BBW – Chapter Eleven and Chapter Twelve
BBW – Chapter Eleven
‘Big brother, the forest is burning!’ Feng Ling warned.
Feng Cheng heard his beloved cherry blossom forest was burning, and he was ready to kill. He used his inner qi energy to fly toward the forest.
At the source of the fire, Feng Cheng saw a young woman sitting under a cherry blossom tree, looking like she was sightseeing.
‘Did you start the fire?’ Feng Cheng asked.
Murong Yun Su was taken back she didn’t her Feng Cheng approach her. She stood up, dusted dirt off her dress, and gauged him. She must have mistaken the cherry blossom forest for hosting bandits. Did it host powerful immortals? He looked like a beautiful avenging immortal than a bandit.
‘Did you start the fire?’ Feng Cheng repeated.
‘Are you the owner of this forest?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
Feng Cheng was surprised a gentle woman like Murong Yun Su had a tough core. ‘Yes, this is my forest. Did you start the fire?’
‘No,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘Then what is this?’ Feng Cheng asked, and pointed at the cherry blossom forest burning.
‘Looks like smoke,’ Murong Yun Su said.
Feng Cheng laughed. ‘You’re an unorthodox woman.’
‘Gentleman, do you know where I can find Hua Da Courtyard bandits?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
‘Are you here to catch bandits?’ Feng Cheng asked suspiciously.
‘I’m here to let bandits catch me,’ Murong Yun Su said.
Feng Cheng laughed again. ‘Do you know where you are?’
Murong Yun Su was surprised Feng Cheng was the bandits’ leader. ‘You’re the most beautiful bandit I’ve met.’
‘You’re the most amusing woman I’ve met,’ Feng Cheng said.
Feng Cheng escorted Murong Yun Su outside the cherry blossom forest maze to his home.
Murong Yun Su felt the regal s.p.a.cious house suited Feng Cheng. ‘Do you rob people or take hostages for ransom?’
If the latter, Murong Yun Su didn’t want to bear the bad news to Feng Cheng that he wouldn’t receive ransom money.
‘Why do you want to find me?’ Feng Cheng asked.
‘I have two companions below the forest,’ Murong Yun Su said. ‘Please take them captive up here.’
‘Today I’m not taking captives,’ Feng Cheng said.
‘Why?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
Murong Yun Su didn’t understand how bandits would survive without robbing people for a day.
‘Not an auspicious day,’ Feng Cheng said influenced by Murong Yun Su’s dry wit.
Bandits choosing auspicious days to rob people confirmed Feng Cheng wasn’t an ordinary bandit, and Murong Yun Su had to be extra cautious. ‘I heard a court minister is your guest. Can I meet your guest?’
Murong Yun Su heard a piercing bird call, and a beautiful young woman with big round innocent eyes appeared in front of her.
‘What wide feet you have,’ Feng Ling insulted. ‘What a tiny waist, big chest, small face, and big alluring eyes you have. That Wei Cheng is such a Casanova!’
Murong Yun Su laughed. ‘Young lady, it’s normal to meet a few Casanovas when young.’
‘Who are you calling young?’ Feng Ling asked. ‘I’m twenty years old.’
Murong Yun Su mistook Feng Ling for a twelve-year-old.
‘How old are you?’ Feng Ling asked.
‘Older than you,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘Liar,’ Feng Ling said.
‘Yes,’ Murong Yun Su admitted.
Feng Ling couldn’t believe her eyes, Murong Yun Su was someone who could calmly lie and tell the truth.
Murong Yun Su didn’t give away that she’d be eighteen in September.
Feng Ling pouted her lips. ‘What’s your relationship with Wei Cheng?’
‘Strangers,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘Don’t tell me you’re in love with him after one kiss?’ Feng Ling asked.
Murong Yun Su couldn’t help laughing. ‘I didn’t know bandits have a vivid imagination.’
‘Who’s a bandit?’ Feng Ling asked. ‘I’m not a bandit. It’s my big brother’s fault-’
‘Xiao Ling, bring Wei Cheng here,’ Feng Cheng interrupted.
‘Yes big brother,’ Feng Ling said, and ran like the wind.
A blink later, Feng Ling returned looking panicked. ‘Big brother, Wei Cheng is missing.’
Murong Yun Su was disappointed she wasted a trip to Hua Da Courtyard.
‘Go look for him,’ Feng Cheng said. ‘He doesn’t have a brain to leave my forest-’
‘Are you looking for a gaunt weakling?’ Chu Zhang Ca asked, and descended like the wind onto the ground.
Murong Yu Su didn’t expect to see Chu Zhang Ca. She glanced at him, and looked at the scenery.
