The bitter winter froze water into ice, blanketing the mountains in pristine white, with rime flowers adorning the frost-laden emerald forests.
This year, a heavy snow fell at the foot of Good Cloud Mountain—a rare occurrence, as it hadn't snowed here in fifty years. Nearby villagers whispered among themselves, debating whether this was an auspicious sign or an omen of calamity.
The snowfall was immense. Trees were laden with rime flowers, and the ground, where vegetation still thrived, was buried under half a foot of snow. The white expanse contrasted starkly with the verdant woods, creating a scene of serene and striking beauty.
"Jade Star" Qi Xing paced the courtyard with a book in hand when someone tiptoed in through the gate. "Brother Qi, how many now?" Qi Xing closed the book. "Six hundred and eighty-five."
The one peeking in was "Jade Moon" Zheng Yue. Ever since Tang Lici announced the reward of an additional one hundred and fifty-eight taels of silver per recruit, the ranks at Good Cloud Mountain had swelled. Most newcomers were second- or third-rate martial artists—hardly masters, but their sheer numbers bolstered the mountain's growing prestige. Occasionally, brawls broke out over disputes about squandering silver, but Qi Xing would swiftly identify the instigators and expel them. After a few such incidents, the others grew wary of starting trouble.
Meng Qinglei had once advised Tang Lici that relying on wealth to attract followers risked reducing their cause to mere materialism. While money drew many, it also deterred honorable veterans of the jianghu who prized integrity. Tang Lici, however, argued that those truly committed to the martial world wouldn’t be swayed by petty gains—nor constrained by them. Those who cared about gossip were hardly paragons of virtue, and their presence or absence mattered little to him.
His reasoning was sound, and Meng Qinglei dropped the matter.
Time passed swiftly. After this heavy snowfall, over a month had already slipped by since Tang Lici's return to Good Cloud Mountain. In that time, Zheng Yue had uncovered no leads about the Dissolute Shop, yet Tang Lici never reproached him. Each meeting was met with a smile, which only deepened Zheng Yue's dread, making him avoid Tang Lici as one would a venomous serpent.
He feared Tang Lici to his core but dared not voice it. Now, with everyone on the mountain singing the young master's praises, how could he risk inciting their wrath? Besides, the lure of that one hundred and fifty-eight taels of gold was hard to resist—it was no small sum.
"Xifang Tao" had yet to make an appearance. Tang Lici dispatched Cheng Yunpao and Dong Hubi with separate teams to search for her, but no trace was found. The jianghu had fallen eerily quiet. Good Cloud Mountain's influence grew, while the Dissolute Shop seemed to have retreated, as if everything had returned to the peace before the Poison Affliction.
These days, Tang Lici was exceedingly busy. A Shui avoided people whenever possible, speaking little. Dressed plainly with no adornments, she drew no attention as an unremarkable maidservant. Thus, though she had lived on Good Cloud Mountain for over a month, she remained as isolated as if dwelling in a world apart.
Feng Feng was engrossed in a tattered book, his focus absolute. He no longer tore pages but had taken to reading instead. She couldn’t tell whether he was merely captivated by the scribbled illustrations or actually comprehending anything, but since he enjoyed it, she sat quietly beside him, stitching embroidery while he turned the book sideways, upside down, and every which way. The days passed in tranquil silence.
Knock knock. A light rap sounded at the wooden door.
A Shui looked up. Few sought her out, and Yu Tuan'er never knocked. "Who is it?"The person outside spoke softly, "This maid is Ziyun." A Shui stood up and opened the door. Outside stood a petite, delicate woman in purple robes, holding a tray with two bowls of bird's nest soup. "Young Master Tang instructed me to bring this. Please eat it while it's still warm."
A Shui frowned slightly as she took the tray and sighed softly. "Thank you. Why did he suddenly think to send me bird's nest? Has he eaten any himself?" Ziyun also sighed. "Young Master Tang said he is too busy with affairs to look after you and asked me to stay by your side to attend to your needs at all times." She bowed gracefully to A Shui. "Please feel free to command me, and I will do my utmost within my abilities."
A Shui shook her head and helped her up, speaking gently, "I truly don’t need anyone to look after me. If you have time, you’re welcome to visit." Ziyun shook her head, her expression dimming. "I dare not disobey Young Master Tang’s orders." A Shui smiled faintly, though her smile was equally subdued. "Did he no longer want you to serve him?" Ziyun lowered her head. "Yes... He told me to serve you from now on and not to enter his courtyard unless summoned." A Shui said, "Don’t be sad. Young Master Tang just..." But she trailed off, her thoughts tangled, unable to voice them.
Ziyun said gloomily, "I understand. He simply doesn’t want me involved in his private matters. He dislikes having others share the same roof with him." A Shui sighed. "The way he treats you doesn’t necessarily mean he thinks poorly of you in his heart." Ziyun’s eyes reddened. "I think so too, but it still hurts." A Shui motioned for her to sit, her own heart growing more bewildered, though she maintained a soft smile. "Do you care deeply for Young Master Tang?" Ziyun nodded, her cheeks flushing. "I..." A Shui’s smile grew even gentler. "Young Master Tang is young, handsome, wise, and brave. It’s only natural to care for him." Ziyun shook her head. "I know he has a beloved in Diancheng—Miss Huang Sanjin. Miss Zhong Chunji also harbors affection for him, and he once said..." Ziyun murmured blankly, "He said that before Yunfei married into the palace... she was deeply infatuated with him..." She looked at A Shui in confusion. "And then there’s you, Miss A Shui. What... what am I to him?"
