Fatal to Pretend With a Cheat | Chapter 17 | Founding the Sword Pavilion | Novela.app

The next day, when I woke again, Ye Tan had already returned from his sword practice and finished bathing and grooming. Since he had resumed his martial arts, he looked more radiant by the day, with hardly a trace of his former sickly appearance. This pleased my heart greatly. As our itinerary remained uncertain, I suggested staying another day to arrange for a carriage, horses, and travel supplies. Ye Tan agreed while serving me my meal. I glanced at the shabby little scrap of a sword hanging at his waist and found it quite an eyesore. "What is that thing?" "I bought it with the copper coins I earned from helping Physician Ren with his embroidery a few days ago," Ye Tan replied candidly. "It was very cheap." I pondered for a moment and asked, "Ye Tan, are there any famous swords scattered throughout the martial world?" "Naturally, there are many," Ye Tan replied. "Since we have nothing better to do, why don't we find a famous sword for you next?" I said cheerfully. My mind was already spinning with scenes from theatrical plays—famous swords, beautiful people, and heroic spirits. I looked forward to it immensely. "There is no need. I do not particularly like swords," Ye Tan said, his interest clearly lacking. I asked in confusion, "I never noticed that you hated swords..." "It is not that I hate them. I simply do not understand them." Ye Tan shook his head. "If one wishes to kill, hidden weapons or lethal poisons are far more effective than a sword. To this day, I cannot understand why the world reveres the sword so... perhaps because it looks elegant when brandished." Recalling something, he added, "I once mentioned this to Ze Que. For some reason, Ze Que flew into a rage, claiming I was insulting the Way of the Sword. He insisted on challenging me to a duel every few days. As a shadow guard, I often hide without a trace; in his search for me, Ze Que ended up hacking down quite a few rockeries and flowering trees." ...Oh, so that was the truth behind the "Night Rakshasa turning the Zhongli Estate upside down for three years." If Ye Tan had a title in the martial world, it would surely be "The Scapegoat." The sword is the gentleman of all weapons, but since he lacked even a basic sense of good and evil, he naturally couldn't comprehend such a concept. For a moment, I didn't know how to explain it, so I let the matter drop. Once we finished tidying up, Ye Tan went out to procure supplies. I, however, insisted on going to the streets to listen to storytelling. We reached a compromise: I hired two temporary laborers who knew no martial arts to accompany me. It worked out well; neither of them recognized me, which made things much more convenient. The pay for these two workers was generous, and they had expected heavy labor. They never imagined their only task would be to sit and drink tea. Having spent their lives in toil, they were unaccustomed to such idleness and sat clutching their porcelain cups, staring at each other in bewilderment. I sat by the street, watching the heavy traffic and the hurried pedestrians. It felt as though everyone, however busy, had a goal and a place to belong. I alone was like rootless grass, coming from nowhere and knowing not where I was going... *What do I resemble, fluttering along? A lone gull between heaven and earth.* Perhaps it is because I am ill that I cannot help but feel a bit sentimental. Before I could sigh more than a few times, a small figure suddenly came stumbling toward me. He crashed into my arms, sobbing, "Mister, I’ve finally found you!" In my current state, I couldn't carry anything on my shoulders or lift anything with my hands. That slight collision sent me tumbling backward. Amidst the surrounding clamor, I felt a bit dizzy from the fall. As I was helped up, I realized it was the fair-skinned young clerk from the money exchange yesterday. "Mister, I’ve wronged you. Yesterday, I shortchanged you by one tael of gold." He shoved a stack of banknotes into my arms and began to wail loudly. Startled, I hurriedly handed him a handkerchief to stop the flow. "What are you crying for? You’re the one who knocked me over, yet you make it look like I’m the one bullying you." He sobbed for a while, hiccuping as he spoke. "Every time our boss exchanges banknotes, he forces us to shortchange the customers. That’s why I only reported ten taels yesterday, but you truly had eleven, not ten. I thought about it all night. You are so gravely ill; that must be life-saving money. No matter how much the boss pressures me to be greedy, I cannot take a life." I weighed the stack of banknotes and asked, "Did you steal this from the money exchange?" The youth choked out, "This was originally your money, Mister. I cannot consider it stealing." I couldn't help but laugh. "I’m afraid your boss won't see it that way." No