Shortly after the confrontation at Tingfeng Hall concluded, Qiu Ling took Li Qiao back to the government courtyard under the pretext of taking a formal statement.
Under Qin Jiuye’s supervision, Li Qiao recounted everything that had transpired from his initial entry into Tingfeng Hall to the events surrounding the Sword Appreciation Assembly. For most of the time, Qin Jiuye simply listened in silence. Occasionally, Qiu Ling would look toward her, and she would offer supplementary details from her perspective as an observer.
Li Qiao’s words were concise. His answers possessed the meticulous, watertight quality of a servant from a great noble house. He mostly reported results, glossing over the intricacies of the process—much like how he had omitted many details of what had occurred between him and Qiu Ling on the island that night. Qiu Ling did not press him on these specifics either. The three of them maintained a tacit understanding, leaving the undercurrents of the past unspoken.
To improve everyone’s fare, Lu Zican brought some equipment from his noodle stall back to the courtyard, and they gathered for a simple meal.
There weren't enough bowls or chopsticks, and the table wasn't large enough to accommodate everyone at once. They had to take turns eating. Xu Qiuchi forced his way in, only to be the first one asked to leave after complaining about the quality of the food. The commotion didn't settle down until well past midnight.
The old dog on the street, perhaps having not seen the courtyard so lively in a long time, barked until dawn, making everyone too irritable to sleep.
Or perhaps, everyone was harboring their own private thoughts. The restless clamor of the long night was merely a reflection of their shared anxiety and uncertainty toward the unknown.
The next morning, Qin Jiuye followed the group back to the courtyard that had been razed by fire.
She had imagined countless times what it would be like to step into this courtyard openly and honorably, but she had never imagined it would be under these circumstances.
After her emotional breakdown with Qin Sanyou, she had moved past that internal hurdle. Though her heart still ached occasionally, she was much calmer. Among Qin Sanyou’s many convoluted life philosophies, the most useful was "acceptance." She had learned to accept everything that had happened, though she had no intention of resigning herself to fate.
By unspoken agreement, no one asked about her history with the courtyard, yet she still disclosed everything she knew. After helping identify the original layout, she joined Lu Zican and the others in clearing the charred ground and walls, attempting to reconstruct the events of this nameless little yard from the meager traces remaining.
According to the property agent, the yard had been vacant for many years. He rarely bothered to maintain it, only occasionally checking the lock on the gate. He had never noticed any issues and had no idea when the "dove had occupied the magpie's nest." Thus, Qin Jiuye’s testimony became crucial. She recalled that her last visit to the yard was shortly after the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, but she had only sat on the wall for a night without entering the yard, so she couldn't be certain of the situation then. However, if Ding Miao had begun his operations shortly after inspecting the property, the yard could have been occupied in secret as early as three months ago.
Qiu Ling suspected that the items Liang Shian had transported came from this yard. However, the rooms appeared to have been emptied, and the fire had left them blackened. They could only find a few charred ceramic shards among the ashes, though it was unclear if they were original to the house or related to the fire. At first glance, the rooms were empty save for the charcoal remains of wooden frames, but Qiu Ling discovered something suspicious through the patterns of the fallen ash.
They pried up the floor tiles and discovered several square, empty chambers beneath the ground. At the bottom lay human remains. Based on a rough assessment, Qin Jiuye estimated they belonged to over a dozen people. The chambers were separated by rammed earth, resembling cellars. In this way, even if people passed by during the day, they would hear nothing. Even the property agent could walk through the rooms without noticing anything amiss unless he conducted a thorough inspection.
The large tree where people had been hanged had collapsed. The blood of the nameless had seeped deep into the earth, and the fire had erased all traces, as if those injustices and perils had never existed.
Before leaving the courtyard, Qin Jiuye touched the fallen old camphor tree.
When Su Lin had been brought to this yard under guard, it was during the spring months. The seeds from the previous year’s camphor fruit had fallen after the rain, creating a sticky mess underfoot. The strange scent he had smelled must have been the odor of the camphor seeds. When Su Lin had recounted this experience, there was one thing she couldn't understand: if the person spreading the secret formula didn't want Su Lin to know too much—communicating only through letters and even blindfolding him on the night he collected the formula—why was it necessary to bring him to this specific yard? The white bones Du Shaoheng found at the bottom of the pit gave her a different perspective.
