CH 25

However, in a flash, Jing Qi's expression was already adjusted back to the earlier state, a frown painted over his face as if nothing had happened. With a voice tinged with impatience, he asked: "Call him over for what? I have known him for that long, yet I can hardly ever squeeze a word out of his mouth; and when he does open his mouth, each and every single utterance just makes me want to pull my hair and choke in anger. Since none of what he says is ever pleasant to the ears, won't that be ruining Your Highness' happy mood?"

"Ruining my mood what? Fussing over and nitpicking on every little thing that you youngsters say — am I really that intolerant kind of person?" Helian Zhao looked at the other party, a feigned smile crept across his lips, "Why? Could it be that Your Royal Highness is thinking that I am unfit to receive this honor from the Young Sorcerer?"

... Indeed unfit.2

Jing Qi relentlessly cursed Helian Zhao in his heart, lashing him from head to toe: this one has indeed eaten all his fill, thus having too much free time on his hands to go around asking for trouble; it seems like I have underestimated Helian Zhao's level of cheap bravado. However, Jing Qi still had to giggle along:"Your Highness, wouldn't that belittle me when you put it that way? I do not dare to shoulder such an offense. Ping An, go to the Young Sorcerer's Residence and say that His Highness is at my place. Invite him to come over for a little while."

If the matter had been something else - even that had been a heaven-sized basket falling on his head - Jing Qi would not have been afraid. However, since this was about Wu Xi... At that moment, just a thought about that child could make Jing Qi's head pound in pain — to describe this person, even the word "obstinate" would not suffice. Although Helian Zhao rejoiced in grandiose deeds and embraced pleasure in flattery, the fact that Nan Ning Wang and the Crown Prince shared a close relationship was evident to everyone else in the capital city. Of course, from the First Prince's point of view, there was nothing to be feared about the Crown Prince; but after all, this person was an experienced hand when it came to court politics, thus some precaution was certainly needed as Helian Zhao took advantage of this opportunity to test out the waters with Wu Xi.

On Jing Qi's face was the feigned expression as if nothing had happened, but inside his mouth, bitterness had already spread all over. In a split second, countless scenarios of what could possibly happen flashed over his mind - for example, if Wu Xi simply played dead and decided not to come, that would be even better. Wu Xi not showing up meant Jing Qi could make up some excuses to gloss over the matter - Jing Qi only feared that if the other really came here, the moment Helian Zhao's face was in sight, Wu Xi would immediately conclude, "I know you, Helian Zhao. You are our great enemy,"  or he would pull out his hook without any delay and spring over, immaculately sending the other man to death...2

... This kind of action indeed was not impossible. 

How can old grudges of human life be pushed aside as easily as one wishes? On the surface, Jing Qi was acting like an airhead and engaging in senseless prattles with Helian Zhao and Zhuo Silai;  on the inside, he was racking his brain to figure out how to settle the mess if Wu Xi truly winded up coming here. 

Praying to the Heaven God Jade Emperor and Bodhisattva of Compassion! Wu Xi you little rascal, I no longer hope that you will not flip out. I just hope that your way of flipping out can be a bit more gentle.

Luckily, things like passing the cups out of respect and filling each other's ears with flattery had long become his instincts — thus even when there were several things occupying his mind, those two were still unable to detect anything wrong or unusual. 

A while later, Ping An came back and reported: "Your Highnesses, please wait for a moment. The Young Sorcerer said that he would be on his way."

Helian Zhao nodded his head while Jing Qi's heart had already half sunk. 

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Just as expected, a few moments later, an attendant came in and announced the Young Sorcerer's arrival. Jing Qi's eyes bored into the entering guest: Great, it is the same old fully shrouded style with three layers inside and three additional outer robes. Jing Qi hated that he could not just lash out on this person with his furious glare, thus the remaining half of his heart that was barely retained by luck had also plummeted this time.  

But whether it was good or bad, Nan Ning Wang was someone who had already endured violent storms and turbulent waves for a good number of times in life. As soon as he mentally prepared for the worst possible scenario, he immediately started devising a subsequent retreat route and a plan to settle the problem once and for all. Jing Qi then rose to his feet while still mulling over the matter, a hand reached out to pull Wu Xi over: "Why don't you hurry and come present yourself to His Highness the First Prince."

In appearance, it only seemed that Jing Qi was simply dragging Wu Xi to see Helian Zhao; but the truth is, while hovering around, he was actually trying to shelter Wu Xi from the view of the other two. At the same time, he was covertly observing Wu Xi's expression — unfortunately, the only thing that was revealed on this person's face was a pair of eyes. Those orbs were so dark and tranquil-looking like that - for the first time, Jing Qi was somewhat unable to fathom the meaning behind such a gaze. 

Helian Zhao remained there displaying the same expression from which one glance was enough to make others feel the urge to knock his face with a tray. The faint, humorless smile that grazed his lips as a pretense of profound enigma, in reality, was just him senselessly asking for trouble. 

The First Prince thus nodded his head flauntingly at Wu Xi and said: "Young Sorcerer, come over here and sit down."

This one acted like the real owner of the place was him rather than Jing Qi.

