I woke up in the middle of the night to release the "wolf" in my heart. I wasn't sure what time it was, only that the sky had not yet brightened. On my way back to the room, I spotted a figure standing in the courtyard. It looked familiar, so I couldn't help but draw closer to take a look.
The Shadow Guard’s eyes were hollow, and he stood there in a daze with his head bowed. On the empty ground lay a discarded sword of green steel, its blade covered in a web of fine cracks.
I called out to him a few times, but he seemed not to hear me. I had no choice but to step forward and pat his shoulder.
His reaction was sluggish, a far cry from his status as a martial artist. When he finally turned his head blankly, it was I who was startled: his eyes were rimmed with red, looking as though he were on the verge of tears.
"At this hour, instead of sleeping properly, why are you out here catching a chill?"
The Shadow Guard replied, "This subordinate has been trained since childhood to practice the sword at this hour every day. I have never dared to be negligent."
Great. All that talk from last night went completely to waste. A spark of annoyance rose within me. "The doctor ordered rest. Don't mess around; stop practicing."
"...Indeed, there is no longer any need to practice." He bent down with trembling limbs and pressed his hand against the sword, his voice saturated with immense agony. "...In this lifetime... I can no longer hold a sword..."
His emotions were so turbulent that I was afraid to make a sound. The people I used to associate with rarely showed much emotional fluctuation; I had never seen someone so deeply moved. For a moment, I didn't know how to comfort him, so I just squatted foolishly by his side, waiting for him to finish crying.
He seemed to calm down slightly and lifted his head, but the depths of his eyes remained a terrifying, lightless void. "This subordinate is now a useless person, unable to protect Master’s safety. I beg Master to grant me death."
"Hey, no, no, no! If you have injuries, heal them. If you've lost your power, train again from the beginning. Don't talk about this nonsense..." I knew that people of this era, even if free from illness or disaster, would eventually die of old age, and they seemed to view life and death much more casually than we did. But that specific word—death—was something I absolutely dared not touch. The longer one lives, the more of a coward one becomes.
"This subordinate does not understand. What use is there in keeping such a useless person..." He began to lament again.
"How are you useless?! You can use chopsticks, you can cook side dishes, you can wash your face..." I spoke with utter sincerity, praising him for every little thing I could think of. I patted his back and said, "My own level of knowledge is about the same as a newborn baby's. I have many things to learn; you can just consider yourself my companion."
I coaxed and comforted him for a long while, half-persuading and half-tricking him back into bed. Only after I tucked him in did his expression return to something resembling normal. I let out a small sigh of relief. Recalling the heavy injuries he bore when we first met, I couldn't imagine how great a calamity he had suffered. To think that a "greenhouse flower" like me still required him to worry about my protection—I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt.
"By the way, what is your name?" I finally remembered this matter. "Others always call you 'that attendant.' It's quite disrespectful."
After all, before me, the Creator God, all men are equal.
The light that had just begun to rise in his eyes sank once more. "Those of the Night Walk have no names... Although I was granted a name by my previous master, since I have been expelled, I no longer have the right to mention it."
Seeing him sink into depression again, I felt the regret of having dropped a stone on my own foot. I hurriedly said, "Then can I give you a new name?"
A hint of joy appeared on his face. "It would, of course, be a supreme honor."
Interjecting is easy, but naming is a nightmare. What the hell was I supposed to name him? I didn't even have a name myself. But I kept my face expressionless, feigning composure. "Are there any rules for how you people are named?"
He said, "Those of the Night Walk generally take 'Ye' as their surname. The name itself depends on the Master's whim."
"Alright, I've noted it. This matter requires careful consideration. Allow me a few days to weigh the options." I handled the conversation flawlessly, inwardly wanting to applaud myself.
The Shadow Guard’s mood had clearly improved significantly. He then asked, "May I be enlightened as to Master’s name...?"
"I don't have a name..." I had only said half of the sentence normally when the Shadow Guard’s face changed, and he reverted to his previous posture of extreme deference. "Forgive me, this subordinate has overstepped..."
"No, no, no, no, no, hold on," I quickly stopped his attempt at self-pity. "I really don't have a name. You can understand it like this: the place I come from is very special. Names have no legal effect, so they were gradually abandoned. We only have serial numbers, no names... But it really is quite inconvenient." I rubbed my chin. I couldn't come up with a nice-sounding alias on the spot, so I said, "How about this: you help me pick one."
The Shadow Guard was stunned. "...How can there be such a rule?"
"Just consider it saving me from a dire situation." I patted his shoulder solemnly.
The Shadow Guard dithered for a long time. Seeing my grave expression, he also became serious. He tilted his head in thought for a moment and said, "This subordinate knows nothing of Master and does not know where to begin. May I ask Master, do you have any ambitions?"
I felt a sense of emptiness in my heart. "I only know that I will not end my life in obscurity."
"Does Master have a mind for court politics? Or—"
I didn't have much of a clue, so I answered cursorily, "Being above ten thousand people wouldn't be so bad either."
He looked at me with shock and uncertainty. After a moment, he steadied his nerves and said, "Since Master intends to aspire to the Central Plains, you may take 'Jun' as your surname. Xuanji and Yuheng are the instruments by which a King rectifies the heavens. Since Master has such grand ambitions, this subordinate shall boldly choose the two characters 'Xuanheng'."
Jun Xuanheng...
I liked the name very much. My heart was filled with joy, and I satisfiedly pulled him into a full embrace.
Caught off guard by my sudden attack, the Shadow Guard said awkwardly, "It is just... for a servant to name his Master is truly a 'Night Tale.' I fear it may insult Master’s prestige in the future..."
My eyes lit up. "That's it!"
Shadow Guard: "Huh??"
"Ye Tan... Ye Tan." I repeated it once, finding it both pleasant to the ear and easy to remember, and it even fit the convention of his Night Walk background. "You shall be called Ye Tan."
When he realized what I meant, he also became somewhat jubilant. "Ye Tan thanks Master for the name."
"This way, both names were technically come up with by you." I took the opportunity to be lazy, yet I couldn't help but feel guilty again.
"A masterpiece is formed by nature, discovered by a lucky hand. I suppose this is such a case..." he whispered. "Master is truly a wondrous person."
I tried to teach him that since we both had names now, we should address each other by them, but he was incredibly stubborn and refused no matter what.
Thinking that I could slowly train him later, I let him go to sleep first. When I stepped out and closed the door, the sky was already fully bright.
...I've heard that once it's light out, one shouldn't sleep anymore? Can I still sleep...?
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 夜行 (Yèxíng) | Night Walk | Refers to the organization or the type of shadow guards who operate in the night. |
| 君 (Jūn) | Jun | A surname meaning monarch, lord, or ruler. |
| 璇衡 (Xuánhéng) | Xuanheng | Derived from "Xuanji" and "Yuheng," stars in the Big Dipper used as astronomical instruments; symbolizes kingship and cosmic order. |
| 夜谭 (Yè Tán) | Ye Tan | The Shadow Guard's new name. "Ye" (Night) is the surname; "Tan" (Talk/Tale) comes from the idiom "Tianfang Yetan." |
| 天方夜谭 (Tiānfāng Yètán) | Night Tale / Arabian Nights | An idiom meaning something incredible, absurd, or a tall tale. |
| 问鼎中原 (Wèndǐng Zhōngyuán) | Aspire to the Central Plains | An idiom meaning to seek supreme power or the throne. |
| 璇玑玉衡 (Xuánjī Yùhéng) | Xuanji and Yuheng | Ancient astronomical instruments or specific stars in the Big Dipper. |
