on the bed, only for the bedboards beneath him to suddenly drop away. His body had nothing to brace against so he fell straight down into emptiness.

He plunged through a hidden passage beneath the bed and finally landed on a straw mat. Still dizzy and not sure where he was, he was grabbed by the ankle and dragged forward by a large hand.

Huo Fenghua propped himself up with his hands and saw only the broad back of a tall man. He kicked at him with his free foot and shouted, “Who are you?”

The space around them was pitch-dark and damp, like a cellar. He couldn’t make out the surroundings.

The man didn’t react to the kick. He switched to gripping both of Huo Fenghua’s legs and dragged him into a slightly brighter room. Candles burned on the walls. Besides that, the walls were hung with all kinds of instruments for torture and punishment. Stains mottled the stone and he wondered if they were bloodstains.

Someone had been standing there sharpening a blade. When Huo Fenghua was hauled in, that person joined the tall man. Together they yanked him upright and cuffed both his hands to the wall.

Only then did Huo Fenghua see clearly. The man sharpening the knife was the innkeeper.

The innkeeper pulled a small paper packet from his belt and handed it to the tall man. “Boss, knockout powder. So he won’t scream his head off.”

The man didn’t take it. He grabbed Huo Fenghua’s jaw, forcing him to lift his head and meet his eyes. Those narrow, sinister eyes flashed with excited light. “No need. I want to hear him scream.”

The innkeeper pocketed the packet again and stepped aside to keep sharpening the blade.

The tall man grabbed Huo Fenghua’s collar and tore it open, grinning obscenely as he used rough fingers to stroke from Huo Fenghua’s neck downward.

Huo Fenghua understood his intent at once. Goosebumps exploded across his skin. “Hey! What are you doing?!”

The moment the words left his mouth, he saw the innkeeper’s body jerk stiff. His head snapped up, eyes bulging. A thin line of blood slid down his forehead. Huo Fenghua looked closer and realized the tip of a silver sword had pierced straight through the innkeeper’s forehead and emerged from the front.

As the sword withdrew slowly, the innkeeper collapsed.

Behind him stood a figure in plain white.

Joy flashed across Huo Fenghua’s face.

The tall man who was touching him noticed the abnormality turned around. A cold glint of sword light swept past before the man felt a chill at his throat. When he looked down, blood was already gushing out as he helplessly slid to the ground.

Su Zeyang stepped forward, slashed through Huo Fenghua’s cuffs, and said, “Come with me.”

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 8

“Read for yourself what that letter says.” Su Zeyang walked over to the round table, sat down, and poured himself a cup of tea from the teapot on the table.

Huo Fenghua didn’t need to look to know what was in the letter. He was only glad he’d kept it simple: just that around the hour of Xu* tonight, he was asking Wang Anzhi to meet at Huayue Pavilion for a talk. As for what they would say once they met, the letter didn’t mention a single word.

*Between 5-7 PM.

He went to the door, wanting to yank the envelope out of the wooden panel. With one pull, he tore it clean in half. A corner remained embedded in the door, and he couldn’t pry it out even with his fingernails. So he simply smiled, pulled the letter paper out of the envelope, and said, “What did it say? Nothing, really.” Then he crumpled the paper into a ball and shoved it into his mouth.

Su Zeyang rose from the table. Huo Fenghua had already chewed the paper a few times and swallowed it. Fortunately, the rice paper was soft and didn’t catch in his throat, but it still went down hard, and he nearly gagged.

After swallowing, Huo Fenghua reached for the teacup on Su Zeyang’s table. Ignoring Su Zeyang’s cold stare, he drained the tea in one gulp, raised a sleeve to wipe the moisture from the corner of his mouth, and said, “So, what did that letter say?”

Su Zeyang looked at him. “Why did you ask Wang Anzhi to come here?”

Huo Fenghua sat down at the table and patted his chest. “I didn’t ask Wang Anzhi.”

Su Zeyang remained silent.

When Huo Fenghua looked up and saw Su Zeyang’s expression was icy, he knew playing dumb wouldn’t get him out of this. He sighed and said, “I’m just stuck inside the high walls and deep courtyards of the General’s Manor and I’m lonely. Senior Brother, you won’t pay attention to me, and the General still hasn’t come back. So I figured I’d come to Huayue Pavilion, find a girl, and pour out my troubles.”

“If you want to visit prostitutes, then visit prostitutes. Don’t dress it up with pretty words,” Su Zeyang said.

Huo Fenghua took another sip of tea, thinking that Su Zeyang hadn’t guessed he meant to secretly meet with the Wang family behind the Manor’s back. He only assumed Huo Fenghua had arranged a brothel rendezvous. So Huo Fenghua went along with it, lowered his head, and said, “I’m an adult man too.”

Su Zeyang said, “What are you trying to say?”

Huo Fenghua set the cup down. “Senior Brother, you and the General are all lovey-dovey—no, two men in love, two men in heat. When you’re rolling around in red waves and having your fun, have you ever thought about your junior brother here, guarding an empty bed? The General’s away on campaign. You can stay at home and long for him to return, but what do I have to look forward to? They say ‘living widowhood*’, but I’m a man not yet twenty. You want me to be pure and abstinent, to live out my life like some widow?”

*The term he’s using is (守活寡) which basically refers to someone (wife) who is married but effectively has no married life (no intimacy with their spouse) as if they were living in widowhood (or forced celibacy/no sex relationship).

Su Zeyang frowned. “So you came to a brothel.”

Huo Fenghua said, “What else am I supposed to do? You want me to sleep with Sister Qingqing? I wouldn’t dare. And she wouldn’t want it either.”

“Shameless,” Su Zeyang said.

That set Huo Fenghua off. He stood up. “Food and sex are human nature, the greatest of human desires. I’d love to endure it, but you have to let me endure it! Otherwise, the Emperor wouldn’t castrate all his eunuchs before he brought them into the palace. You people lock me up in a side courtyard and won’t let me out to vent my urges. Are you trying to make me turn the entire General’s Manor into a den of debauchery?”

Su Zeyang slammed his palm on the table and barked, “Say one more word of nonsense and I’ll have you castrated immediately.”

Huo Fenghua jolted, backing up two steps. “Senior Brother, don’t go crazy. After all, I’m the sect leader of the Xianyuan Sect. If word gets out that our sect leader is a eunuch, wouldn’t that disgrace the sect’s reputation?”

Su Zeyang stared at him coldly. “If you’re afraid of disgracing the sect, then come back with me to the General’s Manor right now. From this day on, you are not to set foot in places like this again.”

Huo Fenghua was unwilling. “Then tell me what I’m supposed to do in the future.”

“None of my business,” Su Zeyang said.

“How is it not your business?” Huo Fenghua was panicking. He was afraid that if he went back with Su Zeyang this time, he’d be kept under tight watch, and it would be much harder to escape the manor later. He stepped forward, secretly sizing up the room and calculating whether he could get out, while continuing to spout nonsense at Su Zeyang. “Senior Brother, you probably don’t know this. I don’t care about the General, but I care about you.”

Su Zeyang froze slightly. “What did you say?”

Huo Fenghua saw that the only window in the room was by the bed, and there was a screen between them and the bed. He thought that escaping through the door might have better odds. Out loud he said, “Senior Brother, the one I admire is you.”

Su Zeyang’s beautiful eyes flew wide. He raised his hand and slapped Huo Fenghua across the face, shouting, “Insolent!”

Huo Fenghua’s head snapped to the side. The world spun. The corner of his mouth seemed split and bleeding. He raised a hand to cover his cheek, steadied himself, and forced down his anger. If he ran out the door, there was a long staircase down to the first floor with people everywhere. With Su Zeyang’s martial arts, how could he fail to catch him? It looked like he had to go through the window. So he lifted his head, looking pitiful, and said, “Senior Brother, do you really have to be that cruel?”

