Безопасность

Глава 115

Tang Leyan had initially shown no interest in Chu Gexing's affairs, but upon hearing Chu Zhen's words, her gossipy nature stirred, and she asked, her eyes darting around, "Uncle Zhen, what is his background?"

Dragon and Tiger Fight in the Capital Chapter 138: Shocking Past Events

“Don’t let Ge Xing’s current quiet demeanor and occasional extreme actions fool you. In reality, his original personality was just like Ge Xun’s,” Chu Zhen said.

Tang Leyan closed her eyes and thought for a moment, but found it too difficult to imagine Chu Gexing and Chu Gexun smiling as cheerfully as they did, so she gave up.

"Then why has he become so... awkward?" Seeing Chu Zhen's tenderness for Chu Gexing, Tang Leyan decided not to offend him and used a more neutral term to describe it.

Chu Zhen nodded: "Actually, I heard these things from Ge Xun, but Ge Xun was still young at the time, and what he said was fragmented and incomplete. It was after the two brothers came to Shundu... Ge Xing's personality was already like this, no matter how much I asked, he just didn't say a word. I had no choice but to secretly ask Ge Xun behind his back. Ge Xun may have listened to Ge Xing's instructions, or perhaps he was young and his memory was faulty, so what he said was incoherent, and I was also confused. I became suspicious and sent people to investigate what they knew along the way they came."

Tang Leyan felt a chill run down her spine when she heard his extremely serious and stern tone. Her initial joking tone immediately disappeared, and she asked, "Uncle Zhen, what exactly happened?"

Chu Zhen said, "It is like this. Ge Xing and Ge Xun's father is my and the Empress Dowager's brother. However, in the past, he disobeyed the family's arrangements and met a woman outside. It was said that the woman's background was not legitimate. Our father was furious and made my brother give up the marriage. But unexpectedly, my brother was very strong-willed. On a stormy night, he ran out of the locked woodshed and eloped with the woman, leaving Shun."

"Ah..." Le Yan exclaimed in surprise, "How could this be..."

"After he left, Father was furious and fell ill, forbidding the whole family from mentioning my elder brother's name. So for many years we haven't heard any news about him. But now I often think about him: my elder brother was an ignorant official's son who didn't understand worldly affairs. He eloped with that woman without a penny, yet he never came back to ask Father for forgiveness and support. During that time, he must have gone through many unimaginable hardships. I really can't imagine..." He gradually lowered his voice.

"A man like that..." Tang Leyan listened with longing. An expression of admiration appeared on her face, but then she noticed the slight pain on Chu Zhen's face. She couldn't help but softly comfort him, "...Uncle Zhen, you don't need to worry. I think the reason he hasn't come back isn't because he's angry with his family. Perhaps he feels that life with that woman is happier, and that's what he misses more?"

Chu Zhen was slightly taken aback when he heard her say this, but he sighed and said, "Le Yan, although you have never met my elder brother, you know him better than we do. That's right. After Ge Xing and Ge Xun came to Shundu, I asked Ge Xun if your father left any words. What Ge Xun said was the same as what you said."

Tang Leyan remained silent.

Chu Zhen continued, "It's a pity. Happy days are always short. According to the investigation, my elder brother died three years after Ge Xun was born... No wonder, he used to be pampered and didn't have to worry about anything. Now he had to take care of his wife and children, so it was natural that he would fall ill from overwork... Before he died, he told Ge Xing and Ge Xun to come to Shundu to find me..."

"Okay, that's good. But what about the woman?" Tang Leyan asked.

Chu Zhen frowned, clearly recalling painful memories. He slowly said, "After my elder brother died, that woman... my sister-in-law brought Ge Xingge to Shundu, but along the way... because my sister-in-law was extremely beautiful, she was targeted by a lecherous man who intended to take advantage of her. My sister-in-law accidentally killed him, and the three of them fled like frightened birds."

“How could this be…” Tang Leyan murmured.

"But misfortunes never come singly. One rainy night, my sister-in-law took Gexing and Gexing to ask a family for lodging. The family seemed kind on the surface, but they were actually harboring evil intentions. What was most infuriating was..." Chu Zhen suddenly stopped.

Tang Leyan's heart skipped a beat. She had never seen Chu Zhen so furious before. She couldn't help but lean forward and place her hand on his shoulder: "Uncle Zhen..."

Chu Zhen glanced at her before saying, "That landlord actually... took a fancy to the singing club..."

A bolt of lightning seemed to flash across the gloomy sky, followed by a series of cracking sounds.

Tang Leyan clenched her fist, and her fist tightened involuntarily.

