After Shen Xingxue left, Xu Fufu looked at Chu Mo: "You've hurt her feelings."
Chu Mo sighed: "That's better than lying to her."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't take it out on me, I never lie. I know you're angry tonight, and decapitating a dog won't fully pacify your rage. Instead... Why don't we go to the Gluttonous Pavilion? What's the point of being here?" Xu Fufu glanced at the hypocritically smiling nobles around him and said dismissively.
"Good point! Let's go." After experiencing so much tonight, Chu Mo's heart was far from calm. He stood up, left with Xu Fufu through the side door, and left with grace.
It was only after Chu Mo had left that many people felt a sense of relief.
They didn't even know why, it was just a youth, and yet the pressure he exerted on them was immense.
At the same time, Chu Mo's words also circulated among this crowd.
"I knew it, a young boy, only thirteen or fourteen years old, how could he be so capable? Now we finally understand, he has a powerful master behind him!"
"Didn't they say Chu Mo was making medicine in the Prince's Mansion and hadn't left for seven or eight days?"
"Fool, that was just to deceive people! Chu Mo is so powerful, can his master be any worse? Didn't you hear... He vanishes without a trace. To enter and leave the Prince's Mansion is a minor thing for him!"
"Is the defense of the Prince's Mansion... not that weak?"
"Of course it's not that weak. But the question is, can the defense of the Prince's Mansion stop Chu Mo's master? He was going there to deliver medicine!"
"It seems that we should get closer to this youth in the future."
"Yeah, who can guarantee that we won't need his help one day?"
A group of top-level nobles from Great Xia, discussing a youth at the New Year's banquet, was a rare sight indeed.
However, these people had their eyes opened today. They probably won't forget it for decades. At the same time, Chu Mo, a name that was somewhat strange to them, has entered their sight.
Chu Mo and Xu Fufu were walking on the palace road. The guards in the palace saw them but did not stop them. Instead, they all sneaked a glance at Chu Mo.
The scene that occurred in the banquet hall tonight had already spread throughout the palace. Many people wanted to see the bold youth in person.
The two of them breathed in the fresh air of the night, watching the brilliant fireworks continuously rising and blooming in the night sky, both remaining silent.
After a while, Xu Fufu finally said, "You're fourteen now!"
"Not for a while yet." Chu Mo said.
"At fifteen, you can join the army. At sixteen, you can get married... Brother Hei, we're growing up fast." Xu Fufu seemed somewhat melancholic.
Chu Mo glanced at Xu Fufu: "Feeling sentimental, that's not like you?"
"You're leaving after the New Year, I kind of can't bear it. There is only you as my brother. After you leave, how lonely will I be?" Xu Fufu said, "I know, my reputation in Yanhuang City isn't great. Look... Princess Shen Xingxue has never interacted with me, but has guarded against me like a thief. Although I am not angry, it's somewhat upsetting."
"You deserve it." Chu Mo said mercilessly: "Who made your reputation so notorious?"
"Fine, I admit I was a bit reckless in the past few years, but these last two years, haven't I behaved a lot better?" Xu Fufu, drooping his eyelids, muttered: "But it's still not enough. It seems that it takes a long time to build a good reputation, a little at a time. But to destroy your own reputation, one incident is enough. And then, to reclaim it, the effort required is probably dozens of times that."
"Actually... your reputation isn't that bad." Chu Mo glanced at Xu Fufu and said, "After all, you still have me, Sister Yiniang, and Sister Mei."
"Yeah, these friends of ours." Xu Fufu leaned back, looking up at the starlit night sky and took a deep breath. "One day... you won't leave me behind, will you?"
A notion struck Chu Mo who glanced at Xu Fufu and laughed: "Why ask such a thing all of a sudden?"
"It's just over these past six months, the changes I've seen in you have been immense, too hard to believe. To be honest, if we didn't grow up together, I might even doubt whether you are still you. Do you understand what I mean?" Xu Fufu looked at Chu Mo.
Chu Mo fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"That's why, really, I'm kinda scared that one day, you might suddenly disappear from this world." said Xu Fufu. "I've heard rumors that once you've cultivated to a certain degree, you can break through the void, to enter another world. I wonder, if you might ever..."
Chu Mo fell silent for a moment, before saying: "And if that day comes?"
Xu Fufu stopped in his tracks, looking at Chu Mo, he seriously said: "You're my brother, my best friend! I've thought about it, and if that day does come, I'd be devastated! But I'm not like you. I have so many loved ones here. So, if that day really comes, I'll guard what we've built together! I'll take good care of Grandpa Fan. With brothers, there are two paths - we either soar together or I stay behind in silence, guarding everything. But in no way... will I be dragging your feet, right?"
Chu Mo looked at Xu Fufu, then punched him on the shoulder: "You, this guy... getting all serious out of nowhere, I'm not used to it."
"Yeah, we have to grow up eventually. Your changes have been far greater than mine!" Xu Fufu said, a slight smile on his face: "But I hope that my brother turns out well."
"Actually... if you start working hard now, it wouldn't be too late." Chu Mo looked at Xu Fufu: "Your talents are not bad, it's just that you're a bit too lazy."
"Me? ... Forget it. In this life, all I want is to be carefree and happy. Not to become a deity." Xu Fufu grinned: "Cultivation is such hard work! Where's the joy in that when compared to having a beauty in your arms and wine in your hands? My greatest dream is to end up drunk in the arms of a beautiful woman!"
Chu Mo laughed: "Don't want to have the world in your palm?"
Xu Fufu grinned: "This is the royal palace! Be careful what you say, don't you fear getting into trouble if someone overhears?"
Chu Mo laughed too: "No worries, I've already got enough trouble."
The two brothers shared a laugh, an understanding left unspoken.
At that moment, as they wandered out to the front gate of the royal palace, they found it was crowded with people and dozens of horse-driven carts lined along the main street.
As two of them emerged from the palace, the crowd also noticed them, both sides startled.
"Chu Mo!" A deep voice, filled with hatred, echoed from within the crowd.
Xu Fufu was about to retort when Chu Mo pulled him aside, then looked at the individual who had spoken: "Does the Third Prince recognize me now?"
Turned out this group was none other than Prince Xia Ying, Second Prince Xia Xiong and Third Prince Xia Hao, assembled here to see Xia Hao off on his journey.
With a gaze filled with intense killing intent, Xia Hao looked at Chu Mo, coldly saying: "You're doing good, I remember you now!"
Chu Mo chuckled: "Your Royal Highness, the Third Prince, you better clarify one thing first."
Xia Hao gave Chu Mo a cold stare.
Neither Prince Xia Ying nor Second Prince Xia Xiong, showed any particular expressions, but their icy glances towards Chu Mo said it all.
Unconcerned, Chu Mo simply said: "Just so you know, even if you wanted to let me off the hook, I might not want to let you off!"
------------------------
The fourth update is here!
Once I finish updating, I'll get back to writing... The fifth update coming later! (To be continued. If you novel, kindly vote for it at qidian.com (home page). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)