Yu Chi Feng didn't plan to stay in Bei Ji City for long.
He put on his veil hat, strolled around the streets for a while, and was about to return.
Just then, he saw a vendor selling jade on the street and walked over. A variety of jades were displayed on the stall, emitting a pure light under the sunlight.
Among them, a red agate carved into the shape of a maple leaf was particularly eye-catching.
"Boss, how much is this?" Yu Chi Feng lowered his veil hat with one hand and pointed to the red maple with the other.
"Sir, you have a great eye! This red agate is of top quality in both material and craftsmanship! It's only twenty taels of silver!" Seeing Yu Chi Feng approaching, the boss's face was filled with excitement and he quickly introduced.
"Twenty taels?" Although Yu Chi Feng didn't know much about jade, he could tell that this red agate wasn't a high-end material. But then he thought that he was currently spending all his living expenses on the money from Liu Du City, and Liu Du City would also give him some silver from time to time. It was more than enough to buy this red maple. "Alright, wrap it up for me."
"Ah! Okay! Is sir going to give this as a gift? I'll wrap it in the most exquisite box for you!"
"Um." Yu Chi Feng took out the silver and placed it in front of the boss.
The boss was overjoyed. He found a wooden lacquer box, wrapped the red maple in brocade, placed it inside, and solemnly handed it to Yu Chi Feng.
Yu Chi Feng left with the wooden lacquer box, but his thoughts drifted far away.
He didn't know if Feng Ting Liu would suit red jade. He had never seen Feng Ting Liu wear red...
But he felt that Feng Ting Liu would definitely look great in a wedding dress...
Yu Chi Feng almost began to imagine the Feng Mansion decorated with lanterns and streamers. It wasn't until he walked back to the horse in front of the inn that he suddenly stopped his imagination. He scolded himself in his heart. Spending too much time with Qi Cheng had made him start daydreaming.
Yu Chi Feng took advantage of the fact that it wasn't yet dark and rode back to Liu Du City.
When he returned to the Feng Mansion, it was already dark, but Feng Ting Liu still hadn't returned. He could only place the box on the table, open the lid, and stare at the red maple inside in a daze.
His thoughts were still chaotic. The affairs of the Bei Long Hall and Liu Du City filled his mind. Unconsciously, half an hour had passed.
Familiar footsteps sounded outside the house. He quickly stood up and faced those crimson eyes bathed in the dim sunset.
"Master..." Yu Chi Feng subconsciously took two steps forward and saw the faint smile on Feng Ting Liu's lips in the hazy sunset.
Feng Ting Liu held a folding fan and slowly fanned it, causing the long hair at his temples to flutter slightly.
"Back from your stroll?" Feng Ting Liu asked with a smile on his lips, and casually closed the folding fan in his hand and handed it to Yu Chi Feng.
"Master knows I left the city?" Yu Chi Feng walked forward, took the fan, and served him to change his clothes.
"The guards at the gate will report to me." Feng Ting Liu said casually, spreading his arms and allowing Yu Chi Feng to change his clothes for him. "I want to take a bath."
"I'll go prepare it right away."
Feng Ting Liu went to Jian Ya Chi to forge the sword, and naturally came back covered in sweat and dust. When forging the sword, he didn't think much of it, but as soon as he returned to the Feng Mansion, hisMysophobia kicked in.
Yu Chi Feng knew this, so he came back early just to serve Feng Ting Liu.
Yu Chi Feng gathered the dirty clothes, put a temporary bathrobe on Feng Ting Liu, and then carried the clothes to prepare the bathwater.
"Wait."
Before Yu Chi Feng's foot could step out of the threshold, he was suddenly stopped by Feng Ting Liu. He turned his head and saw Feng Ting Liu standing next to the table, looking at the red maple agate in the wooden lacquer box.
"I almost forgot. This is for Master." Yu Chi Feng said with a smile.
"Oh?" Feng Ting Liu raised an eyebrow, picked up the red maple, observed it carefully, and rubbed the surface. "You used the money I gave you to buy me a gift?"
"Well..." Yu Chi Feng scratched his head, and his neck turned red.
"Pfft, I'm joking." Feng Ting Liu chuckled and put the red maple back in the box. "Not bad. After my bath, find a tassel to string it up. I'll also see which piece of clothing it goes well with."
"Okay!"
Yu Chi Feng was so excited that he wanted to wag his tail. He couldn't wait to see Feng Ting Liu wearing the red maple and quickly ran out with the dirty clothes.
Feng Ting Liu looked at his back and couldn't help but smile.
-
After Feng Ting Liu took a bath, he lay leisurely on the bed, holding the red maple in his hand and playing with it, looking as if he couldn't put it down.
"Does Master like it?" Seeing this, Yu Chi Feng was naturally happy and couldn't help but ask him.
"Of course." Feng Ting Liu raised the red maple and observed it repeatedly against the candlelight. "Although the quality is not the best, the craftsmanship is good."
"Which piece of clothing does Master want to pair it with? I'll go get it."
"There should be a few red long gowns. I rarely wear them, but I can give them a try."
Yu Chi Feng was very much looking forward to it. He rummaged through the closet and took out several sets of red clothing.
One of the sets was made entirely of red gauze with gold thread embroidery on the edges, almost revealing the color of the skin. Yu Chi Feng couldn't understand if this kind of clothing could really be worn out. But if Feng Ting Liu were to wear it, it would definitely be extremely beautiful...
Yu Chi Feng absent-mindedly took only that piece of clothing back and looked at Feng Ting Liu with expectant eyes.
Feng Ting Liu glanced at the clothing and chuckled.
"Want to see me wear this?"
Yu Chi Feng nodded repeatedly.
