Chapter 956 Go with the flow
"Don't be foolish when looking for clothes..."

"It's not the younger brother who is confused, but the older brother!"

Looking at Su He's stern words, Liu Xunyi could no longer suppress his inner excitement. He let go of the bucket, bent his knees, and fell to the ground with a plop.

This scene not only shocked Su He who was nearby, but also made Xunzhen and others who were watching outside the courtyard stare in amazement.

"What's going on? Get up quickly!"

Su He, with a look of astonishment on his face, hurriedly went to support Liu Xunyi, but Liu Xunyi was very stubborn, and no matter how hard Su He tried to persuade him, he was reluctant to get up.

"It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, how could you have fallen to this point?" Liu Xunyi said ashamedly, "Seeing you today... I feel so heartbroken and my heart aches."

"Xun Yi, this matter has nothing to do with you..."

"How can it have nothing to do with me?" Liu Xunyi tightly grasped Su He's arm and said excitedly, "After Nadam, I went to the grassland tavern to meet Saihan and Bayin. They told me the whole story. It turned out... the wine we drank that day had been drugged by Saihan. It turned out... that big brother had arranged everything. According to the rules of the grassland, if the brothers are tied in a contest, the elder brother will let the younger brother win. Although big brother never said it clearly, you deliberately became sworn brothers with me before the competition. I think... that's your intention."

"This……"

Su He's eyes became more and more conflicted when Liu Xunyi revealed his thoughts.

"First there was the 'knockout drug', then there was 'Baian Da', plus Saihan and Bayin's secret help, this duel between me and you... was unfair from the beginning."

"It's all just a coincidence. I didn't let you win, so you don't have to blame yourself." Su He put aside all distracting thoughts and said righteously, "I competed with you based on my real skills and knowledge, and I became sworn brothers with you based on our mutual respect. Everything came from Su's sincerity. There is absolutely no deception or deliberate humility. What's more, victory and defeat are common in the military..."

"If victory and defeat are common in the military, why did you go out into the snow and ice to suffer?"

"That is absolutely not the case..."

"Forget it! No matter why you are here, I will accompany you to the end!" Liu Xunyi resolutely pushed Su He away and said word by word, "If you leave, I will leave too. If you stay to feed the horses, I will stay to feed the horses too."

"Looking for clothes, don't act on impulse..."

"If you insist on not doing it, I will kneel down and die here."

"The Song Dynasty court and the Central Plains martial arts world colluded to cause you to lose everything and face danger. Now, you have finally escaped death, you should take revenge and complain. How can you stay here and waste your time?"

"Why can big brother survive, but I can't live longer?" Liu Xunyi asked instead of answering, "Big brother always says 'a real man stands tall and proud'. Now it's you who is shrinking back, not me."

"You get up first..."

"No! If Big Brother doesn't agree, it means he won't forgive me. How can I face the world?"

"This……"

Liu Xunyi's repeated insistence made Su He uneasy. After hesitating for a while, he asked meaningfully, "Xunyi, are you really willing to stay here and feed the horses with me?"

"Obligated!"

"If you are really willing, then...stay!"

"Okay!" Liu Xunyi agreed happily, "I have been abandoned by my friends and family and have no place to go. It's rare that you are willing to take me in. I will be very grateful."

Su He nodded vaguely, and reminded him with a hint of meaning: "Xun Yi, life here is boring, don't regret it."

"Brother, you are willing to ruin your own future for me, so how can I betray you?" Liu Xunyi said firmly, every word was sonorous, "Thinking back to the beginning, we swore to heaven that we would share happiness and difficulties together. Was it just a joke?"

"well said!"

Su He raised his eyebrows and beard, clapped his hands in praise, bent down to help Liu Xunyi up, the two looked at each other and laughed, and immediately felt heroic.

"I haven't had a drop of alcohol in months. It's a great joy to meet my brother again today. I have to drink a lot no matter what."

"I know that big brother cannot live without wine, so I specially prepared a few jars of good wine when I came here today. I will bring them to you."

After saying that, Liu Xunyi shook off the fallen snow on his body and walked out of the yard with great interest.

"Brother Liu, how is it?"

"I want to stay here and feed the horses with my big brother." Facing the expectant crowd, Liu Xunyi said straight to the point, "I will slowly help my big brother untie his knot in the future."

"what?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone present was shocked. The difference was that Su Rige was surprised, but more of it was admiration and emotion. On the other hand, Xunzhen, Abaolu and others were flustered and worried. "Since Su He came to the horse farm, he has been absent-minded all day long. He has never been as happy as today." Su Rige was the first to break the silence, "You can stay with him, and Ben will arrange other things for you."

"Thank you, General..."

"no!"

Before Liu Xunyi could thank him, Xunzhen, who was worried, suddenly spoke and dragged him to a secluded place in front of everyone.

"Xunzhen, you..."

"Su He doesn't have to leave, but you can't stay!" Xunzhen said in a deep voice, "Don't forget what you promised me. If you dare to go back on your word, I will kill you immediately."

"Xunzhen, I understand what you mean." Liu Xunyi knew that Xunzhen was just angry for a moment and not deliberately threatening her, so she was not angry. Instead, she smiled at her sincerely with an apologetic look and explained, "Big brother and I are sworn brothers. We have sworn to heaven to share honor and disgrace, happiness and misfortune. Now, he has lost his position because of me, and he is very upset. It is neither reasonable nor emotional for me to stand idly by."