sooner had I spoken than the youth burst into loud wails again. I hurriedly wiped his tears, coaxed him into a seat, and stuffed a pastry into his hand. He ate until he fell silent, though tears still went *pitter-patter* down his face. He looked pitiful indeed. "What is your name? Are you a local?" I changed the subject to distract him. "My name is Luo Shu. I am originally from Moling. A few years ago, my uncle took me to Rongzhou to seek refuge with relatives, but he fell ill and passed away when we reached Jincheng. I didn't know where to find our kin. Fortunately, I’ve had a few years of schooling and know a few characters, so I stayed in Jincheng to help the money exchange with their accounts." I asked, "Do you have any family left in Moling?" "No." Luo Shu shook his head, overcome with sorrow once more, looking ready to weep. "What kind of place is Moling?" I asked again. "It is... well, a place with a lot of water." He took a bite of osmanthus cake, and his tone softened slightly. "The waterways there crisscross the land, weeping willows line the banks, and there are lanterns every night. There are many, many beautiful painted pleasure boats on the river, and the rain there is gentler than in the Central Plains." Hearing his description, my heart yearned for it. I asked, "If I send you back to Moling, could you do some things for me?" Luo Shu looked as if he were choking. "W-what did you say?" "You’ll need a job to make a living, won't you? You have an upright character and you're literate; you couldn't be more suitable." I said cheerfully, "Once you return to Moling, help me buy a large mansion and arrange for furniture and servants. I intend to travel for a while; would you be willing to manage the household for me?" Luo Shu was utterly stunned. I pulled out a small bag of gold bars I had just manifested and pressed it into his hand. "Consider this a meeting gift. Leave an address with me; I will periodically send the necessary gold, silver, and valuables." "This... how can this be..." Luo Shu stammered. "We have only met twice. How can you entrust such an important matter to a green youth like me..." "From now on, you are the head steward of my estate." I wiped the tear tracks from his face once more. "I shall have to trouble you to take great care of it." Luo Shu asked blankly, "I still don't know... what your name is, Mister?" "Jun Xuanheng." Luo Shu added, "Then, it shall be called the 'Jun Estate'..." He was already considering the name of the residence; he was indeed diligent. "No." I narrowed my eyes in thought and said softly, "Let it be called 'Jian Ge'—the Sword Pavilion." Luo Shu nodded, then asked cautiously, "Young Master Jun, then... do I count as your retainer? Could I... take your surname?" As soon as he said it, he explained in a panic, "I-I have no other family left. If it is possible..." "That would be for the best. Coincidentally, I have no family either." I agreed with a smile. Seeing him look like a startled little fledgling, I wanted to ruffle his hair, but halfway through the gesture, I felt it might be inappropriate and patted his shoulder instead. "Jun Luo Shu. It has a very nice ring to it." Jun Luo Shu nodded with a red face and used a brush and paper to leave me an address. After sitting for just this short while, I already felt my energy flagging, so I bid him farewell and returned to the inn. I slept from noon until nightfall, only waking for a brief moment. Ye Tan was wiping down my back. Seeing me wake, he asked, "Master, why is there a bruise on your shoulder?" "I took a fall today." "...Those two men failed to catch you?" Ye Tan said with chagrin. "Naturally. The rough folk outside cannot compare to my shadow guard." Ye Tan’s movements paused, and he let out a soft cough. I remembered the event from earlier and said excitedly, "Ye Tan, we have a home now." Ye Tan looked at me in confusion. I thought of that misty water town I had never visited and the name of the mansion that was about to be established. I turned the thoughts over in my mind, feeling settled and soft. I buried my face in his palm and nuzzled it. "There are many other things in this world besides killing... I will teach you slowly in the days to come." *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 洛书 | Luo Shu | The name of the young clerk; later Jun Luo Shu. | | 秣陵 | Moling | An ancient name for Nanjing; a city in the south. | | 蓉州 | Rongzhou | A fictional or historical prefecture. | | 锦城 | Jincheng | "Brocade City," a common nickname for Chengdu. | | 君璇衡 | Jun Xuanheng | The protagonist's full name. | | 剑阁 | Jian Ge | "Sword Pavilion"; the name chosen for the new estate. | | 家臣 | Retainer | A loyal subordinate or vassal to a noble family. | | 飘飘何所似，天地一沙鸥 | What do I resemble, fluttering along? A lone gull between heaven and earth. | A famous line from Du Fu's poem "Night Thoughts While Traveling." |