Chapter 18: Lanterns, Lies, and the Black Mask: A Hero's True Legend Unmasked
The day before the Snow Cleansing Festival, Lu City was finally at rest. Citizens, having returned from their desperate refugee flight, were tucked back into their homes. As tradition dictated, the evening was reserved for a magnificent Lantern Festival.
This year’s celebrations were less opulent—the recent threat of war and the hurried return of the populace had left little time for grandeur. Yet, the enthusiasm was unprecedented. A light, desolate snow drifted from the sky, contrasting sharply with the warm glow of red lanterns that now adorned every household. The city felt enchanted, a brief, fragile pocket of beauty against the harsh reality of the borderlands.
Vigilance, however, was a luxury the army could not afford. General Li Shuang led her guards on a final patrol of the city walls. Finding nothing out of place, she descended. The air in the main camp was rich with the scent of roasted meat—several generals were sharing a late-night feast with the soldiers.
Luo Teng, ever the boisterous pragmatist, approached Li Shuang, hoisting a slab of meat larger than her head. "General, we've nowhere to spend our wages, so we pooled our money today for a proper feast! We got the former city guard’s cook to roast this. Tomorrow’s the festival, so tonight we fortify our brothers. Here, I saved the best piece for you."
Li Shuang laughed, a rare, genuine sound. "What, Luo Teng? Do I look like I can out-eat you?"
"Being able to eat well is a blessing!" Luo Teng shot back. "Those pampered ladies eat less than cats and are sickly all the time. Can’t even bear a rough touch. Not you, General. You can take whatever comes your way—a true blessing!"
Qin Lan, standing discreetly behind the General, shot Luo Teng a disapproving look. Too familiar.
Luo Teng ignored her with a dismissive wave. "Here, General." He pushed the platter forward again.
Li Shuang accepted it, her amusement shining in her eyes. "Fine. Eat what you should, but don't let a full stomach dull your senses. Vigilance first."
"Yes, General!"
Li Shuang returned to her tent with the prize. It was perfectly prepared—golden, crispy skin giving way to tender, juicy meat. This cook was indeed skilled; no wonder Li Zhangyi had grown so plump.
After two generous bites, a thought struck her. Jin An. The boy was at a crucial growth age; a little extra meat wouldn’t hurt. She ordered a soldier to fetch him, and while she waited, she meticulously separated the meat from the bone, placing the chunks in a clean bowl.
The soldier returned empty-handed. "General, the boy can't be found again."
Gone to pass information again? she mused. Yet, the camp had been quiet; what major intelligence could he be ferrying now? Perhaps he’s just reporting on my dinner, she thought wryly. She waved the soldier away.
Just then, the distant roar of the city's Lantern Festival seemed to reach a fever pitch. Li Shuang glanced outside her tent.
Qin Lan, ever observant, caught the flicker of interest in her General's eyes. Rarely did Li Shuang show interest in such frivolous things. "General," Qin Lan said, her lips curving slightly, "it's the Lu City Lantern Festival. There’s nothing urgent here. You've been too tense. Why not take a short walk to relax?"
The suggestion took hold in Li Shuang’s heart. "The camp…"
Qin Lan’s smile deepened, a comforting reassurance. "With me here, General, you don't need to worry."
"Very well." Li Shuang stood up. "I will go for a brief walk and return." Before leaving, she ordered the remaining roasted delicacy to be sent to the guard camp. A rare northern treat like that should not go to waste.
To keep a low profile, she took only one personal guard. Qin Lan assigned Ji Ran, an imposing figure—tall and broad-shouldered—to accompany her. His mere presence would clear a path through the festival crowds.
The Legend of the Black Mask
The Lu City Lantern Festival, which led into the Snow Cleansing Festival, was the year's largest market. The streets were vibrant, chaotic, and impossibly crowded as everyone stocked up for the coming months.
Ji Ran's massive frame did its job; people instinctively gave way, allowing Li Shuang to move smoothly through the throng.
She was simply absorbing the rare, festive atmosphere when her gaze snagged on a small, unassuming stall. It was selling masks—specifically, uniform black half-masks. They were jarringly similar to the one worn by the mysterious man. Li Shuang stopped dead.
