The Jianghu of Feng Qingcheng and Mo Xibei

Chapter 38

"Your hands are so heavy. It would be stupid not to run. I have to run so you won't end up a widow." Mu Feinan kept taking advantage of the situation. Seeing Mo Xibei's body tremble slightly, he quickly changed locations, and the two of them chased and fled, circling the house twice.

Mo Xibei was always very confident in his lightness skill, but he didn't expect that after a few leaps, he really couldn't catch Mu Feinan's clothes. He couldn't help but feel a bit competitive and quickened his pace. The private room wasn't very big, and the two of them walked around in the room, their clothes fluttering in the wind, but surprisingly, they didn't bump into any expensive decorations.

As he walked briskly, Mu Feinan suddenly stopped and turned around abruptly.

Mo Xibei couldn't stop her momentum and was unwilling to crash into Mu Feinan, so she could only reach out to push him away. However, Mu Feinan grabbed her wrist and gently pulled her behind him, causing her to lose her balance and crash into his arms.

Mu Feinan's clothes were made of a soft, light silk fabric. They felt soft and smooth against her face, flowing through her palms, almost impossible to grasp. Mo Xibei tried to back away, but Mu Feinan had already wrapped his arms around her waist. "Xibei..." he sighed softly, murmuring her name, and gently closed his eyes. Mo Xibei always carried a pleasant, faint sweet fragrance, not incense, nor ordinary floral scent, but somewhat like the delicate aroma of wildflowers and meadows under the sunlight. Anyone who got close could always sense the vibrant life within it.

Mo Xibei did not struggle forcefully. She moved slightly and saw that Mu Feinan not only refused to let go, but also increased his strength, as if he wanted to strangle her waist. So she stopped moving and let him bury his face in her hair.

After a long while, so long that Mo Xibei couldn't help but doze off, Mu Feinan suddenly released his arms and lifted the restraint on Mo Xibei. "Why aren't you struggling?" His voice was slightly hoarse, as if filled with endless resentment.

"You'll let go immediately if I struggle?" Mo Xibei yawned and rolled his eyes at him.

"No, I've wanted to do this for a long time." Mu Feinan answered frankly, but when he met Mo Xibei's murderous gaze, he quickly looked away.

"That's settled then. It's just a hug. You don't know, but this is a very normal social etiquette in the West. I won't lose a piece of my flesh, so why bother struggling?" Mo Xibei took two steps back nonchalantly, talking to himself as if to Mu Feinan, "The food is getting cold. If it's not to your liking, I'll have someone make a few more."

"You!" This time, it was Mu Feinan's turn to be furious. If looks could kill, Mo Xibei thought he would have at least thirty or fifty holes in his body by now. He had clearly gotten the better deal, yet he was still putting on such a sour face. Mo Xibei couldn't help but glare back at him. "If you're full, I'll have someone remove the dishes. Such good food, if you don't eat it, there are plenty of others who want it."

"Who said I'm full? I haven't eaten anything at all! How can you be such a woman!" Mu Feinan shook her head, seemingly not wanting to see Mo Xibei anymore. She walked straight to the table, ignoring the fact that the food had gotten cold, picked up her chopsticks and took a few big bites. However, she felt uneasy after eating the food and finally couldn't help but ask, "What is the West? What are social etiquette? Has anyone ever hugged you like this before?"

"Ha..." Mo Xibei saw Mu Fei's slightly aggrieved and deeply puzzled face and couldn't help but burst into laughter. After laughing, he said in a serious tone, "I won't tell you, I just won't tell you, haha..."

Because he hadn't enjoyed his meal, Mu Feinan lingered after dinner, coldly telling Mo Xibei, "I'm going to sleep in your house tonight. Have someone clean a room for me."

"Why would you want to sleep at my place? What would Lian Yun think if he saw you? Chunfeng Ruyi Tower has plenty of rooms, all personally designed by me. They're definitely more exquisite than my mediocre place. You'd be much better off sleeping here." Mo Xibei promoted his rooms. "If you need special services, well, my girls are quite nice too." (To be continued... For more details, please visit the website and support the author by reading the original version!)

Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Two: Love Is Hard to Express (Part Two)

"Special services?" Mu Feinan suddenly laughed, his already alluring peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly, revealing a meaningful look. "That's a good suggestion. Can I choose the person myself?"

“No problem.” Mo Xibei nodded generously, but then, after thinking for a moment, he asked with some doubt, “Didn’t you just say… I see you’re quite badly injured and still have some residual poison? Are you sure you can handle it?”

