The first round draws to a close…
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Ch. 35 | After the bout
Nox stared dazedly for a while before asking in a low voice, ‘W-wh… why…’
‘If you continue fighting, you’ll die.’
Nox asked haltingly, ‘Don’t you… want… to win?’ He pointed at Song Lin. ‘Winning… is right there… just… a bit more…’
‘Enough!’ Liang Feng sat dejectedly on the ground. ‘I’m not worth it.’
Nox didn’t understand.
‘This is my victory, what business is it of yours? From start to finish, this has always been my own affair. I wanted to prove myself to Father and I’m also his son — all of this is my own business. Why are you putting your own life on the line?’
‘… Liang…’
‘Don’t call my name! I never once thought of you as a comrade.’
His anger filled Nox with dismay. ‘I… made you angry?’
Liang Feng clutched at his head in misery. ‘I’m not worth it!’
Nox was bleeding profusely, the pain was quite intolerable.
‘I lied to you in the Marsh of Death. The only reason I wanted to be friends with you was so I could make use of you.’
Nox seemed to disagree with this as he insistently pointed at Liang Feng’s heart, saying, ‘You’re… good…’
‘Idiot!…’ Liang Feng cut him off, clutching at his own heart. ‘My heart isn’t good at all… do you know why my father hates me so much? Do you know why he has guards outside his bedroom day and night? It’s to guard against me… I killed my brother myself, that’s why Father hates me so much… but he was the one who abandoned me first, he abandoned me from the moment I was born… I wanted to win the title of Arch-Guardian to prove to Father that I wasn’t lousy. But I know very well that my sins can’t be forgiven, that I can’t escape punishment… so you should also… abandon me. Someone as wicked as me just isn’t worth it…’
Nox’s hand trembled for a long time before he finally lowered it, his eyes dull. After that, he turned his head aside and buried his face in his wing. No one had ever seen this frightening Vampire Beast of the Marsh of Death with such an expression.
At this juncture, the referee declared, ‘The Liang clan has given up on fighting. Song Lin wins.’
After he finished announcing this, the audience did not react immediately. It took a few seconds before they began chanting the winner’s name as they burst into thunderous applause¹.
¹ 掌聲雷動 zhǎngshēng-léidòng. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
The strength seemed to drain out of Dandan completely and he relaxed, tugged at Song Lin and asked, ‘Are you all right?’
‘I’m all right,’ Song Lin was holding his neck and looking down at his body covered with blood. ‘But I’m afraid Styx will be worried.’
Dandan gazed at his neck and commented with a frown, ‘I have to say, you’re really too stupid.’
Song Lin stared blankly for a second and echoed, ‘Stupid?’
Dandan nodded. ‘You could have dodged it altogether but you didn’t and then got yourself bitten this badly.’
Song Lin did not wish to explain further. ‘I wanted to give you a chance to play the hero and save your master, otherwise you might feel you haven’t had a chance to show off what you can do.’
‘Go to the devil!’ Dandan retorted. He kept the Qingling Sword back in his body but felt a sudden pain stabbing his heart and inhaled sharply.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘… Nothing.’ Dandan lowered his eyelids, a presentiment of unease welling up in his heart…
After a while, he still shook his head. Don’t start imagining things. Just take each day as it comes.
As a result, the one who was really the most worried was certainly Styx. When he saw the two of them being carried back with serious injuries, he was so angry he could not speak at first.
While ordering Troy to prepare bandages, he kept scolding, ‘Can you two ancestors please do me a favour? It’s only been one afternoon, but you’ve already let yourselves be this badly hurt? Second Master, you’re also too much, treating your own life so lightly. If anything should happen, how am I going to account for it to Eldest Master?’
Troy requested, ‘Your Excellency Styx, could you not wave those scissors around while talking? It’s quite scary.’
‘…’ Dandan added recklessly, ‘So… two badly injured patients are in front of you but you only care about whether Eldest Master is unhappy?… Don’t tell me you’re secretly in love with Eldest Master?’
