Strong Winds Return Home – Extra Four: Life In the Royal City (4/4)

The so-called “good place” was not too far away from Wangcheng. After leaving the gates, they rode for thirty li before seeing a mountain that was neither tall nor short. There were seven or eight villages scattered across the mountain, and were collectively called Little Utopia because the scenery here was beautiful and pleasantly cool. Therefore, every summer, many wealthy people took their families to the mountain to escape the heat.

“It is cooler now, and the mountains are not as lively as in the summer, but the scenery is still pretty good.” Liang Shu said, “I deliberately looked for the largest house in this area, with few people and peace and quiet.”

The mountain road was covered in a thick bed of fallen red and gold leaves. Stepping on them, Liu Xian’an smelled the cold, moist, decomposing scent in the air and felt a hint of what it would be like to be a rural hermit.

Thus, the lazy fellow was rarely not lazy and climbed from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside with great interest. When he got hot, the steward handed him a big palm leaf fan. An-Ning was very happy to see this, and said: “When young masters from other families travel, they always carry jade fans.”

“Jade fans are only meant to look good, and are not as strong and cool as this one.” Liu Xian’an waved his new fan. “Besides, the workmanship of this palm fan is not simpler than that of a jade fan. It has a light fragrance, which can both wake one up and repel insects. The palm leaves must have been boiled and soaked with acacia seeds.”

Palm leaves and acacia seeds were common things found in the mountains, and were not expensive. What was valuable was the hard work and care of the fan maker.

A-Ning asked curiously: “For a palm leaf fan to be made so exquisitely, could it have been a master from the palace?”

“It was a local carpenter from Little Utopia. His name is Li Laoguo. In his spare time, he also makes baskets and dustpans to sell,” the steward said with a smile. “This fan is nothing. When you get to your residence, take a closer look at the tables, chairs, benches, beds, chests, and cabinets. They are all the same, with excellent craftsmanship.”

Liu Xian’an interrupted: “Carpenter?”

“Yes, carpenter.” Liang Shu took his arm and pulled him up a steep slope. “A carpenter who gives the entire village headaches.”

Liu Xian’an didn’t understand how this caused “headaches.” Just as he was about to ask, a strange chirping sound came from the distant horizon. When he looked back, he saw a huge kite whistling and circling down. The chirping was more like a whistle, and when he looked closer, he saw that there was actually a person crouching on the kite!

A-Ning was simply dumbfounded. He thought that his young master’s Wind Wings were exciting enough, not expecting there to be people who dared to jump off a cliff riding only a cowhide. And the jump was quite successful, at least judging from the way the kite landed. It was slow and unhurried, and there was no crash sound when it hit the ground.

Liu Xian’an was equally surprised. Liang Shu put his arm around his shoulders and said: “How about it, the craftsmanship is pretty good. This person is just like you. He doesn’t want to stay on the ground, and always wants to fly to a height of forty-eight thousand li. Although you are seeking the dao and he is pursuing the limits of wooden wings, different paths lead to the same destination. I initially considered inviting him into the palace for a while, but then I thought about it and felt it would be better for you to move to the mountains. The area is large, there are few rules, and there is a short slope when you go out, so you can experiment at any time.”

These words were thoughtful and touching. Liu Xian’an didn’t expect that he would have the mind to arrange such a thing so carefully and meticulously when he left early and came back late a while ago. The steward and A-Ning wisely slowed down and allowed the young lovers to go first. On the quiet footpath, Liang Shu asked: “Are you happy?”

Liu Xian’an said: “Happy.”

Liang Shu smiled: “En, it’s good that you’re happy.”

He didn’t speak for a long moment. Liu Xian’an wasn’t used to this, and asked him why he didn’t kiss him this time. 

His Royal Highness Xiao Wang replied with sufficient reasoning, I’m not trying to appear virtuous, it’s just that I can’t have ulterior motives every time or I will not be a gentleman. But if you really want to kiss, you can do it.

“No kiss.” Liu Xian’an refused. “Too many kisses will make them less valuable.”

