The rustling sound resembling the sound heard a strong arm in motion pulled Ming Suwen out of her deep conscious.
"Wait for me."
Ming Suwen gradually opened her eyes. She was dumbstruck. She looked at the man who appeared before her; his appearance fit the image of the child in her memories. With just a quick glimpse, she knew he came for her. Judging from his hasty demeanour, he must've been pressed for time.
He was dressed in a constable's uniform, didn't wear a mask or disguise. He was him, the current and real him. Ming Suwen disliked his Lord San Shen disguise. She disliked the way he acted as though he was invincible and everything went according to his predictions. She disliked the fact that he viewed her as a woman who'd follow his every demand. However, she regretted her decision when she saw him appear without a disguise. She felt that she had done something detrimental to him.
Ming Feizhen had his own reasons for choosing to retire at the capital, but it was dangerous, for he had to avoid letting the imperial discover he was Lord San Shen. The status quo was different; there were no traces of Lord San Shen to track him in the past. Very few in the imperial court knew anything about him. Now, however, he had revealed too much information pertaining to Lord San Shen to the imperial court. The only thing stopping them from continuing to trace him was that they were oblivious to the fact that the information he revealed was useful. If Ming Feizhen's identity was to be uncovered, the only possible outcome was to on the run due to the arrest warrant.
'Is Ming Feizhen risking the remainder of his life to placate me?'
"Idiot…"
Miss Juese's fading heartbeats suddenly began to regain vitality. It was the same as when she saw his sleeping face that night.
None of it mattered anymore. Marriages, Princesses, none of them mattered.
'If he considers me to be so important, what can I criticise him for?'
Ming Feizhen stepped out from the crowd and walked up to her. He pulled her up from her chair and held her in his now strong arms. In his arms, her body went limp and hot as if she took a dip in a hot spring, melting even her bones.
With Ming Suwen in his arms, Ming Feizhen's demeanour changed, "What's the matter? Why have you suffered such a severe injury?"
Worried sick, Ming Feizhen transferred some of his own internal energy to Ming Suwen, subsequently adjusting her deviated true qi back to its proper state. Had Ming Feizhen not comprehended the foundations of her internal strength and been proficient with Tai Chi Mental Cultivation, he would unlikely have been able to instantly readjust her true qi status.
"Qi deviation… You clearly learnt mental cultivation; why didn't you readjust your true qi when it was erratic? Were you trying to kill me with worry?!"
Ming Suwen liked his demeanour when she was worried for her even more than before. "I like you when you're worried for me…"
'This gives me… the illusion that you also like me despite me being your martial grandaunt.'
Ming Feizhen seemed to discern something from her gaze. His eyes were a tad red, and he bit down on his lips, but he made no remarks.
"Hey! Who are you?! What are you doing holding your young master's woman?!" shouted the man behind him, voice sounding resembling a pig being butchered.
The man who shouted was none other than Duke Zheng's fat-as-a-ball son, Young Master Zheng, who also looked as if he was a barrel of swishing oil.
Ming Feizhen remembered him as the man who hurled many rude remarks towards Ming Suwen the other day on Ethereal Beauty Boat.
"She's not yours," grouchily stated Ming Feizhen, upon seeing the fatty. He tightened his hold on Ming Suwen. "She's mine. She always has been."
Ming Suwen weakly rested in Ming Feizhen's arms. She gradually sobered up as Ming Feizhen transferred his pure and potent true qi to her to aid her breathing. The clearer and clearer her mind was, the harder and harder her chest thumped.
'Feizhen, Ming Feizhen came to see me! S-So, what becomes of his business in the imperial palace? I… Damn it, I shouldn't have thrown my temper around! Y-You idiot!'
Despite thinking that, Ming Suwen felt blissful. It was as if somebody poured a pot of honey into her heart. She was totally besotted with him. Hearing him say, "she's mine. She always has been," gave her an unstoppable urge to look into his eyes. Her face literally emitted smoke. Embarrassed, she tried to hide her face under his neck.
Ming Feizhen knew his shiyi was no longer angry when he noticed her reaction. He subtly smiled and began to take off.