A Shui gazed back at Ziyun with equal bewilderment. Behind Tang Lici were many women—some she knew of, some she didn’t. But regardless of who they were, their status, or their standing, he would never respond to any of them. He was merely... searching in these women for... the warmth of maternal love, while also deriving a sense of conquest.
That was all.
Thus, all the women infatuated with Tang Lici were pitiable. He had no intention of loving any of them. Even if he sought solace from only one, that attachment was not born of love—merely displaced anger and transference.
"Perhaps... he told you about Yunfei in hopes you would give up sooner. He was thinking of you," A Shui murmured weakly. "As for me... I, too, don’t know what I am to Young Master Tang..." She looked at Ziyun sincerely. "I am a woman marked by loss, no longer pure. More than anyone, I wish for Young Master Tang to find a worthy companion—but it will never be me."
Tears spilled from Ziyun’s eyes as she suddenly threw herself into A Shui’s arms, sobbing against her.As the two women were lost in sorrow, a figure suddenly darted into the room—light and agile as a swallow, without making a sound. A Shui was startled upon seeing this. "Who—"
Ziyun wiped her tears and looked up, only to see a flash of white light as a gleaming blade pressed against her throat. The intruder, clad in tight-fitting attire with a masked face, hissed in a low voice, "Silence!"
A Shui, having steadied her nerves, suddenly noticed the intruder's tall, graceful figure, her hair tied in a simple bun. The silhouette looked familiar. She paused, slightly taken aback. "Miss Bai?"
The masked intruder pulled down her veil and gave her a faint smile before sitting down. "So it's you." Though seated, the Severing Discipline Blade remained at Ziyun's throat. A Shui spoke up, "She won't make a sound, Miss Bai. She's Young Master Tang's personal maid—no outsider."
The visitor was indeed Bai Suche. Hearing this, she slowly withdrew the blade. "I haven't slept, drunk, or eaten for two days and nights..." Her tone was indifferent. Ziyun hurriedly offered the two bowls of bird's nest soup, her eyes filled with fear. She recognized this woman—a renowned warrior of the Dissolute Shop. During the night raid on Good Cloud Mountain, this woman had been among the leaders.
Bai Suche did not refuse and quickly finished the two bowls. A Shui, remembering how Bai had secretly aided her with the Willow Slayer, harbored no hostility. "Miss Bai, you've come from afar. May I ask why—"
Bai Suche lowered her voice. "I came from Piaoling Mei Yuan. Officially, I'm on patrol, so I can't stay long. Call Tang Lici here—I have something to tell him."
A Shui's expression shifted slightly. Bai Suche had traveled all the way from Bodhi Valley, risking betrayal of the Dissolute Shop, going without sleep for two days—whatever she had to say must be grave. The thought flashed through her mind. She nudged Ziyun. "Miss Ziyun, go fetch Young Master Tang. If anyone asks, say I've fallen seriously ill."
Ziyun, pale-faced, nodded repeatedly and hurried out.
A Shui poured Bai Suche a cup of tea. Bai regarded her coldly, her gaze sharp with killing intent. No one would guess that not long ago, Bai had risked her life to save A Shui.
A Shui pressed her lips together. "Miss Bai."
Bai Suche responded with an indifferent hum, barely acknowledging her.
"At Beauty Abode... why did you save me?" A Shui wasn't surprised by her coldness. "Could it be... you're Young Master Tang's spy within the Dissolute Shop?"
Bai Suche sneered. "I'm no one's subordinate. I belong only to myself."
A Shui bit her lower lip lightly. "I thank you on Young Master Tang's behalf for coming so far."
Bai Suche's expression turned mocking. "Who do you think you are, speaking for Tang Lici?"
A Shui flinched slightly and whispered, "Why are you angry?"
Bai Suche's face darkened. A Shui bit her lip again, hesitating to speak further.
The atmosphere between the two women grew strangely tense.
Feng Feng crawled out from a pile of tattered books and, spotting Bai Suche, beamed with delight. "Auntie— Auntie—" He babbled happily, convinced he was saying it right.
Before long, Tang Lici pushed the door open, followed by Ziyun.
Bai Suche stood immediately. Seeing her expression, Tang Lici's own face paled slightly. "Speak. What is it?"Bai Suche took something out from her bosom—it was a piece of paper stained with a dull smear of blood. Tang Lici stared fixedly at that paper as Bai Suche slowly handed it to him. It was a banknote, one worth ten thousand taels of gold. "He said, return it to you."
Tang Lici propped his chin on his hand and closed his eyes. It was a very familiar banknote—the same one he had given to Xue Xianzi at Moonlight Tower. "What happened to him?"
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