Chapter 29: Chang’an Part 2

Xiao Kun felt deep respect for Shen Kuo’s vast knowledge. Unlike the Ungraded treasures that occupied full pages, from Heaven Character Grade onward, each treasure took half a page. Following it were the Soulfall Bell, which collected numerous souls, the four Immortal-Slaying Flying Knives passed down by Lu Ya Daoist, and the Green Branch Chaosheng had brought from the White Jade Palace, listed as “All Things Grow.”

Xiao Kun started reading intently, but as the treasures piled up, jumbled together with Shen Kuo’s notes and Xiang Xian’s study annotations crammed in densely, it gave him a headache.

Xiang Xian found a brush and was about to record the Dragon Soaring Jade when Xiao Kun said, “Don’t lick the brush, or I’ll dock your pay.”

Xiang Xian said, “Why are you just like my dad, controlling everything? I won’t lick it.”

Xiang Xian had grown up in a strict noble family. He dipped the brush in the melting snow by the carriage window twice, flipped to a blank page, and began recording the Dragon Soaring Jade.

“You’re grading it Ungraded just like that?” Xiao Kun said.

“Yeah,” Xiang Xian replied. “I’m the Magic Treasure Master now. What I say goes.”

Xiao Kun tried to stop him, but Xiang Xian quickly drew a circle on Xiao Kun’s face. Xiao Kun yelped, turned to wipe it off, and woke Chaosheng in the process.

“How much longer to Chang’an?” Chaosheng asked sleepily.

Xiang Xian was wrestling with Xiao Kun, who held on with all his strength. The balance of power slowly tipped toward Xiao Kun, the brush tip less than half an inch from Xiang Xian’s handsome face.

“Almost…” Xiao Kun answered, only to be pushed back by Xiang Xian. Finally, Xiao Kun kicked Xiang Xian away and went to the window to scoop snow to wipe his face.

“We’ll arrive before nightfall,” Xiang Xian said. “We can still catch the Lantern Festival tomorrow once we’re in the city.”

Chaosheng curiously peeked at what Xiang Xian was writing in the Divine Artifact Catalogue. Xiao Kun leaned against the window, one foot on the couch, and said moments later, “I’ll nap. Wake me when we arrive.”

The sky darkened. Northern Divine Continent had seen nearly seven straight days of snow, and with no alerts from Kaifeng, their moods had relaxed considerably. A Huang’s presence kept the carriage warm.

The stark contrast between the biting cold outside and the warmth inside made Xiao Kun very drowsy. He had not relaxed his mind like this in a long time, so he drifted off to sleep.

Chaosheng first whispered a few words to Xiang Xian. Noticing how quickly Xiao Kun had fallen asleep, Xiang Xian secretly took the brush and drew a black circle around his left eye, then a flower on his right eye.

Chaosheng nearly burst out laughing and pounded the couch nonstop. Xiang Xian hurriedly signaled him to be quiet.

Chaosheng tried to grab the brush several times, so Xiang Xian handed it over. Chaosheng drew exaggerated upward-curving mustaches on Xiao Kun’s lips, extending down to his ears.

As they switched to vermilion pigment to paint Xiao Kun’s lips, he stirred, turned his back to them, and Xiang Xian immediately stopped.

Chaosheng laughed until tears streamed down his face, slumping on the couch.

“Master,” Wu Yingzong called from outside the carriage, “we’ve arrived.”

“Thanks for the hard work,” Xiang Xian replied. “We’ll stay at the government office tonight.”

At dusk, the carriage reached the outskirts of Chang’an City. Xiao Kun woke up, having slept deeply and refreshingly. Though it was a large cart, cramming in three people left little room. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun were both tall, so they were often embracing or holding each other. During Xiao Kun’s afternoon nap, he had pillowed his head on Xiang Xian’s leg, and Xiang Xian had not moved, letting him rest.

The physical contact gave Xiao Kun a strong sense of security. He had grown up without a father, rarely interacting with others, and had no peers as friends. Though Xiang Xian was two years younger, something about his presence put Xiao Kun at ease.

Crucially, Xiang Xian was so forward about physical touch that it felt natural, as if it were meant to be. Xiao Kun gradually grew accustomed to his arm-around-shoulder camaraderie and affection.

Xiao Kun composed himself. “We need to investigate the Chang’an Prefect’s family’s murder.”

Xiang Xian said, “It’s too late tonight. Let’s find a place to stay first. Old Wu?”

Wu Yingzong took out the official documents and went ahead to notify the locals. The guards at the city walls were straightforward, letting them in without questions. By then, night had fully fallen. Chaosheng happily wanted to get out and explore, but he found the famed Chang’an City pitch black.

Chaosheng: “???”

“Come back quick,” Xiang Xian said. “It’s snowing so hard—too cold, nothing to see.”

Chaosheng had just stepped off the carriage and looked around in bewilderment. Chang’an City was eerily quiet and desolate amid the early spring chill. Faint cries carried on the wind.

Disappointed by the lack of the prosperity he had imagined, Chaosheng returned to the carriage full of questions. As they moved from the outer to the inner city, a few scattered lights appeared, but nothing compared to Kaifeng. When they reached the government office, the Chang’an Prefect himself came out to greet them. “Lord Xiao! Lord Xiang! You must be exhausted from the journey!”

In the dim evening light, Xiao Kun got out and asked, “What’s the situation?”