"Look, Sikong, this lantern is actually a fish. How interesting."

Feng Ye pointed at the lantern hanging above their heads. The lantern was half a body length long, and each fish scale was painted a different color. It was very delicate.

"This is quite normal. Let's go inside." Although both of them were covered, one could tell from Feng Ye's curled lips and cheerful tone that he was very excited. His overflowing vigor and joy made Yan Sikong unable to stop smiling.

"Hey, give me this." Feng Ye threw a piece of silver to the vendor, picked up a string of candy figures, took a bite, and then put it to Yan Sikong's mouth, "It's very sweet, try it."

Yan Sikong never eats these children's food, but when he got closer, he could smell the sweet aroma of maltose. He couldn't help but stick out his tongue and lick it lightly. The sweet taste immediately melted into his mouth: "Hmm, very sweet."

"Sir, I'll give you some silver."

"Keep it." Feng Ye pulled Yan Sikong forward.

Maybe Datong is not prosperous enough. Feng Ye finds many things new and wants to eat, buy and play everything. If Yan Sikong hadn't dissuaded him, they would probably be unable to walk because of all the things they brought.

The two of them were strolling in the crowd. Feng Ye held Yan Sikong's hand tightly the whole time, as if he was afraid that he would get lost. If they ran into a crowded place, he would hold him in his arms.

Since no one recognized them, Yan Sikong temporarily let go of his usual guard and concerns, and indulged himself in the joy of the festival without thinking too much. In the past, he would never have thought that he could celebrate such a festival with families reuniting. The three festivals and two birthdays that ordinary people would celebrate specially were only unspeakable pain for him, but today was different, perhaps because... because he had Feng Ye by his side.

He couldn't help but hold Feng Ye's hand tightly. It was just the hand of a reckless and frivolous boy, but the warmth of that palm made him feel extremely at ease.

Feng Ye suddenly turned his head and grinned: "You can guess the lantern riddles ahead."

Yan Sikong also smiled and said, "Okay, I'll try it."

The two of them walked over and looked at the strips of lantern puzzles pasted on the rows of lanterns.

Feng Ye twisted a piece of paper and read: "'Taking hold of the emperor to command the princes', to fight against the famous figures of the Warring States Period?" He began to think.

Yan Sikong rolled his eyes and smiled slightly: "I understand."

"So fast?" Feng Ye asked curiously, "Who is it?"

"Wei Wuji."

Feng Ye turned over the back of the note: "Really? Here's another one." He continued searching.

"Come on."

"Hmm... 'Two on top and a pair on the bottom', type one word."

Yan Sikong hesitated for a moment and said, "But it's the word 'Zhu'?"

"Exactly." Feng Ye said with a smile, "Is it possible that nothing can stop you?"

"How can these little tricks be so hard on me?"

Feng Ye pinched his chin and snorted softly: "I like this kind of arrogance."

Yan Sikong laughed and said, "I am telling the truth, how can I be arrogant? If you don't believe me, try again."

Feng Ye asked several questions in a row in dissatisfaction. Yan Sikong at most took a little longer to think, but he was able to answer them in the end. Gradually, people around came over to watch the fun and marveled at Yan Sikong. Every time he answered a question correctly, there would be a round of applause.

But Feng Ye was unhappy. He didn't like so many people looking at Yan Sikong, so he pulled others and squeezed out of the crowd.

Yan Sikong laughed and said, "Why, you admit defeat?"

"Yeah, how do you want to punish me?" Feng Ye quickly kissed his hair while no one was paying attention, "I can lose to you."

Yan Sikong laughed and scolded: "How can you lose? You are the one who took advantage of us."

Feng Ye said with a smile: "Sikong, you are really smart. You may be the smartest person I have ever met."

"I think I am smart, but I would never claim to be the best. For example, there are several people in the Hanlin Academy who I feel inferior to."

"No matter what, in my heart you are the smartest." Feng Ye added, "And the best."

Yan Sikong pursed his lips and smiled.

Feng Ye lowered his head and whispered in his ear: "What about me? Am I in your heart?"

"Of course."

"How?"

Yan Sikong felt his cheeks getting hot: "How can I explain this?"

Feng Ye insisted: "Why can't I say it? I can say a lot of good things about you, but you can't say anything good about me?"

Yan Sikong smiled helplessly: "You are a son of a general, Ying..."

"I don't want to hear that." Feng Ye interrupted him, "I don't want to hear you flatter me, I want to hear your true feelings."

