Zhao Jiangui has no choice but to go in once more.
Ji Han has already returned to his room, sitting beside the table. He's currently staring at the stick of tanghulu in his hand, dazed and lost in thought.
Zhao Jiangui makes noise, asking him, "You don't plan on eating it?"
Unexpectedly Ji Han actually jumps in fright because of him.
"When did you come in?" Ji Han says, "How come I didn't hear it."
Zhao Jiangui's wrinkles up his brows slightly, "What are you thinking about? How come you didn't even hear the sounds of footsteps."
Speaking of martial arts practitioners, this is actually somewhat unusual.
Ji Han, "I..."
He hangs his head, seems like he doesn't want to talk.
Zhao Jiangui is afraid the indescribable fire will come back. He stands far away by the door, saying to Ji Han, "Hua Hufa made me bring word to you, she says the Eagle Hall's Wei Tangzhu has already arrived down the mountain, waiting for your summons."
Ji Han, "Why didn't she come in and tell me herself?"
Zhao Jiangui, "She fears your anger."
Ji Han, "..."
With utmost care, Zhao Jiangui asks, "You... You're truly angry?"
Ji Han is taciturn a long while, suddenly says furiously, "You're causing me to lose so much face!"
Zhao Jiangui, "Ah?"
Ji Han, "The mouths of those people, one is bigger than the next, if it spreads across Jianghu..."
Zhao Jiangui, "..."
He suddenly recalls the story he made up about Bashan Daxia and Mobei's twin heroes.
Ji Han, "I'm afraid in another few days, everyone in Jianghu must all know you and I..."
He can't go on speaking.
Zhao Jiangui thinks carefully. He thinks those people seemed to actually not know who he is at all, he also never heard someone call out his name.
Zhao Jiangui hastily consoles Ji Han, saying, "Don't worry, they really don't know who I am."
Ji Han's expression however seems even worse.
Ji Han, "That's just even more terrible, I'm afraid it can't be shaken in a few days, the information will just spread across Jianghu."
Zhao Jiangui is puzzled, "What?"
"The Demon Sect's new sect leader is so young--" Ji Han grits his teeth angrily, "And already keeping a spoiled man."*
Zhao Jiangui, "..."
Zhao Jiangui is still confused.
These two things appear to not make much of a difference, why is Ji Han's reaction this big then.
He can't help opening his mouth to inquire.
Ji Han replies to him, "Of course it's not the same."
Zhao Jiangui, "Where is it different?"
"...In any case, it's just different." Ji Han resists a sentence, suddenly raising his volume, "You... Who did you just say is waiting down the mountain?"
Zhao Jiangui says, "I heard it's your Eagle Hall's Wei Tangzhu."
Ji Han calls the guards from outside, dispatches them to go invite Wei Qi to come up to the sect.
Soon after, the two sit like this foolishly. It's actually kind of awkward.
Fortunately Wei Qi comes quite quickly.
He had already waited down the mountain for ages, impatiently waiting to run up.
Wei Qi sees Ji Han, advances first to scrutinize him carefully for some time, then opens his mouth to speak.
Wei Qi says profoundly, "It turns out you're this kind of sect leader."
Ji Han stares blankly, "...What?"
"I didn't think you actually liked men." Wei Qi's face is sorrowful, "You should've first considered this subordinate, ah!"
Ji Han, "..."
Zhao Jiangui, "..."
Wei Qi says, "The two of us have been friends for many years, unexpectedly we've seen each other only once these days..."
He hasn't finished speaking, Ji Han already cuts him off.
"Wei Tangzhu." Ji Han says, "You don't want to forget your business."
Wei Qi is still extremely aggrieved, "At first, Jiaozhu, you liked this kind of enigma."
Ji Han says angrily, "Wei Qi!"
Wei Qi hastily says while smiling, "Jiaozhu, don't worry, returning to the sect this time, this subordinate also brings back his sweetheart."**
Zhao Jiangui, "..."
Ji Han still watches him coldly.
Wei Qi says, "Jiaozhu, come, let's talk business."
Ji Han humphs coldly, the two continuously talk of some of the sect's trifling matters. Zhao Jiangui listens with extreme disinterest. Ji Han suddenly opens his mouth and says to him, "I should have already taken my medicine."
Zhao Jiangui is slightly dazed, however the meaning comes quickly.
Ji Han wants to send him away.
After all, he isn't a member of the Demon Sect. When they talk of some classified incidents, they can't always have him on the side listening.
Zhao Jiangui nods and replies, "I'll go help carry your medicine."
He goes out the door, however he leaves as somewhat of a scheme.
The Demon Sect's classified incidents, they're almost all affiliated with the righteous.
He worries something will come out about the Haoran Alliance, or the Demon Sect wanting to harm the Haoran Alliance. He goes out of the house, stealthily turns and goes back, hides up in the treetop of the big tree next to the house.
After all Ji Han's wugong is somewhat inferior to his, if he carefully masks his breathing, Ji Han is absolutely incapable of discovering him.
Sure enough, he hears the two bring up the Haoran Alliance.
That person speaking is Wei Qi.
"The martial world's general assembly convenes in two months." Wei Qi says, "Baicang City."***
Ji Han hasn't spoken at all.
Wei Qi continues, "When the time comes, all of the crucial people in the righteous path of the marital world will be there, Baicang's faction leader has already made proper preparations. They'll gather at Baicang's precipice, there's a secret path behind the mountain, leading directly to the top of the precipice."
Ji Han says indifferently, "I know."
Wei Qi, "When they convene the martial world's general assembly, we can then arrange a trap on the mountain..."
There's suddenly the sound of footsteps turning onto the path outside the door.
Someone is coming.
Zhao Jiangui has no choice but to hurriedly raise his qi to sweep out of the courtyard. Arriving outside of the courtyard, he turns a look back. It's actually the head maidservant bringing tea.
Zhao Jiangui thinks, Ji Han ordered him to go fetch his medicine, if he leaves for too long without returning, this might lead to Ji Han becoming suspicious.
He hurriedly heads out, however his mind is already in chaos.
The Demon Sect truly wants to start dealing with the Haoran Alliance.
Ji Han is great with him, after all is said and done he's also the Demon Sect's sect leader.
Although he earlier knew matters developed so far, he doesn't know why at last truly this time, in his heart he actually can't bear to lose.
—————
*男宠/nánchǒng - As far as I can tell, it's like...man (nán) and the term for dote on/spoil/pamper/etc. (also used for pets)...and together it basically means a beautiful man who relies on/gets by on sex appeal? (You're all just lucky I didn't write "sexy sugar baby man" or "himbo," because I was struggling.)
**意中人/yìzhōngrén means sweetheart or true love, but it's literally, like, "the person in one's thoughts" and I just think that's cute.
***白苍/báicāng - 白 means white, 苍 means dark...blue/green/grey. Haha. I thought it would be better to leave it Baicang. (By the way, after seeing so much confusion lately, "c" makes a "ts" sound in pinyin.)