UCTOOT CH117

Feeling dizzy, Shi Shu came to his senses and wanted to get off him. But he was held completely in Xie Wuchi’s arms, struggling: “Enough… enough…”

A hand grasped the back of his neck. Shi Shu was forced to deep kiss him, his fair back displayed, legs hanging down.

Xie Wuchi held him in his arms, hands and legs fixed, the sound of flesh becoming more urgent, liquid sticking together. Kissing until Shi Shu couldn’t breathe, white mist spilling from his mouth, sweat dripping down his jaw, the bone pattern of his spine floating up like a flower.

Scratching bloody marks on Xie Wuchi’s back: “Enough…”

Shi Shu didn’t dare make a sound, his whole body limp to death. Outside the door, Xin Bin was waiting, along with Yuan He who came to deliver the message, and guards holding lanterns. Separated by one door and one courtyard—crowds outside the wall, such obscene scenes inside the wall.

Shi Shu’s fingers clenched, body leaning back, Xie Wuchi pressing deep kisses.

“Mm-ah…” Shi Shu sobbed.

Xie Wuchi’s voice was magnetic and low: “Feel good?”

Shi Shu trembled, voice hoarse: “Xie Wuchi… you wait… you wait…”

Finally, after being pounded hard twice, dizzy and disoriented, when Shi Shu came to, he was carried back to the bed.

In the dim night, Shi Shu propped himself up. Xie Wuchi put on clothes, opened the door—could only see his back, talking with others.

“Continue.” Xie Wuchi in plain clean clothes said calmly.

Pretending to be human.

Xie Wuchi—unless intimately close, sharing a bed, no one could see his fatigue. He was always energetic, appearance proper.

Across the courtyard, Xin Bin and others looked at each other, not knowing if they noticed the abnormality. Xin Bin said: “King Zhouchi discussed with Official Yuan whether to contact My Lord’s Northern Army. So Official Yuan said there was a way: ‘Actually, Commander Xie has this intention too. Currently, Second Young Master is in the city. Just so happens to meet him.'”

Hearing this, Shi Shu wanted to get up, a warm flow spilling out, immediately blushing: “Xie Wuchi you wait… you wait for me… I hate you.”

Shi Shu put on clothes wanting to get off the bed: “Is it my turn? Time to meet King Zhouchi?”

At the door, Xie Wuchi’s brows and eyes reflected the moonlight, unclear: “Delay will cause changes. Meet as soon as possible. What time agreed?”

Xin Bin said: “Tomorrow, in the God’s Birthday Temple!”

…

The courtyard was no longer peaceful. Guards in the dark night slipped into the city, guarding strictly everywhere, observing troop movements, while surveying the God’s Birthday Temple area, checking for stationed troops.

Brief rest. Before dawn, Shi Shu hurried toward the city in the morning dew.

The carriage swayed. Passing by a cliff on the road, Shi Shu looked through the curtain: “Why is the sky over there all red? Like burning clouds.”

Xie Wuchi spurred his horse: “The grassland was burned.”

“The grassland was burned?” Shi Shu was surprised. “The herders’ cattle and sheep need to eat grass. After eating grass, they produce milk. Grass is the foundation of the grassland…”

“War and conflict, so burn the grassland.” Xie Wuchi’s fingers tightened the reins, expressionless. “If not like this, King Zhouchi wouldn’t be so anxious to negotiate with us. I had Han Tian burn the reeds by the water. Seems the invaders were anxious and made the fire bigger.”

Shi Shu’s face was stained with morning dew, heart jumping: “Seems contradictions intensified.”

“Correct.” Xie Wuchi said, “Although we’re dividing Northern Min, we need to make King Zhouchi feel: he needs us, not we need him. This way, benefits can be maximized.”

The carriage rushed all the way, soon reaching outside the city.

God’s Birthday ten days, eighth day.

The city was still lively. Early morning, people coming and going, leading horses and pushing carts everywhere, shouts incessant. The carriage stopped in the bustling market. When Shi Shu was about to get off, Xie Wuchi’s hand reached over.