Although Wu Xi was undoubtedly the hostage sent from South Xinjiang and consequentially perceived as a dispensable kind of character in the capital city, his identity as the future Great Sorcerer of South Xinjiang, after all, still held true. In terms of statuses, it would be difficult to tell between the two of them who was superior. Hence, that remark from Helian Zhao was indeed extremely derisive and condescending. 

At that moment, Jing Qi immediately felt the tension from the arm that had been seized by his tight grasp.

Thus, he instantly pulled the other person to the seat by his side and said with a smile: "Brother Zishu sent over some jars of good wine last time from which you have not had the opportunity to give a taste. You came here just in time to chance upon the fine food."

Then he rose to his feet to personally pour the wine for Wu Xi, turning his back slightly and facing away from Helian Zhao. The traces of his feign smile were immediately concealed from sight as he gave Wu Xi a very light, discreet shake of his head. However, Wu Xi's gaze was fixated on the crystal clear liquor inside the cup, thus it was unknown whether he had noticed that motion from Jing Qi or not.

After that, the young man suddenly held up his wine cup and rose from his seat as he turned toward Helian Zhao and spoke: "I would like to offer a toast to Your Highness, and, with respect for you, I shall empty my cup first. In the past, there were occasions where I had done wrong to you. I beg Your Highness to deem it as Wu Xi being young and not knowing any better, thus please don't take it to heart."4

Jing Qi was stupefied.

On the other hand, Helian Zhao started to burst into laughter and similarly raised his cup of wine, gesturing at the other person: "Why are you saying that? When did the Young Sorcerer ever offend me? How come I myself could not remember it? Silai, do you remember?"

Hearing the mention of his name, Zhuo Silai immediately put on an obsequious smile. Wu Xi slightly lifted his veil and gulped down all the wine in his cup. Helian Zhao also lowered his head in agreement and wet his lips with a few small sips before putting the cup of wine back down. Holding the little cat up in his embrace, he commented through a smile: "But this gift from Young Sorcerer is too grand, it makes others feel rather uneasy and intimidated."

Wu Xi bowed slightly, and with a faint, indifferent voice, he replied: "It is merely an invaluable item. As long as Your Highness does not mind, then it is all fine."

Helian Zhao played with the well-behaved little kitten in his arms, glee flowing all over his heart.  

This gleeful feeling in his heart had nothing to do with Wu Xi. Everybody knew that this young sorcerer would neither see anyone else nor bother to give them some face; despite young age, his personality was stinky and tough — just like a rock placed in the latrine pit. Remembering that year Helian Qi had repeatedly attempted to express his goodwill, those endeavors were rebuffed flat out by Wu Xi, causing that bastard Helian Qi birthed by a bitch to be boiling with rage. 

Yet, someone who used to be like that had to bow down in front of me today.

Helian Zhao watched the kitten lying down obediently on its stomach under his caress with half-closed eyes. Then, all of a sudden, in his heart there swelled up an odd, gratifying feeling that people could be as docile and well-behaved as this cat as long as they were willing to. 

He couldn't resist but felt a tad carried away.

During the meal, both the host and the guest were laden with their own thoughts and intention — only His Highness Helian Zhao was having a good time by himself.

It was only after Jing Qi had seen Helian Zhao off that he could finally breathe out a sigh of relief. A breeze swiftly blew past the young man, making him realize how much mental strength he had excessively devoted in this matter the entire time; on his back, a layer of cold sweat had already surfaced. Things had been awfully smooth sailing as of late; suddenly, it came to his realization that he himself had also been negligent, and even almost allowed that brute Helian to wreak havoc on his plan. 

Jing Qi turned his head around and saw the other young man completely shrouded in deep black garments whose gaze had dropped and been locked on the ground, and not a single word had once passed his lips.

Jing Qi peered at him. All of a sudden, he felt like this person was no different from the stone that had patched the sky in the legend(1), where Heaven and Earth were on the verge of collapsing and everyone was deterred by perils, he would be the only one who remained standing straight even at the cost of his life: "Wu Xi..."

Only then, Wu Xi began to gradually raise his head and held his gaze at the other man. After a while, he replied in a low whisper: "I am going back first."

In that flashing moment, even Nan Ning Wang who had mastered the art of smooth talking could not find the right words to be departed from his lips; all he could do was to helplessly watch Wu Xi slowly walk past in front of his very eyes — the back of this young man was bolt upright, carrying the form that resembled a standing spear. 

All of a sudden, Jing Qi thought of General Feng — that man, standing untrammeled by convention in the middle of the deep, somber darkness of the ancestor hall, had once told him: "In this world, a true man and age needs not to strive for noble titles, but to live as a hero with unyielding spirit. He needs not wealth and splendor, but to live with his head held high."

The general even said, although one that was too firm would break, he would... rather be broken but not bent.

Jing Qi lifted his face to the sky and closed his eyes, feeling that he had committed a severe mistake today and gone as far as relentlessly bending the back of that child with his own hands. From immersing in faux courtesy to artfully manipulating power and resources for personal pursuits, these matters had long been ingrained into his bones, enveloping him like a layer of false, pallid camouflage. He had already become accustomed to reveal neither joy nor anger on his face, and had been more than familiar when it came to mutual suspicion and deception. 

