The tavern had a fine name—Only Drink Wine—and the wine it served was equally fine, a spirit called Burning Blade.
In truth, word of Jizhou Prefecture’s Burning Blade had spread to many corners of Dachu, yet the genuine article existed at only one establishment. It wasn’t that other places didn’t sell Burning Blade—they did—but theirs never tasted quite right.
Yu Jiuling’s earlier words had only been a joke. Who doesn’t understand how merchants operate? Today your Burning Blade is famous; tomorrow there will be dozens of taverns and wine shops selling Burning Blade in the same district, every single one claiming to be a century-old establishment.
Today your sesame cakes are famous; tomorrow who knows how many wealthy gentlemen will come to buy them.
In Tangxian County alone, more than a dozen or twenty shops hung signs declaring themselves “authentic century-old Burning Blade establishments”—but how could there possibly be that many century-old shops? For most places displaying such signs, the closest thing to a hundred years old was probably the old man living in the back.
The Burning Blade at Only Drink Wine could be described in a single word: fierce.
Genuinely fierce. Though Xiahou Zuo was not yet old, he prided himself on his drinking ability, rarely meeting his match. Ordinary white liquor—he could down three to five catties without his face showing even a hint of red. Yet a single bowl of Only Drink Wine’s Burning Blade, and he felt a fire ignite in his chest and belly.
The finest pleasure in the world is nothing more than pinching a tender, soft, fatty piece of cooked meat and placing it in your mouth, then chasing it with a mouthful of strong liquor—the rich fragrance of meat meeting the sharp bite of wine, a perfect pairing.
Xiahou Zuo, confident in his capacity, drained a full bowl outright—then felt a wave of alcohol vapor rise back up from his stomach, his face instantly flushing red.
“Excellent!”
He couldn’t help exclaiming his approval.
He looked toward Li Diudiu: “Care to try?”
Li Diudiu shook his head. “Master said I’m still young, not yet of drinking age.”
Changmei nodded approvingly and said: “He’s still young. Too much alcohol would burn his brain—it’s already dull enough, and if it burned any further, what would we do?”
He raised his wine bowl and took a sip, clicking his tongue.
“Diu’er, your portion—your master will drink it on your behalf.”
Li Diudiu sighed. “Master, you’re so righteous.”
Just then, someone outside gave a light knock at the door. This was Li Diudiu and the others’ first visit to this tavern, so the sudden knock left them momentarily confused. The food and wine had all been served, and they had instructed not to be disturbed—if it wasn’t one of the young servers, then who could it be?
Li Diudiu rose and pulled the door open. Outside stood the middle-aged man they had briefly encountered earlier—the one who had helped the elderly person off the carriage.
The man smiled somewhat apologetically and clasped his hands in greeting. “I truly beg your pardon for this sudden intrusion. There is a matter I wish to inquire about, and I ask for your forgiveness.”
Xiahou Zuo, being a bold and forthright sort, asked: “What matter?”
The man was named Gu Weishan. He had a modest reputation in Tangxian County, running a martial arts school with several dozen disciples.
He looked toward Yan Qingzhi and asked: “This gentleman—might you be a teacher at the Four-Page Academy?”
Yan Qingzhi gave a nod. “I am.”
Gu Weishan stepped inside, pulled the door closed behind him, and looked at Yan Qingzhi alone, hesitating for a moment before saying: “Then, sir, do you recognize the child who was at the door just now—do you know who he is?”
Yan Qingzhi shook his head. “Never seen him before. What is this about?”
Gu Weishan immediately smiled and said: “Nothing of consequence. It’s just that my younger brother also wishes to study at the Four-Page Academy. He went to the Academy once and was turned away at the gate—said it didn’t comply with regulations. So I thought I’d ask the teacher whether he knew the boy, since my brother was too embarrassed to inquire himself. I’ve come on his behalf to ask: how does one gain entry to the Four-Page Academy?”
This explanation was riddled with holes—not a single word among a hundred was believable.
Yan Qingzhi said: “If one believes their scholarship and conduct to be adequate, they may present themselves at the Four-Page Academy in Jizhou City for an assessment. Those who pass the assessment may enter the Academy to study.”
