When the first glimmers of light appeared on the horizon, Liu Zhenqing had only taken a short nap before he was woken up.

As a result, he was still lying in Huo Fenglie’s arms when he opened his eyes.

Liu Zhenqing moved, and Huo Fenglie also opened his eyes. That pair of misty eyes stared at him blankly, then seemed to focus in a flash. He instinctively increased the force of his arms, wanting to hug this person tighter to make sure he existed.

Liu Zhenqing wrinkled his nose: “What are you doing hugging me?”

After talking business the day before, Liu Zhenqing still didn’t forget how angry he should be and slept alone on one side.

With innocent eyes, Huo Fenglie looked down at where Liu Zhenqing was laying.

Only then did Liu Zhenqing realize he was the one who’d rolled over, and according to his sleeping habits…..

Unreconciled, Liu Zhenqing pushed Huo Fenglie away and said unreasonably: “You hugged me when I rolled over here?”

Huo Fenglie looked a little childlike as he bore Liu Zhenqing’s temper.

Just as trouble was about to start, they heard a sound nearby. Beside the stream, Qiao Jin was pestering Liu Qiao and still trying to persuade him. Liu Qiao seemed annoyed to death by him.

The night before, Liu Zhenqing had proposed that Qiao Jin remain here as the King of Western Shu in order to cooperate with them, but Liu Qiao would definitely follow Liu Zhenqing, which would separate the two of them.

This went against Qiao Jin’s original intentions regarding the compromise, so he naturally refused to agree.

“Didn’t Master say I would be responsible for delivering messages?”

“Then if you’re delivering messages, can’t you just stay here and deliver them to him? Why should you follow him, ah? Aren’t he and Huo Fenglie a couple now? With Huo Fenglie’s army of millions, how is he unable to protect him? And when they return to the capital, you’ll follow them back. You…..You’re just looking for an excuse to abandon me,” Qiao Jin said, utterly discomfited.

“Why are you like a little milk baby? You’re the King of Western Shu now. Master says that when they find those people in the capital, you can always be the king, okay?”

Liu Qiao couldn’t understand Qiao Jin’s reaction. He felt that he was the same kid who feared being left behind, but he was already eighteen years old. He couldn’t bring Qiao Jin with him forever.

Qiao Jin flew into a foolish temper at Liu Qiao’s words: “Who wants to be the King of Western Shu, ah!”

“If you don’t care about it, then you don’t have to do it until this matter is over.”

Qiao Jin was anxious: “Do you really not understand or are you pretending not to understand? What did I surrender and listen to Liu Zhenqing for?”

“Weren’t you going to be killed by Master if you disobeyed?”

“That’s not it! Since Liu Zhenqing has given you freedom, why must you follow him?”

“I…..”

“Can’t you…..” Qiao Jin grabbed Liu Qiao’s hand and said, “Can’t you consider me yours?”

Liu Qiao was stunned. This was the second time Qiao Jin had said this. Looking at Qiao Jin, who was holding onto him with slightly trembling hands and reddened eyes, he was very similar to when Liu Qiao had gone back to find him eight years prior. This was how Qiao Jin had looked when he saw him.

But Liu Qiao wasn’t soft-hearted: “With those people from the capital around, Master is in danger. He needs me.”

Qiao Jin froze. Finally, he raised his head in compromise to direct a fierce glare at Liu Qiao: “Okay, when he needs you, stay by his side, and when he doesn’t need you, come back to me. You wanted to leave before to keep vigil for him, but this reason is no longer valid. Whatever you want to do in the future, I will do it with you. Anyway, we’ve stayed with each other for so many years. Getting used to this is better than you living alone again.”

Qiao Jin’s eyes gleamed brightly. It was as if they had turned into invisible claws and grabbed Liu Qiao. Before he could react, the stunned Liu Qiao had already nodded.

