Chapter 45 - Just Who Am I?
Translator: Callis
Editor: Walker
From the last chapter:
At this moment, an aircraft passed through. An old and white-haired elderly man just so happened to see Tang Wan standing at the entrance with Zong He facing him. He couldn’t see Zong He’s face, but Tang Wan’s laughing expression was clean and distinct. The elderly man’s eyes suddenly widened in shock, looking at Tang Wan’s familiar face. His face instantly drained of blood and he shuddered. He told the young attendant behind him: “We’re returning home, we’re returning home right now.”
The attendant unexpectedly responded, “Lian Bo, did you drop something? I can call someone to deliver it here.”
“No,” The elderly man wiped away the sweat that had already formed on his head, “I need to see the duke now. We’re returning!”
— — — —
This elderly man wasn’t just a passerby; he was Tang Lian, the old housekeeper of Duke Tang’s residence. He was already in his old age and was already unconcerned with the household’s situations, enjoying his retirement.
When he returned to the Duke’s mansion, Tang Lian had already quieted and immediately requested an audience with Duke Tang.
Tang Zhenqi saw that there was something off about the housekeeper’s expression and he dismissed everyone else. With a calm expression, he sat down and asked: “What happened?”
“Master, I was just on the streets of β Ursae Minoris and I saw......the eldest Young Master.”
Tang Zhenqi’s solemn face showed a bit of doubt: “Isn’t the eldest Young Master in school? What did he go out for?”
Tang Lian lowered his voice, sounding even older and rougher, “Not this one, it’s......that one.”
“What did you say?!” Tang Zhenqi suddenly stood up, his solemn and unflustered expression changing. Panicked, he grabbed onto the table for support, his fingertips pale white.
Tang Lian solemnly nodded, “It is, even if the emotions I could see from his gaze and his temperament changed a great deal, I had watched him grow up. It wasn’t a mistake.”
Duke Tang pressed down onto the table and slowly sat down, “He’s still alive, still alive, still alive ah.”
Saying “still alive” three times, Duke Tang’s mood was extremely complicated. As a father, the fact that his son was still alive was undoubtedly something that would make him gratified. His late wife was already gone, so if he couldn’t keep his eldest son, he would be too ashamed to face his late wife. If it weren’t for his eldest son’s spiritual strength diminishing lower and lower, gradually becoming an ordinary person, he wouldn’t have callously shut him away. To preserve his family’s honor, he could only sacrifice his freedom, letting his second eldest replace him, maintaining the engagement with the Imperial family.
He never would have thought that he would be able to escape!
If this matter was exposed and the Imperial family found out, the entire Tang family would be buried.
Thinking of this, Duke Tang’s expression twisted even more. Immediately, he resentfully asked: “Where is he? Why didn’t you bring him back?”
Tang Lian was embarrassed and replied: “He was shopping with a young officer who wasn’t wearing his military rank so I didn’t know who he was. I was worried that I would inadvertently alarm them, so I came back first to report to you.”
Tang Zhenqi’s voice darkened: “I understand. You cannot breathe a word about this situation. Do not let Tingxie know. The most important thing is looking into who the person beside him is. If it can be settled, bring him back for me.”
“Who’s back?” At this time, Lady Tang stood in the doorway of the study, with a cup of black tea in her hands. Her eyes were soft and gentle, and her gaze towards Duke Tang was pure.
Duke Tang’s expression eased, raising his hand to indicate that she could enter.
Lady Tang laughed sweetly and closed the door, placing the Duke’s favorite black tea onto the table.
Drinking the tea that his wife steeped herself, Duke Tang’s chest loosened. He rejoiced again over making the correct decision all those years ago. His wife’s temperament hadn’t changed in so many years and was still kindhearted, warm, and without schemes. Her gaze was still like a young lady admiring an adult. At the time, his former wife was pregnant with their eldest son. As it turns out, his wife was also pregnant. He was taking care of his family and not her, but she unexpectedly didn’t have a single complaint. When his former wife passed away, Tingxie was still young. He brought the mother and child back, letting him take care of the three children. Taking care of them as if they were her own for so many years, he was endlessly pleased. “My Lady, you’ve worked hard these past few years.”
Lady Tang laughed delightedly, her eyes curving, “What are you suddenly saying?’
Duke Tang sighed, “It’s nothing. If I talk about it with you, you’ll worry so much that you can’t sleep. We’ll see in the future.”
“Alright, then I’ll listen to you.” The corner of Lady Tang’s lips twitched slightly, hiding the murderous resentment in her eyes. That little bastard was still alive.
