Perhaps the summer heat is approaching, as cicadas chirp outside the house in the early morning.
Yu Chi Feng slowly wakes up. Through his hazy sleepiness, he sees Feng Tingliu's sleeping face.
Feng Tingliu unknowingly turned over in his arms at some point, facing him, now breathing steadily and sleeping peacefully.
His hand is still on Feng Tingliu's waist, in an ambiguous posture. He can't help but closely examine Feng Tingliu's face, even counting each of his willow-leaf-shaped eyebrows one by one.
Yu Chi Feng stares blankly, involuntarily recalling the conversation he had with Feng Tingliu before yesterday's headache.
That sudden headache interrupted his thoughts and made his memories of that period ratherVague.
Now, when he tries to recall, his mind is completely blank, and he can't remember anything.
Yu Chi Feng touches the small blood scab on his forehead, a remnant left by Yu Ji's Gu worm.
Yu Ji said that the blood stasis in his head has been completely removed, but he still shows no signs of recovering his memory. Although he believes in Yu Ji's medical skills and what Yu Ji said, that his memory recovery is only a matter of time. But he can't help but wonder, what if he really can't remember anything?
Staying here and being a guard by Feng Tingliu's side, he is naturally willing.
But he always feels that there is something weighing on his mind. If this matter cannot be completely resolved, there will always be a transparent wall between him and Feng Tingliu.
But all of this is just his speculation. He still doesn't know the specific reason.
Yu Chi Feng thinks too much, and a sense of restlessness arises in his heart. He scratches his hair in annoyance, but feels Feng Tingliu in his arms move a bit.
Feng Tingliu seems to be dissatisfied with the hand that was originally holding him moving away, so he rubs towards Yu Chi Feng, his head almost touching Yu Chi Feng's chest, and then stops moving.
This action instantly calms Yu Chi Feng's heart. He looks at the person in his arms, who is like a lazy sleeping cat, not at all like the fierce tiger he is usually.
Yu Chi Feng's mouth curls into a smile. He puts his hand down and hugs Feng Tingliu again.
Anyway, once Feng Tingliu wakes up, he won't be allowed to hug anymore. He has to take the opportunity to take more advantage.
It's still early, so it's better to hug each other and go back to sleep for a while.
Behind the Heavenly Craft Pavilion, in a small courtyard.
Qin Qichao got up early from bed, cooked two bowls of hot porridge by the stove, heated four white steamed buns, and fished some pickles out of a small jar to make a breakfast for the two brothers.
The two brothers are borrowing a yard from another household. Although the living conditions are simple, the two are particularly satisfied.
The neighbor is from the Heavenly Craft Pavilion. When he heard that two people had nowhere to live, heinitiativelent out his house.
Qin Qichao placed everything on the short wooden table next to the stove, with two wooden stools placed beside it. This is where the brothers eat.
After Qin Qichao set the tableware, the neighbor uncle just walked out of the room.
"Oh, it's Xiao Chao cooking today." The uncle smiled kindly and greeted Qin Qichao.
Qin Qichao looked up at him and nodded. "Yes, we take turns."
"Very good, very good. Brothers are friendly and respectful!" The uncle also came to cook, but his ingredients are much more abundant than the brothers'. He also noticed the simple breakfast on that table and couldn't help but ask: "Are you two just eating such simple food? I have some meat and eggs here. Let's eat together."
Hearing this, Qin Qichao shook his head: "Thank you, no need. This is much better than what we used to eat."
The uncle wasn't surprised to hear this. The brothers have moved here for some time. Even though they receive the lowest salary and eat the cheapest food, they have no complaints and never ask him for help. The two live quietly and don't cause him any trouble.
After thinking for a while, the uncle still took out two boiled eggs and walked forward to place them on the short wooden table.
"Youngsters need to nourish their bodies. These eggs are for you!" The uncle laughed heartily. "I heard that you two had a hard life before. Now that you're in Liudu City, you should consider this place as your home!"
Qin Qichao stared at the two round boiled eggs for a long time, and bowed sincerely to the uncle.
"Thank you."
"Oh, why are you being so polite? No need. Hurry and call your younger brother to eat. The food will get cold soon!" The uncle supported him on the shoulder to make him stand up, waved his hand with a smile, and then went to cook.
Qin Qichao picked up the still hot eggs and held them in his palm. He stood in the same spot for a long time before running into the house to call Qin Qimu to come and eat.
The word "home" is something he and Qin Qimu have never heard of.
After wandering for so many years, they have also received alms from others. Whether it's half a steamed bun from a kind-hearted person or an invitation to have a meal at home from a man with ulterior motives, they have accepted them all.
But they have never had a home.
