Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

Since dawn, Dao Ming had been sorting through the papers that had accumulated in recent days. Another report about the search party drew his thoughts to the latest events and reminded him of his fiancée. The rules of decency required him to visit the girl. Putting the rest aside for later, he took out one of the small chests and, scooping up the contents, ran them through his fingers. Carelessly rummaging through the jewelry, he fished out a wide bracelet. His attention was drawn to the scattering of light blue stones, shimmering like stars on the golden lace of an intricate pattern. The man chuckled with satisfaction and slammed the lid shut.

The future wife's room was located in another wing of the building. Without stopping, he walked along the corridors, his gaze stopping at a group of adepts. Holding back the smile caused by the memory of the night spent together, he looked coldly into the green eyes and said as he walked:

— Mu Cheng, come to me with a report before dinner.

Having reached the right door, he knocked and, without waiting for an invitation, entered the room.

— Greetings to Maiden Su.

Su Chun Sheng (Li Hua)

Getting ready to visit her weapon since the morning, she lost track of time, and when she finally got ready and gained confidence, after all, meeting a living weapon is not the same as meeting a spirit, there was a knock, and then a guest entered. Smiling, the girl bowed.

— Greetings, lord. How have I earned the happiness of beholding your bright appearance?

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

— The young lady did not expect my visit?

With a slight smile, he approached and took her hand. The small palm, trustingly lying in his, looked like a child's. Dao Ming carefully put the chosen bracelet on the thin wrist.

— Chun Sheng, preparations for our wedding are already underway. Perhaps you have some wishes?

Su Chun Sheng (Li Hua)

Not used to being touched, she did not expect further action, but her eyes involuntarily widened when she saw the decoration. She answered with a smile, examining the beauty.

— You clearly showed me that not all surprises are unpleasant, — thinking about wishes, she could not think of a single one, which she hastened to say, — I have no wishes, this is just a ceremony for others. For me, you are already my husband, and let everything be as you decide. I am sure that you will do everything in the best possible way.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

He lifted the bride's face by the chin and looked at her with interest. It seemed that the eldest daughter Su, unlike the younger one, had received a good upbringing. This couldn't help but please, and anyway, she's quite pretty. Come on, to be honest, she is beautiful. Gently stroking his fingers over her cheekbone, he let go.

— Really? Well then, tomorrow I will send tailors to you so that they can start sewing your wedding dress. There is no point in postponing the ceremony for long. If you need anything, let me know. We will meet for dinner.

Quite pleased with the meeting with his future wife, the Head Hu left the room.

Su Chun Sheng (Li Hua)

After the man left, the girl admired the decoration for a while, thinking about Dao Ming. To be honest, few people have such warm hands. Even Uncle Bi Yu couldn’t boast of such warmth. Putting her palm to her cheek, she was glad for the meeting, which would soon become a matter of course. She was indignant, remembering Yu Lan’s words about the Feng youths. Silly girl, their hands can't be that warm.

She thought for a while about her sister, and where she could go. Doesn’t Jiao understand how much pain she brought to her mother and how she disgraced herself in front of the other spellcasters?

Snorting, and collecting her thoughts, the spellcaster went to the next room, where the sword was placed. She knocked modestly and opened the door slightly.

— Jian Ping, are you here? This is Chun Sheng, can I talk to you?

Jian Ping

The girl sat in a chair, her eyes closed tiredly. She still couldn't get over the shock. It was hard to wrap her head around the fact that she was now a man and needed to behave accordingly. The body was uncomfortable. And her face... too rough. What can we say about everything else?

A gentle voice distracted her from her thoughts. Opening her eyes, Jian Ping involuntarily looked at her hands and hurried to look away. It would still be difficult to get used to this. Everything inside her protested against this state of affairs, but at least she was in a body again, a human body, and that was worth a lot.

— Of course, master. I'm glad... — the girl sighed, — glad to see you.

Su Chun Sheng (Li Hua)

Having received an answer, she quickly entered the room and closed the door behind her. Approaching the young man from behind, she put her hand on his shoulder.

— How are you feeling? How is your wound? Does it hurt? Is there anything I can do to help you?

Jian Ping

The young spellcaster offers to help, but can one help with this? Who can understand the feelings of a girl who, by coincidence, found herself in a man's body?

Once she was just as young. She led squads for many decades and earned a reputation as a tough and determined spellcaster. And now she will not give in to weakness.

— Thank you, master. The wound hardly bothers me anymore.

Su Chun Sheng (Li Hua)

She took his word for it, her own sword wouldn't lie. She quickly poured hot tea and served it. Sitting down next to him, she began to examine it.

