Anping took a taxi home. On the table sat the breakfast his housekeeper had prepared: scallion oil noodles topped with a poached egg, accompanied by a bowl of glutinous rice and pumpkin porridge.
His parents spent most of the year abroad managing their business, so Anping was used to living alone. He popped his breakfast into the microwave to reheat it and mentally calculated his remaining workload. Twenty-five exam papers in one afternoon… there was no way he could finish. *Forget it,* he thought, *I’ll just copy them.*
Anping was usually diligent and rarely took shortcuts, and this was the first time since starting high school that he’d even considered copying homework. However, after the ordeal he’d been through the previous night, schoolwork didn't seem like such a big deal anymore. Taking a break after a brush with death felt only reasonable.
His mind was still preoccupied with Mu Gesheng. The whole experience had been so surreal that if he hadn't read so many web novels, he wouldn't have known how to piece his shattered worldview back together.
Since he wasn't doing homework, Anping decided to find something to distract himself. He turned on the home theater downstairs and picked a historical film.
The subject matter was somewhat niche—a semi-fictional story based on historical facts. The synopsis was brief, not specifying the dynasty, though it seemed to be set during the waning years of a chaotic era.
Anping pressed play, and the screen faded from bright to dark.
A beaded curtain was lifted, and the light shifted like yellowed Xuan paper. Deep within a covered corridor stood a vermilion gate, and the haunting notes of a traditional opera drifted through the air—
*“…I wait for the crow’s head to turn white and the horse to grow horns, for a rescue that never comes. Keep this letter in your sleeve; I, too, have been a wanderer for far too long…”*
Anping felt as though he were dreaming.
He must have fallen asleep while watching the movie, because there was no other reason for him to wake up in the previous century. Before him lay a long street; judging by the layout and scenery, it looked like the Republican era.
Anping was prone to vivid dreams. Based on his experience, this one didn't seem scary. At the very least, he was observing from a third-person perspective. As long as he wasn't experiencing it firsthand, it was no different from watching a movie.
Besides, he had already survived a haunted wedding chamber; he could handle this.
Carriages and horses passed by, and the street was bustling with people. Suddenly, a commotion approached from the distance, and a crisp shout rang out: "Make way! Out of the way, please! There’s a fight going on, don't get caught in the crossfire!"
A large group of people came sprinting toward him, looking disheveled and panicked. The shout had come from the very back of the crowd: "Second! We’re at Long-Brow Bridge! Take them out in one move!"
The speaker was a youth with a spirited expression and nimble movements. In a few bounds, he reached the end of the street where a bridge spanned a shallow bay.
The youth stood at the far side of the bridge, flipping over anyone who tried to cross and sending them tumbling into the water. Yet the crowd continued to surge forward, their faces etched with the desperation of those fleeing for their lives—as if whatever was chasing them from behind was far more terrifying than the boy at the bridge.
As the bridge grew increasingly crowded, a sudden gale swept through the street. It whistled past, heading straight for the bridge. The crowd on the bridge was instantly scattered, tossed into the air like falling petals before splashing into the water. One after another, they fell—*plop, plop, plop*—until the shallow bay was filled with people, looking like a pot of crowded dumplings.
"A blade like the wind, scattering them like falling petals on flowing water." The youth at the bridge clapped his hands and grinned. "Second, if you’d drawn your blade earlier, we wouldn't have ended up with one of us with a hurt arm and the other with a sprained ankle."
"The Master said that since things have been quiet lately, I can only draw my blade once every three days." Someone walked out from the street—another youth of similar age, cradling a vermilion long blade in his arms.
Anping, watching from his spectator's perspective, was stunned. *Has my imagination upgraded?* he wondered. *How can I dream of someone this good-looking?*
"Good-looking" was too flat a word. It was a beauty that wasn't feminine at all—sharp and breathtaking.
The youth had phoenix eyes. He held his blade, and his aura was like a blade itself. His features were strikingly beautiful, yet his very bones seemed to radiate a sharp, murderous intent. He stood with a back as straight as a ramrod, possessing a grace that felt like wine poured over a blade—chilling yet intoxicating.
While Anping stared in a daze, the passersby seemed mostly accustomed to it. "Young Master Song is down from the mountain?" "Today is the fifth; the study hall is closed." "As expected, these young masters love to fight the moment they leave the mountain." "Ah, youth..."
The youth called "Second" looked like he belonged in a painting, but when he spoke, he was surprisingly grounded. "Finally finished with that damn mess. Let's find a place to drink."
