Chapter 34 Suspicion

Guozhao Zhiqiang walked around the sector base. When passing by the library, he saw Dong Enlai sitting quietly reading some hunting diaries. Guozhao Zhiqiang walked into the library and stopped in front of Dong Enlai.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Don't you have lunch at lunch time?"

Deming looked up, "Oh, it's you. I'm almost finished reading this book. If I don't finish reading it, my heart will be disturbed."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "You are not present during spells session?"

Deming replied, "I chose not to go."

Guozhao Zhiqiang sighed and asked, "Why?"

Deming said, "Because I'm here just to learn the principles of the Guozhao Hunters."

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked again, "If that's the case, then why do you still read those hunting diaries?"

Deming said, "Just for experience." Deming closed the book. "Why don't you go eat?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming, "Let's go."

Deming asked, "Where?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang did not answer but walked out of the library. Deming quickly followed him out. The two walked out of the base and walked towards the market area. After a while, the two stopped in front of Dragon Inn. The two then walked into Dragon Inn, and one of the waiters sat them at one of the tables in the back.

Deming looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang and said, "You brought me here to eat? We could have eaten at home."

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "What are you going to do tomorrow?"

Deming said, "I don't know. Maybe walk around the city or read more hunting diaries."

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming's face, "Do you know Weici?"

Deming, "Weici, she looks like someone I used to know."

Guozhao Zhiqiang put his hand into his shirt and took out the silver bell and red string. He put the two items on the table and pushed them towards Deming, "This is for you."

Deming happily took it, smiling at the two items. He thought deeply that he might not be able to get these two items back. These two items have accompanied him for many years. During his lonely hours, they were the little light that brighten up his dark world. Then when he looked up, he saw Guozhao Zhiqiang staring straight at him. He put the two items back on the table and pushed them back to Guozhao Zhiqiang.

Deming lied and said, "I can't accept it. If the person who has worn these two items before knows that you gave them to me, he will be very angry." He hoped in his heart that Guozhao Zhiqiang would not take these two items back and insisted for him to keep them.

Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Deming strangely and asked, "How do you know it is a he?"

Deming knew he was caught in a lie, so he stutters and said with hesitation, "Um…. I guess..."

Guozhao Zhiqiang, "She won't be angry, I'll ask my girlfriend to make another one for me."

Deming bit his lower lip, sighed, and said, "Then I won't take it. Since your girlfriend made it for you, you can keep it." He smiled at Guozhao Zhiqiang, but his heart's limit of anger has been reached. He was so angry that he almost walked out of the inn.

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Okay. I'll take it back. If you decide that you want it then let me know."

Deming swore in his heart 'liar bastard. You told me that no matter how my appearance changes, you will always love me. I've only been gone for almost three years, and now you have a girlfriend who made you a stupid red rope. How dare you look me in the eye and tell me this? I really want to poke your eyes with these chopsticks. I swear I will never speak to you again'.

Guozhao Zhiqiang asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Deming didn't even look at Guozhao Zhiqiang, and said angrily, "I really want to poke your eyes with these chopsticks. I swear, I will never speak to you again."

Guozhao Zhiqiang chuckled, "I'm generous, why would you want to poke me in the eyes with those chopsticks?"

Deming suddenly realized that he had said his last thought out loud, "Huh?" He looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, "I'm sorry. I'm..."

The waiter then put their food on the table. The waiter smiled and said, "Enjoy your meal. Let me know if you two need anything else."

Deming took the opportunity to quickly change the subject. He said happily, "These dishes look delicious."

Guozhao Zhiqiang poured a cup of wine and handed it to Deming, "Here."

Deming took the cup of wine and drank it. He then said, "This wine tastes good, not as bitter as the wine in Guzheng Sector." He poured himself another cup.

While the two were drinking and eating, Yang Chuntao walked into the inn. Yang Chuntao walked to the two of them and sat between them.

Yang Chuntao looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang and smiled at him, "Second senior brother told me that I will find you here." She poured herself a cup of wine and drank it. "Student Dong, you impress me deeply."

Deming asked, "How?"

