Li Guanyi calmed his breath, adjusted himself, and then forced his body to the stream's edge. He crouched down and saw his reflection in the moonlit water, his face slightly pale, but his eyes appeared even darker. The White Tiger Dharma Form lay on his shoulder, playfully tugging at his hair.
The White Tiger's claws caught in his hair, unable to pull it out, and the claws shook with effort.
To the naked eye, it looked as if the wind was gently brushing through the youth's hair.
Li Guanyi chuckled.
He sat back on a stone by the stream, then drew out his black heavy blade. The blade bore some nicks and scratches, stained with blood. Li Guanyi took a piece of cloth from the pouch on his pocket and, under the moonlight, wiped the blood off the blade to prevent it from rusting and smelling.
Then, he used a small whetstone to grind away the nicks, keeping the blade sharp.
Finally, he applied some oil to maintain the blade.
During this process, his mind gradually quieted down. When the blade was sheathed, it emitted a delicate sound that brought Li Guanyi a sense of reassurance.
In a chaotic world, a sword could bring peace.
He also checked the bodies of the others he had killed, finding a pile of identity tokens, which turned out to be new recruits from the border.
There were also a dozen or so taels of silver and a stack of letters, all of which he took with him.
His internal energy from the Breaking Formation Song had already been restored. The soreness from his first solo battle, which had been instinctively overexerted, quickly faded away. Li Guanyi went to tidy up the vegetables, placing them in the basket left by the old man, which was woven from bamboo and coarse hemp rope, quite sturdy.
There were still three to five dozen jin of vegetables that were edible and had not spoiled.
They were indeed good vegetables, showing that the grower had put in effort.
Li Guanyi exerted his arms to lift the basket, took a few steps, and suddenly remembered something. He turned around and saw the copper coin he had just thrown into the air, now lying on its back.
On it were four characters written by the current Emperor Chen.
The script was elegant and grand.
It read—Taiping Tongbao.
The youth grinned, flipped the coin to its front side, and praised:
“Indeed, it’s the front side!”
He picked it up, wiped off the dirt, and tucked it into his bosom.
Originally planning to return, he thought of that Yao Guang from the Eastern Land Star-Gazing Sect. Now that he had money, the situation was not very safe outside the city. When Li Guanyi had been poisoned, Yao Guang had taken care of him. After some thought, the youth decided to return and deliver a message.
His internal energy flowed into his arms, not as strong as the Xue family's inherited internal energy, but it reinforced his arms.
However, the Breaking Formation Song excelled in versatility, and Li Guanyi's arm strength was not weak, his footing solid, even better than the Xue family.
He hurried back, the campfire's light faintly illuminating the stone wall, flickering slightly.
Li Guanyi slowed his pace, and the hooded Yao Guang seemed to have sensed him, turning to look at him, her voice calm and undisturbed: “You’re back.”
Li Guanyi replied: “There are fugitives outside; it may not be very safe here.”
Yao Guang's voice remained tranquil: “Please rest assured, disciples of the Eastern Land Star-Gazing Sect are not without strength. I may not be a hero like you, who can charge into battle, but I can protect myself. Thank you for your concern.”
Li Guanyi nodded and turned around decisively.
As he was about to leave, he caught sight of the roasted buns skewered on a stick.
Yao Guang, still quietly reading, had left bite marks on the bun, which had been roasted hard and cracked open. Li Guanyi paused and turned back, saying: “Is this all you eat?”
Yao Guang looked at him and replied: “Some rice flour and clean water is enough.”
Li Guanyi grinned, pointed at the vegetables, and said:
“I can’t take these vegetables; I’ll leave them here.”
“You can…”
He saw the hard bun and retracted the words “you can cook.”
“Do you have a pot?”
Yao Guang slowly nodded, crouching in front of a large backpack.
She rummaged through it.
Clang, clang.
She raised her head, turned around, and held up a small iron pot with her fair hand, lifting it to show Li Guanyi.
“Here.”