"Wait a moment." The youth on the other side of the bridge fished someone out of the water and said with a grin, "Hey, big brother, do me a favor and bring a message to your young master. This time, I beat him and made him call me 'Dad.' Next time, he’ll have to call me 'Grandpa.' And the time after that, he can bring his own father to kowtow to me. This business of seizing civilian houses—I’ll beat him every time I see it. Tell him to check if his ancestral graves are still intact before he makes a move."
Second listened with impatience. "Fourth, what are you blathering about? Are you done yet?"
"Coming, coming." Fourth tossed the man back into the water with a flick of his wrist. "Drawing your blade once every three days? Then how did you count that pig you slaughtered yesterday..." Just as he reached the middle of the bridge, a crack sounded beneath his feet, followed by a thunderous boom as the entire bridge collapsed.
"...Second, you're too ruthless." Fourth poked his head out of the water. "Just because I mentioned you killing a pig, you had to cleave the bridge?"
"You have the nerve to talk when you ate it too?" Second huffed. "Did I kill that pig to feed the dogs?"
"Ooh, are you angry?" Fourth made a face. "Woof."
"Woof your ancestors." Second curled his lip and hauled the boy out of the water. "Look at the state of you. Forget drinking; let's find a doctor to stitch up your arm."
"It's fine, it's fine. If we go any later, the first song at Guan Shan Yue will have already started... Hey! Why are you doing this again!"
"Stop talking nonsense." Second simply hoisted the boy up, carrying him by his belt. "Doctor first. Next time, I'll just book the whole of Guan Shan Yue for you."
"Then I want Auntie Yue to play mahjong with me!"
"Do you even know the meaning of 'pushing your luck'?"
Anping watched the two of them bicker all the way until they stopped in front of a grand residence. It was an imposing estate with a deep courtyard and two palace lanterns hanging before the vermilion gates. Second didn't go through the main entrance; instead, he turned into a side alley and hammered loudly on a small corner door. "Surname Chai! Are you in?"
"Are you knocking or committing a robbery?" Fourth rolled his eyes. "Whose house is this? What kind of doctor is this rich?"
"The Yao Family, Chai Clan," Second replied. "Neither of us brought money; we can probably put it on credit here."
"Holy shit, put me down! I couldn't afford a Chai doctor even if I sold myself!" Fourth, still dangling by his belt, struggled. "When did you get to know a Chai doctor? Don't tell me you've been scammed!"
"I don't know them, but the Chai Estate has the Ji-min Pharmacy. They treat everyone, regardless of status," Second said. "That fight earlier isn't over. That brat definitely won't give up. I'm going back to beat his father too. You stay here for the night and head back to the mountain tomorrow."
"You're going to beat his father? Let me down! I want to go too!"
While they were at a stalemate, the corner door creaked open. A man dressed as a servant stepped out. "Young masters, have you come for a consultation?"
"Treat him." Second flicked his wrist, tossing the boy directly through the door. "I'll come to pick up the goods tomorrow."
"Rest assured, Young Master." The servant bowed. "It is already late; please come for him tomorrow."
"Second, you stay right there! I'm going too!" Before Fourth could finish, the door was kicked shut.
The servant, seemingly unfazed, smiled and bowed. "This way, Young Master."
The Chai Estate was vast, with deep, quiet courtyards. It seemed to be Fourth's first time there as well. He was led into a medical room where a young boy was grinding herbs. The boy stood up. "Good evening, Young Master. What injury requires attention?"
"Just a few scratches. Sorry to trouble you, little doctor." Fourth rolled up his sleeve. Anping gasped when he saw it—half the boy's arm was covered in blood, the flesh mangled and gruesome. No wonder Second had forced him here. The fabric of his clothes must have been special, as the injury hadn't been visible from the outside.
"There are blade fragments in the wound." The apprentice examined it under a lamp and brought over a wooden tray containing tweezers, needles, and thread. "It will be very painful when I take them out. Would you like an anesthetic?"
"No need. Just stitch it up, little doctor," Fourth said with a wave of his hand. "By the way, does the Chai Estate provide meals? Is there any wine?"
"The Chai Estate forbids dining after the Hour of the Dog." The apprentice worked quickly, already threading the needle. "After the stitches, you must abstain from alcohol and meat for seven days."
Fourth hadn't reacted to the physical pain, but the apprentice's words made his face fall. "Seven days?"