Young Master Zheng went up to the platform where Ming Suwen's seat was. He merely took a few steps, yet had begun to pant already. "Who are you, piece of shit? You want snatch this young master's woman? You think you're wealthier than me?"
"I don't owe you any explanation," retorted Ming Feizhen. He then looked down to Ming Suwen. Voice concerned, he said, "Young Shiyi, I have something to say to you; let's get going."
"You want to leave?! Life isn't that easy!!" With a wave of Young Master Zheng's hand, between seventeen to eighteen burly men immediately stepped out from the crowd. With a treacherous smile, Young Master Zheng exclaimed, "Hmph, ever since that freak with the mask came, I've made sure to bring along men that not even the Qilin Guards can match! You think you can steal my woman, you piece of shit?!!"
Ming Feizhen glared at Young Master Zheng out of the corner of his eyes, but that was as far as he went. He didn't come in a disguise. Naturally, then, his risk of being exposed was extremely high. In fact, there was no guarantee that there wasn't someone present who recognised him. He lowered his head spun around to take off with qinggong, but…
"She's mine. Put her down!"
Ming Feizhen's movements suddenly slowed.
"The sexy woman has been deliberately putting on airs just because she looks half decent. That's why I bought her to play with her. You and that masked freak are the only ones who even cherish her," insulted Young Master Zheng. He glared at Boss Dong, who was shocked, and smiled hideously. "Such a slut has no right to be my wife. Is your brain for storing bricks? Once I've fucked her, I'll rent her out to the young master's in the capital so that everybody can have some fun. One thousand taels for one load, five thousand taels for one night and I'll have made back my investment in half a year."
Ming Feizhen's looked angrier and angrier by the word. His murderous intent started to send chills down spines.
"Let's go! Ignore him," softly said Ming Suwen. "You're now Liu Shan Men's constable; you're a public figure. Are you crazy?! If you assault him, you'll be courting trouble with the law!"
No response.
Ming Suwen realised that she couldn't change Ming Feizhen's mind when she saw his expression. Once Ming Feizhen was angry, you would need more than an Emperor to stop him.
Ming Feizhen turned and took a few steps forward. Voice quiet, he said, "Check that your tongue is attached right, and then repeat yourself."
"How dare you speak to me in that tone?!" thundered Young Master Zheng. "Listen carefully: you and that slut…"
If possible, Ming Feizhen wouldn't want to fight in front of others. He lamented, "But when has life ever gone my way?"
*Crack*
And a face was deformed that night.
Without anyone noticing him move, Ming Feizhen sneaked past Young Master Zheng's guards and slammed his enter foot flush onto his fat face. The crack resembled the sound heard when crushing rice crackers. However, it sounded far more horrific when an actual face shattered.
Young Master Zheng's face began to hurt right after hearing a gust of wind next to his ear. He then fell backwards. His facial bones were shattered, but his conscious was intact. He touched his face to find it bloody. He was shocked to the point of disbelief. He looked at the insolent man before him and sobbed. He shocked and enraged at the same time but had no means of retaliation.
"H-How dare you hit me?! Not even my father…"
Ming Feizhen didn't let him finish. He cut him off by serving him another kick, sending him rolling as if he was a ball. With the next kick, he swung horizontally, kicking seven of his rotten teeth out! Correct, Young Master Zheng's mouth was putrid, as dental hygiene wasn't high on his list of priorities. The terrified crowd quickly backed off. Young Master Zheng finally got to his feet and shouted, "You… You!"
Ming Feizhen wasted no time front kicking him.
"And I just fucking hit you! Do something about it!"
Another kick landed.
"I'll kick you after you're done, too! Tell your dad to come do something if you're so tough! Make sure you burn my appearance into your mind. I'm the one who trashed your pig face! Since you won't be able to fucking speak, you won't need your teeth anymore! If I hear you slander her one more time, I'll skin you alive and cook you, you fat fuck!"
Young Master Zheng's servants had their meridians sealed when Ming Feizhen zipped past them to get to him. Thus, not one of them could move, let alone assist him. If not even his men could move, his friends certainly had no business helping. All that could do was spectate Ming Feizhen kick him around as if he was kicking a ball.