Yang Chuntao, "You asked Zhiqiang to accompany you to lunch and he accept your invitation. I have asked him to accompany me to lunch many times, but he always refuses." She drank another cup of wine.

Deming looked at Yang Chuntao and said, "I didn't know until I got to Dragon Inn that I would have lunch with him."

Yang Chuntao took Guozhao Zhiqiang's chopsticks from his hand and began to eat. Deming found the situation a little embarrassing and decided to make an excuse to go to the bathroom. Deming was still a man after all, and he didn't want to be the middleman between lovers' quarrels.

Yang Chuntao drank another cup of wine and asked, "What do you see in him?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang did not answer.

Yang Chuntao drank another cup of wine and said, "Zhiqiang, last time we went hunting, we were together for three weeks, but you never slept in the same room or the same bed as me. What made you change your mind that time at Guanyi Temple?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang still did not answer.

Yang Chuntao poured herself another cup of wine and said, "You know how I feel about you. Everyone knows how I feel about you. Am I not good enough?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang took the cup from her hand, "Stop drinking."

Yang Chuntao grabbed the bottle of wine, "I'm really useless, a dead man is better than me." She grabbed Guozhao Zhiqiang's left hand. "Why? Why don't you open up your heart and give me a chance? I have confidence that I love you as much as him. Why? Senior brother? Why didn't you choose me?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang pulled her away and said coldly, "You are not him."

Yang Chuntao looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang, "If you find his soul floating somewhere and capture it, I will sacrifice my soul for his soul?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang took the bottle away from Yang Chuntao and said, "You're drunk."

Yang Chuntao whined, "This little wine won't make me drunk."

Deming stood at a distance, studying the two until they stopped talking. Deming then went to the table and sat down.

Yang Chuntao poured a cup of wine and handed to Deming, "This is for our friendship."

Deming said, "I'm sorry lady Yang, I'm not a big drinker."

Yang Chuntao insisted, "You are a man, don't be so sissy."

Deming took the cup and drank, but Yang Chuntao drank more and more. Deming knew that if he didn't stop drinking, he would get even more drunk. Dizzy, he rested his head on the table.

Yang Chuntao was also drunk. She smiled at Deming and poked him twice, "What kind of man are you? You got drunk after two drinks."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said, "Today is enough. Let's go home. Can you walk?"

Yang Chuntao smirked, "Of course."

Guozhao Zhiqiang walked toward Deming and carried Deming on his back.

Yang Chuntao said with a drunken smile, "You've changed Zhiqiang, it's the first time I've seen you carry someone on your back." She followed Guozhao Zhiqiang and Deming out the door.

When the three friends hit the street. They met two female disciples. Guozhao Zhiqiang asked the two juniors to send Yang Chuntao back to her room. Guozhao Zhiqiang carried Deming on his back to Peach Blossom Valley. After walking for a while, Deming hugged Guozhao Zhiqiang tighter, resting his head on Guozhao Zhiqiang's right shoulder.

Guozhao Zhiqiang's hopes are not high. Even if there is such a soul sacrifice spell, it does not mean that the soul in Dong Enlai's body is Deming. He remembered what Dong Enlai had done in the past, and he doubted that the soul in this body might be Deming. He'll test Dong Enlai one more time to make sure his suspicions are correct.

Guozhao Zhiqiang tilted slightly towards Deming's head, "Deming."

Deming murmured, "Mm..."

Guozhao Zhiqiang stopped in fright. He felt his heart beating fast. He then asked, "Do you remember what you promised me when you were in Waterfall City?"

Deming replied slowly, "As long as you want, I'll be by your side." He sniffed, and his tears wet Guozhao Zhiqiang's shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't keep that promise." Deming hugged Guozhao Zhiqiang tighter. "Zhiqiang…can I have my red string and silver bell back?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang smiled and said, "Mm..."

Deming murmured again, "Where are we going?"

Guozhao Zhiqiang said softly, "To the city in the cloud."

Deming complained, "After more than ten years of waiting... I'm finally here."

Guozhao Zhiqiang said calmly, "Sorry, it took so long."

As the two got closer and closer to Guozhao Zhiqiang's house, Deming passed out on Guozhao Zhiqiang's back.