One Day Later
Every iris would stop for a moment to take in the mascara of light in the sky, yet Hong Jiu paced back and forth by the door to Ming Feizhen’s room with his brows glued together. He’d occasionally scrub his chest as though he was wrestling with emotions trying to surface.
“What are you doing here?”
Hong Jiu jolted upon hearing the voice, which showed just how anxious he was. That being said, he identified her based on her voice alone. As soon as he heard her voice, he spun around and covered her mouth with a hand. “Pipe down! Don’t talk. Follow me.”
Had a constable passed by while a man of Hong Jiu’s stature just silenced Master Qi the way he did and said what he said, he’d have been caned until his butt muscles were torn even if he was shown mercy. He avoided a ferocious kick to the shin only because Master Qi knew him well enough.
Once they were out, Hong Jiu wiped his head of sweat and let out an extended exhale.
“Why are you snooping around like a burglar?”
“What do you mean I’m snooping around? You’re the one snooping around. I didn’t even hear your steps.”
“Hmph, you’re guilty! What… were you doing by the door? Is there any enemy on the other side?” Master Qi remained vigilant despite it now being safe, and Hong Jiu’s anxious look was rare, so she couldn’t stop herself thinking in that direction.
“No,” Hong Jiu waved his hand, “just a bedroom.”
“A bedroom? … You’re gross. What were you eavesdropping on?”
“No, it’s my Leader’s bedroom.”
“Yuck! That’s even grosser!”
“Stop reading books that aren’t related to education. There’s someone in the room with my Leader.”
“Huh? So?”
“Come on. You still don’t get it?”
Hong Jiu checked around for anyone listening in, then quietly started explaining. Master Qi bobbed her head after every sentence and then covered her mouth with both hands after the last.
“She didn’t come out last night?”
Hong Jiu held his index finger over his lips as he looked around. “Don’t shout! Is it something the world should know about, you tigress?”
With rosy cheeks, Master Qi, too, lowered her voice as she asked, “But… Miss Shen is Yan Shisan’s disciple, right? I heard she has extremely high demands. Why would she ever fall for your brother?”
“Are you really comparing him to those plebeians? He has plenty of charm.”
“Isn’t Miss Shen engaged?”
“So? Is my brother the sort of man to care about those worldly customs? Even if she’s married, has a kid and grandkids, my brother would still, uh, probably not go after her. My point is, the spirit.”
“Ew! What’s your brother’s deal? If he likes Miss Shen, then do it the proper way and propose properly. Why do this…?” The blushing maiden couldn’t help stealing a glance in the direction of Ming Feizhen’s room. “What… did they do behind the doors?”
“What do you know? Is my brother the type of person to do that sort of thing? Not even Liuxia Hui is as virtuous as my brother. I guarantee they played checkers or something together all night – that’s it.”
“Go inside and take a look, then.”
“That’s inappropriate.”
“How so?”
Hong Jiu fidgeted with his fingers. “Well… even Buddha must rest. What if… the scene is too intense… right?”
“’Right’ what?” Master Qi genuinely couldn’t understand what was being implied and why Hong Jiu was being so fidgety.
“Whatever the case, I can’t go in. It’s inappropriate for a junior to butt into his senior’s private life.”
“Get someone else to take a look, then. I’ll check it out for you.”
“Stop! That’s even more inappropriate! Is this something that outsiders should know?”
“Fine.” Annoyed over the fact that her sincere offer was rejected, and that she copped a lecture, Master Qi grumbled, “Are you your brother’s lackey or something?”
“Lackey?” Hong Jiu thumped his chest. “Brother from another mother!”
Master Qi pulled a face of disgust before a thought hit her. “Hang on. I saw you pacing back and forth like an enemy was coming, yet you refused to go in. What were you doing, then?”
Hong Jiu dragged Master Qi farther away from the room by the hand. “Come with me.”
“What is it? Why are you acting like it’s some big secret? Aren’t we already far away?”
“Just come with me.” Hong Jiu dragged Master Qi into a small room on the second floor, locked the door shut and even lowered the bed curtains despite them going under the bed.
“Just what is it?! It’s filthy down here.”
“I’ve received word from Mount Daluo.”
“Ah?”
Mount Daluo was virtually a mythical entity to the majority of the martial world – even in spite of Ming Huayu tarnishing their name in the last few decades. People who had just debuted, like Master Qi, saw Mount Daluo as a legitimately upright sect. It was surprising to hear that Mount Daluo chose to get involved when they were rarely involved in the martial world’s affairs.
“And what were you told?”
“We are getting help.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
Hong Jiu rolled his eyes. “My grandaunt completely went off the rails after she heard my brother was kidnapped; she’s the one who’s coming to help.”
Why would someone who’s in the same generation as Hero Shenzhou be unwelcome? What is this idiot worried about?
“Is she not competent or something?”
“Ah, pfft. If she’s incompetent, there’s nobody competent in the entire world.”
“So what are you making a fuss for?”
“The problem is, she cares too much about Leader.”
“She… got careless and kidnapped, too?”
“No. My grandaunt has always been the type to plan meticulously before taking action, especially when it’s a big deal.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Haha, good thing? Haha, you have jokes, huh? She spent nearly a month sending out letters in her cousin’s name – her cousin is our grandmaster, by the way – assembling an army numbering ten thousand from the northern martial world and Beijiang to march into Jiangnan.”
Glossary
Liuxia Hui – I’m pretty sure I mentioned this at one point, but you probably don’t remember. He, like yours truly, was a man who basically symbolised virtue. The ancient Chinese politician once held a lady in his lap without the slightest imputation on his moral character.
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