Chapter 20 - Encountering Zhao Feihu Again
Far away from the dramatic twists and turns of the pursuit between Tang Jinnian and Rao Shuang, Ye Beizhi and his group returned to Jiading Prefecture after several days of travel.
The escort carriage stopped before Changfeng Escort Agency’s gate, and servants came forward to lead the horses away.
Ye Beizhi stood at the gate, suddenly apprehensive and unsure of how he should proceed.
Fang Dingwu came over, patted Ye Beizhi on the shoulder, and encouraged him. "What are you dawdling for, Brother Ye? You should just go in."
"Yes." Ye Beizhi touched the sandalwood box in his clothes reassuringly and then stepped inside.
"Brother Ye, you go ahead and rest for now. I’ll go to the accounts department to handle the paperwork of this escort mission first. I’ll find you tonight so we can have a drink," said Fang Dingwu.
Ye Beizhi nodded in acknowledgment and walked in alone toward his residence.
However, he stopped when he reached a fork in the road. Ye Beizhi first studied the path leading to his small courtyard and then the other path leading to Chi Nanwei's residence.
Ultimately, Ye Beizhi chose to go to Chi Nanwei's residence. After turning a few corners, a modest courtyard appeared before him. The early winter plum blossoms waved invitingly from the courtyard’s outer wall, creating an unexpectedly vibrant scene.
Seeing that the door was open, Ye Beizhi walked straight in. The courtyard was relatively empty, but several plum trees were in full bloom.
Just as he decided to knock on the inner door, a maid came out and nearly bumped into him. The maid was instantly delighted when she saw Ye Beizhi and exclaimed, "Young Master Ye! You’re back?"
Ye Beizhi nodded and said, "Yes… is Miss Chi—"
The maid interrupted him, chattering, "Miss Chi has mentioned you every day since you left," she teasingly glanced at Ye Beizhi and whispered, "Could it be that she’s lovesick?"
Before Ye Beizhi could reply, a familiar figure burst out from behind the maid.
"Xiu'er, how dare you gossip behind my back! I’m going to shut that mouth of yours!" The newcomer was Chi Nanwei, her face flush with embarrassment.
The two of them fought playfully for a bit before Xiu'er skipped away. The panting Chi Nanwei stopped and adjusted her disheveled hair before she noticed Ye Beizhi was still staring at her. Her blush deepened.
The two of them stood in the courtyard like this, neither speaking. Occasionally, a breeze would blow, scattering plum blossoms between them.
"So… you’re back?" Chi Nanwei broke the silence to ask. As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt so silly that she wanted to dig a hole in the ground to hide in. Why did I ask him that, if he’s finally here?
"Yes." Ye Beizhi answered. He didn’t seem to find anything unusual with the question.
"Were you in danger?" Chi Nanwei asked falteringly as she inclined her head slightly to face Ye Beizhi.
"No… but your box," Ye Beizhi felt his throat go dry. "I’m sorry, it was damaged."
Ye Beizhi took out the box that Chi Nanwei had once used to store osmanthus cakes for his first escort mission. The large hole from a crossbow bolt was particularly conspicuous.
"We encountered bandits," Ye Beizhi haltingly said, "A crossbow bolt hit—"
"You’re not hurt, are you?" Chi Nanwei interrupted Ye Beizhi, placing her hand on his chest where he had just taken out the wooden box and feeling around.[1]
Ye Beizhi held her hand and moved it away from his chest. "I’m not hurt… My martial arts is very powerful."
Chi Nanwei’s face, already red, turned crimson as he held her hand.
She tried her best to remain calm and interjected, "You’re so cocky. Who even brags like that?"
At this moment, Ye Beizhi reached into his clothes and took out an exquisite sandalwood box. Handing it to Chi Nanwei, he said, "This is… compensation."
Chi Nanwei, with some curiosity, took the box, opened it, and couldn’t help but exclaim, "So beautiful!"
"This is a gift you brought me?" Chi Nanwei tilted her head as she looked at Ye Beizhi with a very happy smile.
