His mind had a blaring explosion, and thus, however he didn’t want to, he had to wake. In the feverish dimness, he saw Uncle Hwei sitting primly by the bedside, his gaze crystalline, cold and as clear as frost, already recovered much of the air of a Kungfu Grandmaster.

His ashen lips, cracked and bleeding, shifted up and down, but what only came out was: “Mister Xie.”

Uncle Hwei scrutinized his curled ball of a body. The long disused voice sounded raspy and stiff, but the question sliced gold and snapped jade. “You’ve slept with Yujien Tianhung?’

Qu Fongning shook entirely. His head felt loaded by a thousand weights, unable to move by any measure. “…Yes.”

Uncle Hwei’s eyes turned glacial. “Since how long?”

Qu Fongning bit down his lower lip, answering quietly. “Two years.”

The four fingers Uncle Hwei laid over the bed gradually closed. “…Well, kept well from me!” Came with a chill through the cracks between his teeth..

Qu Fongning sensed his impending strike and clambered to kneel with a dropped head. “It wasn’t I who wanted to be… with him, it was him who said he… likes me. I had a momentary fever and foolish idea, thinking that this liaison with him might be advantageous to my cause. I’d decided to tell you when I succeed, yet despite of all the work I had done, it was still a step amiss. A few months ago, you weren’t by my side, and when I’d wanted to tell you… I could no more.”

 “Because he gave you to the Left Crown King?” Said Uncle Hwei, coldly.

Qu Fongning’s heart ached faintly, as if someone drove a blade into the gory hole in his chest; the strengths in his four limbs and hundred entrails left him. But his voice was curiously calm. “Yes.”

Uncle Hwei’s crinkled eyes did not steer away from him at all. And his tone augmented with severity. “It seems, you to him, it’s more than a bedfellowship. My… disciple has real feelings for him.”

The corner of Uncle Hwei’s drooping lips curled faintly and his tone took on a sneer. “The souls who died under Yujien Tianhung’s lance account for tens of thousands. Just the Battle of Qingzhou alone, the carnage amounted to fourteen thousand Southern men! You… have actual feelings for him?”

Qu Fongning had his eyes shut. “Thy disciple had veered awry, would Mister please sanction punishment,” he said quietly.

When the words left his mouth, he couldn’t help feeling a peculiar sense of relaxation. His gaze fell on the ancient, shriveled back of Uncle Hwei’s hand, thinking, “If he can kill me with a single palm strike, it would be all as well!”

Uncle Hwei was silent, wordlessly studied him up and down for length, and let out a sign. “You get up first.”

Qu Fongning rose as bid, had a whir of vertigo, wobbled a bit before standing firm.

And heard Uncle Hwei starting slowly, “Do you know where I came from?”

Qu Fongning heard of the story of his youth from Cui Yumei, and upon hearing this, he had a sudden start, and said with shock, “You’re not… a Southerner?”

A wistful longing surfaced in Uncle Hwei’s eyes, but he shook his head. “I grew up on the steppes. At seven or eight, there was a war, and my tribesmen dispersed and died. I was sold to a grand monk of the Golden Sarira Palace as a child slave. Fortunately, my revered master came to pay respects to the Buddha, and I caught his eyes and was taken to Mount Jiuhua. Later on, … I lost my Kungfu and was exiled by my sect, disheartened, came north beyond the borders, and vowed never to set foot in the Central Plains ever again. For many years, I wandered across the lands, and at last settled in Syrs. One, because of the convenience of markets in the Little Sparrow Mountain, with all kinds of people streaming about, my hiding here didn’t stand out at all; Two, because Syrs built their tribe on the north side of the White Sparrow Mountain, and being shut off in location, never changed their dialect, which I heard with some intimate familiarity. That day, I saw you curled up in the shadows of the market, your face green from hunger, but you refused to pick up the rotten meat on the ground for sustenance, and I’d known you came from an uncommon place. But me taking you in was merely because of my many years simmering under the influence of the righteous paths of the Central Plains martial world. I couldn’t let go of this shred of heroism. Teaching you martial arts, giving you advice, was also moved by your pure sincerity. It never had any sense of nationalism. Do you understand me?”

