The Protagonist is Always Intimidating Me - Chapter 54

The city gate of Xingge Hall slowly opened, revealing a carriage laden with a strong fragrance as it boldly rolled in the center of the road. The bells on the carriage windows jingled continuously in the breeze, and the tassels hanging alongside swayed freely with fluid lines, occasionally catching the light.

When the carriage finally stopped in front of the main palace of Xingge Hall, the expressions of those present had turned grim, and they cast resentful glances toward Bai Meng.

Bai Meng: Pretending not to notice.jpg

Lan Wei alighted from the carriage with a pained expression. After several days of treatment from Mo Lengsui, the injured leg was at least marginally usable.

Finally back…

Bai Meng’s brows arched, his jet-black pupils reflecting the figures around him, and sunlight spread across the ground, seemingly dispelling all the gloom in the world, leaving only serenity.

“Only one month remains… We cannot afford to relax now…” Mo Jiuge sighed and smiled, gazing at everyone gathered outside.

The sunlight outside was warm and brilliant, filling the air with a comforting warmth. Mo Lengsui and his companions were practicing their coordination, while Bai Meng and Lan Wei sparred on the side. Once they were tired from their duel, the two teamed up to disrupt Mo Lengsui’s group, causing Mo Lei to curse, only to be promptly subdued by Mo Feng.

Mo Feng was a fool yet exceptionally strong and resistant to authority, but surprisingly, he followed Bai Meng’s instructions. Even in his naive simplicity, Mo Feng would follow any command as long as Bai Meng was the one giving it.

Everyone found this quite astonishing. When Bai Meng heard about it, he simply smiled, a deep and indescribable nostalgia flickering in his dark eyes.

“Maybe he realizes I have a natural talent and am fit to be his leader.”

This led the surrounding crowd, who had gathered out of curiosity, to collectively let out a synchronized, harmonized “tsk.”

The climax arrived when Mo Feng, rather unceremoniously, called Bai Meng “Xiao Tuanzi,” which instantly made the latter bristle with irritation.

Recalling this, Mo Jiuge’s tea-brown eyes softened with genuine amusement. Leaning casually against a red-lacquered pillar in the corridor, his handsome face bore a faint smile.

After winning his match with Lan Wei, Bai Meng sauntered off to the side to drink some water. After drinking, he lifted his gaze to find Mo Jiuge looking at him from a distance with a smile.

Bai Meng responded with a grin of his own, his youthful face breaking into a wide smile, his dark, gem-like eyes glimmering in the sunlight.

Then, Bai Meng was hugged tightly from behind.

“Xiao Tuanzi!”

Without turning around, Bai Meng used just a bit of force in his hands to perform a back-throw, pinning Mo Feng to the ground, pressing Mo Feng’s handsome face into the ground, and threateningly said, “Call me Boss!”

“…Mmph… Xiao Tuanzi… Mmph…”

It felt like stepping back into a distant past.

Bai Meng’s face showed a hint of daze, his deep eyes swimming with an indelible nostalgia.

“Call me Boss!”

“No! Xiao Tuanzi, Xiao Tuanzi, Xiao Tuanzi, Xiao Tuanzi!”

“……”

“Aaaah! I was wrong! Stop hitting me, Tuanzi!”

“Xiao Bai, it’s time to go home.”

In a daze, Bai Meng once again saw that black qilin who used to shake its head and wag its tail at him, with a man waving at him from afar. The small hamster wanted to run toward him, only to have the qilin’s claw pin down its fuzzy tail, leading to another playful tussle.

But in the end, everything passes.

It has truly been a long time since I saw you.

Hei Quan.

Mo Feng’s innocent gaze fixed on Bai Meng’s gentle expression. For reasons he could not understand, he felt an ache in his chest, as if someone were gripping his heart, causing a faint pang.

Did… Did he do something wrong?

Otherwise…

Why does Xiao Tuanzi look so sad?

But he still wouldn’t call him Boss.

This was a matter of principle for him.

Time passed swiftly, and before anyone realized it, a month had quietly slipped away. The entire atmosphere within Xingge Hall’s main palace grew increasingly solemn. On the evening before departure, everyone’s belongings were packed, and the usually bustling Xingge Hall was almost deserted as most guards had gone to bid their families farewell.

—“This journey may be one of no return; let shattered bones safeguard the world.”

Only a few remained in the hall. Lan Wei, carrying a bottle of liquor he’d acquired from somewhere, placed it before Bai Meng, Mo Jiuge, and the others with a sly smile, “Friends, care to drink?”

Bai Meng: “……”

Mo Hankui: “……”

Mo Jiuge: “……”

Despite his mischievous demeanor, Lan Wei’s striking looks, paired with his deep-sea blue hair and eyes, gave him an air of dangerous allure. Bai Meng rolled his eyes indifferently.

“No thanks”

Yet despite his words, Bai Meng reached for a few bowls, pouring everyone a serving. Lan Wei raised his bowl high and said, “Here’s to drinking until we’re wasted!” And before anyone could respond, he downed his bowl in one go, promptly collapsing onto the table.

Everyone: “……”

He really meant drinking until he passed out!

“Is this wine poisoned?” Mo Hankui put down his bowl, his brow furrowing.

“…No.” Bai Meng shrugged and cleared the table, explaining, “He was too noisy, so I put some sleeping potion in his bowl.”

Mo Hankui: “……”

If Lan Wei were awake, he would certainly have scoffed at Bai Meng’s reasoning. Clearly, Bai Meng was worried that Daye hadn’t properly rested for so long and wanted him to catch up on sleep before their departure. But since Lan Wei was asleep, no one said a word.

In truth, Lan Wei would rather not sleep.

In his dreams, that person would never stay for him.

“Master, you go ahead. I’ll be here.”

The handsome young man’s lips curled into a soft smile, his eyes as gentle as clouds and radiating warmth.

Lan Wei reached out his hand, stripped of the bold spirit for which he was once praised. The hand he always used for talisman writing—once steady—was now trembling. Just as his fingers were about to touch the young man, darkness engulfed the world.

“!!!”

Lan Wei woke abruptly, his handsome face drenched in cold sweat, his deep blue eyes still haunted by fear. His expression stilled.

“Tsk…”

Lan Wei clutched his hair with a fierce grip. After a long moment, he relaxed his hold, his expression returning to normal. He lifted his eyes to look at the sky outside the window, but sounds were already filtering in from outside.

Lan Wei packed his belongings, carefully tucking a treasured mask into his coat. He opened the door to find that the sky was not bright yet, but Xingge Hall was already filled with the rhythmic sound of dawn drums. Each beat made the hearts of those outside quiver.

Bai Meng stood alongside Mo Hankui, Mo Jiuge, and others, while Lan Wei strolled over leisurely, rubbing his smooth chin and turning to Bai Meng to ask, “By the way, Captain Bai, do you all plan to hold an oath-taking ceremony? I hear it brings good fortune.”

After all, it’s only customary to have a ceremony before a major battle.

“…!” Bai Meng, appearing suddenly enlightened, clapped his hands. “Your experience really shows!”

Rushing inside, Bai Meng returned with a string of firecrackers he’d apparently stashed somewhere and a small speaker tied to his right arm. “Well, I couldn’t find anything else, so we’ll just make do with this.”

Lan Wei: “……”

Mo Hankui and others: “……”