Chapter 101: Knowing When to Yield

Qin Cheng and Bai Xinxin spent some time together again in the morning. Seeing that the sky had been bright for quite a while and knowing that, according to custom, one shouldn't rise too late on the first day of the Lunar New Year, they dressed and got up.

Qin Cheng personally fetched water for them to wash their faces. Once they were tidied up, they stepped out of the back courtyard. By now, the east was a brilliant golden yellow, and the sun was peeking out from the thin clouds, hanging over the mountaintop.

Le Yi and Nangong Shang had already risen. Both had been drunk the night before, but neither wanted to sleep in too late today. Moreover, having heard the commotion from Qin Cheng and Bai Xinxin as soon as the sky turned bright, their drunkenness had largely worn off. The residual dryness in their bodies, coupled with the sounds they had heard, stirred an internal heat that wouldn't easily subside, leaving them both feeling quite awkward.

At breakfast, the atmosphere was slightly unnatural. Qin Cheng, being experienced, didn't think much of it, but the room full of novices felt quite embarrassed. Observing their reactions, Qin Cheng suppressed a chuckle, wondering if he should perhaps purchase a house in the commandery city to avoid such inconveniences in the future.

Since his transmigration, Qin Cheng had been abstinent for quite some time. Coupled with the joy of a great victory on the campaign, he hadn't deliberately restrained himself last night. He just hadn't expected Bai Xinxin to be such a seductress, causing so many others to "suffer."

After breakfast, looking at everyone in the room, Qin Cheng smiled and said, "It’s been quite a while since Le Yi and I have been in the Qiansang barracks, and we haven't really had a chance to explore the streets. Today is the New Year, so the streets must be livelier than usual. Since we are all together and have some leisure time, I think we should go for a stroll. With a fellow like Nangong Shang here, we certainly won't miss out on anything exciting."

Qin Cheng was right. Recently, he had frequently traveled to the commandery city for military matters, but those trips were always rushed, leaving no time to appreciate the city's prosperity or its people. Having been in this era for so long, he felt he was doing himself a disservice by not experiencing its vibrancy. Qin Cheng was no workaholic; he understood the importance of balancing labor with rest and enjoyed life. When he left the camp, Li Guang had also suggested that he take this opportunity to rest and not let military duties wear him down.

The New Year is meant for joy and excitement. Qin Cheng's proposal resonated with everyone. After sitting for a moment, they left the courtyard together.

The streets were bustling. People coming and going all wore expressions of joy. Whether they were high-ranking officials or common folk, after working hard for a year, no matter how much bitterness or fatigue they had endured, they were now temporarily setting down their burdens to enjoy a rare, novel, or even extravagant leisure. Even if they had to return to struggling for a living or plastering on a smile that disgusted them when seen in a bronze mirror after these two days, everyone was willing to be purely happy for now.

For Qin Cheng, everything on the street felt fresh. Coming from an era where the atmosphere of the New Year had gradually faded, suddenly encountering these sights and people gave him a strange sensation. In the eyes of the people on the street, he saw something incredible: devotion. Yes, their happiness was devout. Devotion comes from faith. What, then, was the faith of these people two thousand years ago at the New Year? What kind of faith made even their joy seem so devout?

Among the crowds of wealthy and ordinary people, one group stood out, drawing the attention of many passersby who would look back—either overtly or discreetly—as they walked past. It wasn't because of the menacing servants following them, nor the lavish silk robes, nor the masculine, knight-errant-like man among them. It was because there was an exceptionally beautiful woman in this group.

The woman walked in silence, while the handsome, graceful young man beside her did all the talking. Though she said nothing, her expression was haughty, especially when she felt the gazes of passersby; her chin would lift slightly. If this had been half a year ago, she wouldn't have known her own beauty could be so captivating. Nor could she have imagined she would one day wear such vibrant silk robes that showcased her beauty, walking proudly down the street surrounded by servants. All of this was thanks to the graceful and dignified young man beside her. She glanced at him as he conversed animatedly with his friend, then looked away. The meaning in that gaze was perhaps something only she could understand.

"Brother Guo, what do you think of the lively scene in Qiansang City? Is it presentable enough?" the handsome young man asked the man beside him with a smile, his tone tinged with flattery. "Because of the war with the Xiongnu, most of this liveliness was gone. Fortunately, our Han army achieved a great victory, and the city restrictions were lifted only yesterday. That is why we have this wonderful scene today. I must say, Brother Guo, you are quite lucky!"

Guo Feng smiled nonchalantly at the young man's fawning words and teased, "Brother Xiao, with a beauty by your side, can you even appreciate the scenery of this border town?"

"Brother Guo, you jest. You know full well that Linglong is my cousin," the man surnamed Xiao replied with a laugh. "But as for my cousin, she truly is a rare treasure in this world. Not only is she lovely, but her nature is also very gentle; she knows how to take care of people. It is a blessing of three lifetimes for me to have such a sister..."

This man was Xiao Xuanwu, and his cousin was, of course, Xiao Linglong. Hearing Xiao Xuanwu's words, Xiao Linglong, who had been basking in the envious gazes of passersby, was jolted awake. She looked at Xiao Xuanwu with a gaze that, while seemingly calm, hid an unconcealable shock and anger. She was no longer the simple-minded girl she had been half a year ago. She had left Qin Cheng and her old, naive self behind. What might have been an offhand remark from Xiao Xuanwu sounded different to her now. Could it be that this cousin, who had lifted her family out of poverty and treated her so well over the past half-year, had other intentions? Xiao Linglong did not dare to think further.

