Duan Xu seemed unaware that his words posed any problem. He leaned back lazily in his chair and said, “When I first returned to South City those years ago, Jing Yuan would constantly chat about ‘Third Brother this’ and ‘Third Brother that,’ praising endlessly without repetition—yet none of it was actually about me. My sister-in-law said she was overly attached to her brother, but I think it wasn’t her brother she was attached to, but you.”

Fang Xian Ye raised his hand, pointing at Duan Xu in warning, “Duan Shun Xi, what are you plotting now?”

Over the years, he had truly come to recognize Duan Xu’s unpredictability. When Duan Xu went wild, he believed him capable of not only revealing his identity but even staging a rebellion.

With a smile brimming with meaning, Duan Xu pushed Fang Xian Ye’s finger down and said, “If you also like my sister, I think a good match could be arranged.”

Fang Xian Ye immediately refuted, “What nonsense are you talking about? You are from the Duan family of Minister Du’s faction, while I am Duke Pei’s retainer. In the eyes of the world, we are mortal enemies—which is necessary for our operations. If I were to marry your sister, what would that mean? Moreover, if you didn’t tell her about what happened in Dai Prefecture seven years ago, she would never accept me. With her temperament, how could she possibly keep it secret after learning about these things? Are you trying to get her killed?”

Duan Xu gazed at Fang Xian Ye for a moment, then smiled lightly, “After giving so many reasons, not once did you say you don’t like her.”

Fang Xian Ye was momentarily speechless. He bit his lip and turned away to drink water to cool his temper.

Unusually, Duan Xu didn’t press his advantage. He lowered his gaze in silence as Miss Luo Xian began to sing with the crisp sound of the pipa, melodiously humming, “He taught me to let go of lingering resentment, avoid coquettish anger, renew myself, change my nature, cease longing for flowing water, turn back from the sea of bitterness, and realize early the orchid’s cause…” Her gentle voice wound through countless turns, lingering in the air.

He finally spoke, saying softly, “Fang Ji, I’ve fallen in love with a girl.”

Fang Xian Ye’s teacup lid touched his cup with a light “ding.” He looked toward Duan Xu with some understanding, observed him for a while, and then said, “It seems she doesn’t like you?”

Duan Xu shook his head, unclear whether he meant “she doesn’t like me” or “I don’t know.”

“She didn’t return to South City with you?”

“No, she went home.”

This isn’t like Duan Xu, Fang Xian Ye thought with surprise.

Given Duan Xu’s usual approach to matters, he was best at achieving unexpected victories, wearing people down through persistence. He never lacked methods and was least capable of consideration for others’ feelings, turning three parts certainty into ten parts achievement.

Duan Xu sighed deeply and said, “She comes from a good family and is an only daughter. To be with her, I would have to marry into her family.”

Fang Xian Ye choked on his hot tea again, coughing.

Duan Xu turned to look at him, his eyes containing a trace of elusive amusement. He comforted Fang Xian Ye, saying, “Don’t worry, I was rejected by her. In her eyes, not just the Duan family of South City, but the entire Great Liang Dynasty or even the whole world means nothing.”

After a pause, Duan Xu said, “Xian Ye, do you also believe that in this world, no one is indispensable to another’s survival, and no one is necessary for another, right?”

Fang Xian Ye’s eyes flickered, and he sighed lightly, placing his teacup on the table.

“Yes,” he answered.

Duan Xu was silent for a moment. When he raised his head again, his smile had returned as he said, “Perhaps so.”

Fang Xian Ye frowned.

He had always felt that Duan Xu’s spirit was somewhat unusual, though not seriously problematic. But Duan Xu seemed unable to express his emotions like ordinary people, as if there were two divided selves within him, at odds with each other.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Don’t worry, the matters of court will certainly not be hindered by me.”

Duan Xu spoke very lightly.

He also performed a show of rivalry and discord with Fang Xian Ye very effortlessly, parting on bad terms. The beautiful Luo Xian embellished the story as she spread it, and the entire South City became even more convinced that the two were like fire and water, just like the factional struggle behind them.

Although Young Master Wang had little to do with this incident, at most adding fuel to the fire, he somehow felt proud by association and began to act like a sworn brother to Duan Xu. Having heard that his father and Duan Xu’s father intended for Duan Xu to marry his sister, he enthusiastically arranged for them to meet. When Duan Xu entered Jade Algae Tower that day, he saw Young Master Wang on the second-floor railing, frantically waving at him, alongside a pink-clad woman hiding her face behind a round fan.

