Her eyes lit up, and she immediately looked up at him, only to be suddenly flicked on the forehead: "Silly boy. I'm hungry, let's eat."
He started having a fever again that night. Xiaoman sat beside him, afraid to sleep, and kept changing the cold towels she put on his forehead.
Zexiu pulled her cloak up high to cover herself and whispered, "Don't worry, go to sleep. Everything will be fine by tomorrow morning."
She shook her head and didn't say anything.
Zexiu turned over, his back to her, and after a long while, he suddenly said, "Your hand...give me your hand."
Xiaoman remained silent for a long time before slowly placing her hand on his face. It felt prickly, from his newly grown beard. He took her hand and pressed it against his cheek. After a long, long time, Xiaoman thought he had fallen asleep, when he suddenly whispered, "That day... I went back, but you weren't there. You left with Tianquan."
Her wrist trembled involuntarily.
"So you knew I was in Zhenzhou?" she asked softly.
"...I knew you the moment you entered Zhenzhou City, and I've been following you ever since. You're incredibly audacious. Do you even know the seriousness of being wanted on a wanted list?"
She lowered her head, her lips barely touching the paper: "Zexiu...did you come to see me?"
He didn't speak, but took her hand in his, placed it to his lips, and slowly kissed her finger by finger.
"Don't do bad things next time. Seeing your face on a wanted poster is one of the three great surprises of my life."
She couldn't help but laugh; no wonder his face was so dark when he saw her.
He turned his head, his alluring and flirtatious peach blossom eyes glaring at her: "Are you still laughing?"
Xiao Man noticed that half of his face was covered by stubble, so she said softly, "Let me shave you."
He closed his eyes and nodded, then pulled a dagger from his pocket and handed it to her. Xiaoman brought over a basin of hot water and used a hot towel to soften his stubble before slowly shaving him. When she reached his chin, he suddenly reached out and picked her up, placing her on his stomach.
Xiao Man blushed: "What are you doing?"
"Shaving, huh?" He stared innocently with his almond-shaped eyes.
Xiao Man gently pushed his chin, carefully scraping off the stubble with a dagger, and then lay on top of him, saying softly, "You have a lot of beard, more than my dad's, and it's thicker too. But he likes it when I shave him, saying I'm better than any shaving master outside."
He casually replied, "Then he's really lucky. Your cooking is indeed quite good."
He grasped her slender waist with both hands, but Xiaoman slapped him away, saying, "Let go!"
He reluctantly let go, whispering, "How did you get so thin? Your back will break if you exert yourself too much."
She didn't speak, but carefully shaved his stubble until it was no longer prickly to the touch. Ze Xiu stared intently at her face so close to his, then suddenly reached out and touched her left ear, tucking the hair behind her ear to reveal the sparkling earring. He looked at it for a long time, then suddenly pulled off the gold thumb ring from his thumb, then took off the white jade pendant from his neck, tucked the jade pendant into his pocket, fastened the thumb ring with a gold chain, and slowly slipped it around her neck.
"Don't lose it." He stroked the thumb ring, his voice very soft.
She hummed in agreement, tucked the ring into her clothes, wrung out a towel to wipe his face clean, and then smiled and said, "Okay."
Zexiu exclaimed, "It's done already? So fast!"
Xiao Man stood up, holding the basin of water, and chuckled, "Don't you believe in my skills? If you didn't have a fever, I could have done it even faster."
She poured out the hot water, washed herself, and returned to the room. He had already closed his eyes and seemed to be asleep. She blew out the candle and was about to lie down on the floor when she suddenly heard him say, "Come closer and give me your hand."
He wants her hand again? Is he a child? She gently lay down beside him, offering him her hand. He took her hand, gently placed it on his face, kissed her thumb, and whispered, "Sweet dreams."
As a result, those words kept her awake all night. Just as she was drifting off to sleep, she felt someone gently biting her finger. She groaned and tried to pull away, but couldn't. She murmured, "This isn't pig's trotters... If you want some, go buy some..."
The man chuckled: "Skinny as a feather, more like a chicken foot."
She got angry, pulled her hand back, turned over and went back to sleep, snatching the entire cloak and hugging it to her chest, curling up into a ball. She didn't know how much time had passed when she suddenly felt a warm sensation on her back. It felt like someone was holding her in their arms, gently stroking her hair. It was very comfortable, like a cat being petted, and so she fell asleep again.
