Once mid-spring passed, spring in Jiugao could be said to have truly taken hold.
The earth grew soft, the grass shot up, and the roadside wildflowers were on the verge of blooming in vast, colorful swaths. The air carried the faint, fresh scent of soil, marred only by the rain-soaked roads. Churned into mud by horses and further pulverized by carriage wheels, the paths were a genuine ordeal for outsiders unfamiliar with the terrain.
On the official road leading directly to the city of Jiugao, a small caravan was currently struggling through the fresh greenery and deep mire.
The moment the carriage lurched to a halt, the man resting inside with his eyes closed knew exactly what had happened.
This was the third time a wheel had become mired. Seeing the city gates finally in sight, Lord Liao took several deep breaths before lifting the curtain, climbing down, and stepping directly into the fresh mud of Jiugao.
He was here on imperial orders; his feet were bound to get dirty sooner or later. Everyone knew that Jiugao was currently like a die rattling inside a gambler’s cup—no one knew if the outcome would be high or low, win or loss. His master clearly didn't pity him, sending him on this personal trek. Fortunately, his relationship with the Governor of Jiao State had always been good. Having soldiers for protection was better than walking into a trap alone. His silk robes, embroidered with gold and silver, were no match for the teeth of those madmen. The young whelps under his command were probably itching for him to die before completing his mission; he couldn't afford to make things easy for them.
At this thought, he grew even more cautious. He tightened the soft armor he had requested, straightened his back, and walked forward, his lips pressed thin as he looked at the sundial erected high before the city gates.
The sunlight shifted from a slant to a vertical drop, and the shadow on the sundial gradually cast a straight angle.
The spring breeze blew against him, carrying the breath of vibrant life, yet the expression on his face was that of a man heroically facing death. His voice was dry and tight.
"The hour has come. Open the gates!"
Layers of chevaux-de-frise and road barriers were moved aside. The towering city gates groaned open with a thunderous rumble, shaking loose a winter’s worth of dust that billowed into a cloud higher than the city walls.
Ten thousand elite soldiers stood as if facing a great enemy. The leading commander held a torch, ready at any moment to light the signal fires. However, as the dust slowly settled, the Leitian Boulevard behind the gates was revealed to be completely empty.
"Where is everyone? Are they all dead?" Liao Bi coughed as he peered inside, then shook his head, though he didn't seem overly surprised. "General, please lead the elites of the Left and Right Battalions into the city first to scout the situation. Every sight and sound must be recorded in detail; I shall have much to report to His Majesty later..."
As he spoke, he noticed the expression on the General’s face change. Not just the General, but the soldiers behind him seemed to have sensed something as well, all looking toward the city gates in unison.
Belatedly, Lord Liao turned around. At the far end of Leitian Boulevard, a small black dot appeared to be approaching.
The dot was so tiny that it took a long time before it drew close enough to be recognized as a human figure. No one dared to move, waiting until the figure slowly trudged up to them. When they realized it was just a little girl in a pink padded jacket, they lowered their guard slightly.
The elderly eunuch’s palms were sweating. He took several deep breaths to steady himself before gesturing to his subordinates and taking a tentative step forward. He came bearing the Emperor’s will, representing the face of the Imperial House. Even if a man-eating tiger emerged, he had to stand his ground.
"Who goes there? State your nam—"
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the sound of the girl blowing her nose. She stuffed her handkerchief into her sleeve, plucked a blade of grass from behind her ear, and held it high in front of him.
"Shopkeeper Qin told me to give this to you."
The wild grass in the girl’s hand was dusty and greyish-white. Atop a few leaves sat a cluster of fuzzy spikes. Aside from the strange color, it looked no different from the common foxtail grass found everywhere by the roadside.
Liao Bi stared fixedly at the grass for a long while before speaking dryly.
"What is this? Where is your Shopkeeper Qin? When His Majesty made this spring appointment with her, she personally promised to grow the Divine Herb. Could it be that she failed and pushed a child out to take the blame?"
He knew it. That village woman was utterly untrustworthy. Now the Wild Fragrance was nowhere to be seen, and who knew what state the city was in? In the end, they would be the ones cleaning up the mess. With ten thousand troops behind him, he couldn't exactly scold a child no taller than a table in front of everyone, so his expression grew increasingly grim.
"Don't you want the Wild Fragrance?" the girl’s crisp voice rang out again, her tone laced with annoyance. "I accepted two taels of sugar cakes and took on Shopkeeper Qin’s commission. I didn't even go to see the excitement at the Qingyang Fair just to wait here for you. If you don't want it, give it back!"
The little thing was actually getting angry, reaching out to snatch the foxtail grass back.
Liao Bi quickly held his hand high, staring at the seemingly ordinary weed with a look of suspicion and uncertainty.
"You... you mean to say this is the Wild Fragrance?"
The little girl puffed out her cheeks, her face showing a hint of disdain.
"Of course. How can you not recognize the Wild Fragrance? You're worse than a three-year-old."
The ten thousand armored soldiers stood as still as statues. Seeing this, the General holding the torch stepped closer and shouted.
