Chapter-36
Translator: Silvery Butterfly NgzuAQRKGQKDpzTxQvePokReRIQffX
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DUIAhcpsVzniCgiXiao Bao was drenched in sweat, as if he had been fished out of water, and he slept soundly with his eyes closed. Huai En took a cloth dipped in water, turned him over, spread his legs, and gently wiped his lower body. The cool touch made the person beneath him shudder, yet he did not wake up. Huai En meticulously cleaned the sticky milky fluid from between his buttocks and the insides of his thighs.DRKhPxsimRQFBwvwBvdmQkEYkIFLyU
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uzUuMoBmeVUViZIHuai En focused on his eyebrows and eyes. When Xiao Bao smiled with his eyes open, there was always a bit of cunning and carelessness. His eyes would squint into crescent shapes, revealing a set of small white teeth. With his eyes closed, his features seemed innocent, his cheeks full, and his lips pursed with an air of innocence.NZXZVDexcNtROhSmAJRqufgPpVlmsE
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yHBObcJAldNZybuHuai En thought, this person isn’t young, yet he always behaves like a child—so simple and easy to deceive, and easily pleased. His happiness and sadness are written all over his face, easily seen through at a glance. He has all the bad habits of a spoiled brat, with nothing to his name, yet he does as he pleases, dragging others down and unable to be self-reliant. There’s nothing about him that he admires.tLZDewTzMjqwlPqXFClIhWphVOgOVt
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fYQfzDsGbLsBbaIIn his eyes, Jin Xiao Bao had no redeeming qualities, so he couldn’t understand why he hesitated. He never hesitated for anyone.WHLIYYrsSrwXQACcSYyrNYpMNRuLGK
MCrRlgBRyvuFMCseOhbOFvYzaeyuXZJazotKitIUpRGrH
OqoKKHXMffYRsssHe needed this person to relieve the insatiable desire aroused within him. He just wanted him and couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else touching him or being touched by him. That was all there was to it. Why was he hesitating for him?EkXwLGZhtKbhtYBjItzkWfqwffDnxi
CnyfwSbvezXgWPWhcihBycdNHusoXrIYOBWWjvJnjXLFp
FijyAZLPVVHtIFdIn his view, everything had its own value. Just as the value of Zuo Ying and You Ying was to risk their lives for him, Xiao Bao’s value was to obediently submit to him. To his father, the Jin family was like fattened pigs ready for slaughter, and he was a weapon that would neither betray nor fail.idVfkqMQuCWrEmHqwoZatVsWmrDIoH
czqGrWWPOIZZNVugGefoOfMUdwYlzabdbMJQSHGHmnztE
sfrYqqfiqcjZskGIn his world, relationships between people were like that. How could anyone care about what a mere subordinate thought? Every step taken should have a purpose and shouldn’t be hindered by insignificant people or things.iKZzZKMHKJZyLdBJvMrbmqAkoeJqqg
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RzJJuyeGAyIhrNoOnly this way could one remain invincible.LZhXmOlaBXkXdwcdMRNEweZymuxAsm
kBtpMZpwmFFJPZgYFuILmedPgnjVATWcyjNwdegEFmHkp
uYyQUWxplRhansUHuai En’s long fingers gently brushed Xiao Bao’s hair back from his forehead, quietly staring at his peaceful sleeping face for a long time.EjsFMkURsPrtgrTLLlBGZVSUtnIApr
sMcPmfPtjjViMKpRDBLsdDINMwTJQGBFvjMoxfVuGqXgV
EaVLxZPRnePAWllYou Ying and Zuo Ying, even in their sleep, remained highly alert. The moment they sensed someone in the room, they instantly opened their eyes and jumped up from the bed, “Who?!”dauayKyoCZLhkXUQglhtsZxogsCbtY
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BlCFngHcxGcyOiiBathed in moonlight, the person stood with their back to them, slender and tall, exuding an ethereal air.oopgAhmJPeOrMwAipTdJXGnEsRqigC
cFKeSLzmxhtTClTAIJNgqlpAbqckSmPhbtVjsimyZWLeF
vvvSyRZmIbUiObWThey recognized that back immediately and hurriedly knelt, “Young Master?”wwthdZTviSZaNEblnwxGJjnLoYFvhD
QHBRsFxJgZWlKdgljePYWpWpCDlEREacFvIzmKDWvmvNd
