At night, as Qin Yuanxi lay in bed, he was still thinking about whether to coax this guy. Although it wasn’t right for Zhao Tuo to brandish a knife to scare people, Qin Yuanxi couldn’t be mad at him because, after all, Zhao Tuo acted for his sake. Considering this, Qin Yuanxi wouldn’t hold a grudge, but not being angry was one thing; educating him was another.
With so many people and being away from home, Qin Yuanxi believed in the need for strict control. If they weren’t careful, it could lead to trouble, and it would be the ordinary folks who suffered. Qin Yuanxi was attentive to this aspect, trusting that if Zhao Tuo were in a more normal state, he wouldn’t frighten the locals. However, given Zhao Tuo’s current unpredictable behavior, Qin Yuanxi had to be extra vigilant.
“Are you angry?”
Even though they shared the same bed, they had been relatively quiet throughout the journey. It was merely a matter of sleeping side by side, and Qin Yuanxi had grown accustomed to the feeling of having Zhao Tuo beside him, finding solace in the rhythm of his breath.
Zhao Tuo turned over, shifting away, indicating he wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
“Are you really upset?” Qin Yuanxi turned as well, poking Zhao Tuo’s back. “I just said a couple of words. Why are you so touchy? Calm down, okay? I apologize for scolding you. I shouldn’t have spoken like that. I know you’re looking out for me, speaking on my behalf. I shouldn’t have scolded you. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”
Still no response. Qin Yuanxi wasn’t annoyed and continued poking Zhao Tuo. “Holding a knife and not even smiling – it’s scary.”
“I didn’t.”
Finally, Zhao Tuo spoke, his tone still angry. Qin Yuanxi felt like laughing, so he hugged Zhao Tuo from behind, providing comfort. He rested his forehead on Zhao Tuo’s shoulder, gently soothing, “Okay, I know your intentions are good. I understand. Don’t be mad, alright?”
The person being held still looked a bit awkward, reluctantly uttering a “Hmm” as a sign of agreement. The night passed without further words.
As they had to embark on a journey, he got up early the next day. After a day of rest, Qin Yuanxi’s condition had visibly improved. After having breakfast at the inn, he instructed others to prepare some dry rations, packed their belongings, and got ready to depart. When he turned to find Zhao Tuo, the latter seemed to have disappeared.
“Feeding the horses? Weren’t they fed already?”
Qin Yuanxi frowned. “I’ll go check.”
As he was about to search for Zhao Tuo, he spotted him at the inn’s entrance, holding his horse. It seemed he was waiting for Qin Yuanxi rather than wandering off.
“Alright, everyone’s ready. Let’s set off!”
Qin Yuanxi waved his hand, asking someone to bring his horse. However, Zhao Tuo preemptively took the reins and walked over to him. “You’re riding with me.”
“What, riding together?” Qin Yuanxi quickly turned to look, and the chief of the guards who followed them out maintained a stoic expression, appearing utterly unfazed. Qin Yuanxi felt a bit awkward.
Two grown men sharing a horse was quite awkward, right? Doing so in public was a rather intimate display. Not that Qin Yuanxi minded being close to Zhao Tuo; he was open-minded about such matters. They had already shared a room the previous night, did it really matter if they rode the same horse in front of everyone?
Jokes aside, that was just not possible.
However, the issue was that Qin Yuanxi noticed Zhao Tuo’s saddle.
Clearly, the saddle currently resting on the horse’s back, intended for them to ride together, was unlike the usual ones. It was evidently a customized saddle, much broader and more comfortable than the typical ones. Just a glance at it, and Qin Yuanxi understood that when Zhao Tuo mentioned riding together, he probably meant the kind where, in his childhood, his father carried him on a sturdy bike, afraid he might fall off, making him sit cross-legged on the crossbar.
Of course, that wouldn’t work!
He wasn’t some delicate little girl; sitting cross-legged on the horse might look dainty, but for a grown man like him? Qin Yuanxi felt he would look like a quail perched there. Was it attractive? Was it reasonable?
“No, I can’t ride like this.” Qin Yuanxi cleared his throat, worried about disappointing Zhao Tuo, trying to be tactful. “Two grown men, riding the same horse, can the horse handle it? We need to focus on the journey; let’s get going.”
“It can. My horse can.”
“You don’t decide that. You’re not a horse. It’s up to the horse to decide.”
Qin Yuanxi was too lazy to argue with him about these things. He was about to lead his own horse when Zhao Tuo stepped forward, lifting him effortlessly and placing him on the horse’s back. The whole process was smooth and seamless, leaving Qin Yuanxi with no chance to react. After a dizzying moment, he found himself securely fixed on the horse.
Whether it was the horse getting excited about the unusual scene or reacting to suddenly having a person on its back, it decided to express its welcome by lifting its head and sneezing. Qin Yuanxi, already nervous due to his mediocre riding skills, tightened the reins. Behind him, Zhao Tuo mounted the horse, shielding him in his embrace.
“See, it says it’s okay.” The tone carried a hint of pride.
Qin Yuanxi thought, it might be okay for the horse, but it’s not okay for me.
“Is it appropriate for me to sit like this?” Nestled in Zhao Tuo’s embrace was indeed much more comfortable.
But it was a bit hard to save face.
“You’re injured; you can’t ride.” Zhao Tuo tightened the reins, and with the command given, the horse lifted its legs and started to run vigorously, seemingly eager to prove its capabilities.
