Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 379 : The Hungry Ghost Festival (4)

Chapter 379: Chapter 379 : The Hungry Ghost Festival (4)

"Aoooo, Aoooo!!!"

On his shoulder, Zhang Fengxi’s loyal spiritual tiger could not stop growling in concern.

Brows knitting in slight confusion, Zhang Fengxi pressed against the bloody fabric.

"I barely moved," he murmured. "And the wound reopens so quickly."

"Sir Zhang, please do not be rash!"

Qiao Wei grasped Zhang Fengxi’s wrists and forced him to sit on a cushion.

"Please wait here. I am going to get fresh bandages to redress your wound."

"That’s not necessary," Zhang Fengxi pulled at Qiao Wei’s sleeve to stop him from leaving. "My wounds heal quickly, so..."

"They clearly do not heal quick enough!" Qiao Wei snapped. "Sir Zhang, please do not be stubborn and listen to me!"

"..."

"Aoooo! Aooooo!"

Subdued by Qiao Wei’s persuasion and Xiao Huang’s protests, Zhang Fengxi decided to lay back and let Qiao Wei attend to him.

In his twenty-seven years of this life and the twenty-four years of the previous life, Zhang Fengxi did not recall ever meeting the same human being again and again, and having said human being so close to him.

He was used to the impersonal touch of his many attendants, their careful ministrations a mere formality. But with Qiao Wei, the gentle brush of fingers against his skin sent an unexpected tremor through Zhang Fengxi, a mixture of unfamiliarity and something deeper, something he couldn’t quite name.

His discomfort was amplified by Qiao Wei’s repeating apologies, each one a silent echo of his own conflicted feelings.

Zhang Fengxi felt uncomfortable at most, but Qiao Wei was burning in hell.

As soon as Zhang Fengxi took off his inner robe, Qiao Wei’s mind went blank. It was almost as if someone had come to wipe every single thought off his brain, leaving not a single speck of thought.

Yet, his gaze remained glued to Zhang Fengxi’s revealed form.

The man stood tall with strong, broad shoulders that gave out an aura of imminent danger. When he stretched himself, his shoulder blades moved under his skin like a pair of wings, threatening to break through his back.

Qiao Wei avoided looking Zhang Fengxi in his eyes as he worked as fast as possible to cut off the old bandages and gently removed them from the open wound.

He did not like looking at bloody gashes, but in this case, he was almost grateful that they were there to look at.

Otherwise, he might be drawn to look at Zhang Fengxi’s canvas full of taut pectoral muscles and the impressive mermaid lines that ran down his tightly packed stomach like mysterious rivers.

He could feel the tips of his fingers burning every time his clumsiness led him to accidental contact between skins. Brief they might be, but the simple touches left lingering heat behind. It sent warmth throughout his body, and made his heart beat faster against his chest like an untamed beast.

When it was finally over, Qiao Wei was relieved, but also a little disappointed.

The suffocating atmosphere in the chamber was diluted by a restaurant attendant, who came into the room with a set of clean clothing for Zhang Fengxi.

"Apologies, Sir, I did my best to find the biggest robe out there, but all I can get is this," the attendant apologized profusely.

No wonder, because Zhang Fengxi was taller than most men who wandered in the Human Realm.

"Don’t worry about it. Thanks," Zhang Fengxi put the clothes on, with Qiao Wei looking away with cheeks burning from indescribable emotions.

The robes were somewhat shorter, but at least they were big enough to cover his body.

"Alright then. Hey, Qiao Wei."

Zhang Fengxi threw the qiankun pouch containing the malevolent spirit at Qiao Wei.

"Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"Ah... No. I will take this spirit to a nearby temple tomorrow. Thank you very much for your help, and I... I am sorry for troubling you again and again."

The hint of helplessness in Qiao Wei’s expression tugged at Zhang Fengxi’s heartstrings, bringing back memories of his son’s innocent pleas whenever he did something wrong.

They somehow looked alike.

Coincidence?

It had to be.

Zhang Fengxi ruffled the normally serene surface of his hair, prompting a few strands to break free like ships weathering a tempest.

"I barely did anything. The wound was there before I even moved a finger to help you. Stop apologizing."

"I... Yes, I am sorry."

Zhang Fengxi broke into an amused chuckle. He just told the human being to stop apologizing, and here he was, apologizing for apologizing.

"I will take my leave now," Zhang Fengxi said. He lifted Xiao Huang into his arms and marched toward the door.

"Goodbye."

"Wait! Where do you plan to stay tonight?" Qiao Wei asked.

"Unfortunately, all inns in this town refuse to take guests during the Hungry Ghost Festival," Zhang Fengxi answered with a hint of regret. "Xiao Huang and I will find a good tree to sleep on. It doesn’t look like it will rain tonight, so that is good news."

Zhang Fengxi extended his hand toward the door handle, but Qiao Wei was faster than him.

"Sir Zhang, you are wounded. You cannot spend the night outside."

"It’s not like we have any option here," Zhang Fengxi pointed out. "I have nowhere else to stay."

Qiao Wei knew that he was embarking on a sleepless night, but he too did not have any other option here.

"The town protectorate provides me with a small house to stay in during the festival. Sir Zhang, if you don’t mind, would you like to stay overnight?"

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Author’s note :

In an alternate universe, Xie Jianyu and Zhang Fengxi were a freshman and a third-year student at the Heavenly Realm University respectively.

Zhang Fengxi hurt himself during a tennis match and was unable to go home on his own. His junior Xie Jianyu, who had been hopelessly in love with him for five years, offered to help him out.

Xie Jianyu : Senior, would you like to spend the night at my house? It is very close to the university!

Zhang Fengxi : *tiger ears and tail popping out* Can I sleep in your room? I am afraid to sleep alone...