Chapter Forty Five.

There's no specific reason why the market is called Yazi Market and also it's a normal market like any other markets. The four of them make a stop at the market as they had agreed. They find a food stall and take a meal together before proceeding to buy non perishable foods to sustain them throughout the rest of the journey.

"Why are you guys only buying osmanthus cakes?" Duan Xinyue complains.

"It's your problem for not liking them,"Du Yichen replies in a teasing tone.

"Then I will buy buns,"Duan Xinyue says that walking away.

"Why does Duan gongzi hate osmanthus cakes?" Hong Yi asks curiously.

"He doesn't hate them he just likes jujube cakes more."

"Then let's find jujube cakes,"Lei Qiang suggests walking away.

After a while of shopping around Lei Qiang and his team return to the carriage first. Duan Xinyue returns later still grumpy because he couldn't find the cakes he likes.

"Hey Duan Duan why are you behaving like an immature maiden?"

"Why are you bullying this immature maiden then?"Duan Xinyue pouts adorably making Lei Qiang's heart flutter a little.

"You're making my heart flutter,"Du Yichen says jokingly touching his heart.

"Let me feel it,"Duan Xinyue stretches out his hand and touches Du Yichen's heart to feel his heartbeat,"It's beating so hard."

"Yeah, it's beating for you,"Du Yichen flirts.

Lei Qiang might explode out of jealousy any minute watching the man he has eyes for flirting with another shameless dude.

Hong Yi starts the carriage and drives away for a while till darkness covers the earth completely. They are a bit far from Yazi Market and the road is a bit unclear so they decide to make a stop and continue travelling at dawn. They decide to take turns sleeping in the carriage and guarding the carriage.

"Yichen you're a sleepyhead it will be trouble if you sleep now because we won't be able to wake you up later."

"Fine. Master Lei and Hong Yi,who is a sleepyhead between you two?"

Duan Xinyue spanks Du Yichen and reprimands him ,"With their relationship you can't force them to make a choice based on your statement."

Du Yichen rubs his butt to get rid of the pain caused by Duan Xinyue's spanking.

"I will be guarding outside with you ,"Hong Yi says referring to Du Yichen.

"Make sure you wake us up later."

Duan Xinyue and Lei Qiang enter the carriage while the other two stay outside.

"Lei-xiong should we cuddle or what? What do you think?"Duan Xinyue flirts. If only he would see how much red Lei Qiang's cheeks are,he would continue teasing him more.

"Lei-xiong don't you think it would be more comfortable if we were able to join the two seats together and sleep together comfortably ?" Duan Xinyue continues spitting nonsense while Lei Qiang lies on the seat and snuggles into a more comfortable position. Within a minute there's dead silence in the carriage while the two buddies outside chat continuously to get rid of the cold. After a while they shift turns. Duan Xinyue gathers a few logs and puts up a fire because the night is cold.

"Lei-xiong how come you never talk about your Shifu?"

"You never talk about your Shifu too."

Duan Xinyue chuckles in embarrassment conceding defeat.

"My Shifu...,"Lei Qiang looks up for a minute like he's trying to remember something,"There's nothing much about him. His surname was Guo and his first name was Mulang. He was a misogynist and up to now I've never figured out why he hated women so much."

"Maybe all the women he trusted in his life ended up betraying him."

"I think so. What about your Shifu?"

"I left the sect while I was still very young so I don't remember much about him. He was only strict with a strong sense of justice and he didn't favour any disciple."

There is a silence between them for a while before Duan Xinyue asks another question," When did your Shifu teach you the Freezing Palm Technique?"

Lei Qiang smiles a bit before replying,"My Shifu was a picky eater especially when he was sick so at one time he pretended to be sick and everyone was afraid of taking care of him especially the meals so I had to do it and he taught me the technique in the process.Others thought I was delaying because I was having a hard time convincing him to eat."

"You must have been a fast learner because your Shifu couldn't pretend to be sick for long."

"He only taught me the basics. I practiced the rest by myself. If you want I can teach you."

"Huh? No, thanks. I don't want to risk myself because of a mere martial arts technique."

"How did you figure out how to get rid of the ice crystals?"

"I just emitted heat using my inner energy."

"And how did you know that's the way to get rid of it?"

"We use cold water to quench heat or fire and we use fire to get rid of coldness. What would you have done if I hadn't managed to unleash myself from the ice crystals?"

"I didn't give it much thought back then."

"Why did you decide to tag along with us?"

"Just for merit earning."

"Turns out you're more ambitious than I thought. I thought you tagged along because of me,"Duan Xinyue says anxiously waiting for Lei Qiang's reaction.

'Of course I tagged along because of you dummy,'those are the words in Lei Qiang's heart but he doesn't dare say them out loud. He ignores Duan Xinyue's statement and remains silent.

"When you don't want to answer a question you choose to stay quiet. You're so aloof I wonder who you will end up marrying,"Duan Xinyue comments.

"If I can't find a lady to marry I might as well shave my hair and become a monk,"Lei Qiang jokes still maintaining a straight face.

Duan Xinyue's soft laughter fills the air,"Lei-xiong this is one of the few times I've heard you joke."

Lei Qiang smirks proudly for being the cause of Duan Xinyue's hearty laugh.