Chapter 37

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Too late.

Huo Zhao!

Huo Linfeng received a shock. The person who could resist Duan Chenbi’s palm was actually his father!

It felt a little strange for his father’s name “Huo Zhao” to be mentioned by a top martial artist from Jianghu. He also felt a little proud. But, on second thought, did his father and Duan Chenbi ever cross swords?

If they did, then that gaze just now and that string of questions at the banquet…… was Duan Chenbi suspecting him?

His heart was beating like drums. Fortunately, his expression remained calm, concealing his inner panic well. On the contrary, Rong Luoyun found it amazing and asked: “Shifu, you know the Marquis of Dingbei?”

Duan Chenbi folded his hands, finding it a little hard to answer.

It was an old matter that happened thirty years ago. At that time, there was a rebellion in Lingnan and the situation was getting dire. In the end, the imperial court had no choice but to dispatch Huo Zhao down south and finally quelled the turmoil. Duan Chenbi was in Lingnan at that time and found Huo Zhao as a worthy opponent. The two appreciated each other as talented people.

It was a friendship between gentlemen, mild and honest.

Ten years later, Huo Zhao received the title of a marquis and went to guard the border, never to set foot in the south again. Duan Chenbi wandered the mountains and rivers, often going into seclusion to train. The two met by chance in the chaos of war, but their meeting was left forgotten in the depths of Jianghu.

Once his recollection ended, Duan Chenbi thought aloud: “I heard the Marquis of Dingbei’s son was coming to Xiqian Ridge?”

Rong Luoyun hummed in affirmation: “He should’ve arrived a while ago, but Huo Linfeng caught an illness and has yet to arrive.”

Duan Chenbi stared when he heard this but bellowed in laughter soon after. He turned with a flick of his sleeve and went off to rest.

That laugh made Huo Linfeng’s hair rise. He impatiently dragged Rong Luoyun westward for a stroll. The forest was full of plants and blooming flowers, but they died tragically under their feet.

Rong Luoyun found a large rock to sit down on and even picked a foxtail grass to play with. Huo Linfeng crouched in front of him with an attitude of coaxing someone. “What are you doing?” Rong Luoyun sat properly with his knees pulled together and used the foxtail grass to tickle the other party’s nose.

Huo Linfeng replied: “Palace Lord, Great Hero Duan seems to respect the Marquis of Dingbei.”

Rong Luoyun nodded: “Heroic people appreciating other heroic people.”

Huo Linfeng continued: “Father and son are of the same flesh and blood, so presumably, Huo Linfeng is also pretty impressive.” He wanted to give Rong Luoyun a good impression of “Huo Linfeng”. He boasted about himself on the outside, but inside, he was nervous.

Unexpectedly, Rong Luoyun pondered for a moment and said: “I don’t think so.”

Huo Linfeng felt his heart tighten: “Why doesn’t Palace Lord think so?”

Rong Luoyun replied: “He got sick the moment he arrived in Jiangnan. Seems like a sickly, weak person.”

The strong General Huo choked half to death and could only suffer silently. He grasped Rong Luoyun’s knee and said: “He’ll arrive here sooner or later. If he’s friendly to Palace Lord, what would Palace Lord do?”

Rong Luoyun thought, why would a soldier act friendly towards a bandit? His eyes swiveled. Was this person testing him right now? He answered earnestly: “I don’t care what he does. I’ll pay him no heed.”

Huo Linfeng urgently said: “Great Hero Duan and the Marquis of Dingbei appreciate one another, so you and Huo Linfeng should get along too!”

Why is he getting so frantic…… Rong Luoyun brought out his arrogant nature: “With you here, what use is it to get along with that guy surnamed Huo? Besides you, Big Brother, Third Bro, and Fourth Bro, that General Huo is nothing in the face of my Extraordinary Palace.”

Huo Linfeng was truly dejected and flopped his head on Rong Luoyun’s lap, burying himself in.

Rong Luoyun gently caressed the other party’s head, thinking that his words had moved Huo Linfeng greatly.

They dawdled away in the dense forest and only planned to return home at dusk.

When they returned to the Palace, Rong Luoyun helped Duan Chenbi to his room. Duan Huaike was waiting for them in the inner hall. As the youngest of the three, Rong Luoyun consciously went to pour them both tea.

Duan Chenbi said: “I’m not tired. Come play chess with me.”

Duan Huaike set up the board and father and son played a few matches by lantern light. Rong Luoyun sat on the side, quietly watching. It wasn’t long before his eyelids started drooping, and in the end, he directly plopped on the table. He said drowsily: “Big Brother, can you win?”

