WWC | Chapter 11

The carriage was dimly lit. He sat stiffly, and with only the corner of his eye, he could barely make out the figure that had somehow appeared in the corner.

That man seemed to have condensed straight out of the carriage’s shadows, silent and soundless, like a ghost.

He could not see him clearly, but he could feel a deliberately hollowed-out stillness, darker and heavier than the surrounding night.

At such close range, Su Tingyan could not even hear the slightest breath from the other man. All he heard was the faint movement of the night wind.

The only thing that proved the man existed was the sliver of starlight caught on the blade at Su Tingyan’s neck, cold as the phosphorescence on a grave mound.

“Pardon the offense, Lord Su.”

At last, the man spoke, and slightly drew the sword back.

Only then did Su Tingyan see that the other man was dressed in a black, gold-embroidered Flying Fish uniform. It should have been a lofty and imposing outfit, but now it was soaked through with blood, the stench spreading through the air.

He drew a breath. Since the other man had not killed him on the spot, he probably wanted something.

“This esteemed…” Su Tingyan very much wanted to reach up and rub the wound on his neck. It hurt, and it itched a little too, but he did not dare move carelessly at the moment.

“Hero, you seem to be badly injured?”

“Lord Su.” The man’s voice came again, low and hoarse, scraping out a cruel and vicious edge. “This subordinate is the Commander of the Brocade Guards, Li Xun.”

The Brocade Guards?! The emperor’s hunting dogs?! The royal blade in the dark?!

Why was he here, and why had he appeared on his carriage covered in blood?

A system prompt appeared: [Fourth romance target unlocked: Commander of the Brocade Guards, Li Xun. Character traits: extremely high combat ability, extremely high concealment ability, extremely strong possessiveness, gloomy and cold temperament, unpredictable methods!]

Su Tingyan: “…”

“…So it is Commander Li.” Su Tingyan forced down the shock in his heart and did his best to keep his voice steady. “Lord Li is severely injured. Why come to this cabinet’s carriage instead of the Imperial Medical Office? What instructions do you have?”

He tried to steer this evil god toward the official route and distance himself from the matter.

Li Xun seemed to be in pain to the point of collapse, but he only gave a muffled grunt, a trace of ragged breathing slipping out.

“My lord, since we both work for His Majesty, if you help me once, Li Xun will be endlessly grateful.”

Su Tingyan understood now. This man had run into trouble.

But this was hardly asking for help. It was clearly dragging someone into the mess with him. Help him, and he might be swept into an unknown whirlpool.

But if he did not help…

He looked at the sword at his neck, which had just been withdrawn but still seemed to carry its aftershock. The price of refusing would probably be immediate.

Su Tingyan thought for a moment. “Lord Li, you serve His Majesty. If you need to pass through the gates, holding a carriage permit would naturally keep everyone from stopping you. Why would you need this cabinet’s help? Besides, with only this small carriage of mine, I’m afraid it cannot even carry the important matters of Commander Li.”

Li Xun’s breathing grew even more unstable from the blood loss. “If I could be seen in the light… why would I need to borrow Lord Su’s wind?”

He paused, as if gathering strength, or perhaps judging Su Tingyan’s reaction, before slowly continuing, “The palace gates have already been locked for the night. At this hour, how is a permit any different from announcing my name to the world? I only need a clean road for a short stretch.”

Su Tingyan thought, so Li Xun was not on ordinary official business.

He was likely carrying out some covert operation that absolutely could not reveal his identity, maybe even while being hunted or investigated?

At this point, any normal means of passage would immediately expose his condition and whereabouts. That was why, like an injured beast, he had slipped into the carriage of this newly risen power broker, someone who seemed to have nothing to do with the Brocade Guards system at all. He was gambling that Su Tingyan would give him temporary shelter, gambling that Su Tingyan would be willing to help him leave the imperial city without a sound.

Su Tingyan fell silent, weighing the pros and cons at high speed.

Just then, from outside the carriage, the orderly footsteps of patrolling imperial guards and the clatter of armor began to approach from afar.

The system prompt also sounded abruptly at that moment: [Triggered event: Midnight Assistance.]

[Option A: Help Li Xun leave the palace.]

[Option B: Throw yourself at Li Xun and kiss him wildly, preserving your life with beauty.]

……….

DEEEEEVVVVVEEEELLLLLLOOOOOOPEEEERRRRRR!!!

Are you fucking insane?!

Every time it gets to a critical point, you design some ridiculous choice like this. You’re basically forcing someone to pick!

