Sha Po Lang

Chang Geng threw off his hand fiercely. His fingers were like an eagle’s claws, strongly scratching at himself. Gu Yun certainly could not bear to watch him hurting himself. He reached out and grabbed his arm, “Chang Geng!”

His voice seemed to have brought a glimmer of clarity to Chang Geng, but it could only stop him for a moment.

The steam lamp hanging at the head of the bed, in the key moment, went off after a ‘creaking’ sound, then finally and slowly lit up again. The light was dim and unstable, illuminating Chang Geng’s pair of blood-red eyes.

Gu Yun was shocked to find that Chang Geng’s face and lips were pale, as if the blood in his entire body had concentrated into those eyes, but in the originally ordinary eyes vaguely showed a double pupils.

Truly resembling the statue of the legendary evil god.

Gu Yun heard of ‘Urgu’ from Miss Chen’s mouth. At that time, he felt only heartache. There were certain details he was not able to believe in due to the inability to imagine them. Until now. A cool air climbed up his spine, the pair of eyes with no emotion but with raging bloodshed had caused the seasoned general to feel cold all over.

The two watched one another. Gu Yun suddenly had the illusion of encountering feral animals in the wilderness. For a moment, he dared not avert his sight, slowly spreading out his empty hand and tried to reach Chang Geng. Chang Geng did not hide. Even in the moment when the warm palm touched his face, he even lowered his head slightly and indifferently rubbed against his hand.

Gu Yun asked in a low, frightened voice, “Do you still know who I am?”

Chang Geng lowered the eyelashes thicker than those of the ordinary Central Plains person, giving a low cry: “... Zi Xi.”

It was good that he could still recognize those he knows. Gu Yun was relieved that he did not pay attention to the unusual tone of his voice. But he was relieved too early. Not waiting for the for him to breathe out, Chang Geng suddenly and unexpectedly reached out a hand wanting to choke him: “Not letting you go!”

Gu Yun: “...”

The throat was a critical point of the body. Gu Yun instinctively leaned back and pressed back the cold hand. Chang Geng grabbed his wrist towards him and ruthlessly twisted. Gu Yun has to bend his fingers and tap the numbing vein between his elbows.

In a very narrow space, the two of them exchanged several moves. That madman was already skilled in martial arts. At this time, seemingly with the evil god’s infinite strength as the support, striking left and right, combined with Gu Yun who was afraid of accidentally hurting him, sweat came down. He angrily scolded: “Damnnit, I just came back, where would I go?”

When Chang Geng came to a halt, Gu Yun’s hand on the side of his neck gently touched him on the chin with the back of his hand: “Wake up!”

This tap might not be enough. Not only did it not wake him up, Chang geng’s eyes that seemed to be dripping blood suddenly squinted, then like an enraged young leopard, he turned and bit Gu Yun’s arm.

Gu Yun: “...”

If he knew this would happen, he should have simply given him a slap!

Gu Yun hissed, the corners of his eyes fiercely jumped, his life has been chopped, bombed, but to be hated to the point of being swallowed alive and bitten, it was still the first time, he truly wants to slap this madman’s several front teeth off.

However, his arm was stiff for a long time, but finally, he was not able to do so. A moment later, Gu Yun slowly relaxed the muscles on his arm. He pinched Chang Geng’s back neck and whispered, “Skinned and eaten, how much hatred is there between us? Do you despise me this much?”

This remark seemed to have touched Chang Geng’s nerve, his eyes blinked slightly, then two lines of tears came down without warning.

Chang Geng did not make a sound, only biting Gu Yun’s arm and quietly shed tears, the tears seemed to dilute the terrifying aura of bloodshed in his eyes. For a long time, Chang Geng’s teeth were slightly loosened. Gu Yun tried to pull out his bloody arm, glancing at it, he scolded, “You bastard.”

Even so, he still pulled the other into his arms, stretched out his hand to wipe away the tear marks on Chang Geng’s eyes, and patted him on the back again and again.

