Duan Xu appeared entirely unbothered by the implications of his words. He leaned back indolently in his chair and said, "When I first returned to South City those years ago, Jing Yuan would endlessly speak of 'Third Brother this' and 'Third Brother that,' her praise flowing without cessation—yet none of it concerned me. My sister-in-law claimed she harbored excessive attachment to her brother, but I believe her true attachment lay elsewhere. With you."
Fang Xian Ye raised his hand in warning, his finger pointed directly at Duan Xu. "Duan Shun Xi—what scheme do you concoct now?"
Over years of acquaintance, he had come to recognize Duan Xu's dangerous unpredictability. When Duan Xu abandoned all restraint, Fang Xian Ye believed him capable of revealing his identity publicly, or even orchestrating rebellion itself.
Duan Xu smiled with profound meaning and gently pressed Fang Xian Ye's finger downward. "Should you also harbor affection for my sister, I believe an advantageous union could be arranged."
Fang Xian Ye immediately objected. "What foolishness spills from your mouth? You belong to the Duan family within Minister Du's faction, while I serve Duke Pei. In the world's perception, we are irreconcilable enemies—a necessity for our operations. Should I marry your sister, what would that signify? Moreover, if you never disclosed what transpired in Dai Prefecture seven years ago, she could never accept me. Given her temperament, how could she maintain such secrecy after learning these truths? Are you attempting to orchestrate her destruction?"
Duan Xu observed Fang Xian Ye thoughtfully, then smiled with subtle lightness. "After providing so many objections, you notably omitted one thing: that you don't harbor feelings for her."
Fang Xian Ye fell momentarily silent. He bit his lip and turned away, drinking water to temper his rising frustration.
Remarkably, Duan Xu refrained from pressing his advantage. He lowered his gaze into contemplative silence as Miss Luo Xian began her performance, the pipa singing crisp and clear, her melodious voice humming, "He taught me to release lingering resentment, abandon coquettish anger, renew my spirit, transform my nature, cease longing for flowing water, turn back from the sea of bitterness, and realize early the orchid's cause…" Her gentle tones wound through countless turns, lingering suspended in the perfumed air.
Finally, he spoke softly. "Fang Ji, I have fallen in love with a woman."
Fang Xian Ye's teacup lid touched his cup with a delicate "ding." He regarded Duan Xu with dawning comprehension, observing him for a prolonged moment before responding, "It appears she does not return your affection?"
Duan Xu shook his head, ambiguous in his meaning—whether denying or expressing uncertainty.
"She did not return to South City with you?"
"No. She went home."
This is unlike him, Fang Xian Ye thought with genuine surprise.
Given Duan Xu's customary approach to conquest, he excelled at achieving impossible victories through relentless persistence. Methods never eluded him, and he possessed the least capacity for considering others' sentiments, transforming three parts certainty into ten parts achievement.
Duan Xu sighed profoundly. "She comes from an excellent family and is an only daughter. To be with her would require marrying into her household."
Fang Xian Ye inhaled another mouthful of scalding tea and erupted into violent coughing.
Duan Xu turned to observe him, his eyes containing a trace of elusive amusement. He offered comfort. "Do not concern yourself. She rejected me entirely. In her eyes, not merely the Duan family of South City, but the entirety of the Great Liang Dynasty—indeed, the entire world—means nothing whatsoever."
After a measured pause, Duan Xu asked quietly, "Xian Ye, do you also believe that in this world, no person is indispensable to another's survival, that no one proves necessary to another's existence?"
Fang Xian Ye's eyes flickered with sudden intensity. He sighed lightly, placing his teacup carefully upon the table.
"Yes," he answered.
Duan Xu remained silent momentarily. When he raised his head, his smile had returned, yet something fundamental had shifted. "Perhaps so."
Fang Xian Ye's brow furrowed deeply.
He had long sensed something unusual about Duan Xu's spirit—nothing critically alarming, yet troubling nonetheless. Duan Xu seemed incapable of expressing emotion as ordinary mortals did, as though two divided selves warred within him, perpetually at odds with one another.
"What troubles you?"
"Do not concern yourself. The machinations of court will certainly not suffer from my distraction."
Duan Xu spoke with troubling lightness.
He then performed his rivalry with Fang Xian Ye with remarkable ease, parting in apparent antagonism. The beautiful Luo Xian embellished the narrative as she spread it, and all of South City became increasingly convinced that the two existed as fire and water, manifestations of the factional struggle itself.
