Chapter 60: From the Flower Reflects a Picture – Part 16

 

The Fireworks Festival was in full swing. Ever since Ming ChangYan came to the Central Plains, he’s only ever stayed in Jiangnan and has never visited Huating before. Although he’s heard of Huating’s Fireworks Festival before, due to his overloaded schedule in TianQing, no matter how much Zhong YuLou tried to coax and pester, he held it off till next year. And then it turned out that by the next year, he would have to bid farewell.

Ming ChangYan closed his eyes and sighed. His heart suddenly jolted, causing him to knit his brows.

Huai Yu had noticed his abnormal behavior after he had sighed, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

As he approached, the muffled fragrance on Huai Yu’s body became all the more omnipresent, engulfing him whole.

Ming ChangYan waved his hands and smiled, “What could be wrong, my heads just dizzy from standing for too long, it’s not that big of a deal.”

Of course, Huai Yu didn’t believe his words, reaching out and grabbing the other’s right hand to check their pulse. The pulse was stable and there didn’t seem to be a problem.

However, with this, the distance between the two became closer.

Originally, it was due to Ming shaoxia’s guilty conscience that he felt a nagging anxiety in him, making him stand far away from Huai Yu. Then after the Fireworks Festival began, he suddenly felt that this distance was perhaps a bit too far, he hadn’t handled it well, so he found various reasons, such as, “Being too far away is an inconvenience”, “What if that little brat overthinks”, “I should stand closer to him, otherwise I’d seem strange how he was standing close before but now he’s standing far away.” In short, Ming shaoxia was just confusing himself at this point, opting to quietly move closer.

After Huai Yu took his pulse, the originally close distance became even more ambiguous.

Ming ChangYan’s body stiffened as he unnaturally shifted his attention to the fireworks.

But unfortunately, what kind of fireworks in the sky or what colors they were, Ming shaoxia didn’t know.

Huai Yu asked him, “Would you like to sit for a while?”

Ming ChangYan came back to his senses and said, “No, I’m fine with standing! Standing…..helps me get some fresh air!”

Huai Yu calmly said, “Didn’t you say you felt dizzy from standing.”

Hearing this, Ming ChangYan went silent.

Huai Yu beckoned over a guard and ordered them to bring over a chair. Ming ChangYan thought it’d be better to accept deferentially than to politely decline, plus why would he stand and watch when he could sit and watch.

Once he sat down, he couldn’t help but think: Although little Huai Yu usually has a temper as bad as a tyrant, he’s actually pretty good to me.

No one had ever been this nice to him, apart from his mother. Ming ChangYan was someone who has a distinct view on gratitude and grudges, he takes revenge when there’s animosity, and repays kindness when it’s given. But Huai Yu’s kindness is like rolling a snowball, it grows bigger the more you roll it, and at the end of it all, he’s nearly unable to afford any of this kindness.

At that moment, as light flickered across Huai Yu’s face, Ming ChangYan looked on and carelessly thought of something impractical.

Huai Yu was looking straight ahead, he suddenly asked, “What’s the matter?”

Hearing this, Ming ChangYan faintly smiled, “Nothing, you just seem particularly gentle today.”

He was about to say a few more words when from the corner of his eye he caught a glimmer of light. Ming ChangYan had always been curious in nature, whenever he noticed anything odd, he’d insist on taking a closer look. As a result, a closer look revealed that it had been the head of a XiaoHan Temple monk.

He suddenly burst out in laughter, Huai Yu said, “What are you laughing at?”

Ming ChangYan motioned him over. Huai Yu was suspicious, but still bent down to listen to what Ming shaoxia had to tell him.

Suddenly so close, Ming ChangYan suddenly paused, inevitably recalling that night’s half-kiss.

Huai Yu waited for a long time, but not long enough for Ming ChangYan to say anything, thus he turned around and saw the other wearing a foolish, blank expression. He couldn’t help but say, “Ming ChangYan?”

Ming ChangYan suddenly came back to his senses, laughing it off he pointed at the far off distance, “Look over there, isn’t that a monk from XiaoHan Temple?”

Huai Yu looked over, nodded, then replied, “What’s so funny about that?”

Ming ChangYan was unable to stifle his laughter, asking in return, “Don’t you think the bald heads of XiaoHan Temple’s monks are really funny? In my opinion, they don’t need to buy so many candles for their temples. They just have to stand under the moon at night, with the moonlight, they’d be able to light up the entire temple by themselves!”

