Chapter 135: [Love and Hate Intertwined]

"Look at me, how about that?"

When Green pointed at his nose and said those words with a smile, before Xaya could even respond, the rabbit general sitting next to them was completely dumbfounded.

After a moment, Ruhl suddenly jumped up and shrieked, "You? What the hell! You actually want to go and work with this kid?!"

The fat on the fat man's face quivered violently, his eyes bulging wide until his eyeballs nearly popped out. "Come and help me instead!! Damn it! I'll make you a standard-bearer of a banner! The heavy cavalry banner is yours! And the military rank of deputy commander! I'll pay you double the military salary! Logistics supplies will give you priority! The authority to make independent decisions in battle, plus the position of chief staff officer of the army corps! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!!"

Ruhl was extremely excited, wishing he could leap over and grab hold of Green for dear life.

Green, however, remained completely calm. He glanced at the fat man and said flatly, "Old friend, it's not that I'm unwilling to join you, it's just... do you think the people at the Military Department would agree to transfer me under your command?"

Upon hearing this, the fat man immediately shut his mouth. The look of excitement on his face faded bit by bit until he finally stomped his foot in frustration and muttered, "Dammit!"

Only then did Xaya get a chance to chime in. He looked at Green with a somewhat disbelieving expression and opened his mouth. "This... General Green..."

"I haven't been a general for a long time," Green said with a faint smile, interrupting Xaya.

"Very well, Lord Green." Xaya took a breath. "Although I don't know much about you yet, I've heard this fatty say that you're formidable—very formidable. Are you sure you want to come with me? You used to be a man of the Central Standing Army Corps. Following me to a patchwork army in some remote province, and on top of that, having your rank lowered to battalion commander..."

Green snorted. He stared at Xaya, then looked back at Ruhl, who still looked somewhat unwilling. The frustrated general then sighed.

"I don't want to wait anymore," Green said, a hint of desolate bleakness underlying his tone.

"So what if it's a patchwork army? Give me three years, and I'll train an iron army for you! As for battalion commander..." At this point, a mocking tone crept into Green's voice. "My current military rank is general, but so what? I'm still just thrown into a military academy to play the schoolteacher. For all these years, waking up in the middle of the night, I could feel my body slowly rusting and rotting away! I've almost forgotten the thrill of galloping across the field on horseback! Forgotten the life of iron hooves and clashing swords! Forgotten the years of flying arrows and raining bullets! The horn of charge, the shouts of the soldiers... these things, I've almost forgotten them all!"

Ruhl fell silent. The fat man's expression turned somewhat ugly before he finally sighed, "Those warlord factions... the empire's woodworms!"

Green's eyes were slightly bloodshot. He gave Ruhl a firm pat on the shoulder and bit his lower lip. "Old friend... I refuse to accept this!"

He suddenly tugged at his uniform, uttering words that made even Xaya feel moved.

"I haven't been injured... for many years."

In what seemed like a very plain sentence, there carried an indescribable sense of loneliness and loss.

*(Indeed, it's been many years since he was injured. Such a statement... ordinary people might find it laughable. But in the heart of this General Green, fighting on the battlefield and wrapping wounds with torn clothes—that kind of life was truly exhilarating!)* Ruhl's eyes also turned red. He reached out and slapped Green back, letting out a strange laugh, "You mad dog, why are you talking about things so bleakly! Haha! Excellent! No matter what, if you really manage to get transferred out, those fellows from the same batch will stare their eyes out! Everyone has been envious of you all these years; goodness knows how many people wanted to poach you. If it weren't for those bastards at the Military Department blocking it, you wouldn't have been left languishing in the academy teaching those babies."

With that, Ruhl suddenly glared at Xaya, yelling fiercely, "Kid, when Green goes to your place, you'd better treat him well! Do you know how many people will secretly be green with envy once this mad dog ends up under your command?!"

Xaya was not joking this time and nodded earnestly.

After that, the three of them looked at each other. Ruhl slammed his hand on the table. "How can there be no wine at a time like this! Let's go, let's go! Out to drink!"

Green laughed heartily, grabbing Ruhl by the arm. "Tonight's round is on me! My salary at the academy isn't low; I'll spend it all right now! From now on, I'll be someone drawing military pay again!"

Ruhl froze for a second, stared intently at Green, and then nodded forcefully.

