Reeds grow thick, white dew turns to frost.
The solar term of White Dew had arrived, painting the world in autumn's first breath. Over a hundred miles from Wangzhou City lay Huaquan, a town that defied its humble designation. Merchants called it the Jiangnan of the Great Wall—a jewel strung along the main artery to Guanxi. Though technically a town, its position on the trade route had swelled its population beyond that of many prefectural capitals, its prosperity matching cities of far greater renown.
Elsewhere in the northwest, autumn had begun its work of dismantling summer's glory. Tung trees shed their leaves in quiet surrender. But Huaquan, blessed with countless hot springs and rich earth energy, remained lush and verdant, clinging to summer's warmth like a lover unwilling to let go.
The town boasted a particular attraction that drew merchants from across the empire: Zhilu Hall, the finest brothel and pleasure house on the entire Guanxi Road. But this was no ordinary establishment. Zhilu Hall employed male courtesans—beautiful young men of fourteen or fifteen who possessed both aesthetic grace and cultivated talents. These youths could recite poetry alongside their guests, compose elegant couplets, and solve intricate riddles. Or, if a patron preferred earthier pleasures, they could drink prodigiously, play dice and darts, and perform every trick imaginable with masterful skill.
Tonight, Zhilu Hall throbbed with activity. The main entertainment hall overflowed with banquet tables, yet an unusual silence had descended. Guests sat motionless, not even daring to fan themselves despite the lingering heat. In the hall's center stood a circular ebony platform—no more than a foot high, perhaps ten feet in diameter, draped with crimson carpet.
Upon this stage sat A Yue, Zhilu Hall's most celebrated courtesan.
He was hauntingly beautiful, cradling a pipa in his arms, his fingers dancing across the strings as he reached the song's crucial passage. His voice rose, clear and high as water bursting from a silver vase:
"The journey is hard... Yellow earth chokes my throat, dust fills my face. I walk a hundred miles but cannot see a well, heading for the sun and sleeping in the dew. The journey is hard, no bell in front, no sight behind. I've taken the wrong path, and countless bones have withered along the way. The journey is hard, please do not walk. Drink this wine and soothe the golden crow. Love in the world is parting. The Milky Way rests silently among the flowers..."
His tempo slowed, each note growing clearer and more refined, like a mountain stream murmuring over ancient stones. With the final word—rest—his voice faded and faded, dissolving into the pipa's lingering resonance until sound and silence became indistinguishable.
The hall's long windows stood open to the evening. Tuberose and jasmine bloomed in the courtyard beyond, their fragrance flooding the air with such intensity it seemed the flowers themselves beckoned guests to rest among their petals. The song's echo hung in the stillness, suspended in time.
The crowd sat spellbound, as though they'd drunk water made from melted snow. The heat of Huaquan Town's endless summer faded, replaced by something transcendent.
Then the spell broke. The audience erupted in roars and cheers.
One merchant, overcome with enthusiasm, opened a box filled with gold. He grabbed a generous handful of gleaming particles and hurled them toward the stage. The gold rained down through the lamplight like a shower of stars.
A Yue rose calmly through the golden cascade. He bowed with unhurried grace, then withdrew from the hall under escort, not even glancing at the fortune scattered across the floor.
Four attendants rushed to the stage with practiced efficiency. They gathered the red carpet's corners, rolled it up complete with its golden harvest, and retreated to the side to count and weigh the haul. When they finished, they announced in unison the weight of the gold, asked for the patron's name, and bowed deeply.
"We thank Pi Silang for A Yue's gift!"
The room exploded in applause. Another handsome attendant approached, presenting Pi Silang with a tuberose bud—an invitation to the back hall for tea.
Pi Silang, beaming with self-satisfied pride, casually tucked the flower into his hair and strode toward the back hall under the envious gazes of everyone present.
In the southwest corner of the hall, several merchants watched Pi Silang's triumphant departure with interest.