Qin Qichao pushed the door open with a cheerful step and saw that Qin Qimu had already gotten up and dressed.
"It's time to eat."
"Okay!"
The two brothers sat on the small stools, bending over and eating with their heads down, looking a bit pitiful. But the two think that whether it's the white porridge or the eggs, they are extremely delicious.
"Brother, are you still going to the Heavenly Craft Pavilion to help today?" Qin Qimu wolfed down a bowl of porridge, put the bowl down, wiped his mouth.
"No, I'm going to the Tianyi Pavilion to help clean up today." Qin Qichao eats more slowly and carefully. He finishes all the food, stacks the bowls and chopsticks together, and sweeps the eggshells into the bowl with chopsticks, cleaning up neatly.
Qin Qimu propped his chin and watched him clean up. "Eh... But the work at the Tianyi Pavilion is really boring. I wonder how you can stand it."
"Your heart is not calm enough." Qin Qichao looked up at him. "Go wash the dishes."
Qin Qimu mischievously stuck out his tongue and took the bowls and chopsticks away.
Qin Qichao wiped the table once, placed the chairs neatly, and took the dirty rag to go and wash it with Qin Qimu.
Just then, the neighbor uncle finished his meal and was about to go out. He passed by Qin Qichao, smiling and greeting: "I have a task. I'm leaving first."
Qin Qichao nodded in response and waved his hand.
Qin Qimu stuck his head out of the room, looked at the uncle leaving, and turned to look at Qin Qichao, shouting: "Brother."
Qin Qichao walked towards him, picked up the water ladle placed aside, scooped water from the tank and poured it into the wooden basin, and skillfully rubbed the rag in his hand.
"What's wrong?"
"How long are we going to stay here?" Qin Qimu muttered while washing the dishes.
"How long?" Qin Qichao's movements paused for a moment, and then he quickly wrung out the rag and hung it to the side. "Here, we have food and clothing. There's nothing wrong with staying here."
"But..." Qin Qimu looked up at Qin Qichao, pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and continued: "But we could obviously have a better life! That person said..."
Before Qin Qimu could finish speaking, Qin Qichao quickly covered his mouth with his hand to prevent him from continuing.
Qin Qichao looked around to make sure no one could hear their conversation, and then turned to look at his younger brother.
"Don't mention this matter anymore, and don't think about it. This place is just fine." Qin Qichao lowered his voice and said.
Qin Qimu blinked, his eyes still showing unwillingness and persistence.
Seeing him like this, Qin Qichao sighed and continued: "You also saw in the dungeon that Lord Feng is very powerful. If we are discovered, neither of us will have a good ending."
Perhaps remembering what he saw in the dungeon that day, Qin Qimu's expression changed, and his eyes showed hesitation.
Only then did Qin Qichao withdraw his hand.
"You remember, the two of us came to Liudu City on our own, and have nothing to do with anyone else. We came to seek a way to survive, and have no other purpose."
"I understand."
Qin Qimu hesitated and nodded, then lowered his head in disappointment.
Qin Qichao helped him wash the dishes and put them aside to dry, then picked up the dirty water basin and prepared to go out to dump the sewage.
Qin Qimu came to his senses and quickly grabbed the basin from Qin Qichao.
"Brother, let me go!"
Qin Qichao paused and rarely curved his mouth into a smile. He didn't refuse and let go of his hand, watching his younger brother carry the basin out.
But when he thought of what Qin Qimu said earlier, his expression suddenly changed again.
He doesn't like to lie, but everything is for survival.
The two brothers have been wandering for many years. Although they have done everything to make a living, they have never really been in contact with the Jianghu, so they naturally don't know what kind of place "Liudu City" is.
But a few days ago, when they were working in a post station's stable, they were stopped by a man with his face covered.
The man said that he had a job that the two brothers were just right for.
Qin Qichao was extremely vigilant and naturally didn't believe him.
The man didn't directly say what the job was. Instead, he told the brothers that there is a Liudu City in the Jianghu that takes in people who have nowhere to go, and the thing they need to do is also related to Liudu City. He also promised that after the job is done, he will give the brothers a life of luxury for the rest of their lives.
Qin Qimu curiously poked his head out, but was blocked by Qin Qichao behind him.
The man just smiled when he saw him like this and said: If you are interested, meet me under the northern banyan tree at Xu time tomorrow.
After leaving this sentence, the man turned and left, disappearing without a trace.
Qin Qichao doesn't believe that the job will bring him a life of luxury, but he is extremely curious about Liudu City. He told his younger brother not to believe the man's words, and also collected information about Liudu City everywhere. Finally, he decided to come to Liudu City with his younger brother to make a living.
