On the seventh day of the fifth month, the Zou Manor, which had been deathly silent for half a month, finally welcomed a joyous occasion.
Master Zou had awakened. Aside from some weakness and a few bedsores, he was remarkably unharmed.
Seeing Zou Sifang transform from a half-dead state to being able to speak in just one day, Madam Zhao was beaming with joy. All her previous grievances vanished. "I never imagined that despite your youth, your medical skills would be so profound, Master Hao. Does your family run a clinic? Why have I never heard of you before?"
Hao Bai looked rather pleased with himself, becoming more talkative. "Ah, Madam may not know, but I only practice medicine; I do not keep a clinic. Furthermore, my ancestors left a precept: we only treat those who are gravely ill or at death's door. Thus, I travel year-round and never stay in one place for long."
Though he preferred white robes, he possessed "sword-like brows and starry eyes." When he wasn't intentionally putting on an air of pedantry, he appeared quite bright and spirited. Having spent her days staring at the elderly Zou Sifang, Madam Zhao rarely saw such a handsome young man. She hadn't been in the mood before, but now that she had recovered her spirits, a faint blush crept onto her face.
"So that is how it is. I was negligent before; please do not take offense, Master Hao." After a pause, Madam Zhao spoke again. "Though my husband has awakened, my heart is still not quite at ease. It would be best if you could stay at the manor for a few more days. On one hand, you can look after him; on the other, it would allow me to prepare a generous gift to thank you for saving his life."
Hao Bai gave a boisterous, exaggerated laugh.
"Of course, of course. Madam has labored these past days and looks quite haggard and thin. Why not take a proper bath and freshen up to wash away the ill fortune of recent days? I shall look after the Master. I happen to have a few matters regarding his recovery that I must explain to him personally."
Madam Zhao wished for nothing more than to leave that room, which still reeked of death. She quickly performed a salute. "Then I shall trouble you, Master Hao."
She left two maidservants to assist him and hurried back to her own quarters to rest.
When Hao Bai pushed open the door to the inner chamber, Zou Sifang was being served a meal.
Having just returned from the gates of hell, the man had a profound appreciation for the benefits of being alive. He was currently immersed in the joy of rebirth, a bowl of shark fin and bird's nest on his left and a dish of lingzhi and bear paw on his right. He seemed terrified that if he looked away for even a moment, he might breathe his last and be forever parted from the world's delicacies.
Hao Bai stepped forward and discreetly moved the half-eaten bowl of bird's nest aside. "Master Zou, your body has only just begun to recover. You cannot consume too many rich supplements, lest the heated blood rush upward and clog the orifices of your heart."
Only then did Zou Sifang stop eating, though his eyes remained fixed on the bowl. "I am only taking a few bites of each dish. Surely it won't hurt?"
Hao Bai smiled, revealing a row of white teeth, and instructed the maidservants, "Go and see how the Master's decoction is progressing. I must feel his pulse here; it is inconvenient for outsiders to be present."
The maidservants looked at each other, sensing the physician was a formidable character. Since their master didn't speak up to keep them, they didn't dare say more and withdrew one by one.
Once only Hao Bai and Zou Sifang remained in the room, Zou Sifang—who was no fool—spoke first. "My recovery is thanks to your great efforts, Master Hao. You shall not lack for silver. If you have other requests, speak them now."
Seeing him get straight to the point, Hao Bai stopped beating around the bush.
"Does the Master know to whom he owes this stroke of luck?"
Zou Sifang hadn't expected Hao Bai to start there. Unable to guess the other man's intentions, he rolled his eyes thoughtfully. "To you, of course, Master Hao."
Hao Bai shook his head. "Though I have the skill to heal, I would be helpless without the proper medicine, even if a divine physician were reborn."
"Why belittle yourself? I heard that the antidote required a Buddha Bone Sarira, which is exceedingly rare. To find such a thing within a single day is a testament to your great capability."
Hao Bai feigned a sigh. "A treasure like a Sarira—how could an ordinary person possess such a thing? To be honest, the person who gifted me the Sarira is the true hidden expert. He likely foresaw all of this, which is why I was able to obtain the medicinal catalyst in a single day."
