Chapter 64: Rainy Night Visitor

Fat geese patrol the lake in the wind-whipped rain, misty rain obscuring the night travelers.

"A Kong Ge, you think at a time like this, we should be lounging in bed with beauties?"

"This weather and time are just making me so sleepy..."

E Hu dragonflies skim the surface of the water, flying past two men in black cloaks. One wears a large hood, the other has his face exposed.

Shao Yi pulls his large hood tighter, lifts his wine gourd, and takes a big swig, then pats his belly and lets out a burp.

"Burp~"

Feng Kong glances at the sky. The rainy night has delayed the sunrise, but dawn is approaching...

"At this time, people's guard is down a lot."

He turns his gaze away, striding forward several zhang at once, and advises, "Don't drink before killing someone—it can cloud your judgment."

Shao Yi freezes for a moment, but his speed doesn't falter in the slightest, sticking to Feng Kong like a shadow.

"It's fine!"

"This depends on the person, you know. I was going to tell you to put your hood up, otherwise the rain will mess with your vision, and your strikes won't be steady."

Feng Kong wipes the cool rain from his face and replies curtly, "The rain is cold—it keeps me alert."

Shao Yi slaps his wine gourd and widens his eyes.

"See, different people have different preferences..."

"I like drinking, you like getting rained on—isn't that great for everyone?"

Feng Kong's mouth twitches slightly. He falls silent for a long while, then sighs softly, "Drinking... is okay, but can you just talk normally?"

"Pah!"

Sure enough, he's been led astray again. Feng Kong clams up, deciding not to say another word.

"Heh heh..." Shao Yi chuckles, "Do you like it?"

"Um."

"I also like your cold, aloof demeanor—acting all saintly like that."

Feng Kong suddenly stops in his tracks, his expression darkening.

"What's up? Keep going!" Shao Yi asks, puzzled.

"Do you even know what you're saying?" Feng Kong's voice drops suddenly, cold as if from the depths of Jiu You hell.

"Of course! We should be going to sleep right now!"

"..."

Feng Kong takes a deep breath. This guy is really drunk!

Forget it, no point arguing with him—business comes first.

He leaps away.

Behind him, Shao Yi trembles as he slightly lifts his large hood. Though he hasn't been touched by the rain, his face is covered in cold sweat.

"Damn it, what did I just say? Am I out of my mind?"

"He's Blood Hand Feng Kong, after all!"

"Good thing I got away with it— A Kong Ge probably won't kill me."

After that slip-up, the other man's ominous voice had sobered him instantly. Realizing his mistake, he had no choice but to play dumb and keep going.

Otherwise, the consequences would be unthinkable!

Shao Yi wipes away the cold sweat and quickly adjusts his expression before hurrying to catch up.

The rain keeps falling, growing even heavier.

In the lake, the fat geese huddle together in a corner by the white jade railing, trying to shelter from the wind and rain.

Hmm...

It's no use.

...

On the winding, secluded path, the two slow their pace considerably.

"This is the right way, right?"

Shao Yi looks around. Honestly, he hasn't been to the outer court in ages and has forgotten most of the routes, but luckily, not much has changed—he can still make his way.

He catches a vague shape in the trees and is surprised.

"Are the outer court's disciples still this dedicated? Practicing even in the rain?"

"Back in the day, I lived in the dorm for a year. It was so crowded, impossible to cultivate properly, so I often snuck out..."

"Once I got into the inner court, it was so much better—with private courtyards and even female attendants..."

Shao Yi goes on reminiscing endlessly, never stopping his chatter, completely oblivious to Feng Kong's face growing darker.

He takes another swig of wine and turns a corner to see an open courtyard.

The courtyard is covered by a formation array that lets in rain but keeps out other elements. In front of the array barrier is a large open space, perfect for multiple people to practice.

"Tsk tsk, they're loaded!"

"Back in the day..."

"Shut up!" Feng Kong interrupts. "We've spotted the person, and you're still babbling? Forgot everything I taught you?"

"Uh..." Shao Yi scratches his head awkwardly, wanting to respond but not daring to make a sound.

He takes another gulp of wine for courage and says, "A Kong Ge, I'll handle the strike—you just back me up. We didn't really need you here anyway, it's just..."

Feng Kong glares at him, and Shao Yi immediately falls silent, as if his lips are sewn shut with an invisible thread.

"Go ahead."

"Make it a one-hit kill."

Shao Yi nods, makes his wine gourd vanish, draws two short swords, and grips them reverse-style in his sleeves before stepping forward.

He raises his hand.

Knocks on the door.

...

Before him is smooth, delicate skin like polished jade, soft enough to break with a breath—though the face is oddly indistinct. Xu Xiao Shou can't think about that now.

He reaches out to touch...

"Knock knock knock!"

A steady, deliberate knocking echoes clearly.

"Damn it!"

Xu Xiao Shou watches the alluring figure shatter before his eyes. In frustration, he lunges forward...

Smack!

The wooden bed creaks loudly. A strange sense of weightlessness hits, like stepping into empty air, and his body stumbles.

Xu Xiao Shou jolts awake, his heart pounding, eyes full of regret. "So close!"

"Knock knock knock!"

The knocking comes again.

Xu Xiao Shou whips his head toward the door, irritation flooding his eyes.

Who the hell is this inconsiderate? Coming at this hour—are you trying to ruin me?

Can't a guy get some sleep?

Ruining my dream!

He slips on his shoes with a kick and bounces out of the guest room, one step at a time, summoning his spiritual energy to form an umbrella against the rain.

He'd just taken a bath, and though he hadn't been asleep long before being woken, he can't afford to get wet now.

Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Xu Xiao Shou quickly crosses the courtyard and places his hand on the door latch.

A gust of wind blows, and he feels a bit more awake, pausing before opening it.

"Something's off!"

"Who would come looking for me this late?"

Xu Xiao Shou is baffled. He doesn't have many friends in the outer court, and his errands with the staff to Ling Cang Ge were done this afternoon—everything should be settled.

He was even planning to take a few days off!

"Could it be the staff has something urgent?"

Xu Xiao Shou finds it ridiculous. He focuses his attention, letting his perception pierce through the formation array to see outside.

A man in a black cloak, his face hidden under a large hood, stands there. Though it's dark, his perception reveals the expression clearly.

He looks ordinary but polite, not knocking repeatedly.

Hmm?

There's another one behind him?

This guy's got issues—it's raining, and he's wearing a hooded cloak, yet he just stands there with his face exposed, arms crossed.

Who are you showing off for?

This late at night, who's even watching?

Xu Xiao Shou senses something's not quite right, but he can't pinpoint what. Mainly, he doesn't recognize either of them—so why are they here?

And at this time?

The rain patters down, seeming heavier than before.

Xu Xiao Shou's hand stays on the door but doesn't pull it open or pull away. His heart starts racing, and he glances back into the night.

Rainy night...

A killing intent?

Xu Xiao Shou feels a chill down his spine, but it also seems absurd. Has he read too many novels? Would someone really come to kill him out of nowhere?

He thinks his relationships are fine—he hasn't made any enemies!

The three of them are all patient, standing quietly without moving.

Xu Xiao Shou keeps perceiving the outside, where the visitors wait politely.

The night falls silent again—one wooden door, three figures.

The rain grows louder, and with it, the knocking seems more rhythmic, as if the air carries a familiar song...

"Little bunny, be good, open the door..."

"Knock knock knock—"