Cang Lan Dao – Chapter 12

“Sister Liu, here are the medicines you requested.”

In the death row prison, a young girl knelt respectfully before Luo Wanqing, holding a pile of medicinal herbs.

Luo Wanqing sat in a chair, sorting through the medicines.

Everyone around them kept their distance. The girl holding the herbs was desperately trying to control her trembling, remaining respectfully prostrate without daring to look up.

This was Luo Wanqing’s fifteenth day in death row.

For the first ten days, she had been fighting almost constantly. She fought without using internal energy, relying purely on fists and flesh, using her body to clash directly with opponents, only using internal energy to block when facing fatal injuries.

Every night, she would meditate to repair her body, then the next day, she would fight again with those long-term prisoners in death row.

The truly strong people on death row wouldn’t make a move because they were waiting for the Supervision Department examination. Only those ordinary people with no way out would form gangs and act tyrannically in the death row.

This gave Luo Wanqing a perfect opportunity. If they had been real experts, she might not have survived. These ordinary people skilled in fighting were exactly the best opponents for her.

Combat was the simplest way to grow. During those ten days, she had barely slept well, often being ambushed in the middle of the night. She would take those people to the adjacent small rooms, and no matter how many came, she would take them all on.

These repeated near-death experiences tempered her stamina and reaction speed. While she couldn’t compare to those properly trained in martial arts, she was considerably better than ordinary people.

After ten days of fighting, news finally came about the Supervision Department recruitment examination, scheduled to begin registration and departure for the Eastern Capital in five days.

Upon learning this news, Luo Wanqing gradually reduced her fighting, giving herself time to rest and recover. However, she never abandoned her daily fundamentals of meditation, stance training, and body conditioning. She also used the reputation she had built over the past ten days to find some “slick operators” in the prison who were good at smuggling various goods into the prison, requesting some essential items.

After several days of preparation, the day finally came to leave death row and set out with the Supervision Department.

She checked her medicines, placed them all in her pack, and after waiting a while, heard sounds at the entrance. Soon, she saw jailers leading a man and a woman into the prison, arriving at the death row entrance.

The man and woman both wore identical black martial attire, golden crowns on their heads, horizontal swords at their waists, and hanging white jade beads inscribed with the character “Inspector” in gold thread.

Behind them followed dozens of male prisoners. These convicts all wore iron shackles, but not one dared make any unusual movement, all following obediently behind the four people, appearing extremely docile.

“Those going to the Eastern Capital for the Supervision Department examination, stand up and come over.”

The leading woman called out, and several people gradually stood up.

The Supervision Department examination was held before autumn, with life and death uncertain. Those who went never returned. So, death row inmates with average abilities would rather stay in death row, living day by day, hoping that with good luck they might receive imperial amnesty and escape death.

Those who dared to participate in the Supervision Department examination were all bold and capable. From one death row, several dozen people would be considered many.

Luo Wanqing followed the crowd to the death row entrance, lined up and walked out. At the entrance, the black-clad, golden-crowned young man held a roster to check, looked up at her: “Liu Xiniang?”

“Yes.”

“What happened to your face?” The other person frowned at her scabbed wounds.

Luo Wanqing replied calmly: “Burned during torture.”

Hearing this, the young man showed some displeasure, muttered “ridiculous” under his breath, then had the woman standing beside him chain Luo Wanqing with iron shackles before turning around: “Let’s go.”

With that, Luo Wanqing was led by the woman to the back of the group.

The two people led the death row inmates out of the prison together. It was still before dawn, the streets were empty except for dozens of guards standing at the entrance and a row of prison carts for transporting the convicts.

Seeing the two Supervision Department envoys, the lead guard quickly stepped forward and bowed to them: “My lords, have you checked everyone?”

“I’ve recorded everyone,” the male Supervision Department envoy said coldly. “If we’re missing even one person when we reach the Eastern Capital, I’ll hold you responsible.”

“Rest assured, my lord,” the guard quickly replied. “I escort prisoners every year—there won’t be any problems.”

After some pleasantries, the Supervision Department people turned and left.

Luo Wanqing watched the two depart, and after some thought understood that the Supervision Department wouldn’t escort them personally—first, they lacked manpower; second, the emperor would never completely trust this privilege of pardoning death row inmates, so he would certainly insert his people at various stages to supervise the Supervision Department.

