31 The Fearful Vermilion Bird (2/2)
”It feels good,” remembering the way his podao was slashed, Ning Que answered slowly. Then he suddenly stared at Zhuo Er's dark face and frowned, saying, ”It wouldn't be good if anyone found out about our relationship.”
”Chang'an is huge, I don't suppose we would bump into the enemy anytime. But you must be clear about one thing. For those important people up there, no one of General's Mansion survived, nor did anyone escape from my village. Therefore, we're not supposed to exist, so who would ever pay attention to us anyway?”
”Now that I think about it, how did an assistant to the great General Xia Hou's chaperon end up becoming the number one bouncer of... what did you call it again?... the Gold Fish Gang?”
”I came back to the capital with my superior as he came to report his duties, but I didn't know that the military ministry asked to transfer me as a spy. Also, our gang is not the Goldfish gang, but the Fish-dragon Gang. My superior asked me to watch over our gang leader, because they suspected that he had some connection with the Yuelun Kingdom. As you know, many of the nobles of the imperial court have business affairs and even military shipments require the assistance of these gangs to manage and keep a good order of things. In that case, it would be a major crisis if they colluded with the enemy.
”Our gang leader?” Ning Que frowned at him and said, ”This isn't a good sign, the way you refer to him shows that you respect this gang leader, and you're already seeing yourself as his top entourage. Blackie, you need to stay alert... even though I've never worked undercover, I've seen a lot of the sort, and I know very well that one should never become emotional when working undercover, because when you do, what awaits you is a horrible death.”
”Our gang leader is a nice man.” Zhuo Er lowered his head and stayed quiet for a long time, and then he looked at Ning Que and said with a sincere tone, ”The truth is that, he probably already found out about my identity, and yet he hasn't done anything to me.”
Before Ning Que could say any more, Zhuo Er raised his right hand firmly and refused, saying, ”He's my big brother, and I respect him. You should say no more. Nevertheless, I'd like a favor from you. If anything ever happened to me in the future, I hope you could help me return my gratitude to my big brother, at your convenience.”
Ning Que said nothing and looked at him quietly. He didn't know what his friend had gone through in the largest gang of Chang'an, but he could feel how serious and sincere Zhuo Er was at this moment, and he couldn't help but wonder what his big brother must be like, and what kind of gang leader would be so charismatic that Zhuo Er would worry about showing gratitude even after he died?
Towards the end of their first conversation after seven years, the two of them briefly told each other how they were doing.
Hearing about the assassination at the Northern Mountain Road, Zhuo Er was shocked and asked, ”You had such a great chance to work with the princess, and you didn't do anything?! Even though her class may be way out of our league, if only you tried hard enough, I believe no one could turn you down!”
Shaking his head, Ning Que said firmly, ”No way, Her Highness might look wise and resourceful, but she's really nothing but a naive and silly idiot. Following her lead could easily kill me.”
They parted at the restaurant, and Ning Que and Sangsang left first. They asked for their way back again and again, and as they were just about to arrive at the market where their hostel was located, it started to rain.
Zoom! The big black umbrella spread open above them just like a black lotus, shielding them from the falling rain. Sangsang held the handle of the umbrella firmly and asked, ”Why do you always call the princess an idiot? Isn't she a pretty nice person?”
”Really nice?” Ning Que looked at the path in the rain and shook his head slowly.
The Vermilion Bird Avenue leading straight towards the Imperial Palace in the north was originally grayish, but it turned black after being soaked in rain. It looked like a long, straight and black ribbon from Ning Que and Sangsang's point of view as they stood by the path, worn on the chest of the vast Chang'an, looking so pure and solemn that it was heart-throbbing. What stood out, in particular, was the Vermilion Bird portrait engraved in the center of the avenue, with its eyes glaring at them with such austerity, it almost felt like it could fly out from the rocks to exterminate them right away.
Both of them felt that ancient and fierce sense of vehemence, horror were seeping out from the greatest depths of their bodies, and as they held each other's hands, it felt so cold that they could hardly move an inch of their muscles.
So they stood by the path in great difficulty, under the shade of the big black umbrella, for God knows how long, and they didn't get their very consciousness back until the storm ceased, the sun shone upon the street, and the pedestrians reappeared.
Finally able to stare back, they found nothing out of the ordinary from the Vermilion Bird portrait deeply engraved on the royal path.