"This Pi Si has always been henpecked," one merchant observed, "strictly controlled by his wife. He doesn't have much money, so how is he suddenly so extravagant?"
Another merchant curled his lips knowingly. "How would you know? Pi Silang is a relative of General Guo of Wangzhou. He got himself a written certificate and is responsible for escorting military supplies to Wangzhou. Hasn't he become rich from it?"
The first merchant lowered his voice. "What written certificate? It's all chaos now. I heard that the seventeenth grandson of the Emperor led the Zhenxi Army and trapped and killed thirty thousand of Governor Sun's troops in Libo..."
"Shh!" Another merchant made urgent silencing gestures, glancing around nervously before dropping his voice to barely a whisper. "Whether this grandson is the Emperor's grandson or not—is that something we can discuss? Let's drink and play."
The other merchants understood immediately. They raised their voices, made a tremendous racket with finger-guessing games, and the atmosphere transformed into apparent merriment.
They never imagined that the seventeenth-born grandson they'd just mentioned—Li Yi himself—was actually hidden in Zhilu Hall's backyard at that very moment.
Li Yi hung upside down from the eaves, perfectly still in the deepening dusk. With practiced fluidity, he rolled over and crouched on the tiles. Xie Chang'er leaned against the rooftop to listen, then nodded confirmation. The two had served together in the army so long that words had become unnecessary—a single gesture conveyed entire strategies.
After a series of leaps and controlled falls, Li Yi landed light as an autumn leaf on a rooftop deep in the backyard. Xie Chang'er crouched on the high ridge, eyes and ears alert for any disturbance.
Li Yi, balanced between the roof slats, peered down. Lights had already been lit in the rooms below. Dim yellow candlelight filtered through window screens onto the courtyard's mirror-polished blue brick floor, creating the illusion of gold powder scattered across jade, or osmanthus sugar dusted on green cake.
He was about to slip down when Xie Chang'er's fist clenched in warning. Someone was entering or leaving the house below. Li Yi settled in to wait with patient discipline.
The Zhenxi Army had been desperately short of provisions for months. Li Yi had discussed with Pei Yuan the necessity of obtaining grain from Wangzhou, but the city's fortifications made a direct assault suicidal with their limited forces. They'd also dismissed robbing grain transports en route—too likely to alert Wangzhou's defenders and provoke retaliation.
So Li Yi had chosen a more subtle approach: keeping close surveillance on Pi Silang, who'd been assigned to transport provisions, waiting to discover his methods and vulnerabilities.
What Li Yi had not expected was that Pi Silang would make his first stop at Zhilu Hall's brothel upon entering Huaquan Town.
The rooms below belonged to A Yue, the celebrated courtesan. He was naturally aloof, disliking the forced sociability his profession demanded. He'd excused himself to change clothes and refused to see guests for an extended period.
Manager Qiu of Zhilu Hall entered, his voice taking on a pleading tone. "If Pi Silang were just an ordinary merchant, I wouldn't make things difficult for you. But I just heard him say he's transporting rations for General Sun's anti-rebel forces. He's a legitimate rations transport officer. Regardless of your preferences, go and have tea with him."
A Yue sat at his table, tuning his pipa with downcast eyes. "If it were just an ordinary man, A Lang might be afraid of him, but I'm not."
Manager Qiu, sensing an opportunity, grinned slyly. "Good boy, I'm not as brave as you. Since you don't want to see him, I'll just turn him down." He turned and departed.
A Yue lowered his brows and casually tuned his pipa, producing intermittent twang, twang sounds.
The broken melody drifted up to Li Yi. He watched Pi Silang enter through the back door, then nimbly climbed through an open window. A low curtain hung inside. He lifted it carefully, revealing a pool beyond.
Li Yi recognized this immediately—hot spring water flowed here from outside the city through hidden canals, then distributed throughout the city's various bathhouses. Many wealthy families maintained private hot spring baths, and the lavish Zhilu Hall was no exception. The courtesan A Yue, clearly considered a valuable asset, had been allocated this courtyard with its luxurious amenities.