"Although my sister-in-law didn't come from a good background, she was truly an extraordinary woman. While she was pestering that family, she was also hinting to Ge Xing to take Ge Xun and escape. However, the family discovered this, beat her half to death, threw her in the woodshed, and then released their dogs to track down the two brothers."

Tang Leyan was so shocked by what she heard that she couldn't help but hold her breath.

“Ge Xun was terrified that night. When I asked him, he just cried. All of this was discovered by the people I sent to investigate. The dogs chased after people but couldn't catch them. It turned out that Ge Xing hadn't taken Ge Xun away but had hidden in the master's room. After everyone left, he ran out and helped up his sister-in-law, who was lying on the ground, to leave. But his sister-in-law was seriously injured... Ge Xing had no choice but to take Ge Xun away... During the journey, I don't know what method he used to distract the dogs so that he could protect Ge Xun and come to Shundu. He went through so many hardships and setbacks along the way. In short, after Ge Xing came to Shundu, he became like this. He is very wary of people and his personality is unusually effeminate... Sigh.”

After Chu Zhen finished speaking, it had become completely dark outside, with only occasional rumbles of thunder.

Tang Leyan remained silent for a long time. After thinking it over, she sighed and said, "Uncle Zhen, don't worry. I'll go look for him. He's an adult now, nothing will happen to him."

Chu Zhen glanced at her and agreed.

Tang Leyan stepped outside. As she exited the hall, she saw layers of dark clouds looming over the earth, like a sinister face looking down on the land. Remembering what Chu Zhen had said, she felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. She gripped her fan tightly in her hand, and finally leaped towards the door.

After making a few inquiries within the city, I learned that the only news I heard was that General Huwei had left the city.

Tang Leyan looked at the sky and wondered why Chu Ge Xun couldn't use the Nine Gates' forces to find Chu Ge Xing. Being intelligent, she figured out the secret after a moment's thought.

After wandering around the streets for a while, I thought that searching randomly like this, like a headless fly, would never be a good idea.

After thinking for a while, he rummaged in his pocket for a bit and finally pulled out something. He then flew onto the roof and gently tossed it into the sky.

Suddenly, an explosion rang out with a clap of thunder, and a bright light burst forth. Within the white light, a small character seemed to be faintly visible.

Tang Leyan watched the white light explode, smiled slightly, and gracefully landed.

The soldiers of the Nine Gates stood at her feet. Seeing her gracefully about to leave, someone stepped forward and said, "Guard Yue, it looks like it's going to rain. Take this umbrella and use it so you don't get wet."

Tang Leyan initially wanted to refuse, but then stopped, took the umbrella, and said with a smile, "Thank you, thank you."

But then the soldier said in a low voice, "The lord is nowhere to be seen again today. It seems that he always disappears on this day."

Another person reached out and slapped him: "What are you thinking? The magistrate has been suspended this year, so don't talk nonsense."

The man covered his mouth with his hand and quickly left.

Tang Leyan then turned around and slowly walked forward.

After walking for a short while, she heard the sound of people hurrying by at night, and Le Yan paused slightly.

After setting off the fireworks, she kept walking towards places with fewer people.

With no one around, the man darted forward and knelt down: "I wonder what urgent matter you summoned me for, young master?"

"What I want is the whereabouts of Chu Gexing, the Nine Gates Admiral," Tang Leyan said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the man hesitated only slightly before replying, "Someone saw me on the hill outside the city half an hour ago."

"That's all?"

"Yes. His martial arts skills are unfathomable, and the detectives dared not approach him."

"That guy is indeed not easy to deal with, and I'm sorry to have troubled you all. By the way, in previous years, were you in charge of the interrogation?"

"What would you like to ask, young master?"

"I want to ask, where was Chu Gexing in previous years on this day?"

The man lowered his head and replied, "They usually appear on the hills outside the city, but when they finally do, they are already inside the city. Their whereabouts are unpredictable."

"Okay, I understand. Thank you for your help."

"It is an honor for the interrogation team to serve you, young master."

"Ha, step back."

"Yes." The man stepped back, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

Tang Leyan sighed softly, waved her fan, and said, "A wounded lion doesn't want people to see its pathetic state. It will always find a quiet place to lick its wounds. Chu Gexing, are you like that too?"

Dragon and Tiger Fight in the Capital Chapter 139 Mourning the Departed

The mountain path was narrow, with dense grass on both sides, some as tall as half a person. Even though winter was approaching and the grass had turned yellowish-brown, it still huddled together, rustling slightly in the wind, without falling over.

