Chang Xi squatted in front of Wen Tian, thinking about his suggestion with a puzzled espression.
But he was stubborn and could never get these convoluted things. He worried for a long time, and finally slapped his thigh. Since he had arrested the wrong person, he might as well secretly release him before the boss came back. If they let him go, and rough him up to make sure he wouldn’t snitch, they could just pretend that nothing happened!
Chang Xi deeply felt that this was a good idea for avoiding punishment, so he stood up and began to untie Wen Tian. He also gruffly warned Wen Tian, “Don’t make any sound. I’ll send you down the mountain later.”
Wen Tian was delighted, nodded obediently, and motionlessly cooperated to let him untie the rope.
Both of them were too focused on the rope to pay any attention to the two people who walked in.
Chu Xiangtian had gone out to discuss some business and just came back when he saw Chang Xi’s butt sticking out. He had no idea what the other man was doing – Chang Xi was tall and strong, blocking Wen Tian solidly from view.
“Chang Xi, what are you doing?” Chu Xiangtian narrowed his eyes, walked over and kicked Chang Xi in the butt.
Chang Xi stumbled and his chest hit Wen Tian’s nose. Wen Tian screamed in pain, tears flowing down his face.
Only then did Chu Xiangtian notice that there was someone tied to the pillar.
Chang Xi hurriedly up on his hands and knees and looked at Chu Xiangtian with a guilty expression. “Boss, boss, you guys came back so soon?”
Chu Xiangtian’s gaze fell on Wen Tian and he raised his chin. “Who is this?”
Chang Xi sheepishly glanced at Wen Tian who still had a face full of tears, stammering for a long time. Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind and he said, “I picked him up on the road. Boss, didn’t you say you like men? So I brought him back to you.”
As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to gesture at Wen Tian, “Look at this face, this waist, these legs…hehe.”
Chu Xiangtian’s eyebrows were raised high, his eyes followed the hands gesturing around Wen Tian’s body. He touched his chin and praised, “It’s really good.”
Wen Tian, who was suddenly betrayed: “…”
He had been stunned by the pain the moment Chang Xi bumped into him. His brain was buzzing, and tears flowed all over his face uncontrollably. He vaguely heard their conversation and wanted to argue. He raised his head only to meet Chu Xiangtian’s dark eyes.
Chu Xiangtian looked at him playfully, then suddenly approached and reached out to clamp his chin, squinting his eyes to look at him for a long time. “He really is a beauty…”
The large hand on the chin was very strong, Wen Tian’s eyes reddened a bit more, and he choked out: “I am not Jiao Changxian, you’ve got the wrong person…”
Chu Xiangtian clicked his tongue, frowned and let go. “Why are you crying? I’m not gonna eat you.”
Then he turned to look at Chang Xi. “Didn’t you say you picked him up on the road?”
Chang Xi, who was secretly making his way out, froze and hunched his neck like a dog. “Yes, I just… I picked him up at the foot of our mountain!”
Zhou Chuanqing next to him couldn’t stand to watch his cowardice, so he laughed and came to his rescue. “Okay, stop making things up, the Boss and I just came back from Sifang Town.”
The Wen family’s young master was kidnapped by bandits from West Mountain. This matter had spread widely. The Wen family had reported it to the police and was discussing how to rescue him. He and the Boss were still confused when they heard the rumors, so they returned to the fortress early.
“Tell me clearly what’s going on.” Chu Xiangtian kicked Chang Xi again and sat down on boldly1 on the tiger leather chair, tapping his fingers lightly on his knees.
It seemed that the boss had no intention of beating him up. Chang Xi breathed a sigh of relief and told the whole story. He felt aggrieved after finishing. “I originally caught that kid to give Xiao Qiao a chance to take out her anger, who’d have thought I'd capture the wrong person?”
“When will you grow some brains?” Chu Xiangtian had basically given up on salvaging this strong but simple-minded subordinate. He waved his hand. “Go and find Xiao Qiao. Remember, for this month and the next, you’re gonna be the one to chop all the firewood in this fortress.”
Chang Xi was filled with joy when he heard that his punishment was just chopping firewood, said thank you to his boss and ran away as fast as he could.
Wen Tian was left to face the two men alone.
Wen Tian sniffed and twisted his neck awkwardly to look at Chu Xiangtian. “You captured the wrong person. Can you let me go?”
Chu Xiangtian was amused by him, and walked to stand in front of him, looking down condescendingly. “Since everyone is here, Master Wen might as well be a guest in the fortress for a few days. Not everyone gets the opportunity to come up to this Western Mountain Fortress.”
Wen Tian: “…” Who would want to be a guest in a bandit’s nest?!
“How much ransom do you want? Send a message to the Wen family. My mother will send someone to deliver it.” Seeing that this man was not as talkative as usual, Wen Tian could only speak frankly.
Chu Xiangtian clicked his tongue and shook his head. “What do you want a ransom for? West Mountain Fortress has never robbed people from good families. It’s just that a certain Chu thinks you’re a good-looking man and wants to keep you for a while.”