Qiao Jin was instantly happy. He raised his hands to hug Liu Qiao, but the other party impatiently pushed him away with the hilt of his sword.

Qiao Jin wasn’t angry, and just directly lowered his head and kissed the hilt of the sword, perhaps reduced to childish behavior due to his happiness. On the other hand, Liu Qiao froze.

When the two of them returned from their argument, Qiao Jin saw that they were ready to set off and said to Liu Zhenqing: “Hey, weren’t you going to poison me?”

Liu Zhenqing had said previously that he would use poison to control Qiao Jin.

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “I already have, ah.”

Qiao Jin stared at him in bafflement.

With a glance at Liu Qiao, Liu Zhenqing said: “There is no cure for this poison, but as long as you obey me, I guarantee you won’t die.”

Qiao Jin was so angry that his blood surged again.

He felt that in this short night, the suffocation he inhaled was equivalent to that of the past ten years.

In the next second, Qiao Jin confirmed once more that Liu Zhenqing was the most annoying man in the world, bar none. 

Because Liu Zhenqing raised his hand toward Liu Qiao and shouted: “Let’s go.”

Immediately, Liu Qiao grasped Liu Zhenqing and flew away, a startled Huo Fenglie one step behind.

Qiao Jin shouted furiously on the spot: “Liu Zhenqing, you’re hugging the wrong person!”

In the distance, Liu Zhenqing’s proud voice could be heard: “Be good and get to work.”

Liu Qiao didn’t think there was anything wrong with carrying Liu Zhenqing while using qinggong. After all, it had been like this before. But he felt an uncomfortable gaze from behind him for quite some while. As a martial arts master, he was very perceptive, and felt ill-at-ease while being stared at constantly by unfriendly eyes.

“Master, General Huo seems to be watching us,” said Liu Qiao. He lowered his head. “Does he have something to say?”

Liu Zhenqing chuckled: “Don’t mind him. The child must be disciplined, or he’ll act outrageously.”

“Did you have a fight? Weren’t you two good before?” Liu Qiao asked in confusion.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help feeling a bit lost. Yes, ah, they were fine before, but something went wrong.

Because they were in a hurry, the two of them didn’t speak much. They were already close to the dense forest, and now they had left the border and returned to the military camp.

When Huo Fenglie took Liu Zhenqing back, all of the military officials breathed sighs of relief. They saw that another newcomer had arrived, tall and handsome, and exuding the aura of a master. Moreover, he followed Liu Zhenqing step by step, seemingly closer to him than the general was. They couldn’t help being stunned.

Liu Zhenqing explained that this was the guard who had followed him before. He had been out working on something, but when he heard Liu Zhenqing had been kidnapped, he went to rescue him.

Everyone saw that Huo Fenglie had no objection, which meant this person was trustworthy, and came forward to express their care for Liu Zhenqing. After all, Huo Fenglie’s reaction before was too frightening.

Him going deep into the enemy base to rescue someone by himself really left everyone’s hearts suspended for two days. They used to feel that their general was untouched by worldly things, but now felt that he had gone to the other extreme. They didn’t dare say that the general had lost his wits to lust. After all, it was rare for their general to experience passion, and they were pleased to see it.

Someone came forward and said: “General, everything is stable here and there haven’t been any problems. It was hard work for you two all the way back, so go to the tent and rest early. Meals and hot water will be prepared for you right away.”

Those around had to give this man a thumbs up. Right, this was in consideration of their general’s morale problem, ah.

As a result, they heard Liu Zhenqing say: “Then please give me a separate tent. My guard and I wish to have a good rest.”

When these words came out, everyone looked in bafflement at Huo Fenglie, who was staring at Liu Zhenqing intently. Although there was no expression on his face, his mood was obviously low.

Was…..was this a quarrel? What was with this guard? Was he really a guard?

No way. They had just returned, and the soldiers were afraid something would happen again.

“This…..before, Young Master Liu was…..”

