Ye Tan often saw a look of tender indulgence on Jun Xuanheng’s face, but to his surprise, his master’s gaze was not directed at him this time.
Summer was approaching, and the air in Moling had just begun to turn warm. It happened that Ye Lan had brought freshly picked tea tips from Meijiawu, so Jun Xuanheng took advantage of the clear weather to pull Ye Tan along to the Lake Pavilion to brew them. Ye Tan paused his movements, returning the tender tea leaves and honeysuckle to their canisters, before following his master’s gaze. The flicker of displeasure he felt instantly transformed into shock.
Two people stood at the moon gate. One wore magnificent robes and a crown; the other wore a black short tunic of coarse cloth. They looked exactly like himself and his master.
Had their expressions not been so utterly unfamiliar, Ye Tan would have almost thought his soul had left his body.
The young man who bore a striking resemblance to Jun Xuanheng looked entirely impatient. "This is my home. I’ll go where I please; why is there a need for someone to announce us?"
The guard who looked exactly like Ye Tan replied helplessly, "This isn't your home."
Though the young man in silken robes looked identical, one could tell them apart at a glance. His expression was seventy percent arrogance and thirty percent bitterness—a world apart from his master.
In contrast, the guard beside him had an expression and attire no different from Ye Tan’s. Even the *Songfeng* sword at his waist was identical.
Ye Tan couldn't help but stare for a few moments longer. The other man happened to glance over as well. Ye Tan’s spirit tensed as if facing a great enemy, but the other man’s gaze slid away with perfect composure.
That man was as calm as a light breeze, making Ye Tan feel like a startled bird by comparison. An inexplicable sense of frustration welled up within him.
Jun Xuanheng’s face lit up with joy. He hopped out to greet them, grabbing Jun Wuwang’s hand. "Hey, how did you—"
Jun Wuwang cut him off instantly. "Don't talk nonsense. Be careful, or something will happen."
Jun Xuanheng pursed his lips, restraining himself for a brief moment before asking cautiously, "What can I say, and what can't I say?"
Jun Wuwang replied, "It’s best if you don't say a single word."
Jun Xuanheng nodded, pressing his lips tight, and began to use gestures. One moment he pointed to the Lake Pavilion, the next he mimicked picking tea; then he acted like a fierce beast, then ran and jumped in place, and finally made a hollow-fisted slicing motion across his chest, followed by a string of inexplicable movements.
Jun Wuwang couldn't understand him. He said coldly, "Stop being stupid. Prepare a meal."
Jun Xuanheng went off happily.
Seeing this man act so bossy and arrogant toward his master, Ye Tan felt a surge of displeasure. However, since the man was his master’s friend, he could not be disrespectful; he merely lowered his eyes slightly.
From the moment he entered, Jun Wuwang had been sizing Ye Tan up from time to time. Sensing the hostility in his eyes now, he remarked cryptically, "I haven't even done anything yet. Why that expression again?"
Ye Tan asked, "Again?"
Ye Fengjun said, "He’s a bit delusional. Don't mind him."
Jun Wuwang had no interest in entertaining them. With practiced ease, he headed straight into the inner courtyard as if he owned the place.
Ye Tan took a detour to the kitchen to find his master. Jun Xuanheng was currently discussing the menu with Qiqi. Calling it a "discussion" was a stretch; it consisted of only one sentence: "Just take all the dishes Ah Tan and I usually like best and make them all."
Qiqi refused. "No. You’ve already had grilled fish three times this month. Today is your day to eat celery."
Jun Xuanheng argued, "But we have guests today! I’m not eating it; it’s for them..."
Qiqi countered, "Aren't those the things you like to eat? You want to blame it on others? You’ve certainly grown bold, haven't you?"
The negotiation failed. Jun Xuanheng felt extremely wronged. He crouched down in the vegetable garden and began to bully Qiqi’s garlic sprouts to vent his frustration.
Ye Tan stroked his head and asked, "Master, that sequence of movements just now... did you mean to invite them to the Lake Pavilion to drink the new tea brewed with Hupao Spring water?"
Jun Xuanheng said joyfully, "Ah Tan understood!"
Ye Tan said, "Mhm... but there was one movement I didn't understand." He made a hollow-fisted slicing motion across his chest. "What does this mean?"
Jun Xuanheng replied, "That movement represents Ye Lan."
Ye Tan was stunned. "...Is it... plucking out a heart?"
Jun Xuanheng saw his expression. "Is it a bit... creepy?"
Ye Tan nodded.
Jun Xuanheng sighed. "I suppose... but how else should I gesture it? Can you find a movement that represents Ye Lan better?"
Ye Tan thought long and hard before concluding, "There really isn't one. Master is indeed the cleverest."
Jun Xuanheng was immensely proud of himself.
Ye Tan added, "In the future, it’s better to gesture less."
Jun Xuanheng said, "Oh."
The master invited them to a meal. Although he was bursting with excitement, he remained very obedient and hardly spoke, though he couldn't stop his curious gaze from darting back and forth toward Ye Fengjun’s face.
Ye Tan’s curiosity regarding the identity and origins of these two had also reached its peak. However, he was the most disciplined of men; if Jun Xuanheng did not mention something, he would never ask or dwell on it.
