107 Testing Boundaries

“Brother, I’m leaving now.” Zhu Cha sat on the edge of the bed. Beigong Qiyi was lying on the bed reading a book. Hearing his words, she lifted her eyes and glanced at him. “When?” Zhu Cha blinked and said, “According to Senior Brother, it should be in the next couple of days.”

Beigong Juechen raised an eyebrow, put down his book, and said, “It seems you really like your Senior Brother.” Zhu Cha nodded earnestly. “Senior Brother has taken care of me since I was little. He’s the closest person to me, so of course I like him very much.” Seeing his expression, Beigong Juechen’s eyes flickered as he asked, “Didn’t you come down the mountain to recognize me as your brother? Why do you want to leave now?”

Zhu Cha widened his eyes and said expressionlessly, “You don’t want to come with me. You know very well that Beigong Qiyi lied to you, yet you still refuse to come with me. I’m a disciple of Yuhua Palace, so naturally, I should go back with my Senior Brother.” Beigong Juechen’s lips curled slightly, as if he smiled. “What if you find out later that your Senior Brother has also lied to you? What would you do then?”

“Impossible!” Zhu Cha responded decisively. “Senior Brother would never lie to me.” Beigong Juechen looked at Zhu Cha’s wide eyes and couldn’t help but sneer. “In this world, nothing is impossible.”

“Senior Brother would never lie to me,” Zhu Cha pressed his lips together stubbornly and repeated. Beigong Juechen looked at him with a half-smile and asked, “How can you be so sure he’s not hiding something from you?” Zhu Cha straightened his posture, his thin lips moving slightly, and in his blue-green eyes, there still seemed to be an innocent naivety. Beigong Juechen gazed into Zhu Cha’s eyes and suddenly recalled that from the day Beigong Qiyi was born, there was no childlike innocence in his eyes.

“Senior Brother is straightforward and acts with integrity. Besides, we grew up together. I know him well; he wouldn’t lie to me,” Zhu Cha said firmly. Beigong Juechen raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly, not wanting to argue further. Zhu Cha nodded. “Has your master been in seclusion for a while?”

“How do you know?” Beigong Juechen said. “Senior Brother said Master is in seclusion, cultivating a new sword technique, but Senior Brother also said Master has already come out of seclusion.” Beigong Juechen gave a somewhat mocking laugh. At that moment, Beigong Qiyi walked in. Zhu Cha harbored a lingering dislike for Beigong Qiyi and only cast him a casual glance before turning to Beigong Juechen. “Brother, I’m leaving first.”

Beigong Qiyi sat down where Zhu Cha had just been. “What were you two just talking about?” Beigong Juechen closed his eyes. “He’s leaving in a few days and came to say goodbye.”

Taking off his shoes and lying down beside Beigong Juechen, Beigong Qiyi smiled. “Hasn’t he always wanted you to go with him?” Beigong Juechen chuckled softly, “Now that he has his Senior Brother, he doesn’t need me anymore.” Beigong Qiyi lifted the corners of his eyes. “So, from the way you say it, you’re quite reluctant to see him go?”

Beigong Juechen frowned slightly and turned his head to look at him. “What do you think?” Beigong Qiyi smiled in a coaxing way. “I’m just joking with you. Speaking of which, I noticed Zhu Cha listens to his Senior Brother without question.” Beigong Juechen closed his eyes again and scoffed, “Foolish.”

Beigong Qiyi smiled meaningfully and rested his head on Beigong Juechen’s shoulder. “Su Yueling really is a straightforward person, but unfortunately, his kindness towards Zhu Cha was motivated right from the start.” Beigong Juechen sneered coldly. “That’s why I say foolish.”

“Brother, are you talking about Zhu Cha?” Beigong Qiyi asked with a smile. Beigong Juechen nodded slightly with eyes closed. “He grew up in Yuhua Palace and has never been down the mountain. He trusts his Senior Brother completely. To put it nicely, he’s innocent; in reality, he’s just foolish.”

“Why don’t you just tell him directly?” Beigong Qiyi asked, turning to look at the handsome profile of the man beside him. His eyelashes fluttered lightly beneath his closed eyes. Beigong Juechen replied calmly, “One learns from one’s mistakes. Since he trusts his Senior Brother so much, let him see the truth for himself.”

“Brother, you’re really cruel,” Beigong Qiyi laughed. “You know Zhu Cha cares deeply for Su Yueling.” Beigong Juechen slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at Beigong Qiyi. “This isn’t cruelty. I’m teaching him a life lesson. He thinks too simply. I just want him to see clearly.”

Beigong Qiyi chuckled softly and leaned in to kiss the man’s rosy lips. “Brother, how are you feeling now?” Beigong Juechen squinted his eyes at him and said slowly, “My body is doing very well.”

“That’s good.” Beigong Qiyi smiled with pursed lips. “Do you want to go out for a walk to clear your mind?” Beigong Juechen thought for a moment. He had been lying down these past few days and indeed wanted to go out, so he nodded. “That sounds good.”

Beigong Qiyi got out of bed and instructed a maid to bring some clothes. Beigong Juechen stretched lazily and slowly got out of bed. As he stepped down, a numbness and soreness surged up from his legs to his waist, but no discomfort showed on his face. His steps were steady as he walked a few paces.

Beigong Qiyi smiled and came over to help him dress. Since Beigong Juechen’s strength had not yet fully recovered, Beigong Qiyi draped a thick cloak over him. Beigong Juechen frowned with slight disdain. “At my age, this is the first time I’ve worn so many clothes.”

