After making through this unique banquet, the two had both suppressed bellies full of conversation. On their boat trip back, they altogether disregarded the snoozing old minister, and started chatting eagerly.

The moment they brought up Princess Uli, both expressed their amazement. Seeing her driving the metal boat alone, guffawing at ease, and probably having more valor than most ordinary men, they really couldn’t imagine how manly that Herr Yabgh—who is daring to marry her—must look. The pair exhausted their imaginations, even coming up with extreme beings like King Kongs and werewolves.

“Wrong!” the old Grand Minister suddenly opened his mouth.

The two jumped. Turning to look, they saw that he still had his lids sealed shut, and were unsure whether it was him sleep-talking.

“What’s wrong?” Qu Fongning ventured to question.

“Our Yabghu Herr’s appearance is famously handsome. The girls of Lii waters often went without food and sleep for days, just to glimpse his smiles,” intoned the old Grand Minister.

Little Ting’yu, in obvious disbelief, pointed to Qu Fongning.

“How does he compare to him?” he asked.

The old Grand Minister’s eyelids cracked open by a slit, and darted a glance at Qu Fongning. The pair waited for his authoritative commentary, but after a long time, they heard nothing. Finally, they checked again, and discovered that he had once again dozed off.

So they moved on to talking about the domineering Queen Lan, her being all weak and frail, but King Shrunle bid obediently to all her commands and dared not to defy a single bit.

“Wrong!” the old Grand Minister abruptly interrupted again.

Qu Fongning pursed his lips saying, “Why not? King Shrunle clearly loves to watch spar dances, but Queen Lan dislikes it, so he forthwith removed them. He is the sovereign of a kingdom, but he is afraid to watch what he likes; he must be really scared of the wife.”

“Little kid knows nothing!” said the Grand Minister, shaking his head, “Fear can only make people lower their heads momentarily, but something else makes people comply with willing devotion for perpetuity. You boys don’t understand it now, but when you meet the girl of your heart, you will understand.”

Things like girls were far departed from Little Ting’yu’s life at the moment, and hence, he didn’t care to listen. However, Qu Fongning frowned faintly and fell into thought.

Afterwards, they started discussing the “Star Shift” ritual. Apparently it is the most important and grandiose festival of Khilan. During the ceremony, thousands of floating lighted lanterns correspond to the positions of the glistening stars in the heavens, with their light reflecting upon each other. It’s an incredibly sensational sight. However, these lanterns are flimsy in the rain; if there is any fluctuation in the weather, people cannot witness this magnificent sight.

Little Ting’yu said as much, but he became puzzled. “Why must the ritual delay when there is rain? Once you dress a lantern with a layer of butter greased paper, they are not scared of any rain. Unless this has some sort of conflict with praying to their God of Rain? Why did the Shaman say damp and moisture?”

Qu Fongning laughed along. “They probably didn’t think of it,” he said offhandedly.

The Grand Minister opened his eyes once again. The pair looked at him, waiting for his rebuttal.

Unexpectedly, he didn’t say “wrong!” but stared at Little Ting’yu.

“Oiled paper is heavy, how can it fly in the wind?” he asked.

“Why not?” said Little Ting’yu, bemused. “I used to send out oiled paper kites in the rain all the time, wanting to tease the thunder from heaven down to play. Whenever mother brought this up, she would also tease me and say how I’ve been odd since a child, that’s why no one wanted to keep me company.”

“Little General had been alone for too long, he must be lonely in his heart,” said Qu Fongning , looking at him.

But his smiling eyes were clearly saying:

“Now you have me, you won’t be lonely ever again!”

Little Ting’yu’s heart filled with warmth, he extended his arm and held Qu Fongning’s hand.

The Grand Minister contemplated long and hard, then abruptly addressed to the steering helm:

“Turn around, back to the palace!”

Then he whirled back his head, smiling at the two:

“How does the two honored guests like the title ‘Grand Censor of Astrological Lanterns?’”

~

A gigantic snow-white lantern, lined with oiled paper, was bound to a wheelchair arm by a thin flax twine, looking almost like tying down a puff of floating cloud.

Little Ting’yu stroked the canna blossom in the garden and smiled at Qu Fongning, who was standing attentively by his side.

“Fongning, let go of your hand, it won’t take me up to the sky.”

“That is what the old grand minister said yesterday, but by now the people who went out after him still haven’t returned,” Qu Fongning responded somberly.

His serious composure made Little Ting’yu chortle.

“He just went back to change into his ritual attire! It is sturdier with the oiled paper, but it won’t carry people away.”