Though Young Master Wang held minimal connection to these events—merely adding fuel to existing flames—he somehow felt personally invested and began conducting himself as sworn brother to Duan Xu. Having learned that their fathers intended for Duan Xu to marry his sister, he enthusiastically arranged an introduction. When Duan Xu entered Jade Algae Tower that day, he discovered Young Master Wang waving frantically from the second-floor railing, accompanied by a woman in pink concealing her face behind a round fan.
Duan Xu's brow furrowed slightly, then he smiled broadly, approaching to sit across from Young Master Wang. "Introducing your sister in such a place—are you attempting to embarrass me?"
"Seeking pleasure represents common masculine pursuit. My dear sister, educated and wellborn, would scarcely object to such female companions," Young Master Wang's face displayed complete unconcern. Though his appearance proved passable, years of indulgence in wine and vice had rendered his gaze murky and lecherous.
Duan Xu's attention shifted to the woman beside him. The young lady lowered her round fan, revealing a gentle and delicate countenance with graceful brows and expressive eyes, studying him with evident curiosity.
Duan Xu bowed respectfully. "I am Duan Xu, at your service, Miss."
She returned the bow elegantly. "I am Wang Su Yi. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Young Master."
Young Master Wang, though deficient in many areas, possessed considerable acumen regarding matters romantic. After merely exchanging pleasantries, he departed to mingle with courtesans, leaving Duan Xu and his sister alone, instructing Duan Xu to escort Wang Su Yi homeward.
Wang Su Yi gripped her fan handle nervously, her eyes occasionally stealing glances at Duan Xu. Duan Xu smiled brilliantly, leaning against the window as he observed her. "Do you regret meeting me in this location?"
"No…"
"You disapprove of men frequenting courtesans, don't you?"
Wang Su Yi started, astonished that this peer had perceived her thoughts so quickly. Fortunately, Duan Xu smoothly redirected their conversation to safer territory, discussing South City's scenery and noble family intrigues with gentle superficiality. The topics proved engaging enough, yet Wang Su Yi sensed he displayed minimal genuine interest in knowing her better.
Suddenly, thunder crashed across the heavens, startling Wang Su Yi so violently she nearly overturned her wine cup. Yet in that instant, Duan Xu steadied it. She was quite surprised—she hadn't noticed when he had moved.
Duan Xu smiled gently. "Be cautious."
This represented his warmest smile since arriving, as though recalling something amusing.
Wang Su Yi cleared her throat, glancing somewhat embarrassedly toward the street beyond the railing. "It's raining."
Duan Xu also looked outward. Following that thunder, torrential rain descended from the darkened sky, splashing water droplets a foot high as they struck the stone street tiles. The world became shrouded in mist and vapor. Pedestrians hurriedly unfurled umbrellas; those without covering their heads fled toward shelter. The street displayed sudden chaos as humanity struggled against the deluge.
"Yes, a summer cloudburst…" Duan Xu was speaking when his voice ceased abruptly.
Wang Su Yi turned curiously to observe him and witnessed his smile vanish entirely. He stared intensely at a single point on the street, his expression transformed as if witnessing something impossible. The emotion trembling in his eyes bore no resemblance to the carefree gentleman from moments before.
Before she could inquire, in a single fluid motion, Duan Xu pushed against the table and vaulted over the railing. His robes billowed as he landed upon the first-floor eaves amid shocked exclamations from other diners, then leaped again, using the eaves to cushion his descent before touching ground. In the time required for her to draw breath, Duan Xu's pale blue figure had vanished entirely into the rain-shrouded street.
Wang Su Yi remained frozen, unable to respond. She realized Duan Xu had abandoned the stairs entirely, his gaze fixed on that distant direction as though terrified that blinking might allow something precious to escape. What had he witnessed?
She had never imagined witnessing such unleashed, untamed Duan Xu.
Duan Xu ran with practiced speed through the main street where pedestrians wrestled with umbrellas or sought shelter. Employing the velocity and grace acquired through brutal combat, he navigated the crowd with fluid precision, allowing nothing to impede his passage. Wind-driven rain lashed against the Powangjian sword at his waist, saturating his garments. Water splashed and muddied his boots. People seemed to discuss his behavior, but he heard nothing.
Among countless beings, amidst all surrounding noise, his blank mind contained only a single image: her eyes.
His breathing remained tense until he grasped the hand of a young woman holding a red lotus paper umbrella, spinning her around with sudden urgency.
The young woman's appearance proved unfamiliar—ordinary brows, round eyes, wearing a simple ivory long dress with basic cloud patterns. Her hair hung half-bound with a jade hairpin, the remainder cascading down her back. She resembled the most ordinary commoner girl in South City, standing in the rain with one hand gripping an umbrella, the other holding a candy figurine—an almost comical image.