‘Brother Chu, how long has it been?’ Feng Cheng asked grudgingly.
‘Brother Feng, how have you been?’ Chu Zhang Ca asked.
Chu Zhang Ca hadn’t forgotten three years ago. He regretted being sworn brothers with Feng Cheng.
Chu Zhang Ca and Feng Cheng drew their swords, and battled for a long time.
‘Looks like big brother is losing,’ Feng Ling said.
‘Is the fight over?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
‘Almost,’ Feng Ling said. ‘Don’t you know kungfu?’
Murong Yun Su shook her head.
‘I see,’ Feng Ling said. ‘Look at my big brother’s sweaty face, and look at brother Chu’s relaxed face. It’s obvious who’s winning and losing.’
Murong Yun Su was disappointed she didn’t get to see Chu Zhang Ca sword fight to death. It meant he must have a close bond with Feng Cheng.
Feng Cheng spat out blood, and he on the verge of collapsing.
‘Big brother!’ Feng Ling cried out, and helped Feng Cheng sit. ‘Brother Chu, why do you use too much force every time you fight with big brother?’
Chu Zhang Ca laughed. ‘It’s your big brother’s fault for not improving his swordsmanship.’
‘Brother Chu, where did you see the gaunt weakling?’ Feng Ling asked.
‘In the forest,’ Chu Zhang Ca said.
‘Where is he now?’ Feng Ling asked.
‘I chased him outside the forest,’ Chu Zhang Ca said.
‘What?’ Feng Ling asked. ‘Brother Chu, how can you chase him outside the forest?’
‘Sister Feng, I helped you chase away a bandit,’ Chu Zhang Ca said. ‘Why are you crying?’
‘Wei Cheng isn’t a bandit,’ Feng Ling said. ‘He’s mine. Brother Chu, how can you help him escape?’
Feng Ling ran away crying to look for Wei Cheng.
Feng Cheng’s deadly eyes understood who started the fire.
‘I kept my promise,’ Feng Cheng said. ‘In the last three years, I haven’t stepped foot outside Hua Da Courtyard, I haven’t helped anyone who begs me to heal them, and act like a bandit to scare people from coming here.’
Murong Yun Su understood why bandits didn’t attack her carriage since Chu Zhang Ca wouldn’t let Feng Cheng harm her.
‘I know,’ Chu Zhang Ca said.
‘Then why did you burn my forest?’ Feng Cheng asked.
Chu Zhang Ca smiled. ‘Of course I have a duty to fulfil my wife’s wish.’
‘Wife?’ Feng Cheng asked. He followed Chu Zhang Ca’s burning gaze at Murong Yun Su, and found his answer. ‘You’re his wife?’
‘No,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘We have a betrothal,’ Chu Zhang Ca said.
‘It can end anytime,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘The world knows you’re my betrothed,’ Chu Zhang said happily. ‘Apart from me, no one will dare marry you.’
‘I can be a nun anytime,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘I didn’t know my wife loves me this deeply,’ Chu Zhang Ca said. ‘I’m touched that if you can’t marry me, you won’t marry another man.’
Murong Yun Su was an adult, she’d pretend she didn’t hear someone being childish.
End of Chapter Eleven
BBW – Chapter Twelve
When Murong Yun Su was about to leave, a happy Feng Ling returned with an unhappy Wei Cheng.
‘Big brother, are you impressed?’ Feng Ling asked. ‘Look how fast I recaptured Wei Cheng.’
‘Um,’ Feng Cheng said.
Feng Cheng couldn’t believe Chu Zhang Ca’s luck to have a woman like Murong Yun Su.
‘Feng Ling, even if you kill me,’ Wei Cheng said, ‘I won’t marry you.’
Feng Cheng started crying. ‘Wei Cheng, if you go too far… I’ll be angry.’
Wei Cheng turned away from Feng Cheng, and he saw Murong Yun Su for the first time.
‘Are you the court minister sent to Murong Sect?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
‘How did you know?’ Wei Cheng asked.
Wei Cheng was incognito to spy on Murong Sect.
‘I’m Murong Yun Su,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘Where is everyone else?’ Wei Cheng asked.
‘Below the forest,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘How many?’ Wei Cheng asked.
‘Two,’ Murong Yun Su said.
‘You only brought two people to rescue me?’ Wei Cheng asked.
Murong Yun Su couldn’t believe Wei Cheng a.s.sumed she came to rescue him. She had intended to go home after negotiating with him about Qian Sect.
‘Did the court agree to my condition?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
‘You want to discuss business here?’ Wei Cheng asked.
‘What else is there to do here?’ Murong Yun Su asked. ‘Unless you can leave, I don’t mind changing location.’
