Chapter 40

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Attention seeking is hard

The eighteenth copy of the scripture was rendered useless. Rong Luoyun did not have the energy to copy another, so he decided to push the task to the next day.

He picked up the burning candle and went to his bedroom. The window had been left open. Rain showered through the opening, drenching the couch next to the window. Rong Luoyun ignored the wet pillows and blanket on the couch and directly headed over to save the fan resting on the side table.

The fan had already been soaked through. Its two sides stuck together, allowing the outlines of the ginkgo tree and magnolia flower to be faintly seen through the candlelight. After wiping the fan down for a while with little result, Rong Luoyun sat down and fanned himself with it.

Feeling cold and tired, he wrapped himself in the wet blankets and laid down on the soaked pillow. Rong Luoyun seemed to have become Consort Rong, laying askew on his couch in the middle of the night, not knowing what hot or cold was.

He stared at the fan in his hands, seeming to be hysterical. He had gotten crazy with anger this morning and destroyed every trace of that person, solely overlooking this one. Even if he had a sword ready at hand, he couldn’t bear to destroy it.

With a crash, the closed window suddenly flung open again, spraying raindrops the size of beans in. Rong Luoyun shivered and rose to close the window. Through the cracks, he watched the rain pour.

…… Did Huo Linfeng bring an umbrella?

Wind and rain might not do much, but if his wound got soaked, what if it got infected? What if his arm really does get rendered useless?

Rong Luoyun clenched the window sill as he thought this, but in the end, he decided this wasn’t right. The other party wasn’t foolish. He probably did bring one, or perhaps he had already left. Just then, a group of patrolling disciples passed by the Nameless Abode’s gate.

Rong Luoyun’s lips broke free from his brain’s control. He pushed the window open and called: “Wait!”

The disciples came into the courtyard and approached the lights on the veranda. They saw their Palace Lord standing under the eaves with a blanket draped across his shoulders and a fan clenched in his hand. His appearance glowed warmly under the yellow lights. His appearance was graceful, yet a little out of it……

Rong Luoyun asked: “Did Huo Linfeng leave yet?”

A disciple replied: “No, he’s still there waiting in the rain.”

Rong Luoyun choked. Still waiting. With the rain falling this heavily, he must’ve been drenched already. Rong Luoyun’s body also broke free of his brain’s control and moved him to the cupboard to fetch an umbrella. On second thought, wouldn’t Huo Linfeng stay even longer with an umbrella? It won’t be good for the wound to receive a night’s worth of chilling wind.

He ruthlessly put the umbrella back down and ordered: “Go notify the other palace lords. Have them drive away Huo Linfeng.”

The disciples were puzzled: “The other Palace Lords are asleep. What about you, Palace Lord?”

Rong Luoyun replied: “Then just wake them up, I’m not doing it.”

The disciples asked: “Should we notify Great Hero Duan?”

Rong Luoyun shook his head. Definitely do not notify Duan Chenbi. Huo Linfeng can’t beat Shifu. If he were to get killed by a single palm, it would be better for him to just get drenched some more. Receiving the order, the disciples ran off in a puff of smoke.

Rong Luoyun laid weakly back on the couch with the fan covering his face. Sigh, it seems like he won’t be getting any sleep tonight.

Outside the Extraordinary Palace, Huo Linfeng moved closer to the sides, borrowing the tall walls and the narrow eaves to block the wind and rain. He was freezing and the wound was pulsing with pain, but he sat on his horse especially straight with no intent of using the trick of “wounding oneself to gain the enemy’s trust [1]”.

For those who spend their lifetime on the battlefield, this stratagem was viewed as a lowly trick worthy of distain.

Moreover, he had promised never to lie to or trick Rong Luoyun again.

Huo Linfeng waited patiently. Rong Luoyun had gotten upset when everything was revealed. This morning’s stab was for him to vent his anger. Once he calms down, he ought to listen to Huo Linfeng’s explanation. The aggravator demands to go to court, even taking the spot to defend himself. He’s not being too bastardly, right?

If Rong Luoyun doesn’t come out tonight, then Huo Linfeng will come again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.

Just as he was thinking this, the gates behind his back slowly opened with a groan.

He’s come! Huo Linfeng brightened up and leaped off his horse, painfully jolting his wound. He ignored the ache and urgently moved towards the gates just as the person inside came rushing out. The two crashed straight into each other’s arms.

