The sound of waves rose and fell like the tide outside the window, one after another, falling into her ears.
In almost an instant, she understood his unusual behavior today – the silent sadness in his gaze towards her, as well as the ups and downs of his emotions.
Her lips parted slightly, wanting to call out his name several times, yet stopping herself before making a sound.
She closed her eyes briefly, lightly cradling her cheeks in her hands, slowly lowering her gaze, quietly lost in thought.
Candlelight flowed throughout the room, accompanied by the sound of the great river, low and unhurried, rising and falling, calming her chaotic feelings.
After some time, she sat up and looked down at him. The charcoal in the brazier crackled as warmth spread through the room, the wavering firelight falling on his face, light and shadows flickering, half-bright and half-dark.
After a while, she tilted her head, realizing he was still pretending to be asleep.
He lay motionless amidst the soft blankets, eyes closed tightly, breathing light, even and peaceful. His long lashes were clearly delineated, casting tranquil shadows in the candlelight, as if he were truly fast asleep.
But his slightly flushed ears gave him away.
His determination to pretend to sleep made her want to laugh.
Head lowered, she smiled softly, a sudden desire to tease him arising.
In the gently swaying cabin, she leaned over him, bringing her face close to his, their noses nearly touching. Her breath drifted over to him and his breathing hitched for an instant, every eyelash taut with tension.
Her long hair slipped from her shoulders, brushing his face. He nearly held his breath. Then, still feigning sleep, he slowly turned his face and stealthily let out his breath.
Silently, the corners of her lips turned up as she laughed, her shoulders trembling slightly. Detecting the motions, he blinked curiously beneath his eyelashes but kept still, wholly devoted to pretending to sleep.
After laughing for a while, seemingly satisfied, she propped up her cheeks and watched him from the bed.
The glowing brazier had warmed the room. She lifted a fingertip to check his temperature.
Right then, a gigantic wave crashed into the side of the boat, tilting it violently to one side.
She fell right into his embrace with a thud and he reflexively caught her in his arms.
Both of their breaths hitched in unison.
Very slowly, he opened his eyes.
They looked at each other in panic.
“Did I wake you?” she asked softly, breaking the silence.
Then quickly offered an excuse, “I came to see if you were really asleep.”
“I was asleep”, he went along, “Just woke up.”
“I know”, she said right away.
After a pause, “I accidentally woke you…sorry.”
“It’s fine,” he hesitated, “Should I go back to sleep?”
“You sleep,” her cheeks burned. “I’m going to sleep too.”
At this moment she was still held in his embrace but they both avoided acknowledging it, pretending nothing had transpired.
He let go of her and she wriggled out from his arms, gathering her skirt as she headed to the room across. He watched her retreating figure, candle flames lighting up strands of her hair, the tips glowing golden, fluttering slightly in the gentle wind.
Soon after, the light in the opposite room dimmed as the lamps were put out.
In the faint glow, he gazed at the girl across the way and said softly, “Thank you.”
Gradually, he closed his eyes and sank into boundless dreams.
A long while later, the girl on the bed turned over, looking towards the slumbering figure amidst the blankets, murmuring lowly, “You’re welcome.”
She laughed under her breath. “Foolish Zhe Kang, I already know and so do you.”
“But you’re not ready to tell me yet,” she whispered. “I can wait a little longer but my patience is limited…”
As if giving an order, she said, “You’d better hurry up.”
Wave after wave crashed over the swaying floorboards, echoing endlessly amidst the flickering lamplight.
The ship had been sailing for over half a month before finally arriving at Huainan.
It had traveled extremely fast en route, barely making any stops. At every location they passed, small boats would rush over secretly to deliver official documents concerning local governance.
Every day, Zhu Zi’an sat at his desk reviewing paperwork while Jiang Kui studied maps in the room across. Both were busy with their individual tasks, only occasionally chatting over meals or discussing Huainan’s circumstances before bed.