So Qu Fongning finally released his tight grip from the wheelchair. The lantern was indeed strong; a side of the wheelchairs immediately started to lift. Little Ting’yu was actually somewhat nervous in his heart. He frantically refocused his center of gravity and forced a smile on his lips.

“You see, it can’t… take me away!”

Qu Fongning swept him a look, and once again firmly pressed down his hand.

“I am not worried even if you do get carried away.”

He observed the lantern going up the sky in full force and suddenly smiled.

“If it takes you up to heaven, I shall follow you up the sky.”

Little Ting’yu covered his hand, wanting to follow up with a few words, but found that he couldn’t follow with anything.

Fortunately, that lantern read the mood, the lamp oil burned out at the moment, and it swirled down gradually until a light breeze blew it over the wall.

“I will go get it!” Qu Fongning promptly volunteered.

Before he could respond, Qu Fongning had vanished.

Little Ting’yu returned to the Canna blossoms, wanting to pick the most luxuriant, red bloom. However, everyone of them bloomed wonderfully, it was certainly difficult to select the best of the assemblage.

A small screech came from the undergrowth, and a white shadow darted across his vision.

Little Ting’yu thought it was a white rabbit, he didn’t mind, and proceeded to tear away two more tufts of tall green stems.

Suddenly, he paused and scrutinized the grass below.

There laid a few drops of scarlet blood, still fresh with the smell of iron. The quiet undergrowth was obscuring a white matter within.

“The rabbit was hurt?” he thought.

And he saw, after breaking away from the bush, that it wasn’t a rabbit, but a silky coated white fox. One of its tiny white ears was missing a corner, and blood was pouring down.

He thought it was strange and extended his hand to hold the white fox. The fox was spirited. It instantly knew he had no malice, sat obediently on his hand, and didn’t try to escape.

He always carried medicine in his wheelchair, thus promptly fixed up the white fox. He mused, “Is this the one Queen Lan was holding on her lap? It can’t be. Queen Lan loves it dearly. Why would she use such abuse?”

Suddenly, his face felt a chill, a strong current swept across the front of his nose, and a pampered voice followed, “Let go!”

Little Ting’yu raised his head in shock, and saw a girl under the moon shaped the door, with a face as if sculpted from jade and molded with powder. She carried a silvery whip folded in loops and pointed it straight at his face.

At first glance, he tsked in his heart, “Another Princess Uli!”

The girl wore a tightly fitted tunic, walked on dainty leather boots, and obviously tried her best to mimic Princess Uli’s outfit. However, she was too young, and her imitation only scratched the surface; there was none of the Princess’s gallantry, only all of the crudeness.

Seeing Little Ting’yu’s silence, her countenance darkened. She swung her whip, and pointed at him.

“Wheel rider, talking to you! Are you deaf?”

Little Ting’yu is the son of a general. Ever since infancy, others had always been courteous to him. Although Prince Allonby and his lot didn’t get along with him, they never insulted him to his face. His temples tightened, and his tone dropped as well. “This fox is yours?”

“Who wants this smelly fox? Drop it!” The girl responded contemptuously.

“If it’s not yours, why should I give it to you? Where did this fox come from, is it the one the Queen was holding?” Little Ting’yu frowned.

“So what?” The girl sneered and scoffed.

Little Tingyu was stunned by her insolence. “This person has such an attitude, not even giving face to the queen,” he thought.

The white fox curled in his hand, its gash still hurt, and its tiny body trembled ceaselessly.

His heart was full of disdain. “So nothing. You are a big human, but you are bullying a little fox. What is the fun in that?” he said.

The girl seemed to have cooled and was lightly stroking the whip in her hand. “The whip is in my hand; I get to bully whoever at my pleasure,” she sneered.

Raising her right hand, the silvery whip sprang straight.

“—I can bully her, I can also bully you!”

Before “you” dropped, a streak of silvery lightning had come upon his face. This girl did have some skills. Little Ting’yu only sensed a shadow, and the current of the whip already arrived upon his vision.

But the whip did not land.

Qu Fongning’s stout figure stood tall in front of him, his right hand locked fast onto the girl’s whip handle.

He watched the girl and spoke icily:

“Who did you say you were going to bully?”

Little Ting’yu was both bewildered and worried. “Fongning, does your hand hurt?” he enquired frantically.

“I am alright. Little General, please pull back!” Qu Fongning held still and answered, placed the lantern on his lap, and sent the wheelchair backwards.

The girl saw her whip strike miss, which was an unprecedented event, and bristled at once. “Scram! Get out of my way!” she roared and persisted with all her might to reclaim the whip, but it did not budge, and she jumped. “Let go!”

Qu Fongning smirked, his fingers tightening, and challenged, “Hadn’t your elders at home teach you how to speak nicely when asking for a favor?”

