THE TWO ZUOYUE guards had anticipated a room filled with gold and silver. Instead, numerous paintings adorned the walls of the small chamber, and several rolled-up scrolls lay scattered across the floor and table.
But Cui Buqu was stunned for another reason: He recognized the subject of the paintings.
Standing with her head turned coyly over her shoulder, the upper half of her body bare. Half-sprawled on the bed, holding her chest and partially exposed. Draped in fluttering gauzy fabric, the flesh underneath just barely discernable.
These weren't like Li Yan's vulgar and explicit paintings. The woman gazed from the paintings with half-lidded eyes or looked out over a fan, smiling warmly. From the tender beauty of a young girl to the elegance of a married woman, the paintings showed the same subject across the years in various styles. The painter had truly captured her charm, each frown and smile vividly portrayed.
Cui Buqu didn't need to wait for Yang Yun to confirm. He already knew the subject's identity.
"I didn't realize you shared such a past with Princess Leping." Cui Buqu glanced at Yang Yun, a shadow of a smile tugging at his lips. "Although—I did think of the princess's kept man when I saw you."
Yang Yun sat upright with his eyes closed, feigning the inability to hear or speak. He was powerless to stop this, so his only option was to maintain his silence.
The two Zuoyue guards exchanged uneasy glances, a chill creeping up their spines. The secrets of the royal palace were not something they should be privy to. Yet Cui Buqu didn't allow them to leave. He pointed at the bricks behind them. "Crack open that wall with your blades."
A spasm crossed Yang Yun's face. He opened his eyes and finally stopped pretending to be mute. "How did you know?"
The two Zuoyue guards obeyed. Their sharp blades scraped the wall, sending white powder fluttering down and quickly revealing a golden gleam beneath.
"Lord Chief."
"Continue."
Blades scraped along the crack again, widening it in all directions. In moments, they had unearthed a surprising discovery.
Behind the thin layer of flour paste lay a solid wall of shimmering gold bricks, stacked from floor to ceiling. It was only a single wall, but it was astonishing to behold.
"There's a strange crevice in the corner here!" one of the Zuoyue guards exclaimed.
He pressed his fingers into the crevice and slowly pried it open. Bit by bit, the wall parted to reveal a hidden passage leading to a brightly illuminated hall. Flickering candlelight hinted at an exit at the far end.
Cui Buqu gasped in astonishment. "Commandery Governor Yang, your secret chambers are far more impressive than those of the former mogul of the northwest, Duan Qihu. Someone ought to have brought that country bumpkin here to witness the splendor of the imperial family!"
"How dare you slander the Yang family!" shouted Yang Yun in anger. "You're just a dog my aunt raised—ah!"
A Zuoyue guard had kicked him to the ground and begun to beat him mercilessly. Within just a few blows, his nose was bruised and his face was swollen. Cui Buqu pretended not to notice, choosing instead to admire the golden wall. He gazed at it intently, as if flowers might bloom from its gilded surface. As Yang Yun's shouts devolved into pitiful wails, he turned back in feigned surprise.
"Commandery Governor Yang, despite your embezzlement of the court's grain, your disregard for human life, and your desecration of the princess, our nation has laws to address such crimes. You can continue to punish yourself like this, but the Ministry of Justice will not plead for mercy on your behalf before His Majesty."
Yang Yun no longer tried to speak.
"Lord Chief, the passage leads aboveground to a courtyard with a woman and two mute servants inside!"
The Zuoyue guard who had gone to investigate quickly returned with the woman in tow. She was dressed in lavish robes and appeared about twenty years old. Her figure was graceful and her face like a painting, though her panicked expression somewhat dulled her beauty.
As soon as Cui Buqu laid eyes on her, a smile spread across his face. "Commandery Governor Yang, it seems that being stationed so far from the eyes of the emperor has enabled you to become as carefree as any immortal!"
The woman bore an unmistakable likeness to the young Princess Leping.
"Now can you make them leave?" Yang Yun asked hoarsely.
Cui Buqu waved his hand, and the Zuoyue guards escorted the woman out of the chamber. Her expression was a mix of confusion and helplessness, and she glanced repeatedly over at Yang Yun, who didn't spare her a single glance.
"Speak." Cui Buqu adjusted the collar of his cloak and settled into a cross-legged seat on the floor.
