The moon was hanging high in gentle breeze.
A group of people dashed from the political center to a insignificant courtyard far away from the capital, a few men carrying swords leading the way, the sternness pervading the night sky.
The one being protected wore a cloak and a golden mask, his eyes proud and chilly. As the breeze blew up the cloak, the corner of dark-blue clothes was revealed. He was followed closely by a cold-faced man. The small courtyard was heavily-guarded with guards every five steps.
As soon as the man wearing cloak and golden mask entered the yard, there were guards walking to him and handing a bamboo tube. The near guard protecting him in the front took the tube and was about to take out the paper in it to hand to his lord, when momentarily the hand carrying the tube became empty, and the tube had already fallen into the hand of the man in the golden mask.
In shock, the guards only felt a gust of wind, the man behind them disappeared. When they looked up again at lord's study, they found the door slightly swaying. Obviously someone had just entered.
The cold-faced man, who had previously followed the golden-masked man, —Ghost stood at the door, carrying his sword, like a pillar.
Today, they had just gone to the Shadow Pavilion and sorted out things there. Lord had arranged Shadow (the shadow guard) to retrain there to get ready for taking over the organization from the previous master. Hence, from now on, Ghost would be the one following lord around.
Lord always acted unhurriedly, but whenever he saw this bamboo tube, he got anxious and opened it immediately.
Back in the room and taking off the mask, Ning Shaoqing was still elegant and gentle, poles different from the previous chilly and indifferent look a moment ago.
He put the mask on the table, took out a paper scroll and unfolded it.
After reading the content, Ning Shaoqing griped the paper, and the fine debris fell down through his fingers.
The gentleness on his face no longer existed, and only frost was left, enough to freeze a ten-mile-long river in an instant.
"Su Qi…" His cello voice was so chilly too that it froze up the words out of his tongue. He muttered and turned around, the door opened by his anger wind.
As the door was open, Ghost tightened his core, ready to follow Ning Shaoqing out at any time, but instantly shivered and almost got frozen by the chill from inside.
Ning Shaoqing was about to step out, when a guard reported, "Lord, lord Lu is here."
At the sight of lord's face, the guard, restless, cursed inwardly that lord Lu came at a wrong time.
Ning Shaoqing frowned, took a glance at the guard. He had just taken over the Shadow Pavilion, and brother Lu came. What a coincidence!
Besides, he did have something to discuss with him.
Meanwhile, he restored his face to indifference and said, "Let him come in." The guard breathed out a relief, wiping out his cold sweat, and left.
He still remembered that last time in the evening, lord also received such a bamboo tube, looked chilly afterwards, and knocked a reporting brother away with his palm wind. He even didn't listened the report before flying out of the yard.
As the guard left, Ning Shaoqing turned to Ghost, saying in a low voice, "Ghost, ask 57 and 59 to do their duty. Don't let other people harass lady. And inform other hidden guards to get the new Vice Commander something to do."
"Yes."
Ghost took the order and left. Lu Zheng was led over. Seeing Ning Shaoqing's face and on a brief pondering, he laughed unrestrainedly, "Why are you putting on this face again? Someone bullied your wife again?"
They had kept in touch, so Lu Zheng knew about Mo Qianxue and naturally the incident that the Emperor scratched her forehead with memorials.
Ning Shaoqing pulled the somber face and ignored Lu Zheng's joking, snorting with dissatisfaction and turning back into the room.
Since they were bosom friends that had accompanied each other through many life-and-death moments, they didn't pretend to be polite. Lu Zhengyang rubbed his nose and followed him inside, fearlessly adding, "Who is it bullying your wife again? I'll help you…"
Ning Shaoqing turned around suddenly, eyes sparkling, "Anything to tell me? If not…" As he asked, his hand was placed on the waist, poised to pull out his soft sword.
Furious, he couldn't go to meet Mo Qianxue, so it was not a bad idea to take it out on brother Lu.
Lu Zhengyang hurriedly pressed his hand and smiled pleasingly, "Don't! Your Chill must drink blood every time it comes out. I don't plan to feed it today. I come here because…"
**
It was dawn and Su Qi appeared in the training field of the Founder mansion.
