Chapter 10 Together

In the middle of the night, Hei Xiazi was awakened by the heat, along with a slight feeling of suffocation.

Zhang Qiling treated him like a human-shaped pillow, wrapping his arms and legs around him, burying his head in his chest, and breathing hot air onto his skin. Hei Xiazi tried to move, but the guy immediately tightened his arms, making muffled, uneasy murmurs in his throat.

"Damn it..." Black Bear cursed under his breath, giving up the struggle. He looked down at the furry head in his arms in the dim light streaming in from the window. Zhang Qiling was fast asleep, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he couldn't find peace even in his dreams.

The inexplicable emotions surfacing in Hei Xiazi's heart resurfaced. He raised his free hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently placed it on the back of Zhang Qiling's head, clumsily soothingly stroking his soft hair.

The person in his arms seemed to be soothed by this action, their tense body relaxed, and they snuggled closer to him, their breathing gradually becoming even and long.

Hei Xiazi stared at the ceiling, wide awake. The spot on his chest where Zhang Qiling's breath had been pressing against was burning hot. Damn it, what kind of situation was this? Hei Xiazi had lived a dissolute life, never imagining he would end up sleeping in the same bed with a man, especially a man like Zhang Qiling, in this position.

Strangely enough, aside from the initial discomfort, he's now somewhat...accustomed to it? He even feels that if one day this heavy warmth and the sound of breathing were no longer by his side, he would feel empty.

This realization sent a chill down his spine.

As dawn broke, Zhang Qiling woke up first. He opened his eyes and found himself entangled with the black bear like an octopus. His body stiffened noticeably for a moment, then he released his grip as if he had been electrocuted, quickly rolled over and sat up, turning his back to the black bear. His ears turned red at a visible speed.

Seeing his embarrassed and clumsy attempt to cover up his predicament, Hei Xiazi's unease dissipated, and he even felt a wicked sense of amusement. He lay there lazily, deliberately drawing out his words: "Oh, Chief Zhang is awake? Did you sleep well last night? You used me as a mat on the kang (heated brick bed) for half the night."

Zhang Qiling's back stiffened even more. Without turning around, he muttered, "...Sorry."

"What's the point of having police if an apology is enough?" Hei Xiazi sat up and stretched his shoulders, which were numb from being pressed down. "You're paying for breakfast. I want douzhi and jiaoquan, from the one at Huguosi."

Zhang Qiling: "..."

In the end, Hei Xiazi still didn't get to eat the douzhi and jiaoquan from Huguosi Temple. Zhang Qiling cooked him some plain porridge and fried eggs, which were still bland, but Hei Xiazi didn't complain anymore and ate them all in silence.

After dinner, Zhang Qiling resumed his unwavering "cleaning" routine, this time targeting the windowpanes. Hei Xiazi, legs crossed, sat on the sofa smoking. Watching Zhang Qiling's taut back and slightly sweaty nape as he tiptoed to clean the glass, his own wicked thoughts resurfaced.

He stubbed out his cigarette, strolled over, and approached Zhang Qiling from behind, almost touching his back. He reached over Zhang Qiling's shoulder and pointed to an inconspicuous stain on the glass: "This spot isn't clean."

As he spoke, he deliberately breathed on Zhang Qiling's sensitive earlobe.

Zhang Qiling's glass-wiping motion froze instantly. He seemed to have been struck by lightning, his fingers gripping the rag tightening until his knuckles turned white. Hei Xiazi could even feel the muscles in his back tense up instantly.

"Tsk tsk, even Chief Zhang has his moments of carelessness." Black Bear went too far, practically resting his chin on his shoulder, his voice laced with laughter.

Zhang Qiling suddenly turned around!

The two faced each other, so close they could count each other's eyelashes. Zhang Qiling's eyes were as deep as a pool, churning with a familiar, suppressed undercurrent, and a hint of anger at being tricked.

Black Bear chuckled to himself and was about to tease him a bit more when he saw Zhang Qiling suddenly raise his hand, not to push him away, but to gently brush his lips with his fingertips—there was a little bit of oil left from eating eggs that morning.

The movements were natural, yet carried an undeniable intimacy.

“It’s dirty.” Zhang Qiling’s voice was low and hoarse as he fixed his gaze on him.

Black Bear's smile froze on his face. Damn, he'd been outmaneuvered. He felt the tips of his ears begin to burn uncontrollably again.

Just then, a rapid knocking came from outside, breaking the ambiguous silence in the room.

Both of them tensed up at the same time. Zhang Qiling almost instinctively pulled Hei Xiazi behind him, his eyes instantly regaining their usual coldness and vigilance.

