When he woke up, Liu Zhenqing was dizzy from drinking and enjoying the heated water.

He turned around to look and, sure enough, he was gone again.

When he was drunk the night before, Liu Zhenqing was too lazy to think much and enjoyed being enveloped by Huo Fenglie’s solid body. Perceiving Huo Fenglie’s patience and gentleness, of course he knew the other’s situation.

Thinking of this, Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but spread his hands and look at them, as if the tactile impression from last night still remained.

It was truly astounding that his hands were still sore when he woke up.

Liu Zhenqing smiled contentedly. This further development was all thanks to his wit.

The previous night, in the midst of chaotic thoughts, Liu Zhenqing suddenly had an idea. In order to keep him from looking at the tattoo, Huo Fenglie kept pressing his head with one hand. The other hand was helping him, so Liu Zhenqing took the opportunity to quietly place his hands into the water.

By the time the shy and patient Huo Fenglie reacted, it was too late. His entire body trembled and he tried to push him away, to move his hand and stop all factors that may get out of control. But sadly, he found that he could just barely use one hand to capture those two troublemaking ones.

Liu Zhenqing was naturally dissatisfied and scolded him not to stop. In the end, even without looking, he could tell that Huo Fenglie was bullied so much that he had no choice but to be obedient and allow Liu Zhenqing to break the barrier between them.

Huo Fenglie’s green and immature reaction surprised Liu Zhenqing. In the end, it turned out that he was bullying the other.

When Huo Fenglie couldn’t endure it anymore, it seemed that the word ‘Qing-ge’ was constantly called out in his ear. He also bit him on the shoulder, but fainted in the end and didn’t know what happened next.

Yes, this was a big step.The two of them were absolutely free of sin. He would see what this kid ended up doing.

Liu Zhenqing seemed to derive some delight from the mutual help between the two, and was extremely satisfied.

When he got up, he looked at the time. It happened to be time for Huo Fenglie to undergo acupuncture, so Liu Zhenqing went over with a bun in his mouth.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw Huo Fenglie sitting on a stool with his upper body bare. Han Ye on the side was using acupuncture on his own head and to Huo Fenglie.

“What are you doing?” Liu Zhenqing stepped forward curiously.

Han Ye glanced at Liu Zhenqing in displeasure. “Hangover.”

Shocked, Liu Zhenqing said: “It was only three cups.”

Han Ye was instantly unhappy, and said: “I don’t usually drink!”

Liu Zhenqing quickly coaxed: “Yes, yes, you haven’t practiced.”

Han Ye scoffed coldly.

When Liu Zhenqing was done speaking, he walked up to Huo Fenglie. The other seemed to lift his head to glance at him, but quickly looked away.

Liu Zhenqing snickered and chose to sit in the seat in front of him, which put Huo Fenglie at a loss.

Han Ye suddenly exclaimed: “Do you have an allergy? Why are there so many red marks on your shoulders and neck, ah?”

Huo Fenglie froze. Liu Zhenqing raised his eyes to look over, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly: “He doesn’t.”

Han Ye looked at Liu Zhenqing in surprise: “You can determine this?”

Liu Zhenqing looked at his apprentice and thought that he must have gone silly due to only wanting to study medicine. He couldn’t comprehend this sort of thing, and wore an expression that said, ‘I haven’t even figured it out, so how can you be so sure?’

Suppressing his laughter, Liu Zhenqing raised a suggestive eyebrow and said: “I can, ah. Because I did that last night.”

Huo Fenglie sucked in a deep breath, and the hands on his knees involuntarily clenched.

Han Ye was about to give himself another needle to keep his judgment and thinking clear, but when he heard this sentence, the silver needle almost stuck in crookedly.

“You…..you guys!” Han Ye choked out.

“Why are you so surprised? You’re also a grown man.” Liu Zhenqing spoke much more straightforwardly, and there was even a smile in his words. This was obviously a tone meant for teasing children.

Han Ye wished he could stab himself to deafness, while Huo Fenglie was also shaken at the moment.

He didn’t understand……he really didn’t understand Qing-ge’s meaning.

