Chapter 125: Fierce Yu

June was nearly over, and the Chizhou garrison was beginning to take shape. It was time for Xiao Chiye to continue his journey northward. He had been in Zhongbo for two months without sending a single private letter to Linbei. Likewise, Linbei had not sent him any letters from home.

Yu's hunting expeditions grew longer each day, and Xiao Chiye knew it was flying north. Standing in the courtyard, he watched the setting sun until Shen Zechuan tapped gently on the door frame behind him.

Xiao Chiye turned around and gazed at Shen Zechuan in the slanting sunlight.

Shen Zechuan felt that Xiao Chiye seemed even taller than before. His broad shoulders bore the weight of the setting sun, and he was much stronger than six years ago. Shen Zechuan studied him for a moment. Xiao Chiye then shifted slightly and said, "Let's go riding."

Compared to the previous time, Xiao Chiye was more serious this time. He took Shen Zechuan onto Langtaoxuejin and instructed him in every detail, from mounting the horse to holding the reins. It seemed like he wanted to leave everything behind for Shen Zechuan – his horse, his eagle, his heart.

The two rode along the forest path outside Chizhou City, heading north at a gentle trot. As the last rays of the sun disappeared on the horizon, stars began to twinkle behind them. The mountains and lush grasslands to the north were bountiful, and Langtaoxuejin galloped forward. Xiao Chiye pulled on the reins and said to Shen Zechuan amidst the wind, "At the end lies Hongyanshan."

Shen Zechuan looked out into the distance. Through layers of night clouds, he could only vaguely make out the towering back of Hongyanshan. It resembled a dragon lying across the edge of the sky, marking the winding boundary of the Great Zhou. Zhongbo could see its silhouette but could never reach its side. It nourished the vast lands of the northern Great Zhou, acting as a towering wall stretching thousands of miles for Linbei.

Shen Zechuan heard the howling of the wind, a wind vastly different from that of Qidu. It billowed his sleeves like the wings of a white bird.

"This is Hongyanshan calling out to me. It will miss me too. As we draw closer, we'll hear its song more clearly," said Xiao Chiye, urging Langtaoxuejin forward. They galloped through the wind, racing across the wild grass as if they were birds soaring towards Hongyanshan.

With a fierce flap of its wings, the bird darted downward in a spiraling dive, leaving a trail of trampled grass behind.

Xiao Chiye suddenly whispered into Shen Zechuan's ear, "I'll take you to see it."

The small jade bead at Shen Zechuan's ear grew warm from the heat of Xiao Chiye's breath. Shen Zechuan looked ahead and said, "Xiao Ce'an..."

Xiao Chiye turned his head. Shen Zechuan said something, but the wind was too strong, and Xiao Chiye could not make it out. Refusing to give up, he moved closer and gestured for Shen Zechuan to repeat himself.

Shen Zechuan exclaimed, "We'll be crossing the border if we keep running!"

"Then let's cross," Xiao Chiye said without stopping. "I'll take you home to meet Father and Elder Brother—what did you just say?"

Amidst the howling wind, Shen Zechuan shouted, "Wh-Where's m-my f-fan?!"

Xiao Chiye grabbed hold of Shen Zechuan and abruptly pulled on the reins. Langtao Xuejinni raised its hooves and let out a piercing cry. Shen Zechuan was tossed around, and then with a muffled thud, the two of them tumbled onto the grass, rolling down the slope several times.

Xiao Chiye shielded Shen Zechuan with his arm and did not get up when they stopped. Instead, he sprawled beneath Shen Zechuan with his arms spread wide and said, "You lied to me."

Shen Zechuan pinched his cheek and asked, "Who lied to you?"

Xiao Chiye tugged at the corners of his lips and glared at Shen Zechuan, pouting as he said, "You lied to me, you liar, you villain, you heartless scoundrel…."

Shen Zechuan grabbed a handful of wild grass and flung it at Xiao Chiye's face.

Xiao Chiye didn't dodge. Instead, he reached out to forcefully hug Shen Zechuan, pressing the latter's back against his chest as he panted maliciously, "Even if I were to die, I'll die with you."

Buried in the crook of Xiao Chiye's neck, Shen Zechuan struggled but failed to break free. He mumbled, "Xiao Er, if you smother me to death, you'll be committing fratricide."

