Chapter 16: Heavenly Sound
At midnight, a stream of moonlight, clear as water, poured in from the courtyard. In the silent night, any sound would seem exceptionally jarring.
Fu Yunzhi was awakened by a commotion. After stepping out of his room, he saw that Qi Xiao and the others were also awake, standing by the corridor window, watching the excitement.
“What happened?”
“We’re not sure either,” Qi Xiao said. “It seems something happened at the magistrate’s residence. Shaofeng has already gone to help.”
Fu Yunzhi frowned. I hope it’s not a problem with the auction.
Just as they were speaking, Qi Shaofeng returned, his expression not looking very good.
“The auction items were stolen.”
Qi Shaoling subconsciously glanced at Duanmu Ling.
Duanmu Ling snorted. “I used to steal treasures without a trace. These sea pirates are different. They brazenly went to the magistrate’s residence and robbed it.”
The boxes containing the auction items had been stolen by sea pirates. In less than a night, the entire city knew.
The county magistrate had lost a great deal of face, not to mention millions of taels of silver. He was so anxious that he summoned all the Jianghu figures in Yinshui City overnight to discuss a plan. When the magistrate learned that Qi Xiao and Qi Shaoling were also in Yinshui, he even sent a sedan chair to respectfully invite them to his residence.
In the study of the magistrate’s residence, Adviser Cai was once again in charge.
He spread a map of the residence on the desk and explained in detail how the pirates had broken in, found the treasures, and fought their way out.
After listening, Fu Yunzhi thought to himself, These pirates didn’t have a plan at all. They just brute-forced their way in. It shows how weak the magistrate’s defenses are. Or perhaps, these pirates are not only audacious but also incredibly skilled.
Shen Linye frowned. “These pirates are a cancer, harming the court and the common people. They should be eradicated.”
Everyone agreed, saying that they should take this opportunity for the court and the Jianghu to cooperate and wipe out these pirates once and for all.
“The Jianghu people will listen to Alliance Chief Shen,” Adviser Cai said. “And those of us who take the court’s silver will follow General Qi’s lead.” With that, he handed the magistrate’s military tally to Qi Xiao.
It was only then that everyone realized that the man who had competed with Alliance Chief Shen for the first prize was the famous Qi the Yaksha. They became even more curious about the identities of Fu Yunzhi and Qi Shaoling, who were with him. As for Duanmu Ling, everyone already knew him. After all, who didn’t know the number one beauty of the Jianghu?
Qi Xiao took the tally. “This is a matter that benefits the court and the people, so of course, I will not refuse. I will have a fast horse send a message to the Emperor to request his permission to mobilize troops to assist.”
The people of the Jianghu were decisive and straightforward, and Qi Xiao was not an indecisive person. Thus, the matter was quickly settled. As for the detailed plan, that was between Qi Xiao and Shen Linye.
A letter requesting the mobilization of troops was being sent to the capital by fast horse. At this moment, Qi Xiao and Shen Linye were sitting in a private room in a teahouse, the table filled with strong liquor. They were in no hurry to plan the pirate extermination campaign. After all, waiting for the court’s troops to arrive and preparing ships, weapons, and provisions would take at least three days.
Besides, both of them were heavy drinkers. It was lonely at the top, and being invincible was boring. Now that they had finally met someone who was their equal, they couldn’t help but compete…
Many wine jugs had already been emptied. Shen Linye couldn’t help but exclaim, “General Qi, you have a great tolerance for alcohol!”
“Alliance Chief Shen is no less impressive!”
Shen Linye’s cheeks were flushed, and he let out a drunken burp. “General Qi, do you know a person called Qi The Handsome?”
Qi Xiao thought hazily, That name sounds so familiar…
“Ah! Th-that’s me!”
“What! General Qi, you actually write this kind of storybook, like a sissy…”
“What’s wrong with writing this kind of storybook! You read this kind of storybook too, so you’re a sissy too.”
The two of them burst out laughing.
The sound of their laughter, and even the sound of breaking cups, could be heard outside the private room. The waiter peeked through the crack in the door and saw that the two were thoroughly drunk. He hurried upstairs to call Fu Yunzhi.
Qi Xiao shook his head. “Why did you suddenly ask about that?”
“Because I read Rebirth: The Domineering Husband Wants to Snatch Me,” Shen Linye said. “I wanted to find the author and tell him that… no, ask him if… something like rebirth can really happen.”
“Of course it can! Why are you so curious about this? Could it be that you’ve been reborn?”
Shen Linye smiled. “That’s right, I’ve been reborn! I thought I was killed, but in the blink of an eye, I was back ten years ago…”
When Fu Yunzhi arrived at the private room, he saw the two of them “chatting.” Although they were talking, their words were mostly slurred, and it sounded more like they were howling like ghosts… Yes, it was like two ghosts roaring at each other. The scene was as comical as it could be.
Fu Yunzhi helped Qi Xiao up and instructed the waiter to inform Mu Linglong, who was staying at the inn across the street. Then, he dragged the stumbling Qi Xiao upstairs and back to their room.
“Yunzhi, Yunzhi, let me sing you a song, okay…”
“…”
“My skateboard shoes, fashion, fashion, the most fashionable. On the way home, I can’t help but rub, rub, rub. Rubbing on this smooth ground, rubbing, rubbing… Rubbing on this smooth ground… One step, two steps… three steps… one step…”
Fu Yunzhi’s temples throbbed. He said fiercely, “Shut up! Stop singing! You’re talking nonsense…”
“Uh, right, Yunzhi is an ancient person, you probably don’t understand what this means. In that case, I’ll sing another one…”
“You are my little, little apple! I can never love you too much! Your red, red little face warms… warms… uh, it’s been too many years since I sang this, I forgot the lyrics…”
Fu Yunzhi roughly threw Qi Xiao onto the bed and took off his boots. Just as he was about to pull the covers over him, Qi Xiao reached out and pulled him into his arms.
Qi Xiao tightened his arms and murmured, “Yunzhi… you are my little rose…”
Fu Yunzhi smiled but couldn’t break free from his embrace.
Someone was murmuring in his ear, and the overwhelming smell of alcohol surrounded him. Fu Yunzhi felt a bit awkward…
“Qi Xiao, let go.”
“No…”
“Let go!”
“I won’t. Yunzhi… why do you always reject me…”
“You’re drunk.”
“I’m not drunk…”
Fu Yunzhi struggled until he was out of breath, but it was no use. He was still held tightly against Qi Xiao’s chest. So, he simply adjusted himself into a comfortable position and lay on his chest. Qi Xiao’s body temperature was a bit high from the alcohol, and Fu Yunzhi found it very warm.
Seeing that Fu Yunzhi was no longer struggling, Qi Xiao also quieted down and gradually fell asleep.
…
Fu Yunzhi wanted to kill someone. Why was he still so strong even when he was asleep?! Did this person not forget to flex his arms even in his dreams?
In another room, Duanmu Ling finally deigned to climb down from the rafters and said excitedly, “General Qi fell asleep holding Yunzhi.”
Qi Shaoling felt a little bad. “Shouldn’t we go over and help?”
“What are you talking about!” Duanmu Ling said immediately. “The pitiful General Qi has finally succeeded in taking advantage of him for once. If we go over, wouldn’t we be ruining his fun?”
Qi Shaoling suddenly wondered what Qi Xiao would think when the two of them woke up the next morning.
That demonic singing and those songs, they were truly unprecedented…