Xiao Xuanwu seemed not to notice her strange gaze, continuing to chat naturally with Guo Feng. Xiao Linglong breathed a sigh of relief, telling herself she was overthinking things—she had been prone to wild thoughts lately.

"Brother Xiao is truly blessed, but I lack such luck," Guo Feng said with a smirk. "My two sisters are extremely mischievous; they only cause trouble for me, and I can't keep them in check. But people like us are of that temperament—if we were soft, we wouldn't be able to handle the pressure."

"Indeed." Xiao Xuanwu kept a smile on his face, though it stiffened slightly. He realized his attempt had failed; Guo Feng did not fancy his cousin. Xiao felt a surge of annoyance. He had been willing to "sacrifice" his cousin to cultivate a connection with Guo Feng, a member of a top-tier powerful family, yet the man refused. He stole a discreet glance at Xiao Linglong and thought, *If you don't want her, I will.* The thought made him feel better. As Guo Feng spoke of his sisters, two beautiful, nearly identical figures appeared in his mind—one cold and elegant, the other fiery and passionate. They were true gems.

"Even though your sisters are women, their heroic spirit is no less than any man's; I am truly ashamed by comparison," Xiao Xuanwu flattered. "To be honest, Brother Guo, I have always longed for the life of a knight-errant like you—wandering the world and upholding justice. Alas, I am tethered by worldly matters and cannot wield my sword to traverse the world. It has always been a regret of mine."

"It's just a bit of impulsive heroism, trying to emulate the ancients; it's not as free as you think, Brother Xiao." Guo Feng waved his hand, preparing to say more, when his eyes suddenly lit up. He went rigid, temporarily forgetting how to speak.

Xiao Xuanwu knew exactly why Guo Feng was like this because he, too, saw the "scenery" that had caught Guo Feng's attention: a woman in red. If there truly existed a woman in this world whose temperament was untainted by the mundane and whose face was enough to topple kingdoms, this woman in red was the perfect embodiment of that image.

After the initial shock, Xiao Xuanwu quickly gathered his composure. It wasn't that his willpower was stronger than Guo Feng's, but he hadn't forgotten the purpose of this outing, and he recognized the woman. He coughed twice and smiled at the still-dazed Guo Feng, "Brother Guo, is such a beauty worthy of the saying that the scenery is best right here?"

"Worthy, naturally worthy!" Guo Feng laughed, masking his previous lack of composure and feigning a carefree air. "I have traveled half the world and have never seen such a stunning woman."

Xiao Linglong looked at the woman in red, and at that single glance, her confidence deflated. This woman was the kind of person who would make all the women in the world jealous yet unable to muster any resentment. Her beauty transcended the boundaries of gender; she could make men swoon and women feel their hearts skip a beat. Since she began dressing in fine silks and adorning herself, Xiao Linglong had grown confident in her looks. But today, facing this woman, she had to admit, however unwillingly, that she was far behind. It wasn't just a difference in appearance, but a chasm in temperament. Every gesture and smile of the woman in red was beautiful, exuding an ethereal quality that left people intoxicated.

"Since you are interested, Brother Guo, why not go over and take a look? Wouldn't it be a shame to let such a beauty pass by?" Xiao Xuanwu, seeing his opportunity hadn't vanished, urged Guo Feng on.

To his surprise, Guo Feng shook his head, a look of unexpected regret on his face. "A woman like this is not something a worldly man like me can profane. Though I pride myself on being a romantic, I am not without sense. Beauty like this is like heavenly music; it belongs to a hero, and I am not that man."

Xiao Xuanwu was stunned. He knew Guo Feng’s character well—that was why he had brought Xiao Linglong along, hoping to use a "honey trap." Guo Feng didn't dislike beauty; he just didn't like Xiao Linglong. He couldn't fathom why Guo Feng would suddenly spout such poetic nonsense. *Damn it, why is a thug pretending to be cultured?* Xiao Xuanwu cursed inwardly.

Just as he was about to give up, he spotted the person he had loathed for half a year—the man who had brought him great humiliation and whom he had been wanting to retaliate against. The man was walking behind the woman in red, talking to his companions.

It was a perfectly normal scene, but to Xiao Xuanwu, it held a different meaning: *A toad wanting to eat swan meat?!* A malicious look crossed his face as he stared at the handsome man who had humiliated him four months ago. He made up his mind to use Guo Feng to disgrace him. He whispered a few words to Guo Feng, then put on a smile. "So, Brother Guo, do you still have any reservations?"

Guo Feng looked shocked by what Xiao had just said. He asked, "Truly?"

"How would I dare to deceive you, Brother Guo?" Xiao Xuanwu affirmed.

"Good! In that case, if I don't step forward, I would be the one acting pedantic!" Guo Feng straightened his posture and strode toward the woman in red.

Xiao Linglong had also seen the familiar figure behind the woman in red. She wanted to avoid him, but since everyone else was moving forward, she had no choice but to follow.