“No,” Yun Huizhou said. “He won’t beat up Uncle Xi. The reason he can wander around so happily outside without worrying about Drunken Dream Island running out of money is all thanks to Uncle Xi… If he beat Uncle Xi up and Uncle Xi got angry, he would directly cut off his travel funds. Then, he’d stop caring about the affairs of Drunken Dream Island altogether.”
“Did you think what Master said before about begging for food… was a joke? It’s said that when the Grandmaster took in our Martial Uncle and Master, he relied on suppressing bandits, taking bounties, street performing, and begging to support them…”
Lian Li: “…Uncle Xi is a legend.”
No wonder Uncle Xi held such a high status on Drunken Dream Island; even Martial Uncle often deferred to him.
If anyone offended Uncle Xi, wouldn’t that be equivalent to offending the entirety of Drunken Dream Island?
The two lay together chatting, with Lian Li mostly asking questions and Yun Huizhou answering.
Unknowingly, the night grew deep.
Lian Li felt a bit drowsy. Yun Huizhou lifted him off his chest and laid him down beside him, saying, “Go to sleep if you’re tired. Although we can set out tomorrow afternoon, there’s no need to stay up late.”
Lian Li watched as Yun Huizhou settled him in and then prepared to just lie back down without doing anything else. He couldn’t help but reach out and grab Yun Huizhou’s collar.
“What is it?” Yun Huizhou looked down at Lian Li’s hand and asked.
Lian Li blinked and said, “No goodnight kiss? If you just lie back like that, isn’t it exactly the same as before?”
Yun Huizhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He leaned down and lightly brushed Lian Li’s lips, a touch that broke as soon as it began.
He said, “Aside from the goodnight kiss, we aren’t much different from before at any other time.”
Lian Li understood. Their feelings had reached the right point, but because they had been so close previously, there hadn’t been any real breakthrough in their behavior compared to before, other than the fact that they would now kiss.
It was as if the only difference between their current state and their past was a mutual confession of their hearts.
Thinking of this, Lian Li couldn’t control his mind from drifting toward some “not-safe-for-children” images. His gaze began to wander, and a faint blush slowly crept onto his face.
His lips moved, wanting to say that their behavior could, in fact, be different from before.
However, before he could make a sound, Yun Huizhou had already laid back down. “Go to sleep. Even if we wanted things to be different, it’s impossible until after the martial arts competition is over.”
Lian Li: “…”
Lian Li was indignant. Why was it impossible before the competition ended? Was it just assumed that he would be the one in the position to be “affected”? Why couldn’t he be the…
Fine… it really did seem like he couldn’t…
If the two of them were to fight for it, he certainly wouldn’t be able to beat Yun Huizhou; the difference in their martial prowess was simply too great.
Another thing was… his own traitorous body…
Lian Li gave a small “Hmph,” turned over, and faced away from Yun Huizhou.
The next afternoon, carrying the expectations of all the elders on the island and the blessings of Zhao Honglan and Qu Tingqun, the two left Drunken Dream Island and headed toward Linjiu City.
They spurred their horses on, and after resting for a night upon reaching Linjiu City, they went straight to Jinzui Tower.
Jin Manjue was in his usual pavilion, admiring his collection of albums featuring beautiful women, when a shadow suddenly loomed over him.
He hurriedly looked up. Seeing it was Yun Huizhou and Lian Li, he immediately plastered on a smile. “Great Hero Yun, Young Hero Lian, I hope you have been well.”
Yun Huizhou waved his hand. “Cut the polite nonsense. Did Zhang Ning follow Zhou Yu here?”
The smile on Jin Manjue’s face stiffened. He said, “We cannot disclose who the competing parties have brought along. Of course, if you found out through other means, we won’t ask questions.”
“Fine.” Yun Huizhou shrugged. “If the other side lets someone else step up, I’ll take Lian Li’s place. Make a note of that on your end.”
“If you two have made up your minds, then I shall record it.” Although Jin Manjue said this, his hand had already picked up the brush to write it down.
Seeing that the personnel were settled, Lian Li didn’t want to linger. He tugged at Yun Huizhou’s sleeve, preparing to leave.
Jin Manjue’s gaze swept over the two of them, and a suspicious smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
At that moment, Lian Li suddenly turned his head and caught the smile before Jin Manjue could retract it. Lian Li knew all too well what was going through Jin Manjue’s head right now.
Especially knowing that Jin Manjue had secretly tucked that erotic book into their things last time—remembering it now and seeing that smile, he felt a surge of embarrassed annoyance.
“What are you laughing at! So lewd!”
Jin Manjue was about to tease Lian Li with a few more words when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine. The hair on his body stood on end, as if he were being stared down by a wild beast.
He turned his head and saw Yun Huizhou looking at him with a fake, cold smile.
Instantly, Jin Manjue lost his nerve. He didn’t dare utter a single word of teasing and could only tactfully see them out. “Then, safe travels to you both…?”
Yun Huizhou walked up to him. Jin Manjue was so frightened that he backed up repeatedly until he hit the edge of his chair and had nowhere left to go. He could only sit down, looking up at Yun Huizhou with a fawning smile.
“Great Hero Yun, is there anything else you wish to instruct?”
Yun Huizhou looked down at him. He actually really wanted to give Jin Manjue a beating. Back then, the man had secretly hidden such an erotic book in the box, causing him to lose a night of sleep and worry about the matter for a long time.
But if Jin Manjue hadn’t pulled that stunt, he might not have realized for a long time that his feelings for Lian Li had changed.
Furthermore, after he had figured it out, he realized that Lian Li had likely discovered his own feelings long ago but seemed prepared to keep them hidden.
If he had never realized it and never made things clear, and Lian Li had kept quiet, perhaps one day the boy wouldn’t have been able to take it anymore. Once his martial arts were perfected, he might have just run off and stopped coming back often.
By then, as time passed, the boy might have actually found someone else to marry.
In a way, Jin Manjue could be considered a matchmaker for them.
He had always been clear about debts and gratitude. Although Jin Manjue’s original intention in giving him the erotic book might have been pure mischief, it had indeed unintentionally helped the relationship between him and Lian Li.
Thinking of this, even though beating Jin Manjue would be easy and he wasn’t worried about the man’s elders coming for trouble, Yun Huizhou kindly decided to let Jin Manjue off the hook.
Seeing that Jin Manjue was so scared he was practically trembling, Yun Huizhou finally restrained his aura significantly. He spoke, “Which day exactly is the duel scheduled for?”
Hearing Yun Huizhou speak, Jin Manjue felt as though he had finally come back to life. He hurriedly answered the question: “Three days from now, still three kilometers outside the West City Gate.”
As soon as the address was announced, Lian Li found it familiar. After a brief moment of recollection, he said, “Isn’t that the same place where Senior Brother Zhao and Xin Ci had their duel last time?”