Huai Yu contemplated for a moment, likely envisioning what that would look like, then laughed.

He rarely smiled, even if he did, he would only slightly raise the corners of his mouth. And for him to laugh out loud, was truly scarce.

Ming ChangYan suddenly opened his mouth and exclaimed, “Little Huai Yu, you have tiger’s teeth*?”

(TN: “虎牙”; essentially it’s a tooth, specifically the canine, that’s pointed at the end. Fun fact, they’re actually considered to be quite a cute feature to have. Here’s an example: https://3img.hitv.com/preview/sp_images/2019/2/28/zongyi/328538/5236227/20190228144903282.jpg)

Huai Yu abruptly realized something. The smile quickly disappeared from his face, as he changed his appearance back into a solemn expression.

Ming ChangYan refused to overlook this as if he had discovered some kind of huge secret that ruptured a playfulness within him. He didn’t even want to sit on the chair anymore, both his hands reaching up to Huai Yu’s face as he tried to pry open the other’s mouth to have a look.

“Let me see! You brat, no wonder you never laugh as much! If not for this shaoxia’s good eyesight, I may not have even spotted it!”

Huai Yu clicked his tongue and pushed him away, “Get up.”

Ming ChangYan delightfully said, “Not getting up, not getting up! Show me them!”

Huai Yu used both his hands to try and push and pull Ming ChangYan off of him. But to no avail, as Ming ChangYan was currently like sticky candy, and couldn’t be shaken off no matter what.

He pulled at Huai Yu’s cheeks as he heartily laughed, “Ey, little Huai Yu, come on, show me. It’s over, it’s over, I know now, is it because you have tiger’s teeth that you dislike laughing!”

Huai Yu was frozen before immediately turning angry from embarrassment, “Stop touching me!”

Ming ChangYan ignored his words and relentlessly said, “I’m touching you! What can you do to me about it!”

Huai Yu was a bit taller than him, he took two steps back and pondered for a bit. He couldn’t hit him, nor could he scold him, just as Ming ChangYan said, he couldn’t do anything about him. He was at a loss.

He changed the subject, “If you have nothing to do, then go bother XiaoHan Temple, don’t come to me.”

Ming ChangYan opened his mouth and said, “How could I do that. What’s fun about bald donkeys! I’m annoyed by just watching them!” Then he said, “Are all of XiaoHan Temple here? How come I haven’t seen that many of them around?”

As soon as he said this, Baili Deng who was standing on the side suddenly answered, “Probably only half of them. Huating’s Firework Festival is a well-known program. At this time, almost everyone’s arrived in the vicinity of Taibai Yanyu Building, the monks from XiaoHan Temple are corroborating with officers to supervise the people along the coastal area. They probably left a few gatekeepers behind, or those that need to do their classwork.”

Ming ChangYan thought: With such a large festival, according to the usual conduct of XiaoHan Temple, they’d likely bring out their whole nest to display their sect’s authority. But for them to only bring half their people, I’ve truly underestimated them.

Baili Deng continued, “But Huating’s Fireworks Festival indeed is wonderful. The fireworks are big, with different varieties and patterns, it truly is hard to come by. But it’s hard for us, the guards, in such a chaotic environment, we’re not able to hear things clearly. If something bad happens, forget catching the culprit, it’s a question whether we’d even know right away.”

The third prince listened along the sidelines and smiled, “What could happen at such a distinguished gathering? The fireworks have already ended, you’re just being worried about nothing and thinking too much into it.”

Ming ChangYan slightly smiled, after smiling, he suddenly had a bad feeling in his chest.

“Where’s the new location for XiaoHan Temple?”

Huai Yu replied, “The former site of the Zhuang family.”

Ming ChangYan muttered for a moment, “I know. I’m asking where exactly that’s located.”

Baili Deng noticed his expression was amiss and reported an address.

Ming ChangYan deliberated for a bit, “I have a bad feeling. You guys stay and watch, I’m going to swing by the former site of the Zhuang family.”

Huai Yu suddenly grabbed him, “I’ll go with you.”

Ming ChangYan nodded. He secretly thought: It’d be better if he came anyway, my cultivation’s too unstable and all over the place. If Huai Yu was around, he can also rest easy.

Just as they left the building, when they were passing through a small stone bridge they bumped into the Zhu Rong who was just making his way towards them.