Wen Tian stared at him with wide eyes. Was this man crazy?!
Chu Xiangtian loosened the rope for him with his own hands. He paused when his palm passed across his thin ankles, and then said to Zhou Chuanqing beside him: “Arrange a place for Young Master Wen, and don’t neglect anything.”
Zhou Chuanqing was handsome and always had a smile on his face. He courteously extended his hand, asking Wen Tian to follow him to the back.
Wen Tian was reluctant, but the situation was better than it could have been, so he could only rub his bruised wrists and follow him.
The place where they were stayed in just now was the council hall of the fortress. There was a watchtower in front of the council hall. Wen Tian looked to the side and saw that there were people walking around the tower. To the back was the living area of the fortress. It looked different from an ordinary village.
Neat houses were lined up in two rows, with a level road down the center. There were trees planted in front of every house, with clean clothes drying on the branches of the trees.
Zhou Chuanqing led him to the third tree, raised his hand and knocked on the door. “Is Xiao Qiao there?”
A soft reply came from the room, and Xiao Qiao, came out from the inner room. “What are the orders from the military advisor?”
Zhou Chuanqing said with a smile: “The Boss wants to keep Young Master Wen as a guest for a few days. Please arrange a room for him, and don’t neglect anything.”
Xiao Qiao looked at Wen Tan up and down. There was some doubt in her face but she didn’t ask any more questions. She nodded sharply. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the arrangements.”
To Wen Tian, she said, “This is a simple fortress. Young Master Wen, please don’t dislike it. Just tell Xiao Qiao if you need anything.” Zhou Chuanqing politely handed him over to Xiao Qiao, saying that he still had something to do, and left.
It was as if Wen Tian was not a hostage they kidnapped but a true guest.
Wen Tian stood at the door with a confused face.
Xiao Qiao invited him to come in and sit down. Wen Tian looked around the place carefully. It was not a big house: there was a main hall in the center, a statue of Guan Gong on the wall opposite the door, and below that was the Eight Immortals table. There were bedrooms on the left and right sides of the main hall. Xiao Qiao opened the door on the left and said, “You can stay in this room. I have dried the bedding two days ago.”
Wen Tian observed her, silently considering the possibility that he would now hold someone hostage to get them to let him go down the mountain.
Xiao Qiao was not aware of his intentions at all and was still cleaning the room. “Has Young Master Wen had lunch?If you haven’t eaten, join us for some later?”
Wen Tian rubbed his stomach, did not put up any unnecessary resistance, and nodded very honestly, “I haven’t eaten yet.”
Xiao Qiao looked back at him in surprise, her expression looking much gentler than before. “Okay, I’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”
After saying that, she picked up a box cage in the house and said, “This one takes up space here, I’ll put it in the back.”
The cage was made of solid wood, almost a quarter of the size of the Eight Immortals table. She carried it with ease. Wen Chan swallowed and made way for her, silently dismissing the ill-formed hijacking plan in his mind.
At lunch time, Xiao Qiao came over to call him.
They ate together in West Mountain Fortress. There was a large room on the right side of the meeting hall, which was the fortress’ kitchen and canteen. Even from afar, the curling smoke from the roof could already be seen.
During lunch time, all the men, women, and children in the fortress walked to the canteen. When they passed by Wen Tian, they would all look at him curiously.
There were almost no strangers in the fortress, and Wen Tian was wearing a conspicuous red dress. His delicate facial features were particularly eye-catching, making it difficult for people to ignore him.
The canteen was full of tables. Everyone took a bowl and lined up to wait for food. Xiao Qiao led Wen Tian to find a table, then they took their bowls and jumped to the front of the queue and asked for two meat dishes and green vegetables.
Wen Tian looked at the pile of bowls, silently thinking that the food in the bandits’ den was quite good.
After saying his thanks, Wen Tian did not shy away. He took his chopsticks and began to eat slowly. Since he couldn’t leave for the time being, he might as well keep his spirits up and eat so that he would have the strength to run away if he had a chance.
As soon as Chu Xiangtian entered the dining hall, he saw Wen Tian eating with his head down.
Dressed in brocade and red, he was sitting at the old wooden table, holding dark brown wooden chopsticks with his slender white fingers. Even though he didn’t make a sound, he was the only bright spot among the dull colors.
His dignified temperament especially seemed out of place in this bandit den.
“Young Master Wen, are you enjoying the food?” Chu Xiangtian strode to Wen Tan’s table, sat down nonchalantly, and stared at him with a burning gaze.
Wen Tian paused for a moment, put down his chopsticks and looked at him, trying his best not to show any shyness. “It’s fine.”
Chu Xiangtian curled his lips and smiled, his gaze landing on his grease stained lips. He suddenly reached out and wiped them.
Wen Tian subconsciously leaned back but did not avoid his touch. The rough fingertips touched his lips immediately. Even so, Wen Tian’s scalp felt numb, and his vigilant eyes grew wide. “What are you doing?!”
