Chapter 349: Chapter 339: Cold War
When Chen Gui brought soldiers to search the premises, Fang Chuning’s mansion was in the midst of preparing dinner. He and Chen Gui got along fairly well—they had drunk and eaten together before. Chen Gui was the youngest son of the State Mansion, with a hint of playful debauchery in his demeanor, and Fang Chuning was adept at interacting with young nobles of this sort.
"Hasn’t the place been searched already?"
"Xie Xun’s army is about to approach the city gates. The entire city is being scoured to find Xie Jue, digging three feet into the ground if necessary. We have no choice but to search again. Brother, I apologize, but it’s my duty."
"What’s the harm in it? Search as you must—thoroughly. I have close ties with Xie Tingfeng. If you don’t search thoroughly, people might start gossiping about it. It’s better to avoid tongues wagging. Also, make sure you verify each one of my guards; don’t miss anyone in your checks."
Chen Gui: "..."
Fang Chuning’s attitude was forthright and didn’t seem like someone harboring Xie Jue. Chen Gui, however, still had his doubts. Was he really uninvolved? Though even if he were hiding him, it likely wouldn’t be in his mansion. That would be far too conspicuous.
Chen Gui led his men through an extremely thorough search. The kitchen, bedrooms—every room was inspected, even checking for hidden chambers. Fang Chuning stood idly by, whistling, shaking his bone fan, the picture of a carefree and elegant young noble—a demeanor that didn’t remotely fit someone hiding a fugitive. Chen Gui himself began to feel the fuss might be unnecessary. If Xie Jue were truly being concealed, it wouldn’t likely be here; surely he would be hidden elsewhere instead.
"Wrap it up!" Chen Gui waved to his men, signaling for them to leave. He then turned to Fang Chuning with an apologetic look. "Brother, I owe you one. Sorry."
"Don’t rush off like this. Stay and have a drink with me." Fang Chuning warmly invited him.
"I can’t, I can’t. I still have official business to attend to." Chen Gui declined hastily, leaving with his men. Fang Chuning’s smile faded as soon as they departed. He folded the bone fan away, and Xie Jue emerged from the bedroom. Fang Chuning’s master bedroom had a hidden door—capable of concealing a few people—discreet enough to escape detection under normal circumstances.
Recently, the two of them had been stuck in a perpetual state of tension, teetering on the verge of arguments yet both holding back.
The discord began when Xie Jue risked his life to help members of the Su Family’s Trading House escape, deliberately exposing his own identity. Fang Chuning was adamantly, vehemently opposed to Xie Jue’s tendency for such reckless acts.
But Xie Jue couldn’t seem to resist it!
Back then, when they went to Beiman and ventured into Xiyanshan for hunting, it was always a gamble with his own life. His eyes still weren’t fully healed; the remnants of that poison had left lasting, indelible injuries. Fang Chuning was all too aware, his sharp instincts picking up on Xie Jue’s slightly impaired vision at dusk. Though Xie Jue had reassured him it didn’t affect his everyday life, Fang Chuning simply couldn’t reconcile himself with it.
That poison had ultimately etched an unerasable scar onto him.
As Fang Chuning watched Xie Jue exit the room, he folded the fan away, his previously smiling expression now utterly devoid of warmth, turning sharply to leave, offering Xie Jue nothing but the sight of his back.
Xie Jue stood alone among the shadows in the corridor. The flickering lanterns combined with the biting night breeze made his eyes ache. Ever since Fang Chuning had learned about his impaired vision, his attitude had soured, entirely devoid of the warmth he once showed. Once his identity had been revealed, the cold war began in earnest; Fang Chuning hadn’t spoken a single word to him since.
As the night deepened, Fang Chuning stayed in the mansion’s backyard, practicing with his spear. The long weapon, weighing nearly forty pounds, was maneuvered by him with a commanding force. In the biting chill of the weather, he worked up a vigorous sweat.
The Deputy General stood nearby, arms crossed, hesitating to speak.
"Master, it’s past midnight. You should rest."
Every night with such spear exercises—he truly was full of energy. If he had guts, he should just confront the Second Young Master, instead of letting his frustrations bottle up to absurd levels!
"What’s he doing?" Fang Chuning asked as he performed a flourish with the spear, planting the weapon firmly by his side. His gaze turned murky.
The Deputy General replied, "He’s just gone to rest."
