When Agawa turned his face toward us, I finally understood why he was so close to this wolf. Of his aged, drooping eyes, one possessed the black pupil of a normal human, but the other was a pure, brilliant ice-blue, like the finest sapphire. Clearly, as a half-blood, his demonic heritage hailed from this very Snow Wolf tribe.
He patted the wolf’s snout, and the great beast nuzzled his palm with affectionate familiarity, its rough tongue licking him incessantly, evidently not yet satisfied with its lunch. Agawa, however, did not pick up the iron skewer to feed it more. He casually handed his tools to a waiting attendant and took a handkerchief. As he wiped his hands, he offered a faint smile. "I am deeply moved that you would keep this old man in your thoughts, Nephew." This was the first time I had seen him smile, yet it was so shallow and distracted that it only served to emphasize his underlying melancholy.
He was already aware of my identity. He nodded politely to me and said, "I have heard the auspicious news. My preparations were hurried, but I have a few small tokens. Please, Nephew-in-law, accept them." At his word, attendants brought forward two elegantly wrapped gift boxes tied with silk.
I smiled and thanked him. "You are too kind, Uncle. I would be remiss to refuse. Your son possesses remarkable skill, though the arena was so perilous today—I hope he was not injured?"
"He is fine," Agawa replied dismissively before returning to the matter of the arena. "Once again, I am indebted to your assistance, Nephew. That Small World left behind by the rogue Daoist should belong to you."
Wei Qingming exchanged a faint, knowing smile with me. Eschewing needless pleasantries, she nodded in acceptance.
As they spoke, Ugli received word of Wei Qingming’s arrival and came strode out from the inner chambers. His smile was bright and hearty as he clasped hands with her in a firm greeting. "Today’s match was a mess," he said warmly. "I’ve made a fool of myself before my brother!"
"Not at all," Wei Qingming replied with a slight smile. "Brother Ugli’s cultivation has progressed significantly. If I may be so bold, I predict that within a few months, the clouds and mists will fill the sky."
The Emissary was judging that Ugli was on the verge of ascending to the Cloud-Feasting stage!
Ugli laughed loudly, intending to offer a few humble remarks, but Agawa glanced at him coolly. "You truly should not have let An Zhe die."
Ugli immediately lowered his head in solemn respect, his expression darkening. He pressed a hand to his heart and replied, "Yes. The arrangements for An Zhe’s aftermath have been made. He had no family or friends; his beneficiary is merely a prostitute in Chongzhou. Moreover, the funds under his name had long been spent. There is only today’s unpaid purse; once his debts are cleared, the remainder will go to that woman."
It was said that Mogulan differed from other beast-fighting arenas because Agawa, having a military background, gave priority to poor soldiers who had retired from the front lines of various wars. Those with poor aptitude became beast tamers, while the talented ones entered the arena. Generally, the lives of these fighters were volatile; rising to great wealth or falling to nothingness often happened in the blink of an eye. Furthermore, given their coarse natures and the heavy pressure they endured, most spent their earnings on wine, women, and gambling. Thus, Agawa’s subordinates could sign a contract: should they unfortunately perish in the arena, their purse for that match would double, and it, along with their existing assets, would be transferred to a designated beneficiary—usually parents, wives, or children. I hadn't expected this An Zhe to be such a loner that he didn't have a single relative.
Hearing this, Agawa merely said to his son, "Practice more." He nodded his farewell to Wei Qingming, leaving us young people to talk amongst ourselves as he retreated to the inner chambers to rest.
Once his father was gone, Ugli relaxed. He was no longer so cautious, and his conversation became more humorous. He was a very upright man, treating me with great courtesy without stealing unnecessary glances. When I asked if the huntress Roshan’s injuries were serious, he replied, "The external wounds are no great matter, but the poison is a bit troublesome." Wei Qingming recommended one or two famous doctors who specialized in demonic toxins, and Ugli agreed immediately. I watched the two of them with a smile; it seemed they had truly forged a bond of genuine friendship through their past battles.
After some idle chatter, Ugli seemed to remember something. His smile faded slightly, and he hesitated. Wei Qingming took the initiative to speak. "Both the Elder and Big Brother have looks of worry even greater than five years ago. Is there some difficulty?"
