Chapter 199: Keeping Faith

Chapter 199: Keeping Faith

The next day, at the first crow of the rooster, dawn broke with wispy clouds under a pale, cold sun.

Wen Renyue adjusted his hair tie neatly in front of the mirror, shouldered the travel pack he had already packed, and stepped out of his room.

In the pale light of dawn, Wen Renyue took a deep breath.

The cold air, tinged with the scent of wax and saltpeter, filled his lungs, clearing his head.

However, as he lowered his gaze, he caught sight of a familiar figure in the corridor's shadows.

Le Wuya sat on a small stool, idly tying his hair into a high ponytail, his back turned to Wen Renyue, doing something or other.

At the soft creak of the door hinge, Le Wuya tilted the stool back, leaning half out of the corridor, revealing a pair of eyes that, though weary, still held a sly glint: "Oh, heading out—"

Before he could finish, Wen Renyue could only watch as he lost his balance and, stool and all, toppled backward onto the stone pavement.

Wen Renyue: "..."

Le Wuya: "..."

He fell so fast that Wen Renyue had no time to catch him.

Worried, Wen Renyue rushed to his side: "Brother Gu?"

Le Wuya kept his eyes squeezed shut.

Thinking he was badly hurt, Wen Renyue's voice grew more urgent with worry: "Brother Gu—"

"What's with the yelling? You calling my spirit back?" Le Wuya turned his face away, gripping something in his left hand, and hissed through gritted teeth, "Go back inside. Then come out again."

Wen Renyue: "..."

He turned his head away: "...Yes."

Le Wuya: "Laugh and I'll tear your lips off."

Wen Renyue coughed to stifle a laugh: "Yes."

He obediently went back into the room.

The deep sadness of parting vanished in an instant, like clouds breaking apart.

After silently counting to twenty, Wen Renyue opened the door once more.

Le Wuya was already standing upright in the courtyard, tucking a loose curl behind his ear, then clasping his hands behind his back, looking every bit the elegant, refined gentleman.

Seeing his attire, Le Wuya nodded knowingly: "Just like you and the old master—you're father and son, all right. Both of you pull the vanishing act without a word."

"I... just didn't know what to say at parting." Wen Renyue tightened the straps of his book box, pursing his lips in embarrassment. "I've embarrassed myself in front of you, Brother Gu."

To relieve the slight tightness in his chest, Wen Renyue tried to make conversation: "Brother Gu, did you wait here for me specially?"

"Not really." Le Wuya held up a black object the size of a duck egg. "The garrison boys weren't idle—they hit two illegal firework workshops in the dead of night and scored ten catties of black powder. I was bored, so I made a few Thunderclap Bombs for kicks. Throw in some nails and iron shavings—when it blows..."

Le Wuya spread his hands like scattering flowers, looking pretty excited: "That scene, man, could turn a dozen people into pincushions. Back in the Tianlang Camp days, there was a kid who was really good at making these, and pressure-triggered mines too. Who knows where he is now."

Wen Renyue: "..."

He thought of how Le Wuya had just fallen while clutching that thing, and broke into a cold sweat at the thought.

Le Wuya seemed to see through his worry and shrugged nonchalantly: "No fuse yet, so it won't blow you up."

Wen Renyue wiped the cold sweat from his forehead but couldn't help chiding: "Brother Gu... with such recklessness, how can I feel at ease?"

Le Wuya: "If you can't let go, don't rush it. Let go slowly—nothing is impossible to let go of."

"Thanks for the advice, Brother Gu."

Wen Renyue's tone was calm as he asked again: "Brother Gu, is there anything you want me to deliver to those gentlemen? Since it's on my way, I'll take it to them."

The question seemed ordinary, but it made Le Wuya's brow twitch slightly.

He strolled up to Wen Renyue.

Le Wuya had naturally smiling eyes, looking friendly and pleasant most of the time.

However, at this moment, the smile in his voice was completely different from before, making Wen Renyue's heart skip a beat:

"Hey, you getting ideas?"

This was the first time Wen Renyue felt the suffocating pressure of having his thoughts seen through by Le Wuya.

He instinctively clenched his fingers and said hoarsely: "I... don't know what you mean, Brother Gu."

"I told you to go to the capital low-key and focus on your exams, but you want to use delivering my letters as an excuse to visit noble households at this critical moment?" Le Wuya crossed his arms and looked at him. "...Wen Ren Mingke, I know you're a good guy, but not to the point of being stupidly righteous, right?"