Liu Zhenqing glanced at Huo Fenglie and found him looking like a dog with its ears twitching. He was not soft-hearted, and said directly: “I’m not happy to reside with your general now, am I?”

Such obvious ruffled feathers caused the others to give Huo Fenglie meaningful looks, wanting him to coax the other party. But Huo Fenglie didn’t open his mouth. After all, even he didn’t know why Liu Zhenqing had lost his temper with him.

He could only say with a downcast expression: “Prepare it for Young Master Liu.”

Everyone looked at the person who had spoken up first, none daring to be the one to take up dividing the boss’s family.

Although everyone was pushing and shoving, arrangements were made for Liu Zhenqing. Only, it was arranged right next to the general’s camp.

Liu Zhenqing took Liu Qiao to the camp. When he saw Huo Fenlgie following them, he said: “Why are you following me? Get down to business.”

Huo Fenglie could only stop and watch Liu Zhenqing and Liu Qiao enter the tent.

Behind him was a group of theatergoers, who immediately stepped forward to comfort him.

“General, is Young Master Liu angry because he was frightened by the kidnapping?”

“Did he suffer a lot in Western Shu? It’s strange to blame you for following him.”

“It’s alright, General. Let’s go back and defeat Western Shu so that Young Master Liu calms down!”

“The general didn’t say that. Based on my experience with love affairs, you can’t save face right now. You must brazenly go and coax him.”

Huo Fenglie turned his head to give everyone a cold look: “You have so much free time?”

Everyone immediately dispersed.

Dai Tingyu and Tang Rou, who had heard the news, also rushed over. As soon as they entered the camp, Dai Tingyu was dragged into wild gossip by the other military officials. After all, Huo Fenglie was giving off an aura of low pressure right then, and they didn’t dare to get close. They could only rely on the shameless, brazen Dai Tingyu. Tang Rou went directly to see Liu Zhenqing.

Upon entering, she saw Liu Zhenqing sitting in front of a desk as he wrote something. Behind him stood a man carefully grinding ink.

Tang Rou glanced at Liu Zhenqing, then looked at Liu Qiao and found her eyes widening uncontrollably. “You…..you’re…..”

Liu Zhenqing recalled that Liu Qiao had been with him back then, so Tang Rou might have seen him before. He just made up an excuse and pretended that Liu Qiao followed him afterward.

Tang Rou didn’t overthink it. She wanted to ask a few words about Young Master Liu’s affairs, but felt that he would be offended, so she didn’t say much in the end. She just felt a little nostalgic now, seeing the person at Young Master Liu’s side.

Dai Tingyu heard that the two were having trouble and that there was an extra guard at Liu Zhenqing’s side, and couldn’t wait to rush to Huo Fenglie and gossip about how he had offended Liu Zhenqing.

Huo Fenglie was sitting dully in the tent, dealing with military affairs as Dai Tingyu asked nonstop questions. In the end, he could only raise his cold eyes and say: “He wants me to get engaged to Tang Rou, but I won’t agree.”

Hearing this, Dai Tingyu was instantly anxious: “That won’t work! Tang-chengzhu is unwilling, so how could it be possible! Why did he bring this up…..wait, I seem to have heard Tang-furen mention this. I thought she was speaking nonsense!”

Huo Fenglie’s expression turned ugly again: “He also wants to report to the emperor that Qiao An is jealous of him and made me unhappy, so that the emperor will reluctantly agree that I have a close relationship with him.”

“Ah? What on earth is he trying to do?” Dai Tingyu was dumbfounded.

Huo Fenglie’s eyes were full of gloom. “He does whatever he wants, and whatever he thinks is what comes out. He was one person when I found him, and another person now. I have no idea what’s on his mind. He doesn’t want it now, but will want it again later, regardless of my feelings. Should I be the angry one?”

Dai Tingyu was shocked. This was the first time he had seen Huo Fenglie so emotional, and he was even complaining casually. Dai Tingyu almost couldn’t recognize his brother.