"Okay."
Feng Ting Liu took the clothing and, without hesitation, changed into the red gown in front of Yu Chi Feng.
The hazy red gauze covered his fair skin, and his well-proportioned muscles were faintly visible. His black hair was loose, and the lazy feeling made him even more alluring.
The red maple agate was strung with a red tassel and hung around Feng Ting Liu's waist, swaying non-stop.
Yu Chi Feng was dazzled by the large patches of red and white, and his heart was beating as fast as the red maple, unable to stop.
"Why, are you stunned?" Feng Ting Liu leaned against the bedside, barefoot, and stepped on Yu Chi Feng's leg.
"Master is beautiful." Yu Chi Feng said sincerely, holding Feng Ting Liu's ankle and rubbing it repeatedly like he did with the agate.
"Useless." Feng Ting Liu smiled, grabbed his collar, glanced at the still-faint red kiss mark on his neck, and curved his lips. He pulled Yu Chi Feng towards himself, leaned close to his ear, and deliberately said in a soft voice, "Since it's beautiful, take a closer look."
In the end, he deliberately blew a breath.
The fire in his heart was even hotter than the red of the red clothing.
Then let the fire in the room burn even brighter.
-
The next day, Feng Ting Liu rarely had a lazy sleep these days.
His waist was sore and painful. Even if he went to Jian Ya Chi, he wouldn't be able to forge the sword properly, so he gave himself a half-day off.
Yesterday's red clothing didn't know where it was thrown. Maybe it slipped under the bed accidentally, or maybe it was tossed to the end of the bed. In any case, it was in a terrible state and was taken by Yu Chi Feng to be washed.
But the red maple agate lay quietly on the cabinet beside the bed, wiped clean.
Feng Ting Liu lay on the bed, enjoying Yu Chi Feng massaging his waist, and stared at it for a long time before smiling and looking away.
"Use more strength. Where's the strength from last night?" Feng Ting Liu grunted in dissatisfaction and kicked Yu Chi Feng's calf with his foot.
"..." Yu Chi Feng's neck was red, and even his earlobes were stained red. He obeyed the order and increased the strength. "Does Master still hurt? If it hurts, it's better to rest in the afternoon as well."
"It's okay. I'll go out after the sun has passed." Feng Ting Liu closed his eyes and his breathing slowed down.
Seeing this, Yu Chi Feng lightened the strength of the massage. Finally, he pulled a thin blanket from the side and covered Feng Ting Liu's waist, afraid that he might catch a cold.
-
Another dream ended, and Feng Ting Liu woke up.
He refused Yu Chi Feng's request to send him to Jian Ya Chi and walked alone towards the most prominent building in Liu Du City - the two towering chimneys.
The moment Feng Ting Liu stepped into the gate of Jian Ya Chi, a wave of hot air with a metallic scent hit him.
The people of Jian Ya Chi had already been waiting inside the door. Seeing Feng Ting Liu, they all bowed their heads and greeted him.
"City Master, everything has been prepared."
"Um." Feng Ting Liu held the folding fan and walked in, passing through numerous complex machines and accepting the greetings from the workers who were busy on both sides.
The lights in Jian Ya Chi were always on, accompanied by the occasional sparks of metal, leading Feng Ting Liu forward all the way to the depths of Jian Ya Chi.
The depths of Jian Ya Chi were like a no-man's land, with only a tall sword furnace standing, and the tools for forging the sword were placed around it.
At this moment, in front of the sword furnace, there was an unfinished long sword placed on the sword stand.
Feng Ting Liu put the folding fan aside, walked forward, took the long sword in his hand and observed it repeatedly, and rubbed the unsharpened blade with his fingertip.
"Not bad. TheCold Iron (Tian Wai Han Tie) is indeed extraordinary." Feng Ting Liu curved his lips, placed the long sword on the table, and prepared to forge it further.
The heat from the sword furnace made his face covered in thin sweat. He had to undo his upper garment and casually tie it around his waist, exposing his well-proportioned muscles. But as soon as he took off his shirt, the red marks on his body were exposed, but he didn't care. After all, except for Yu Chi Feng, no one dared to look directly at his bare body.
The unfinished long sword was sent into the sword furnace for repeated forging and reshaping with the sound of clear hammering.
Feng Ting Liu's movements were skillful. It was hard to tell that he hadn't forged a sword in person for several years.
The people of the Feng Mansion in Suzhou speak the gentle Wu Nong dialect, but forge the strongest and sharpest swords, carrying on the most unyielding family tradition.
Now, Feng Ting Liu has already forgotten what the Wu Nong dialect in Suzhou sounds like, but he still remembers where each strike should land.
The sword that incorporated the Cold Iron (Tian Wai Han Tie) is heavier and stronger than an ordinary sword, so Feng Ting Liu needs more energy to control the strength.
- "I heard that the Cold Iron (Tian Wai Han Tie) is more suitable, as it can make a light sword have the weight of a heavy sword. Unfortunately, it's precious and hard to find."
Suddenly, Yu Chi Feng's voice from the past rang in Feng Ting Liu's mind, and the movement of his forging suddenly stopped.
Since Yu Chi Feng mentioned it, he ordered a search for the Cold Iron (Tian Wai Han Tie) in various places. It's truly a case of rarity making it precious. It wasn't until today that he finally got his hands on it.
But perhaps it was fate playing against him, that it was at this time that his wish was fulfilled.
The moment the crimson sword body plunged into the water, a deafening sizzling sound was heard, with smoke billowing and flames reborn.
Feng Ting Liu looked at the billowing smoke, his heart filled with mixed emotions, gathering together with the smoke and not dispersing for a long time.
Then let this sword be a farewell gift.