Yan Sikong paused, then pulled Feng Ye to a corner with few people. He looked at Feng Ye deeply through the mask with a pair of clear eyes: "Feng Ye, you are also very good in my heart. You are handsome, you are excellent in martial arts, you are heroic, and most importantly... you are good to me."

"Am I really that good to you?"

Yan Sikong smiled sincerely and said, "Really."

Feng Ye was so overjoyed that he actually held Yan Sikong's waist with both hands, lifted him up on the spot, and let out an excited low growl from his throat.

Yan Sikong was startled and said quickly: "How can this be disgraceful? Put me down!" There were people everywhere at the Lantern Festival, and many people were already looking at them. He was not used to those probing looks.

Feng Ye put Yan Sikong back on the ground and said happily, "I'm happy. I don't care about what's proper or not."

Yan Sikong smiled helplessly and said, "I just praised you and you are so unstable. It seems that you are still a teenager and have not grown into a man yet."

Feng Ye cornered Yan Sikong, lowered his head, rubbed Yan Sikong's cheek with his lips, and whispered ambiguously: "Then...when will you let me be a man?"

Yan Sikong's face suddenly felt hot.

Feng Ye gently touched his cheek and said with a smile: "Your face is so hot, are you shy?"

Yan Sikong tried to push him away, feeling flustered: "Let's go release the river lanterns."

"Why don't you just promise me first?"

"What did I promise you?"

Feng Ye said confidently: "Promise me to be a real man."

Yan Sikong's face flushed red, luckily he covered his face, otherwise he would be embarrassed. He coughed lightly and said with all his strength: "To be a real man, you must have the responsibility of a man, have courage, and have..."

Feng Ye gently covered his mouth and said with a wicked smile: "I have all these. Sikong, you are so smart, why are you pretending to be confused? Don't you really understand that every time I look at you, I want to make love with you."

Yan Sikong looked into Feng Ye's eyes and felt his mouth dry and his throat so tight that he couldn't speak. What was gleaming in Feng Ye's eyes was a man's desire, pure, passionate, strong, straightforward, and determined.

It's heart-pounding.

"I said I want you, so I must have you." Feng Ye kissed Yan Sikong heavily on the lips, "Sooner or later you will sleep on my bed, the little wolf king." After saying that, he laughed and pulled Yan Sikong with him, "Let's go, light the river lanterns!"

Yan Sikong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but his mind was becoming increasingly confused. After ten years of wandering, he thought that no matter what dangers he had experienced, he could remain calm. However, Feng Ye made him panic frequently, because this person did not want to harm him. On the contrary, he was protecting him everywhere. He did not know how to deal with a person who did not want to harm him and was wholeheartedly good to him.

A feeling of confusion came over him.

——

They walked through the lantern market and came to the river, where countless people were still gathered. On the river floated orange lanterns, like lotus flowers growing in the dark night, one by one, flashing faint flames, expressing people's grief for the dead and blessings for the living.

They bought two river lanterns and walked to the water's edge. Yan Sikong said, "Make a wish."

Feng Ye smiled and looked at him: "Do you want to tell me?"

"what ever."

"Then I will..." Feng Ye smiled wickedly, "May you and I be in love and peace for years to come."

Yan Sikong chuckled.

"Why are you laughing? Isn't this a bad wish?"

Yan Sikong closed his eyes with a smile, lightly touched his thin lips, muttered something, and whispered a wish that only he knew.

Feng Ye leaned over and listened carefully but couldn't hear clearly: "What wish did you make?"

"I won't tell you."

"You, I told you everything."

"Isn't that what you wanted to say?" Yan Sikong said, "Come on, put it down."

The two of them lowered the river lanterns together and watched them slowly float away into the distance.

Feng Ye bumped his shoulder and said, "Tell me what wish you made."

Yan Sikong smiled and said, "I'll tell you, but what if it doesn't work? If I don't tell you, what will I do?"

"I've told you everything. Does that mean my wish won't work? There's no such thing." Feng Ye was unconvinced. "Then at least tell me, am I included in your wish?"

Yan Sikong paused, and his voice was so gentle that he didn't even notice it: "Yes."

Feng Ye said happily: "Haha, that's good."

Yan Sikong turned his head and took a last look at the two lights that were already floating towards the center of the river, as if they could really fulfill what people wanted, otherwise why would the faint firelight appear so warm in the dark night.

Feng Ye, I wish you to become a talented and famous general throughout the ages.

Volume 3: A Thousand Miles in a Single Step