“Many thanks, many thanks.”
Gu Weishan clasped his hands. “I have troubled you. Allow me to cover today’s meal for your party. Please grant me this small courtesy—consider it my apology for the intrusion.”
Xiahou Zuo was displeased.
“You have a lot of money?” he asked.
Gu Weishan frowned slightly but still replied courteously: “I don’t have a great deal of money. I simply feel rather sorry about this, so I thought…”
Xiahou Zuo said: “We eat our own meals and pay our own bills. We don’t need you. If there’s nothing else, please take your leave.”
“Very well, very well.”
Gu Weishan clasped his hands once more, then pulled the door open and backed out.
He returned to his own private room, his expression now noticeably sour. He looked toward Tang Shen and said: “Master, those people are indeed from the Four-Page Academy in Jizhou City. They may have claimed not to recognize Pidi, but I could tell—that teacher was lying.”
Tang Pidi nodded: “That teacher’s surname is Yan, given name Qingzhi. He is a well-known instructor at the Academy. I have crossed paths with him on several occasions—he should be able to recognize me.”
Gu Weishan said: “Master and Pidi had only just arrived here when we encountered Academy people. This is my fault—I should not have made such conspicuous arrangements. Allow me to handle this matter.”
Tang Shen said: “Weishan, don’t do anything rash. In a little while, arrange horses and a carriage to send us away—that is all.”
“Master, rest easy.”
Gu Weishan said: “If I cannot protect Master and Pidi here in Tangxian County—my own territory—then what kind of man am I?”
Tang Pidi also tried to persuade him: “Senior Brother, truly, we must not create more trouble. We are not vicious criminals—we cannot go about injuring people without cause.”
But Gu Weishan paid no heed, simply smiling and saying: “I have my own way of handling it. Don’t worry.”
On the other side of the wall, Yan Qingzhi looked toward Xiahou Zuo and said: “In a while, you and the Daoren walk ahead. Li Chi, you walk in the middle. I’ll bring up the rear.”
Xiahou Zuo gave a cold snort: “We had no desire for trouble, and yet trouble insists on finding us… If they truly dare make a move, I’m not averse to letting things get a bit louder.”
What did he fear? He had never feared anything.
The flavor of the meal had changed. The group finished eating as best they could and descended the stairs to leave. Yu Jiuling, still preoccupied with his thoughts of enlisting in the Northern Frontier, saw them all the way to the door, his eyes filled with a certain yearning eagerness.
Xiahou Zuo told him to wait with peace of mind—he would surely return in five or six days.
The four of them got into a carriage and headed toward the town center, searching for an inn to lodge for the night. They all knew that someone was surely following them in secret—that man appeared to be a local, and one with some degree of ability.
Yet Xiahou Zuo remained completely unconcerned. He hadn’t truly come out here on his own, after all—he was still nursing injuries, and Prince Yu would hardly have sent few people to guard him in secret.
They found the largest inn in the area and settled in—Li Diudiu and his master Changmei sharing one room, Yan Qingzhi and Xiahou Zuo sharing another.
By the latter half of the night, Gu Weishan had assembled twenty or thirty of his disciples outside the inn. He surveyed the surroundings and gave his instructions: “Send a few people to block the rear entrance. I’ve already greased the palm of this inn’s proprietor—once those people checked in, he stopped taking any other guests. Act without worry.”
The group acknowledged the order and followed Gu Weishan toward the inn’s main entrance.
They had barely reached the doorway when the whole group stopped short. On the steps of the main entrance sat a young man of about twenty-something, something dangling from his mouth, watching them with an expression of great interest.
“Good fellow, who might you be?” Gu Weishan asked.
The young man replied: “A cheap hired guard, engaged by the very people you’re looking for.”
Gu Weishan fell silent for a moment, then said: “How much did they pay you to hire you? I can give you more—just walk away.”
The young man took what was in his mouth and waved it: “One lollipop. Unfortunately, you don’t have one, so you can’t offer me more. Otherwise I’d genuinely be willing to accept your terms—this little thing is actually quite tasty.”