Whether Qin Yuanxi liked it or not, sharing the ride was a done deal. He raised objections a few times, but they were in vain. Zhao Tuo didn’t say much, simply leaning there. Qin Yuanxi had plenty to say but couldn’t voice it. In the end, he had no choice but to compromise.
At first, Qin Yuanxi might have felt a bit awkward, struggling with a sense of lost face. He opted to hide his face in Zhao Tuo’s embrace, but gradually, he got used to it. Having someone else lead the way was indeed much more convenient—no need to ride the horse, no need to focus, just enjoy the scenery along the way. It saved him from the hassle of straining his injured leg, which was gradually improving day by day.
The destination was getting closer with each passing day.
The place mentioned by Yan Shaoning was called Cangnan Valley. It was said to be a location avoided by those in the martial world, a place seldom discussed. When Yan Shaoning spoke of this place, his eyes flickered mysteriously. Qin Yuanxi wanted to inquire further, but Yan Shaoning claimed ignorance, maintaining an enigmatic air as if it were some mysterious place in the martial world.
“It’s quite beautiful, like a hidden paradise.”
As the group walked their horses through a grove of mimosa trees, the mimosa flowers hung from the branches, creating a unique ambiance.
After passing through the mimosa grove, Qin Yuanxi looked at the stone monument ahead and vaguely guessed why Yan Shaoning’s eyes had flickered.
“What does ‘Ugly men and leaf dogs are not allowed inside’ mean?” Qin Yuanxi read the words on the monument, finding it a bit amusing. “It seems this wizard is quite particular about appearances.”
As for the leaf dogs, it was clear they were referring to her former lovers, and likely a fickle one at that.
“Let’s go.”
Qin Yuanxi didn’t think anyone from their group fit the criteria of the term ‘ugly men.’ He was certain he wasn’t ugly, and considering his fondness for good-looking faces, Zhao Tuo was definitely not ugly either. The Imperial Guards he brought were all carefully selected, each one a handsome and spirited young man – there was no room for anyone ugly.
“Halt!”
However, as they had barely walked less than five hundred meters, a girl in green attire floated down from a tree. She scanned their group and thrust her long sword into the ground, raising her chin. “Didn’t you see the words at the entrance? Illiterate?”
The young girl didn’t seem very old, appearing to be around ten years old, with two cute pigtails and a string of small bells on her wrist that jingled charmingly with her movements.
Of course, it would be even better if her tone matched the cuteness.
“Saw it.” Qin Yuanxi nodded with a gentle smile. “I’ve been recommended to visit the valley’s owner for medical treatment, as a guest from afar.”
“I don’t care what you do.” The girl in green hmphed, displaying a hint of playful pride. “Is your surname Ye?”
“No, my surname is Qin.”
“What about him?” The girl in green pointed to Zhao Tuo. Qin Yuanxi quickly replied, “He doesn’t have the surname Ye either. We don’t have anyone with the surname Ye.”
“You two, go to the back.” The girl waved her hand, leapt horizontally, separating Qin Yuanxi and Zhao Tuo from the Imperial Guards behind them. With a sweep of her long sword, petals fluttered down. The girl in green drew her sword and pointed it at the Imperial Guards behind her. “Speak up. Either leave on your own, or taste my swordsmanship first. In this day and age, not knowing how to read is one thing, but how can you go out without looking in a mirror?”
Qin Yuanxi almost burst into laughter; this girl’s way of speaking was too amusing. He quickly stepped forward to persuade her. “Miss, they are all home guards. Could you please make an exception? Look, there’s no one with the surname Ye here, and they don’t look ugly, right? They’re just average people, not ugly at all, right? Please be understanding, Miss.”
The girl raised an eyebrow, not very satisfied. “What’s wrong with you? My sister at home said that apart from good-looking ones, everyone else is ugly. Why are you speaking up for them? I don’t want to deal with you. If you want to enter, go ahead. If not, all of you roll away!”
After saying this, the girl flew away, giving them no room for negotiation.
“Young master, let Wang Jun accompany you. This kid looks decent,” one of the guards suggested.
While Wang Jun appeared spirited, it seemed he might fall slightly short of the valley master’s requirements. Qin Yuanxi signaled everyone not to panic. “For now, settle outside the valley. I will send signals if there is any news. Don’t worry.”
“But we don’t know what’s going on inside. What if you encounter danger?”
“Yeah, that girl’s martial arts skills are not simple.”
Just as they were discussing this, Zhao Tuo suddenly unsheathed his sword, coldly scanning the people around. Then, he positioned himself to shield Qin Yuanxi. “I will protect you. She can’t beat me, and the same goes for all of you.”
There was a hint of disdain in his gaze.
The Imperial Guards, upon hearing his words, lowered their heads and fell silent. They were carefully selected, but compared to General Zhao, there was still some distance. Zhao Tuo’s martial arts skills were indeed formidable, not to be taken lightly. On the journey, they had subconsciously treated him as a patient, someone to be protected. Now, with Zhao Tuo brandishing his sword, there were no objections.
“Be careful, young master. If anything goes wrong, signal us immediately. We’ll come to your aid.”
“Alright.” Qin Yuanxi nodded. About to enter the valley, he paused and emphasized, “Remember, we’re here for medical treatment. Don’t cause trouble.”
Turning to Zhao Tuo, he added with a stern tone, “Especially you, put away the sword.”
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)