"In my opinion, we must be cautious. This is clearly a common weed. How could it be the Wild Fragrance?"
"Then you tell me, what does the Wild Fragrance look like?"
The dignified General hadn't expected to be questioned back. He was speechless for a long moment before saying indignantly, "You're asking me? How should I know? Shouldn't your Shopkeeper Qin..."
Before he could finish, the little girl began to recite, swaying her head from side to side.
"The Wild Fragrance is a thing without fixed form or constraint. Born in the mortal realm, it is a small grass; born in foul earth, it can flower and bear fruit, becoming the Wild Fragrance. Though it is highly toxic, it can also cure stubborn ailments. It is the secret formula that unlocks secret formulas."
Having finished the last word, she seemed to lose all patience for chatting with these blockheads. She turned around and vanished toward the city gates like a puff of smoke.
Whether it was true or false, auspicious or ill-omened, they would know once they entered the city.
Liao Bi gave a meaningful look and, emboldened by the massive force behind him, began the grand march into the city.
The wild grass outside the gates had grown tall, obscuring the view as they drew closer. Just as he was feeling uneasy, he suddenly heard a rustling sound from the surrounding brush. In the next moment, countless figures carrying poles, leading donkeys, or riding oxen emerged from the grass in all directions.
He couldn't see where these people had come from, nor could he tell if these "unruly subjects" were remnants of the Peerless Manor that had yet to be eradicated. He felt like a single grain of rice caught in a flood, instantly losing contact with the guards he had brought.
Dialects from all over the country buzzed in his ears. After enduring it for a long time, he finally couldn't help but roar, "Something happened in this city just last winter! Don't you people know? Why are you still crowding inside?!"
"Of course we heard!" the person closest to him shouted back, his voice even louder than Liao Bi's. "Jiugao has grown the Wild Fragrance! That’s a huge event. If we don't come to see for ourselves if it's true, how can we keep working in this trade?"
The "huge event" they spoke of was clearly not the same one Liao Bi had in mind. He was stunned, and after a moment, he frowned and reminded them, "There were other things regarding the Wild Fragrance before. Otherwise, why would the gates have been closed for three months..."
Before he could finish, he was pushed to the back.
"Aren't they open now? Though it was a bit delayed, the timing is right; it hasn't ruined anything."
"If I hadn't heard the rumors and rushed here half a month ago, I really would have missed it."
"You didn't tell anyone else, did you? Rare things are valuable. Everyone who made it here stands to profit; the more people there are to share, the less each person earns."
The scene before him was entirely different from what he had imagined. The eunuch from the capital stood dumbfounded, squeezed among the martial arts wanderers. His nose was filled with the smell of fur, sweat, and dust, and he could no longer suppress his disgust.
Even if the sky fell, it wouldn't stop these opportunistic bottom-feeders of the martial world from chasing silver. Truly a bunch of vulgar commoners, petty and grasping, Lord Liao thought with resentment and disdain. Before he could figure out how to extricate himself, someone behind him began to urge him impatiently.
"Are you moving or not? If not, step aside."
The speaker pushed past him rudely, not waiting for a response.
The crowd surged forward, and Lord Liao was swept along against his will. He had entered the palace at age six and had walked before the Emperor since thirteen, serving two monarchs. Every day he dealt with His Majesty, the Consorts, or high officials. When had he ever been squeezed together with such coarse people? He was pressed so hard he could barely breathe and almost wanted to scream, but the clamor drowned out everything. His dissatisfaction was swallowed up in an instant, and he became completely integrated into this human tide.
If Jiugao at this moment was an open bag, then those pouring out were headed for the official roads and docks, while those pouring in were all headed for the southern part of the city.
In previous years, the Qingyang Fair was mostly of interest to those in shady businesses, but this year was different. The wanderers from all corners of the world brought not only novelties but also spring and vitality into the city. Men, women, young, and old crowded the streets to join the excitement. It wasn't because they were forgetful, but because the clouds of the strange illness that once shrouded the city had dispersed along with the rumors of the Wild Fragrance. Life itself was grueling enough; who would dwell on such unpleasant pasts for no reason? Naturally, if one could move forward, one would.
However, they were not the true patrons of the dark market, nor would they find the "market within the market" hidden in its depths. The martial world peddlers whispered to each other while moving goods, exchanging intelligence. Their talk was of this year’s prices, whether the officials were making arrests, and when exactly the Baoshen Pavilion would open this year. Qiongwei Alley was sealed off, but new fish-skin lanterns had quietly been lit in some corner. No one spoke of it openly, and no one asked too many questions. After all, opening in a different location every year to dodge the authorities was a tradition of the Baoshen Pavilion. Anyone who didn't respect that tradition wasn't fit to fish in these murky waters.
In fact, there had been rumors a month ago that the master behind Baoshen Pavilion was long dead and the dark market could no longer continue. After all, the entire martial world had changed; what was one small Baoshen Pavilion? Yet as spring arrived, the rumors shifted again. It was spring, after all—who didn't want a bit more anticipation and hope?
