Chapter 19

Zheng Xuanfu jumped about in frustration, his feet smarting from the two charcoal-blackened citrus fruits tossed at him. He pointed at Qi Yun and unleashed a torrent of abuse, but Qi Yun did not show even a flicker of anger; he didn't even look his way, merely whispering something under his breath.

That whisper was impossible to make out. Zheng Xuanfu glared at him, thoroughly annoyed.

The citrus fruits had been a personal gift from Yan Nanjing, a full bamboo measure of them. Mimicking what he remembered of her method, Qi Yun had set them over the charcoal fire to roast, though eight out of ten ended up charred. All eight charred ones had ended up in Zheng Xuanfu’s stomach.

Once winter arrived in the north, fresh produce became a rarity. The entire winter was endured on millet and dried meat. Only by early summer could one hope for fresh mulberries or other fruits and vegetables.

Thus, even if the citrus was scorched, it could not simply be tossed aside. So, Qi Yun had unceremoniously stuffed them all into Zheng Xuanfu’s mouth.

"The heat was just right." Qi Yun’s face remained impassive, his breath steady. He used his copper chopsticks to point at the citrus rolling on the ground. "Eat it quickly."

"Why don't you eat it yourself!" Zheng Xuanfu was fuming, his voice rising until it was nearly a roar.

Under Qi Yun’s roof, Zheng Xuanfu had endured more grievances than he had in the previous decade of his life.

"Naturally, I am practicing humility toward a man of talent."

What a black-hearted wretch!

Zheng Xuanfu rolled up his sleeves, ready to come to blows with Qi Yun. Seeing this, Qi Yun urged, "Hurry up. We are meeting Registrar Yang soon. If you wait until we get back, it will be stone-cold, and if you swallow it then, you’ll have a stomachache that will be the death of you."

Zheng Xuanfu knew he couldn't best him in a fight, but he was unwilling to settle for such burnt offerings. "Why don't you eat it yourself?"

"This was sent by the young lady herself." He picked it up, tossed it between his palms, and peeled away the blackened rind. To his surprise, the inside was perfectly intact, unlike the half-charred ones from before.

Qi Yun happened to see it, snatched it away, broke it open, and popped it into his mouth.

The piping-hot, clear sweetness carried a hint of age, but the flaws could not obscure the charm.

Having been forced to eat several ruined ones, Zheng Xuanfu was about to pounce on him in a brawl the moment he saw a decent one being snatched away.

Qi Yun, as if anticipating his move, shifted his footing; with a few quick steps, he left Zheng Xuanfu grasping at empty air.

Zheng Xuanfu was well-versed in archery and horsemanship, but he was no match for someone like Qi Yun, who had been negotiating in enemy camps at eleven and following armies into battle at thirteen, living a life on the edge of a blade.

Even when noble scions traded insults, they still cared for their dignity. They could not compare to the razor-sharp instincts of someone forged in the slaughter of the battlefield.

"Let's go." Qi Yun brushed some non-existent dust from his robes and lowered his head, looking at the prone Zheng Xuanfu with a mocking smile.

Yan Nanjing and Yang Zhijian were waiting in the main hall.

As movement stirred outside, Bai Su opened the door, and the two men were seen rounding the screen to enter.

Qi Yun was no longer wearing the old clothes from Yang Zhijian’s youth; Yang had given him a new robe.

Serving at the Governor’s office, Yang Zhijian was a man of official standing, even if not a high-ranking imperial court official. The robes he provided were naturally expected to be presentable.

The dark-colored robe was trimmed with red piping and embroidered with intricate, sophisticated cloud patterns.

Worn by Qi Yun, the outfit gave him an air of refinement, shedding the fierce, murderous aura he had possessed upon their first meeting.

To her eyes, he looked even more like the composed, gentle scion of a noble family than Zheng Xuanfu beside him.

