Being pressed down by Qu Yunmie like this made Xiao Rong feel a bit nervous.

He was not afraid of a clear-headed Qu Yunmie, but who knew what a drunk Qu Yunmie would do? Their difference in physique was right there. Ordinarily, it was always Qu Yunmie yielding to him, which made him lose out in every situation. If Qu Yunmie insisted on solving problems with force, Xiao Rong would’ve already been pinned to the ground and unable to get up.

He steadied himself and put on a stern face, trying to scare Qu Yunmie off. “Let go of me.”

When Xiao Rong tried to intimidate people, he usually looked quite convincing. Qu Yunmie, however,  just looked at him and remained unmoved.

Xiao Rong: “…”

Now his temper rose. He simply refused to answer Qu Yunmie’s question—mainly because he also could not answer it. Who would remember what that string of gibberish had been? He only remembered the last two syllables, because they sounded very much like “Yunmie.”

Drunk Qu Yunmie was unusually patient. He didn’t realize Xiao Rong was sulking. He thought Xiao Rong was thinking seriously, so he quietly waited without letting go.

Xiao Rong: “…”

Feeling that arguing with a drunk person was a bit foolish, he turned his gaze back and looked at the large hand pressing on him.

He raised his own hand and grabbed Qu Yunmie’s wrist.

The burn marks had already healed. Qu Yunmie’s strong constitution once again showed its effect, that even such a severe injury had mostly healed, leaving only crisscrossing, ugly scars on his palm.

They really were not good-looking.

Even so, Xiao Rong held his hand up and kept looking at it.

Qu Yunmie didn’t understand what Xiao Rong was doing. He felt the game had ended and was a little disappointed, so he tried to sit up.

He failed, because Xiao Rong’s other hand had somehow grabbed his belt, pulling him down and forcing him to look at him.

Qu Yunmie froze.

Xiao Rong was the one lying beneath him, the one shrouded in shadow, yet he narrowed his eyes and his aura was even stronger than Qu Yunmie’s. “Is that all you wanted to ask? You should have many questions you want to ask me.”

Qu Yunmie looked at him and said with a slightly aggrieved tone, “What I want to know, you will never tell me.”

Xiao Rong drew a light breath. He released Qu Yunmie’s belt, opened his fingers, and pushed at Qu Yunmie’s dantian to make him sit up. Because Qu Yunmie had been bracing himself above him, his body was tightly tensed. With that push, Xiao Rong felt as if he had pushed against a wall.

“…”

He quietly withdrew his hand and looked at Qu Yunmie in confusion. It’s not as if he has never seen Qu Yunmie bare-chested before, yet he hadn’t felt this rigid back then.

Meanwhile, Qu Yunmie silently sat up. Not knowing what Xiao Rong was thinking, he simply lowered his head and pulled the blanket over himself.

Seeing this, Xiao Rong immediately asked, “Did I hurt you?”

Otherwise, why cover yourself with a blanket? He was the kind of man who could wear only a single layer in winter.

Qu Yunmie: “…”

He still didn’t speak, but his face turned a little red.

Xiao Rong’s brows furrowed tightly. The more he looked, the stranger it felt. Suddenly, something in his blocked mind connected, and his own face also turned red in an instant.

At this point, neither of them needed to speak anymore. They were both inexperienced, and neither was superior in this matter.

……

Experience with storms and waves did make one calmer than someone without it. Xiao Rong quickly regained his composure—at least on the surface.

He shifted back slightly and again looked at Qu Yunmie suspiciously. Was he drunk or not? Could a drunk person still feel shy? Shouldn’t they just act on instinct?

Despite this, if he really did act purely on instinct, Xiao Rong would definitely kick him off the bed. His principle had always been like a line from a film: I can give it to you, but you cannot take it.

……

Suddenly, Xiao Rong asked, “Have you been drunk before?”

Qu Yunmie lowered his eyes and replied, “Yes. When I was in my teens, I liked drinking. No one held back for me, they all made me drink. I could not hold much before getting drunk.”

Xiao Rong asked again, “What did you do when you were drunk?”

Qu Yunmie said, “I don’t remember.”

