I put out his fire

Chapter 9

The morning sun is like a floating golden ball, frozen in the indigo sky.It pulls out a layer of extremely fragile pale gold tulle, enveloping the whole of Rome.The darkness of Wanhu began to be torn apart by this morning light.

Rhodes picked up the bow and arrow, and carried an arrow basket on his back.

Using both hands and mouth, he tightened the black gloves he used to use when shooting arrows.The fingertips protruding from half of the fingertips were pale and cold, like pieces of solid ice.

Rhodes walked up to the high training target platform, with his feet slightly apart, his palms slowly pushed the bow, nocked the arrow and pulled the string, and opened the bow string to a strong level.The muscles in his arms are tense, and the lines of the bulge are very smooth.

He drew his bow so fiercely that he almost shot the blue glass-like sky.

The moment the arrow was released, the arrow pierced through layers of air, as if possessing the consciousness of hunting, it pierced through the bull's-eye with a hush, and the arrow tail feathers were still trembling.

This is a crushing achievement.

Slow applause came from behind, a little abrupt, like a green sprout breaking through the ground without warning.

Rhodes put down his bow and arrow and turned around, and Nero's eyes that looked like beeswax were glued on immediately.

Under the overwhelming, sleepy dark blue sky, these eyes are still full of energy, and they are so clean that they don't pretend to be anything.

With a candle in his hand, Nero raised his head slightly, and a dim candlelight shone on his green brows.His childishness, his youth, and a small freckle on the bridge of his nose are all reflected by this candlelight.

Rhodes walked to him and saluted him.

Nero stared at him, with something half-stained and hazy in his eyes, "I'm here to inform you..."

A gust of wind blew from behind Rhodes, and his long hair was blown to the front, flicking lightly.

A few strands of long hair even swept onto Nero's cheeks, giving him a pinprick-like touch.At this moment, Nero could smell the cool scent of soap locust in his hair.

Rhodes raised his hand and hung his flying hair behind his ears.His clear and beautiful facial features were fully exposed, which looked very classic in the morning light, and the line of his jaw was as handsome as a mature man would have.His dark eyes were always deep, and they were also at this time.

"What's wrong?" He asked in a clear voice.

"I..." Nero was stunned, "I want you to accompany me to Cyprus to buy a batch of olives. Would you like to?"

"It's my duty." Rhode leaned his bow against the ground and said lazily, "Of course I would."

"That place is far away from Rome, we need to go there by boat." Nero thought for a while and said, with a worried expression on his face, "I don't know if you, who have been in the military camp since childhood, can adapt to living on a boat for so many days..."

Rhodes laughed lightly, the laughter was as sharp and short as a flying arrow.He corrected his posture, and the shadow line that moved with him was as tough as the bow in his hand.

He was so rebellious that Nero felt that he had never brought him to his knees.

The morning light surged in the sky, like a cloud of golden-red smoke, about to tear out.

"I can adapt." Rhodes said with a raised eyebrow, "I promise."

……

Rome is a country where olive groves are squeezed out every day, and olive oil is used in cooking, bathing, and beauty.

At this time of year, the Senate will send some people to Cyprus to import olives.And the one who finds a source of good quality and low price will naturally be praised for it.

This year, the Senate designated Quentin and Nero to go together.

It was a deliberate decision by which the senators compared the abilities of the two candidates for the throne.

Nero and Quentin set off on the same boat.After arriving in Cyprus, the two dispersed again, each looking for a suitable source of goods.

The sails swelled up like bread, and the sea fog swelled more and more, almost like leavening.The sun is very misty, nailed to the horizon like a loose nail.The sea fog blurs the boundary between the sky and the sea, everything is like a whole piece of blue silk, and the waves on the side of the boat are just the folds of the blue silk.

This is the seventh day of sailing.

Slaves shuttled around the deck, carrying jugs full of citrus juice, and wiping hands for Quentin, who ate and drank.

The chef fillets the salvaged fish, sprinkles it with peppercorns and horseradish, and drizzles it with boiling olive oil.The fish meat was rolled up by the oil, and the oil sizzled, and the meat was fragrant for a while. This is very fresh food.

Quentin never forgot to eat and drink on board.

For convenience, he changed into the crew's burlap tunic, exposing his fat knees.Sitting on a wooden chair, he ate and chomped, holding a fish fillet in one hand and a wooden mug full of beer in the other, making the disgusting sound of a pig eating.

Nero was holding the fence on the other side, his face was a little pale.

He has slight seasickness, and the seven-day sailing life has reached the limit of his endurance.

"Don't always look at the waves, it will make you feel dizzy." Rhodes came over and brought him a glass of citrus juice.

"I've already eaten thirty vinegared olives today. I'll either get my stomach and intestines corroded by acid, or I'll be swooned by this damn ship!" Nero rubbed his temples, the discomfort made him unable to maintain a gentle expression. attitude, "It's like the ship is glued to the waves."

Rhodes glanced at the distance, "Actually, it only takes five days from Rome to Cyprus at the fastest, and these crew members are not familiar with the route yet."

Nero took the cup and took a small sip, looking cautious.

After tasting the taste, he shrunk his nose, and a trace of grievance surrounded the corners of his eyes, giving him a kind of weakness that needed to be protected.