A fleeting chill gleamed from her eyes. “My elders never asked for favors,” she said. Her waist ducked backwards slightly, and pulled out a dagger from her bosom, plunging in a flash towards Qu Fongning. “They only taught me to take what I want with my own hands!” she cried.

Qu Fongning humphed. His left hand curled and flicked her waist, half of her body instantly numbed, and with a ding, the dagger fell to the ground.

Little Ting’yu observed the chill shine on the daggers, its edges acutely sharp, and his heart tensed, thinking, “If she thrusted that into Fongning, how could he live?”

Then he heard Qu Fongning speak coldly, “a little girl has such a venomous heart, looks like we need to teach you a lesson today.” His right hand exerted as if attempting to burst her whip. He pulled and exclaimed, eh?

The girl’s right hand remained paralyzed. “If you got the ability to break this whip, I will be your slave girl for three days,” she sneered.

“Do you keep your words?” Qu Fongning dared back.

As soon as the words dropped, a light slashing ensued. The girl bulged wide her almond eyes and stared mortally into space, as if she was witnessing something decidedly incredible.

Her hand still held the whip handle, but the length of the lash, now resting peacefully on the ground, had been cleanly sliced off.

Qu Fongning collectedly recovered a frosty short sword from his hand, smiling at her. “Come over then, Slave Girl.”

The girl’s five fingers gripped deathly at the cut lash, her face paled; she had obviously never suffered a greater humiliation in her life.

Little Ting’yu was initially cross at her viciousness in hurting others. This scene eased his irritation, but he couldn’t help covertly asking, “You really want her to be your slave girl?”

“I am only retaliating on your behalf. Who let her attack you? I dare not take this sort of slave girl. She will probably sneakily kill me in my sleep in the middle of the night.” Qu Fongning answered softly.

Hearing the exchange in her ears, her wrath rampaged. Then her eyes suddenly brightened, looking beyond the pair. “Brother-in-law, you are right on time! Hurry over and kill these two for me!” she called in haste.

“Who is angering our little princess?” a laughing voice rang from afar.

Little Ting’yu raised his eyes, and saw a silver-saddled white horse advancing in like a lightning storm. Arriving close, a man pressed on the beast’s head, and leaped off the horse with a silvery lance in his hand.

“Brother-in-law,” she yelled, biting her teeth, “they took my thing, and… broke my whip. None of them are good people!” And pointing lash at Qu Fongning’s face, she said most vehemently, “kill this one first.”

“Good lord, daring to murder your master!” jeered Qu Fongning .

The man from the horse raised his eyes and pressed him a glance, his gaze intensely sharp, but his lips carried a smile.

“This little friend looks unfamiliar. How do you address yourself to the little princess?” he asked.

This was a man in his early twenties, he had been gifted with handsome features and sensual countenance. If girls see this smile, their hearts ought to melt.

Qu Fongning didn’t look at him, only glanced at the girl.

“I am afraid to announce our relations. However, if you come a moment later, she will be coming with me in foot chains,” he said coolly.

Little Ting’yu had known him for half a year, but had never heard him speak in this tone. He was astounded.

“No, this young lady made a joke with us. You can’t take it for real,” he hastily explained.

“Who can bear this sort of crude and vulgar slave? Naturally, you can’t take it for real.” Qu Fongning said instead.

The girl quivered in anger. Forgetting she wasn’t his match, she unleashed the whiplash, and lashed upon him.

Smiling, the man raised his arm to intercept. “Little things like this have no need for the Princess to raise her hand.”

He studied Qu Fongning, his face remained composed, but his eyes darkened.

“Looks like our little friend is not willing to sell me a favor?”

“This is our first encounter. We don’t have any favors to speak of,” Qu Fongning replied coolly.

“Fongning, stop, let’s go!” Little Ting’yu called worriedly, and attempted to pull his sleeve, but it wouldn’t budge a bit.

“What weapon does brother Fongning normally use?” the man said slowly.

Qu Fongning covered Little Ting’yu’s hand and gave one of his usual smiles. “Don’t worry!” he assured him.

He spun back, and his cold voice resonated in the courtyard:

“I normally don’t use anything, but if you can make me light my weapon, you’ll see.”

Little Ting’yu’s heart had just held down, but it immediately tensed again, and he almost tried to yank him once more.

The man was not provoked; he swirled the silvery lance in his hand and took a step back.

“Herr Gen at your service, here to try thy skills.”