Upon entering and seeing Yan Nanjing, Qi Yun felt a momentary flicker of surprise before offering a polished smile. "Greetings, Young Lady."

Yan Nanjing gave a slight nod in return, then turned her gaze toward Zheng Xuanfu.

"Zhishan and I invited you both here to discuss the matter of sending you home."

At these words, a slight change crossed Qi Yun’s face, though it returned to normal in an instant.

He raised his hands in a formal bow. "My sincere thanks to Magistrate Yang and the Young Lady."

"We have been a burden for far too long, and it has caused the Young Lady much trouble."

Yan Nanjing blinked. "The young master is too kind. Regarding the bandits from last time, we owe much to you both."

She shifted the topic. "My brother and I have discussed this. Currently, the official roads heading north are being guarded, and the patrols are strict. Moreover, both of you possess striking countenances; no matter how you disguise yourselves, it would be difficult not to draw attention."

Having a handsome and distinguished appearance was usually a blessing, but now it had become a hindrance.

Yan Nanjing glanced at the two men. Their height alone made them stand out like cranes in a flock of chickens here in Jingzhou. It would be hard not to be conspicuous, and she feared that if they were questioned by soldiers, the lead officer would probably shout for their arrest before they even opened their mouths.

Her expression was vivid, and as she spoke, her cheeks were filled with genuine worry.

Zheng Xuanfu was anxious and started to step forward to ask for details, but a single look from Qi Yun stopped him. Qi Yun did not rush to question her as Zheng Xuanfu had.

He simply remained patient, waiting as he had before.

His face was exquisite and handsome. If one were to break down his features, they might not be considered the absolute best, but together, they were perfectly harmonious.

The look of worry on that face was particularly moving, especially those clear, black-and-white eyes, round and shimmering with a faint veil of moisture when looking up at someone. It inexplicably reminded him of an elk he had once kept.

"I have considered having you both disguise yourselves as wandering swordsmen, but upon reflection, that will not work either."

Yang Zhijian took up the thread of the conversation.

The reason was as Yan Nanjing had already explained: wandering swordsmen were mostly commoners of modest standing. These two were simply too outstanding; no matter how one looked at them, they did not look like men who had fallen to such straits. While they were called swordsmen, they were actually troublemakers who defied the law with their martial prowess, constantly resorting to violence and extortion. They had no good reputation.

Literati and poets might occasionally write a few lines about the bravery and boldness of a wandering swordsman, but in truth, anyone with a better path would never sink to such a life.

Qi Yun blinked slowly; his eyelashes were long and thick, making him look quite gentle and soft.

"So, my brother and I thought that when the time comes, Young Master Cui can lead you through the mountain paths to exit Jingzhou," Yan Nanjing said.

"If that is the case, then we should set out immediately. After all, we have inconvenienced you for too long. Magistrate Yang’s current situation is quite difficult; if news of our presence here were to leak out, it would not bode well for him."

Yang Zhijian raised a hand, saying it was not possible. "It is the depth of winter. The weather is freezing, and the mountain roads are muddy and treacherous. Even a wheel would get stuck and not move an inch, let alone a man."

Qi Yun knew this, of course; it was one of the reasons he had urged his uncle to retreat his troops earlier.

"Once the weather clears and the roads are passable, I will have Cui Ti escort you out of Jingzhou."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun exhaled, then bowed deeply to the two of them with his hands tucked into his sleeves.

Zheng Xuanfu, seeing this, realized he couldn't just stand there, so he followed suit, bowing to thank Yan Nanjing and Yang Zhijian.

"We were forced by circumstance to disturb the Young Lady, yet you and Magistrate Yang have not blamed us, but instead have made arrangements for us. I am truly ashamed!"

Yan Nanjing’s face was filled with alarm, but her eyes held no trace of panic. Looking past the advancing Yang Zhijian, she calmly scrutinized the young man who was bowing.

