Chapter Two: "shujin bird"(five)

Ye Fengjun didn't mention the secret of Zhu Xiaobao to anyone.

After the incident of the suspension, Zhu Xiaobao did not disappear and leave for a distant place. He still visited the Treasure Hall from time to time, appearing even more eager to please than before. Not only did he bring gold, but sometimes he also brought a basket of eggs to Ye Fengjun, with the same purpose – to ask Ye Fengjun to teach him various paper folding techniques.

Ye Fengjun felt that a person like him who managed to survive the battlefield must have been lucky beyond measure.

However, neither of them ever mentioned anything related to the Golden-rinsing Bird again.

On this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, Ye Fengjun closed the shop early. It was already evening, and the summer heat had not yet dissipated. The streets were filled with the sweet scent of osmanthus.

He sat in the courtyard, sipping on a bowl of mung bean soup to cool down.

Thinking about it, Zhu Xiaobao hadn't visited the Treasure Hall for quite some time.

After finishing his drink, he absentmindedly placed the empty bowl on the wooden table beside him. However, as he did so, he accidentally knocked it over, causing it to fall to the ground and shatter.

Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, he couldn't explain why.

A sudden thought crossed Ye Fengjun's mind, prompting him to hastily leave the house.

The evening sky was ablaze with fiery colors, and the streets were lively with people. He maneuvered through groups of playful children and headed straight for the Chenghuang Alley.

He was very familiar with this city and could find his way even with his eyes closed.

Chenghuang Alley was a bustling place, with a market nearby. During festivals, it was adorned with lanterns and bustling with activity. The strong aroma of wine masked the scent of osmanthus.

Ye Fengjun paid no attention to the festivities and slipped into a narrow alley with white walls and gray tiles. Unexpectedly, he bumped into a lean middle-aged man. Both of them were walking fast and had to take several steps back to avoid colliding.

The man was dressed in a black robe, tied with a gray belt around his waist. A strand of beard hung down to his chest, and he held a sword at his waist with one hand, while carrying a cloth-covered, cage-like object in the other.

"Watch where you're going!" the man growled fiercely, quickly moving away.

Ye Fengjun didn't say anything and continued walking. However, after a few steps, he encountered a big sister holding a child. He hurriedly approached her and inquired about the whereabouts of the Zhu family. The big sister pointed to the end of the alley and said it was there.

He thanked her and quickened his pace towards the end of the alley.

At the entrance of Zhu's house, there was a ladder, and Zhu Xiaobao was hanging a unique lotus-shaped lantern under the eaves. Another lantern had already been hung, one with the words "Peace" written on it, and the other with "Joy."

"Did you make these lanterns?" Ye Fengjun asked, walking up to the ladder.

Zhu Xiaobao was startled and almost fell off the ladder. After staggering for a few steps, he managed to stabilize himself.

"Mr. Ye...?" He looked down at Ye Fengjun in surprise. "Why are you here?"

"I happened to pass by and came to wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival," Ye Fengjun replied.

Zhu Xiaobao breathed a sigh of relief, finishing hanging the lantern and clumsily climbing down the ladder. He replied sincerely, "How could I accept this? I should have visited Mr. Ye instead."

Ye Fengjun stared at his face. "Did you get beaten?"

Zhu Xiaobao's left cheek was swollen, and there were traces of blood under his nose that hadn't been wiped off.

"It was just an accident..." Zhu Xiaobao chuckled awkwardly. "It's nothing, just a minor injury."

"Where's the Golden-rinsing Bird?" Ye Fengjun asked again.

Zhu Xiaobao was taken aback, "It's... it's at home."

"Take me to see it," Ye Fengjun grabbed his arm. "Don't worry, I have no ill intentions towards that thing. I'm just curious to see it."

Zhu Xiaobao refused to budge, only stuttering, "It... it's asleep!"

"Sleeping in someone else's cage, right?" Ye Fengjun bluntly stated.

"This..." Zhu Xiaobao couldn't hide it anymore and had to confess, "Someone came just now, and I couldn't beat them. I was also afraid of alarming my mother, so I had to..."

"It's a useless thing!"

Without waiting to hear the end, Ye Fengjun tossed out these words from between his teeth and turned to leave.

"Mr. Ye!" Zhu Xiaobao hurriedly shouted anxiously from behind, "Don't go! Come back!"

But there was no way Ye Fengjun would turn back.