Qu Fongning’s head throbbed with pain and hesitated fleetingly before understanding. His legs went slack with shock and nearly slumped to the ground.

“I will not make judgments about Yujien Tianhung’s character. Love is always beyond our control. But with your unique identity, a relationship with the enemy chief would… not be easy. If he were to raise his weapons against the Southern Country, what are you going to do about yourself?”

Qu Fongning’s chest rose and fell. He lifted his eyes to him and said quietly, “Thy disciple had never for a day forgotten his purpose. But, Mister, the South Country… is also your Southern Country.”

Uncle Hwei slowly shook his head. “My Southern Country is dead,” he said; “Fangyi, Yujien TIanhung strings hearts like a child’s play; you’re not his match. You spending so much sentiments on him, you’re bound to trip and fall.”

Qu Fongning unveiled a bitter smile. “Mister has admonished rightly so. Thy disciple has gotten a taste of his methods. That day, he had conspired with others to frame my father and uncle, yet I’d been unrepentant, self-indulgently sentimental, foolish and despicable, unfilial and dishonorable, I’d failed the duties which He-dage…passed onto me with his life. From now on, this disciple shall never again bear any naïve fantasies. I thank Mister XIe’s wake-up call today. Henceforth, I beg Mister not to reserve any teachings,” he said, bent down, and made several weighted kowtows.

Uncle Hwei went forth to help him up. “No need to be formal. Since I’d taken you in, I would look out for you for life,” he said with a sign. He found his face ashen, his pupils tarnished, very much a life through nine deaths. His heart ached, and he said with a lament, “Falling for the wrong one when you are young, it happens. You have no need to be so…” He noted his entire body giving a violet shake, he couldn’t bear to speak no more.

And saw Qu Fongning, lashes bowed, muttering, “You had warned me before, Yujien Tianhung has a piercing vision, not one of my pathetic tactics can make it past him. Since he wants to… speak about love with me, I think… false romances would not do in the end.”

Uncle Hwei stayed silent for a long time, and suddenly, he took him into his arms so intensely that his back and shoulders hurt. “You… are the most foolish child in the world.”

A wave of hot moisture rushed to Qu Fongning’s eyes. He hugged him tight with both arms and let his face sink deep into the hollow of his shoulders.

~

As soon as his head cleared up, his actions did not dilly dally at all. The next morning, he wrote up, due to extensive wounds and injuries, a resignation requesting to relieve himself of his military status and demote to a common civilian, and had it delivered onto the dark wood podium of the Ghost Army’s Military Affairs. The office received the application, the reviewing committee didn’t dare to review it, and the Affairs Officers gingerly held it with both hands and scurried his way to present it before the Commander General. The General merely passed a mild glance and expressed, with some weariness, “Approved.”

The Military Affairs Officer had served cautiously for many years, and was taken aback hearing this. Such a heroic young man like Captain Qu could serve the country for no less than thirty or fifty years; how could you let them go become a civilian? Isn’t this burning golden silk lumber as firewood? Isn’t this using a treasured blade to slice entrails… strapping a mighty stallion onto a mining cart, telling it to bow its head to dig coal?

But he dared not to challenge the Lord Commander’s orders, and could only leave the ger, full of rue. Just as he went out of the door. He was sneakily pulled aside by Oyghrmuki, who tagged to his ear, “You hold on to these papers, don’t approve them yet! Before sundown, I’ll think of something to make him take back the case.”

The Military Affairs Officer had valued brilliant talents all his life. On hearing this, he readily agreed, and lowered his voice, “You make it fast, I can drag it at most until before or after the evening training, I can’t hold it down any later!”

