After several days of continuous drizzle, the heavens finally opened in earnest today. Countless torrents seemed to pour down from the sky like overturned faucets, battering the lotus blossoms that had only just begun to emerge on West Lake until they drooped miserably, unable to lift their heads.
The spreading mist gradually swallowed the scenery on every side. The vast expanse of Heaven and Earth seemed to have returned to the primordial chaos before Pangu split the heavens from the earth.
Fu Xi Yan, dressed in a rain cape, was moving flowerpots around the rear courtyard.
The rain had come too heavily and too suddenly. He was afraid the flowers would drown.
Ever since learning the Spirit-Sight Art and becoming able to see the spiritual energy contained within plants, these tiny lives no longer seemed like imaginary constructs. He now possessed tangible proof that they were truly alive.
Yet the vitality of flowers and grasses was far more tenacious than he had imagined. The little blades of grass rooted in the soil looked as though the torrential rain had bent them so low they would be pressed straight into the mud, but the life force within them had not weakened in the slightest. Instead, it shone even more brightly than before. It was a kind of strength tempered by repeated blows, growing fiercer with every setback, as though every fiber of their existence were roaring: What can raging wind and driving rain possibly do to me?
Fu Xi Yan sat down cross-legged on the ground and had already entered meditation.
Not far behind him, Shou Nan Shan and Pei Yuan Jin stood shoulder to shoulder.
Shou Nan Shan sighed. “It seems Young Madam isn’t far from the Dao-Entry Stage.”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “He was delayed for too long before.” Otherwise, with Fu Xi Yan’s natural talent, his achievements would have been no lower than Pei Yuan Jin’s own.
“I never imagined the Yongfeng Earl Residence could produce a prodigy like Young Madam.” Shou Nan Shan could not conceal his envy. Anyone capable of reaching Martial King naturally possessed extraordinary aptitude, but compared with Pei Yuan Jin and Fu Xi Yan, he was still far behind. At their age, at least, he had been nowhere near their level.
He added, “Oh, right. There still hasn’t been any movement from the new city, but we received news about Yan Xie in Northern Zhou. Lou Wu Zai has awakened from his coma. With his work there finished, Yan Xie didn’t return to Divine Physician Valley. Instead, he went to the northern lands.”
Pei Yuan Jin frowned. “The northern lands?”
Shou Nan Shan said, “Apparently for a house call.”
The northern lands were vast and sparsely populated. There were not many people important enough to make the Young Divine Physician travel thousands of li just to treat them.
King Bu Ha Si He of Mengwu, Wen Hong Xuan, Supreme Leader of the Northern Alliance, Zheng Jiao Jiao of Borrowed Lives… If anything happened to any one of them, it could destabilize the northern lands and, in turn, affect the situation beneath Heaven.
The world was already chaotic enough.
Pei Yuan Jin said, “Have A Bu Er Si Lang keep an eye on things.”
A Bu Er Si Lang was the chief manager of the Immortal Treasury Palace’s Wind Division in the northern lands. He was from Mengwu and also had a good relationship with the Northern Alliance, so investigating would be much easier for him.
Shou Nan Shan nodded. Remembering that the Young Master had once said he wanted to find an opportunity for Fu Xi Yan to meet Yan Xie, he asked, “Should we have A Bu Er Si Lang send Yan Xie a message saying Young Madam wants to see him?”
Pei Yuan Jin thought for a moment. “I’ll ask him.”
The matter involved Fu Xi Yan’s mother. He did not know whether they ought to alert the quarry prematurely.
After Shou Nan Shan left, Pei Yuan Jin remained standing where he was for quite some time before Fu Xi Yan finally emerged from meditation.
When Fu Xi Yan awakened, it felt as though he had surfaced from an immense dream, carrying with him a glimpse of the profound mystery of life.
This was the first time an insight had drawn him into meditation, and the first time he truly understood what a cultivator’s state of mind meant. It was as though he had touched the source of the world as he perceived it—the most basic, most genuine essence beneath every superficial appearance.
He remained seated for a while, savoring the experience and slowly absorbing every lingering trace of it. Afterward, the true qi in his body no longer behaved as though it needed a prod before it would move. For the first time, he genuinely felt that everything had become integrated and connected. Just as Pei Yuan Jin had repeatedly emphasized, it moved with his heart and followed his intent. Even the Object-Commanding Art became incomparably smooth.
