Chapter 94: Into a Martial Arts Novel, Day 16

Chapter 94: The Sixteenth Day in the Martial Arts Novel

"Hiss!"

He reached up to touch his nose: That Young Master used to keep male favorites (as his paramours)—could it be that An Yi, being his twin, also likes men?

If that were the case...

That would be wonderful!!

As night deepened, the sound of raindrops dripping from leaves outside the cave fell crisp and quiet.

Ling Fengyao sat by the fire, his thoughts like the flickering flames—unsettled and no longer able to remain calm.

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One night in the cave, and Ling Fengyao's heart had been churned into turmoil by that sudden realization, impossible to calm.

Though he still managed to maintain his usual carefree and worldly facade, the way he looked at An Yi had subtly taken on an intense focus that even he himself hadn't fully understood.

It was a gaze mingled with strong curiosity, genuine admiration, and budding affection—like discovering the world's most intriguing puzzle, or finding a rare treasure, wanting only to cautiously draw closer, and closer still.

Who is he? He's Ling Fengyao!

Live for the moment, drink while you can! Since he had discovered his true feelings, there was no way he would back down!

Going all in was his style!

His attitude toward An Yi naturally became more intimate.

No longer the earlier approach with a joking, playful closeness, but a genuine desire to bridge the distance between them.

The horses' hooves clip-clopped on the slightly damp official road of Jiangnan, splashing up tiny drops.

Three riders on horseback, bathed in the hazy light heavy with moisture, unique to Jiangnan, moved forward at a leisurely pace.

Ling Fengyao's mind was clearly no longer on the journey.

His fiery black steed kept unintentionally straying from its path, its head slightly drifting rightward, bringing it ever closer to An Yi's pure white horse.

So close that their stirrups nearly clashed against each other, so close that when An Yi's plain white sleeve was caught by the breeze, it could brush lightly against Ling Fengyao's indigo blue robe.

Again, the black horse's head nearly rubbed against the white horse's mane, and only then did Ling Fengyao seem to snap out of a daze, lightly tugging the reins to separate them by a few inches.

But in just a moment, the tiny distance would be quietly erased.

He could even distinctly smell the faint, cold aura on An Yi, like the freshness after snow, mixed with the humid Jiangnan breeze, drifting into his nostrils thread by thread, making his mind wander.

At a fork in the road, the mountain path ahead grew steeper, and the forests were lush.

Ling Fengyao suddenly pulled on the reins, pointed at a slightly rugged but more scenic side path to the left, and turned to An Yi with a smile: "Ayi, how about this way? It's a bit harder to ride, but I hear there's a waterfall and deep pool deep inside—the view is excellent."

His peach-blossom eyes burned brightly, catching the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, radiating undisguised anticipation.

An Yi glanced at the path and smiled slightly: "Sure."

"Beautiful landscapes deserve a proper look."

He paused, then asked: "What do you think, brother Yan?"

Yan Yu pursed his lips: "Brother An is right."

Ling Fengyao laughed heartily, his lips immediately curling upward. He shook the reins: "Then this way!"

With that, he naturally rode side by side with An Yi into the side path, quietly leaving Yan Yu, who had been riding next to An Yi, behind.

Yan Yu watched the two who were almost riding abreast, especially Ling Fengyao's back nearly pressing against An Yi's saddle. His brow furrowed involuntarily, and he could only urge his horse forward.

The mountain path was indeed rugged, and their pace slowed.

By midday, the sun grew fierce. They found a shady flat spot by a babbling brook to rest.

Ling Fengyao almost immediately dismounted, moved swiftly to unhook his waterskin from the saddle, but instead of drinking first, he hurried to An Yi's horse.

An Yi was about to dismount when Ling Fengyao stood before him, raising the water bottle and shaking it, leaning casually against a tree trunk.

An Yi: "..."

"What are you looking at me for?"

"Naturally, for how good-looking you are. Oh~ what a pretty face!"

He chuckled and leaned close to An Yi's horse with a laugh.

An Yi: "..."

He felt like punching him.

He raised a hand threateningly, then prepared to dismount.

"Ayi, come, let me help you." His voice softened, his fingertips brushed almost imperceptibly over the fabric of An Yi's sleeve—the touch slightly cool.

An Yi's movements were smooth and fluid, landing lightly, sidestepping his help, and speaking calmly: "Worry about yourself."

Ling Fengyao's hand grabbed empty air, but he didn't mind. He withdrew it as if nothing had happened, then offered the waterskin, his smile still radiant: "You've been on the road so long—must be thirsty, huh? Have some water."

An Yi raised the waterskin on his own horse: "I have my own. You drink."

Ling Fengyao immediately shook his head: "No, no! It's different! Try mine!"

An Yi glanced at him, took the waterskin, pulled out the stopper, and took a couple of sips.

A stream of water trickled down his pale neck; his Adam's apple bobbed.

Ling Fengyao watched, his own Adam's apple moving unconsciously. He felt parched and instinctively licked his dry lips.

An Yi: "..."

"Tastes the same."

An Yi handed the waterskin back. Ling Fengyao took it and, from the very spot An Yi had drunk, raised it and took a large gulp, as if the water itself seemed sweeter.

He laughed: "Now it's different."

Off to the side, Yan Yu silently produced his own waterskin and drank, but his gaze couldn't help drifting toward them. The atmosphere flowing between those two felt so tight that not even a needle could fit through, making his heart inexplicably heavy.

Ling Fengyao pulled from his pack some dried provisions and jerky wrapped in oil paper. First, he carefully selected a flatbread that looked the softest and handed it to An Yi: "Ayi, try this. I bought it in town before we set out—they say it's made with new wheat."

Then he plucked a bright red wild fruit, as if discovering some novelty, and offered it to An Yi like a treasure, his voice tinged with excitement:

"Look at this, I picked it by the roadside just now. I tried it—it's very sour, but it has a unique flavor. I bet you've never tasted such a wild taste."

An Yi took the flatbread and ate it slowly, but shook his head at the wild fruit. "No need."

Ling Fengyao didn't insist. He popped the sour fruit into his own mouth, his eyes squinting from the sourness, but still smiled at An Yi. "Indeed, very sour."

After resting for a while, the three were about to set off again when An Yi suddenly looked up toward the upstream of the stream and said calmly, "The humidity is rising. There may be a sudden downpour within an hour."

Yan Yu looked up at the sky. "Indeed."

An Yi said with a smile, "Jiangnan is indeed rainy."

"A misty drizzle has its own charm!" Ling Fengyao laughed. He quickly looked around. "Then we need to speed up. There seems to be an abandoned mountain temple ahead where we can take shelter!"

He immediately mounted his horse. "Ayi, let's go!"