As the last word dropped, an aggressive current bolted through the air. Qu Fongning felt himself skip a breath before the blazing lance-head already came upon his face. “Uh oh!” flashed through his mind. Before he had time to analyze under the circumstance, he somersaulted backwards with the momentum, immediately retracted his arm and wrist in the spin, and attempted to slash towards the opponent’s right wrist. Herr Gen reacted instantly, retrieving the lance back to his shoulder, and avoided the onslaught in the retreat.

The two broke apart and landed respectively.

“Little General, pull back!” Qu Fongning called, eyes not leaving Herr Gen.

“Princess, please move to the side,” Herr Genn warned at the same time.

He examined Qu Fongning once again. His smile blossomed further. “Brother’s got some handsome moves!”

“You are not bad either,” replied Qu Fongning.

As they spoke, the lance-head glistened and drove forth. Qu Fongning focused on his palms, and dove back into battle.

Little Ting’yu had never seen Qu Fongning spar with anyone. Seeing Herr Gen’s intricate lance work, anxiety engrossed his heart.

He thought long and hard about the name Herr Gen. He must have heard it from somewhere, but couldn’t recall exactly.

The girl was instead yelling in extreme excitement, “Brother-in-law, poke him! Stab him!” And waved her broken lash in cheers.

Herr Gen kept the smile on his face, but left no mercy on his hand. He wielded the silvery lance into a rapid storm, a downpour from heaven, raining dense without reprieve.

All at once, a thousand shadows loomed simultaneously, and Qu Fongning could only see flashes of the lance tip in his vision, point, poke, flip, flick, stab. In one moment, it entangled as soft cotton, like a spirited snake slithering over the earth; In another moment, it roared as mighty thunder, like horses stomping over battle camps.

This set of attacks came with such ferocity, not to mention riposte, even evasion was exceedingly difficult. Qu Fongning retreated repeatedly, one hand rashly poking left and right, and appeared to be narrowly escaping from every dangerous onrush.

The girl cheered nonstop and clapped her hands in delight. Little Ting’yu had dread all over his face and gripped tight at his handle.

However, Qu Fongning avoided the manifold of lance shadows.

He had previously retreated by ten steps and had arrived by the moon-shaped door. With another one or two steps, he would exit out of the courtyard.

Herr Gen sent forth a horizontal strike attacking his lower body, apparently trying to force his retreat. Qu Fongning lunged to the air, his left hand beamed out like lightning, the five fingers hitched onto the lance, and grappled at the lance body with a force of adherence. Herr Gen, not losing his caution, rattled the lance-head, sending two tsks from his lips, not only avoiding the grab, he also turned to attack his opponent’s left shoulder. Qu Fongning’s fingers just landed on the lance, and got swung off immediately.

“Close one,” thought Herr Gen, narrowly escaping the force of adherence. If he caught the lance, it would have been irretrievable.

However, he heard Qu Fongning chuckle, and saw his body at a standstill, his shoulders at rest, yet in a split second, his right five fingers already struck upon his bosom.

Shock percussed his heart. There was no time to block by retracting the lance, Herr Gen had to take a step back.

Qu Fongning persisted the entanglement, stepped forward, and pointed towards the opening at his lower flank.

This point seemed nothing special, but Herr Gen’s face changed, and immediately returned his arm in rescue. As Qu Fongning turned the point into a poke, Herr Genn shifted to the side, backing another step. There and then, Qu Fongning’s hands stormed like the gale, rushing him ceaselessly, every strike was directed towards the throat or the vital core. Herr Gen backed repeatedly in defense, powerless in retaliation. Then, a moan, his left chest was hit, and a surge of blood spattered out.

“Brother-in-law!” the girl shrieked in horror.

Qu Fongning was going to follow with his left hand. Seeing him wounded, he leaped back, and recovered his stance.

Herr Gen regarded him deeply, then lowered to inspect the damage. The wound was not deep, the blood gradually stopped as he stood still.

“Little General, let’s go,” said Qu Fongning, seeing the outcome, and turned to push Little Ting’yu towards the doorway. Finding the little fox cute, he also patted its head.

Suddenly, Herr Gen laughed behind him.

“Brother, please stay behind. Herr Gen has a few more polearm techniques wanting your critique.”

“Alright!” Qu Fongning complied. Letting go of the wheelchair, he hopped back into the courtyard.

Little Ting’yu had been wanting to leave in eagerness. Hearing Herr Gen’s encore challenge, he frowned and brooded, “What’s wrong with this guy? He has already lost, but is still tangling tirelessly.”

Looking at the grounds again, the two were already in battle.

Little Ting’yu immediately discovered—this round is completely different from the last.

Herr Gen’s lance technique changed.

It was slow!

Compared to the previous move sets which were competing for speed, the current lance works were aggravatingly slow. Even an amateur like Little Ting’yu could clearly see every arc drawn by the lance tip.