Both Ming ChangYan and Huai Yu were startled. Zhu Rong noticed the two were in a hurry and asked, “The two of you are leaving?”

Ming ChangYan vaguely responded, “It’s a bit urgent, can’t really accompany you guys right now.”

With that, he together with Huai Yu left.

They only took a few steps when Ming ChangYan turned back again. He looked behind him, after waiting till Zhu Rong was a bit farther away did he pat Huai Yu’s shoulder and say, “Guess, what did he leave to do?”

Huai Yu gave him a faint glance, Ming ChangYan said, “Huai Yu, you can’t come with me, there’s something wrong with Zhu Rong.”

The bells gently rang. Zhao XiaoLan’s ears twitched, happily turning around and saying, “Zhu Rong!”

Zhu Rong nodded towards him.

A-Jun yelped, “Zhao XiaoLan, did you grow eyes on your back?”

Zhao XiaoLan said sincerely, “I just heard the sound of the bells.”

When A-Jun heard this, she became even more flabbergasted, “Do you have doggie ears?”

When Duan Min heard A-Jun’s words, he was a bit curious, probably really wanting to see who’s ears actually look like a dog’s.

Zhao XiaoLan laughed since A-Jun had always been looking for various ways to scorn him. Over time, he got used to it.

After arguing, this led to Zhao XiaoLan immediately noticing that Ming ChangYan had disappeared. He let out an ‘eh’ and said, “Where did Yan-jiejie go?”

Baili replied, “They asked me just now about XiaoHan Temple’s new location?”

Zhu Rong shot him a glance.

Zhao XiaoLan said, “Why did she ask about this? Nevermind, Huai Yu-gege’s with her, there shouldn’t be an issue.”

He turned around when Li Li suddenly said, “Young master Zhao, let’s call it a day.”

Zhao XiaoLan was surprised, “Are you leaving?”

Li Li smiled, “I’m a little tired.”

Zhao XiaoLan nodded then said to Zhu Rong, “Zhu-xiong, I’ll send off Li Li, you…..” He felt a bit embarrassed and lowered his voice, “Could you accompany me?”

“Although my cultivation is already pretty high, you’re aware, it’s easy to get into an accident while walking the road at night. I’ll feel more at ease with another person protecting Li Li!”

With the light shining on his back, he couldn’t see Zhu Rong’s expression and only heard an, “Okay.”

Zhao XiaoLan let out a sigh of relief and promptly said to Li Li, “Where do you currently live, I can call a carriage to send you there.”

Li Li nodded but didn’t say anything.

Zhao XiaoLan called over a carriage, along the way, Zhao XiaoLan acted like a clown, chattering about all the various knowledge he’s acquired. With Zhu Rong accompanying him, his stuttering lessened, feeling a bit more confident when talking to Li Li.

When they arrived at their destination, somehow, one of Li Li’s sleeves got caught on the carriage railing. When opening the door, with a hiss, a piece of cotton was torn off revealing a large part of her arm. The skin was a white as snow, but upon closer inspection there appeared to be a number of thin scars, as if they’d been cut several times by a sharp weapon.

Zhao XiaoLan had put all of his attention towards Li Li, and thus was the first to notice, saying, “Maiden Li Li! What happened to your arm!?”

Saying this, he quickly came closer for a closer look: The scars interlaced and had already scabbed over, surely an old injury.

They clearly didn’t look like they’d been caused by scraping against the carriage either, so Zhao XiaoLan was confused.

Li Li calmly pulled her arms back into their sleeves, and said to Zhao XiaoLan, “Years ago when I was in the Hundred Flower Abyss, I accidentally knocked over a porcelain lantern. The lantern’s sharp engravings of flowers shattered into pieces, accidentally cutting my skin, which left these scars. For Young Master Zhao to incur ridicule, may young master not take offense.”

She threw a glance at Zhu Rong then continued, “It’s late, be careful on your way back.”

Before Xiao Yu went through the front gate, she gave Zhao XiaoLan a ferocious look, “Disrespectful!”

The gate was slammed shut, the sound echoing to the heavens.

Zhao XiaoLan felt a bit bleak as he asked Zhu Rong, “Zhu-xiong, was I really disrespectful back there, is Maiden Li Li angry at me?” He immediately added, “I didn’t mean anything else! I really thought she’d gotten hurt…..sigh, she was born rich, to bear such serious injuries, how can I not feel distressed!”