Who would jump up and make out with someone’s mouth at a time like this?!

In the blink of an eye, the guards’ footsteps were already close to the carriage. He could even hear the rough voice of the leading officer questioning them. “Whose carriage is ahead? The palace gates are about to lock. Why are you still lingering inside the palace?”

The coachman answered nervously, “I, it’s the carriage of Grand Secretary Su from the Grand Secretariat. My lord was handling official business in the Audit Office just now and was delayed for a bit. He is on his way out of the palace to return home.”

The officer seemed to glance toward the carriage and softened his tone somewhat, though he remained dutiful. “So it is Lord Su. Forgive this humble one’s discourtesy. This is a routine inspection. Please make things convenient, my lord.”

As he spoke, footsteps pressed toward the carriage door.

There was no choice. Su Tingyan looked once more at Li Xun’s pale, handsome face.

“I choose A.”

The system said: [If you complete this triggered event, you will receive 200 charm points. Li Xun’s affection will rise to 20!]

Inside the carriage, Li Xun’s body had already tensed like iron. Even in the dim darkness, Su Tingyan could feel the murderous intent surging up from him.

The short sword in the other man’s sleeve, which had only just been withdrawn, was probably ready to strike again.

But at that very moment.

Just as the carriage curtain was about to be lifted, Su Tingyan suddenly let out an extremely pained moan, one that trembled with breath, “Ugh… ah…!”

The sound was low, but it was a fine voice, the tone winding like silk and bamboo, like windblown song and flute. It did not sound wanton, but it still made one’s ears heat up.

The guard’s skin prickled all over from that voice. He immediately stopped moving and said hesitantly, “…Lord Su? Are you all right?”

Su Tingyan did not answer right away. Instead, he suddenly leaned to the side. With a vicious thought born in his panic, he looked as though he had lost his balance from the pain, but in truth he crashed heavily into the severely injured Li Xun.

“Mn!”

Li Xun had not expected it at all and was hit squarely. It seemed even his wound was crushed hard, and a muffled groan of pain and fury escaped his throat.

His whole body jolted. He almost could not control himself and strike back, but in the end he still held it in with his formidable willpower. Only those tiger-like eyes and sharp brows shot a vicious glare at Su Tingyan, as if he wanted to swallow him whole.

Su Tingyan, however, noticed nothing, or rather, had no time to care.

That collision caused the carriage to rock for an instant, making it seem as if he had really toppled from the pain.

He even made his breathing sound more disordered and weak. “No, no… It’s just that this cabinet’s old illness suddenly flared up. My stomach is cramping like it’s being twisted apart. I have troubled you, General…”

“This cabinet needs to, needs to return home at once for medicine…”

His voice sounded agonized to the extreme, and somehow also strangely alluring and urgent. Fearing the officer might not believe him, he even leaned out a face as white and noble as jade.

Loose black hair by his temples tangled around his ear, like a sliver of pure moonlight spilling out of the carriage, and at once made the man outside freeze.

How could that officer dare inspect further? Afraid of delaying the Grand Secretariat’s precious lord from getting treatment, he quickly stepped back. “So that’s how it is! This humble one deserves death for not knowing your esteemed body was unwell! Please, please go! Get out of the palace! Open the gates! Let him pass!”

Su Tingyan felt a little helpless. He had originally wanted to fake a stomachache and diarrhea, but for some reason, those people looked at him as if he had accidentally eaten aphrodisiac.

Damn this face. Do beautiful people never get diarrhea?

The carriage was immediately allowed to pass, and its speed was even faster than before.

Inside the carriage, the ride resumed its steady motion, but it also fell into a strange, dead silence.

Su Tingyan slowly sat upright and casually adjusted himself.

Li Xun had nearly been bumped so hard he could have coughed blood out of the carriage, yet Su Tingyan still only had a slightly soiled hem.

Li Xun stared at Su Tingyan, his gaze almost piercing through him.

After a long while, he finally forced out a few words through clenched teeth. “Lord Su… truly… clever and… quick-witted!”

His tone made it impossible to tell whether he was praising him or wanting to cut him into eight pieces.

Su Tingyan ignored the murderous intent in his words and simply tapped lightly at the bloodstain on his neck with his fingertip.

“Commander Li, remember this.”

“This cabinet fears nothing in heaven or on earth, but what I fear most is pain.”

“If I feel even one part of pain, I’ll want to return ten parts to someone else.”

Li Xun was instantly speechless: “…”

It was only a tiny wound, not even as bad as a mosquito bite.

