How many times does Feng-er want to use excuses to get onto the horse carriage?
Three days ago, he complained that the sunlight stung his eyes; the day before yesterday, he complained that he'd got sunburn; yesterday…
If time could turn back, Cui Buqu thought, he would never have given up those three Bingzhi Pellets.
"You don't look too well. Are your old diseases acting up?" Feng Xiao asked in both surprise and concern, "Let me pass you some qi."
"Thank you. I'll pass. Your bureau's Third Commander is still lying on his back at the carriage in the back. Why don't you take a look at him." Cui Buqu expressionlessly said.
Feng Xiao welcomingly said: "Ming Yue's martial arts aren't bad. If he regulated his qi to heal himself, he might even overcome his limit in the martial arts. There is no need for my assistance. Cui-Lang, what sort of relationship are we in now? Don't you be shy."
Cui-Lang?
What relationship are they in now? Why wouldn't he know?
Also, how does one write the words 'shy'?
Cui Buqu looked up at the sky speechlessly.
It was a pity that one cannot see the sky inside a carriage. He could only look at its roof.
Not waiting for someone to speak, Feng Xiao eagerly pulled Cui Buqu's wrist to himself and semi-forced some qi into it.
Cui Buqu struggled but didn't pull away.
The warmth of streams of qi flowed from his fingertips into his meridians, serving even better than a brazier. The continuous fill of qi through his veins certainly did ease his old diseases down a lot. During such a situation in the past, once the weather grew cold, he would have to go through two to three days of enduring a headache, but ever since his episode in Guangqian County, it had never acted up since. Frankly, all of these were owed to Feng-er's qi.
Even if—
"Hmph…"
As qi flowed inside his body like endless worms and snakes unsystematically, everywhere it reached left behind warmth like a hot spring boiling within an ice-cold shell of a body. It made one's hairs stand on their end. Regardless of how determined Cui Buqu was, he had no control over his hairs as they stood. A soft breath came out from the corner of his lips.
He bit the tip of his tongue, working hard to suppress it and refusing to utter any sound.
"If you're feeling uncomfortable, then say it out, don't keep it in." He breathed against the other's ear with an understanding tone.
Cui Buqu couldn't help rolling his eyes.
He knew that Feng-er did it on purpose.
Because last time, Cui Buqu made Qin Miaoyu take Feng Xiao's form to drag the Jiejian Bureau down while Feng Xiao was in seclusion…
In the end, the Jiejian Bureau hadn't taken the blame. They had even got quite a blissful end to this. Since they have gotten involved and made an achievement, the Jiejian Bureau was part of the contribution. However, this fellow Feng-er kept this to heart and now he's trying to get everything he'd been owed back.
But there was nothing he could say because the other is indeed nursing his health.
As he thought until this place. Cui Buqu couldn't help sighing.
During the battle at the tavern, he shouldn't have given in to a moment of softness and stand in Xiao Lu's way. Perhaps these two could have even perished along with each other and his day today would be quiet.
Feng Xiao didn't push his luck. He obediently transferred qi into him and gently convinced him to take a rest, then swept the curtains apart to leave the carriage with a suspicious blush over his cheeks.
Cui Buqu heard Pei Jingzhe asking outside: "My Lord, why is your face beet red?"
Maybe he's just holding his breath on purpose. Cui Buqu thought in his heart.
Feng Xiao sighed and said: "It's all the fault of your Lord for being peerlessly beautiful without equal."
Cui Buqu: "…"
This sort of talk—saying something but not revealing the full story of it—really prodded at someone's imagination.
Pei Jingzhe indeed took the bait as he stammered: "Commander Cui doesn't look the part?"
Cui Buqu heard Feng Xiao say in detest: "This person declines to speak his heart. All that talk of not wanting it yet his body has always been honest."
…Those who understood knew he was speaking of transferring qi, but those who didn't took him for implying something else.
Cui Buqu's expression numbed when he felt Pei Jingzhe inhale a cool breath from the outside, his heart like calm water.
After a while, in the eyes of other people, Cui Buqu and himself would appear to share a profound relationship with Feng Xiao. Feng-er would then use this misunderstanding to continue pitting and deceiving.
That oleander fairy is certainly such a begrudging person. He should have gotten used to it.
Err once and you will never hear the end of it.