It could be seen that the immortals also understood the principles of hoarding goods.

On the second half of the road, Liang Shu carried this person up the mountain because there had just been an autumn rain, and parts of the muddy road were still slippery. Liu Xian’an lay on his back, and after lying there for a while, he felt sleepy again. Yawning, he went to inspect the Three Thousand Worlds.

In the hot spring, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang leaned against the stone wall and asked lazily: “Why haven’t you come here recently?”

Liu Xian’an stood on the shore, remembering the flowers falling from the trees and the confusion and infatuation of that night, as well as the strong and overbearing oppression of the other party. He thought to himself, it is normal for me not to come, because my waist was about to be broken. I obviously came to dreamland to escape from the world, but as a result, there was no rest for a moment and my knees hurt from grinding on the rough grass.

Thinking of this, he stepped back unconsciously. As it happened, he accidentally stepped into thin air and his whole body jerked violently. He didn’t know where he was falling, but he didn’t panic. Instead, he felt that the sensation of falling into the unknown was very exciting, so he stretched out his hands and someone grabbed them, pulling him upward.

He simply flew out of the avenues.

And crashed into a strong chest.

It could be seen that whether it was His Royal Highness Xiao Wang in the Three Thousand Worlds or His Royal Highness Xiao Wang in reality, both of them greatly delayed Second Young Master Liu’s enlightenment. However, Second Young Master Liu himself did not hate this sort of delay. Leaving dreamland, he stretched his neck slightly and looked over the other’s shoulder, seeing a quiet and simple house behind him. He said happily: “Is this it?”

“Yes, this is it.” Liang Shu wiped the sweat from his forehead with the backs of his fingers. “What were you dreaming about? You hit and kicked me.”

Liu Xian’an walked around him and into the house. “I didn’t dream about anything.”

“Why were you moving around if you weren’t dreaming?”

“Because I wanted to ride on the clouds, and the sun and moon.”

When Liu Xian’an answered casually, someone who was already in the courtyard laughed and said: “How can you ride on the clouds, the sun, and the moon?”

It was an elderly man wearing a cowhide apron and holding pliers in his hand, surrounded by a circle of wood and diagrams. He was obviously the carpenter, Li Laoguo. He stood up and saluted: “Your Highness, Second Young Master Liu.”

Liu Xian’an looked at the various exquisite mechanisms on the ground with great interest.

And at this time, A-Ning also carried “Charm” out of the carriage. Everyone had unanimously requested that this ghostly thing be dismantled, and that it was better to set fire to it in order to destroy the corpse and eliminate all traces, lest Zhang-daren come to the door. However, Liu Xian’an was reluctant to give up. He felt that he could make some more changes and create a real Wind Dancer, so Liang Shu ordered the wooden thing to be brought up the mountain.

The female ghost was not covered tightly, and the hat covering her head fell off, scaring the old carpenter into saying: “Whoa! What is this?”

Liu Xian’an said perfunctorily, a good thing, a good thing. I’ll talk about it with Senior later.

Everyone simply settled down on the mountain.

In order to squeeze out more than ten days of free time, Liang Shu had truly been busy some time ago. Liu Xian’an then carefully made a list of food supplements for him. His Royal Highness Xiao Wang recalled the “Five Fresh Ingredients” that had taken him down, and asked with vigilance: “Is it another recipe taken from an ancient book?”

“I copied it from my father’s notes.” Liu Xian’an continued to write vigorously.

Liang Shu breathed a sigh of relief.

And facts also proved that Master Liu’s notes were indeed very practical. Liang Shu ate according to this recipe and his fatigue was gone, his whole body full of energy—although he was already very vigorous, now he was simply getting more vigorous.

A-Ning witnessed with his own eyes the scene of his family’s prince shattering a boulder with his palm. He was greatly shocked, and hurried back to report to his young master, why do I feel that the prince’s current martial arts have gone beyond the scope of normal people? The swordsman who came to our house for treatment, the number one swordsman in the martial arts world of the Central Plains, could not break through to this fantastical realm.