Black Bear patted his arm, signaling him to relax, then walked to the door and asked through the door panel, "Who is it?"

"Hey, Master Hei! It's me, Atou!" A young, anxious voice came from outside the door. It was one of Xie Yuchen's quick-witted errand boys, who was responsible for delivering messages. "Master Hua asked me to come and give you a message right away!"

Hei Xiazi frowned and glanced at Zhang Qiling. Zhang Qiling's face darkened, his eyes sharply fixed on the doorway.

Hei Xiazi opened the door. A Tou, covered in sweat and panting, saw Hei Xiazi and, disregarding the others in the room, hurriedly said, "Master Hei! Something terrible has happened! The shipment that Master Hua asked you to inspect the day before yesterday has run into trouble in Henan! Two of the brothers escorting the goods have been killed, and the goods have been seized! The other party has named names and said they will only release the people and the goods if you go there in person!"

Hei Xiazi's heart sank. He knew about that shipment; it was a very important batch of funerary objects belonging to Xie Yuchen, and it was extremely valuable. The location of the incident was also very sensitive; it was a no-man's-land where several powerful factions intersected.

Before he could speak, Zhang Qiling behind him coldly said, "I'm not going."

Ah Tou then saw Zhang Qiling inside the room and was startled. He stammered, "Master Zhang? You're here too? But Master Hua said..."

“I said I’m not going.” Zhang Qiling stepped forward, blocking Hei Xiazi’s path, her gaze sweeping over A Tou like an icy blade. “His affairs have nothing to do with Xie Yuchen.”

Atou was so intimidated by Zhang Qiling's imposing aura that he took a half step back and looked at Heixiazi for help.

Hei Xiazi sighed inwardly as he looked at Zhang Qiling's tense profile and protective demeanor. He patted Zhang Qiling on the shoulder and said to A Tou, "Go back and tell Master Hua that I understand. Wait for my news on how to handle it."

Ah Tou felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly ran away, bowing and scraping.

The door closed, and the room fell silent once more.

Zhang Qiling turned around, stared at Hei Xiazi, her eyes filled with unwavering determination: "You can't go."

Black Bear took out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke: "I know that place is haunted. But Master Hua has been kind to me, and I can't ignore his request this time."

“There’s danger.” Zhang Qiling said curtly.

"In our line of work, when is there no danger?" Black Bear smirked. "Besides, what kind of storms haven't I weathered?"

“It’s different!” Zhang Qiling abruptly interrupted him, a hint of barely perceptible panic in her voice. “This time it’s different! I… I feel…”

He didn't finish his sentence, but Black Bear understood what he meant. He "sense," or rather, "saw," the danger again.

Hei Xiazi silently smoked his cigarette. Rationally, he knew Zhang Qiling's concerns were likely valid. But morally, he couldn't ignore Xie Yuchen's plea for help. Moreover, his adventurous spirit was also stirred. He wanted to see who dared to seize Xie Yuchen's goods and specifically request Hei Xiazi's intervention.

Looking at the worry and fear that were almost overflowing in Zhang Qiling's eyes, a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

He stubbed out his cigarette, walked up to Zhang Qiling, and looked him straight in the eyes: "You're that worried?"

Zhang Qiling pursed his lips and nodded.

“Alright,” Black Glasses suddenly laughed, with a hint of roguishness, “then you’ll come with me.”

Zhang Qiling was stunned.

"Weren't you going to guard me?" Black Bear raised an eyebrow. "What kind of skill is it to just stay inside and guard? If you're so capable, come with me and brave that dragon's den and tiger's lair. It's better for you to be by my side than for me to cause trouble where you can't see me, right?"

His words were both a provocation and a test. He wanted to know whether Zhang Qiling's "guarding" was merely a way to keep him under control, or whether she truly dared to walk alongside him on the edge of a knife.

Zhang Qiling stared at him intently, the struggle and worry in her eyes gradually replaced by something deeper. It was a kind of resolute determination, a kind of resignation, and a kind of... almost insane trust.

After a long silence, he slowly uttered a single word:

"good."

Hei Xiazi felt a weight lift from his heart, yet at the same time, it felt as if something had gently bumped into him. He looked at Zhang Qiling, then suddenly reached out, not to shake hands, but to lightly touch Zhang Qiling's chest with his fist.

“It’s settled then,” he grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth, “partner.”

Zhang Qiling looked down at the fist that had touched his chest, then raised his hand and gently touched it back with his own fist.

The movement was very light, yet it felt as if it carried a thousand pounds of weight.

A silent covenant was quietly forged between the two.

It was no longer the vague, distant tacit understanding of the past life, but a clear, close, and bound-to-each other relationship—"accomplices."