As Cang Ge made his way up the stream, he rounded a massive boulder and saw a hand bobbing limply in the rushing water. Stifling his grief, he rushed forward, only to find a woman collapsed in the creek. She had been caught by the boulder, preventing her from being swept further down the mountain.
Why would there be a woman here at a time like this? He ran to her and lifted her up, only to freeze in shock. "Zuo Canglang?" How could she be here?
He had seen her once before, back when Wen Qi married her.
He checked her breath and found she was still alive. Hurriedly, he pinched her philtrum. Zuo Canglang slowly drifted back to consciousness. It took a long moment of staring before she recognized him. She struggled to stand. "Cang Ge! Where is Feiyan?"
Cang Ge opened his mouth, looked toward the foot of the mountain, and finally whispered, "She... she told me to hide in the mountains, while she..."
"Is she at the foot of the mountain?" Zuo Canglang interrupted. "Which gate is she trying to break through? Do you know her current position?"
"In the direction of the South Gate," Cang Ge said. "But right now..."
He glanced at Zuo Canglang. Even if the two of them joined forces, could they really save her? The thought flashed through his mind, but even if there was only a sliver of hope, he had to try. "I'll take you to find her. Do you have a plan?"
He prepared to head down the mountain. Zuo Canglang’s lower leg had been gashed by the jagged rocks; the wound was deep enough to see the bone. Seeing this, Cang Ge bent down and took her onto his back.
"I’ve forged an imperial decree," Zuo Canglang said. "The King and Feiyan have years of history, after all. If he were to issue a decree at this moment ordering the Imperial Guard to grant her a path to survival, it would be plausible. The Duanmu brothers would never dare defy an imperial order. Even if Feng Ping is present and wants to return to confirm it with the King, it will at least buy us time."
Cang Ge was horrified. "Forging a decree?"
"There is no other way now," Zuo Canglang urged. "Hurry!"
Cang Ge ran as if his life depended on it. His shoes had long since fallen apart, and his feet were covered in cuts and bruises, with not a single patch of intact skin left.
When they finally reached the base of the mountain, Cang Ge understood why Zuo Canglang hadn't been able to find Leng Feiyan. The foot of the mountain was bathed in the crimson glow of the forest fire, making it impossible to see any other light.
"We’re going to the South Gate!" Cang Ge shouted.
"Yes!" Zuo Canglang replied.
She had been soaked in the heated water for too long; the blood from her wounds would not clot and continued to flow, drenching his clothes.
Cang Ge did not stop for a second. However, before they had gone far, a voice rang out: "General Zuo is keeping company with a rebel. Where are you going in such a hurry?"
Zuo Canglang looked back. Jiang Sanyi sat high atop his horse, with no fewer than a thousand private soldiers behind him. Every bow was drawn, their sights aimed directly at the two of them. Jiang Sanyi was different from the Duanmu brothers. The Duanmu brothers sought the reputation of righteous heroes in the martial world, but Jiang was a man of the court—he could smear anyone’s name with a few words.
History books could be rewritten, and the mouths of the masses could be silenced. As long as his grandson became the King of Yan in the future, who would dare speak ill of him?
Zuo Canglang was frantic with anxiety. Cang Ge set her on the ground and gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist. Jiang Sanyi slowly approached, and just as he was about to order his men to fire, a sudden gust of wind rose behind him! Startled, Jiang Sanyi turned around, only to find a blade already pressed against his throat.
A man in black, his voice intentionally raspy, said to Zuo Canglang and Cang Ge, "Go!"
Zuo Canglang glanced at him and signaled for Cang Ge to leave. With Leng Feiyan’s life hanging in the balance, she had no heart to guess who this person was.
Cang Ge seized a horse and carried her swiftly through the gap in the soldiers' encirclement. Jiang Sanyi stared at the sword at his neck, gritting his teeth and not daring to move.
The two of them galloped wildly. As they neared the South Gate, they finally saw Leng Feiyan, surrounded by the members of the Duanmu clan.