Fang Chuning sneered. Unable to hold back, the Deputy General added, "Master, you want so desperately to talk to the Second Young Master, so why torment yourself like this? If you expect him to come and soothe your indignation, you’ll be waiting until the end of time! Every argument between you two has always ended with you making the first move to reconcile."
"You’re noisy. If you have nothing better to do, go sleep. Don’t just stand around."
"Now you’re just acting up out of embarrassment!" The Deputy General quipped with a sarcastic tone. "You’re throwing your weight around, and the whole mansion is bearing the brunt of it. My advice might be harsh, but it’s honest—spare us all the grief already."
Fang Chuning tossed aside the long spear, letting it fall heavily back onto the weapon rack. He gazed at his Deputy General with an icy look.
The Deputy General gestured for silence, indicating he’d stop talking.
Truly, advisors who unknowingly invite their own trouble.
"Fine, I’ll sleep!"
There was a basin of cold water nearby in the courtyard. Fang Chuning soaked a towel in it, casually wiping away his sweat. When he heard footsteps behind him, he assumed it was the Deputy General returning to bother him again. Irritated, he flung the towel into the water and turned around sharply. "Don’t you dare...!"
It was Xie Jue.
Xie Jue seemed to have been awoken in the middle of the night, pale-faced with tired red-rimmed eyes likely from uncomfortable vision. Draped in a pristine white, wide-sleeved robe with his hair casually tied back by a jade sash, he exuded a chillingly refined aura.
Fang Chuning didn’t want to speak to him. He turned back around, picked up the wet towel, wrung it out, and resumed wiping at the sweat on his neck. Xie Jue stood silent behind him. When Fang Chuning practiced with his spear, he wore a tightly fitted black martial attire, his figure tall and upright from behind. Xie Jue finally spoke, "Zhixu has arrived in Zhongzhou. I’ll be leaving soon. How long do you plan to continue this cold war between us?"
"Your words are too harsh, Second Young Master. Who am I? How could I dare have a cold war with you?" Fang Chuning’s tone was sharp and laced with ridicule. Behind him, silence fell so heavy he wondered momentarily if Ting Feng had been scared off.
"How can I make you forgive me?" Xie Jue asked, his voice full of sincerity. "If I say ’I’m sorry,’ will you calm down?"
This time Fang Chuning’s anger ran deep—so deep it wouldn’t be easily quelled. This wasn’t the same as their clashes during the Xiyanshan hunt. Fang Chuning’s rage this time was understandable. If something truly happened to Xie Jue in Zhongzhou, how would Fang Chuning carry on?
The fault didn’t lie in Xie Jue coming to Zhongzhou; it lay in him coming to Fang Chuning.
The blame was his own, for being far too greedy!
The task needed doing—the man needed meeting. But in this world, how could anyone have their cake and eat it too?
"Please spare me. I cannot bear it!" Fang Chuning turned around, smirked while speaking, though his expression carried an icy edge. "How rare it is... How many years has it been since Second Young Master last said ’I’m sorry’?"
He paused, the corners of his mouth sharpening into a coldly mocking grin. "Let me think... The last time you apologized to me must have been six years ago, wasn’t it?"
"Don’t push your luck!" Fang Chuning hit a nerve, and Xie Jue’s tone solidified into cold severity.
"Is this what you call apologizing?" Fang Chuning sarcastically clapped in mockery. "How enlightening. I’ve gained insight. I’ve been clueless since childhood, blind to social cues, endlessly pushing boundaries—was that news to you?"
Xie Jue flicked his sleeve and left decisively, unwilling to indulge Fang Chuning further. Fang Chuning, now bridling with fury, laughed in frustration. He picked up the towel once more and violently slapped it back into the basin, splattering water across his sleeves.
On the mansion’s rooftop, the Shadow Guards silently observed the situation, saying nothing. This was the first time they had witnessed such a fiery confrontation between their master and Fang Chuning. No—more precisely, it was the first time they’d seen Fang Chuning unleash such brazen defiance, every word striking Xie Jue where it hurt the most.
Indeed, the closer you are to someone, the better you know how to wound them.
Fang Chuning smashed his fist against a wooden post with savage force, splitting the skin on his knuckles and driving splinters into the flesh. His expression was fierce and dark, like a beast pushed to the limits of restraint.
This time, if he was the one who had to lower his head first, then he was nothing but a dog!