“Brother, your strength isn’t restored yet. It’s cold now, and without your inner power to resist it, you have to wear more,” Beigong Qiyi said as he fastened the collar. Beigong Juechen snorted softly and strode out with a wave of his robe. The soreness in his legs hadn’t completely gone, but each step was firm and sure.

Beigong Qiyi followed behind, smiling as he watched the hem of Beigong Juechen’s robe billow with each step like waves. This was their first outing together since they had acknowledged their feelings for each other. Though they knew a conspiracy awaited them, his heart felt as sweet as if filled with honey.

※※※

“Your Highness, we have news from the Dark Pavilion—they have left the estate.” Zhuang Ming hurried in to report. Zhao Yixiao calmly finished writing a few lines on a letter, then put down his pen. “Have our people rendezvous with those from the Dark Pavilion. Remember, no rash actions.”

“Yes.” Zhuang Ming nodded but then asked with some confusion, “Your Highness, I don’t understand. Why do you only want Beigong Juechen to be slightly injured?”

Folding the letter and placing it in an envelope, Zhao Yixiao raised an eyebrow and smiled. “With the power of Beigong Juechen and Beigong Qiyi, there is no one in this world who could kill them.”

“But two fists can’t fight four hands. No matter how strong they are, there are only two of them,” Zhuang Ming reasoned. Zhao Yixiao chuckled. “Do you really think only two people will come out of the estate?”

“Isn’t that so?” Zhuang Ming looked even more puzzled. “The last time the situation was so critical, no one came to protect them. If not for a woman intervening at the end, I’m afraid...” Zhao Yixiao shook his head and walked beside Zhuang Ming. His smile was indifferent. “Do you think the last time was really a crisis? That was just Beigong Qiyi’s ruse.”

Zhuang Ming looked at Zhao Yixiao in surprise. “A ruse?” Zhao Yixiao snorted coldly. “Beigong Qiyi’s feelings for his brother are far from simple.” Zhuang Ming’s expression grew even more astonished. “Your Highness means that although Beigong Juechen and Beigong Qiyi appear to be devoted brothers, they each harbor their own schemes?”

“That too,” Zhuang Ming muttered to himself before Zhao Yixiao could speak. “The Li Estate is powerful, controlling almost half the realm. It’s inevitable that the two brothers would secretly contend with each other.”

Zhao Yixiao couldn’t help but laugh. He patted Zhuang Ming on the shoulder, shaking his head. “Zhuang Ming, you’ll need to twist your brain a few times to understand what I mean. Beigong Qiyi is indeed respectful towards Beigong Juechen, but his respect is... excessive.”

“Ah?” Zhuang Ming frowned, puzzled. Suddenly his pupils dilated, and he stammered, “Your Highness, are you saying Beigong Qiyi has some sort of feelings for Beigong Juechen?”

Zhao Yixiao lowered his eyes and smiled. He took a few steps forward and looked out at the bare branches, smiling meaningfully. “Whether or not, it won’t be long before we find out.”

※※※

The lake water was clear and cold, its ripples shimmering with jade hues. Pale pink plum blossoms bloomed everywhere, petals drifting over the surface, filling the air with their intoxicating fragrance.

“Brother, do you think this place is beautiful?” The young man dressed in dark yellow robes sat cross-legged on a stone by the lake, turning to ask the man beside him, who wore a dark green leather coat. Both were extraordinarily handsome, rare beauties in the world.

Beigong Juechen looked at the valley filled with plum blossoms and the jade-green lake and smiled faintly. “Very beautiful.”

The young man’s face lit up with joy. “This valley was found only after a long search. The first time I came here was in autumn, yet the plum blossoms were already in full bloom. It was truly breathtaking.”

“Plum blossoms in autumn?” Beigong Juechen raised his eyebrows. “I know the lotuses that bloom all year round in the Li Estate are your doing. Don’t tell me this whole valley of plum blossoms is your handiwork too.”

Beigong Qiyi shook his head and laughed heartily. “Of course not. A pond full of lotuses isn’t too difficult, but a whole valley of plum blossoms? That’s beyond me.”

Beigong Qiyi closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the plum fragrance, his expression relaxed. “This valley is called ‘Plum Valley.’ In spring and autumn, the trees are covered in buds, and by autumn and winter, the plum blossoms bloom fully. Because of that, people believe there is some evil spirit here, so the valley was sealed. It took great effort for me to have it unsealed and found.”

“Are you not afraid there really is some evil spirit here?” Beigong Juechen asked.

Beigong Qiyi burst out laughing. “If there really were any evil spirits here, they’d be afraid of me... After all, I’m a fierce ghost crawling out of hell,” he added silently in his heart, then continued, “It’s really just the climate changes caused by geography.”

Beigong Juechen scoffed but said nothing. Beigong Qiyi looked up at him and smiled. “Actually, there’s a story that’s always been told about this valley. Brother, do you want to hear it?”

A plum blossom petal drifted down before Beigong Juechen. He reached out to catch it and nodded slowly. Beigong Qiyi smiled and patted the stone beside him. “Brother, sit down. I’ll tell you slowly.”

Author’s note: Thank you so much for He Feng’s detailed review, mwah! -v-

Here are two blurbs; everyone, please consider adding to your favorites! →

And here’s the column, please give it a click too →

-3- 166 Reading Network