"Stop!" Zuo Canglang shouted.
The Duanmu clansmen froze. Duanmu Shang was covered in blood. Even he could hardly believe that after so many people had besieged a heavily injured woman, they were still suffering heavy casualties. At Zuo Canglang’s shout, everyone looked over. Zuo Canglang pulled a sealed gold-foil box from her robes. Fortunately, it had been tightly sealed, and the decree inside was dry.
She withdrew the decree and declared, "An imperial command from His Majesty!"
The Duanmu clansmen, already shaken by Leng Feiyan’s prowess, looked at one another in hesitation. Zuo Canglang demanded, "Do you intend to defy a royal decree?"
Duanmu Shang clutched his wounds. "Is it truly an imperial decree?"
Cang Ge went over and helped Leng Feiyan up. She raised a hand and gently patted his face. As the two leaned against each other, Zuo Canglang looked around. Seeing that Feng Ping was not present, her heart settled significantly. An expert like Feng Ping, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, would surely recognize a forgery. But these martial arts people of the Duanmu clan were much easier to fool.
She stepped forward slowly. "Duanmu Shang, the Great Yan belongs to the Murong family, not the Jiang family."
Duanmu Shang was stunned. He was well aware of the relationship between Zuo Canglang and Murong Yan. Her coming to deliver a decree was actually plausible—who knew if she had whispered in the King's ear again, causing Murong Yan to suddenly change his mind?
"Does the Duanmu clan intend to rebel?" Zuo Canglang asked.
That was a charge he could not afford to bear. He immediately knelt. Zuo Canglang read the decree, which ordered them to let Leng Feiyan leave Jinyang and forbade her from ever returning to court.
Hearing this command, Duanmu Shang felt a sense of relief. In truth, the Duanmu family had no blood feud with Leng Feiyan; they only feared she would destabilize their position and were being manipulated by Jiang Sanyi. There was no need to fight to the death.
If he followed the decree, whether it was real or fake, he would avoid a lethal struggle with Leng Feiyan, and the threat to the Duanmu clan would be removed.
With this thought, he finally kowtowed. "Duanmu Shang accepts the decree!"
He received the scroll with both hands.
Only then did Zuo Canglang go to Leng Feiyan. Feiyan looked at her, and Zuo Canglang said, "Let’s get out of the city."
Leng Feiyan smiled. "Let’s go."
Cang Ge helped her onto the horse. There was only one horse for the three of them. Cang Ge originally wanted to hold Leng Feiyan, but she said, "Let me talk to Ah-Zuo."
So Cang Ge sat in the front, Leng Feiyan was in the middle, and Zuo Canglang sat at the back as the horse slowly passed through the South Gate. With the "imperial decree" in hand, no soldiers blocked their path. The clouds in the east were faintly tinged with a golden border.
"How did you come back?" Leng Feiyan asked.
Seeing that she seemed to be in good spirits, Zuo Canglang replied, "Jiang Sanyi intended to use you to lure me back. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known what happened to you! What happened at Fachang Temple? Where is Master Xuezhan?"
"Murong Yan slaughtered every single monk in Fachang Temple," Leng Feiyan said. "Didn't you smell the scent drifting in the smoke? Master Xuezhan is surely gone. If he were alive, how could he have allowed Murong Yan to do such a thing?"
Zuo Canglang could hardly believe her ears. "There were thousands of monks at Fachang Temple! How could he..."
"Is it really impossible?" Leng Feiyan asked.
Zuo Canglang fell silent, then said angrily, "Why? Master Xuezhan was his mentor! Why would he..."
"Because Murong Ruo hid inside Fachang Temple," Leng Feiyan said. "And perhaps... because of us."
Zuo Canglang closed her eyes. This man... had he gone mad?
