Huo Wujiu couldn’t resist a deep chuckle.
In terms of him getting caught, someone would recognize him by his body shape, even if his face was covered by a mask. Since he had snuck out with Jiang Suizhou, Huo Wujiu had no intention of letting anyone in the court recognize him.
But…
He raised his hand and touched the mask on his face. It was still quite helpful.
In any case, it was something Jiang Suizhou had fastened for him.
After releasing a muffled laughter behind the mask, he dragged Jiang Suizhou away.
“Don’t worry, just go,” Huo Wujiu said.
Jiang Suizhou responded and hurriedly followed.
However, there was no chance for him and Huo Wujiu to be recognized.
When they reached the end of the street, Huo Wujiu dragged him into a deep alley again, and then brought him up on the roof, flying towards Mingfeng Tower.
By this hour, the streets and the lake were bright. They glided into the dark night sky, like birds sneaking in the night, without attracting anyone’s attention.
Jiang Suizhou thought he was going to take him to the lake, and never imagined it would be like this again. Huo Wujiu kept leaping and took him directly to the roof of Mingfeng Tower.
For a while, Jiang Suizhou felt dizzy.
Before him was a panoramic night view of Taihu Lake. The starry lanterns on the lake were akin to twinkling stars in the night sky, reflecting the dragon boats and gaily-painted pleasure-boats floating on the lake.
Further away was the brightly lit Lin’an City.
And below his feet was the Mingfeng Tower, where the VIPs gathered. The higher the number of floors, the higher the price of the banquet halls in the tower. It was a no brainer. For such a festive event, 80% of the people in the halls underneath had to be from Pang Shao’s family.
Just then, a muted voice broke through the roof.
“… I’d like to offer a toast to Pang-daren!”
… So it turns out to be Pang Shao, feasting with his fellow party officials.
Jiang Suizhou was stunned in place, but heard Huo Wujiu’s snicker beside him.
“What a coincidence,” he said lightly.
“You…” Huo Wujiu’s behavior startled Jiang Suizhou. While his heart was almost pounding out of his chest, Jiang Suizhou raised his eyes and looked at Huo Wujiu in awe.
Just how bold is this man?
Nobody in Pang Shao’s party probably ever imagined that Huo Wujiu’s legs were not only healed, but that he also dared to fly on the roof of the pavilion where they were feasting to appreciate the dragon boat during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Huo Wujiu smiled at him nonchalantly. He also pulled him up, and they sat on the ridge of the glazed roof.
The roof of Mingfeng Tower was particularly wide, and the four corners were decorated with huge lanterns that were as tall as a grown man, reflecting the glazed tiles. The two happened to sit on a dark side of the roof, with the brilliant lights of Lin’an under their feet.
Jiang Suizhou couldn’t help but approach Huo Wujiu and said in a whisper, “You are too daring!”
Huo Wujiu took off the mask with one hand and fiddled with it: “Does this count as daring?”
He uttered these words heedlessly. At a glance, it was obvious that this awe-inspiring, righteous general in the history of history was also a troublemaker when he was young.
Jiang Suizhou gradually regained his senses, stared at Huo Wujiu, and then turned his attention to the city lights behind him that stretched to the sky.
He was accustomed to following the rules, but never knew that this frightening, risky move, in addition to the excitement … was actually also very interesting.
He listened to the rounds of toasts beneath his feet, and occasionally heard one or two officials loudly flattering Pang Shao. They only thought they were in the midst of the festive season, in the most luxurious place in Lin’an City, sitting in the hall with the best view, and entertaining the most powerful minister in the dynasty. Unbeknownst to them, the terrifying God of War of Northern Liang was on the roof above their heads, sitting on the ridge.
And that God of War, right at this moment, was leisurely flexing his legs. His eyebrows were stretched, and he was lying under the stars in the sky, above the city lights.
It was really rather marvelous.
Jiang Suizhou paused and could not help but laugh softly out loud.
When Huo Wujiu heard Jiang Suizhou’s laughter, he immediately turned his head sideways to look at him.
“Isn’t it nice?” He continued, “I didn’t lie to you.”
Jiang Suizhou asked with a smile, “Have you always made trouble like this in Yangguan?”
Huo Wujiu raised his eyebrows and seemed a little unconvinced: “How can this be considered making trouble?”
Then, without waiting for Jiang Suizhou to respond, he leaned over in Jiang Suizhou’s direction and bumped him gently with his shoulder.
“It’s because you’re terrible at finding fun for yourself that you think climbing a roof is scary,” he said.
Jiang Suizhou unconsciously nodded in agreement.
He was indeed clueless. He grew up quiet and always obedient, and even if he looked for fun, it was limited to finding some books to read by himself, unlike Huo Wujiu, who climbed high and low.
Although Huo Wujiu was now in Lin’an, he still bore such courage despite the Hou Zhu and Pang Shao weighing down on him. He most probably turned Lin’an City upside down when he was in Yangguan, causing the late Marquis endless headache.
He couldn’t resist laughing at that thought. It was just funny.
Meanwhile, when Huo Wujiu, who was beside him, heard no denial from him. Huo Wujiu pursed his lips and smiled. Jiang Suizhou was obedient and quiet, making him feel a little distressed for him.
He blurted out without thinking, “There will be a lot of fun in the future. Just wait.”
The tone of that oath sounded a bit childish, like callow youth patting his chest and promising to protect his secret love.
It gave off a fiery and safe feeling, making Jiang Suizhou’s heart go pitter-patter.
He looked at Huo Wujiu and moved his lips. Just when his tongue was tied, he heard loud and passionate drum rolls on the lake in the distance.
He looked up and discovered that the dragon boat race had already begun.
There were lanterns all around the lake and the shore was ablaze, illuminating the dragon boats. All at once, the crowd gathered around the lake and cheered enthusiastically.
Even the people in the hall below them gathered around the terrace.
Jiang Suizhou shut his mouth nervously.
Huo Wujiu could see his worry. In reality, there was nothing to worry about. The Mingfeng Tower was magnificent, especially the roof, which was much higher than the two-floor buildings stacked nearby. In the dark, all they could see were the shadows of the figures on the terrace. What was more, even if those on the terrace looked up, they wouldn’t be able to see anything.
However, Huo Wujiu did not say a word to pacify him. Instead, a smile of interest bloomed on his face.
In fact, Jiang Suizhou was totally interesting in his eyes. He could always evoke some of Huo Wujiu’s wicked disposition.
He didn’t watch the dragon boat, only Jiang Suizhou until the end of the dragon boat race.