At this, Zou Sifang finally showed surprise. "You mean... someone predicted I would fall ill and specifically sent the medicine to you?"
Hao Bai nodded solemnly. "Indeed. Besides the Sarira, that person had a few words for me to pass on to you." At this point, he lowered his voice. "The expert specifically cautioned me that no outsiders should be present when I deliver the message, lest someone sway your mind."
Having been in business for many years, Zou Sifang was inclined to believe in such mystical matters. He propped himself up and signaled for Hao Bai to speak quickly.
Hao Bai cleared his throat and delivered the most crucial line.
"The expert said that your recent calamity, Master Zou, was because you took something you should not have taken."
Zou Sifang’s expression changed instantly. He looked at Hao Bai with a mix of shock and anger. "You... you dare pry into my private household affairs? What are your intentions?"
Hao Bai had expected this burst of shame-turned-anger and maintained his composure. "What are you saying, Master Zou? After the scene Madam Zhao caused at the Xiong residence yesterday, there is likely no one in the city who doesn't know you've acquired a precious jade. Why would I need to pry?"
Zou Sifang froze, realizing this was true. He couldn't blame anyone else for the lack of peace in his own backyard, yet he remained stubborn. "That is my family matter. It has nothing to do with you."
Knowing the man was wavering, Hao Bai spoke with earnest gravity. "Precisely because it has nothing to do with me, my words are not for my own gain. The item in your hands is precious, yes, but it is also a curse. If you do not deal with it quickly, even if you've kept your life this time, you will not escape danger in the future."
Zou Sifang was, in the end, afraid of death. His already pale complexion turned even more sallow.
Seeing this, Hao Bai unhurriedly plucked three pieces of fruit from a nearby tray, rolled them in his hands, and lined them up one by one on the edge of the bed.
"The Zou family is wealthy but lacks political power. Currently, the elites of Huozhou are a closed circle that outsiders find difficult to enter. You need a 'stepping stone,' and the Zhuming Festival is that opportunity. Although the sacrifice is nominally a folk event, the Shen family watches it closely every year. They personally grant an audience to whoever offers the best sacrifice—partly to save face, and partly to see if there are any rising stars worth recruiting. If you are willing to offer that jade, the Zou family will be the star of the Zhuming Festival. That is the first reason."
"Second, business relies on 'harmony.' News of your illness has likely spread, and some even say your business has damaged your karmic merit, leading to this disaster. Tongues will wag, and you cannot stop them; this will inevitably affect those who buy your medicine every year. People buy for peace of mind. The Zhuming Festival is an act of worship. If you publicly offer your treasure to the gods, it will offset the previous unpleasantness and silence the critics. It would be entirely beneficial to the Zou family business."
"Third, and most importantly: A common man is innocent, but treasuring a jade makes him guilty. Though the true nature of that object is not yet clear, its location is known to all. Imagine how much fighting and scheming will ensue; one wrong move and disaster will strike. Most of those offering high prices for the jade do not want publicity, nor do they want to reveal their identities. Even if the deal is done and the jade is gone, outsiders won't know. You would become a target standing in the light, unable to voice your grievances or explain your side. That would be a true predicament."
The scene of Zhongli Jing giving him these instructions was still fresh in Hao Bai's mind. The man had told him to repeat it word for word, clearly not trusting Hao Bai's own tongue. Hao Bai had memorized it many times, and now that he poured it out in one breath, it carried a hint of that man's indisputable, meticulous persuasiveness.
Zou Sifang’s haggard face grew even more silent following these words.
Though greedy and stubborn, he was by no means dim-witted. It had been no easy feat to bring the Zou family business to its current state. The young man's words struck his heart like a hammer, driving the previously planted nail deeper and deeper.
Did he really not know the Xiong family's intentions? Their "gift" was merely a way to pass on a piece of meat they couldn't swallow—a hot potato that had landed in his hands.
And now, it had nearly cost him his life.