Using the fact that nobody approached him to stop him to his advantage, Ming Feizhen stomped on the floor and utilised qinggong to leap out the door of Ethereal Beauty Boat.
Utilising Night Steps, Ming Feizhen's presence in the night went undetected. Once he had moved to somewhere he considered safe and far enough, he finally stopped. As soon as he stopped, he felt Ming Suwen's white hand thump his chest. He looked down to see Ming Suwen's raised eyebrows and the anger in her large and round eyes.
"Idiot," she uttered.
Curious, Ming Feizhen asked, "Young Shiyi?"
"You big idiot!" Ming Suwen shouted. "You're playing hero again! That was reckless! He is Duke Zheng's son. If the imperial court finds out, it'll be impossible for you to do anything henceforward. Let him curse and insult me. It's not as if he'd actually be able t-"
"I won't permit it," Ming Feizhen interjected. He stubbornly refused. "I won't allow it. Whoever insults you will have to answer to my fists. I won't make any exceptions."
Speechless, Ming Suwen blankly looked at Ming Feizhen.
Ming Feizhen slowly stroked Ming Suwen's slender and soft arm. There was a scar on her arm that had yet to heal.
"I remember… when you were twelve, you ran into a strange beast in the mountains while roaming the mountains. It almost had the two of us as its snack for the day. Because I couldn't defeat it, you shielded me and got this scar. Ever since then, I pledged an oath to hunt down everyone who would ever dare hurt you even if I had to chase him to the ends of the world. How can I let someone insult you in my presence, then?'
"Feizhen…"
"Also, Young Shiyi, what did you say about you being my responsibility?"
"Eh?"
"Don't go getting ideas on your own," said Ming Feizhen, stroking her hand nose with one hand. "As if I'd take up responsibility for someone for my entire life just because a few old men made some remarks."
"You… You…"
"In short…" began Ming Feizhen, turning his blushing face away. "You've never been a liability to me. You're the most important person in the world to me."
Ming Suwen's face turned red as if she drank a bowl of nice wine. She wrapped her arms across her voluptuous peaks. She desperately tried to hide her bright red face behind a tough façade.
"Always sweet talking…" mumbled Ming Suwen, in a soft voice without her realising. "All you've ever done was tease me ever since we were kids."
"What?"
Ming Suwen quickly looked up. "What are people going to think of you and me with you behaving that way?'
"I couldn't care less what they think. All I care is what you think," sincerely stated Ming Feizhen, holding Ming Suwen's hand.
"Young Shiyi, I honestly didn't know about your illness. I definitely would've visited you even if the entire sect stopped me, otherwise. I want you to live together with me from now on. I don't want you getting hurt out or being sad when you're out of my sight."
"Then…" Ming Suwen couldn't see her face, but judging from Ming Feizhen's mischievous smile, she knew that her face must've been totally red. She couldn't help looking up and forcing an aggressive smile and gaze to mask her embarrassment. "So you've decided to take my heart?"
*Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!*
"No, I, uhh, I meant…" stammered Ming Feizhen. He touched his head and gazed up at the sky. "Wow, tonight's moon sure is b-"
"Coward!" muttered Ming Suwen, under her breath. "Loser! Fine. You have yet to settle your philandering adventures; I don't want to part of the list of boats you've got your feet in. I'm satisfied just to know that you're willing to let me live with you."
Ming Suwen naturally felt her tension leave her body, as she saw Ming Feizhen's relieved look. It wasn't time yet; Ming Feizhen still had a hole in his heart to fill. He, therefore, refused to take another step forward.
"I guess this is the furthest we'll get at present," thought Ming Suwen.
"So… what do you plan to do with me? If I went with you… what do we do about Mount Daluo? Your shifu may be unaware, but your martial brothers are in Nanjing. If they rat you out, what will you do?"
Ming Suwen pointed out the biggest hurdle. If Mount Daluo's members found out, there'd most probably be a hassle. The fact was that they had levels of seniority between them.