On Youyang Street in the north of the city, the carriages of wealthy families had already rushed out in the first wave after the gates opened. Aside from a few scattered pedestrians, the street was peaceful and serene.
The second son of Commander Qiu was a man of great ability. Though he had taken command in a crisis, his methods were comparable to an old official who had served half a lifetime. He was far superior to that Governor Fan who had been fed to the fishes. The people of Jiugao were also brave; not only had they restored the chaotic streets to their original state in just three months, but they had also worked together to capture all the bandits in the city. Guarding the granary of the Governor’s manor, they had spent the winter in peace, finding their closed-door days quite flavorful.
However, the more orderly the city became, the more it highlighted the disheveled state of the eunuch bearing the imperial decree.
His toes had been stepped on until they throbbed. Liao Bi looked down; though his shoes were covered in footprints, at least he still had both of them. He adjusted his belt and silently recited his mission. Using his saliva, he smoothed his stray hairs back into his cap. Despite his efforts, his face still bore a look of misfortune, lacking the majesty he possessed before entering the city.
Fortunately, the entire street was very quiet. No one stopped to stare at this bedraggled outsider. He left his guards at the street corner and took only two trusted confidants toward the final destination of this trip.
While the south of the city was so lively, the courtyard before him was so quiet it seemed as if no one had ever lived there. He waited at the door for a moment, but no gatekeeper or servant came to answer. He had no choice but to ascend the steps himself. Just as he was about to strike the door knocker, the door creaked open from within. A face he hadn't seen in years, weathered and almost unrecognizable, appeared unexpectedly before him.
The wind blew into the courtyard through the palm-wide gap, fluttering the stray hairs on the aging General’s forehead and stirring the silt of deep memories. He slowly raised his eyes, as if looking through this single glance at the most painful and unforgettable scene in his dormant memories.
The beacon fires of the isolated city had not yet dispersed; the souls of ten thousand soldiers could not find peace.
The setting sun was behind him; the dark shadows were before him.
The voice of the eunuch proclaiming the decree reached his ears from afar, every word as clear as a knife carving into his mind.
"...Specially appointed to the post of Water-Stabilizing Commander, to oversee water conservancy and promote river affairs. Specially bestowed one set of gold-thread soft armor, three pecks of precious pearls, and one thousand taels of gold. From this day forth, enter the city of Jiugao to exercise the duties of water stabilization. The matter of water control is a long and arduous road; without an imperial order, you shall not leave the city on your own..."
Everything had been settled. The bloodstains had congealed on his helmet. The wind blew, shaking the last drop of blood from his hair to stain a small patch of earth before him. The eunuch’s boots, so clean they were untainted by a speck of dust, instinctively took half a step back.
"Though this Moon Armor is said to be indestructible, it is ultimately heavy and has been on the battlefield; it inevitably carries the scent of blood. His Majesty’s meaning is that it would be better to change into this gold-thread soft armor. Besides being lightweight, it also displays the General’s status and makes it easier to conduct business in Jiugao. It is hoped that the General will practice more of the ways of diplomacy and negotiation in the future. The matters of killing and fighting can be set aside for a while."
The other man’s voice was low, as if he were sharing intimate words with an old friend.
But for the General kneeling to receive the decree and the silent surviving soldiers behind him, these words were like gouging out their hearts.
After a long time, he heard his own raspy voice.
"Qiu Yuebai thanks the Emperor for his grace."
Qiu Yuebai—so that was his original name, the name of the commander of the Black Moon Army and the number one martial general of Xiangliang.
"The Commander need not be overly formal. There is also an oral message from His Majesty; the Commander need only listen."
The eunuch was very satisfied with his brief response. He cleared his throat and continued.
"Qiu Yuebai, Great General of the Black Moon Army. The name is taken from purity and whiteness, fearing not the long night, heart turned toward the light. However, the Moon belongs to Yin, and White governs Metal. Metal generates Water, which is unfavorable for the floods of the three states. The Great Diviner of the Ministry of Spring Rites deems it perilous. His Majesty, mindful of the General’s exhaustive efforts in suppressing the rebellion, personally bestows the character 'Yan' as a new name. 'Yan' means '堰' (weir), a dam, and also carries the meaning of cessation, symbolizing the end of water disasters, the silencing of war, and peace under heaven. Thus, the killing intent of Heaven can be halted, and the misfortune of the passing years ended." As the eunuch spoke, he pulled a piece of gold-flecked green cicada-wing paper from his sleeve. The light, thin paper rustled in the wind, looking as if it might tear into two pieces at any moment. "His Majesty has gone to great lengths; the General must not fail him and should show proper gratitude."
The General, clad in blood-stained armor and with a face covered in gore, could not speak for a long time. He simply knelt there like a stone monument until the wind blew over the broken, half-furled flag behind him.
The eunuch didn't move either, watching him expressionlessly until he slowly bowed his head.
"Please tell His Majesty, Lord Liao, that from this day forth, Longshu has only the Water-Stabilizing Commander of Jiugao, Qiu Yan. There is no longer a commander of the Black Moon Army named Qiu Yuebai."