Thick steam rose from the pool. As darkness fell, A Yue's servants had scattered fragrant flowers across the water's surface. The flowers floated in the rising steam, their intoxicating perfume filling the air. Zhilu Hall was renowned for its extravagance—the pool's surface was so densely covered with blossoms that the water itself became invisible beneath them.
Li Yi hid behind the curtains, surveying the space and finding no one present. His mind raced through possibilities until he heard the soft sound of approaching footsteps—a servant, moving quietly, leading Pi Silang inside.
The servant whispered, "Master Qiu, please wait here, young sir." He drew aside the curtains and headed toward the front room.
Pi Silang, overcome with joy, collapsed onto a soft couch beside the pool. The fragrant flowers filling the water seemed to blossom inside his own chest. The breeze set the curtains dancing. Thinking of the intimate moments he would soon share with A Yue, he could no longer contain his excitement. He sprawled across the couch, swinging his legs and humming a tuneless little song.
Li Yi approached the couch silently from behind the curtains, each step measured and soundless. He could hear Pi Silang's erratic humming and was preparing to knock him unconscious with one clean blow when several short bird calls echoed from the window—Xie Chang'er's warning signal. Then came commotion, multiple sets of hurried footsteps converging on the bathhouse from different directions. Behind the house, another group rushed toward the same location.
This sudden pincer movement forced Li Yi to adapt instantly. Without hesitation, he slid silently along the pool's edge into the water.
Pi Silang, perched on the couch, heard only a faint disturbance. He turned to see the fragrant flowers swaying slightly on the water's surface. The wind through the curtains seemed to be stirring them.
Li Yi held his breath underwater. Suddenly he heard another subtle sound, like wind rustling curtains, and understood immediately—someone else had the same idea. He was an excellent swimmer. Opening his eyes in the warm water, he saw clearly: on the opposite side of the hot spring, another person was quietly and slowly sinking into the depths.
The hot spring was not large. At the bottom, the two figures were separated by mere feet.
The other person possessed exceptional hearing and sight even underwater. They looked at each other, both holding their breath. Li Yi slowly extended a finger to his lips, signaling silence. The figure nodded slightly in apparent agreement. The two remained submerged while, through the curtain of fragrant flowers floating above, a quarrel erupted at the surface.
Manager Qiu had accepted a substantial bribe from Pi Silang and secretly allowed him into the back room. He hadn't expected A Yue to discover the deception. A Yue immediately flew into a rage, calling servants to drive Pi Silang out. Pi Silang, overjoyed at finally seeing A Yue in person, felt as though treasure had fallen from heaven. He refused to leave, pestering relentlessly. Even Manager Qiu brought reinforcements to try persuading him. Suddenly another commotion erupted as a captain and his soldiers barged in, scolding Pi Silang for abandoning his military duties.
The clamor by the poolside intensified. Even the two skilled swimmers at the bottom found their situation increasingly difficult to endure. Li Yi felt his heart pounding against his ribs, his lungs beginning to burn. He knew he was nearing his limit.
The other figure showed similar distress, fine bubbles forming around their lips. Seeing Li Yi looking over, they pointed upward, signaling Li Yi should surface first.
Li Yi refused with a slow gesture of invitation—after you.
Without hesitation, the figure's hand flipped, producing a short, sharp blade that lunged at Li Yi underwater. The two exchanged several silent, deadly moves at the pool's bottom in the span of heartbeats. Li Yi recognized immediately that this opponent possessed a sharp mind, ruthless efficiency, and formidable skill—one of the most dangerous adversaries he'd encountered.
After a moment, Li Yi finally found an opening. He grabbed the figure's arm and thrust powerfully upward, attempting to force them to surface. But his opponent, with remarkable quick thinking, used Li Yi's grip as leverage, pushing down while twisting, sending Li Yi upward instead.