Wasn’t it just on a whim after drinking last night? Shouldn’t it be hidden in silence?

Why was Qing-ge like this? Was it on purpose?

He really wasn’t afraid that Huo Fenglie wouldn’t be able to endure anymore…..he really compelled him!

But everything last night was like a dream to him. He came to the sudden and humbled realization that Qing-ge teasing him like this was also good. Even if he was using him like this to express his loneliness, he was willing.

But Han Ye was not willing. His roar made the perpetually teasing and unserious Liu Zhenqing run away wildly. 

He had nothing to do, so he walked a few rounds to wake up. Suddenly, he saw Song Xingmu running past in a panic, clutching his clothes. Very much like a rogue flower picker who did something bad and slept with the wrong person.

Liu Zhenqing called out, and Song Xingmu’s eyes suddenly lit up. He rushed over and said: “Last night…..what did I do last night?”

Liu Zhenqing: ……

“You threw me into Huo Fenglie’s bathtub.”

Song Xingmu was startled. He touched his chin and said: “I have an impression of that, but what happened next?”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth curled up slightly. He wanted to show off how happy he was last night.

However, Song Xingmu seemed to understand his brother’s bad nature and immediately interrupted: “I’m asking what I did.”

Liu Zhenqing’s urge to share was disrupted, and he said directly: “How would I know? Didn’t you run away with Yi Chuan?”

Song Xingmu’s expression was suddenly difficult to parse.

“It’s odd. Seeing you like this, perhaps you couldn’t control yourself last night and messed around with someone? Weren’t you protecting your integrity like jade for Yi Chuan?”

Song Xingmu said with a mournful expression: “It was Yi Chuan, ah.”

“What?!” Liu Zhenqing said in shock. “Could it be that you were drunk? That’s not right, ah. You can only use one hand, Yi Chuan wasn’t drunk, and his martial arts are higher than yours…..” Speaking of this, Liu Zhenqing suddenly gave an ohhh. “Could it be that you were given…..by him? Should I say congratulations?”

It seemed that Song Xingmu originally topped……

“No, I don’t know what happened either. I seem to remember kissing him. I’m dead, I’m dead. Wait and see, it might not be long before you have to collect my body,” Song Xingmu said with a long face. He usually made trouble and took advantage of that person, but Song Xingmu had never actually taken action.

Just a kiss?

Liu Zhenqing looked at Song Xingmu speechlessly. Then Yi Chuan’s voice sounded.

“What are you doing here?”

Song Xingmu instantly hid behind Liu Zhenqing, watching Yi Chuan cautiously.

“It’s time to treat your hand,” Yi Chuan said to Song Xingmu impatiently, stepping forward.

“You…..” Seeing that Yi Chuan was acting normal, Song Xingmu couldn’t help but wonder if that kiss was a dream. “Um, I woke up in your room. Did we sleep together last night?”

The disdain on Yi Chuan’s face grew even stronger as he said: “You were drunk and absolutely refused to go back. You insisted on sleeping with me.”

“You actually let me?” Song Xingmu asked in surprise.

Yi Chuan narrowed his eyes and said: “Because if I didn’t let you, you would have fought me with an injured hand.”

Song Xingmu: ……

Liu Zhenqing looked at Song Xingmu with raised eyebrows. What could be seen in Yi Chuan’s reaction? Was there…..actually no kiss? After all, Yi Chuan hated men being together.

Song Xingmu also thought of this, and couldn’t help asking: “Apart from that, what else did I do last night?”

Yi Chuan said calmly: “Nothing. Hurry up and get your hand treated.”

Song Xingmu’s eyes were filled with questions. He could only follow along while putting on his clothes, and didn’t see Yi Chuan turn his head with glinting eyes.

Yi Chuan comforted himself that he had only been forcibly kissed by a drunk and shameless scoundrel. His reaction to being kissed until his legs went weak was just because he had never been kissed before and had no experience. It wasn’t a big deal.

Lowering his head, Yi Chuan rubbed his hands. It seemed like he could still feel his hands running through the tips of Song Xingmu’s hair during the struggle last night, as well as touching his cold earrings. In the next second, he had been grabbed by Song Xingmu’s fair and slender hands and pressed down. If he hadn’t been worried about his hand, he wouldn’t have been held down so easily.