Even Su Zeyang felt a trace of regret after striking him. He clenched his right hand and said, “What you just said—never say it again.”

Huo Fenghua gritted his teeth. Gambling on the risk of being hit again, he lunged forward and hugged Su Zeyang, trying to kiss his cheek. “Senior Brother, your junior brother is serious about you.”

Su Zeyang wasn’t prepared. Huo Fenghua’s arms wrapped him completely, and Huo Fenghua actually did kiss him once on the cheek.

Huo Fenghua only thought Su Zeyang’s skin was soft and his cheek fine, carrying that faint sandalwood scent. That kiss wasn’t a loss. The next moment, Su Zeyang shoved him hard. Huo Fenghua staggered back several steps and fell to the floor.

When he’d thrown himself at Su Zeyang, he’d secretly shifted his angle. When he was pushed away he twisted again, and his fall landed right onto the screen inside the room, crushing it down with him.

Huo Fenghua braced himself and stood up, facing Su Zeyang. “Senior Brother, if you don’t mind, I’m willing to give my body to you.” As he spoke, he lifted a hand and began to undo the toggles at his collar.

Su Zeyang snatched up the teacup on the table and flung it at him, striking squarely at Huo Fenghua’s hand. “Stop!”

The teacup hit Huo Fenghua’s hand and fell to the floor, shattering into pieces.

The more Su Zeyang told him not to undress, the more Huo Fenghua insisted. Ignoring the tea spilled on his fingers and collar, he pulled his robe open wider, revealing the pale, slender chest beneath. He said, “Senior Brother, I know you have feelings for me too. The General isn’t here anyway. When he comes back, I won’t tell him. Here tonight, you can do whatever you want.”

As he stripped, he backed up until he sat on the edge of the bed. Seeing Su Zeyang’s brows drawn tight as he stared at him, Huo Fenghua simply yanked his upper robe off, baring his entire torso.

In that instant, Su Zeyang slightly averted his gaze.

Huo Fenghua suddenly spun around, only to see a black-clad figure appear outside the window. A hand shot in, seized his wrist, and dragged him out through the window.

Su Zeyang reacted and started forward, but an arrow shot in from outside. He had to twist aside to avoid it. Then he sprang onto the bed and pressed close to the window, peering out cautiously. The street outside was still lively, people coming and going, but amid the flow, the black-clad figure and Huo Fenghua were already gone.

The one who’d fired the arrow was hidden in the dark and seemed to be there specifically to stop him. Su Zeyang couldn’t be sure whether the ambush had fully withdrawn, so he could only jump down from the bed and chase out through the private room door.

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 7

Huo Fenghua fell into the water again. This time he’d also been out in the night wind. After he went back and lay down to sleep, he couldn’t get out of bed the next morning.

Qingqing didn’t know that he’d tried climbing the wall last night and run into so much trouble. She only thought his constitution was delicate, that the whip wounds on his back had just healed, and now he’d caught a chill from the wind. She had him rest in the room and told the kitchen to make more nourishing soups and tonics for him.

Fortunately, even though Huo Fenghua’s status in the General’s Manor wasn’t high, he’d never been short on food, clothing, or daily necessities. He stayed inside for several days, eating well and being well cared for. When he had nothing to do, Huo Fenghua would lie on the cushioned daybed by the window and flip through the manual Gu Guangji had left him. The thin book was full of methods for circulating qi. He read it for a long time and only understood that it taught internal cultivation, but he had no idea how to start. All he could do was sit and practice breathing exercises according to the movements depicted in the book.

After two or three days with little progress, his body gradually recovered.

Life in the General’s Manor was comfortable and carefree. Huo Fenghua’s urge to run away faded a bit, and he decided to wait a while longer. Still, being cooped up in the room day after day made him feel stifled. Once he was fully recovered, he wanted to go out of the manor and take a look around.

He slipped out of his little side courtyard, feeling uneasy along the way, afraid someone would block him and refuse to let him leave. He’d already decided in his head that he was now Su Zeyang’s sect leader junior brother. If Su Zeyang refused to give him face, people would still have to show some respect to the sect leader token. If someone really stopped him, he’d go find Su Zeyang and make a scene.

Thinking that way gave Huo Fenghua more confidence, and he walked with his back a little straighter.

This time he didn’t go through the back gate. He went straight to the front courtyard. Just as he reached the main gates of the General’s Manor, he saw the gates open. The gatekeeper turned and saw him, and shouted, “Young Master Huo, please move aside.”

The gatekeeper wasn’t polite to him at all, so Huo Fenghua stepped aside and watched a carriage drive in from outside.

Huo Fenghua had been in the General’s Manor for so long and had never heard of any visitors. He couldn’t help craning his neck to peer toward the carriage window. At that exact moment, the person inside lifted the window curtain too, and their eyes met.

Seated in the carriage was a man with fair skin and a short mustache, handsome features and a refined, scholarly air. He looked to be in his thirties. After seeing Huo Fenghua, his brows furrowed slightly. Only after the driver brought the carriage to a stop did the man lift the curtain and step down.

The man gave Huo Fenghua a small nod but didn’t address him.

Huo Fenghua could only give a short bow in greeting, not knowing how to address him. He was about to grab the gatekeeper to ask when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps coming from the inner courtyard. Turning, he saw the manor steward Lu Xi arriving together with Liu Yong, the servant who attended Su Zeyang.

Before Liu Yong had even come close, he called from afar, “Prime Minister!”

The man nodded. “Uncle Lu. It’s been a long time.”

Lu Xi quickened his steps and hurried up to him, bending at the waist. “Eldest Young Master.”

The man reached out to steady him.

Liu Yong had come close now as well. He bowed, smiling broadly. “Prime Minister, Young Master Su heard you’d arrived and already had fine tea prepared. He’s waiting for you in the main hall.”

Hearing that, the man asked, “Has everything been well at the manor?”

Liu Yong hurriedly said, “All well, all well. Prime Minister, this way, please.”

The man looked to Lu Xi again. Lu Xi said, “Eldest Young Master, Young Master Su is waiting for you. Please go ahead. I still have a few matters to handle. I’ll come after.”

The man nodded and followed Liu Yong toward the inner courtyard.

Lu Xi then turned to Huo Fenghua standing to the side and asked, “Where does Young Master Huo plan to go?”

Huo Fenghua was a little afraid of Lu Xi. With both hands gathered in front of him, he said, “I’m going out for a stroll.”

Lu Xi’s expression was stern. “Your health hasn’t fully recovered. It isn’t suitable for you to be walking outside.” Then he raised his voice and called, “Wu Tong!”

The gatekeeper immediately answered and stepped forward. “Elder Lu, your orders?”

Lu Xi said, “Before Young Master Huo has recovered, he is not to leave the manor. Guard the gates well. Don’t break the rules.”

Wu Tong bent at the waist and repeatedly agreed.

A nasty flare of anger immediately rose in Huo Fenghua’s chest. He looked up and saw the man Lu Xi had called “Eldest Young Master” stop by the screen in the inner courtyard and turn back to look this way, presumably because he’d heard Lu Xi’s words. Huo Fenghua felt even more furious.

After giving the order, Lu Xi turned and went back inside at once, respectfully accompanying that Eldest Young Master in.

Huo Fenghua watched Lu Xi’s back. In the end, he didn’t dare openly challenge him. He drew a deep breath, then called loudly, “Wu Tong!”

Wu Tong froze for a moment, then strolled over and asked, “Young Master Huo, what can I do for you?”

Huo Fenghua asked, “Who was that just now?”

Wu Tong looked surprised. “Young Master Huo, you don’t know him?”

Huo Fenghua shook his head. “Why so much nonsense? Just tell me who he is.”

Wu Tong looked utterly baffled. “That’s General Feng’s elder brother, the Left Prime Minister of the court, Feng Tiansheng.”

