Confused, Xiao bao looked around. After spinning twice, someone suddenly flashed
out from behind a tree, moving so quickly that Xiaobao only caught a blur. In the blink
of an eye, the person was standing a few yards away, watching them with an
expressionless face.
Xiao bao's eyes widened in shock.
Su Yin narrowed his eyes, assessing the beautiful, androgynous youth standing
before them.
"In broad daylight, overturning dragons and phoenixes, you two seem quite spirited," the voice said, as captivating as its owner's appearance, yet as cold as frost.
The two men called out were momentarily stunned, struggling to process those
words. Looking down, they noticed their disheveled clothes and flushed cheeks, especially their compromising position
—one on top of the other—oozing ambiguity.
However, if it were a man and a woman, their actions might have some logical explanation. But for two men to be entangled like this, only those with their minds in the gutter could misconstrue their intentions, clearly having too much time on their hands.
Xiao Bao's face went through several changes, suddenly realizing why this person
might think that way, due to having had similar experiences.
Why they had those experiences... coupled with the sudden, unguarded appearance of the one he longed for day and night.
His brain capacity was limited, and digesting so much information at once was indeed challenging, leaving him completely stunned.
Su Yin truly lived up to his reputation as the eldest son of the foremost martial
family, quickly regaining his composure.
He straightened his clothes and his slightly disheveled hair, even buttoning up Xiao
Bao's clothes and tidying his hair for him before pulling him up to his feet.
Huai En remained motionless, his gaze following their movements, his expression
frosty.
"You know him," he stated confidently to Xiao Bao, yet his gaze never left Huai En.
Despite a momentary lapse in vigilance, the fact that someone could silently lurk
under his watch for who knows how long made the person before him extremely
dangerous. The cold, malicious look in that person's eyes put Su Yin on high alert, like
a beast sensing danger, ready for any sudden changes.
"He... I..." Xiao Bao's throat was dry; he didn't know how to respond to Su Yin. He
had imagined countless scenarios of reuniting with Huai En, but none seemed
adequate for the moment. He also had to think about how to explain Huai En's
identity to Su Yin. He felt like his brain was about to explode. Lying was indeed a skill,
and he was not professional at it at all!
Huai En glanced at Xiao Bao, sending shivers down his spine with that look.
"I came here today to take my person. If you know what's good for you, you'll
release him early," Huai En said, not bothering with pleasantries, feeling no need to waste words with the person before him.
Su Yin scoffed coldly, "What a bold claim, do you think you can back that up?" So,
this is him... but... that's not right!!!
He grabbed Xiao Bao's arm, "Is he the one you talked about?"
Xiao Bao looked like he was on the verge of tears, silently staring back.
"How could it be a man?"
Xiao Bao's face fell, "I... I never said... he was a woman."
He wanted to ask when Xiao Bao started liking men, but now clearly wasn't the
time, angrily letting go of his arm.
"You're still not settled with me for causing Xiao Bao's injury, yet you have the audacity to demand him from me, who gave you such courage."
"Me, causing his injury? Oh, is that what he told you?" Huai En replied with a sneer.
Su Yin saw Xiao Bao's flushed face and felt irritated. He shared a secret with a
stranger but didn't tell him.
So, as long as someone is attractive, even a man is okay? Not even knowing the
other's background, carelessly getting involved, what a foolish idiot. He definitely
needed a stern talking to later.
Su Yin wasn't someone who easily got angry, but his residual anger hadn't subsided, and now he was even more upset with Xiao Bao's lack of fight.
Huai En, naturally cold, was also showing fiery anger in his eyes, both of them standing motionless, glaring at each other.
Xiaobao was made anxious by the tense atmosphere; he knew of Su Yin's strength
and had witnessed Huai En's capabilities. If it came down to it, the two were bound to
fight to the death, but he didn't want to see either of them get hurt.
What was the big deal, after all? It was just about wanting to see someone. Su Yin
had said that day he just wanted to meet Huai En, and now that he had, Xiaobao
couldn't think of any reason not to let him go.
He hurriedly tugged at Su Yin's sleeve, "Su Yin, Su Yin, don't be like this. A guest
has come...uh...keeping someone's subordinate at your mansion for so long isn't
right..."
Su Yin glared at him and spoke without any politeness, "It's not your place to
speak."
Xiaobao's face flushed with embarrassment and anger, more upset about being
scolded in front of Huai En than by the scolding itself.
Fuming, he raised his voice, "This is my turf, I have the final say, and I say let him
go!"