"I won't hide it from you, Brother..." Ugli said. "There is indeed a thorny matter. You have wide connections and great capability; perhaps you can help with this."
"Tell me."
Ugli reached into his robes and pulled out a Soul Lamp. Such items were common in sects; if a disciple went traveling, their elders could use the lamp to know if they were safe. If they died, the lamp went out. This lamp was quite old, but the flame was peculiar. It was neither bright and robust nor completely extinguished. Instead, it flickered faintly, intermittently, as if a breath no larger than a mosquito’s could blow it out.
He gently brushed a stray speck of ash from the lamp and said in a low voice, "This is my younger sister’s Soul Lamp."
Wei Qingming understood the situation perfectly. "Allow me a guess. The light only turned dim recently, and your sister’s life hangs by a thread."
"Exactly," Ugli replied. "In truth, my sister Aridi has been missing for nearly ten years, and the Soul Lamp remained steady all that time. This state of being neither dead nor alive means she... her soul has left her body, or her spirit is incomplete."
"Since Big Brother has asked, I shall certainly do my best," Wei Qingming said. She then fired off a signal talisman, summoning Commander Yuan. She signaled for Ugli to explain the details to him. Ugli thanked her profusely, repeating his pleas for help.
Three attendants worked together to carry the crystal box containing the Small World. Hong Lu reached out to take it, and the men hurriedly said, "We will deliver it to your residence," but Hong Lu waved them off. With a single hand, he hoisted the box as if it weighed nothing.
The three of us walked out together. Just as we left the Thistle Basin, I tucked my arm into Wei Qingming’s and pointed at the box in Hong Lu’s hand. "Are we really taking that home? It’s not appropriate, and we have no use for it. Better to hand it over to the state or give it to our Grandpa as a token of respect."
"Mhm." Wei Qingming squinted and smiled. "My lady is thoughtful. I have already prepared some gifts for Master Feng."
I blinked at her with a mischievous grin. I had also picked out a gift for Grandpa Feng—the 'Colorful Phoenix Crying on Mount Qi' that Xu Yanxi was selling at Qi Garden. I planned to surprise him on New Year’s Day. In my heart, only Grandpa Feng’s temperament and musical skill were worthy of such a supreme celestial treasure.
Our meal at Fengle Tower was meant to be a simple affair, so we had only booked an ordinary private booth on the second floor. When we entered, only two or three dishes had been served. Although I had told them not to wait for us, my brothers and sisters were sitting together, laughing and talking without eating. Upon seeing us, they teased that we should be punished by being sent downstairs to buy candied fruits from Daoist Wang’s shop to cut through the richness of the meat dishes. Zhu Yixin even laughingly demanded a bowl of Xu family gourd soup. In truth, the tower had errand boys for such things, but as soon as Wei Qingming heard, she stood up, intending to buy them herself. Hong Lu hurriedly said he would go instead, and the others laughingly held him back and called for a waiter.
Wei Qingming smiled. She had only finished half a cup of tea when she stepped out of the booth again. She went down to the first floor to personally order that the tea be brewed again using spring water from Mount Hui in Ezhou instead of the impure melted snow, and she selected a jar of Taixi White wine to replace the tower’s standard Fengle Spring. I knew such trifles weren't worth her personal attention; she must be looking to sniff out someone’s secrets. I followed her downstairs, clinging to her sleeve with a sugary smile. She laughed and took my hand in hers.
Sure enough, on the way back, Wei Qingming took a detour to the booth next to ours. With practiced ease, she found a hidden spot. She cast a listening spell while I added an illusion for concealment; our cooperation was seamless.
It turned out the neighboring room was occupied by the group of scholars we had met at the Thistle Basin earlier. There had been a commotion of a dozen people treading up the stairs in a constant stream. Thinking back, there were indeed several familiar voices among them. An ordinary person wouldn't have thought twice about it, but the secret agent I was holding onto was exceptionally alert and could recognize them instantly.