Qu Yunmie still didn’t look up. Suddenly, a beautiful face appeared in his vision. Xiao Rong had crawled over at some point, peering up at him from below. “Are you lying to me?”

Qu Yunmie again showed that aggrieved expression and said, “Rong, no matter what, I would never hurt you.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Some people became drunk and unruly, others became drunk and resentful like abandoned husbands.

Xiao Rong straightened up and looked at Qu Yunmie’s wronged expression. His mouth twitched, but after thinking about it, he felt that he might indeed have wronged Qu Yunmie quite a bit, by bullying and forcing him. When sober, he would never say it, but now that he was drunk, it all came out.

With a soft sigh, Xiao Rong pulled over the other half of the blanket and loosely covered his legs. “Then what do you want to ask me? I’ll give you three questions. Think carefully.”

Qu Yunmie did not need to think. He asked immediately, “When can I say it?”

Xiao Rong froze.

Seeing his expression, Qu Yunmie thought he was angry and quickly added, “I won’t rush you. It’s just… is it truly that I can never say it for my entire life? If one day I am about to die, can I still not say it before I die?”

Whether it could be said or not, truthfully it had little meaning, since both of them already knew what the answer would be.

So what Qu Yunmie was really asking was not about the words themselves, but the change that would come after saying them. He said he would give Xiao Rong freedom, but in his heart he still hoped that once Xiao Rong had freedom, he would choose him. He wanted a clear deadline—even if it was only at death’s door, that would still be better than carrying it to the grave.

Under Qu Yunmie’s gaze, Xiao Rong shifted slightly and sat face to face with him.

Xiao Rong said, “Qu Yunmie, I want to tell you a secret.”

Qu Yunmie stared at him.

Xiao Rong lowered his voice and said, “I am a demon.”

Qu Yunmie slightly widened his eyes.

Seeing that he believed it, Xiao Rong felt a bit relieved. It seemed the alcohol had truly made his brain stop working.

“We demons, once we enter the human world, are controlled by a superior. That superior is shameless, overbearing, and does whatever he wants without regard for my will.”

Qu Yunmie thought for a moment. “Like me.”

Xiao Rong’s words got stuck.

“…”

He said angrily, “Don’t interrupt.”

After Qu Yunmie obediently stopped speaking, Xiao Rong continued, “He has given me many orders. I must obey him, but I do not want to. At the very least, I do not want someone like that controlling my life. So my first task is to get rid of him. As for after I get rid of him…”

He paused, then suddenly looked up and said in a tone used to scare children, “Qu Yunmie, humans and demons are not meant to be together. A demon will eat your brain and drink your blood.”

Qu Yunmie, still processing the previous part, subconsciously replied, “It’s fine.”

Xiao Rong was startled. “It’s fine?”

Qu Yunmie nodded. “Yes. Didn’t you always say I have no brain?”

Xiao Rong: “…”

I only said that in my head!

He stared at Qu Yunmie in shock. A few seconds later, he couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. Qu Yunmie looked at him in confusion, and Xiao Rong laughed even harder.

Finally, Xiao Rong calmed down. After resting with his hands on his hips for a moment, he became serious again and said, “You are right—you really have no brain!”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

He gritted his teeth silently but endured it.

Xiao Rong continued accusing him, “I already told you it’s dangerous to be with a demon, and you still say it’s fine. If that’s not having a brain, then what is it?!”

The next moment, he deflated again. No longer standing with his hands on his hips, he even slumped his shoulders and sighed deeply. When he raised his head again, his eyes were much softer than usual.

“If I were really a demon,” he said softly, “I would have eaten you today. Bones, flesh, everything, leaving nothing left. If I ate you, you would be mine, and I wouldn’t have to face so many troubles anymore.”

At this moment, all defenses in Xiao Rong’s body disappeared. It was a side Qu Yunmie rarely ever saw.

Qu Yunmie looked at him, then suddenly reached out and pulled him into his arms.

Being controlled by another person’s body was not pleasant, and instinct made one struggle to regain control.

Xiao Rong did not have time to struggle, because he immediately realized he was safe again. He instinctively wrapped his arms around Qu Yunmie’s neck, his long legs locking tightly around his waist.

