Chapter Sixty-One: With You

The Great Zhou was a vast realm, stretching tens of thousands of miles. Back when seventy-two vassal states were established, traveling from north to south or east to west took a full year even by chariot and horseback. Liuchou traveled straight from Xiyi, passing through Qiting, Qianyi, Pingyang, and Yongyi, finally arriving at Qiyi, which marked his official entry into the heartland of the Great Zhou.

Qiyi was formerly known as West Qi, which had been the fief of King Wen of Zhou. Later, when King Wu raised an army to overthrow the Shang dynasty and founded a new era, this place was never enfeoffed to others due to its connection to the royal ancestral temple, remaining instead as direct territory of the Great Zhou. Ji Xu, whom the Golden Cicada sought, had long resided here, managing the ancestral sacrifices and clan affairs of the Zhou dynasty.

Along the journey, having passed dozens of fiefs and feudal domains, Liuchou observed carefully. Various lords had built their own armies, some strong and others weak. What could be seen on the streets were mostly garrison and standing troops, while the rarer slave-soldier armies and mechanical-beast legions were entirely absent. Amidst these troubled times, every state was on high alert with frequent troop movements, and all localities were busy repairing city walls and forging military equipment. It was only after reaching Qiyi that the situation improved slightly; although war preparations were evident here as well, the look of tension on the faces of pedestrians was nowhere to be seen, and their expressions appeared ordinary.

Having traveled continuously for days, even Liuchou felt somewhat fatigued. Therefore, he found a post station, produced the identification tally and travel pass he had used when impersonating Dou Pu, and requested lodging to rest. Amidst the chaos of war, not only were military forces mobilized frequently, but various low- and middle-ranking warriors, veteran soldiers, and officials were also being reassigned. The patrol officers at the station had seen plenty of such cases; noting that Liuchou with his green eyebrows genuinely fit the appearance of a low-ranking officer and that his travel documents were authentic, they naturally waved him through and accommodated him.

Upon entering the inn, Liuchou exchanged a few words with Qingmei before heading out to the market to purchase fat dogs and tender sheep, which he brought back to cook.

For some reason, ever since Liuchou rescued Qingmei, after a brief initial joy, the two of them had grown unaccustomedly polite to each other. Every word was punctuated with thanks, as if a barrier had risen between them. Although they still conversed, it lacked the casual ease they had shared back in Guigu, feeling instead forced and deliberate, which made Liuchou extremely uncomfortable.

Even so, given Liuchou's temperament, he had no idea how to mend this, so he could only focus on doing what he had to do. Now resting in Qiyi, thinking of the days of dried meat and rations he had endured, he boiled a huge pot of mutton, accompanied by apricots and wine, which turned out to be quite delightful.

Liuchou carried a basin of mutton into the room, only to find that two large earthenware jars had already been set on the low table, filling the air with the fragrance of wine. Slightly surprised, he suddenly remembered that with Qingmei's status and background, she undoubtedly possessed items like a cosmic pouch, though he hadn't expected it to contain wine as well. He placed the basin on the table, and Qingmei pulled herself up from the bed, walking over to sit cross-legged opposite him.

"Can this be drunk?"

The training in Guigu had been brief but immensely intense. Not only the demons, but even the instructors rarely had the opportunity to drink, so Qingmei was unsure how Liuchou would react. However, seeing that the wine was fragrant, clear, and rich, far surpassing ordinary brews, Liuchou felt a slight stir in his heart and nodded, saying, "It can be drunk, but one shouldn't overindulge."

"As long as you can drink, that's enough. If you get drunk, just go to sleep—I will keep you safe," Qingmei said, lifting the jar with one hand and pouring the wine into cups, while not forgetting to glance at Liuchou. "Lest you forget, I am also from Guigu."

Liuchou was momentarily stunned, and then could not help laughing.