The eunuch finally smiled. He stepped forward to give a perfunctory assist, his fingers accidentally touching the blood on the other man’s body. He quickly and inconspicuously wiped it off on his hem.
"The Commander has worked hard; His Majesty knows this. See, he has even sent carriages and horses to wait at the foot of the mountain." Having said this, he turned to the servants and attendants who had been waiting nearby. "What are you standing there for? You were brought here to lead the way for the Commander."
The group of common-clothed servants knelt in unison. Their movements were perfectly synchronized and well-trained.
"We welcome the Commander back to the city!"
The blood-stained General watched those figures. His cracked lips trembled for a long time before he finally took that step.
It was a step of submission. It was a step that even the pressure of a powerful enemy or a blade at his throat couldn't make him take, yet a single imperial decree on a light piece of silk had made him bow his head.
From that step onward, he was no longer a Great General of Xiangliang, and the soldiers who had followed him through life and death, crawling back from hell, could no longer call themselves the Black Moon. He would always remember those watching eyes and bloodied faces. The more he wanted to forget that day, the more firmly he remembered it, to the point where even the torment of illness and the ravages of time were not enough to erase the memory.
Qiu Yan blinked. The spring sunlight danced at his feet, and the wind carried the warm scent of blood-beech wood.
He looked up and met the slightly startled gaze of the eunuch.
More than twenty years had passed. The other man’s temples were now entirely white, and his back was much more bent than before. Only the hair tucked into his official cap and his starched, pressed official robes remained meticulous.
The old General behind the door also had hair and beard turned white. Illness had left traces of weariness on his handsome, refined face, and his eyes were not as bright as they once were. But his spine remained straight, like a banner that had never been broken, quietly waiting for the wind.
As they gazed at each other, the eunuch was the first to recover, a stiff smile appearing on his face.
"Greetings, Water-Stabilizing Commander. This official has come by imperial decree to oversee the situation in Jiugao. I had heard the Commander was unwell and thought I might not see you easily."
"Lord Liao has traveled a thousand miles and bears an imperial decree; Qiu must naturally welcome you in person. However, I have just recovered from a major illness and have not had time to groom myself. I hope the Lord does not mind." After the pleasantries were finished, they turned to the main topic. "I wonder how Lord Liao’s inspection is going? Are you satisfied with what you have seen and heard in the city?"
Liao Bi’s gaze swept over the grey footprints on his shoes. He gritted his teeth in silence for a moment before responding with a forced smile.
"The spring scenery in the city is pleasant. If His Majesty could see it personally, I imagine he would be very gratified."
After the brief, dry exchange, only a long silence remained. The two stood in the courtyard, and after an unknown amount of time, the eunuch lowered his head and sighed meaningfully.
"To meet the Commander this time is also an unexpected fate. After all, I rarely leave the capital, and the Commander lives far away in Jiao State." Now that there were only the two of them in the courtyard, Liao Bi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking tentatively. "I wonder if the Commander is still... regarding the events of that year..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the other man’s gentle voice.
"I have been very ill, and my memories of the past are somewhat blurred. Perhaps Lord Liao is the same."
Liao Bi paused, instantly understanding something. He smiled smoothly. "I am also an old man with half a body in the grave. My memory has indeed been failing these past years."
Floating clouds briefly obscured the warm spring sun, causing the shadows at their feet to fade, as if all the past regarding the Black Moon would completely dissipate with the passage of time. Only when the words "Black Moon" no longer served as a torment for the Qiu descendants or a puppet for court power-mongers would those ten thousand heroic souls find true rest.
"Lord Liao has traveled a thousand miles to knock on the gates of the Qiu Manor. Surely it is not just to reminisce with me?"
The old General asked. The eunuch touched the secret decree in his sleeve and was about to speak carefully when a young man’s voice rang out behind him.
"This Lord is here for me."
Liao Bi froze, then turned around slowly.
The newcomer wore moon-white robes. For a moment, he seemed to have the noble, cold shadow of the Lord of Broken Jade, but a closer look at those long, narrow eyes revealed a flirtatious and affectionate air. In the blink of an eye, they seemed to hide countless thoughts, making one wary of underestimating him.
Liao Bi recognized him as the rumored second son of the Qiu family. He waited for the other to approach before offering a perfunctory greeting.
"So it is the Second Young Master."
Xu Qiuchi smiled and returned the greeting. He walked to Qiu Yan’s side and whispered a few words, then turned to Liao Bi.
"It is time for my father to take his medicine. If the Lord does not mind, you may tour the manor; I am willing to lead the way."
It was still early, and the person he was waiting for had indeed not appeared. Liao Bi followed suit, absentmindedly following Xu Qiuchi through the garden. The young man spoke of Jiugao’s local customs with great passion and at great length. Tea was emptied and refilled, refilled and emptied. He even made several trips to the latrine. The eunuch finally began to lose patience, but before he could speak, the person before him anticipated his words.
"No matter how long Lord Liao waits in this courtyard, my elder brother will not appear."
Liao Bi stopped in his tracks, finally taking a good look at the expression of the man before him. He couldn't tell if the other was bluffing or testing him. Unable to hide his underlying contempt, he gave two dry laughs.