Song Xingmu passed out in the end. If his sleeping face didn’t look so much like a woman’s, he would have punched him. 

Because Yi Chuan had told Song Xingmu to go for treatment, Liu Zhenqing thought it must be time for Huo Fenglie’s treatment to end, and followed after them.

As a result, just as they came to the courtyard, they saw a figure flash past. It was another disheveled fellow. Why was it so fashionable to run around in underclothes now?

Looking at the figure rushing into the room, Liu Zhenqing recognized him as He Lan.

When they came to the door, they saw He Lan grasping Huo Fenglie’s arm as he asked: “You really don’t know why Qin Yu left alone? Doesn’t he tell you everything?”

Seeing that He Lan was growing angry with worry, Huo Fenglie could only say: “Were you with him last night?”

He Lan choked. It could even be said that Qin Yu was still in his arms just an hour before he fell asleep.

Huo Fenglie looked at him and didn’t inquire deeply. He just said: “He didn’t leave a single word?”

He Lan quickly said: “There was a note saying that he would return to the capital, but he clearly promised me that he wouldn’t go back for the time being.”

Huo Fenglie was slightly surprised: “He promised?”

He Lan froze, recalling that yes, ah, Qin Yu didn’t promise. It was just that Qin Yu took the initiative the night before, making He Lan think that the relationship between them had changed.

He didn’t believe that Qin Yu couldn’t hear what he meant. He just didn’t want them to get involved in a troublesome relationship when they returned to the capital. He thought they could simply spend time together without so many worries, and then go further…..

But Qin Yu left anyway, ignoring his proposal in order to return to the capital alone. Was this…..rejection? Sure enough, he was really…..not important at all in his heart.

He Lan gritted his teeth and said: “Does him leaving alone have something to do with the secret he spoke with you about before?”

Huo Fenglie took in He Lan’s tangled appearance and said: “If you want to know, go back and ask him.”

He Lan raised his head to look at Huo Fenglie. “We are all brothers. Why won’t you help me at all?”

Huo Fenglie replied: “It is because we are brothers that I can only say this.”

He Lan couldn’t be bothered to argue with Huo Fenglie anymore, and said angrily: “Hmph, I won’t accompany you for treatment. I must return to the capital to report on my work!”

Having said this, he turned around and ran.

Liu Zhenqing followed Huo Fenglie out, watching the departing He Lan. He said: “Letting him go back might not be a good idea. There are still the Jinyiwei behind him, and there may be conflicts. Then they will be in a dilemma.”

Huo Fenglie said: “If I don’t let him go back and something happens, he will blame me. And…..no matter how difficult the road is, they can walk it themselves. They don’t need me to help them choose.”

“Really?” Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie and said, “Aren’t you worried?”

Huo Fenglie shook his head and suddenly murmured: “Leaving my side early may not be a bad thing. Perhaps in the future, we will also be on opposite sides.”

Liu Zhenqing was shocked, staring at Huo Fenglie in confusion. Huo Fenglie never abused his power and was loyal to Yuan Jue. As long as those two people didn’t betray the emperor, it could be said that they would never stand on the opposite side from Huo Fenglie.

“Why are you saying that out of nowhere?” Liu Zhenqing asked in concern.

Huo Fenglie said nothing more about it, turning around to say: “I’ll go back and see if there are any problems with the return trip arranged by the court.”

Liu Zhenqing suddenly held onto him, and Huo Fenglie’s body trembled.

Liu Zhenqing smiled. Sure enough, Er-gou was pretending to be calm and was looking for a reason to get away quickly.

He said: “We haven’t had breakfast yet. Let’s eat before we go.”

Without any explanation, Liu Zhenqing pulled Huo Fenglie to the kitchens, moved a bench, and sat in front of Huo Fenglie to watch him eat.

Huo Fenglie had just taken a bite of a bun under his coercion when he heard Liu Zhenqing say slowly: “How did you feel last night?”

