Tang Lici was currently having tea with Cheng Yunpao, Yu Furen, Dong Hubi, Meng Qinglei, and others.
Good Cloud Mountain in winter did not freeze over, but the cold was bone-chilling. As wisps of white mist drifted by, the chill seeped deep into the marrow. Tang Lici wore a lined jacket in a pale goose-yellow hue, adorned with intricate patterns woven from light green silk and gold threads, embroidered with a year-round brocade. The collar and cuffs were trimmed with snow-white sable fur, exuding an air of elegance and opulence.
On the table was this year’s "White Dew" tea from the Northern Gardens. Originally a tribute tea, the imperial court only required fifty cakes annually, leaving many surplus, including numerous fine-quality ones. The "White Dew" Tang Lici brought was not pressed into the traditional dragon-phoenix cake shape but was still a type of rolled tea. He brewed it with water from the Zhongling Spring, renowned as the finest spring for tea in the world. Lu Yu’s Classic of Tea states: "For water, mountain spring water is best, river water is second, and well water is third. Among mountain springs, those from milky springs and stone pools with gentle flows are superior." The Zhongling Spring was located in the perilous whirlpools of the Yangtze River, making it extremely difficult to fetch water. Though it was the finest spring under heaven, few ever had the chance to taste its waters.
The brewed "White Dew" was poured into small, jet-black cups, seemingly made of black jade. Though the tea was scalding hot, the cups did not burn the hands when held. Everyone inhaled the delicate aroma of the tea, carefully cradling the black jade cups, silently marveling that despite their years of wandering the martial world, they had never tasted something even the emperor might drink.
After sipping the tea, the dense yet mellow fragrance was unfamiliar to most. But seeing Tang Lici exhale softly, his cheeks flushing slightly as if accustomed to such flavors, the others pretended to be at ease, holding their priceless tea with an air of nonchalance.
"The gathering at Beauty Abode was indeed a trap set by Dissolute Shop. Fortunately, Young Master Tang arrived in time, or the consequences would have been dire," Meng Qinglei remarked. "While Young Master Tang rushed to Beauty Abode to rescue others, Peach Girl was ambushed in her room and fell off a cliff. Her fate remains unknown. Brother Yu, Young Hero Gu, and I searched the base of the mountain twice but found nothing. It weighs heavily on our hearts." Cheng Yunpao and Dong Hubi remained silent, while Tang Lici smiled faintly. "I will investigate Peach Girl’s whereabouts personally. Please rest assured."
Meng Qinglei brightened. "Since Young Master Tang says so, we naturally trust your word." Tang Lici shifted the topic, briefly recounting events at Wangting Manor after Beauty Abode. When he mentioned Zhu Yan’s sudden attack on Azure Fall Palace and how Wan Yu Yuedan persuaded her to return and fight at Wangting Manor, everyone clicked their tongues in amazement, lamenting that they did not know the outcome.
That day, Tang Lici and Wan Yu Yuedan lay chatting on a patch of wild grass. By the time they returned, Xue Tao was already gone.
A Shui stayed with her until the end, changing her into clean clothes before stepping out into the town. There, she found a dilapidated old coffin shop—the young workers had fled, but the elderly owner remained. She bought a simple coffin with what little money she had. When Yu Tuan'er and Lin Bu returned, the three of them worked together to place Xue Tao inside, digging a shallow grave behind the house to bury her.
No one erected a tombstone for her. The town’s stone workshop had been abandoned, its owners having fled, and they could neither afford nor find any suitable stone.
By the time Tang Lici returned, Xue Tao had already been buried.
No one asked him for money, nor did anyone take the gold hidden in his clothes to buy a better coffin. Though their strength was meager, they never relied on others.Tang Lici dug up a stone from behind the mountain, carved it into the shape of a tombstone with a short knife, and inscribed the characters "Xue Tao" on it with the knife's tip before placing it before the grave.
After that, they never spoke of Xue Tao again. Lin Bu bid farewell to the group and departed on his own. He turned southward, his footsteps carrying him wherever the vast land and rivers led. Though he seemed somewhat reluctant, he did not linger.
A Shui, Feng Feng, and Yu Tuan'er followed Tang Lici back to Good Cloud Mountain, while Shen Langhun escorted Wan Yu Yuedan back to Azure Fall Palace.
Now, Tang Lici was drinking tea with the others at Sword Inquiry Pavilion. A Shui sat in the room holding Feng Feng, as Tang Lici had sent her and Feng Feng silks and satins, various auspicious gold and jade ornaments, and even rouge and powder. He had also sent a set to Yu Tuan'er, who adorned herself with them, dressing up until her beauty shone brilliantly. A Shui, however, did not use any of them. She packed everything away, not out of refusal but simply storing them in bundles. Occasionally, she would open them to look, taking out each piece of clothing, each bolt of fabric, each gold or jade ornament, feeling an indescribable emotion in her heart.
