Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

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“Gulp…”

“Gulp…”

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Da Ming set down the wine jar, erupting into a fit of coughing.

Inside the bedroom, Da Ming and Xiong Shan sat at a table. Two open paper bags of braised meat sat between them.

Each had a jar of wine by their side.

After a single mouthful, Da Ming coughed hard, his face flushed red.

Seeing this, Xiong Shan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

He had already finished half his jar. His cheeks were rosy, but his eyes remained clear.

“Hahaha…”

“Brother Ming, have you never had wine before?”

Xiong Shan teased Da Ming.

Da Ming stared at the wine jar, sighed, and muttered, “So this is wine?”

“It’s nothing like the books described…”

He set the jar on the table, a trace of disappointment in his eyes.

The books said wine could ease sorrow.

But why, once it reached the mouth, was it only bitter?

He gave a wry smile, propped his arms on the table, and imitated Xiong Shan—grabbing a few chunks of braised meat and shoving them straight into his mouth.

Xiong Shan lifted the wine jar with his left hand and took a hearty swig, the overflowing liquid soaking into his collar.

“Whew…”

Setting the jar down, Xiong Shan grinned. “Brother Ming, one sip isn’t enough to understand what wine really is.”

“Here!”

“Have another!”

“Wine is something you have to drink more of to truly appreciate its wonder!”

He tried to coax Da Ming into another go.

Da Ming’s expression remained somber. His heart was still entangled in the grief of Xiuxiu’s death, unable to break free.

He stared silently at the wine jar for a moment.

Then, picking it up again, he tipped his head back.

The slightly cloudy, sour wine poured into his mouth.

This time, Da Ming endured the bitterness, letting the liquid burn its way into his stomach.

One mouthful… two… three…

In one breath, he drank down half the jar.

By the time he set it down, his honest face was tinged with crimson.

“Hic!”

A loud hiccup escaped.

Xiong Shan roared with laughter, clapping the table. “Good!”

“Great tolerance!”

Da Ming swayed slightly, grabbed more meat, and devoured it in big bites.

“Come! Brother Ming, cheers!” Xiong Shan lifted his jar and bumped it against Da Ming’s.

Da Ming didn’t refuse. He mimicked Xiong Shan’s bold posture, raising the jar and letting wine drench his chest.

In no time, the two of them had drained both jars.

Xiong Shan let out a hearty laugh, staggering out of the room and leaning over the second-floor railing.

“Young man! Bring us two more jars!”

Downstairs, the waiter nodded and dashed off.

Back in the room, Da Ming slumped against the table, the alcohol rising to his head and turning his face beet red.

Suddenly, he felt like he was floating—like all the troubles in his chest had been washed away.

“Hehehe…”

A dopey grin stretched across his face.

“Hahahaha…”

He laughed loudly, a rough edge creeping into his gaze.

Lifting the empty wine jar with his left hand, he gave a sharp jerk—

“Pa!”

His fist shattered the jar.

Fragments scattered across the floor.

Hearing the sound, Xiong Shan chuckled knowingly.

The wine had taken hold of him.

“Brother Ming, how does it feel?”

“Isn’t wine better the more you drink it?”

“Feeling a bit better inside now?”

He plopped back onto his seat and stuffed more greasy meat into his mouth.

Being from Liao, his drinking capacity was formidable. One whole jar down, and he was still as steady as ever.

Da Ming giggled dully, grabbing more meat and stuffing it in with a muffled, “Good!”

“This wine… really is something.”

He mumbled to himself.

The sorrow, anger, and grief in his heart had been dulled by more than half.

Da Ming felt a wildness rising in his chest, soaring skyward.

He was no longer afraid of anything!

Xiong Shan laughed heartily, nodding with satisfaction. “Brother Ming, the more I drink with you, the more I like you!”

Suddenly—

His expression turned serious.

His sharp gaze locked onto Da Ming.

“Brother Ming!”

“No better time than the present. How about you and I swear brotherhood today?”