Zhu Rong smiled and said, “It’s to be expected for a woman to take offense to things like scars on their bodies. Besides, if she cared about you, she certainly wouldn’t want you to see them. As far as I can see, you might as well try to find some sort of panacea that can help her get rid of them, maybe she’ll be very happy.”

Hearing this, Zhao XiaoLan wasn’t sure whether Zhu Rong’s words were real or not, he was in a daze for a bit, after thinking it over he said, “You’re right, but I don’t know who can get a hold of this kind of medicine.”

Zhu Rong gave him a slight smile and reminded, “Aren’t you very close to the Young Prime Minister? Tell him this, then ask him if he has a way, how’s that?”

Zhao XiaoLan looked to have suddenly seen the light, he was just about to lament Zhu-xiong’s cleverness and quick-witted approach, when there was a sudden disturbance from across the street, hordes of people were gathering, which attracted Zhao XiaoLan’s attention.

Zhao XiaoLan loved getting in on the action, and also loved fighting against injustice, especially when Zhu Rong was beside him; with someone covering for him, he could act more undisciplined.

He just took a few steps forward when his arm was grabbed by Zhu Rong, “Zhao SuHe, what are you leaving to do?”

Zhao XiaoLan answered, “I want to go see what’s going on, why is it brighter over there?”

“Don’t worry,” he said, “Zhu-xiong, I’m just going over to take a look, if you’re not coming, you can stand here and wait for me. I’ll be right back.”

He didn’t wait for his reply before running two steps forward. He looked back, and in just a blink of an eye, Zhu Rong had vanished.

Zhao XiaoLan’s face was slightly stunned, “……Zhu-xiong?”

There was only the nearby screams and cries, blown here by the wind, that brushed by his ears.

From the crowd came a hysterical cry, “FIRE!! HELP!! COME HELP!!”

It turned out that XiaoHan Temple had caught on fire.

Zhao XiaoLan came back to his senses and quickly ran forward.

Ming ChangYan had been using qinggong* along the way when he spotted a flame from far away.

(TN: Qinggong is a technique in Chinese martial arts where you make the body extremely light in weight by altering the flow of qi in the body)

Just now, because it was urgent, he hadn’t been able to explain much before asking Huai Yu to go back and spy on them, neither does he know how he was doing now. When they had run into Zhu Rong, he had been reeking with blood and killing intent. If his guess was correct, everything points at disaster for the monks that stayed behind at XiaoHan Temple.

When he arrived at XiaoHan Temple, the smoke was already billowing. The main hall of XiaoHan Temple had already been completely covered by the fire, Ming ChangYan could only reach the courtyard before he couldn’t go any further. He surveyed the area and could only sigh: It looks like I ran here for nothing, don’t mention a survivor, even finding a body intact would be impossible.

XiaoHan Temple had been expanding its power for decades, their accumulated strength can’t be underestimated, but this fire has made them suffer. He didn’t expect that back then when TianQing was still very influential, nothing bad had happened to XiaoHan Temple, on the contrary, now after he had died, did this big villain appear. Now, this sect’s strength has been damaged, it will be hard for them to reinstate that former prosperity for a while.

There were numerous emotions flowing through Ming ChangYan, but didn’t have the intention to drop stones onto a man who had already fallen into a well*. He was worried about Huai Yu, just as he was ready to depart, he didn’t notice that someone had already arrived. Turning around, he was met head-on with that someone.

(TN: “落井下石”; to add insult to injury, to bring misfortune to someone already misfortune.)

 

 

 

This was translated by https://poppyscanlations.video.blog/, any repost of this is stolen and if you steal my work I’m prying your mouth open.

 

 

 

I’m very sorry for leaving for over two weeks and not updating, I just held it off because I felt very disinclined to translate for a while. So here’s what I’m doing, I’ll translate and post chapter 61, and then take a break for like a week or two. I’m just feeling kinda drained lately and I need some time to rest.

If you see any grammatical/translation errors, please notify me, I make some mistakes that I go back and secretly edit out but it takes me ages to find them.

I wanted to post this drawing I did of MCY but since I’m currently on my computer, I don’t have the actual image with me so I’ll just post it with the next chapter ٩(//̀Д/́/)۶

Have a great day~~

 

 

 

Chapter 59 : Table of Contents : Chapter 61