However, before stepping out, Xaya walked behind Ruhl and heard the fat man murmur under his breath, "Sigh... Let's just hope the mad dog doesn't end up rejoicing over nothing this time."

"Huh? What?" Xaya asked quietly.

Ruhl glanced at Xaya. "This isn't his first time applying for a transfer. Every time, he comes with joy and leaves in disappointment. Those guys up top won't easily agree to transfer him."

After thinking for a moment, Ruhl added, "Still, since he's going to be a battalion commander in the provincial garrison this time, maybe it'll get approved. Dammit, going from general rank to battalion commander, just how many ranks has he dropped all at once?"

***

Green seemed to be in exceptionally high spirits. The three of them mounted their horses and headed out. The two old fellows, knowing the terrain like the back of their hands, naturally led Xaya, a country bumpkin, toward the south of the city.

Clearly, these two weren't upstanding gentlemen either. They led Xaya directly to a small street not far from the south city market. The alley wasn't wide. Xaya seemed to have passed its intersection during the daytime over the past couple of days, and he remembered that the street had been quite desolate during the day—the shops on both sides had their doors shut tight, and even pedestrians were rare. Occasionally, someone walking by would be a suspicious-looking character hurrying along with his head down.

Yet, coming back to look at it now at night, it was entirely different!

This narrow little street was already decked out with colorful lanterns. Bright lamps hung along both sides, windowsills were crammed with fresh flowers, and the street was bustling with activity. Luxurious carriages came and went, and the occasional pedestrian was surrounded by retinues, calling out to friends.

The "shops" on either side had decorated their front entrances to look lively and grand. Every household had moved flowerbeds overflowing with blooms right outside their doors, and red and pink carpets were rolled out straight along the roadside. Carriages were parked at the entrances, and from the open doors, bursts of laughter occasionally drifted out—belonging unmistakably to feminine voices that sparked Xaya's curiosity... The scent of alcohol, powder, and flowers mingled in the air, enveloping the small street.

Even though Xaya was a country bumpkin and had never visited such a place, the moment he laid eyes on this scene, he could roughly guess what it was all about.

Inwardly, the bumpkin was weeping tears of blood. *(Could it be... could it be... could this be the legendary realm of powder and romance...)*

The two old men looked like seasoned veterans of the demimonde. They led Xaya through the alley, ignoring all the bustling doorways entirely, and headed straight to the very end of the street. There were no pedestrians at the entrance here, making it look somewhat more serene, but several carriages were parked on either side. A few neatly dressed waiters stood by the door, their smiles lacking the obsequious flattery of the other establishments; instead, they were respectful and courteous, neither servile nor overbearing.

"This place looks rather quiet, why aren't we going to those lively places..." the bumpkin couldn't help asking.

Both old men turned their heads back with identical looks of utter disdain. "You don't understand."

The damned fat man even added, "Virgins shut your traps!"

Stepping inside, the attendants at the door immediately came forward, but they didn't utter any clichés like the ones outside, such as "Long time no see, sir" or "Why have you been away so long, master?" Instead, with simple politeness and clarity, they made a gesture inviting them inside, then bowed and led the way without a single word of nonsense.

Walking on a red carpet scattered with flower petals, they entered the main hall, pushed open a red-copper door, and were immediately greeted by the sound of delightful music.

This was a circular hall, resembling an open courtyard. Surrounding it on the lower and upper floors was a ring of semi-open rooms; the doors had been removed, replaced instead by drooping beaded curtains behind which faint figures swayed.

In the very center of the hall, upon a stone platform about waist-high paved with crystal-like marble slabs, sat a round couch. On it sat a woman dressed entirely in white. She had a waterfall of long blonde hair, a delicate and tranquil face, and clothes as pristine as snow, fastened quite strictly. Sitting gracefully on the soft round couch with a harp cradled in her arms, her slender fingers nimbly plucked the strings, sending beautiful music drifting throughout the hall.

There was not a trace of seductiveness about this woman. Her eyes were half-closed, her expression calm as if she were completely lost in the music—how could this possibly resemble the enchanting vibe of a pleasure house?

No clamor, no rowdy drinkers, no seductive laughter from women... In this hall, apart from the music, it was astonishingly serene. Flower petals were scattered haphazardly on the floor, and neat, well-dressed young waiters carrying fruits, food, and fine wine occasionally scurried up and down the stairs.