“There is no problem.” Liu Xian’an carefully carved a small wooden wedge. “The swordsman has been unable to break through because he wants to break through too much. And the reason the prince can do it is because he has never wanted to be the best in the world, so he can be more focused on using martial arts leisurely and contentedly, which has little to do with my father’s diet plan.”

As he spoke, he loaded the wooden wedge into the wind wing, the Flying Luan. “Where is the cowhide sail?”

“The aunties in the village are still sewing it.” A-Ning squatted on the ground and looked at the various strange parts around him. “Can it really fly forty-eight thousand li this time?”

“Of course not,” Liu Xian’an said. “Flying forty-eight thousand li should be something that only people a thousand years ahead of us can do. Right now, our flight will be a little shorter. It is not easy to fly from this mountain to that mountain.”

It was indeed not easy, because there was a long distance and a high drop between the two mountains. The old carpenter was rich in experience, and Second Young Master Liu had a theoretical system. The two of them actually made the Flying Luan. Although if was far smaller than half of Muyang Palace, it was already a ship that could truly fly in the sky!

Liang Shu took Liu Xian’an for the first test flight.

The surrounding guards all turned pale with fright, and knelt down to try to dissuade them. This…..what if something went wrong? The prince’s golden body should not take such a risk, why not let his subordinates do it first—

Before the loyal and aggrieved subordinates finished speaking, the Flying Luan was already carrying the two people into the wind with a boom.

The guards were shocked: “Your Highness!”

Liu Xian’an said: “When we go back, let me explain to everyone. It wasn’t that we didn’t want to wait for them to finish their words, but that the wind direction is just right at this time.” The Flying Luan had no other power and relied entirely on the interplay between the wind, mechanisms, and sail, so they must seize the moment that was most suitable for taking off. 

Liang Shu controlled the direction and said with a smile: “Okay, stand a little firmer.”

The guards on the cliff and the people of Little Utopia were all gazing up nervously. From their perspective, the Flying Luan seemed to be about to plunge into the golden-red sunset. Everyone was astonished, because nobody had ever thought that a ship could fly in the sky before!

Liang Shu pulled Liu Xian’an’s hand over and pressed it to the mechanism so that he could control the direction. “Is it fun?”

“It’s fun,” Liu Xian’an said, and couldn’t help but raise his head to gaze at the wide and mysterious sky.

Liang Shu embraced him tightly from behind. “Sometimes I feel that you really don’t seem like a person of this era, but more like you have visited the world countless years in the future. Only then could your mind be filled with strange ideas that may seem unrealistic, but will one day become reality.”

“It isn’t that I have been there, but that my thoughts have been there. Thoughts go everywhere the wind blows. So whether it is thousands of years ago or thousands of years later, one can go there.” Liu Xian’an said, “Hold on tight, we’re getting ready to land.”

Liang Shu covered the back of his hand, using their combined strength, and rode the Flying Luan into the deepest part of the mountain.

There were thunderous cheers on the cliff opposite, and the people in each village were also very excited. Perhaps everyone had the secret dream of flying into the sky. Now that the dream had come true, they were naturally happy, and it was like celebrating a festival. Everyone flocked to the village where Liang Shu and Liu Xian’an were staying, all wanting to see the Flying Luan.

The news quickly spread back to the capital.

His Royal Highness Xiao Wang and Second Young Master Liu were the focus of various legends, topical figures who would be compiled into dozens or hundreds of storybooks just by standing on the street, not to mention that the two of them were actually flying in the sky at the moment. Thus, there were more people who went to Little Utopia on horseback and in carriages to watch the excitement, blocking seven or eight nearby roads and causing traffic to be a mess.

Liang Yu’s head hurt even more. What kind of gods were these two, ah? How could they cause such a fuss in the deep mountains and old forests?

White-bearded old men came up to remonstrate one after another. Is there anyone who can manage His Royal Highness Xiao Wang?

The newly selected young talents played their role and argued with the old men in court. The Flying Luan flies thousands of li across the blue sky. This bold and romantic flight is a symbol of the prosperity of the entirety of Dayan. Why are you concerned?

