Early next
morning, Xia Ling Mei was the first to wake, before she had even gotten up she
saw Xia Fen spreading out his five fingers, gesturing on top of w.a.n.g Yun Feng’s
neck.
“Fen Er,
what are you about to do?”
“Throttle
him to death.”
Xia Ling
Mei was shocked, suddenly grabbing Xia Fen’s wrist, without explanation she
dragged him out of bed. Turning her head to look at w.a.n.g Yun Feng sleeping,
before she relaxed and said surpressing her emotions: “You can’t kill him.”
Xia Fen
with exceeding certainty said: “I know.”
Xia Ling
Mei scowled, then what were you doing just now?
Xia Fen
puffed up his cheeks: “He’s fighting with me for mother. Zhuang Sun Zi
said, whoever sleeps with mother, will want to take mother away, don’t want
me anymore.”
Zhuang
Sheng, you cheap Sun Zi! Xia Ling Mei
secretly grinded her teeth, so angry her eyebrows palpitated: “The words of a
stranger, cannot be trusted.”
Xia Fen
worldly-wise shook his head: “He is my ally, we are unanimous towards
outsiders.”
Even the current martial arts leader Jiu Fang Xi could not handle
the two of them, an insignificant w.a.n.g Yun Feng, counted as nothing.
“Then what
if mother and Zhuang Sheng lived together? At that time you’re not afraid I
will abandon you?”
Xia Fen
made a fist, saying with resolute: “At that time he will be my enemy, I will
use all my strength to pull out his tendons and tear his skin off, turn his
bones into dust.”
“Aren’t you
allies?”
“General
Xia said, there is only mutual benefit, not a mutual enemy! As a commander, you
need to know how to use someone’s help, after that break each and every one,
then you can win the final victory.”
Since young
Xia Fen grew up with Xia Ling Mei at the barracks, after Xia Ling Mei left the
w.a.n.g residence she did not want to return to the Xia residence and become a
complaining woman who stayed in her room, with her martial art skills she found
General Xia. Initially when she found out she was pregnant, she stayed by
General Xia’s side as a personal bodyguard with ease, by the time Xia Fen was born,
she rolled up her long whip and became a neither too big nor too small
centurion, braving the wind and the billows everyday if she wasn’t beheading
pirates she was fighting powerful enemies, blood soaked as she charged and
broke through enemy lines, obtaining the acknowledgement with effort amongst
the great older generations surrounding them for the mother and son.
Xia Fen
grew up on the s.h.i.+ps, apart from consuming Xia Ling Mei’s mother’s milk, during
the day he would be rolling and crawling around the hold of General Xia’s s.h.i.+p,
the people he saw were either matchlessly brave and muscular high-ranking
military officers, or young and vigorous soldiers, hearing words if not `kill`,
then `wear them down for several days, when its right we’ll again kill`. By the
time he could speak and stand, General Xia intentionally nurtured him even
more, even tying him to the helm of the s.h.i.+p in a battle, the wind and rain
came, his physique and courage was out of the ordinary, and even learned quite
a lot of General Xia’s strategies, temper viciously reckless and yet calm, with
a bit of General Xia’s predatory nature. Up to the age of five or six, because
there were no one of the same age around him, and has never left the sea, he
was spoiled by the high-ranking military officers to be used to being unruly
and overbearing, as time pa.s.sed instead he didn’t know how an ordinary boy
should act. Therefore, General Xia considered it over and over again, thinking that
the children at Bai Lu academy of
cla.s.sical learning started around the age of five or six, he pondered
delivering him back to the Xia residence so he could go to school and honestly
learn to be a man of integrity.
Xia Fen
held the Xia family’s surname, he was on the family records, even though
everyone did not hide the ident.i.ty of his biological father, intending to use
the child, their link, to act as matchmaker for w.a.n.g Yun Feng and Xia Ling Mei.
General Xia’s intestines twisted around forty-nine times, before sending him
off he told Kong Xian particularly, he must foist the child onto Xia Ling Mei.
The matter of w.a.n.g Yun Feng chasing after Xia Ling Mei’s footsteps, the
Xia
family knew about it, wherever Xia Ling Mei is there would be w.a.n.g Yun Feng,
the family of three had to meet at some point, this feral child will
automatically make the husband and wife better.
