Chapter Seventy Four.

Duan Xinyue takes a deep breath before answering the question hence arousing everyone's curiosity. This is a decision he has not to make in front of everyone and he can't run away or avoid it. And once he makes the decision he can't turn back.

"I was planning to go on a trip but I already postponed it. So I'm willing to be the new general."

Everyone in the room is relieved and shows their excitement about Duan Xinyue's decision.

"Your Lordship,I would like to ask you a favour."

"What favour?"

"Can I choose my own assistants?"

"Of course."

Duan Xinyue looks sideways and meets Lei Qiang's eyes. Since he has been dragged into this unbearable situation he doesn't care about dragging a few other people along with him.

"I would like to choose three assistants. Master Lei of Ziran Sect,Liu Fei here and also our Silken Blade Madam Ruo."

"Why is he appointing her?"

"What are you murmuring about? Are you looking down on me?"Madam Ruo asks aggressively making the officials to suddenly become silent. After that,the four chosen ones stay behind to discuss further about the plan for reviving the military camp at the Fourth Meandering.

It's already dark since it's 8 p.m when their small meeting is adjourned. Zhou Lian prepares a room for Madam Ruo to stay over the night as the three guys leave the compound. There are two carriages outside the residence;one is Lei Qiang's and the other is Liu Fei's. Liu Fei enters his carriage and leaves right away since he barely knows the two well so he can't stay behind to chat with them.

"Lei-xiong, can you give me a ride?"

"Why don't you go back by the means you came with?"

"I used my qinggong."

"Then you can use it now too."

"Lei-xiong I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess of training soldiers thing,"Duan Xinyue pleads.

"If you knew you were dragging me into a mess then why didn't you think it through before mentioning my name?"Lei Qiang pretends to be serious.

'As long as you are beside me I don't mind and will never mind even if you drag me into hell,'Lei Qiang thinks to himself and secretly smiles when Duan Xinyue looks away.

"Fine then I'll go back and sleep at Yichen's room."

"Who said you have to go back and sleep in Du Yichen's room?"

Lei Qiang allows him to enter the carriage first and enters after him. They sit beside each other with Duan Xinyue lying on Lei's thighs.

"Why did you arrive late at the meeting?"

"The most handsome man always arrives late,"Duan Xinyue brags.

"Why did you postpone your trip?"

"I told someone else to go on my behalf."

"Who?"

"Take a guess."

"Miss Qin?"

"Not her."

"Su Jiali?"

"Not her either."

"Then who is it?"

"Your Shifu."

"My Shifu? How deep is your relationship that he agrees to run errands for you?"

"I was going to pick medicinal herbs from the North and since I used to supply him with several pills for free he agreed to do it to repay me."

"My Shifu has changed so much. He doesn't care about martial arts anymore."

"Yeah, people change because of other people. For example you, you never used to be this friendly but now you're more amiable because of me."

"Ridiculous!"Lei Qiang snorts and suddenly becomes serious to hide his embarrassment. There is a sudden silence between them,with the breeze from outside blowing the curtains of the carriage and lets in some light,clear enough for them to see each other's eyes. Lei Qiang is breathing calmly with his eyes closed and a lingering serene facial expression. Duan Xinyue takes the opportunity to have a great look at him since he is still lying on Lei Qiang's thighs. He extends his hand and gently strokes Lei Qiang's chin up to his cheek. Lei Qiang opens his eyes and grabs Duan Xinyue's hand.

"What are you doing?"

"Admiring your beauty of course."

Duan Xinyue waits for Lei Qiang to lower his guard and suddenly places his hand on Lei Qiang's chest to feel his heartbeat.

"Lei-xiong, your heart is beating so fast. Is it beating for me?"Duan Xinyue asks his voice full of total lust.

"Ridiculous."

"I can't see your face clearly right now but I'm sure your cheeks are already red right now."

Duan Xinyue gets up a bit and kisses Lei Qiang's cheek and asks Hong Yi to stop the carriage. Without waiting for Lei Qiang's reaction,he alights from the carriage and enters Qingfeng Pavilion. Lei Qiang subconsciously touches his cheek where Duan Xinyue has kissed him.

Hong Yi pulls the horse bridles starting the carriage and rides away. Upon entering Qingfeng Pavilion Duan Xinyue finds Qin Lanhua and the showgirls dancing on stage with Yuan Ye playing the zither for them. Duan Xinyue heads upstairs to his room to freshen up.