With his hands and legs tightly bound, Yang Yun didn't have a similar luxury. He could barely sit or stand, and was forced to lean uncomfortably against the wall. "What do you want me to say?" he said icily, "You've seen everything; what more is there?"
"I have no interest in whether your fascination with Princess Leping is one-sided or mutual. As for the embezzlement, that matter will be dealt with by the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Censorate. What I truly wish to understand is your connection to the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai."
"If I tell you, what will you give me in return?" Yang Yun asked, attempting to bargain.
The corner of Cui Buqu's mouth quirked up. "I'll burn all the paintings here and let that woman go. What happened in this chamber will remain between us."
A clandestine relationship between two cousins in the Yang family could never see the light of day—especially since one of them was a princess and the empress of the previous dynasty.
"I've not seen the princess since I took office in Guangqian Commandery in the first year of the Kaihuang era," Yang Yun returned defensively. "These paintings don't prove anything!"
Cui Buqu sneered. "And what about the woman outside? And the princess's former retainer? The emperor and empress have both seen him. What will they think, I wonder? According to law, as a Yang, you'd normally face merely exile for your crimes here. But should they discover the truth, you can forget keeping your life."
"If that's true, then they won't let you escape either!" Yang Yun retorted.
Cui Buqu coughed into his hand. "If Commandery Governor Yang refuses to speak, perhaps I should ask someone else. County Lieutenant Wu Yi and your associates must know something."
With that, he made to rise.
"Wait!" Yang Yun blurted.
Cui Buqu looked back.
With a hint of reluctance, Yang Yun continued. "I only intended to sell the grain for a little profit. I never plotted rebellion. The idea of donating grain for tax exemptions was suggested to me by a man named Xiao!"
Now that he'd been exposed, it was only natural that he'd push all the blame onto the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai. Cui Buqu didn't attempt to determine whether or not this was true. Instead, he simply asked, "What was his name? Why did you believe him?"
Lord Xiao had come to Guangqian Commandery three years prior, whereupon he had met the recently promoted Yang Yun through the Li family's connections. Knowing Yang Yun had a fondness for wealth, Lord Xiao gave him two gold Buddha statues and quickly forged a friendship with him. He then offered several crafty ideas to the ambitious new official. Yang Yun gradually began to view Lord Xiao as a clever and resourceful ally, and the two grew even closer.
Lord Xiao had claimed to be a southerner, traveling back and forth across the Yangtze River to trade spices. Yang Yun knew the Xiao were a major clan in the Southern dynasty, but chose not to probe further. After all, Lord Xiao's numerous trips brought him significant profits.
But even this wasn't enough to quench Yang Yun's appetite for riches. He next set his sights on the court's granaries.
Based on what he'd heard so far, Cui Buqu was almost certain this Lord Xiao was Xiao Lü himself.
Three years ago, as the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai sought to expand their influence, it would have required extensive provisions and financial support. Xiao Lü had bribed Yang Yun with two gold Buddhas but reaped even greater benefits from the tax-exemption policy. Cui Buqu knew without asking that the taxes exempted by the imperial court over the past two years had found their way into the pockets of local landlords. Xiao Lü must have also had a hand in that, gaining even more significant profits.
If they had stopped there instead of misappropriating the relief grain issued by the court, or if Rong Qing had been slightly less earnest, their operation might have continued undisturbed.
"After this year's flood, it was Lord Xiao who encouraged me to pocket all the grain—"
Cui Buqu raised a hand to interrupt him. "That's not true."
Yang Yun was confused. "What's not true?"
"I don't believe Lord Xiao is the type to be so shortsighted. He's already reaped substantial gains from you and understands not to bite off more than he can chew—acting cautiously allows one to achieve much more in the long run. In your impatience to snatch up all the grain, you left nothing for the flood victims. That's what gave you away. Even Huang Lüe realized the dire consequences and chose to discreetly provide us with information rather than take the fall."
Looking at Yang Yun, Cui Buqu said slowly, "I advise you to be honest. Don't think you can escape judgment simply because Lord Xiao isn't here. Was this your idea or his?"
Yang Yun's eyes flickered. He refused to meet Cui Buqu's gaze. "Of course it was his idea!"