This time it was Huo Fenghua who froze slightly. “Feng Tiansheng? Feng Tianzong’s older brother?”

Wu Tong nodded.

Huo Fenghua stood there, scratching his lip with his index finger, suddenly curious. He turned and headed toward the inner courtyard.

Su Zeyang was receiving the guest in the main hall. Huo Fenghua went into the inner courtyard and hid behind a thick, sturdy tree in the corner to peek inward. He saw Su Zeyang and Feng Tiansheng sitting facing each other, talking.

He hid behind the tree for a while, then slipped into the bushes beside it and approached the main hall from the side. In the end he flipped over a railing, landed on the corridor outside the hall, and sat beneath the window with his back against the wall.

He heard Feng Tiansheng saying, “The Princess Consort had fetal movement a while back and miscarried. The child couldn’t be saved.”

The hall went quiet. After a while, Su Zeyang asked, “Has the Princess Consort recovered well?”

Feng Tiansheng said, “She’s still resting in bed and doesn’t dare get up, but the physician says she’s recovering fairly well.”

Su Zeyang said, “Perhaps the child simply lacked fate. Prime Minister and the Princess Consort are still young. There’s no need to worry overly much.”

Huo Fenghua listened and guessed that the “Princess Consort” they were speaking of must be Feng Tiansheng’s wife, and that she’d miscarried recently. From Feng Tiansheng’s worried tone, the two probably didn’t have any children yet. Huo Fenghua didn’t know how many brothers the Feng family had, but if it was only Feng Tiansheng and Feng Tianzong, then the elder brother being over thirty with no child, while the younger brother liked men, would indeed be a source of worry in this era.

Feng Tiansheng then let out a long sigh and said, “Tianzong is still leading troops to wipe out the remaining forces of Xichou. Prime Minister Wang keeps pressing the Feng family relentlessly in court. The more military merit Tianzong earns, the more His Majesty suspects the Feng family. I’m afraid he—”

“Enough.” Su Zeyang suddenly cut him off, stood up, and barked, “Come in!”

Huo Fenghua froze. Before he could stand, a hand reached out through the window, grabbed him by the collar, and flung him into the room.

He slammed hard into a chair. Looking up, he saw that the one who’d thrown him in was Lu Xi. The anger from earlier shot up again. “Steward Lu, I’m at least the General’s man. Isn’t it a bit too much for you to treat me like this?”

Lu Xi answered evenly, “So it was Young Master Huo. I thought it was some petty thief outside eavesdropping.”

Huo Fenghua was choked speechless.

Su Zeyang said coldly, “Why were you eavesdropping?”

Huo Fenghua glanced at Feng Tiansheng, who was frowning at him. His mind turned, and he said, “I heard eldest brother had come, so I came specifically to take a look.”

No one in the room spoke.

Huo Fenghua smiled, straightened up in the chair, and said, “Go on talking. Don’t mind me.”

Su Zeyang said abruptly, “Get out.”

Huo Fenghua froze, thinking Su Zeyang was really giving him no face at all.

Feng Tianzong’s attitude was much gentler. He said, “I heard Young Master Huo isn’t feeling well. You should go back and rest.”

Huo Fenghua didn’t answer.

Lu Xi stepped forward. His tone was still fairly polite as he held out a hand. “Please, Young Master Huo.”

At this point, no matter how thick-skinned Huo Fenghua was, he couldn’t keep shamelessly refusing to leave. He stood and walked out. At the doorway he paused, turned back, and said to Su Zeyang, “I’ve just been lonely, staying by myself. I wanted to come see you.”

After saying that, he didn’t look at Su Zeyang’s expression. He left the main hall directly.

But as he walked, he kept thinking about what Feng Tiansheng had said. “Prime Minister Wang” must mean Wang Anzhi’s father, the Right Prime Minister Wang Chu. It seemed the left and right Prime Ministers weren’t simply on bad terms. No wonder Su Zeyang had warned him not to keep associating with Wang Anzhi.

If what Gu Guangji had said that night was true—that he was a hostage from Xichou—then after Xichou was destroyed, the Donglin emperor had married him to Feng Tianzong as a male concubine. That clearly wasn’t a reward. It was practically punishment for Feng Tianzong. Most likely Feng Tianzong’s accomplishments had begun to threaten the throne, and the emperor feared the Feng family’s power had grown too great.

Huo Fenghua turned these things over in his mind, but he couldn’t get the answers he wanted inside the General’s Manor. The frustration inside him grew until, at last, he thought of one person.

He hurried back to the side courtyard and wrote a letter to Wang Anzhi, asking him to meet the next evening at Huayue Pavilion. He went out and found a servant boy he’d gotten familiar with in recent days, a cheap little opportunist, and paid him to deliver the letter to the Right Prime Minister’s residence.

The servant boy took Huo Fenghua’s five taels of silver, his eyes shining. He tucked the letter carefully into an inner pocket and swore he’d deliver it to the Wang residence.

Huo Fenghua finally felt at ease and waited in the General’s Manor until the next day. After dinner, he sent Qingqing back to her room to sleep early. When dusk had fallen but the sky wasn’t fully dark yet, he slipped alone to the back courtyard. This time he brought a clean pair of trousers and successfully climbed over the high wall and got out.

The pleasure district that was quiet in the daytime became lively at night. The moment Huo Fenghua appeared at the street corner, a woman of the trade came up to tug on his arm, inviting him to go drink at the brothel nearby.

He pushed her hand away, ending up with the scent of powder all over him, and quickened his steps toward Huayue Pavilion.

As soon as he entered Huayue Pavilion, the familiar madam greeted him. This time she didn’t act shocked at all, only said, “Young Master Huo, you’re here? The private room is already prepared. Come up with me.”

Huo Fenghua froze, then realized Wang Anzhi must have arrived first, rented a private room upstairs, and was waiting for him. He smiled and nodded. “Lead the way.”

The madam’s hips swayed left and right as she walked. She led him up to the second floor, pushed open the door to a private room, and said, “Young Master Huo, please.”

Huo Fenghua stuck his head in to look and didn’t see anyone inside, but he still went in.

The madam closed the door from outside.

In the room there was a round table, a folding screen, and a bed. The bed was behind the screen. Huo Fenghua heard a faint sound and called, “Brother Wang?”

A figure was cast behind the screen. It slowly approached the edge, revealing first a section of snow-white sleeve.

A strange feeling rose in Huo Fenghua’s heart.

Then Su Zeyang in white stepped out from behind the screen.

Huo Fenghua’s expression sank. He turned to run.

However, Su Zeyang lifted an arm, and something flew out from his hand, slicing past Huo Fenghua’s cheek. With a sharp clang, it embedded itself in the wooden door.

Huo Fenghua looked closely and realized it was the letter he’d had delivered to Wang Anzhi. The paper envelope should’ve been soft, but in Su Zeyang’s hands it had pierced wood like an iron blade. Who knew how deep his internal force had to be.

Cold sweat slid from Huo Fenghua’s temple. He gave up on fleeing. Turning back around, he put on a wide smile and said, “Senior Brother, what a coincidence. You’re visiting brothels too?”

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 6

Someone in the room lit a lamp.

Huo Fenghua saw Su Zeyang standing by the bed, dressed in a light-colored inner robe with a plain white long gown draped over it. Meanwhile, beneath Huo Fenghua’s soaked clothes were two bare, pale long legs, his garments wrinkled into a miserable mess. Embarrassed beyond belief, he hurriedly crawled off Su Zeyang’s bed.

Su Zeyang glanced at Huo Fenghua, then turned to Gu Guangji. “Master, it’s so late. What do you want with your disciple?”

Huo Fenghua had just reached the edge of the bed when his movements stiffened. He lifted his head to look at Su Zeyang. No wonder, he thought. How could Gu Guangji have a disciple inside the General’s Manor? So it was Su Zeyang!

