UCTOOT CH38

“Young master, you are so handsome…”

“Just have a drink with this humble one, won’t you? Hmm?”

The faces before him, powdered and rouged, were enchanting and alluring. It was clear they were accustomed to serving people, skilled and adept in the arts of love, and at the same time, extremely frivolous and casual. Someone reached out and fiddled with the buckle of Shi Shu’s belt, circling it round and round, casting flirtatious glances full of sexual suggestion.

“What kind does the young master like?”

“If the young master likes the rough type, there are naturally rough ones here. Tall and sturdy, with bulging muscles all over, looking like a tough and solid Wu Song.”

“If the young master prefers the gentle and charming type, there are those here too. Not only is their backdoor well-maintained, but even their hands are fair and tender as if boneless. Guaranteed to make the young master’s trip worthwhile~”

Shi Shu, a spring chicken, had never seen such a scene. His soul was about to fly out of his body. The feeling of his space being invaded made his scalp tingle. Surrounded by men and utterly helpless, he panicked and scrambled towards Xie Wuchi, climbing and shouting as he went.

“Holy crap, holy crap, don’t be like this, brother, don’t be like this! I don’t like men.”

“Don’t touch me, don’t touch me, don’t touch me! I’m not interested, please find someone else, thank you, don’t touch me!”

“Ah!”

Shi Shu was unexpectedly pinched on the back and crashed headfirst into Xie Wuchi’s chest, seeing stars and feeling a jolt through his ears and neck.

It was truly terrifying. In modern times, Shi Shu would blush just talking to a girl, let alone a group of lechers. Shi Shu was so ashamed he clawed at Xie Wuchi’s clothes, messing up the neat and meticulous lapels. Xie Wuchi wrapped an arm around him protectively.

Seeing the pure young man being teased into such a state by the seasoned experts of the demimonde, the people around couldn’t help but laugh until their bodies shook like branches in the wind. The deck was filled with a joyous atmosphere for a moment.

“So interesting. It’s the young ones who are so endearing.”

“Hehehe, his ears are as red as chili peppers, like a startled rabbit.”

“Useless. Haven’t seen a woman, and haven’t even seen a man.”

“…”

Xu Hengmen fanned himself with a faint smile on his face, while Xu Hengfeng lay back in his chair, having his shoulders and neck massaged, his face full of relaxed and pleasant expression. “You two don’t have to be so reserved. Just make yourselves at home.”

“Clang—” Xie Wuchi threw down his wine cup, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd.

“Are you two young masters very bored tonight?”

Pushing away the hand clinging to Shi Shu’s back, Xie Wuchi stood up. The lights were dim and colorful, and Xie Wuchi’s body was illuminated by the glow of the river lanterns, his features indistinct.

Xie Wuchi looked around the painted boat and said, “My brother and I come from a wild mountain temple. The temple was destroyed by war, so we fled to Xiangnan Temple and by chance became advisors to the heir apparent’s residence. Before that, my brother and I just guarded a withered temple, carrying water and chopping firewood every day, chanting sutras and worshipping Buddha. We barely know a few characters and understand nothing of romance and elegance.”

Shi Shu: “That’s right, I don’t like it.”

As for Xie Wuchi having a sex addiction, wanting to eat someone alive when he kissed them, but in front of outsiders, Xie Wuchi was always as pure as ice and jade, as bright as the wind and moon.

Xu Hengmen heard the undertone. “Oh, Brother Xie dislikes these beauties?”

Xie Wuchi: “I’m just not interested in this path, but I don’t want to spoil the young masters’ fun either. How about this,” he walked around on the wooden planks, “this painted boat has a wide view, taking in the entire embroidery pavilion across the river.”

Xu Hengmen: “Brother Xie wants to go to the other side to enjoy the view?”

Xie Wuchi said, “No. The embroidery pavilion is a hundred paces away from the painted boat. There is a wind chime hanging from the corner of the eaves. Bring me a bow and arrow, and I will shoot down this wind chime for the young masters’ amusement.”