Shi Shu avoided: “The weather is really nice.”

“…”

Ten-day countdown, only the first day.

Shi Shu changed into expensive silk, a handsome and romantic young master, clapping hands and walking into the God’s Birthday Temple. Today the temple had its usual market, same as Xiangnan Temple in the Eastern Capital. Selling cakes, braised meat, roast chicken, mutton, ox heads, fur, herbs, rare plants everywhere. People coming and going. Shi Shu drank a bowl of milk tea, then ate a meat bun.

Guards disguised as customers scoped out the temple. Shi Shu stepped up the steps, seeing statues of gods, Buddha heads, huge paper frames, hideous giant beasts.

“Now facing Min military leaders face-to-face, my secret identity is exposed. If he wants to catch me, this temple has almost nowhere to escape.” Shi Shu was inevitably nervous.

Xie Wuchi said: “Right now is the moment to test courage.”

Shi Shu whispered: “Brave, brave.”

Go. There may be danger, but this is the path you chose.

By afternoon, Shi Shu finally met King Zhouchi face-to-face.

The courtyard imitated Jing style, a circular archway, corridor connecting the lake, willow branches swaying to block, many military officers with swords at their waists standing along the way. At the end, one person sat drinking tea.

Yuan Guan bowed: “Second Young Master, please.”

Shi Shu’s current identity—the younger brother of Great Jing Northern Army Commander Xie. Xie Wuchi was an accompanying servant, standing farther away waiting. Shi Shu didn’t turn to look at Xie Wuchi. After entering the courtyard, every move was watched.

Shi Shu walked through the corridor, breathing tightening.

King Zhouchi, an elegant, slightly plump middle-aged man. Couldn’t see the grassland’s fierceness and bloodiness in his appearance. Rather similar to Great Jing literati. Seeing him stand: “Second Young Master Xie, please sit.”

Shi Shu: “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“My elder brother’s seal and credentials, Your Majesty has verified?” Shi Shu took out a letter. “Here is another letter from my brother to Your Majesty, let me bring it, hoping to establish friendship with Your Majesty.”

College student diplomacy.

If not for the Northern Army’s face, Shi Shu’s legs would be shaking now. He tried his best to appear nonchalant, silently reciting memorized sentences in his heart.

King Zhouchi received it, reading: “Really?”

“Of course. After my brother won at Yunzhou, seeing the Min army’s devastation, couldn’t bear it in his heart. So he’s always wanted to make friends with Your Majesty, discuss great plans together. Your Majesty’s Anda tribe originates west of Dongping Ridge, Great Jing people live in the east. Calculating carefully, we are descendants of the same origin and clan.”

Expressing friendliness, pulling connections. After Shi Shu finished the words Xie Wuchi had him memorize, he wiped sweat, feeling like performing talent at relatives’ houses as a child.

The weather was hot. Shi Shu was originally handsome. When nervous, the face of a youth.

King Zhouchi saw at a glance that this younger brother didn’t understand government affairs, just came to express sincerity. Making promises to him was useless; the one making decisions behind was still Commander Xie.

King Zhouchi stopped testing, saying: “These years have been restless, fighting everywhere. The commoners also suffer from war, truly making this king difficult.”

Shi Shu: “…Not easy.”

Shi Shu acted casual: “Your Majesty’s garden is built very beautifully.”

Hearing King Zhouchi’s mother was still alive, Shi Shu asked about the old woman’s health: “I know a divine doctor. If the old lady feels unwell, I’ll have the divine doctor come see her. Definitely healthy without worry.”

Lin Yangchun, come out.

King Zhouchi laughed heartily: “Thank you first, Second Young Master.”

So-called socializing is just chatting.

Shi Shu carefully looked at the surrounding guards. After chatting in the pavilion for a moment, the two stood up to tour the garden.

“Second Young Master, please.”

