Chapter 5: The Legend of Shushan
Zhou Man had often taken refuge in places like this while fleeing the Wang clan’s relentless pursuit. The cramped chaos of Nipan Street felt strangely familiar—almost like coming home. A thin layer of blackened mud coated the street, its origin uncertain—perhaps the grime of decades, pressed deep by countless footsteps. The eaves of the shops leaned toward each other, crowding overhead like a tangle of weary roofs. Peddlers huddled beneath them, their cries rising and falling in the humid air. From time to time, beggars drifted past, banging broken bowls and crooning lotus songs in cracked voices. After declining the flirtatious greetings of the brothel men and women for the third time, Zhou Man finally caught sight of her destination— —a weapon shop . It was large, its open front displaying an impressive array of steel and wood: swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks gleamed under dim lantern light. Only in a neglected corner rested a few bows and arrows—unloved, forgo...