Their words were sonorous and powerful, and brought the emperor a brief period of peace of mind. However, in order to appease the old ministers, Liang Yu still symbolically sent a person to persuade him. As for who he sent, it was Princess Ning Yi. This arrangement seemed very reasonable, because there were not many people in the world who could control His Royal Highness Xiao Wang.

As a result, Princess Ning Yi went up the mountain on the first day, and on the second day, she rode the Flying Luan and flew from one mountain to another. After flying once, it was still not enough, and she felt that the simple appearance of the Flying Luan before her was not in line with the extremely grand and ultimate romantic dream of flying to the sky. Therefore, she ordered the palace maids to decorate it with gauze and silk flowers, and happily flew for the second time on the fifth day. She also dressed as a fairy and wore jingling bells, holding baskets of flowers and throwing them the whole way. She also brought famous musicians to play the pipa.

The common people were even more dazzled, listening to the fairy-like music in their ears, and the rumors grew more and more bizarre.

There were more people.

The white-bearded old men: “……”

Liang Yu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He sent someone to take his sister back to the Princess’s Palace first, then summoned his brother to the palace and cursed: “Can’t you just calm down a little?”

“It isn’t just for fun. If this thing is easy to use, it can also be promoted on the battlefield in the future,” Liang Shu said. “If there is any old man in the court who is truly annoying, why don’t you send him here, and I will take him on a flight myself.”

He and Liang Yu looked at each other.

Liang Shu saw the other party’s meaning and refused: “It is fine for anyone else to do it, but Emperor Brother cannot try. Behind Emperor Brother is the whole country, and nothing must go wrong. If this matter spreads, those old men are not allowed to queue up in front of this younger brother’s house and hang themselves in various ways.”

Liang Yu waved his hand and drove this person out.

After all, the emperor must keep his feet on the ground. He really could not fly freely with the whole country on his shoulders.

Everyone had their own destiny, and each had their own advantages.

Liang Yu gave a brief, playful laugh and continued to rub his painful temples while approving memorials.

In Little Utopia, Liu Xian’an said: “In the future, when the emperor abdicates and the crown prince ascends the throne, we will fly with him.”

Liang Shu said: “We’ll all be old at that time, so how could we still have the strength to control the mechanism?”

“The mechanism will continue to be improved. When we get old, perhaps it will only need a gentle flick,” Liu Xian’an said. “Who can say for sure?”

Liang Shu nodded: “That’s right. I am too short-sighted.”

Liu Xian’an leaned into his arms, lying on a couch with a soft blanket draped over him. The two of them gazed at the twinkling stars together. 

Nighttime in the mountains was already very cold, and he unconsciously squeezed closer to Liang Shu and put his hands into his clothes to keep warm.

After a while, Liang Shu asked: “Where are you touching?”

“The front of your skeleton.”

Liang Shu: “…..No need to be so professional.”

Liu Xian’an said: “The prince insisted on asking.”

Liang Shu turned over and hugged him: “Let me touch yours too. What kind of bones are these?”

As he spoke, he stretched his hands inside his robes regardless of the front or back, only to mess up the blanket as he rubbed the person in his arms into a soft ball. The Sleeping Immortal, wandering in the waves, had no objection to his behavior. On the contrary, he found that this sort of thing was…..in any case, very free. Panting, he hooked his arms around the other person’s neck, the kiss passionate and delirious.

Liang Shu rubbed the small mole on the jut of his throat with his thumb, looking at his sweetheart who was disheveled and half exposed. He was planning what to do tonight when a burst of music suddenly sounded outside the wall!

In the middle of the mountains at night, the sound of a qin could not be anything but haunting. Liang Shu grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around Liu Xian’an, picking up the sword on the table with his backhand. Following the sound, there were two more clank clank sounds!

Liu Xian’an said urgently: “Wait a moment!”

This sound seemed somewhat familiar.

The next moment, a woman in a red dress flew up into the air, spinning gracefully, swinging her hands, legs, and head, and landed lightly in the courtyard.