Based on the circumstances surrounding the Su Manor case, He Yuanzhou had required the blood of live chickens to sustain his life, eventually killing Kang Renshou out of dissatisfaction. If more than one infected person had been held in the chambers beneath this yard, the situation would have been far worse.
Perhaps before Su Lin was invited, several others had already visited this yard. They simply weren't as lucky as Su Lin; not only did they fail to receive the life-saving "secret formula," but they also became fodder to feed the monsters.
The Su family and even the Fangwai Monastery were merely the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the calm and peaceful surface of Jiugao City, dark vines had long been growing frantically—that was the chilling truth.
What was so special about Su Lin that he was chosen? Unlike the formula in Yuan Shuqing’s box, the formula Su Lin received was likely freshly drawn blood from a patient, which was immediately fed to He Yuanzhou upon his return. Did this blood change over time once it left the human body? Was it the same as the formula mixed into the wine on Qionghu Island?
From He Yuanzhou to Li Qiao, and then to those nameless infected on the ship, everything pointed to a terrifying fact: the time it took for those infected by the formula to fall ill seemed to be shortening. Was this the purpose of Mr. Ding’s secret experiments? Li Qiao’s existence had become the key to verifying all of this.
Using the Manor Under Heaven as an excuse, Qiu Ling forbade Li Qiao from moving about outside. Qin Jiuye knew that while Qiu Ling had removed his physical shackles, he had not lowered his guard. She had no right to interfere; all she could do was use her identity as a physician to accelerate her research into the secret formula, striving to solve the mystery as soon as possible.
With the case at Tingfeng Hall reaching a temporary conclusion, she took the opportunity to ask about the Dalu Brew she had entrusted to Lu Zican. She also began to worry about the ships carrying the sick, asking Lu Zican when she could go see them. He only said it would be soon—that when the time came, the Protector would invite her with a grand procession even if she didn't want to go.
Strangely, after the storm on the night of the Blade-Tempering Ceremony, the entire Longshu region seemed to have opened its floodgates, entering a long and torrential rainy season. The rainfall was heavier than in previous years. Some elders in the city looked at the sky and spoke of the floods in Yuzhou twenty-two years ago with worried expressions, fearing that the price of rice would be even higher next year.
Several places downstream of the Feng and Huan Rivers were flooded again. Among the docks near Jiugao, only Xiuting Dock remained stable due to early precautions. Song Tuo grew more diligent by the day, looking a full circle thinner, yet his eyes were brighter than before. Qiu Ling hired an artist to produce a portrait based on Qin Jiuye’s description and took it to him for identification. As soon as Song Tuo saw the portrait, he nodded, confirming that the man was indeed the bamboo buyer who had borrowed the dock.
Everything seemed to be gradually becoming clearer, yet everything also seemed to be growing more blurred.
Qin Jiuye was almost certain that Mr. Ding was the culprit behind this "great illness." But she still didn't understand why he was doing this, nor did she know his ultimate goal.
Occasionally, in the deep of the night, she would recall the scenes on the flower boat that evening—his behavior and the hidden meanings in his words—finally settling on the moment he handed her the handkerchief.
She didn't believe it was a handkerchief returned to its owner by chance. But she couldn't fathom the true intention behind his action. She had many guesses, but none seemed sufficient to explain a person who radiated such madness amidst his loneliness.
He came from nothingness, just like the secret formula itself, wearing a disguise that was difficult to penetrate. Only on the day the truth was fully revealed would the sole answer be found.
Two days later, the last batch of constables guarding the scene withdrew from Sijiao Street. Lu Zican sent word to Qin Jiuye that the next day was an auspicious date to send Old Tang on his final journey. Yet, when the day of the funeral arrived, it was another day of continuous, drizzling rain.
Qin Jiuye had thought about waiting a bit longer, but everyone in the city who knew Old Tang said they had never seen him with any relatives. Since no family or friends would arrive even if they delayed for a few more days, it was better to let him rest in peace sooner.
Old Tang’s departure was relatively composed.
He had organized all the messages in the hall that hadn't been delivered yet, leaving not a single scrap of extra paper. He had sent them out one by one a few days in advance. For the few messages that truly had no one to claim them, he had carefully sealed them in a lacquered wooden box—resistant to fire and moisture—and placed it under the incense altar in the main hall with the divine statues, estimating they could be preserved for a long time.
Old Tang’s departure was also somewhat hurried.