— And you're cute, — the thought that this assumption might not please made her swallow the rest of her words, and she decided to change the subject, — can you tell me how you feel? It must be hard for you to get used to your body again. I saw you in female form, I think it was from your past life in the Celestial World. Is it hard for you to be a man now?

Jian Ping

The persistence with which Su Chun Sheng asks questions is irritating. She should sort out the confusion of thoughts, feelings and sensations herself.

— Master, why stir up the past. It doesn't matter who I was now. I am grateful for the opportunity to become a human again, and my body... well, it is strong and you say that it is also pretty. So what should I complain about? I will get used to it.

Sword speaks confidently, wanting to stop such questions. She will get used to it, if everything was so simple. The dissonance between the external and internal can drive one crazy, but not her. She has always been a warrior, and she can handle it now.

— I heard that you will soon become the wife of the head of Hu. You must have a lot of things to do now. Preparing for the wedding is serious. I am ready to help.

Remembering her own, Jian Ping smiled.

Su Chun Sheng (Li Hua)

The talk of the upcoming wedding immediately made all the questions go away. She sat closer with admiration and poured tea into the cup. It was as if she had found someone to talk to, telling him how handsome and stately Dao Ming was, how courageous and good.

She showed off the bracelet and complained that she had absolutely no idea how she could help at all and, wanting not to interfere, said that she trusted everything to her future husband. Without giving the sword a chance to get a word in, she barely managed to interrupt the flow of speeches for lunch.

— Oh, you know, we'll miss lunch while talking like this, and I have to be there. Rest, the servants will bring you food here, and I'll call the doctor, let him look at you. It won't be superfluous, — kissing him on the cheek, she stood up, heading for the exit, — don't be bored, okay? I'll come see you again.

Quickly jumping out of the room, she went to her own. It would still be worth dressing more decently for lunch.

Jian Ping

As she expected, the master happily switched to another topic. The words fell like an avalanche. Chun Sheng, a very young girl, was overwhelmed with anticipation and excitement before such an important event. Smiling, Jian Ping listened and nodded, not interfering with the conversation. This even helped distract her from her own sad thoughts. And only when the flow was interrupted, and the spellcaster ran off to preen herself, she leaned back again and closed her eyes. She needed to think over her new line of behavior and understand how to live on from now on.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

There was very little time left before lunch when Dao Ming returned to his room to change his clothes. There was a guest in the house, and the bride should not bother her head with even a hint of some business.

Opening the door, he found the adept in the room. As always, Mu Cheng was already waiting for him. Head Hu went to the barrel of water and began to undress. He needed to quickly rinse off and change. Taking off his upper clothes, he waved his hand:

— Report.

Preparing to listen, he leaned over the barrel and doused his bare back with water. In general, this was enough for a daytime ablution. Taking a towel, the man went to the wardrobe, drying himself along the way.

Xu Mu Cheng (Qian Hong)

Confidently pacing the room, Qian Hong waited for the owner in his room in advance. What he was about to say, no one should hear.

Blinking his eyes, he missed the moment when he needed to speak, and simply froze in place, admiring the beautiful muscles. With each movement, the skin shimmers with different tones. The rays of the sun that penetrate the window emphasize the figure, highlighting the droplets of water, and all this looks magical.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

Throwing the towel aside, Dao Ming opened the door and turned to the young man, who still hadn't said a word. Apparently, he was waiting for the man to finish before he could start talking, smiling with his eyes, he repeated:

— You can talk, I'm listening to you.

He chose some clothes and threw them on the chair, getting ready to get dressed.

Xu Mu Cheng (Qian Hong)

The voice brought him to his senses, and Mu Cheng, not without effort, nevertheless forced himself to speak, trying not to look at the spellcaster anymore.

— Head Hu, all the traces that I could find led me to Advisor Chu. He is acting as if nothing had happened. But there is one thing ... — he smiled, nevertheless looking at his interlocutor, — the news that Qin Shi is leaving for the Snow Peaks, he secretly discussed with Advisor Xiao, and they were both happy about this fact. Unfortunately, from their conversation, I did not understand the reason for their good mood, but it is obvious that not everyone in the Citadel is pure in their thoughts towards you and your brother.

Hu Dao Ming (Li Shing)

Listening, Dao Ming frowned. It is unclear who can be trusted and who cannot, and why they need Qing Shi. You need to act carefully so as not to scare them off. Treason had to be rooted out to the last root. Who else but him would know about it? Even a small mistake in such a matter could cost him dearly, and his father was an example of that. Having made his decision, Head Hu looked into the green eyes.

— Qian Hong, in the evening I will give you letters to the advisors, with an invitation. Take a small detachment and bring them to the Citadel. When you return, come to me, I will give you further instructions, — he went to the mirror and adjusted his hair. Satisfied with what he saw, he turned to the door, — and now you can go.