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墨書 Inktalez
From Zhao City to Troop City, the journey was not far; taking the intercity train, it only took two or three hours. Jufeng and Zhu Yao sat side by side, with Romain on the inside. At that moment, he had fallen asleep, his breathing steady and rhythmic.
Romain had leaned against the window as soon as they left Zhao City, drifting off into a deep slumber. Despite the frequent stops along the way, this young master of the Underworld remained undisturbed.
Zhu Yao turned her head slightly. Ever since Romain had dozed off, she had been gazing at her master, who was of a similar age to her. For some reason, her mind kept drifting back to the scene from last night when she had nestled in Romain's embrace. A hint of shyness washed over her, and even the tight-fitting garment around her slim waist felt slightly itchy.
With Romain fast asleep, Zhu Yao's embarrassment quickly faded, replaced by a warm current of affection and pity in her heart.
The Underworld Young Master held a high position on the assassin's bounty list, always at risk of being targeted by killers. Yet, despite such imminent danger, Romain could sleep soundly, clearly having complete faith in himself. As he had previously stated in Blazing Axe Villa, his trust inspired unwavering loyalty that surpassed any monetary gain. However, while she admired him for this, Zhu Yao couldn't help but feel concerned—Romain was exhausted! It had been a long time since he had enjoyed a proper rest. Since returning to Huaguo, he had been constantly on the move without pause. Last night’s fierce battle must have pushed him to his limits; otherwise, how could he sleep so deeply?
Zhu Yao gently took off the coat that Romain had draped over her shoulders when they boarded and lightly placed it over him. Feng Shao shifted slightly, a charming smile gracing his lips before he sank back into slumber.
He looked like a big boy—a bright and sunny young man—making Zhu Yao momentarily entranced.
...
When Jufeng arrived at Troop City, the sun was just reaching its zenith. He stepped off the train and stretched comfortably, as if still savoring the restful sleep he had just enjoyed.
This time was different from before; Romain did not set off with Zhu Yao but was met by someone sent by Hua Gang. The vehicle wove through bustling streets until they reached an area on the outskirts. After a short drive further, they arrived at a historical site teeming with visitors; shops lined the streets with an array of goods too numerous to count.
Wuzhu City—a historical ancient city ruin. The architecture was quaint and rustic, adorned with intricate carvings and eaves that echoed the grandeur of feudal dynasties at their peak.
The vehicle stopped outside an ancient tavern in Wuzhu City. After disembarking, Romain spotted an old acquaintance whom he hadn't seen since returning to Earth.
“When we first met, I was the one getting off the vehicle while you were there to greet me. Now six months have passed, and everything has turned upside down; how unpredictable life is.”
Romain chuckled as he walked into the tavern alongside a stunningly handsome man. “Indeed, life is unpredictable. Back then, you were merely a mid-level member of Hua Gang; now you’re quite a prominent official.”
“But Hua Gang is not what it once was.”
“A gentleman takes revenge; who knows what the future holds?”
Jufeng and Situ Yu arrived at the second floor of the tavern, sitting at a table by the street where a young man had been waiting for some time.
Situ Yu gestured for Jufeng to take a seat first, then sat beside the young man. On the table was a pot of strong liquor and several overturned cups. Situ Yu handed a cup to both Jufeng and the young man, filling them with liquor before finally pouring himself a drink.
During their time in Hang City, Liu Xing had behaved similarly. The underlying reasoning was the same, yet different; one was a junior, while the other was a host.
Sometimes, observing a person only requires a glance. The stranger at the table exuded an air of confidence and poise, sharp yet not aggressive. Despite Jufeng's arrival, he neither stood up nor spoke. However, Jufeng did not interpret this as rudeness. It seemed that the person known as Politeness had likely been in this state during their first meeting as well.
Having just left Zhao City, Jufeng recalled that Yu Jianyuan had only recently spread news of the significant defeat of the Unification Alliance. Now that some time had passed, it was reasonable to assume that circumstances were changing.
“How are things here? From the location you chose for our meeting, it seems the Unification Alliance has already withdrawn.”
Situ Yu's beauty remained unchanged, though his complexion was not as radiant as before, likely due to exhaustion from recent days. Upon hearing Jufeng mention the battle situation, he smiled.