Ca-clank. She turned her head in a full circle and raised her hands high, then didn’t move again when the wind stopped.

Liang Shu: “…..”

Liu Xian’an was surprised: “Yi, why did it fly out on its own?”

Liang Shu stared at the frightening smile on the wooden figure’s face and said truthfully: “It wasn’t scary at first, but now that you said that, the atmosphere immediately became more alarming.”

Liu Xian’an realized his mistake and corrected it: “Then I won’t say anything more. Your Highness, please move it back to the storehouse.”

“I won’t move it,” Liang Shu said. “Since it wants to come, let it stand here.”

Liu Xian’an stared blankly: “Ah?”

Although Liu Xian’an was okay with this or that, in this situation with a strange wooden figure with glaring eyes standing beside them, he really didn’t think it was fine. Thus, he struggled and protested. Liang Shu did not listen, and felt that this kind of thrashing around looked rather painful. 

His Royal Highness Xiao Wang didn’t care if it was a wooden figure or a stone figure. It could stand wherever it liked. Standing in a whole row was fine.

Liu Xian’an had no choice but to close his eyes, but the strings were still stretched in the wooden figure’s belly, thrumming and thrumming. The sound came and went, as if it was actually spinning in circles to take a closer look.

After a while, the hem of the wooden figure’s clothes was blown up by the wind and rested on Liu Xian’an’s naked and swaying waist. It was as light as a butterfly’s wings, but it made him tremble all over.

“Gently, darling.” Liang Shu smiled against his ear, biting the white earlobe and grinding it carefully. There was no telling during this period which shameful words made the forty-eight thousand year-old immortal unable to resist, and his whole body turned red from his face to the tips of his toes.

Perhaps the wooden figure was also not able to bear it, because it dragged its two wooden legs, ca-clack, and took two steps back before jumping up and flying to the other side of the house.

Liu Xian’an finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Liang Shu played with his slender ankle and felt quite regretful. Why did it leave? I will move it back again.

Liu Xian’an was angry, and kicked him neither lightly nor hard.

Liang Shu smiled and picked him up: “Okay, okay, I won’t move it.”

Then there was another night of wind and rain, and the pear blossoms in the Three Thousand Worlds were beaten until they were pink and white with dew, so soft that they couldn’t be touched. In reality, Second Young Master Liu was wrapped in a quilt and slept until noon before being woken up. He sat up after waking, squinting his eyes with a frown as he listened to the voices outside for a long moment.

“Young Master, are you awake?” A-Ning poked his head in to take a look. “Would you like to wash up?”

Liu Xian’an answered with a hoarse sound. 

A-Ning rushed in quickly with hot water in hand, opened the window to let some air in, and put on his clothes again.

Liu Xian’an still hadn’t fully opened his eyes, and only asked: “What is going on outside?”

“It’s the old carpenter,” A-Ning said. “He was bored yesterday afternoon, so he took out the wooden figure we made and said that he wanted to change the mechanisms, but it was not completed yet. When he went to look at it in the morning, he found the wooden figure in the dry well, smashed to pieces, and he doesn’t know if it can be put back together again.”

Liu Xian’an woke up: “Ah?

“Maybe the door was not locked yesterday, and the wind was strong, so it blew away.” A-Ning continued to wipe his face. “The one making the noise is the old man’s wife. She has always believed in the supernatural, and when she heard this, she insisted on calculating that the wooden figure probably saw something it shouldn’t have seen, and was so ashamed and angry that it jumped into the well and committed suicide.”

Liu Xian’an was expressionless: “Stop talking, just pretend that I didn’t ask.”

A-Ning said: “En, I won’t talk.”

Just, could a wooden figure see anything?

Absurd, truly absurd.


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Extra Three << Table of Contents >> Extra Five

4 thoughts on “Strong Winds Return Home – Extra Four: Life In the Royal City (4/4)

  1. I’m speachless, haha 😂😂 But seriously, they are soooo sweet together~ヾ(≧∪≦)ノ〃
    Thank You for the new chapter ♡⃛*⁎⋆(꒡ᵋ ꒡ღ)

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