"The Second Young Master must be joking. Today is the day Jiugao is reborn. No matter how busy the Protector is, he will surely find time to return."
"He was originally going to return, but unfortunately, it is the time of the spring floods. Several river bends nearby have been flooded, and he won't be able to make it back for a while."
Since they couldn't reach an understanding, the eunuch finally put on his official air and cleared his throat.
"His Majesty has heard the details of the suppression of the rebellion and is quite gratified. He intends to promote the Lord of Broken Jade to serve before the throne. The Second Young Master should know that this is a supreme honor. By rights, he should be kneeling before me to receive the decree."
He finally revealed his purpose. With the heavy weight of "Imperial Grace" pressing down, no matter how unruly the other was, he should know to be restrained. To his surprise, the second son of the Qiu family actually took a few quick steps closer.
"My brother cannot come, but I am an idle man and would be happy to make the trip. What does Lord Liao think?"
A second son who had lived in a remote prefecture for years—even if he wanted to fill the numbers, he lacked the weight. Liao Bi had come for the famous Lord of Broken Jade; how could he report back if he took a lightweight second son? What was Qiu Yan planning? He was dreaming.
Seeing the other’s overestimation of himself, Liao Bi did not hide his difficulty.
"The Second Young Master holds no office or rank. To go with me would be... somewhat irregular..."
He practically had "Refusal" written on his forehead, but the man before him seemed not to see it at all, only lowering his voice.
"I am also thinking of Lord Liao. Lord, think carefully: why did you travel all this way to Jiugao?"
Liao Bi did not speak immediately. Having spent years in the palace serving two monarchs, the word "caution" was carved into his bones. After pretending to ponder for a while, he spoke.
"His Majesty’s decree is naturally for the Qiu family to go north to the capital. Rewarding merit is only one part; the most important thing is to assist the Bureau of Gold and Stone in finalizing the matter of the secret formula, to prevent history from repeating itself..."
The same people, the same scene, the same words. A fine "history repeating itself." But was the only way to prevent the world from falling into chaos once more to push the Qiu family into the fire of fate again and again?
Xu Qiuchi’s voice remained normal, but the playful, testing look on his face gradually faded.
"Then may I ask Lord Liao, during these three months when the gates of Jiugao were tightly shut, who was it that stayed in the city from beginning to end to quell this disaster? And today, who was it that welcomed you into the Qiu Manor and tirelessly answered your questions about the people’s will in Jiugao? When it comes to these matters, my brother might not be able to answer so fluently." He leaned closer, his jade crown brushing against the gold thread on the other’s collar, making a faint sound only those of their kind could hear. "His Majesty’s questions can only be answered by me. Lord Liao’s troubles can only be shared by me."
Liao Bi’s eyes shifted, his gaze crossing with the other’s, reflecting their calculating faces.
"This official is dull and only knows how to follow orders. If I find the wrong person..."
"Lord Liao is not looking for a person, but for leverage, is he not? My father’s health is not what it used to be; he will soon petition to retire and step down as Commander. And once my brother draws a clear line between himself and the General of the South and the Prince of Yu'an, he will be nothing more than a minor Protector with the empty title of Lord of Broken Jade. The father retires in Jiugao, the eldest son travels the states, and the second son resides in the capital. Three people in three separate places is better than being gathered together. All you need to do is facilitate this arrangement."
Liao Bi was an old hand in the palace, thick-skinned and flexible. He instantly understood the gains and losses in the other’s words. After repeatedly weighing the options and deciding he wouldn't lose out, he made a final confirmation.
"Going north is a long journey, and who knows when you might return. The customs of the capital are vastly different from Longshu. If the Second Young Master finds himself ill-adapted and cries to come home, I will have no way to find a path back for you."
His words were somewhat playful, but the warning within was not hard to detect.
Xu Qiuchi straightened his back. He was not as tall or robust as a martial artist, but the spirit in his eyes held a hint of the sharpness of the Black Moon commander of old.
"Lord Liao is not as tall as I am. If something really falls from the sky, I expect I'll be the one to catch it first."
Liao Bi’s expression stiffened for a moment, then the mask-like smile returned to his wrinkled old face.
"Then I respectfully invite the Young Master of the Qiu family to return with me!"
The eunuch’s voice dissipated in the wind. The surface of the pond rippled, and bright red koi swam lazily until the uninvited guest departed in satisfaction and the courtyard became silent and desolate once more.
"Is this why you wanted to return to the city ahead of us?"
Qiu Yan’s voice sounded from behind, carrying the fatigue that followed his medicine. Yet his eyes were clearer than ever, reflecting the lonely shadow by the pond.
"The decision was made the day I left Xingshou Town. Now I am merely informing you, Father." Xu Qiuchi paused here, showing a somewhat childish smile. "Father and Brother were always like this before. Now it’s my turn; only then is it fair."
Blood relatives, separated in youth. Over a decade had passed, and now their positions were swapped—another decade of the sorrow of parting lay ahead.
