| The Paternity Guard (PATERNITY) |
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****Back to the Present****
The physical contact seemed to remind him of the almost desperate feeling from before. Perhaps having seen too much bloody slaughter in the past and the experiences had honed his strong nerves.
He quickly regulated his emotions.
What Young Master Ke said was right; when someone you dislike bites you then. just treat them like a dog.
Men don't need to be too concerned about who they love.
Lord Yin, completely unaware of being treated like a dog, still remembered Xing Beiming's advice and refrained from being too presumptuous. The person in his arms struggled fiercely, so he had no choice but to release his arms and let the person escape to a place he couldn't reach.
“This Lord, no… I let you escape for so long just to let you think clearly. I have never indulged anyone like this before! Perhaps our encounter has been a bit less than ideal but I truly want you to stay by my side!"
Xing Beiming said, he should stop the habit of calling himself ‘Lord’ first, but it's hard.
Ying Qi couldn't believe how persistent Yin Ji was in chasing after him. "Why do you keep pursuing me? Lord Yin, there are plenty of men who would gladly be by your side if you beckoned. I'm just an ordinary guard, tough and thick-skinned, I can't handle your deep affection!" Ying Qi was so frustrated that he spoke without restraint.
Yin Ji shook his head. "I just want you and not anyone."
Ying Qi exclaimed firmly, "But I don't want you. I hate you."
He hated what Yin Ji had done to him back then.
It stripped him of all dignity.
Suddenly overwhelmed by panic and tension, Ying Qi looked at Yin Ji with almost fiery eyes.
Feeling the sting of those fiery eyes, Yin Ji was wounded but also strangely moved.
Ying Qi left his horse and used his light skills to disappear before Yin Ji's eyes. Of course, Yin Ji wouldn't give up.
After finally finding Ying Qi, he couldn't just let him go so easily.
Riding his horse in the direction where Ying Qi disappeared, Yin Ji was filled with confidence and hope.
………
In Shashi Town, compared to before, the number of people had decreased significantly and the town looked much better. Various vendors on the well-maintained main street were not as noisy as the merchants in the Central Plains. They either sat or lay lazily at their stalls, chatting or napping. The rare warmth of winter sunlight made people feel lazy for no reason.
With a piece of stubborn taffy in hand, Ying Qi was angry but helpless. With his skills, he was no match for Yin Ji. He couldn't resist if Yin Ji insisted on following him.
Finally free from the miserable days of sleeping outdoors, he lay on the bed but couldn't sleep. Sighing, he sat up to open the window and a cold breeze greeted him. The warm sunshine of the day had disappeared. The town was quieter now than during the day, calming his restless mind.
"Can't sleep?" Suddenly, a voice that startled Ying Qi came from outside the window. He instinctively moved to close the window but it was stopped by the person outside. "Don't close it. If you don't want to see me, I'll stay outside, alright?"
He ignored the person's words and wanted to leave the room but was stopped again with a clear warning, "If you go out, you might see my face and I might do things you dislike. Would you still want that?"
Ying Qi clenched his fists, gritted his teeth and asked, "What do you want? What do you want to do to let me go? Huh?"
The voice from outside echoed into the room, carrying the coldness of the night. "Xiao Qi, don't think of impossible things. I don't believe I can't move you. I'll follow you until you like me."
"Don't call me that!" Ying Qi said angrily. "Lord Yin, maybe you've never experienced unrequited love before, so you're so persistent with me. If it were someone else doing this, you would feel the same about them. It's not real love. Perhaps when you get what you want, you'll realize it's not what you wanted. It's better if you..."
"I don't have so many 'perhaps'!" Yin Ji interrupted, somewhat excited because it was the first time Ying Qi had spoken so much to him, even if it was rejecting words. "You're wrong about one thing. I've been losing things since I was young. Things I like, things I hate... I know better than anyone what's just a show and what's real. If I can't figure these things out, I would have died countless times! Yes, maybe it started because you never yielded to me and why I'm like this towards you. Even Xing Beiming said that I don't understand love. But he made me think about why I wanted to find you again. If I don't understand, I won't come looking for you."
Master...
Ying Qi sat on the bed blankly, thinking about something. Yin Ji kept talking outside but he didn't know if Ying Qi was listening.
He just sat there until the sky brightened, causing his legs to become stiff and numb.
A servant brought hot water to soak his feet. After wiping his face and hands, Ying Qi skipped dinner and fell asleep on the bed with his mind in chaos.
But he decided not to think about anything else and just closed his eyes to sleep. While he was in deep sleep, Yin Ji outside the window seemed to disappear.
Ying Qi didn't pay attention but as he slept, the window that had remained open gently closed.