‘….’ Styx’s expression hardened for an instant. He took a deep breath and cut open the injured Dandan’s sleeves, tore the material apart and saw the congealed blood clots affecting the wound –
‘Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!’ Dandan howled. ‘Ol’ Fish Eyes! Are you saving me or killing me???’
‘Shut your mouth,’ Styx commanded coldly.
On the other bed, Song Lin silently turned over, rubbing his temples. Honestly, can’t even recuperate in peace… But… He gazed out the window: the manor hasn’t been this lively in years.
A few days under the care of the redoubtable² Styx saw Song Lin able to get down from his bed and walk around while Dandan’s eyes were also almost fully recovered. For a time, Dandan kept wondering whether there was anything Styx couldn’t do because even an all-rounded butler wasn’t as amazing as he was.
He had once secretly asked Song Lin, ‘What kind of training did you give this Ol’ Fish Eyes? Can you train me the same way?’
‘Training?’ Song Lin wagged a finger. ‘When my brother sent him here, he already knew everything so I didn’t have to do anything.’
‘… Oh…’ Dandan was now even more curious about this older brother of his. ‘Your brother trained him so well yet he could bear to give him to you?’
‘Who knows.’
‘Then why doesn’t Styx have a spirit beast? He’s a Guardian himself, isn’t he?’
Song Lin said, ‘Some Guardians don’t need a spirit beast. My brother doesn’t have one either.’
Dandan blinked and joked, ‘Your brother wouldn’t have made a pact with Styx, surely?’
Song Lin shook his head. ‘Guardians aren’t able to make pacts with each other.’
Dandan shrugged. ‘That’s true… forget I said anything.’
After so much bed rest, both felt like some physical activity. Having recovered, Song Lin decided to bring everyone out to enjoy themselves.
‘Where are we going?’ Troy and Dandan were both gazing at him eagerly.
Song Lin: ‘The hunting ground.’
Troy and Dandan: ….
² 出類拔萃 chūlèi-bácuì. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
The sun was shining brightly³ and Song Lin and Styx were relaxing in the shade of a tree.
Admittedly, after Dandan had slaughtered almost every beast in the hunting ground, this mountain had gone from being a dangerous place to a peaceful haven…?
With hills, forests, rivers and breezes, Song Lin began pondering the possibility of spending some money, turning it into a scenic spot for visitors and charging entrance fees for it.
He took a sandwich that Styx handed to him and bit into it, watching leisurely as a small white dog and small white rabbit, back in their original forms, went bounding all over the hills. For a moment, he had the mistaken feeling that he really was keeping two pets.
Pets?
No, no, no.
He rubbed his temples. Before him were two spirit beasts, one of Silver and the other of Supreme calibre. Leaving aside everything else, once they revealed their fangs, there was nothing in the least bit cute about them.
³ 陽光明媚 yángguāngmíngmèi. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
‘What are you thinking about, Second Master?’ Styx asked.
‘Ahem… nothing much…’ Song Lin rubbed his jaw and suddenly espied a big apple in the fruit basket. As a result, he stood up and whistled at the two of them. Both white four-legged creatures stopped and looked at him at the same time, so Song Lin threw the apple towards them. Troy did not appear to hesitate as his instincts took over and he leapt up, catching the apple in his mouth.
Dandan: …
Styx: …
Troy, biting the apple: …
He stared blankly for a moment before remembering that he was a Silver calibre spirit beast and immediately spat out the apple.
Dandan shook his head, the look in his eyes clearly saying, Just look at you. Aren’t you ashamed?
Troy hung his head: Yes.
Dandan transformed back into his human state and walked over to the tree to have a rest. He noticed a cup of juice on the picnic mat, picked it up and drank some.
Song Lin’s eyes lifted and he pointed out, ‘That’s my cup.’
‘Oh,’ said Dandan and drank again, his long ears giving a little twitch. ‘What’s the problem?’