With a closer look, it turned out to be Duan Huaike.

“How come it’s you?” General Huo suddenly felt violent, “What are you here for?!”

Duan Huaike countered: “That’s what I should be asking you.” He was called awake from his sweet dreams to come out here to drench in the rain, all because of this guy. He demanded: “What is the Little Marquis’ purpose loitering outside the Palace in the dead of the night?”

Huo Linfeng retorted: “What does a Great Yong’s official standing on Great Yong’s land got to do with you?”

Duan Huaike ordered: “Stop disturbing us. Why aren’t you getting out of here yet?”

Huo Linfeng flipped onto his horse but did not leave. Instead, he stared down at the other party from his higher position: “This general suddenly remembered something. If First Palace Lord can answer my question, I will leave immediately.”

Duan Huaike flicked his sleeve. He was well-read and had no fear.

On the rainy night, two eight chi tall men had a battle of words and was locked in a stalemate. In the end, Huo Linfeng threw out his trump card: “After losing to me, how come you’re still not in seclusion yet?”

This again! Duan Huaike was enraged: “Get down here, I want to fight you again.”

Huo Linfeng patted his wound: “Aren’t you ashamed to be taking advantage of my wounded state?”

In just a few words, Duan Huaike was angered until his head spun. No wonder! No wonder Rong Luoyun cherished this bastard. They were kindred spirits, birds of a feather flying together, villains banding together. Duan Huaike couldn’t take it any longer. Why don’t he just go pray to god up in the sky to send down more rain and thunder to take care of this guy?

Duan Huaike turned back into the Palace, disappearing quickly behind the gates.

Huo Linfeng wiped his face and rearranged his cloak to continue to wait. If they followed the order, after the First Palace Lord comes the Second, so it’s time for Rong Luoyun to come, right? After a cup of tea’s time, Duan Huaike’s prayers for rain were heard. The rain grew even heavier.

With the chilling cold seeping through his bones and his wound throbbing, his right hand loosened its grip on the reins as it lost energy. Huo Linfeng could vaguely hear someone approaching. The footsteps were light and quick. Light and quick, could it be……

“Du Linfeng!”

Lu Zhun appeared. He had wanted to call out “Du Zhong” before remembering he was now “Huo Linfeng”, so he ended up giving the other party a new name. With an umbrella in one hand and his scimitars in the other, he still had the imprints of his pillow on his cheek.

Huo Linfeng had an expression that said “so it’s you” and raised his eyebrows in disdain.

When he heard the other party had come to cause trouble, Lu Zhun threw off his blanket to come here. Despite being cold and tired, the power that came from his old and new resentments for this person was too strong. When asleep, he slept like a dirty dog. When awake, he was like a dirty bandit: “I still haven’t settled the debts with you, yet you sent yourself to my doorstep!”

Huo Linfeng asked: “What debts?”

Lu Zhun answered: “Give back my money!” He wasn’t a gentleman like Duan Huaike and reached his hand for the horse’s rein, ready to lash out his scimitars. “My four thousand taels, plus the thousand taels I lost at the martial arts competition, return my five thousand taels!”

How bold of him. Huo Linfeng snorted: “And how did you acquire that money?”

Lu Zhun spoke righteously: “They were earned from my hard work!”

“……” Huo Linfeng was left speechless. He leaned down and grabbed this money grubber’s lapels: “How are we going to settle the debts of you stealing my things? What about the twenty Imperial Vanguards you killed?” He threw Lu Zhun to the ground.

Lu Zhun dropped the umbrella and fell heavily into a puddle, his butt nearly bursting from the impact.

Huo Linfeng’s words were like a slap to the face: “It will only be right for this general to arrest you and have you jailed. The gold and silver from your Hidden Gold Pavillion will be confiscated as well.” Seeing the fear emerge in the other party’s eyes, he continued. “But if you’re sensible, not only will I let you off, giving you several thousand taels won’t be too hard either.”

Lu Zhun rolled himself up: “I’m sensible, I’ve been sensible since I was a child. How about you give me a thousand taels to see for now……”

Seeing the other party wanting a reward without working, Huo Linfeng sneered: “Whenever your second brother decides to see me is when you get your money, understood?” And as for this moment, he impatiently extended his hand, “Give me that umbrella first.”