Xiao Chiye replied, "Then repeat what you just said."

Shen Zechuan panted heavily for a few moments before finally managing to free his eyes from beneath Xiao Chiye's palm. He spoke affectionately, "Xiao Er, smother—"

Xiao Chiye ruffled Shen Zechuan's head, turning his cheeks red and messing up his black hair until he looked nothing like Magistrate Shen. Filled with hatred, he exclaimed, "Shen Zechuan!"

With grass stuck in his mouth, Shen Zechuan asked, "Huh?"

Xiao Chiye lifted Shen Zechuan's chin, wanting to kiss him. Just as he was about to, he stopped and said coldly, "Kiss me."

Shen Zechuan, with his head slightly tilted back, endured for a moment before saying, "Let go first."

Xiao Chiye replied, "Don't beg. Figure it out yourself."

Shen Zechuan couldn't reach, so he pursed his lips and tugged at Xiao Chiye's collar to pull him closer, barely brushing their lips together.

Xiao Chiye's expression remained unchanged.

As Shen Zechuan tried to lean in again, Xiao Chiye lowered his head, forcing Shen Zechuan to arch backward in a deep kiss, with no mercy in his bite. With his waist held firmly, Shen Zechuan winced as he tilted back, squinting and gasping softly.

In the blink of an eye, their positions were reversed. Shen Zechuan found himself lying in the grass, staring up at the starry sky as he was penetrated. He let out a suppressed moan, reaching up to grab a strand of Xiao Chiye's hair, entwining it around his fingers as they curled tightly. The shimmering stars before his eyes danced in the breeze, causing him to feel slightly dizzy as he gazed at Xiao Chiye, sensing that the wolf cub was more fierce than usual.

"Xiao Er..." Shen Zechuan drew out the syllables in a soft whisper.

Xiao Chiye leaned down, enveloping him and blocking out all the wind and stars.

"I love you."

Lately, Xiao Chiye seemed to have developed a fondness for these whispered declarations. The closer he was to home, the more he indulged in such coquettish behavior. He occupied Shen Zechuan, even as he was also claimed by him. He spared no effort in voicing his affection, each time causing Shen Zechuan's teeth to grit and his body to tremble uncontrollably.

It was as if Shen Zechuan sighed and murmured at the same time, clinging closely to Xiao Chiye amidst their hushed whispers. Xiao Chiye reveled recklessly along the northern border, his seemingly intact attire hiding a wantonness known only to the two of them. With his back to the Hongyan Mountains, he revealed his ruthless dominance amidst the haunting winds that tugged at his heartstrings.

As Shen Zechuan kissed Xiao Chiye, the vast expanse of stars faded from his mind. He was lifted to the heavens, then fell into the breeze, ultimately dissolving in Xiao Chiye's embrace.

* * *

When Shen Zechuan woke up, it was just dawn. A thin layer of morning light filtered through the bamboo blinds. Stretching out his hand, he touched the lingering warmth beside him. Xiao Chiye had already left the city, leaving behind an old robe hanging on the clothes rack. The room still held the scent of insect-repelling incense and the residual heat of their passion remained on Shen Zechuan's body.

Shen Zechuan sprawled across the bed, occupying space for two. Before he could drift back to sleep, he abruptly sat up, hastily putting on his clothes and sliding into his wooden clogs before pushing open the door.

"Quick," Shen Zechuan's eyes still flushed with desire, he croaked to Ding Tao who stood under the eaves, "hasten the delivery of those new arm cuffs to Ce An by horseback."

Ding Tao, slightly dejected for being left behind, was sitting cross-legged by a small pond, sketching to vent his frustration. Hearing this, he didn't bother to put away his brush and sprang to his feet. Qiao Tianya, with lightning-fast reflexes, grabbed Ding Tao by the collar and said to Shen Zechuan, "The marquis has them with him."

Shen Zechuan, roused by the morning chill, tapped his wooden clogs and nodded, preparing to retreat indoors. But Qiao Tianya added, "Though he only took one; the other, he said, is for his master."

Shen Zechuan paused for a moment but didn't comment. Seeing that daybreak was imminent, he decided against going back to sleep and asked, "How many of the Imperial Guards did he leave behind?"