Xia Ling
Mei did not find Xia Fen’s temper different, but once she wondered the Jianghu,
and the time she spent at the Gu residence, she then suddenly felt this was not
the battlefield raining with blood, rather it was genuine peace and prosperity.
Therefore in a few months, her young lady of an influential family’s manner and
self-restraint had gradually returned.
Today
hearing Xia Fen’s response, only then did she feel deeply the child’s temper
was wrong, she felt guilty in her mind, she couldn’t help hugging him, lightly
saying: “This person isn’t your enemy, and is not an ordinary stranger, if you
kill him, what would mother do?”
Xia Fen
automatically said: “At that time mother will be mine alone, no one could steal
you away.”
“But mother
will be heart-broken.”
Xia Fen
tilted his head, his tiny hand subconsciously grabbing the scroll painting from
his bosom. When he was younger he would annoy people to draw a portrait of his
father, at first he had thought he would be a formidable person like General
Xia, how was he to know he was a useless scholar, he couldn’t help but be
disappointed. By the time he met w.a.n.g Yun Feng in person, he felt that although
the other person knew a bit of martial arts but he really should build up his
strength, when he spoke it was like hail, completely without the outspoken and
expansive air of the military, he was increasingly unhappy. Fortunately, the
two people quickly separated, he again thought about it, but there was Zhuang
Sheng by his mother’s left side, Jiu Fang Xi on her right, he did not
understand using his proximity to the powerful to obtain favour, but he had an intuition
like a wild beast. Deep inside, he only felt Zhuang Sheng and Jiu Fang Xi did
not treat Xia Ling Mei in the same manner as the officers and soldiers of the
past, he therefore temporarily disregarded w.a.n.g Yun Feng, wholeheartedly
sweeping away the love affairs by Xia Ling Mei’s side.
What he never
expected, was in one night, that w.a.n.g Yun Feng climbed into Xia Ling Mei’s bed,
as well as struggle over domain with this young child, enough is enough.
Mother, is
Xia Fen’s alone!
He did not
know how to compromise with anyone, the officers and soldiers taught to face
and slaughter the enemy, subconsciously he only knew the principle `those who
block my way will die`.
He
carefully scrutinised Xia Ling Mei’s expression, only seeing his mother who in
her former days was completely domineering now was somewhat more tender,
appearing the same as she usually treats him, yet vaguely feeling she was a
little bit different. He very cautiously asked: “If mother is heartbroken, will
you hit Fen Er’s bottom?”
Xia Ling
Mei released him, pinching his chubby cheeks: “Why would I hit your bottom? You
have rough skin and thick flesh hitting you would hurt my hand. If you hurt
him, you will never again have chicken b.u.t.t in the future.”
Xia Fen’s
face immediately fell, in his mind, chicken b.u.t.t is too important, so much more
important than Zhuang Sheng. He could not have Zhuang Sheng, but he could not
have chicken b.u.t.t. It must be known, at sea, chicken b.u.t.t was a common seldom
great meal.
Mouth-watering:
“Then I won’t kill him, can I have chicken b.u.t.t today?”
Xia Ling
Mei couldn’t help shooting a glance at the sleeping w.a.n.g Yun Feng, if he knew
his son saw chicken b.u.t.t as even more important than his life, how would he
react?
Laughing
for quite some time, Xia Ling Mei again warned Xia Fen to not rashly take
someone’s life, Xia Fen considered it over and over again: “As long as mother
doesn’t bring other people into bed, Fen Er will not kill them”
Xia Ling
Mei was powerless, originally last night she also did not think her and w.a.n.g
Yun Feng would share a bed.
While the
mother and son were talking about chicken b.u.t.t and killing people their several
connections, then signing a string of human life and chicken b.u.t.t unequal
treaty, Xia Fen then followed Zhuang Sheng who had been waiting outside for a
long time to train, before he left he still turned his head: “Mother, fight
with me later.”
Xia Ling
Mei seeing w.a.n.g Yun Feng had still not woken up, after going through Xia Fen’s
controlling declaration it was best not to stay by his side. After carefully pinching
his nose, she walked away reluctantly.