Chang Geng laid on his chest, it took him half an hour to recover his mind gradually from the chaos. The whole person seemed to have just awakened from a long dream. He was at a loss for a while, only now did the mess of memories gradually come back.

When he recalled what he had just done, Chang Geng’s hair all stood up. He was originally resembling a mass of mud, now he suddenly went stiff. Gu Yun knew that he had returned to normal.

“Awake?” Gu Yun lifted his stiff shoulder under the pretense of calmness, moving them slightly, he reached out his hand and asked, “How many?”

Chang Geng’s heart was an entangled mess, he did not dare to look at him at all. As he looked down at Gu Yun’s scabbed arm, his expression turned even more unsightly. Holding it up with both hands, his lips trembled and could not speak.

“Ah, bitten by a dog.” Gu Yun looked at it carelessly, then insulted, “This dog’s teeth are quite even.”

Chang Geng slightly staggered to get up, found fine silk cloth and clean water, bowed his head and wiped his wounds. His body seemed to have just been ravaged, even his soul was not present, appearing indescribably miserable.

But for Gu Yun, a man with a naturally excessive desire to protect, judging by what met the eyes, he was most likely to be moved by “fragility”, even beauty had to come second. His eyes softened down. He used five fingers to gently tidy up Chang Geng’s long and tangled hair from the struggle just now.

“Last autumn, I went to the Central Plains with Ji Ping. We met with a group of bandit taking advantage of the people in the name of uprising,” Gu Yun said slowly, in a tone even softer than the movement of his hands. “We worked with Old Cai to clean up the scourge and catch the bandits. The bandit leader called himself ‘Huo Long’, his body full of scars. During the interrogation, a blade of a barbarian woman was found on him... It was Hu Ge Er’s.”

Chang Geng’s hand trembled fiercely, the silk cloth fell down. He bent to pick it up in a daze, but Gu Yun caught his hand.

Gu Yun: “You can remember it even at such a young age?”

Chang Geng’s hand was as cold as a dead man.

Gu Yun sighed: “In fact, Miss Chen had told me, about...”

Chang Geng cut in, “Don’t say anymore.”

Gu Yun obediently closed his mouth and looked at him silently.

Chang Geng sat stiffly for a moment, his actions suddenly turned fluent, smoothly taking care of the bitten wound, then suddenly stood up with his back towards Gu Yun: “Yan Wang Manor has been built for several years, it has been neglected, that is not appropriate. I... I will go back to the Grand Council early tomorrow morning, after this busy period of time had passed, I will move to...”

Gu Yun’s face sank.

When Chang Geng’s speech of no proper start or finish came to this point, he suddenly stopped talking. He couldn’t help recalling Gu Yun’s caring attitude when he went to the Northwest to reward the army at the end of the year – did it mean that he only knew the truth about the Bone of Impurity? That he only pitied him?

Speaking of being unreasonable, Chang Geng could display old scars in front of Li Feng without restraint, but he did not want Gu Yun to see even a little bit of them. Unexpectedly, even if he thought he had covered them tightly, the wind could still penetrate through the gap between the fingers. Chang Geng clenched his teeth tightly and could feel the blood in his mouth when he went mad.

Fishy yet sweet.

Since receiving Gu Yun’s letter to return to the capital for reporting, he had been looking forward to it day and night, watching time flow by every moment. However, after waited for the man to arrive, Chang Geng wished nothing more than to escape Gu Yun’s sight immediately.

His mind was screaming inside, wanting to escape unconsciously. He turned and rushed out.

Gu Yun: “Stop, where are you going?”

Chang Geng was muddled and ignored him.

Gu Yun suddenly gave a low shout: “Li Min!”

From childhood to adulthood, Gu Yun had neither used heavy words towards him nor gotten angry at him. Nevertheless, in the army, Gu Yun never spoke twice. With high authority, such a slight angry shout resembled an absolute order. Chang Geng instinctively stopped.

