“Hey, waiter.”
“Yes, sirs. Please, come in. Are you looking for a meal or a room for the night?”
“Prepare five rooms first. Then bring the best dishes and finest wine. Quick!” Xiao Yan barked from the front, feeling ravenous after days of hard rations. The aroma alone was enough to make his mouth water.
Shangguan Ye raised an eyebrow from behind, then spoke coldly, “Four rooms will do. Keep the food light.”
Xiao Yan froze. He opened his mouth to protest but was quickly held back by Yan Qiren, signaling him to stay quiet.
A Si tossed two silver ingots, fifty taels each, onto the counter.
The waiter’s face lit up with a wide smile as he led them upstairs.
Xiao Yan stared at the two silver ingots, then glanced at A Si, who tossed money around like stones, and finally at the black-and-white duo in front. His brow furrowed in disbelief, then relief and excitement. Following these generous patrons meant he was safe—and he’d get to eat well and sleep comfortably. After all, the money wasn’t his. He winked conspiratorially at Yan Qiren.
Yan Qiren’s gaze remained fixed on the two in front, his expression unreadable. Seeing Xiao Yan’s playful wink, he knew exactly what the young man was thinking, which only made his own thoughts more complicated.
Xiao Yan, used to this, followed cheerfully into a private room on the second floor.
After eating their fill, everyone returned to their rooms.
Xiao Yan watched Shangguan Ye and Murong Qiufeng enter a room together. Picking at his teeth, he tugged Yan Qiren toward his own room.
“Hey, senior brother, don’t you think Ye is a little… weird? He’s rich but so frugal. Fifty taels each would have been enough to book the entire inn, yet the two insist on sharing a room. And… don’t you think he and the Little Patriarch are too close? It’s kind of strange.”
Yan Qiren frowned, pushing away Xiao Yan, who had leaned on his shoulder to whisper. He sighed, exasperated. “This fool…”
“Right, right! And last time, they… did that thing…” Xiao Yan’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Senior brother, isn’t that something only couples do? Can brothers express affection like that?”
Yan Qiren knew he meant the incident at the inn, when Shangguan Ye had shown affection toward Murong Qiufeng. He was speechless, his mood souring, and simply shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s late. We need to rest for tomorrow’s journey.” With that, he stepped out, closing the door behind him.
“Uh… senior brother, it’s still early…” Xiao Yan trailed off, but Yan Qiren had already gone, helping close the door.
Yan Qiren lingered at the entrance a moment. Then the waiter arrived, carrying bath tubs, knocking at Murong Qiufeng’s room. He entered and left quickly. Yan Qiren watched, his brow furrowed, eyes full of confusion and a faint hint of longing. After a while, he sighed and went into his own room.
Around midnight, the doors to Murong Qiufeng and Shangguan Ye’s room suddenly opened. Two figures slipped out, moving swiftly into the night.
The air was colder now. They ran along rooftops, finally arriving at a modest residence.
Murong Qiufeng surveyed the rooms, then chose one to enter.
Shangguan Ye suddenly pressed a hand to his shoulder. “Careful.”
Murong Qiufeng smiled faintly and nodded, carefully approaching the door. With his sword, he pried it open, and when he ensured it was safe, stepped inside.
Shangguan Ye stayed at the doorway, eyes narrowed, alert.
Soon, Murong Qiufeng emerged, holding a black cloth-wrapped object.
Shangguan Ye glanced at it, then nodded, and they swiftly left the place.
Back at the inn, they removed their masks and lit a candle.
Murong Qiufeng placed the object on the table. Unlike the last item, this was a small black wooden box, roughly the size of a palm.
He threaded a single strand of hair through several small holes in the box and gently pulled. A soft click sounded, and the lid sprang slightly, revealing a crack. He lifted the lid to find a sheet of pristine, blank rice paper. Not a single character marred its surface.
Shangguan Ye watched, silently annoyed, seeing the ease with which Murong Qiufeng handled the task. Jealousy churned quietly in his chest. Seeing Murong Qiufeng so in sync with Yun Feiyang made it impossible not to feel a sting of envy.
He took the neatly stacked paper, examining it carefully. “Does it require some special method?” he muttered.
Murong Qiufeng smiled. “This paper is completely blank, ordinary, never used. Nothing hidden here.”
Shangguan Ye frowned, waiting.
“When we first arrived here, I was shy. You were quiet, not engaging. So you created a little treasure hunt—a way to teach me knowledge while letting me find joy. Your objects were simple, but the clues were tricky. At first, I kept taking the wrong paths. Take this sheet, for instance. Many might think there’s something written, but it’s just a misdirection. The idea is simple: understand the essence of the object. At the city gate, I saw a small hint from you. That’s how I knew you’d left something here—letting us trace your location, or at least a clue to find you.”
Shangguan Ye pursed his lips, unimpressed. “And you figured all that from this?”
Murong Qiufeng smiled, taking Shangguan Ye’s hand and writing four characters in his palm: “Paper’s Origin.”
The ticklish sensation on Shangguan Ye’s palm mirrored the itch in his heart. He looked up to find Murong Qiufeng’s mouth curling with a mischievous grin, eyes teasing and playful. His breath caught, then comprehension dawned. He narrowed his eyes slightly, pulling Murong Qiufeng into his arms and gripping his chin. “So you’ve known all along… just laughing at me, huh?”
Murong Qiufeng gave a helpless smile. “You were too obvious. I always saw you as a brother. I didn’t realize you cared so much.” He had noticed at Xianjian Sect that Shangguan Ye’s mood would sour whenever he mentioned him. At first, he thought it coincidence—but repeated instances proved otherwise. He hadn’t pressed, thinking it unnecessary.
Shangguan Ye squinted, thinking: this little brat clearly doesn’t want a simple brotherly relationship. But with that realization came a swell of warmth. This foolish kid is mine now. No matter how clever he is, he has no chance to escape. From now on, he would hold him close—so tight he could never leave. He may have missed his childhood, but the rest of his life would be his.
