The elderly man leading the way, his hair and beard a distinguished salt-and-pepper grey, was likely General Meng An of Great Chu. He possessed a formidable, commanding presence. Behind him followed two officials in their forties, both wearing expressions of utmost gravity. At the very rear were a young man and woman, their expressions lively and their eyes darting about with curious intensity.
Luo Guang and I exchanged a look, our gazes instinctively locking onto that young pair. I couldn't say why—perhaps it was merely a primal intuition, like two predators recognizing their own kind in the dark. Beneath their curiosity lay a sharp, guarded edge, a quality they shared with Luo Guang, Shen Pei, and me.
My eyes met the young woman’s through the flickering lamplight. She gave a haughty smile and swept past us with her chin held high. In that fleeting moment of proximity, I noticed her hands: the knuckles were powerful, and they hung at her sides in a natural, half-curled grip. Those were the hands of a blade-wielder.
The melodious strains of music began, signaling the start of the banquet. Luo Guang and I turned, facing opposite directions. Before me lay the palace complex shrouded in night, where guards in white armor moved like ghosts through the shadows. Above, a crescent moon hung alongside a few cold, distant stars.
Behind me, the banquet seemed unnaturally harmonious. Amidst the soft music, guests and hosts appeared to be enjoying themselves thoroughly. Yet, the unease in my heart did not fade; the image of that young woman’s arrogant smile flickered constantly in my mind.
The banquet did not last long. Meng An was the first to take his leave with his retinue. I noticed his face, flushed with wine just moments ago, became instantly sharp and sober the moment he stepped down the stairs. This detail made my heart skip a beat. The young pair followed closely behind him, their heads bowed in hushed conversation. Guided by eunuchs, their silhouettes crossed the wide terrace of Rentai Hall and vanished into the thick shadows of the trees.
Shortly after they left, Noble Consort Tong’s fragrant carriage arrived at the hall entrance. Several elderly matrons had come to collect Wu Xiu.
Ever since the Crown Prince refused to let me take Wu Xiu back to the Ji manor, I had quietly asked Qing Rong to petition Noble Consort Tong. Simultaneously, I had Min Zhi speak with Ming Yi, suggesting that Wu Xiu lacked experienced matrons to care for her in the Eastern Palace. The Empress Dowager was untrustworthy, and the Empress, being of the Han family, was even more so. Only Noble Consort Tong, Ming Yi’s mother, came from a humble background and had no ties to either the Shen or Han families. Having Wu Xiu stay in her palace to nurture her pregnancy was the most ideal solution under the circumstances.
As Wu Xiu was helped down the steps by the matrons, I carefully observed Consort Han’s expression. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Wu Xiu’s retreating back. That dark, unfathomable gaze was much like the Crown Prince’s, revealing nothing.
A squad of Inner Court guards approached from the other side of the long corridor, led by Shen Pei. After exchanging waist tokens, Luo Guang and I shouldered our weapons and withdrew from the far end of the gallery.
Through the gaps in the trees, I paused once more to look back at the hall. Consort Han and the Crown Prince had risen and walked to the entrance; she was leaning in, whispering something to him.
A white figure suddenly blocked my view. I shifted slightly to the left, and the figure shifted left as well. I moved to the right, and he followed—it was Feng Tong.
He was stroking his chin with a slender finger, his emerald, cat-like eyes misty and thoughtful as he stared at me.
Peering past the crook of his neck, I could only see Consort Han’s profile. The long strings of pearls hanging from her phoenix crown swayed, making her posture seem strangely rigid.
"What are you looking at?" Feng Tong waved a finger in front of my eyes, sounding rather displeased. "Is there anything in front of you more worth looking at than me?"
Hearing such natural, effortless arrogance nearly made me laugh. Beside me, even Luo Guang couldn't suppress a flicker of amusement. I lowered my head slightly and said politely, "Safe travels, Master Feng."
Feng Tong arched an eyebrow. "Did I say I was leaving?"
I studied him closely. This usually icy fellow seemed exceptionally talkative today. Was it the wine? I had overheard him earlier, eloquently describing the future of trade and cooperation with Great Chu to General Meng An; that was likely why the Crown Prince had invited him. Meng An and his retinue seemed to have toasted him several times—surely his tolerance wasn't that low? Regardless, it was best not to provoke a drunkard, so I added politely, "Then please, continue to enjoy the scenery, Master Feng."