She frowned, attempting to reclaim her hand, and spoke angrily. "Who are you? What manner of rogue are you!"
Duan Xu's gaze flickered. He stared at her with absolute intensity as water droplets streamed from his hair tips and brow, flowing into his eyes, yet he remained unblinking.
"Have you forgotten me so quickly?"
He displayed a brilliant smile.
"I am Duan Xu, the 'Xu' as in 'conquering wolves at the border,' courtesy name Shun Xi."
After a pause, he pronounced each word with crystalline clarity. "He Si Mu."
The young woman held his gaze impassively for a moment, then gradually relaxed her expression. She exhaled deeply and positioned the umbrella over both their heads, sheltering him from wind and rain.
"You recognized me, little fox."
Duan Xu tightened his grip upon her hand. He Si Mu seemed not to notice, asking straightforwardly, "How did you recognize me?"
He remained silent momentarily, his gaze descending to the candy figurine in her hand. "Who else would craft a candy figurine of a crow?"
He Si Mu rotated the candy between her fingers. She hadn't begun consuming it. The figure depicted a somewhat impressionistic crow—truly remarkable that Duan Xu had identified it.
They stood upon a stone bridge, Duan Xu positioned several steps higher than her. He was thoroughly soaked, water streaming down his arms, dampening her sleeve and wrist. His eyes too seemed moist, resembling jade immersed in water, as though prepared to dissolve in the heavy downpour.
His eyes brimmed with unspoken emotion as he said, "You've come to South City."
"Yes."
"Why did you not tell me?"
His tone carried the casual quality of intimate conversation between longtime companions.
He Si Mu appeared to find the question absurd. The unfamiliar face wore her characteristically indifferent expression as she turned away. "I came to South City for my own purposes, not to seek you. Why should I inform you?"
"Then you harbored no intention of seeing me?"
"South City possesses limited expanse. You've found me now, haven't you?"
Duan Xu seemed about to respond further when a white hem materialized between them, and a leisurely voice emerged. "What serendipity, General Duan. Why do you refuse to release my friend's hand?"
Duan Xu turned to observe a man dressed entirely in white, his garments embroidered with golden twenty-eight constellations. His hair descended to his waist, bound with a silken ribbon. His features appeared delicately carved, his eyes profound as night itself. Only his poor complexion and extreme thinness betrayed infirmity. He carried a waist-height white carved wooden cane, appearing fragile and unsteady.
Behind him stood a beautiful woman in purple, silently holding an umbrella for him with downcast eyes.
Duan Xu's gaze traveled between him and He Si Mu before offering a respectful bow. "Imperial Preceptor, Miss Zi Ji."
The Ghost King and the current Imperial Preceptor apparently maintained close association.
Imperial Preceptor Feng Yi smiled and turned to He Si Mu. "I turn away momentarily, and you fashion candy figurines. You cannot even consume them—why such attachment to these trifles?"
He Si Mu made a dismissive sound. "Attend to your own affairs. With such deteriorated health, you insist upon walking in the rain. Do you consider your lifespan excessively long?"
"We each possess our peculiarities. Let us not question them. Shall we depart?"
"Let us go."
Their exchange carried the familiarity of intimate understanding, suggesting the Imperial Preceptor had known her for considerable time and proved more agreeable to her than any evil spirit from the Ghost Realm itself.
The Imperial Preceptor was also a living person.
He Si Mu prepared to turn away, but Duan Xu's hand caught hers—he clearly harbored no intention of releasing her. He observed her without speaking, his casual smile having vanished. His eyelashes and hair tips dripped continuously in the downpour.
He Si Mu remained silent momentarily, then smiled lightly. She forcefully withdrew her wrist from his grasp, then placed her umbrella handle into his hand, ensuring he gripped it properly.
Duan Xu lowered his gaze to examine her hand. This body she inhabited possessed warm, soft palms that covered the back of his hand, lingering momentarily before patting it gently yet firmly, as if offering reassurance.
Then she took his free hand and placed her crow candy figurine within it. Through the amber-tinted translucent candy, she smiled brilliantly. "Taste it for me and determine whether it proves sweet."
Just as when they first met upon the walls of Liang Prefecture, each concealing something, testing one another through careful gestures. She had changed bodies and appearance, yet through the depths of her eyes, one glimpsed the same soul, reflecting the same image of him, similarly offering a candy figurine.
Then He Si Mu released Duan Xu's hand. Feng Yi raised his umbrella, and she walked beneath it, turning her back to Duan Xu as she waved goodbye. She departed with Feng Yi and Zi Ji.
And as every time before, this time too, she did not look back.
Next
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