If one describes his last lance technique as a furious tempest in midsummer, then this has become a swaying bud of spring.

A tender, attaching flower, and almost emitting a faint fragrance.

His hand work also appeared gentle and full of compassion, like a flower watcher. In the eyes of spectators, it might appear as an elder patiently coaching their beloved disciple, forgetting entirely that this was a serious battle.

Qu Fongning’s face changed as well.

This polearm technique departed incalculably from what he knew. Even Herr Gen’s previous lance moves were nothing compared to this.

The previously dashing and unfettered lance work suddenly became impossibly indecipherable. The intent of the lance was no longer neat and clear cut, but surprisingly venomous and sinister. Every move and every stance appeared soft and delicate on the surface, but all encompassed a thick resolve of murder.

By the time he realized all of his grapples, grabs, points, and pokes were powerless, it was too late.

He had been let into this gradual and menacing trap.

With a Kaa, the lance blade pierced his left shoulder, his underarm burned, and he almost couldn’t raise his arm.

A few steps later, his right leg was hit. This cut deeper, the slash made his entire leg bleed out in currents. He could no longer move.

Herr Gen returned the lance, swirling it into a bouquet with a smile, drew slightly to the side, and plunged towards his heart.

Burning like a splendid fire cloud, and chilling like a silent wet dew.

This was no longer a spar, but a gladiatorial battle to the death.

Qu Fongning stared at Herr Gen in horror. In that instant, his mind tumbled through a thousand possibilities, but none matched.

Little Ting’yu watched the dire situation in the courtyard, suddenly alert, he called in haste, “Yabghu Herr, please halt! We are official ambassadors from Chienye!”

Herr Gen’s brows altered faintly. No one could tell whether he heard it at all.

The impetus of the strike had no intention to stop, it was just about to land on Qu Fongning’s chest.

Qu Fongning knew he was no match. Given the plight, he reached into his bosom, and crossed the sheath of the short sword as a feeble attempt in defense.

— an austere voice boomed through the air: “Withdraw!”

With a sudden flash of speed, a black shadow zoomed in; a man volleyed across the space, grabbed Qu Fongning’s back, and tossed him towards the doorway.

The short sword from his bosom got caught in the act. With a Kalah, it flew into the air, the gems broke off the golden scabbard, and scattered on the floor.

Narrowly escaping from death, Qu Fongning’s stunned psyche remained restless. Little Ting’yu rushed forward to help him up. “Fongning, how are you?” he enquired repeatedly.

Qu Fongning tried to focus his energy, but only felt an incessant needle-stabbing pain on his chest, the force of that move must have damaged his innards. He couldn’t open his mouth and only shook his head.

The girl opened her eyes wide at the newcomer. “Un…uncle…Tian!” she cried, stammering.

Little Ting’yu finally looked at the man coming to rescue: His body clad in black, his figure extremely tall, and a ferocious demon mask on his face, making his features unobservable.

In his astonishment, he forgot his manners, only wondering, “Why is General Yujien here?”

Yujien Tianhung appeared unhearing. He inspected the surrounding, and questioned Herr Gen:

“What has Chao’yoonr done?”

Little Ting’yu finally realized. “So, she is General Yujien’s niece, Princess Chao’yoon. No wonder she has such a spoiled temper.”

“Uncle Tian,” Princess Chao’yoon cut in, “that guy broke the whip you gave me, I… was really mad…”

“I wasn’t asking you,” Yujien Tianhung said apathetically.

Chao’yoonr no longer had the courage to speak. Her googly eyes implored hopefully at Herr Gen.

“Like the General witnessed, the princess had a dispute with the others,” said Herr Gen, and glanced at Qu Fongning, smiling. “I… umm…. Just made a little joke with them.”

Little Ting’yu heard him lightly sketch over the facts. Fury roused in his heart. “Yabghu Herr’s joke is rather serious,” he couldn’t help speaking up.

“You guys wanted to take me as a slave girl,” Chao’yoonr interrupted.

Hearing her reverse the truth, he grimaced, raised the white fox, and refuted, “You chased his fox first. How dare you spit at others with your own blood. And you said so yourself to be a slave girl.”

Yujien Tianhung took a glance and spoke to Chao’yoonr:

“Very well. You may go beg for mercy from Queen Lan yourself.”

“I’m not going!” Chao’yoonr promptly wailed, “that old…old…She always bullies my big sister Uli, I… I just want to ruin her favorite thing.”

“Childish nonsense,” Yujien creased his brows.

Ignoring her, his gaze turned to Qu Fongning on the ground. The covering on his left shoulder was torn apart by Herr Gen, revealing a carmine cloud branding.