The koi in the pond had become accustomed to people. Sensing someone near, they gathered in circles. The water could no longer remain still, and the reflections of father and son were shattered together.
"Today’s matter should not be used for spite. Lord Liao and I are not meeting for the first time, nor is this the first time the Qiu family has faced such a situation. Since it is a battle renewed, the outcome is yet unknown."
The father was as peaceful as ever, but his words carried a bit more of the killing intent of the past. Xu Qiuchi stared at the blurred reflection in the pond and sighed, changing the subject.
"Shopkeeper Qin’s medical fee was a bit expensive, but her needle technique is indeed top-tier. Father looks much improved. With her here, I have fewer worries."
Qiu Yan didn't mind the diversion, his voice dropping even lower.
"The waters of the capital are deep and the currents swift; evil spirits lurk in the depths. With the slightest lapse in attention, one will be dragged down into the abyss, or fall into a mire from which there is no escape. You will neither be able to go to the vast rivers and seas nor return to this small, secluded pond. Have you truly thought this through?"
Compared to Jiugao, the Qiu Manor was but a pond. And compared to the capital, Jiugao was but a jar.
"During these years when Father was imprisoned in Longshu and the Qiu family was trapped in Jiugao, I longed every moment to leave this cold home, this city no one cares about, this forgotten corner of the martial world. Now that I finally have such an opportunity, all Father needs to do is fulfill my wish." Xu Qiuchi grabbed a handful of bean dregs and threw them into the pond, taking one last look at those bright shadows. "Brother yearns for the vast martial world, while I have grown accustomed to maneuvering in narrow spaces. Perhaps when Zhou Yaxian came all those years ago, the person he should have taken was me. I’ve walked the wrong path for over a decade; if I can correct and swap it for the rest of my life, it won't be too late."
Xu Qiuchi’s words fell, and for a long time, he heard no response from his father. Turning his head, he saw Qiu Yan staring into the distance again.
Over the past few years, his father often showed such an expression. Sometimes he felt that the other wasn't ill, but that time had forgotten to move forward for him, causing those distant memories to surge back, clearer day by day. He returned to the day he first entered this small city in Longshu, to the day of the great fire in Juchao, to the day the late Emperor issued the decree for the Black Moon to suppress the Xiaoling rebels... he was everywhere except the present.
Xu Qiuchi took a deep breath. Just as he was about to speak again, Qiu Yan suddenly spoke.
"In the spring of the twelfth year of Chengping, there were enemy raids on the border, and the Di and Yi tribes invaded one after another. There was a mutiny in Sui State, and the six cities of Fenglin were in peril. My parents and clan were in Qingshi Town, only thirty miles from Fenglin. The moment I decided to take up arms and join the ranks, I wasn't thinking of military glory or shaking the world. I only wanted to hold the stone bridge of Qingshi Town and protect the home behind it."
Xu Qiuchi looked at his father’s distant eyes, and the words stuck in his throat finally came out.
"Even if you retire due to illness, Father, it is impossible for you to return to your old home. Just as Brother could not return to the city before, and just as I will be unable to leave the capital in the future."
He spoke the cruel truth, yet Qiu Yan’s voice was infinitely peaceful, as if returning to the time before all the tragedies were triggered.
"You were born and raised here, yet you still feel like drifting duckweed, without a sense of belonging. Because you feel you have no hometown. Only when you decide to fight with all your might for this land will it become your hometown."
Xu Qiuchi was stunned for a long time before he slowly lowered his head. His voice held an undetectable trace of gloom and self-mockery.
"I am not like Father or Brother. I have no strength to truss a chicken, nor do I have decisiveness in my heart. It seems I will never have a hometown of my own in this life."
In the next moment, the hand holding his waist fan was grasped. The old General’s hand still had calluses that had not faded. His eyes struggled to look at him, and his lips trembled for a long time before he spoke hoarsely.
"Conviction does not lie in arms, but in this heart. No matter when, you must remember: where you are going cannot be the power that keeps you moving; only where you come from can support you as you continue forward."
At dusk, just before the city gates closed, the Qiu Manor carriage finally wobbled out of Youyang Street.
The road out of the city wasn't long, but the person in the carriage seemed to have developed a sudden ailment, as if thorns had grown under his seat. He twisted to the left, then shifted to the right, until he finally couldn't help but urge, "Drive faster! Did you forget to feed the horse?"
When the master scolds, an ordinary driver would apologize in a low voice. But the one sitting outside the carriage was half a master himself, and the sideways glance he gave could kill.
"If the Second Young Master thinks it's too slow, feel free to get down and run yourself."
Liu Caiwu finished speaking and flicked his wrist. The reins cracked sharply, and the big grey horse broke into a gallop, carrying the person in the carriage swiftly toward the city gates.
The familiar sound of urgent hoofbeats approached. A young Protector in green robes flashed through the misty willows but reined in his horse on the opposite bank. He knew that the person in the carriage was leaving in such a hurry because he didn't want to face everything directly. He thought he should gallop over and stop him, scolding him for his nonsense, his recklessness, and his selfishness. But this time, he ultimately did not do so.