Su Tingyan, you were far too delicate!

The system said: [Li Xun has developed intense interest in the player’s quick wit and boldness. Charm points +20! Also, he thinks you’re delicate, so the system is giving you an extra 100 charm points for free! Current total for successfully completing the Midnight Assistance event: +320 charm points, Li Xun affection increased to 20!]

Su Tingyan: …………

He could not help asking the system, “Why does being delicate get me an extra 100 charm points?”

The system said: [Hehe, this trait makes people think you’re very easy to take on the receiving end, and I think you’re delicate too, so I’m giving you some charm points for free~]

Su Tingyan: “…”

The great top-side king has arrived. Everyone, get out of the way.

Su Tingyan was furious. As a modern man, how could he possibly not be afraid of being cut by such a sharp sword? Was being afraid of pain not normal??

What was there to call delicate about that? Delicate your sister!!

The carriage sped through the night, but the atmosphere inside was colder than the winter outside.

Yet strangely enough, the murderous intent and fury churning in Li Xun’s chest were suppressed somewhat by this petty, overblown retaliation, and turned instead into some inexplicable curiosity.

This Su Tingyan was completely different from every image Li Xun had found out about him, or imagined him to be.

Su Tingyan no longer bothered with the man beside him and simply closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing that he was treating him like air, Li Xun’s chest blocked up again.

No one in this world had ever dared to offend Li Xun and then still act so at ease, as if he were air!

But his injuries were truly too severe. That collision just now, combined with the constant tension, had already drained all his strength.

A wave of dizziness from the intense pain and blood loss kept surging over him. In the end, he could only grit his teeth hard, lean against the carriage wall, and do his best to stay conscious without speaking further.

At last, the carriage safely passed through the final gate of the palace and entered the streets of Yujing.

After traveling a little farther, Su Tingyan finally opened his eyes again. He had originally intended to find a place and dump Li Xun somewhere, but when he glanced sideways, he found that the man had fallen asleep.

Of course, it was also possible that he had kicked the bucket.

Su Tingyan could not help reaching out a finger to test the man’s breathing. The moment he got close, his hand was seized tightly.

The force was immense, like a pair of iron tongs, nearly crushing his wrist bones. It was completely unlike the strength a grievously injured, near-dead person should have.

Su Tingyan hissed in pain and met Li Xun’s suddenly opened eyes.

There was no grogginess of just waking in those hawk eyes, only absolute vigilance and icy killing intent, like a beast that kept its guard at the highest level even in sleep or unconsciousness.

“Lord Su, what are you trying to do?” Li Xun’s voice was even hoarser and weaker than before, but the coldness in it had not diminished at all.

Su Tingyan struggled once, but did not get free. Instead, the other man gripped even tighter.

He said irritably, “I was checking whether Commander Li had fallen asleep or died. What, does Lord Li intend to repay kindness with cruelty and break the wrist of your lifesaver?”

Li Xun stared at him for several seconds, as if judging whether his words were true.

After a moment, the murderous intent in his eyes slowly faded, and the force in his hand loosened slightly, though he still did not let go completely.

“Thank you for your concern, Lord Su. Li Mou… won’t die for the time being.”

He took a breath and said with difficulty, cold sweat seeping continuously from his temples. Clearly, that startled reaction had once again tugged at his wounds.

Su Tingyan shot a cool glance at the hand still clutching his own. “Then how much longer do you plan to keep touching my hand?”

He asked this lightly on purpose, with a trace of wicked teasing.

Li Xun’s hand around his wrist seemed to have been burned and immediately let go.

Su Tingyan instantly pulled his hand back and thought, Kid, you’re still too green.

“Lord Su is overthinking it!” Li Xun seemed to be covering up his momentary lapse, and his tone became once again steel-clad and impenetrable, though it could not hide the awkwardness at all.

“Li Mou is not interested in men!”

Su Tingyan continued, “Then have you ever held a girl’s hand? This cabinet usually takes pretty good care of itself. You’d still be getting a bargain.”

……………

Li Xun had climbed to the position of Commander of the Brocade Guards entirely on his own. He had stepped over countless mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and under his command were endless wronged souls and vengeful ghosts. No one could count how many people had cried for their fathers and mothers, spat curses, and screamed under his cruel methods.

To outsiders, he was the head of the underworld’s reapers and the claw of a Rakshasa, but no one would have imagined that he would be so thoroughly outmatched in this tiny carriage.

