Martial King's Retired Life

Wu Dayong and Zhou Teng hid behind the white walls of a building topped with black tiles. Initially, they were going to call out to Ming Feizhen, but they stopped themselves when they espied him acting suspicious as he entered another courtyard. Therefore, they chose to shadow him. Although it wasn’t easy for them to tail a martial artist, their familiarity with the academy compensated. Plus, Ming Feizhen’s senses were dedicated to sensing malice directed at him from trained killers, so he didn’t have a “barrier” against other students.

“Feizhen…” Wu Dayong shook his head as if there were flies around. “Hmm… Hmm…”

“’Hmm’ what?”

“If he was just a simple man, why would he be here?”

Ming Feizhen was possibly ignorant to the fact that his classmates, and even students from other classes, had been keeping a close eye on him ever since he started school at Daren Academy. After all, no student ever visited the principal’s office twelve times in less than ten days upon commencing. The boys believed him to be someone who took crap from nobody. The girls thought he was interesting enough for the rich ones to send their maids out on intelligence-collection missions so that they could learn more about him. Upon learning he was a constable of Liu Shan Men… the man became a star in the eyes of many students.

“Feizhen fought to get us a new classroom and brought Yan Ling as well as Xiao Han in to help us. He has to be a good guy.”

The attentive Zhou Teng pushed up his prescriptive glasses with a silver string. “What is he visiting Flower Plucking Palace for, though?”

The two were so focused on tailing Ming Feizhen that they failed to watch their own backs.

***

“What… are you here for?”

It had been two, maybe three, years since I last saw her, and she looked as if she hadn’t aged a day. She had the beauty to turn heads her way as soon as she walked into a room and a regal aura that would keep one’s gaze affixed on her. She didn’t have the refined features Young Shiyi was blessed with, but her every movement would steal the limelight.

Jin Zhaoying strolled over to sit in the seat next to me. While I was sitting in the owner’s seat, her demeanour made it appear as though I was there to listen to her lecture. She picked up a cup of tea without any unnecessary motions, yet it didn’t seem crude. Because she spent most of her time alone, she poured her own drinks instead of having her maid wait on her for everything.

“What are you zoning out for? You haven’t answered my question.”

“Ahaha.” I scratched my head. “Would you believe me if I told you I missed you?”

Jin Zhaoying’s hands stopped. “You miss me?” She tilted her head. “Why?”

Don’t take it serious! I was just regaling you! You make it sound as though there’s something between us!

“Ahem, I have a bit of a problem, so I’d like your help. That’s it.”

Jin Zhaoying continued raising her teacup, this time to finally have an elegant nip. “Okay, I’ll help.”

“You don’t want to set terms and conditions?”

Jin Zhaoying looked up from her teacup without raising her head. “The best gain I can net is a favour you owe me.”

“You… don’t even need to ask me what I need help with?”

“No. You asked for my help, which must mean I can help.”

I scratched my head, reflecting on where I went wrong to be read as an open book.

Jin Zhaoying lifting my chin with a hand and looked me straight in the eye. “But you are not allowed to refuse me when I ask for you.”

“… Yep, I regret asking. Can we pretend this never took place?”

Jin Zhaoying simpered. “What do you think?”

We spent a while engaging in a stare down, and I was about to utter, “Fine,” when I heard outside the door, “Hey, don’t push. I’m going to fall,” and “Slow down, guys.” Next thing I knew, the doors were forced open, and eight people fell down, stacked on top of each other.

The heck? Jin Zhaoying got a bunch of sugar boys who’ve come to eavesdrop?

“What are you guys doing?” I asked of the two I recognised at the front.

Zhou Teng and Wu Dayong went from apologetic to exasperated in the blink of an eye.

“Th-that’s my question.”

“Me? Asking for help…” I followed their line of sight, which led me to a smooth, unblemished and warm hand under my chin.

Jin Zhaoying’s hand was still under my chin. Her body was leaned in toward me no differently to leaning into an embrace.

“Oh, so the new student is Jin Zhaoying’s lover!”

“Mama mia, big scoop! Big scoop! Flower Plucking Palace is taken!”

“Aaah! Mistress Jin has a man!”

I had yet to catch up when the three yellers already bolted off. “Wait! You’re misconstruing what you saw! It’s a misunderstanding! Don’t run off!” I looked back to see Jin Zhaoying still in the same posture, seemingly unbothered, so I exclaimed, “Take your hand off!”

Wu Dayong enthused, “And put it where?!”

Where did you start listening?! I only told her to take it off!

“Feizhen, you’re incredible. Not only did you provoke His Highness, assault Zhao Xin and even Jin… We’re dominating the idol competition this time! From today onward, you are my idol!” Wu Dayong effused.

“No, you’re misunderstanding. You did not see everything.”

Wu Dayong accompanied a big nod with, “Of course not. It would be inappropriate to see all of it. I get it. I get it.”

“I’m not telling you to watch the whole thing! Wait, it’s fine if you see everything! No, wait… There’s nothing for you to see!”

“Uh…” Ostensibly understanding at long last, Wu Dayong gave me a smile. “Got it. Got it.”

You don’t get squat! Argh! I give up!

Glossary

“Take your hand off” joke – In the original, translated literally, Ming Feizhen said, “Take your hand down!” because the “down” part is necessary to say “let go.” Wu Dayong, therefore, enthuses, “You want her to move her hand down?!” My pure mind refuses to let me tell you where that goes from there, so I’ll leave it to your impure minds to deliberate.