"Should we stop..."
"No."
Liu Caiwu’s words were cut off just as they began.
The carriage continued forward, but Xu Qiuchi’s gaze remained on the opposite bank.
So this was the scene he had been looking forward to for the past decade or so.
In the twilight of early spring, the willow branches by the river had just turned green. The melted spring water rippled in the pond. He would be carrying his waist fan and wearing new clothes to enjoy the spring, only to hear the urgent sound of hoofbeats. In the next moment, he would turn around and see his brother, who had gone to the army in their youth, dismounting and returning covered in the dust of travel, just to reunite with him.
He had finally waited for this moment, yet separation was close at hand.
He wanted to shout a few jokes, telling his brother not to be in such a hurry; he wouldn't make the great Lord of Broken Jade chase him for thirty miles.
But they were no longer the half-grown youths of before. Even if their hearts had turned the sorrow of parting into a thousand words, in the end, it was only a single glance across the river. After the entanglement, each would treasure it in their heart, to be remembered repeatedly in the long years to come.
The carriage turned the street corner, and the figure on the opposite bank disappeared completely behind them.
It grew noisier outside the window; the sound of people running could be heard faintly. Xu Qiuchi kept his eyes tightly shut, constantly urging them on in his mind. But contrary to his wishes, the more he hurried to leave, the slower the carriage went, until it came to a complete stop.
The Second Young Master of the Qiu family had always hated partings, but this time, his parting was different from all others.
He finally opened his eyes, his expression darkening.
Lord Liao had personally promised; surely he wouldn't go back on his word at the last moment?
"What is it now?"
Liu Caiwu was silent for a long time before speaking softly.
"The Second Young Master should see for himself."
Unlike the noise from before, it was now quiet outside the carriage; not a sound could be heard.
Xu Qiuchi paused for a moment, then raised his hand to lift the thick curtain from the window.
The rare spring sunlight spilled onto his face, dazzling him so much he could barely open his eyes. After a while, he adjusted to the bright light and squinted out.
The wide, open road was now packed with a dark mass of people. Countless unfamiliar faces moved against the light—old and young, female and male, tall and short, fat and thin. All these diverse faces were now looking in one direction: toward his carriage.
Finally, someone made the first move. It was an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a clean but tattered short tunic. He slowly bowed down, performing a grand salute toward the carriage. Following him, the two five- or six-year-old children behind him also bowed, and the people behind them followed suit.
One, two, three... the standing crowd knelt like a field of wheat blown down by the wind. It was still quiet all around, but something was clearly pulsing and surging within the silence.
Though the people of Jiugao were good at forgetting suffering, they would not forget the person who had saved them from it.
Xu Qiuchi blinked, and those scattered, mottled colors fell into his eyes, weaving a hue that was hard to distinguish. Though he was a Qiu and had grown up in this city, he had never truly looked at the people living here, nor had he ever seen the backs and heads of so many people at once. They were like a faded, crudely painted folk scene, representing a simple color he never touched.
He was lost in that plain yet complex tone until, at a certain moment, he seemed to see a flash of a familiar red, just like before.
His breath hitched, and he instantly leaned forward, ignoring the chilly spring air, almost leaning out of the carriage window.
He let the wind blow his neatly bound hair into disarray, as if by doing so, she would suddenly appear before him, calling him "Young Master" while helping him tidy his hair and straighten his jade crown.
But in the end, nothing happened.
Outside the window, there was only a group of half-grown children playing and shouting at a distant alley entrance. The leading child held a carp lantern high—bright red and full of life, it was exceptionally striking amidst the fresh green of early spring.
He stared fixedly at that red carp, but the child holding the lantern vanished into the depths of the alley in an instant.
"Xu Qiuchi!"
Someone was calling his name. A voice lacking in strength came intermittently from the other end of the alley. He turned his head and, after a long moment, saw that thin, small figure panting for breath.
The road ahead was the only way out of the city, and this was the last street corner before entering that path. She had timed it perfectly.
The Young Master in the carriage curled his lip, his opening words a jab.
"You sent word to my brother, yet you arrived a step late yourself. Is there something wrong with your legs, or did you just not want to see me?"
Qin Jiuye walked up to the carriage, panting. She didn't want to spend these final moments arguing.
"Leaving in such a hurry, is everything ready?"
She didn't start by asking him to stay, but asked if he was truly "ready," and he understood her meaning.
"Some things one can never be ready for. It’s better to choose an auspicious day and leave quickly. However..." He pulled up a corner of the carriage curtain, and a white head poked out from the gap, its round, bead-like eyes staring at her. "With Shopkeeper Qin accompanying me, the journey won't be lonely."
Qin Jiuye stared at the duck for a long time before pulling a paper packet from her person and stuffing it into his hand without a word.
"For saving your life. There are three in total; use them sparingly. If you dare waste them, I'll have Manager Liu administer family discipline."
Liu Caiwu chuckled at the front of the carriage. Xu Qiuchi pinched the crumpled paper packet, looking it over.
"Did you get this from the Qingyang Fair? Is this the protection fee you collected as the Head of Chuanliu Academy?"