Cui Buqu sneered. "Commandery Governor Yang, Lord Xiao is from the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai. He's a man brimming with ambition and ulterior motives. He cooperated with you for two years because he saw long-term benefit for himself; it was never for some paltry relief grain. If you hadn't fallen out with him, you wouldn't have been so easily caught. Lord Xiao is skilled enough to hold his own against me for at least a few rounds. Yet now, he's discarded you like a pawn, fully aware that you've lost your value."
Yang Yun paled. "I don't know what you're talking about!" he rasped.
"No matter," Cui Buqu replied. "You can take your time explaining after we defeat Lord Xiao. The Zuoyue Bureau has plenty of methods to ensure you speak the truth. I'll hand these paintings and that woman over for the empress to handle."
"Cui Buqu!" Yang Yun cried, furious. "Didn't you just promise me?! You lying scoundrel!"
"What did I promise?" Cui Buqu asked innocently. "I can't remember."
"You son of a bitch—"
The gold bricks weren't firmly embedded in the wall. Cui Buqu easily pried one loose and brought it crashing down on Yang Yun's head and shoulders.
"Help! Murder!" Yang Yun screamed in agony, but his bound legs prevented him from moving more than a few steps. He stumbled and fell to the ground, his pained curses transforming into desperate howls. "Stop! Stop! I'll tell you everything!" His hair was disheveled, his face streaked with tears and snot. Gone was his neatly groomed appearance and dignified bearing.
"Shouldn't you be happy I hit you with one of your beloved gold bricks?" Cui Buqu sighed regretfully. "Unfortunately, I'm feeling a bit weak, or you could have been even happier."
Thank heavens an invalid like you lacks the strength, Yang Yun thought. Or you'd have beaten me to death!
Cui Buqu seized his collar and yanked him forward. "Considering the lives you've taken by stealing grain, if I were to kill you here, it wouldn't be too harsh a punishment," Cui Buqu said. He regarded Yang Yun as if regarding a corpse. A chill washed over the governor, and his body stiffened.
"However," Cui Buqu continued. "I am an official of Great Sui. I must abide by the law and cannot enact punishment on you myself." He patted Yang Yun's cheek. "Commandery Governor Yang, do you suffer from seizures? Why did you suddenly slam yourself into the wall and hurt yourself like that?"
Yang Yun was silent.
"Come," Cui Buqu said mildly. "I'll have the doctor treat you when we return."
He extended a hand to help Yang Yun up, but the man recoiled in terror as if encountering a demon. Cui Buqu ignored him and returned aboveground to the study. As he ordered the Zuoyue guards to bring Yang Yun up, the guards of the commandery governor's residence timidly brought him a letter.
Upon it was no address, no signature. Only a single verse:
Though our separation is brief, the longing grows apace. In Zhao's Teahouse, an old friend awaits.
When Pei Jingzhe and Qiao Xian approached, they found him still silently holding the letter.
"Cui-xiansheng, who is that letter from?"
Cui Buqu came back to himself. He said coolly, "Xiao Lü."
Qiao Xian's expression flickered, but Pei Jingzhe gasped. "The pavilion leader of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai? The demon tyrant?"
Cui Buqu had to smile at that moniker. Xiao Lü's appearance, approach, and manner of speaking were all incongruous with the image of a demon tyrant. If anyone embodied a "demon tyrant," perhaps it was Feng Xiao.
Only once had Cui Buqu and Xiao Lü met. The few times they'd come up against each other, they'd crossed blades from afar. Both sides had earned their share of victories and losses.
The Thirteen Floors of Yunhai had successively lost Yuxiu, Go Un, Duan Qihu, Feng Xiaolian, and several other capable agents. But Go Un had been from Goguryeo, so Xiao Lü had used Feng Xiao to eliminate him and gain control over the Buyeo Sect. Duan Qihu had turned against the Thirteen Floors, unwilling to join them in rebellion, so Xiao Lü had taken the chance to dispose of him as well. On the other hand, Cui Buqu's side had briefly obtained the Jade of Heaven Lake, only to allow it to fall back into enemy hands. Even now, Cui Buqu had yet to capture Xiao Lü.
They were evenly matched. Every time Cui Buqu faced off against Xiao Lü, even he couldn't predict the winner until the very last moment.
"I'll go, Lord Chief." Qiao Xian dropped to one knee, bowing her head to await his command.