"Whether I'm capable or not, you'll find out in a bit." Mu Fei smiled like a sly fox who had just stolen a chicken, quite pleased with himself. He refused to go to the guest room, pointed to the screen behind the private room, and said, "I'll stay here tonight." Without waiting for Mo Xibei to nod, he flashed to the large bed behind the screen, where a water-sky-colored gauze curtain hung, and lay down.

"Hey, this is my place, you can't sleep here." Mo Xibei is a bit of a germaphobe, so she doesn't allow anyone to touch her things easily. She quickly followed her in and reached out to pull Mu Feinan away.

"What's yours is mine, and I'm going to stay here," Mu Feinan blinked, his smile captivating. Taking advantage of Mo Xibei's momentary daze, he forcefully pulled her onto the bed. It was just a joke, but they were so close that he could clearly see the clear confusion in Mo Xibei's eyes, like an innocent child captivated by something beautiful and interesting; and his nose was filled with the faint scent of agarwood emanating from her, elegant and serene… For a moment, he felt his blood rush to his head, his heart pounding. He leaned closer and involuntarily said, "You stay, I was just teasing you. I don't want anyone else. I only want you."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Mu Feinan suddenly realized his mistake, but the words were already out. He could only watch as Mo Xibei's expression changed, as if he were angry. He was annoyed and didn't have time to think further. He quickly covered his head with his hands and said repeatedly, "I live here. If you're unhappy, then hit me if you want, just don't hit my face."

"I've seen plenty of scoundrels, but I've never seen one as scoundrel as you." Mo Xibei was already annoyed by Mu Feinan's tactless behavior, but seeing this grown man acting so shamelessly, he couldn't get angry. He could only jump off the bed and sigh helplessly. Mu Feinan seemed genuinely tired. He turned to his side, not bothering to cover himself with the blanket, and buried his head in the soft quilt, closing his eyes tightly. He only mumbled something softly. After a moment, his breathing became steady and long. He had fallen asleep.

Mo Xibei didn't linger, so she quietly slipped out and, as usual, went to the inner courtyard to check on Murong Lianyun. Murong Lianyun was sitting alone in her room, staring blankly at the stars, just like she had done countless times in the capital. Mo Xibei knew this was her silent protest, but she was powerless to change her situation and was simply finding solace in her predicament. Since she couldn't explain it to her, she could only let the young lady figure it out herself. The world didn't revolve around her; no one would always cater to her preferences. If she couldn't change the world, she should change with it—that's how the fittest survive. So, as usual, she didn't disturb her, only sighed, and turned to go back to her room.

Because Mu Feinan had taken over her drinking and partying spot, she hadn't drunk the wine she was supposed to drink today. Lying on the bed, she tossed and turned several times, realizing she was experiencing insomnia. As soon as she closed her eyes, a chaotic scene of fighting and killing would automatically appear in her mind, and the wound on Mu Feinan's arm would repeatedly flash before her eyes. In an instant, the wound seemed to be on Chu Junfeng's chest, very deep, constantly oozing black, poisonous blood...

Xinglong Inn, she murmured to herself a few times, somewhat annoyed that she had thought of those words. However, it was difficult not to think about them. After tossing and turning several times, Mo Xibei finally sat up in a huff. She told herself that they were friends after all, and since she knew he was so badly injured, there was no reason not to go and see him. She would just go and see him anyway. Although it was late, there shouldn't be any danger.

Chu Junfeng was staying in room number three of the Tianzi section at Xinglong Inn. This wasn't something Mo Xibei had found out; it was simply that she had finally persuaded herself to leave the inn. When she walked around to the street in front, she saw that the main gate of Xinglong Inn was still open, and Tian Xin was standing at the door looking around. When she saw her, she seemed very happy and said before Mo could speak, "Young Master Mo, it's so good that you've come. My young master is in room number three of the Tianzi section. Please look after him for a while and ask the waiter to fetch a doctor. He hasn't returned for so long, and I can't wait any longer. I was just about to go and see him myself."

Mo Xibei wanted to ask what was wrong with her young master, but before she could even open her mouth, Tian Xin had already run out like a shot. She had no choice but to ask the innkeeper for directions to room number three in the Tianzi section and then went up to the second floor in a few steps.

The door was ajar. Mo Xibei hesitated whether to push it open or knock first. However, inside the room, Chu Junfeng said, "Tian Xin, I'm fine. There's no need to trouble the doctor so late."

Mo Xibei remained silent, simply pushing open the door and entering the room. The room was filled with the bitter smell of medicine. Chu Junfeng lay on the bed, the blanket only covering his chest, revealing the white cotton cloth wrapped around his chest. At this moment, his eyes were tightly closed, and his brows were furrowed, as if he was enduring pain.