As Luo Wanqing pondered this, she heard a guard shout: “Form lines, five people per cart, get in!”

The guards began herding people forward. Luo Wanqing considered her options.

Five people per cart meant they would likely separate men and women, with the only possibility of mixed carts being at the junction between male and female lines.

According to Liu Xiniang, on this journey to the Eastern Capital, she should try to connect with that person called “Nine Frost,” the foremost expert of Jiangnan, and team up with him in the Supervision Department preliminary test for higher chances of success.

She had inquired about the Nine Frost in the death row. He was a man, a swordsman, not particularly imposing in appearance but more scholarly-looking, who had been severely injured when captured by the Supervision Department.

If she wanted to approach Nine Frost, she naturally couldn’t stay only among the female prisoners.

Luo Wanqing thought about this and walked toward the back of the line, separating herself from the group.

The female prisoners didn’t want to share carts with male prisoners and moved far forward, leaving space open.

Seeing Luo Wanqing standing alone outside the line, the guards simply shoved her into the junction between male and female lines, urging: “Hurry up and get in the cart!”

The guard turned to warn everyone: “Listen carefully! The Supervision Department examination is held in the Eastern Capital, with the official test in three months. We expect a two-month journey, arriving in the Eastern Capital just in time for the examination. Miss even one day and you won’t make the test—and if you miss it, you’re all dead! If you’re afraid of dying, hurry up!”

Hearing this, everyone quickened their pace, and soon all were seated in the carts.

Luo Wanqing’s prison cart held five people—three men and two women.

The woman who had been shoved into the cart with her was extremely thin and weak. Luo Wanqing had some impression of her—she was called Zhao Yuyan, and seemed to be the woman who had been trampled underfoot by the one who challenged Luo Wanqing on her first day in death row.

She was often bullied in the death row, so it was unclear why she dared participate in the Supervision Department examination.

Now she was in the same mixed-gender cart as Luo Wanqing, obviously having been pushed over by others.

As soon as Zhao Yuyan entered the cart, she cowered in a corner, trembling slightly, apparently terrified.

Of the other three men, one was tall and mighty but appeared somewhat simple-minded, while another was skin and bones, thin and small, with two wispy mustaches and darting eyes that made him appear extremely shrewd.

These two seemed to be brothers, sitting across from Luo Wanqing and taking up half the cart’s space.

The last man had been in the cart from the beginning, apparently having been carried in.

His head rested against the wooden bars of the prison cart, breathing weakly, blood seeping through his white clothes, severely injured.

His hair covered half his face, but she could vaguely see that he was rather handsome with regular features and pale skin, looking like a scholar. However, his hands bore thin calluses.

These calluses were thin, located on the sides of his fingers and the edges of his palms. People with such calluses most likely used swords.

Swordsman, severely injured, scholarly appearance.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but focus some attention on this person, pondering how to test his identity.

Her current strength was far inferior to Nine Frost’s. To befriend him, she couldn’t let him sense her ulterior motives.

If she approached rashly, it would be too obvious. She needed to find an opportunity and take it slowly.

As she contemplated this, she shifted her gaze away.

The cart jolted forward along the dirt road. Before long, the cart suddenly lurched, and the young man was thrown about. He weakly grasped the wooden bars and began coughing violently.

After a while, the cart turned and lurched again. Seeing the young man lose his balance and about to crash into the thin man beside him, Luo Wanqing immediately reached out and steadied him.

The young man looked up, revealing a pair of clear, moist eyes, and looked at Luo Wanqing gratefully, smiling: “Thank you… cough cough, thank you, Miss, for your assistance.”

Seeing those eyes, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but freeze.

Compared to his ordinary features, these dark pupils were far too beautiful, naturally carrying the clarity of autumn water. When he gazed at someone, it was as if deep affection was about to overflow from his eyes.

Luo Wanqing remained silent for a long time. The young man looked puzzled and said softly, “Miss?”

Hearing his call, Luo Wanqing finally reacted, collected herself, and quickly looked away: “I saw you nearly falling just now, so I gave you a hand. My apologies for the impropriety.”

“I should be the one thanking you.” The young man’s voice was pleasant, his tone gentle, his manner respectful.

