The two were originally lying prone on the roof, but when Meng Qi suddenly made such a move, they ended up lying face to face, basking in the sun on the roof.
The summer sun gradually grew fiercer, dazzling their eyes.
The inn’s roof was wide, with two sloping sides rising to a peak in the middle, designed so that rain and snow would not accumulate too much weight—such architecture was highly advantageous for martial artists; simply hiding behind the peak, pressing close to the sloping tiles with only their heads peeking out, it was hard for anyone on the ground to spot them.
Mo Li instinctively pushed Meng Qi, signaling that this was the roof, not a place for fooling around.
The tiles of the inn were not very sturdy, making noise with any significant movement.
Meng Qi obediently released his grip, but he didn’t leave; instead, he continued to stay close to Mo Li, watching the bustling scene below.
Members from the four gangs and twelve assemblies had started fighting, swinging fists and kicking violently, their shouts ferocious to behold.
The constables and yamen runners were as frantic as ants on a hot pan, wanting to intervene but too cowardly to step forward, knowing these martial artists were tough, always boasting scars as big as bowls, none fearful of jail.
Moreover, legs don’t recognize faces, and blades don’t have eyes; who could they complain to if mistakenly injured?
This hesitation delayed any chance to intervene, leaving them to only watch helplessly as the turmoil among the martial artists escalated.
Fortunately, the local residents had long since steered clear, even those initially staying in the inn had sensed the danger and fled with their belongings through the back door.
The inn’s manager and staff hid in corners, terrified that the brawlers might inadvertently crash into the inn; although the furniture wasn’t worth much, with highly skilled martial artists involved, even the roof might be destroyed.
And these troublemakers were not locals of the county; after finishing their fight, they would just leave without paying any compensation, leaving the inn to its fate.
Below was a cacophony of brawling, above was a lack of interest.
“These factions in Yuzhou really don’t have any noteworthy people,” Meng Qi muttered.
From the height of the roof, unlike the frantic constables and yamen runners, Meng Qi had a clearer view of the situation.
Although it seemed noisy, it was more due to the number of people; very few weapons were even drawn, and many were still standing idle outside the houses and streets, clearly not a fight to the death.
“Tsk, poor martial skills, but not stupid.”
With a bit of thought, Meng Qi figured out the intentions of these local faction leaders.
The branch of the Holy Lotus Sect had been wiped out, achieving their goal; with that done, what was the point in staying any longer? Coincidentally running into Meng Qi and Mo Li, two strangers with unclear identities, made them even less inclined to stay. Now, letting their followers fight a little, venting past grievances while also creating an excuse to leave, seemed like a perfect plan.
As for why not fight fiercely with real swords and spears—there was no profit to be had here!
It made no sense to make their people bleed and die for nothing. Even if the head of the local faction fell, their battle here wouldn’t determine the future territorial divisions of Yuzhou.
Better to return home, rally their forces, and wait strategically.
This way, they could avoid the misfortune of their gang leader being kidnapped like the leader of Changxin, or their skilled fighters being wiped out in one fell swoop, and also strategically plan their next moves. Waiting at home for news was the best strategy; if Elder Cai was finished, they would immediately take down the Dragon Head Association. If Elder Cai returned, well, they would save face.
After all, facing a formidable enemy, the Dragon Head Association bore the brunt while they fled the battlefield and potentially kicked them while they were down, which would surely ruin their reputation.
“…Who says these martial artists value nothing more than loyalty?”
Meng Qi laughed mockingly.
Mo Li, however, hadn’t heard a word.
Since just now, his hair, ears, and neck had been pressed tightly by Meng Qi, and he could even faintly feel a second heartbeat transmitting through the skin contact to his ear, before slowly fading away. Meanwhile, that uncomfortable heat also began to spread.
It was hot.
An agitating heat.
Mo Li took a breath, and Meng Qi immediately turned his head, looking over in confusion.
Experts of the internal martial arts have a subtle, almost imperceptible breath, yet with their proximity, how could anything go unnoticed?
Not only was Mo Li’s breathing disordered, but his ears had also turned red.
Seeing this, Meng Qi couldn’t help but move even closer, nearly pressing half his body onto Mo Li.
—Aside from the closer breaths and more contact, Mo Li didn’t feel much weight.
Meng Qi shifted his weight to the other half of his body for support; his martial arts skills made this effortless.
If it were someone else, they would likely lose balance or even break the tiles.
“Doctor?”
A warm breath brushed past his ear; with no breeze on this summer day and thin clothes, the sensation was particularly noticeable.
Mo Li shifted uncomfortably, then felt the sun seemed less intense; turning his head, he suddenly found Meng Qi nearly transforming into a blanket covering him up.
It was still early, with the sun hanging in the east, affecting only one side. Meng Qi’s presence effectively blocked out the sunlight.
Mo Li: “……”
For the past twenty or so years, he had thought of himself as a fish and had grown accustomed to being one; hence, he disliked the intense summer heat and direct sunlight. Having someone to shade him from the sun was a welcome relief.
Yet there they were, heads together, lying side by side on the roof—a bit improper, wasn’t it?
Under the broad daylight, though unseen, it still felt…
“What is the doctor thinking about?”
Meng Qi found this position perfect; if not for Mo Li’s thin face and his adherence to the gentleman’s path, he would have teased his beloved a bit. Perhaps nibble on that reddened ear or take the rounded earlobe into his mouth.
The scent from the doctor was delightful, like a clear mountain spring.