"If you'd asked me that two years ago, I'd have thought you were naive and innocent; asking me now, you must have some ulterior motive."

Le Wuya leaned in, his fox-like purple eyes holding a captivating, sinister chill: "Tell me, what's your motive?"

Wen Renyue was at a loss for words, his heart full of both shock and admiration:

...He had only said one extra thing.

Seeing him stay silent, Le Wuya tapped the small mole above his lip with his index finger, once, then again:

"Let me guess. You want to use delivering letters as an excuse to see those two the moment you hit the capital... To outsiders, it would look perfectly reasonable—if it weren't for the two princes visiting Nanting to back Scholar Ming, who was once locked up, you'd have struggled to keep taking the imperial exams even after getting out of prison."

"This way, the Fifth Prince will take more notice of you."

"A provincial top scholar, talented, young, and already on the emperor's radar. If his ambitions are also big, such a promising young man attaching himself to the Sixth Prince right away—how would that look?"

"You're being so proactive, provoking the Fifth Prince to court you... is it to get something out of him?"

"No. Others may not know me, but you do—crossing me never ends well."

The lantern hanging from the eaves swayed in the wind—one tilt, lighting up half a wall of frost flowers; another tilt, lighting up a face like a peach blossom.

"So, you plan to infiltrate the Fifth Prince's camp and become my Changmen Guard?"

Wen Renyue dropped his eyes, avoiding his gaze.

Le Wuya nodded: "Looks like I guessed right."

Wen Renyue had only ever seen him preside over court cases, and it was absolutely riveting.

Wen Renyue himself had always been the most obedient and mild-mannered, so Le Wuya had always treated him with nothing but kindness, often joking and laughing with him, and occasionally even acting cute.

So Wen Ren Yue had no idea what it was like to be interrogated by him.

Now that he had tasted it, it was truly terrifying...

And yet, it was also stirring.

Wen Ren Yue started to speak: "Brother Gu, I..."

"Want to apologize?" Le Wuya's gaze flickered, and he returned to his usual carefree demeanor, tossing the unfused Thunderclap Bomb a couple of times in his hand. "No need for that."

"To be honest, I've always had a soft spot for restless souls. If one just settles for the status quo, what's the fun in that? Might as well shave your head and join a monastery. With such ambition in you, I'm actually less worried."

Le Wuya patted his shoulder: "Go play your games, but don't let it get out of hand. There are plenty of sharp minds in the capital; if someone tests you and you freeze up, that won't look good. Do as I say—keep your head down and lie low. If someone tries to recruit you, play along then. The smartest person is the one who doesn't look smart; I haven't quite mastered that, but I see some potential in you, kid. Give it a try."

"Also, if anyone bullies you or gives you trouble, don't take it to heart—just jot down their names. When I head to the capital later, I've got your back."

Wen Ren Yue's cold sweat had barely dried when Le Wuya's words left him reeling.

He steadied his racing thoughts and sighed: "Brother Gu... you really know how to sweet-talk a guy."

Le Wuya pointed at his own lips, quite pleased with himself: "Of course. In this world, you can't get by without a silver tongue. In the past, the Changmen Guard worked hard for me, and I worked hard squeezing them dry. Without a silver tongue, how could I keep people in line?"

"Really nothing you want me to pass along?" Wen Ren Yue briefly smiled, then asked again, "What about that riddle—don't you want me to deliver it to the Sixth Prince?"

Hearing this, Le Wuya narrowed his eyes: "Well, well, you're getting bold, daring to snoop into my business."

Wen Ren Yue immediately put his lesson into practice, denying it: "I didn't. I just happened to catch a peek."

Le Wuya waved a hand: "Forget it. It's just something I thought was fun, so I kept it for myself."

Wen Ren Yue stared at him, unblinking, his heart racing faster and faster.

Seeing him fixated on him, Le Wuya reached out and tapped his forehead: "What are you thinking about?"

"Just thinking about your instructions, Brother Gu."

Wen Ren Yue took a step back, clasped his hands in salute, and solemnly promised: "Wen Ren Ming Ke will live up to his name, keep his word, and never betray himself."

Author's note:

Wen Ren's slight dark side has been corrected

Duration: 10 hours

Yaya: A tree won't grow straight without trimming; a person won't improve without discipline.