863 Twitching (1/2)

Shangguan Hong didn't expect that he would be summoned by the Dragon King. He merely received some orders from Queen Ju to come here and deliver some items that might prove to be useful to the Dragon King in winter. He had thought that this task would be very simple. Back when he was in the Royal Court, he had never received such treatment.

He still remembered that he had once gone to Heaven's Pass and attempted to convince Shang Liao to switch sides and work for Queen Ju. That was a humiliating failure. Maybe the General of the Right, Shang Liao had told the Dragon King everything, he thought. He was worried and was still wavering over whether he should confess that he had worked for Queen Ju.

”I hate all the members of the Shangguan family.” Shangguan Hong had come up with a set of phrases to distract other people away from his relationship working for Queen, but he didn't have the chance to use any of them.

Most of the exquisite furnishings had been cleared out of the tent, so it seemed much more spacious now. The Dragon King was standing alone beside a table and the distance between the doorway and the table seemed infinite. Shangguan Hong immediately sensed that the Dragon King had become inexplicably stately. With equal parts admiration mixed with jealousy, he involuntarily knelt down.

He had gotten somewhat used to this movement. After recalling that Servant Huan had once asked him for help many years ago, he felt that those memories were very surreal now.

”Your loyal servant… pays his respects to the Dragon King.” Shangguan Hong felt that it was very difficult to utter those words before the Dragon King. He had never felt this way in front of Queen Ju.

”Get up.”

Shangguan Hong slowly stood up. With his back bent and his head down, he looked as humble as an old slave who had served in the royal palace for many years.

Gu Shenwei peered at him for a while. From a spoiled son to a cheap slave, and then from a cheap slave to a king – he had also experienced all this, so he didn't pity Shanguan Hong.

He was observing every subtle movement of Shangguan Hong's body, especially the way he walked – the feet's movements usually displayed people's level of internal energy. The stronger the body, the more powerful the internal energy, and thus the fewer muscles people used when they walked.

Shangguan Hong was good. Like those of a well-trained servant, his steps were small and quick, and he himself had learned some kung fu, so Gu Shenwei couldn't tell how good his internal energy was right at this moment.

”What can I do for you, Dragon King?” Shangguan Hong felt so uneasy that even his tone had become a little shrill.

”Tell me more about that secret passage.”

”What secret passage?” Shangguan Hong was greatly surprised, realizing that all his previous speculations were wrong.

”The one that you once told me about.”

Shangguan Hong still remembered it. Over a year ago, when he was departing from the Shule Kingdom of Xiaoyao Lake as an attendant of the Dragon King, he had disclosed an important secret on impulse to the Dragon King as a show of allegiance – there was a secret passage connecting the hilltop and the foot of the hill.

”Ah? Yes, I did say that.”

”Then keep talking.”

The Dragon King's tone was casual, as if this was a very simple request, but those simple words greatly pressured Shangguan Hong. Ever since Servant Huan had bribe him back when he was a master, he had felt this overwhelming pressure, and it only grew heavier after each meeting with the Dragon King. By now, it had grown to such an extent that it was irresistible.

”Er… the thing is, Golden Roc Castle's located on the hilltop and there's no water source there. So, they need to bring water from the foot of the hill to the hilltop. But since they're worried about running out of water during a prolonged siege, they dug a secret passage between the hilltop and a river at the foot of the hill to ensure their water supply in such times of a crisis.”

”They dug a secret passage?” The hilltop was hundreds of meters high. It seemed to be beyond human capability to dig a passage through the bedrock of the hill.

”I don't know the details. I just… heard some scraps of information from Madam Meng. I'm not lying, Dragon King, really. The secret passage does exist. That's all I know.”

Shangguan Hong was anxious and uneasy. The Dragon King didn't use a severe tone, and neither did he ever push him. However, he still felt nervous and afraid. He really hoped that this conversation would end soon.

Gu Shenwei sized him up for a while once again. Shangguan Hong had changed considerably. Only when he became anxious did he seem to return to who he used to be in the past.

”Leave.”

”Yes.” Shangguan Hong urgently left the tent. As he exposed himself to the northerly wind, he let out a cold shiver and suddenly discovered that his skin was covered in a layer of fine sweat.

He ran to his tent as he consoled himself that there were no flaws in his words and that the Dragon King was still unaware of the truth. He gradually calmed down. When he entered his tent, he was stunned to discover that there was more to this issue.

With a smile on his face, Shangguan Fei observed his half-brother. ”How are you, Chief Hong? This is your correct address, right?”

Before the Dragon King, Shangguan Hong could manage to stay composed, but in front of Shangguan Fei, who had only brought him misery his entire life, all of his anger instantly welled up. With a sudden move of his body, he pounced on his foe.

Shangguan Fei didn't dodge, and neither did he fight back. He merely threw out his chest and said, ”Goodness me! You've made quite some progress in your kung fu skills, Chief Hong.”

Shangguan Hong abruptly stopped. Face flushing red, he clenched his teeth and said, ”What're you doing here?”

”No matter what, we still bear the same surname. I just came here to check on you. Is there anything wrong with it? I heard that… you're a highly favored man of the queen, and I'm actually counting on you to promote me some day.”

Countless thoughts rushed into Shangguan Hong's mind. But in the end, he said, ”That saber strike failed to kill me and that'll be your greatest mistake, Shangguan Fei. I'll repay you double the humiliation you've put me through. So enjoy your life while you still can.”

Pretending to be extremely horrified, Shangguan Fei patted his chest. ”Chief Hong, are you trying to scare me to death? Don't you know that I'm a coward? Besides, every man only has one manhood, so it might be a bit difficult for you to repay 'double the humiliation' to me. Ha-ha.”

Shangguan Fei burst into laughter. For the first time ever, he had discovered that Old Man Mu's influence on him also had an upside. At least, he was no longer as clumsy when talking now.