This was what Huo Fenglie had concluded after thinking it over for a long while, but when he finished his emotional words, he couldn’t help but stare blankly. He said self-deprecatingly: “What qualifications do I have to be angry? He wanted it before, but he doesn’t want it now. Now that he’s got Liu Qiao, he doesn’t need me anymore.”

“Er-ge, are you talking about tongue-twisters? Do you hear what you’re saying? I heard it, but I don’t understand it.” Dai Tingyu’s eyes were wide. Was this really his Brother Huo? Why did he seem to be in self-denial?

Young Master Liu could usually be seen flirting with Brother Huo most of the time. Why, from Brother Huo’s mouth, did Young Master Liu sound like a scumbag?

But without waiting for Dai Tingyu to persuade him, Huo Fenglie stood up. “You’re all here. I have some proper business to speak of.”

Having said this, he walked out and turned toward the camp next door.

Dai Tingyu thought to himself, wasn’t he using their arrival as an excuse to rush to see Liu Zhenqing?

When Huo Fenglie entered the tent and saw Liu Zhenqing and Tang Rou chatting happily, with Liu Qiao also standing by, he felt even more sullen.

Liu Zhenqing just gave Huo Fenglie a glance, then said: “Just in time. I’ve written it down and put it on the table, have a look.”

Huo Fenglie’s eyes flashed, and when he stepped forward, he saw the secret message that was to be sent to Yuan Jue. Liu Zhenqing had already arranged the wording for him.

Although he knew it was for proper business, there was still sadness in Huo Fenglie’s heart. But when he got a good look at these words in his tone of voice, implicitly emphasizing how much he cared about ‘Liu Xiaozhu,’ his heart still hurt.

Qing-ge knew Yuan Jue best, so shouldn’t he understand the consequences of sending this letter? In that case, why did he still want him to get engaged? Had…..Qing-ge changed his mind?

That should be the case. After all, Qing-ge had never brought up the matter again. Huo Fenglie calmed down, saying: “I understand.”

Presently, he explained the current situation to Tang Rou and Dai Tingyu, only speaking of the secrets revealed by Qiao An, but not the situation with Qiao Jin and Liu Qiao. After, their act required the cooperation of Nanfeng City.

The expressions of these two changed when they heard this. After a serious discussion, they also wanted to meet Qiao An.

Huo Fenglie was going to take them to see Qiao An, but Liu Zhenqing didn’t want to go.

“You go ahead. In any case, I know everything I need to know. I’m tired and can’t be bothered to run around.”

Huo Fenglie frowned, knowing that Liu Zhenqing just didn’t want to be around him. Tang Rou and Dai Tingyu exchanged glances and went out first.

Huo Fenglie turned around to ask, then stopped. He said: “Qing-ge I have something to say.”

Liu Zhenqing raised an eyebrow, thinking that he finally couldn’t bear it anymore. It was time to have Liu Qiao go out so that they could clear things up between them.

Huo Fenglie approached Liu Zhenqing, gazing down at him. Finally, he lifted his hands to gently hold Liu Zhenqing’s as he said: “Qing-ge, don’t be angry with me, okay?”

Raising his head, Liu Zhenqing said: “Then do you know what I’m angry about?”

Huo Fenglie’s expression shifted. He said: “I didn’t listen to what Qing-ge said or do what Qing-ge wanted. Now…..what does Qing-ge want from me?”

This wording was not what Liu Zhenqing wanted to hear, but he still made do with it and opened his mouth to say: “Did you really listen to everything? Then I want you to decide…..”

He hadn’t finished speaking yet when the force on his wrists made him groan with a wince.

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie with an ugly expression and found that Huo Fenglie’s expression was even more unsightly than his.

“Qing-ge, you still haven’t changed your mind?”

Liu Zhenqing laughed angrily: “I should be the one asking you if you’ve changed your mind yet. Just want to play? Don’t want to be serious?”