Ying Qi slept through the rumbling of his stomach couldn't be ignored anymore. He had to get up from the bed, wash up and went downstairs to eat dinner. While eating hastily, he unavoidably overheard conversations from nearby tables.
One person said, "Oh my, I couldn't sleep at all last night but I heard someone outside making a heartfelt confession. It really moved me!”
Another person said, "Oh, really? I heard it too. The voice was so pleasant so it must be a very handsome and elegant Young Master. Oh, yesterday I saw a Young Master in flowing purple robes on the street, clearly from the south. Isn't it him?"
Another person chimed in, "But there was no response from start to finish. Could it be unrequited love? Oh my, if it were me, I would have dashed into his arms already, such a fine man! But his voice was too low, so it was not very clear. It seems he hurt someone in the past. But if it were me, I would still rush over!"
Yet another interjected, "Stop it. With your height and weight, you would definitely knock the Young Master over! I really want to see them. They were surely a pair of foolish lovers. Oh, isn't it the girl who lives in the first room on the left upstairs? Go check!"
At a nearby table, someone countered, "You're mistaken. I remember that room being occupied by a man!” But it was met with unanimous hostility, "Get lost! Don't speak without evidence! Could it be that the purple-robed Young Master is actually a girl disguised as a boy? Hmph!"
Crushing a piece of coarse bread in hand, Ying Qi mentally tore Yin Ji apart. He hastily finished his meal before throwing down some silver and fled the inn. As he stepped out, he almost bumped into someone but he just hurriedly apologized before disappearing into the streets.
With an uncertain future ahead and unsure on where to go, Ying Qi left the World's Supreme Fortress because of wanting to completely sever ties with Yin Ji. However, this reason seemed unattainable now.
Standing at the intersection in town, Ying Qi felt lost for the first time.
"Is it you? Why are you standing here?" The sound of approaching hooves grew nearer but the person stopped beside him and asked in surprise.
Ying Qi turned around to face a stranger. "Who are you? Are you mistaking me for someone else?"
The person was driving a carriage loaded with goods with a carefree demeanor that resembled a wanderer. Their friendly smile easily evoked a favorable impression. "No, you misunderstood. Just now you rushed out of the inn and nearly collided with me. I can recognize you.”
So that's it.
"I'm sorry but I have urgent matters to attend to." Ying Qi nodded apologetically.
The man knew he was lying but didn't tell and just sincerely invited, "I noticed you don't have a horse and it's not easy to catch a ride in Shashi Town. Where are you headed? If it's on my way, I can give you a lift. How about that?"
It sounded good to have someone to talk to!
He was just worried about Yin Ji.
Thinking of the bloodshed before, Ying Qi hesitated. But before he could refuse, the man pointed to a layer of dark clouds in the distance, "The wind is picking up, and maybe you don't know but the weather here changes quickly. It might rain in a little over an hour. Brother, get on the carriage quickly. We'll rush to the next stop ahead; otherwise, there won't be any shelter from the wind and rain along the way!"
Not wanting to offend the man's kindness by refusing, Ying Qi thanked him and got into the carriage but sat on the edge.
The atmosphere during the journey remained harmonious.
The man introduced himself as Liu Ruofeng. He was quite talkative and able to converse about various topics. Gradually, Ying Qi began to lighten up and engage in conversation.
Halfway through the journey, a sudden gust of wind blew. Liu Ruofeng took out a bamboo hat and raincoat from the carriage before dressing himself fully then said to Ying Qi, "Brother, sit inside to avoid the wind and sand. I'll press down on the edge."
Not wanting to burden someone who was offering a ride, Ying Qi tried to convince Liu Ruofeng to switch places but he was stopped.
Liu Ruofeng explained that he had been driving carriages for many years and a little wind and sand were nothing. If a novice took over then they might end up in some remote corner of the mountains.
Ying Qi was helpless.
After all, he had driven carriages for quite some time for his Master!
The carriage struggled forward in the raging wind. Ying Qi faintly heard the sound of horses not far behind. Just then, Liu Ruofeng exclaimed loudly, "What a coincidence! There are others traveling with us from behind!"
Who else could be coming from behind?
…….
Even though Yin Ji wore a thick veil around his neck, it still couldn't stop the flying sand and rocks. His usually elegant appearance was now in disarray but he still followed closely behind the carriage with his eyes glaring at it angrily.
‘What's going on? How dare someone get so close to his Xiao Qi and initiate a rendezvous [1]? They must not be up to any good!’
[1] refers to a planned meeting or gathering, especially one that is secretive, romantic, or involves two parties coming together at an agreed-upon time and place.
Translator thought:
Your paranoid bro😂
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