18. Blizzard

“You have to pay taxes or you are going to live in the streets!”

“But, w-we paid the h-half of our income to you. We don't have any money left for our family!” The lady with ragged clothes said, kneeling pitifully in front of the tax collector along with her family who was standing behind her back. Her family consists of one daughter that looks like a five year old and twin brothers that looks like twelve year old kids. The kids cried seeing their mother kneeling in the ground asking for forgiveness. But, they couldn't even do anything. Her occupation was a fish vendor and she sells fish in the market everyday for a living. She had paid the land taxes, but the tax kept increasing every month. Not just her who suffered, but a lot of people with low background as well.

Li Jie, along with Delun who was accompanying his ‘wife’ buying groceries to their supper, was deeply felt angered to the maximum level that he wanted to skin the collector alive. Thanks to him that he cannot buy delicious fish for dinner. He really craved to eat fish since it was his favorite ever since he was a young toddler. But now, it seems like he cannot fulfill his long time wish. All of his brothers were coming home tonight. And for his family and to the annoying j*** who was accompanying him to the market, he'll make sure that all their tummies will be filled with food. However, his temper risen as he saw a ruthless task collector that made a haggard looking lady kneeled to his feet.

‘Who do you think he is?! A God?!’ Li Jie screamed inside his thoughts and killing the man inside his head. Li Jie really hated seeing how low people groveling to the ground and asking for mercy for those people that had corrupted minds. This reminds him of his mother in the past. Li Jie looked at the General resentfully and Delun who was carrying the basket of groceries felt shivers to his skin. Delun then lowered his gaze to the beautiful man with an eye patch and pursed his lips. He knows what he was thinking.

“You are the General right? Why are you just standing there and just looking at the suffering mother?” Li Jie said coldly. The arctic air he just released could even turn the place into a winter blizzard. He can't stand seeing this kind of people who was already suffering to live. It makes him really smothered.

“I can't do anything about it too.” Delun said, with a hint of guilt flashed his eyes. He too was uncomfortable seeing the inharmonious episode, however he cannot really do anything to his own accord. He heaved a sigh and shook his head, then he grabbed the beautiful young man's hand to drag him out of the place. However, Li Jie hesitated, then a playful smirk glistered on his face. Delun thought, no matter what the other was is thinking, he swears that he was up to no good.

“Delun, do you have silver left?” Li Jie asked the handsome man in a cute way. Delun hesitated to nod but anyways he still did it. Li Jie then continued to act cute in front of Delun so he could make the handsome man lend his wallet to him.

“Can you…give me your wallet? Please? You are rich don't you? Give this young man a spare hmm? Hmm?” Delun originally didn't want Li Jie to involve in such a messy situation, but his hand moved even quicker than his mind and lend him his wallet because he was scared if he made the fluffy adorable Li Jie cry.

“Thank you Darling!” Li Jie teased the General and shamelessly giggled inside his head. It seems that he found a new talent. Delun's face was somewhat expressionless yet his ears were crimson red from the latter’s actions towards him. Li Jie loosened the grip on his hand and strove his steps into where the commotion happened.

“Why there's so many dogs around? Ah! They have been barking in the market since in the morning. Do all of your tongues didn't grow tired ba?” the collectors who were annoyed at Li Jie's sentiment turned their gazes where the sound settled. And they were shocked seeing the beautiful young man whose left eye was covered in a patch. The collectors were in an urge to laugh looking at the person who mocked them.

“Childe, don't meddle into someone's business. Unless, you would play with us instead.” The collectors laugh in such amusement whilst looking at the small beautiful man who seemed like he would break if someone pushed him.

“Brother, your breath stinks. I have an upset stomach. 20 silvers for my hospitalization.” The collector who spoke raged in anger and embarrassment as he heard a lot of citizens were laughing at him.

“You insolent brat!”

“I have a headache due to your breath. 30 silvers for hospitalization.”

“You…”

“Ah! My allergic! 40 silvers for the check up.” Li Jie said as he smirked sinisterly as he managed to embarrass the insolent person in front of the lady who was crying pitifully.

“You don't want to pay? Then fine. I'll let you go because I’m too kind. Now you felt how this lady felt when you forced her to pay. You clearly saw that the lady was striving for her family to live. And what did your boss do? Just laying an egg to his nest? How ungrateful!” Li Jie then sneered and he throw the wallet into the collector's head forming a big circle lumps on the forehead. Li Jie was satisfied and raised his chin with pride.

“Since you love money, then tell your boss to eat this pouch of silver and tell him dare not to poop it. Or else, I’m going to be the one who aims for his head.” Li Jie smiled, but his smile shown a deep sinister that no one dared to make a mess with him.

“You won't get away with this!” The collectors faced a deep humiliation when they encountered such poison in the market. They were so embarrassed that they wanted to leave immediately. They were about to leave when Li Jie pointed the wallet that was lying on the ground.

“Ah! I'm too kind to give you money yet you only throw it on the ground. Look everyone! They are bullying me ah!” The crowd saw Li Jie's teary eyes and everyone who saw this had an exhortation to beat those collectors, especially the General who keeps watching the young man‘s sad face.

In front of the crowded market, Li Jie let out a heartbreaking sob which makes Delun furious that he wanted to wipe out the collectors with just one swoop of his sword. Seeing the latter cry felt like his heart being squeezed into two. And he realized,

‘What is this feeling?’