Gu Guangji smiled and beckoned at Huo Fenghua. “Come, you. Get over here.”

Huo Fenghua walked over slowly. He heard Gu Guangji say to Su Zeyang, “This is the new disciple I took tonight. My closed-door disciple¹. Your junior brother².”

¹The last disciple the master is willing to take on.
²[Shidi] (师弟) It’s a term usually used to refer to a younger or lower rank male who is your junior with whom you share the same master/teacher or sect with. 

Su Zeyang’s expression remained indifferent, but the look he gave Huo Fenghua turned more complicated. He asked Gu Guangji, “Master, do you know who he is?”

“Who is he?” Gu Guangji grinned as he patted Huo Fenghua on the shoulder. “I picked him up right here in your General’s Manor. Saw that he was quick-witted and had unusual aptitude, so I conveniently took another disciple. Besides, a while back I went to have my fortune told, and the master said I should have two disciples in this lifetime!”

Su Zeyang shook his head. “He’s Feng Tianzong’s male concubine.”

“Male concubine? Hahah—” Gu Guangji laughed halfway, then abruptly drew back his smile. “Huh? You mean the hostage prince from Xichou, the male concubine that brat Feng was forced by the Emperor to marry into the household?”

Su Zeyang answered, “Yes.”

Huo Fenghua had been standing quietly to the side listening, when he suddenly caught the words “hostage from Xichou.” In an instant he realized his original identity might not be so simple after all. No wonder Qingqing always clammed up whenever she mentioned his background.

Gu Guangji looked troubled. “Oh my, I casually took in a disciple. Doesn’t that mean I’ve wronged you?”

Su Zeyang said, “How have you wronged me?”

Gu Guangji pinched Huo Fenghua’s shoulder. “This brat is competing with you for your husband. You ought to hate him. He’s your enemy. If I take him as your junior brother, isn’t that wronging you?”

Su Zeyang’s gaze fell on Huo Fenghua’s face. After a moment he said flatly, “I don’t hate him, and I don’t care.”

Huo Fenghua felt it was the truth. He’d never sensed hatred from Su Zeyang, and he didn’t think Su Zeyang cared about his status. Maybe Feng Tianzong truly didn’t like him at all, so Su Zeyang felt no threat.

Gu Guangji stepped closer and examined Su Zeyang’s expression. “Really?”

Su Zeyang nodded calmly.

Gu Guangji patted his own chest and smiled. “Good. If my good disciple doesn’t mind, then Master doesn’t need to worry. Come on, little disciple, pay respects to your senior brother.”

Huo Fenghua thought the situation was awkward and asked Gu Guangji in a low voice, “Master, is this appropriate?”

Gu Guangji lifted his chin. “Why wouldn’t it be? From now on, the General’s wife is your senior brother. Who in this General’s Manor would dare mess with you?”

Gu Guangji said it with such swagger that Huo Fenghua suddenly realized he was right. He should acknowledge Su Zeyang as his senior brother and not give him the chance to deny it. He hurriedly clasped his hands together and bowed. “Senior Brother Su.”

Su Zeyang looked at him coldly.

Huo Fenghua was used to Su Zeyang’s coldness and didn’t mind. He only said, “From now on, I’ll have to ask Senior Brother to look after this junior. In a high gatehouse like this, don’t let others bully your junior.”

Gu Guangji slapped Huo Fenghua hard on the back and praised loudly, “Well said!”

Huo Fenghua’s back flared with pain from the slap, but he managed to keep standing and smiled at him. “Thank you for the compliment, Master.”

Su Zeyang’s brows furrowed slightly. He asked Gu Guangji, “Master, what exactly did you come to the General’s Manor for tonight?”

Seeing it was late and he’d caused enough chaos, Gu Guangji finally sobered his expression and said, “I really did come tonight for something important.”

Su Zeyang waited quietly for him to continue.

Gu Guangji rummaged around in his robes for a long time before pulling out a black iron token. He gripped it in five fingers, extended his arm, and said to Su Zeyang, “Do you know what this is?”

Su Zeyang looked at it. “The sect leader’s token.”

Gu Guangji nodded and said in a deep voice, “Disciple Su Zeyang of the sixth generation of the Xianyuan Sect, heed my command!”

Su Zeyang lifted his robe and knelt.

Gu Guangji continued, “Today, Gu Guangji, fourth sect leader of the Xianyuan Sect, passes the position of sect leader to my disciple Su Zeyang. You must remember the teachings of our sect: punish evil and uphold good, eliminate demons and defend the righteous path, and carry our sect forward!”

Huo Fenghua, standing off to the side, was stunned. He hadn’t expected that Gu Guangji had snuck into the General’s Manor at night to pass the position of sect leader to Su Zeyang. A sour discomfort rose in his chest.

Gu Guangji finished, “Receive the token.”

Su Zeyang lifted his eyes to the token but didn’t reach out.

Gu Guangji gave a puzzled grunt and said again, “Receive the token.”

This time Su Zeyang shook his head and said slowly, “This disciple cannot accept the position of sect leader.”

“Why?” Not just Gu Guangji, even Huo Fenghua watching the drama found it strange.

Su Zeyang said softly, “This disciple has already married Feng Tianzong as his wife. Traveling the martial world and upholding righteousness is something I now have the will but not the ability to do. I cannot, in good conscience, say I can strengthen the sect. And with my status as a male wife, if I became sect leader, I fear I would bring shame upon the sect.”

Gu Guangji froze, then sighed. “You brat! Why are you so rigid?”

Su Zeyang said, “I’m sorry, Master. I will not be sect leader. Please take back the token.”

Gu Guangji suddenly panicked. “If you won’t do it, who else can I find?”

Su Zeyang lowered his head slightly and didn’t speak.

Gu Guangji reached for his arm, actually trying to force the token into his hands. “No. I’m seventy this year. The other day I decided I’m going traveling. I probably don’t have many days left. I have to pass the sect leader position to someone I can trust. Take it, quickly.”

Su Zeyang clenched his hand into a fist and refused to accept the token.

Huo Fenghua watched them shove and refuse for a long time before he finally couldn’t hold it in. He dropped to his knees and said to Gu Guangji, “Master, this disciple is willing to accept the position of sect leader and shoulder the duties of the sect leader.”

Su Zeyang immediately looked at him. Gu Guangji also froze, then stared at him for a long while before saying, “You’ve only just entered our sect. Isn’t that… not appropriate?”

Huo Fenghua said, “How long one has been in the sect doesn’t matter. What matters is whether a person’s heart is trustworthy. Senior Brother has no intention of being sect leader. Even if Master forces it on him, it’s meaningless. Better to let this disciple take the position. In the future I’ll diligently train in the sect’s martial arts, punish evil and uphold good, eliminate villains and defend the righteous path, become a great hero of my generation, and bring glory to the Xianyuan Sect!”

Gu Guangji sank into thought.

Su Zeyang stood up, brushed the dust off his knees, and looked at Huo Fenghua again.

Huo Fenghua noticed his pale thighs had accidentally been exposed again. He hurriedly yanked his robe down to cover himself properly, then looked at Su Zeyang. In the candlelight, Su Zeyang’s cheeks were smooth and luminous, his thin lips pink. Mischief suddenly rose in Huo Fenghua and he blew a kiss at Su Zeyang

Su Zeyang had never seen a flying kiss. From Huo Fenghua’s frivolous look he knew it wasn’t anything decent, and his brows immediately knit.

Gu Guangji hadn’t noticed the silent flirting between them. He thought it over and finally slapped his palm, saying to Huo Fenghua, “Fine. Since you’re so responsible, the position of sect leader will be passed to you!”

Huo Fenghua was delighted beyond belief. He bent down and kowtowed once to Gu Guangji. “Thank you, Master.”