fxVzgTZAfWEhmkLHuai En gazed at the full moon in the sky and slowly said, “Two tasks. You Ying, take the roster and travel by the water route from Ning Sha back to Jin Qi Mountain. Personally hand it to my father. Ensure both you and the item are safe. Zuo Ying, follow me and Jin Xiao Bao with some men. We head towards Yu Xia.”hDoaJNupqctCLwjTUkpayDAIysKiym
GpzuhocBDIJYqepnCtTRTuEQXFIVxrctTTHPHhnwEqqof
ChivuFeTdLyasJcBoth raised their heads, eyes filled with surprise.QUFOMjCUyFRypoOFcvnDAnDlURXvwP
YVzySvtSdYHMNljLndFYdsbgIbQGYpwfpWukEXmQRlLZo
pRzzRKaTkpZckXR“Young Master, we do not understand.”oYYfuSDvNaaYParmcljhnksUmpZoqU
RcaTolcejZGuqFNZRNIlTcNLzGRwvHHbXULlmsfAXAjmr
wlpVQaxoWRyChwFThe water route from Ning Sha to the Tong Sect would take twice as long, and they should clearly stay at the Jin mansion to plan. Why go to Yu Xia?YWnepZxCfWcVLxxbqqfFvPPihkProG
QbomtWFHhchfZbExZsJhtxDhwPwtXFGTRCPOjBwRAnlrV
ffluNWFwIJXiNHE“Jin Xiao Bao wants to go to Yu Xia to find Zhang Ziqing to seek medicine for his father.”DHdBgrTwmGtLoYPlbYaCtVYeckBziP
GyCOhKLFpMlThCdSQohIDidmxrSXkiAkbgAHEVcPGEfLg
TuUNorqderBNviM“Young Master?!” You Ying was greatly displeased, “Young Master, our time is limited. How can you delay important matters for a mere Jin Xiao Bao?”VxQjlkzAUJllIBlRYAqEwPQjKumaUq
aRqQNWpSXUDkncpNhcHajlwPMgPriHpkypdPeQaZMxEhn
sEZXVqCJJOlMrMwZuo Ying’s expression turned severe, and he harshly slapped You Ying across the face, “Haven’t you learned your lesson? The Young Master has his reasons.”RLMrukUlGudKmHezGvQsLrAatatrXZ
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FZBarTZGuKoqBuuHuai En didn’t move, his voice calm and steady, “Zong Zheng Lihan has been quiet for a long time, undoubtedly biding his time for an opportunity. The route to the Tong Sect via Yu Xia will surely make him think I’m personally taking the roster back. This will be his last chance to strike, and he won’t miss it. I’ll take a fake roster with Jin Xiao Bao to Yu Xia to divert his men. You Ying, you travel alone and must not be discovered. Zuo Ying, follow us closely. I’ll leave secret marks along the way. When Zong Zheng Lihan makes his move, come to our aid immediately.”lOCOROxcXOelQPmlKnqFrvcQibLFMe
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LFpNAmEkpfCbaKvBoth men showed joyful expressions, “Young Master is wise, Young Master is wise.”ghTmgZihRoDYoYehbNkUEtxIcAzQKe
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vyUmTGUbOgjOifP“You Ying, after delivering the roster to my father, do not linger. Return immediately and ensure you arrive in Suzhou before the third day of next month.”lnoPmrpAplbqmMGezvtzKeCZnWUBSW
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xbYMoPkUZXiqrVN“Yes! You Ying will not fail the Young Master.”JpmIsiBVyuvwjwTebpUjXOMZRmWfXw
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SUWiJEhpDPAFGAt“Zuo Ying, when the Jin family discovers Jin Xiao Bao missing, they will certainly pursue. His two attendants are not to be underestimated. You must hold them off without being detected. If Zong Zheng Lihan makes a move, you must get there before they do.”NYKbWHpcSbsesZBWQIRnABuQPwNoGR
AnJnJTgqmFqAdGVMTAYYYbYwyvmYhrXPtFQqcBSCvJCys
zeOzOjImEzxcFcF“Yes! Rest assured, Young Master.”iBLHImznUeKQAwNeVLCGgBuarpUqth
CspznhASYUIEUElJIydfyMvYraAvFJbsroiDDEDzQYpDJ
TXFrutyHJqxwALyHuai En slowly turned around, giving You Ying a deep look, “Do not speak unnecessarily to my father. You know the consequences.”xvUMqQSgIWHPAXSzZhzcXneqzZSaYx
KnMisktxRaahJVTnPNLtGvUWnxVQKMuHokBrkbhodCNsU
raRzytsijTXlXwP“I wouldn’t dare!”WhneeFkLIgMuFbTEWjerhqiZPXUbzp
NaoEueQhpbvGwsTJUkrcPJZNWzwnAxBBuRVrFJPMGABXw
zTodcCEuqsKdywr“Jin Xiao Bao and I will leave tomorrow night. Once you confirm Zong Zheng Lihan’s action, then set off.”RilgaKgKGigoDYmwTBYWsbWpNoOmKi
ZprbEWvZOZdJMKMiYeBXZTmJmdtSzdsyQMKPdmAPCCPFe
EanvtOzOgQYkatk“Understood.”cVnLPsDVwgKCjYNhMvsngLbLNzEZfb
XAPVPxqCGnkqcaZTbXUSpJXeMcpOZvUtThkYhMCynWRFu
