26. I kissed a boy

Seeing how the werewolf was angry at what he's done unintentionally, Yufeng felt wronged. Though he knew very clearly how serious all of this was supposed to be.

Then he sucks in a breath, wanting to ask something in order to lighten the mood as well as hoping of getting forgiven.

"Are you saying this because...you and Teacher Xiao are...uh,"

The younger starts blushing, not daring to ask directly.

"She and me what?"

He frowns.

"...don't you understand me?"

"Understand what?"

Ugh, does this General have noodles for brains!? Can't he tell what I'm about to say!?

"Don't you and teacher Xiao love each other!?"

The second the word love was pronounced, Xie Hun unexpectedly spits on his saliva, choking.

"!!!!"

"Us!? Love each other!?? She's my sister in law for God's sake!! Wha- what- What's on your immoral little brain, how did you even come up with this assumption!??"

Yufeng lets out a deep sigh,

"Sister in law, you say...well isn't she a widow now? So doesn't that make teacher Xiao single? It's just judging by how close you both are to each other, i thought ..."

Now getting mad, the older snarls,

"Together or not, what does that have to do with you!? I just don't get what does a kid have to do with all this!"

"Stop calling me a kid! Even if you're my senior, I'm literally an adult! I'm 21!"

Yufeng retorts, getting annoyed.

"Whatever, that still doesn't change that you're a decade younger than me now, does it?"

For a while it became quiet with Yufeng beginning to innerly theorize,

"So judging by his reaction there's no way that the both of them can be together. Ah, Thank God! Teacher is single and that's all it matters...But that got me curious, can't it be that he has been a loner for all those years...  Did he ever like someone?"

Stretching his neck behind to become closer to Xie Hun's face, he wonders,

"This disciple dares to ask, since you're above 30... If you and Teacher Xiao Xiao aren't together...wasn't there anyone that you have been with together? It's just except for teacher Xiao I've never seen you be near any other women before..."

"...."

That got me thinking, Xie Hun began pondering.

10 years ago was one of the hardest moments of not only Xiao Xiao's life but my life as well. It was a painful memory.

Xie Hun couldn't help scoffing at the bittersweetness.

"Me, being with someone? I, Xie Hun, probably don't even have the right to choose a partner after what I've done...i don't even know what wanting to be with someone really means. Because the only person i once wanted...turned out to have a spouse, even a child and was a ruthless murderer, who hurt my friends and got rid of the only family I had. Till now, I am very regretful and i despise myself. I don't regret that I lost them, but I regret having to even like them once in my lifetime...so I lost the chance of loving someone before I could even start loving then, on top of that because of my stupid feelings i even caused a calamity, what feels like to the whole world."

The moment he finished, his tone changed to that which of annoyance.

"So....does that answer to your question?"

"..."

Yufeng found himself speechless.

Holy crap, what exactly did the general go through for him to say these depressing things!?? Wait, that's not what is important right now!! What's important is shouldn't I say something in this kind of situation??

Being in a awkward position, he panics,

Oh, Gosh. Oh, Gosh. What do I say? How do I comfort him? He sounded like he is still wounded, what can I say that wouldn't offend him??

Suddenly Yufeng recalls,

Wait a minute...Hold on, did the General just say 'the only family I had'? As far as I know isn't teacher Xiao's late husband, Xie Yun, was the only alive family member at that time? That means the one who killed the late General was-

"-it seriously makes me sick seeing the face of that bastard's son alive and well after all the crimes his parent comitted! He should have died with the parent, erasing traces of their sins in this world completely."

Xie Hun subconsciously rants out to the younger.

For so many years the young general wasn't able to talk about this to anyone but only keep the grief to himself. So letting it out makes him feel less burden on his shoulders.

Wait, that person, whom our General had feelings for...has a son who's alive and well? Do I know them?

Strange, why does this story sound quiet familiar...

The only person I can come up with, who has a parent that committed numerous crimes, doesn't that sound all too obvious !?!!

Yufeng innerly gasps as he puts two into two,

Could that be...!!!??

Realization hits the snake really hard, so wanting to confirm, he eagerly asks,

"Wait, the son you're talking about, is he-"

"BROTHER IN LAW!!!"

Interrupting the men, came a voice of a female, it was no other than Xiao Xiao herself.

"Sister in law!?"

Both the General and his younger partner in mission turns to look at their backs, where the call was coming from.

Yufeng's eyes immediately lands on the unconsious figure that the woman held near by the shoulder.

"Teacher Xiao, what's wrong with Wang Yi!??? Why is he unconsious!??"

"No time to expain, we have to get him to school and get him healed quickly!!"

Xiao Xiao urged with a short of breath as she reached the both.