The fleet dropped anchor near a port town close to Huainan City. Sailors busied themselves on board with loading cargo, still disguising themselves as merchants. Amidst the hustle and bustle, Zhu Zi’an and Jiang Kui quietly disembarked, blending into the streams of passersby.
“Per Sir Gong Yang’s request, we’ll first look into the bandit disturbances,” Zhu Zi’an said. “I’ve asked Luo Shiyi to keep monitoring the illegal transportation of tribute grain. He took men into the city to investigate.”
Jiang Kui nodded. “These past few days I pored over maps of Huainan. Based on Gong Yang’s recent letters, the bandits’ base is likely atop Mount Baishi, not far from here.”
She knitted her brows in contemplation. “Gong Yang wields significant influence over river trade but generally doesn’t interfere with land-based groups. They normally don’t infringe on each other’s territory. But in this past month, merchandise from merchant groups passing through has been randomly looted despite existing agreements. The men he dispatched to retrieve the goods often disappear without explanation…highly irregular. After carving up spheres of influence, Jianghu sects rarely encroach on each other’s domains.”
“I’m also unfamiliar with Huainan. I’ve never heard of unrest here before,” Zhu Zi’an remarked thoughtfully, chin in hand. “Let’s first take a look at Mount Baishi’s base.”
Talking as they walked, they arrived at a crossroads. Zhu Zi’an called out to an old farmer driving his ox and exchanged a small pouch of silver fragments for the use of his oxcart and two bamboo coolie hats.
Each donning a hat, they took turns driving the cart towards the countryside.
The rural paths meandered endlessly, lined on both sides by snow-covered paddies. The squeaky cart wheels churned through the snow, kicking up fine powder that swirled upwards, suspended like salt crystals in the clear winter light.
“So quiet,” the girl on the cart remarked, gazing up at the azure skies. “Doesn’t seem like there are mountain bandits around here.”
The youth holding the reins glanced back at her. “Let’s ask around.”
Not far away, rows of haystacks dotted the fields, lump after lump blanketed in fresh snow. A few children were building snowmen beneath them, balls of thick snow clasped in their hands as they babbled songs in clear, tender voices.
The oxcart pulled up by the haystacks and the young man alighted unhurriedly from his seat, removing his hat. He bent down and offered a handful of candied melon seeds to the children.
They immediately broke into delighted smiles. “Thank you, young sir! Thank you!”
Zhu Zi’an watched them eat the snacks for a while, an amused smile playing on his lips. Presently he inquired gently, “Would you young sirs happen to have seen any mountain bandits pass through recently?”
At his words, the children’s expressions changed instantly. They jumped to their feet, flinging aside the remaining seeds as they ran for home, shouting over their shoulders, “Haven’t heard! Haven’t seen!”
The door to the nearby cottage had been open earlier and upon overhearing their conversation, the elderly woman inside had frozen, face darkening. She got up and slammed the doors and windows shut. The cottage abruptly fell silent.
Exchanging a look, Zhu Zi’an and Jiang Kui’s brows furrowed lightly in unison.
Continuing towards Mount Baishi, everywhere they inquired about the bandits, whether cowherd boys or elderly farmers in the fields, all vehemently shook their heads, insisting they hadn’t seen any before casting distrustful, hostile looks their way.
Zhu Zi’an sighed. “We’ll have to try a different approach.”
Tugging his hat lower, he glanced back with a smile. “Young hero, it appears you’ll have to disguise yourself as a bandit again.”
The oxcart rumbled towards the small town at the foot of the mountain, pulling to a stop beneath an old Chinese parasol tree. Nestled at the town entrance was a modest inn, a brightly-colored banner fluttering over its doorway, the rich aroma of wine drifting from within.
Most of the patrons were Jianghu adherents, an assortment of blades resting by their sides as they talked loudly and vigorously, fists pounding the wooden tables. Servers rushed to and fro delivering food and drinks while ceramic jars kept clinking boisterously.
