243 Extra Xu Luanle’s red string of fate (3)
A while ago—no, a long time ago—also no. Let’s say…who knew how long ago Xu Luanle met a new friend.
Compared to other women, she was strange, just as he was considered strange compared to other men. However, a strange man such as Xu Luanle and a strange woman such as ‘Yue Huiling’ would never care. As long as it did not cause trouble for others, they were satisfied with living their lives how they wanted.
If someone asked how much Xu Luanle loved his ailaine, Yue Huiling would answer, ‘as much as she loved her sword.’ The two new friends knew that they loved what the teachings of the old would never agree with. Women must be soft and sweet. Men must be brave and heroic. Heh. Let others adhere to those words.
During the first few days that he frequented Yue Mansion, he tried not to intrude on Xu Peipei’s time in order to be present her to—cough, to train her. As for Bai Yu, she was busy with many things. Thus, he often left them to find other amusement for himself. And that was when he found Yue Huiling diligently practicing her sword art.
She was a magnificent woman. Not from the cosmetics, but from her perseverance. Yue Huiling was a lieutenant-general, even though her magic level was not high. Her everyday training was the main factor in her achieving the illustrious position next to the great commander general, Ouyang Feilong, and on par with Bai He, who was perfect in every way.
At first, Xu Luanle came to watch her training every day because he enjoyed seeing new things. But as time passed, he came because he liked seeing her train. There were multiple times when he sewed while watching her sword dance.
It had been quite a while before he was caught. His magic level might be higher, but he could not escape the lieutenant-general’s detection.
But that was a good thing, as he had wanted to speak to her about the unusual techniques she used. After some guessing, she finally revealed that they were techniques she had created herself. That meant it was a secret, though Xu Luanle had seen it so often to the point of being able to copy her. He then promised that he would keep it secret while at the same time offering to help perfect the techniques.
But the Yue woman was too arrogant.
.....
Yue Huiling refused to accept his advice. And so, Xu Luanle shrugged before sauntering away from her training ground, seeming indifferent while actually having a plan in his mind…
On the first day after being caught and refused by the prideful woman, Xu Luanle, with his stealthiness that was superior even to his skill at drawing ailaine, appeared next to Yue Huiling’s training ground again.
Today he brought two folding fans with him, imitating Yue Huiling’s twin swords. The first master of the Xu family started performing his ‘Precious Luanle’ dance next to Yue Huiling’s training ground, contrasting her fierce movements with his delicate ones.
“Lalala,” the soft, low voice of the unwelcome guest could be heard as he danced. Yue Huiling’s patience finally ran out… The first time, she only chased him away because he was Bai Yu’s friend. But this time, it seemed that the young master did not want her to remain respectful.
“Master Xu.” Yue Huiling spoke. Her voice, completely calm with no sign of panting at all, disrupted Xu Luanle’s dance. The other person paused before gracefully turning to look at her.
“Is something the matter, lieutenant-general?”
“Could you dance somewhere else?” Yue Huiling did not try to soften her words at all.
“The breeze blowing through this training ground is soft and cool, perfect for my dance…” His eyes, made to look sharper by the black paint, gazed at the owner of the place as he replied without a trace of shame. “…I shall have to trouble Lieutenant-General for a little longer.”
“You!”
“Please rest assured. Lieutenant-General’s every move is kept secret by Luanle.” Xu Luanle bowed. “Likewise, Lieutenant-General will have to keep this dance a secret as well.”
“That does not involve me,” Yue Huiling said through gritted teeth.
“Then, it won’t involve Luanle either if your techniques are known by others.”
In case Yue Huiling did not know, Xu Luanle powdered his face extra thick today.
Having more than one female friend slightly confused Xu Luanle. Both Bai Yu and Yue Huiling were his friends, though the latter had yet to officially agree to it. Still, Yue Huiling’s letting him dance near her training ground must mean that a beautiful friendship was blossoming.
Now, about the confusion Xu Luanle had with his two friends. While Bai Yu listened to his every word and followed only the ones she pleased, Yue Huiling showed no sign of listening but still followed his suggestions. She might try to be subtle, but he could sense it.
Once, Xu Luanle said to her after she had finished practicing a set of sword dance,
“It may be a dance of swords, but when performed by a lady, softness is still needed to make it beautiful and memorable.”
“Can you just go away?” Yue Huiling’s straightforwardness was a normal occurrence.
“It will be a sword dance that’s both beautiful and deadly if you add some sweetness.” Xu Luanle rubbed his chin as he commented on the work of his fellow friend on the training ground.