"There will be no more Chuanliu Academy in the martial world, and those old rogues at the fair won't answer to anyone. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself."
She offered a casual invitation, and he made a gesture of lifting the curtain to invite her aboard.
"My carriage is quite spacious. How about..."
In the next moment, not far away, the horn for departure sounded mournfully outside the city gates. After three blasts, the final moment to leave had arrived.
The figure in the carriage paused, then looked at her with a smile.
"Little Leaf, I’m going out of the city."
Qin Jiuye couldn't smile, but she didn't wear a mournful face either. Today was supposed to be a good day.
She pursed her lips and asked in a low voice, "When will you return?"
He tilted his head in thought, seemingly unsure of a specific answer.
"Perhaps next autumn, or perhaps the autumn after."
If anyone else said it, it would be nothing, but coming from him, it felt strangely ominous.
Qiuchi, Qiuchi—what if autumn was late in coming?
"If you don't return by the autumn after next, I'll come looking for you. When that time comes, you'll have to provide my food and lodging."
He gave a light snort, seemingly not taking her unreasonable demand seriously.
"Can you bear to leave your business behind? We'll see if you can even get out."
"Of course I can get out." Qin Jiuye huffed as well, facing his doubt. "If you don't believe me, just wait and see."
Xu Qiuchi stopped speaking. He sat in the carriage holding the duck, looking at her, and she stood by the roadside looking at him.
After an unknown amount of time, the person in the carriage was the first to drop the curtain.
"I'm off."
The carriage wheels rumbled forward, carrying the Young Master as he swayed toward the north.
The light of the setting sun stretched his departing shadow very, very long—long enough to connect him to this city, creating an illusion that they hadn't separated. But no matter how long the shadow, it could not withstand the sinking sun. The point of connection finally broke at a certain moment.
Blame it on his poorly chosen name; everything always came half a step late. The moment he acknowledged his hometown, it was destined to be behind him. He would always remember his hometown, though he could no longer look back.
A fine rain began to fall. Qin Jiuye looked at the sky, then turned her gaze back to the carriage that was about to disappear. She vaguely saw him poke his head out of the carriage window, as if he wanted to shout something to her, but in the end, he didn't speak.
At this moment, she seemed to see again the young boy leaving on horseback years ago, looking back at her.
Seeing the carriage about to pass through the city gates, she finally shouted hoarsely, "Keep your word! You must keep your word!"
In the next moment, the carriage jolted as it passed through the gates and vanished instantly into the rising dust.
The scent of early spring spread through the air with the fine rain. It seemed no one else was immersed in this heart-wrenching, twisting parting.
At the base of the city wall, a few children were playing, weaving grass rings. One of them broke off a willow branch and held it high, pretending he was a general riding a great horse in a show of power.
Not far behind him, Lu Zican, dressed in common clothes, led the elderly General out. He looked up at the city tower.
"The Protector is up on the tower. Perhaps... does the Commander also wish to climb up and see the spring scenery of the city?"
Qiu Yan’s gaze swept over the city walls, which were mottled and blackened from flood and fire. He then nodded slowly.
The Jiugao city tower had been built under his personal supervision. He had walked it countless times over the years, but this was the first time father and son had stepped onto it together.
Xu Qiuchi’s carriage had completely vanished into the dust, but the gaze of the Qiu father and son still lingered in the distance.
"You decided to stay in Jiugao. Is it not because of her?"
Qiu Yan suddenly spoke, his gaze falling on a woman not far away in the city, taking shelter from the rain at a street corner.
"I promised her something; I must fulfill it at least once."
Qiu Ling spoke calmly, his voice no longer carrying any more regret. Climbing the tower was not only to see his family off one last time but also to see her once more without drawing attention.
Qiu Yan’s gaze grew distant again, as if melting into the reviving spring scenery of the city.
"Do you feel that only by standing at a high place can you keep her safe? But perhaps what she needs is not that."
"Father does not understand her. She looks frail, but her resilience is extraordinary. What I can do is guard this land; she will grow stubbornly toward the sunlight and the rain."
As long as he guarded Jiugao, guarded Longshu, and guarded the land of Xiangliang, he was guarding her. To be able to watch her like this, to see her live the life she wanted in this mortal world, was to fulfill the promise he had made.
Before today, walking with her was the secret wish deep in his heart. From now on, staying away from her was the promise he could not speak.
The things he had to do were dark and dangerous; perhaps one day they would pull him and those around him into the fire and destroy them all. Her suffering had come to an end, but his path was far from over. He would leave her in this beautiful spring and walk alone into the endless wind and snow.
The young Protector’s gaze traveled downward, through the dust and sunlight, falling gently on the woman like this thread-fine spring rain.
But before he could even dampen her clothes, an oil-paper umbrella appeared, shielding her figure.
"Sister, it’s raining. I’ve come to fetch you."
A young man stepped out from the shadows and into the sunlit spring rain.
Unknowingly, their steps had become so synchronized. Every movement was like inseparable shadows as they walked together into the mist of the rain.
***