With a creak, the doors swung open and two figures entered, simple garments and hats lightly dusted with snow.
The young man in front removed his conical hat, shaking off the fine powder before turning to assist the girl behind him. They seated themselves at an empty table in the corner.
Clad in a green arrow robe and bamboo hat, the girl carried a long white cloth bundle. Removing her hat, she smacked the package onto the table and laughed. “Bring me your strongest wine!”
The room briefly fell silent as all eyes turned curiously towards the unfamiliar maiden. She smiled lazily, sharpness evident despite her languid posture, long raven hair pinned up with a red jade hairpiece that accentuated her dazzlingly exquisite features, almost too brilliant to look at – like a camellia blossoming in snow.
The bundle likely contained a weapon and many secretly guessed at what it could be.
The girl grabbed a wine jug and casually hefted it. Tilting her head back, she downed the contents in one go before smirking at the youth beside her. “I’ve heard Huainan has many heroes yet traveling south, I haven’t found one who can take even one of my moves.”
“Indeed.” The young man chuckled. “So much for the famed chivalry of Huainan.”
Seated amongst Huainan’s heroes, they nonchalantly carried on their conversation, disregarding the reactions around them.
Just then, a brawny man at the neighboring table slammed his fist down, rattling the wine jars. “Little girl! Such arrogance!”
The maiden didn’t even lift her eyelids. “Want to test if I’m all talk?”
With a roar, the man seized the large saber beside him and hurtled towards her, wielding the weapon fiercely enough to drive back surrounding spectators.
She scoffed, “Wielding a great saber like a street performer?”
Infuriated, the brute swung the saber at her. She calmly tilted her face back, body recoiling slightly to evade the blow as her fingers shot out nimbly to pinch the descending blade.
Despite the seemingly gentle pinch, his momentum instantly stalled.
In the next moment, the girl smiled, wrist flicking to wrench away his weapon and lazily tracing an arc through the air to rest the glinting edge at his throat.
“Well?” Retrieving the saber, she tossed it aside. “Who else wants to try?”
A breath of silence followed before the inn exploded with the ring of unsheathed steel and over a dozen shadows leaping forth as one!
She sighed. “Ganging up since you can’t win one-on-one?”
Rising to her feet, she landed lightly amidst the mob, movements as quick as a seasoned warrior, afterimages trailing in her wake.
Darting rapidly between her attackers, she effortlessly seized their weapons and struck them in the chest with the pommels, felling them one by one.
Finally, she dusted her hands and leapt atop the tallest table, plucking out the vermillion hairpiece to retie her disheveled locks. Sunbeams cascaded over her upturned face, illuminating her refined, dazzling features.
“As expected,” she laughed softly. “Not one who can take a single move of mine.”
Leaning against the wall, the young lord smiled faintly. “Falling Flowers Point Silver Spear’ young hero, your skill at snatching blades and wounding others is unmatched indeed.”
The men strewn across the floor looked up simultaneously. Though most had heard of the legendary spear-wielding maiden, none knew she was such an enchanting girl.
“I originally came to visit an old friend on Mount Baishi but I guess that’s unnecessary now.” She lazily stretched her back. “Just a bunch of idle Jianghu members hiding in the mountains…how boring.”
Clutching the bundle, she headed for the exit where the youth awaited. As they turned to leave, a voice rang out behind them. “I’ve long admired Falling Flowers Point Silver Spear’s fame and seeing you today, the reality exceeds it.”
From the counter’s shadows, the innkeeper slowly stood, bowing with clasped hands. “If you wish to travel up Mount Baishi, I can introduce you.”
“However,” he hesitated briefly, “the stronghold has a rule permitting only one guest per day.”
Jiang Kui swiftly glanced at Zhu Zi’an and he gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Dipping her fingertip in wine, she wrote on the table: “Wait for me.”
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