His tone sank due to his anger, which immediately offended Huo Fenglie. Huo Fenglie instantly paled. Of course he understood. He knew that Qing-ge only wanted to play with him and didn’t intend to be serious, but there was no need to say it out loud and break his heart, okay? Was it because he feared it getting serious that Huo Fenglie must get engaged? How could Qing-ge be so cruel to him?

Huo Fenglie released Liu Zhenqing’s hands and said: “Qing-ge, I really can’t do it, but I’ll agree to any other conditions.”

Liu Zhenqing was furious. Seeing that Huo Fenglie was still maintaining a stubborn attitude, he suddenly felt as if he’d been tricked, and said in a temper: “Huo Fenglie, let me ask, do you like me?”

Huo Fenglie’s eyes instantly widened, and he stared at Liu Zhenqing in disbelief: “No, Qing-ge, I don’t like…..”

Liu Zhenqing’s expression went blank. Even though it was a lie, it still hurt. Unexpectedly, it was difficult to get to the bottom of this.

“Then get out!”

Huo Fenglie lowered his head stiffly. His heavy breathing could be heard throughout the tent. In the end, he didn’t let go of his stubbornness and turned around to go.

As soon as he went out, everyone noticed the problem with Huo Fenglie’s expression and knew that the reconciliation had failed.

This time, Dai Tingyu didn’t dare to say anything more until they saw Qiao An and were about to send him out.

Huo Fenglie suddenly took Tang Rou aside to talk.

Tang Rou felt it was a little strange, but came to a stop. Unexpectedly, Huo Fenglie came up to her and said: “Tang-chengzhu, I have no intention of marrying in this life, so no matter what Young Master Liu tells you, please refuse directly.”

Tang Rou was dumbfounded. Where was this going, ah?

“General Huo, that was my mother’s intention, but I have made my stance clear. I will not marry anyone, which I also told Young Master Liu.”

Huo Fenglie didn’t think much after hearing this, and just thought that Liu Zhenqing was working both sides.

“He wants us to get engaged.”

“How is that possible!” Tang Rou outright denied it. “He wants to get engaged to you.”

Huo Fenglie shook his head, but Tang Rou said consideringly: “It seems there really is a misunderstanding. I can go confront Young Master Liu. He likes you so much, how could he let you get engaged to me?”

Huo Fenglie stared blankly for a moment, then said: “He doesn’t like me, he just wants to be on intimate terms with me.”

Tang Rou smiled: “General Huo, everyone can tell whether or not he likes you. Have you always thought that he doesn’t like you? Then I’ll venture to ask, do you like Young Master Liu?”

Huo Fenglie froze.

Tang Rou looked at Huo Fenglie and said: “I can’t say much about the matters between you two, but there is one answer I can give you – I will not get engaged to you. The truth is that in my heart, I admire Prime Minister Liu. He is gone, and I really won’t marry anyone else.”

Huo Fenglie looked at Tang Rou with a frown. She smiled in relief and said: “Actually, my brother had spoken of giving my hand to Prime Minister Liu. Even as a concubine, it could be regarded as repaying a favor, as well as a show of trust. But Prime Minister Liu said that he was in a precarious situation, and to put it out of mind. I knew that was his gentle rejection.”

Tang Rou touched the jade pendant at her waist and said with a smile: “Although he treated women too softly, he still had a sense of measure. He gave me this jade pendant as a reward after he got drunk. He didn’t really want to give it to me.”

“And I…..I was timid at first and didn’t fight for myself. If I could go back to the beginning, I would at least want to express my feelings to him in person. Even if I was rejected, I would have no regrets in this life. Otherwise, I can’t help but regret it and fantasize that maybe if I had spoken up in the first place, there would be a different ending, even if it was accompanying him in death. But in the end, I still have regrets in this life.”

