Chapter 41

"You attacked with your sword too slow here. Yes, you must not hesitate when attacking. No, it's still wrong here. I've said it many times, this stance should be done by catching the wrist and pecking, loosening the wrist and storing strength. It's the wrist that drives the arm so that the force can reach the tip of the sword without lessening." Zong Zi Heng, with one hand behind his back and his sword in the other, fought with Zong Zi Xiao, his stance as straight as a pine, steadily stepping back, giving Zong Zi Xiao room to attack but not allowing him room to venture in.

Zong Zi Xiao’s mood was a little agitated, and when this emotion reached his sword movements, he appeared to be in a bit of a hurry. With his moves blocked and dismantled by Zong Zi Heng, and still having to listen to verbal admonitions, he fought more and more aggressively.

The tip of Zong Zi Heng's sword picked up and the blades clashed, Zong Zi Xiao's part of the hand between the thumb and index finger became painful and he was unable to hold on to it, his sword was directly removed by this move.

The sword fell to the ground with a loud bang.

"What's wrong with you? So inattentive." Zong Zi Heng scolded.

Zong Zi Xiao gritted his teeth, hooked his sword with his toes and said indignantly, "Come again."

"Let's stop here for today." Zong Zi Heng sheathed his sword, "What can you practice with this half-heartedness?”

"I'm half-hearted?" Zong Zi Xiao gave a heavy hum, "Isn’t it because I want to learn from big brother? When you get a wife, are you going to take a bunch of concubines like Father?"

"What nonsense are you talking about? I haven't married a single one yet."

"Once you marry one you will have more, yet you said you will still care about me. By then you will have a large number of concubines and grandchildren. How will you have time to care for me?"

Zong Zi Heng frowned, "It's been a few days, and you're still being difficult with me?"

Zong Zi Xiao turned his face away indignantly.

"Don't worry, I won't be like my father. I never intended to take a concubine." He had grown up watching his mother suffer. The deep palace was bitterly cold. The nights were long. If he truly treated a woman with heart, how could he bear to subject her and their child to harsh treatment? That is why he would never take a concubine.

Yet this phrase has another meaning in Zong Zi Xiao’s ears. He shouted, "You haven't even met her, and you're already thinking of spending a lifetime together. Are you so eager that you want to marry her the next day?!”

"Zong Zi Xiao!" Zong Zi Heng shouted, "You're losing your sense of propriety. Who gave you permission to talk to big brother like that?"

Zong Zi Xiao said crossly, "Then punish me so that I don't get in the way of you marrying your wife."

"You ...” Zong Zi Heng said with a stern face, "You are forbidden to set foot outside your bedchamber for three days. Xiao Jiu, it is time for you to grow up." After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Zong Zi Xiao's face was full of resentment. His chest was heaving violently. Suddenly, he fiercely used his sword and slashed. The sword light like a wolf running after a tiger, fiercely shot out. A distant tree that looked like two people hugging, was actually cut off at the waist!

The crown of the tree fell to the ground with a crash, and the trembling underfoot did not stop after a long time. Zong Zi Xiao gripped his own sword tightly, his eyes bursting with a ruthlessness beyond his age. That bullshit daughter. He hadn't even seen her yet, and she had already caused his big brother to rebuke him and lose his temper. What will happen if she walks through the door?

He swore in the dark that he would break up this marriage.

---

Although the marriage had not yet been decided, Shen Shi Yao had already made preparations in advance. She had invited the best tailors in the palace to make clothes for her and her son, and she also wanted Qinghui Pavilion to be whitewashed and repaired. Zong Zi Heng was also specifically instructed not to leave Daming during this period, and she wanted Zong Ming He to bestow the marriage as soon as possible so that it will not be a long night's dream.

In fact, Zong Zi Heng was originally going to make a trip to Chunyang Sect.

In the past three years, although the evil spirit had been identified and had returned to his hometown for burial, the core hunter who attacked them in Gutuo Town was still at large.

When Elder Tai Wei personally went to the Cangyu Sect to question them, Cangyu Sect had to admit that Chen Xing Yong, the leader of the Lion Alliance, was a traitor to their sect after murdering their elders and stealing Gong Shu Ju. He then set up his own sect in Jianghu, killing countless cultivators over the past ten years. Chen Xing Yong is not difficult to deal with, but Gong Shu Ju is a powerful aid to combined combat, as it can set up formations to trap enemies in a "game" that it controls, and then drain their strengths before breaking them down one by one.

Moreover, with this magical treasure, you can shrink the ground when you say so and teleport when you say so, thus it is extremely difficult to catch these people. The Zong Clan, Chunyang Sect, Cangyu Sect and Huaying Sect had joined forces to chase them for three years. They engaged in close combat twice, yet they still escaped.

Zong Zi Heng could tell that his father was not attached to the matter and had barely asked questions for three years, but fortunately, the other three sects were still persistent in their pursuit. Among them, the Huaying Sect was out for revenge, the Cangyu Sect was out to get rid of their traitor, but only Chunyang Sect was simply out to do justice, which made Zong Zi Heng feel good. Over the past three years, he had exchanged many letters with Xu Zhi Nan, and they had become close friends.

Two days ago, Xu Zhi Nan sent a letter to tell him that he had found traces of Chen Xing Yong again, and he wanted to go to Chunyang Sect to discuss countermeasures with Xu Zhi Nan and take personal action to avenge his past.