Ever since leaving Xiyi, Liuchou had met enemies, guarded the rear, paved the way, and plundered roads—handling everything single-handedly and refusing to let Qingmei interfere, taking complete care of her. Qingmei was reminding him in this manner: I am not some helpless lamb for the slaughtering, so do not underestimate me.

Without looking at him, Qingmei picked up her cup, raised her head, and downed it in one gulp, then turned the cup upside down to show Liuchou. He had no choice but to drain his cup as well, immediately feeling a trail of heat surge up through his chest and abdomen.

Indeed, while this wine might not reach the alcohol content of later generations, it was much stronger than the usual beverages of the era. No wonder the aroma was so potent. Liuchou's eyes lit up, and he praised, "Fine wine!"

"If it's fine, let's have more!" Qingmei filled two more cups and tossed them down with gusto.

After a few cups of wine, they began to eat the mutton. Although Liuchou's mutton lacked the seasonings of later generations, it was still far more delicious than the prevailing cooking methods. Qingmei's appetite was thoroughly whetted, and she ate heartily and with great relish. Pairing it with the fine wine shared with Liuchou, they soon swept through the food like a storm, devouring an entire half of a tender sheep and a whole fat dog, and draining every drop of wine.

The strength of the wine rose to her head. With slightly bleary eyes and holding her cup, Qingmei suddenly asked Liuchou, "We've only been apart for about a year, why do we feel like strangers now?"

"How could that be?" Liuchou was also feeling somewhat tipsy and replied casually, "We are certainly friends, it's just that meeting so abruptly, I didn't quite know how to act!"

"You didn't know how to act? Where did that come from?" Qingmei hummed, "I am still who I am, I've never changed. Why would you talk about not knowing how to act?" She paused briefly before continuing, "Is it because you feel I belong to the demon race and no longer serve as a lackey to the human race, and you can't accept that?"

"You and I were both hunting hounds raised by humans. Now, even though you have turned into a ferocious wolf and I remain a hound, what does it matter? Whether human or demon, it doesn't matter; we merely strive to survive, with no other thoughts." Liuchou fell silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up into Qingmei's eyes. The drunken haze in his eyes had vanished, replaced by complete clarity. "I felt out of our depth because our standings are already different."

"Standing? What do you mean?" Qingmei asked in astonishment. "What is there to speak of as standing among the demon race? Do you think this is like the human race's lords, generals, dukes, and marquises?"

Liuchou shook his head vigorously, narrowing his eyes as he said, "Your enemy is already the Hunt-Suppressing King, who surpasses the realm of Great Demons, while I am still a little demon struggling desperately just to live. Don't tell me that just any captured little demon requires the Hunt-Suppressing King to keep watch over them. With such status, how is that not a difference in standing?"

"So... that's what was bothering you!" Qingmei finally understood. She thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "What you say is true. Indeed, my clan has an ancient and profound lineage among the human race and cannot be taken lightly, which is why the Hunt-Suppressing King personally watches over me, fearing someone might kill me. However..."

She stared directly into Liuchou's eyes, her pupils shifting slightly as her gaze rippled: "Are we still friends?"

Meeting Qingmei's gaze, Liuchou suddenly reached out, grabbed a piece of mutton rib meat, and handed it directly to her, saying:

"Here, for you."

Qinquan was slightly startled, but a look of joy immediately bloomed across her face. She accepted the mutton and held out her hand, saying:

"My name is Qingmei."

"I know," Liuchou grasped her grease-stained hand and smiled, "My name is Liuchou!"

This scene mirrored the exact moment when Qingmei had previously shown goodwill and befriended Liuchou. Now, Liuchou was reenacting it in reverse, and his intent was clear: he would not be influenced by the clan behind Qingmei, and in their association, the two of them remained friends.

As their hands grasped each other, both burst into laughter. The vague barrier between them vanished like smoke in that instant, and they felt as though they had returned to that day back in Guigu...

