ATLAS TRANSLATES

After the eldest daughter of the Luo family left Jianye, the plan for refugees to surround her carriage remained unchanged.

While Luo Lingyu went to Nanyang to find her lover, young miss Luo Yunhuan, after celebrating her birthday, was no longer confined to the residence. After her sister left, she enjoyed going out even more and played freely with the ladies of Jianye.

The young miss was beautiful, lively, kind, pure, and had an indescribable boldness about her. She made several close friends.

But Luo Yunhuan didn’t just play around — she would also do charitable work with Zhou Zibo, helping the poor and volunteering at schools for commoners. This time when Luo Yunhua went out again, she had a little shadow following her — the Lu family’s fourth young master Lu Chang, who was a year younger than her.

Ever since his little cousin refused to stay obediently at the Lu residence, young master Lu Chang felt especially lonely. He really enjoyed playing with his little cousin, and she was the only one close to his age in the family. He had no other choice. When Luo Yunhuan was heading out, Lu Chang begged and made promises until he was finally allowed to join her carriage.

The ox cart was surrounded halfway up the mountain.

What looked like dozens of refugees surrounded their carriage, and the guards immediately became tense trying to disperse the crowd. The young miss and young master in the carriage slightly pulled back the curtain, their small faces flashing briefly before the refugees. The refugees were stunned, not expecting the carriage’s occupants to be children. While they were frozen in surprise, Luo Yunhuan had already authoritatively instructed the guards in her crisp voice to take out the grain they had brought to donate to the temple and distribute it.

The carriage door opened wide, and Luo Yunhuan stood there gracefully with her hands on her hips. The beautiful young miss wore silver boots with a small golden crossbow at her waist. She waved her hand with great presence: “Don’t fight, don’t fight, there’s enough for everyone!”

Young master Lu Chang also climbed up to help, but when he peeked out, he was frightened by the surge of people crowding below: “…there are so many people…”

White grains of rice scattered through their fingers, each grain distinct and clearly of the highest quality. Though Jiangnan was known for its fish and rice, the noble families divided up all the land. Common people had only seen such rice but never eaten it. Moreover, although these refugees had been incited with impure motives and there were even several spies mixed among them, most were genuine refugees. Just showing this kind of rice made the refugees rush forward to grab it.

Luo Yunhuan’s eyes curved in a smile as she distributed grain alongside her cousin who was putting on the airs of a young gentleman.

In the chaos, they didn’t notice that six or seven zhang up the mountain slope on the left, there was a protruding rock. A youth in black clothes sat cross-legged on the rock. No longer dressed like a beggar, with his face washed clean, he was fair and handsome with eyes like the midnight sky. Only his expressionless face and the inherent coldness in his bearing could connect him to that little beggar from before.

The youth watched the chaotic scene below expressionlessly, seeing the little beauty’s beaming smile and the young master beside her carrying himself like a gentleman. The two children worked together smoothly and unhurriedly. What was supposed to be an attack on the carriage had somehow turned into a genuine scene of people scrambling for food.

The youth readied his crossbow — the one in his hands had a simple design but could fire three arrows at once. His strong fingers rested on the trigger as he aimed, pointing the bow at a gap between the refugees below. He didn’t plan to kill anyone, only to intimidate them. The youth stared unmoving at the scene below, increasing pressure on his fingers as the crossbow was about to fire…

Down below in the ox cart stopped on the mountain path, while the refugees and guards were busy fighting over the grain, the previously smiling Luo Yunhuan suddenly retreated and quickly shut the carriage door. She moved so fast, and the refugees were so focused on the grain, that no one noticed what was happening in the carriage. As soon as the door closed, Luo Yunhuan’s smile vanished and she grabbed the confused-looking fourth young master, saying anxiously: “What do we do, what do we do? We’ve encountered bad people!”

Lu Chang: “Ah?!”