The entirety of Tingfeng Hall was dirt poor. He had raised a golden toad for years, yet in the end, he hadn't even saved enough for his own coffin. His burial clothes were altered from a second-hand shop across the street; the shoes on his feet and the hat on his head were cobbled together by neighbors. Even the coffin was sent by Manager Ma of Juxian Restaurant. It was said that back when she and Tang Shenyan were fighting tooth and nail in Jiugao City, they had both prepared coffins for each other; now, it was a bargain for Old Tang to use it first.
Though Tingfeng Hall was small, it was a place of the *jianghu*. Though Old Tang was timid, he was a man of the *jianghu*.
According to the customs of the *jianghu*, a funeral must not witness officials or killing. Thus, neither the Qiu family nor Li Qiao were present.
Constrained by the state of Old Tang’s purse, the funeral rites had to be simplified. The sacrificial feast was omitted, and there was no music. Had she not found four or five helpers from her old acquaintances on Bobo Street, they wouldn't even have had enough pallbearers.
As the sky was just beginning to brighten, the group gathered in silence at Tingfeng Hall. They offered a final cup of tea to heaven and earth, preparing to set out.
When Qin Jiuye led the others in lifting the coffin out of the main house, the rain was falling heavily, quickly forming puddles on the uneven ground of the courtyard.
The polished old rattan chair sat in the rain in the courtyard, swaying gently in the wind. It seemed as if his shadow still lingered there, basking in the sun and drinking tea.
Perhaps because it was soaked by the rain, Qin Jiuye felt the funeral rope on her shoulder growing heavier and heavier, and the path to the gate seemed to grow longer and longer.
The group of people, varying in height and pace, finally brought the coffin to the main gate. Suddenly, the sound of a carriage and horses echoed outside. Someone arrived through the rain, jumped down from the carriage, and stood outside the door, bowing respectfully.
"I am from the Tang family of Lingbei. I have come specifically to escort Mr. Tang on his way."
Everyone in the courtyard was stunned. It took a moment for them to realize that the carriage parked outside was there to collect the coffin.
Qin Jiuye’s gaze swept over the unremarkable carriage before stopping on the round-faced man outside. She showed no intention of letting go of the rope.
"Old Tang has family? How is it that I didn't know?"
"Clansmen from the ancestral home. We did not visit often."
"If you did not visit often, how did you receive the news of his death and arrive so quickly?"
The round-faced man paused, then looked up, his gaze calm.
"Though we did not visit often, our correspondence never ceased."
The moment she saw the expression on his face, Qin Jiuye instantly understood who was standing before her.
"The message he sent before he died... it was for you."
The man did not deny it, merely looking at her calmly.
"Mr. Tang was a man of loyalty and righteousness. He will have his place in the records of the *jianghu*."
After the initial shock came a wave of sorrowful anger. Had she not seen Tang Shenyan’s corpse with her own eyes, Qin Jiuye felt his casual remark wouldn't have provoked her so much.
She truly didn't understand. Since these people could come to collect his bones, why couldn't they have saved his life?
"Since you could rush here, it means you were nearby, doesn't it? If so, why didn't you lend a hand that day? Wasn't he one of yours? What leverage did you have over him that forced him to risk his life for you and end up like this?!"
Her voice was still somewhat raspy, but even the sound of the rain could not dilute her confusion and rage. Tang Yue’s broad face showed no sign of offense; he only said in a low voice:
"You are a physician, so you should understand that illness comes as it will. Once you have been in this trade long enough, there will always be patients you cannot save. As for Mr. Tang’s choice back then, perhaps you can only get an answer by asking him yourself."
Her entry into the *jianghu* was triggered by the secret formula. What was the occasion that brought Old Tang into the *jianghu*?
Qin Jiuye didn't know. She only knew that Old Tang’s old bones had finally been scattered in these turbulent waters.
"The room is near, but the person is far, leaving only sorrow. He is already gone; can't you just let him be?"
There was a hint of pleading in her voice. Hearing this, Tang Yue lowered his head.
"Mr. Tang originally came from afar. Now that he has found liberation, he should return to that distant place. My young master is honoring his request from years ago to invite him on this final journey." As he spoke, he took an old, thin piece of paper from his person and handed it over. "This is the deed to Tingfeng Hall, signed by Mr. Tang himself years ago. I leave it to you to dispose of today. This path has no return; if you have any unspoken words, you may say them now."
Qin Jiuye took the thin sheet of paper. She opened her mouth, but the thousands of words that usually lingered in her heart wouldn't come out.