Lu Zhun muddledly handed him the umbrella and dazedly returned to the palace. So is he supposed to urge his Second Brother to see Huo Linfeng? Since Huo Linfeng was no longer a Great Disciple, it should be fine, right?

Lu Zhun gradually grew farther away as he pondered.

Huo Linfeng was extremely cold, so he got off his horse to walk a little. After pacing a few hundred steps, another person appeared. He calmly waited and soon saw a small silhouette. It was Diao Yuliang.

The little kid was sleeping sweetly, so it was difficult for him to get up. He did not have Duan Huaike’s anger or Lu Zhun’s outburst. He moved along the metal gates and popped his head out: “What’re you doing here?”

Huo Linfeng chuckled: “Fourth Palace Lord isn’t going to curse at people?”

Diao Yuliang’s mouth twitched. He was much too tired for that. Out of all the disciples in the Palace, Du Zhong was his favorite playmate, but now, things have become like this. “You infiltrated the Extraordinary Palace to spy on us, so I’m going to ignore you.” He said, “You should go. From now on, let’s mind our own business.”

Huo Linfeng asked: “Have I ever harmed you all? Have I ruined your plans? Besides stealing your lotus flowers, it doesn’t seem like I’ve done anything else?” He pulled Diao Yuliang out and the two squatted under the umbrella. “Good little Diao, if I wanted to become enemies with you guys, why would I wait here in the rain all night?”

Diao Yuliang hesitated: “Then what do you want to do?”

Huo Linfeng said: “Your second brother is sad, isn’t he? Call him out here. I want to coax him.”

Diao Yuliang replied: “Second Brother is being punished by Big Brother. If he doesn’t finish copying scriptures, he’s not allowed to come out.”

Punished to copy scriptures…… he was even being punished despite his heartbroken state. Duan Huaike really was not human. Huo Linfeng cursed the person out for a moment before settling for plan two: “In the next few nights, I’ll always be here to wait for your second brother. If he doesn’t come, then you come to tell me about his situation.”

Then wasn’t he just being a servant running back and forth passing messages? Diao Yuliang whispered: “I have a condition…… I want to go see the barracks.”

Huo Linfeng nodded, and like so, the two reached an agreement. By the time the other party left, dawn was about to arrive. Huo Linfeng headed directly for the barracks to give them a surprise inspection. In the barracks, the soldiers were yawning nonstop, making him feel tired as well.

In the tent, Du Zheng, who had arrived at an unknown time, had already prepared food, medicine, and a new set of clothes. The wound was cleaned up again. After changing and eating, Huo Linfeng went off for drills as usual.

Not long after, the drill ground was filled with voices calling out orders.

Eastward, it wasn’t much different in the Extraordinary Palace. The disciples were practicing according to schedule, but this time, there was not a single Palace Lord watching them. Duan Huaike was still asleep in his Drunken Elegance Courtyard and Lu Zhun was still dozing in his Hidden Gold Pavilion. Diao Yuliang didn’t even have the energy to row his boat back to his residence and had run to the Nameless Abode to spend the night at Rong Luoyun’s.

Rong Luoyun patted the child’s back and asked: “Huo Linfeng’s gone?”

Diao Yuliang answered with a few grunts. Rong Luoyun continued to ask: “How was he? Did he seem weak?”

Diao Yuliang closed his eyes and shook his head before snoring off again. Rong Luoyun felt a little relieved. After losing a night’s worth of sleep, he , too, drifted off into his dreams.

After rainfall, the clouds cleared away, revealing a sunny, fine day. The temperature gradually crept up.

General Huo was truly a soldier made of iron, going through his day unhindered by his wound. After switching medicine a few times, he was lively once again. He worked during the day, rested when it got dark, then directly headed to the Extraordinary Palace to continue his arduous wait.

On the first night, he waited in the rain.

On the second night, he was smarter and brought food to eat.

On the third night, he brought a lantern and a book, spending the night reading Butcher Zhang and Widow Li’s moving story [2].

The patrolling disciples have gotten used to this scene and walked by unfazed. If Huo Linfeng came even a little later, they would think that was odd. They neither reported him nor chased him away. When they thought about how they were trained by Saibei’s general, they all felt a strange sense of excitement.