The smile on Xu Hengmen’s face froze.

Shi Shu blinked, staring at Xie Wuchi: How many more surprises do you have that I don’t know about!

The people around were also somewhat shocked. On such a beautiful night, someone actually wanted to shoot arrows. Xu Hengfeng, in particular, sensed something was off and looked strange. “The Xu family of Changyang, Hedong Academy, has always been a sacred place for scholars. You actually want to practice archery here? Are you trying to humiliate…”

“Good, good, good.” Xu Hengmen’s laughter drowned out his brother’s voice. “Bring that three-stone ox-horn bow! Let Brother Xie have his fun!”

“Brother!”

“Say less! Just go when I tell you to!”

Xu Hengfeng turned his face away and snorted.

In a short while, someone brought the bow and arrows. They were entirely black and glossy, the bow as hard as iron. Xie Wuchi walked to the open space in the middle of the crowd, his robes fluttering in the night wind, sharp and cold. He lowered his eyes and unhurriedly put on a jade thumb ring, bathed in the night, looking sharp and neat as he tied his sleeves tightly.

Shi Shu sidled up to Xie Wuchi. “You know archery too?”

Xie Wuchi: “It’s different from modern archery, but not by much.”

“What if you miss?”

“You’ll be embarrassed along with me.”

“…”

Shi Shu said, “Huh?” and had to walk to the deck to observe the distance of the shot. Many onlookers had gathered to watch the fun, pushing Shi Shu to the side. He heard some discussions in his ear.

“To be on a boat trip on the Lao River with the young masters of the Xu family, and instead of composing poetry and appreciating the romantic scenery, he’s resorting to weapons to show off his strength. This is clearly a slap in the face to the literary Xu family!”

“Is he mocking scholars for being useless? Where did this person who doesn’t know his place come from, causing trouble on the Xu family’s territory!”

“A hundred paces away. If he can hit it, wouldn’t that make him a divine archer?”

Shi Shu plucked a leaf from a landscape tree and held it in his mouth, his eyes fixed on Xie Wuchi as he stood in the designated area and drew the ox-horn bow to its full extent.

Shi Shu looked at Xie Wuchi’s powerful hands and, for some reason, kept thinking of how he would pinch his jaw, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, the calluses and feel of his palm.

Now, these hands held an arrow nocked on the bow. The posture itself was very skilled and practiced. The heavy bow and arrow made a taut sound, then became a full moon-like bow. Xie Wuchi’s archery stance was the modern style, different from the ancient pinch-grip and Mongolian style. His posture was upright and proper. After the jade thumb ring released the black, glossy arrow fletching, the arrowhead cut through the air with a “swoosh,” crossing a hundred paces and leaving a sharp silver streak—

In the dark night, the arrow feather was gone in a flash, pursued by pairs of wide-open eyes.

Shi Shu stared intently at the bottom of the embroidery pavilion. A moment later, the swaying wind chime fell fluttering like a bird!

—A hit!

The crowd was silent. The two young masters of the Xu family looked embarrassed and had become much calmer since a moment ago.

In the silence, Shi Shu applauded loudly. “Awesome! Awesome! Great shot! Great shot!”

Xie Wuchi, you really got me fired up!

After his praise, cheers gradually erupted from the crowd. “Good! Great shot!”

“Drawing the bow to shoot the moon, never missing a shot!”

The voices of praise were endless. The group of young masters from before didn’t dare to praise at first, until they saw Xu Hengmen’s face show a smile after the initial embarrassment. “Brother Xie, what strength!”

Xie Wuchi handed the bow back to a nearby attendant and said calmly, “I truly do not understand romance, possessing only brute force. This was just to add to your entertainment. Please do not tease my younger brother anymore. He is still young and does not understand such situations.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Xu Hengmen’s face became much more respectful. “It was I who was impolite, I shouldn’t have judged you two by wealth and beauty. Please, sit, sit. Such strength is truly admirable.”