That so-called barrier had actually stemmed merely from their long separation and the sudden reunion, compounded by Liuchou's lingering, inexplicable fear of the Hunt-Suppressing King's overwhelming presence, carrying no deeper meaning. By bringing it out into the open, Qingmei had allowed them to clear the air, let go, and resolve it completely.

It was just a trivial matter, but because of it, Qingmei developed an indescribable affection for the ugly, crude macaque before her. She felt the joy of rediscovering Liuchou, a sensation that continued to ferment, leaving her refreshed and happy...

Qingmei's face flushed slightly. She feigned nonchalance as she pulled her hand from Liuchou's palm, pretending to be composed as she picked up a piece of mutton to gnaw on. "By the way, I forgot to tell you—my full name is Tushan Qingmei, not just Qingmei. Remember this: Tushan is my family clan. If you ever need anything in the future, just mention my name, and it will carry weight."

"The Tushan clan?" Liuchou silently repeated it twice. He vaguely remembered Master Fulu mentioning it, but half-drunk with wine, he couldn't recall the details at the moment and could only let it rest for now, nodding, "Got it."

"Also, I have an elder brother in my family named Bitong, Tushan Bitong," Qingmei paused momentarily before adding, "My elder brother's demonic powers are extraordinary, truly out of the ordinary. It is solely for my elder brother's sake that the Hunt-Suppressing King dares not do anything to me. Calling it imprisonment is actually just fear that I might be harmed by others—when you came to raid the prison, you weren't actually rescuing me, but rather coming to kill me, weren't you?"

Liuchou did not conceal it, admitting it frankly and openly: "That's right. I was under orders from a Tianshan Dun general to kill the prisoner guarded by the Hunt-Suppressing King, I just didn't expect it to be you."

"Tianshan Dun wanting to kill me means they were acting on behalf of King Xuanji," Qingmei sighed softly, adding indifferently, "This must have been the work of subordinates further down. If King Xuanji had known, he certainly would not have permitted it."

"Your elder brother is that powerful?" Liuchou asked in bewilderment. "If so, why are you in such a sorry state, even ending up sent to Guigu?"

Qingmei sighed lightly. "Being sent to Guigu was the Golden Peng King's idea—selecting demons to infiltrate human academies to study military formations and tactics for future use. I volunteered myself. As for my elder brother's strength..." She looked rather embarrassed and said, "Actually, it's not that he can necessarily defeat King Xuanji and the Hunt-Suppressing King; he simply has certain methods, nothing to fear."

Observing Qingmei's expression, Liuchou immediately guessed her implication and asked, "Exterminating families and wiping out clans, implicating others?"

Qingmei nodded. "My elder brother has always been like that. If he can't kill you, he will kill your family, relatives, neighbors, and friends, until he makes you feel fear. Only through such ruthless methods can he keep those vassal kings in check..." Seeming reluctant to discuss family matters any further, Qingmei abruptly changed the subject and asked, "What will you do from now on? Can you still return to Tianshan Dun?"

"I'm afraid not," Liuchou smiled faintly. "If I hadn't come, or if I had simply killed you, the human race would still have a place for me. But since I rescued you, things will likely be difficult."

Hearing this, joy immediately lit up Qingmei's face. "Since it's like that, why not come with me to Xiniu Hezhou? It is the territory of our demon race after all, where we can be free and unrestrained. Why remain a lackey and hunting hound in the hands of the human race, risking your life for their amusement?"

"I've thought about this too, but..." Thinking of the impending war between humans and demons, Liuchou could neither refuse outright nor agree immediately, so he said, "Let's put this matter aside for now. I'll think about it."

Knowing Liuchou's temperament, Qingmei didn't press him since he hadn't agreed, simply nodding. "Very well then. Let's talk about it after the affairs at Mount Mei are concluded."

Liuchou smiled faintly and drained the fine wine in his cup:

"That sounds wonderful!"