The sky cleared after the snow, and the sunset bathed the sky in a fiery red hue. The thin snow on the riverbank reflected this red light, creating a breathtaking scene.
Hu Man staggered through the snow, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. Once a feared bandit, he had been betrayed and now found himself in this dire situation. With a deep sigh, he tore a strip from his clothing to wrap around his feet. After being chased for three days and nights, his soft satin shoes had been shredded by thorns and sand. His feet were numb and cold, likely frostbitten.
Parched and famished, Hu Man trudged slowly toward the river. Catching fresh fish at this time of year might be challenging, but with his skill in martial arts, it was within his reach. He checked his pockets and found only a sweat towel and a few pieces of silver—no means to start a fire.
Without a fire starter, he would have no choice but to eat the fish raw if he caught any. Normally, he would never endure such discomfort, but hunger and cold had pushed him to the brink of desperation. His eyes, once hardened by a life of crime, now reflected a glimmer of hope for survival.
As he reached the riverbank, he was about to remove his outer robe and wade into the water when he heard the sound of splashing. A boat partially concealed by reeds, about twenty paces away, caught his attention. A woman in light green clothing knelt at the stern of the boat, dipping a hand towel into the river, then wringing it out. Her white wrists were exposed as her sleeves fluttered.
Hu Man’s eyes brightened with hope. He glanced around cautiously, confirming that his pursuers were no longer in sight. There was no sign of anyone in the wilderness or along the Lanxi River. He crouched low and crept towards the boat. The woman, absorbed in her task, did not notice his approach. She retrieved an outer robe from a wooden basin and began washing it in the river.
This outer robe was unmistakably masculine. Hu Man hesitated, peering at the boat, his senses on high alert. His mind raced with cautionary tales from the martial arts world. He remembered a story about a young man living in the wilderness, surrounded by beautiful maids and flaunting his wealth with precious gold and jade. This opulence attracted the attention of the most infamous thief, known for his ruthlessness and cunning. The thief’s lifeless body was later found in a mountain stream, with only a single scar between his brows, a grim reminder of his fate.
As the thought of such a grim end crossed his mind, Hu Man shivered and decided against approaching the boat any further.
Suddenly, a few weak coughs emerged from the cabin, accompanied by a man's frail voice: "Yan Dan, cough, Yan Dan, come in..."
The woman in light green rose swiftly at the call, lifting the boat curtain and stepping into the cabin. As the curtain was raised and then lowered, Hu Man caught a whiff of a tantalizing aroma that made his mouth water. The scent was irresistibly alluring to someone as hungry as he was.
Determined, Hu Man approached the boat. Just then, the woman, Yan Dan, reappeared. Spotting the grimy and fierce-looking stranger, she took a fearful step back and asked with a tremor in her voice, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Hu Man quickly offered a reassuring smile. "Please don't be alarmed, miss. I'm a merchant who fell victim to some ruthless bandits. They stole all my goods and killed my companions. I fled over several hills before finding my way here." His story was partially true; he had indeed lost all his valuables and endured a grueling escape.
Yan Dan’s eyes softened with a touch of sympathy. She smiled gently, her Wu dialect adding a melodious quality to her words. "I thought you might be trouble," she said, her smile enhancing her beauty.
Hu Man felt a pang of longing and took another step closer, bowing deeply. "I’ve been wandering in desperation and am starving. Seeing how kind-hearted you seem, I was hoping you might share some food with me."
Yan Dan shook her head apologetically. "I can’t make that decision on my own. I need to consult my master." She turned back, cautiously lifting a corner of the boat curtain to prevent the cold wind from blowing inside. "Master, there’s a merchant outside. He says he’s been robbed and hasn’t eaten for days. May he come in and rest for a while?"
From the other side of the curtain, a weak voice responded, "It’s cold outside. Let him in."
Yan Dan turned and offered a gentle smile. "Please come in." She lifted the boat curtain, allowing Hu Man to enter. With his keen eyesight, Hu Man immediately noted that the delicate, white hands visible were graceful and uncalloused, clearly belonging to someone unaccustomed to hard labor.
Inside the cabin, a young, handsome man lay propped up on a cushion, wrapped in a blanket. His face was pale with a faint pink hue on his cheeks, and he greeted Hu Man with a weak bow. "Please, make yourself comfortable. I am quite ill and won’t be able to rise to greet you. I hope you will forgive my impoliteness."
