The atmosphere in the Feng Mansion is somewhat strange.
To be precise, it is the atmosphere between Yu Chi Feng and Feng Tingliu that is strange.
Feng Tingliu is still the same as before, with a pair of eyes that look down on everything. Even a glance from him seems like a favor. Yu Chi Feng is also always by his side. Even if a drop of dew touches Feng Tingliu's fingertip, he will carefully hold up his hand and use a silk handkerchief to wipe away the water droplet thatDefiled(dirties) him.
But there is a strange atmosphere between the two, like dry wood piled up, only needing a spark to ignite.
It is not ambiguity, but a real fire.
The caravan is about to set off, and Feng Tingliu is rarely busy. At night, he claims to be tired and asks Yu Chi Feng to massage his feet for him.
It is still the same redwood arhat bed. Yu Chi Feng sits on the footrest, holding a jade-like foot and carefully massaging it to relieve the person's fatigue. Although it is a pair of fair feet, there are inevitably some calluses left from practicing martial arts, as well as some faintly visible scars from old injuries.
The scars are soft to the touch and itchy, but Yu Chi Feng, as if unable to resist the temptation, rubs them with his fingertips.
"Whoosh -"
Yu Chi Feng falls to the ground with a grunt. He already had an injury on his chest, and with this kick, it naturally splits open, causing his body to stiffen with pain. But looking at the jade-like foot stepping on his chest, he suddenly feels that the wound is briefly numbed, turning into an irritating itch.
Yu Chi Feng holds his ankle and looks up, just in time to meet a pair of sinister eyes, and immediately freezes in place.
Feng Tingliu's expression is terrifyingly ugly, with a pair of red eyes carrying full disdain and killing intent, as if he is just looking at an object.
Yu Chi Feng thinks that he should be afraid, but the reaction of his body is beyond his control...
The bare foot steps on Yu Chi Feng's shoulder and suddenly exerts force. Yu Chi Feng almost falls backward, but fortunately, he supports himself on the ground with his hands in time.
"Saying you are an untamed dog, and you really act like one? Repeatedly touching my bottom line, what exactly do you want to do?" Feng Tingliu's eyes are as cold as ice, seemingly piercing Yu Chi Feng's body.
"I... I didn't mean it, Young Master." Yu Chi Feng's voice is hoarse, and he lowers his eyes, not daring to look directly.
The toe moves, pushing against Yu Chi Feng's chin, forcing him to raise a flushed face. Yu Chi Feng's Adam's apple moves slightly, and he has to meet Feng Tingliu's gaze, shifting his attention from the toe that emits the fragrance of soap and medicine.
Feng Tingliu sneers, withdraws his foot, leans forward, and grabs Yu Chi Feng's collar, pulling him in front of himself. The two are extremely close, and their breaths almost blend together, making Yu Chi Feng feel even more ashamed.
"Want to go to Beiji City?"
"I..."
Feng Tingliu leans down, gets close to Yu Chi Feng's ear, and says in a deep voice:
"Yu Chi Feng, have you forgotten that you are just a dog I picked up."
The temperature in the room drops to the freezing point. Yu Chi Feng shivers, and his mind suddenly goes blank. Even the ambiguous atmosphere dissipates for the most part. His body completely relaxes, and he allows Feng Tingliu to push him to the ground with a smile.
Feng Tingliu's red eyes return to their usual calmness. He is very satisfied with Yu Chi Feng's reaction. He picks up the tobacco pipe placed aside, stands up, takes a light puff, and grabs Yu Chi Feng's collar to pull him up, deliberately blowing the white smoke in Yu Chi Feng's face.
The fragrance of the medicinal herbs makes Yu Chi Feng instantly calm down. He hurriedly stands up and kneels at Feng Tingliu's feet again, like a big dog waiting for the master's punishment.
However, Feng Tingliu says nothing, waves his hand, and is ready to go to sleep.
On the day the caravan departs, Feng Tingliu doesn't bring many people with him, only five servants from Jianya Pool. Hundreds of weapons are placed on a cargo wagon, while Feng Tingliu rides in a more luxurious carriage. It looks not like a caravan but more like a young master of a certain family going out for a tour.
Feng Tingliu rarely wears a pure black tight-fitting outfit and covers himself with a veil. With a long sword on his back, he appears even more mysterious.
Yu Chi Feng stands at the entrance of the Feng Mansion, watching Feng Tingliu effortlessly get on the carriage, and feels a bitter taste in his throat. After that night, he realizes that he is not so anxious about recovering his memory anymore. Instead, the fact that he cannot travel with Feng Tingliu makes him feel even more uncomfortable.
"Young Master." Yu Chi Feng suddenly speaks.
Feng Tingliu lifts the carriage curtain and looks at him coldly, "What is it?"
Yu Chi Feng has countless words on the tip of his tongue, but in the end, he deflates like a balloon and droops his shoulders, softening his voice and saying, "Be careful on the road."
This tone, on the contrary, makes Feng Tingliu somewhat surprised. As the breeze blows and the willow leaves flutter, he suddenly shows a smile to Yu Chi Feng: "Okay, take good care of the house and wait for my return."
Yu Chi Feng is stunned. At that moment, everything like the wind and the leaves has nothing to do with him. At this moment, his world, along with Feng Tingliu, comes to a standstill.
The sound of the carriage gradually fades away, passing through the bustling and lively street and being swallowed by the street scene.
Yu Chi Feng only then turns back, turns around, and returns to the Feng Mansion, with no more confusion in his eyes.
Feng Tingliu tells him to be a good dog, and then he will do as Feng Tingliu wishes.