He pushed his thoughts away and took a stride of steps towards the beautiful young man. Delun held Li Jie's chin, lifting up his face. He wiped off Li Jie's tears that trickled down to his cheeks. His brows frowned, how the hell did they make this young man cry? They doesn’t deserve this! While Li Jie on the other hand, was shocked at his newly found talent that even the General fall for his trap. He was proud, but at the same time he felt confused why his heart acted this way when the General wiped off his tears using his thumb.

‘Damn it! This heart is fragile ah! It's his fault! He’s flirting with me!’

“You…” the collectors who were about to escape from the handsome man halted, they turned slowly and noticed the indifferent expression of the General. They didn’t know this man, yet they can feel Delun's formidable aura. The General had promised at Li Jie's brother to protect him, yet he didn't stop the cause of Li Jie's tears. This made him infuriated.

“What?!” the collector whom Li Jie embarrassed screamed, yet deep inside he was scared of the man he just shouted at.

‘Dude, the man you just shouted at is the General of the nation. And you raised your voice against him. How brave for a lowly status as you are.’ Li Jie thought towards the tax collector. He sighed and looked at the General beside him.

Right, the same as you thought. The General's eyes were glowing red resulting the tax collectors shaken their knees from the colossal fear they felt.

“Pick up that money or your necks will be cut off.” The General said. The air becomes denser that it looks like it's snowing. The wretched tax collectors didn't waste time and picked up the pouch full of silver and fleeted away. The General huffed from the irritation and had a thought of reporting this matter to the Prime Minister.

When the commotion calmed down, Li Jie went from the vendor and smiled sweetly.

“Young lad, thank you for your help! What should I do to repay you?” the vendor asked as Li Jie giggled faintly. The young man's voice was so gentle that even the vendor wanted to adopt him as her child. What a lovely child he must be, and he was also kind too.

“Ma'am, your fish looks delicious! Can I have two pieces? Please?! Please!?” Li Jie said with a drool escaped from his mouth. The lady found this young man quite adorable that he almost looked like a hungry cat. Maybe, in the near future he could repay this young man's kindness. However on Li Jie's behalf, he just wanted fish for dinner. And he will not give up unless he can have one. Delun find this on Li Jie's part and thought it was adorable. Li Jie was just like his adorable little cat, Ai.

“Of course! Here! Three big fishes for you.” The lady chuckled as she put the three big fishes to the basket and Li Jie's eyes sparkled. The scintilla of his eyes were strong that he was blinded by this big fishes that have been put in the basket.

“Ma’am! Thank you very much!” Li Jie exclaimed as he was jumping for joy. Delun with his side glued his eyes from the latter who was jumping like a rabbit that was given a carrot. Delun smiled faintly. His wife was adorable and must be protected. Though he looks like a scum sometimes, he found out that this young man is still a juvenile. And he was so innocent about this world. After Delun thought about this, he felt like his heartbeat quickened. The world seemed to stop seeing the latter's smile shined through his face. Li Jie's smile looks like a lovely Narcissus bloomed in the manor's garden and Delun find it precious.

Li Jie caught that the General was in a daze and stared deeply at him confusedly. Li Jie pondered, ‘What is he thinking again?’

“Let’s go?” Li Jie said and held the General's hand. As their skin touched, Delun felt like he was being electrified by the latter's touch that he doesn't want to let go. He wanted to squeeze him and hug him tight, but he knows he had his limits.

‘Could it be?’

“En.” Delun replied as he clutched Li Jie's hand tightly. His feelings cannot be described. It looks like the atmosphere around him were full of blooming flowers and exploding fireworks. His heart was like a beating drum and kept increasing speed every second. He sighed, maybe he's just having a rough day.

They walked happily while holding hands, unaware of the resentful eyes staring at them in the shadows.

“I want him to be my husband. He's not suitable with that bitch!” Lady Mingmei screamed inside the carriage as she witnessed the two held hands. Her eyes glued to the General and thought that she wanted him by herself. She wanted to kill Li Jie for snatching what is hers. Mingmei's resentful glare followed the two as they were completely out of her sight.

The two arrived home while their hands still entangling to each other. As Li Jie opened the door, all of his brothers were present inside the household and staring daggers towards the General. Seeing them holding hands, their eyes seemed like being plucked by a needle and wanted to kill the culprit.

The entire household was in a blizzard, the cold atmosphere could make the entire continent freeze. Li Jie knew what was about to happened and gritted his teeth. He doesn't want his benefactor to die on the spot so he thought of something that even he himself wanted to suicide after he said such nonsense.

“Brother! Why are you looking at my husband like that? Do you hate him?” Li Jie said, his watery eyes sent a deep arrow plunged to their chests. But at the same time, they couldn't believe that their brother, who was so adorable and cute, was in love with this vermin.

Min Zhe couldn't believe that his brother was in love by the General and he merely thought that he was being forced. But Li Jie's acting was great as a skillful winning actor that Li Jie looks like he was so deeply in love.

‘He’s bewitched. Right, he's bewitched! Husband his sister!’

Min Zhe looked at Chang Bao who was forcing his temper to cool down and smiled innocently. Chang Bao also looked at Min Zhe with confusion. Min Zhe spoke with a calm and serene voice, however his killing intent towards the General keeps getting stronger that he can't control himself anymore.

“Brother, can I kill him?”

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