Duan Huaike answered: “If I win, it would be because of my outstanding skills in chess. If I lose, it means my esteemed Shifu is brilliant.”

Duan Chenbi snorted: “Who cares if you’re outstanding. Laozi only cares about martial arts.” He placed down another chess piece and eyed his sleepy little disciple, “Tomorrow morning, I want to inspect your martial arts.”

Duan Huaike said: “I hope Father would be lenient on me.”

Duan Chenbi smiled: “What, did you think I’ll bully you?”

“Pick one of the Palace’s disciples to fight against. If you win, all is well. If you draw a tie, kneel for three days. And if you lose, don’t leave your courtyard for a year to reflect.” Once he said this, that sleepy disciple opened his eyes dazedly.

Rong Luoyun grumbled: “What is there to compete……Of course Big Brother would win.”

Duan Huaike couldn’t help laughing: “There’s no use for you praising me. If you’re tired, then go to bed now. Come tomorrow morning to watch.”

He was indeed tired, so he left with a yawn. He exited the hall and walked down the steps dazedly. Under the starry night sky, he walked past the empty Drunk Elegance Courtyard and the brightly-lit Hidden Gold Pavillion. Just up ahead was the Thousand Opportunities Hall.

When he looked over, he saw a silhouette standing by the entrance.

Tall, upright, even the darkness couldn’t conceal his good looks.

There was no rain nor wind, but Rong Luoyun’s sleepiness was swept away. He sped up and stopped a few steps away, staring intently at that person at the gates.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, despite knowing the answer.

Huo Linfeng answered: “Waiting for you.”

Rong Luoyun leaned forward: “What’s that in your hands?”

“For you.” Huo Linfeng strode closer and wrapped his arm around the other party’s slender shoulder, “The night is deep and the road is dark. I’m afraid there might be bandits along the way, so I’ll escort Palace Lord back to the Nameless Abode.”

Pain blossomed in his abdomen. Rong Luoyun had elbowed him, but still couldn’t escape from his grip. That person followed him all the way back to the Nameless Abode and into the inner hall.

The candlelight flickered dimly, so Rong Luoyun lit a few more.

The other party handed him a leather book. It was filled with white, creamy pages crammed with neat rows of small words written in black ink. Rong Luoyun took it and flipped it through from start to finish and saw three words at the end —— Breath Locking Technique.

He asked: “Is this a mind technique?”

Huo Linfeng nodded: “You already possess the world’s best qinggong, so you naturally need not learn another. As for swordplay, perfecting your Cloud Cleaving technique would be good enough. So after some thought, I decided to teach you this one.”

Rong Luoyun held the book and mulled over the two words “Breath Locking”.

Qinggong can be used to conceal movements, but not breathing. For an expert, it was not hard to detect even a falling leaf. He remembered how he had lost the upper hand when fighting with Chen Mian and Chen Xiao back in Han Prefecture.

Huo Linfeng said: “When you learn the Breath Locking Technique, you can extinguish your breathing for some time and stay quiet like a corpse.

Rong Luoyun was amazed: “Really?”

Of course it’s real. Huo Linfeng calculated in his heart and hinted: “If someone breaks into the Palace and uses this mind technique, even if they enter the room to steal things, it will be undetectable.”

That night when he came to scout the Extraordinary Palace, he relied on the Breath locking Technique to move about freely.

After he said that, he looked at Rong Luoyun intently, unsure if Rong Luoyun got the hint. Who knew that person had already buried his head to read, not paying him any attention. He was actually this eager to learn.

“…….” Huo Linfeng’s head hurt. “Palace Lord, this isn’t urgent.”

Rong Luoyun didn’t even lift his head: “It is urgent. I want to learn it right now.”

Huo Linfeng’s head hurt even more. He pulled the book away and tossed it to the side. He hooked his arm around the other party’s shoulder, pulling Rong Luoyun over. His heart was panicking. He couldn’t care about other things and asked: “Palace Lord, do you still remember when we went to the temple last time?”

Once Rong Luoyun nodded, he urgently asked: “So, can you promise me that you won’t be mad at me no matter what?”

Rong Luoyun asked back: “Specify what kind of things.”

Huo Linfeng answered: “Wrong things…… If I do something wrong, don’t be mad, okay?”

“That’s so unreasonable.” Rong Luoyun looked up at him, “If you do wrong things, how can you ask people not to be angry? Wouldn’t that just make you unbridled?”

Huo Linfeng quickly changed his wording: “Then, you can get angry, but quickly vent it out on me and don’t be angry anymore, okay?” He had never been this nervous before and nearly stared a hole through the other party.

After a long time, Rong Luoyun nodded in agreement.