"Your wound is deep. Seven days is the minimum. Please follow the doctor's orders." The apprentice was efficient, removing the fragments, cleaning, and bandaging the wound in one smooth sequence. "You are still young, Young Master. You must take care of yourself for the sake of the long term."
"You have an interesting way of speaking, little doctor." Fourth laughed. "Your medical skills are so refined, and you look even younger than me, yet you sound older than my master."
"You flatter me. I am merely an outer disciple; I have not yet learned the Chai family's core arts." The apprentice packed away the tray and gave a formal bow. "If we speak of medical skill, I do not possess even a fraction of my Young Master's talent."
"I've heard of your Young Master." Fourth grew interested. "Chai Shuxin of the Chai Clan. Practicing medicine at a young age to save the world, with hands that can bring the dying back to life. They say he's a remarkable person."
"The Young Master has a benevolent heart; he is a paragon of healers." The apprentice refused to say more and dutifully saw him to the door.
"Many thanks, little doctor." Fourth returned the bow with a smile, then reached out to ruffle the boy's hair. "You look young; go to sleep early so you'll grow tall."
The apprentice froze, a flash of anger suddenly crossing his face. "I do not require your concern, Young Master." Before the words had even landed, the door to the medical room slammed shut. Before Fourth could ask where he was supposed to stay, he was left staring at the closed door.
"Is he angry?" He rubbed his nose. "Because I called him small? Or because he won't grow tall?"
Fourth knocked, but there was no answer. This was getting interesting. His curiosity was piqued, giving him a perfect excuse to wander around the Chai Estate.
The youth leaped onto the eaves, surveying the surroundings. "These days, everyone in the city is building Western-style villas. It's rare to see such an ancient garden."
The Chai Estate was a classic landscape garden with lush greenery and winding corridors. Fourth snatched a lantern from a beam and swiped a box of pastries from an unknown room, snacking on melon seeds as he strolled. "Pharmacy, study, tea room, pharmacy, pharmacy..." He passed a dozen rooms in a row. "Is this Chai Estate just one giant apothecary? Why is it all pharmacies?"
He had no patience for medicine. He wasn't looking for a pharmacy; he was looking for a kitchen. He had been fighting with Second all day and was famished.
"Are the people here all medicine jars? Do they eat medicine instead of food? ...Aha!" He finally found the kitchen, fully equipped with pots and pans. Fourth peered into a vegetable basket. "No way... where's the meat?!"
He turned the kitchen upside down, finally confirming that the Chai Estate's kitchen contained only vegetables.
This wasn't a house of doctors; it was a nest of monks.
Fourth thought for a moment, then turned left out the door. A pond was nearby. In a few moments, he had scooped out a fish, cleaned it, and put it in a pot with seasonings. He grabbed a few herbs from the neighboring pharmacy to add flavor and nourishment to the soup, and even found a bottle of medicinal wine. He cracked the seal, and the room was instantly filled with a crisp, clear aroma.
A short while later, the fish was cooked. Fourth took the clay pot off the stove and threw a pair of chopsticks toward the door. "Brother, you've been standing there watching for a while. The fish is ready; would you like a bowl of soup?"
"The Chai Estate is strictly guarded. How did you get in?" A figure appeared outside the kitchen. "You even made it past the Nine-Fold Corridor."
"That wasn't hard. By the way, your melon seeds are pretty good." Fourth bit down on a spoon. "Don't be nervous. I'm just being 'stored' here. Someone's coming to pick me up tomorrow morning."
He grinned and held the clay pot out toward the other person, acting completely at home with no sense of being an intruder. "Your Chai Estate rarely touches meat, right? My cooking is excellent—want a taste?"
"...What is that?"
"Red Date and Onion Koi Soup," Fourth said proudly. "Freshly caught from the pond. I specifically picked one with a nice pattern. Look at this pot—so colorful and pretty."
The other person took two steps back. The lantern light under the eaves illuminated his form. He was a youth about the same age as Fourth, with cold, elegant features. He looked down at the clay pot in Fourth's hands.
After a moment of silence, the youth looked up at him. "Koi are not for consumption."
"Huh?"
"One should not eat after the Hour of the Dog."
"What are you talking about?"
"One should not trespass in the kitchen."
"Where is this conversation going?"
"One should not touch medicinal herbs without permission."
"Why are you so stingy?"
"The contents of that pot must not be eaten."
"Fine, if you don't want any, just say so." Fourth waved him off and took a spoonful of the soup himself. "I think it tastes great. Your loss... Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?!" Several flashes of silver light shot toward the pot in Fourth's hands. He barely dodged them. "Does this pot have a grudge against you?"