For the Taijing Dragon Vein, it was as if he was back in the muddled consciousness, nourished by the spiritual energy of Shangyun Mountain.
“Snap.”
Meng Qi, lost in his thoughts, applied too much force, and a tile broke.
When he came to his senses, he saw the broken tile slide off the roof, hitting a constable standing right at the inn’s entrance.
“There’s someone on the roof!”
A furious shout, and Meng Qi instinctively shielded Mo Li as they slid off the roof edge.
No sooner had they stood firm in the inn’s backyard than they heard someone banging on the front door.
Meng Qi wasn’t afraid of being discovered; rather, holding Mo Li when he heard the shouting, he felt an impulse to hide him first.
An old habit of the Sand mouse was acting up again.
Meng Qi maintained a composed face, pretending nothing was amiss.
“Cough, Doctor, please wait.”
With a flick of his sleeve, Meng Qi’s inner strength pushed open the double doors of the inn’s backyard, striding into the front hall where tables and chairs were arranged.
The innkeeper timidly peeked his head out from beneath the counter, his face pale as if he might faint at any moment.
The knocking outside paused, then ceased.
The men who had been banging on the door had started fighting with others, paying no attention here.
The innkeeper breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the thick doors.
Meng Qi had originally planned to step out and teach the door-knockers a lesson, then capture Du Biaotou and his gang for a robbery in a dark alley, but the inn’s door was temporarily spared. Meng Qi decided not to rush into making an appearance; he found a relatively clean table, hooked out a stool with his foot, and turned to invite Mo Li, “Doctor, please sit; I’ll be right back.”
After speaking, his figure flashed, directly reaching the roof beam.
The innkeeper looked up to see Meng Qi deftly lifting a few tiles, instantly letting light flood in.
The inn, with its doors and windows tightly shut, was almost too dark to see anything; the beam of light fell right onto Mo Li.
The innkeeper and the clerks stared at Mo Li, dumbstruck.
Meng Qi had already climbed out through that gap, leaving Mo Li to step back silently into the shadows, blending into the dark along with a stool.
The travelers and merchants staying at the inn had fled; those who hadn’t were hiding in the back courtyard’s rows of rooms. Apart from the clerks and the innkeeper, there was no one else. With his keen senses, Mo Li could pinpoint exactly where the two clerks were squatting based on the chattering of their teeth, without even looking back.
There was still a creaking noise near the counter, caused by the innkeeper pressing on a wooden board. His corpulent body barely fit into the space beneath the counter, and any slight movement caused the old wood to groan.
There were also faint noises in the corner, like that of a mouse.
Mo Li’s thoughts flickered, and he looked in that direction.
He saw only a pitch-black corner where a small head peeked out from a mouse hole, its eyes rolling around.
The mouse hid within its burrow, its full form obscured, but there wasn’t much to see anyway. Such household pests were usually dull brown, some even balding, unsightly to behold. Not only were they ugly, but they also gnawed and damaged belongings, which was quite annoying.
Nowhere near as charming as a certain one…
Fat, squishy, clean, pretty, and playful… Ahem, no, that’s not right.
Mo Li was about to laugh off his thoughts when suddenly there was movement at the hole.
Another mouse poked its head out, and because the entrance was too narrow, it couldn’t squeeze through and had to perch on the back of the first mouse.
Thus, two heads touched as they cautiously peered out.
Mo Li’s expression darkened.
How familiar, how similar was this scene?
Animals, keen by nature, sensed the subtle change in air flow, not distinguishing between malice or murderous intent. The two mice quickly retreated, refusing to show themselves again.
Meanwhile, Meng Qi had successfully located a person from the Feng Wei Escort Agency amidst the chaos and stealthily captured him in a nearby alley. He had thought it would take some effort to intimidate and threaten, but luck was on his side as this individual had once encountered Master Meng.
Forget about silver, as long as his life was spared, anything would do.
Meng Qi noticed that Du Biaotou didn’t recognize him and thought that all the Jinyiwei in Yuzhou were like this.
He had unwittingly captured a fellow who had been transferred from the capital last year, a person who had been a seventh-grade chief standard-bearer in the South Town Commissioner’s office, and had been sidelined due to internal strife.
Back when Meng Qi went mad and stormed into the South Town Commissioner’s office, he killed many people.
This chief standard-bearer had encountered Meng Qi then, and it was already lucky he hadn’t died.
In Yuzhou, there was no second Gong Jun, the fellow town commissioner, who could stop Meng Qi—who wouldn’t spare their life?
So, they gave money when asked for money, and spoke whatever was asked, cooperating fully.
As for why the Jinyiwei in Yuzhou didn’t report the havoc wreaked by the Holy Lotus Sect? That’s a long story. The Jinyiwei here were all frustrated individuals, either sent here because of mistakes or pushed out due to ostracism.
Du Biaotou thought about making a merit; if he reported the issue, there would be no chance for them.
The plan was good and indeed muddied the waters, helping the alliance of the four gangs and twelve assemblies to eliminate a branch of the Holy Lotus Sect, but who could have expected this would also draw Master Meng here?
The legs of that Jinyiwei chief standard-bearer were trembling.
In the end, Meng Qi returned to the inn, satisfied, with a bulging purse.
As soon as he stepped onto the inn’s beam, Meng Qi felt something was off.
Why did the doctor look at him as if he were angry?
Author’s Note:
Do you remember Meng Qi’s ideals? Besides stabilizing the nation, what else?
Two furry sand rats huddled together, basking in the sun.