Having said this, Tang Rou looked at Huo Fenglie and said: “I heard that you also had feelings for Prime Minister Liu, but you probably didn’t really express them back then. What a blessing it is to find someone to love now. Cherish him. Don’t miss your chance again.”

Although Tang Rou didn’t know what was happening between the two, if Huo Fenglie didn’t like something Liu Zhenqing did, he should say so openly and clearly express his love. Tang Rou believed that everything could be solved in this way.

Huo Fenglie looked at this woman who had such regrets and felt his heart tremble. At least he was still with Qing-ge. Maybe he was lucky enough.

Thinking of Qing-ge’s question just now, perhaps he should tell the truth and not allow himself to have regrets. But in that case, wouldn’t Qing-ge be farther away from him? He couldn’t afford to take the gamble.

He just wanted to be with Qing-ge forever. He would never place any burden on him. It didn’t matter if it was only for fun, but just don’t push him on others. 

On the other side, Liu Zhenqing had smashed practically everything in the tent, leaving Liu Qiao befuddled.

Watching Liu Zhenqing pant, he said obediently: “Master, do you still want to smash things?” 

“You…..you go and beat up Er-gou!” Liu Zhenqing said at once.

Although Liu Qiao was momentarily stunned, he still turned around to leave. Of course, he was stopped by Liu Zhenqing.

“Damnit, he’s playing with me like this and I can’t bear to let him go.” 

Liu Zhenqing was utterly exasperated.

Liu Qiao finally revealed a bit of curiosity, saying: “Master, what’s wrong between the two of you? General Huo has been obedient to you since he was a child. How could he make you angry? He likes you so much.”

Liu Zhening suddenly seemed to have found an outlet to unburden himself: “You all keep saying that he likes me, but has he ever admitted it? He’s personally denied it, twice. He also rejected my marriage proposal twice. I suspect I’ve been brainwashed by you all. Maybe he doesn’t even like me, and it was just me being sentimental.”

Liu Zhenqing spoke as if he had lost heart.

Then Liu Qiao said suddenly: “Ah? He doesn’t like you? But he clearly used the ashes of your previous body to get that tattoo.” From Liu Qiao’s perspective, he didn’t understand love, but this was love to the point of madness.

Liu Zhenqing, who was smashing his pillow, was stupefied when he heard this. He turned his head to stare at Liu Qiao in astonishment, saying: “What…..what tattoo do you mean?”

“The willow leaf tattoo he has on his body. Master, have you not seen it yet? Your ashes are mixed into it.” Liu Qiao recalled what happened back then.

That year, once he had recovered from his injuries and was able to move, he hadn’t gone directly back to Qiao Jin, but instead returned to the capital, intending to seize his master’s coffin. When he heard the rumors about Huo Fenglie, Liu Qiao was furious and planned to kill him. But when he was crouching in the dark, he saw him and a few friends going to find an old tattooer in the capital.

At that time, Huo Fenglie opened a bottle and told the old man to mix the contents in.

The old man asked: “What is it?”

“Ashes.”

“Whose?”

“Qing-ge’s.”

“Who is Qing-ge?”

“My beloved.”

The old man asked strangely: “Even if they’re from your beloved, aren’t you afraid of nightmares?”

“If I can dream of him, nightmares are fine too.”

The old man persuaded: “Such infatuation. Why do you need to get a tattoo? Carrying it with you is just the same.”

“The battlefield is ever-changing, and I’m afraid that if I die there, they might be lost. With this tattoo on my body, even if I die, I won’t fear that I’ll be unable to find him in the underworld.”

The old man stopped persuading him.

Liu Qiao also saw things clearly, and quietly left.

He had determined that Huo Fenglie liked Liu Zhenqing, so as he protected Qiao Jin, he would also protect Huo Fenglie when he was in trouble.

After hearing this, Liu Zhenqing was completely dumbfounded.

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Chapter One Hundred Twenty-One << Table of Contents >> Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three