She had known Old Tang since his first year in Jiugao. Aside from her, there was almost no one else in or out of the city who shared such a long friendship with him. Yet, she seemed to know nothing about him—neither where he came from, nor where he was going, and certainly not what kind of unyielding soul was hidden behind that slightly timid, smiling old face.
Before this carriage appeared at the gate of Tingfeng Hall, she hadn't been without curiosity regarding the secrets and stories Old Tang carried. But the moment they actually came knocking, she felt that probing those secrets held little meaning.
The wind emerges from the valley, appearing out of thin air.
Since he had arrived with such ease, he naturally wouldn't have any lingering attachments when it was time to leave.
She knew she was destined to be unable to keep Old Tang.
But what did it matter? The person she knew was Tang Shenyan, the Master of Tingfeng Hall on Shouqi Street in southern Jiugao City, not the "Iron Mouth" Tang Xiao who lived in the bloody legends of the *jianghu*. She didn't feel that the Old Tang she knew was merely a fictional front. Compared to those distant memories and the accounts of others, she trusted the bits and pieces of her years spent with him more.
After a moment of silence, Qin Jiuye spoke slowly.
"If possible, please send a ledger he once wrote back to Tingfeng Hall in the future. When I have nothing to do, I will read a passage from it, as if he were still here telling stories."
"A simple task. It is a promise."
After Tang Yue spoke, he bowed solemnly. The two drivers on the carriage behind him stepped forward efficiently and took Tang Shenyan’s coffin, loading it onto the carriage in a pre-arranged spot.
"The journey is long and cannot be delayed. A friendship of gold and stone is hard to find, but the distance of the *jianghu* is ever-present. Since you are Mr. Tang’s friend, we may meet again in the future. Please restrain your grief and take care. Farewell."
The man did not linger. He turned and jumped onto the carriage, shouting as they headed toward the mouth of the alley.
The people in the courtyard stood looking at each other, seemingly unable to recover from this sudden scene.
Qin Jiuye stood still for a moment, then suddenly stepped out of the gate and looked in the direction the carriage had left.
Old Tang had told so many stories of grand scenes—of swords and horses, of rising and falling tides—yet in the end, he left in a carriage, encased in a wooden box.
She didn't know if this was the ending Old Tang would have liked, but she couldn't bear to look away, wishing only that the telling of this final chapter could be longer, just a bit longer...
As if the heavens had heard her inner prayer, in the next instant, dozens of figures emerged from beneath the narrow eaves on both sides of the alley. There were some familiar faces among them.
They were the *jianghu* travelers who often loitered in front of Tingfeng Hall, chatting, scratching their feet, and cursing at the street. Men and women, old and young, they all stepped out from their shelters into the muddy water of the back alley. Once they stood firm in the rain, they all turned their gazes toward the carriage carrying the coffin. As the carriage passed them, they bowed their heads in respect.
The salutes they performed were all different, distinguished not only by sect but even by regional styles from the north, south, east, and west. The rain soaked them through, making them look somewhat bedraggled. In the past, such a scene would have seemed somewhat comical, but at this moment, no one laughed.
No one knew where they had heard the news, nor why they had come. Like the rain that arrived on schedule every year, it fell when it should, and after falling, it dispersed and flowed away; there was no need to investigate it closely.
Perhaps all his life, Old Tang had merely been pursuing such a moment of tranquility—where everyone was waiting for him to begin, and everyone was waiting for him to finish.
If the sound of the rain could tell the story for him, then everyone would listen to the rain in silence.
After a long while, the shadow of the carriage carrying the coffin completely disappeared. Among the shifting figures, someone sang out loudly:
*"Where is the land of the Artemisia Village? It gathers souls, whether wise or foolish..."*
It was unclear who started the tune, or who took it up in tacit agreement.
*"Why does the Lord of Ghosts urge so quickly? Human life must not hesitate for long..."*
"Manager Tang, the road of the *jianghu* is long. We part here!"
As one voice fell, a chorus of voices rose together, the sound filling the rainy sky.
"The road of the *jianghu* is long. We part here!"
The farewell song rose and fell, echoing from one end of the narrow alley to the other, finally bursting out of the alley mouth and dissipating into the vast mist and rain.
On the night of the funeral, Lu Zican took the lead in setting a table, saying that since they couldn't do their best during the day, they would prepare some good food and wine to see Old Tang off on his final journey. Everyone responded to the news, appearing even more enthusiastic than when they went to collect their wages. Even Jinbao was brought over.
