Chapter 84 — Undercurrents
Purple Streets of Chang'an · Page 4 of 4
"I do not, truly I do not!" Dou Huaide was caught between tears and laughter. "Ever since I won against that bastard surnamed He at the cockfight, I gave away the Iron General I had raised. You know of this matter; it is impossible that I would break such a promise. You ought to trust me."
Wu Shan was half convinced. "I believe you about the cockfight. But why are you afraid of Ji Yong?"
Dou Huaide's expression shifted slightly. "I am not afraid of Ji Yong. I simply do not care to see this person."
Wu Shan was about to say more when Dou Yan, who had been openly eavesdropping nearby, gave a soft cough.
Even between the closest of friends, each has secrets he would rather not tell.
She smiled and said, "Twelfth Brother, wait for me a moment. I will change my clothes and return to the residence with you."
Dou Huaide nodded, but his brows were knitted tightly into the character for "river."
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While writing this chapter I kept feeling something was off, so I went back and reread Chapter Eighty-Three again and again, revised some of the dialogue, and it flowed much better. Only then did I begin writing Chapter Eighty-Four. It is a little late—my apologies!
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