The two remained locked in stalemate, both holding their breath at the absolute limit, chests threatening to explode. Li Yi made a decisive choice. He sank downward but hooked his arm around the figure's waist, giving a powerful upward thrust. His opponent struggled and clung to Li Yi, forcing them both toward the surface together.
They emerged simultaneously, countless fragrant flowers swaying in the ripples. Through the misty water droplets, Li Yi saw the figure's eyes clearly for the first time—gleaming like cold stars, their gaze darting across his face with keen intelligence. Several petals, caught in falling water, landed at the figure's temples, making the jawline appear carved from white jade.
This person of exceptional intelligence and ruthlessness glanced at Li Yi, then underwater flicked their wrist again, grasping something sharp between their fingertips, attempting to stab him.
The crowd poolside stood frozen in shock at the sudden emergence of two figures from beneath the flowers.
Li Yi reached out underwater and grasped the figure's wrist, then pulled them close—appearing affectionate but actually hostile. He pressed his dagger against their slender waist.
With this pinching and pulling, all the underwater ferocity remained concealed by the dense layer of fragrant flowers huddled on the surface. Pi Silang, watching the two appear so intimate, couldn't contain his anguish.
"A Yue! You... you actually hid men in the room, two men at that..." His words broke into a sob.
Li Yi, quick to react, forcefully yanked the figure into his embrace. The underwater dagger remained pressed against their waist as he stammered an explanation. "No, no! You misunderstood! We were just desperate... that's why... that's why..." He feigned shyness and awkwardness.
Everyone poolside saw them emerge drenched from the depths, pressed together intimately, faces flushed. They assumed the flush came from passion rather than oxygen deprivation. In a place dedicated to carnal pleasures, they naturally concluded the pair had been engaging in inappropriate activities and were caught by companions.
Ah Yue, naturally chaste despite his profession, felt disgust flood through him. He snarled, "Shameless! Get out of my house!" Pointing at Pi Silang, he ordered his attendants, "Kick him out! Send for someone to change the water in the pool."
Pi Silang was horrified, refusing to leave, tugging at A Yue's sleeve and pleading desperately. The soldiers, led by their captain, insisted on removing Pi Silang immediately. Despite Manager Qiu's frantic attempts at mediation, they remained adamant.
Taking advantage of the poolside chaos, Li Yi dragged his captive from the water. With his hand tucked into his sleeve, dagger still pressed against their waist in a gesture that appeared affectionate, he guided them toward the back door.
By the time Li Yi had maneuvered the figure out of the house, through the courtyard, and then through two additional secluded courtyards, darkness had fully descended. Li Yi was preparing to signal Xie Chang'er when the captive suddenly wrenched their hand free.
Li Yi dodged as several imperceptible flashes of cold light grazed his neck. He drew his dagger and deflected them, hearing a series of subtle metallic clinks. The figure had been concealing tiny needles between their fingertips.
Li Yi couldn't help but sneer. "You want to hurt me immediately? Who are you?"
Seeing the attack miss, the figure remained silent but immediately produced a golden blade from their sleeve, continuing the assault. Li Yi shouted, "This is Qingya Bistro. What are you, a woman, doing in Zhilu Hall?"
The figure replied coldly, "Who said I'm a woman?"
Li Yi attacked her ankle, shouting, "Slender feet!"
She swung her knife to block. Before the move became old, Li Yi pressed his advantage, attacking her waist and shouting, "Wasp waist!"
The woman was extraordinarily quick, avoiding Li Yi's strike. She swung her blade in retaliation, nearly severing his hand. Li Yi twisted his wrist and stabbed toward her shoulder, shouting, "Cut shoulder!"
She raised her golden blade to block his dagger. Li Yi, frustrated by her ruthless techniques, sank his blade. The tip pierced her clothing with a slight ding sound—as though it had struck gold jewelry beneath. Just as it was about to penetrate flesh, she dodged and covered her shoulder and neck where the blade had torn her garments.
Li Yi sneered. "You still claim you're not a woman?"