At the dawn of the fourth day, Rong Luoyun dipped his brush into ink, finally completing his fiftieth copy of scriptures after being locked inside for a few days. His waist was aching and his back was stiff. He gave himself a good stretch.

He rolled up the paper and locked the Nameless Abode up before leaving.

Rong Luoyun went to the Drunken Elegance Courtyard to find Duan Huaike and handed him a thick stack of papers. Duan Huaike patiently went through each piece, checking word by word, just in case the person was cursing him out again.

After finding not a single flaw, he asked Rong Luoyun to recite it for him. Rong Luoyun said every word correctly, and only then was he allowed to leave.

He headed for the palace gates. It has been scorching hot these days, so he wanted to go to Dusk-till-Dawn to try some of the proprietress’ brown sugar ice. The sun was setting at the moment. The fiery red afterglow leaked through the gates, casted upon his face.

Rong Luoyun couldn’t help but look towards the setting sun in the west.

Coincidentally, Huo Linfeng was on his way here, his valor radiating ever so brightly in the sunset. When he saw the other party, his stern expression suddenly broke into a smile. He quickly galloped over. “Yu!” Huo Linfeng leaped off the horse and ran to the other person in a single breath.

“You’re willing to see me?” Huo Linfeng asked expectantly.

Rong Luoyun shot him a look: “I’m just going to Dusk-till-Dawn.”

Huo Linfeng’s expression turned stiff. He had gone four days and three nights without sleep and had thought the day had finally come. He retreated a step, then another. After taking a few steps back, he abruptly flipped back onto his horse.

He yanked his reins and galloped away without leaving behind a single word.

Rong Luoyun watched that retreating back. Huo Linfeng had finally given up, but for some reason, there was this feeling swelling up in the pit of Rong Luoyun’s stomach.

He leisurely walked towards the Long River. Halfway there, the sun had completely set and the households lit their lanterns. When he passed by the Analects Teahouse, the storyteller was talking about the trending topic of how General Huo cleaved off Mohelu’s head and became a name feared by the barbarians.

Rong Luoyun leaned against the window to listen for a moment, even tossing in some silver as a tip.

He really did have a strange illness. He refused to pay the actual General Huo in the flesh any attention, yet was willing to pay money to hear about him.

When he made it to the riverbank, it was already thoroughly dark. Rong Luoyun felt something was fishy. Dusk-till-Dawn should be the most lively at this time, so why were its gates shut tight? He knocked loudly and called out: “Granny?”

The gates opened. The proprietress welcomed him: “It’s good that the Young Master is here!”

Rong Luoyun entered, only to see all the girls idly eating fruits and drinking tea. There wasn’t a single guest. “Jiejie?” He found Rong Duanyu, “…… Is business doing this poorly?”

The proprietress exclaimed angrily: “Aiya! That General Huo came rambling over, and scared all the guests away!” She pointed with a finger, “He threatened to order a search of this place, yet still stayed in a room on the fourth floor. How bothersome……”

Rong Luoyun was in confusion. That person left so quickly on his horse just to come here?

Before he could collect his thoughts, a group of girls pushed him up the stairs. He walked step by step, and as if he were climbing the four hundred steps up the mountain to the praying hall, he started to break out in cold sweat.

When he arrived at the room, he hesitantly pushed the door open.

Rong Luoyun hesitantly stepped in, only to see Huo Linfeng sprawled on the table, fast asleep. The room was quiet, with only the other person’s steady breathing.

Rong Luoyun stopped by the table and lowered his eyes to examine that face. The place under his eyes was slightly dark, his lips were slightly pursed, and a cloud of tiredness hovered between his eyebrows. On his chin, there was light stubble. He wondered if it was prickly to the touch.

Suddenly, Huo Linfeng opened his eyes and turned to look at him dazedly.

As he was caught red-handed, Rong Luoyun immediately turned to leave.

Huo Linfeng reached out and grabbed him, using all his energy to pull Rong Luoyun to onto his thigh and into his arms. Ignoring his throbbing wound, he locked the other party in his arms.

“Don’t go.” He buried himself into the crook of the other person’s neck and murmured, “…….Xiao-Rong.”

Rong Luoyun’s mind went blank, filled with nothing but white……but his face burned crimson.

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Notes

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