Chapter 33#

Chapter Thirty-Three#

Yan Xing was running hurriedly. The morning chill of the frontier hit his face, yet a thin layer of sweat surfaced on his forehead, radiating the vigorous vitality of a youth, as if he had inexhaustible strength.

The Yan Xing of this time was completely different from the decadent, lazy, bearded version in Xue Jingci’s memory.

Xue Jingci quickly came back to his senses and asked, “The family letter I sent you, did you receive it?”

Yan Xing released Xue Jingci’s wrist, nodded, took the family letter from his bosom, and handed it over.

Xue Jingci took only one glance and said, “This letter was swapped by someone. What I wrote was to tell you to quickly lead your troops back to the Chasm Cliff.”

Xue Jingci briefly mentioned the interrogation of the spy. Yan Xing was a smart person; as soon as he heard it, he knew he had fallen for a trap and was instantly filled with chagrin.

He was extremely anxious and immediately wanted to set off back to the Front Sand Pass, not daring to delay for a moment.

But before he could even lead his warhorse, he was stopped by Pei Huang. “If you leave now, you definitely won’t make it in time. It’s better to send a message to your lieutenant and have him lead the troops.”

“Are you doubting me?”

Yan Xing stared at Pei Huang, his gaze extremely hostile.

Hearing Pei Huang’s words, he clearly intended to strip him of his military power, and the City Lord actually hadn’t refuted him.

Fury welled up in Yan Xing’s eyes, and he said, “I haven’t even mentioned your identity yet! When you entered the city back then, you didn’t even have identity documents.”

Xue Jingci tugged at Pei Huang’s sleeve, and Pei Huang then stepped aside.

Seeing this, Yan Xing felt much better. Only then did Xue Jingci look at him and calmly analyze, “If you return to the Front Sand Pass now, it will take at least two days to arrive. It’s better to first move the city’s troops to the Chasm Cliff to resist the demon race’s attack. And the troops you lead should gallop back to the city to fill the gap in the city’s defenses.”

“This way, you can stall for time and prevent the demon race from driving straight in to capture the city.”

Yan Xing lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment.

Indeed, there was originally a quite elite cavalry unit in this city, but the city defense army had always had the rule of defending the city to the death and never stepping out of the city gates.

But the situation was urgent now. If the city defense army were sent out first to resist the demon race, they could set up defenses in advance and break the demon race’s surprise attack.

And the large force he led, although far from the city, was closer than the Chasm Cliff.

As long as they returned before the defensive line collapsed, they could fill the gap in the city’s defenses.

Yan Xing was a smart person and had led troops for many years; with a little thought, he understood that what Pei Huang said was correct. It was just that he and this man had always been at odds. The words that had just escaped his mouth were also implicitly doubting this man’s ulterior motives, and for a moment he couldn’t quite bring himself to back down.

Xue Jingci looked at Yan Xing and said, “Do as he says.”

Seeing Xue Jingci speak, Yan Xing agreed briskly, “Fine, I’ll take the city defense army to the Chasm Cliff right now.”

After he left far away, Xue Jingci had Song Jue go to inform Jiang Chengyi while he and Pei Huang went to the Buddha hall first.

Pei Huang looked at Yan Xing’s receding figure thoughtfully.

When this person appeared earlier, Xue Jingci had actually been staring at him fixedly, which was truly somewhat strange.

After entering the Buddha hall, Pei Huang couldn’t suppress the curiosity in his heart and asked, “Do you know this person?”

Xue Jingci nodded. “When I just ascended to the upper realm after my tribulation, he was the one who took me in and let me sell wine in his tavern.”

Pei Huang smiled, not expecting that when Xue Jingci first went to the upper realm, he actually had to rely on selling wine to make a living.

Presumably at that time, he hoped to earn spiritual stones to go and find Xie Zheng.

Pei Huang tried his best to suppress the strange emotions in his heart and asked, “How much did he pay you?”

Xue Jingci answered truthfully, “Room and board included, no wages.”

Pei Huang’s face instantly darkened, and he stared at Xue Jingci, saying seriously, “This secret realm is full of ghosts; it’s not easy to ask for wages. In the future when you see him, you must remember to settle this account clearly.”

Xue Jingci deeply agreed and nodded. “You’re right.”

After thinking for a while, Xue Jingci spoke again, “I just didn’t expect that he would be like a different person in the future compared to now. When I saw him, he was bearded every day, slumped on a rocking chair as if he had no bones, either drinking or sleeping.”

Completely unlike the spirited young general now.

Xue Jingci then remembered that when he first entered the upper realm, the loose cultivators didn’t believe he was Xie Zheng’s master; only the shopkeeper believed him. He added, “But he gave me pointers; he’s considered a good person.”

He lowered his eyes, thinking that if that female ghost truly appeared, he could pass a message for Yan Xing.

While the two were talking, footsteps came from outside the Buddha hall.

The two turned their heads and saw Jiang Chengyi and Song Jue with strange expressions, their hems even stained with blood.