Oyghrmuki slapped his chest and swore at the sun, swearing he would not disappoint his expectations. The Military Affairs Officer knew he never had a serious face, and before he left, couldn’t help being worried again. “The Lord Commander never let others affect his decision. What is the Grand Chamberlain’s great idea, why don’t you let me advise on it?”

Oyghrmuki smugly waved his hand and shooed him down the cliffs. “How could Old Oyghr’s great idea be easily given away to you?” In truth, how would he have any ideas? And when Yujien took no notice, he hurried his way towards the medicinal yurts.

But this time, he didn’t get any favors. Jorrji was the first to shake his great head and say he’s old and blind and can’t see the young people’s intentions, and ignored his entreaties. And then he was reminded of something, flicked his snowy brows, and said, bleakly, “Being away from your general, he’ll probably have much better days!”

Oyghrmuki suffered a cold refusal, but did not give up, and turned to squeeze his way towards the Songshr girl who was developing medicinal powders on the side. “Little girl, if your intended quits, your Mrs. Junior Marshal would be no more! Then you won’t get any fan and pomp, and you have to feed horses, shepherd sheep, and kneel by the river to wash clothes every day! Think about it, chill winters and cold months, the frozen water cuts like a blade. Do you want these hands of yours? They’ll all freeze to rotten radish!”

Songshr fearfully ducked to the side, her eyelids still puffed, and her lips no better colors, but she still prided herself and replied in a quiet voice, “I… my hands are warm, they won’t freeze.”

Oyghrmuki’s jaws dropped and nearly bit off his tongue. “This little girl has got no thoughts! If Little Syr remains in the army, sooner or later he’ll take over our general’s commander’s seal. She’s setting aside the noble wife of a Commander General of Sixteen Armies, and rather feed horses and wash clothes for him. This is so stupid of her…. No, her grandpa?”

~

Since Qu Fongning submitted the papers, he shut his doors and stayed in all day. He cleaned around the yurt, laid down a fur coat as wrappings, let aside all the gold, silver, and jades, and only picked a few coarse linens and roughspuns. His silks were mostly granted by Yujien, and naturally, not one was to be taken, but messily rolled into a bundle and thrown into the fire and burned. As he opened the boxes and pulled out the cupboards, a little wooden box rolled out under the bed, and he opened it for a look. It was all the little playthings they brought along the streets when Yujien took him down south to Jiangnan. The tigerhead shoes had lost its colors, the threads torn, and the cotton had spilled to nearly nothing was left, looking quite pathetic.

He knelt long by the wooden box, slid two fingers into the tigerhead shoes, and made two chase and devour motions. Suddenly, as if scorched, he hurled the shoes towards the fire, along with the wooden box, and burned it crisp clean.

The soldiers of the Spring Sun Battalion saw the captain packing in his yurt by himself, trashing and burning, and all grew curious. Gerrgu and the several rounded up, full of surprise. Cher Bien saw many good furs and silks all burned to a crisp, his heart ached, and he stomped his foot and, ignoring the fear of burns, threw his hands in to rescue the goods.

Uighshön saw his pack held many traveling things, and went up to ask, “Boss, you going out?”

Qu Fongning spread his legs, sitting on the ground, was smoked hot from the waves of heat, took off the uniform jacket and tossed it into the fire. “Yeah.”

Gerrgu dropped with a clang by his side. “Where is little bro going?”

Qu Fongning stoically watched the tongues of flame twisting upon a Honey White Mesh shirt, abruptly spun his head around and flickered his lashes. “Going back to Little Sparrow Mountain. Is Brother Gu’s going to come with me?”

“Little Sparrow Mountain? Sure! Brother Gu’ll go back with you, pack your horse and pick sparrow nests,” said Gerrgu happily. He slapped his thighs, suddenly remembering the Ghost Army had destroyed the palace on the mountain. “I wonder if that rocky cliff we used to go to all the time is still there?”

Uighshön was furtively eyeing the snack boxes and fruit trays strewn across the ground, and hearing the words, he rushed to express his allegiance. “Boss! I’m going with you too! I’ll… polish your shoes, wash your socks, make your meals, and sing!” He opened his mouth to sing, but Gerdan rushed in from the side to hold his mouth.