“I don’t need your advice.” Yue Huiling was indeed a sincere person. Very likeable.
“You can use my dance as an example.”
“I’ll take my leave.” The lieutenant-general was truly polite.
There was a period of time when he was busy with his tailor shop, so he could not visit the training ground to dance as usual. Still, he sneaked in to watch Yue Huiling’s training several times. And he discovered one thing…despite her immense workload as the lieutenant-general, she would always find time to train and develop her skills. Furthermore, she improved her swift and fierce sword dance to be considerably more graceful.
Xu Luanle did not know whether she had listened to his opinion or not.
What to do?
He did not understand women…
“Hey, sis.”
At the sound of greeting from his friend, Xu Luanle raised his head from the sewing project in his hands. He had designed it himself, though he was unsure if there was a woman who was willing to wear it.
“Armor?” Bai Yu was interested in the clothes he was holding. “For women?”
“For me.” There was no reason other than his wanting to rile his friend up.
“You’re not a woman.” Bai Yu frowned.
“I sew it myself. Of course, it has to be mine.” Xu Luanle waggled his eyebrow.
“How are you going to wear that…” Bai Yu’s eyes swept past his face, down to his chest. She looked at his chest, then at the armor that was in the final stages of sewing and decorating. “This world doesn’t have tissue paper either.”
“Tissue paper? What’s that?”
“It’s something that will help you…fill…this armor.” She stared at his chest, unabashed. Her finger stabbed at it before she continued. “You’ll have to stuff them here and make it larger, then you’ll be able to fit into this armor perfectly.”
“Large like Pei-er?” Xu Luanle started to understand.
“Something like that.”
“I don’t want that.” The man who preferred feminine hobbies shook his head as he skewed his lips. “A lump of flesh like that will only be a nuisance.”
Bai Yu narrowed her eyes at her friend… So what exactly did he want?
“What are you looking at? Don’t you have work to do?”
Bai Yu shrugged. “I’m going out to help the courtesans practice. Do you want to go together?”
“Sounds good. I’m going to measure them and fix their dresses too.” He put down the unfinished armor before picking up his signature fan and sauntering out without waiting for the other person. Bai Yu watched her friend’s back for a brief moment. Then, she followed him out, not sparing another glance at the special armor that the anonymous master suddenly wanted to make.
—————–
In the past few days, Xu Luanle had not seen Yue Huiling at all. He did not know the progress of his friend’s sword dance. Many things happened in Da Yang and around the border between the two nations. He was not in the mood to even pick up his red string of fate, the ailaine, to draw on his eyes.
The war was raging. The royal court was in chaos. He was fortunate that he had always acted indifferent toward politics all along, and so his movement was not as inconspicuous as others. Xu Luanle had a major role in helping Bai Yu and Ouyang Feilong.
And when the storm had passed, the first master of the Xu family had just learned that his sister was facing a problem… Her red string was leaving, going as far as to a foreign land!
It was not as simple as before to ask for help from his friend, who was now the mother of the nation. Their status made it almost impossible for them to meet. The most he could do as a loving brother was to repeatedly tell his sister, day and night, to visit the royal palace and speak with Empress Bai. And it was effective! He and his sister would join the envoy heading to Da Chu for a trade and cultural exchange as representatives for the anonymous master’s shop.
Xu Luanle decided to give the armor he did not have the chance to reveal it to the public to Yue Huiling before he departed. Lately, they did not talk as much as when he used to frequently annoy her, but the new royal-protector general was as arrogant as ever, refusing to accept his help.
“Many thanks to Master Xu for your generosity. But I can’t accept it.”
“There’s no need to hold back, General.” Because it’s too tight and I can’t wear it. I tried. “This armor is designed by the empress herself…”
“Then I will have to take it.” Eventually, Yue Huiling accepted his goodwill, like every time before.
Now Xu Luanle was starting to understand that the royal-protector general was speaking out of formality. She was always willing to accept his gifts under a haughty pretense.
If he had time, he wanted to dress her in the clothes he had made. It would be even better if Yue Huiling had his ailaine, using it to emphasize her fierce and majestic eyes and make them irresistible!
He was Xu Luanle!
He was the master who was as beautiful as any lady!
Because of that, he was never worried about Bai Yu, who was beautiful and obsessed with her own beauty. But his other, worrisome friend, who was the general, must be as beautiful as everyone else!
Even a general needed beauty, don’t you know?
Now that the emperor was no longer the commander general, the army needed a beautiful addition to its force!
Could this amusement be considered his new red string of fate?
Ah… Pei-er.
In the pursuit of your own red string, you’re separating your brother from his for three years.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om