"When faced with two benefits, choose the greater; when faced with two evils, choose the lesser. I have fulfilled my task and delivered the message. As for which path to take, that is for you to decide, Master Zou."
****** ****** ******
Xiao Nanhui lay flat on a long bench, staring blankly at a gecko on the wooden beam above her head.
She had been lying there, motionless, for nearly an hour.
Her back was aching. She shifted slightly, and his figure entered her field of vision.
Zhongli Jing sat on the couch diagonally in front of her, appearing to be resting with his eyes closed. He, too, had sat there without moving for half an hour. If not for the occasional sound of his breathing, she would have thought she was the only living person in the room.
What a bizarre atmosphere.
Xiao Nanhui sighed inwardly to the heavens.
Half an hour ago, Ding Weixiang had prepared to go out to see if Hao Bai had succeeded. Bolao, who was always suspicious of the man, had followed him out.
By the time she realized what was happening, the room had become like this.
Several hours had passed since they discussed the Zhuming Festival, yet whenever Xiao Nanhui closed her eyes, she heard the man's voice calling her name. Not to mention the fact that he was now right under her nose.
In truth, ever since she realized he was the person she had met at Yongye Temple, she had a faint premonition: he likely knew her identity all along. But knowing was one thing; saying it out loud was another. Now, he was openly holding a leash on her, while she hadn't managed to grab so much as a hair of his.
The world is a treacherous place.
She turned over with a shudder, secretly praying he wasn't an enemy of the Marquis's Manor.
But if... if he really was an enemy?
Then... kill him?
The thought startled even Xiao Nanhui. It wasn't that she hadn't killed before, but outside of the battlefield, she had never felt murderous intent toward an individual. The man sharing the room with her had no martial arts skills, and his guard was away. If she wanted to act now, he would likely have no way to resist.
Yet, for some reason, she still felt a faint sense of unease.
This unease came from a primal instinct for danger. Sometimes, the people who appeared the least lethal were the most dangerous.
"Rest assured, you and I are on the same path. We are not enemies."
His sudden voice startled her; it was as if he had seen right through her thoughts.
She flipped herself upright on the bench and poured a cup of water from the teapot to hide her agitation. "Words are cheap. Why should I believe you?"
A slender hand picked up the freshly filled cup. Its owner drained the water in one gulp and set the cup back on the table.
"You have no other choice."
*I do.*
*Killing you is a choice.*
Xiao Nanhui licked her lips as she stared at the empty cup. Her fingers unconsciously brushed the underside of the table, where she had hidden a dagger when she first moved in.
Should she gamble the safety of the entire Marquis's Manor on this one move?
Just then, a faint sound came from the ceiling.
*Clack.*
The gecko that had been clinging to the beam somehow fell, landing right on the table between them.
It struggled frantically between the teacup and the teapot, suddenly severed its own tail, and then scurried away in a hurry.
This sudden scene interrupted Xiao Nanhui's thoughts. She stared blankly at the half-tail still wriggling on the table. The man opposite her began to laugh.
"You see? Even a tiny gecko knows to cut its tail to survive. Humans are the same."
Her tone was unfriendly. "What do you mean by that?"
A trace of a smile remained at the corners of Zhongli Jing's mouth, making it impossible to tell how much of his words were true or false. "I was speaking of Zou Sifang, of course. Otherwise, what did you think I meant?"
Xiao Nanhui remained silent.
What did she think? She would never admit that for a fleeting moment, even with the blade in her hand, she had the illusion that she was the meat on the chopping block.
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
佛骨舍利 | Buddha Bone Sarira | A sacred Buddhist relic, often a pearl-like object found among the cremated ashes of a master.
沈家 | Shen Family | A powerful local family in Huozhou.
匹夫无罪，怀璧其罪 | A common man is innocent, but treasuring a jade makes him guilty | An idiom meaning that possessing something valuable can bring disaster to an ordinary person.
断尾求生 | Cutting the tail to survive | An idiom derived from geckos, meaning to make a necessary sacrifice to save one's life or the greater whole.
鱼肉 | Meat on the chopping block | A metaphor for being at someone else's mercy.