— — — —
Tang Wan was really taken by Zong He to order several sets of clothing. Under Tang Wan’s insistence, he didn’t order anything like a military uniform. The material used was the special material used in combat. It was cozy, lightweight, and convenient. It could also reportedly protect against injuries. After they finished, Tang Wan wanted to return home. When he was free, he only wanted to lounge at home. He was also worried, “Has your mother left? Why hasn’t Lin Bo sent a message?”
“She left,” Zong He confidently said: “She’s a mental case that still wants face. She wouldn’t shamelessly hang on and refuse to leave.”
Tang Wan heard the tone of his voice and there was an indescribable ache in his heart. This pitiful big child, he was like this because of his mother’s torment.
After they returned home, Tang Wan lay down on the sofa, tired. He didn’t want to move.
Zong He unhappily rubbed his flat stomach. He picked up a pastry from the table and stuffed it into Tang Wan’s mouth. His tone was still unhappy: “Your physical strength is this bad? I wanted to teach you how to shoot in the afternoon.”
Tang Wan was similarly displeased, “Why do I need to learn how to use that toy?”
“You need to learn to protect yourself. As part of a soldier’s family, how could you not know how to use a gun?”
Tang Wan pointed at the platter of pastries on the table, “I’m hungry.”
Zong He quickly stuffed in another piece then glanced at Ji Yan, who was standing nearby. Ji Yan understood Zong He’s gaze and went to rush lunch without delay.
Tang Wan spoke while eating: “I’m very weak. I was especially clumsy when I went to play that battlefield game with the guns. I was following another person from beginning to end.”
Zong He raised his eyebrows, “This clumsy?” After speaking, the Marshal felt that such a frank statement would hurt his partner’s face. So he very awkwardly consoled him: “It’s fine, that was just a game. It’s very different from the real thing.”
Tang Wan unhappily stuffed a biscuit into Zong He’s mouth. The real thing was even more difficult than a game, he knew!
After lunch, Tang Wan went to sleep. He wasn’t the least bit excited about learning. Zong He pulled over a blanket with an expressionless face. As he prepared to fall asleep, he strictly warned him: “You can sleep now, but when you wake up, you must learn!”
Tang Wan calmly settled down and yawned, “Oh.”
Zong He watched Tang Wan sleep for half an hour, stifled. He couldn’t help but move closer, falling asleep with him.
That evening, having learned that Zong He was going to teach Tang Wan how to protect himself and not having school, the leopard twins, who had taken time to run back home, looked at him with sympathetic gazes. The younger brother quietly whispered to Tang Wan: “The level of the Marshal’s teaching is really......it’s hard to say.”
Tang Wan immediately doubted Zong He’s ability to teach people. The two children’s gazes told him that ordinary people wouldn’t be able to bear it.
Soon, Tang Wan knew how unreasonable Zong He was when he was teaching. Zong He gave him a gun and placed it on the table, leaving it alone.
Tang Wan was stupefied, “And then what?”
Zong He questioned: “What else is there afterwards? Even an idiot would know how to use it.”
Tang Wan looked at the gun, which was totally different to the ones he had seen before. He touched several of the buttons, expression full of confusion. He looked at it ah, and he still didn’t know how to use it!”
Zong He tsk’d, “You really are foolish.”
Tang Wan angrily glared at him, “Why don’t I bite you?!”
“......You want to be a rogue?”
Tang Wan rolled his eyes, “You’re thinking too much.”
Zong He went over and stood behind Tang Wan, overbearingly wrapping his arms around his waist, “You’ve agreed to act as a rogue?”
Tang Wan turned his head and gave the shameless big cat a look, letting him slowly realize that he already didn’t want to say more.
Zong He resentfully asked: “Why are you still being so difficult?”
Tang Wan remained silent. Who was being difficult?
“Then are you embarrassed? You humans really are troublesome.”
Tang Wan nodded. Right, what he said was right. Truthfully speaking, he felt that he was unable to keep up with a beastman’s thinking.
Zong He placed his shoulder on Tang Wan’s shoulder like a clingy big cat, “It doesn’t matter if you’re foolish either. I can teach you once again tomorrow.”
“Once?”
“How many more times do you want?!”
Tang Wan gave up struggling. Zong He’s shocked manner let him feel like if he spoke more about it, he would die foolish.
The next day, many people ran over to watch the Marshal teach his wife to use a gun. Most of the soldiers had been taught by Zong He. It was like they were watching a good play. A few of them gathered together to secretly gossip, “Say, if the Marshal can’t help but scold Fūrén and says that his brain grows on his feet, do you think he would make him sleep on the sofa?”