Su Yin really wished he could dunk Xiaobao's head in a pond. Was it really okay to be so outwardly defiant in front of an enemy?
Huai En snorted coldly, "Whether to let go is not for you to decide." As he spoke, he
glanced unconsciously in a certain direction.
Su Yin's gaze tightened, and he dashed toward Zuo Ying's quarters, only to double
back after a couple of steps, grabbing Xiao Bao by the arm and barking, "What are
you staring at? Move!"
Xiao Bao froze for a split second before realizing what was happening and followed
him toward that direction.
Upon arriving at the scene, Xiao Bao was met with a sight to behold: around Zuo
Ying's abode, a throng of people had gathered, ostensibly ready to draw their swords in defense of the household.
Yet, excitement was unmistakably gleaming in their eyes—a clear sign that they were just a bunch of good-for-nothings, usually so well-fed and clothed that they'd find amusement in a toothpick all day, now buzzing with anticipation at the day's excitement.
It was no wonder they were so stir-crazy, given that it had been years since anyone
had brazenly made a spectacle at the Jin residence like this.
Huai En had arrived before them, but neither side had made a move, clearly waiting
for them.
Xiao Bao's warped sense of pride felt respected all of a sudden, walking forward
with his head held high, especially when everyone automatically made way for them,
strutting proudly in front of Huai En.
To Xiao Bao, like a young lad experiencing the thrills of first love, every opportunity
to show off in front of his beloved was exhilarating.
Then again, wherever Su Yin was over these twenty years, Xiao Bao usually had no
role to play.
Wherever Su Yin casually stood, the focus of the scene would immediately center
around him and Huai En.
Turning to Zuo Ying, Xiao Bao inquired, "Where's the injured?"
"In the house."
"Master Jin, I'm deeply grateful you saved my brother's life, but why do you insist on
keeping him confined here? What are your intentions?" Zuo Ying spoke to Xiao Bao
but kept his gaze fixed on Su Yin.
After a thorough investigation of the Jin and Su families, they realized the unusual
closeness between the two. Old Master Jin had always held the Su family in high
regard, and Su Yin's words carried immense weight within the Jin household.
If anyone was kept against their will, it was surely at Su Yin's behest. Xiao Bao? He
wouldn't have that level of consideration.
As expected, Xiao Bao, fearing his beloved would blame him for the lack of courtesy, hurriedly explained, "It's not that I don't want to release him... It's just..." He glanced
at Su Yin and noticed his expressionless face sizing up Huai En, wondering, could you also have taken a fancy to him?
At that moment, Huai En's icy gaze was flitting between him and Su Yin.
Xiao Bao felt a chill run down his spine, uncertain who would strike first. If these
two started a fight, it could very well tear his house apart.
Tugging at Su Yin's sleeve, Xiao Bao whispered, "What are you thinking? Are you
really going to fight here? I'm warning you, if you ruin my place, I'll never let you off."
Su Yin also leaned down to whisper in his ear, "I'm warning you, if you keep
opposing me, I'll tie you up naked at the city gates. Go ahead and see if I dare."
Xiao Bao shuddered, casting a wronged glance at Su Yin. He believed, this lad was
capable of any despicable deed.
Suddenly, Su Yin pulled him into his embrace and swiftly retreated a dozen feet
away, leaving Xiao Bao utterly clueless about what had just occurred.
Turning his head, he saw it was Huai En who had suddenly taken a big step towards
them, followed immediately by the sound of Su Yin's sword being drawn from its
scabbard.
Huai En's face was so dark, it looked like a storm was about to break. He said to Su
Yin, "I heard you wanted to see me."
Su Yin had long forgotten the nonsense he had spouted earlier about longing to
behold someone's beauty, but his desire to meet him was genuine.
He was now almost certain of the identity of the person before him. Given his age, his martial prowess, and his face that could turn the world upside down, even if he wasn't exactly the person Su Yin had in mind, he was sure to be very close.
Now, he regretted his rashness in seizing the person inside, contemplating the cost of potentially opposing the orthodoxy just to confirm his suspicions, which seemed hardly worth it.
Yet, caught in a dilemma like riding a tiger from which it's difficult to dismount, he
was also grappling with how to resolve the situation without creating enmity or
startling the snake.
(Startling the snake means acting rashly and alerting the enemy)
Xiao Bao nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, Su Yin heard that you are unparalleled in
beauty... uh..." A sharp glance from Huai En silenced him wisely.
"I'm here now, and my subordinates are seriously injured and it's inconvenient to
travel. So, I'd like to stay here for a few days."