Book 11: Chapter 134

“So what are you here for?” grumbled Song Ou. “Why is an earl not standing by at His Majesty’s side? What sort of fool doesn’t capitalise on such a big opportunity?”

“You are right. I had every plan to, but His Majesty is talking to my brothers instead of me as he doesn’t think I’m up for the job. I then heard…” I paused because I wondered if Song Ou would think I’m doing something shady alone with Boss in the room. At the end of the day, though, I figured he wouldn’t be a jerk considering his upbringing. “I heard Vice-Captain Shen is not waking up. Out of concern for her, I have come to check on her.”

“What?! Y-y-you audacious slimeball! Have you no shame?!” Song Ou surveyed the area to make sure there were no witnesses. “You’re going to do this in broad daylight?! Must I lock myself up before you’re satisfied?! You… You’ve just recovered; why are you so reckless? Young man, recklessness is the devil!”

What the h.e.l.l do you think I’m here for exactly?!

“Captain, are you sure you do not have some sort of misunderstanding? I am here to check Boss Shen’s injuries. There must be a reason she cannot wake up. As there are no doctors around capable of treating it, I can only feel a.s.sured once I see her.”

“Misunderstanding. Mis. Under. Standing? Heh, let’s hear what sort of misunderstanding it is.”

“Uh… For someone being so direct, you sure are avoiding being explicit.”

“I am being explicit!”

d.a.m.n, you really going all out this time, huh?

“Putting aside all the shameless things you’ve done, you might not feel about ashamed hearing it, but my mouth feels blasphemed speaking about it.”

Rinse your mouth, then…

“Ptoo! Hong Jiu is your junior, correct?”

“Correct?”

“Can he be trusted?”

I contemplated thoroughly, then solemnly shook my head. “Not a single word can be trusted.”

“Exactly! He told me you and Yiren are not an item!”

What the h.e.l.l?! Second, why are you choosing now of all times to use your head?!

“Your second brother told me that, although you’re irresponsible and fail to see the big picture, you would never have feelings for your superior. He said your character isn’t anything to respect and fell for your grandaunt but that you wouldn’t cross the line.”

Mm… I’m not sure how to react to that.

“It says a lot when you go for even your grandaunt. Tell me one rumour praising you among all the rumours related to you.”

“There are rumours about me now?”

Song Ou took out a mini book. “Is that a serious question? You’re at the top of the monthly rumour rankings in the capital. Flirting with General Manager Bai. Dubiously close with Tang Ye and Su Xiao; you’re even involved with Sui Tuwan. How can I believe you don’t have any crooked thoughts about Yiren given your tastes?”

Rumours, my foot! This is blatant slander! Who came up with Sui Tuwan and I having something between us?! G.o.d d.a.m.n, the hole in your head must be big enough for me to raise a pond of fish in!

“Since you’ve come all the way here, I won’t hold back. Yiren is young, pretty and favoured, so it’s natural for her to have plenty of suitors. You’re not the first blind fly and definitely won’t be the last. Long Zaitian is your precedence.

“Hmph, even though he’s always hating on me, trying to trip me up behind my back, thumping my chest for no reason, stepping on my foot, pulling my pants down and bullying me on my own turf, in the end, my Yiren still turns him down. Heh, how could you delusional b.u.ms have feelings for her as deep as mine?”

I can’t believe you can voice all that with a smug face…

Song Ou’s smirk read, “Thee are a cretin. We are not on the same level, fool.”

“A day I’m guarding Yiren’s door is a day you won’t be able to enter.” Song Ou then peered into the clouds. “I have been here every day for the last month regardless of sun or hail. This is called true love. You and I aren’t on the same level. You should run along now before you embarra.s.s yourself any further. She won’t give you time of the day.”

I couldn’t help blinking, then gazing toward the room he guarded and the room farthest away in the courtyard. “Say, Captain, have you seen Boss Shen this month?”

“What sort of question is that? We see each other daily. I feed her in my arms. Why else would it be called true love?”

“Oh, really?” I gently pushed open the door of the room farthest in.

A maid ran out to advise, “Who are you? This is Mrs. Shen’s room. Strictly permitted personnel are allowed in.”