Alongside the worried Yufeng, surprisingly Xie Hun also gives a look of concern.

--The next day--

"Ugh, me and Ke La's mission was like a child's play. Unlike us, I can't believe you guys had it so fun!!"

"...fun? You have no idea what I went through."

Muttered Yufeng at the complaining Zhen Yi, who didn't fail to hear.

"What, it can't be as boring as our mission was, can it? Besides weren't you guys supposed to encounter dream demons? Don't you know those types of missions are very fun and scary!!?? Tell me, how did it go? You are making me wait way too long!!"

"I...I don't wanna talk about it."

He hesitates, finishing off with a, "Not now, not ever."

Even just thinking about last night's unforgettable journey made the snake get goosebumps.

Zhen Yi studies the older one's reaction through his answer, feeling suspicious.

"Could it be that you are hiding something from me? Why are you acting as if you've ... committed a sin?"

Yufeng's lowered head immediately goes up, now alert, "!!!"

But he recovered quick in order to not seem even more suspicious.

The serpent tries to act,

"N-no, definitely not! Why would you think that way...? Actually nothing much happened, in fact."

"Then you wouldn't be acting like this nor not be able to tell me if nothing really happened on your mission! Come ooon, you have to tell me, okay?"

"I'm not...going to tell you. J-just...Ugh, just give up already, Zhen Yi!"

" Or else I'll beat you up on this aiming ground, seriously, like no joke."

This stupid bunny is too stubborn!! Will I get away from him without telling the truth??

"Oooh, you're not telling me must be because you've encountered something, hmmm? Good brother snake, hurry, tell me~ who was that special someone you've seen  on the illusional realm?"

Not being able to control his emotions so getting shocked,

"How-"

"Oh My~ i was right, wasn't I?!! Do I know them? Are they from our school!?? Or..."

"Is it your crush Teacher Xia- ughmpphh!!!

Yufeng covers his mouth not even letting him pronounce her name,

"Shut your mouth, you busybody!! Did you forget we are in public!??"

Pushing away his hand,

"Hmph- So it is our lovely teacher, oh God!! Now you have to tell me everything!!! like what did you see and do, what did you encounter- Without missing a single information out, do you get it??!"

"..."

"Okay, so you aren't gonna tell me, huh?"

"I won't tell you."

"Fine. But let me ask you. Did you... imagine hugging her?"

"..."

"No? Okay then maybe...kissing her?"

That's when Yufeng's eyes opens wide, failing to conrtol his coming out emotions,

"T-that's..!!!"

"OH MY GOD, YOU KISSED HER!???"

"Lord, why do you have to be so loud- shut the freak up I'm serious, if you don't quit this right now, I'll-"

"Sheesh, I get you, man!! I already know, so you don't have to be so embarrassed, alright? Besides, aren't we on the same boat? It's not painful to dream, right! I always knew of your feelings for her, anyway~ I just can't believe our righteous snake buddy can also be so naughty!!! I gotta tell this to brother Wang Yi-"

"Haven't you  had enough!??? Zhen Yi, you -"

"Sush, look the general is here! I think it's starting."

Zhen Yi points with his eyes to the said person and Yufeng's heart stops for a second at the mere mention of his name. Now frozen on spot, he thinks, " Good. Let Zhen Yi think that the one I kissed in the  illusion realm was teacher Xiao Xiao and not this mighty general that everyone knows of. Because if he finds out it was in fact the general, I won't live for another day. I just can't let anyone know about it..."

"Congrats on the successful mission, our dear disciples! I'm so happy to announce that you most of you all passed these missions with honor and struggle! In order to celebrate our victory and especially to those brave ones , we are delighted to announce that tonight we will hold a banquet for all the disciples as well as the masters. Alright? So everyone is free to participate and have  fun!"

Claims the headmaster, receiving enormous cheers from the gathered disciples.

Yufeng and Zhen Yi were called  to participate the meeting that was held outside the school with female disciples and male disciples separated side by side.

Yufeng lets out a sigh of relief,

"...It seems like, about Wang Yi's situation except us no one knows among the disciples. Sigh. That's good... I'm really worried about him."

"Yeah, I still can't believe my eyes and the way how he have changed overnight! Like he's not human anymore, but a real fish man, right??!"

Yufeng then turns to the rabbit, looking serious.

"Zhen Yi, why was Wang Yi even there with teacher Xiao in the first place? Didn't they swear that he wouldn't participate the night mission, so how come...!?? It's weird, I can't help but feel that someone must have on purpose let him, otherwise he wouldn't be able to have done it by himself and pass by without the guards noticing."

"Hey, why are you saying as if you don't know?"

"Don't know what?"