162 Untitled (2/2)
Tie Cheng left the blanket at the foot of the wall and hid himself, only to hear the child hug the blanket and murmur, ”… it's you… it's you…”, his voice low and filled with sadness, causing even a rough warrior like Tie Cheng to tear up.
Hence, seeing that Zong Yue's heart was moved that day, Meng Fuyao fearlessly asked, ”Doctor, are you really not going to see that Young Master Yun? He even gave his chance to be the True Martial Arts champion to me.”
”If you're afraid of owing someone a favor, you can return it,” replied Zongyue lightly, ”Just don't come to bother me.”
Meng Fuyao poked out her tongue and stalked out only to see Yun Hen with his arms raised in front of him staring at a tree in the courtyard, looking extremely focused as though he were learning some kind of ultimate martial arts technique.
There were just a few noisy crickets jumping around on the tree.
Meng Fuyao watched his back and rubbed her lips, unsure what to say or do. In the end, she could only discreetly walk by, but Yun Hen's back seemed to have eyes, and he suddenly said, ”Fuyao, Pei Yuan will come harboring malicious intentions, you must be careful.”
Meng Fuyao felt a sourness go through her nose as she said ”Mn”. Yun Hen turned around and smiled crisply at her. He still carried the tranquil air unique only to him, unaffected by any tribulation.
He added, ”Waiting for you to return in triumph.”
Meng Fuyao responded again with another ”Mn” and went hurriedly through the door as though escaping, but when she opened the door, it seemed to have some kind of resistance. She pushed the door forcefully again, only to realize that something was blocking it.
Frustrated and filled with anxiety, Meng Fuyao raised her leg and kicked the door. With a 'ping' the door flung open, and whatever object that was blocking the door went rolling out, and a faint ”Aiya” could be heard coming from the object.
At the entrance of the door, there was a person covered in dirt rubbing his eyes as he raised his head. The person rubbed his eyes, then rubbed his sore behind. Meng Fuyao took a closer look at the ashen dirt-covered face of the person and only then did she realize that it was actually Xuanyuan Yun, that little prince.
'How did he find his way here? From his appearance, did he spend the night here?'
Xuanyuan Yun scrambled to his feet unsteadily, sleep still evident in his eyes as he leaned against the door frame and pleaded with Meng Fuyao, ”General Meng… I, I finally managed to reach this place, please let me see him once, just once, once…”
Meng Fuyao looked at him, thinking that the sour feeling was coming again as she said slowly, ”How many times have I said already, Young Master Yun still doesn't get it, Zong Yue has the personality of a cow, the more you bother him, the more he won't see you, and the more you ask me to introduce you the angrier he will get. Why do you trouble yourself so?”
”I… I have to go back already… It hasn't been easy coming out…” Xuanyuan Yun's eyes were wide and red, and Meng Fuyao felt troubled. 'Why is this kid such a crybaby? Looking at his spoilt appearance, what did he come out for? And he still got entangled with Zongyue, that guy isn't even human; if he ate you, even your bones wouldn't be left.'
Thinking about this child's surname, Meng Fuyao's heart jolted as she asked, ”Young Master's surname Xuanyuan, are you of royal descent?”
”She is Xuanyuan's regent king Xuanyuan Cheng's daughter, her real name is Xuanyuan Yun,” A cool voice suddenly traveled over, and Meng Fuyao turned around to see a person who was purer than water standing under the summer sun. Despite being under the glare of such strong sunlight, he still looked as cool as ever, as though his entire being down to his core was cold as snow.
Xuanyuan Yun looked at him, and her mouth gaped open in surprise as she stammered, ”Big Brother A-Yue…” Suddenly, she spotted Zong Yue's gaze and immediately shut up.
Zong Yue stared at her, his expression unreadable; within his eyes seemed to hold the burning red of a sunset, the storminess of a hurricane and the whiteness of snow-capped mountain peaks. It held the melancholy of a traveler who had traveled much and was exhausted by his journey, and finally, everything melted into a snow-like coolness. He stared silently at Xuanyuan Yun before turning away and walking off without a sound.
Xuanyuan Yun stood there motionlessly, and Meng Fuyao pushed her hastily. ”Still not following?”
The child jumped up and, glancing at her gratefully, hurriedly followed him without even bothering to pat the dust on her robes.
Meng Fuyao watched as their figures disappeared through the inner door and smiled slightly to herself. Zong Yue was finally moved by Xuanyuan Yun's sincerity and opened up a little bit of his heart to see if that child could continue to touch his heart. Judging from that child's steely determination despite her soft appearance, Zong Yue, whose bark was louder than his bite, would probably not be able to withstand her.
Meng Fuyao started giggling as she thought about that soft ”Big Brother A-Yue…”, that way of addressing carried such a child-like innocence… what kind of past did it exactly hold for Zongyue?
…
It was the last round, the battle of the top five!
Just like during the match at the Golden Palace, when Meng Fuyao entered the palace, she saw Zhangsun Wuji and Zhan Nancheng chatting and laughing heartily together as though they were close brothers.
Upon seeing her enter, Zhangsun Wuji discreetly turned around, his gaze swiftly landing on her, his expression and feelings exceptionally mesmerizing.