Halfway through the meal, Jun Wuwang slapped his chopsticks down in displeasure. "Is Ye Tan not enough for you to look at? Why do you keep staring at my man?"
Jun Xuanheng said, "Wow, the two of them look so much alike. I’m having a bit of trouble telling them apart, so I’m looking for the differences."
Jun Wuwang glanced at Ye Tan and sneered. "They aren't alike at all. You’re just blind."
Jun Xuanheng was taken aback. "How so?"
Hearing Jun Wuwang speak so rudely to his master, Ye Tan already felt a strong urge to cut someone. Ye Fengjun watched this and found it hilarious. Fearing he might laugh too much, he raised a hand to cover his mouth.
While mocking Jun Xuanheng’s lack of discernment in his heart, Jun Wuwang explained, "Look at which one is well-behaved and obedient—that’s Ye Tan. The one who is wicked and deserves a beating is Ye Fengjun."
"Ah, so your name is Ye Fengjun." This was the first time Jun Xuanheng had heard the man’s name. He blinked at him in a friendly manner and reached out a hand for a shake. "Ah, hello. My name is Jun Xuanheng. I am the master of the Moling Sword Pavilion. If you have time in the future..."
Ye Fengjun’s smile suddenly vanished. He respectfully lowered his eyes and pressed a kiss onto the back of Jun Xuanheng’s hand. He looked up and said in a low, heavy voice, "Master."
Jun Xuanheng’s words caught in his throat. His face instantly turned a deep crimson.
The edge of Ye Tan’s blade was pressed tightly against Ye Fengjun’s neck.
"Ah-Ah-Ah Tan! Q口Q!!" Jun Xuanheng grabbed Ye Tan in a panic, burying his face in his shoulder and wailing, "I’m doomed! I really can't tell you two apart!!!"
Hearing this, Ye Tan felt an even stronger urge to commit murder to silence the witness.
"It was just a joke. Why get so angry?" Ye Fengjun smiled, seemingly unsatisfied.
Jun Wuwang was even more displeased. "It’s one thing to provoke me, but why tease him?"
Ye Fengjun said innocently, "Who knew they were both equally easy to fool."
"That’s easy to fix." Ye Tan moved the tip of his sword up, resting it against Ye Fengjun’s cheek. "How about I carve a mark right here?"
Jun Wuwang said, "Good idea."
His tone was also full of resentment; it seemed he had suffered quite a bit because of this.
"Hey, no, that’s not good. He’s a guest, Ah Tan." Jun Xuanheng stopped Ye Tan and made him withdraw the sword. Ye Tan obediently complied, but he flipped the sword tip up to point between his own brows and said, "Then let this subordinate make a mark on my own face."
Jun Xuanheng and Jun Wuwang shouted simultaneously, "No!"
Ye Fengjun said in a dazed voice, "Wow, Wuwang, aren't you being a bit too heartless... You won't protect me, yet you want to protect him..."
Jun Wuwang sneered, "The feeling is mutual."
Jun Xuanheng snatched Ye Tan’s sword and held it to his chest. Jun Wuwang said, "Ye Tan, I’ll keep an eye on him for you. Don't hurt yourself."
The matter was narrowly settled. Ye Tan thought to himself: *If this happens again, taking his life as an apology would not be excessive.*
Jun Xuanheng looked at Jun Wuwang, then tugged on Ye Tan’s sleeve. "Ah Tan, Jun Wuwang and I also look very much alike. You wouldn't fail to tell us apart too, would you...?"
How could that be possible? In Ye Tan’s heart, the two were as different as heaven and earth; there was absolutely no possibility of a mistake.
But saying that would be too rude, so Ye Tan said, "I can tell. This gentleman is an inch taller than Master."
Jun Xuanheng hadn't noticed this yet. He asked in surprise, "Is he?"
Jun Wuwang nodded.
Jun Xuanheng found it strange. They were the same set of data; how could there be a difference? He asked, "Why?"
"None of your business," Jun Wuwang replied coldly.
Ye Fengjun laughed. "He complained that I was too tall and it was uncomfortable when we kissed, so he adjusted his height to be taller."
Jun Wuwang: "...I truly regret bringing you out."
"...Really?" Jun Xuanheng muttered to himself in confusion. He looked at Ye Tan, cupped his face, and kissed him.
Ye Tan was startled, momentarily forgetting to respond.
Jun Xuanheng let go, tilted his head, and licked his lips. "Not too tall. It’s just right."
Ye Tan snapped back to his senses and nodded. "Mhm. This subordinate also feels... it is just right."
Jun Wuwang felt that this meal was no longer edible.
He threw down his chopsticks and returned to his room with a dark face.
"He’s angry. What should we do?" Jun Xuanheng was deeply worried. He stood up and said, "I’ll go take a look..."
Ye Fengjun smiled and stopped him. "It’s fine. You two keep eating. He only agreed to come see you after he finally came to terms with things, but he still has some unresolved feelings. I’ll go coax him."
Jun Xuanheng nodded, then added, "I... Ah Tan and I will definitely be more restrained in the future. I hope we don't make him unhappy again..."
Ye Fengjun laughed. "How do you know he isn't just using this as a pretext to act spoiled with me?"
***