"You can't just stand by and watch Su He's brotherhood. Can you just ignore my life-saving grace and my kindness to the young king of Qin?" Xunzhen said angrily, "I went through so much trouble to rescue you from Lin'an, tried my best to save your life, and tried every possible way to help you find Su He's whereabouts. Could it be... that this is the ending today?"

"Miss, calm down!" Seeing Xunzhen was not giving up and accusing him of something, Liu Xunyi, knowing that she was in the wrong, smiled awkwardly and bowed her hands to apologize. "I will never forget your kindness, but I dare not ignore your kindness. As the saying goes, 'the palm of the hand is flesh, the back of the hand is also flesh'. If it was you who was feeding the horses here today, I would not stand by and watch you die..."

"Liu Xunyi, I'm talking to you about serious matters, please stop talking about other things!"

Xunzhen glared at him and reprimanded him harshly. However, she could not act like a "young lady" in front of Liu Xunyi, and she could not show the dignity she had in front of Abaolu and Xiao Yang.

For Liu Xunyi, he had no fear of Xunzhen in his heart. Therefore, when he saw Xunzhen's face flushed with anger and his teeth biting his lower lip, he did not find it scary, but rather felt that he was somewhat... cute.

When this thought came out, Liu Xunyi was also shocked. She cursed herself inwardly for being stupid. How could she think that a cunning woman like Xunzhen was cute?
Although he kept telling himself not to underestimate Xunzhen and must be wary of her, his feet uncontrollably moved closer to Xunzhen, and before Xunzhen could dodge, he took the initiative to hold her shoulders.

Rather than "holding", it would be better to say "holding down". However, Liu Xunyi's strength was just right, making her unable to move, but she didn't feel any pain.

"Liu Xunyi, what...what do you want to do?"

Hearing Xunzhen's question, Liu Xunyi, who had been in a trance, suddenly came to his senses. He stared blankly at the delicate face so close to him, smelling the faint fragrance emanating from her body. The confused Liu Xunyi repeatedly asked himself in his heart: "Yes! What am I doing? What on earth am I doing?"

At this moment, Liu Xunyi wanted to break the awkward atmosphere between the two of them. But his hands and feet were completely out of control, as if Xunzhen had an invisible but irresistible magic that deeply attracted Liu Xunyi, making him unable to control himself and stunned.

"What a bastard!" Liu Xunyi appeared calm on the surface, but in his heart he cursed himself, "Liu Xunyi, Liu Xunyi, what on earth are you thinking about? Could it be that... Xin'er's departure has made you mentally confused and become evil-minded? Or... you have Xunzhen's blood flowing in your veins, so you feel especially close to her..."

"lecher!"

"hiss……"

Seeing Liu Xunyi not saying a word, but just staring at him with lustful eyes, Xunzhen's heart was in turmoil and he felt uncomfortable all over. So his face darkened, he shouted, raised his foot and kicked Liu Xunyi's calf hard, which immediately pulled Liu Xunyi back to reality. He gasped in pain and subconsciously loosened his hands.

"Why did you kick me?"

"What do you think?" Xunzhen snorted coldly, "Why were you staring at me in a daze just now?"

"I just..." Liu Xunyi was confused and hurriedly made an excuse, "I was just thinking about how to convince you..."

"Impossible! 'Xilu Wuzong' is no joke. Yuan Xiao and his men risked their lives to help you 'expand territory' in the Central Plains. As the 'deputy lord', how can you just sit back and do nothing?"

"In fact, Big Brother is just having a hard time thinking it through. Give me some time, and I will definitely be able to persuade him to leave Mohe Horse Farm." Liu Xunyi promised solemnly, "If we leave now, Big Brother will definitely be very disappointed with me. In this way, he will definitely doubt his original decision even more."

"According to what you said, you agreed to stay only as a temporary measure, not sincerely?" Xunzhen raised his eyebrows and smiled mysteriously, "I can't believe that Liu Xunyi, who has always been upright, has learned to be so cunning."

"This is not cunning, but retreating to advance, going with the flow, and... a strategy." Liu Xunyi's eyes darkened, and he murmured, "I used to not understand strategy, and I thought I could always win hearts and achieve my wishes. But the facts prove that... everyone in the world has selfish desires, and people's hearts are changing all the time. If you don't know how to adapt and are always naive... the result will only be like me, ruined and without a place to stay."

"Su He treats you sincerely. You are 'scheming' against him like this... don't you feel heartbroken?"

Facing Xunzhen's teasing, Liu Xunyi's mouth twitched slightly, and he replied in a trembling voice: "It's more than heartache, it's almost unbearable pain! But... I have good intentions and I believe I have a clear conscience. As the 'First Swift Sword of Mobei', I can never become a groom. Therefore, as long as I can help big brother regain his confidence, what's the harm in being a 'scheming villain' for once?"

Looking at Liu Xunyi, whose expression was gloomy and tone was lonely, Xunzhen knew that he had used his "strategy" very reluctantly and even felt extremely guilty.

But at the same time, Xunzhen also noticed something "different". It was as if... from today's Liu Xunyi, she vaguely saw a trace of the shadow of the former Luo Tianjin.

It is the wisdom that is integrated into the blood, and also the cunning that is deeply rooted in the bones.

……

　I have to go out of town tomorrow to do some official business. I have to work very hard and may not be able to update on weekends. Please forgive me!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)