Qu Fongning side-eyed his wheezing face and, smiling vaguely, said, “You used to be a tough character, calling as the boss of Mongus City. How’ve you dropped so low to wash socks and sing for me today? If I go, this captain’s seat is yours. By that time, whatever you want to eat, you eat, whoever you want to beat up, you beat up, how’s that?”

When Uighshön heard “eat,” he subconsciously gulped, but his head wobbled like a waddling drum. “Boss, you see so little of me! When I climbed out of the pile of dead from the crater, I’d vowed to the true god, if I’m to have any whiff of disrespect towards the boss, let the heaven and the earth shatter me! We’re both Damus, but you can open bows and take shots, take men to war, better than me a hundredfold in every way. Don’t even mention I haven’t got the ability to be a captain, even if I’ll become one, would the boys obey me? To be honest, I only take you as boss all my life! If anyone else comes to replace you, I’ll be the one to disagree!”

Ting’ming sat by his side, his two ape-like arms wrapped around himself, his wrist weirdly twisted, appearing very frightening. At the conversation, he revealed a wide smile. “Replace Captain Qu? We’ll see if he’s got the capability.”

The others echoed along. Only Amur’s shadowy figure stood silently behind the crowd and tightened the thin pouch on his back.

Cher Bien rescued out a half-burned peacock feather cloak, blowing on the flames, trying to save it, and at the moment, had his face full of black ash, and chimed along two giggles. “Wherever little brother’s going, everybody’s going.”

At this point, Shen time drew near, and with the three crisp knells, the approved papers from Military Affairs arrived. Qu Fongning rose to receive it, opened it for a glance, and thus folded it and looked no more.

Gerrgu observed his peculiar expression, neither joy nor sorrow, nor anger or woe, couldn’t help feeling worried, and went forth to check his forehead.

Qu Fongning shifted under his rough hands, the corner of his lips corked up, but how was it a smile; it looked worse than a cry.

Gerrgu had been used to him issuing orders for the past couple of years, and no longer treated him like the bygone child. But seeing this face of his, the urge to coddle came alive, and he wrapped around the shoulders nearly as high as he himself, and gave him several heavy pats.

Qu Fongning cracked out a laugh like dry twigs. “Brother Gu’s taking me for a kid again.” And motioned him to move towards the training grounds, pushing away his tower like frame, and suddenly tossed out a question out of nowhere. “If I never come back, would Brother Gu miss me?”

Gerrgu hesitated for a split moment, and said, decidedly, “No matter where you go, Brother Gu’ll always keep you company.” He closed his fan-sized hands around his face, and went out of the battalion.

Yet this loving, brotherly sentiment was not to be realized that day.

At the dismissal of the formation review, Cher Baoche personally led eight hundred elites, and before the tens of thousand pairs of eyes in and outside the field, dominantly sealed off the Spring Sun Battalion personnels’ path, his whip raised. “You all, who is Gerrgu?” he barked.

Before Gerrgu could respond, the pointed looks from the surroundings betrayed him. Two tall, round Autumn Hunt elite guards with hands like iron claws charged in and yanked him out of the crowd, and slammed him to the ground. Gerrgu himself was a strongman of one out a hundred, but these two had hands and feet even rougher than his. And with this drag and dunk, he was smashed to stars in his eyes, his nose warmed, and two streaks of blood came out.

Uighshön and Cher Bien watched the fierceness of the incomers, how could they not flare up, and out drew the whips and up pulled the stone plates, and were going to go up to fight. The Autumn Hunt soldiers won in numbers, and through the shuffle of spears and glaives, they separated the Spring Sun Battalion soldiers. For a moment, there were pushes and shoves outside the training grounds, quite a wild ruckus.

The Ghost Army Internal Affairs Officer sensed a dreadful battle, scampered over, and corresponded cordially, “I did not know of General Cher’s visit, please forgive the lack of reception. I beg to inquire how this low-ranking Li Ignis soldier offended the general, could your honor allow this subordinate to notify General Yujien?”