His nose was filled with strong alcohol, making him dizzy. There was still lingering panic on his face, and he looked up at the person holding him.

Qu Yunmie also looked at him.

Qu Yunmie said, “Even if you are not a demon, you can still eat me. Every piece of my flesh, blood, and bone is yours. It’s just that you have never wanted me.”

Hearing this, Xiao Rong’s heart tightened, and his body tensed slightly. He was like a snake coiling tightly around Qu Yunmie, making his bones ache, but that pain was not as strong as what he felt in his heart.

The drunk one was Qu Yunmie, but the one whose gaze remained clear was Xiao Rong.

The candlelight flickered. Qu Yunmie heard Xiao Rong ask him, “Are you really drunk?”

Qu Yunmie nodded.

Xiao Rong asked again, “Will you remember what you’ve done tomorrow?”

Qu Yunmie seemed to understand something. His hand at Xiao Rong’s waist was already sweating, but he still gave a clear answer.

He shook his head.

Xiao Rong pressed his lips together.

He had many labels—he loves money, has a bad temper, is disrespectful—but there was one label people had long forgotten.

He was extremely bold.

He dared to face bandits alone, and he traveled to Jinling by himself. He feared death, but he didn’t fear danger. In fact, he even enjoyed the moment when he controlled danger.

So he made his decision. He curved his lips slightly toward Qu Yunmie, relaxed his body, and no longer treated Qu Yunmie as a life-saving floating log. He let himself fall, sitting fully in Qu Yunmie’s embrace.

In the next instant, the tense person became Qu Yunmie, but he didn’t have much time to stay tense, because Xiao Rong hooked his neck and pulled him closer.

Qu Yunmie’s expression was first blank, then his eyes suddenly widened, and before he fully sank into it, he had only one thought left.

Ah.

So it could be done like this too.

…………

The next day, the victory banquet proceeded as usual. Xiao Rong broke his usual habit and didn’t get up early. Instead, he sat blankly in his room for nearly an hour. Only when he felt that everyone else should have already gone did he quietly step outside.

Indeed, everyone else had already left, but there were uninvited guests who had just arrived after dawdling.

Xiao Rong hadn’t walked far when Zhang Biezhi rushed over happily to greet him. “Sir Xiao! Breakfast has already been set up outside. Why are you still here?”

Xiao Rong: “…”

A victory banquet even included breakfast?! He had thought it would just be a flowing banquet from afternoon to night!

After hearing his question, Zhang Biezhi laughed. “Lord Song said this was the usual practice in other places. Since the Northern Army is different, why only hold a half-day banquet? Of course it should last the whole day.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Good job, Song Shuo. It wasn’t your family’s fortune, you did not feel the pain!

Regardless, the chefs had already started working. It would be disappointing to stop them now. Besides, people could only eat so much anyway. No matter how it went, no one should be able to eat from morning to night, right?

If someone really could then he would just… endure it.

He had boasted himself, so he would have to endure it even on his knees.

Originally, Xiao Rong wanted to go take a look, but now he no longer wanted to. He wanted to deal with official business. He wanted to numb his nerves with work.

Looking utterly defeated, Xiao Rong walked out. Zhang Biezhi noticed his poor complexion and was about to ask if he was sick, but upon closer inspection, he suddenly shouted, “Sir Xiao, who hit you?!”

Xiao Rong: “…”

Xiao Rong’s lips were thin, and he would break the skin just by biting them lightly. What he had now was not just broken skin—it looked like it was bleeding.

Well, it wasn’t really bleeding. It was just a red mark, but because his skin was so thin, it looked almost like fresh blood.

In any case, it wasn’t normal. No one would bite themselves like that.

Xiao Rong quickly lowered his voice. “Don’t make a fuss.”

Zhang Biezhi became even more shocked and raised his voice even louder. “You got beaten and I can’t make a fuss?! Who’s so bold as to hit Sir Xiao!”

Xiao Rong: “…”

His head was buzzing. His voice was almost gone. “Can you lower your voice first?”

Zhang Biezhi replied, “Alright, alright, I’ll lower it.”

