Shen Quebai enjoyed wearing beads and jade, yet the blade he used lacked any carvings or ornaments, remaining utterly simple.
The blade, roughly two and a half feet long, was straight, calm, and murderous. The hilt was deep crimson, which made the hand gripping it appear blindingly white; the fingertips were flushed pink from the effort, yet Zhu Hexing dared not underestimate it he had already tasted the power of these hands.
Suddenly, a stinging pain flared in his thumb as the blade sliced through his skin. Zhu Hexing hissed and looked up at Shen Quebai, frowning, “That hurts.”
“The pain is on your body, but the joy is in my heart,” Shen Quebai replied coldly. “Since you are to become a ghost, why not be a foolish one? Cast aside all past grievances, debts, and grudges; is it not better to be light and carefree?”
Zhu Hexing brought his bleeding finger to his lips and blew on it lightly, his gaze remaining glued to Shen Quebai’s face. He said, “Naturally, it would be better. But I cannot bear to forget you. You are the surprise I encountered only after trekking over mountains and rivers for thousands of miles.”
Shen Quebai smiled, teasing, “Your Highness must be very popular with young ladies.”
“Then can I also be popular with you?” Zhu Hexing asked expectantly. “I am better looking than Yu Rui; you pity her, so why can you not pity me?”
“If Your Highness wishes to be a lady, I would be happy to help, though there are certain things that, even if the ‘root’ is severed, cannot be entirely changed.” Shen Quebai shifted his knee back, pressing it into Zhu Hexing’s lower abdomen, which made the other man grunt in muffled pain. With an innocent expression, he said, “However, when I return, I shall certainly pray to the gods and Buddhas to bless Your Highness, so that in your next life, you may be reborn as a woman.”
Zhu Hexing closed his eyes and laughed softly. Then, lifting his hands, he begged for mercy, “The young master has a venomous heart; I am truly afraid of you—”
Before he could finish, he suddenly grabbed the tip of the blade at his throat, tilted his head back, and let the edge slice through the skin of his throat. It grazed his side neck and nailed itself into the wet mud. With his left hand, he struck back quickly, grabbing Shen Quebai by the collar and yanking him downward.
Shen Quebai was forced to lean over, his nose almost touching Zhu Hexing’s. A lock of hair brushed across the bloodstain on Zhu Hexing’s neck, causing an itchy irritation. The scent of mud and blood surged into his nostrils, and Shen Quebai reached out to grab the wrist that held his collar, which also captured the jiu jade beads wrapped around it.
His hood had long since slipped off. The dense rain beating against his neck kept Shen Quebai awake. His emotional fluctuations in this moment were hidden beneath his skin, calm and ordinary.
Zhu Hexing openly admired the prettiness of Shen Quebai’s brows and eyes, saying, “You wanted to kill me along with the people from the Eaves of Emptiness—that was a good idea. If I had died here tonight, you could have hidden behind them, and it would be very difficult for the imperial court to detect your presence. But you did not account for Ah-Yan.”
Though young, the fierce reputation of Three Feet of Water spread throughout the underworld. Even after betraying the Eaves of Emptiness, his blade had not lost a fraction of its edge. Xie Suiliu and Hua Wu could gain no advantage against him.
Zhu Hexing felt a sense of regret for Shen Quebai. He said, “We are alone here, but I cannot kill you, and you cannot kill me.”
Shen Quebai generously allowed him to stare, saying, “But I cannot bear to let Your Highness go just like that, either. Those who have shown their blades to Your Highness in the past have not met good ends; I am afraid.”
“How can they compare to you?” Zhu Hexing looked at him, his tone bordering on tender, “I swear, I absolutely cannot bear to kill you.”
Shen Quebai smiled, “Your Highness saying such things is quite unsettling.”
“Is that so?” Zhu Hexing did not believe him. The hand gripping Shen Quebai’s lapel moved slightly, two fingers pressing gently against Shen Quebai’s heart. He felt it for a moment, then said, looking somewhat displeased, “Liar. It is beating as steadily as usual.”
Shen Quebai sighed, “I was afraid of showing weakness before Your Highness, so I tried my best to maintain my composure, when in fact I was nearly scared to death.”
“Why fear me?” Zhu Hexing said, feeling deeply wronged, “I am not a bad person.”
Shen Quebai remained noncommittal, simply smiling a gaze that looked as though a cold moon were suspended upside down in a lake. Zhu Hexing stared back openly, unable to look away, and said, “I gave you three chances, and you failed to kill me. Are you angry?”
“Not angry.” Shen Quebai sincerely reflected, “It was my own mistake to underestimate Your Highness. Having learned my lesson, furthermore,” he glanced at Zhu Hexing’s bleeding hand and said quite contentedly, “to have injured Your Highness’s golden body makes me better than the others. I am certainly not the one most frustrated tonight.”