This was no pleasure house... it felt more like a concert theater.

The music played by the woman on stage was so exquisite that upon hearing it, one felt as if all worldly impurities had been washed away. Even a crude fellow like Xaya couldn't help but feel his body grow lighter upon listening.

Green casually tossed a gold coin to the leading attendant and murmured something. The attendant accepted the money without showing excessive excitement, still neither servile nor overbearing as he led the three upstairs, pulled back the beaded curtain of an empty room at the end of the second-floor corridor, and invited them inside.

The room featured several soft couches. The three of them half-reclined as they sat down, and the attendant smiled slightly before stepping out, carefully drawing the beaded curtain shut behind him.

Lying there, Xaya felt his heart itching with curiosity. On the small table beside the couch, wine decanters, goblets, and exquisite fruits and pastries had already been prepared. The bumpkin looked at the two old men, wanting to speak but holding back, and finally picked up a decanter to pour himself a drink in a silver cup. The liquid turned out to be a strange emerald green, and he had no idea what it actually was.

Once seated, the two old men fell into a daze, saying nothing, simply tilting their heads to listen to the melodious and beautiful music. After a good long while, the music finally drifted to a close, and a crisp chime rang out from outside.

Ruhl and Green sighed simultaneously, exchanging a glance before Green murmured, "Miss Afra's skill on the harp is becoming more and more exquisite! The number one harpist in Yan Jing—truly well-earned!"

Ruhl, the usually vulgar fat man, now wore a look of yearning on his face as he murmured, "Miss Afra's skills were passed down from Master Mu, the number one harpist on the continent. I hear that Master Mu's playing is truly divine, capable of moving even the gods to tears... Pity that you and I will never have the chance to experience just how wonderful it is."

These two military roughnecks were suddenly trying to act refined. The bumpkin beside them scratched his head impatiently and muttered, "Damn it, you're a bunch of throat-slitting blade-wielders, what are you talking about this dogwater music for? I know about music—we have artists in Wildfire Town who play the flute in taverns, and that little tune called *Eighteen Touches* costs only a single copper piece to hear eight sections of!"

Ruhl and Green burst into laughter. After glancing at Xaya, Green raised his hand and clapped three times lightly.

Who knew how the place was structured, but shortly after Green clapped, the curtain was lifted, and a mild-looking woman walked in. She looked to be around thirty years old, with delicate facial features and a plain long dress, entirely devoid of the coquettish demeanor typical of such places. Her dress was strictly tailored—forget about bare shoulders and backs, one couldn't even catch a glimpse of cleavage *(to the bumpkin's great disappointment)*. Her face was simple and clear, free of makeup, with her hair tied up in a basic knot. Walking in, she spoke warmly and politely, "Sirs, please give your orders."

Her tone carried not a hint of lightheartedness, making her look nothing like a woman selling smiles in a place like this.

It wasn't as if the bumpkin hadn't seen women of the demimonde before. On the journey to Yan Jing, local officials eager to curry favor with him had inevitably slipped women into his room in the middle of the night. Though the bumpkin had beaten them away, mistaking them for female ghosts, thinking back on it now, he had some doubts about his own standard of women—anyway, in the bumpkin's eyes, women in places like these ought to be fragrant, smiling before speaking, and overflowing with coquettish charm.

Yet this woman who walked in didn't look like a courtesan at all; she looked more like a court ceremonial lady.

Green looked at the woman, waved his hand, and laughed heartily, "Alright, it's not like I'm coming here for the first time. Look closely, this is the newly appointed commander of the Central Army's 13th Corps, General Ruhl, Lord Viscount! Bring out all your treasured good stuff, hahahaha!"

With that, Ruhl immediately put on an air of wealth and extravagance.

The woman covered her mouth and chuckled, casting a light, calm glance at Ruhl. "So it is General Ruhl. Please forgive me for any discourtesy just now; I will go and make arrangements..."

"Wait!" Ruhl stopped the woman, gesturing toward Xaya with his chin. "This is a young and distinguished guest of unique status. Put some effort into it."

He acted all mysterious, causing the woman to instantly show utmost respect. She looked over at Xaya, noticing his slightly dissatisfied expression and simple, unostentatious clothing. Yet, being able to sit as an equal with a real-power general of the Imperial Central Army—how could his status be ordinary?

She had seen plenty of young dignitaries in Yan Jing, but this young man looked genuinely unfamiliar... Thinking this, she bowed deeply before turning to leave.