And things are developing just as he expected. In Liudu City, they don't have to worry about food and clothing, or being frozen by the cold wind. They are living a life they never imagined before.
Qin Qichao is also very satisfied with his current job and thinks that his choice is correct.
But the thing he was worried about still happened. Qin Qimu still remembers the "life of luxury" that the man mentioned.
I hope my younger brother won't do anything stupid.
Qin Qichao thought as he also went out.
Inside the Feng Mansion.
Feng Tingliu got up extremely late today. He even skipped his morning sword practice, hastily ate a breakfast, and then started reading a casual book in his bedroom. He also ordered Yu Chi Feng to sit next to him for him to lean on.
After all, the full pectoral muscles on a man's chest are more comfortable to lean on than those cushions.
On the contrary, it's Yu Chi Feng who is suffering. Seeing the beauty in his arms, he can only look at the wide-open collar of the beauty from a top-down perspective, but he can't move at all.
Yu Chi Feng wanted to secretly put his arm around Feng Tingliu's waist, but Feng Tingliu said that he was pressing on his hair and pushed his hand away.
Yu Chi Feng wanted to secretly kiss the top of Feng Tingliu's head, but was lightly hit on the head with a book by Feng Tingliu.
Yu Chi Feng didn't dare to move anymore. Feng Tingliu is extremely satisfied, feeling the comfortable pectoral muscles behind him, and feeling at ease with the up and down movement of Yu Chi Feng's chest.
Just then, Bai Zhong knocked on the door to report.
"Master, someone from the Heavenly Craft Pavilion has sent a new bookshelf for the study."
"Oh, just have them replace it." Feng Tingliu didn't care much, waved his hand, and continued reading his book.
But Bai Zhong didn't leave immediately. Instead, he continued: "Among the people sent, there is that new Qin Qimu."
"Oh?" Feng Tingliu moved his gaze from the book, raised his eyebrows, but quickly returned to the book. "It doesn't matter. Just let him go."
"Yes."
Bai Zhong left the room. Before long, the sound of moving things was heard outside. There was a messy sound of organizing in the adjacent study, but Feng Tingliu seemed not to be disturbed and continued reading his book.
Yu Chi Feng listened to the sounds outside and thought for a while, but didn't disturb Feng Tingliu.
Instead, Feng Tingliu noticed his thoughts, curled his mouth and asked: "What do you want to ask?"
"Does Master think that the two brothers have a problem?" Yu Chi Feng asked in a low voice.
"Who knows?" Feng Tingliu leisurely turned a page of the book and continued reading. "Even in a tightly guarded warehouse, there will always be one or two mice who want to try their luck."
"Does Master expect this and intentionallyShelter them?" Yu Chi Feng asked again.
Feng Tingliu shrugged and said: "If they can stay, it's their ability. But I'm not afraid to deal with one or two traitors."
Yu Chi Feng looked in the direction of the study, and an inexplicable sense of worry arose in his heart.
Inside the study, Qin Qimu is assembling the new bookshelf with the others from the Heavenly Craft Pavilion. The new bookshelf is luxurious and imposing, with extremely complex patterns on it.
But such a bookshelf, Feng Tingliu wants to use it to place casual books.
And the reason for changing the bookshelf is simply because he is tired of looking at the old bookshelf for too long!
While sighing at the extravagance of the rich in his heart, Qin Qimu, along with the others, carefully placed the bookshelf in the corner of the study.
"Please move the books on the old bookshelf to the new one and place them neatly. Remember, do not touch anything else in other places." Bai Zhong is standing at the door to supervise their work. After all, the study is an important place. Besides casual books, there are many important records and books that cannot be viewed by outsiders.
Like the others, Qin Qimu moved those casual books to the new bookshelf and arranged them in order. But he is still curious in his heart and secretly looks at the stacks of books and letters on the other side.
"What are you doing? Hurry up." Seeing that he is distracted, someone from the Heavenly Craft Pavilion urges him.
"Oh! Okay!" Qin Qimu quickly comes to his senses.
After the bookshelf is assembled, they dismantle the old bookshelf and carry it out of the study in batches.
The old bookshelf will not be wasted. It will be placed in the Tianyi Pavilion to continue its mission.
Just when everyone is orderly carrying the old bookshelf, in an unnoticed place, Qin Qimu quietly pulls off the pouch from his waist, throws it on the ground, and kicks it under the new bookshelf with his foot.
"Qin Qimu! Come and help carry!"
"Coming!"
Qin Qimu's heart is beating like a drum, and his palms are sweating nervously.
He looks around to make sure no one notices his actions, and then rushes out.
That pouch lies quietly in the shadow, sowing a seed of unease.