Qin Jiuye understood this sentiment because she was part of it. The consecutive days of the Sword Appreciation Assembly had kept everyone’s nerves taut, but a string pulled too tight will snap. Everyone perhaps just wanted to take the opportunity to relax and rest for a moment. Even Qiu Ling said nothing more, only reminding everyone that there was work to do tomorrow and they must not let alcohol interfere with their duties.
Li Qiao was left alone at the government courtyard. These past few days, he had hardly left his room. According to Lu Zican, the heat hadn't died down yet, and to avoid disturbing the people from the Manor Under Heaven, one couldn't be too careful.
Before leaving, she felt a bit guilty, like the feeling of sneaking out to catch fish as a child without taking Jinbao. The youth, however, appeared very calm, only saying he would wait for her return. Then he reminded her to be more observant, because the people who came to collect Old Tang were followers of Young Master Yan, which meant Chuanliu Academy might still be watching them in secret.
Qin Jiuye paused for a moment before realizing what he was saying.
When she was at the funeral at Tingfeng Hall, Li Qiao had been watching from the shadows the entire time.
Poor Lu Zican was performing his duties diligently, yet this "prisoner" locked in the room had already gone and returned. She felt that Qiu Ling’s wariness and suspicion of Li Qiao were indeed not without reason. As for the name Chuanliu Academy, she felt no great waves in her heart upon hearing it.
Old Tang had been exposed because of the secret formula. Currently, the forces involved in this matter in the *jianghu*, aside from themselves and the Manor Under Heaven, were only Chuanliu Academy.
Chuanliu Academy was able to gather the fastest, most accurate, and most secret news in the *jianghu* by relying on a widespread and discreet information network. This required how many inns, stables, eateries, and teahouses hidden in the markets and mountains...
In countless nameless *jianghu* worlds like Jiugao, there were many more nameless people like Old Tang. Unlike the titles of those great heroes on the *Jianghu* Rankings, their names might never be known, yet this *jianghu* water clearly could not do without them.
A hero’s blade will rust, a hero’s straw sandals will wear out, and a hero will also suffer from headaches, fevers, and stomach troubles. But in the years of bright blades and swift vengeance, those faces that are too ordinary will not be remembered.
After much thought, Qin Jiuye solemnly placed the thin land deed under the incense altar in the divine hall, along with the box containing the messages. She also found the swallow lantern that had already been made in Old Tang’s room, relit it, and hung it back on the back door facing the street. She was the last to leave Tingfeng Hall, locking the courtyard behind her.
She didn't want everyone to be overcome with grief by the scenery, so she didn't set the feast in the Tingfeng Hall courtyard. Instead, she set up a temporary space at Lu Zican’s noodle stall.
The market in the east of the city had already closed for the night. Aside from nearby residents, few people were moving about. A few diners looking for food wandered through the nearby alleys. In the flickering lamplight, the noisy whispers from various houses could be heard faintly.
The water in the large pot boiled again and again, wine jars were emptied one after another, and plates of salted beans were peeled one by one, yet everyone’s words grew fewer and fewer.
This was supposed to be a feast to see off Old Tang, but because everyone was careful not to mention the matters of Tingfeng Hall, the atmosphere naturally grew cold.
Finally, Duan Xiaozhou put down his wine bowl and said he didn't believe that on the fifth day of the fifth month, everyone could chat until the sky turned dark and then part on bad terms.
Qin Jiuye smiled faintly, then told him that the person who could talk the most on the fifth day was already gone; it was normal that the rest of them couldn't get a conversation going.
Lu Zican couldn't hold back any longer. He pulled Duan Xiaozhou and began to talk about the events of the fifth day of the fifth month. As he spoke, he actually began to wipe away tears. Seeing this, Jinbao was also reminded of his grief. Old Tang’s death was a murder case; when Qiu Ling went to find Qin Sanyou earlier, he hadn't specifically mentioned it. Jinbao had only just found out, and his emotions were running high. Qin Jiuye tried to comfort them both but failed, so she simply let the two of them cry on each other's shoulders while she slipped away to the side. After checking the time, she intended to leave the table.
However, just as she stood up, a leg wrapped in splints and stripped of its boot was thrust in front of her. Xu Qiuchi’s lazy voice followed from behind her.