He no longer paid attention to Su Tingyan’s teasing. Instead, he closed his eyes again, adjusted his disordered breathing, and asked hoarsely, “…Where are we now?”

“We’re already out of the palace.”

Su Tingyan said, “Which medical hall does the commander want to go to? Or should I take you straight back to your North Office of the Brocade Guards?”

He was still trying to throw this trouble away.

Li Xun was silent for a moment, then finally answered in a low voice, “…We can’t go to a medical hall, and we can’t return to the North Office of the Brocade Guards.”

Su Tingyan: “…”

Then where do you want to go, up to the heavens?

Su Tingyan had a side residence outside the city, but he thought that if Li Xun had really gotten into some serious trouble, suddenly changing his route home now might also get him noticed by anyone with ill intentions.

He could only bring the man back first.

When they returned to the Su residence, Qingbao hurried up from afar. Qinghai, who had been sitting outside with the coachman, acted as if he knew nothing about what had happened in the carriage and let not a word slip.

It was Qingbao, however, who had keenly caught the smell of blood and asked anxiously, “What happened to my lord?!”

As soon as Su Tingyan got down from the carriage, he paused, then shyly let out, “My lord has come on. Don’t sniff anymore.”

In an instant.

Qingbao: “…”

Qinghai: “…”

Li Xun in the carriage: “…”

Everyone fell silent in unison.

Seeing that he had made such an absurd joke and yet no one laughed, Su Tingyan also felt a little awkward.

“Just kidding. Why are you all taking it so seriously?”

Qingbao had long since gotten used to his lord sometimes making these wildly unhinged remarks and rolled his eyes. “Then should I boil you a bowl of brown sugar eggs for your late-night snack tonight?”

Su Tingyan nodded. “That works, but don’t make it too sweet. Eating too much sugar at night makes your teeth ache.”

Qingbao: “…”

Su Tingyan gave Qinghai a look, signaling him to take good care of the person in the carriage.

Seeing Qingbao go to prepare the late-night snack, he could not help adding, “Boil two bowls. One should have ten eggs, and the other can only have one!”

By the time Qingbao had nearly gone far away, Su Tingyan remembered that face in the carriage, white as a ghost, and finally softened, calling out again, “Forget it, add ten eggs to both bowls.”

Qingbao: “…”

My lord, what exactly do you want? Could you please just say it all at once?

It’s not as if our household has fallen to the point where we have to agonize over a few eggs again and again.

The first thing Su Tingyan did after returning to the residence was call Qingmian down from the beam and lecture him fiercely.

“Qingmian, don’t tell me you only protect the lords inside the residence and not the lords outside it??”

Qingmian pressed his lips together. “My lord, you should recruit more secret guards.”

Otherwise, with only him, there was no one to take shifts with!

Su Tingyan looked heavenward in exasperation. So, from top to bottom of the Su residence, was there really not a single person willing to work overtime??

He looked at Qingmian and asked, “Then if you were to fight the Commander of the Brocade Guards, how much of a chance would you have?”

Qingmian answered bluntly, “None at all.”

Su Tingyan: “……..”

Fine. Tomorrow you’ll be fired by me for being the one who stepped onto the beam with your left foot first.

He calculated that he really would need to recruit some more secret guards. They had to be the truly strong kind.

The system started talking on its own again: [Why are you scared, player? Your fourth husband is very capable. Can’t he protect you?]

Su Tingyan: “Get lost!”

First of all, he did not even have a first husband, so where the hell did a fourth one come from!

Second, if he ran into this man, he was afraid he would die even faster!

Author’s Note:

———————-

The author’s required course: allow myself to be a pile of shit.

I swear:

1. I will allow bad data, and no longer feel anxious because of it. I will tell myself that if no one is reading, then at least no one is criticizing me either. (bushi)

2. I will comfort myself by saying it’s not that I wrote too badly, it’s that my standards are too high. [doge]

3. Even shit is not so easy to write, so I must keep writing it to the end and absolutely not leave it rotten or stop updating.

4. I will allow myself to have good days and bad days. Even if I grinded out ten thousand characters in five or six hours yesterday, if I only manage one hundred words after holding it in all day today, that is still not wasted draft.

5. I will allow myself to cry, and allow myself to write until I vomit.

6. I will allow any unsatisfactory result to happen.

But the only thing I am not allowed to do is give up. I can pause, but I absolutely cannot give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, it’s just me spiraling into madness again. I hope I didn’t scare you babies [melted][melted][crying][crying][crying]