The Killing of the Crow, Chapter Twenty-One: He He He (Part Three)
Updated: 2008-10-16 15:31:35 Word Count: 4058
Although it was very difficult and I revised it many, many times—I can't even remember how many times—I still managed to write three chapters today.
Students, clap and cheer! For the hardworking Class of 14!
This is the first update.
For the next three days, Zexiu stayed home to recover from his injury, helping with things like washing dishes when he had free time. He was very enthusiastic about cooking, but the experience of burning down Mr. Xue's kitchen last time was still fresh in his mind, so Xiaoman didn't dare let him do anything—what a joke, this place is so small, if the kitchen caught fire again, they would definitely be roasted into pigs.
On the fourth day, he went out for a morning and when he came back, he threw a message at her: "You can leave tomorrow. All the connections have been made, and you've been removed from the wanted list."
Xiao Man was chopping vegetables when she heard him say that. The cleaver in her hand clattered to the ground, almost cutting her own foot. Ze Xiu caught it and broke out in a cold sweat. This kid could never give anyone a moment's peace of mind.
"Did...did you do this?" she asked cautiously, still not quite believing it.
Zexiu didn't answer, put the kitchen knife back, and slapped her on the head: "Don't do bad things again next time, or I'll really cut your head off and make it into a wind chime."
It was him! It must have been him! Xiao Man stared at him blankly for a long time before lowering her head and, with a rare sincerity and shyness, softly saying, "Thank you... I always cause you trouble..."
"You know you're a nuisance," he snorted.
Xiao Man was touched. She unconsciously played with her sash and murmured, "I... won't cause you any more trouble."
He turned his head away: "You won't have a chance either. From now on, I'll take you with me, and you won't be allowed to run around alone anymore."
She remained silent for a long time. Zexiu turned his head and saw that her eyes were red, and she was looking down. Large tears dripped onto his hand. He frowned slightly, then suddenly reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back.
Xiaoman choked up and said, "I'm so sorry... Zexiu, I didn't mean to lie to you... I've always wanted to tell you the truth, but I was afraid that you would ignore me and despise me..."
If she was destined to live a life of humility, then this was the only person she could do that for. She wanted him to stay, not to leave; only he could.
Zexiu lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, saying softly, "Silly child."
She cried so hard she could hardly breathe. She hadn't cried so hard in a long time, as if she wanted to let out all her resentment and grievances.
After an unknown amount of time, she finally cried herself to sleep and sniffled. Zexiu's chest was soaked with tears; she really could cry a lot.
"We'll leave tomorrow," he said softly, holding her close.
Xiao Man nodded silently, then looked up and asked after a while, "Where are we going?"
Her eyes were still red. Her voice was thick with a nasal tone, and she looked pitiful. Zexiu wiped her face clean for her, saying, "Go to the Mountain of No Return."
She was somewhat surprised: "Why?"
Zexiu pondered for a moment, guessing that Tianquan hadn't told her the truth, and then said, "Go do something important."
"What important matter?"
He smiled and gently pinched her cheek: "Why ask so many questions? You'll find out when you get there. Tell me, do you want to be a great hero?"
Uh, a great hero? Someone like her? She'd be too weak even as a bear.
"Come with me, and I'll make you a great hero."
He laughed, picked her up, and carried her back into the house.
Zexiu was right. Xiaoman went out today, dressed neatly with no mud or grime on her face. She walked confidently down the avenue, and no one came to look at her. The passing soldiers didn't even bother to glance at her, and lazily patrolled past with their broadswords.
Passing by the inn where she was supposed to stay that day, the notice posted at the door had been changed to depict other prisoners baring their teeth and looking fierce.
"How did you do that?" Xiaoman was very surprised. It had only been four or five days, yet the list was removed so quickly.
Zexiu smiled and said, "Don't ask so many questions. Anyway, it's all in the past."
This person is so mysterious, always with so many tricks up his sleeve. Xiaoman didn't ask any more questions, and the two quickly left the city gate. Sure enough, no one came to check them. After walking another half mile, they suddenly heard a rustling sound in the roadside bushes. Then something came running over, puffing out air, and nuzzled Xiaoman's face with its head, looking rather resentful.
"Ah! My mount!" Xiaoman hugged its big head with a mixture of joy and surprise. The horse looked at her with its watery eyes, probably blaming her for pricking its bottom with a needle and abandoning it for so many days for no reason.