“You got oil on your mouth.” Chu Xiangtian stretched out his hand to show him, and there were indeed some shiny oil stains on his thumb.
Wen Tian reddened, completely angry. At this time, he couldn’t tell that this man was deliberately making fun of him. He suddenly remembered that Chang Xi had said that this man liked men, and he couldn’t help but become more vigilant. “I can wipe myself without having to bother Master Chu.”
Chu Xiangtian twirled his fingers. He felt a little better when he saw him kicking himself like a frightened rabbit.
“Okay.” He feigned a regretful ‘tsk’ and bid Wen Tian to eat.
Wen Tian cautiously held a bowl and sat across from him. Chu Xiangtian looked at him and smiled, but said nothing and buried his head in eating.
He ate very quickly; a moment later, he had half a bowl of rice down. However, his eating movements were not rude, but instead showed the elegance only found in rich families. Wen Tian looked at him in surprise.
Sensing his gaze, Chu Xiangtian raised his eyebrows and asked, “What? Does Young Master Wen want to look at me before he can eat?”
“…” Just now, it seemed that this man’s demeanor was rather special, but in a blink he went bank to being a scoundrel again. Wen Tian ate from his own bowl and ignored him.
Chu Xiangtian was not annoyed and watched him methodically finish his meal before getting up and leaving.
The pressing gaze finally left. Wen Tian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and followed the path Xiao Qiao had taken him to go back.
He walked very slowly, carefully observing the surrounding environment as he went. The fortress was surrounded by thick tree trunks and sharpened bamboo poles. Climbing over would be nearly impossible. It seemed that he had to find another way.
Wen Tian sat under the tree in front of Xiao Qiao’s house all afternoon. No one in the fortress seemed to be idle. The men were nowhere to be seen; the women were washing, weaving and weaving bamboo baskets; even the children had their own tasks to do, delivering things from time to time. Wen Tian was the only idle person.
No one was specifically watching over him. It seemed that he could go anywhere he wanted. He tried to walk half a circle around the fence and found that the fortress was much larger than he though. Walking back along the fence, there were high and low fields, and it seemed that those previously-missing men were in fact busy in the fields.
This looked less like a bandit den and more like an ordinary village.
Wen Tian returned to Xiao Qiao’s house and sat down again with a sigh. He didn’t know what was going on at home. His mother and sister must have been very anxious.
After dinner, Wen Tian went back to his room to rest early and took off his cumbersome robes. He lay down only in his middle layers. As soon as his back touched the bed, he felt a sharp pain. He straightened up quickly, carefully removed his clothes, and stretched his neck to look behind him.
He saw bruises on his side and waist; he couldn’t see any further up. Wen Tian touched them with his hand and they ached. They must have been caused by Chang Xi’s shoving him against the pillar. He didn’t feel them during the day, and the pain only started to hit him once he lay down at night.
He hissed, hesitated, then put on his clothes again, and went to ask Xiao Qiao if she had medicinal wine.
Xiao Qiao would have liked to see his injuries, but Wen Tian was too embarrassed to let a girl see them and politely refused, so Xiao Qiao had to go find medicinal wine for him.
Returning to the room, Wen Tian took off his top and twisted his body to look at the small bronze mirror on the table. In the blurry mirror, he saw that his back was covered in bruises, especially on the shoulder blades. The bruises had turned black and purple.
“I brought the medicinal wine for you.” Chu Xiangtian opened the door and walked straight onto the topless Wen Tian.
He froze; his eyes fell on Wen Tian’s body and he couldn’t move for a moment. Wen Tian’s body was even paler than his face, and it seemed to glow under the dim candlelight. The two small nipples on his chest were pink, and even his belly button seemed to look much better than other people’s.
Wen Tian subconsciously put the inner robes hanging around his waist back on, red-faced and somewhat angry. “Why didn’t you knock on the door?”
Chu Xiangtian raised his eyebrows and said straight-faced: “Why should I knock on my own territory?”
Wen Tian: “…”
Annoyed, he put on his middle robes as well. Although he was inwardly angry, he didn’t dare express this to Chu Xiangtian. He could only ask him with a huff, “Master Chu, what’s the matter? Why did you come here so late?”
“Xiao Qiao said you were injured, so I came over to take a look.” Chu Xiangtian put the medicinal wine on the table. “Take off your clothes and let me see.”
===Author’s Notes===
Mr. Chu: I’ll be blunt, you are very good-looking, why not stay and be the lady of the house?
Tiantian (spits): Bah!
The attack that finally came online: Chu “Old Rogue” Xiangtian.
===Translator’s Notes===
Wen Tian be like: Instead of being the kidnapped, what if I were the kidnapper instead, huh? (…Or not.)
- “大马金刀”, literally “with a large horse and a golden blade” which, according to here, is an idiomatic express for being bold, blunt, without mercy, etc. ↩︎
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