The woman's eyebrows arched slightly. She responded with another barrage of fine needles. Li Yi, knowing they must be poisoned, dodged quickly. Just then, a burly man in blue rushed into the courtyard, raising his arm and unleashing a single bolt at Li Yi.
The projectile came with incredible velocity, clearly fired from a powerful crossbow mechanism. Li Yi swung his blade to deflect it, but the impact left his wrist numb. The blue-clad man remained silent, then raised his arm again, firing in rapid succession. He had a small crossbow device strapped to his forearm.
Li Yi, recognizing formidable opposition, dodged repeatedly. The disguised woman seized the opportunity, thrusting her golden blade toward Li Yi's chest. As Li Yi turned, her thrust found only air. With a deft twist, her left hand snatched a silk ribbon tucked into Li Yi's belt.
Startled, Li Yi lunged for the woman's shoulder, shouting, "Give it back!"
The disguised woman smiled—radiant as the rising sun, brilliant as clouds—but retreated several steps. The blue-clad man unleashed a barrage of crossbow bolts with a series of sharp cracks. As Li Yi dodged and blocked, Xie Chang'er, knife in hand, hurled himself over the wall. Several more blue-clad fighters, pursuing him, streamed into the courtyard, firing crossbows at both men.
They were clearly accomplices of the disguised woman.
Seeing this, Li Yi sneered and took the long sword from Xie Chang'er, preparing to engage fully. However, the disguised woman made a subtle gesture, and the blue-clothed fighters ceased their assault, slowly retreating around her in protective formation.
Li Yi recognized that the enemy had superior numbers and powerful crossbows. He chose not to pursue for the moment.
Xie Chang'er listened intently, then said to Li Yi, "This group has reinforcements outside. They're leaving by carriage."
Li Yi nodded, glancing back toward A Yue's courtyard. In the distance, bright lights blazed and voices continued their argument. Despite the fierce combat, they'd made so little noise that no one had been alerted.
Li Yi said, "Let's return first."
Their chosen lodging in Huaquan Town was originally a merchant's house. The main road in front offered a wide thoroughfare, while east and west corner gates in the back provided convenient entry and exit. Because the surrounding area consisted entirely of merchant houses, the neighborhood remained pleasantly quiet.
Pei Yuan and the others had disguised themselves, waiting outside Zhilu Hall. Old Bao, injured in recent action, had remained inside. He'd already prepared soup and noodles, serving them immediately upon the others' return.
They finished their meal in silence before discussing the night's events at Zhilu Hall. Li Yi, known for his combination of boldness and caution, produced an arrow shot by the blue-clad man from beneath his sleeve and handed it to Pei Yuan for examination.
Pei Yuan studied the projectile carefully. "I've seen this small, fine steel crossbow before. It was worn by personal guards of Cui Yi's Dingsheng Army when my father returned to the capital to meet the Emperor. My father observed it then and praised its exquisite craftsmanship. Watching from the side, I also thought it remarkably well-crafted."
Li Yi, remembering the disguised woman, nodded. "It must have been someone from the Cui family today."
Reflecting on the events in Zhilu Hall, it became increasingly clear that this woman was a leader within the Cui family forces. This first encounter had revealed her stealthy movements, meticulous planning, cunning tactics, and ruthless execution.
Li Yi added, "Since she's from the Cui family, she's most likely after Pi Silang and the provisions as well."
Pei Yuan remained silent, contemplating the implications. Though Cui Yi nominally held the position of Jiedushi of Lulong, he effectively controlled Youzhou along with Yingzhou and other prefectures further north. These territories were the ancestral strongholds of the Cui family's Dingsheng Army—thousands of miles of fertile land with abundant food and fodder.
Since Sun Jing's rebellion, the Cui family had been wavering, evidenced by Cui Lin's reliance on his troops while stationed in Xiangzhou. The Cui family had also been searching for the Crown Prince, whose whereabouts remained unknown after escaping the capital. They clearly refused to submit to the forces rallying behind Li Yi to defend the throne. Their infiltration into Huaquan Town further underscored their ill intentions.