Shi Shu and King Zhouchi walked in front, others could only follow far behind. Shi Shu took the opportunity to secretly glance at Xie Wuchi. As an attendant, he stood in the crowd, gaze always on Shi Shu.

Why can’t I be like Xie Wuchi, able to respond freely even before the emperor?

The two hadn’t yet mentioned cooperation. They reached a garden. The smell of rotten meat. Shi Shu looked up—turns out this courtyard raised eagles, called “Haidongqing.” The meat strips were to feed the eagles.

That eagle suddenly swooped toward Shi Shu, bringing a bloody smell. Shi Shu’s pupils constricted, standing motionless.

“Drive it away!” King Zhouchi said, “Invited Second Young Master to come, watch my Min son’s archery.”

Displaying military force in diplomacy generally implies showing off to intimidate the other party. King Zhouchi observed Shi Shu’s performance: “My Min people are militarily powerful. Although defeated at Yunzhou, still have some strength and means.”

Many pigeons were released. That eagle, bored, caught pigeons, tearing them bloody. Several young Min warriors stepped forward, holding bows and arrows. When pigeons flew in the sky, several people drew bows and shot. Pigeons immediately fell.

Shi Shu felt bloody and horrible, but having seen Xie Wuchi’s archery, recalled and answered: “In our Northern Army, there are also cavalry good at archery. Ping Yichun who broke through the Min army at the Yunzhou battle is one.”

“General Ping…” Exactly the vanguard general. King Zhouchi laughed awkwardly: “Indeed good at archery.”

The Yunzhou victory not only shattered the Min army’s ambition to break through the pass but also strengthened Jing people’s confidence. These Min people couldn’t possibly not fear Xie Wuchi’s army in their hearts.

Going forward again, King Zhouchi asked: “Heard Commander Xie stationed troops and farmed in Changping and Xingu prefectures. How is the situation?”

Shi Shu: “Public security is calm, military discipline strict, never burning, killing, or looting.”

King Zhouchi: “Commander Xie is indeed extraordinary.”

Shi Shu took a deep breath, reciting: “Now arms are instruments of ill omen. Things may abhor them. Therefore, those who have the Way do not dwell with them. Instruments of ill omen, not the instruments of the superior man. When compelled to use them, calm detachment is best.”

King Zhouchi praised: “Dao De Jing. Good, good, good.”

Shi Shu feared saying one wrong word, coughed lightly, controlling his expression. Trying his best to display Jing people’s demeanor.

After walking a while longer, King Zhouchi finally seemed unable to restrain himself, asking: “This king heard from Yuan Guan, you were Little Tree’s lifesaver?”

Shi Shu: “This, lifesaver is too much…”

“This king is not familiar with Commander Xie. Only heard he was born in a monastery, served as an aide to the Great Jing Emperor when he was a prince, has merit from supporting the dragon. So in a few years was appointed, young age holding the key to the Northern Army. But… does Commander Xie keep his word?”

Shi Shu’s heart trembled: “What do you mean?”

“This king can cooperate with My Lord. Only fear, after being used up, will be abandoned. These tribes and prefectures have hundreds of thousands of people. How to seek livelihood?” King Zhouchi twirled his beard. “To be honest, if not for Yuan Guan’s earnest persuasion that Second Young Master is benevolent and righteous, not killing innocents indiscriminately, this king truly finds it hard to trust.”

Shi Shu understood.

Xie Wuchi… deep scheming. Even Yuan Guan feared and suspected him, afraid of being used up then discarded.

If not for Shi Shu’s existence, they absolutely wouldn’t dare offer this plan.

“…” If not for himself, sitting on the mountain watching tigers fight, using King Zhouchi then kicking him away would also fit Xie Wuchi’s character.

Shi Shu said seriously: “Specific matters will be discussed between Your Majesty and my brother. I cannot promise. But after discussion, what my brother promises you, absolutely no deception.”

King Zhouchi nodded, finally looking relieved. At this time, a bell rang from afar—turns out the God’s Birthday Temple’s sacrificial elegant music.