"With regards to that… A genius always has a way. Having spent the recent nights foregoing sleep to engross myself in deep thinking in addition to extensive research, this one has finally come up with a perfect plan," said Ming Feizhen. He then cleared his throat and wiped his grin off his face. He deliberately put on an earnest charade. "Liu Shan Men's newly recruited female constable, number zero, eight, zero, seven, zero, zero, seven, Ming Juese, attention!"
Ming Suwen blinked with puzzlement. "Huh?"
Ming Feizhen straightened up his posture. Officer Ming then declared, "I, Ming Feizhen, Liu Shan Men's Nanjing branch's sole head constable, hereby declare that you have been accepted into Liu Shan Men's ranks. Henceforth, I hope that you will diligently forge forth, practice chivalry, uphold justice on behalf of the heavens, loyally devote your service to the imperial court and bring glory to Liu Shan Men!"
Ming Suwen seemed to catch on to where Ming Feizhen was going with it. "You mean for me to join Liu Shan Men as…."
Ming Feizhen nodded with a smile. "Constable zero, eight, zero, seven, zero, zero, seven, you are still a new female constable at Liu Shan Men. Liu Shan Men's female constables are trained from childhood. The youngest girl right now is six-years old. You have joined later than them. That also means that you are two levels my junior."
Ming Suwen found herself dumbstruck. She thought, "You sly punk! I can't believe he'd come up with such an amaz-, shameless idea I mean. Did he just drop my seniority two levels to erase my seniority over him at Mount Daluo? Maybe this will work, though."
Liu Shan Men had a long history in the martial world just as Mount Daluo did. The levels of seniority within the group were acknowledged.
"As long as one of us the senior of the other, we might really be able to overcome our seniority hurdle!" reasoned Ming Suwen. She hid her delight. The light at the end of the tunnel suggested there was a way to resolve the problem that had plagued her seemingly forever.
Ming Feizhen blinked. "What are you waiting for? Let me hear you call me Shigong."
"In your dreams!" exclaimed Ming Suwen, before poking her tongue. "You're barely a senior, yet you're making a huge fuss out of it."
"Misbehave, and I might spank you."
Ming Feizhen was always talkative around girls; hence, he had a slip of the tongue. As a result, his face went red. As far back as he could remember, that was the first time he worshipped his goddess, and hence, the mistake.
"Pfft, hahahaha," laughed Ming Suwen, covering her small mouth with her hand. She laughed so hard that she bent over and backwards alternately.
"Do it. If you don't, you're not a man," provoked Ming Suwen, raising her chin with a smug look, yet still smiling with the beauty of a flower in bloom.
Whether deliberate or by accident, Ming Feizhen's gaze sneaked down to her entrancing snowy peaks. They were powerful enough to turn the cold winter air hot.
Ming Suwen knew where he was staring; therefore, it was only natural that she blushed. Nevertheless, apparently afraid that he couldn't get a clear view, she instinctively straightened her torso to push them up.
With both of them feeling awkward, Ming Suwen tried to find a topic to divert their attention. "By the way, when… did you realise it was me? I had covered my face and used a fake name, not to mention altering my voice using a specific technique. How did you recognise me?"
Ming Feizhen chuckled. "I recognised you with my first glance. It was nothing hard. Who else in this world could do justice to the word 'peerless' besides my young shiyi?"
"Pfft, glib tongue." Although Ming Suwen gave a nonchalant response, her satisfaction seeped into her voice.
"Ah!" suddenly exclaimed Ming Suwen. "Aren't you taking part in the fuma selection? Has it ended already?"
"No," replied Ming Feizhen, with a faint smile. "I bet it's still going on right now."
Ming Feizhen then peered into the distance and murmured, "I wonder how it's going. I hope everything is proceeding smoothly."
Glossary
*Title - It's written using the military number system in Chinese.
**Bowl of wine - Back in the old days, it wasn't uncommon for people to drink wine from bowls.
***Shigong - Grandmaster/teacher's teacher/teacher's father. I will use ‘grandmaster’ if there’s a strong request for it or chance of confusion. Otherwise, I will use ‘shigong’ for the most part, because it’s just being weird (arguably wrong) for the sake of simplification.
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