“Wait—why should I lower my voice?!” Zhang Biezhi suddenly realized. “You are the victim, I am the victim’s subordinate! I should be loud! Men! Everyone come out! What are you all doing? Sir Xiao is injured and you didn’t even notice?!”

Hearing Zhang Biezhi shouting, a crowd quickly gathered. Zhang Biezhi was very satisfied with his influence and turned around, about to take credit—then Xiao Rong scolded him harshly.

“Are you that idle?! If you shout one more word, I’ll send you to Xihaijun! Since you are so free, go to Yiyang right now and inspect the garrison there. Come back after the victory banquet is over!”

Then he swept a glance at the now-silent guards. “Anyone has objections? Anyone who does can go with him!”

The guards: “…”

They all shook their heads repeatedly.

Xiao Rong flicked his sleeve and left. The guards scattered instantly. Only Zhang Biezhi remained standing there in confusion.

Was caring wrong too?

Waaah, after Xiao Rong came back, he became even more ruthless toward him! He really wanted to cry to his sister, but Xiao Rong’s order was immediate departure.

Rubbing his eyes, Zhang Biezhi sniffed hard and decided to store it all up and tell his sister later.

*

Because of Zhang Biezhi’s disturbance, Xiao Rong immediately returned to his room and refused to go out no matter what.

He was angry at Zhang Biezhi, but even more so at the real culprit.

Sitting inside, he covered his mouth with one hand, pretending to rest his head while reading. Then he asked Ah Shu, “Where did Qu Yunmie go?”

Ah Shu had actually seen it last night, but he was young and unfamiliar with such matters, so he did not think in that direction. He assumed Xiao Rong and Qu Yunmie had fought, and Xiao Rong was deliberately hiding it.

After all, his Lord was someone who cared about face. Ah Shu thoughtfully did not bring it up and even decided to complain to Gao Xunzhi that night—adding extra details.

……

At this moment, Master and servant were strangely aligned. Ah Shu disliked Qu Yunmie, so he replied unhappily, “The King went to the military camp early this morning.”

Hearing this, Xiao Rong tightened his grip on his brush. It creaked loudly.

So he really fled.

Or did he not remember?

Xiao Rong couldn’t judge, but it didn’t matter. When Qu Yunmie appeared in front of him, he would know. At most, by tonight, whether guilty or not, he would come.

He dismissed Ah Shu and prepared to be a homebody for the day. At night, he would become a ghost-catcher.

The ghost did not come. Another person came first.

A guard reported that Zhao Xingzong requested an audience. Xiao Rong didn’t know who Zhao Xingzong was. After everyone left, Song Shuo was too busy and created several minor officials. This person must have been one of them.

At the moment, Xiao Rong was reluctant to see acquaintances, but he didn’t mind seeing strangers. He allowed the guard to bring him in.

As for going out to meet him in a side hall—forget it. Better less trouble than more.

Even so, when Zhao Xingzong entered, Xiao Rong did not escape trouble.

Zhao Xingzong was about to bow, but upon seeing Xiao Rong’s face, he was shocked. “Sir Xiao, did bandits break into the manor at night?!”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He gave a tired smile and pointed at a chair. “Xingzong, sit.”

Zhao Xingzong said, “Alright.”

He was used to it. He no longer wanted to explain anything.

If Zhao Xingzong hadn’t come today, Xiao Rong would’ve almost forgotten he existed. After searching through memories that seemed distant yet were only months old, he recalled that this man had been assigned under Song Shuo. So he asked, “Why have you not been seen since you returned? Did you leave the city?”

Zhao Xingzong nodded. “Lord Song sent me to Nanyang, Runan, and Weixing to discuss coordinated military action, and to ask how many troops they could send if Chenliu was in trouble. In truth, it was also to observe the sincerity of those governors. Lord Song believed these three commanderies were too close to Chenliu and located between Chenliu and Southern Yong, so their officials’ appointments needed to be decided quickly.”

Xiao Rong smiled. “You have worked hard. What were the results of your observations?”

Zhao Xingzong also smiled. “At first, the results were not ideal, but after the news of the King’s victory arrived, they sent messengers to stop me and offered fine wine and beautiful women, begging me to speak well of them. I think they would not dare defect now.”

