Yi Yefeng didn’t stop chopping the firewood. “Which day are you talking about?”
“Which day do you think?” Xueya frowned.
Yi Yefeng raised the axe and neatly split the firewood in front of him in half. Only then did he glance at Xueya. His eyes were slightly narrow, and since his face lacked expression, he always looked intimidating when he glanced at someone.
The moment Xueya saw Yi Yefeng’s gaze, he instinctively took a step back. Fortunately, Yi Yefeng only looked at him briefly before continuing to chop wood in silence. Xueya had initially come over to teach Yi Yefeng a lesson, but now he didn’t dare to. However, he also didn’t want to leave immediately, as that would make him look weak.
So, Xueya made a bold statement.
“Playing dumb won’t help. I know you heard. Hmph, I said it on purpose so you’d hear it. Brother is mine, and you can’t take him away!”
After delivering his harsh words, Xueya ran off to a distance, and seeing that Yi Yefeng didn’t come at him with the axe, he secretly sighed in relief.
The meal was soon ready. Xueya hadn’t had a warm meal in a long time, and his eyes practically lit up when he saw the food. But just before sitting down, he was stopped by He Xulan, who said, “Guan Guan, we’ll eat in the carriage.”
Although Xueya didn’t quite understand why He Xulan made this suggestion, he obediently followed. Once they left, the hunter couldn’t help but ask, “Big brother, you don’t seem like siblings. Who are they to you?”
Yi Yefeng divided the food on the table in half and then began to eat the meat in silence. The hunter, seeing that Yi Yefeng didn’t answer, wasn’t about to give up. He craned his neck to look toward the carriage, but seeing nothing, he regretfully pulled his gaze back.
After only a few bites, he started talking to Yi Yefeng again, “You said earlier that you’re heading to visit relatives?”
“Changji County.”
“Changji County… Oh, that’s near Pingling River, right? I know the place. Why are you going to visit relatives at this time of year? It’s so cold, traveling must be tough.” The hunter suddenly changed the subject. “That gentleman earlier, he’s really thin, and so is his younger brother. I couldn’t see his face clearly, but that tiny waist… If I hadn’t heard his voice, I would’ve thought he was a girl. Wasn’t he bathing in my room? I feel like my room suddenly smells like perfume.”
Yi Yefeng abruptly looked up. The hunter, in the middle of his talk, met Yi Yefeng’s gaze and was so startled that he dropped one of his chopsticks. Over the years, the hunter had encountered many fierce beasts, but this was the first time he had seen someone whose gaze was more terrifying than that of any wild animal. He forced a smile.
“I’m just a rough man, you know. My words might be crude, but I didn’t mean any harm. I… I still have a few biscuits in the kitchen. You can take them with you on the road later, no charge.”
“Thank you,” Yi Yefeng replied in a low voice.
The hunter dared not speak further.
***
After He Xulan and the others finished eating, they continued their journey. About a tea time later, the carriage suddenly changed direction. Xueya, who was inside, had no clue what was happening outside. After having a full meal that day, he felt comfortable and nestled in He Xulan’s arms, unwilling to get up.
He Xulan opened the window and looked outside for a while before closing it again. He held Xueya tighter. “Are you sleepy?”
“A little.” Xueya looked up.
He Xulan lightly patted Xueya’s back. “Then take a nap.”
Under He Xulan’s gentle pats, Xueya gradually grew drowsy. When he woke up again, he vaguely heard voices, but they were too soft for him to make out clearly.
“Brother.” Xueya opened his eyes to find that He Xulan wasn’t in the carriage.
However, shortly after, He Xulan lifted the curtain and came in. It turned out he had been sitting outside talking to Yi Yefeng. Xueya, displeased to discover that He Xulan had gone to talk to Yi Yefeng while he slept, asked, “Brother, what were you two talking about?”
“We were discussing whether we should switch to the water route next. The canal from the next town to Kangwu County hasn’t frozen yet. If we travel by boat, it will save a lot of time.” He Xulan handed Xueya a cup of water.
Xueya held the cup and thought for a moment. “Then let’s switch to the water route.”
“To switch to the water route, we’d have to enter the town. We still don’t know if there are any wanted posters of us in the towns.”
Hearing this, Xueya began to worry as well, but before he could come up with a solution, the imperial soldiers caught up to them.
The day they encountered the pursuers was an overcast one. Xueya had felt uneasy from the moment he woke up and had little appetite for breakfast.
The carriage, driven by Yi Yefeng, suddenly sped up, nearly throwing Xueya from his seat. Before he could speak, He Xulan quickly pulled him into his arms.
He Xulan’s expression had turned serious, and Xueya, sensing something was wrong, quietly curled up without a word. The carriage sped up even more, and he could hear the branches scraping against the windows, as if they might tear the windows apart.
But even at this speed, the carriage couldn’t outrun horses. The sound of hooves came from behind. Yi Yefeng glanced back, bent down, and pulled out a long sword hidden beneath the carriage.
“Young master,” he called into the carriage.
He Xulan quickly exited, taking the reins from Yi Yefeng, who immediately jumped off the carriage.
Sensing something had happened, Xueya hurriedly opened the window and caught a glimpse of Yi Yefeng walking away.
“Brother, what’s he doing?”
“We’ll meet him up ahead,” He Xulan answered quickly.
Xueya could hear many hooves approaching. Was Yi Yefeng planning to face them all by himself? That was terrifying! Wouldn’t Yi Yefeng die? While Xueya’s mind was racing with fear, the carriage came to a stop.
He Xulan raised his head to watch the signal flare disappear in the sky, then turned back to the carriage. “Guan Guan, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Xueya replied, but just as he spoke, he heard the sound of hooves behind him and shouted in panic, “Brother, they’ve caught up!”
“It’s Yi Yefeng.”
As He Xulan spoke, Yi Yefeng rode up beside them. He Xulan threw him a water pouch, which Yi Yefeng caught and used to wash his face.
Although neither He Xulan nor Yi Yefeng said much, Xueya sensed that the atmosphere had shifted, becoming tense. Before, Xueya thought fleeing just meant bad food and poor sleep. Today, he realized it was about life and death. Although he hadn’t seen the bodies, the heavy scent of blood on Yi Yefeng when he returned made it clear.
The smell was so strong that later that night, Yi Yefeng had to bathe in the river to wash it off.
Without getting rid of the blood scent, they would surely arouse suspicion if they encountered ordinary people.
Xueya stayed nestled in He Xulan’s arms, watching as He Xulan roasted biscuits and fish while glancing toward the river. After staring for a while, his eyes were suddenly covered.
“Is it that interesting to watch?” He Xulan asked, his voice calm, giving nothing away.
Xueya answered without thinking, “Brother, isn’t he cold? It’s so cold, and I’m still freezing even with all these clothes.”
He Xulan was about to answer when Yi Yefeng returned from the river. Since his body was still wet, he didn’t wear a shirt, his muscular upper body gleaming as he walked toward the fire.
Without showing any reaction, He Xulan quickly covered Xueya’s eyes more tightly and, with mock concern, asked Yi Yefeng, “Aren’t you cold?”
“No,” Yi Yefeng replied, as stoic as ever, sitting on the other side of the fire with his eyes fixed on the roasting fish, which was turning golden.
Hearing Yi Yefeng’s return, Xueya tried to pry He Xulan’s hand away, but He Xulan held fast. After struggling for a while without success, Xueya pouted, “Brother, what are you doing?”
“Yi Yefeng isn’t wearing clothes.” As soon as He Xulan said that, a hand shot up to cover his eyes.
“No peeking! No peeking!” Xueya urgently tried to shield He Xulan’s eyes.
