Taking a day off for the wound on Qin Yuanxi’s leg was a blessing. It was wise to take it easy and allow whatever recovery was possible. Following the principle of sharpening the knife without delaying the woodcutter, Qin Yuanxi didn’t waste a moment during his day of rest. After inquiring about Zhao Tuo and confirming he was casually strolling around the town without any imminent danger, Qin Yuanxi buried himself in the inn, indulging in a day-long nap.
Exhaustion from the journey had taken a toll on him. Being naturally delicate and unaccustomed to such hardships, he had relied solely on determination to reach this point. Taking a day off to recuperate was essential – a chance to recharge his energy. Only by resting well now could he rev up the engine later and hasten his journey.
During this one-day sleep, he truly slept through the day, even missing lunch. When he awoke, only a wisp of the setting sun’s glow lingered in the room. Checking the time, Qin Yuanxi discovered it was already late. Rubbing his eyes to shake off the drowsiness, he frowned. Having slept for a whole day, he wondered where Zhao Tuo had wandered off to.
“Someone come in.” Just waking up, his voice was a bit hoarse. Qin Yuanxi was about to call someone to inquire when the room suddenly stirred with activity.
Whether he had been too groggy upon waking or Zhao Tuo’s presence was too subtle, Qin Yuanxi noticed him only after calling for assistance. Holding a teacup, Zhao Tuo approached Qin Yuanxi’s bedside, offering the cup without a word.
“There you are.” Qin Yuanxi shouted again to the outside, “Everything’s fine.”
After the guard stationed outside acknowledged, he inquired, “Young Master, there’s a barbecue event at the inn tonight. Would you be interested in joining?”
“Barbecue, huh?” Qin Yuanxi pondered for a moment, “Sure, why not? Let’s liven things up. But stay vigilant, no one is allowed to drink. Spread the word.”
“Understood.”
Having finished his tea, Qin Yuanxi glanced at Zhao Tuo, not forgetting to caution, “You can’t drink either. Alcohol is poison to the intestines, drinking it can be lethal.”
He said this in a tone as if he were teasing a three-year-old, just a casual remark to amuse Zhao Tuo. After all, a playful caution never hurts anyone, even in such situations.
Zhao Tuo’s current state was unpredictable. At times, he was obedient, following Qin Yuanxi’s every word without question. Yet, there were moments of defiance, requiring some coaxing. With the destination spoken by Yan Shaoning just a couple of days away, Qin Yuanxi’s guarded heart began to ease a bit.
Returning the tea cup to Zhao Tuo, he added, “There should be a barbecue tonight. Eat a bit more to replenish your energy. It’s been tough on the road.”
Zhao Tuo nodded, “You should eat more too.”
Saying this, he touched Qin Yuanxi’s face, wearing a slightly dissatisfied expression, “You’ve gotten thinner.”
Qin Yuanxi: ???
He chuckled, “Indeed, I’ve lost weight. Worrying about you has taken its toll. Once we’re home, I’ll have to make up for it.”
“Then let’s go home.”
“Back home.” Holding Zhao Tuo’s hand, Qin Yuanxi sighed, “Of course, we’ll go back. I wonder how Xiao Bao is doing. Once we cure your illness, we’ll head back.”
Communication with Zhao Tuo was a puzzle. Sometimes he seemed to understand today but might be clueless tomorrow. Occasionally, his responses were as if he hadn’t heard anything. It felt like Zhao Tuo inhabited his own world, and Qin Yuanxi remained oblivious to that realm.
The evening barbecue was lively. The inn housed travelers from all corners, and to generate extra income, the inn organized additional events like this bonfire barbecue.
Qin Yuanxi, unfamiliar with such experiences, found it quite exciting. After a day of rest at the inn, he was full of energy at night. The barbecue here was different from what he had experienced before. Whole lamb legs were roasted on the main grill, while various miscellaneous items sizzled on the smaller ones. The aroma wafting in the air made Qin Yuanxi’s mouth water.