"It's so sour..." He frowned, and muttered in a low voice, "It's as sour as if your tongue was scalded..."

At this time, Quentin was full of food and drink, and walked over from the other side of the deck.

He was carrying a beer jug, eating until his belly was round, and his fiery red hair danced under the blue sea view.

His eyes quivered in their sockets, and he looked very cunning; even his over-bloated figure did not detract from his disgusting cunning.

He stared at Nero, and came over like a puddle of fat, "Hey, I say... you don't know how to enjoy yourself. The fish caught on the boat are fresher than those in the palace!"

Nero glanced at him but ignored him.

Quentin leaned over reluctantly: "I don't want you to miss it..."

"I don't eat sitting down," Nero said, taking a step away from him, "I just eat lying down."

"Oh! You are a face-saving person..." Quentin curled his lips, as if he didn't care, "If you want to become emperor, you have to crush all the dignity and justice!"

He lowered his chin, raised one corner of his mouth, and his thick cheeks bulged out, "As proud and arrogant as you... Tsk tsk, you can't..."

Nero leaned against the fence, his slender eyelashes stretched out like sharp cones.He glanced at the knees under Quentin's short robe, and said flatly, "I only talk to nobles whose robes are longer than their knees."

"Oh..." Quentin smiled and shook the flagon, "May you live forever with a noble body!"

He clutched his stomach and let out a vulgar belch, then walked away stickily.

……

At night, it was very cold on board.

The bright silver moon is suspended in the night sky, which makes the night seem to have opened a hole; so people can peek through the hole, and see another extremely bright and extremely bright world behind the round hole.

The dense fog has dissipated a lot, and the sea is calm.The sea reflects the stars like a mirror, and the ship seems to be sandwiched between two layers of starry sky.

Everything is black and silver.

The sea breeze in the middle of the night was very cool, and everyone slept peacefully in the cabin.

Rhodes put on a cloak and walked to the deck.He lit the incense stick with a candle, and then threw the candle into the sea.

There is mint spice in the incense stick, which can prevent seasickness and keep people awake.

He came out to observe the position of the constellations to determine the course of the ship.

He grabbed the mast rope, kicked the mast nimbly, and jumped onto the crossbar that fixed the sail.The canvas was blown up and wrapped around him like a palm.

When Nero slipped out of the cabin, he saw Rhodes like this.

Luo Luoguang｜Bare legs, protruding and stiff ankle bones, giving people a hard temperament.His black cloak was blown by the wind, and his black hair was in a mess, like a drop of black ink fell here, splashing countless ink marks.

He picked up the incense stick and sniffed it close to the tip of his nose.The smoke immediately covered his brows and eyes, making him look a little gentler.

Nero almost wanted to go up and smell the incense.

He stood beside Rhodes, holding a candle and lost his mind.He didn't let out a small cry until the hot wax flowed onto his hands.

When Rhodes heard the movement, he turned his face sideways like a blade flipped.

Half of his face is still hidden in the smoke, and the other half is his beautiful facial features.Behind his flying black hair are silver stars, but they are not as clear as his eyebrows.

Nero's mind was blank, and he murmured unconsciously: "Rod..."

Rhodes smiled at him and held out his hand.

Nero felt something like a bug gnawing at the tip of his heart.

He was pulled onto the crossbar by Rhodes in such a daze.The two sat side by side.

"It's cold on the deck, why come out?" Rhodes asked smelling the smoke.

"I can't sleep," Nero said, "and dizzy."

Rhodes played with the smoke stick, and glanced at the starry sky.

He thought for a while, and said to Nero: "The route chosen by this ship is not the shortest. Your time was wasted a lot by this group of inexperienced crew members!"

"It doesn't matter, I have already contacted the olive merchant." Nero said softly, "I found an Indian merchant. The price of olives he offered is half of that of ordinary merchants."

Rhodes sneered slightly inaudibly.He held his head proudly, the stray hairs on his forehead like black thorns.He suspected: "If the price is too low, there must be ghosts in it!"

Nero shook his head and said firmly: "He lives on Moros Avenue, and I have personally visited his olive garden..."

Rhodes quickly made a gesture of silence, reminding Nero not to leak the secret.

His pale fingers were inserted into the cinnabar lips, the color was bright, like a piece of white jade inlaid with a ruby.

Nero stared at his lips and stopped.

Rhodes blew on the incense stick and handed it to Nero.

"When this incense burns out, you should go back to bed," he said.

There is always a little spot of light in his dark eyes, which makes his eyes bright and straightforward.

Nero, who is still young, can hardly resist this sharp beauty.He subconsciously blurted out: "Your eyes are so beautiful, they seem to have been stained with salt grains from the sea..."

Rhodes just raised the corner of his lips a little.Regarding the compliment on appearance, he didn't say anything, and he didn't bother to say anything.

Nero took the incense stick and sat down obediently.

He had never seen this kind of incense stick before, so he was very curious.He lowered his head slightly, sniffed his nose tentatively, and tasted the fragrance of mint.

He was like a kitten smelling fish for the first time.

The author has something to say:

I am too busy with studies, so the update time is not fixed, sorry guys!