Though Luo Yunhuan was kind, perhaps because she had seen so much of her sister’s actions over the years, she wasn’t foolish. When bad people appeared, she could easily tell. Ignoring her dumbfounded cousin, her dark grape-like eyes darted around the carriage walls before she dragged Lu Chang to help her push open the back window. The rear window was only for ventilation and extremely narrow, but fortunately they were both children with small frames and short statures. Working together, they managed to make the window slightly larger and could stealthily escape through it.

Luo Yunhuan pulled Lu Chang as they jumped down from the carriage and ran desperately up the mountain path behind them.

Above, the youth who had been intently aiming at the refugees raised his eyebrows in an elegant arc glinting with sunlight. After a brief startled moment, he quickly withdrew his crossbow and jumped up. As the two children ran along the mountain path below, the youth’s black figure appeared and disappeared among the cliffs and forests several zhang above them.

The spies among the refugees noticed something was wrong. Looking back, they immediately shouted: “They’re running away! The ones who exploit us are running away, everyone chase after them!”

There wasn’t much grain left anyway. The refugees remembered how the Lu family’s young cousin had bullied Chen Xiu who had helped them. Their anger ignited and after tying up the rice in their sleeves and clothes, they chased after the two children. They shouted: “Don’t run! You must feel guilty! We demand an explanation—”

Out of breath from racing alongside his little cousin, the fourth young master gasped: “Why are they chasing us? Did you cause trouble outside? I told you not to go out so much, see, we really met bad people.”

Luo Yunhuan turned to look at the army chasing them, her small face pale, but she still stubbornly retorted: “Hmph, you’re the one who caused trouble. I didn’t!”

To the refugees, two children around ten years old with short legs should have been caught in a few steps by adults. But surprisingly, though the children had short legs, they could run fast. The pursuers were already out of breath while the two children maintained their speed without slowing. Especially that bouncing young miss.

Luo Yunhuan had always been quite active. Her sister was lively in personality, while she was lively physically. Although her sister often confined her indoors and wouldn’t let her go out to play, young miss Luo Yunhuan had plenty of experience climbing trees and catching fish behind her sister’s back. While their pursuers were sweating profusely, the young miss ran effortlessly and still had energy to look back.

Lu Chang could keep up with his cousin at first, but as she strode ahead vigorously, his strength gradually gave out and he started panting heavily.

Lu Chang’s small chest heaved, his hand held by his cousin was covered in sweat, and his footsteps grew heavy as he slowly fell behind. Lu Chang cried out pitifully: “Cousin Huan, I can’t run anymore…”

As he spoke anxiously, he tripped on a rock. The young master fell to the ground, got a mouthful of dirt, and hit his forehead on a rock which immediately started bleeding. Luo Yunhuan looked back, startled, and quickly ran back to pull him up. Luo Yunhua: “Oh no, get up quickly, they’re catching up…”

Lu Chang was extremely panicked. The Lu family protected their young masters very well, and the fourth young master had never encountered anything so frightening before. If nothing unexpected happened, when he grew up he would likely have the same pure and calm temperament as his second brother. Right now, after his cousin helped young master Lu Chang stand up, his legs were shaking. When he turned around, the pursuing army had already arrived before their eyes.

He was so scared that tears immediately filled his eyes as he pushed Luo Yunhua: “Go, you go quickly! They wouldn’t dare hurt me.”

Luo Yunhuan was naturally loyal and refused to abandon him.

But in that brief moment of arguing, the refugees had caught up. The group of adults surrounded the two terrified children, panting heavily while laughing eerily: “Running away? Weren’t you two little rabbits running so fast? Why not run all the way to the mountaintop?”

Luo Yunhuan lifted her small face, showing a placating smile: “Brother…”

“Smack!”

A hand was about to strike down as the refugee cursed: “Who’s your brother… Ah!”

He let out a scream because his descending hand was pierced by an arrow that flew out of nowhere. The arrow went straight through his palm, and this refugee clutched his bleeding hand, screaming and rolling on the ground in agony: “My hand! My hand… help, help!”

“Who? Who was it?!” The refugees panicked seeing their companion injured and the crowd became chaotic, looking around everywhere. As they looked up, following the stunned young miss Luo Yunhuan’s upward gaze, they saw the black-clothed youth sitting cross-legged up high.