Cher Baoche let out a humph through his nostrils. “You think I’ll be scared because you brought out Yujien? Why don’t you ask this soldier, what did he do?” he said.

“This subordinate truly do not know,” answered the Internal Affairs Officer, respectfully.

Cher Baoche spat. “I suppose you wouldn’t imagine,” he said insidiously. He snapped and barked at Gerrgu, “Bastard, look who it is?”

Gerrgu was held at his forehead, he struggled up his head and saw, in writhing shrieks, a full body-bound woman, her luscious figure constricted tight to swell, and her snow-white arms covered with whiplashes, weeping like plump peaches in the rain. It was his familiar, intimate bedfellow and love mate—Madam Danki.

~

Qu Fongning was spirited away, staring at the pile of ash in his yurt. Suddenly hearing Gerrgu’s exposure, the first thing that came to his head was not to go to the red yurts to beg for favors, nor find means or ways, but an all-consuming rage. And he shot out of the yurt like a fire cannon with a thunderous, crackling force, charging straight towards the Commander’s podium at the training grounds.

His uniform was unkempt, his belt untied. He trot like a furious storm, the madness of his air and intensity of his fury even held down the normally expressionless inspectors at the checkpoint. In one breath, he bolted before the great banner, and saw Yujien with his back to him, talking to people. His shroud of wrath suddenly charged onto his head, and he snapped, “Were you the one who did this?”

Yujien turned around, glanced at him, and said, uncomprehending. “What?”

Qu Fongning saw his indifferent attitude, was so angry he couldn’t speak, held his chest to several deep breaths, before opening his jaw, “Quit your phony act of innocence! General Cher came to accost him in person, you didn’t know? My Brother Gu had been with Madam Danki for two years, now I’m going, and he was caught right-handed! Are you fucking just…” He threw a glance around the shocked commanders on the side, and dropped his voice, “want to keep me here? Come at me directly! Why are you touching my brother? I’ll tell you, if my Brother Gu is to short one piece of skin, I… I’ll make you pay flesh for blood!”

Yujien’s brows creased deep. He raised his hand to dismiss the audience, seeming to be combing through the logic of his words. “You’re saying I want to keep you, so I sold your brother?”

Qu Fongning listened to him sketching over it so lightly, felt his head going all the hotter, and clasped his fists, shouting angrily, “Don’t you play dumb!”

Yujien lifted his eyes, somewhat vexedly, and met his gaze. “Your brother is… having an affair with a wife of one of the sixteen commander generals, you are blaming me?”

Qu Fongning’s sky-full fury choked sharply. However impressive Yujien’s methods were, he couldn’t make Gerrgu climb on Danki’s bed two years ago. And to the books, the one who drew the ropes and built the bridge was precisely he himself.

But he had already stepped on this podium; he had nowhere to go and had to hold on to that breath and bit down his teeth. “Anyway… you’re involved in this!”

Yujien’s arms pressed on the military seat. He watched his red-blushed face and exhaled a low breath. “I never force anyone, and all the more, will not force you. You want to go, then I let you go. I can pick it up, and can put it down. I hope you can do the same, and…”

He looked at Qu Fongning’s unkempt outfit, creased his brows. “When you come to find me next time, remember to dress properly.”

The fires which Qu Fongning finally just stifled thumped up once again. This time, besides wrath, there was the shame of being stripped in public. He looked at himself and saw his clothes wide-open and the straw string belt already fell loose, flared up all the more, on one end hurried to tie it up on the other, glared at the chief criminal, and scuttled away like a hurricane.

Oyghrmuki finally arrived at the news, saw the dispersal of the spectacle, stomped his regrets, and hurried up for questions. “General, you’re letting Little Syr go?”

Yujien reclined onto the military seat, his eyes unfathomable under the setting sun.

“Don’t worry, ’ll come back before long.”