Gu Guangji handed him the token, his face beaming as he helped him up. “Since you’re now the sect leader of the Xianyuan Sect, I have a few things to tell you.”

Huo Fenghua hurriedly said, “Please instruct me, Master.”

Gu Guangji stroked his gray-white beard. “Our Xianyuan Sect has a total of four people.”

Huo Fenghua immediately said, “Master, wait. What did you say?”

Gu Guangji said, “I said our sect has four people. Today, three are here. The other is my junior brother, Wen Heyi. He was clever from childhood and highly skilled, but after he went down the mountain as an adult, he vanished without a trace. Before my master—your grandmaster—died, he told me I must bring him back. From now on, that matter is yours.”

Huo Fenghua looked dumbfounded.

Gu Guangji continued, “Our sect is weak and thin now, the gates are quiet. In the future you must take more disciples and expand the sect, understand?”

Huo Fenghua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Master, you haven’t even taught me any martial arts—”

“Oh right!” Only then did Gu Guangji remember. He pulled a manual out of his robes. “This is our sect’s internal cultivation manual. Start training from now on. If you don’t understand something, you can ask your senior brother.”

His senior brother looked at them indifferently, as if he had no intention of teaching him how to cultivate at all.

Clutching the manual, Huo Fenghua said to Gu Guangji, “Master, you’re being way too irresponsible!”

“Aiya.” Gu Guangji scrunched up his face. “Master’s old. I’m going off to travel the world. Who knows, maybe I’ll go and never come back. I had to find someone to shoulder the sect leader burden, otherwise I wouldn’t even be able to die in peace. Hold onto that token. Don’t forget what you promised me today. If you dare do evil in the future, I’ll personally come back and clean house!”

With that, Gu Guangji actually turned and started walking out.

Huo Fenghua grabbed his arm in shock. “Master, you’re leaving just like that?”

Gu Guangji clasped his fingers and pried them off. “Right, don’t forget to find your martial uncle.” As he spoke, his body swayed, then he rose lightly into the air and vanished from the courtyard.

Huo Fenghua stared after him, dumbfounded. He kept looking at the empty courtyard for a long time, then turned back to Su Zeyang and said, “You knew all along, didn’t you? That’s why you wouldn’t take the sect leader position. You set me up on purpose, didn’t you?”

Su Zeyang didn’t want to bother with him. “Go back. I’m going to sleep.”

Huo Fenghua held the sect leader token and the cultivation manual in his hands, feeling an inexplicable sense of frustration. He turned in place, walked over to Su Zeyang’s bed, and sat down along the edge.

“No. Since I’m the sect leader now, you have to follow my orders.”

Su Zeyang looked at him without speaking.

Huo Fenghua had fallen into water and been out in the wind all night. Now he was so angry his throat hurt. He said, “Senior Brother, go pour me a cup of hot tea.”

Su Zeyang walked slowly to the bedside and looked at him for a moment. Then he suddenly reached out, grabbed Huo Fenghua by the shoulder, and flung him out the door.

“Out!”

Huo Fenghua was tossed out of the room and landed in the courtyard. When he looked up, he saw Su Zeyang raise a hand and shut the door with a sweep.

Furious, Huo Fenghua slapped the ground. Only after a long while did he finally haul himself back up.

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

Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 5

Qingqing sat by the bed and fed Huo Fenghua his medicine spoonful by spoonful. After he finished, she carefully wiped his mouth before getting up to set the empty bowl aside.

Huo Fenghua had been drowsy and asleep earlier, but now he was fully awake. He asked Qingqing, “Is Su Zeyang really good at martial arts?”

Qingqing glanced at him. When she spoke, there was a hint of longing in her eyes. “Before Young Master Su married the General, he was a famous heroic young swordsman in the martial world. I only heard it from the maid by Young Master Su’s side. They say Young Master Su has a sword called Qinghong. Back when he roamed the martial world, everyone called him the Qinghong Sword. They said his swordplay was like a flying swan treading snow, light as a swallow, yet incomparably fierce, his blade leaving no trace when it struck.”

Huo Fenghua was tired of lying facedown. He propped his cheek with one hand and quietly imagined Su Zeyang in white swinging a longsword. Forget a little maid like Qingqing, even he felt a bit of yearning. He asked, “Why is it only a rumor? You’ve never seen his sword?”

Qingqing shook her head. “After Young Master Su married the General, he hardly ever even leaves the General’s Manor. I’ve never seen his sword either.”

Huo Fenghua was a man himself, and he couldn’t quite understand Su Zeyang’s mindset. “If he’s that capable, why would he willingly marry someone and become a male wife?”

Qingqing looked at him. “Because General Feng is also outstanding.”

Huo Fenghua said, “Oh?”

Qingqing said, “The General was famous from a young age. Since childhood he’s studied military texts and mastered the strategies of a hundred schools. At thirteen he followed the old General into battle. His Dragon Subduing Whip technique is unmatched under heaven, and by now he’s killed countless of enemies.”

Huo Fenghua didn’t know Feng Tianzong at all. Listening to Qingqing’s brief description, he sketched out a tall, imposing man in his mind. He couldn’t help asking curiously, “What does General Feng look like?”

Qingqing laughed. “You don’t even remember what the General looks like?”

Huo Fenghua said, “I don’t even remember you, Qingqing. How would I remember him?”

Qingqing’s face suddenly turned red. After a quick “Peh,” she said, “The General is handsome and unmatched in the world. The year he was ennobled as a General at eighteen, a saying spread among the girls of the capital: if you marry, marry a man of the Feng family. Naturally they were referring to General Feng.”

Huo Fenghua said, “Then if he married a man, wouldn’t all the girls feel it was a pity?”

Qingqing said softly, “General Feng and Young Master Su are a perfect pair. If you want to envy someone, you can’t even envy them.” Then she went to the bedside and told Huo Fenghua, “Young Master, be good. Don’t provoke Young Master Su anymore.”

Huo Fenghua felt indignant hearing this. “How have I provoked him?”

Qingqing’s gaze held a bit of pity. “Young Master Su’s heart is only with the General. He doesn’t usually stoop to argue with others, but General Feng is different. When he returns to the capital, if he finds out you’ve caused so much trouble, he’ll probably punish you again.”

Huo Fenghua suddenly felt his back wound throb in waves of pain.

Qingqing said, “Even though you married into the General’s Manor, it was an imperial decree. The General couldn’t disobey. But there’s only Young Master Su in his heart. No one else can squeeze in. You might as well give up and just stay in this side courtyard and live quietly.”

Huo Fenghua didn’t answer. He could tell Qingqing was speaking sincerely out of kindness, and he couldn’t exactly tell her his future plans. He only lay there in silence. After a long while, he finally said, “I understand.”

With new injuries and old illness, Huo Fenghua was tormented for nearly a month before his body gradually recovered.

During this time he truly behaved as Qingqing told him to, staying quietly in the side courtyard to recuperate. When he was bored, he had Qingqing find him piles of books and storybooks, which he read while lying on the bed or the cushioned daybed.

The wounds on his back looked mottled and unsightly, but in truth they were shallow and didn’t cut deep. Su Zeyang had someone deliver ointment, and each day Qingqing changed his medicine for him.

About a month later, Qingqing saw that the wounds on his back were nearly healed, and even the scars were extremely faint. Delighted, she said, “Maybe it won’t even leave scars.”

Huo Fenghua lay on the daybed with a storybook spread open on the floor, reaching out now and then to turn a page. Lazily, he said, “Whether it scars or not doesn’t matter. A man looks more charming with a few scars.”

Qingqing was in a good mood and didn’t mind his nonsense. She tidied up the medicine bowls in the room and went out.

