HNYWEF -Chapter 21 The Way Back

Night fell.

The alley was pitch-black, except for the two lanterns hanging in front of the door — Cheng Yaojin had ordered them put up that afternoon, saying he was worried Zhou Yi wouldn’t be able to see at night if he went outside.

Qin Qiong stood at the doorway, carrying two jars of wine.

He knocked.

The door opened. Zhou Yi stood inside, looking up at him.

“You are…?”

Qin Qiong only lowered his head and looked at him.

“Where’s your father?”

Zhou Yi glanced toward the inside of the house but said nothing.

Qin Qiong patted his shoulder and walked in.

The main room was dark, unlit. The curtain to the inner room hung motionless.

Qin Qiong walked over and lifted the curtain.

The room inside was even darker than outside.

But by the faint light spilling in from the main room, he saw him.

In the corner.

That man was still crouching there.

Exactly where he had been during the day. Exactly the same posture. Both hands clutching his head, head buried low, body curled tightly into itself.

As if, throughout the entire day, he had never moved.

Qin Qiong stood at the doorway and watched him for a while.

Then he shook his head.

He walked in and set one jar of wine down on the floor in front of Zhou Xiong.

The wine jar hit the brick floor with a dull thud.

Zhou Xiong didn’t move.

Qin Qiong sat down beside him.

Leaning against the wall, he set the other jar beside his leg, broke the seal, and tipped his head back for a drink.

The room was silent.

So silent that he could hear Zhou Yi’s soft footsteps moving outside.

Qin Qiong swallowed the wine and finally spoke.

“That blind bear who always says the Emperor comes first and I come second,” he said, “since when did he learn to be afraid?”

Zhou Xiong didn’t move.

Qin Qiong looked at him and continued,

“What are you afraid of? Afraid that one day the brothers’ old injuries will flare up again and you won’t be able to save them?”

He paused.

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Zhou Xiong still didn’t move.

Qin Qiong waited for a while.

He set the wine jar down and stood up.

Then he crouched down.

Crouched directly in front of Zhou Xiong.

The two of them were very close. Close enough to hear each other breathing.

Qin Qiong looked at him.

Looked at the hands clutching his head, the deeply lowered face, the body curled into itself.

Then he spoke.

“The war is over.”

Zhou Xiong’s fingers twitched.

Qin Qiong saw it.

So he continued:

“Li Shimin has already ascended the throne.”

Zhou Xiong didn’t move.

“The realm is finally at peace.”

Qin Qiong paused.

“Shouldn’t you wake up too?”

The room fell silent again.

So silent that they could hear the soft crackling of a candle wick — sometime during all this, a lamp had been lit in the main room, and a thin strip of light slipped through the gap in the curtain and fell across the floor.

Zhou Xiong didn’t move.

Neither did Qin Qiong.

He simply remained crouched there, looking at the man before him.

This man he had known for over ten years.

This man who had once saved his life.

This man curled into himself, hiding in the corner.

A long time passed.

So long that Qin Qiong’s legs had gone numb from squatting.

Then Zhou Xiong’s fingers twitched again.

Just once.

And finally, he spoke.

His voice was terribly hoarse, like the words were being forced out from the depths of his throat.

“Second Brother Qin…”

Qin Qiong answered softly.

“Mm.”

Zhou Xiong said nothing more.

Neither did Qin Qiong.

He simply stayed crouched there.

Waiting.

Outside, the wind made the lanterns sway slightly. Light and shadow filtered through the gap in the curtain, trembling across the floor before slowly settling still again.

Then Zhou Xiong moved.

He picked up the wine jar before him, broke the seal, and took a drink.

“This wine… tastes fucking awful…”

It was the first complete sentence Zhou Xiong had spoken all day.

Qin Qiong stood up.

He smiled.

Then he crouched back down and patted Zhou Xiong on the shoulder.

After that, Qin Qiong left.

He knew exactly what that sentence meant.

Zhou Xiong was already on his way back.

But suddenly, Qin Qiong’s eyes reddened.

He didn’t even know why.

He only felt that behind that hanging curtain…

something seemed to stir at last.