The carriage jolts, and Feng Tingliu, sitting on the soft cushion with nothing to do, unsheathes the long sword and uses a fine deer leather to wipe the blade. This sword is named "Fengliu", made by Jianya Pool. It is the sword that Feng Tingliu personally forged and is the most suitable for himself, so he loves it dearly and takes it with him every time he leaves the city.
For some reason, when Feng Tingliu is wiping the sword, he suddenly remembers the burning gaze that Yu Chi Feng cast on him and the Fengliu Sword when he was practicing martial arts. Feng Tingliu does not deny that he deliberately teases the dog, but he also sees Yu Chi Feng's desire for the sword in those eyes.
Feng Tingliu's hand that is wiping the sword pauses, and he makes a decision. After all, training a dog is not a matter of a moment. He is very skilled in the technique of giving a whip and then a candy.
Feng Tingliu curls the corner of his mouth, sheathes the long sword, and holds it while closing his eyes for a nap.
The journey takes one day.
The spring breeze blows in through the gap in the carriage window. Now that spring is coming to an end, even the northern region is warming up. Martial artists have internal energy to protect themselves from the cold and heat, but now that the spring breeze is blowing on their faces, it also makes people feel comfortable.
Gradually, the spring breeze carries a curling fragrance. Somehow, a certain household has steamed a steamer of hot white-flour steamed buns, and the aroma spreads to Feng Tingliu. Feng Tingliu opens his eyes and looks out of the window. He sees that the carriage, along with the carriages of other merchants, enters a bustling street. Then he knows that they have arrived in Beiji City.
Beiji City is to the south of Liudu City. There are also some branches along this road. Many merchants from the northwest and northeast also like to set up stalls and sell their goods in Beiji City. Because further south from Beiji City is where the imperial city is located.
The merchants come and go frequently, and in this way, the origin of Feng Tingliu's carriage is also concealed.
Although Beiji City is not as lively as the imperial city, it is more free and more suitable for people in the martial arts world. Therefore, many small martial arts forces also like to set up their bases in this area.
The carriage enters Beiji City and travels on a commercial street, finally stopping in front of a tea house.
The tea house is called "Red Plum Tea House". Anyone with a heart can tell that this is the base of the Plum Blossom Society. But the surface of the tea house is an ordinary tea house, and even the storyteller is telling the most popular storybook in the martial arts world today.
The servant from Jianya Pool jumps off the carriage. He is wearing a coarse linen shirt and looks like an ordinary delivery merchant.
The landlady of the tea house has a charming figure. Seeing the guests, she comes out to welcome them.
"Hey, is the shopkeeper in? We've brought the tea. This is all top-quality tea. Our master said that it must be delivered to the shopkeeper's hands." The person from Jianya Pool has a cheeky smile and really looks the part.
"Oh, yes, yes. I'll go and call him." The landlady turns around and shouts: "Shopkeeper - the tea has arrived -"
A young man comes out of the tea house, with a smiling face, coming forward to receive them. Feng Tingliu lifts the curtain and takes a look. He recognizes this person because his square face looks exactly like the old guard beside the Fifth Prince. It is probably a father-son relationship. Feng Tingliu has an idea in his mind, extends his hand to make a gesture, and the servants receive the order and start to unload the things.
The boxes containing weapons are piled with tea leaves used as a cover-up. Box by box, they are carried into the tea house. Feng Tingliu finds the carriage too stuffy, so he turns over and gets out of the carriage, looking for a quiet corner in the house, and asks the landlady for the most expensive pot of tea.
The landlady is all smiles. She serves him the tea and also brings a plate of small snacks, "Sir, our shopkeeper said that you can order anything you want, and you don't need to pay."
"Oh?" Feng Tingliu raises an eyebrow. He naturally knows that this "shopkeeper" is not the young man, but the real boss behind the Plum Blossom Society, "There is no need to order anything. The storyteller is too noisy. Tell him to stop."
"Okay, okay. I'll tell him to go back and rest, and he won't disturb you." The landlady's smile remains unchanged. She calls the waiter and gives the order. In just a moment, the storyteller indeed looks confused and goes back to rest.
Only then is Feng Tingliu satisfied. He takes a sip of the tea and finds that this tea is not the one he ordered earlier, but a special fine tea only available in the imperial palace, which only the people in the deep palace can taste.
Feng Tingliu finds it amusing in his heart. This Twelfth Prince is still young but already understands the ways of the world and is actually so trusting towards him.
The servants who are carrying and delivering the goods come and go several times. Although they are not out of breath, they are all sweating profusely. Feng Tingliu waves his hand, telling them to find a place to park the carriages properly, and also asks the landlady to bring a lot of tea and snacks to entertain these servants.
Although the servants are tired, as soon as they hear that Feng Tingliu is going to treat them, they immediately become energetic and soon settle down.
Through the veil, Feng Tingliu observes the martial artists coming and going in the tea house. Many people who claim to be the "honored guests" of the tea house come and are led to the rooms on the second floor by the landlady. Feng TingliuSpeculation(infers) that those should be the people of the Plum Blossom Society.
Although Feng Tingliu is dressed mysteriously, there are too many mysterious martial artists like him, and for a moment, he has also become an ordinary person.
Just when Feng Tingliu is looking around, a group of martial artists in the center suddenly start making a commotion. A burly strong man suddenly slams the table with a fist, emitting an angry roar:
"Damn it! Who does Feng Tingliu think he is! He dares to be domineering in the martial arts world! Associating with the evil cult, why hasn't he been eliminated yet!"