Juicy and tender meat skewered on the knife tip was offered to Qin Yuanxi.
“Eat.”
Qin Yuanxi laughed, “Did you grill this?”
The inn had prepared special ingredients and spots for each guest participating in the barbecue. Qin Yuanxi arrived late, and Zhao Tuo and the others had already taken their places. The meat sliced from the knife tip happened to be the best-cooked piece. Qin Yuanxi didn’t decline; he took a bite, thoroughly satisfied.
Seemingly pleased with his enjoyment, Zhao Tuo became even more enthusiastic. Whether it was grilling meat or feeding Qin Yuanxi, he was actively involved, hardly taking a bite himself. He was essentially serving Qin Yuanxi throughout.
This day marked Zhao Tuo’s best performance since their journey began. Previously, he had shown little involvement or enthusiasm in anything, appearing completely detached. Qin Yuanxi felt uneasy watching him like that. However, today was different. Zhao Tuo seemed to have come alive again, exuding vitality. Though still a patient with some eccentric behavior, to Qin Yuanxi, this was hope. Did it mean he was progressing in a positive direction, making an effort?
His eyes warmed up a bit, and Qin Yuanxi felt a tingling in his nose. Qin Yuanxi thought it would be embarrassing to shed tears in front of so many people. He quickly lowered his head to wipe his eyes, but someone approached and helped him wipe away the tears.
“Why are you crying? Is the meat not good? How about chicken legs? Don’t cry; I’ll get you some chicken legs.”
“I didn’t cry. Who’s crying? I’m a grown man. Grown men don’t cry.” Qin Yuanxi sniffed, forcing a slight smile, deliberately rubbing Zhao Tuo’s face, “You misunderstood.”
“Really?” Zhao Tuo was skeptical. Holding a knife with a newly grilled lamb leg, he asked, “Then are you still eating?”
“Of course, I’m eating. With your excellent skills, where else can I find a meal as good as this one?”
His expression quickly cleared, and he happily accepted Zhao Tuo’s feeding once again.
The innkeeper came over to greet them, bringing some wine along. They were the last table in the corner, and when the innkeeper approached, there were still two jars of wine left. Cheerfully, he tried to sell, “Dear guests, try our house wine. It’s homemade, with a rich flavor. Paired with our grilled lamb legs, it’s unparalleled. I guarantee you’ll want more after this meal. We only have two jars left.”
Before the wine jars could be placed down, they were blocked by someone, whose tone was quite rude, “Take it away, we don’t want it!”
The innkeeper was taken aback, quickly explaining, “Please don’t misunderstand, this is complimentary with the barbecue. It’s a gift. You have a large group, so the little shop is giving you two jars for free.”
“No, take it away!”
Zhao Tuo still held the dagger used to cut meat for Qin Yuanxi. It wasn’t an ordinary utensil for eating; it was one of the weapons carried by the guards, a short blade each person had, extremely sharp, kept in case of unforeseen circumstances. Gleaming with a cold light, it was evidently dangerous.
With the dagger in hand, Zhao Tuo stood in front of the innkeeper, indicating he wasn’t to be trifled with. Seeing his stern expression, the innkeeper’s face changed, quickly stepping back, “Forget it if you don’t want it. Why brandish a knife?”
“Sorry about that. He has a bit of a temper. Please don’t take offense, innkeeper.”
Qin Yuanxi, a step behind, arrived just a bit too late. Zhao Tuo had already given the innkeeper a stern look. Qin Yuanxi had to pull him back, standing between him and the innkeeper. Despite Qin Yuanxi’s attempt to control the situation, Zhao Tuo resisted, wanting to step forward. Qin Yuanxi shot him a ‘fierce’ look, conveying the message to behave.
Then, smiling at the innkeeper, Qin Yuanxi said, “We have an early journey tomorrow and won’t be drinking. Thank you for your kind offer.”
“If you’re not drinking, why act so fierce?”
