Promise

Zhou Ming looked over Wen Ruoxi's boudoir.

The room was simply and neatly furnished. A pearwood bed stood against the inner wall, cream-white bed curtains hanging on either side, with soft pillows and bedding folded neatly.

By the window stood a carved dressing table. Several jade boxes rested atop it, and an engraved bronze mirror stood quietly on the table, reflecting the room's interior.

A screen stood beside the dressing table. Through it, he could vaguely make out a zither stand and a small bookcase, half of it exposed.

Breathing in the room's delicate fragrance, Zhou Ming smiled. "This is completely different from what I imagined."

Wen Ruoxi handed him a cup of warm ginger tea and said irritably, "What, did you expect the room to be covered wall to wall in the Eighteen Weapons?"

Zhou Ming picked up the ginger tea and rose, walking to the dressing table to look into the bronze mirror.

It had to be said that even though it had been polished bright, the bronze mirror's reflection was quite poor. Still, it was more than enough for daily grooming.

Yet as he looked at himself in the bronze mirror, he was thoroughly dissatisfied.

Watching Zhou Ming stand before the dressing table and examine himself, Wen Ruoxi teased, "What is it? Could it be that besides martial arts, Escort Master Zhou also knows a thing or two about the art of dressing up?"

Ignoring her teasing, Zhou Ming turned and walked to her side. He bent slightly and whispered by her ear, "Outside, you call me Escort Master Zhou, and I won't fuss over it. But now that it's just the two of us, what should you call me?"

Feeling his breath beside her ear, Wen Ruoxi's pretty face flushed warmly. She lowered her voice. "Zhou Lang."

Zhou Ming turned and sat down, propping his chin on both hands as he looked at the beauty before him. The longer he looked, the more he liked her.

The sky gradually darkened.

"You should go back."

Zhou Ming pretended not to hear. He continued propping up his head, utterly unmoved.

A quarter of an hour later.

Watching the servants outside gradually light the candles, Wen Ruoxi took down the sable cloak hanging nearby and draped it over Zhou Ming's shoulders. She chided, "This time, you really should go back."

This time, Zhou Ming did not shamelessly play dumb. He rose and headed for the door.

The moment he stepped out of the room, his waist tightened. Just as he felt a trace of warmth, that warmth receded like the ebbing tide.

Click!

The door closed softly.

Coming back to himself, he turned to look at the shadow leaning against the door. "After spring begins, we'll go to Jinzhou Prefectural City together."

Zhou Ming had just returned to his own courtyard.

There, he saw Wu Quan, Wang Quan, and Yang Zhengxing standing in the yard.

Watching Zhou Ming enter, Wu Escort Leader said in a deep voice, "Inside. We'll talk there."

Zhou Ming lifted his eyes toward Wang Quan.

When Wang Quan met his gaze, he unhurriedly shifted his eyes away and looked elsewhere.

Brat, what are you looking at me for? Don't you know perfectly well what you did?

Sensing that something was off, Zhou Ming walked straight to the house, pushed open the door, and entered.

Inside the room.

Zhou Ming had just lit the candle when he saw the three staring at him. Wang Quan's gaze was relatively mild.

Wu Escort Leader and Yang Escort Leader, on the other hand, looked rather unfriendly.

Damn!

What are they doing?!

This is terrifying.

Zhou Ming said with a slightly stiff body, "Three Escort Leaders, tea or wine?"

There, I addressed you by your titles. We're all one of our own.

Don't put on those dead expressions. Are you trying to eat me alive?

Zhou Ming hoped the three of them would show some sense.

Wang Quan smiled and patted Wu Quan and Yang Zhengxing on the shoulders. "Enough, enough. Stop scaring him."

Wu Quan said sullenly, "Wine."

Zhou Ming hurriedly took a jug of wine from beneath the table and filled cups for the three of them.

Wu Quan picked up his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Zhou Ming hurriedly filled it again.

After Wu Quan downed three cups in a row, he said in a muffled voice, "Will you confess on your own, or should the three of us put you to torture?"

Hey, hey, hey!

Confess my ass. What am I supposed to confess?

At least ask your question!

Yang Escort Leader picked up the dry tobacco pipe in his hand and tapped it against the table. "Hm? Refusing to confess?"

At that moment, Wang Quan also looked at him with an unfriendly expression and said lightly, "Boy Zhou, how can you dare to do it but not dare to own it?"