Gu Yun sat beside the bed with a grave expression: “Get back here for me.”

Chang Geng was puzzled, “I...”

“If you walk out of this door today,” Gu Yun said coldly, “I’ll break your leg. Even the Emperor can’t save you. Come back, do not let me say it for the third time!”

Chang Geng: “...”

This was the first person who dared to say they would break his leg after Yan Wang commanded the Grand Council. Chang Geng was confused by his sudden temper, momentarily not daring to walk out. He gathered up all his courage to look back at Gu Yun. All kinds of grievances and pains that were difficult to express in words poured into his heart.

... But there were still tears on his face. He had fully awakened, there truly was no more strength to cry.

Gu Yun could not stand such eyes. He had to compromise and stood up, pulling Chang Geng in his arms from behind. He somewhat forcefully threw him on the bed and pulled the cold blanket over him. “Why haven’t you told me after so many years?”

Chang Geng took a deep breath and whispered, “... I’m afraid. ”

What are you afraid of?

Gu Yun was shocked, raising Chang Geng’s face with one hand: “Who are you afraid of? Me? ”

Chang Geng looked at him deep in the eyes. This gaze made Gu Yun understand what was called ‘fearing because of love’.

Gu Yun wanted to ask, “What are you afraid of with me? Afraid that I will hate you? Suspect you?”But then he swallowed these words again. Not knowing what to say, he acted, grabbing Chang Geng’s collar and kissed him deep and hard. Chang Geng’s breathing suddenly became heavy.

Gu Yun placed his hands beside his ears and raised his eyebrows. “Are you still afraid now?”

Chang Geng: “...”

Gu Yun looked down at him from above, suddenly feeling his heart heat up. He licked his lips, planning to be improper to the end. He stretched his hand into Chang Geng’s disheveled clothing.

Unexpectedly, just then, there was a sudden knock on the door outside, and a despicable man named Huo called out unknowingly, “Your Highness, it’s almost time to go to court, do you need to change clothes?”

Gu Yun: “...”

It turned out that after wrestling for a while, the sky had already dawned.

Huo Dan knocked at the door, but nobody answered. He thought Chang Geng was tired and did not hear him. He was about to knock again when suddenly the door was opened from inside. When Commander Huo saw the person coming out, he was shocked, “Mar- Marquis!”

When did the more and more strange Marshal Gu come back? How did he get in without alerting any of the family guards?

Jump over the wall?!

Chang Geng who was in the room was a little embarrassed. While tidying up his miserable appearance, he answered, “I’m here...”

Gu Yun interrupted him without a care, “Go and request a sick leave for His Highness. He won’t go today.”

Huo Dan was startled, he asked, “That... do we need a doctor?”

“Doctor? All doctors are a bunch of good for nothing.” Gu Yun threw out the sentence angrily and immediately turned back inside the room, he ordered, “If there isn’t anything, don’t come to bother. Go quickly.”

Huo Dan: “...”

Chang Geng who was put under house arrest looked helplessly at Gu Yun who arbitrarily made the decision: “I am not ill.”

“You are not ill, am I ill?” Gu Yun brought out a handful of tranquilizer and put them into the fragrance burner on the side to light up. Things had already come to this, there was no need to hide any longer: “This is what Miss Chen asked me to bring back to you.”

A refreshing fragrance permeated the room, Chang Geng sniffed it gently: “Miss Chen has changed her formula?”

Gu Yun rubbed the teeth mark on his arm: “Specialized in treating the little madman who bites people.”

The tranquilizing fragrance soon took effect, filling the lungs, making one felt sluggish. Unable to muster any strength or rage, Chang Geng leaned tiredly on the bedside, letting his gaze roam free, staring at Gu Yun in a dazed. His face was haggard, his hair was scattered, and his confused eyes were always on him. He appeared quite ill. There was not a single telling hint that he possessed an ‘iron tooth’.

Chang Geng muttered, “Zi Xi, can I hold you?”