Under his manipulation, the stones on the ground piled themselves into a mountain one moment, then scattered like loose sand the next.
He played for a long time before finally standing and turning around. Pei Yuan Jin was standing behind him, and Fu Xi Yan had no idea how long he had been watching.
Remembering how he had just sat there playing with stones, Fu Xi Yan flushed. “How long have you been watching?”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “Half a shichen.”
Fu Xi Yan: “…” Wasn’t this the moment when Pei Yuan Jin was supposed to say that while watching him, he had lost all sense of time passing? He had calculated it this accurately—had every moment felt like a year instead?
He asked irritably, “Aren’t you tired from standing?”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “It’s only half a shichen. Why would I be tired?”
Fu Xi Yan: “…” Fine. Never expect yourself to predict Young Master Pei’s answers.
Pei Yuan Jin looked at the clothes on him, dampened by rain drifting beneath the eaves. “Aren’t you going to change?”
Fu Xi Yan had a sudden whimsical idea. “Can’t martial artists release true qi and use it to dry their clothes? How do you do that?” He tried forcing true qi out of his body, then blasted it toward the wet patch.
Pfft—
With the sound of fabric tearing, a broad expanse of Fu Xi Yan’s pale chest was suddenly exposed. The torn front of his robe hung loosely to either side, looking every bit as helpless as he felt.
They were both men, but considering how rapidly their relationship had been developing, Fu Xi Yan feared being suspected of throwing himself into Pei Yuan Jin’s arms and volunteering for his bed. He therefore laughed awkwardly and tugged the torn cloth over his bare chest. “Looks like you really can’t believe every rumor.” Especially not the ones on television.
Pei Yuan Jin blinked and reached toward his chest.
Fu Xi Yan tried to dodge but failed. His face fell as he thought, Is pinching my cheeks all the time not enough? Does he want to squeeze my chest in public too? The mere mental image gave him chills.
He tried using his mouth to stop Pei Yuan Jin’s hands. “I think…”
Pei Yuan Jin had already laid his hand over the torn fabric on Fu Xi Yan’s chest. A wave of warm air passed over it, and the damp cloth instantly became dry.
“Excellent. Excellent.”
Fu Xi Yan stiffly finished what he had been saying.
Pei Yuan Jin appeared satisfied too.
Fu Xi Yan asked curiously, “How did you do that?” Why did his own true qi seem capable only of destruction?
Pei Yuan Jin said, “I cultivate the Sacred Flame Art. My true qi naturally belongs to yang-fire. But don’t let it touch the clothes directly.”
Fu Xi Yan considered this. “Then from now on, you’re responsible for the dryer at home.”
Pei Yuan Jin understood the “drying” part, but he could not understand why Fu Xi Yan had added a ji after it. Was it the ji meaning “machine,” or the ji meaning “chicken”? Fu Xi Yan was constantly saying strange things. Pei Yuan Jin had no idea whether these were merely Haojing speech habits or if Fu Xi Yan himself was especially peculiar.
The rain, which had begun to stabilize, suddenly intensified again with a loud rush. Great sheets of water blew beneath the corridor with the wind.
Half of Fu Xi Yan’s clothes became soaked. Pei Yuan Jin dried his own robes and was about to help him with his when Fu Xi Yan dodged away.
“These clothes no longer need drying.” He sighed. “I’m going to change.”
“Wait.” Pei Yuan Jin finally remembered Shou Nan Shan’s question. “The Wind Division has found Yan Xie. Once he returns from the northern lands, do you want to meet him?”
Fu Xi Yan stopped. A conflicted expression appeared on his face. Only after a long time did he sigh. “Not for now.”
He offered no further explanation and hurried back inside to change.
Thinking that the rain was so heavy today that his clothes might become wet again anyway, he deliberately changed into a moon-white robe he rarely wore. He looked in the mirror. Sure enough, it made him look shorter and fatter.
When he came back out, Pei Yuan Jin was already gone. After asking Xiao Sang, he learned they had a visitor.
“In this weather?”
Fu Xi Yan was curious. What kind of hundred-thousand-times-urgent matter had made someone choose a day of violent wind and torrential rain to come calling?
