Chapter 8
Ling Xia thought that his heart was fan-boying, he was already fantazising in seeing the boy with rabbit ears. He hastily averted his eyes to banish those wicked thoughts.
*cough* *cough* I’m really going to become a pedophile at this rate.
With the two of them too close to each other, the boy had a worried expression as he asked: “Did I disturbed your night’s rest?”
Ling Xia smiled and strokes his head while saying: “I’m all right. We need to prepare fast.”
They quickly cleaned themselves up and ate their morning breakfast. Ling Xia took Yu Zhi Jue to the stock room and loaded the meat feed to the cart. Afterwards, the two of them headed to the mountain with Wan Yan and the other two. When Yu Zhi Jue tagged along, he actually mingled quite well with the others.
The four of them carried their own baskets in their backs, and climbed down to feed the chicks. Ling Xia was worried that Yu Zhi Jue may get into an accident as he climb down, so he constantly hangs around beside him to be able to protect him. He saw that the boy was light with his footsteps, so his heart was slightly put at ease.
After feeding the eagle chicks, Wan Yan and the others went ahead first with the carts as usual. They had some guesses that Ling Xia had a secret, but because of their gratitude on him for saving their lives, they went back without a word. And besides, if Ling Xia and that Bald Eagle get along more, their everyday work will be much safer.
Ling Xia doesn’t intend to keep it a secret to Ling Jue. Because first of all, he was quite fond of this youngster. Secondly, he don’t want to keep concealing it from him everytime.
He saw Ling Jue looked at him with a bit of confusion, so he smiled and explained: “I’d like to introduce you to my friend.”
Ling Xia whistled loudly, and not for long, Da Ba flew out of his cave in a flash. It saw Yu Zhi Jue beside Ling Xia from the distance, but it didn’t gave a care.
In the eagle’s eyes, all other humans looked pretty much the same. Yu Zhi Jue didn’t left much impression on the eagle with his younger self, so even if it had met him before, it didn’t recognized him.
Da Bai folded its wings and stood beside Ling Xia. It tilted its head to the side and disdainfully looked down on Yu Zhi Jue. Ling Xia quickly took out the cooked meat and gave it to the eagle. The meat was already cut into smaller pieces and was properly wrapped with a leaf. Da Bao smelled the meat and its mouth started watering. It lowered its head and engrosses itself in pecking the food out of Ling Xia’s hand.
Ling Xia turned his attention to Yu Zhi Jue and said with a smile: “Ah Jue, this is Da Bai.”
Yu Zhi Jue already knew that it was Chu Yin’s mount. Even so, he slightly nodded and replied: “I didn’t know that once Bald Eagles grow up, their plumage actually decreases a lot.” (Burn alert!)
“……No. Da Bai probably got injured in the past.” Ling Xia hastily petted Da Bai’s feathers soothingly, worried that it might attack Yu Zhi Jue. He then laughed and said: “I promised that I will help Da Bai get better.”
As Yu Zhi Jue stares at Ling Xia’s gentle hand gestures, he was so annoyed he couldn’t wait to push that ugly bird down the cliff.
Da Bai soon finished eating up its fill. Ling Xia didn’t know yet if it could carry two people on its back. But he really like this kid Ling Jue, so he wanted to give the boy the experience on flying amidst the clouds. Thus, he petted Da Bai’s head and asked: “Da Bai, can you carry the two of us?”
Da Bai let out a mocking caw. Even if its three people, it could easily carry it around. However, it didn’t want to cary Yu Zhi Jue along in its back, since it could feel the boy faintly emitting animosity towards itself.
Ling Xia thought that the eagle agreed, so he turned to Yu Zhi Jue and said: “Ah Jue, are you afraid of heights?”
Yu Zhi Jue guesses what he meant. His eyes shined and he shook his head.
Ling Xia then jumped on Da Bai’s back, and extended his hands to Yu Zhi Jue saying: “Ah Jue, hop on and sit in front of me.”
Yu Zhi Jue raised his head and looked at his smiling expression. He soon mounted and sat on the back, with his arms wrapped tightly on Ling Xia’s waist.
Ling Xia didn’t mind it. He patted Da Bai’s neck and said with a smile: “Hold firmly on my waist.”
Da Bai flapped its wings twice then suddenly soared straight into the sky. Their ascencion was almost perpendicular as they go up.
Hmph! Hmph! Hmph! If only that brat on the back would fall!