Li Guanyi made a wooden frame to hold the pot over the fire, filled it with clean water, and used Yao Guang's dagger to chop the cleaned vegetables into small pieces, placing them inside to cook. He broke the hard bun into pieces the size of his little finger and added them in as well.
He sprinkled a handful of salt inside.
“Let’s do it this way; there’s no meat or oil, so we’ll make do.”
Li Guanyi sat beside the iron pot, watching the food simmering inside.
Yao Guang's gaze pierced through the rising steam, looking at Li Guanyi, her voice calm and undisturbed: “Your mind is not at peace; there are many ripples. Have you encountered a dilemma?”
Li Guanyi paused in his movements.
He had killed fifteen or sixteen people this time, but it was not his first time taking a life.
However, previously, when he killed those two Night Rider Cavalry, he had Yue Qianfeng handle the aftermath.
At this moment, he felt restless.
Li Guanyi realized that he did not fear killing; he merely loathed the troublesome aftermath that came with it. He was self-aware and unwilling to bear the responsibility that killing brought, even if they were fugitives. Yet, Li Guanyi understood that the troubles following this would not be few, even if they were wanted criminals.
The new recruits from the border and the squad leader being thieves must have their reasons; the entanglements could be quite significant.
It was not as simple as just taking a badge to claim a reward.
The wind carried the scent of leaves.
Yao Guang moved closer to Li Guanyi, kneeling beside him, extending her palm, her voice calm:
“Please give me your hand.”
“Is this some kind of ritual?”
Li Guanyi chuckled.
But after thinking it over, he still extended his hand. Yao Guang's delicate hand cradled his, and she lowered her gaze, saying: “No, it’s just that people on this land fear loneliness. I believe companionship can bring much peace to your heart.”
Yao Guang closed her eyes, her palm clasping Li Guanyi's hand, bowing her head as she recited the precepts of the Eastern Land Star-Gazing Sect. Her silver hair fell down, her expression serene, like the quiet stream flowing under the moonlight.
Li Guanyi's heart indeed calmed down.
The earlier restlessness gradually revealed itself, and he made a decision.
Yao Guang opened her eyes and released the youth's hand:
“You carry the aura of killing, yet there is no resentment, no doubt about your path. This indicates that you have not harmed the innocent, and your choices do not betray your heart. Therefore, please do not doubt yourself, do not fear.”
Yao Guang's hand withdrew, her brown eyes gazing at the youth before her.
“No matter what path you choose, as long as you do not become a tyrant who disrupts the world.”
“I will accompany you.”
Li Guanyi couldn't help but smile: “Even if I am a fugitive who has committed grave crimes?”
Yao Guang held her right hand with her left wrist, placing it before her, and after serious contemplation, she quietly replied:
“Then, do you need an accomplice who can guide your direction?”
“I am willing to accompany you through the grandest escape from the mundane world.”
“This is our destined pact.”
Li Guanyi found himself unable to respond.
He gazed at the stream, reflecting on the battle with Qian Zheng. He finally understood the fight between the Iron Le Prince and himself. Now, he was confident he could defeat the Iron Le Prince with his sword techniques, but it was not something to boast about, having found the method only after ‘dying’ dozens of times.
After today’s killings, his strength had waned; he would come back after recuperating.
Li Guanyi suddenly shouted, venting the agitation in his heart.
Yao Guang quietly watched him.
Li Guanyi slapped his cheeks, stood up, and said: “Thank you; I’ve come to understand some things.”
“I will return tomorrow.”
“Today, I take my leave.”
Li Guanyi quickly walked out, while Yao Guang quietly sat back by the campfire, examining the simple meal, quietly savoring it with her simple utensils.
Li Guanyi returned to the city alone. At the city gate, many villagers from the surrounding towns were lined up, waiting for the gates to open. Li Guanyi encountered some difficulties; the gate guards sometimes took things, mistakenly thinking he was a vegetable farmer.