After a moment, Xiao Rong said, “Pity. Some officials can be tolerated as fence-sitters, but others cannot. The governors of Nanyang and Runan should be replaced. Weixing, north of Bashan, can be left for now.”

Zhao Xingzong quickly bowed. “Sir is wise.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He wasn’t used to it. Even after holding the position of Minister for so long, very few people directly flattered him. Zhao Xingzong was unfamiliar with him and worked under Song Shuo, so this was true official etiquette. Compared to him, Xiao Rong himself was already quite informal.

More people like this would appear in the future, so Xiao Rong said nothing and simply adapted.

After a pause, he suddenly asked, “You came just to report this?”

Song Shuo was Zhao Xingzong’s superior. Reporting past him felt strange.

Zhao Xingzong understood the misunderstanding but did not explain. After all, Xiao Rong would understand soon enough.

He stood and took out a brittle scroll from his sleeve.

Xiao Rong took it in confusion. When he opened it, he found it was the wanted poster he had ordered Gao Xunzhi to post—the one with Han Qing’s portrait.

Xiao Rong: “…”

He froze, suddenly remembering he had once tried to dismiss Zhao Xingzong, which had ended with the man collapsing on the ground. His expression changed.

“What do you mean by this?”

Zhao Xingzong quickly lowered his head. “Please do not blame me, Sir Xiao. When the poster was first put up, I was not in Chenliu. Later, even in Nanyang, copies were everywhere. I then realized the person in the portrait looked somewhat familiar, but the name written was Han Qing, so I assumed it was not the person I knew.”

“Continue.”

Cold sweat formed on Zhao Xingzong’s forehead. “After thinking carefully, I was still uneasy. If this person had truly joined the Qingfeng Cult, it was possible he had changed his identity. I was not sure it was him, but I thought it better to inform you just in case. The man I knew lived in Xinan. His full name was Han Zhongxuan. He once lived abroad, returned home for a year, then became a Taoist priest. His Taoist name was Jisheng. Our families lived in the same alley, so I often saw him and his wife and children in secular life. Later, I went away to study for three years. When I returned, his family said he had gone traveling with other Taoists.”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He was stunned. “Wife and children?”

Zhao Xingzong nodded: “Han Zhongxuan had a wife and children. After returning home the first time, he married, and when his wife was pregnant, he left to become a monk.”

At that time, his family had looked down on him, but Zhao Xingzong had admired him, thinking he was truly destined for auscultation. After all, forced melons are not sweet—if his wife was sensible, she should have let him go.

Of course, now that he was more mature, he would never say that again.

Xiao Rong was dazed. He roughly understood the timeline. “You are saying Han Zhongxuan first returned home about ten or nine years ago?”

Zhao Xingzong thought for a moment. “In the autumn of the first year of Kaiyun, roughly that time.”

So it was nine years ago.

Before the Xianbei invasion, he had left, done who knew what outside, then after a year returned home, married, had a child, and left again to become a monk.

Very reasonable. After all, he had once been a shaved novice, he would need two years to grow his hair back.

Xiao Rong felt a bit disoriented. This man truly did not care about his identity or name—he changed them without hesitation. Could he have changed his name again now?

Zhao Xingzong was anxious, because Han Qing—no, Han Zhongxuan—was a major figure in the Qingfeng Cult and had insulted the Northern Army. He feared even knowing him might bring disaster, so he came to confess immediately.

Although the information seemed important, for someone who changed identities so freely, it was hard to imagine he cared about his hometown.

As for his wife and children, they were probably long gone or relocated. That was fine, Xiao Rong did not want to use innocent families as leverage anyway.

Everything now matched up. The child was seven or eight years old—just right to inherit the throne twenty years later.

Soon after the wanted notice was posted, someone in Chenliu had already reported seeing this man drinking in the city. but they knew nothing more. Now, with Zhao Xingzong’s information, at least Xiao Rong understood one thing:

This Han Qing didn’t know disguise techniques.

If he did, he would have changed his face as well.

Good.

Zhao Xingzong was still waiting for a reaction. When he looked up, he saw Xiao Rong looking strangely happy. He fell silent.

