Huo Xiao Di cut him off, baring his gleaming rabbit-like teeth with a pout. “Don’t try to flatter me. Yes, it’s true—I didn’t just offend Little Shao; I’ve even offended his master, the Xiang Yang Prince! Haven’t you noticed all the soldiers from the Prince’s Mansion everywhere? They’re obviously here to make trouble for me—and they even went as far as distributing my portrait all over the place!”
He seemed to recall something unpleasant, shuddered, then clenched his teeth and growled, “That damned Little Shao! I can’t beat him in a fight, so I ran. But who would’ve thought he’d bring the Xiang Yang Prince’s men to chase me relentlessly?”
Zhan Ri Fei raised an eyebrow and repeated, “—They’ve been distributing your portrait?”
A faint glimmer of amusement slowly surfaced in his eyes.
But the smile vanished just as quickly when another thought struck him—something inconsistent with the current situation.
“Brother Huo,” Zhan said cautiously, “you say you’ve offended Commander Shao and the Xiang Yang Prince? But isn’t Commander Shao about to marry Ling Long Manor’s Miss Ling Long in the coming days? It’s said the Prince himself arranged the match, and it has the Emperor’s blessing. Why would you go out of your way to cause trouble for him? Aren’t you worried about the old master of your manor blaming you?”
At the mention of this widely known affair, Huo Xiao Di’s frustration was palpable. His head shook furiously, like a pedlar rattling his wares. “I’m causing him trouble because I can’t stand this marriage! Miss Ling Long of our Ling Long Manor is pure and virtuous—how could she possibly fancy someone like Little Shao? I don’t care if the Xiang Yang Prince arranged it or if it has the Emperor’s blessing—it’s not happening!”
His childish words made Zhan Ri Fei chuckle softly, but the laugh was brief, followed by a faintly suppressed cough.
The conversation seemed to weigh on Zhan, as he slowly sank into a chair, his tone growing more careful. “From what I’ve heard, Commander Shao is said to be exceptionally handsome, skilled in both martial arts and literature, and destined for a promising career. Rumors in the martial world suggest he and Miss Ling Long are a perfect match. Besides, men and women have their boundaries. Miss Ling Long rarely steps outside the manor—how could you be so certain she doesn’t like him?”
Huo Xiao Di’s expression darkened, his voice rising with frustration. “You’ve never met Little Shao, so how do you know if he’s exceptionally handsome or skilled in anything? Who’s from Ling Long Manor—you or me? Sure, it’s a match arranged by parents and matchmakers, but I know Miss Ling Long doesn’t like him. I can’t swallow this indignation, so I came to settle things with him and stand up for her.”
Even in the dim room, Huo could faintly make out Zhan Ri Fei’s faint smile, his silence betraying skepticism.
Anger flared in Huo Xiao Di’s chest, and he blurted out, “I’m causing him trouble because our Miss Ling Long already has someone in her heart! It doesn’t matter if it’s Little Shao or Tang Sect’s Little Tang—they’re all wasting their time!”
Huo Xiao Di's words seemed to have been bottled up for a long time. As he blurted them out in one breath, he felt an indescribable sense of relief. Yet, as soon as the words left his mouth, regret followed. Why had he so carelessly revealed such things to a stranger? His cheeks reddened slightly, and he found himself in an awkward silence.
Zhan Ri Fei, sensing that the conversation was veering into personal matters and not wanting to embarrass Huo further, offered a slight smile and said nothing more.
Huo Xiao Di’s blush quickly faded, and he returned to his usual demeanor. His large eyes glared at Zhan, still brimming with defiance. “What are you secretly laughing at?”
He blinked a few times and launched another barrage of questions. “I can’t beat Little Shao, but why were you hiding under the bed? Did you also offend Little Shao? Is that why you’re avoiding him?”
“You’ve got pretty decent martial skills—you even caught Ge Yun Fei’s lethal spear single-handedly.”
“You and Little Shao should be evenly matched! You said you’ve never met him, so don’t tell me you’re that scared of him.”
Zhan Ri Fei’s elegant smile took on a hint of self-deprecation and teasing. “Brother Huo, you must think too highly of me. Crossing swords with such a formidable opponent would surely be exhilarating. But alas, I have my own troubles, and fighting him isn’t an option right now.”
0 Comments