“Isn't this all thanks to you? I heard you were quite close to danger last night. If you, Feng Shao, couldn’t handle even one branch leader of the Unification Alliance personally, then there would be no need for us to continue fighting in this world. My Prairie Wolf withdrew last night, and the Unification Alliance left this morning. I even took advantage of the chaos; my Brothers are still excited about it.”
Situ Yu chuckled self-deprecatingly before pausing and continuing, “They were all frightened into submission. Your timely strike in Zhao City finally shifted the momentum. With you sowing discord between the Unification Alliance and Prairie Wolf, it won't be long before they withdraw completely from Liaoning Province. At that point, if you exert some effort in Northeast China, that territory should be yours for the taking. Of course, this all hinges on Mu Zhongde not suddenly losing his wits and dragging us down with him.”
As Situ Yu spoke, Jufeng raised his cup and took a sip. Although it was just a mouthful, it ignited a fire in his throat and lungs.
He suppressed this sensation with his internal energy but suddenly asked an out-of-place question that caught Situ Yu off guard.
“What kind of liquor is this? Why is it so strong?”
Situ Yu looked at Jufeng's face and saw an expression of distress that made him burst into laughter, nearly losing his composure and forgetting to respond.
It was then that the unfamiliar face unexpectedly spoke up. “It's liquor from nomadic tribes; it's bound to be strong. However, once you get used to it, you won't want to put it down.”
Jufeng looked up, a look of disbelief on his face. "Only someone like you, a martial enthusiast, could get used to this. I'd rather drink plain water."
It should have felt unfamiliar, and indeed it was, but when Jufeng spoke, it was as if he were an old friend, as if they had known each other for years. Perhaps that’s what it meant to be like old acquaintances.
The stranger revealed a set of white teeth in a smile, unbothered, merely teasing Jufeng. "If you can't handle it, the great Feng Shao wouldn't even be able to drink a cup of strong liquor. I wonder if he'd be laughed at for it."
Jufeng pushed his cup of liquor away and pointed at Situ Yu. "No need for outsiders; there's a familiar face here who can see what you had for breakfast while laughing."
The young stranger smiled slightly and took a large gulp of his drink, clearly intending to show off.
Hua Bang San Long—this was the last of the Three Dragons. When the Unification Alliance swept through the Northeast and the grasslands, it was thanks to these Three Dragons that Hua Gang managed to preserve the foundation for today's resurgence. This one in particular had saved Elder Yuan and Yu Jianyuan. His surname was Lin, given name Cheng, skilled with a short sword known as Path, and his reputation was formidable.
Among the Three Dragons, he was truly the leader when it came to one-on-one combat.
After a while, Situ Yu finally stopped laughing. He looked at Jufeng with an odd expression before finally uttering another teasing remark.
"It seems I’m not entirely inferior to you; at least when it comes to drinking, I have the upper hand."
"…"
Jufeng had come to Troop City merely because it was on his way; he wanted to visit an old friend and also pay a visit to Hua Gang, this dragon that delved deep into matters.
He had climbed the building, drunk the wine, admired the ancient city, and now it was time to hit the road again.
Situ Yu and Lin Cheng escorted Jufeng and Zhu Yao to the gates of Wuzhu City. The crowd flowed like a tide; for them, they were just a drop in the ocean.
Looking back at the city's splendor, Jufeng stood in silence for a long time.
"Will our descendants appreciate the territory we fought for several years from now?"
Situ Yu watched as Jufeng's gaze lingered on the scene, filled with nostalgia.
Jufeng smiled lightly as he put on the coat handed to him by Zhu Yao. He chose not to dwell on the bustling city around him, instead shielding his eyes and gazing into the dazzling white light in the distance.
"The sun shines every day, tirelessly rising in the east and setting in the west. How many people have ever thanked it or looked upon it favorably? If given a choice, I would rather be a single ray of sunshine—simple and unbothered by the disturbances of this mundane world."
"And one last thing: last night's battle was fought by Hua Gang, and it could only have been Hua Gang."
Situ Yu shuddered slightly, while Lin Cheng raised his sword-like eyebrows.
However, that figure had already driven away.
(To be continued)
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