Li Yi, however, stretched languidly and said, "Since the Cui family has taken the initiative, we must respond. I have an idea. Tomorrow morning, we'll go and kidnap Pi Silang openly!"
Pei Yuan's spirits lifted. Li Yi briefly outlined his kidnapping plan, and everyone applauded with enthusiasm.
Pei Yuan smiled. "Shiqi'er's plan is excellent. It conceals our whereabouts while allowing us to capture Pi Silang without causing any disturbance."
The discussion concluded. Night shifts were arranged, and everyone retired to their rooms.
Though Li Yi was the Emperor's grandson, he made no distinctions in the army. The house contained only seven or eight rooms, with three or four men sharing each. Tonight, Li Yi was rooming with Old Bao and Xie Chang'er.
Xie Chang'er took the night duty shift, so Li Yi said to Old Bao, "I'm going out to wash my feet."
Old Bao chuckled. "You're the only one who washes your feet before bed, like a woman." He showed Li Yi the well's location—in the back alley outside the house.
Li Yi left through the corner gate and emerged into a clear, luminous night. The full autumn moon hung overhead, bathing the ground in silver light. In the distance, a faint line of autumn mountains loomed against the sky. Nearby, jagged roofs resembled brushstrokes in an ink painting. Draped in moonlight like gossamer veils, the only sound was autumn insects chirping their lonely songs.
He walked under the moon's gaze until he reached the back alley, where a large willow tree stood beside the well. Moonlight streamed through sparse weeping branches, illuminating the bluestone paving around the well's curb until it appeared freshly washed.
Because of the hot springs' warmth, the water remained pleasant even in the White Dew season. Li Yi cranked the windlass to draw up a bucket. He took a sip and found it incredibly sweet, without the sour mineral taste characteristic of hot springs. He drank several more sips before unbuttoning his clothes and draping them casually over the well's curb. He picked up the wooden bucket and poured it over himself.
In Zhilu Hall, he'd been forced to soak in that fragrant flower pool for an extended period. Whatever perfume had been added to the water—he didn't know the exact blend—but it had been overpowering, as though he were covered in theatrical makeup. Now, after pouring several buckets of clean water over himself, the sweet cloying fragrance finally washed away. He breathed a sigh of relief.
He was about to draw another bucket when he turned his head and suddenly saw a firefly floating in from somewhere, perching on the well's curb. He held his breath and carefully reached out to catch it, but the insect, sensing something, took flight. He laughed softly at his own whimsy.
Suddenly, an almost imperceptible sound came from nearby—like a wildcat treading on fallen leaves.
Li Yi possessed extraordinary alertness. With one hand, he immediately grabbed the clothes draped over the well's curb, unrolled them, and threw them over himself. With his other hand, he drew the dagger from his waist. He pushed off gently from the well's curb, leaped into the air, and lunged straight at the sound's source.
The intruder was hiding in the shadows. Li Yi's strike came fast as lightning. But they were equally agile. Almost simultaneously, several cold projectiles flew from their hand, shooting straight at Li Yi. He spun in mid-air to avoid them, continuing his strike toward the figure's face.
The figure fell back lightly as the projectiles left their hand. Li Yi lowered his wrist and raised his blade's tip. Though the figure avoided the direct stab, the blade struck the jade hairpin in their hair. The hairpin was instantly knocked loose, flipping through the air from the blade's tip.
Li Yi reached out with his left hand to catch the hairpin while his right wrist continued forward. The blade's tip brushed through the figure's waterfall of black hair, and countless fireflies flew up in all directions. The figure's eyes reflected the fireflies in the night—more dazzling than the stars themselves.
Li Yi, holding the jade hairpin in his left hand, had already positioned his blade at the figure's throat when he suddenly paused. Recognizing them by moonlight, he blurted out, "Is that you?"
