“Who’s there?!”
Fu Yunmo huddled in the shadows. A sudden movement agitated the wound on her right shoulder, forcing a sharp hiss of pain from her lips.
“Miss…”
A dark figure dropped from above, easily pinpointing her location. His voice was weak and urgent, sounding as though he were severely injured.
“You… who are you?” Fu Yunmo remained hidden, too afraid to step out.
To her surprise, the man spoke with reverence. “The other day, I saw you risk your life to protect your companion. Such a heroic heart is rarely seen in this world… I wish to…”
Fu Yunmo peeked out, her brow furrowed. This man was there that day? And since he knows martial arts, why didn’t he step in to help? Hmph!
“You wish to what?”
She stepped out cautiously. Under the moonlight, she saw a man in his fifties. His face was deathly pale, and a streak of blood stained the corner of his mouth—he was clearly suffering from a grave internal injury.
“I wish to entrust this to you.”
The man pulled a bundle wrapped in black cloth from his robe and held it out. Fearing a trap, Fu Yunmo hesitated to take it. But as she stood there, she noticed a peculiar smell coming from the package… Is that… salted fish?
Without another word, the man thrust the bundle into her arms. “This contains a peerless martial arts technique that the entire martial world dreams of… Everything depends on you now…”
With that, he tapped his toes against the ground and soared onto the roof tiles, vanishing into the night within a few breaths.
Fu Yunmo sniffed the heavy scent of salted fish clinging to her clothes and wrinkled her nose in disgust. She unwrapped the cloth… and indeed, there lay a dried, salted fish.
Suddenly, memories of the “Imperial Sword” gag from Stephen Chow’s movies flashed through her mind. Meow… peerless martial arts?
“Hey! Take this fish back and steam it for dinner!” she shouted toward the direction the man had fled. Naturally, there was no reply. Instead, someone else approached.
“Sister Mo, what are you doing out here?”
Nan Kunlun walked over wearing only his inner robes, a towel in his hand. He had clearly just finished bathing. “Who were you talking to?”
As he got closer, he immediately recoiled, covering his nose. “Sister Mo! Did you steal a salted fish from the kitchen?”
Fu Yunmo stood there awkwardly with the fish in hand. Hearing his accusation, she rolled her eyes. “Nan Kunlun, I need to tell you something.”
“Go ahead,” he said, still covering his nose and standing three feet away.
“I just met a man in black. He gave me this.” She paused, almost wanting to laugh because she was telling a story she didn’t believe herself, yet it had actually happened. “He said it’s a peerless martial arts technique that everyone in the Jianghu craves…”
“Sister Mo… your storytelling skills… have really improved.”
“Shut up!”
After a lengthy explanation, Nan Kunlun finally believed her. Fu Yunmo was a favorite of Chef Chen; if she wanted something, she didn’t need to steal it—especially not a salted fish. There was no reason for her to make up such a bizarre story.
The two lit a candle and sat at the stone table in the courtyard, resting their chins on their hands as they stared blankly at the “peerless technique.”
“No matter how I look at it, it’s just a salted fish,” Nan Kunlun muttered. He couldn’t find anything unusual about it.
“Don’t talk about it. I’m actually getting hungry…” Fu Yunmo had come out for a late-night snack, but now she was just covered in the smell of fish.
“Maybe… Sister Mo, let’s study it tomorrow. It’s too late tonight.”
“Alright.”
After blowing out the candle, Fu Yunmo took the fish back to her room. She wrapped it carefully in thick layers of cloth and hid it under her bed to keep the smell from spreading. Well, if it really is a peerless technique… I should at least protect it.
The next day, Ning Buqu arrived. True to his word, he taught Fu Yunmo some basic breathing techniques (Tuna) and the introductory foundations of the Cangyun Internal Law. Although she didn’t understand much at first, Ning Buqu was patient. After several repetitions, she finally grasped the concept of guiding her qi.
The breath enters through the center, like rivers returning to the sea, flowing directly into the Dantian… a cycle without end…
This was the most basic method of breathing. Ning Buqu explained that once she mastered this, she could run the cycle according to the mnemonics of the Cangyun Internal Law to learn the basics of their sect’s cultivation.
It sounded simple, but Fu Yunmo spent half the day just trying to understand the metaphors. It wasn’t that she lacked talent, but she had never heard of such concepts before. However, once she caught the knack of it, things began to click.
After practicing all day, night fell. Fu Yunmo headed to the front hall, craving a drink. Although the doctor said she should avoid alcohol, she had slept too much and couldn’t bear to lie in bed.
She found Boss Li at his post, working on his accounts. He greeted her warmly. “Sister Mo, is your injury feeling better?” He set aside his abacus and walked over.
Fu Yunmo felt a pang of guilt. Can I still get away with a drink?
“Much better… but my mouth has felt quite bland these past few days. I was hoping for some wine.”