‘You should be worrying about how to leave instead of discussing business,’ Wei Cheng said.
‘Minister Wei, you must be jesting,’ Murong Yun Su said. ‘I have healthy legs, and Lady Feng has no intention of making me her bandit husband. Why do I need to worry about leaving? Besides, my betrothed is a powerful fighter. Gentleman Feng wouldn’t dare detain me.’
Chu Zhang Ca laughed at his expense. His wife used him to scare people.
Feng Cheng scoffed. He should have known someone like Chu Zhang Ca would attract their own kind.
‘You’re not here to rescue me?’ Wei Cheng asked.
‘I’m here to discuss business,’ Murong Yun Su said. ‘Since you’re here, we can talk about Hai Feng Qian.’
Wei Cheng was given a shock. He was wrong, Feng Ling wasn’t the strangest person he met. Compared to Murong Yun Su, Feng Ling was a normal person. A normal person would rescue a hostage first, and talk business later.
‘The emperor wants you to come to the palace,’ Wei Cheng said.
Wei Cheng couldn’t read the emperor’s edict to Murong Yun Su in front of outsiders.
‘Looks like the court didn’t agree to my condition,’ Murong Yun Su said, and accepted the emperor’s edict. ‘I’ll go to the capital now. Gentleman Feng, Lady Feng, we’ll meet again.’
‘We’ll meet again,’ Feng Cheng said.
Feng Cheng was disappointed to see Murong Yun Su leave. Anyone who was strangers with Wei Cheng was a good person.
‘Brother Fang, I’ll leave with my wife,’ Chu Zhang Ca said. ‘See you at Shaolin Temple.’
‘If you live that long,’ Feng Cheng said.
The cherry blossom forest was too big to burn down quickly, but there was lingering smoke from the fire.
Murong Yun Su used her dress sleeve to cover her nose and mouth, and she followed Chu Zhang Ca out of the smoky cherry blossom forest. If she knew it’d be this smoky, she wouldn’t have denied Chu Zhang Ca’s offer to carry her down the mountain. He was right, her reputation was tarnished even if she didn’t marry him because no other man would dare oppose him and marry her.
Murong Yun Su was relieved to make it down the smoky cherry blossom forest alive, and to breathe fresh air. She continued walking silently behind Chu Zhang Ca. But every time he turned around to see if she was alone with him made her awkward.
‘Ah…’ Murong Su cried out, losing her footing, and falling onto Chu Zhang Ca’s hard chest.
Murong Yun Su looked into Chu Zhang Ca’s gentle eyes, and she blushed. ‘Thank you.’
‘Did you twist your ankle?’ Chu Zhang Ca asked.
Murong Yun Su could only nod her head.
‘Looks like the heavens won’t go easy on me,’ Chu Zhang Ca said, and carried Murong Yun Su in his arms.
Murong Yun Su didn’t know whether to thank or curse the heavens. The feeling of being held in Chu Zhang Ca’s arms was mixed a bit of happiness and a lot of anxiety. His natural body scent mingled with cherry blossoms and smoke. It was a rare scent that couldn’t be bottled. The wind blew his long lair, and covered her face. She played with his hair to occupy her shyness.
‘Having fun playing?’ Chu Zhang Ca teased.
Murong Yun Su’s fingers froze. ‘Can’t you afford a hairpin?’
Murong Yun Su regretted playing with Chu Zhang Ca’s hair.
‘I invested all my money to my wife’s business and now it’s missing,’ Chu Zhang Ca said.
‘It’s only missing temporarily,’ Murong Yun Su said. ‘Trading will return to normal, and Hai Feng Qian credit notes would be trusted again.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’ Chu Zhang Ca teased. ‘Then I wouldn’t have used Hai Feng Qian credit notes to start a fire.’
‘You used it to start a fire?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
‘Um, I didn’t want you to get cold in the forest,’ Chu Zhang Ca said. ‘Since I thought it had no value, I used it to start a fire to keep you warm.’
Murong Yun Su heard Chu Zhang Ca implied he didn’t mind burning money for amus.e.m.e.nt.
‘It wasn’t worth much,’ Chu Zhang Ca said. ‘Just ten chests of gold. Nothing you haven’t seen before.’
‘Aren’t you worried wasting money in this lifetime will turn you into a beggar in your next lifetime?’ Murong Yun Su asked.
‘You want me to join Beggars’ Sect?’ Chu Zhang Ca asked. ‘Not going to happen. Even in my next lifetime only Mo Jiao Cult would accept someone like me. Besides, I didn’t waste money, I used it to keep my wife warm.’
Murong Yun Su grieved for the ten chests of gold that would have fell into her hands if she marries Chu Zhang Ca.
End of Chapter Twelve