Chapter 11

Thinking back to the last time they met, when Feng Wuhen almost desperately confessed his feelings, Shen Molan seemed to understand.

Did he like Shaoqing…?

He couldn’t quite say for sure. Of course, he liked him—Shaoqing was warm and cheerful, like a younger brother, bringing light into his otherwise dull and lifeless existence. Shaoqing had no obsession over him, unlike Feng Wuhen. They had been traveling together for several years now, their personalities aligned perfectly.

He didn’t know why Feng Wuhen stared at him so intently, as if despairingly seeking an answer. Since childhood, Shen Molan had never been able to resist that gaze. Whenever Feng Wuhen looked at him like that, he always caved in.

He realized that Feng Wuhen still had possiveness toward him and seemed to want a negative answer. However, the truth was not so simple. Shen Molan had already grown accustomed to traveling with Shaoqing. It wasn’t possible to cut off contact just like in the past, and besides, they had many tasks and commissions ahead.

Therefore, Shen Molan lowered his gaze slightly without giving a clear response, which, to Feng Wuhen, seemed like silent agreement.

The young man appeared stunned, and Shen Molan could feel him staring at him with wide, amber eyes, as if on the verge of tears. Just as Shen Molan was about to speak, Feng Wuhen suddenly smiled and said, “Molan, I’ll head back to my room first.”

Shen Molan frowned, suppressing the urge he had felt earlier to comfort him.

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Wldt Ewbld yeele, “R’x pvyukdt aktbv dlmv essa. Rq usw vos yal tskdt swv sa tlvvkdt qsse zyvla, fwpv nyzz qsa xl.” Tl oyzjle swv yp kq dsvbkdt bye byrrldle, lhld tkhkdt y rzyuqwz okdj clqsal bl zlqv.

Gp vbl essa nzsple, Fbld Yszyd zkpvldle vs Wldt Ewbld’p qssvpvlrp alvalyv, obknb yzxspv pswdele yp kq bl oyp qzllkdt. Tkp xsse pweeldzu talo blyhu, vbswtb bl eked’v jdso obu. Rv qlzv yp kq Wldt Ewbld’p xlal ralpldnl bye vbasod lhlauvbkdt kdvs ekpyaayu.

Jwv qsa dso, vbl raksakvu oyp vs iwknjzu qkde y esnvsa qsa Fbysikdt.

Fbld Yszyd, yzoyup lqqknkldv, kxxlekyvlzu qswde y olzz-jdsod esnvsa kd vbl nyrkvyz. Mbl esnvsa nyxl vs vbl kdd yde vssj Fbysikdt’p rwzpl, pvyvkdt vbyv bl bye ds nsze sa kdqlnvksd, fwpv vbyv bl xktbv byhl clld shlaosajle alnldvzu, obknb lmrzykdle bkp qyvktwl. Fbld Yszyd alzymle pzktbvzu, pkzldvzu oyvnbkdt Fbysikdt’p pzllrkdt qynl.

Mbl nsxxsvksd dyvwayzzu nywtbv Wldt Ewbld’p yvvldvksd. Tl qszzsole Fbld Yszyd yde vbl esnvsa kdvs Fbysikdt’p assx, pkzldvzu oyvnbkdt Fbld Yszyd’p lhlau xshl okvbswv pyukdt y osae. Fbld Yszyd eked’v vbkdj xwnb sq kv—Wldt Ewbld bye yzoyup oyvnble bkx nzsplzu, vbswtb vseyu bl pllxle wdwpwyzzu iwklv. Ysalshla, Fbysikdt’p nsdekvksd pllxle see. Ohld vbswtb vbl esnvsa bye pyke bl oyp qkdl, Fbysikdt, obsx Fbld Yszyd jdlo vs cl qwzz sq ldlatu, pbswzed’v byhl clld ps lmbywpvle qasx vblka alnldv vypjp.

Bdyczl vs rwv bkp qkdtla sd kv, Fbld Yszyd pktble psqvzu, rwzzle vbl czydjlv wr shla Fbysikdt, yde zlqv vbl assx.

Wldt Ewbld qszzsole nzsplzu clbkde, rwapkdt bkp zkrp.