He made his way to the front courtyard and saw Pei Yuan Jin standing beneath the corridor. A person in a rain cape stood before him in the rain, gesturing as he spoke.
When Fu Xi Yan drew closer, he heard the man say, “His Majesty’s imperial carriage is right outside. Even if you have no intention of going out to formally receive him, surely you should at least go meet him.”
That one sentence explained everything.
Fu Xi Yan did not really understand why Pei Yuan Jin wanted to meet the emperor in the first place, but he understood even less why the emperor had chosen this weather. He curiously leaned closer. “His Majesty picked today to come out?”
The young eunuch said helplessly, “His Majesty’s excursions are prepared two days in advance. They cannot be changed casually.”
Fu Xi Yan thought: Being emperor is surprisingly miserable.
He said, “Then invite His Majesty inside. There’s plenty of room.”
The young eunuch shook his head. “To avoid alarming the two of you, His Majesty did not send the Imperial Guard ahead to inspect and secure this residence. Therefore, he cannot enter.”
Pei Yuan Jin, whose skill made him extraordinarily bold, nearly sneered. Fu Xi Yan, however, understood perfectly well. Security had been a major problem whenever leaders went anywhere since ancient times. If anyone doubted it, they could ask Emperor Jianhong of Northern Zhou whether spontaneously visiting his childhood friend’s home had worked out well for him—considering that childhood friend had ended up dead.
Fu Xi Yan did not know the truth behind Liu Yan Sheng’s death and believed the man had genuinely been dragged into danger while protecting the emperor. Even if Fu Xi Yan had known the truth, however, it would only have strengthened his conviction that security was a serious issue. If you could not even trust your childhood sweetheart, who could you trust? The person who suddenly dropped into your life from nowhere?
Fu Xi Yan glanced at Pei Yuan Jin beside him and let his thoughts wander. Come to think of it, Young Master Pei and he were probably each other’s person who had dropped into their lives from nowhere. He wondered whether Young Master Pei had a childhood sweetheart he had grown up with.
His thoughts sped onto a highway and drove off toward some destination even he could not identify, while the poor young eunuch continued desperately trying to persuade Pei Yuan Jin to move elsewhere. By the time Fu Xi Yan returned to himself, Pei Yuan Jin had finally lost patience. His face was turning cold, and he was clearly on the verge of refusing outright when his designated “mouthpiece” finally jumped in. “Fine, fine. Ask His Majesty to wait a moment. We’ll change our clothes first.”
The young eunuch became anxious. “There’s no need to change.”
“There is, there is. These make me look fat.”
Fu Xi Yan dragged the unwilling Pei Yuan Jin inside.
Once they reached the rear hall, Fu Xi Yan pointed outside. “Don’t you think the rain is about to stop? West Lake is beautiful after the rain. Walking outside would actually be quite nice.”
He was right. That sudden final deluge seemed like a dying flare of life. Afterward, the rain gradually subsided. They stood indoors watching the storm for a while, and before long both wind and rain had died away.
Fu Xi Yan found them each an outer robe, pretended they had changed properly, then swaggered back outside.
The young eunuch waiting for them was nearly in tears. The moment he saw them emerge, his eyes lit up.
Fu Xi Yan followed him out the gate and asked, “Where is His Majesty waiting?”
The young eunuch pointed toward a temporary canopy erected beside West Lake directly across from the residence.
Fu Xi Yan: “…” In an instant, he completely understood Pei Yuan Jin’s stubborn determination not to step outside.
After rain, sitting in a small pavilion beside West Lake, drinking tea while admiring the scenery, was undeniably romantic. But during a torrential downpour, the only thing romantic about it was the amount of water romantically flooding in.
Qin Xiao Xun himself was mostly fine and had not gotten very wet. Whenever the rain fell, people had stood in front of him and shielded him completely. The tea table and tea set inside the canopy, however, had suffered badly, and a group of attendants was frantically tidying everything.
Watching from a distance, Fu Xi Yan suddenly remembered the first time he had met Pei Yuan Jin.
For some reason, when Qin Xiao Xun and Pei Yuan Jin stood together, a huge title immediately appeared in his mind—
B-King VS B-King.
Elio’s Notes: B-king is Chinese internet slang for someone exceptionally good at looking cool, aloof, imposing, or effortlessly showy.