Xu Hengfeng shot a glare at the young masters. “What are you all looking at? Aren’t you going to leave?!”

The young masters came like a flock of butterflies and left like a flock of butterflies. As they left, they were a flurry of sweet-smelling fragrances, casting glances at Xie Wuchi that looked like they wanted to strip him bare.

“That strength, that waist… I can’t even imagine…”

“Look at you, drooling!”

“If I could sleep with him once, it would be worth dying for.”

Shi Shu: “…”

As expected, sexual tension is only attractive to sluts, and has no effect on us straight men.

Shi Shu returned to his seat, and Xie Wuchi also pulled out a chair and sat down. Perhaps the bow and arrow were extremely heavy, or perhaps the shot had ignited his competitive spirit, making him feel a restless excitement.

Xu Hengmen’s expression became serious. “You two, this painted boat is booked for the whole night, but please feel free to enjoy the view as you wish. Don’t be polite. I will go back and ask my father about the meeting date.”

Xie Wuchi: “Thank you both.”

The two young masters no longer bothered them. The two figures turned away and went to compose poetry and enjoy the moon with a group of scholars. Not far away, it seemed the time for matchmaking at night had arrived. Someone was playing instruments and beating drums, attracting everyone’s attention.

The cool breeze blew on the painted boat. Shi Shu picked up a piece of sea cucumber and took a bite, his tone full of praise. “How did it become so delicious!”

Xie Wuchi adjusted his sleeves. “Where did it become delicious?”

“It just suddenly became very precious. Xie Wuchi, without you, would I be able to eat the sea cucumber from this Zhou family painted boat?” Shi Shu ate and applauded. “Luckily I have you. I’m just your useless counterpart.”

Xie Wuchi was looking at the marks on his fingers and said, “It’s still been a long time since I’ve practiced.” Hearing this, he suddenly looked up, his calm, dark eyes looking at Shi Shu.

Shi Shu: “What are you looking at me for?”

“Precious,” Xie Wuchi said, “then don’t eat it.”

Shi Shu said, “Huh?” and was pulled up by the collar by Xie Wuchi. Instead of staying on the painted boat, they headed for the small boat below.

Shi Shu flapped his hands. “What are you doing?”

Xie Wuchi: “The Red Thread Festival of Changyang County is a major event in Great Jing. Black-canopied boats, lotus root towns, realgar wine, swimming crabs, as well as nighttime matchmaking and folk plays. Since we’re here, let’s go down and take a look.”

Shi Shu thought of Fuling. “Does this mean our dinner is over and we’re out to play? Then wouldn’t Fuling be alone in the room at the academy?”

Xie Wuchi: “Children sleep a lot. He was already dozing off in the carriage just now. He’s definitely asleep now.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Shi Shu followed behind Xie Wuchi. Xie Wuchi’s robe was about to get wet from the water. He inquired about a narrow boat. The prices for such events were very high, and there was almost no room for bargaining. Xie Wuchi said, “Get on.”

Shi Shu jumped onto the boat but didn’t stand firm and hugged Xie Wuchi again.

Xie Wuchi helped him stand steady. “You’re usually so fierce with me. Just now, being taken advantage of by a few young masters, you were too shy to speak and only dared to scramble around.”

Shi Shu’s eyes widened. “What! They were all smiling. You don’t hit a smiling face. I wanted to kick them but didn’t have the heart to.”

Xie Wuchi: “So not just anyone can touch you?”

Shi Shu: “Of course not.”

“It’s best to always be like this,” Xie Wuchi said in a low voice.

The boat carried a lot of clear rice wine and other liquors, as well as boiled edamame, peanuts, dried tofu, duck necks, and other small dishes. A dim lamp was lit and swayed. With a push of the pole, the boat glided lightly towards the matchmaking embroidery pavilion.

After sitting down, Shi Shu couldn’t help but lie down. He was in a cheerful mood and couldn’t resist pouring a few cups of fermented rice wine. “Come, I’ll have a few drinks with you.”

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