As if he received amnesty, Huo Linfeng hugged the other party tightly in his arms and randomly rubbed his back all over. At this moment, Rong Luoyun said: “Du Zhong, you can make me angry, but don’t make me sad.”

His voice was very low, very heavy, and full of seriousness and sincerity. Huo Linfeng felt cold all over as if he had been drenched in cold water. His previous happiness vanished.

Rong Luoyun whispered: “Back then, my days were dull without much happiness, but at least there wasn’t sadness.” He laughed dimly. “After I met you, life has been so happy and I’ve experienced so much more.”

It was easy to get accustomed to wealth when poor, but difficult to adjust to poverty when having tasted wealth. “Don’t take back that happiness you’ve given me, okay?” He moved closer to promise, yet it also sounded beseeching, “Du Zhong, I will treat you well, I will put you above all, just don’t break my heart.”

Huo Linfeng seemed to have a fishbone stuck in his throat and could only rigidly respond with a hum.

Rong Luoyun hugged him tightly: “Don’t lie to me. You fell asleep last time in the praying hall, so I’ll ask you again now. Can you promise to not lie to me?”

Huo Linfeng swallowed the thousands of words he wanted to say and answered hoarsely: “Yes, I promise you.”

The moonlight was bright and clear, but his brain was submerged in murky darkness. He did not know how he returned to the Thousand Opportunities Hall. He went to his bamboo grove, climbed up the bamboo steps, and went to his room, all the way to his cabinet.

He pulled out his official seal and papers, placing them conspicuously on the table.

“Dimwit.” Huo Linfeng called.

Du Zheng rose from the couch: “Young Master, what are you sitting there for?”

Huo Linfeng ordered: “Pack our bags, tomorrow…… we’re leaving.”

Tomorrow morning, he will come clean to Rong Luoyun. Whether Rong Luoyun wanted to kill him or carve his flesh, he wouldn’t mind. He only wished he wouldn’t be sad. Huo Linfeng, oh Huo Linfeng, if only he knew earlier so he wouldn’t have to commit such evils.

At the same time, in the Profound Jade Hall, a chess match ended. Duan Huaike had lost by three points. The night was deep, so he went to make the bed and helped Duan Chenbi to bed. He tucked him in properly and lowered the curtains, only turning to leave when everything was done properly.

As he walked, he spoke: “The dispatched disciples will be returning tomorrow morning. The timing matches perfectly.”

The Extraordinary Palace was silent. In the latter half of the night, dark clouds drew over the moon, sprinkling down drizzling rain.

In the bamboo house, bags of luggage sat neatly on the bed. Du Zheng was fast asleep, using one as a pillow while Huo Linfeng sat withered at the table, clenching the gray ginkgo handkerchief Rong Luoyun had gifted him in his hand.

When morning was almost here, he went downstairs, planning to water the magnolia tree. But when he came outside, the thin drizzle hit his face. Where was the need for him to water it?

He felt disappointed. Even the heavens above wouldn’t help him out a little.

Suddenly, he heard noise coming from the outside. A few disciples came running over: “Du Zhong-shixiong! Palace Lord is calling everyone to go to the Distant Gray Platform!”

Huo Linfeng didn’t know what was happening and could only leave with the group. They treaded on the wet ground and arrived at the Distant Gray Platform. Through the curtain of light rain, he could see the four palace lords. Rong Luoyun looked up at him and smiled.

He tried to respond, but he couldn’t change his expression under the pressure of his secret.

Once everyone had arrived, Rong Luoyun said: “No need to panic, everyone. We’re calling you here this morning to have some fun.” He gestured at the disciples to part into two sides, “The First Palace Lord had come to an agreement with Shifu last night. Today, a disciple will be chosen to fight him. If the First Palace Lord wins, all is well, if he gets a tie, he will kneel for three days, and if he loses, he will go into seclusion for a year. Everyone, please act as an eyewitness.”

The disciples murmured among themselves. This is probably just a joke. Who could beat the First Palace Lord? In the clamor, Duan Huaike walked to the center of the cleared space: “If you lose, it’s fine too. Those with the courage to challenge me will be rewarded three hundred taels of gold.”

Once he said these words, Ruan Ni immediately flew out to take the challenge.

After following the Little God of Wealth on their trip to Chang’an, he learned to become a money grubber as well.

Silver hooks against bare hands. The hubbub on the Distant Gray Platform was endless. Only Huo Linfeng stood quietly like a Buddha. He didn’t have the heart to watch the fight, nor did he have the heart to pick a fight. He was still troubled over how he should come clean.

Rong Luoyun wasn’t too far away. Should he take advantage of the chaos to tell him right now?