“Captain, isn’t this Boss Shen’s room?”

“… Whose room have I been guarding for the entire month, then?!”

The maid answered, “That is the room of a broadsword-wielding gentleman. He prefers peace, so he asked n.o.body disturb him. His Majesty said he would be able to protect Miss Shen while he is here, which is why he has always been here.”

Moyan Luohou opened the doors to his room to express, “Thank you for guarding my room for the month,” and then shut his doors again.

“W-w-wait! What?! Your grandaunt was the one who told me this is her room!”

Young s.h.i.+yi trolled you?

“She even told me to never leave no matter sun, rain or hail to show my love. She said I could just take cover under the tree if lightning struck.”

Yep, you got played.

“I am here to check Miss Shen’s condition. My name is Ming Feizhen.”

“Ah, Sir Ming! His Majesty mentioned he would send you over. She sometimes yells in her sleep, but she does not come to. Her body temperature is usually extremely high, and we have not found any solution.”

“Understood.”

Song Ou followed me into the room.

Boss Shen had tear drops sitting on her fluttering eyelashes. It wasn’t her reaction as a martial artist but that of nerves being frayed to the quick in her dreams. As soon as I went to her bed, she slapped me straight across the face. I ate the shot and then grabbed her hand. I tucked her formerly scarred wrist back into her blanket, but it took a while for her to stop writhing.

I expected a normal pulse, yet I found an external energy source rampaging within her tirelessly. Had I not been the one who constructed her qi circulation foundation, she’d already be history. The energy source was the one I utilised to heal the damage to her nerves. The leftover portion could’ve given her a boost; however, there shouldn’t have been this much left over.

How can the energy of a dragon’s heart’s blood be so potent?

Gripping Boss’ arm, I directed the energy according to my will. The energy we dealt with was menacing enough to fossilise the maid and Song Ou. Song Ou took a step a toward us, then heard Moyan Luohou a.s.sert, “Her life depends on this. If you dare to move, this old one dares to take your head.”

Gradually, all my focus was on what was taking place in Shen Yiren’s body. I seemingly heard people gradually convene in the room, but I had no sense of time. I couldn’t stop at this point or let anything distract me from guiding the enormous energy into a void I created inside her body.

By the time I was done, my juniors, Song Ou, Moyan Luo, His Majesty and his clique were all in the room.

Soaked in sweat, I conveyed, “Ami-b.l.o.o.d.y-h.e.l.l-tabha, this monk is exhausted.”

Boss Shen suddenly coiled her arms around me, still crying. “… Big Brother, I like you.”

***

In essence, the torrential energy devoured Shen Yiren’s consciousness.

During her time in fake death, Shen Yiren learnt to return to her mental plane to guard it – an advanced stage of mental cultivation. Her chronic insomnia improved following her counselling with Ming Feizhen. Nevertheless, she had more work to do if she was to recover completely from it. Hence, she commonly used this method to sedate herself at night, sending her consciousness into her mental plane.

In her mental plane, she could reap the benefits of a slower clock. By extension, whether she was training, practicing musical instruments or reading, she had nothing to distract her in there. The immense energy Ming Feizhen transferred to her instantly set ablaze that world of hers. All she could do was watch the inferno burn the world away.

She couldn’t identify the source of the conflagration or when it’d stop. She couldn’t even tell where she was. All she could see was a grey smoke screen.

“Dream Voyage” only allowed her to bear with the torment of the energy’s rampage. The bizarre qi circulation method took all the credit for keeping her meridians intact. Without it, the tremendous energy would take control, leading her down an unimaginable path. At the end of the day, nonetheless, it was only a temporary measure against the energy.

Out of the blue, the stranglehold came apart as the energy was siphoned into a void that sp.a.w.ned out of nowhere. Behind the grey wall, she saw a bald monk, who placed his palms together and remarked, “Ami-b.l.o.o.d.y-h.e.l.l-tabha, this monk is exhausted.”

Recognising the voice, she grabbed him with both arms just as she did when she was saved from the fire that took her parents from her. “… Big Brother, I like you.”

Glossary

Dream Voyage – a made up term to cla.s.sify moving about in your dreams/mental place as your own soul.