“You are a slave of House Qu?” Yujien asked, surprised.

Qu Fongning knelt up in pain.

“Yes, much obliged to the General for saving my life,” he answered.

Little Ting’yu, afraid of punishment on his behalf, spoke in haste, “My cousin Qu Lyn lent… lent him to me. He didn’t come without permission… on his own.”

Yujien nodded, seeming unconcerned. However, Chao’yoonr couldn’t resist jumping and yelling:

“Well! Saying this and that about becoming my master, turns out you are a slave yourself!”

The more she thought, the angrier she became.

“My precious whip,” she continued, “I can’t believe you, an item inferior to pigs and dogs… broke it! I shall never forget today’s humiliation.”

She was so mad, by the end of her sentence, her lips pursed, and burst into tears.

Qu Fongning held his chest, his face pale. “Would…would the Princess please grant her punishment,” he beseeched with difficulty.

Seeing her incessant tears, Yujien said with annoyance, “What are you tearing up about? Uncle Tian will give you another one.”

“I don’t want it,” Chao’yoonr wept, “you gave me this whip on my eighth birthday, me, and big brother A’chu each got one. I took it to sleep and would smile in my dreams! Now, big brother A’chu is no more, the whip is gone too! Even if you give me a thousand, ten thousand more whips, this one will not come back!”

Her mentioning of A’chu seemed to have softened up Yujien, who raised his hand to wipe away her tears.

“Your humble servant did not know the sentimental value of this object, or else…” Qu Fongning muttered breathlessly. He skipped an inhale and began coughing hard.

“If the Princess attributes such significance to this gift, then you should not use it in a wager.” Little Ting’yu couldn’t help following.

Yujien retracted his hand. “What wager,” he asked.

Qu Fongning recounted as it occurred. Chao’yoonr pleaded hurriedly: “Uncle Tian, you said this lash contains tensen silk, and no ordinary blades could break or cut it. Who would know this wretched slave…”

By now, Herr Gen had lifted up the short sword with the scabbard. “Princess, this is no ordinary blade,” he said.

Yujien glanced over and commented: “Yabghu Herr knows this sword?”

“I can’t say I have the total conviction, but I’ll take a guess.” Herr Gen laughed.

The short sword, as thin as the autumn water, was emitting a frigid chill without regard to the intense heat of mid-summer.

He gently touched its body, and spoke slowly: “‘Gone are the heroes of the past, today the water is just as cold.¹’ I observe this sword carries a restless essence, a sense of ageless anguish that survived a thousand years of time. Considering this, it must be the famous sword of Yandan, ‘Watering Chill.’ Little brother, am I correct?”

“This sword is not mine. Whether Master Herr is right or not, I… am not sure,” Qu Fongning answered falteringly.

“That’s a shame.” Herr Gen smiled, then bundled up the short sword and the broken off gems, and pressed it into his lap.

Little Ting’yu was very displeased in his heart. “This person just wanted to kill Fongning. Now he is talking to him all smiles and giggles. I have never heard of such thickness of skin,” he brooded.

It seemed Qu Fongning also completely forgot having his life on the line just moments earlier. He said his thanks, and attempted to get up. However, his chest pained him, he lost his grip, floundered, but didn’t get up.

“Chao’yoonr, why aren’t you helping your master up?” Yujien suddenly said.

The courtyard fell silent with these words.

“Uncle…. Uncle Tian, you are making me call him master?” Chao’yoonr asked tremulously.

“You made the pledge yourself.” Yujien admonished, his tone serious, “how could you retract it? Go on!”

The redness from Chao’yoonr’s sob not yet abated, now she couldn’t help tearing down again.

“Uncle Tian,” she bawled, “you always cherished me since forever. I didn’t like to wear shoes when I was little, always ran around barefoot, and didn’t change even after stepping on pins and needles many times. One day I saw a little girl, who was very proud. The Southern General Ji Bozhao’s granddaughter. She was wearing a pair of pretty ribbon shoes. I told you I wanted it, and you sacked that city and got it for me. You used to cherish me so much, now you are making me to be… be someone’s slave girl!”

When her face creased in her sob, all her spoiled ruthlessness disappeared. Herr Gen and Little Ting’yu couldn’t help chuckling, even Yujien almost wobbled.

Qu Fongning gripped tight on the chair handle and struggled up.

“Your humble servant can rise by himself. I do not require the Princess’s assistance,” he said in a low tone.

Chao’yoonr, released from her sentence, refused to move another step, and stared expectantly at Yujien.

“The master is letting her go, would the General please also let her be?” Herr Gen chuckled.