Luo Yunhuan’s beautiful eyes lit up as she recognized the youth: “Big brother, it’s you!”

The youth had a crossbow aimed at them, still not lowered. Who had shot that arrow was obvious. This youth was their companion, a refugee like them, but now he had his crossbow pointed at them. The refugees exploded: “Have you gone mad?!”

The youth said: “How strange. The grievance between Miss Chen and Miss Luo – Miss Chen herself hasn’t done anything, yet you use her name to bully innocent people. Miss Luo left Jianye days ago! You didn’t surround her carriage when she was here, and only come after she’s gone.”

The youth sitting high above glanced down arrogantly: “Bullying children, heh.”

The refugees’ faces reddened: “This was everyone’s idea! Your elder brother agreed too, are you not afraid of being held accountable when you return?”

Their “your elder brother” referred to the middle-aged man who was with the youth.

Luo Yunhuan’s bright eyes flickered as she caught the key information in their conversation: How was this related to her sister and Sister Chen? This wasn’t just refugees surrounding their carriage?

Above, the youth stood up, extending his arm to point at the two children. With his youthful height and slim, straight bearing, when he stood up without pretending to be a beggar, he was imposingly fierce. The youth said calmly: “These two, I’m protecting them, you can’t touch them. Even if my elder brother is unhappy, he’ll only scold me when I return, it has nothing to do with you.”

At most it would just be a beating and scolding, anyway the conflict between the Chen and Lu families had already been provoked, that damned man wouldn’t be too angry.

The refugees hesitated at his words.

The youth beckoned lazily to Lu Chang and Luo Yunhuan who were surrounded below: “You two, aren’t you coming?”

He jumped down from above, leaping several zhang like a black hawk, fierce and imposing. Such skill showed his high martial arts ability, causing people to fear him in awe. The youth merely glanced at the crowd before turning to leave. Below, the two children who had been surrounded were stunned, but seeing the refugees not stopping them, Luo Yunhuan held Lu Chang’s hand as they chased after the departing youth.

Behind them, the crowd of refugees stood woodenly watching, none daring to pursue. Their companion’s screams still rang out – they dared not provoke this youth.

The youth walked ahead while Luo Yunhuan and Lu Chang followed behind. Luo Yunhua stared at his back, hesitating with many doubts and not daring to speak. After walking for a while, the Lu family guards found them, and Lu Chang finally relaxed, his tense spine finally able to loosen after holding it straight the whole way.

Young master Lu Chang shyly put on adult airs, bowing to their savior with a smile: “Many thanks for saving our lives, hero. Would you come back to the Lu residence with me? The Lu family will surely reward you.”

The youth ignored him, only lowering his gaze to stare at Luo Yunhua: “Are you alright?”

Luo Yunhuan froze, then dazedly shook her head.

After hesitating, Luo Yunhuan said softly: “Refugees are so scary… I should have listened to my sister. Now I don’t dare casually help people anymore.”

The youth said blandly: “I’ll protect you, no refugees in Jianye will dare bother you in the future. Do whatever you want to do.”

Luo Yunhuan was surprised, then looked at the youth’s handsome, profound features and smiled brightly: “So big brother is so powerful! Thank you, big brother!”

Besides Luo Yunhuan, there was also the very confused Lu Chang, and all the Lu family guards watched him vigilantly. The youth didn’t want to say anything else – anyway, that bit of conflict between the Chen and Lu families, after today everyone would know about it, he didn’t need to belabor the point. The youth made no response as the two children returned to their guards. He leaped up, crossing almost ten zhang to reach the heights.

As he stood among the trees, about to disappear in an instant.

Luo Yunhuan suddenly let go of Lu Chang’s small hand and ran forward a couple steps, shouting loudly: “Big brother, big brother, what’s your name? How will I see you again?”

After a long while, the youth’s already distant voice drifted through the air: “Just call me ‘Zihan’.”

But as for how to see him, he didn’t say. He was now with Chen Xiu – if he wanted to see her, it would be easy; if he didn’t want to see her, that would also be easy.