The moment she left, Huo Fenghua rolled off the daybed, opened the cabinet in the room, and started packing his things. Because he was a man, there wasn’t much jewelry in the room, only a few jade pendants and jade bracelets, plus two emerald-green hairpins. He didn’t know whether they were valuable, but he gathered them together anyway. Besides those, he still had the thirty taels of silver he’d gotten from pawning the pendant and winning at the gambling house. During these days, he’d asked Qingqing and learned that thirty taels was also a large sum, enough for him to live outside for quite a while.

So he packed everything together, bundled it up, shoved it under the bed, and decided he’d leave the General’s Manor tonight.

He waited until night fell and the whole manor grew quiet. Huo Fenghua blew out the candle early and sat by the bed, listening quietly for a long time, but he didn’t hear a single footstep.

His little courtyard was remote. Ever since his punishment, he hadn’t stepped outside. No one came to visit him either. As time went on, he even began to feel like the world only contained him and Qingqing.

Feng Tianzong, Su Zeyang, the General and the swordsman, the immortal lovers. It all felt like they were characters from a storybook, ethereal and unreal.

If he left like this, he probably wouldn’t see Qingqing again. He felt a bit reluctant, but it still wasn’t enough to stop him from leaving.

He waited another hour, figuring everyone in the manor must have gone to sleep. Only then did he reach under the bed for his bundle. In the darkness he pushed open the wooden door and went outside.

Maybe because he’d been too well-behaved lately, Su Zeyang hadn’t arranged for anyone to guard his courtyard gate again. From the side courtyard outward, everything was unobstructed.

But he didn’t dare go through the front gate or the back gate. Any gate would definitely have guards, and if he alerted anyone it wouldn’t be worth it. So he chose a high wall near the back gate. Outside the wall was a quiet capital street. Inside the wall was a secluded courtyard with a pond and an artificial rockery. The pond was built along the wall. At the closest point, the rockery was even a bit taller than the outer wall. All he needed to do was climb to the top of the rockery, then make a light jump, grab the top of the wall, and flip over.

The problem was that to climb the rockery, he had to enter the pond. Huo Fenghua didn’t know martial arts, so he could only wade in honestly. Before stepping in, he deliberately took off his shoes and socks. He tested with one foot and realized the pond wasn’t shallow. Gritting his teeth, he took off his trousers too. With one hand he held his shoes, socks, and trousers. With the other he gathered up the hem of his robe. Then he stepped into the pond and waded toward the rockery in the middle.

When Huo Fenghua finally climbed onto the rockery and out of the water, he found a dry spot and was about to put his trousers back on when he suddenly heard footsteps coming toward this courtyard. He stopped at once and lay low, perfectly still.

That person went to the shrubs in the corner of the courtyard to pee, then pulled up his trousers and headed back.

Huo Fenghua let out a small breath, but he didn’t dare waste time. He only put on his shoes, stuffed his socks and trousers into his bundle, and planned to climb over the wall first and put them on slowly afterward.

The rockery was rugged. Even though it was slick with night dew, it wasn’t hard to climb. Huo Fenghua was fairly nimble. He climbed all the way to the top, then finally lifted his head to judge the distance to the wall.

The moment he lifted his head, he nearly scared himself to death.

The first thing he saw was a pair of boots dangling from the wall, swinging lazily. When he lifted his head higher, he discovered someone sitting on the wall.

He didn’t know how the person had gotten up there, or how long he’d been sitting there. But when Huo Fenghua had been climbing with his head down, that person must have already been there. He’d watched silently the entire time, only now letting out a sudden chuckle.

“Kid, where’re you going in the middle of the night?”

Huo Fenghua looked up at the man’s face and found it was an old man with hair and beard already gray, wearing ragged clothes, a wine gourd hanging at his waist. His cheeks were faintly red too, looking like a drunken vagrant.

He recovered from the scare and came up with an excuse on the spot. “I want to sneak out for a drink.”

The old man continued chuckling then said, “A drink? No need to go out for that.”

“What?” Before Huo Fenghua could react, the old man stuck out a foot and kicked him on the shoulder.

Huo Fenghua had struggled to climb the rockery, and with that one kick he was knocked straight back down. He fell on his back into the pond with a huge splash.

The water reached past his knees. In an instant he sank under, flailing both arms as he struggled to get back up.

Suddenly he felt someone grab one of his hands. With a light tug, he was pulled out of the water and tossed onto the dry grass.

Huo Fenghua spat out a mouthful of water and saw the old man squatting beside him, saying, “Little brother, want a drink?”

Huo Fenghua didn’t have time to answer. The old man had already taken off his wine gourd and shoved it to his mouth. Spicy liquor flooded into him. Caught off guard, the strong alcohol shot straight into his windpipe. He lifted a hand and shoved the gourd away, rolled over onto his stomach, and started coughing violently, cursing, “Get the hell away from me, you crazy old bastard!”

Huo Fenghua didn’t like cursing, but he’d heard it plenty. In anger, he naturally spat out whatever sounded nastiest.

A lot of the old man’s wine spilled onto the ground. He righted the gourd, pained, and said, “I offered you wine out of kindness. You knock over my wine and then curse me?”

Huo Fenghua wiped the liquor off his face with his soaked sleeve and said, “Did I say I wanted your wine? You psycho!”

“What did you call me?” The old man didn’t understand and leaned closer to ask.

Huo Fenghua had a hard knot of anger inside him and cursed without restraint. “A psycho. A crazy old bastard!”

The old man frowned, seeming to think about what “psycho” meant. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly pointed at Huo Fenghua’s lower body and said, “Why are you sneaking out for wine without wearing trousers?”

Huo Fenghua looked down and realized he didn’t know when his robe hem had rolled up, exposing two pale, long legs. He hurriedly tugged his robe down to cover himself. “I’ll drink however I want. Even if I stripped naked and went out drinking upside down, it wouldn’t cost you a single copper coin.”

“Ah,” the old man said while staring at him. “You brat. Young as you are, you’ve got a sharp tongue.”

Huo Fenghua said, “You old man, half your legs are already in the coffin and you still come out being a nuisance.”

The old man suddenly laughed. He sat down beside him and took a huge swig from the gourd.

Huo Fenghua sat up too. He opened his bundle, wanting to find something dry to wipe his face, but as soon as he opened it he saw the bundle was soaked through as well. He angrily tossed it to the side, breathed out heavily, and thought he wouldn’t be escaping tonight.

Seeing his movements, the old man bumped Huo Fenghua’s arm with his elbow. “Kid, tell me straight. Where were you climbing the wall to go in the middle of the night?”

Huo Fenghua didn’t answer. He only said, “And what were you doing climbing the wall to get in at night? Stealing?”

The old man said, “I’m here looking for my disciple.”

“Looking for your disciple.” Huo Fenghua looked him over coldly. “Sneaking in over a wall at midnight to look for a disciple. Sounds like neither you nor your disciple are decent people.”

The old man chuckled. “I also think my disciple’s a fake decent sort.”

Huo Fenghua’s wet clothes clung to him uncomfortably, and the half-healed wounds on his back started itching too. He stood up and said, “I’m going back to change.”

“Hey,” the old man called after him. “What’s your name?”

Picking up his bundle, Huo Fenghua replied casually, “Huo Fenghua.”

The old man nodded. “My name’s Gu Guangji.”

Huo Fenghua pointed at him. “Lao* Gu, I’ll remember you. I’ll settle this score after I change clothes.”

*Old (老). It’s a form of address to someone who is older, senior, or to show closeness or respect. In this case, it’s more so calling him “old man” Gu.

He turned to leave, but Gu Guangji followed behind him, talking as he walked. “You still haven’t told me where you were going.”

Huo Fenghua hesitated, then asked, “Are you from the General’s Manor?”

Gu Guangji said, “No.”

Huo Fenghua asked, “And your disciple is?”

Gu Guangji thought for a moment. “Sort of.”

Huo Fenghua shook his soaked bundle. “Then I can’t tell you.”