"You wish to go?" Cui Buqu looked at the bun atop her head, his expression inscrutable.
"Yes."
"Xiao Lü's martial arts are on par with Feng Xiao's. He's likely to appear in person this time, and you stand no chance against him. Even so, do you still wish to go?"
"I do."
Pei Jingzhe looked at the two of them in confusion, but didn't interrupt.
"Then you may," said Cui Buqu.
Qiao Xian tightened her grip on her scabbard and rose to her feet.
"Come back alive."
Qiao Xian's heart trembled. "This subordinate will do her best."
Pei Jingzhe hurriedly intervened. "Xiao Lü is incredibly strong. How do you expect to beat him alone…"
Qiao Xian ignored him and smoothly leapt onto her horse. With a clear cry, she and the steed galloped away and disappeared into the vast night.
"Are you sending her to her death?!" Pei Jingzhe shouted at Cui Buqu, unable to contain himself. He mounted his horse and chased after her.
Cui Buqu watched them leave and said to Guan Shanhai, "We're going to Fengyun Tavern."
Guan Shanhai was puzzled. "Isn't Deputy Chief Feng already there?"
Cui Buqu sighed. "That's why we have to go. This letter proves there's no one at Zhao's Teahouse. Xiao Lü will do everything in his power to kill Feng Xiao at Fengyun Tavern."
Understanding dawned on Guan Shanhai. "You deliberately sent Qiao Xian to Zhao's Teahouse to save her life."
"Since she's made her choice, I'll protect her." Cui Buqu mounted his own horse and spurred it to a gallop. "Let's go be the heroes who rescue the beauty!"
Guan Shanhai was seriously injured and had yet to heal. At these words, he sputtered and almost choked to death right then and there. One of us is sick, and the other is wounded—how are we supposed to rescue anyone? We'll just be a snack for our enemies!
But Cui Buqu was already riding away. Guan Shanhai had no choice but to steel himself to risk his life at his lord's side as he urged his horse in pursuit.
***
In Guangqian County, there was a street with a lovely name: the Long Alley of Peach Blossoms. At the end of this street lay Fengyun Tavern.
Come midnight, three figures stood before the tavern door, identical in all ways, from their silhouettes to their facial features. The heavy scent of blood wafted off of them. Had they not been cloaked in black robes, the crimson stains would have been visible on their garments. Whether it was their blood or the blood of their foes was impossible to discern.
One Feng Xiao held a blood-stained fan. He said in disdain, "Can I please put this thing down now?"
Another Feng Xiao kindly reminded him, "Even if you throw away the fan, your clothes are stained with blood."
The first Feng Xiao stamped his foot. "You're awful! Are you suggesting I take off my clothes?!"
The second Feng Xiao said indignantly, "When did I say that?"
The third Feng Xiao couldn't contain himself any longer. "Can you stop making those expressions with my face?!"
The first Feng Xiao smiled sweetly. "Deputy Chief, I want to return to my own face as well. But look, these stupid dogs are blocking the way and refuse to leave. Can't you drive them off? Heaven knows I need to bathe and change my clothes—the smell of blood is making me nauseous!"
"Qin Miaoyu," Feng Xiao warned, "try acting cute with my face again, and you won't like the consequences."
The first Feng Xiao finally fell silent.
The second Feng Xiao opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the third. "Ming Yue, shut up."
Just ahead in the middle of the street, the young leader of the Jinhuan Guild, Leng Du, stood with six of his own martial experts, waiting in formation.
This was the second challenge.
Feng Xiao, Ming Yue, and Qin Miaoyu had spent two full hours eliminating eleven experts in the tavern. The only one who'd managed to slip their net was Yuan Sansi, and he'd fled with grave injuries.
But for this, they'd paid a significant price.
Qin Miaoyu's right arm hung at an unnatural angle, blood dripping steadily from the wound. Her attempts at humor were merely to distract herself from the pain. Ming Yue, beside her, had suffered a wound to his abdomen. Though he'd sealed his acupoints to staunch the bleeding, the damage to his cultivation was severe—he required urgent treatment.
As for Feng Xiao, it was impossible to tell if he had sustained any injuries at all. He looked the same as ever.