But at the moment, it was obvious that he could not leave. Looking at Shen Shi Yao's springtime smile, he was always a little uneasy in his heart. Since he had missed the Jiaolong assembly three years ago, his father had been even harsher on him. Even if father agreed to this marriage, what about the Empress? The Empress is always very wary of him. If he could think of this, his mother must have thought of it too, which is why she was so eager for his father to bestow the marriage.

Zong Zi Heng was now lying in bed, tossing and turning over the matter. Next year, Zong Zi Xiao would be participating in Jiaolong assembly, and whether he won the title or not, he would certainly do very well. By then he would be even more redundant in his father's eyes.

Zong Zi Heng's pupils dimmed as he let out a shallow sigh.

When he was young, he would still ask his mother why his father did not like him. He had always worked hard and been diligent, hoping his father would look at him more. He would be happy for a long time if he received a compliment. Unfortunately, the little attention he had earned was also knocked back after he missed the Jiaolong assembly.

He would be twenty next year and it was time to make plans for the future. Perhaps it would be a good opportunity to leave Daming and start a family and a career. In fact, he had wanted to get away from this suffocating deep palace for a long time, but he just couldn't leave his mother alone.

And Xiao Jiu ...

Thinking about Zong Zi Xiao, Zong Zi Heng felt another headache. Whatever, he should be fine when he grows up.

A soft knocking sound suddenly came from outside the window. Before Zong Zi Heng could reply, the window had already been pushed open and a figure deftly tumbled in.

Zong Zi Heng said in mock seriousness, "Didn't I tell you not to set foot outside the bedchamber?"

"Three days have already passed." Zong Zi Xiao skillfully kicked off his shoes, climbed into bed, lifted the blanket, and wrapped his arms and legs around Zong Zi Heng's waist, moving like a flowing stream, obviously having "rehearsed" this many times.

Zong Zi Heng not knowing whether to laugh or to cry while glaring at him in the dark.

Zong Zi Xiao said curtly, "Big brother, don't be angry at me."

"I'm already angry. Eldest brother is like father. Do you still have any semblance of respect for me as a big brother? Still losing your tongue."

"I didn't mean to."

"You did it on purpose."

"Well, I did it on purpose."

"You brat ...," Zong Zi Heng slapped him on the head, "Go away, stop pestering me."

Zong Zi Xiao hugged tighter, "Big brother, don't ignore me."

"Look at you, do you have any manners of a prince? You are going to be thirteen soon, even the boys from ordinary families will not be as childish and ignorant as you are when they reach your age."

"I just don't want people to rob my big brother away." Zong Zi Xiao buried his face into Zong Zi Heng's chest and said with grievance, "I don’t want to be separated from big brother in my whole life."

Zong Zi Heng clearly warned himself not to be soft-hearted, but he was still soft-hearted, he couldn't help it, he had loved this younger brother the most since he was a child. He hummed lightly, "I really don't know what you are thinking in that brain. What rob or not? We are brothers. Blood is thicker than water. Who can separate us?"

"But, if you take a wife, you will have to sleep with her, and I won't be able to sleep with you."

Zong Zi Heng blushed for a moment, "Nonsense again, is this, is this not the same thing. Come on, go to sleep now."

"That's what second brother said."

"Don't listen to your second brother, it's not the same thing."

"Why isn't it the same thing?"

Zong Zi Heng slapped his buttocks heavily and ordered, "Sleep!"

Zong Zi Xiao bristled and said reluctantly, "Big brother, I was distracted that day. I can be very good when I fight properly."

"I know, I was still a step behind you when I was your age."

"Really?" Zong Zi Xiao said joyfully.

"Really." Zong Zi Heng laughed, "Xiao Jiu is very good."

"Then I must be able to win the championship at the Jiaolong assembly next year, right?"

"This matter ah, of course you should do your best, but there is no need to take the momentary gain or loss too seriously. Big brother believes you will be able to defeat all your opponents at the Jiaolong assembly one day, but it may not be next year, you are still too young."

"But I do want to get the sword quenched by the Shen Nong Ding right away."

"That kind of divine sword you can't harness even if you get it now, so listen to your big brother, do your best, don't ask about gains and losses, and don't be sad if you do lose, next session ..."

"I will not be defeated." Zong Zi Xiao looked at Zong Zi Heng, his pair of eyes looked unusually bright in the darkness, "I have reasons why I must win."

"Oh, what reason?"

"I want to win for big brother."

"Why?"

Zong Zi Xiao said with certainty, "I want to tell everyone that although Uncle is my mentor, Big Brother taught me more, and without Big Brother, I wouldn't be who I am today. The glory that big brother missed at the Jiaolong assembly, I will fight for you to get it back."

Zong Zi Heng felt his heart warm and touched. He used his finger to scrape the tip of Zong Zi Xiao's upturned nose and said with a smile, "I didn’t pamper you for nothing."

Zong Zi Xiao burrowed hard into Zong Zi Heng's arms and said with a wicked smile, "You have worked so hard to bring me up, next time I’ll look after you in old age and give you proper burial after you die."

"You bastard. When I’m old, you'll be an old man too, we don't know who'll send who off yet."

The two brothers laughed and played on the bed.

----

Edited on 23 Mar. 21 (Emzie)

 

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