"At the beginning of the year, he reduced taxes again," Leng Feiyan continued. "The people in the former lands of the Yu Kingdom have been provided with oxen and seeds. Right now, the common people of Great Yan are actually living very well. Jiang Sanyi, though treacherous and evil, is truly experienced and shrewd when it comes to implementing new policies and appointing local officials. The new policies have only been in effect for three years, and the people are already benefiting. Murong Ruo, though perhaps more kind-hearted, lacks this kind of boldness."
"What are you trying to say?" Zuo Canglang asked.
"Promise me," Leng Feiyan said, "no matter what happens, do not seek revenge against him."
Zuo Canglang didn't understand. "What?"
"Nothing. I'm so tired. Cang Ge, hold me for a while."
Cang Ge gave a soft affirmation and reached back to pull her into his arms. "We’re going to find a doctor."
"Mm," Leng Feiyan murmured. "It doesn't matter that I'm hurt; at least I killed so many of them. It wasn't a loss. But you two didn't do anything—how did you end up in such a state?"
Cang Ge wanted to laugh, but a line of clear tears fell from his eyes onto her cheek. "You have the nerve to say that? You scared me to death."
"In the future," Leng Feiyan said, "practice your martial arts diligently. To protect someone, you must become very, very strong."
"I will!" Cang Ge promised. "Once your wounds heal, we’ll get married!"
Leng Feiyan found a comfortable position in his arms. "Would your parents be willing?"
Cang Ge tucked her clothes tighter around her. "Even if they aren't, they can't stop me. If we ever see them again, let them hit or scold me as they wish."
Leng Feiyan chuckled. "Maybe not... You're such a loser; it would be too much of a grievance to marry you. And if I get bored of your face one day, it’ll be a hassle to change..."
Cang Ge whipped the horse to go faster. "How could that happen? I'll go learn the art of disguise. If you get bored, I'll change into a new face every day."
Leng Feiyan smiled, then winced. "Damn it, don't make me laugh." After saying that, she leaned into his chest. The rosy clouds of dawn reflected in her eyes, exceptionally beautiful.
The horse traveled another three miles until they reached a medical clinic. "We're here!" Cang Ge shouted. "I'll go knock!"
He carried Leng Feiyan off the horse and practically pounded the door down. The doctor was startled by the sight of the three of them and hurriedly had his apprentice tend to the bleeding of Cang Ge and Zuo Canglang. Zuo Canglang pointed to Leng Feiyan in Cang Ge's arms. "We don't matter! Look at her first!"
The doctor reached out to check Leng Feiyan’s pulse. After a long time, he spoke. "You... though I am known for bringing the dead back to life and growing flesh on bone, you cannot truly bring a dead person here and ask for a cure."
A heavy silence fell. Zuo Canglang asked, "What?"
"She is dead," the doctor said.
Zuo Canglang shoved him aside with force. "What are you saying?!"
The doctor sighed and shook his head. She lunged forward; the skin of Feiyan's wrist was still warm, but the pulse had stopped. The morning sun was rising, its light filtering through the window lattice. Zuo Canglang pressed her hand against Feiyan's heart and called softly, "Feiyan?"
The woman’s lips were slightly curved, as if she were wearing a faint, knowing smile.
The morning sun rose higher, its light streaming through the window. In the outskirts of Jinyang, all things were draped in new green, filled with the scent of flowers and the singing of birds.
Another year, and spring had arrived.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 藏歌 | Cang Ge | A character, Wen Qi's relative/brother. |
| 矫诏 | Forged Decree | The act of faking an imperial command, a capital crime. |
| 姜散宜 | Jiang Sanyi | A high-ranking official and antagonist. |
| 端木伤 | Duanmu Shang | A member/leader of the Duanmu martial arts family. |
| 慕容若 | Murong Ruo | A former prince and rival to Murong Yan. |
| 雪盏大师 | Master Xuezhan | Murong Yan's mentor and the head of Fachang Temple. |
| 活死人、肉白骨 | Bringing the dead to life and growing flesh on bone | A common idiom describing a miraculous doctor. |
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