“Da Bai, slow down!” Ling Xia jumped in fright from suddenly being plunged into a strong gust of wind as he holds on in panic. Yu Zhi Jue was practically clinging on to Ling Xia’s back, with his head buried on Ling Xia’s shoulder. But it was evident that he was not scared in the least.
Da Bai looked back in contempt, but it started to decrease its flight speed until it reaches the layer of clouds.
Even though Da Bai’s flying is very stable, but Ling Xia felt that the boy behind him was still clinging tightly on his back. That part of his body that was unexposed to the breeze is somehow unbearably warm.
He thought that Yu Zhi Jue was still scared, so crooked his neck to the other person’s direction and soothingly ask: “Ah Jue, were you scared?….”
Ling Xia was caught off-guard when his lips accidentally brushes on something warm and soft. He then realizes that he bumped against the boy’s smooth cheeks.
He blanked for a moment, and then he hastily turned his head towards the front.
He was feeling embarrased inside, but he pretended as if nothing had happened. However, seeing that the boy was staring blankly at his rosy lips, he wasn’t sure of his expression, but the boy’s attractive face was dyed in red.
The corner of Ling Xia’s mouth twitches.
Isn’t this situation something that would come out of a romantic drama?
Ling Xia frantically faces Yu Zhi Jue with an apologetic smile: “I’m sorry Ah Jue, I was too careless haha….”
Yet the more he tried to explain, the lower the boy droops his head, with his both of his ears blushing.
Ling Xia was at loss on what to do.
Isn’t this shooting myself in the foot? But what’s with all the awkwardness from bumping into each other even though we’re both guys? This kid is too bashful…..
But, why did he thought that it was so cute of Ling Jue?
The boy eventually raises his head. He tilted his head with an earnest face on and asked: “Big brother, did we kissed just now?”
“…..”Ling Xia almost slipped off Da Bai’s back.
How can this kid reach to such conclusion?
But seeing the boy’s blushing face and his drooping eyelashes, his heart inexplicably thudded loudly in response.
Was it a first kiss for Ling Jue? Heck no! First kiss is what that pervert snatched away from this Lao Zi!
Ling Xia rigidly patted his head: “It doesn’t count, its just moment of accidental contact. In the future, Ah Jue will have a girl that you’ll like. When that time comes, you’ll know what a kiss truly is.”
Yu Zhi Jue replied with an ‘En’, but his eyes were somewhat gloomy.
Don’t tell me Ling Xia fancies women again. This is gonna be a problematic pain in the head……
Da Bai folded its beautiful wide wings after taking the two of them to the lake side Ling Xia and Da Bai normally frequented, where Ling Xia would always comb its feathers gently.
Yu Zhi Jue sat on top of a big rock near the shore and watches the interaction between Ling Xia and that Bald Eagle. He suddenly asked: “Big brother, where will you go in the future? Will you be staying here?”
“I’m not sure.” Ling Xia brushes his fringe blocking his eyes to the side. It’s been three months since he transmigrated, and he hasn’t paid attention to his growing hair. He turned towards Yu Zhi Jue and explained while smiling: “I’m not from here, so I’m really unfamiliar with this place. Once I had enough savings from this job, I’ll venture out and look for other livelihood.”
Yu Zhi Jue looked down and said: “I’m not sure why, but upon meeting you, I felt really close to you. I don’t have parents so, big brother, can you take me with you when that time comes?”
Ling Xia stared distractedly. The boy’s figure somehow looked frail with his head hanging low, a nervous look on his face, and his back stooped. He can’t help but smile as he replied: “Sure. I’ll take Ah Jue with me as my family.”
“That’s great.” The boy suddenly raises his head, his eyes shone brightly as if it was a blinking star, “Big brother, we must never be apart, promise me.”
Ling Xia smiled and nodded.
It’s natural for kids to say such things, but when Ling Jue takes a wife, will he still follow me?
It’s a strange thing to say, when him and Ling Jue just met two days ago. Yet its like they’ve know each other for a while. He unconciously wanted to treated him well, and make sure that he won’t feel sad.
Da Bai send them back and then it left. It was still more than ten minutes walking distance to their residence, and the mountain road was steep, so Ling Xia naturally took Yu Zhi Jue by the hand and led the way. He could feel that the youngster was behavingly following him behind, adding up to the adoring affection he felt for Yu Zhi Jue.