The innkeeper grumbled a bit, clutching his wine jars, and quickly left. He sensed that dealing with this group was not easy, especially the one with the knife – a cold-faced phantom, quite intimidating.
After the innkeeper left, Qin Yuanxi finally turned and gave Zhao Tuo a sidelong glance. He grabbed Zhao Tuo’s sleeve, pulling him to sit beside him. “Put the knife away.”
Zhao Tuo didn’t comply, “Slice the meat to eat.”
“I’m not eating anymore.” Qin Yuanxi was genuinely full. He reached out and snatched the knife from Zhao Tuo’s hand. Initially reluctant to give it up, Zhao Tuo didn’t dare to compete with him. The knife was exceptionally sharp, capable of cutting through iron like mud. A slight misstep could result in injury. All he could do was watch Qin Yuanxi take the knife away.
Feeling a bit upset, Zhao Tuo huffed and turned his face away, refusing to look at Qin Yuanxi.
His behavior was similar to a child throwing a tantrum, and Qin Yuanxi was on the verge of laughing.
Setting the knife aside, Qin Yuanxi said to Zhao Tuo, “Do you have any sense? How many times have I told you not to use weapons outside, especially not in front of unarmed civilians? What were you doing just now? Threatening people with a knife, and you think you’re in the right?”
“You didn’t tell me that.”
After saying this, Zhao Tuo still felt aggrieved and added, “I didn’t threaten him.”
“Then what were you doing?” Qin Yuanxi continued scolding, “I saw it with my own eyes. You can’t call it anything other than threatening. The knife almost grazed his face. If that’s not threatening, then what is?”
“He shouldn’t bring the wine.” Zhao Tuo justified himself, “You said not to drink, and he still brought wine. What’s wrong with me stopping him?”
With Zhao Tuo’s somewhat plausible explanation, Qin Yuanxi felt his temper rising. “You’ve become quite adept at arguing, huh? When did you become so eloquent? What’s the connection between not drinking and someone bringing wine?”
Zhao Tuo didn’t answer but wore an unyielding expression, showing no sign of admitting any wrongdoing. To him, it was all the innkeeper’s fault, and he had no responsibility whatsoever.
Seeing Zhao Tuo throwing a fit and still not admitting any fault, Qin Yuanxi didn’t bother arguing further. This guy was just being stubborn and illogical. It was better not to waste any more words on him.
“Reflect on your own actions.”
Having said that, Qin Yuanxi walked away. After taking a couple of steps, he turned back, took Zhao Tuo’s dagger, and instructed the captain of the guards, “Confiscate his sword. He’s not allowed to carry any weapons. And the rest of you, remember, no trouble on the road. Weapons are for self-defense, not for bullying others, especially unarmed civilians. If there’s another incident—”
Before Qin Yuanxi could finish his sentence, Zhao Tuo turned and left. He even kicked over a stool, clearly expressing his anger. Qin Yuanxi didn’t know what to say. It seemed like he was quite upset. Qin Yuanxi didn’t know what to say. Now, in addition to everything else, he was throwing a tantrum…
Waving his hand, Qin Yuanxi signaled the others to clean up the mess. He then went after Zhao Tuo, only to find that Zhao Tuo had entered the room next to his and locked the door.
“Come out! That’s not your room. If you sleep here, where will others sleep?”
Qin Yuanxi’s room was surrounded by guards on both sides. Since he shared a room with Zhao Tuo, if Zhao Tuo occupied this room, it would require redeployment of the guards. It was not impossible, but it was troublesome.
No sound came from inside. Qin Yuanxi knocked again. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t come out, I won’t bother with you. If you want to sleep here, fine. I’ll let others sleep with me tonight.”
“One…”
“Two…”
“Two and a half…”
With a sharp sound, the door opened from the inside. Zhao Tuo, with a dark expression, stepped out again. Qin Yuanxi suppressed his laughter and entered their room with him.
This guy, there’s no curing him!
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