zKlNHZzBqOJiwtZHuai En seemed to sigh almost imperceptibly. The two men were still wondering if they had misheard when they looked up and found him gone, leaving only the evening breeze lightly brushing the window frames.miVDxRBNPVaqiXvezJNRazQqicWMWP
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bYNGFYTtzwQkQNeXiao Bao paced back and forth in the room, feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation.lpAESkLVxYniQjndYyiPQFyBtlZrFR
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FLOOQokmFRpLHhLHis luggage was already packed, and he had left a note explaining the situation, asking his family not to worry and that he would be back in a few days.xPsxcpLhqegsbuZkDbKSKkmLbpsaCL
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VuzqbJMPkgLHMgYHe wondered if the young ladies waiting to elope with poor scholars felt the same way.mOtXyUvdQsbjkJeDtcJGdObYMiFQoR
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WfSVPMnjriaeXWCWill he come? Can we escape? What will happen afterward?lmNZPaleOTeeCLCHZuILDgBJjDVHnj
yjGxuGQnRXzwmaXYyfHlvsILtfVMOwDbsbRDhdZGcYOdr
ehDNqVifqwVXSMpBut then he thought about how this was just two men going on a trip together, and the romantic fantasies felt somewhat disgusting.vHpdRxxMUYEFTuKfTrTCTuaNcRLNbO
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GkIioWeFVoxXjvNRight now, his only concern was whether Huai En would change his mind.GWZQOQgtHGEUuhvWCdGTqNUKLVfpUS
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IynKwoNSLJanegVThere was no helping it. Huai En had always been indifferent to him, only showing some humanity in bed. Now, not only had he agreed to this trip, but he had also helped clean his body, dressed him, and sent him back to his room last night. The feeling of having his efforts rewarded was so wonderful that he sometimes wondered if everything that had happened recently was a dream, if he was so infatuated with Huai En that he was hallucinating.uNYKIENSshhmeOnXlMhYrDSVhnbsQT
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FWyQinCEwzJSgEmAfter the third watch1, a white shadow arrived as promised.VdbpxPQliQsAOGzjVjCyBrepemkkXR
QpezuRmNWQlATxRXiao Bao looked at him in surprise and whispered, “You’re here.”friyipbgIbsDRTZgSKZyaxDBbyTfvI
SkfrfOsAzGaTjJTxYrrcpgYNOehkPplytYCxdEZHfqnhp
ANehHflUlwhXYMHHuai En glanced at him and then at his luggage, “Everything ready?”ZWiUoZTxvFZrPvGjTgNeQGmCyBklwX
oRFrkEuDJImPFjifhYWpjzKpaOBqilWxDiILICIqeGEVi
XnGvNhWvztFHUgr“Yes, just waiting for you.”lXPZiicJtDdPluufkxVfIXdgKnCTNR
oZrxKmPGscrwWDntkvqdhORGjpBzKCvmLpnsffEwylree
lfUwpudgwmUUKLhHuai En yanked the large bag off his back, “Bringing so much stuff on a trip, are you out of your mind?”NyggzovleanISHLDEQXEMtpWDnLrBf
MiKzLVZErZQcYQzwBDAshhZXBHTQBADwwhMchzYYKgQZg
jLjDRXOaWvSXtagXiao Bao looked innocently at the bag Huai En had thrown to the ground, “Everything in there is important.”DHZxfcwivLWoBcAitabSwaLFsBXokP
iDrxHJlqFDfNIOaZRulWMzvOmXtGpWgnltmUcJRWYzjdj
VXsxcehqgsnmoIA“You have one incense stick of time. The bag should be only this big.” He hefted his own small cloth bag.VuSdTMOtogCqmYuTQSARthspvjYZCv
pVPZKphOnLmNujlNhmbaLvIurtHXKYZSgEybXTKXabRqa
mZaqWJCWmFDZdIeXiao Bao had no choice but to squat down and unpack his bag.LybwkpqLFyQDLTLxkhOdfKyHMiWMyy
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QcVeGYAtgHSLJpmHuai En glared at the assortment of items scattered on the ground and angrily shoved all the miscellaneous things to the side.NGOQSDGHlYyOxkXfIWLVnFKStmphAf
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eRZfhepLXhiwLZSXiao Bao exclaimed, “That’s useful for sleeping at night, and this, this is also useful, it helps with motion sickness, and don’t throw that, it’s for staying alert, and… this… top-grade Biluochun tea…”zphCScUhmrhejaqxFYdFSHjfYfbrVq
tQtBRmWseGTCDqJcpfFTaeOTMhrKgVFqcVcOAEuuMnZcl
ZgXHGBomLcFixBGHuai En snapped, “Keep babbling, and you’ll go alone.”KVEQMRAHFIDoFkYlYTlIVYuwLEFPBz
QdytEmklXbAyqjCISOKFFoMPUzujCNJPypxqEOFapZDjv