“General, I am taking him back.” Little Ting’yu followed as well.

“I’ll keep this for the record.” Yujien assented, turned, and came towards Little Ting’yu.

Little Ting’yu immediately felt a gargantuan pressure piling towards him, and could not help wanting to retreat. Yet he only saw him lifting his arm and taking the little fox, which had curled into a ball in his massive palm, shivering all over, and appeared particularly puny.

“I shall take this back to Queen Lan,” Yujien announced, then asked, “You altered the sky lanterns?”

Little Ting’yu stumbled a bit and said, “Yes, it’s me. Is there…anything wrong?”

This was his first commission. Whether the rules on the delegatory regulations deemed altering other nation’s ritual equipment an appropriate procedure, he wasn’t sure, and his heart started palpitating from nerves.

Yujien studied him. “No, Queen Lan and Uli both praised you for being capable,” he related.

Although Little Ting’yu couldn’t see his expression, the pair of eyes under mask did seem to reflect a combined sense of encouragement and approval.

Little Ting’yu felt his heart warming up and his voice becoming hoarse, and mustered up a “Yes!” but could speak no more.

Then Yujien pointed at Qu Fongning’s chest. “This sword’s algidity is inimical to your injuries, you must not carry it on your body.”

Qu Fongning could kneel no further. “Thank you, General,” he spoke as he attempted to bend.

Chao’yoonr raised her courage to hook Yujien’s arm, but the fox instantly started snarling, so she resentfully let go, and went off in mute anger.

Herr Gen raised his steps towards the white horse, and as he passed the pair, he smiled at Qu Fongning. “Brother Fongning, I am sorry about today.”

“Master Herr’s words are putting this humble servant in a valley of fear,” Qu Fongning replied.

“What Master?” Herr Gen waved his hands. “How much older am I? Just call me Big Brother Herr.”

“This humble servant dares not.” Qu Fongning lowered his head. Seeing him mounting the horse, something stirred in his heart. “Mm… Brother Herr, your last polearm move is very curious. What is it called?” he asked.

Herr Gen stilled and turned his head. “Hmm, good question! What do you think it looks like?”

“Like…many flowers, all in bloom, every one of them…incredibly deadly,” Qu Fongning said with deliberation.

“Brother’s got a good eye,” Herr Gen said with a laugh. “The name of this lance work is exactly ‘Enrapturing Heart Bloom.’”

“This guy’s got an awful character, but a good taste in names,” Little Ting’yu decided. Seeing him riding off into the haze, he grabbed Qu Fongning’s hand, wanting to take him back.

“Fongning, your hand is so cold!” he exclaimed in the grab.

Qu Fongning then recovered, and said, “Nothing. Let’s go back!”

~

The grand ger at the embassy was unsettlingly quiet tonight.

Qu Fongning stared at the thick layered bundles of wraps on his shoulder and leg, then at the silent Little Ting’yu outside, finally asking:

“Little General, are you cross with me?”

After a while, a mild voice came from the outside, “Not cross.”

“Little General, there must be frankness between friends. If there are any doubts, then they’re no longer true friends,” said Qu Fongning.

Little Ting’yu looked at the sky and spoke in an undertone.

“About you coming forward to protect me today. I am very happy. But the way you spoke was very odd. Even if Princess Chao’yoon was aggressive, you oughtn’t treat her this way. The way you were, it was like… deliberately trying to provoke her.”

A dark cloud flew over and hid the quarter moon.

“Fongning, in my heart, you are not this sort of person to go about stirring up trouble. The way you were, was exactly like Qu Lyn’s lot…”

He couldn’t bear it in his heart and didn’t continue.

“Fongning, what is it that you can’t tell me? Shouldn’t friends be frank with one another?”

After a long while, the rustling honey cake-like voice rang behind him.

“Yes, then I shall be frank.”

“Long ago, on our Syrs territory, there was a type of white swallow. This kind of swallow’s nest is especially beneficial to the body, but extraordinarily difficult to get. Only when I am sick, Uncle Hwei will go to get one for me. So, when I was little, I always looked forward to being sick.”

“In one winter, I had a fever, it burnt so much that I couldn’t stop talking gibberish. Uncle Hwei soothed me for a long time, but my illness didn’t get better one bit. And when morning came, Uncle Hwei was gone.”

“I hurried to ask those around where Uncle Hwei had gone? They told me Uncle Hwei left at dawn to go pick swallow nests for me.”

“It was the dead of winter, and the snow piled high outside. Everyone was sitting around the oven in the yurt, but still felt the wind cutting into our bones on our backs. In that kind of weather, not to mention going up the cliff to pick swallow nests, even walking a few steps on flat ground was extremely difficult.”