Cui Buqu looked at the spot where he was held just now as if there was still warmth on it, his thoughts in primal chaos.
Why did his body act on its own during that time, unhesitantly giving out those three Bingzhi Pellets?
A normal afternoon slipped past. It was as if Feng Xiao knew that he wasn't in a pleasant mood, so he hadn't come to provoke him.
The horse carriage stopped under a small station a few dozen li away from Luoyang.
They didn't intend to stay the night in the station. After a short rest, they would embark on their journey once more, striving to enter Luoyang before the sky darkens.
Cui Buqu has long sat until his back ached. Just as he was prepared to get down his carriage and stretch his bones, someone caught his shoulder.
Feng Xiao: "There is a weasel at the front. Don't you come out."
Cui Buqu: "…"
He also could see the yellow-robed woman sitting peacefully in the tavern.
Cui Buqu looked at Feng Xiao: "Are you taking me for a chicken1?"
Feng Xiao raised his brow: "Of course not, you are—"
They glared at each other.
Feng Xiao changed his statement: "You are the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, Cui-Lang, have you forgotten? Come, let us go take a rest, I will let Pei Jingzhe bring you somecome tea."
Cui Buqu struggled free for a moment, but his hands didn't move and he gave up.
"How can we not greet someone we know upon meeting them?" He sighed, "In fact, she's not here for me."
Feng Xiao: "How would you know?"
Cui Buqu: "Let us have a wager."
Feng Xiao felt interested: "And the bet?"
Cui Buqu slowly swallowed: "If I win, you will not open your mouth until we reach the capital."
All he desired was to admire this face in peace and not listen to its owner rambling by his ear.
Feng Xiao: "But what if I win?"
Cui Buqu: "Speak."
Feng Xiao: "When you return to the capital, state it to the Empress that you wish to put off the engagement with Yuwen Xuanzhu."
Cui Buqu raised a brow: "There is no engagement between us."
Feng Xiao smiled vaguely: "I refuse to believe that you have heard nothing of it. During the time we left the capital, the Empress' desire of marrying the both of you have spread throughout the capital, going so far to even prepare the marriage contract. I fear she just wants to turn a staged show into reality."
Cui Buqu furrowed his thin brows, giving him a half-smile and a look which spoke columns: "Second Commander Feng seems to be overly concerned with my state of marriage, isn't he?"
Feng Xiao leaned down near to him and whispered: "During the night when the battle at the tavern took place, you have already taken an advantage of me as big as the sky. Even Ming Yue and Qin Miaoyu had seen it with their own eyes. After that, when I was nursing you back to health you felt me up again. Although you look too shabby, unlike myself, how would it look like for the dignified Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau to run away after taking advantage of someone else?"
Cui Buqu consulted him earnestly: "How could you say something so endlessly shameless and deceiving?"
Feng Xiao: "I learned it from you."
Cui Buqu gave a cold laugh and patted his face: "A word from the gentleman could not be taken back; the deal is agreed upon. Second Commander, please."
Feng Xiao followed after and leaned his head to the side, brushing his lips against Cui Buqu's palm. From the looks of it, it certainly does look like Cui Buqu is making use of the opportunity to feel him up.
Just as Pei Jingzhe turned around, he saw everything and couldn't help giving out a light "Ah…". The more he looked at it the more Feng Xiao's words seemed to take form.
Cui Buqu: …This person really is peerlessly shameless with no equal.
Although Bing Xuan's back is turned towards them, she seemed to have eyes on her back. When they were walking over, she had just turned her head. She got to her feet and bowed, a smile on her face. Although it wasn't strikingly beautiful, it made one feel breezy.
"Lord Cui, Commander Feng, how long has it been, and how are you faring?"
Feng Xiao snorted in his heart. She called him Commander Feng, yet called Cui Buqu "Lord Cui". The difference was quite obvious, don't think he wouldn't be able to tell.
Bing Xuan is the most outstanding disciple of the Hehuan Sect of her generation. Theoretically, she and Feng Xiao came from the origin of Demonic Sects. It was a pity that the Demonic Sects never practisced old sentiments, instead, when they met, it seemed to be a battle between the same species.
Feng Xiao's attitude aside, Cui Buqu behaved very politely. "Maiden Bing Xuan, you've become more elegant since we last met."
"Really?" Bing Xuan touched her face, lighting up in joy.
