Ch 98: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Elder Yu’s team really did dig something up.

The Xiang family had produced quite a few illustrious figures in their lineage, and during the Qi dynasty—exactly the era Elder Yu had focused on—there was an ancestor named Xiang Fangting, who had served as one of the Nine Ministers. The local county annals of the Xiang family’s ancestral home recorded him in some detail.

This Xiang Fangting, it was said, was strikingly handsome and elegant, the very model of the type most admired among the scholar-official class of the time. His career was smooth and prosperous.

In his lifetime, he married two wives, took several concubines, and had five sons and three daughters.

A textbook feudal-era “winner at life.”

And Xiang Fangting’s era coincided perfectly with that of Prince Yu.

The county records even noted that Xiang Fangting had been closely associated with the royal family of the time and was favored by the emperor.

Elder Yu practically cradled these materials like a treasure as he brought them to Mu Xing, his heart pounding with excitement. There were barely any historical documents on Prince Yu—but Xiang Fangting was different.

Though absent from the official histories, plenty of accounts of him lingered in local records and anecdotes.

Perhaps through this, they could unearth something about Prince Yu.

“Thank you,” Mu Xing said politely.

Elder Yu beamed. “No need for thanks, no need at all. This is our work. And with you, a living artifact, by our side, I’ve never felt more motivated.”

“All you need do,” Elder Yu added eagerly, “is recall what you can when you’re in the mood—tell us about daily customs, traditions, foods of the Qi dynasty—that alone would be priceless.”

Mu Xing nodded, then said, “Oh, and that Xiang Feicheng—you may bring him here. I’ll treat him as a junior. I rather like the lad.”

On his face, youthful and unlined, Mu Xing looked like a boy not yet of age—yet he called a man in his twenties a “junior.” Several people exchanged strange looks.

But Elder Yu found nothing odd about it at all. He immediately nodded. “Of course, of course. I’ll notify him at once.”

When Xiang Feicheng received the message, he was utterly baffled.

At the moment, he was at home being scolded by his father, who had always disapproved of his “frivolous” livestreaming career. After the recent disaster, his family’s worry had only grown.

When his father heard the message, his first reaction was: “That place is dangerous. You are absolutely forbidden to go back there.”

Xiang Feicheng hadn’t even managed to respond when Elder Yu burst out more excited than anyone: “Dangerous? Where? The young master is gentle and kind—he asked personally to meet your son. Do you realize what an honor, what a rare chance this is? To converse with a living relic! People would beg for such an opportunity!”

Then, remembering their earlier discussion, he added, “Besides, the young master was a close friend of your ancestor Xiang Fangting. He practically counts as half an ancestor of your family himself.”

Xiang’s father: “…”

That was… hard to argue with.

Still, he was uneasy.

So Elder Yu put on his official face and declared that Xiang Feicheng’s visit would be a contribution to national archaeology. Translated on Hololo novels. The state would remember.

In other words: it would benefit the Xiang family.

As a businessman, how could Xiang’s father refuse such a benefit?

He softened, smiling kindly at his son. “Son, when it comes to serving the country, our family cannot decline. Go without worry. Oh—and may I ask, can you guarantee my boy’s safety?”

Xiang Feicheng: “…” Thank you so much for finally remembering to care about my safety now.

Still, inside, he was secretly thrilled. After a quick word to his family, he happily set off in his hovercar toward the old mansion.

This time, Mu Xing treated him with great kindness—so much so that Xiang Feicheng felt a little overwhelmed.

Mu Xing even poured him tea with his own hands.

He wanted to test whether it truly had to be Xiang Feicheng’s blood to trigger his memories.

Xiang Feicheng, meanwhile, held the fragrant cup of tea in both hands, almost flustered at the honor.

He watched Mu Xing’s smooth, elegant movements, the way his long hair slid off his shoulder as he leaned forward, revealing a glimpse of pale skin between his collar and hair.

