Chapter 154 Day 18 of Transmigrating into an Imperial Examination Novel

Chapter 154: Day 18 of Transmigrating into an Imperial Exam Story

The moment Qin Cang stepped into the main hall of Qingxi Tower, he was rooted to the spot.

The clamor of the surrounding diners, the shouts of the waiters, the sharp clap of the storyteller’s wooden block…

All sounds abruptly faded away into background noise.

In his world, only that silhouette remained, seated by the window.

The man wore a simple sky-blue robe, yet it accentuated the length of his neck and the smooth line of his shoulders.

He tilted his head slightly, revealing half his face—delicately carved as if from jade, his skin almost translucent in the light streaming through the window.

He was lifting a white porcelain wine cup, his fingers slender and pale, his movements elegant and unhurried, as if he weren't in a common tavern but sipping alone in some ethereal, refined realm.

Just a silhouette, just a small gesture.

Yet it violently ripped open three years of Qin Cang’s memories, tearing apart the obsession and longing buried deep in his heart—the gnawing torments that consumed him day and night—and exposing them mercilessly to the light of day.

An Yi.

It was An Yi!

Even if it was just a blurry silhouette, even across the noisy crowd, even if he had once thought he would never see him again…

Qin Cang could recognize him in a million people at a single glance!

That silhouette was carved into his bones, fused into his blood, and had become the sole meaning of his existence.

It was the light he had chased for three sleepless years, crossing countless cities and villages like a madman.

In an instant, blood rushed madly to his head, then in the next second, turned cold and surged back to his limbs.

Qin Cang felt as if an invisible giant hand had gripped his heart, suddenly stopping its beat, only for it to pound violently with a force that seemed about to shatter his ribs.

His breath stopped, his pupils constricted sharply. Those eyes, always steeped in savagery, were now flooded with immense, incredulous ecstasy.

He had found him.

He had truly found him.

The immense shock made Qin Cang’s tall frame sway almost imperceptibly. The fingers braced against the doorframe whitened with force, his nails nearly digging into the wood.

The murderous aura around him emanated uncontrollably. The diners at nearby tables, sensing this sudden oppressive pressure, fell silent and looked warily at the terrifying military officer at the entrance.

----------

At almost the same moment that Qin Cang’s gaze locked onto him, An Yi, who had been raising his wine cup to his lips, paused almost imperceptibly.

He felt that gaze.

Burning, piercing, carrying a frantic obsession that seemed about to consume him—and a familiar heart-stopping intensity.

Slowly, he set down his cup.

Then he turned, following the source of that gaze, and looked back at him.

Through the slightly noisy air, past several square tables laden with dishes, his eyes collided with a pair of bloodshot eyes fixed on him.

Their gazes met.

An Yi's clear and calm eyes clearly mirrored the tall, imposing figure in black at the door, whose whole body was taut as a bowstring.

The boyish contours had faded, replaced by the hardness and sharpness of a young man.

Wheat-colored skin, chiseled features, the small scar at the end of his eyebrow...

And the complex emotions swirling in his eyes, almost overflowing, a mixture of ecstasy, fear, grievance, humility, and a fierce, undiluted possessiveness.

It was Qin Cang.

A glimmer of surprise flashed in An Yi's eyes.

He really hadn't expected to run into this boy again, here, in this way.

No, he could no longer be called a child.

The young man before him exuded a fierce and brutal aura tempered by blood and fire, completely different from the petulant, sulky teenager two years ago in the small courtyard of Tuhei Village, pouting over losing a little attention.

Only those eyes, when looking at him, the almost morbid obsession hidden within seemed... to have only grown.

An Yi's heart, stirred by this unexpected reunion with an old acquaintance, rippled faintly, almost imperceptibly.

But it was merely a ripple.

"An... Yi..."

A voice so dry and hoarse, forced out of Qin Cang's throat, cracking.

He used every ounce of strength to stop himself from immediately rushing over, wrapping his arms around that person to convince himself he was real.

An Yi looked at him, clearly seeing the tears welling up in the young man's eyes, and the barely contained emotions threatening to shatter him.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes still gentle, even carrying a hint of a smile.

An Yi gently set down the wine glass he had been holding between his fingertips, and the porcelain cup met the wood with a soft tap.

This reaction sent a jolt of panic through Qin Cang.

He dreaded that look from An Yi.

As if all his pain, all his search, all his madness, were nothing but meaningless dust in his eyes, incapable of stirring any feeling in him.

"I..." Qin Cang opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but found his throat blocked as if with scorching gravel; besides the name carved into his soul, he could not utter any complete syllable.

He could only stare fixedly at An Yi, using his eyes to convey the fierce emotions with no outlet, almost burning him up.

The personal soldiers behind him had long been stunned by this bizarre scene.

They had never seen their general show such... such a loss of composure, even a fragile expression.

The madness and pain in those eyes made even these men, who were accustomed to life-and-death battles, feel alarmed.

Several of them simultaneously turned their gazes to the man in green robes by the window, shocked in their hearts.

Who exactly was this person? How could he make the demon-like general behave like this?

Only the personal soldier in the know suddenly realized—could this be the person the general had been searching for through so much hardship?

But no matter how you look at it, he is a man.

Although he really... how does that saying go?

Ravishingly beautiful?

That's the right description, isn't it?

Could it be that he had guessed wrong before?

Their general's wife didn't run away… his brother did?

The general is truly loyal!

Except for the customers at the few tables near the door, who didn't dare speak, even the waiter didn't dare approach.

This general's expression is terrifying.

As the storyteller's voice fell, a burst of laughter filled the hall, snapping Qin Cang out of his frozen posture.

An Yi finally made his next move.

He did not stand up, but simply lifted his chin slightly, his gaze still fixed on Qin Cang, and then with that clear and steady voice, he said with a faint smile, beckoning to Qin Cang:

"Come here. Aren't you tired standing there?"

Even though the hall was incredibly noisy, Qin Cang clearly heard An Yi's voice.

Qin Cang's whole body gave a violent start, and he took a stiff step forward.

An Yi was calling him over.

Seeing his cautious appearance, the faint ripple deep in An Yi's eyes seemed to spread slightly.

He let out an almost inaudible soft sigh.

He raised his index finger, placed it before his lips, and pointed to the empty seat opposite him: "Shh..."

"We'll talk after the story."

Qin Cang sat down stiffly, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on An Yi's profile as he turned away.

He listened to the storyteller's eloquent words, and a smile bloomed on his lips.

Watching this, Qin Cang also suddenly smiled, then fell silent.

The personal guards following Qin Cang: "????"

"General? What about us?"