Duan Xu frowned very slightly, then smiled broadly as he walked over and sat down in front of Young Master Wang, saying, “Bringing your sister here—are you trying to embarrass me?”

“Seeking pleasure is a common affair for men. My little sister, being such a well-educated young lady from a good family, how could she mind these female companions of yours?” Young Master Wang’s face showed a completely unconcerned smile. Though his appearance was decent, years of indulgence in wine and pleasure had made his gaze murky and lewd.

Duan Xu’s gaze shifted to the woman beside him. The young lady lowered her round fan, revealing a delicate and gentle face with willow eyebrows and apricot eyes, curiously examining him.

Duan Xu bowed and said, “I am Duan Xu, at your service, Miss.”

The woman returned the bow and said, “I am Wang Su Yi, pleased to meet you, Young Master.”

Young Master Wang might be lacking in other areas, but he had quite an eye for matters of romance. After just a few words, he went off to mingle with his beauties, leaving Duan Xu and his sister at the table, instructing Duan Xu to escort Wang Su Yi home.

Wang Su Yi nervously gripped the handle of her round fan, her eyes occasionally glancing at Duan Xu. Duan Xu smiled brightly, leaning against the window as he looked at her, saying, “Are you reluctant to meet me here?”

“No…”

“You mind men drinking and enjoying themselves with courtesans, don’t you?”

Wang Su Yi was startled, not understanding how this peer had seen through her after just a moment. Fortunately, Duan Xu lightly steered the topic elsewhere, conversing with her gently and superficially about South City’s scenery and the interesting affairs of noble families. The topics weren’t boring, but Wang Su Yi felt this person didn’t seem particularly interested in getting to know her.

Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder came from the sky, startling Wang Su Yi so much that she nearly knocked over her wine cup. But in the instant it tilted, Duan Xu steadied it. She was quite surprised—she hadn’t even noticed when Duan Xu had moved.

Duan Xu smiled and said, “Be careful.”

This was his warmest smile since entering as if he had recalled some amusing memory.

Wang Su Yi cleared her throat and looked somewhat embarrassedly toward the street beyond the railing, saying, “It’s raining.”

Duan Xu also looked out the window. Following that thunderclap, a heavy downpour descended from the gloomy sky, splashing water droplets a foot high as it hit the street tiles. The world became misty with water vapor. Pedestrians on the road hurriedly opened umbrellas; those without umbrellas covered their heads and rushed to find shelter. The street suddenly displayed a bustling scene of humanity in chaos.

“Yes, a summer cloudburst…” Duan Xu was speaking when his voice suddenly stopped.

Wang Su Yi turned her head curiously to look at him but saw that the smile had vanished from Duan Xu’s face. He stared intently at a spot on the street, as if unable to believe what he was seeing, the emotion trembling in his eyes completely different from the carefree young man who had been conversing just moments before.

Before she could ask, in the blink of an eye, Duan Xu pushed against the table and flipped over the railing. His clothes fluttered as he landed on the first-floor eaves amid the exclamations of diners, then leaped down again, using the eaves to buffer his fall before landing on the street. In the time it took her to catch her breath, Duan Xu’s pale blue figure had vanished without a trace in the rainy street.

Wang Su Yi couldn’t react for a long time. She thought that Duan Xu couldn’t even wait to use the stairs, his eyes fixed on that direction as if afraid that blinking would make him lose sight of something. What exactly had he seen?

She had never imagined seeing such a wild and unrestrained Duan Xu.

Duan Xu ran swiftly along the main street where people were either opening umbrellas or seeking shelter from the rain. With the speed and agility he had acquired in brutal combat, he nimbly navigated through the crowd, not allowing anyone to slow his pace. The wind, carrying rainwater, clinked against the Powangjian sword at his waist, soaking his clothes. Water splashed and dirtied his boots. People seemed to be discussing what he was doing, but he heard nothing.

Among countless beings, amidst all the noise, in his blank mind were only a pair of eyes.

His breathing remained tense until he grabbed the hand of a young woman holding a red lotus paper umbrella, pulling her around with a stumble.