Something in Xiang Feicheng’s chest gave an involuntary tremor.

He couldn’t stop himself from looking up, his gaze falling directly on Mu Xing’s face.

This boy had stunned him at first sight. But the strangeness surrounding him had made it hard to see him purely as a beautiful youth.

Now, with Mu Xing showing such warmth, Xiang Feicheng’s natural flirtatious streak began to stir again.

He couldn’t help but praise, “Young master, you are truly the most fitting person I’ve ever met for the word ‘peerless beauty.’”

It wasn’t meant as disrespect or teasing. He had studied the records carefully—back in the Qi dynasty, praising someone’s beauty and grace, regardless of gender, was the highest of compliments.

Sure enough, hearing this, the young master did not seem offended. Instead, Mu Xing smiled at him with quiet reserve.

But in truth, Mu Xing had just been struck by a fleeting daze.

Not because of Xiang Feicheng’s compliment, but because—again—a memory had surfaced.

That deep-voiced man stood at his side, smiling as he said, “Ah Yu, you are a beauty beyond compare—surely a celestial immortal who accidentally fell to earth.”

The boy had blushed with delight.

“Young master?”

Mu Xing came back to himself, seeing Xiang Feicheng watching him.

“Ah, I was just thinking of something,” he said.

The boy was quiet and graceful, dressed in attire wholly out of step with the modern age. Even sitting so close, Xiang Feicheng felt as though a vast gulf stretched between them.

His gaze shifted, and Xiang Feicheng asked Mu Xing: “Young master, can you leave this mansion?”

Mu Xing nodded. “I can.”

Xiang Feicheng suggested: “Then staying home all day must be boring. It’s been over two thousand years—aren’t you curious about what the outside world has become? I can take you out to see.”

Mu Xing thought—he actually was, a little.

In his memories, it seemed that Xiang Fangting had also taken Prince Yu to many places he had never been before.

He didn’t particularly like Xiang Feicheng’s eagerness; the man wasn’t honest with him. But he was curious about the outside world. And besides, being by Xiang Feicheng’s side seemed to help him recover his memories.

So he agreed.

“Then let’s go right now!” Xiang Feicheng leapt up enthusiastically, then paused and looked at Mu Xing. “But your clothes…”

Mu Xing smiled. “A small matter.”

As he spoke, his robes shifted into a casual modern outfit of shirt and trousers. The slim lines of his body were wrapped in the fitted clothing, making him look even younger.

This new look made Xiang Feicheng’s eyes light up.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you out to have some fun!”

Xiang Feicheng was handsome, bold, and playful—his skill at winning people over had been honed on countless beautiful faces.

Cheering someone up was never a hard thing for him.

At least in Mu Xing’s eyes, these past days Xiang Feicheng had taken him everywhere, arranging things thoughtfully and attentively, with not a single flaw to be found.

But Mu Xing was not so easily swayed.

He wasn’t dissatisfied with Xiang Feicheng, but from those fleeting glances Xiang Feicheng failed to fully conceal, he saw the man’s true intention—he desired him.

That explained the attentiveness, the eagerness, the care.

Admiring beauty was human nature, and Mu Xing didn’t object to desire sparked by attraction.

But—if he remembered correctly, this Xiang Feicheng seemed to already have a girlfriend?

With that in mind, his “lust at first sight” felt far more distasteful.

“Careful!” Mu Xing was still lost in thought when, suddenly, someone yanked him hard, pulling him off balance.

Xiang Feicheng had already spread his arms wide, ready to catch him.

Mu Xing frowned slightly, twisting his body in an almost unnatural way to steady himself on his feet.

Xiang Feicheng withdrew his hands, disappointed.

But in that moment, an image flashed across Mu Xing’s mind—

A boy falling off a horse for the first time, and the man at his side catching him, holding him tightly in his arms.

The floodgates of memory burst open, and all that had been forgotten surged back into Mu Xing’s mind like a tidal wave.

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