Gu Weishan was stunned, then said with some regret: “Well then, I apologize—I’m afraid I’ll have to subdue you first.”
The young man gave a sound of acknowledgment: “No need to stand on ceremony.”
Moments later, more than twenty people were face-down on the inn steps, including the self-important Gu Weishan himself. He was known for being undefeated throughout Tangxian County, yet against this young man he hadn’t managed to last a single move.
Xiahou Zuo came strolling out of the inn and casually passed another lollipop to Ye Zhangzhu: “Your reward.”
Ye Zhangzhu smiled, accepted it, and said: “Having taken a reward, I’m almost tempted to beat them again just to show my appreciation.”
Xiahou Zuo walked up to Gu Weishan. The latter had taken a heavy blow and couldn’t even rise—lying there with his face a terrifying shade of white, looking even whiter in the dim yellow lamplight.
“Was this really necessary?” Xiahou Zuo said. “When we recognized that child yet didn’t trouble you—that was already giving you more than enough face.”
Gu Weishan gritted his teeth and said: “Those people are dearer to me than life itself. Even if I had to forfeit my own life to keep them safe, I would come. I’ve fallen at your hands tonight and I accept that—do with me as you will—but I beg only one thing: don’t go after them. Don’t touch them.”
Xiahou Zuo fell silent for a moment, then crouched down and looked Gu Weishan in the eye. “Were you here to kill us?”
Gu Weishan did not answer.
Xiahou Zuo asked again: “Were you here to kill us?”
Gu Weishan still had not answered when a young man came running from a distance, charging all the way in before dropping to his knees with a thud.
“Senior Brother Xiahou!”
It was Tang Pidi calling out.
Xiahou Zuo said: “So you know who I am too.”
Tang Pidi knelt there and said: “Senior Brother Xiahou, I don’t actually know you personally. When I was at the Academy, I rarely interacted with people and rarely went out. It was only just now that I remembered—I only recognized Teacher Yan. Senior Brother, all of this started because of me. I ask that you release these people. I will return to Jizhou with you, and whatever the consequences, I will bear them myself.”
Xiahou Zuo looked between Tang Pidi and Gu Weishan, then sighed and said: “Do you see? If you hadn’t come just now, nothing would have happened to him. I know how many unjust cases pass through local courts. When Tang Pidi was taken away from the Academy, I felt a great deal of regret for him. Yet because you came here and provoked this confrontation, he must now face something he should never have had to face.”
Tang Pidi said: “Senior Brother Xiahou, say no more. I’ll go back with you—please let him go.”
Gu Weishan endured the pain and sat up. From inside his robe he produced a dagger. Xiahou Zuo stepped back, but Gu Weishan aimed the blade at his own chest.
“Will you take my life in exchange for his safety? Just nod, and I’ll give you my life.”
Xiahou Zuo frowned.
Seeing Xiahou Zuo’s silence, Gu Weishan let out a bleak laugh. “Whether what I did was right or wrong, I would have come tonight all the same. You ask whether I came to kill you—I tell you now: I did. Even if I am struck down by heaven’s thunder for it, I accept that. I’ll answer for my own actions. Just give him one day—one day without pursuing him, so he has time to leave this place!”
With that, he plunged the dagger toward his own chest with force.
A sharp crack—two people struck Gu Weishan’s right arm simultaneously. One was Tang Pidi, beside him. The other was Li Diudiu, who had rushed out from behind Xiahou Zuo.
The two struck at virtually the same instant. Gu Weishan’s bone snapped, and the dagger was knocked clattering to the ground.
Li Diudiu glanced at Tang Pidi; Tang Pidi was looking back at him. A moment passed, and then Tang Pidi knelt once more and clasped his hands in a bow: “Thank you.”
Li Diudiu, seeing him kneeling, felt suddenly awkward—and promptly dropped to his own knees and clasped his hands in return: “You’re welcome.”
This left Tang Pidi thoroughly dumbfounded.
Ye Zhangzhu, standing beside Xiahou Zuo, covered his face with his hand. He thought to himself: where on earth did this little younger brother of Xiahou’s come from? Such a grave moment—and with that one kneel, all the solemnity was completely gone.
—