Song Lin gazed for a time at the spot where both their lips had touched before waving his hand and saying, ‘Forget it, it’s nothing.’
‘Brother Dandan!’ Troy hailed him from afar, sounding as though he had found something fun.
‘Coming,’ Dandan put down the cup and cocked his head. ‘I’ll be going then.’
‘Wait a moment.’
‘Hm?’
‘You seemed to be under some strain when you were keeping the Qingling Sword last time. Why was that?’
‘Maybe it’s because the Qingling Sword contains your spiritual power. I was injured then and I guess my body couldn’t bear the weight of your spiritual power,’ Dandan answered, scratching his head.
Song Lin lifted his hand and drew the Qingling Sword out of Dandan’s body.
‘Huh?’ Dandan was baffled.
In Song Lin’s hands, the Qingling Sword transformed into a chain with a green pendant.
Song Lin helped Dandan to wear it, saying, ‘It’s normal for spirit beasts’ bodies to feel under strain when they have to carry too many weapons. I won’t leave this Qingling Sword in your body then. Just wear it around your neck. It’ll be more convenient to use like this.’
Dandan stared blankly for a few moments, then lowered his head and touched the jade pendant before nodding and saying, ‘Okay.’
Come evening, Troy and Dandan were covered in mud from having rolled around too much on the ground.
Song Lin cast them a disgusted glance. ‘Do you want to bathe in the hot springs?’
The little white rabbit and little white dog immediately pricked up their ears and nodded vigorously.
‘Second Master, you’ll be coming along as well?’ asked Troy.
Song Lin was about to reply when Styx reminded him, ‘Eldest Master will be coming home for dinner tonight.’
Upon hearing this, Song Lin then said, ‘Then I won’t go. Styx, arrange for a car to send them to Lianxiang Pavilion.’
‘Understood.’
Lianxiang Pavilion was Ridge City’s largest recreation centre, offering all manner of entertainment from hot springs and restaurants to dance halls and music halls.
A doorman hurried over to welcome them respectfully after seeing that it was Song Lin’s car.
‘Welcome, Your Excellency Styx. Will you be having a meal or listening to some opera instead?’
‘Using the hot springs.’
‘Certainly ~’ The doorman caught sight of the two grimy balls of dirt in the car and said tactfully, ‘Er… well… Your Excellency Styx, our house rules do not allow pets…’
Styx cast a glance over at the two bundles of fur and said coldly, ‘They’re not pets.’
‘Er… then they’re?’
‘Just two little beasts,’ Styx concluded indifferently.
Dandan and Troy: —
(Approx. 1867 words)
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Translated and edited by 12
hiding in plain sight 
Oh no, my heart! Poor Nox. ;O; He doesn’t deserve any of this. Liang Feng just blurting all of this out makes me sigh–you knew from the start that he was probably using Nox, but at the same time you (by you I mean me, HA) know it’s the classic AND THEN FEELINGS HAPPEN~ And they become best friends. The end. This is how it’s going to play out. It better play out like that.
Dandan is so dense when it comes to Song Lin, I swear at some point he’s going to realize how much Song Lin cares and it’s going to hit him like a ton of bricks. Troy and Dandan getting along makes me ridiculously happy–the scene where Troy caught that apple before realizing it made me laugh so hard. Yes, be ashamed Troy, acting like a common dog.
I like how Styx tries to play the straight man to Dandan’s idiocy and it just doesn’t work out. :’) I’m intrigued about Styx and Song Lin’s brother though~
Thanks for the update!
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Haha, Styx will be even more annoyed with them in the next chapter 😅 He probably wishes he could give Dandan a good kick in the behind 🤭
Song Fuyan and Styx will have their moments much much later.
Heh, Dandan spends half his time persuading himself not to hope for anything from Song Lin and the other half hoping anyway.
Liang Feng and Nox… No spoilers from me! 🤐
There’s more bonding between Dandan and Troy in the next chapter!
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