Ye Beizhi shook his head. "No… it’s compensation."[2]
Chi Nanwei puffed her cheeks, pretending to be angry. "Nope. I’m definitely counting it as a gift from you."
Ye Beizhi didn’t have anything to say, but he felt that he should be quite happy inside.
"Little Sister Chi, come quickly and see what I brought you… Why are you here?!" A man entered through the courtyard entrance, and his demeanor instantly changed when he saw Ye Beizhi and Chi Nanwei so close together.
Ye Beizhi turned to look at the person. He was sure they had met before. Thinking back carefully, he recalled when he first arrived at the escort agency. This was the person who fell down in pain after being grabbed. His name seemed to be… Zhao Feihu?[3]
At this moment, Zhao Feihu glared at Ye Beizhi and shouted, "The Transcendence… What are you doing here?!"
Hearing him blurt out the word ‘Transcendence,’ Ye Beizhi subtly made note of him but did not answer the question.
Chi Nanwei frowned and stepped forward. "Big Brother Feihu, what are you doing? Young Master Ye brought a gift from Meizhou for me. Why are you being so aggressive?"
"Gift?" Zhao Feihu raised his eyebrows as he noticed the sandalwood box in Chi Nanwei’s hands. He snatched the box from Chi Nanwei’s hand and sneered. "Let me see what it is."
Chi Nanwei was startled by Zhao Feihu’s change in attitude and let out a soft cry, almost stumbling as she shied away from him.
Ye Beizhi reached out to steady Chi Nanwei and narrowed his eyes at Zhao Feihu.
Zhao Feihu broke out in goosebumps under Ye Beizhi’s gaze but still managed to say, "Wha-what are you looking at me for?"
Ye Beizhi extended his hand and said, "Give it."
Zhao Feihu took a step back. "What’s so special about it? Can’t I take a look?"
Ye Beizhi didn’t bother arguing any further.
He quickly stepped forward, seized the arm that was holding the sandalwood box, and took the box back with his other hand. The scene seemed to mirror the incident when Ye Beizhi first arrived at the escort agency. Zhao Feihu's face grew hot with pain and mixed emotions as he slowly knelt down on the ground.
Chi Nanwei was alarmed by their conflict and quickly came over, laying her hand on Ye Beizhi’s hand, which was holding Zhao Feihu.
She anxiously said, "Young Master Ye! Please let go. Big Brother Feihu meant no offense!"
Ye Beizhi looked at Chi Nanwei, and seeing that she was genuinely anxious, he quickly released his grip.
Zhao Feihu cradled his hand that Ye Beizhi had grabbed and glared at Ye Beizhi with considerable resentment as he fled from the courtyard.
Ye Beizhi watched Zhao Feihu leave, then turned back to Chi Nanwei and handed her the sandalwood box again.
Chi Nanwei accepted the box but let out a sigh.
"Young Master Ye, does being strong mean you can do what you want to others? Is the purpose of learning martial arts just to hurt people?"
After saying her piece, Chi Nanwei looked at Ye Beizhi with an unfamiliar gaze, then turned and went into her house.
A voice then drifted out from inside the house, saying, "Young Master Ye, you must be tired from your journey. It would be best to return to your residence and get some rest."
This was clearly a request for him to leave. Ye Beizhi felt somewhat lost but kept it to himself as he departed.
On his way back to the room on the wing he stayed in, Ye Beizhi ran into Fang Dingwu. The Armed Escort Team Leader had just finished his paperwork in the accounting department.
Fang Dingwu called out, "Brother Ye, Master Wu wants us to have dinner together tonight." Fang Dingwu glanced around to make sure that no one else was around. He leaned closer to Ye Beizhi’s ear and cautiously whispered, "We need to talk about the agency’s hidden traitor."
1. Taking advantage of our innocent MC. ☜
2. Ugh, I'm unofficially renaming his alias to "Block of Wood" Ye Beizhi 😐. ☜
3. Chapter Three - Welcome Back Banquet (Part One). ☜
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