Feng Tong kept his eyes on me, then turned to Luo Guang. "Tell me, she isn't particularly beautiful, and her temper is so fierce..."
Luo Guang let out a sudden snort of laughter.
I wasn't so much angry as I was astonished. Was this guy looking for a fight under the influence? I snapped, "We are on duty. You’d best get lost!"
Feng Tong seemed not to hear me. He tilted his head, his gaze falling back on me as he explained earnestly, "What I mean is, you don't seem to have any redeeming qualities, so why do I keep thinking about you?"
"Psh!" I rolled my eyes dismissively. "Thinking about how to steal my horse, more like."
Feng Tong slapped my shoulder hard and laughed. "Smart!" He leaned in close, whispering mysteriously, "I’m the type who doesn't care for gold, jewels, beauties, or luxury. But a good horse? Once I see one, I can't let it go. In a few days, I’ll be hosting the Prince. You should come too. We’ll have a race; if I win, Mo Long is mine. How about it?"
I truly hadn't expected someone like him to become so childish after drinking—was this his true face?
A faint, ethereal scent of wine drifted from him. His usually cold eyes now seemed wandering and fluid in the flickering light, like spring waters rippling with an inadvertent touch of enchantment—and loneliness.
I froze for a moment before shaking his hand off. I shook my head. "My rank is too low; I cannot go where the Crown Prince goes. I suggest you give up. Mo Long has already recognized its master."
Feng Tong’s hand found its way back onto my shoulder, his expression still quite serious. "I’ve already spoken to the Prince, and he agreed to let you come. You’re just afraid, aren't you? A competitive person like you is most afraid of losing, right?"
I swatted his hand away and glanced at Luo Guang. The man was looking elsewhere, but his face clearly betrayed his enjoyment of the spectacle; he had no intention of bailing me out. I said indignantly, "And if I win?"
He replied without hesitation, "Then I am yours!"
Luo Guang couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a loud "Ha!" before quickly stifling it.
I was genuinely fuming now. So what if I had dug up his brother’s grave—the man had broken the law! Was there any need to mock me like this? I hardened my expression and ignored him, turning to leave.
But Feng Tong reached out and caught my sleeve. "If you don't answer, I’ll take it as a yes."
I shot him a look but remained silent. Luo Guang was still chuckling. I kicked him. "Will you die if you stop laughing?"
Luo Guang stepped aside, turning his face away, though his shoulders were still shaking. I wrenched my sleeve from Feng Tong’s grip and placed his hand on Luo Guang’s arm, using the same tone I used to coax Ming Hua: "Be a good boy, Brother Luo will see you out—the palace gates will be locked soon."
He actually listened, gripping Luo Guang’s arm firmly.
I took the chance to flee. Luo Guang shouted behind me, "Xi Xia, that’s cold!"
I didn't look back, thinking only: *That’s what you get for laughing!*
Though we were on duty in the palace, we were actually cut off from the internal gossip. Occasionally, we heard snippets from Shen Pei; the peace talks seemed to be proceeding quite smoothly.
Five days later, orders arrived: His Majesty the Emperor was to host General Meng An at Rentai Hall.
Though the venue remained the same, the scale was entirely different because it was the Emperor’s banquet. All twelve of us were stationed around Rentai Hall. Two had changed into eunuch robes to stand guard by the throne, while two groups of two were stationed on either side of the hall. Luo Guang and Li Lin guarded the roof of the side hall, while I and another guard named Zhang Dong stood at the main entrance. The number of Inner Court guards patrolling outside had also tripled.
Zhang Dong’s eyes were sharp as he scanned the guests filing in. Perhaps because the talks were going well, everyone wore a smile, and the air was thick with a festive atmosphere. As a commercial representative, Feng Tong naturally appeared again. His gaze swept over me coldly, and he walked past without a word. Having seen his drunken performance, his current solemnity only made me want to laugh.
Among General Meng An’s retinue, the young pair I had seen before was absent. For some reason, every time I recalled that young woman’s arrogant expression, a trace of unease would inexplicably flicker through my heart.