***

Finding it all terribly dull, Xaya couldn't help muttering, "Is this the great place you were talking about? I think the people here are boringly more serious than nuns in a church..."

The two old men laughed, and Ruhl nudged him with a smirk, "You kid are a greenhorn, completely missing the subtlety of it all. Men always hope their wives at home are as passionate as possible, yet whenever they steal food outside, they always wish the woman were as chaste as a saint—that's generally the mentality of men, and the magic of this place lies precisely in that."

Xaya remained half-doubtful, while the two old men let down their guard, picking up their wine cups to chat idly for a moment.

Before long, a sound came from outside. The curtain was lifted, and the previous woman walked in, followed by three girls with distinct expressions. Without waiting for instructions, they each went and sat beside the three men on their respective soft couches.

The first girl had a fiery figure, slightly tanned skin, and a face that was not only gorgeous but overflowed with ambition and unruliness, like a wild horse. She wore a leather vest that exposed her slender waist, and curly brown-black hair. Standing there with her chin slightly raised, she immediately sat down beside Green.

The girl beside the fat man was petite and delicate, with bewitching eyebrows.

As for the girl beside Xaya, she was undoubtedly the most striking of the three.

With pale blonde hair and a white robe, her appearance bore a striking resemblance to the harp-playing woman in the main hall earlier. A gentle, delicate smile hung on her pristine face, and a thin belt cinched her waist, tracing an enchanting, slender contour. Beneath the hem of her robe, a pair of bare, snow-white feet rested shoeless on the soft carpet, looking so pale they were almost dazzling.

At the sight of them, the fat man and Green immediately cheered. The fat man grinned instantly, "How biased! Good things always go to the youngsters while we old fellows get no love! Hahaha! The best goods were snatched up by this kid!"

After laughing, the leading woman quickly excused herself, leaving the three men and three women in the room.

The two old men quickly cast aside their inhibitions, lying lazily on the soft couches while the girls attending to them diligently served them, lifting cups, pouring wine, and nestling into their arms.

Xaya, experiencing this kind of array for the first time, felt rather awkward. On the other hand, the white-robed girl beside him smiled in her eyes, looked at Xaya, and whispered, "Would sir care for some drink?"

"Uh... no."

"Would sir like some fruit?"

"Uh... no."

"Would sir like to listen to music? I can also play the harp; people here call me Little Afra."

"Uh..." Xaya stared wide-eyed. "Can you play *Eighteen Touches*?"

*Pfft!* The fat man and Green nearby choked and spat their wine out instantly.

The white-robed girl beside Xaya looked somewhat embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "I... I can't..."

Xaya thought about it. "Then... can you do magic tricks? The kind where you pull a rabbit out of a hat, can you do that?"

"...I can't."

"Hmm... breathing fire? Taking a mouthful of wine, holding a torch, blowing on it, and having a stream of fire burst out?"

"...I can't."

"Well... sword swallowing? I've seen someone perform that, shoving a whole sword down their throat right up to the hilt!"

The white-robed girl looked like she was about to cry. "...I can't."

Ruhl and Green were already laughing so hard they rolled right off their soft couches. The fat man rolled around on the floor, choking on a sip of wine and coughing until his face turned red.

Realizing this strange young guest might next ask if she could "smash a giant boulder on her chest," the white-robed girl wisely seized the initiative. She picked up a wine cup, brought it to Xaya's lips, and smiled with narrowed eyes, "Since I can't do those, I'll just serve you some wine instead. I do know a few massage techniques..."

With that, the bumpkin felt a pair of soft, gentle hands press against the back of his neck. The slender, delicate fingers skillfully kneaded his shoulders and neck, sending a sudden stir through his heart. The words on the tip of his tongue vanished, and he instinctively swallowed the wine from the cup held near his mouth.

Eager to please, the white-robed girl pressed her body closely against Xaya, soft and warm. The bumpkin felt a surge of strange, dizzying emotions in his chest.

What the hell was this... In the bumpkin's eyes, this girl's appearance was actually rather "ugly," completely failing the standard taught by the old men—which was "large breasts, big buttocks, and a thick waist." Yet, when such an "ugly girl" deliberately leaned in with tenderness, her slender hands brushing against his body, the girl's faint fragrance filling his nose, and her boneless, soft body clinging