Or should he wait a little more, wait until Rong Luoyun looked the happiest before telling him?

How would he begin? Palace Lord, I’m actually called Huo Linfeng?

How would he coax Rong Luoyun if he gets sad? Strip his clothes and ask for punishment?

Huo Linfeng’s person was here, but his soul had floated into the heavens. He played out countless scenarios in his head but couldn’t find a single viable one. Whoosh! A gush of wind blew into his face, pulling him out of his thoughts. He leaped up, treading the air to dodge the sudden attack.

“What are you doing?!” General Huo is currently busy thinking about something!

Duan Huaike said: “Du Zhong, you’re the only Great Disciple who has not stepped up. Do you not dare?”

The Little Marquis was annoyed to death: “I’m not short of gold!”

He flitted his gaze away and saw Rong Luoyun looking at himself curiously. One was his big brother and one was his lover. Who would he be supporting? Huo Linfeng’s train of thought went off track. Let’s not care about this. He might as well fight to his heart’s content!

He drew his sword to attack. The Huo Clan’s swordplay was so dazzling one wouldn’t get bored of it even if they watched it a hundred times. He could faintly make out Rong Luoyun cheering him on. Incorporeal Divine Dragon, whistling through the winds and breaking through the clouds of firmament. He played with Duan Huaike with his all, giving the spectators a feast for the eyes.

Everyone was frantic, stumbling back from that huge burst of internal energy. Duan Huaike flipped his palm, releasing the power of a thousand catties. Huo Linfeng raised his eyebrow and chuckled coldly. That day he had fought with Duan Huaike, he had merely used eighty percent of his power to break his barrier.*

* referring to when he and the other two guys were competing to see who would be the Great Disciple. They were required to fight the four Palace Lords

“Use your special technique!” Duan Huaike shouted.

Huo Linfeng swirled and landed on the ground. His Jueming Sword was radiating with deadliness, filled with his utmost power. In a split second, that cold glinting light transformed into a blazing flame. Blinding lights as bright as the golden stars flickered in the sky, crashing down on the surroundings, raining rubble everywhere.

In the distant Profound Jade Hall, one of its pillars received a deep gash.

Smoke and dust rose up to meet the wind and rain. Loud crashing hid the surprised cries of the crowd. The Distant Gray Platform was left in ruins.

The winner was already apparent. Huo Linfeng turned to Duan Huaike: “You lost. Go on with your seclusion.” His final words had just been said when a clutter of galloping horse hooves trailed from the main street. Everyone turned to look.

Ten disciples galloped to the platform and lined up in front of the hall.

Duan Huaike wiped the blood from his lips and asked: “How is it?”

A disciple saluted: “Reporting to the Palace Lord, we’ve gone to every neighboring city in Xiqian Ridge, every merchant route, ferry crossing, and every passage along the Long River to the north. No one has heard of a Cleansing Sand Isle.”

Huo Linfeng stared with his heart leaping.

Duan Huaike asked: “Is that it?”

The disciple paused: “There was a merchant who had once gone to Saibei and said the city of Saibei’s most famous restaurant is called ‘Cleansing Sand Eatery’.”

Everyone was silent, staring intently with bated breaths.

Suddenly, Duan Chenbi stroked his beard and laughed loudly: “The grand Little Marquis actually mixed into Jianghu to be a servant, yet didn’t bother to hide his bearing of a young master.” He stepped out from the eaves, his voice growing more resonating, “Messing up the order of forms when training. This must be learned from the Marquis of Dingbei. I should be praising you for learning well from your father, yes?”

Huo Linfeng’s mind was blank. He watched the other party come closer.

Duan Chenbi continued: “You’re truly calm and persevering, truly calm indeed. Worthy of leading an army at age seventeen, of being the heroic youth who had massacred a city.” He kicked aside the rubble at his feet, “How did you come up with that excuse of being sick? For someone from the great deserts who drinks blood and gnaws flesh, is this light rain of Jiangnan really enough to harm you?!”

There was a short pause. His solemnity carried a hint of excitement: “After thirty years, I never would’ve thought I would have another chance to see the Huo Clan’s swordplay. That Dingbei Startling Gale was praiseworthy!”

His words were clear. It was like a stone thrown into the water, smashing down on Huo Linfeng’s heart, rendering him confused.

His softening the blow, his hinting, his dejectedness through the night, and his hard thinking in the morning, were all gone to waste with this unexpected twist. It was now too late. Duan Chenbi asked him: “General Huo, do you dare to admit it yourself?!”

Huo Linfeng sheathed his sword and looked through the hazy rain toward Rong Luoyun.

—— “I am Huo Zhong, Huo Linfeng.”

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