Under Su Qi's gaze, Mo Qianxue, dressed up in training suit, neatly jumped over the fence and raised her jaw at Su Qi proudly.
Seeing her standing at the fence complacently, Su Qi flew over from the center of the field, nodding casually, "Well, not bad."
Just as when Mo Qianxue thought that he was going to praise what she could do after a day's practice, Su Qi said seriously, "I didn't expect a slow bird flying so flexibly."
Was this…a joke?
It gave Mo Qianxue a sense of familiarity. Back in modern times, she always joked with her friends like this, which made her feel close to them.
She said criticizing words but wore a smile, "What? Say it again."
Then, she took a look at Su Qi, who wasn't wearing the dashy purple clothes or holding a fan but in uniform, which was pretty masculine, and walked around him to look up and down, joking, "Oh, you got promoted. Showing off to me, huh?"
Although yesterday Su Qi had planned to confession to her, he knew it wasn't the best time. As Mo Qianxue regarded him, he put his hands on the waist and asked, "Nice, right?"
In fact, the hand heading for the waist had intended to draw a fan, but upon toughing the waist, he realized there wasn't one and quickly turned into arms akimbo.
Reaching for the fan. A habitual thing. Mo Qianxue understood and burst into laughing inwardly.
Mo Qianxue covered her laugh with hand and managed to control her face, "Well, not bad." She was wondering where he would put the fan and how he would play cute without his small fan.
Su Qi totally understood her subtle expressions. Her bright smile was what touched him most.
He raised his eyebrows, "For you, I skipped the morning court. Let's make it clear first. I don't have much time. After this, I need to go the the office."
Then he took a step back and flew to the field center, "Perform what I taught you yesterday. I'm checking how much you mastered and giving you some tips…"
Hearing the words, Mo Qianxue felt her heart plummeting, asking, "You don't have much time today?" She had intended to inquire him about the army after arduous practicing.
Her expression of regret made Su Qi delighted. Did she already decide to move on over Ning Shaoqing, who had returned to capital but hadn't taken her back home? She must be disappointed.
As she frowned, she had prioritized everything and said calmly, "Well, then show me the sword technique again. I'll try to learn as much as possible. Afterwards, I have things to ask you."
Su Qi was curious, "What things? Why not ask now?"
Mo Qianxue didn't want to waste any time, "Show me or not?"
Su Qi blinked and smiled, "Fine…" The playful soft words contained a trace of indulgence, "I'll show you, okay? Watch."
Mo Qianxue nodded seriously.
Su Qi stopped smiling, pulling out a sword, and began to show her the five moves, deflecting, hacking, stabbing, cutting and picking.
When he played sword, he, in high spirit, displayed cheerful enthusiasm, completely different from the usual playful noble dandy he had hidden himself into.
The five moves appeared simple, but they weren't easy. Yesterday, after dealing with the two disloyal girls, Mo Qianxue had tried for half a day but couldn't master the kernel.
However, with the foundation of yesterday's practice, when she watched today, she understood better. She supposed that after more practice in the afternoon, even if she couldn't defeat an enemy with it, her movement would begin to take shape.
When Su Qi stopped and stood upright, Mo Qianxue stepped forward and took over the sword in his hand.
She did it naturally, and Su Qi stunned a little. He could have thrown the sword back to the rack, but he didn't want to hurt her feelings. Making a warm bright smile, he calmly gave her the sword. This time the smile was heartfelt and gentle, without the slightest disguise.
Mo Qianxue didn't notice it, just took over the sword, and put it back to the rack. Her thought was simple. Since Su Qi taught her, he was a half teacher of her, she should do something to show respect, even if she paid him.
Su Qi gazed at her back, feeling warm. What else would he want if in the future, there was such a person around him, either to practice kungfu or play sword!
However, when Mo Qianxue turned back, what she saw was still the Su Qi caring about nothing.
He walked to her, one hand on the rack and the other touching the weapons, and asked casually, "Tell me, what's it that make you so restless?"
Mo Qianxue pressed down the weapon that Su Qi was fiddling with, stared at him, and suddenly approached, saying in a low voice, "I want to know how my father died in war."