Gu Yun thought: How clingy.

Even so, he went over and sat next to him, letting him reluctantly lean over and put his arms around his waist.

“Call in sick.” For a long time, Gu Yun suddenly said, “Isn’t there a Grand Council already? Jiang Han Shi is also competent, he only lacked a few opportunities before. This time, he unexpectedly got recommended, presumably he will be able to compete for a chance.

“The Ziliujin tribute from the Western Regions has almost arrived in the capital, we can take a solid rest for a year or two. Barbarians do not produce, we can afford to delay, but Jia Lai Ying Huo cannot afford to be delayed. The Northern War situation will change after a long period of time, leaving only Jiangnan... After all, foreigners came thousands of miles across the sea, costing them many resources. Strong dragons cannot overwhelm the local snakes. Don’t we have an upper hand compared to them?”

Chang Geng laid in his arms and slightly closed his eyes. Gu Yun’s callus-covered fingers unconsciously shifted between his head and neck, making his scalp felt both itchy and numb.

“The reform of the official management has just begun,” Gu Yun whispered. “Although you initiated this matter, I do not think the water consumption of the ministers is big, basically they all had an acquiescent attitude towards it. If you quit at this time, whether it be contributions or errors, they are all in the hands of others. If we will not strive for merits, we will not make mistakes... Whatever happens, go home and rest for a few years, alright?”

Shen Yi spoke a thousand words, but Gu Yun could only hear one sentence, “How will it end in the future?”

Gu family has been feudal for generations and was also the relative of royalty. He had seen many ups and downs of the noble and officials. He also understood the fate of powerful generals to heart. Even if they were descendants of nobility, standing out too much, would they be able to avoid the current person in power or the judgment of later generations?

“There is no way out,” Chang Geng whispered after a while. “The first blade of the reform of official administration has slashed down, which is an equivalent to scraping down to the bones to cure the poisons. The skin and flesh have been cut open... At this time, to back away, is it to let one’s skin open and wait, or to sew it back together again?”

The reform of official administration was only the first step. If only regarded as a means to carry out the Feng Huo ticket, the reform would fail to advance. There would be a situation in which everyone would compete for the Feng Huo ticket. At that time, corruption would prevail. If there were no upright individuals who knew how to control it, perhaps the Feng Huo ticket would end up being worthless and Great Liang will meet its end faster.

Gu Yun tightened his hold on him. When Chang Geng opened his eyes again, the bloodish hue and double pupils in his eyes had faded. Suddenly, he turned over, pressing the person he missed day and night on the soft and thin quilt. “Zi Xi, do you know what the Bone of Impurity is?”

Gu Yun was surprised.

“The Bone of Impurity is a kind of evil god and the oldest curse of barbarians. When their whole clan is destroyed, they will leave behind a pair of children and make them into the Bone of Impurity. In this way, the refined person will have unparalleled strength in the world, bringing bloody storms and ending the lives of their mortal enemies, no matter how powerful they could be.”

Chang Geng laid on him, there was a slight tremor in his chest as he spoke, but his voice was as warm as ever, only with a little unspeakable hoarseness. “Before her death, Hu Ge Er had said to me, all my life, I will have only hatred, tyranny, and suspicion in my heart, I will be violent and homicidal. Everywhere I go, there shall be a storm of blood, I am doomed to drag everyone to a horrible death, no one will love me, no one will treat me with sincerity.”

Gu Yun took in a breath of cold air. He used to think that when Chang Geng was a teenager, his mind was too heavy with thoughts. There were innumerable twists and turns in it, making one confused. But he did not know that behind those innumerable twists and turns, he was still being weighed down with such a critical remark.

“But someone does love me, someone does treat me sincerely... Is that right? You had called me back just now.” Chang Geng whispered, “She had never given me warmth for even a day, and I will never become what she had wished for me. Do you believe me? Zi Xi, as long as you say a word, even a sea of flame or a mountain of swords, I will still charge ahead.”

To be Continued...