…
The palace attendants moved efficiently and soon restored the pavilion before withdrawing to give them space. Their meeting did not take place amid some dramatic background of thunder and lightning. Instead, the two sides calmly exchanged greetings and sat down.
Fu Xi Yan felt that before sitting, Qin Xiao Xun deliberately glanced at him. It was not particularly obvious, but the gaze clearly contained an element of scrutiny. Fu Xi Yan sighed inwardly. Now that he was together with the Young Master, he feared he would encounter many more looks like that in the future.
Three chairs had been placed beside Qin Xiao Xun’s tea table. He and Pei Yuan Jin sat opposite one another, while Fu Xi Yan sat to the side. It was obvious who the main participants in the conversation were.
They might have agreed that Fu Xi Yan would handle the talking, but he had absolutely no idea what Pei Yuan Jin intended to discuss today, so for once he could only obediently remain an observer.
And Pei Yuan Jin was either silent or earth-shattering the moment he opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty has no intention of establishing someone else as empress.”
After the rain, a thin layer of mist still floated over distant West Lake, concealing the mountain foot and shoreline. It looked as though the mountain had always been joined to the water below, while the water had always borne a mountain upon its surface—or perhaps mountain was simply mountain and water simply water, and the mist merely created the illusion that they were connected.
Yet a person observing mountains and water through mist did not actually need to distinguish the precise outline of the mountain or the exact boundary of the water. So long as he understood where each stood and how they related to one another, everything became perfectly clear.
“The Spirit Sect’s attempt at ascension will require many sacrifices. As Emperor of Southern Yu, Your Majesty’s involvement would inevitably damage your reputation. By distancing yourself from Wu Xuan Yin now, if the Spirit Sect’s ascension fails and accounts are settled afterward, you can emerge untouched.”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “That is why your ministers have been submitting memorials urging you to establish an empress while you deliberately pretend to hesitate.”
Qin Xiao Xun stared unblinkingly toward the distant mountains, as though completely absorbed in West Lake’s enchanting post-rain scenery. A long time passed before he said, “Does Young Master Pei also enjoy chasing shadows and rumors?”
Pei Yuan Jin said calmly, “Your Majesty was too eager to send prisoners north. That exposed you. If you knew nothing about what is about to happen in the new city, why send people condemned to die thousands of li away? And if you do know what is about to happen there, why would you choose this moment to fall out with Wu Xuan Yin? After thinking it through, the only explanation is that the estrangement was deliberate.”
Qin Xiao Xun sighed.
He was extremely young, yet even his melancholy looked unusually mature.
“We have only recently taken personal control of government and urgently need the people’s support. Being upright and incorruptible and seeking justice for the people is a convenient shortcut. Even if We became too eager for results and acted somewhat rashly, that would hardly be extraordinary.”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “Why have you not asked me what is about to happen in the new city?”
Qin Xiao Xun’s expression stiffened slightly. He quickly recovered his composure, but that instant of change still fell into Fu Xi Yan’s eyes.
He got it right? Remembering all his own wild guesses from earlier, Fu Xi Yan flushed and secretly glared at Pei Yuan Jin. This fellow had clearly known the correct answer yet stood there watching Fu Xi Yan make a fool of himself.
Qin Xiao Xun was not so easily rattled. “The late emperor bestowed the new city upon the Spirit Sect. Whatever happens there is beyond Our control. Since We cannot control it, naturally We have no interest in asking.”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “Your Majesty has been gathering prisoners because you still feel some compassion for the people under your rule. Unfortunately, many of those prisoners have committed no crime deserving death.”
Qin Xiao Xun said coldly, “The laws of the Yu Dynasty were established centuries ago. Applying ancient law in the present inevitably creates certain incompatibilities.”
Listening from the side, Fu Xi Yan more or less understood.
In other words, Pei Yuan Jin was right, and the young emperor was struggling on his deathbed while refusing to admit it.
Fu Xi Yan felt that his turn had arrived. “Once you discover that old laws are no longer suitable for the present, shouldn’t you reform them? The people should have laws they can rely on, and officials should have clear grounds for enforcement. That is what rule by law means. Everything Your Majesty says sounds as though it is for Southern Yu’s sake, yet everything you actually do harms Southern Yu.”