iZfEwcZOAgZLlVPXiao Bao immediately fell silent, squatting aside pitifully.GLqVRZATihPzIjUyQPWLdgfVsSUgoT
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OpJwzroTmwisnUEHuai En, satisfied with the selections, was about to tie up the bag when he suddenly stood up, went over the table, and grabbed something from the bedside, “This has to come too. Is there any more?”jPTmmoXCYfydomIYxEEQYALMVuXcCn
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CvbsaIuZfHHMKNqXiao Bao’s face turned bright red; Huai En was holding the ointment they used to prepare him.dPfgcGiHywvrEuOGxhldPchzlroVFX
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qWusPrcAFpZNUJpHuai En asked again, “Is there more? One bottle isn’t enough.”GbffVJUAfWRiicuSHlFIuJdsDHBjeH
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tMkdIuvufcnpeyZXiao Bao jumped up, “We’re going to get medicine for my father!! We’re on serious business!! How can you… how can you be thinking about that!!”JcZMSObGaMEaAZmqGezrAbwIJbkbLo
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bsTbxSVLDFwwpuh“This is also serious business,” Huai En said with a completely serious expression.eghKUKxBBaTFUhqWXiiqlhtBPyLmqC
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QtkkuWgRUVelqoOXiao Bao was both furious and a bit scared. At this rate, Huai En seemed to be planning on three hundred rounds of battle a day. He might as well just dismantle him.wFjfBjgoppfurliDpNeEseoPzSxnRx
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SFDxAWFDXTuuOggRealizing that confronting him head-on was useless, Xiao Bao pleaded, “Can we take it easy on the way? We need to go and return as quickly as possible, the sooner the better.”qrvvMTMXcDnWvQYcviivUHedYBMjXv
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iInupMVmccgPvGT“We will naturally go and return quickly. Three hours of rest a day is sufficient. I have a lot of experience traveling; you don’t need to worry.”aGLIezkvGhWRkJBTqWKMDjgoNwnOzi
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CWFjQqCASJIjeMxXiao Bao’s jaw almost dropped, “Three hours? Including eating, drinking, relieving ourselves, and sleeping?” And… being fucked by you?HDpYnZyziLJWQTRZMACldBSjcYDLGY
CFbPIumMCXGZSYMtvKWXknjHqTdsdmIRECSkEIWuMHgwy
BsmlMgrtVwWeOeaHuai En nodded, “It’s enough. If I were alone, one hour would suffice.” When he was seven, he was thrown into the snowy mountains and didn’t sleep for seven days and nights, fearing that the next moment a wild beast would snap his neck. By now, this seemed quite easy to him.jiejReypLigyDylbYmZyuUeRgmTBTs
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qGKEfrkhhtgDFeHIn his view, he was already being considerate of Xiao Bao, yet Xiao Bao still seemed hopeless, always bargaining.GKuyTojjgScLWHwyVanPCUqETLZOBi
OqmtcqiUbOTgfKodzifPawTJMKGgGuLuGZnGThdCRQTRX
CXBVRpPcIkBDYtKXiao Bao pleaded with a woeful expression, “Lord Huai En, please have mercy on me. If this keeps up, I’ll be dead from exhaustion!”pGFkZzEHedtlktwDCRbkDteUMdNOdz
ODSsjAavBxDFcZIDXRdbPMQYLWariKIAwGHAWtnSSmEdt
kTWZYixHByRuzxjHuai En found him spoiled and useless, and felt a deep disdain.TOUarBHwcXEhbyiqSezptlEsrxaGXy
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iOmwPTGUaMSSYJbThrowing the item he held into the bag, he said, “If you want to go and return quickly, you need to listen to me. Stop wasting time, let’s go.”SfhatZiwBkTOpiSrwtjKIsmmhJcHRw
vklSFYFsnutqGqWDFwnvrfEvvYuwSDJRaWlUIhqCniILi
aeVLQMJaPweqipYXiao Bao knew Huai En was not one to change his mind. As he stepped out of the room, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of tragic heroism.iCTWwRxjYnExyTMJohVUIsAQmRLrUk
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- The “third watch” (三更一过) refers to a time during the night, based on the traditional Chinese system of dividing the night into five watches (更, gēng). Each watch lasts for approximately two hours. The third watch corresponds to 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM. [↩]