With a grunt, Huo Fenglie nearly choked on the bun. He quickly swallowed it, not knowing what to say.

“I’m asking you, did you feel good last night?”

Huo Fenglie couldn’t bear it anymore, and was somewhat unable to swallow, patting his chest. When Liu Zhenqing handed him the soup, he took it at once and drank it.

Liu Zhenqing continued as he watched him drink the soup: “In any case, I felt rather good. Er-gou’s hands are big and have calluses from sword practice…..”

“Pu!”

A mouthful of soup spurted out.

“This was my first time helping someone else. If I didn’t do it well, you need to tell me so that I can improve.”

Huo Fenglie suddenly raised his head and looked at Liu Zhenqing in disbelief.

Liu Zhenqing said with a sincere expression: “I’m probably the only one who does this sort of thing.”

Huo Fenglie seemed a little overwhelmed. “Qing…..Qing-ge?”

Keeping up his efforts, Liu Zhenqing reached out to help the stunned Huo Fenglie wipe the soup splashed on his lips. He wiped his lips lightly, and finally placed his index finger on his mouth to clean it. This whole move caused Huo Fenglie’s pupils to quiver.

Liu Zhenqing supported his head, all smiles, and purposely moved his fingers in front of Huo Fenglie. “My hands were really tired last night. I’m not very skilled. Next time…..I should be a little better.”

After speaking, Liu Zhenqing raised his eyes slightly to look straight at Huo Fenglie, who seemed to have ascended to heaven. He had anticipated this reaction. 

But his luck was bad. In just a short while, Song Xingmu and Yi Chuan also arrived to have breakfast.

When they came in and gave their greetings, Huo Fenglie took the opportunity to gust out like the wind.

“Why did he leave so quickly? To meet the officials?” Song Xingmu touched his chin and looked at Liu Zhenqing, saying: “Were you bullying someone?”

Liu Zhenqing stretched, looking refreshed. “No way.”

He was about to leave, but was stopped by Song Xingmu: “By the way, Yi Chuan has something to say.”

Liu Zhenqing glanced at Yi Chuan.

Yi Chuan said: “I received news from the cells this morning that an original islander reported a clue in order to atone for his crimes. It passed through my hands first and then was handed over to the officials from the capital, and has to do with the outsiders on the island.”

Liu Zhenqing instantly became energized, and looked at Yi Chuan somewhat tensely.

Yi Chuan said: “They said they saw a man with great martial arts skills, who had the symbol of a noble from the Southern Shu Kingdom on his body.”

The Southern Shu Kingdom. Liu Zhenqing knew it well. It was one of the three southwest kingdoms that were defeated by Huo Fenglie.

Song Xingmu said with a chuckle: “This discovery will soon reach the emperor’s ears. I suppose the Western Shu Kingdom will ask for an explanation, but it’s unexpected that the rebels were also involved with foreigners.”

More backstage manipulators involved with the capital and the Dongchang. And they were foreigners.

Liu Zhenqing’s unease grew incrementally, and just as he was lost in thought, he saw Han Ye walk over.

Song Xingmu and Yi Chuan quickly invited him to eat.

Han Ye asked Liu Zhenqing when he planned to leave for Medical Valley.

The location of Medical Valley was at the junction of Southern Shu and Great Zhou.

Liu Zhenqing naturally said that he would wait for Huo Fenglie to determine the time.

Huo Fenglie didn’t return until noon. As soon as he came back, he said to Liu Zhenqing: “The emperor has given me a secret decree.”

Liu Zhenqing was a little surprised: “Haven’t those court officials been here for several days?”

“It was delivered this morning.” Huo Fenglie directly showed the secret decree to Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing opened it and read through it, frowning. What a coincidence?

The secret decree stated that it was recently discovered that the Southern Shu Kingdom intended to make a move, and that something felt wrong. Huo Fenglie should go directly to Nanfeng City to look into it on the emperor’s behalf. The emperor had already sent a message to the City Lord of Nanfeng City, telling him to receive Huo Fenglie.

And Nanfeng City was separated from the Western Shu Kingdom by a dense, primitive forest.

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Chapter Ninety-Eight << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred