Chapter 27: Huo Jingzhao Dominantly Lights the Heavenly Lamps Part 1

The anomaly in Shi Wuya’s eyes lasted only an instant before he chuckled lightly. “I was being presumptuous.”

“It’s just,” he stared fixedly at the knife they both held, his expression brimming with mockery, “the tighter Family Head Pei grips it, the more he will wound himself. Once pain and scars are etched in place, recovery is not so easy.”

Pei Lianyi’s gaze darkened, his voice even colder and prouder. “If we don’t try, how will we know who gets wounded and who suffers?”

“…” Deep displeasure flickered through Shi Wuya’s eyes.

In the luxurious, dazzling pavilion, the two stared at each other across a gleaming knife, the scent of blood almost palpable in the air between them.

Just as Shi Wuya was about to turn the blade, a hand with well-defined bones grasped Pei Lianyi’s left shoulder.

“Master Pei, let go.” The man spoke gently, but his warm tone seemed to make the atmosphere even more tense.

Seeing Huo Jingzhao’s arm around Pei Lianyi’s shoulder, a barely perceptible sneer squeezed from the corner of Shi Wuya’s mouth.

“Master Pei… Pei Lianyi, I said let go.” At that moment, Huo Jingzhao’s expression shifted, and he repeated himself.

Never expecting to hear angry words from his mouth, Pei Lianyi froze instantly. But when he turned his head, the other man still wore a gentle, polite expression.

“Jingzhao, what did you just call me?” he asked uncertainly.

Huo Jingzhao flashed him a wide grin. “Didn’t Master Pei say he was dizzy? Why did you wander off and make me search so hard for you?”

He spoke lightly, his face betraying nothing, but his unfathomably dark eyes were brewing a storm.

“Here, this is the Hangover Soup you wanted. It’s still warm. I tasted it; it’s quite good. Try it.” As he spoke, Huo Jingzhao scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it gently, and brought it to Pei Lianyi’s lips.

Pei Lianyi wasn’t the type to be fed soup by a junior in public, but feeling that cold, sinister gaze behind him, he still opened his mouth and drank it down.

“And this.” Staring at his parted lips, Huo Jingzhao produced a box of orange peel paste. He dipped his fingertip into the refreshing citrus paste and applied it to Pei Lianyi’s temples.

Pei Lianyi looked up slightly, gazing into his dark eyes, still deep and heavy amidst the brilliant lantern light. Before him, he suddenly saw two menacing eye sockets rush up.

“Feeling better?”

“Mm, much better.” Pei Lianyi felt ashamed for his persistent thoughts of that Ghost-Faced madman. Could it be that I’ve actually become addicted to his humiliation?!

Seeing their whispered exchange, Shi Wuya’s face turned ashen. He suddenly called out loudly, “Long time no see, Young Master Huo.”

Pei Lianyi felt as if stabbed. Without a word, he looked at Huo Jingzhao.

The person before him was staring back at Shi Wuya from a distance. Pei Lianyi looked down and saw that Huo Jingzhao’s hand holding the soup bowl had tightened several degrees, his solid wrist tensed, as if it might shatter the bowl the very next second.

“Oh my! I hadn’t even had a chance to introduce you yet, and you two already know each other?” A hearty voice reached the three men’s ears.

Shi Chengji appeared in a blaze of finery, waving his jade-handled fan. Wedging himself between them, he grinned at Pei Lianyi. “Lianyi, allow me to introduce you. This is Shi Wuya, a clan relative of the Shi family as well.”

“Never heard of him before,” Pei Lianyi’s expression remained flat.

Shi Chengji hurriedly explained, “Master Shi is fond of collecting rare medicinal herbs and is also proficient in astronomy and geography. Therefore, he left Rongchu City early on and traveled abroad extensively, settling mostly in the small kingdoms of the south. Recently, the one in Shangjing obsessed with alchemy called him back.”

He spoke with great enthusiasm, yet the other three showed no reaction.

Shi Wuya merely looked at Huo Jingzhao and said, “To think that the snot-nosed, destitute little brat from back then has now transformed into the esteemed Son-in-law of Pei Manor.”

As he spoke, he lowered his head with a laugh. “A sparrow turning into a phoenix—I almost didn’t recognize him.”

Now it was Shi Chengji’s turn to be surprised. “You know Huo Jingzhao?”

“Though we only met once, I feel our fate runs deep.” Responding to his words, Shi Wuya asked with a smile, “Don’t you agree, Young Master Huo?”

“From the sound of it, Mister Wuya has known Huo Jingzhao since he was little?” Sensing the shadow falling over Pei Lianyi’s face, Shi Chengji deliberately asked.

“Indeed.” More than just known him? They had once spent intimate days and nights together.

Shi Wuya swirled the wine cup in his hand and said meaningfully, “No, I was joking. I just saw him once at the academy before leaving Rongchu City.”

That’s what he said, but the first time he encountered Huo Jingzhao was not at any academy, but on a frozen lake in the dead of winter.

That day, he returned to Rongchu City to gather intelligence, preparing to cross a frozen lake surface, when a severely injured bird suddenly plummeted from the sky and landed at his feet.

Looking at the bird’s spasming wings, Shi Wuya crouched down and took a handkerchief from his chest.

“Poor little thing…” What are you doing—?! You child…! He was just about to bandage the bird’s wound when a massive rock suddenly flew from behind, crashing down with a boom, killing the bird and smashing a deep hole into the ice.

Shi Wuya stared in shock at the little boy by his leg. “You…!”

“I helped it find release,” the little boy’s eyes were large and black, as if holding an abyss no one could reach.

“Its injuries were deep and severe. By killing it, I lessened its pain. I am the one who saved it.”

Such unheard-of depravity, such unfathomable distortion…!

In that moment, Shi Wuya was stunned. He was deeply drawn to the cruelty and madness inherent in the child’s bones, feeling his blood boil, unable to breathe.

He thought, if this was an unsheathed blade, he would spend his life’s work polishing it.

This child would be his finest weapon for revenge against the Four Great Clans.

Now he had grown up, handsome and dashing, full of grace—the admired Young Sect Master of Nine Blossoms Sect, the star he had plucked from the blood and filth. Facing Pei Minrou or Pei Ziying, how could he possibly let go easily?!

Beside him, Shi Chengji tapped his head with his fan, chiming in, “Oh—yes, yes, I heard Mister Wuya also taught at the academy for a few days.”

He then turned to Huo Jingzhao. “Does Young Master Huo remember?”

Huo Jingzhao remained silent, his face stiff. Pei Lianyi spoke first, touching his chest. “Since your fated connection runs so deep, you should stay here and reminisce with him properly.”

“Once you and Ziying are wed, there probably won’t be another chance.”

He adjusted the man’s collar buttons as he spoke, his words seemingly flat, but his hands trembling slightly.

After finishing, regardless of the other’s reaction, he added coldly, “Shi Chengji, come over here and help me find the auction items.”

“Ah…? I’m coming right away!” Summoned proactively by his beloved for the first time, Shi Chengji was overjoyed and hurriedly followed.

Pei Lianyi lifted his leg to leave with unhurried steps. Passing by Shi Wuya, he paused briefly.

“You are the first person to refuse this fruit,” Shi Wuya chuckled darkly.

Pei Lianyi stared straight ahead. “Your food is somewhat interesting, but you’ve found the wrong person.”

“For someone who has always walked through pain, it makes no difference whether there is pain or not.”

He lowered his voice, his tone unexpectedly carrying a hint of tenderness. “I enjoy pain. And I will also utilize pain.”

Shi Wuya’s shoulders jolted. He instinctively looked towards Huo Jingzhao, who was standing where he was, catching the fleeting dazed expression on the other’s face. Alarm bells clamored instantly in his heart.

Leaving behind a “farewell forever,” Pei Lianyi returned to the main table.

Having been thwarted by both Pei father and son in succession, Shi Wuya was practically grinding his back teeth to dust. “This Respected Father-in-law of yours is truly no simple character.”

“My… dear Adoptive Son.”

The moment Pei Lianyi left, Huo Jingzhao’s face completely iced over. Head bowed, he let out bursts of hoarse laughter. “Can’t you just stay quietly put, Adoptive Father?”

Shi Wuya frowned. “What, feeling sorry for him?”

“Yeah.” Huo Jingzhao’s laughter revealed stark-white teeth, his chest vibrating faintly. “So sorry that I want to lock you all up and then tear you apart one by one.”

Seeing signs of a violent, deranged outburst, Shi Wuya nervously clenched his palm, beads of sweat appearing on his heroic brow.

“You haven’t been taking your medicine again lately, have you? Sang Sha…”

“I nearly choked him to death.” Huo Jingzhao raised his bloodshot eyes.

“…” This brat, neither taking his medicine nor having any outlet to vent, is liable to really cause trouble.

Fearing he might go berserk in public, Shi Wuya threw caution aside and hurriedly took out a medicine bottle from his chest. “No matter what, take your medicine first, since I happen to be here today.”

Just as he offered the medicine, laughing inquiries drifted over from the main table: “Oh～ How did Family Head Pei come back alone? Where’s that esteemed Son-in-law of yours?”

Huo Jingzhao stared fixedly at the figure seated in the chief position and clenched his fist.

Pei Lianyi’s voice, like a cold spring, rang out. “He’s occupied with something and delayed.”

Lord Yan gave an “Aiya!” and raised his wine cup again. “No matter, no matter… Since he’s not here, we’ll accompany Family Head Pei to have fun. Come on, let’s do a couple of rounds!”

“Yes, yes, it’s a good thing the esteemed Son-in-law is delayed. Doesn’t this leave an opportunity for us?” Someone beside him laughed heartily.

Pei Lianyi reached for his wine cup without batting an eyelid. He sat amidst the dazzling extravagance, upright and noble, but within that boundless splendor lay a loneliness imperceptible to ordinary people.

Huo Jingzhao brushed away Shi Wuya’s hand and was about to head over when he was blocked by a throng of people.