Volume Two: Bandits of This Place Chapter 125: The Boss and the Underling

Kuisheng crouched down, nudging Lin Changtian aside, and spoke slowly: "I heard Lin Peiyou is heading home?"

"Mhm, leaving tomorrow. He asked me to come over for a talk," Lin Changtian replied, resting his chin on his hand with an air of indifference.

"Then why are you sitting here? What, watching legs?" Kuisheng said, stretching his neck to appraise the passersby on the street.

The one walking with dainty, mincing steps was a young lady recently betrothed—graceful, with a slender waist and the delicate air of a refined debutante, her jade-like legs appearing hazy and alluring beneath the hem of her skirt. The one walking with a carefree, wandering gait, stepping left and right, was a daughter from a wealthy household; perhaps because she was still young, she was as flat from head to toe as a board.

Kuisheng pursed his lips; not one of these women caught his eye. Men are strange creatures; before a woman has even responded to them, they start picking and choosing based on the flimsiest of pretexts.

"Hey! Look over there, Changtian! That is a peerless beauty!" Kuisheng’s drooping eyelids suddenly flew open. A strange light glinted in his eyes, and he rubbed his hands together, a rare flush appearing on his cheeks.

Lin Changtian curled his lip. He had always prided himself on refined tastes; how could he be tempted by the mundane dust of the world? Yet, strangely, his body betrayed him, stubbornly turning in the direction Kuisheng pointed.

Soon, two young men stood on the street with their eyes wide open. One was lost in infatuation, the other immersed in the sight. The infatuated one nearly fell in love at first sight, while the immersed one... was nearly sick to his stomach.

It was hard to tell if the person was a man or a woman; the attire was provocative and the figure alluring, but the face was... a bit too masculine.

The person cast a charming, flirtatious glance at the two of them before turning and disappearing into the bustling crowd.

"Your aesthetic standards on this mountain are truly unique," Lin Changtian said, feeling a bit dazed from nausea. He glanced at the woman, then lowered his head, though a moment later, curiosity got the better of him and he stole another look.

Kuisheng pinched his nose, saying with disgust, "If you think she’s ugly, why do you keep looking? You’re such a masochist!"

"What would you know! Ugliness is just like beauty; both make a man want to take a few more looks," Lin Changtian replied, leaning against Kuisheng, limp and listless.

Kuisheng shot him a sidelong glance and sneered, "That person has a scorching figure, just a bit off in the face. It’s clear you’re just craving half of her and despising the other half."

"Sishan has just been established, and everything should be kept simple. Why don't I leave this woman for you to conquer? Besides, if you don't light a lamp at night... the result is the same, isn't it?" Lin Changtian rolled his eyes, trying to assume the air of a Sishan lord to play matchmaker for two youths who seemed to have a mutual interest.

"If only she were actually a woman," Kuisheng said, looking somewhat dazed and dejected. "When she smiled at me... the thing between my legs gave a little twitch."

Lin Changtian’s jaw dropped, at a loss for words, because that person had smiled at him too.

"Wait," Lin Changtian frowned, looking at Kuisheng with suspicion. "When decent men appreciate beauty, some look at the legs, some look at the face. Why are you the only one staring at the lower half?"

"Years of battle, iron horses and golden spears—commanding troops requires a meticulous eye," Kuisheng declared righteously.

His palms were sweating. He wiped them off haphazardly, pushed away the leaning Lin Changtian, and laughed, "I have things to do. You think it over, Changtian. When you're ready, go see that kid Lin Peiyou and remember to say goodbye for me."

With that, he rose, dusted himself off, and vanished into the distance.

Lin Changtian narrowed his eyes, speechless. He must have struck a nerve. Time drifted by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, dusk approached. There wasn't much time left for Lin Changtian to daydream. Muttering to himself, he took advantage of the lingering sun and meandered down the mountain.

***

In the valley, there sat a "carriage"—well, in the Northern Territory, it was more accurately a horse-drawn motorcar. The horse was dozing, half-kneeling outside the valley, while the sound of a zither drifted from within, long and resonant.

The divine steed, however, did not appreciate the music. It was rather annoyed, neighing for a long time, irritated that the zither was disturbing its nap.

A moment later, a figure appeared. The man was displeased because the horse looked even more arrogant than he was, not even offering a greeting as he walked past. The divine steed was also agitated; it couldn't understand why this fellow, having already walked past, would turn back. Was he pacing back and forth to provoke it? If so, this man had walked right into the line of fire.

It had been brought from the Western Border by Lin Peiyou and was incredibly intelligent. It was used to being domineering among the herds and was considered a treasure by Lin Yuan, who couldn't bear to let it tire its hooves. If conditions allowed, he would probably have ordered his third son to let the horse ride on his back—that was how pampered it was. How could it suffer such an insult from a human?

The horse neighed, looking indignant, and decided to exact a small punishment, extending a hoof to kick out fiercely.

It was promptly flipped over by the prepared Lin Changtian, who gave its belly a solid kick and scolded, "You beast, why didn't you greet me when you saw me?"

The horse shot him a glance—a very human-like one—as if to say: If I could talk, would you be sure you wouldn't be scared away?

Lin Changtian seemed to read the meaning. He stroked his chin and laughed, "You have a point. I suppose I shouldn't have kicked you. So... give me a bow, and we'll call it even."