Xiong Shan truly liked Da Ming.

This kid had a simple heart and god-given strength. If they rode into battle together in the future, he was certain Da Ming would carve out great military feats.

Once Great Wu was conquered, forget the daughter of a prefect—

Even the emperor’s sister would be fit only to be Da Ming’s concubine!

Fired by wine and dreams, Xiong Shan’s eyes burned bright with ambition.

Da Ming blinked, then stood and grabbed Xiong Shan’s hand.

“Brother Xiong!”

“You’re not a bad guy!”

“I’d be honored to call you my sworn brother!”

Though his face was flushed with drink, his eyes still held a thread of clarity.

This was a decision made in full awareness.

Hearing Da Ming’s reply, Xiong Shan laughed thunderously and slapped the table hard—

“Bang!”

The meat on the table jumped an inch before thudding back down.

Startled, the waiter who had just entered with two new jars almost dropped them.

He caught sight of Da Ming’s flushed face and was instantly terrified.

Without another word, he dropped the jars and fled like a startled rabbit.

Xiong Shan burst out laughing at the sight, his booming laughter echoing in the room.

Da Ming, meanwhile, showed a hint of guilt.

He had been a bit impulsive yesterday…

After calming down a bit—

Xiong Shan looked at Da Ming seriously.

He clasped Da Ming’s hand tightly and said with full sincerity, “Brother Ming, I won’t lie to you.”

“I’m from Liao.”

“I came to Great Wu to investigate something.”

“Though I’m a Liao man, I have never harmed an innocent soul along the way!”

“If you still think me worthy, then let us swear as brothers!”

Saying this, Xiong Shan felt a rare nervousness.

He stared intently into Da Ming’s eyes, trying to read his reaction.

Da Ming scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly.

Liao?

That sounded familiar…

But he couldn’t quite remember where he’d heard it before.

He gave up trying, and with no hesitation, knelt down and grabbed Xiong Shan’s hand.

“Brother!”

Xiong Shan was stunned.

No hesitation. No resistance.

The kid just dropped to his knees.

Joy surged through him, even his calloused hands trembled.

“Good! Good!”

He knelt down in response, excitement lighting up his rugged face.

“Brother Ming, I’m a few years older. How about you call me ‘big brother’ and I call you ‘little brother’?”

“Big brother!”

Da Ming didn’t hesitate, shouting it out boldly.

Seeing that honest face, Xiong Shan couldn't bear to hide anything anymore.

His expression grew solemn. He lowered his voice.

“All right.”

“Brother Ming, at this point, I won’t keep anything from you.”

“My surname isn’t Xiong. That’s my mother’s family name. My real name is Yelu Shan.”

“Yelu is a… special name. One I cannot use openly.”

“So I’ve been using my mother’s surname to hide my true identity.”

He spoke with gravity.

For he was the Sixth Prince of the Great Liao—of noble birth and lofty status.

If anyone in Great Wu found out, he might never make it out alive.

Da Ming grinned and scratched his head again, replying honestly, “I’m just Chen Da Ming. Don’t got any fancy surname.”

Xiong Shan blinked—

Then burst into booming laughter again.

“Hahahahaha…”

“Good!”

Then, he stood and clasped his fists solemnly:

“Heaven above, earth below! I, Yelu Shan, swear brotherhood with Chen Da Ming!”

“From this day forth, we share fortune and hardship!”

“This vow, let Heaven and Earth bear witness!”

When he finished, he knelt and kowtowed to the sky outside the window three times.

Da Ming followed suit and bowed three times as well.

When they rose, a warmth bloomed between them.

“Brother Ming!” Xiong Shan threw his arm around Da Ming’s shoulders, voice thick with emotion.

“Big brother!” Da Ming grinned and responded with that same dopey honesty.

The two looked at each other—

And then roared with laughter together.

“Hahahahaha…”

“Hahahahaha…”

Downstairs, the little inn servant rolled his eyes when he heard the riotous laughter from upstairs.