Han Zhongxuan had a wife and children—why were you happy?

Xiao Rong did not bother explaining. He waved his hand and told him to leave.

After Zhao Xingzong left, Xiao Rong immediately sent people to Xinan to investigate. Even if the family was gone, it was worth checking. A new wanted notice would need to be issued again, this time with a full account of Han Qing’s crimes and a large portrait. With so many followers, surely they would not outnumber ordinary people. Ordinary people wouldn’t dare associate with him.

He spread out a paper and was about to write, but his brush hovered without moving.

Xinan.

That was the place where he had first appeared, and also where he had met Xiao Yi. Xinan was one of the largest cities in Southern Yong, home to countless scholars and Buddhist and Daoist temples. So it was not strange that Han Qing’s hometown was there.

Just…it was a bit coincidental.

Why was he also from Xinan?

Shaking his head, Xiao Rong stopped thinking and quickly began writing.

*

That night, the article Xiao Rong had written was sent for engraving. He sat on the bed, planning to read before sleeping.

He was fully dressed and didn’t look like he was about to sleep, rather, he looked like he was waiting for someone.

He didn’t have to wait long. Soon, commotion arose outside, and several people forced the door open.

Dongfang Jin supported Qu Yunmie, who was once again dead drunk. Along with another guard, he brought him in and wiped his sweat. “Sir Xiao, the King refused to return to his room after drinking, so I brought him here.”

Xiao Rong closed his book and smiled slightly. “It’s fine.”

You useless piece of work.

Dongfang Jin: “…”

He felt that Xiao Rong just insulted him. Feeling guilty, he quickly left with the other guard.

Once the door closed again, Xiao Rong looked at the man on the bed. The alcohol smell was even stronger than it was last night. As if Qu Yunmie had fallen into a wine vat.

Xiao Rong sighed lightly and approached him.

At the moment Qu Yunmie’s heart was pounding wildly, Xiao Rong suddenly raised his leg high, the knee already passing above his ear, like a fully drawn bow.

Bang!

With no mercy, a kick sent Qu Yunmie crashing to the ground. After a long moment, he staggered back up.

Seeing Xiao Rong’s cold expression, Qu Yunmie silently turned and left, even gently closing the door behind him.

Xiao Rong let out a cold laugh, picked up his book again, and flipped it with such force that it rattled as if it might fall apart.

Outside, Dongfang Jin had not gone far. Seeing Qu Yunmie come out again, he was startled. “My King?”

Qu Yunmie shook his head, signaling him not to ask. As he passed, he muttered, “One move can only be used once. This is the most cunning enemy I have ever faced.”

Dongfang Jin: “…”

A breeze blew, clearing Qu Yunmie’s mind somewhat. Since there was no chance tonight, he decided to go back and sleep well, then come back to coax him tomorrow.

His bad luck was not over yet. Just as he left Xiao Rong’s courtyard, he saw a figure blocking the stone path.

Gao Xunzhi stood there in anger. Not far away by a tree, Ah Shu saw that the Prime Minister had intercepted Qu Yunmie and sneered before slipping away.

Ah Shu was already nearly as tall as Qu Yunmie. At that height, he could not hide even if he wanted to. Moreover, everyone outside were elite soldiers and already heard the commotion.

The guards followed out. Dongfang Jin raised his arm and stopped one of them, pulling him back several steps.

The guard: “…”

Then he understood. Dongfang Jin was right.

If you wanted to survive in the Northern Army, you had to listen to Dongfang Jin.

Because the next moment, Gao Xunzhi strode up to the King in fury, slapped him, and said even more angrily, “You are becoming more and more outrageous! Come with me and explain yourself!”

If those two had been standing closer, they might have been exiled to the Great Xianbei Mountains the next day.

Feeling relieved, the guard looked at Dongfang Jin with admiration. “General Dongfang, how do you know so much?”

Dongfang Jin looked at him. “Do you know what ‘a crane standing among chickens’ means?”

The guard nodded. “Yes. A crane standing among chickens.”

Dongfang Jin patted his shoulder. “Good. Now go back to your chicken coop.”

The guard: “…”

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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