"The court discussion on the Northern Expedition has been released, and the people are of one mind! Even the children in the streets are playing with sticks and spears, shouting about killing the enemy!" It was He Yankun, the younger brother of the He family. In his excitement, he slammed an empty silver cup onto the table. "The country is in need of men. A true man should serve on the battlefield, win fame for the history books, and have his portrait hung in Lingyan Pavilion!"
"Yankun," someone sighed. "Huaizhen’s meaning is not that he opposes the Northern Expedition. It is just that our Great Jing has not seen war for over a hundred years. The generals are indolent, the armor has been cast aside, and our skills with bow and horse have grown rusty. To rashly provoke a war is reckless."
Seeing the man’s face, Wei Qingming whispered an introduction in my ear: "Lin Shaozhong. In recent years, Fang Weisong has become despondent and self-destructive, holding the title of leader in name only. It is this Brother Lin who moves in all directions and handles affairs with finesse. He has become the actual head of the Eastern Society."
I nodded slightly, observing Lin Shaozhong. He looked a few years older than Fang Weisong, a steady and experienced man. Fang Weisong had likely already shared his "brilliant" insights; he sat coldly at the table, no longer speaking, merely poking at a thin slice of raw fish on his plate with his chopsticks.
"Did Brother Huaizhen call us here just so we could follow you in courting disaster?" a caustic, oily voice said mockingly. "Have you not heard? A few days ago, Jin Qiren, a compiler of the Hanlin Academy, replied to the Emperor. He merely offered a mild rebuttal to Assistant Minister Xia Rong’s grand essay on reclaiming ancestral lands, and it provoked the Emperor’s great displeasure. He was fined three months' salary and ordered to reflect behind closed doors. How much capital do we have? We couldn't even produce an exam paper as good as Master Jin’s when he placed third in the imperial examinations!" This was Yu Yingmin, another prominent figure in the Eastern Society. His poetry and prose were considered the most beautiful in the society; it was said that the majority of the 'Gatha of Restoring Order in the Eastern Capital' was his work, but he had failed to secure the top credit over Fang Weisong. Thus, whenever his old rival was involved, his words were laced with thorns.
"Now, now, Brother Yingmin, why be in such a hurry to open fire? We are still discussing. War is a grave matter; a single mistake brings ruin to ten thousand people. Even if we discuss it for three days and nights, it wouldn't be overly cautious!" It was Hou Tianyong, the usually cheerful lover of refined pleasures, who spoke to smooth things over. He poured wine for Yu Yingmin with a smile, but Yu Yingmin gave a cold snort and turned his head to look out the window.
"Discuss, discuss!" He Yankun shouted. "We sit here wagging our tongues—can we kill a single enemy soldier?"
The table erupted into a clamor. Immediately, the sound of clattering dishes and scraping chairs filled the air. I struggled to suppress my laughter. This group of pampered, naive, and physically useless young men—what could they possibly understand of national affairs? They were reeking of pedantry and suffocatingly dull...
Amidst He Yankun’s singing of "Independently I raise the new order, a thousand camps cry out as one," Wei Qingming sent out a signal talisman. She summoned a waiting investigator, tossed the eavesdropping tool to him, and signaled with a smile that it was time for us to return to our own booth to eat.
This time, my siblings didn't wait. They were eating and chatting, and the spread was already half-gone. They likely knew we had business to attend to. Only Zhu Yixin deliberately scratched her cheek to tease me, nodding incessantly with a playful smile, as if she understood everything but wouldn't say it aloud—as if Wei Qingming and I had just been doing something scandalous...
"She’s still an unmarried girl, yet her head is filled with such nonsense!" On the carriage ride back, I huffed indignantly, slapping the wall of the carriage.
Wei Qingming chuckled and actually said, "We might as well make it real."
Immediately, her kiss fell behind my ear. The soft, fragrant touch surged over the hard bone of my ear, startling me into a gasp. She caught the sound with her hand, leaving only a muffled, delicate whimper.
"I have no patience for being charged with a crime I did not commit," she continued in a low, husky voice. Her fingertips climbed from my waist along my spine to the center of my back. With a practiced, light tug at a familiar spot, the thin layer of clothing slid open. Nothing stood in her way as her hand circled around to cover a place even more familiar...
***