“Probably not, Fūrén looks like he doesn’t have much of a temper. Would he dare to rebel?”
“What I’m worried about is that the Marshal won’t be able to control himself and raise his hand against him.”
Several of the soldiers subconsciously raised their shoulders, feeling the pain all over their bodies. They looked at the two people nervously, afraid that the Marshal would lose control and raise his claws.
Lin Bo approached them, standing behind the few soldiers, “What are you doing here?”
The captain pointed inside, “I’m afraid that the Marshal will get angry and hit Fūrén. If he really does, I can brave death and bear it. Fūrén really wouldn’t be able to endure his hit.”
Several of the soldiers immediately nodded. Right, they weren’t just watching some exciting event, they were protecting Fūrén!
“Then you can stand here and watch.” Lin Bo slowly walked away, unwilling to acknowledge the group of foolish youths.
Tang Wan pinched a trigger and asked, puzzled: “How do you use this? It’s too advanced, I haven’t seen this before.”
The soldiers were nervous, guessing that the Marshal’s next words would be: Are you stupid?! Not knowing what this thing is, how did you graduate from military school? I knew how to use this when I was three years old!
They all secretly broke out in a sweat for Tang Wan and for Zong He. Control your temper Marshal, this was related to the harmony of married life!
At this time, they saw Zong He, who had an ultra bad temper when he was teaching, use his hand to grip Tang Wan’s and pulled his entire body into his own. He used his other hand to help him pull open the safety. “You open the safety like this. When you’re not using it, you can push it back in.”
Soldiers: ???
The first time Tang Wan used it, he didn’t dare to use too much force, nervously using it incorrectly. Zong He sighed, unhappily glancing at him. He used a finger to push it open, “You didn’t use enough force. You need to eat more.”
Tang Wan’s lips twitched. He was unhappy at him again.
The few soldiers looked at each other in dismay. It shouldn’t be that they’ll receive a slap if they go up. Did his discontent gaze look like he was looking at a rice tub? Or was it an uncleaned rice tub?
After Tang Wan popped it open, he cocked his head. There was an indescribably familiar feeling, “I somehow feel that it should be like this.”
Tang Wan aimed the gun at the dummy, his finger already on the trigger. Relying on his instincts, he fired three shots. Every shot hit the dummy between the eyes. After he finished, Tang Wan himself was stunned and was so scared he tossed the gun away. He jumped up, “Fuck!!”
Zong He was also a little surprised. Tang Wan’s marksmanship was very good. It wasn’t at all like someone who had never learned. With such a small amount of practice, it shouldn’t be so accurate. In addition, he also hit the most vulnerable part. He shouldn’t know to aim at that area if he hadn’t been trained before.
At the moment, however, the person that was most afraid wasn’t someone else, but Tang Wan himself.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!!!” Tang Wan looked at his hand and didn’t dare believe it, “Did you install automatic shooting on this gun? I couldn’t shoot like that! I’ve never seen it before!”
Zong He had no choice but to press down on his shoulder, so that he wouldn’t keep bouncing around. This allowed him to understand one thing: when encountering something frightening, beastmens’ fur would puff up, but for furless humans, they could only jump up and down.
“You have great talent, a hundred times better than those so-called military geniuses.” Zong He praised Tang Wan with a serious face, making Tang Wan embarrassed, “Really?”
Zong He nodded, glancing at the soldiers standing past the window, who had been watching the bustling scene. He solemnly said, boosting Tang Wan’s confidence, “You’re better than they are. They’re talented students that graduated from military academy, their combat abilities are all A+. However, compared to you, who hasn’t even seen what a gun looked like before, their shooting ability is trash.”
Soldiers: “......”
They had been watching a lively show only to have it flipped into a teaching moment?
The corners of Tang Wan’s lips curled up. He was also delighted. He really was a damn genius! Whoever said he was a rookie could come, and he’d shoot them with unfailing accuracy. Tang Wan excitedly picked up the gun again, like a child who had gotten a new toy. He wanted to test it again.
Zong He looked at his standard posture, like he had practiced it countless times and the habit had been ingrained in his body. His eyes gradually darkened, “How do you know you need this position to shoot?”
Tang Wan didn’t even think, “To hit someone’s head and chest. You can’t leave any survivors because you could be killed in the next second.”
Zong He frowned. Without the experience of killing someone, such words couldn’t be said.
“Do you remember who taught you such words?”
Tang Wan shook his head, but then suddenly realized something. His face instantly paled, “I, I couldn’t have been a bad person before, the kind that kills people......”
More plot and a bonus Ko-fi chapter! (੭ु ´͈꒳`͈)੭ु⁾⁾
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