The horse ignored him, rolling its eyes toward the sky with haughty indifference. *Hmph, I am the great-great-great-great...-great-grandson of the Red Hare among horses. How could I bow to a common, filthy human?*

"Mhm, I hear stewed horse meat is quite delicious when it's tender," Lin Changtian said, smacking his lips and resting a hand on the long blade at his waist.

The moment the words left his mouth, the smug divine steed’s smile froze. Setting aside its dignity, it struggled to turn over, its head bobbing up and down as it looked at the Lord of Sishan with a fawning expression.

Lin Changtian was pleased, finding that the horse was much like him—a clever fellow who knew when to yield.

"Sishan is a truly wondrous place; even the horses are afraid of dogs."

The zither music had stopped long ago. A figure emerged from the valley. Upon closer inspection, he removed his bamboo hat. It was indeed Lin Peiyou. The youth had shed his naivety and seemed much more mature than before. But the moment he opened his mouth, his true nature was revealed.

"Boss, you're amazing. This beast is usually so arrogant, looking down on everyone. What’s wrong? Can't keep up the act now?" Lin Peiyou hid behind Lin Changtian and took the opportunity to kick the divine steed.

Lin Changtian looked at the horse with a hint of pity. This beast was truly pathetic; even when bullied, it couldn't insult the female relatives of its enemy. Well, even if it could speak, it probably couldn't even use a basic curse. After all, if it said "Grass Mud Horse," people might think it was referring to its own relatives.

The divine steed shook its head vigorously, tears of regret in its eyes. A horse, after all, could never best a dog—let alone two of them.

***

"Boss, I'm leaving tomorrow," Lin Peiyou said abruptly while teasing the divine steed.

Lin Changtian looked at him and laughed, "Am I not your teacher? Why the change in address? It sounds quite like a bandit."

"Don't say that. We're about the same age; calling you 'teacher' is just too formal!" Lin Peiyou waved his hand, saying with complete seriousness, "When someone bullies me, you stand up for me. When no one is bullying me, you... act as the one bullying me. If this doesn't count as a boss-and-underling relationship, what does?"

"Mhm, I see. That does make sense."

Lin Changtian nodded, and the two fell silent for a long time.

"Aren't you going to say a word to keep me here?" one of the youths finally couldn't hold back, looking at the other with a resentful gaze, as if expecting something.

"Didn't your father send a letter? Do you dare to defy what he said?" Lin Changtian didn't answer, but instead asked with a smile.

Lin Peiyou suddenly shivered. His father’s way of doing things was always "half-literary, half-vulgar." For instance, in a letter to him, the first half would be about tidying his appearance and inspecting the Xie and Li garrisons... but by the second half, the tone would change entirely, starting with a crude curse, revealing his true colors—such a... warlord’s temperament.

He had reason to suspect the first half was written by someone else, while the second half was his father's true intent. After all, though his father had studied under famous masters just like many scholars, when he spoke of his own education, it was out of humility, but when he truly let loose... that was the most sincere truth.

Thinking back, his father’s threats were always direct. Instead of flowery prose, he preferred words like "beat to death" or "hang up and lash." It was said that a favorite saying of Lin Yuan was: *Since I have nothing to do, I might as well beat my own child for fun.*

Lin Peiyou recalled the bits and pieces of his life with his father... Good lord, nine beatings in three days, and the occasional steel rod for no reason at all.

However, a young man cares about his face. He looked around and puffed out his chest. "What kind of person is Lin Peiyou? I don't need to say it myself. Go to the Western Border and ask around. One word:豪横 (Overbearing and bold)!"

"In that case, why not stay another day?" Lin Changtian asked with a playful smile.

Lin Peiyou’s expression tightened, and he said righteously, "That won't be necessary. It’s not that I fear him, but I miss my mother too much. My heart is already flying home."

"Oh? Lord Lin Yuan, why have you come to Sishan in person?" Lin Changtian’s eyes brightened as he bowed toward the valley.

Lin Peiyou’s neck shrank, his legs trembling in terror. He turned to look with great effort, and upon seeing that Lin Changtian was only teasing him, he let out a sigh of relief and immediately turned back, snarling, "Stop trying to scare me! So what if he came? At worst, he beats me half to death—does this young master fear him? Let me tell you, once I'm at the gates of our Zhaonan City... I could curse him for three days and three nights without repeating a single word, believe it or not? Why aren't you saying anything? I'm asking if you believe me!"

"Young Master... I shall pretend I never heard such rebellious words. Let there not... be a next time." An old man walked out from behind Lin Changtian, hunched over, stroking his beard with a smile. It was the study companion, Liu Shiyong.

The youth’s face went pale. He scurried over, wearing a fawning smile, and nodded vigorously.

Lin Changtian cast a pitying glance at him; that smile was far too sycophantic, looking like a eunuch trying to curry favor with his master.

"I know I was wrong, Uncle Liu. Can't you let it slide just this once?" Lin Peiyou said in a coy, delicate voice, tugging at the corner of his robe.

The Lord of Sishan was disgusted once again. His right leg, which had been itching for action, could no longer restrain itself. He delivered a fierce kick and roared, "Get away from me, you’re disgusting!"