Feng Feng had begun learning to speak, and he learned quickly. The dimple on his cheek became more and more pronounced. A Shui gently stroked the dimple—she liked dimples. She had never met Hao Wenhou's siblings, but perhaps they had dimples, so it wasn’t strange that Feng Feng had one.
"Sister A Shui," Yu Tuan'er said that day after visiting the cliff where "Xifang Tao" had fallen, "the place where Yu Konghou fell is really dangerous. It’s a miracle he survived—I wonder how he’s doing now. His face was injured, so he wouldn’t dare show himself easily. Do you think he’s found Liu Yan to treat his wounds?" A Shui sighed softly. "I think Yu Konghou must have been injured again in his fight with Zhu Yan. If it were just a scratch on the cheek, he wouldn’t stay hidden for so long. But whether he’s found Liu Yan to heal him, I don’t know."
Yu Tuan'er whispered, "I heard from Brother Shen that Young Master Tang gave Xiao Fang an address. Xiao Fang must have taken Liu Yan there. If only Young Master Tang would tell me, I could go find him." A Shui shook her head. "He won’t tell you." Yu Tuan'er sighed in disappointment. "How long must I wait here before I can see him again?" A Shui pulled her close, smoothing the hair on her forehead. "Young Master Tang won’t tell you the location, but if he misses you, he’ll have Brother Fang come for you. It’s no secret that you’re at Good Cloud Mountain now. As long as he remembers you and still longs for you, he’ll surely send Brother Fang to fetch you. Don’t worry—just wait patiently.""Sister A Shui, what if he sends Xiao Fang to fetch you but not me?" Yu Tuan'er asked gloomily. "If he dislikes me or has forgotten me, he won't come looking for me." A Shui smiled, her expression carrying the weariness and clarity of one who had seen much of the world. "That won't happen, silly child." Yu Tuan'er whispered, "If he sends Xiao Fang for you, promise you won't go back with him, okay?" A Shui gently embraced her. "Alright, I won't go with Brother Fang to see Liu Yan. I'll let you go instead, okay?" Yu Tuan'er nodded. "You're so kind." A Shui smoothed her hair. "I'm not kind. It's you who's good to him."
"You're good to Young Master Tang," Yu Tuan'er suddenly said. "But he always bullies you. You didn’t even want to come to Good Cloud Mountain, yet you came just because he asked." A Shui smiled faintly. "Yes, I wanted to live with Feng Feng on my own, but how could I truly survive in this world without relying on anyone? I tried leaving Young Master Tang before, but it only brought more trouble to others. This time, I’ll stay at Good Cloud Mountain." Yu Tuan'er snorted. "Liar! You just always do as he says. You came because he told you to, because you're afraid of making him angry! That's all it is, and you make up all these excuses! Young Master Tang is a bad person! A big bully!"
A Shui gazed at her for a moment. This girl had a pure heart, and thus her insight was sharp. Perhaps... she was right. Maybe A Shui simply didn’t want to defy Tang Lici’s wishes, maybe she was just afraid of upsetting him. But whatever the reason, she was merely a plaything in Tang Lici’s hands. If he wanted her to come, she came. If he wanted her to leave, she left. If he wanted to hurt her cruelly, she endured it. If he wanted someone to talk to, she drank with him.
Tang Lici was too lonely. He desperately needed someone to accompany him, care for him, and be good to him. And for a man with such an extreme and mercurial temperament, the way to be good to him... was to let him have his way.
Few could endure such harsh treatment, but she had to bear it—because Tang Lici only made these demands of her.
In front of everyone else, he had to maintain absolute dominance, absolute excellence. He was the best in the world, peerless and invincible, capable of overcoming any challenge.
Maintaining such a facade was exhausting, just as it was exhausting for her to maintain her own composure and rationality. She understood Tang Lici’s suffering, but he would never understand hers.
If she were as simple and straightforward as Yu Tuan'er, if she could disregard everything, she would flee from Tang Lici’s side immediately—far away, back to Luoyang or even to Fu Zhumei. But the more she understood Tang Lici, the clearer his needs became. And the clearer his needs, the harder it was for her not to pity him.
Having stayed by his side for so long, having come to know him so well, perhaps one day she would willingly die for him—to fulfill his desires, to earn a smile from him. But if that day ever came, what would happen to Feng Feng? What would become of Feng Feng’s future? And what would become of Tang Lici, left without her by his side?
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