Because it
was the manor of the martial arts leader, everywhere at the training ground
were martial artists.
Xia Ling
Mei taught Xia Fen the majority of techniques, actually not afraid of people
peeking. Most of what Xia Fen learned was how to face an enemy on the
battlefield, each move, each style were directly attacking the vital parts, on
top of that he was little and nimble, the gold border on his short garment was
dazzling as its little owner moved, drawing people to cast sidelong glances.
Zhuang
Sheng practiced with him provoking him in all kinds of way then jumping onto
the roof, not coming down unless it was for life or death. Xia Fen glanced at
the other person in distain, with Zhuang Sheng and Kong Xian to find the path
to the martial arts leader Jiu Fang Xi. He was no match for him alone,
naturally he needed helpers. Zhuang Sheng’s qinggong
was outstanding, Kong Xian’s internal strength was constantly developing,
Xia Fen’s nimble adaptability, the two of them could be regarded as half of Xia
Fen’s teacher, with complete mutual understanding, they actually surround Jiu
Fang Xi for a short time.
Xia Ling
Mei brandis.h.i.+ng a long whip gathered it up, drinking tea to one side. Zhuang
Sheng rushed to her side: “I heard Lord w.a.n.g has arrived, is it important?”
Xia Ling
Mei knew what Zhuang Sheng was asking, she couldn’t help but think of the deep
kiss in the middle of the night, her face reddened: “He only came to find me.”
How could Zhuang
Sheng miss the other person’s complexion, his mouth was bitter: “You still
choose him.”
Xia Ling
Mei tilted her head, softly saying: “Since the day I met him, I have never had
the choice. Moreover, I am his wife.”
Zhuang
Sheng still effortlessly laughed: “I was delusional.”
Xia Ling
Mei tightened her grip around the long whip in her hand, looking at the small
leopard on the training ground: “You should know Xia Fen’s past…”
“Of course
I know.” Zhuang Sheng impatiently interrupted her, controlling his tone of
voice: “But the young master’s name has given me a gleam of hope. Fen, isn’t
that for separation. Back then, you would have been determined to forget him,
how can you change your mind in a mere short month. Only because of a child? Or
is it because…”
Because in
Xia Ling Mei’s mind there has only ever been w.a.n.g Yun Feng, with another
person, give her ten years and she still wouldn’t easily fall in love, but if
the person is w.a.n.g Yun Feng, his every movement will always be capable of
controlling her entire mind.
Both of
them knew this, but none of them would say it out.
“Or,”
Zhuang Sheng rubbed his sword hilt, mockingly: “If you were not a stubborn
woman ready to die to preserve one’s chast.i.ty like this, I would not have
fallen in love with you. If I had known earlier it would be like this, I would
not have kept up this n.o.ble character, I would have sooner used the flower
thief method, and not have gotten to the point of being discarded.”
Xia Ling
Mei was stunned: “What sort of methods do you flower thieves usually use?”
Zhuang
Sheng unperturbed: “Act first, report later.”
Xia Ling
Mei shook her head, having nothing to say. Zhuang Sheng, inside and out could
not be considered a man of honour.
Xia Ling
Mei wiped her sweat, taking Xia Fen to change clothes, only then calling on
w.a.n.g Yun Feng. Hei Zi and Bai Zi had long ago disappeared not knowing where
they’d gone, Ying s.h.i.+ and Xiu Yu were preparing breakfast, Bai Yan and Juan Shu
could not enter Xia Ling Mei’s room.
The person
sleeping on the bed was still sleeping in the same position he was in when she left,
not even his brows had moved much. Xia Ling Mei felt suspicious, w.a.n.g Yun Feng
used to be a court councillor who had to report to the government office every
day, after being promoted to imperial censor, he needed to be in court at dawn,
he absolutely could not sleep in, it did not make sense that everyone was awake
but he was still in bed.
With a
touch of the wrist, his pulse was slow, his skin ice-cold, clearly he had fallen ill again.
This time,
Xia Ling Mei could not stay out of it, she was genuinely so scared her
complexion paled.