Zhu Hexing was not interested in how others reacted. He frowned slightly, looking quite dejected, and said, “Ah, so it is because you have a magnanimous heart. I thought it was because you suddenly felt pity for me when you saw me, and could not bear to force me into a dead end.”
The manner and tone in which Zhu Hexing said this remained affected and hypocritical, yet he emphasized the word “suddenly,” making Shen Quebai feel as though he were hinting at something. Shen Quebai pressed his lips together and did not reply. He turned his eyes to the side; Yan Xianchun landed gently not far away.
“People from the Prefect’s office have arrived,” Yan Xianchun said.
Shen Quebai let go. His fingertips slid over the jiu jade, taking with them a trace of chill. He sheathed his blade, stood up, and adjusted his hood, saying, “The mountains are high and the road is long; I wish Your Highness good fortune.”
“With those words of concern, I will surely arrive in the capital safely.” Zhu Hexing stood up and took two steps forward, until his feet were touching Shen Quebai’s. Shen Quebai did not retreat, looking straight at him. He leaned in slightly and whispered, “Until we meet again.”
With that, Zhu Hexing lifted his blood-stained thumb and gently tapped the center of Shen Quebai’s forehead.
Half an hour later, Ting Yuan drove the carriage that Li Shou had “respectfully offered” as they set off again for Xuandu.
Inside the carriage, Yan Xianchun sat to one side, holding his sword. He had removed his veil, revealing a handsome yet pale face. Ting Yuan had bandaged Zhu Hexing’s wounds and dressed him in new clothes. Zhu Hexing was aimlessly doodling on a piece of paper on the tea table, saying casually, “It is rare to see you lost in thought.”
Yan Xianchun said, “I have seen his sword technique before.”
Zhu Hexing raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
Yan Xianchun had practiced martial arts since childhood and had seen many martial artists and techniques. Shen Quebai’s sword style excelled in using softness to overcome hardness, ever-changing and unpredictable. He had once seen it under the blade of another.
“Mo Chengqiu,” Yan Xianchun named the man.
Zhu Hexing’s wrist faltered, “The ‘Snow Blade of the Vast Sea.’ I used to hear people mention this senior often.”
“The Sword of the Pond and Bamboo Wind” Yan Sanxing, “The Shadow of Flowers in the Quiet Courtyard” Yan Qishu, “The Snow Blade of the Vast Sea” Mo Chengqiu, and “The Moon-Guiding Boat of Mist” Liu Chunchao—these were the famous genius experts of the younger generation twenty years ago.
Yan Sanxing was Yan Xianchun’s foster father and master; he and Yan Qishu were fellow disciples of the Eaves of Emptiness’s Yan clan, childhood sweethearts with a deep bond. Though they never grew old together, they died in love. Mo Chengqiu was an overseas traveler who had once landed to participate in Liu Chunchao’s Double Ninth Festival competition. The two had sparred by the sea for three days and became bosom friends, but unfortunately, their paths diverged, and eventually, they faded into the legends of the underworld.
The stories of these four were endless and had kept the storybook shops of the Liang Dynasty thriving for years. They were true legendary figures. It was a pity that, like spring dreams without a trace, none of them were left today.
“Back then, Senior Mo was surrounded in Xuandu. He escaped with heavy injuries and vanished. Later, some investigated thoroughly and confirmed that he had indeed appeared in Chaotian City.” Zhu Hexing drew a blade on the paper, “Chaotian City has always been full of hidden talent and countless fine wines; Senior Mo must have liked it.”
“When my master was alive, I met Senior Mo. He wore flamboyant red and was dashing and unrestrained. The next time I saw him was the day my master and mistress were buried. He was still wearing red, but he was no longer the same person. The wounds he suffered in Xuandu had not healed well.” Yan Xianchun paused, “I feel that he was not just injured on his body.”
Zhu Hexing looked at the blade and palm he had drawn on the paper, saying, “The blade is too fierce, the hand too cold, and he cannot hold it.”
Yan Xianchun remained noncommittal, saying, “You are to meet that assassin again. You already know his identity?”
Zhu Hexing put down his brush and said quite happily, “Uh-huh.”
Yan Xianchun was speechless.
When they returned to the city, the sky was just beginning to brighten. Shen Quebai did not forget to buy chengsha buns (sweet red bean paste) for Xuan Zhen.
The shop was steaming hot. Shen Quebai had red-rimmed eyes, his eyelids drooping. Hua Wu was better at staying awake; she was quite spirited. She glanced at the mark on Shen Quebai’s forehead that he hadn’t wiped clean, keenly sensing that he was distracted.
“These next few days…” Shen Quebai yawned, his voice somewhat thick, “Keep a close watch.”
Hua Wu said, “Don’t worry. If there is any wind of news in Xuandu, I will tell you immediately.”
Shen Quebai nodded, but he did not expect that instead of wind, he would first be met with an imperial decree.
An imperial decree granting a marriage that made one want to curse, “Have you been lobotomized by a bunch of green onions?”