CH 59

Chapter 59: Night vigil

After completely covering the interior and exterior of the house with arrays, Huo Zaiyuan walks into the kitchen and takes in its general layout. There is a large clay pot containing an unopened sack of rice, quite possibly left behind by the residents who fled this town. The grains itself are still extremely white, with no signs of moth larvae. In fact, a significant amount of food had been left behind in the pantries, all of which are promptly stored away in his space. Done with inspecting the pantries, he opens the cupboards only to find another large sack of grains and some seasoning.

Prior to searching the kitchen, he had tested the house's electricity and water, determining them to be already disconnected. Hence, Huo Zaiyuan takes out a bottle of liquid gas, a stove and a couple of plastic containers filled with water and prepares to cook dinner.

When the other three returns to the house, the first thing that greets them is a fragrant aroma of cooked food, dishes already properly arranged on the dining table. Three types of meat, a vegetable and a soup.

"Did you discover anything?" Huo Zaiyuan asks as he carries over a pot of cooked rice from the kitchen.

"We did, but we aren't entirely certain is has something to do with the missing townspeople." Long Zhanye answers slowly.

"Is that so…come on, everyone's tired. We can talk as we eat."

The party of four commences eating as soon as everyone's seated, then Long Zhanye and Qin Jun began recounting word for word the events that led to their discovery of the fake fingernail as well as the suspicious scratches on the floor.

Finishing off the last of his rice, Huo Zaiyuan puts down his chopsticks and rubs his lips thoughtfully. "You didn't discover anything in the other houses, and only one had scratch marks on the floor. It seems something came and dragged the residents away."

"Un, that's my thought too." Long Zhanye nods. "Tonight, we need someone to keep night vigil."

"I'll do it." Li Qing volunteers, raising his chopsticks.

"Then I will keep little Qing company. The two of you are stronger, so if you stay up tonight, you wouldn't be able to focus tomorrow."

"Your words make sense, however, the two of you cannot keep night vigil. Little Qing, you still need more training and Qin Jun, you are responsible for driving tomorrow. I will do it." Long Zhanye says firmly.

As a military born man, his senses are keener than most, and he is more alert in a hostile environment. Every breath of wind or swaying of grass cannot escape his sharp ears, and this village is truly too strange for him to sleep soundly.

"Staying up all night will be too exhausting. I will take over halfway through the night."

"Sure." Looking at Huo Zaiyuan, Long Zhanye allows a smile to surface.

Putting the plates, bowls and cutleries away, they take turns showering then prepared to rest. The entire house has a total of four bedrooms, two on the second storey and two on the first. None of them plans to use the rooms on the second storey, so Li Qing and Qin Jun automatically head for one of the rooms on the first floor.

The only source of light in the house comes from a single lit candle, its dim, flickering flame illuminating a small part of the first storey in an orange glow, casting the illusion of warmth for the two keeping vigil.

"Why are you not sleeping, or meditating?" Long Zhanye settles himself on a two-seater sofa, sword and an AK placed to his left.

"Can't sleep. And I don't feel like meditating today." Walking over to Long Zhanye's right side, a corner of Huo Zaiyuan's lips pulls up. "Why?"

"Little Yuan, you're really too cute." Stretching out his hand, he tugs Huo Zaiyuan down to his bosom, face inching closer. What taking over halfway through. He clearly wants to accompany him in keeping vigil all through the night.

"I'm a male. Don't use words like 'cute' to describe me." Huo Zaiyuan blinks at the face drawing closer to his own before extending a delicate hand to place on Long Zhanye's forehead, halting his advance.

Looking at the slightly displeased expression, Long Zhanye laughs lightly, then wraps a hand around the smaller one on his forehead. "If not cute, then how about beautiful?"

Contrary to what one might expect, Long Zhanye all but grew up in the military district, and if there's one thing he has seen a lot of, it is men of all shapes and sizes, but none can hold a candle to Huo Zaiyuan's exquisite looks. In actual fact, Huo Zaiyuan's appearance is not of the seductive sort. In terms of seductiveness, Li Qing's full blood red lips is many times more flirtatious. Huo Zaiyuan's beauty is a more classical sort, like a china doll, capturing one's gaze and not allowing one to retrieve it. On top of that, after cultivating, he bears an Immortal-like aura…

"You are truly shameless." Huo Zaiyuan huffs, turning away from Long Zhanye.

"Heheh…I can take it further, only…I might scare you away." Long Zhanye rubs Huo Zaiyuan's soft hair. "You hair seems to have grown longer."

"Un, but it's the least of my worries now. If it wants to grow, let it grow."

Before, his hairstyle was the current trending fringe-up cut[1] popular amongst male students. It looked neat and smart. However, after rebirth, the only thing he cared about was stockpiling necessities and evading the people who put up an arrest warrant for him. Getting a haircut wasn't even on the priority list, and after a year of leaving it be, it has reached past his shoulders.

"It looks good on you, and feel nice to touch."

"Older brother Long, if you continue to speak more along those lines, you'll sound like one of those middle-aged paedophiles who like kidnapping young, pretty boys."

"Un, don't worry, my only victim will be you." Long Zhanye chuckles and rubs his head again. "It's late, shut your eyes and get some rest."

"Wake me up halfway." Leaning against the taller man's side, he closes his eyes and tries to rest for a bit.

Although Long Zhanye makes a vague agreeing sound, whether or not he will wake the person leaning against him is a matter only he knows. In terms of patience, besides the always meditating Huo Zaiyuan, only Long Zhanye can forcibly curb his impatience when the situation calls for it. He has also been through sleep-deprivation before, all those years ago during his special training. He had been forced to hide in a small hole within a dense forest, keeping watch for several days and nights without a chance to rest. A few hours tonight is a small matter.

However, this night is not destined to be a peaceful and quiet one…

Footnotes:

[1] A fringe-up cut: