The third-floor private room of the tavern was veiled by emerald bamboo curtains, filled with the intoxicating aroma of wine. As Lu Qianqiao lifted the bamboo screen, he froze—Meishan Jun was gone. In his place sat an unfamiliar man reclining lazily by the low table, pouring wine. Unfazed by their sudden intrusion, the man merely offered a faint smile.
"Ah..." Xin Mei wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or something else entirely. With Meishan Jun absent, the man left behind was... Fu Jiuyun, wasn't it?
"Meishan has already slipped away," he drawled, as if enjoying a spectacle. "You're just a moment too late."
Lu Qianqiao never wasted words. He turned to leave, but Fu Jiuyun's voice trailed after him: "Wait—what business do you have with him?"
"None of your concern."
The bamboo curtain swayed as the man vanished outside.
"I know where he lives."
That casually uttered sentence halted the frost-laden man beyond the curtain. Fu Jiuyun poked his head through the bamboo screen, grinning carelessly. "Agree to one condition, and I'll tell you his whereabouts."
………………
Spring breezes carried petals through the window. Xin Mei couldn't suppress a yawn, only to hear Fu Jiuyun's gentle voice from across the room: "Don't move. The painting isn't finished yet."
She had no choice but to stiffly resume her pose—standing by the window, holding a peach blossom branch with an aching smile. Earlier, they'd clearly come to negotiate terms. She'd even prepared to slip away the moment the two men started fighting. Yet Fu Jiuyun had simply pointed at her and said, "Hand over this little girl. I'll paint her portrait, then tell you where Meishan lives."
Xin Mei was speechless.
Lu Qianqiao sat opposite Fu Jiuyun, cradling a wine cup as he gazed silently at the spring scenery outside. A few petals drifted into his wine, unnoticed, before he downed the drink in one gulp.
"I've heard..." Fu Jiuyun broke the silence suddenly, "that in the far western lands exists a clan bearing the Ancient War Spirit Bloodline. Their members all possess crimson eyes with double pupils, their features more pronounced than ordinary people's, their temperaments exceedingly proud—rarely mingling with outsiders. Regardless of gender, every clansman faces an extremely perilous trial upon reaching twenty-five years of age. Over half perish during this ordeal. I wonder if this holds true?"
Lu Qianqiao remained silent.
"The War Ghost Clan contributed greatly during the ancient war between gods and demons, earning divine blessings that granted them earth-shaking abilities. Yet now we live in the Age of Divine Concealment—without heavenly protection, the War Ghost Clan dwindles, and that twenty-fifth-year trial becomes ever more fatal. I imagine the clan must be deeply concerned about this predicament?"
Lu Qianqiao finally stirred. Setting down his cup, he replied calmly, "What's your purpose in telling me this?"
Fu Jiuyun smiled. "No particular purpose. Unlike Meishan, I'm not well-versed in such secrets. I know nothing about how War Ghosts of mixed human blood might survive that trial. For these matters, he's the only one you can ask."
Suddenly clapping his hands, he called out: "Where's Qin Niang? More wine, and music."
Indeed, a beautiful young woman entered from behind the bamboo curtain, refilled their cups, then withdrew. Soon after, the crystalline notes of a zither flowed forth like spring water, slightly easing the room's tense atmosphere.
Her father had always said men who squandered money on wine and women were no good—this fellow checked both boxes. Xin Mei rolled her eyes in disdain.Fu Jiuyun tapped on the low table: "Little girl over there, stop twitching your eyelids. It's not a good look."
Ahhh! I really want to jump out the window!
As the sun set behind the western hills, Fu Jiuyun finally finished the small portrait and seemed quite pleased with it himself. He gazed at it with a smile for a long while before beckoning Xin Mei over. "Come take a look for yourself."
Dragging her sore legs, she went over and glanced at it—only to be utterly stunned.
Who was that confident, poised beauty in the painting?!
Fu Jiuyun grinned smugly. "You're still too young right now, completely lacking in charm. This is a portrait of you two years older, courtesy of my generosity. Make this your goal and strive to grow up, understand?"
Tears welled up in Xin Mei's eyes as she was moved. "Even though you're full of wickedness, I never expected you to be such a good painter! So amazing!"
His hand, which had been about to hand over the painting, paused. He smiled kindly and asked, "...What did you just say?"
"So amazing!"
"The line before that."
"I never expected you to be such a good painter!"
"And before that."
"You're full of wickedness."
With a swift motion, he folded the painting and tucked it into his sleeve, then languidly dismissed her. "That's enough for today. Meishan lives at Meishan Residence on White Head Mountain to the south. Go find her yourself."
What's wrong with him? Did he suddenly feel unwell? Xin Mei scratched her head in frustration, only to be promptly dragged downstairs by Lu Qianqiao.
Fu Jiuyun turned to Qin Niang and asked, "Do you have a mirror?"
Blushing, Qin Niang handed him a small bronze mirror. He examined himself from the front, the side, the back, and even upside down.
Where exactly was he full of wickedness?
What a frustrating question...
Lu Qianqiao walked extremely fast, heading straight south as soon as they left the tavern. Xin Mei had to jog to keep up, her stomach growling all the while—she was starving... But this heartless brothel-visiting general definitely wouldn't be kind enough to let her eat.
In times like these, self-reliance was the only way.
Her sharp eyes caught sight of a pancake stall by the roadside. The vendor had just arranged the freshly baked pancakes in neat rows, steam still rising from them. Xin Mei grabbed four pancakes with one hand and tossed a few coins with the other. As she was being dragged along, she managed to call back, "I paid for them!"
Taking a bite, she found the pancakes were made with pure duck fat—this vendor was truly honest. She devoured three in one go, her hands now greasy. Unable to find a handkerchief to wipe them, she noticed Lu Qianqiao's fluttering robes ahead—the fabric looked... quite soft, didn't it?
Stealthily grabbing a corner of his green robe, she vigorously wiped her hands. Just as she was about to wipe her mouth, he suddenly stopped. Xin Mei couldn't brake in time and slammed into his back, only to be flung backward several steps. Then, she was yanked forward again by the Demon Binding Rope in his hand, and finally, he steadied her.
Looking up, she saw they were standing in front of an inn. Xin Mei covered her face in shock—he, he, he... Was this about to turn into the cliché of a man and woman sharing a room at night, full of ambiguous tension and heart-pounding moments?!
Oh no, this guy had switched from brute force to romance! Stay alert, stay alert...
Lu Qianqiao glanced at her, noting the rapidly shifting expressions on her face, and said, "I know what you're thinking."
Huh? Her poor little heart began to flutter...
He smirked mockingly. "Too bad you're going to be disappointed."
He dragged her onward, walking and walking... until they left the city.
...So cold and rigid, no wonder the emperor demoted him to guard the Imperial Mausoleum... Xin Mei squatted in the depths of a remote mountain forest with tears in her eyes, building a fire. The Demon Binding Rope was tied around an ancient tree so thick it would take ten people to encircle it. Unless she possessed the strength to uproot mountains and dominate the world, she might as well obediently tend to the fire.
When Lu Qianqiao returned with a leather pouch of water, the fire was burning brightly. He took off the inconspicuous small pouch at his waist and pulled out an iron stand, a small tin pot, a bag of flour, some dried meat, along with bowls, chopsticks, and seasonings. Xin Mei’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
She had heard of a treasure called the Cosmos Sack, crafted centuries ago by an immortal artisan from the Zhou Yue Kingdom. Outwardly unremarkable, resembling a worn-out coin pouch, it could hold nearly the heavens and earth within. The immortal had made fewer than ten of these sacks in total. Apart from one preserved in the Qiong Kingdom’s palace, the whereabouts of the others were unknown. Who would have thought this poker-faced man possessed such a treasure?
He poured water into the pot, placed it over the fire, kneaded the dough, pinched it into small dumplings, and dropped them into the boiling water, adding wild vegetables and dried meat. As he worked, his movements were natural and practiced, as if he had done these mundane tasks countless times before. The formidable General of Agile Cavalry spoken of by others, the War Ghost with mixed human blood, even the bandit who had tried to lay hands on an innocent maiden—all those identities seemed distant now.
After adding the seasonings and simmering for a while, the aroma filled the air. Xin Mei’s mouth watered, her eyes glued to the pot. But upon reflection, she figured he wouldn’t share any with her, so she hesitantly pulled out the last remaining duck-fat pancake from her pocket, debating whether to eat it.
"Eat." He ladled a bowl of the dumpling soup and placed it by her feet.
Xin Mei was stunned for a long moment before reacting. "Uh... th-thank you..."
She took a careful sip of the broth—savory with a hint of spice. Though unfamiliar with the flavor, it was unexpectedly delicious. As she drank, she stole glances at him, watching the firelight flicker across his face.
He seemed burdened with many worries...
She cleared her throat. "There’s no hardship in the world that can’t be overcome..."
So hurry up and release me already! she screamed inwardly.
Lu Qianqiao looked at her in surprise, noting the bright, hopeful gleam in her eyes. He turned away again, his voice calm. "Sleep after you eat."
Hmph! I refuse to believe you’re flawless!
Xin Mei moved the fire aside, spread a blanket over the warm ground, and curled up fully dressed, pretending to sleep while peeking through the tiniest slit in her eyes to watch his back. He sat motionless under the tree, facing away from her. The mountain forest at night was utterly silent, save for the crackling of the fire. After what felt like an eternity, she assumed he had fallen asleep and quietly reached into her pocket, intending to release Qiu Yue and knock him out.
The moment she moved, he turned his head as if he had eyes on his back, giving her a mocking look.
"What are you doing?" His mood seemed to have improved slightly, as he asked the question with deliberate leisure.
Xin Mei chuckled awkwardly. "N-nothing... I think a bug bit me..."
"I know you have a powerful Spirit Beast." Lu Qianqiao smiled faintly, a smile brimming with menace. "If you don’t want roasted pelican tomorrow, stay quiet and sleep."
Roasted pelican—was he threatening to cook Qiu Yue?! The talisman paper form of Qiu Yue trembled in her pocket and shrank deeper inside.Xin Mei turned over in bed with tears in her eyes and went to sleep, admitting his superiority.
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