"Leng Du, adopted son of Ning Shewo. Since your father doesn't dare face us himself, he's sent you to meet your end. If I were in your shoes, I'd leave while you still can." Qin Miaoyu sighed.
"By joining the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai, Ning Shewo has made a tremendous gamble with the lives and fortunes of the entire Jinhuan Guild," Ming Yue added. "You're his adopted son, but you also serve as the young leader of the Jinhuan Guild. Whether for the sake of righteousness or your own personal interests, you should know what choice to make."
Both Qin Miaoyu and Ming Yue had impersonated Feng Xiao. But though their act had been impressive, Qin Miaoyu was a mediocre martial artist, and Ming Yue was unaccustomed to playing the zither. Feng Xiao had done most of the work.
Their enemies wouldn't fall for the ruse a second time.
Leng Du truly embodied his surname—cold. His face was as calm as still water as he drew his blade from its scabbard, his gaze fixed on Feng Xiao. "It's true that you've just defeated twelve experts in a row, but even I can see you've sustained injuries. Should you manage to survive this round, there are more enemies waiting for you. Why not surrender? That way I can hand you over to my superiors."
"Deputy Chief." Qin Miaoyu pouted. "I'm no good with the zither strings. Earlier, I barely managed to avoid slicing off my arm. This time, let me use a weapon I'm actually skilled with."
Feng Xiao sneered. "Play cute with me while wearing my face one more time, and I'll sew your mouth shut!"
The instant he said the word shut, he lunged toward Leng Du.
Leng Du's eyes went wide.
He'd known of Feng Xiao's exceptional strength. Even experts like Yuxiu and Fan Yun had struggled against him; Leng Du and the six experts of the Jinhuan Guild could only fare worse. Despite their impressive titles, they were unlikely to last more than a few moves against a martial artist of Feng Xiao's caliber.
However, that was under normal circumstances.
Feng Xiao had just emerged from a ferocious battle in the tavern. No matter how skilled he was, he had to be exhausted. If Leng Du could seriously injure him, the night's endeavor would not be in vain.
Even so, he was caught off guard by the sheer speed of Feng Xiao's qinggong. Feng Xiao sailed toward Leng Du like a ghost, silent as the flowing clouds.
The moment Feng Xiao appeared in front of him, Leng Du unsheathed his blade. But before he could strike, a powerful force seized his hand and forced his saber back into its scabbard. Excruciating pain ripped through his chest as the meridians of his heart were severed.
Leng Du fell down dead, face frozen in an expression of disbelief.
The six experts erupted into shouts, all moving in to avenge their young guild leader. Feng Xiao shot into the air. In a single step he was behind them, turning to raise his hand as zither strings shot out and targeted three of his attackers.
Of the five strings he'd brought, two had been lost in the tavern. He was left with only three. At least six lives had been claimed by those three strings, and they stank of blood. Normally Feng Xiao would have thrown them away in disgust, but tonight he had to hold his nose and reuse them.
Six experts, three strings. He could only strike half of his attackers.
Ming Yue and Qin Miaoyu also sprang into action. Ming Yue wielded a long sword, while Qin Miaoyu flourished her sleeves, the pair's murderous intent converging into a chilling light that surged toward their foes.
Thunder rumbled ominously overhead, and the clouds crackled with lightning, an omen of storms to come. The sound echoed like the beat of a war drum urging on the night's bloody slaughter. On the Long Alley of Peach Blossoms, what fell upon the dark stones wasn't flower petals, but splatters of blood that bloomed across the stones. From now on, perhaps the name would carry a different connotation.
The battle sprawled over the street. Blades flashed and glinted, while bloodlust boiled the air. Both sides of the street lay in eerie silence, as if the surrounding houses were uninhabited. Six people fell to the ground alongside their young guild leader, one after another, their eyes wide open in death.
Qin Miaoyu staggered two steps before her legs buckled. She collapsed, retching blood.
At the sight of her, Feng Xiao abruptly said, "Cui Buqu looks much better when he vomits blood."
Qin Miaoyu was speechless. She longed to grab one of the Jinhuan Guild's sabers and hurl it at Feng Xiao, but she didn't dare. Since she'd switched allegiances from the Buyeo Sect to the Jiejian Bureau, she'd relied on Feng Xiao for her survival. Besides, despite having killed so many, Feng Xiao's face wasn't even flushed, as if he hadn't exerted himself at all. The man was terrifying.