The young woman’s appearance was unfamiliar, with ordinary straight eyebrows and round eyes, wearing a simple ivory-colored long dress with basic cloud patterns. Her hair was half-tied with a jade hairpin, the rest falling down her back. She looked like the most ordinary commoner girl in South City, standing in the rain with one hand holding an umbrella. In the hand he grasped, she held a candy figurine, which seemed somewhat comical.

She frowned, trying to pull her hand away, and angrily said, “Who are you? What kind of rogue are you!”

Duan Xu’s gaze flickered. He stared at her intently as water droplets rolled from his hair tips and brow in the pouring rain, seeping into his eyes, yet he didn’t blink.

“Have you forgotten me so quickly?”

He displayed a bright 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 distinctly, “He Si Mu.”

The young woman faced off with him impassively for a moment, then gradually relaxed her brow. She let out a long breath and held the umbrella over both their heads, sheltering him from the wind and rain.

“You recognized me, little fox.”

Duan Xu gripped her hand tighter. He Si Mu seemed not to notice and asked straightforwardly, “How did you recognize me?”

He was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on the candy figurine in her hand, and said, “Who else would make a candy figurine of a crow?”

He Si Mu turned the candy figurine in her hand. She hadn’t started eating it yet. It depicted a rather impressionistic crow—truly a credit to Duan Xu for recognizing it.

They stood on a stone bridge, with Duan Xu a few steps higher than her. He was soaked through, water flowing down his arms, dampening her sleeve and wrist. His eyes also seemed moist, like jade immersed in water, as if about to melt in the heavy rain.

His eyes filled with a smile, and he said, “You’ve come to South City.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

His tone was like a casual conversation between friends.

He Si Mu seemed to find it absurd. The unfamiliar face wore a familiar indifferent expression as she turned her head away, saying, “I came to South City for my own business, not to find you. Why should I tell you?”

“So, you weren’t planning to see me?”

“South City isn’t that big. You’ve seen me now, haven’t you?”

Duan Xu seemed about to say something more, but before he could speak, a white hem appeared between them, and the newcomer said leisurely, “What a coincidence, General Duan. Why are you holding my friend and not letting go?”

Duan Xu turned to see a man dressed in white, his clothes embroidered with golden patterns of the twenty-eight constellations. The man’s hair reached his waist, tied back with a ribbon. His features were as delicate as if carved by a knife, with eyes as deep as the night. The only flaw was his poor complexion and extreme thinness. He held a shoulder-high white carved wooden cane, appearing frail and unsteady.

Behind him stood a beautiful woman in purple, quietly holding an umbrella for him with downcast eyes.

Duan Xu’s gaze moved between him and He Si Mu, and then he bowed, saying, “Imperial Preceptor, Miss Zi Ji.”

The Ghost King and the current Imperial Preceptor were apparently on close terms.

Imperial Preceptor Feng Yi smiled and turned to He Si Mu, saying, “I turn away for a moment, and you go make a candy figurine. You can’t even taste it, so why are you so fond of these things?”

He Si Mu made a dismissive sound and said, “Mind your own business. With such poor health, you still choose to go out for a stroll on a rainy day. Do you think your life is too long?”

“We each have our quirks, let’s not question them. Shall we go?”

“Let’s go.”

Their conversation was familiar and intimate as if they shared an unspoken understanding. It seemed the Imperial Preceptor had known her for a long time and, for her, was more agreeable than any evil ghost from the Ghost Realm.

The Imperial Preceptor was also a living person.

He Si Mu was about to turn away, but her hand was pulled by Duan Xu—he clearly had no intention of letting go. He looked at her without speaking, no longer wearing that casual smile from before. His eyelashes and hairtips were all wet, dripping continuously.

He Si Mu was silent for a moment, then smiled lightly. She forcefully withdrew her wrist from Duan Xu’s hand, then placed the handle of her umbrella in his hand, making him grip it properly.

Duan Xu lowered his gaze to look at her hand. This body she inhabited had warm and soft palms that covered the back of his hand, pausing for a moment before patting it gently yet firmly, as if in reassurance.

Then she took his free hand and placed her crow candy figurine in it. Through the amber-like translucent candy, she smiled brilliantly, “Taste it for me and see if it’s sweet.”

Just like when they first met on the walls of Liang Prefecture, each hiding something, testing each other back and forth. She had changed bodies and changed appearance, but through the depths of her eyes, one could glimpse 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 under it, turning her back to Duan Xu and waving as a goodbye. She walked away with Feng Yi and Zi Ji.

And like every time she left, this time too, she didn’t look back.