King Zhouchi bowed toward the bell sound, saying: “Heard Commander Xie and the Great God Rahu were born on the same day?”

Shi Shu: “Correct.”

“Could this really be heaven’s will?”

Shi Shu didn’t speak. Saying more leads to more mistakes. However, suddenly, a commotion came from not far away.

King Zhouchi: “What happened?”

Shi Shu also looked up.

Xie Wuchi, Yuan Guan and others received word, faces slightly changed: “Prince Yinkun is touring the temple, saw Your Majesty’s palanquin, heard My Lord is receiving guests, wants to come pay respects.”

Shi Shu jumped: “Yinkun?”

“Why did he come?” King Zhouchi said displeasedly, “You guard the garden gate, just say not seeing. Second Young Master, please follow me.”

Shouts came from outside the garden gate: “Your Majesty, the Great Khan has ordered me to guard together. Any military matters to discuss with me. How can Jing Dynasty send envoys and I know nothing?”

“Stop them.” King Zhouchi said.

Voice louder: “Move aside!”

“Told you to get lost!”

Not a small force. King Zhouchi’s face turned green. Xie Wuchi had already walked behind Shi Shu, pulling Shi Shu toward the other end of the garden.

The garden gate was smashed open.

Yinkun and the crowd behind him, holding swords, rushed in, looking around, gaze fixed on several people.

Yinkun drew his sword aggressively. Seeing Xie Wuchi and Shi Shu clearly, eyes burst with wild, fierce light. King Zhouchi’s guards blocked, were slashed to the ground by him: “Don’t let these two escape!”

King Zhouchi hurriedly led the two away, urgently saying: “Please convey to Commander Xie, this king is willing to jointly undertake the great plan!”

Finishing, Yinkun in a few steps, eyes splitting: “Catch those two!”

“Don’t let them run!”

“He is the Northern Army Commander, Crane Control Army Leader, Commander Xie—”

King Zhouchi finished, stopped in place, hearing the God’s Birthday sound again.

“You!”

Xie Wuchi lowered his eyes, looking at this minor king, nodded and smiled slightly, faint like the unclear remnants of a statue’s lip corners. Then embracing Shi Shu, turned into the round moon gate behind. People surrounded outside the gate, guards were slaughtering.

Shi Shu’s heart clenched: “Negotiated?”

“Negotiated.”

Could Shi Shu not understand? Run.

The sun was near dusk. Shi Shu ran through the chaotic crowd. Checkpoints arranged on the streets, but closer to night, the city became more lively. People wearing hideous masks held up fans, striding around. After nightfall, bonfires burned in tung oil basins, contrasting with Buddha statues, reflecting layers of hideous strange shadows.

Pursuers chasing wildly behind. Shi Shu threw money, grabbed a mask to wear on his face, dragging Xie Wuchi and running: “This is the night bonfire meeting? Seems we haven’t toured it yet?”

“Wait till next year, can walk openly in this crowd without masks.”

Shi Shu’s heart was pounding: “Are we leaving?”

“Yes, going back to Yanzhou. They’re searching tightly, no other way out.”

Thinking of that small grass cottage, Shi Shu’s heart stung: “How was my performance just now?”

Xie Wuchi: “Very good. Perfectly performed a young master who has no say in politics, only has his brother in his heart, but is working hard.”

“…”

Shi Shu turned his head. The pursuers behind were scattered by the crowd. Gongs, drums and songs rang out. Couldn’t hear their shouting and killing sounds.

Guards followed closely. Needless to say, horses for leaving the city were already prepared.

Shi Shu ran wildly, thinking in his head about the conversation with King Zhouchi, whether he did well.

After all, this was something he very much wanted to accomplish!

Shi Shu ran all the way, running until his throat tasted like blood, but he got more excited the more he ran. Slowly reaching a cliff, looking back nervously asking: “Still pursuers?”

Xie Wuchi: “No more.”