Gu Guangji was full of curiosity and stuck close to him. “Then tell me what you are in the General’s Manor.”

Huo Fenghua said, “I can’t tell you that either.”

As Gu Guangji walked, the wine gourd at his waist kept clanking. He said, “Then I’ll call someone and tell them you’re trying to climb the wall and run away.”

Huo Fenghua stopped short. He thought for a moment, then said to Gu Guangji, “Want to make a bet?”

The moment he heard “bet,” Gu Guangji’s interest flared. He nodded repeatedly. “Sure. What are we betting?”

Huo Fenghua pulled a copper coin out of his inner pouch, pinched it between his fingertips, and showed Gu Guangji both sides. Then he lightly tossed it into the air, caught it, and said, “Heads or tails? If you guess right, I’ll tell you who I am and what I’m doing tonight. If you guess wrong, you leave immediately and stop following me.”

Gu Guangji didn’t even think. “Heads.”

Huo Fenghua smiled and opened his palm for him to see. The coin lay tails up. He closed his hand and said, “You lost.”

Gu Guangji refused to accept it. “Best two out of three.”

Huo Fenghua didn’t care. He casually tossed the coin again, caught it, and glanced at Gu Guangji.

Gu Guangji insisted, “Heads.”

Huo Fenghua opened his hand. Again, tails. He was about to pocket the coin and do another round, but this time Gu Guangji suddenly reached out and snatched the coin right out of his palm.

“You’re cheating. I’ll do it.”

Huo Fenghua froze. He really had been cheating, but it was pitch-black around them. The two of them were only using the faint lantern light in the distance to barely make out the coin’s face. Huo Fenghua knew his sleight of hand was clever, but he didn’t know how Gu Guangji had seen through it in the dim night. What shocked him even more was Gu Guangji’s speed. Huo Fenghua hadn’t even seen him move, and the coin was already gone from his hand.

Gu Guangji grinned. He put the coin on his fingertip and flicked it with two fingers. The coin shot into the air and vanished into the darkness. Gu Guangji rubbed his head and groaned, “Oh my, too much force.”

Huo Fenghua didn’t want to deal with him anymore and turned to leave.

But Gu Guangji grabbed his sleeve. “How did you cheat when you tossed the coin? I watched twice and still didn’t catch it. You have to teach me.”

Huo Fenghua said impatiently, “Why should I teach you? That’s how I make my living.”

Gu Guangji wouldn’t let go. “Tell me what you want. I can trade you.”

Huo Fenghua was about to say he didn’t want anything, when he suddenly remembered that the old man could easily climb up and sit on the General’s Manor wall, and with one hand he’d lifted Huo Fenghua out of the water. The man was old, but his skills were clearly not shallow. So Huo Fenghua said, “Teach me martial arts, and I’ll teach you how to toss the coin.”

Gu Guangji froze.

Huo Fenghua thought he’d definitely refuse.

But after that pause, Gu Guangji burst into laughter. “Sure! Kneel right now and kowtow to me three times, call me Master*, and I’ll teach you martial arts.”

*Shifu (师父).

Huo Fenghua went still on the spot.

Seeing he didn’t respond, Gu Guangji snorted. “Do you know who I am? I’m the head of the Xianyuan Sect. I’m taking you as a disciple today, and you’re not immediately kneeling to call me Master, you’re actually hesitating.”

“What sect?” Huo Fenghua thought. What kind of sect is that? I’ve never even heard of it. But if he was a sect leader, his martial arts would naturally be strong. Learning some skills for self-defense couldn’t be a bad thing. Next time Su Zeyang wanted to whip him, even if he couldn’t win, at least he could stand up and run.

Gu Guangji looked displeased, his face darkening. “I’m seventy this year. I’ve only ever taken one disciple. If you take me as your master, you’ll be the final disciple of the head of the Xianyuan Sect. If I didn’t think your talent was decent and you suited my eye, I wouldn’t want to take on a little disciple at my age. You think I’m really coveting your petty little underhanded tricks?”

With that, Gu Guangji suddenly leapt up. Light as drifting smoke, he flew toward the distant shrubs, reached in and fished around, then returned to Huo Fenghua and opened his palm.

In his palm was the very copper coin he’d just flung away.

Gu Guangji saw the astonishment on Huo Fenghua’s face and gave a smug grin. He closed his fist, squeezed, then opened it again. The coin had been bent.

At that point, Huo Fenghua didn’t hesitate anymore. He lifted his robe and dropped to his knees. Unfortunately, his clothes were still wet. He lifted the robe halfway, remembered he wasn’t wearing trousers, and hurriedly let go. Then he kowtowed three times and said, “This disciple Huo Fenghua pays respects to Master.”

Gu Guangji roared with laughter, tossed the coin away, slapped Huo Fenghua on the shoulder, then slid his hand down to support him and pull him up. “Good disciple. Come on, I’ll take you to meet your senior brother.”

Huo Fenghua had just stood when he asked curiously, “Who’s my senior brother*?”

*[Shixiong] (师兄) It’s a term usually used to refer to an older or higher rank male who is your senior with whom you share the same master/teacher or sect with.

Gu Guangji already had one hand on his shoulder. He lifted him into the air and carried him in rising and falling arcs over several courtyard walls. Finally they stopped in front of a door. Gu Guangji lifted a foot and kicked it open, then reached out and threw Huo Fenghua inside.

Luckily, directly opposite the door was a big bed. Huo Fenghua crashed headfirst into it, and the person sleeping there flipped up in one nimble motion to stand by the bed. Dizzy, Huo Fenghua lifted his head and smelled a faint sandalwood scent.

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The author has something to say:

Feng and Su are truly in love. I actually just want to write a real three-person 3P story where all three of them are mutually into each other, mutually jealous, with both explicit scenes and angst.

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Author: 哔哔 (Bi Bi) / Jin Gang Quan

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

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Chapter 4

What did it feel like to have a whip cracked across your back? In more than twenty years of living, Huo Fenghua had truly never experienced it. But he’d been beaten before and he had common sense. He knew that the moment that leather whip came down, it wouldn’t feel good.

He knelt there in the middle of the main hall in a daze, seeing everyone on both sides with their heads lowered in silence. For some reason, a strange emptiness rose in his chest. He didn’t know why he had to be here, and he didn’t know why he had to kneel and take all of this.

He had the impulse to stand up and leave, to say, “I’m not playing along with this.” But he also doubted whether he even had the ability to get out. He glanced at Lu Xi, whose eyes were sharp and bright, then at Su Zeyang behind him holding the whip as he slowly walked up. He thought he’d probably have to endure these ten lashes first.

Su Zeyang didn’t speak, standing there so silently that even his breathing couldn’t be heard. He didn’t swing the whip either.

That made Huo Fenghua even more tense. Without meaning to, he tightened the muscles in his back, waiting for the whip that could strike at any moment.

Then Su Zeyang moved, suddenly. He was far faster than Huo Fenghua had expected. By the time Huo Fenghua heard the whip cut through the air, his back had already gone abruptly cold, then started burning hot, and only after that did he begin to register the pain.

The pain grew gradually stronger. Just as Huo Fenghua thought he could still withstand it, the second lash came down. After that there was no pause at all. The third, the fourth. The pain sharpened and spread across his entire back. Huo Fenghua had his lips clenched tight, yet he still heard himself letting out small, broken cry every time the whip landed.

Where he couldn’t see, his clothes had been torn open by the whip. Tender skin split, blood sliding downward, then twisting as it met the next wound and changing its course, soaking through the shredded fabric across his back. It was a miserable sight.

Qingqing couldn’t help closing her eyes.

Only Lu Xi knew that the wounds on Huo Fenghua’s back looked frightening, but they were all superficial. The moment the first lash landed, he’d already known Su Zeyang had held back. Asking to carry out the punishment personally was simply another way of pleading for mercy on Huo Fenghua’s behalf.