Chu Junfeng was half asleep and half awake. He heard footsteps approaching, but Tian Xin did not answer him for a long time. So he forced his eyes open and at the same time, the sword that he had been holding in his hand under the covers was slashed out through the air.

Mo Xibei was startled and quickly stepped aside, patting his chest before saying, "What are you doing? You didn't even say anything before you started using your weapon."

"How could it be you?" Chu Junfeng was also taken aback. The person in front of him looked like Mo Xibei. He had just offended her a few days ago. How could this be? He must be delirious from his illness. Chu Junfeng rubbed his eyes hard. When he looked again, Mo Xibei had already taken two steps closer and was staring at the wound on his chest.

"Tianxin always makes a fuss over a little scratch." Chu Junfeng had already taken off his outer clothes to make bandaging easier. Now, sitting up shirtless, he blushed slightly when facing Mo Xibei's undisguised gaze. He didn't know whether to pull the blanket up to cover himself or quickly put on his outer clothes, making a flustered mess.

"You should lie down. Moving around will tear your wound," Mo Xibei said hastily. At first, she didn't think anything was wrong. All her attention was focused on the wound on Chu Junfeng's chest. It wasn't until the person in front of her suddenly panicked that she remembered the strict separation between men and women in those days.

"Oh!" Chu Junfeng was unusually flustered. After hearing what Mo Xibei said, he quickly lay down, covering himself completely with the blanket except for his head. He found it funny and said, "Why are you here so late?"

"I felt you were acting strange during the day, and since I had nothing to do in the evening, I thought I'd come and see you." Mo Xibei decided not to mention Mu Feinan's matter or the things he was actually worried about, and simply gave a casual reply.

"I'm really fine. What's a little injury compared to what I've been through in the martial world? It's just that it's so late. Are you sure it's alright to leave Lian Yun alone?" Chu Junfeng frowned. "I have Tian Xin with me. You should go back soon."

"Since you care about Lianyun so much, just tell her yourself tomorrow. Anyway, she needs someone to take care of her. Why don't you just stay and take care of her? I still have a lot of things to do in Jiangnan. Perfect timing, you can go home tomorrow." Mo Xibei suddenly felt a little discouraged. He felt that he had stayed up all night to come here and be looked down upon. No matter what his motivation was, it was a ridiculous thing to do. Feeling disheartened, he turned around and left.

"Northwest!" Chu Junfeng called her hesitantly from behind, but she didn't bother to turn around or even stop walking. "Are you really leaving tomorrow?" Chu Junfeng asked her.

"Do I need to report to you whether I leave or not?" Mo Xibei snorted coldly. The house was not big after all. Although she didn't walk fast, she still reached the door. "Young Master Mo, what's wrong with my young master?" She pulled open the door, but before Mo Xibei could take a step out, Tian Xin rushed back like a gust of wind, grabbing a middle-aged scholar-looking man who was carrying a large box. He looked like a doctor.

“I think he…” Mo Xibei wanted to say, “I think it’s good that he can still worry about others.” However, Tian Xin had already shoved the large box into her hands, grabbed the doctor, and rushed to Chu Junfeng’s bedside, crying out in alarm, “Young Master, Young Master, what’s wrong with you?”

When Mo Xibei finally couldn't help but turn around, he was also startled by the scene before him. Chu Junfeng had half his body hanging out of the bed, and there was a large, glaring dark red stain on the ground. Tian Xin and the doctor helped him up, and it turned out that he had fainted.

"My needles!" the doctor ordered in a deep voice.

Mo Xibei quickly carried the box to the table, opened the lid, found a needle case, and handed it over.

Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Two: Love Is Hard to Express (To be continued)

Just as Mu Feinan had guessed, Chu Junfeng also had lingering poison in his body, and the wound was close to his heart, which was why the poison had attacked his heart. The only thing that puzzled Mo Xibei was how Tian Xin could just find any doctor who was a master of detoxification.

"Of course I didn't just pick him randomly." While the doctor was washing his hands, Tian Xin answered Mo Xibei's question with a hint of mystery, "Young Master said that this is called 'great seclusion in the city.' This doctor is a famous divine physician and a master of detoxification. However, many people have heard of his name, but few people actually know him. It's such a coincidence that our young master knows him."

"Your young master really has friends all over the world." Mo Xibei snorted. She had been ordered around for half the night by that divine doctor whose name she didn't even know. Only now did she remember that she was very angry and wanted to leave. So she stood up and said, "Since your young master is alright, I'll be leaving too."

“Young Master Mo, please go all the way,” Tian Xin stopped her. “I need to rush to get the medicine with the divine physician, and I still need to decoct the medicine when I get back. Young Master, you can’t be left alone.”