Chapter Sixty Four.

"Which way do you think they could have gone?"Yuan Ye asks innocently.

"Does it matter?"Duan Xinyue questions back nonchalantly.

"You're right. Even if we chase after them we can't catch up with them,"Yuan Ye acknowledges.

"Let's continue with the journey,"Duan Xinyue suggests.

"Mister Duan ,now that they are gone why don't you ride in the carriage with me?"

"Good idea. My back is already sore from riding on the horse for too long."

The three of the them enter the carriage. Duan Xinyue and Yuan Ye sit next to each other while Lei Qiang sits across from them. As the carriage rides away Duan Xinyue leans on Yuan Ye,"A-Yuan,your hands have never used a sword before I'm sure they must be soft and tender as those of a baby. Why don't you give me a massage?"

"Sure."

'He still got this bad habit of asking random people to massage him. Shameless!'Lei Qiang curses inwardly.

Lei Qiang looks at his own hands and strokes them to feel their texture. Were his hands not as soft as Yuan Ye's?

"Mister Duan, I'm not used to you calling me nicknames."

"If you're uncomfortable with it I can go back to calling you Mister Yuan."

"No,no. I prefer you calling me A-Yuan. Then call I call you by your nickname?"

"What nickname?"

"A-Yue."

'A-Yue?'Lei Qiang snorts.

Duan Xinyue chokes on his saliva after hearing the nickname,"I think you better call me Xinyue."

Yuan Ye looks up and his eyes meet Lei Qiang's piercing glare. Yuan Ye resorts to playing the innocent one,"Mister Lei do you want me to massage you too?"

"No,thanks"Lei Qiang replies looking away.

"A-Yuan , Lei-xiong here can sit for a day without leaning on anything. He's got a strong stamina so don't worry about him."

When the four of them reach Meanders City,Lei Qiang is the first to alight as the remaining three proceed towards Qingfeng Pavilion where Duan Xinyue will host the two visitors. Mu Zixin loves sneaking out from the lectures and he happens to see Lei Qiang walking in to the compound. Du Bai Xin is still lecturing the disciples when Mu Zixin rushes back in and announces the news. Du Bai Xin doesn't bother to punish him for sneaking out of the lecture,she immediately concludes the lecture and leaves hurriedly.

Hong Yi is seated under the willow tree outside White Pavilion as Lei Qiang comes. He excitedly gets up and approaches him to welcome him.

"My Lord, you're finally back."

"Lock the door from outside and let no one disturb me,"Lei Qiang instructs as Hong Yi immediately catches up with him and does as instructed. A few minutes later ,Du Bai Xin arrives.

"Miss Du,why are you here?"

"I heard Qiang-ge is back so I came to see him,"Du Bai Xin says smiling widely.

"He has left."

"So soon?"Du Bai Xin asks with a disappointed look.

"He came to pick up something and left."

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know."

"When will he be back?"

"No idea."

Xu Han has been coming to the sect a lot ever since Hong Yi came back. He stopped going to Hope Temple so he comes to White Pavilion to keep himself busy by playing games with Hong Yi. He comes as usual. He excitedly greets Du Bai Xin but she greets him back uninterested to interact with him any further.

"Bro Hong,why don't we head inside?"

Hong Yi can't help but express his uneasiness which makes Du Bai Xin suspect concerning what he said about Lei Qiang leaving but she doesn't show it. She pretends to leave but hides somewhere out of their sight and watches them enter White Pavilion. Hong Yi brings the chess board and the chess pieces but before they begin playing Hong Yi warns Xu Han not to make noise like he always does.

"Bro Hong,am I usually too loud?"Xu Han whispers.

"Sometimes,"Hong Yi replies frowning so Xu Han can stop asking him more questions.

"You rarely tell me to be quiet. What? Did you bring a lady here because your master is not around and you're afraid of staying alone?"

"It's not that. Why would I be afraid of staying alone with this sect full of people?"

"You're blushing. You really brought a lady without Bro Lei's consent,"Xu Han giggles.

A slap on the forehead sends Xu Han to rubbing his head in pain. He turns around and looks up and is surprised to see Lei Qiang. He immediately forgets about the slap.

"Bro Lei you're back. You're really back,"Xu Han jumps into his arms and hugs him.

"You're strangling me. You're clinging on to me like a monkey clinging on to a tree."

Du Bai Xin knocks and gets in without waiting for Lei Qiang's response.

"Qiang-ge, you're back. I missed you."

Lei Qiang facial expression suddenly changes to a hostile one. Meanwhile at Qingfeng Pavilion Yuan Ye is seated with the showgirls surrounding him. Compared to Moon City,the girls in Meanders City are more daring. He tries to get rid of the showgirls but he can't. Duan Xinyue comes to his rescue and chases the girls away. He brings Qin Lanhua along with him and introduces Yuan Ye to her. He then instructs her to take care of him which she agrees right away with a smiling face.

"Has Yichen been coming here?"

"Yeah but not as much as before. Lord Du Yuan was sick by the time Yichen came back from Moon City so Yichen was busy taking care of him."

"What happened to him?"

"He was poisoned."

"Poisoned? By who?"

"He attended a banquet at Minister Wen's mansion but no one knows exactly who poisoned him."

"Minister Wen must have something to do with it."

"We all think so but there's no evidence."

"By the way, where is Su Jiali?"

"She moved out."

Duan Xinyue suddenly becomes silent, feelings of sadness and disappointment vivid on his face.