She had long since realized that this person was difficult to deal with and hard to handle. He was quick-witted and capable of making the most appropriate responses. Yet, these were merely responses; no one knew what he was truly thinking inside.

It wasn't that she hadn't met high-status individuals before, but even the most humble among them would, at some inadvertent moment, reveal an air of haughty superiority.

But not this man. His gratitude and shame, no matter how one looked at it, appeared fervent and sincere.

Although Yan Nanjing was a young girl in body, her mind had long since passed the age of naivety. She would not believe this was purely a heartfelt outpouring.

It didn't matter, though. Neither she nor her brother intended to tell him about the sudden death of Qi Huan. Since he didn't know, it wouldn't be to their disadvantage. They would simply enjoy this time as host and guest, and when the time was right, send them off politely.

In any case, there would likely be no opportunity to meet again in the future.

The bowing man was helped up by Yang Zhijian, and as he raised his head, his eyes met Yan Nanjing’s. She nodded slightly, and when she looked up again, Qi Yun had already been helped to his feet.

The matter was settled; they would simply wait for clear weather to depart.

Since Yang Zhijian did not intend to harm the two guests in his home, he would treat them well. After nightfall, Yang Zhijian even shared dinner with them.

When men gathered together, especially in the depths of winter, they were bound to drink. The wine had been brewed by Ayuan herself. Ayuan had a gift for brewing; the wine she made was sweet and fragrant with no acidic bite, and the aftertaste was long and lingering.

Thus, having drunk too much, all three of them collapsed right there.

Because Yang Zhijian had instructed early on that no one was to disturb them, no one came when the three of them fell into a drunken stupor.

In the dead of night, Qi Yun was awakened by a cold breeze blowing into the room.

During winter, charcoal fires were kept burning in the rooms, and no matter how cold it was, a crack was always left in the doors and windows to prevent the foul air from the charcoal from harming the occupants.

He had been brought into the army by his father at eleven, a place filled with men, so alcohol was a constant. His tolerance had been forged over time.

Qi Yun sat up, holding his throbbing head. The other two were deeply intoxicated, snoring like thunder beside him.

Qi Yun disliked the feeling of drunkenness, especially the sense of being unable to command his own body and mind. No matter how many times he had experienced it, he detested it from the bottom of his heart.

He climbed to his feet, still swaying slightly as he walked.

He slowly made his way to the partially opened window, using the breeze squeezing through the gap to clear his head.

It was late into the night, and outside, there was nothing but the sound of the wind wailing and the rustling of trees.

The bone-chilling wind blowing against his face helped restore some clarity to his mind.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose, and just as he was about to return to the room, amidst the sound of the wind and the rustling leaves, he heard the sound of an arrow piercing the air.

Qi Yun was so familiar with the sound of archery that it was etched into his very bones.

The two men lying there were dead to the world, and despite being shaken, they did not wake up. Qi Yun made a split-second decision to find Cui Ti.

Cui Ti still remembered the incident with the bandits and slept with one eye open.

So, when Qi Yun knocked on his door, he was awake at once. Hearing Qi Yun’s explanation, he immediately grabbed his ring-pommel saber.

"Go and bring the Young Lady here," Qi Yun ordered swiftly. "Bai Su and I will guard the front."

Cui Ti left immediately, and before long, Yan Nanjing arrived, led by Ayuan. It was clear she had left in a hurry; she hadn't even combed her hair, letting it flow loose.

She held a lantern, and from a distance, Qi Yun saw the ends of her long hair caught by the wind in the dim light. Wrapped in a bulky winter robe, her face looked even more delicate against the slightly disheveled collar. She looked quite different from her usual self.

Yan Nanjing sensed the gaze upon her and looked up. She saw Qi Yun standing before the door.

In truth, she could only see a blurred shadow standing there, but she felt intuitively that it was Qi Yun.

"Young Master Qi."

She called out to him.

The tall, blurred shadow nodded toward her.