“I wept with worry. I didn’t say a word about the swallow nests, but Uncle Hwei still went up the mountain against the storm. It must’ve been because I was too greedy with my appetite. I said nothing on my lips, but my eyes expressed the desire to eat swallow nests. I laid on that straw mat and silently prayed Uncle Hwei would return safely.”

“By twilight, Uncle Hwei finally returned with a tiny swallow nest. He broke one of his legs, and there were scuff marks all over his face and body. He smiled gently at me, touched my forehead, and started to wash and prepare the swallow nest.”

“But just when the swallow nest was ready and scooped into the bowl, a group of strong soldiers barged in aggressively. They said everything on that mountain belonged to their crown girl, and asked Uncle Hwei to return the stolen swallow nest at once.”

“Uncle Hwei is mute. How could he explain? He continually tried to make hand gestures, but they didn’t listen at all. Then a girl came striding in with little leather boots with a long whip. She immediately started whipping at my head and howling, ‘how dare you steal from me!’”

“Uncle Hwei flung himself on me and protected me from the strike. However, the crown girl’s whip struck like a lightning storm. It whipped non-stop furiously on Uncle Hwei’s back, and on my heart. I hugged Uncle Hwei in tears and thought, ‘this must be the punishment for my greed.’”

“By the time she tired of whipping and the soldiers left, there was not one piece of intact flesh on Uncle Hwei’s back; he was moribund. But he still smiled at me, took the swallow nest he hid in his bosom, and fed me one scoop after another.”

“The swallow nest soup was still warm; in it held Uncle Hwei’s blood, and…my tears.”

“From then on, I never wanted to eat a swallow nest ever again. Even smelling it would make me vomit.”

“Uncle Hwei’s injury took a very long time to heal, but the scars would never go away.”

“Later, a black army came to Syr. The crown girl’s mountain was set ablaze, her hair and clothes also became engulfed in flames.”

“I went to her corpse, picked up her whip, and used all my might — and paa—broke in half.”

“That day, I made a vow:

When my hands have strength, I shall protect all those dear to me. And any whip that dares to strike towards me, no matter how many, I shall break them!”

His voice had no modulation, his tone was also flat, almost as if he was recounting someone else’s story. When Little Ting’yu heard half, he couldn’t help turning around. After hearing a few more words, he already scrambled to his side, and was bewildered at what to do.

“Sor…sorry, I didn’t know you in the past …had … this sort…” he stuttered, full of guilt.

He was rambling incoherently, and couldn’t make out a good sentence of consolation. Tragic? Painful? Those all seemed frivolous. Not to mention firsthand experience. Even hearing it in his ears was unbearable.

Qu Fongning regarded him, shook his head, and smiled.

“Little General differs from me in status, there’s nothing wrong with you not understanding!”

Little Ting’yu was even more ashamed. He couldn’t even raise his head.

“He was trying to protect you, that’s why he stepped forward!” he cursed himself in his heart, “you not only didn’t have any gratitude, on the contrary, started accusing him of being too competitive. Little Ting’yu, Little Ting’yu, you are not worth being their friend.”

“Princess Chao’yoon mentioned Brother A’chu. Who is he?” Qu Fongning asked abruptly.

“That was General Yujien’s son, he already…passed away,” Little Ting’yu answered in a hurry.

Qu Fongning’s vision flickered. “That is truly unfortunate. The General doesn’t seem to have any other children?”

Little Ting’yu nodded. “For this matter, my dad and them canvassed countless times, but the General refused to remarry. So it can’t be helped. They used to bet on it, saying they will each send ten beautiful women to the City of Ghosts, and if the General keeps any from whoever, they win. However, in the past two years, nobody has won.”

Qu Fongning stared at the ceiling, “If they bear the General’s child, it must be an immeasurable honor,” he said quietly.

Little Ting’yu’s heart leaped, staring at him.

“Fongning, perhaps you… know any especially pretty girl, and want to give her to the General?” he asked hesitantly.

— Qu Fongning chuckled.

“I know a ‘girl’ who is indeed very pretty, but whether or not they can make children, that is difficult to say.”

Then, looking into his eyes, he smiled.

“You are not cross with me now?”

“I was never mad! I was afraid…afraid you’ll be hurt.” Little Ting’yu blushed.

“Thank you very much. My chest still hurts a little. Can you please help with the salve?” said Qu Fongning, smiling.

Little Ting’yu naturally obliged and went off to get the medicine at once.

Qu Fongning returned to staring at the tent ceiling. His smile dissipated, and the curve of his lips instead quirked a trace of scorn.

The night was dark, and his eyes also fell into the darkness.

---