Chapter 17 The Mute's Jealousy
After eliminating the spies lurking in the shadows, the courtyard returned to a semblance of tranquility. However, Hei Xiazi could sense that Zhang Qiling hadn't relaxed at all; instead, he seemed like a fully drawn bowstring, taut even more. He was no longer merely keeping watch; he had become unusually busy. Late at night, Hei Xiazi was often awakened by extremely low conversations. Opening his eyes, he would see Zhang Qiling standing by the window, his back to him, communicating with the Zhang family overseas through an encrypted communicator in that ancient and obscure language, talking for long periods of time.
One time, Black Bear couldn't sleep because of the noise. He grumbled, a little grumpy from being woken up, "Dumb guy, who are you having a long phone call with in the middle of the night? Can't a person get any sleep...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Qiling abruptly ended the call and walked to the bedside. Before Hei Xiazi could react, a kiss carrying the coolness of night dew landed on his lips, silencing all his unfinished teasing. This kiss was unlike the previous ones, which were more subtle and punitive; it even gently nibbled at Hei Xiazi's lower lip until Hei Xiazi let out a muffled groan from lack of oxygen, before slowly releasing the kiss.
“They’re from the Zhang family overseas.” Zhang Qiling’s breathing was a little unsteady, his hot breath brushing against Hei Xiazi’s neck, his voice low and hoarse. “I need them to make arrangements.” He paused, then added, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible bitterness and forcefulness, “You just need to watch me.”
Black Bear was taken aback by Zhang Qiling's sudden assertiveness, his heart pounding wildly, and he nodded blankly. This was the first time Zhang Qiling had so directly displayed his possessiveness.
A few days later, an encrypted package arrived. Inside were several files and a hand-drawn map. Zhang Qiling unfolded the map, and Hei Xiazi leaned over to look. He found several locations marked on it: the Yardang area deep in the Northwest Desert, an abandoned sanatorium near Golmud, and... a dock on the outskirts of Changsha.
“The Northwest Yardang is an important stronghold of a secret force. The Golmud Sanatorium holds the core data of their early research.” Zhang Qiling’s finger finally touched the Changsha Wharf, his eyes cold. “This is the hideout where some people from the Nine Gates secretly meet with that force.”
Hei Xiazi raised an eyebrow: "A secret force? You mean?"
“An organization that has been hiding in the shadows for a long time,” Zhang Qiling didn’t directly say “the Wang family,” after all, this concept was still unfamiliar to most people at this time, “ruthless and ambitious. In my past life, they…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the hatred in his eyes said it all.
"Which one should we move first?" Black Bear asked.
“The Northwest.” Zhang Qiling said without hesitation, “We’ll cut off their claws and seize their resources to prepare for our next step, going to the Queen Mother of the West’s Palace.” He looked at Hei Xiazi, his eyes deep, “Moreover, we have what we need there.”
His plan unfolded swiftly. A few days later, news arrived from the Northwest that a gang of unidentified bandits had attacked the outpost disguised as a geological survey station. A fierce firefight ensued, the outpost was nearly destroyed, and all important supplies were looted. The news was deliberately suppressed, but rumors had already circulated among the underworld's elite that a mysterious local tyrant had suffered a major loss.
When news of the operation's success arrived, Hei Xiazi was about to light a cigarette when Zhang Qiling snatched it away and replaced it with a glass of warm water. "Smoke less." Zhang Qiling's tone left no room for argument, but his gaze lingered on Hei Xiazi's slightly parted lips in surprise, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
Hei Xiazi reluctantly took the water glass and was about to speak when his everyday cell phone rang. It was Xie Yuchen.
“Blind man,” Xie Yuchen’s voice was filled with concern, “I heard something big happened in the Northwest. A research station with a powerful background was raided? It’s quite a commotion. You haven’t been going there recently, have you? Things are tense there right now, and the waters are a bit murky.”
Before Hei Xiazi could answer, Zhang Qiling suddenly reached out, pressed the speakerphone button, pulled Hei Xiazi to her side, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, rested her chin on his shoulder, and said coldly into the phone, "Our affairs are none of Xie's concern."
Xie Yuchen on the other end of the phone paused noticeably, and after a few seconds replied with a hint of surprise and barely perceptible embarrassment, "...Brother Zhang is here too? I'm just reminding you, no ill intent. Also, it seems things aren't peaceful at the Queen Mother of the West Palace. There are several groups of people of unknown origin active there. If you're going, please be extremely careful."
Black Bear was both amused and exasperated by Zhang Qiling's sudden jealousy and assertive behavior. He quickly smoothed things over over the phone, saying, "Understood, Mr. Flower, thanks. We understand." He then hung up the phone.
As soon as he put down his phone, Zhang Qiling grabbed his chin, forcing him to turn his head. Her eyes held a familiar undercurrent, the same kind of obsessive Zhang Qiling from his past life: "Why does he always contact you?"
Seeing Zhang Qiling's jealous expression, Hei Xiazi felt both amused and tender. He sighed and softened his tone, "Dumb, listen to me. Xie Yuchen was disliked in the Xie family when he was little and was almost killed. I accidentally stumbled upon him and thought his stubborn eyes were like a little wolf cub's, so I took him in out of pity and occasionally looked after him. He was quite handsome as a child, and I even thought about stealing a girl and raising her, but who knew he was a boy..." He reached out and soothingly patted Zhang Qiling's tense nape, "To me, he's just a junior who needs to be taken care of, completely different from you."
Zhang Qiling stared at him intently, the fierceness in his eyes slowly dissipating, replaced by a complex expression, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief, yet also felt a touch of disbelief and tenderness. He tightened his arms around Hei Xiazi, buried his face in the crook of his neck, and let out a muffled "Mmm."
After a while, he raised his head, his eyes now clear, but his ears were still red. He picked up the map and pointed to the Golmud Sanatorium: "Next, here. With the data, many secrets will be exposed."
His fingertip touched the location of Golmud, then slowly moved upwards, landing on an area on the western side of the Kunlun Mountains. His voice was deep and firm: "Then, we will go to the Palace of the Queen Mother of the West."
He looked at Hei Xiazi, his eyes no longer filled with cold calculation, but with burning warmth and boundless trust: "You're with me."
Hei Xiazi stared at the area marked as the ultimate target on the map, then at Zhang Qiling, who seemed exceptionally vibrant and real thanks to a touch of old vinegar. An indescribable warmth welled up within him. He grasped Zhang Qiling's hand in return, grinning broadly.
"Of course we'll go together. The blind man in the south and the mute man in the north, we can't do without either of them."
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