The forest wind whistled as autumn maple leaves spiraled down like rain. Luo Yunhuan stood between heaven and earth, standing still for a long while, making sure he had truly gone far away. Disappointment showed in her eyes as she sighed, but she savored the big brother’s name on her tongue. Luo Yunhuan smiled to herself again: “Then I’ll call you ‘Brother Zihan’.”

The young miss who had always been well-protected by her sister naturally felt drawn to such a tall, mighty man whose strength far exceeded her own. She admired that kind of powerful strength, wanting to possess such strength herself. Luo Yunhuan’s initial attraction to the strange big brother wasn’t from the copper coins he had tossed before, but from this moment.

The changes of fate had quietly begun here.

If Luo Lingyu were in Jianye, she wouldn’t have let Luo Yunhuan and Lu Chang go out like this to help refugees. With Luo Lingyu watching, the young miss would never have encountered today’s events, would never have become entangled with this youth again. But Luo Lingyu was not in Jianye at this time.

When Lu Xian first woke up from falling in the water, when Lu Xian talked with Luo Lingyu about his dream, the paths in the dream and reality merged and separated, the specific details had already begun to subtly change. Such changes were extremely small, and no one could recognize them now. Only by observing the entire situation could one glimpse the tip of the iceberg.

…

Luo Lingyu was now in Yingchuan.

Though traveling with the army wasn’t fast, for Luo Lingyu who rarely went on long journeys and spent all day confined in a carriage, this journey from Jianye to Yingchuan was much more arduous than when she came to Jianye from Nanyang. She wasn’t very familiar with Liu Mu, the Prince of Hengyang, and Liu Mu was in a hurry to travel, so the two were like strangers.

The lady hid worriedly in her carriage while the young man rode his horse staring straight ahead. One was concerned about her lover’s life and death with no mind to please other men, while the other remembered Lu Xian’s reminder not to annoy Luo Lingyu. And so, by the time they reached Yingchuan Prefecture, Luo Lingyu and Liu Mu had barely exchanged a few words.

After arriving in Yingchuan, the new general Liu Mu went to report to the military camp, finally able to relax the nerves he had kept taut the whole journey. The young prince rubbed his sore neck and emerged from the camp’s palisade to see the delicate lady descending from the ox cart. With only the maid Lingyu attending her, after days of travel fatigue, melancholy undiminished in her features, Lady Luo stepped down from the carriage, her slender figure as enchanting as a celestial maiden.

Liu Mu’s heart suddenly thumped heavily, an indescribable strange feeling leaping up.

Just like the floating, uncertain feeling in his heart many times when he looked at Luo Lingyu.

Luo Lingyu turned her face questioningly to look at him.

The lady’s water-like eyes rippled clearly, the light in them pure and forthright, obviously her feelings were different from his.

Liu Mu paused before walking over: “Does Lady Luo want to settle in Yingchuan for a couple days, or…”

Luo Lingyu politely replied: “I wouldn’t dare trouble you further, Young Master. My family is in Nanyang, and my third cousin is also in Nanyang. We’re very close to home now. With such a short distance and time, I’m eager to return home.”

Liu Mu was silent for a moment before saying: “Hmm… then I’ll escort you to Nanyang.”

Luo Lingyu was delighted inside – she had worried that once they reached Yingchuan, Liu Mu would just hand her over to his attendants to escort her to Nanyang. Having a beauty like jade escorted by attendants wasn’t as safe as having Liu Mu personally escort her. However, when Liu Mu said this, Luo Lingyu still put on a modest act: “Young Master is busy with affairs of state, this wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”

Liu Mu didn’t catch the lady’s coy little mood at all. The young prince had always been decisive and arbitrary. Once he made a decision, he didn’t give her a chance to act further: “It’s decided then.”

Luo Lingyu had to swallow the words in her throat, unable to get them out: …this person was so boring.

He wouldn’t let her fully display her talents.