Hu Man, though inwardly pleased, maintained a neutral expression. "You are too kind, sir." He was fatigued and would likely need a couple of days to recover. However, with only a frail girl and a seriously ill young man aboard, he knew he could easily overpower them once he had eaten and rested.
Yan Dan brought a cushion for Hu Man to sit on and then tended to a steaming casserole in the corner. The rich aroma made Hu Man’s hunger more acute, but he managed to hold his patience. "What brings you two to this remote area? The region is quite unstable with numerous bandit strongholds nearby. It seems rather dangerous."
The young man straightened up, his demeanor both elegant and refined. "The snow scenery here is truly breathtaking. I rented this boat to enjoy the view for a few days. I’ve encountered various types of bandits before, but I appreciate your concern. We plan to leave after tonight."
Hu Man’s gaze fell on the exquisite white jade hairpin holding the young man’s hair. Its translucent, warm luster indicated its significant value. Given this, he surmised that the young man must be a wealthy scholar, perhaps here to compose poetry and immerse himself in the winter landscape.
Despite his inner skepticism, he feigned admiration and said, "Such a breathtaking snow scene is truly fitting for a gentleman like yourself. I regret not knowing your name, but I assure you, once I’ve escaped this danger, I will offer longevity tablets in your honor."
As he spoke, Yan Dan couldn't help but laugh, though she quickly stifled her amusement when she noticed her companion's gaze. With a playful gesture, she touched her lips with her index finger, her demeanor a blend of mischief and decorum. The young man, turning his attention to Hu Man, replied with a hint of detachment, "I am Yu Mo. You need not remember it."
Hu Man repeated Yu Mo's name to himself, ensuring it was unfamiliar. Outside, the sunset had vanished, and twilight deepened as the cold wind howled. Inside the cabin, the brazier crackled warmly, creating a cozy haven against the biting chill.
Yan Dan wrapped two pieces of wet linen around her hands, then carried the steaming casserole to the low table. The rich aroma of the fish soup filled the air. The soup, a milky white with a layer of grease, had been simmering for some time, with the fish appearing tender and fatty.
Hu Man's hunger was piqued, and he swallowed hard. Yan Dan ladled a generous portion of the soup into a bowl and placed it before him with a courteous "Please enjoy." She then served Yu Mo, carefully blowing on the hot soup to cool it down.
Hu Man consumed the bowl of soup eagerly, ignoring the fish bones and savoring the meal with gusto. As the warmth and sustenance filled his stomach, he exhaled a contented sigh, no longer feeling the pangs of hunger.
But Yu Mo couldn’t manage a single bite. Yan Dan carefully spooned out a small amount of fish soup, blowing on it to cool it down before bringing it to his lips. Before he could swallow, a hearty cough caused him to spill the soup. Yan Dan’s face showed a hint of panic as she gently patted her master's back, murmuring softly, “If you’re not hungry, don’t force yourself. Just let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll prepare more.”
Yu Mo nodded weakly, leaning back on his cushion in silence.
Yan Dan then served Hu Man another bowl of soup, whispering, “My master's health isn’t great.”
Hu Man accepted the bowl and replied, “He’ll recover with some rest. This kind of hospitality is rare and valuable.” His thoughts turned, and he decided that the ill young man should not stay, but the charming and skilled Yan Dan, with her gentle nature and cooking talent, would be an excellent addition as a concubine.
After the meal, Hu Man proposed, “Since I’ve enjoyed your hospitality, I’d like to offer something in return. How about a story?”
Yan Dan smiled warmly, “I’d love to hear a story.” Yu Mo, wrapped in a blanket, remained quiet.
Hu Man began with a well-known tale from the martial arts world, intending to gauge their reaction. “This story is from Qingshi Town. A poor boy, unable to afford a proper burial for his father, had to bury him in a mass grave. Concerned that wild dogs might disturb the body, he dug a hole with a shovel. As he dug, he discovered something shiny in the soil. Can you guess what it was?” Hu Man paused for effect, while Yan Dan shook her head, intrigued. “It was a flattened gold cup,” he continued. “The boy then uncovered several butterfly-shaped jade bi. Although he had never seen anything so valuable, he recognized that the jade could be exchanged for a fortune in silver.