Behind them was also a pale-faced person—it was actually Chen Zhao, whom they hadn’t seen for many days.

“Junior Brother Chen, you can speak freely here.”

Chen Zhao’s lips were pale. Hearing this, he took a deep breath and said slowly, “Earlier, I lent Feng Yi a life-saving magic tool. Today I sensed that the magic tool had shattered and hurriedly followed the spiritual consciousness mark to find him, only to see… see… him being silenced by the demon race.”

“Saying something like… the Young General indeed fell for the trap, and this person is no longer useful.”

After saying that, Chen Zhao covered his eyes and squatted down, his voice tinged with sobbing. “I went too late; I couldn’t even save Junior Brother Feng’s body.”

Hearing this, Xue Jingci was somewhat stunned, not expecting a traitor to emerge among the cultivators for a moment.

Jiang Chengyi had long expected it; in the end, in the face of life and death, who could be entirely selfless?

He took a deep breath and turned his head to meet Xue Jingci’s eyes, which were as clean and clear as glazed glass.

There was no calculation within them, allowing his heart to gradually calm down.

Jiang Chengyi helped Chen Zhao up and comforted him, “This secret realm is treacherous. That you could lend him a life-saving magic tool is already fulfilling your duty to the utmost; don’t be too grieved.”

Chen Zhao nodded gently, his face still very pale.

If these people knew that he was the one who instigated Feng Yi to do this, they probably wouldn’t be speaking to him so nicely.

But dead people cannot speak.

The state of Feng Yi’s death flashed in Chen Zhao’s mind. Speaking of which, this was also related to Lin Su. Had he not confessed so quickly, the demon race wouldn’t have treated them, these spies, as abandoned pieces to be discarded after use.

Seeing Chen Zhao recover, Jiang Chengyi discussed the matter of resisting the demon race’s attack tomorrow with everyone. Finally, he said softly, “Tomorrow is the day the demon race attacks the Chasm Cliff; it will likely be a fierce battle. Everyone stay in the Buddha hall tonight and rest well.”

This was originally against the rules, but today happened to be the Buddha Bathing Festival, and many commoners were in the temple worshipping and chanting sutras through the night.

Time passed slowly, and more and more cultivators entered the Buddha hall. Jiang Chengyi silently watched these people, his heart on guard against anyone going to tip off the demon race.

The cultivators meditated where they were; almost no one felt sleepy.

The hope of getting out was right before their eyes, yet they didn’t know what other changes might occur.

Xue Jingci didn’t have much of a nervous mood. He found a secluded corner, pulled a straw mat from his storage bag and spread it out, then brought out a quilt to sleep.

Pei Huang had grown used to sleeping with him these past few days. Seeing the quilt, he habitually crawled in, only realizing after entering that this wasn’t the City Lord’s large bed.

The straw mat was barely wide enough, more than enough for two people to sleep, but the quilt was a bit cramped for two people.

Seeing that Xue Jingci had no intention of driving him away, Pei Huang pretended not to know.

Although the two only occupied a secluded corner, they attracted countless gazes. After all, having the mind to sleep at this time was already very strange.

Having the mind to sleep together was even stranger.

Song Jue was guarding Yin Xinyao. Seeing Xiao Xun also enter the Buddha hall, he hurriedly waved to him.

Yin Xinyao asked with some concern, “Junior Brother Xiao, is your health any better?”

As a guard, Xiao Xun was also bound to go to the battlefield tomorrow; it was unknown if his body could hold out.

Xiao Xun smiled. “I’m fine. Have you seen…”

“You’re looking for Junior Brother Xue, right? He’s over there.”

Song Jue pointed to the corner. Xiao Xun’s gaze followed, and his expression instantly turned cold.

He had always known that Master had been sleeping with Pei Huang these days. But the Buddha hall was a safe place where those ghosts couldn’t enter; there was no need to pretend to be a couple anymore.

Or was it that their intimacy was not a pretense?

Xiao Xun withdrew his gaze, and his hand couldn’t help but clench his sleeve. His arm shook a bit, and his breathing also trembled.

His eyes seemed covered with a layer of mist, concealing the paranoia and gloom within. A persistent thought surged in his heart.

Between Pei Huang and him, who exactly was more important to Xue Jingci?

But his legs felt as if they were filled with lead, and he didn’t dare to step forward. In the end, he just managed to squeeze out a smile and said, “It’s good that he’s safe and sound. I’ll start meditating and practicing now.”

Pei Huang had long noticed everyone’s gazes but didn’t care.

There was only one pillow. Pei Huang rested his head on his arm, looking at Xue Jingci, and suddenly asked on a whim, “What kind of feelings do you think there are between you and me?”

Just as he spoke, a sudden crack of thunder sounded outside the window, and rain pelted down on the leaves.

Xue Jingci couldn’t hear his voice clearly and subconsciously leaned closer. Their breaths intertwined as he asked, “What did you say?”

Only then did Pei Huang realize what he had blurted out, and quickly changed his words. “I said, what kind of feelings do you think there are between the Young Master and the City Lord?”