Qiao Tianya replied, "Two thousand, all at the Northern Plain Hunting Grounds."

"Prepare a roster, the Imperial Guards mustn't be mixed with soldiers from7 Cizhou." Shen Zechuan adjusted his clothing and instructed, "Mr. Cheng Feng wants to discuss the specifics of grain trade between Cizhou and Chazhou. Inform him that we'll have this discussion today."

Qiao Tianya didn't rush to leave. Instead, he pulled out a letter from his sleeve and said, "Master, Ge Qingqing from Jue Xi has sent a message."

"Well timed," Shen Zechuan remarked. "Is there any issue with the fleet in Yongyi Port? The Xi family's shops have no connection with us, so they shouldn't be under scrutiny. However, Xue Xiuzhuo only emptied the treasury, leaving these profitable establishments for me. I doubt he was entirely willing to do that."

"Qu has been quiet for now. Even if Xue Xiuzhuo is meticulous and resourceful, he can't be everywhere at once, and there's no one to take care of his business in Jue Xi on his behalf," Qiao Tianya said as he released Ding Tao. "But Ge Qingqing implies that Qu hasn't bothered him, but the Yan family from Hezhou has."

The Yan family of Hezhou controlled the tea trade routes in Tea State and were major merchants in Qu heading south. Lei Changming's rise was also due to their support of Lei Jingzhe. Shen Zechuan had been keeping an eye on them, so this news didn't come as a surprise.

"I know very little about the Yan family," Shen Zechuan admitted. "There aren't many rumors about them in Qu either."

Ding Tao's face lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, "Young Master, I know! The one supporting Lei Jingzhe is the current head of the Yan family, a man named Yan Heru. It's rumored that he's excessively extravagant and won't step out without a palanquin carrying a thousand taels of gold. This man wears nothing but gold, and even his abacus is made of golden and jade beads! He's incredibly, incredibly, incredibly wealthy!"

Anxious to convey the information accurately, Ding Tao fumbled with his small notebook and showed it to Shen Zechuan. On the page, there was a sketch of a little figure holding a large abacus, dressed entirely in copper coins, exuding an aura of wealth.

"Where did you hear this news from?" Qiao Tianya inquired.

Ding Tao pointed in the direction of the prison and explained, "When Master went to raid the bandits last time, he brought back a silly young lad almost as tall as Jin Ge. He has incredible strength. I got the information from him with just a few sweets. He's naive; he'll tell anything for food."

Shen Zechuan vaguely recalled Xiao Chiye mentioning something similar and asked, "Didn't we send all the remaining bandits back?"

"Yes," Ding Tao nodded. "But His Highness said he's too foolish to survive if he goes back, so it's better for him to stay with us."

Curious about Yan's background, Shen Zechuan said, "Bring him over."

* * *

At dawn, Zhao Hui fed the eagles. Wearing a protective arm guard, he held each bird by its sharp talons and offered them strips of meat. Elsewhere, there would be specialized eagle slaves for this task, but in the North, Xiao Chiye's generation preferred to do it themselves, taming and raising their own birds.

When Zhao Hui reached "Yu," the eagle that had always followed Xiao Jiming, he noticed a bald patch on its back from a deep scratch.

"What happened?" Zhao Hui held Yu up and examined the wound, asking a nearby soldier, "Did it get into a fight?"

The soldier, holding a leather pouch filled with meat, walked a few steps with Zhao Hui and replied, "I'm not sure, General. It went hunting a few days ago and got injured on its way back from the south. I had the doctor look at it, and he said the injury was caused by another bird of prey."

Yu was also a Sea Eagle, one of the larger ones among the eagles in the North. Initially, it belonged to Xiao Fangxu, but later it was given to Xiao Jiming. In recent years, Yu had accompanied Xiao Jiming to battlefields and never lost against the hunting falcons of the Han She tribe.

Zhao Hui studied the injury and said, "That's odd. Whose eagle is so fierce..."

A certain word triggered a thought in Zhao Hui's mind, and he suddenly turned his head to the south. The strong wind still blew, but there was no sign of a Sea Eagle in the sky.

The sky over Beibei still remains blue.