Chapter 0126: Rugged and Mighty Fourth Junior Brother? Shattered Illusions Everywhere

Before Xie Chengze could instruct Wuji to reveal himself, Wuji had already encountered Da Dangjia.

The previous night, after “sparring” with the bandits, Wuji had successfully infiltrated Qianjin Zhai with his “not bad” martial arts skills. In the evening, to celebrate Er Dangjia’s upcoming marriage, Wuji was dragged along to drink, where he crossed paths with Da Dangjia.

Da Dangjia rubbed his eyes, initially thinking his vision was blurred. It wasn’t until Wuji covered his face and tried to slip away that he confirmed this was his little junior brother.

Only his two little junior brothers would be so shy upon seeing him!

He excitedly stepped forward to block Wuji’s path, “Fourth Junior Brother?! What are you doing here? Have you fallen on hard times and come specifically to seek refuge with me?”

At these words, all the bandits of Qianjin Zhai turned their heads to stare at Wuji in unison. Even Er Dangjia’s wine jar slipped from his hand, shattering on the ground with a crash.

Fourth Junior Brother?!

The very same Fourth Junior Brother rumored to be ferocious and deadly, whose slight smile could bring bloodshed for miles, and whose powerful legs alone could strangle a tiger to death?!

They had always imagined him to be just like Da Dangjia—towering and imposing, with rugged and mighty features, commanding reverence just by standing there…

But what was with this delicate-faced, slender-armed and thin-legged pretty boy before them?

He wasn’t even as rough-looking as any of them bandits!

Everyone felt as if something intangible had shattered into pieces.

“B-Big Brother!” Er Dangjia staggered back a step, disbelief written all over his face, “Is he really your Fourth Junior Brother?”

“Of course, genuine as can be!” Da Dangjia joyfully extended his burly arms, lifting Wuji up like a doll and examining him closely, “Fourth Junior Brother, long time no see! Where’s Third Junior Brother? Has he come too? Quick, tell him to come out so your senior brother can give him a hug!”

Wuji sighed helplessly, rubbing his temples, grateful that the Second Prince wasn’t present to witness his current embarrassment. He pried open Da Dangjia’s hands, landing firmly on the ground before speaking, “I came here secretly. More importantly, Senior Brother, how did you end up becoming a bandit?”

“Ahem, that’s a long story…”

Da Dangjia recounted his past experiences one by one. Overjoyed at seeing his Fourth Junior Brother, his happiness spread throughout the bandit stronghold. The brothers joined in the revelry, drinking merrily and bombarding Wuji with questions.

They asked if Third Junior Brother was as mighty and imposing as Da Dangjia, whether the eldest senior sister was as breathtakingly beautiful as Da Dangjia had boasted, and if the Second Prince was truly as frail as Da Dangjia claimed—so delicate he could be crushed by simply sitting on him.

Only Er Dangjia remained completely shattered.

Though not particularly clever, he wasn’t foolish either. He had long heard that Big Brother’s senior sister was a peerless beauty, the sole imperial consort of the current dynasty, and her son held an exalted position—a stunningly handsome young man protected closely by his two junior brothers.

Thus, he suddenly realized that the sickly, beautiful young woman wasn’t some merchant’s wife at all, but the current emperor’s son—the Second Prince!

Wahhh, his new bride…

His so big a bride, gone!

Consequently, the next morning when Xie Chengze awoke, he was met with Er Dangjia’s resentful, red-rimmed eyes. The overwhelming stench of alcohol emanating from him revealed just how much he had drunk.

Xie Chengze silently pulled the blanket tighter, shrinking deeper into the bedding.

Why was he looking at him like that? As if some innocent young wife had been violated?

Seeing his actions, Er Dangjia clung to the edge of the heated brick bed and couldn’t help but question, “Doesn’t your conscience ache?”

The other’s gaze and tone were so full of resentment that Xie Chengze couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, thinking to himself: Could it be that his late-night meeting with Shen Yuan was discovered?

But Er Dangjia didn’t seem angry… Was he so generous that he didn’t mind, or was it because Xie Chengze was too handsome for him to stay angry?

No, no, definitely not.

Xie Chengze shook his head, dismissing this assumption, and began to wonder if Er Dangjia was hinting that he had taken up the entire heated bed without leaving space for him.

As he pondered, Er Dangjia, seeing him “righteously” shake his head in denial, grew even more resentful.

What a heartless and ungrateful man!

He had wounded the heart of a love-struck tough man, yet his conscience didn’t ache at all!

Officials are truly no good! Especially the emperor and his sons!

Er Dangjia couldn’t help but wail toward the door, tattling, “Big brother—! Look at him!”

“Nephew, you’re awake?”

A booming voice like a tiger’s roar entered the room first. Da Dangjia bent down to step inside, and his eyes lit up at the sight of the awake Xie Chengze. “No wonder I always thought you looked familiar, but back then you were wearing a veil, so it wasn’t clear, and my eyesight isn’t great.”

Da Dangjia sat by the heated bed, leaned close to Xie Chengze, squinted for a good look, and nodded repeatedly. “Alike! Truly alike, just like my martial sister’s son.”

Only recognizing him from this close… Xie Chengze couldn’t help but say, “You must be nearsighted, aren’t you?”

“What’s nearsighted?” Da Dangjia asked, puzzled.

“It means you see distant things blurrily. Oh, here you probably call it short-sighted.”

Da Dangjia immediately nodded. “Master did say this is short-sightedness and fear of distance syndrome. There’s no cure.”

After speaking, his large hand couldn’t resist giving Xie Chengze’s slender arm a squeeze, and he sighed, “Ah, nephew, though you’ve grown taller, you’re still as fragile as ever. Looks like one could…”

“One could sit on me to death, right, Uncle? That’s what you wanted to say, wasn’t it?” Xie Chengze held his head, shaking it with a bitter smile. “There’s nothing this little nephew can do. Now that I’m not long for this world, being able to see you before I die brings me great joy and satisfaction…”

“What?!” Da Dangjia exclaimed in shock. “Nephew, are you really ill?! Is it the same illness as your dead father? Damn it, Martial Sister was perfect in every way, except for her poor judgment in men—either sickly or cowardly!”

“Ahem, yes…” Xie Chengze coughed a few times, both shocked and in agreement with Da Dangjia’s calling Emperor Jian a coward. He glanced at Shen Yuan leaning by the door, exchanged a look with him, then continued coughing while covering his lips, his expression forlorn. “It’s just a pity… there’s still one last wish in this little nephew’s heart, left unfulfilled…”

“Nephew! Heaven has no eyes! Martial Sister is already gone, why won’t it spare her only child?!” Da Dangjia burst into tears, hugging Xie Chengze tightly in a fierce embrace, his voice filled with grief and indignation. “Tell me! Your uncle will risk his old life to help you fulfill that wish!”

“Un-Uncle, I’m being crushed to death…” Xie Chengze struggled free with difficulty, caught his breath, then said mournfully, “This nephew wishes for a thirty-foot-tall ice sculpture, carved in his own likeness…”

“Ice Sculpture?” Da Dangjia scratched his head, looking toward Er Dangjia and Shen Yuan for help. “What is an Ice Sculpture?”

Er Dangjia shook his head blankly, while Shen Yuan pondered briefly before speaking, “Wood carving refers to objects carved from wood, stone carving refers to objects carved from stone. Could it be that this Ice Sculpture is something carved from ice blocks?”

Xie Chengze nodded. As expected of the man he had set his sights on—he understood it immediately!