The other youth didn't answer. With a flick of his hand, several more silver needles flew out. Fourth leaped around the kitchen. "Look, if you want to eat, just say so! Why be shy? Why take it out on the pot? Wait, you can control needles with a flick of your wrist? Are you a member of the main Chai family?"
The boy dodged while continuing to eat, his movements incredibly agile. In no time, the pot was empty. "Stop throwing things! I've finished it!"
The other youth paused. "...You finished it?"
Fourth let out a burp.
*Red Date and Onion Koi Soup.* Anping felt like kneeling in respect. *He actually finished that? What kind of tongue and stomach does he have?*
"One shouldn't exercise vigorously after a meal. You're a healer; have a heart. Let's take it slow." Fourth made a 'time-out' gesture, but another silver needle grazed his temple. "You're still going?! A guest is a guest. Is this how the Chai Estate treats people?"
"Nonsense."
"How about this? How much is your fish? I'll pay you back, okay!"
"That was a Tan-ding Koi. A single one is worth as much as a restaurant."
Fourth choked, the air catching in his throat. After a long pause, he said sincerely, "...In that case, you'd better just treat me as a thief."
The other youth frowned and stopped talking. Seeing that reasoning was impossible, Fourth immediately jumped out the window. One ran, the other chased. "I say, why are you so rigid? I'm still an injured patient. Where's your healer's compassion? Or do you have other motives? What, trying to kidnap a handsome man under the cover of night? I didn't realize you were so calculating at such a young age—holy shit, help!"
Fourth’s skills were honed from years of fighting; his first priority was psychological warfare, and his second was hitting people. Thus, he prattled on incessantly while sprinting, waiting for the other boy to lose his cool and reveal a weakness. Serious people usually had thin skin, and this youth looked particularly noble and refined; he surely wouldn't be able to handle it.
Sure enough, a furious shout came from behind: "Shut up!"
Silver needles rained down like a deluge. This was the moment Fourth had been waiting for. He flicked a handful of copper coins to knock the needles aside, then instead of retreating, he lunged forward. Taking advantage of the other's momentary shock, he swept out a leg, kicking the youth straight into the lake.
"That kick was an old soldier's trick from the army. It's crude but practical—perfect for someone like you. Your style is too orthodox; you can't defend against it."
Fourth sat on the eaves, somehow having produced another handful of melon seeds. "I say, brother, you can't out-talk me and you can't out-fight me. How about we call it a day? We part ways here, okay?"
The lake surface remained calm for a moment, then with a splash, the youth emerged. He walked into the pavilion in the center of the lake, his voice carrying across the water, calm but laced with a chilling frost: "You had better run."
"Run? If I could run from you, would I be sitting here trying to be reasonable?" Fourth glanced across the water, his seed-cracking suddenly stopping. "No way... what's with that look? Are you going to kill me?"
Having grown up on battlefields, he was all too familiar with that look. If they really fought now, someone would end up losing a limb at best, or their life at worst.
"Look, big brother, my arm is still hurt," he tried to negotiate. "Winning like this wouldn't be honorable."
The youth wrung the water from his clothes. "A gentleman may be killed, but not insulted." He removed his white silk gloves. "If you can kill me, you are free to walk out of the Chai Estate. No one will stop you."
The Yao Family, Chai Clan, had been renowned for generations for their medical prowess. For a healer, their greatest asset was a pair of skilled hands. Pulsing and needling both relied on manual dexterity. The Chai Clan had always emphasized the care of their hands; usually, Chai healers wore gloves. There were only two situations in which they would remove them.
Either to save a life, or to take one.
Well, Fourth shut his mouth. Looking at this posture, he wasn't getting away without a fight. This guy was way too petty. It was just some wet clothes; he wasn't a girl, so why the big fuss?
However, he didn't say that out loud, lest the person opposite him explode again. Fine, a fight it is. It wasn't his garden being wrecked anyway, so what was there to fear?
"Fine. If you want to fight, I'll accompany you." Fourth stood up on the eaves, hands behind his back. "Before we start, may I ask your name?"
The two faced each other across the lake under the high, bright moon. The night breeze was cool.
The youth looked at him and said coldly, "Yao Family, Chai Clan: Chai Shuxin."
Fourth startled, then laughed. "So your Excellency is the Young Master of the Chai family. I have long heard of you. To have a battle with you today is a worthy fate."
"From the Mu General's Mansion, of the Tiansuan Sect: Mu Gesheng."
***
**Glossary**
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