Qin Xiao Xun showed no intention of arguing. He nodded. “We were too eager for quick success. We have learned something today.”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “Your Majesty should know that I met Sect Leader Wu several days ago.”
Qin Xiao Xun shifted his sitting position and moved his slightly stiff legs. “We heard.”
Fu Xi Yan abruptly leaned closer. “The Sect Leader stared at me for a very long time. She said that if I had been born in Southern Yu, nobody else would ever have gotten a chance. What does Your Majesty think?”
The two of them were now rather close.
Fu Xi Yan clearly saw the burst of fury that flashed through Qin Xiao Xun’s eyes.
Unfortunately, while he had guarded the front, he had neglected the rear—Pei Yuan Jin grabbed him by the belt and hauled him backward. Fu Xi Yan turned blankly and saw rare anger on that cold, handsome face. He immediately ducked his head and obediently sat back down.
Qin Xiao Xun said, “We do not like that joke.”
Fu Xi Yan said, “It wasn’t a joke. The Sect Leader said it herself. Pei Yuan Jin can testify.”
Qin Xiao Xun’s gaze swept toward Pei Yuan Jin.
Pei Yuan Jin’s face had already returned to normal, though the warning in the corner of his eye remained as he glanced at Fu Xi Yan. “It was indeed the Sect Leader’s joke. Your Majesty need not take it seriously.”
That was still an admission.
Qin Xiao Xun said darkly, “What belongs to Us cannot be touched by anyone else, even if We no longer want it!”
Pei Yuan Jin appeared not to notice the threat in his words. He calmly inhaled the fragrance of his tea. “Wu Xuan Yin is one thing. Does Your Majesty truly believe every random stray can threaten me?”
Fu Xi Yan had never expected his attempt at sowing discord to work too well. Not only had he forced the emperor’s jealousy into the open, he had directly triggered a confrontation between the two sides.
Just as it looked as though an all-out fight might break out, Qin Xiao Xun suddenly chuckled. “Everyone says Young Master Pei advances without retreat and fears nothing. Having met you today, We see the rumors are true. This trip was worthwhile.”
He stood and looked toward the mist gradually dispersing to reveal the outlines of the distant mountains, hands clasped behind his back. “However, even ants cling to life, much less human beings. To make enemies of the strongest people in the world when they have been driven into a dead end and may die at any moment would be extraordinarily unwise.”
Although he had not admitted anything directly, those words were tacit confirmation.
Fu Xi Yan remembered the grass and flowers struggling stubbornly to survive that morning. If even plants fought so hard, then what about people? Human beings were far more intelligent than plants. From the moment they became aware, these Martial Gods knew they were living beneath a countdown to death… and yet the desire to survive was one of humanity’s deepest instincts. Suddenly, he understood just how terrifying the young emperor’s phrase—the strongest people in the world, driven into a dead end and liable to die at any moment—truly was.
Pei Yuan Jin said, “If my path is to advance without retreat, why should I fear powerful enemies on every side?”
He was speaking of his Dao. His Dao determined that no matter what danger stood before him, he could only advance. Retreat was never an option.
Qin Xiao Xun did not practice martial arts and therefore assumed Pei Yuan Jin was simply refusing to listen. His expression darkened slightly before he sighed. “West Lake’s beauty makes one reluctant to leave. Young Master Pei might as well remain and enjoy it for a while.”
Pei Yuan Jin slowly turned the teacup in his hand. “Your Majesty does not intend to stay and enjoy it?”
Qin Xiao Xun turned and left without the slightest reluctance. Pei Yuan Jin had only just risen when the roof of the pavilion abruptly split apart. Two thin figures dropped from above and attacked Fu Xi Yan and Pei Yuan Jin simultaneously from either side.
That brief obstruction was enough for the young eunuch who had delivered the message earlier to reach Qin Xiao Xun and guard his exposed back. The fluster he had shown when they first met had vanished completely. His composed face now held nothing but vigilance and murderous intent.
Qin Xiao Xun returned to his imperial carriage without obstruction. Once seated, he did not immediately leave. Instead, he kept the carriage door open and watched the fight unfolding nearby with great interest.
