Chapter 22 (1/2)
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Perhaps it was Heaven's Will at work inthat the piece of jade be left behind in that tiny, rural courtyard Fickle fate was an i the earth upside down, easily cutting short a seg the friendshi+p of youths into a dead end—
Fu Shen had been unwilling to recall the exact circumstances of that day up until now He had coh patches in his life, raver and bloodier than this; he was also not a weak person who refused to confront so to hurt However, maybe because the first injury would always be especially painful, this incident itself was a rare exception As it was closely followed by a string of related misfortunes, it bitterly declared the termination of his boyhood
It took no o back down the road he'd come to the county town Even so, he felt some sort of subtle atmosphere that had no precedent as he went in; there seemed to be fewer people in toith seldoht The closer he got to where Cai Yue was staying, the more abnormally silent it seemed to be
The same moment Fu Shen tied his horse up, the doorway of the small home was pushed open from the inside
Two people ere not supposed to be here at this point in ti way
He was stuck where he stood, dazed, as if he'd been struck in the head by a club His eyes unfocused, lips opening and closing, yet all that came out was the sound of air—
”Yan… Xiao… han”
Fu Shen fell into a cavern of ice, even having to tighten his jaw and clench his fists hard to prevent hi His subconscious already understood everything the instant he caught sight of the man, but his consciousa chaotic, indistinct jumble All he could do was call out Yan Xiaohan's na else
Why are you here?
What are you doing?
Why did you… deceive uard by the encounter, but he was much calmer than Fu Shen Astonish heavily repressed into the light of his eyes soon after
He even pushed the door open wider, dozens of Flying Dragon Guards filing out Within the sinister forest of glinting sabres and swords, Yan Xiaohan's tone was natural and amiable as he asked him a question ”Why did you come back?”
”I found out that I lost my jade pendant on the road,” Fu Shen explained, ”so I came back to find it”
Yan Xiaohan tapped his pal his head ”No wonder This would have been perfect”
”You deliberately warned itives yesterday,” Fu Shen said through gritted teeth, ”and today you sent people to tailuntil I left to catch everything in one net Doing this, you could arrest the cri And I'd be kept completely in the dark, because I wouldn't doubt you anyways
Good for you, feigning one thing while doing another Good for you, biding your ti for your chance to strike! You're so calculating, Sir Yan Being an insignificant Colonel of the Imperial Guard is an injustice to you”
Yan Xiaohan acted as if he didn't hear thehis hands in salute ”This was the best plan to capture the fugitive It was out ofMaster Fu”
Fu Shen smiled ”I don't blame you If I wanted to bla in other people's affairs, and leading a wolf right into the house” He stared at Yan Xiaohan, eyes razor-sharp, words unhurried ”I was blind before, taking that wolf as a sheep Now it's bitten me, and that's what I deserve”
Yan Xiaohan stood with his hands held behind his back, no emotion on his face ”I'm sorry,” he said indifferently
Fu Shen was ruthless, apathetically rebuffing him ”No need to be I won't accept it”
The tere deadlocked for ages Yan Xiaohan finally took a hand out fro it to reveal as in his palm – a sleek, mutton-fat jade pendant, carved circularly into two intertwined tru around it was loose, its color old and dull One look could discern that it was so constantly worn on someone's person
”Is this it?” he asked
Fu Shen said nothing as he pinched the pendant's tassel and lifted it away Yan Xiaohan's palers curled up as if they didn't like the sensation, and he retracted his hand
Things co to say A cracked mirror is difficult to buff, and spilled water is difficult to retrieve Betrayal and deceit were placed on the table in a ies, or even a self-assured attitude would change nothing, as facts had since settled the dust
In accordance with Fu Shen's previous temperament, it wouldn't be unexpected for him to hurl abuses or even throw punches at his opposition Noever, he only felt exhausted, and wanted to find soo to sleep This blade of Yan Xiaohan's stuck through hi him firmly; blood hadn't yet been spilled, but he had already lost the strength to struggle
Yan Xiaohan uarded, and had pointed at his chest to tell the other where to stab – was that not idiotic?
”Fu Shen” When he spun to head off, Yan Xiaohan suddenly called out from behind to stop him”
”I once told you that, between our identities, one is in the sky above and one on the ground below – the difference between clouds andyour heart is ain, I would still choose to handle it this way”
The stone-hearted Flying Dragon Guard had torn off his is under a clear blue sky for the first time in all his life With a self-assured attitude, he appeared even entlerades and ranks Though I am deeply entrenched, I also want to eke out an existence in it”