"So good, so good! How can you be so good? Have you been waiting for me here all this time?" Xiaoman was immediately touched and stroked its head. "I haven't named you yet, and I don't even know what Tianquan used to call you. Since you're so good, I'll call you 'So Good, So Good,' okay?"
Would a horse be named like that? It snorted in protest, rubbing its front hooves unhappily on the ground. Xiao Man turned around triumphantly: "Zexiu! How intelligent it is! It's even happy to have a name!"
Zexiu patted the horse's head: "It is indeed a good horse, but are you sure it is happy because of its name?"
“Of course it is!” She gracefully mounted the horse and reached out to him, “Come on up, it’s much faster with a horse.”
Zexiu looked around, seemingly listening intently to something. When he didn't hear her speak for a moment, Xiaoman repeated herself twice before he slowly nodded, "Okay..."
Having said that, he mounted his horse, cracked the whip, and galloped off. The wind brushed against Xiaoman's face, making it hard for her to open her eyes, so Zexiu wrapped her in his cloak. After riding for a while, he suddenly said, "Don't open your eyes, don't move."
Just as Xiaoman was about to ask what had happened, she suddenly heard a sharp "whoosh," as if something had shot out. A heavy thud echoed from the distant woods. Startled and uncertain, she closed her eyes and whispered, "Zexiu? What happened?"
He pressed her head down. Without a word, he spurred his horse forward for a while, then suddenly dismounted. Xiaoman hurriedly tried to follow, but saw him bend down and pick up a sword. It was Longyin, the blade stained with blood that hadn't yet dried, clearly indicating that he had thrown it and struck someone, but the person had escaped.
"Who is it?" Xiao Man asked softly.
Ze Xiu said calmly, "It's nothing. Just a bunch of small fry."
He wiped the dragon's roar clean and sheathed the sword. He had noticed it ever since she entered Zhenzhou; someone had been secretly following her. During the few days she stayed in the city, he could feel someone watching him every time he went out or returned. Just now, when they left the city, they even revealed their murderous intent, clearly planning to wait for an opportunity to strike, so he decided to strike first.
It must have been someone Tianquan had placed by her side to monitor her. Having extended their claws and been injured, the real target will likely arrive soon.
"Fine. Let's see what tricks this guy is up to." Ze Xiu mounted his horse and saw that Xiao Man was still staring at him with wide eyes, so he laughed and said, "Hmm. I didn't expect you little devil to become so popular. You can't stay still anywhere."
"You're the brat!" Xiaoman punched him. "How do I look like a brat?" He looked her up and down her chest and thighs with disdain: "You look like one everywhere."
Xiao Man was about to lash out when she suddenly felt him wrap her in his cloak again and crack the whip. "Good boy, good boy!" he spurred, and they began to gallop wildly again. She couldn't utter a single word.
The distance from Zhenzhou to the Uyghur Mountain of No Return was not far, and the two quickly arrived in Uyghur territory.
Looking at the pointed tent, Xiao Man couldn't help but sigh, "Every time I come here, it gives me the creeps."
Zexiu led his horse along the narrow street, occasionally attracting the smiles of beautiful Uyghur girls. He made no attempt to hide his alluring and charming eyes, looking at each of them, making their cheeks flush and their heads lower slightly.
He gave a casual "hmm" and said, "You won't have to be scared anymore. You'll soon become a great hero."
Xiao Man was annoyed by his effortless and shameless way of mingling with women, and pouted, "Hey, where are you looking?"
He turned around and looked at her with a smile: "Look at you."
Xiao Man raised her foot to kick him, but since she was on horseback, she couldn't reach him. Just as she was about to jump down, she suddenly saw Ze Xiu leading the horse toward a huge tent. Standing at the entrance of the tent was a typical Uyghur woman with deep-set eyes and a high nose, smiling sweetly and looking at him affectionately. They clearly knew each other.
"I thought I'd never see you again." She came up to him, took the reins, and saw Xiaoman sitting on the back, staring blankly at her. She smiled again: "What a cute little girl, is she your sister?"
Zexiu chuckled: "I don't have a sister as clever as that."
Xiao Man jumped off her horse and looked around curiously. This Uyghur woman was very tall, almost as tall as Ze Xiu. Did they know each other before?