Ten lashes in Su Zeyang’s hands ended quickly. He lightly tossed the whip to a servant at his side and said, “Take Young Master Huo back to his room.”

Huo Fenghua’s mind was already a mess. He couldn’t even count how many lashes he’d taken. When he heard Su Zeyang say that, the muscles he’d been holding tight finally released all at once. But his body had been weak to begin with. The moment he relaxed, he pitched forward and passed out.

Su Zeyang was closest. When Huo Fenghua collapsed, he stepped in and steadied him, supporting his jaw so he wouldn’t smash his face into the floor. Then he sighed, simply lifted him up, and carried him back to the side courtyard where he lived.

Huo Fenghua didn’t stay unconscious for long. He lay facedown on the bed for a while and gradually came to. Aside from the pain in the wounds on his back, he felt cold sweat constantly breaking out on his forehead. His whole body couldn’t decide whether it was hot or cold as it shook uncontrollably.

He heard Qingqing’s footsteps in the room. After a moment, she came to the bedside and said, “Young Master, don’t move. I’m going to cut your clothes open.”

He gave a soft “Mm.” He didn’t have the strength to thrash around anyway. He heard scissors cutting through fabric, and then his back went cool.

Qingqing sat by the bed and said softly, “I’m going to wipe your wounds.”

Huo Fenghua was half-dazed, but he still remembered to ask, “Is it clean?”

Qingqing said, “The cotton gauze has all been boiled in water. Young Master Su told me to wipe your wounds with alcohol. I’ll be gentle. Bear with it.”

When Huo Fenghua heard her mention Su Zeyang, he couldn’t help giving a cold snort. “Doesn’t he want me dead?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he heard Su Zeyang’s voice at the doorway.

“I don’t want you dead. No one in the General’s Manor wants you dead, except for yourself.”

Huo Fenghua froze, realizing he meant the matter of him throwing himself into the water to commit suicide. He gave a light snort and didn’t speak again.

Qingqing washed his wounds with clean water, then carefully went over them again with wine. He knew exactly how much it would hurt to get alcohol on open wounds, but when it really happened, it was still unbearable. Even though Qingqing’s movements were already very light, his eyes reddened with pain. He clenched his teeth, yet the groans kept slipping out.

All he could do was keep telling himself, “It needs disinfecting. If it’s not disinfected it’ll get infected. Just endure it. It’ll pass.”

He muttered through clenched teeth. Su Zeyang stood by the bed and asked, “What did you say?”

By now Qingqing had finished cleaning the wounds on his back. She set aside the blood-soaked gauze. Huo Fenghua finally let out a breath, slumping weakly onto the bed as he said, “What’s it to you?”

Su Zeyang didn’t get angry. He’d come back because he’d brought some salve for Huo Fenghua. After Qingqing cleaned the wounds, he sat by the bed, took out a white jade box, and set it aside.

“I’ll apply the medicine for you.” Then he instructed Qingqing, “I’ve already sent someone to fetch the physician. Go bring him in to take Young Master Huo’s pulse. These next few days, he still needs to take his decoction every day.”

Qingqing acknowledged with a yes and withdrew.

Huo Fenghua lay facedown on the bed, feeling Su Zeyang’s fingers dipped in ointment and slowly spread it over the wounds on his back. His movements were gentle, and the ointment was cool and smooth. The searing pain eased immediately by quite a bit. Huo Fenghua let out a long sigh and said, “You’re afraid I’ll die in the General’s Manor, aren’t you?”

Su Zeyang actually replied evenly, “If you die right now, I won’t be able to explain it to the General.”

He answered without the slightest attempt to hide it. Huo Fenghua was so angry he laughed, and the movement tugged at the wounds on his back in stabbing waves of pain.

Hearing him laugh, Su Zeyang paused. “What are you laughing at?”

Huo Fenghua had a knot of anger in his chest. With a cold laugh he said, “What does it matter what I’m laughing at? Anyway, even if I die, I won’t die in your General’s Manor and get in the way of you and the General living blissfully together. Don’t worry.”

Su Zeyang stopped moving his hands. He sat quietly at the bedside for a moment, then said, “You aren’t Huo Fenghua.”

Huo Fenghua jolted. Twisting awkwardly, he forced himself to turn his head to look at him. Su Zeyang’s expression was still calm and serious, making Huo Fenghua’s heart tighten a little.

“If I’m not Huo Fenghua, then who am I?”

“How would I know?” Su Zeyang said. “But you don’t resemble Huo Fenghua.”

Huo Fenghua had originally been a spoiled young wastrel. When he’d first been forced to marry into the General’s Manor as a concubine, he’d been choking on resentment, ready to kick up a storm. Back then, Feng Tianzong was still in the manor and would mercilessly teach Huo Fenghua a lesson. After that, Huo Fenghua had been frightened into submission. He’d go out of his way to avoid Su Zeyang, and his words and actions became timid and trembling, until he finally chose to throw himself into the lake.

The Huo Fenghua lying here now might not be any more principled, but Su Zeyang still felt he was different. At the very least, even facedown on a bed with his back full of whip wounds, he could still laugh.

Huo Fenghua didn’t want to explain his identity to Su Zeyang. He turned his head back and lay still again, saying, “If I’m not Huo Fenghua, then who could I be? Maybe I’m a water ghost, and the real Huo Fenghua died as my substitute.”

Su Zeyang lowered his gaze to the ointment in his hand and suddenly felt that what Huo Fenghua said might actually be true.

He slowly snapped the lid shut, tore off a clean strip of cotton cloth, and gently laid it over Huo Fenghua’s back. Then he stood and said, “Let the physician take a look at you in a bit. I’ll go first.”

Huo Fenghua was drenched in cold sweat. His hair was sticking damply to his face and it felt awful. He said, “Wipe my face for me.”

Su Zeyang paused slightly. “You’re ordering me?”

Huo Fenghua said, “Is there anyone else in the room?”

Su Zeyang fell silent for a moment. He set the ointment on the table, actually took the face towel from the room, wet it, wrung it out, then sat by the head of the bed and carefully wiped Huo Fenghua’s face.

Huo Fenghua watched Su Zeyang’s slender, pale fingers moving in front of him. Su Zeyang brushed the hair stuck to Huo Fenghua’s face aside as well. When his vision cleared, Huo Fenghua lifted his eyes and stared at Su Zeyang.

Su Zeyang was also studying him. In truth, he’d never looked closely at Huo Fenghua. Not just Huo Fenghua. Ever since he’d married into the General’s Manor, aside from Feng Tianzong, he hadn’t held anyone else in his eyes. Since he’d made this choice, he would walk this road to the end no matter how hard it was. The baseless criticism and blame, he heard it and didn’t take it to heart. Man or woman, for him, having Feng Tianzong in this world was enough.

Ever since Huo Fenghua married into the General’s Manor, Su Zeyang had never once looked him in the eye. He’d only seen him from afar on the day he entered the manor. In his memory, he’d been a young man with refined features and an elegant manner. After that Su Zeyang never examined him carefully. His impression only worsened, until he became nothing more than a timid, cringing coward.

But looking now, although Huo Fenghua had grown noticeably thinner, his features were still delicate and handsome. And that timidity was gone. In its place was a livelier spark.

He was lost in thought, staring off at Huo Fenghua when Huo Fenghua suddenly grabbed his hand. Su Zeyang yanked his hand back at once and said coldly, “What are you doing?”

Huo Fenghua let out a breath. “Nothing. You’re about to scrub my face raw.”

Only then did Su Zeyang notice Huo Fenghua’s forehead and cheeks were flushed an unnatural red. He stood and said, “Rest. The physician will be here any moment.” With that, he tossed the towel into the bronze basin by the door and turned to leave Huo Fenghua’s room.

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The author has something to say:

First, win over the General’s wife. The General can wait.

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