Chapter Four.

A while later,Lord Du Yuan's birthday banquet comes to an end with the guests presenting their gifts and leaving, claiming they have unfinished business to deal with. Duan Xinyue is the last to leave the compound. As he steps outside the Governor's Residence,he finds Lei Qiang standing alone facing away. Beside him,there are two horses lying helplessly. Then there is Duan Xinyue's carriage parked a few meters from Lei Qiang.

"Master Lei, don't tell me these two helpless creatures are yours. I doubt they can gallop for even half a li ( measurement for distance)."Duan Xinyue speaks in a sarcastic tone.

Lei Qiang turns around and faces him.

"They are not mine."

"I know they are not yours. How can the number one beauty of Long Gong County own such kind of lazy creatures," Duan Xinyue smiles flirtatiously. Lei Qiang ignores him and looks away.

"How can you be so reserved even when you're injured?" Lei Qiang is shocked by Duan Xinyue's statement but continues looking away maintaining his composure. He clears his throat to speak.

"Who says I'm injured?"

"A few days ago people said you were attacked by bandits but they were no match for you. You're a high level martial artist;for someone to be able to injure you they must at least be on a higher or a closer level to you,"Duan Xinyue concludes.

Lei Qiang simply chuckles before replying," Young Master Duan, you think too much."

Seeing Lei Qiang is not ready to open up about the attack, Duan Xinyue soughts to change the subject.

"Is your carriage not here yet?"

"I lent it to someone."

"General Fu?"

"How do you know?"

"The heels of these horses reveal they are military horses . He must have exhausted them riding them from the border. And now he needed to go somewhere urgent so he borrowed your carriage. And he won't be returning soon as you expect. Since you're injured why don't I give you a ride?" Duan Xinyue offers. As expected,Lei Qiang refuses the offer.

"You even lent him your attendant. How generous of you Philanthropist Lei ,"Duan Xinyue says in a sarcastic tone and clicks his tongue continuously.

"You flatter me Young Master Duan," Lei Qiang fakes a smile.

"How about I become a philanthropist like you and offer you a ride?"

Duan Xinyue doesn't seem to be giving up on offering Lei Qiang a ride so Lei Qiang makes up an excuse to make him give up. He claims he has to take care of the military horses. Du Yichen shows up and offers to take care of the military horses leaving Lei Qiang no choice but to accept the ride. Lei Qiang thanks Du Yichen unwillingly and boards the carriage with Duan Xinyue. They sit directly across from each other As the carriage rides away, Duan Xinyue sits beside Lei Qiang and grabs the collar of Lei Qiang's robes.

"What are you doing?"Lei asks in a panicking voice.

Lei Qiang yanks his collar away and sits across from Duan Xinyue. Duan Xinyue intends to take a look at Lei Qiang's injury.

"I thought you being a prostitute is just a mere rumour but I didn't expect it to be true."

Duan Xinyue's thin lips curve upwards revealing an evil smile.

"Every rumour has a little truth in it. A few county officials have fallen for my charm,"Duan Xinyue says proudly.

Lei Qiang is dumbfounded at the mention of county officials. Almost all county officials are men.A man and a man? Is it possible? Lei Qiang doesn't dare to analyze the situation anymore. Right now he needs to save himself from the claws of this shameless Duan Xinyue. Lei Qiang fixes his collar,dusts his robes and composes himself.

"I'm sure you earn a lot more than the female courtesans otherwise you wouldn't be so proud."

"Of course. My hands are tender than those of a fair maiden. You can touch them,"Duan Xinyue brags stretching out his hands for Lei Qiang to feel the texture of his hands. Lei Qiang looks away uninterested,"Even if I was interested in men I wouldn't be interested in you."

"Are you sure you don't want to touch them?"Duan Xinyue asks still stretching out his hands.

Duan Xinyue grips Lei Qiang's hand and tries to make him feel the palm of his hands . Lei Qiang's hand accidentally lands on Duan Xinyue's wrist and happens to feel Duan Xinyue's pulse. Lei Qiang is shocked by what he feels. He forcibly draws his hand away immediately.

'Why is his pulse so weak?' Lei Qiang questions himself inwardly. Afterwards there is some awkward silence between them.

"Young Master Duan are you not feeling well?" Lei Qiang asks curiously after a while.

"Not at all. I'm just a little exhausted."

When they reach Qingfeng Pavilion, Duan Xinyue alights from the carriage and instructs the one controlling the horses to drop Lei Qiang at Ziran Sect.