Seeing the blade and bow at his waist, they were startled and dared not say much.
Li Guanyi looked at the bustling Guan Yi City, the sky turning pale, the shops along the main road already opened. A large iron pot was simmering with steaming soup, and the freshly baked flatbreads emitted the fragrance of wheat. The buildings adorned with red lanterns had extravagant decorations, and as the doors opened, flower-adorned women helped scholars mount their horses.
A waft of fragrance lingered.
The scholar, with flowers pinned in his hair, drunkenly rode his horse, strolling amidst the smoke of the food stalls.
Passing by a corner eatery, he flicked a Taiping Tongbao onto the table, ordering a bowl of sour and refreshing soup.
He tapped his fingers on the table, the sound of strings accompanying the bamboo.
It read—
Good Taiping!
Li Guanyi looked at the familiar sight of peace that once reassured him, but thoughts of the old man's wails surfaced, along with the line of vegetable farmers at the city gate, and Zhao Dabing's words about the human trafficking business. A corner of the entire Chen Kingdom and the world unfolded before his eyes, prosperity and absurdity intertwined like a flowing river.
So this was how it was; in chaotic times, some found it not chaotic, but peaceful.
In times of chaos, it was the common people who suffered.
The youth held his blade and bow, his clothes stained with blood.
The scholar, adorned with flowers, drunkenly rode his horse, his body perfumed.
They passed each other.
The scholar, not knowing why, was suddenly startled, having sobered up, looking around but finding nothing.
Meanwhile, Li Guanyi first returned home to report his safety to his aunt.
Then he chose to go to the Xue family.
Having killed fifteen or sixteen people, although some were wanted criminals, the situation was not so simple. The bureaucratic system of the Chen Kingdom was quite convoluted; it was very likely that he would not only fail to receive a reward but also end up in trouble. The only person he knew who could handle this matter most appropriately was one.
He was a guest elder, entered the inner courtyard, and after some thought, headed towards the Listening Wind Pavilion.
The old man, disturbed by the Breaking Cloud Shocking Heaven Bow, was drinking millet porridge, unable to comprehend.
Last night at the hour of the pig, why did the Breaking Cloud Shocking Heaven Bow shake again?
Li Guanyi hadn’t touched it; could it be that the one who triggered the bow was not him?
The old man was awakened by the bow's sound, pondering for a long time. Being old, he felt young, and thus had not slept all night.
While thinking, upon hearing Li Guanyi's arrival, he had another bowl added, with extra rice and ginseng, saying that young men had the biggest appetites, and the Xue family was not afraid of being eaten poor, then invited him in.
Li Guanyi entered, his sleeves fluttering.
Xue Daoyong raised an eyebrow.
The smell of blood.
Li Guanyi quietly sat at the table, unstrapping his battle bow, and said:
“I killed someone.”
The old man frowned slightly, then thought that if he had killed the innocent, he would not have come to find him.
He did not ask anything else, simply inquired:
“Who?”
Li Guanyi placed his badge on the table.
“Border traitor squad leader, Qian Zheng.”
The old man looked at the entry warrior's badge, his pupils constricting slightly.
That was an elite from the border against the Ying Kingdom. The squad leader had survived at least three battles and reached the entry realm, having seen blood, with at least seven heads in his military tent. However, with the Xue family's divine bow, as long as the distance was kept, although it was tricky and dangerous, such an opponent could be dealt with.
One-on-one, crossing realms, even with a weapon advantage, it could be said to be a battle of wits and courage.
The old man nodded, approvingly saying: “Not bad…”
Then he saw the youth pull something from his bosom, taking out a blood-stained wooden token, which had soaked and darkened. He released it, and the wooden token fell on the table, all being military tokens of the border army. The old man's expression gradually solidified. The youth's sleeves were not stained with blood, only a small bloodstain on his collar.
He unstrapped his battle blade, placing it aside, quietly saying:
“Along with his band, a total of sixteen.”
“All killed by my hand.”
(End of Chapter)