Zhou Ming hurriedly said, "Three Escort Leaders, what exactly do you want me to confess? At least ask me!"

Uh.

Only then did the three remember that they seemed to have gotten the procedure wrong.

Wu Quan cleared his throat. "Tell us what you did with the Chief Escort Leader today. Speak truthfully. You are not allowed to hide anything."

Zhou Ming began to explain truthfully. He had taken a walk around the escort agency with the Chief Escort Leader, then accepted the Chief Escort Leader's invitation to discuss the martial path in her room and verify their martial arts.

Wu Quan roared, "Bullshit!"

Yang Zhengxing said darkly, "A casual walk means strolling hand in hand through the snow? And staring at the Chief Escort Leader for half the day was your way of verifying martial arts?"

What the hell?

Are they sick?

Hearing the two of them, Zhou Ming felt displeased inside, but he forcibly suppressed his anger. "Gentlemen, this is my private matter. There seems to be no need for me to explain it to either of you, is there? If there's nothing else, I'm going to train."

He looked calmly at the two men.

Yet he saw Wang Quan raise his brows at him and give him a meaningful look.

Damn it!

Something's wrong!

Zhou Ming picked up his wine cup. "Gentlemen, my words were a little harsh. My apologies. But that truly is my private matter."

Wang Quan glared at Zhou Ming, then said calmly, "The Chief Escort Leader's parents died early. Wu Escort Leader and Yang Escort Leader raised her with their own hands."

Zhou Ming was instantly dumbfounded.

Only after quite a while did he react.

Good heavens.

These two are my future fathers-in-law!

At once, Zhou Ming pulled out a large bowl from beneath the table.

"Father-in—"

"No!"

"Wu Escort Leader, Yang Escort Leader, I have offended you greatly. This lowly one will punish himself with three bowls!"

After three large bowls of wine went down with a thud, Zhou Ming straightened his posture and said, "Whatever you two wish to ask, this lowly one will answer every question."

Wu Escort Leader's expression darkened. "What did you just call us?"

The moment he heard that word, he felt his fists harden beyond measure!

Zhou Ming opened his mouth, not knowing what to say. He raised a hand and wiped away the nonexistent sweat on his forehead.

Yang Escort Leader slightly lifted his head, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Didn't you say you would answer every question?"

Zhou Ming felt pressure crashing toward him like gigantic waves!

But who was Zhou Ming?

A man who did not bow to pressure!

He immediately said, "What I just said was..."

"No need to say it!" X2

Watching the scene, Wang Quan laughed. "Go on, why not let him say it? I like this brat. Let him speak."

Wu Quan and Yang Zhengxing did not answer. They merely drank their wine in silence.

Cup after cup.

Zhou Ming could only refill their cups again and again.

The night had grown deep. Looking at the newly replaced beeswax candle, Zhou Ming felt rather helpless.

Wang Quan looked at Wu Quan and Yang Zhengxing and said, "The wine's finished. What's with not saying anything? If you won't speak, then I will. Give him a definite answer—whether it works or not."

Neither man spoke.

Wang Quan ignored them further and began speaking on his own.

After hearing him out, Zhou Ming was somewhat surprised.

He had never expected the three brothers to be sworn brothers.

Wasn't it just asking me for a definite answer?

Why put on such a show?

This is getting ridiculous.

Zhou Ming looked calmly at the three and said, "My feelings for Ruoxi are sincere. In two years, I will bear the lives of the Li Household of Muzhou Prefectural City."

Wang Quan immediately clapped his hands in praise. "Ambitious!"

Yang Zhengxing said lightly, "Before then, you cannot remain by Ruoxi's side."

Zhou Ming furrowed his brows. After considering it briefly, he said in a deep voice, "Fine!"

After saying that, Zhou Ming looked at Wu Quan.

"If you fail to do it in two years, you need not come back."

This time, Zhou Ming answered without the slightest hesitation. "Fine!"

Zhou Ming thought to himself, A mere Fifth Grade Lineage—if I can't wipe it out in two years, I would be letting down my Destiny.

Since the three brothers had sworn brotherhood with Wen Ruoxi's parents, there was surely a share of responsibility from him in raising Wen Ruoxi.

At last, Zhou Ming turned his gaze to Wang Quan. "Uncle Wang, what about you? What requirements do you have?"

Seeing Zhou Ming look at him, Wang Quan sighed. "No requirements. I'll give you three days. Pack up and leave."