She didn’t hide her motive. To her surprise, Boss Li didn’t look shocked. He reached into his cabinet and pulled out a small jar. It didn’t look like the inn’s usual stock, as it lacked the Sihai Inn label.
“This is a medicinal wine I brewed myself. Don’t worry, it’s fragrant and will help your wound heal.”
And here I thought Boss Li was a rigid man, she thought. He’s actually quite a thoughtful guy.
“Thank you…” She took the jar and sat down with him. “Boss Li, thank you for being so good to me.” She had fully expected him to stop her.
“It’s nothing. You’re a member of this inn, and a girl at that. You must be looked after.” Boss Li gave her a gentle smile. His handsome, scholarly face was impossible to dislike—the perk of being good-looking.
“It’s fine, you can all just treat me like one of the boys,” Fu Yunmo grinned. She was no damsel in distress; if she acted weak, it was only when the situation called for it—like charming a drink out of a manager.
“A ‘boy’ as beautiful as you would be a rare sight indeed,” Boss Li teased. His scholarly air suddenly carried a hint of roguish charm, making Fu Yunmo’s lip twitch. This straight-laced boss actually knows how to flirt?
“I’ll take that as a compliment! I’ll be taking this wine then!” She opened the lid and was greeted by a rich aroma of wine mingled with herbs. It wasn’t medicinal at all; it smelled wonderful. She took a small sip and her taste buds erupted. “Delicious!”
“I’m glad you like it. Actually, I have a small favor to ask.”
Fu Yunmo squinted. Of course, nothing in this world is truly free. “What is it? Just say the word.” Since she’d taken the wine, she had no intention of backing out.
“It’s a small matter. I have a book I wish to transcribe for a friend. I noticed your handwriting is quite beautiful, so I was hoping you could help me.”
Fu Yunmo agreed readily; it was a simple task. “Consider it done. What kind of book is it?”
Boss Li pulled a thin volume from his robe—a Buddhist scripture.
“I didn’t know you were a believer,” she remarked, taking the book. The cover simply bore the character for “Buddha,” and the inside was filled with regular script translated from Sanskrit. She couldn’t understand the meaning, but the characters were clear.
“It’s an original scripture given to me by a friend at Ning’an Temple. Another friend of mine also practices Buddhism, so I planned to give him a copy.”
Ning’an Temple. The name sounded vaguely familiar to Fu Yunmo. It was said to have been a major sect once before it suddenly declined, paving the way for the rise of the current Three Major Sects.
“I see. When do you need it by?” she asked. Since she was off work for a few days, transcribing would be a good way to pass the time.
“Three days. Is that alright?”
She nodded and took another sip of wine. Boss Li thanked her and returned to his abacus.
Suddenly, a chill swept through the air. Fu Yunmo looked up toward the second floor and saw Ye Xihan leaning against the railing, wearing her white jade mask.
Fu Yunmo’s whole body stiffened. She… she still hasn’t left?
The masked woman offered a faint, chilling smile and began walking down the stairs. Fu Yunmo’s instincts screamed at her: I’m not on the clock! Run!
“Miss Fu, please stay a moment.”
The cold voice made Fu Yunmo shudder. Her mind raced—how does she know my name? She cast a pleading look at Boss Li, but he remained focused on his accounts, not even glancing her way. Boss! Don’t do this to me!
“Yes… yes, esteemed guest. Is there something you need?” Fu Yunmo started to bow, but remembered her shoulder and stood up straight instead.
“Don’t be so nervous, Miss Fu.”
Ye Xihan’s voice suddenly turned somewhat sultry, matching the wicked smile on her lips. Fu Yunmo felt a sense of impending doom—this woman was not acting normally today.
“I merely wanted to ask if you’ve seen any strange people around the inn or the courtyard lately. Perhaps… someone dressed in black?”
Fu Yunmo immediately thought of the man who gave her the salted fish. She remembered that when she first met Ye Xihan, the woman was chasing a man in black. Could it be the same person? Oh gods, why am I caught in this?
“So, Miss Fu… have you seen anyone?”
Seeing Fu Yunmo dazing off, the smile on Ye Xihan’s lips turned cold, as if she were losing her patience.
“No!” Fu Yunmo relied on her acting skills to keep her face steady. She denied it instantly. If she admitted she’d seen him and that he’d given her a salted fish, she’d be dragging herself into a deathtrap.
“Esteemed guest, it is late. You should return to your room and rest,” Boss Li’s voice broke the tension.
Ye Xihan simply chuckled. Her fingertip brushed across Fu Yunmo’s neck, a cold, rhythmic touch that sent goosebumps down her spine. It was a warning—a reminder that those slender fingers could become a lethal blade at any moment.
“Very well. I shall not disturb Miss Fu any further.”
Ye Xihan turned and walked away, leaving Fu Yunmo drenched in a cold sweat.
Something is very, very wrong here…