The Scum Is A ***

"The leader is here!" the people of the Drunken Moon City exclaimed in joy when they saw the familiar palanquin arriving. 

"Leader Meng ahs returned!!!" they said as they all hurriedly lined up to the side of the street and watched as Meng Gui's palanquin pass by them, carried by his subordinates. 

Meng Gui heard the people cheering but he ignored them. That's how he is to them – cold and haughty. But, they still follow him. Because of his face, and also because of his hidden kindness. They know that his cold and haughty appearance, as well as those rumors of him having a harem of a thousand men, are fake. 

Meng Gui looked at Shang He. Shang He's subordinates are also carrying his palanquin. Although Meng Gui had them change into his subordinates' clothes, but the Drunken Moon City's citizens must already have recognized these unfamiliar people. Yet, they aren't saying anything. Either they thought that they must be Meng Gui's new subordinates, or that they are just playing dumb. 

But, if they are playing dumb, then, they must be Shang He's own people that slipped inside his territory to secretly monitor him. 

"Are you using your people planted in my territory to root out Ma Wen's people remaining that are hiding?" Meng Gui asked. 

"You're smart." Shang He grinned. 

"I don't feel accepting the praise coming from you." Meng Gui spoke. 

Shang He. "…" is he still pissed because of earlier? I already apologized by letting him roast me earlier, right? He thought. His face is covered in black lines. What a haughty person. He sighed. 

Meng Gui saw Shang He fell silent and turned, looking like he's sulking. He knows when to stop putting airs. "Thank you." He told him. 

Shang He turned at him, then made a small smile. "You're welcome." He told him. His tone is humble. 

It is Meng Gui's turn to be speechless. "…" he's holding a grudge, isn't he? How dare he accuse me that's it's just me who is holding a grudge! He thought. Now, he is acting sulking. His face darkened. 

But, although he is mad, he held back his temper. Shang He offered him his help. Although he didn't ask for the other's help, but it is more impolite to turn down the person who took the initiative than the person whom you asked to take the initiative. 

Thus, both of them are sulking on the way until they've reached Meng Gui's manor. 

The palanquin stopped and was carefully placed down the ground. "Leader, we've arrived." Meng Gui's subordinate spoke. 

"En." Meng Gui answered. 

Meng Gui's subordinate was about to lift the curtain when suddenly, he felt a gust of wind. Before any of them could react, Shang He already came out from the other side of the palanquin, climbed on top of the palanquin without causing it to shake, before he jumped down on the other side where Meng Gui is going to come out. 

Meng Gui's subordinates, as well as Shang He's, still haven't reacted from Shang He's action when Shang He grabbed the curtain and lifted it. Then, he raised his other hand, palm up. His actions are very obvious. He wanted to be the one to hold Meng Gui's hand and help him out of the palanquin. 

Meng Gui's and Shang He's subordinates finally reacted. They didn't speak and just waited, along with Shang He, for Meng Gui to reach Shang He's hand and come out. But, they already waited for half a minute, yet they didn't see a hand grab Shang He's hand. 

Shang He was startled, then puzzled. He bent down further to look inside the palanquin, only to see Meng Gui already raised the curtain of the other side. Then, Meng Gui turned to smile at him before Meng Gui came out from the other side. 

Shang He. "…" such a smug smile… he looks cute though, instead of haughty. He thought before the corners of his lips pulled up. He let go of the curtain and stood upright before he looked at Meng Gui standing on the other side of the palanquin. "Well-played." He said. 

Meng Gui deliberately let him wait. When he saw him bent down, he raised the curtain of the palanquin, smirked at him, before he went out of the palanquin. This is just to spite him. 

Meng Gui's and Shang He's subordinates shivered in fear. As time pass by, the more they afraid of their respective leaders for their crazy antics just to spite the other person. Seriously, were they those two children that went through thick and thin in the past? How did they become like this – hating each other to death? They thought. They annoy each other every second – every opportunity they could find, out of spite. 

But then again, they both are separated now. What could have happened to them before, for them to separate? What enmity do they have, to be so hostile to each other now? Meng Gui's and Shang He's subordinates thought. 

Since they are here now together with Shang He and Meng Gui, their respective leaders, naturally, they are the two's most trusted subordinates. And to become their most trusted subordinates, they definitely have worked for Shang He and Meng Gui for a long time, and have seen how the two have reached the place they are now. How they passed through many trials, gain the power that they have now… all these… 

Of course, they have also seen what Shang He and Meng Gui looked like when they where young, and how they were before. They also have seen how close the two were before. That's why they were puzzled that the two separated in the past, and more puzzled that they have become hostile towards each other. That's why they are wondering whether the two are harboring enmity towards the other. 

No matter what they think, or how concerned they are, but they didn't breathe a word of what they are thinking. They are more concerned of what will happen to them after they ask their respective leaders of the questions in their mind. 

Meng Gui walked towards the entrance of his manor. There were already servants waiting for him by the doorway and they all respectfully bowed as he approached them. "Leader. Welcome back." They greeted. 

Meng Gui's subordinates, along with Shang He's subordinates, all took the palanquin away. Meanwhile, Shang He followed behind Meng Gui. 

The servants also saw him and they greeted. "Boss Shang. Welcome." They spoke. 

Meng Gui only glanced at Shang He behind him before he walked inside. Shang He shrugged and nodded at the servants who kept their heads low before he followed Meng Gui inside. 

"Xiao Ming." Meng Gui called as he stopped. 

Xiao Ming immediately came along with the maids. "Leader, welcome back." xiao Ming and the maids greeted and bowed. 

The maids walked towards Meng Gui and bowed as they excused themselves before they raised their hands, intending to take off Meng Gui's outer robe. But, before they could do it, someone faster than them moved. 

A pair of hands peeled off Meng Gui's robe. They turned to see the owner of the hands and froze when they saw that it was Shang He. But, no matter how shocked they are, they could only stare at him with wide eyes and held their breath, afraid that they'll disturb this surprisingly warm scene before them. They even want to step back to be out of the beautiful picture, but they are afraid that they might disturb them and break the atmosphere between the two leaders.

But, someone doesn't want to cooperate. It isn't xiao Ming whose existence was forgotten, but it was Meng Gui instead. "Have you given the antidote to them?" he asked. He's obviously talking to xiao Ming. 

Shang He pouted as he held Meng Gui's outer robe in his hands. Meng Gui ignored him. He reluctantly gave it to the servants on the side before he took the new robe from them. Then, he wore the robe on Meng Gui. 

"I did, leader." xiao Ming answered. 

Meng Gui, who didn't raise his arms to give Shang He a hard time, paused when he noticed that there's something wrong with xiao Ming's answer. "They didn't take it?" he asked. 

"They didn't." xiao Ming answered and sincerely praised Meng Gui in his heart. He only answered with what he is asked, and not because he doesn't want to keep secrets. He is just a man of few words. 

"Why?" Meng Gui asked. As far as he knows, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan badly needed the antidote for Cheng Sheng. 

"They have some qualms." xiao Ming answered. 

"Oh?" Meng Gui smiled. 

Shang He, who finished dressing up Meng Gui, finally can't take it being ignored. "The 'they' you are referring to… are your insurance?" he asked. 

Meng Gui finally turned to him. "So your brain isn't just a decoration to fill up the space in your head." He told him and smiled before he walked away. 

Shang He's lips twitched. "… thanks for the compliment." He said and immediately followed Meng Gui.