Shi Shu leaned on his knees, looking down from the mountain, just seeing the brightly lit city and erected folk architecture. Min people were very reverent toward ghosts and gods, also had strange aesthetics. For example, using human thigh bones as staffs, painted masks with bleeding from seven orifices, liking to wear wide clothes, chains also made from many human body bones, hanging sharp knives and bows everywhere.

Shi Shu raised his hand to brush back his hair, revealing clear handsome young eyes: “Feels very bloody? Why do they like this so much?”

No more pursuers. The two slowed down, walking toward the not-far carriage.

“They originally came from drinking blood and eating raw meat.”

“Like those totems and paintings, primitive Min people were extremely fierce tribes. They hunted, herded, spoke their own language, had their own faces, treated different tribes like treating pigs and sheep in the mountains.” Xie Wuchi’s pale brow raised slightly. “And current Min people, only during festivals make these dressings. Normally just herding and farming.”

Shi Shu walked beside him, clothes blown through by cool wind.

“A hundred years ago, Min and Jing people were like fire and water. Meeting would mutually kill. The tragedy of slaughtering a hundred thousand in a city was very common. Whenever benevolent people proposed peace suggestions, rushing about for this, hoping to reduce innocent ordinary people dying unjustly, so people could spend their remaining years not in worry, but use time to enjoy love, family affection, live out their own value. But flames of hatred would reignite again and again, perhaps for profit, perhaps because of mutual clan slaughter, leading to intolerance in the world.”

“When killing reached the point ordinary people could barely survive, new people came out again, once more calling for harmonious coexistence. This mutual killing experienced over a hundred years of blood iteration.”

Shi Shu felt numb: “What chaotic times are these?”

“Correct, the darkest years. And these territories, Dasheng Prefecture, Chuotuo Prefecture and Yong’an Prefecture, sometimes occupied by Jing people, sometimes by Min people, together building brick by brick, also together destroying each other’s civilization, building new civilization.”

“For example, from Min people’s wool blankets weaving Jing people’s first twin lotus flower, Jing people’s dining tables also having milk tea… A hundred years later, finally diluted that hatred, letting commoners eliminate barriers, able to survive together.”

Shi Shu: “These are all common people’s lives and labor, pushing forward bit by bit in time. Human lives dissolved the barriers.”

Xie Wuchi turned his head, looking at him: “Mm. So, Min-Jing unification is heaven’s mandate. Anyone wanting to stir up hatred again, going against the current, can only be smashed.”

Historical tide, vast and mighty. Can only follow, cannot go against.

Shi Shu seemed to feel a huge, inexpressible imagery: “Also not something a general can unify or split with one sentence.”

“Correct.”

“Giddyup! Giddyup!”

“Catch them, don’t let them run!”

“Chase quickly!”

Xie Wuchi heard the noise, taking bow and arrows from the carriage.

Shi Shu suddenly heard the wild horse hooves, whipping his head around.

Xie Wuchi unhurried: “Come, I haven’t taught you archery yet.”

Shi Shu’s heart jumped, vigilantly staring at the distance: “What are you doing? Who’s chasing? Yinkun?”

“Come.”

Voice low, with commanding meaning. Shi Shu suddenly thought of last night, behind the thin door, separated by one courtyard from many people. Well-dressed crowd waiting at the center. Behind the door was carnal desire flowing.

[Explicit content markers]

“Precious little brother.”

[Explicit content markers]

And being noticed, Xie Wuchi seemed even more pleased.

“…” Shi Shu’s face suddenly flushed red, instantly blushing.

Damn!

As soon as sober, feel Xie Wuchi is purely perverted!

Really a blood-spurting existence.

Shi Shu’s face was nonchalant. After all, being known for always recalling these things is embarrassing. Horse hooves incessant. He walked to Xie Wuchi’s side, picking up bow and arrows: “How to use this? You teach me.”

Guards beside all picked up bows and arrows, aiming at the firelight.