…

Liu Mu brought dozens of attendants to escort Luo Lingyu to Nanyang. Yingchuan wasn’t far from Nanyang, and they weren’t in a hurry. When it got dark, as Liu Mu sat on his horse gazing absently at the blue stream between the flat hills, Luo Lingyu happened to pull back the curtain and see him. She smiled and had people stop the carriage: “Young Master, shall we have grilled fish tonight?”

Liu Mu hesitated for a moment.

He asked his attendants, then shook his head: “If we stop now, we’ll be delayed getting to the relay station and won’t have lodging for the night.”

Luo Lingyu still smiled warmly: “That’s alright. Would Young Master mind staying in the wilderness? Though I’ve never experienced it, I’ve longed to try it.”

Liu Mu looked at her: “…You really want to?”

Luo Lingyu nodded.

This prince who usually had gloomy eyes and rarely smiled showed a hint of warmth in his eyes at this moment. He jumped down from his horse and actively walked towards Luo Lingyu’s carriage: “If you like it, that’s good.”

Luo Lingyu’s eyes sparkled as she inwardly laughed: Hmph, what does he mean if she likes it – clearly he’s the one who likes it. She was just good at reading people’s expressions and going along with him.

Among all the young masters in the world, except for someone as difficult to talk to as Lu Yun, Luo Lingyu could handle the rest easily. With Liu Mu, Luo Lingyu found her confidence, and immediately her smile became even more genuine and sweet.

The lady was so charming and alluring.

Her eyes sparkled enchantingly, radiating beauty that could mesmerize people.

Secretly flustered, he had to look away.

…

In the dark hills, trees above and clear streams below. At night, while the attendants were setting up tents by the stream, a desolate ocarina melody drifted down from the flat hilltop. Luo Lingyu stood behind the youth, originally just planning to chat casually with Liu Mu. When she heard the ocarina, she looked over in surprise, flashes of stunned bewilderment crossing her eyes.

Liu Mu sat on the ground, eyes lowered as he played the ocarina. The youth’s fingers were long and elegant, his silhouette as cold as ice and snow.

The ocarina’s sound lingered desolately between heaven and earth, carrying an indescribable melancholy and resentment. Heavy hearted with no way to resolve it – his royal brother’s killing intent in the capital, his mother’s indifference… In the quiet of night, how much dejection and desolation filled Liu Mu’s heart with no outlet.

When the song ended, the youth turned his face to see the gentle look in Luo Lingyu’s eyes.

His heart moved violently.

But then he heard Luo Lingyu say: “My third cousin… is also skilled at playing the ocarina.”

Liu Mu pressed his lips together.

Luo Lingyu embarrassedly withdrew her expression: “I almost thought only he in the world could… I’ve made Your Highness laugh at me.”

Liu Mu remained silent. He had always heard about the Luo lady’s love from Lu Xian. Lu Xian spoke of it so much that even though Liu Mu and Luo Lingyu weren’t close, Liu Mu was very familiar with Luo Lingyu’s feelings. He knew who she loved, knew their relationship wasn’t easy, knew she was going to Nanyang to seek Lu Yun.

Traveling thousands of li to seek her love, how touching.

Liu Mu had nothing to say, so he simply picked up the ocarina and played another song. Luo Lingyu sighed softly and sat down beside him, quietly resting her chin in her hand as she listened. As the ocarina’s sound drifted between heaven and earth this time, they vaguely heard the sound of horses. When the horses stopped, Luo Lingyu hazily seemed to see flickering firelight below.

Perhaps her mind was muddled, but in her daze, with the ocarina’s melody floating through the air, she saw a young man slowly walking up from below.

Different from his usual elegant and handsome silk robes.

He wore a fitted martial robe that accentuated his tall, slim figure. His graceful movements were like flowing water, truly carrying the air of a noble family’s son in black robes, exactly as she remembered. He was beautiful and passionate, yet also carried a sharp coldness… Liu Mu stopped playing the ocarina and called out in surprise: “Lu Yun.”

Luo Lingyu stared wide-eyed.

Watching this person’s features become increasingly clear.

Until he stood three steps before her.

Lu Yun’s peach blossom eyes curved slightly as he drawled: “Little sister Yu’er, it’s been a long time.”