He had never encountered anything so valuable before, but even someone unfamiliar with jade could tell that it was worth a considerable amount of silver. He hurried home with the treasures, leaving his father's body behind. The news of his find quickly spread through the town and beyond. Many came to investigate, but were stunned by what they found when they pushed open the door. “Can you guess what happened next?”
Yan Dan shook her head, puzzled. “I can’t guess.”
Hu Man slapped the table with a dramatic flair, the movement casting a flickering light: “The poor boy was found dead in his own home, his eyes wide with terror, his face purple. His body had begun to decay, covered in worms, yet he clutched the treasures he had unearthed. Those who took the jade disc from his hand soon met the same fate. It was as if a curse had been placed upon it.”
Yan Dan’s face paled, and even Yu Mo, who had been reclining, opened his eyes in surprise.
“It seemed like a plague,” Hu Man continued. “Anyone who touched the jade faced a grisly end. Eventually, a group of skilled individuals came to Qingshi Town. They investigated the ancient tomb from which the treasures had come and discovered a coffin within. The coffin was exquisitely crafted from fine wood and inlaid with gold and silver, indicating its immense value. The funerary objects inside were even more precious.”
“The group pried open the coffin and discovered a woman inside. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and astonishingly, she was still alive.” Hu Man’s voice wavered slightly as he recounted the tale. “The woman suddenly sprang to life, thrusting her finger into the leader’s heart and extracting it, leaving him gasping in terror and dying without a chance to resist. The rest of the group fled in panic. When they later counted their numbers, they found a few missing, but none were brave enough to return to the mass grave.”
Yan Dan, visibly shaken, moved closer to Yu Mo. He gently patted her shoulder and reassured her in a scholarly tone: “The world is bright and clear; there are no ghosts. Such stories often become more distorted with each telling. Don’t let them trouble you.”
Hu Man merely smiled, choosing not to challenge Yu Mo’s calming words.
Moments later, Yan Dan exclaimed, “Oh, I forgot to bring in the clothes drying outside!” She quickly stood up and headed to the stern. Hu Man watched her with a smirk, finding her absent-mindedness endearing.
Yu Mo lay still, his eyes closed. Hu Man seized the opportunity, discreetly drawing a dagger from his sleeve and approaching Yu Mo’s side.
The brazier in the corner cast a warm glow, making the young man’s resting face appear even more striking. Suddenly, Hu Man lunged forward, clamping his hand over Yu Mo’s mouth while raising the dagger high. Yu Mo’s lashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes, sensing the imminent danger.
As dawn broke, the thin snow on the riverbank began to melt into droplets.
On the Lanxi River, a few pieces of thin ice drifted by as boats moved northward downstream. At the bow of one boat, a young and handsome man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the retreating mountains. His eyes were red when he spoke: “Are you ready? We’re nearing the shore.”
The boat curtain lifted, and a woman in light green emerged, carrying a wooden tray laden with various items. “I’m coming, don’t rush me,” she said, bending down and tossing everything into the river. The tray floated away, while the dagger sank with a splash. Only a set of soiled men’s clothes and a purple sand pot, filled with muddy leaves, remained afloat.
"That man seems to be starving, even eating the leaves and mud with surprising relish." Yan Dan smiled as she glanced at the young man beside her.
"You know exactly what it is, yet you still dare to feed it to me. You’re growing bolder by the day." He closed his eyes momentarily, and when he opened them again, his gaze was intense but not menacing. "I see you’re restless once more," he added with a smile, his tone light and teasing.
Yan Dan's smile remained gentle. "That mortal had sinister intentions and was covered in blood. How could you possibly eat such a tainted spirit? Leaves and mud are far cleaner."
Yu Mo pondered for a moment before nodding. "True, it's not the cleanest. But it's better than nothing. Consuming too pure a spirit might draw divine punishment. Do I think my life is too long?" He narrowed his eyes, a look of satisfaction on his face. "Consider it a daily act of charity. You sacrifice for the greater good—what's there to complain about?"
Yan Dan was silent for a while before finally commenting, "You spirits are quite shameless."
Yu Mo looked at her with a half-joking smile. "And what’s wrong with that? Besides, fish and lotus are a natural pair. If I’m thick-skinned, so are you." He gestured towards the scene before them: the expansive mountain mist, vultures circling the cliffs, and the highest peak dusted with snow. "We’re almost home."
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