Once they got back, he asked Yu Zhi Jue to go back to their room first. He went to the disciple in charge of the stock room to help to carry some stuff down the mountains.
Just as he was about to go back, he ran into a several rough looking armed men escorting a huge cart with a steel cage.
Ling Xia hurriedly stood to the side to let them pass through. As they did, he distinctly saw the contents of the cage. He was dumbstrucked, for inside of the cage were mentally haggard people. Amongst them is a pretty girl wearing a peach colored dress.
He felt slightly confused. Do they use cages for magic beasts to transport people here, but why would they do that?
While Ling Xia was feeling skeptical, his gaze met with that girl, who looked at him with wide eyes filled with astonishment as if she could not believe what she was seeing. But before he could react, the metal cage was already led away. Ling Xia vaugely heard a fleeting voice dissipating in the air say: “Ling Xia….”
Who is that girl? Why did she call my name?
Ling Xia pondered over it, but he was sure the he haven’t met her before. Furthermore he never uttered his real name to anyone except to that man in this world.
That caged cart is not escorted by beast keeper, but by a beast tamer. Ling Xia doesn’t know the captives at all, but he quickly ran after them. He then asked with a smile: “Big brother, who are these people in the cage? Did they trespasses the Bai Shou Yuan?”
That man sizes him up, and saw that waist plate on him that proves he’s only an ordinary beast keeper. So he impatiently waved his hand and replied: “Don’t get in the way, these are important goods!”
Goods? Ling Xia looked at that girl again, but she arleady lost conciousness.
He was forced to stand aside, and watch as that cage gradually disappeared into the distance. He wasn’t just imagining it, that girl really did call out his name…..
Ling Xia knitted his brows, then suddenly, he raises his gaze. Could it be? Did that girl transmigrated like him? Or she was someone I know?
With that in mind, he hurriedly followed the traces of those men ahead. He watches as they took the cart inside a nearby courtyard. The entrance was guarded with men armed with weapons, so Ling Xia was discouraged to approach it. He could only sneak a peek behind a tree from a distance.
There were several guards inside the courtyard as well. The cage was taken underground so he could not determine what is their purpose for those people.
Ling Xia’s brow was creased as he went back. He quickly asked about it. He asked several beastkeeper in succesions until he finally arrived to the head beastkeeper. The chief called Lao Wang told him a bit of info about it.
Lao Wang patted his shoulder and quietly said: “Those people, are probably Righteous Sect members that were captured. Every end of the month, those people are taken to the arena and will be pitted against ferocious magic beasts.
When Ling Xia heard that, he trembled in cold sweat. He pulled in Lao Wang and said: “Uncle Wang, my friend was one of the detainee. Can I pay the bail to take her out?”
Lao Wang replied in a low voice: “That’s not possible. You should know that there are a lot of people who had their eyes set on them, for gambling and such? We’re just ordinary folks, we can’t afford to offend them. Didn’t you say that your acquainted with one of the righteous sect members? Better be careful and not involve yourself any further.”
Regardless if its Dark Arts Sect or Righteous Sect, ordinary people are always at the bottom of the pyramid.
Ling Xia’s heart was filled with worries as he walks back. On his way, he heard someone call out to him. It turned out, it was Ling Jue that was looking for him.
“Where did you go that it took you so long?” Yu Zhi Jue looked at Ling Xia and asked, “did it not go well?”
Ling Xia smiles in a flurry. He patted his shoulder and replied: “No. Let’s go back, Ah Jue.”
This problematic matter, how could he tell it to a child. He really wanted to know who is that young girl, and why does she know him.
I must find a way to rescue those people!
Ling Xia lied down on the bed while staring at the moonlight. When it comes down to it, he don’t know how powerful those guards are. And with his strength and abilities, could he stand a chance against them?
But as he imagined the life flaring out of that young girl’s eyes, and the impossibility of the task. Even if he barely had any connection with that girl. Nevertheless, he will definitely find a way to rescue them.
I, I need to think of a way to save them!
Ling Xia softly sighed and held Ling Jue’s hand.
No matter what, he will never abandoned this lonely boy who had no one to depend on but him.
Bonbon wanted to say:
This is where I say, the plot thickens!
Pervert Yu Zhi Jue vs Shota Yu Zhi Jue, who will make Ling Xia fall in love first? Place your bets everyone!
And who is that girl who called out to Ling Xia, any guesses?
I haven’t eaten all day while I was posting this so I couldn’t think of much to say D-x
But I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as well!
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