It was the disguised woman from Zhilu Hall. Her robes were now loose, and though Li Yi's blade pressed against her throat, her cheeks remained radiant as the jade itself, her eyes holding a thin layer of ice. She remained silent, flicking her sleeves and snatching back the hairpin.
In a flash, the two exchanged seven or eight lightning-quick blows. The woman suddenly raised her hand. Li Yi, knowing her capabilities, dodged quickly. Two sharp snaps echoed as crossbow bolts embedded themselves deeply in the well's wooden curb. Their arrowheads shone with faint blue light in the moonlight—clearly poisoned.
Annoyed by her continued ferocity, Li Yi showed no mercy. After several strikes, he feinted at her shoulder. As she turned to parry, he saw an opening and kicked, sending her tumbling toward the well.
The woman's mind raced. The moment she began falling into the well, she suddenly shouted, "I know where the Crown Prince is!"
Startled, Li Yi instinctively reached out to grab her shoulder, intending to pull her back. Just as he grasped her, he felt numbness spread across the back of his hand. He thought, Oh no!
The woman had already seized his wrist. Using the leverage of his own grip, she flipped up like a swallow, escaping the well in one fluid motion.
The numbness on the back of Li Yi's hand spread through his blood vessels with alarming speed, instantly paralyzing half his body. The woman tapped the well's curb with her toes and kicked powerfully, sending Li Yi plummeting into the well with a reverberating thud.
Fortunately, the well was only a few feet deep. He managed to stand without choking on water. However, the well was high with deep, slippery walls—climbing out would be impossible without assistance.
Li Yi raised the back of his hand, examining it in the moonlight filtering through the well's opening. Sure enough, a needle as thin as an ox's hair pierced his skin, evidently dipped in anesthetic.
Just then, the woman leaned over the well's edge and peered down. Their eyes met again.
Li Yi called up, "Are you from the Cui family's Dingsheng Army?"
The woman gave a shrewd smile. "Why should I tell you?"
Li Yi understood by now that the woman had likely already deduced his origins, knowing he must be from the Zhenxi Army. That was why, in her moment of crisis, she'd lied about knowing the Crown Prince's whereabouts, tricking him into reaching out to save her.
They'd met only briefly in Zhilu Hall, yet had clashed twice already. Though a woman, she was incredibly agile and fought on equal terms—a formidable opponent unlike any he'd encountered before.
His thoughts raced, contemplating escape routes, when he heard approaching footsteps.
The woman, evidently aware of the newcomer's presence, vanished from the well's edge in an instant. The footsteps sounded familiar. Sure enough, he heard what sounded like Old Bao's voice calling "Shiqilang" from outside the well.
Perhaps Old Bao, seeing he hadn't returned, had come searching.
Li Yi replied calmly, "I'm in the well."
Old Bao, startled, rushed to the edge and peered down. He quickly lowered a rope. Li Yi discreetly grasped the corner of his clothes, using them as a barrier while carefully removing the fine needle from the back of his hand. Only then did he climb up following the rope.
Old Bao pulled him out. Seeing him soaking wet and disheveled, he asked with curiosity, "You came here to wash your feet, but how did you end up in the well?"
Li Yi remained perfectly composed, smiling easily. "I was trying to save a wild cat, but I got scratched. I couldn't stop myself and fell into the well."
Old Bao mocked him mercilessly. "With your skills, you were tricked into falling into the well by a cat? If word gets back to Lao Lan Pass, it'll be the joke of the century."
Li Yi remained nonchalant. "It's a joke, but I don't know who it was—I was hunting wolves that year but didn't kill any and ended up getting my foot caught in a trap instead."
Old Bao simply chuckled at the deflection.
Li Yi looked around carefully. Only fireflies twinkled by the well's edge, scattering through the autumn night. Willow branches swayed gently in the breeze. There was no trace of the woman anywhere.
If it weren't for the jade hairpin hidden in his sleeve, everything that had just happened might have seemed like a dream.
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