Chapter 12: Go Give Mr. Wen a Beating

“Mr. Wen, right? Got it,” Ji Huo said through gritted teeth.

Li Zhi smiled brightly and said, “Second Young Master, there’s no need to be like this. It’s just a breakup, no big deal.”

“Hmph.” Ji Huo’s face was expressionless. “Right now, I just want to know exactly how many people know about this.”

Li Zhi shrugged. “That’s hard to say. You know, in the capital, there are no secrets. From my experience, I’d guess the whole city knows by now.”

He added, “If the city guards know, then it means even the common folk who just arrived know. It might not be long before the entire Central Plains find out.”

Ji Huo’s face tightened. Suddenly, he recalled the soldiers from the Flying Bear Army chatting with passersby when they entered the city—were they spreading gossip about him?

He looked up silently. Li Zhi, curious, asked, “Second Young Master, what are you doing?”

“Nothing,” Ji Huo said bleakly, “I just feel that today's winds are particularly loud.”

Li Zhi chuckled, then quickly grew serious as he took a bronze bell from his chest, holding it out with both hands. “Second Young Master, this is something my late father asked me to give you before he passed.”

Ji Huo immediately became solemn and took the bronze bell with both hands. “Did the National Teacher say anything about it?”

He had seen this item before. Mr. Wen had used it to summon the human race’s spark of life. It was suspected to be an ancient artifact, passed down through countless years, imbued with a strong aura of humanity.

“My late father didn’t know its exact use either. He usually used it to aid in cultivating magic, which made practice more efficient. He couldn’t even read the inscriptions on it.”

Li Zhi paused, then smiled. “Originally, Mr. Wen was studying it these past few days, but he probably didn’t figure much out either. Today he got drunk and told me to give it to you—said it was to cheer you up.”

Ji Huo didn’t bother with the last part. He didn’t examine the bronze bell further but looked at Li Zhi and bowed. “Thank you! I will take good care of it and will not disappoint the National Teacher’s trust.”

Li Zhi returned the bow with a gentle smile.

“So, Brother Li, what are your plans from here?” Ji Huo asked seriously.

“If you want to enter government service, I can mention it to my eldest brother. If you prefer the military, I can arrange for you to join the Flying Bear Army. Their leader, Lü Shui, is also a magic user, although... well...” Ji Huo hesitated, remembering Lü Shui’s odd habit of slapping soldiers on the rear. He couldn’t quite bring himself to explain further and instead said vaguely, “Though he’s unconventional now, he’s quite skilled in combat. You two should get along.”

Li Zhi scratched his head shyly, shaking it. “To be honest, Second Young Master, I don’t want to go anywhere right now.”

“Ah?” Ji Huo blinked.

Li Zhi smiled and said loudly, “I’ve been locked inside the estate since childhood, studying magic and ancient texts. I haven’t really seen the outside world. I want to… travel around, see the martial world.”

His clear eyes seemed to shimmer with a light as he spoke.

Ji Huo was momentarily speechless before breaking into a relaxed smile.

He understood the National Teacher’s intention in having his son deliver this item to him. Plus, since Li Zhi seemed to share his temperament, lending a hand wouldn’t hurt.

What surprised him was that after a lifetime of calculating heaven and earth, the National Teacher hadn’t foreseen that his son’s dream was simply: “The world is so big, I want to see it.”

Ji Huo smiled and bowed slightly. “If that’s your wish, then I wish you find both poetry and distant horizons.”

Li Zhi’s eyes brightened, feeling those words resonated with him. He asked curiously, “Second Young Master, won’t you try to dissuade me?”

Ji Huo laughed. “I’ve been lost before too, so I won’t advise anyone to give up chasing their dreams.”

Li Zhi smiled and asked, “But I’m not young anymore. I’m at the age to settle down. Can someone at this age still chase dreams?”

Ji Huo blinked, a smile in his eyes. “Dreams stay forever young, don’t they?”

Li Zhi’s eyes shone even brighter. He clasped his fists, bowed deeply, and said earnestly, “Thank you for your guidance, Brother Ji!”

Ji Huo returned the bow with equal seriousness. “Until we meet again in the martial world.”

“Until then.”

Ji Huo smiled and was about to climb the wall and leave when he suddenly remembered something. He turned to look at Li Zhi, who was sitting against the alley wall, rubbing his leg.

“What were you doing just now, Brother Li?”

Li Zhi let out an “Oh,” scratched his head, and smiled sheepishly. “Actually, I was just trying to deliver that bell to you. I wanted to test if I could move like the martial world folk—climbing walls and leaping rooftops. But after a few attempts, I lacked the leg strength and fell, twisting my ankle.”

“...”

Ji Huo twitched at the corner of his mouth. “But I saw you happily slashing at the undead earlier. Was that all just pure strength and enthusiasm? Didn’t you practice before?”

He couldn’t help asking, “Do you want me to take you to the clinic?”

Li Zhi quickly shook his head. “No, no! This is just a minor injury. Anyone who walks the martial world has been through worse!”

Ji Huo pursed his lips and asked again, “Really? No need?”

“Really.”

“Alright then.” Ji Huo shrugged, expertly vaulted the wall, and disappeared into the darkness.

In truth, he was quite worried. He feared that this guy might be captured by some fierce female bandit and become her captive bride as soon as he entered the martial world.

It had to be said, there were fewer people in the capital now, and fewer rooftop runners. He had covered his face and climbed all over, yet barely encountered anyone, so he wouldn’t be the subject of gossip.

When he returned to his courtyard and saw it empty, Ji Huo froze for a moment, a sudden emptiness welling up inside.

It felt off.

So he called out in a low voice, “Little Red Sugar.”

After a while, a flash of red light appeared in the courtyard, and a red paper umbrella silently floated down, spinning gently in midair.

Beneath the umbrella, a small figure twisted into view, lightly grasping the handle, transforming into a petite, adorable child.

It was Little Red Sugar, whom he hadn’t seen for some time.

“Wow wow wow! Ji Huo actually called Little Red Sugar first! I thought he’d forgotten about me,” she babbled excitedly as soon as she appeared.

The child had two small dark circles under her eyes, but she was much more lively than before. Even the glow from the spinning red umbrella was richer—no telling how many people this girl had dispatched recently.

Ji Huo stared at her expressionlessly.

Only then did Little Red Sugar shyly float down, stepping on thin air, hands behind her back, and said, “Brother, just tell me who you want killed. Don’t glare at me like that when you’re in a bad mood.”

She pulled out a string of candied hawthorns and was about to offer it, but then she bit off five at once, leaving just one to hand over, mumbling with candy in her mouth, “Here~ have some sweets!”

Ji Huo took the candied fruit, bit into it, then stuffed a bag of roasted chestnuts into her arms.

“Go give Mr. Wen a good beating. Don’t let him find out it was you, and if you can’t handle it, call for backup.”

Little Red Sugar’s eyes lit up. She swallowed the candied fruit in two bites.

“Don’t worry! Mr. Wen’s drunk and still wandering the streets. Kun Er and the others have been watching him closely.”

Holding chestnuts in one arm, she made a “got it” gesture with the other, blinking cutely to reveal tiny tiger teeth.

“Little Red Sugar gets the job done, mission accomplished!”

With that, she grabbed the red paper umbrella, spun once with it, and vanished in a swirl of distorted light.

This girl was improving faster than ever, Ji Huo thought. Then, looking at the empty courtyard, he felt refreshed.

Indeed, transforming one’s own unhappiness into someone else’s pain was the most effective cure.