"I walked a few extra steps to attend the feast tonight, and the injured bone hurts terribly. Manager Qin has a divine touch; if you have a moment, why not take a look for me? Consider it a way to repay my kindness."
Qin Jiuye stared at his face, which looked shrewd despite the drunken haze. She was almost certain he had guessed her true reason for wanting to leave and was intentionally making things difficult for her.
After the Sword Appreciation Assembly, Li Qiao’s identity was an open secret, and the relationship between her and Li Qiao was becoming increasingly intriguing. If they could have claimed to be siblings before, now it was neither right nor proper. No one around them mentioned it, but that didn't mean they hadn't noticed.
Sensing the dandy’s malicious intent, Qin Jiuye didn't want to avoid the matter. But just as she was about to strike back, she suddenly felt the surroundings grow quiet. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that the group who had been dead drunk a moment ago were all pricking up their ears, pretending to be unconscious while eavesdropping.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Jiuye slowly sat back down. She reached out both hands and slowly touched his leg, asking in a sinister voice:
"Does the Second Young Master know what specialty I relied on to establish my own practice?"
Xu Qiuchi was completely unaware of the approaching danger, shaking his other leg in his usual young master fashion.
"I heard from Brother Situ that your needlework is quite good..."
"What does he know?" Qin Jiuye grinned, her hands gripping his bone fiercely. "My best skill is bone-setting!"
Before her voice could fade, a crisp *crack* was heard. Xu Qiuchi’s eyes suddenly widened.
Accompanied by a miserable scream from Xu, a red figure instantly rushed in. Seeing her young master writhing by the wine table, Jiang Xin'er’s expression changed immediately.
"Young Master!"
Xu Qiuchi was at death's door.
"My leg... my leg is broken again..."
Qin Jiuye brushed the dust off her hands and finished his sentence for him.
"The leg was broken, but it’s been reset. If you don't stay still and keep moving around, you'll have to go through this again next time."
Xu Qiuchi was so angry he sat up like a "stiff corpse," pointing at her forehead. Before he could start cursing, Jiang Xin'er pressed him back down.
"If the Young Master still won't listen to advice, don't blame Xin'er for being impolite."
Xu Qiuchi was stunned, seemingly not expecting his own person to turn against him.
Qin Jiuye laughed, feeling quite pleased.
"Bone-setting requires this kind of force. If it’s too light, it won't be in place, and you'll be lame in the future." As she spoke, she glanced at his trouser leg and whispered to Jiang Xin'er, "Today is a good opportunity. Miss Jiang, help me hold him down. I'll give him a thorough inspection while I'm at it."
Xu Qiuchi immediately trembled. Before he could voice his refusal, the leg that had just been "devastated" was grabbed again. Qin Jiuye gave an evil smile, and her "demon claws" instantly rolled up his ornate trouser leg.
But the moment she saw the leg, she was suddenly stunned.
The place where he had been injured by the falling debris was already improving; only the scraped skin looked a bit frightening and would need some time to scab and heal. However, there was another deep scar on his ankle that looked years old. When she had hurriedly treated his injury before, she hadn't noticed it. Now, staring at it, she felt strangely dazed.
"This ankle of yours..."
Xu Qiuchi blinked. The half-dead, whimpering expression from a moment ago seemed to vanish instantly.
"I fell off a horse when I was a child."
Qin Jiuye’s heart stirred again. Her hands didn't stop, taking a clean white cloth dipped in wine to clean the wound.
"The bone-setting skill was decent. Although the treatment was a bit crude, seeing you walk freely now, it was handled quite well."
The fine cotton dipped in wine rubbed against the wound. The man who had been screaming just from taking off a boot suddenly grew quiet. After a long while, he said slowly:
"It’s no wonder you think so, because you were the one who set it."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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岭北唐家 | Lingbei Tang Family | A martial arts family from the Lingbei region.
川流院 | Chuanliu Academy | A mysterious organization known for gathering intelligence (Chuanliu Yuan).
公子琰 | Young Master Yan | A high-ranking figure associated with Chuanliu Academy.
唐啸 | Tang Xiao | Old Tang's real name/title in the martial world, known as "Iron Mouth."
正骨 | Bone-setting | A traditional Chinese medical technique for treating fractures and dislocations.
蒿里行 | Song of Artemisia Village | A traditional Chinese funeral dirge (Hao Li Ge).
绋绳 | Funeral rope | The ropes used by pallbearers to carry a coffin.
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