Chapter 31: Whatever I Lost from You, I Will Take Back

When Ji Huo returned to his small courtyard, Little Red Candy was already lounging in the old man’s chair, rocking back and forth. A pile of snacks was spread across the stone table, and she was leisurely eating dried plums.

It seemed like I wasn’t the only one starting to live a retired life; Little Red Candy was settling into it as well. She was only ten years old—retired at ten? Truly enviable.

“What happened to this tree? I remember it didn’t look like this in the afternoon,” Little Red Candy asked, pointing to the evergreen.

The evergreen had lost many of its leaves, blown off by Father’s earlier flick. Now it looked somewhat like a middle-aged engineer—a textbook “King’s style” haircut.

“Probably survival pressure,” Ji Huo replied.

“Huh?”

“Pressure makes people lose their hair.”

“Oh.” She nodded with a puzzled look.

“How was it playing with Twenty-Three and the others?” Ji Huo sat down and sipped his tea. After a night of drinking, finally he could breathe easy.

“It was great! Everyone was happy, and they bought me lots of delicious things.” Little Red Candy gestured excitedly at the heap of snacks on the table. “But their martial skills have declined a lot. You need to keep a better eye on them.”

Ji Huo squinted suspiciously, “You didn’t go too hard on them, did you?”

“I was very gentle! They’re my dearest friends, my brothers-in-arms,” she replied with a sweet smile.

Ji Huo quietly sipped his tea, remembering the last time she said something like that—she’d beaten those brats so badly they were bedridden for half a month.

“But their skills really have gotten worse,” Little Red Candy insisted.

“Or maybe you’ve just improved too quickly,” Ji Huo suggested.

He’d seen Twenty-Three and the others recently; their skills hadn’t advanced much, but at least they’d made some progress.

“Really?” Little Red Candy scratched her head, her face the very picture of an innocent child who knew nothing.

Ji Huo reached out and ruffled her hair. She was only ten, yet already so accomplished—who knew what heights she’d reach someday? With her temperament, she might very well become another scourge of the martial world.

Little Red Candy shook her head vigorously and took a few steps back, a look of utter distaste on her face. “You smell like liquor. It’s awful.”

Ji Huo’s smile froze, his hand suspended in mid-air.

Had his sister just despised him?

She actually called him smelly?

Suddenly, Ji Huo understood why his father always made sure to air out the smell of alcohol before coming home.

That night, as planned, Ji Huo and Little Red Candy slipped out through the secret passage, hoping to catch the assassin impersonating the “Red Umbrella.”

Based on the latest bounty list provided by Twenty-Three, they staked out the most likely spots, but after waiting a long time, saw no one.

“I want chicken wings!” Little Red Candy’s eyes sparkled as she pointed at a roadside barbecue stall.

“You’ve been eating all night—still not enough?” Ji Huo grumbled.

Immediately, Little Red Candy tugged on his sleeve, pitifully pleading, “Brother, please? Please?”

“You only ever call me ‘brother’ when you want something.” Ji Huo snorted, but hopped down from the rooftop all the same. He bought five lamb skewers, two chicken legs, some grilled gluten, oysters, and other treats, then returned to the rooftop with a heap of food.

“Ha! Brother, you’re the best.” Little Red Candy grinned, swinging her legs as she gnawed on a chicken leg.

Ji Huo took a lamb skewer, biting off a chunk—savory juices and spices flooded his palate, the aroma of cumin and chili blending perfectly. The lamb was tender, with that distinctive wild taste that was simply irresistible.

What he loved about this world was its devotion to food, much like his previous life. Every delicacy could be found here, and every place offered new culinary surprises.

If only there were some garlic—or even just a couple of flatbreads. Eating lamb skewers, Ji Huo felt something was missing.

“Nights in the capital are dangerous—you can easily put on a few pounds,” Little Red Candy said, patting her belly. She’d spent the previous night eating just like this.

Ji Huo nodded. “After all, there’s been no unrest these past years. I heard there used to be a curfew, but things are much better now.”

The two waited a while longer. Even by the hour of the tiger, nothing had happened, so they returned empty-handed.

“Maybe the assassin has gone elsewhere—not in the capital?” Little Red Candy guessed.

“Unlikely. Since he wants to lure you out, the capital is the best place. It’s the center of the Zhou Dynasty and the perfect stage for a decisive battle.”

“Or maybe we’re looking in the wrong places. Or he just did a job yesterday and is lying low for a few days.”

Ji Huo replied, “Do you think other assassins are like you—working once and then resting for ages? If he wants to draw you out, he has to keep committing crimes. Maybe there just haven’t been any new commissions these two days. But the capital is huge; there’s always work. And did you notice the Six Gates agents staking out the same spots as us? That means we’re not off track.”

“So we’ll have to keep staking out like this for the next few days?” Little Red Candy’s eyes gleamed.

“Why do you look so pleased?”

“I do not! I’m not happy just because I get to eat barbecue every night.”

“You’re still growing. Don’t eat too much of this stuff.”

“Got it, got it!” she giggled.

“…At least wipe the drool from your mouth.”

For the next few nights, they continued their midnight stakeouts, which meant they slept until late morning and wandered around bleary-eyed, half-awake all day.

Even at meals, their dark circles were on full display, faces written all over with exhaustion.

This infuriated Ji Xiong, who scolded Ji Huo, “So you have nothing to do these days, but you can’t just horse around every night, wasting your youth and wearing yourself out! How can you ever amount to anything?”

Then he turned to Little Red Candy, his face immediately softening with concern. “Sweetie, if you’re tired, go get some sleep. You’re still growing; you mustn’t neglect your rest.”

The double standard was plain to see.

After a day of rest, You Zhuo was almost recovered. Once awake, he spent a long time in silent contemplation, unmoved by any of Hu Fu’s attempts at comfort.

Finally, he went to bid the old emperor a hurried farewell, and the planned diplomatic exchanges were dropped. In truth, he had no heart for them—he just wanted to leave this heartbreaking capital as soon as possible.

This time, his reputation was in shambles. After Ji Huo had exposed his martial world alias in public, the young nobles of the court spread the story far and wide.

So the identity he had painstakingly cultivated was revealed to all, and worse, it happened after he’d been beaten up. He probably wouldn’t want to use that name in the martial world again.

Before leaving, You Zhuo made a point of visiting the Duke’s Manor to see Ji Huo, saying seriously, “What I’ve lost here, I will definitely take back!”

Then, with a flourish of his brand-new folding fan and the air of a refined young noble, he took his leave.

Even as he departed, he couldn’t help but show off. Did he really think his little braid made him look cool… Ji Huo muttered inwardly.

“Wow! So handsome!” Little Red Candy exclaimed, her eyes shining.

Ji Huo: “…”