“Yszyd, xu ryaldvp rypple yoyu dsv zsdt yts… Mbyv’p obu R oyp qkdyzzu yczl vs zlyhl,” Wldt Ewbld pyke yqvla y caklq rywpl. “R… R pvkzz bsrl vbyv ol nyd cl zkjl ol wple vs cl.”

Shen Molan, deep in thought, was momentarily startled by Feng Wuhen’s words.

He found Feng Wuhen’s words contradictory and confusing.

His parents had passed away… Shen Molan vaguely remembered that his parents had been deeply in love, but they hadn’t cared much for their only child. Therefore, Feng Wuhen wouldn’t have been deeply affected by their deaths. That made sense. But how was this connected to his inability to leave Feng Manor for the past few years? Shen Molan didn’t believe that his parents would have truly kept him from leaving.

Secondly, after all these years, how could they just return to how things used to be? It all seemed like some kind of joke that Feng Wuhen was playing. Shen Molan couldn’t help but laugh at his naivety and the excuses he made.

“Shaoqing and I are going to Xuzhou soon,” Shen Molan said apathetically. “Young Master Feng—no, Feng Manor’s Master now—I think it would be best if you returned to where you belong. We won’t burden you. Your skills aren’t sufficient, and it would only be dangerous for you to come along.” He genuinely meant to keep Feng Wuhen out of the muddy situation in Xuzhou, but there must be something wrong about his words, as he saw those amber eyes darken once again.

Chen Shaoqing woke up that evening.

Despite complaining of headaches, discomfort, and aches, he was still eager to go to Xuzhou. Seeing Shaoqing, pale but full of enthusiasm, Shen Molan couldn’t bring himself to suggest canceling the commission.

It wasn’t just because of Shaoqing.

He wasn’t sure if Feng Wuhen had fully absorbed the conversation they’d had a few hours earlier. After Shen Molan finished speaking, Feng Wuhen had seemed especially dejected. His clear, transparent eyes had stared at him unblinkingly, as if Shen Molan were his only faith, now crumbling before him. Shen Molan even felt that Feng Wuhen was silently accusing him or trying to etch his existence into his memory.

Thus, all Shen Molan could do was quickly avert his gaze, return to his room, and shut the door before Feng Wuhen could say another word.

Nevertheless, those eyes stayed with him, lingering in his mind.

After discussing their plans for Xuzhou, Chen Shaoqing rested peacefully that night. By the afternoon of the next day, he had regained his usual energy. After packing up, he cheerfully went next door to call for Shen Molan, ready to head to Xuzhou.

Unexpectedly, Feng Wuhen emerged from the other room before Shen Molan could respond.

The young man looked somewhat anxious. “Young Master Chen, are you two… leaving?”

In high spirits, Chen Shaoqing responded with youthful enthusiasm, “Yes, isn’t Shen-dage inside?”

“…” Feng Wuhen, seemingly hurt by Chen Shaoqing’s casual tone, suddenly forced a smile. “Can I go with you two? I can be of service.”

Chen Shaoqing frowned and gave Feng Wuhen a disdainful once-over. “You? The grand master of Feng Manor, helping us out? I wouldn’t dare… Besides, you don’t have much skill, and I don’t want to have to protect you alongside Shen-dage.”

Feng Wuhen’s smile froze. He had intended to use Chen Shaoqing as a way to join their journey and perhaps separate the two of them, but neither of them gave him the chance.

Shen-dage must be out. Chen Shaoqing thought to himself. Seeing Feng Wuhen’s unwilling expression, he said, “You should go back. We’ve been held back enough—don’t get in the way of me and Shen-dage.”

Chen Shaoqing felt he had been polite enough, given that Feng Wuhen was a friend of Shen-dage’s and because he was in a good mood today. Normally, he had no respect for those who lacked martial skills and would only drag others down. After speaking, he didn’t bother to look at Feng Wuhen’s reaction, heading back to his room without another word.

Feng Wuhen stood frozen in the doorway, looking lost, like a child who didn’t know where to go.

Shen Molan had gone out at noon to buy provisions and medicinal supplies, as the trip to Xuzhou would take several days. When he returned to the inn with everything ready, he found that Feng Wuhen’s room was already empty. Unable to help himself, he asked the innkeeper, who told him that the guest had left that afternoon.

So he’s gone.

Shen Molan was only dazed for a moment before thanking the innkeeper and heading upstairs to find Shaoqing.