Feng Xiao quietly said: You would believe deceiving words that were said casually? How silly.
"Couldn't believe that Maiden Bing Xuan's networks would be so efficient, that she could even tell that we are passing through here, and even on purpose—" Cui Buqu looked at the teacup on the table that has been sipped dry as if it was an indication of something, "—waited for so long. Mayhaps for something important?"
Bing Xuan pursed her lips into a smile: "You've mistaken. A few days ago the Shaolin of Songshan's Sword-Sparring competition just ended. I attended on behalf of my Master and conveniently passed by Luoyang. I heard Lord Cui has annihilated half the forces of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai. Even the grandmaster martial artist of Tiantai Sect, Yu Xiu had been defeated by both of you. This incident has travelled throughout the Jianghu. Congratulations, Lord Cui for your victory, granting the mortal world days of peace."
Feng Xiao: …This is the first time I've heard of someone from the Demonic Sect use the phrase 'days of peace'. Didn't this woman think that her words are very contradicting? It was obviously I who killed Yu Xiu, so why is she congratulating Cui Buqu? Isn't this done on purpose?
Bing Xuan also realized that she had neglected Second Commander Feng who was standing by the side proud and aloof. She immediately said: "This humble woman sees that Commander Feng's gaze has brightened. He must have most certainly achieved a new stage in the world of martial arts, most certain to be congratulated."
Feng Xiao twitched the corner of his lips. "The Hehuan Sect hasn't delivered an outstanding figure since Yuan Xiuxiu, it's time you people try your best."
Bing Xuan has been able to guess his origins from his martial arts during their prior meetings, and once she returned to find matching backgrounds, it wasn't difficult for her to know Feng Xiao's identity. The Demonic Sects do not discuss seniority. For them, the strong takes the lead in terms of respect. Bing Xuan knew that even ten of her would not win a fight against Feng Xiao, hence she didn't look sullen at his words. She even agreed with a nod: "Thank you for Commander Feng's advice. Bing Xuan will try her best."
She then smiled at Cui Buqu: "People meet by fate, not by chance. Since we are fated, let me inform both of you of something."
Cui Buqu: "Please tell."
The few of them sat separately. Pei Jingzhe had gone to order some dishes and tea.
That place was spacious. Ming Yue, Qin Miaoyu, and the others even sat right next to them. It was convenient for discussion.
Bing Xuan said: "Speaking of the Shaolin of Songshan's Sword-Sparring competition, although it's not as grand as a real Sword-Sparring competition, and not as crowded as the events held by the Liuli Palace of Fangzhangzhou, it didn't lack promising talents of the Jianghu nor grandmasters that lay hidden. Of one of them, I have never heard of his name or origins, yet this person had won countless victories with the display of his talents. His martial art techniques and moves were unique. Not only did he move strangely, but he also had a strong foundation of inner strength. In my opinion—"
She had always been calm and sturdy, systematic and methodical. At this moment, she hesitated, even casting Feng Xiao a glance before saying: "I fear if the ten best under the heavens were gathered, he would be one of the first three."
Feng Xiao indeed raised his eyebrow: "Do you take the first ten under the Heavens for Chinese cabbages, able to pick one up with a scoop of your hand?"
Bing Xuan laughed bitterly: "I am not willing to overestimate him, but the truth lies before my eyes. Speaking of which, this must be a joke to the both of you. After Yuan Xiuxiu and Sang Jingxing, The people in the Hehuan Sect lived in destitution. My Sect orders me to travel across the lands, tasked with the duty of searching for promising talents to strengthen our Sect. However, this person's origins I have never heard of before. It was unknown since when a top-tier martial artist such as him had come to the Central Plains. The saying goes that Lord Cui is familiar with all the Sects in the Jianghu, hence I came here to consult you."
Cui Buqu: "What is the name of this person?"
Bing Xuan: "Surname Tuan, binomial name Qinghe."
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[1] Wordplay from the phrase "The Weasel pays the chicken a new year's visit" referring to how a weasel pays the chicken a new year visit but its real intentions are to eat the chicken.
Translator's Note:
Feng Xiao: Im the most beautiful man that ever existed ququ couldn't look at anyone but me.
Bing Xuan: *appears*
Also Feng Xiao: nooooo oo oo bing xuan begone!!!