Qin Xiao Xun had been very fair when assigning attackers and had even allotted one to Fu Xi Yan. Unfortunately, Pei Yuan Jin was overbearing. Fu Xi Yan had barely raised a hand when Pei Yuan Jin swept both attackers over to himself with a burst of force.
Fu Xi Yan symbolically lifted his backside, then sat down again. Looking toward the imperial carriage nearby, he thought, Was Pei Yuan Jin trying to seize the emperor as a hostage just now? If Wu Xuan Yin and the emperor really are on the same side, that’s actually a very practical plan.
Seeing Pei Yuan Jin entangled with both attackers and preparing to draw the Crimson Dragon King, Fu Xi Yan stepped into Shattered Stars, Lingering Shadows, bypassed the young eunuch, and charged to within two chi of the imperial carriage—
A tremendous pressure abruptly halted him. Fu Xi Yan raised his head and saw a man wearing a chubby-child mask sitting on top of the carriage, black, indifferent eyes looking down at him from above.
The man had not even moved, yet the ubiquitous pressure made Fu Xi Yan feel as though he could no longer breathe.
Sometimes, two people did not need to slap each other before discovering whose hand was stronger. One glance at the bulging muscles on the other person’s arm was enough to make a reasonable estimate.
Fu Xi Yan’s Dao was about seeking that single chance of survival. If he could not win, retreating in time was also a way to survive. His path was entirely different from Pei Yuan Jin’s “knowing there are tigers in the mountains and still heading straight for the tiger mountain.”
He tapped one foot against the ground and shot backward. Behind him, the young eunuch had already struck with one claw.
And it truly was a claw. An ordinary person’s finger bones were only around twenty-seven cun long, but his exceeded thirty cun. Every finger was unnaturally long and slender, and the nails at their tips were razor-sharp, like long pairs of scissors.
The claw merely brushed Fu Xi Yan’s clothing, yet his outer robe, long robe, and inner garment were all torn open in one long slash. Feeling the cool post-rain breeze blowing across his exposed back, Fu Xi Yan practically jumped. “I didn’t bring that many clothes with me this time!”
He wondered whether the almanac contained an entry saying Today: unsuitable for wearing clothes. Any clothes worn today will inevitably be torn.
After missing with one strike, the young eunuch did not pursue him. Instead, he positioned himself in front of the imperial carriage and guarded every direction.
Fu Xi Yan turned toward Pei Yuan Jin. The two ambushers had already been run through together by the Crimson Dragon King. Like two candied hawthorn fruits skewered on one stick, Pei Yuan Jin drove them step by step toward the imperial carriage before finally pulling the sword free.
The young eunuch did not move. Another elderly man leapt out behind him, swiftly struck several acupoints on the two injured men to stop their bleeding, then silently moved to Pei Yuan Jin’s other side and waited for the young emperor’s command.
Qin Xiao Xun’s expression turned cold. “Is Young Master Pei determined to oppose Us here in Southern Yu?”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “If Your Majesty has only Senior Master Song beside you, I fear he cannot stop me.”
Qin Xiao Xun knew Pei Yuan Jin was telling the truth. Shou Nan Shan had not appeared, but he was inside the residence beside them, ready to move. Song Qi Yun was a Martial King. Shou Nan Shan was also a Martial King.
Two Martial Kings ordinarily would not fight to the death, because the result would inevitably be mutual devastation, with neither side gaining anything. Anyone who reached the Martial King Stage valued his life somewhat more than an ordinary person.
Once the Martial Kings on both sides canceled each other out, Qin Xiao Xun’s side was naturally weaker.
Yet Qin Xiao Xun showed no anxiety. “We know exactly how many subordinates and how much manpower Young Master Pei has. Since We dared come, naturally We came with complete confidence.”
Holding the Crimson Dragon King, Pei Yuan Jin calmly looked at the two hostile gazes—one from above the imperial carriage and one from directly before it. “I have always been the sort who refuses to shed tears until he sees the coffin.”
Fu Xi Yan quietly moved behind him, making clear that they would advance and retreat together.
Qin Xiao Xun’s expression tightened slightly. He closed the carriage door.
The young eunuch climbed onto the driver’s bench, and the carriage slowly turned around. Pei Yuan Jin did not move—
Between him and the imperial carriage, roughly four chi away, two tiny paper figures about two cun tall—one fat, one thin—were holding hands and dancing.