Chu Gexing walked slowly along the road. At this time of day, on such a cold day, he had hardly encountered anyone along the way. In the dim light of dusk, his face could be seen. In the thin darkness of the night, his beautiful features were faintly visible, with a touch of the shadows of the night, both alluring and eerie. If anyone saw him, they would surely think they had encountered a mountain spirit or ghost.

The wind blew his long hair and clothes, and the cloak behind him stretched out long, like a blue curtain.

Beneath the blue collar was a silk-white garment, fluttering in the wind like layers of blooming snow-white roses.

With a loud "bang," a sound rang out in mid-air.

Chu Gexing looked up blankly and saw a small firework blooming in the sky. Although it was small, it was very dazzling.

A small character in the middle, barely visible.

He paused slightly, his beautiful face instantly brightening under the glow of the fireworks.

This is a unique fireworks technique of the Pure Glazed Heaven; how could it appear in the sky above Shundu?

He squinted slightly, his long eyelashes trembled slightly, and the corners of his eyes still had a slight upward curve, giving him a slightly drunken and hazy look.

But his mind was perfectly clear.

Whether it's because of past pain that rages in my heart, I thought I had forgotten, but every year on this day, the manic energy in my bones still can't be suppressed, so I hate myself for having too good a memory.

"That guy... I think he might have this kind of thing." He said, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

This kind of thing is meant to save lives, why would it be used so easily? Could it be that something truly dangerous has happened?

But there's no reason for that. Why would someone like her resort to such a life-saving firework when she's forced into a corner?

Chu Gexing thought he was just worrying unnecessarily, and the fireworks in the sky slowly disappeared in an instant, turning into faint ashes.

His face disappeared back into the darkness, and he continued to walk forward hesitantly.

He stepped onto the mountaintop. Despite the howling wind, he looked to the other side.

It seemed as if someone was slowly descending the mountain from there.

Chu Gexing stared intently, and a sound of burning flames and mournful cries surged into his mind.

He stood there motionless, his eyes fixed on the opposite mountain peak.

Through the thin twilight, I seemed to see that half-human-sized boy, pulling a small child out of the shadows, calling out, "Mother!"

The woman lying on the ground coughed up blood, stretched out her thin, withered wrist towards him: "Gexing, take Gexun away. Leave here quickly, go to Shundu. Gexing, your mother can no longer accompany you. Take good care of your younger brother, Gexing..." She reached out and firmly grasped his wrist.

A conspicuous ring of bright red blood appeared on his right wrist. The woman's blood, scalding hot, seeped into his wrist, leaving a brand that would never fade.

"Mother!" Little Ge Xun rushed forward.

He reached out and grabbed Ge Xun, pulling him forcefully behind him.

The sound of a child crying heartbreakingly came from behind.

"Ge Xing, listen to your mother." The woman before him smiled, her once stunningly beautiful face now stained with blood, yet still breathtakingly beautiful. "Forgive your mother's selfishness, your mother misses your father so much. Ge Xing, come... listen to your mother..."

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

At that moment, he felt his heart grow cold.

His nose stung; he didn't know when the tears had fallen, or if they had even fallen at all—it was just a blur followed by clarity. He looked down and saw a cold, gleaming dagger in his hand.

A cold wind blew by.

Chu Gexing's hands clenched tightly. His fingernails dug deep into his palms. Beside him, it was as if that half-human-sized boy was standing, just like him today, gripping the dagger tightly in his hand, raising it high, and bringing it down like a wild beast, letting out a desperate cry.

Tall and slender, a frail figure in the night, seemingly easily blown away by a gust of wind, he slowly knelt on the ground as a desperate cry rang out, tears rolling down his cheeks only to be instantly swept away by the cold wind.

He lowered his head, almost wanting to bury his face in his chest.

Whether it is regret or resentment, no one knows.

As dusk fell, another figure appeared on the mountaintop.

Tang Leyan stood behind a lonely, withered tree, frowning as she looked at the person kneeling on the ground not far away.

She wanted to move forward, but couldn't move her feet; she wanted to retreat, but her heart resisted. So she could only stand there, gazing intently at the figure, until dusk deepened, enveloping the desolate land in the shadow of night.

After an unknown amount of time, Chu Gexing got up, turned around, and slowly walked down the mountain.

Not far behind, Tang Leyan followed at a distance that was neither too close nor too far. If she got too close, she was afraid he would notice her; if she got too far away, she was afraid she would lose him.

They walked like this for a while, and it felt like Chu Gexing was always going in circles, until a loud thunderclap sounded in the sky, and the rain that had been accumulating for half a day finally poured down.