Xie Wuchi’s face was cold and calm, with a coolness of looking at everyone like dogs. He lowered his eyes, took out a bone thumb ring to put on Shi Shu’s finger, embracing him from behind, pressing close to Shi Shu’s back.

Shi Shu felt the tightening of the horn bow, the bowstring hard as steel wire, gradually opening in his palm, facing the extremely fierce night wind, expanding to the extreme—

Shi Shu heard by his ear, Xie Wuchi’s voice: “Hit—”

Adjusting direction, suddenly releasing the bowstring, the arrow shot out.

The horse suddenly neighed in the wilderness, jumping. Not shooting the horse, but shooting the person on the horse. Yinkun dodged this arrow, body leaning back sharply, tumbling off the horse, a whistling sound.

“Enough, he’s off the horse.”

“I…”

Shi Shu looked down at his hand: “I… this is too cool.”

“Yanzhou has the Northern Army camp’s wide archery field for your training. Good things are still ahead.” Shi Shu’s ear heated up, a little hot breath lightly drunk. “Going home.”

Flirting, again flirting. Shi Shu of course understood. If not for the guards nearby, probably would have hugged and kissed already.

Shi Shu wiped sweat, returned the bow and arrows. Xie Wuchi in simple plain clothes, facing the night wind with thoughtful expression looking at this city. A guard beside came over, draping expensive crane cloak for him.

At this time, he was no longer an accompanying servant, but Northern Army’s Commander Xie.

Buddha-demon Papiya, one thought life and death. Heaven’s great trend, though cannot be stopped. But if Xie Wuchi wanted to muddy the waters, millions of lives in his hands, also in a flip of the hand.

Shi Shu got in the carriage with him: “My little cottage… have to leave.”

“Anything left behind?”

Shi Shu: “Must bring the seeds. Nothing else.”

Shi Shu felt faintly sad. Returning to Yanzhou, many dignitaries, court people would cluster around Xie Wuchi. No longer that small cottage, only each other, carnal union, grinding flesh and bones.

However, Shi Shu wasn’t particularly sad.

Still many things to do!

Shi Shu looked up, clear brown eyes: “Settled with King Zhouchi. What next?”

“Yinkun has already intervened. There will be chaos here soon. After returning to Yanzhou, immediately send professionals as envoys to discuss with King Zhouchi, send troops as soon as possible. Delay will cause changes.”

Shi Shu leaned back against the chair: “Good, good, good.”

“Very good!” Shi Shu repeated, “Very good, too good.”

A warm current slid through his heart. Shi Shu lifted the curtain looking at dwellings along the way: “This way, the city doesn’t need to be burned. Fewer common people on both sides will die.”

The carriage no longer took the original Yunzhou route, but headed straight for Yanzhou crossing the border, a shorter journey. This was King Zhouchi’s territory. Yuan Guan sent documents, could pass smoothly all the way, changing horses at post stations along the way.

Shi Shu asked: “How many days will we sit in this carriage?”

“Day and night, only one day and one night.”

“One day one night… sitting in a carriage, eating and drinking all in the carriage.”

Shi Shu just finished, Xie Wuchi leaned close, breath pressing over: “Maybe not just eating and drinking.”

Shi Shu immediately thought of last night: “Hey! Xie Wuchi, save your heat for appropriate occasions!”

Just finished, his jaw was stroked, lips pressed for wet hot deep kiss.

“Mmph…”

Jaw held by one hand, tongue flesh instantly invaded the mouth. Shi Shu wanted to stand, pressed down by a hand on the shoulder.

Xie Wuchi kissed him sideways, fingertips lightly stroking lips, licking into the mouth, stirring wetly and softly inside, slipping to suck the tongue tip, licking deeper.

“Mmph…” Shi Shu grabbed the clothes on his shoulder, tightening.

One hand clasped the back of his head, deeper and hotter kissing and swallowing, licking the oral cavity. In the speeding carriage in the night, making obscene chaotic water sounds.

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