But Wu Xi was not the same.

This child, albeit stubborn and prideful, drew a very fine line between love and hate; he had never lowered his head in front of others, and also had never... 

Standing on one side, Ping An did not dare to approach and interfere.

Without any warning, Jing Qi strode outside. Ping An thus hurriedly ran after him: "Master, where are you heading?"

"Don't follow me."

Jing Qi chased all the way to the Sorcerer's Residence — since the day of becoming their guest, this was the first time he had ever left out all the prattles and meaningless pleasantries after knocking on the gate; instead, he vehemently charged in with his quest: "Where is your Young Sorcerer?"

Nu A Ha was unable to react at once — after a moment of bafflement, he finally answered: "When he came back just right now, his mood apparently was not very good. So he left to the back garden by himself, not letting any of us follow..."

He had yet completed his sentence, Jing Qi already turned around to walk toward the back garden.

Wu Xi did not know what was so-called "once taken as a lowly exiled captive, hair turning white, waist becoming slack day after day" (2), neither had he ever "climbed high to watch over Mount Bagong" (3) nor would he ever fool himself and others by "singing an elegy instead of weeping while staring into distance instead of returning home"(4).

The motherland was merely three thousand miles away; yet, all that remained was only a distant memory of the past. 

Trapped in a daze, he recalled what had happened few years back then when he first entered the Great Hall, wielding his wilful and defiant disposition, refusing to bow down to anybody, and even acting with such audacity and recklessness — suddenly, it felt like they were all matters from the previous life. 

A deep roar imbued in hoarseness escaped from Wu Xi's throat as he used all his strength to slam his fist against the back garden's hard wall — as if doing such would allow him to unleash and pour out all the resentment that had been persistently looping around and dwelling in his heart. Powdered debris burst from the wall, yet it seemed like he had not felt any pain.

Suddenly, his arm was seized into a firm grasp of a certain someone. Wu Xi closed his eyes, one hand propped up against the wall as he panted heavily for breath. It was not until a while after that he finally raised his head and, with unyielding eyes and impenetrable silence, stared at Jing Qi whose grip had been locked on his arm. 

On the face sculpted in delicate fineness of this young man called Nan Ning Wang that Wu Xi had been used to looking at, whose features invited affection from others, whose expression was always carrying hints of frivolousness, there was nothing else but sternness.

Like a confrontation between an old fox who had long been accustomed to the wind and frost of life for hundreds of years, remaining unruffled in the face of raging billows and turbulent seas, and a wolf cub who, albeit badly battered, resolved to trudge down its path until the very end — even just for half a step, neither of them was willing to back down and put an end to this stalemate.

It was not until a long time afterwards that Jing Qi finally heaved a sigh. He lifted Wu Xi's wrist and aimed the fist that was battered in blood at himself, his voice faint and nonchalant: "Here, hit this. Vent it out."

Wu Xi clenched his fist; it was too tight to the point that his entire forearm was trembling.

Without any warning, he broke free from Jing Qi's grasp abruptly and swung his fist. Without a blink of his eyes, Jing Qi watched Wu Xi's fist graze past his cheek before landing in the air — the wind spawned from his slashing strike caused a few strands of hair to alight from Jing Qi's temple and flutter along.

Wu Xi took a long, deep breath and whispered in a low voice: "I will not hit you. You did that for my own good." 

Jing Qi was slightly taken aback, but then the other continued: "In the eyes of you people, there is probably no difference between the Black Sorcerers and us. They... those people with the Helian surname can resort to all means to battle the throne. If Helian Zhao discovers that Helian Qi has some connection with the Black Sorcerers, he would not let him off so easily... I know you only stand in front of Helian Zhao in order to protect my life."1

Wu Xi was chosen among the thousands of children in South Xinjiang to become the future successor of the Grand Sorcerer, thus his qualifications undoubtedly ought to be excellent along with his remarkable intelligence. However, there were several things that, despite the awareness that had soon arrived in his heart, he was still unwilling to comply; simply grinding his teeth in silence, he refused to either be tamed or bow his head in submission as if he would never accept defeat to this rotten world.

The current capital of His Majesty was like a vat of dye: after witnessing its glory in all these scarlet blossoms and verdant willows, how many people could still possibly maintain the unbridled haughtiness from the early days?

Wu Xi shook his head, struggling to gather all his strength to repeat once more: "You did that for my own good." 2

"Only then that I realized you have been right from the very first place."

+

Translator's note: 

(1) Pipi used this Chinese mythology reference in which Nuwa, the mother goddess, melted the five-colored stones to patch up the sky when Heaven and Earth were in disruption.

(2) Quoted from a poem called "Cracking the enemy's formation"(破陣子) by Li Yu (李煜) from the Tang Dynasty 

(3) Quoted from a poem called "Passing by Huaiyin I have feelings" (过淮阴有感) by Wu Wei Ye (吴伟业)

(4) Quoted from a folk song called "Elegy"(悲歌行) from the Han Dynasty