"Vendor," she picked one up and addressed the stall owner, "I haven't seen these sold before. Why the sudden abundance? Is this a new border tribe's custom?"
"Oh, customer, you don't know?" The vendor had just finished selling a mask to a woman whose child immediately put it on. He collected his money and leaned in conspiratorially. "No tribe, no country! Do you remember the chaos outside the city gates a few days ago? Xi Rong was at our border! Everyone was panicked, running for their lives… until a hero emerged from our Changfeng Camp!"
"A hero from Changfeng Camp?" Li Shuang glanced at Ji Ran, who looked equally bewildered.
"Yes! The hero of Changfeng Camp! They say he was mighty and strong, personally rescuing General Li Shuang from the heat of battle! You know General Li Shuang? The female warrior, the commander! Hey, she's quite formidable herself—"
Li Shuang cut him off. "Tell me about the hero."
"Ah, right. This hero saved General Li Shuang, then, from a hundred li away, he killed that traitor Li Zhangyi with his bare hands! Finally, the hero charged alone into the Xi Rong army and, with two swift moves, chopped off the Xi Rong general’s head! Then, using mystical powers to cover great distances in an instant, he returned to the battlefield and threw down the head, frightening the hundred-thousand-strong army into retreating thirty li!"
The vendor told the tale with practiced animation, and a crowd had already gathered.
Ji Ran coughed, leaning down to whisper in Li Shuang’s ear. "General... is that... how it happened?" Having been deep in the fighting, he and the personal guards knew the least about the viral battlefield gossip.
Li Shuang held back a smile. "The order's a bit wrong, and the description's a bit exaggerated… but that's roughly the truth."
Mystical distance-crossing powers. It had quickly devolved into a tale of sorcery. Li Shuang wasn't sure whether to be annoyed or flattered.
But Ji Ran's eyes were wide with genuine amazement.
The vendor continued his passionate sermon: "And that's not all! The hero later beheaded two more generals chosen by Xi Rong! Three major heads in total! And then, on that final day, he single-handedly entered the enemy camp and set it ablaze, sending those Xi Rong wolves running with their tails between their legs!"
"Bravo!" "Excellent!" The crowd burst into applause.
Li Shuang just listened. ...
"And yet such a hero, with such magnificent martial arts! Such a patriotic defender! He didn't even leave behind a name! The only thing anyone remembers is the black half-mask he wore on his face, just like…" The vendor picked one up. "This one!"
"I’ll take one!" Someone immediately tossed money down.
The rush was immediate. Soon, everyone who had gathered was buying the black masks, and the vendor struggled to count his money fast enough. Li Shuang was gradually pushed to the side.
She didn’t mind. Quietly, she pulled a mask from a corner, examined it, and subtly flicked a piece of silver directly into the money pouch hanging at the vendor's waist.
Li Shuang took the mask and stepped away, pulling it on.
Ji Ran, startled, asked, "General, what did you buy that for?"
"I noticed someone’s been wearing his for a while," she said, her voice slightly muffled behind the cloth. "Thought I’d give him a new one next time."
Ji Ran paused. "General… by 'someone,' do you mean... that mysterious person with the black mask?"
Li Shuang offered a small, mysterious smile. She caught a slight movement in the shadows at the edge of the crowd—a sudden shift in the tree's shadow, though there was no wind. She understood, but did not point it out.
She turned to Ji Ran. "How do I look?"
Ji Ran immediately snapped to attention and saluted, his voice booming. "General looks imposing no matter what!"
His loud voice caused several nearby heads to turn. Before Li Shuang could reprimand him, a soft, feminine voice called out, "Brother Ji?"
Li Shuang turned toward the sound. An adorable young woman with shallow dimples stood there, a gentle beauty rare among the tough frontier women.
Ji Ran turned and smiled. "Oh, Miss Lu."
Miss Lu’s gaze quickly swept over Li Shuang, who then asked, "You know my guard?"
"Guard?" She realized suddenly. "Ah! You’re..." She looked around and lowered her voice. "General Li."
Li Shuang gave a polite smile. "Pleased to meet you."