Standing outside the hall, I could only faintly hear the voices within. First came the Emperor’s opening remarks—standard diplomatic platitudes about the friendship between two nations and living in harmony—followed by a similar speech from General Meng. Then, the melodious music began, and the banquet officially commenced.
This peaceful atmosphere only made the unease in my heart more urgent.
A group of figures gathered at the base of the Rentai Hall steps, led by two high-ranking eunuchs who seemed to be waiting for an order from within. Behind them was a massive flowerpot containing a cluster of strange plants. Their broad, fan-like leaves stretched out in the cold air, and purple-red blossoms the size of bowls looked ethereal in the lamplight, like a group of gaudily dressed enchantresses. My heart gave a sudden thud. What was meant to come was finally here.
After a quick word to Zhang Dong, I quietly slipped down the stairs. The two leading eunuchs saw me and cupped their hands politely. "Officer, we are waiting for His Majesty’s summons."
I circled the flowerpot twice. Up close, the emerald leaves and purple-red flowers looked even more bewitching in the night. A sweet, osmanthus-like scent carried a faint hint of wine, making one feel involuntarily lightheaded.
The lead eunuch misunderstood my interest and explained with a smile, "This is a gift from the King of Great Chu to His Majesty. It is indeed a rare specimen."
I nodded, my gaze shifting to the people behind. There were four slender women in ornate dress wearing veils—likely gifts for the Emperor as well. Behind them was a troupe of dancers in red, also veiled, their features hidden.
I returned to my post and caught a passing eunuch serving food, whispering a few instructions in his ear. Having done all I could, my heart slowly calmed. At this point, I could only wait and see.
Before long, a herald emerged from the hall, and the strangely colored plants were carried inside. A chorus of admiration immediately rose from within. Then, I heard Meng An’s booming voice: "Besides this world-renowned Ziyao and the beauties of our Great Chu, this old official has also brought the songs and dances of my homeland for Your Majesty." With that, he clapped his hands, and the musicians waiting outside filed in.
I signaled the other guards outside. As the music swelled, Zhang Dong and I swapped positions, both of us tightening our grip on our sword hilts.
In the center of the hall, the Great Chu beauties began to dance gracefully to the music. I scanned the area near the throne; my brothers from the guard squad were positioned on either side. Behind the guests, two other groups of guards had also entered a state of combat readiness.
My palms were slightly clammy. General Meng An’s white beard bobbed as he seemed to lose himself in the beautiful performance. Opposite him sat Feng Tong; he seemed to have sensed something from my gaze, for his jewel-like green eyes grew sharp and alert.
The change happened in a flash. It was as if a shell had exploded among the dancers. Waves of red silk billowed outward, and from the crest of those waves, the cold glint of blades erupted. The hall instantly fell into chaos. I only had time to see the guards shielding the Emperor as they retreated into the inner chambers before my full attention was seized by black-clad figures appearing under the eaves.
These assassins descended rapidly on ropes like giant spiders. Realizing that Luo Guang and Li Lin, who were guarding the roof, had failed to sound the alarm, my heart sank to the abyss.
My curved blade parried the strikes of two men. I turned my head just in time to see a bright red blade tip emerge from Zhang Dong’s back. The crimson blood against his silver armor looked like an evil flower suddenly blooming on his spine. Zhang Dong staggered a few steps and collapsed at my feet.
A surge of frantic, hot blood rushed to my head. I parried a downward strike from the side and lunged toward Zhang Dong. My blade traced a brilliant arc through the air, slicing through the assassin without hesitation. A fountain of blood erupted from his chest and abdomen, and he slumped silently beside Zhang Dong.
I spun to block a strike from behind and kicked the assassin in the chest. Taking advantage of his stumble, my blade swiftly severed his breastplate straps. In one fluid motion, I used the straps to bind his hands behind his back and slammed the hilt of my blade into the back of his head.
Chaos reigned both inside and outside the hall. A quick scan showed that the black figures were being surrounded by white ones, and the number of white-armored guards seemed to be increasing. This sight allowed me to breathe a small sigh of relief.
Before I could catch my breath, two red-clad women with disheveled hair burst out of the hall, their long swords dripping with blood. Inside, the guards were surrounding the remaining two or three dancers; several bodies already littered the floor. It seemed they couldn't break into the inner chambers and were forced to retreat. The two women locked eyes and, with unspoken understanding, lunged at me together.