Xue Jingci thought for a while and said, “Suspicion?”

Pei Huang shook his head. “You don’t understand the feelings between people well enough.”

Xue Jingci asked calmly, “Do you understand well?”

Pei Huang subconsciously felt that this matter must be made clear, and quickly defended, “I haven’t eaten pork but I’ve seen pigs run, right? I definitely know a bit more than you.”

After saying that, before Xue Jingci could respond, he hurriedly threw out a question. “Do you know how the City Lord and the Young Master met?”

Xue Jingci glanced at Pei Huang. Hearing his words, it was clear that he had investigated all of the City Lord and the Young Master’s past, though he didn’t know how it was achieved.

His heart was somewhat curious. He first gave a small shake of his head, then stared closely at Pei Huang, waiting to hear the rest.

Pei Huang was stunned for a moment.

When Xue Jingci shook his head, his hair got messy on the pillow, softly sticking to his cheeks. Unlike his usual coldness and calmness, he had a hint of bewilderment.

Looking over eagerly, it was a bit cute.

Pei Huang’s Adam’s apple bobbed once, and he said, “Four years ago, the City Lord was chasing a notorious bandit and accidentally got tangled in vines. It was the Young Master who saved her.”

“The City Lord wanted to give him a medical fee, but the Young Master said, ‘Tell me about the world outside’.”

“Only then did the City Lord know that the Young Master had lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years and had actually never seen the world outside.”

“After the injuries healed, the City Lord often went to find the Young Master, sometimes bringing him delicious things…”

Pei Huang spoke to this point and found that Xue Jingci’s eyes had lit up, completely different from his previous lack of interest.

“What delicious things?”

Pei Huang recalled and said, “Camel hump meat, seasoned with spices and salt, wrapped in cowhide, thrown into the sand to bake for several hours, then dug out and cut into small pieces, and grilled over an open fire. It’s fragrant and crispy.”

He then mentioned many novel foods. Xue Jingci listened entranced and asked, “So that’s how they developed feelings?”

“Of course not!”

Pei Huang quickly retorted, “It was just a few dishes; what’s special about that?”

The more he thought about it, the more worried he became, fearing Xue Jingci would really be tricked away by a few delicious things. He quickly said, “Anything that can be bought with spiritual stones doesn’t count as rare.”

Xue Jingci was stunned by these words.

He remembered Xiao Xun had said that what amber seals is intent, not something money can buy.

Seeing him in deep thought, Pei Huang knew he had taken it to heart and felt relieved. He was about to speak when he heard Xue Jingci ask, “How do you know their affairs so clearly?”

Pei Huang fished out a notebook from his bosom and said, “These were all written by the Young Master.”

Xue Jingci reached out for it. After two glances, he found it boring.

When Pei Huang spoke, he had actually skipped over many things and only picked out the key points.

But the notebook was densely packed with matters between the Young Master and the City Lord.

The City Lord often went to bring food to the Young Master. With frequent visits, the two became familiar. Seeing that the Young Master was also very curious about the outside world, she urged him to follow her out to see, but the Young Master always shook his head and refused.

Only later did the City Lord know that the Young Master had an inauspicious fate—his mother died giving birth to him, and he was abandoned in the wilderness by his own father. Thus he was self-deprecating and timid, not daring to have much contact with others.

The Young Master had actually lied. He was indeed abandoned by his parents, but not because of fate, but because he was a half-demon, with fluffy fur growing on his body when he was born.

Later, it was a passing Ganoderma demon that saved him.

The Ganoderma demon’s lifelong wish was to take human form, but plants and trees have no hearts, making it very difficult to become human. In the end, it died due to an error in its cultivation technique. Before dying, it taught its entire medical knowledge and the method of taking human form to the Young Master.

The Young Master studied the technique for many years and could freely hide his fox tribe characteristics. However, he was already used to being alone and didn’t dare go with the City Lord.

Until the day of his birthday, the City Lord cooked him longevity noodles and took him to the highest peak in the mountains.

She pointed to the distance and said, “Look.” The Young Master followed where she pointed and saw clusters of fireworks soaring into the sky, exploding in the night sky and lighting up half the heaven.

The City Lord smiled and said, “Since you don’t dare go and see with your own eyes, then I will bring the world outside before your eyes. Is it beautiful?”

Xue Jingci originally only wanted to see if there would be any clues in this notebook, but as he read on, he was also faintly touched.

Seeing him entranced by the reading, Pei Huang reached out to cover his eyes. “No lamp is lit here; don’t stare at the book. If you want to hear more, I’ll continue telling you.”

“I’ve memorized it all.”

Xue Jingci was somewhat surprised. He knew Pei Huang had a good memory; when teaching him sword formulas in childhood, he usually remembered them in one go.

But those sword formulas were neatly balanced and not many words, whereas this notebook was extremely long.

He pushed Pei Huang’s hand aside and praised, “Your memory is not bad.”

Pei Huang thought to himself, it wasn’t that he had a good memory, but that he also had similar feelings about the things the Young Master wrote.