"I wouldn’t dare… I... I just heard Brother Ji’s voice and wanted to say hello. I’m sorry for disturbing you, General..." She kept her head lowered, clearly embarrassed.
Ji Ran quickly explained. "She’s from the Lu family pharmacy in town. When Jin An was sick, I bought medicine from their shop. And during the chaos, Master Lu refused to leave Lu City, saying if there were wounded soldiers, they could use their medicine. Truly admirable."
Li Shuang nodded. Noticing Miss Lu's blushing cheeks, she smiled knowingly. "Indeed admirable. Miss Lu must be an excellent young lady. You two chat. I'll go look at the lanterns nearby."
As Li Shuang turned to leave, Miss Lu’s eyes were full of starlight and gratitude, but Ji Ran immediately interjected: "That won't do! Deputy Commander Qin specifically ordered me to accompany you, General. I won't leave your side for a moment, sworn to protect you with my life."
Ji Ran looked at Li Shuang with stubborn, utter determination. She was momentarily speechless.
Seeing Miss Lu’s crestfallen expression, a small, mischievous plan formed in Li Shuang’s mind. "Very well. In that case, Miss Lu, might I trouble you for a favor? I'm not familiar with the Lantern Festival—would you mind accompanying us and explaining things?"
The young girl naturally agreed immediately, her face lighting up.
Li Shuang walked ahead, deliberately creating a generous space between herself and the two behind her. She knew her guards well: all hopeless when it came to marriage. She couldn't very well have her subordinates remain single along with her. If she could play matchmaker, why not?
Along the way, Li Shuang walked and observed, listening to Miss Lu's occasional explanations. "This snack is a Lu City specialty. Have you and Brother Ji tried it, General? If not, I could make some for you both next time."
Li Shuang's response was not important—a vague nod sufficed. But Ji Ran seriously replied: "The General can't eat food from outside the military camp. It might be poisoned."
"..."
Li Shuang turned back, giving Ji Ran a look of pure, helpless exasperation. He caught her gaze and completely missed the point. She could only look sympathetically at the young girl, who had fallen utterly silent, looking pitiful.
Her guards... no wonder they couldn't find wives.
Just then, the despondent young lady suddenly stumbled, falling forward. Ji Ran’s reaction was lightning-fast. He caught her with one arm—an arm strong enough to lift ten maidens. His catch was perfect, and Li Shuang inwardly cheered.
She discreetly nudged a small stone on the path with her boot, sending it to tap the girl’s ankle. Miss Lu let out a small cry of pain.
Li Shuang immediately asked, "Did you twist it?"
Miss Lu started to say "No…" but looking up through the black mask at Li Shuang’s highly meaningful, compelling gaze, she proved herself cleverer than Ji Ran and changed it to: "Not... too serious."
Ji Ran frowned. "You twisted it?" He started to crouch down.
Li Shuang stopped him with a firm voice. "What are you doing? She's a proper young lady—you can’t take off her shoes in the street! Her family runs a pharmacy, they'll know how to treat a minor sprain. Take her home now, let her family tend to it."
"Yes," Ji Ran agreed, supporting Miss Lu. But then he remembered: "But General, you..."
"I'll wait right here for you. These are just common citizens. What could possibly happen?"
Ji Ran considered it, looked at the injured Miss Lu, and finally agreed.
Watching him carry Miss Lu away, Li Shuang smiled and walked forward a few steps, letting the snow dust the ground around her.
Then, with a sudden "Bang!" fireworks erupted in the center of Lu City.
Li Shuang looked up, but instead of the dazzling lights, her gaze fell on someone standing before her.
The fireworks burst behind him, turning him into a silhouette—a figure of ethereal beauty, like a legend stepping out of an illusion made real.
Each of his appearances was as mysterious as it was perfectly timed.
He wore a black mask, identical to the one she was wearing. Through the identical masks, their eyes met, reflecting their masked selves in each other's gaze.
Li Shuang smiled, the simple movement shifting the fabric on her face. "Hero, have you been well?"
"I have." Seeing her smile, his eyes curved slightly too, a flash of warmth she knew was meant just for her. "Are you happy to see me?"
Happy? Perhaps... a little.
Knowing he was unharmed, seeing him alive and well, she probably was a little happy... maybe.
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