Their swordplay was perfectly coordinated, both fighting with suicidal desperation. Suddenly, a searing heat flared through my left arm. The woman on the left had landed a hit and immediately leaped away. But before she could clear the ground, she crumpled, a striking red line appearing across her snowy neck. Standing behind her was Feng Tong’s icy face. The remaining woman seemed to lose her nerve; I seized the opening to disarm her and used her own sash to bind her.
At that moment, the sound of something whistling through the air came from behind. I dragged the woman’s body with me as I dove to the side. From the corner of my eye, I saw Feng Tong’s sword whirl into a magnificent blossom of steel. Two sharp *clangs* rang out as he deflected two hidden projectiles, but simultaneously, the woman in my arms let out a shrill cry, and a sudden, sharp pain pierced my left shoulder—it felt like being hit by a bullet.
Looking down, I saw a bloody hole in the woman’s temple.
I dropped her corpse. Feng Tong was using his sword to drive a saber-wielding assassin toward me. I flicked the man’s weapon away with my blade, but because half my body was numb, binding him took much longer than expected. He managed to free a hand from the sash and hurled a dagger at my face. Just as I dodged, I saw him slump to the ground without a sound, his mouth agape. I only managed to shout two words: "Don't kill—"
Feng Tong glanced at me as if I were a freak, dropping a cold remark: "I only use the simplest methods."
I looked around. Shen Pei had arrived with reinforcements, surrounding the entire Rentai Hall. The ground was a mess of blood and filth. The black corpses belonged to the assassins, the red to the dancers, and the white... the white corpses were our own brothers.
A burning sensation filled my chest, yet not a single tear fell.
Someone reached out to support me—a guard I didn't recognize. I asked him, "Where is Shen Pei? Where is Luo Guang?"
He shook his head.
I pushed his hand away and rushed toward the crowd. At the base of the hall steps, two guards were helping a blood-soaked man toward me. I lunged forward and grabbed him, making him cry out in pain. It was Li Lin.
"You..." I loosened my grip, too frantic to know what to ask.
Li Lin gave a weak smile. "I’m fine, just flesh wounds. Captain Shen is fine too. Luo Guang took a blade to the leg and fell off the roof; he probably broke a couple of bones, but he’ll live. The others just have some scratches. We’re okay."
My voice choked. "Zhang Dong is dead."
His eyes dimmed.
A large hand reached out from behind to steady me. I turned to see Shen Pei. His hair was a mess, and even as he held me, he was barking orders at the nearby guards: "Find the ones still breathing first!"
I managed to say, "There’s a live one under the eaves."
Shen Pei didn't seem to hear me. He looked down at my left shoulder, his brow furrowing deeply. "Hit by a hidden weapon?"
Before I could answer, he began shouting at the top of his lungs: "Physician! Physician! Where the hell are the physicians?!"
***
The medicine was forced down my throat, and my body slowly went limp as my mind began to cloud.
In truth, my master, the Poison Fairy, had at least three ways to perform surgery without total anesthesia. But this Physician Qi was merely an ordinary doctor from the Imperial Academy; one couldn't hold him to her standards.
A dull, pulling pain radiated from my left shoulder. My poor left shoulder—it already had a terrifying scar, and now another wound was added right on top of it. A scar upon a scar; it would likely be hideous now. I wondered vaguely: was my left shoulder the weakness in my blade style? Why else would I always get hurt there?
In my haze, I felt as if Ming Shao was changing my bandages again. If I just opened my eyes, I would see his tall frame half-reclining on a daybed, silhouetted against the soft glow of candlelight...
"Martial artists have stronger wills than most, so I have already used a double dose of anesthetic," an old, trembling voice whispered nearby. "The old injury on the left shoulder was quite severe, and to add a new wound before it fully healed..."
Who was that? So talkative.
In my stupor, I felt Ming Shao’s hand gently stroking my face, his fingers trembling slightly. I wanted to tell him that this injury wasn't serious, just a small procedure to remove a projectile from my shoulder. But I was too heavy, too dazed to speak.
A faint, lingering sigh reached my ears, but before I could identify the source, the medicine pulled me under once more. I fell into a deep, total sleep.
***