Ming Yue, though not spitting blood, was struggling to stand. His face had taken on an alarming blue cast. He stumbled over to a wall and slid down to regulate his breathing, aware that greater challenges lay ahead.
"Who else is there?" Qin Miaoyu cried out. "What are you waiting for? Get the hell out here!"
"You're injured; save your strength," Ming Yue cautioned.
Feng Xiao gave him a light kick. "Can you stop making such an honest expression with my face?"
But they didn't have to wait long. The enemy had answered Qin Miaoyu's call and gotten the hell out there.
This time, it was only one person.
He came from the far end of the street, sauntering toward them as if he'd come to the Long Alley of Peach Blossoms to admire the flowers rather than take their lives. He held an umbrella overhead.
At first, Qin Miaoyu thought he was a passerby who had mistakenly wandered over. She urged him gently, "This place is dangerous; you should go."
Feng Xiao frowned. "He only looks respectable; do you really think an ordinary person would take a stroll here in the dead of night? Keep this up and you can forget about staying in the Jiejian Bureau. I don't suffer fools."
"We're all exhausted," said Qin Miaoyu indignantly. "You want to keep fighting and killing? If we can say a few kind words and convince him to leave, won't that save us a lot of trouble?"
Feng Xiao shattered her fantasy without mercy. "Enough. That's the pavilion leader of the Thirteen Floors of Yunhai."
What? Qin Miaoyu stared in shock, looking back at the newcomer. It was hard to believe this gentle, elegant, and refined young man was, in fact, their most formidable enemy.
Xiao Lü chuckled softly and stopped a short distance away. "Deputy Chief Feng. How are you?"
"If you want to fight, let's fight," Feng Xiao said, impatient. "Don't waste my time."
Xiao Lü looked at him with sympathy. "You've just been injured. If we fight now, I fear you won't stand a chance. Better to rest a bit first—I prefer a fair fight."
If you want a fair fight, why did you send so many people earlier?! Feng Xiao wanted to shout. But on consideration, he decided to save his strength for the inevitable confrontation. He knew Xiao Lü was right.
Many martial artists could detect and influence each other's qi. He could feel Xiao Lü's presence, which meant Xiao Lü could sense his condition too. Qin Miaoyu was as good as empty air—there was no point relying on her. Ming Yue was strong, but he wouldn't stand a chance against Xiao Lü, especially in his current state.
As for Feng Xiao, although he'd have been happy to fight Xiao Lü under normal circumstances, the battle in the tavern had drained much of his strength. Leng Du's group had proved easier to handle than Yuan Sansi's, but Feng Xiao's accumulated injuries had also been aggravated in the fight and were becoming increasingly difficult to manage.
Xiao Lü had planned it all out. But retreat was not an option. The moment Feng Xiao withdrew, Cui Buqu would be in danger.
"The last time we met, it must have been difficult for you to feign incompetence and lose to me. Someone as proud as you are must find it unbearable. I expect you'll do all you can to beat me today. But experts are everywhere in this world. It's a pity—even if you manage to beat me, you still won't be the best," Feng Xiao said.
Xiao Lü smiled faintly. "Why would I want to be the best? I am merely a rebel, not a member of the jianghu. Are you worried I'll harm Cui Buqu? Don't worry, Deputy Chief Feng, I won't kill him. The only one I want dead today is you."
As his last words rang out, the sound of galloping hooves echoed in the distance. The two men fell silent, listening intently. Through the night fog, they spotted a tall and slender figure charging toward them on horseback, cloak billowing behind him in the wind.
Xiao Lü started as he recognized the rider. He turned to Feng Xiao, who appeared equally surprised. The newcomer pulled back on the reins, and the horse reared up with a long whinny.
"Chief Cui." Feng Xiao scoffed, his expression icy. "You have a nose as keen as a dog's. You show up wherever there's trouble! Xiao Lü is my prey. Today, it's the Jiejian Bureau who will capture him. If you dare interfere, I'll kill you first."
"Feng Yuntian."
Cui Buqu's expression was obscured by the fog. Only his familiar voice remained unchanged. "The question you asked me yesterday—I can answer it now. My answer is: I would."
Feng Xiao's breath caught. What had he asked him yesterday?
Would you entrust your back to me?