This attitude, without a trace of hostility, made Luo Wanqing somewhat doubtful—this person had no martial aura whatsoever. Could he be the foremost expert of Jiangnan?

Wait.

Luo Wanqing suddenly realized something else. This person, from beginning to end, had shown no reaction whatsoever to her hideous face.

Although her face had scabbed over, nearly the entire face was ruined.

Ordinary people, even martial artists, would show some reaction upon seeing her face, yet this person looked at her no differently than if she were a beauty.

Either his mental fortitude was extraordinarily strong, or he had seen too many similar things and could no longer be moved by them.

This was certainly no ordinary person.

Luo Wanqing had formed a plan, but seeing too many eyes around them, she didn’t speak up.

The cart traveled until noon, when the jailers called everyone down to eat. The young man was weak and struggled to stand up. Luo Wanqing immediately stepped forward proactively, saying softly: “Let me help you, sir.”

Supported by Luo Wanqing, the young man seemed to have reached his limit and coughed: “Thank you, Miss.”

Luo Wanqing nodded, helped the young man to the shade of a nearby tree, and offered: “You’re severely injured, sir. Let me get food for you.”

The young man didn’t refuse and nodded slightly: “You’re very kind, Miss.”

Luo Wanqing went to get rations for both of them from the guards and returned to the tree.

The other prisoners sat in small groups around them, all eating.

Luo Wanqing handed the rations to the young man, who took the steamed bun in his hands and sighed.

Luo Wanqing looked up: “Why do you sigh, sir?”

“Steamed bun after steamed bun, steamed buns every day. To be honest, Miss, I was once a person of some renown and have never lived such a life. Now holding this cold, hard steamed bun, I can’t help but feel emotional, wondering how I’ve fallen to such circumstances?”

Luo Wanqing ate her steamed bun while analyzing the information in his words, thinking: “From what you say, sir, you must have been quite an extraordinary person in the past?”

“Well enough,” the young man smiled slightly. “The martial world just gave me some face.”

“I observe that you’re no ordinary person, sir. How did you end up in prison?” Luo Wanqing feigned casual conversation, asking casually.

The young man didn’t seem to mind, snorted coldly, then said: “Still the Supervision Department. If not for them, who could have dealt with me?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was nearly certain this person was Nine Frost.

Who else besides Nine Frost could warrant the Supervision Department’s intervention?

Luo Wanqing feigned surprise, then looked up with eyes shocked yet admiring, staring at him dumbly: “Could it be that you are the foremost expert of Jiangnan, the swordsman Nine Frost?”

Hearing this, the young man paused his movements. After a moment, he sighed.

“August’s sad wind, September’s frost, smartweed flowers pale red, reed stems yellow.” The young man shook his head. “This isn’t an auspicious name. Having come to this point, what expert or not—let’s not mention it.”

“Names are just designations; fortune and misfortune depend on human actions.” Having roughly confirmed his identity, Luo Wanqing somewhat clumsily tried to flatter and get closer. Previously, the martial world spread word that the hero was inadvertently injured by the Supervision Department and imprisoned. We were all outraged. I’ve long admired Hero Nine Frost, never expecting to meet you here. The hero truly has a distinguished bearing, exactly as the legends describe.”

“You’re too kind, too kind.” The young man waved his hand while holding the steamed bun. “Miss, you flatter me. It’s because I’ve done too much evil and my martial arts were insufficient that I was captured by the Supervision Department.”

“You’re too modest.” Having spoken this far, Luo Wanqing didn’t intend to hide her abilities, saying gently: “This humble woman knows a little medicine and brought some medicinal materials. Perhaps I could examine you?”

The young man paused, thought for a moment, then rolled up his sleeve and extended his hand frankly: “That would be wonderful. I’m currently weak in body—I’ll trouble you to look after me on this journey.”

“Rest assured.”

Luo Wanqing placed her hand on his pulse. The young man’s pulse was steady and strong, his internal energy pure—this made Luo Wanqing completely certain of his identity.

In a group of death row prisoners, having one foremost expert of Jiangnan was already remarkable—where would they find so many other experts?

With various signs confirming it, this person before her must undoubtedly be Nine Frost.

Since it was him, then on this journey to the Eastern Capital, she would need to permeate his life like water, be useful to him, and make him unable to live without her.

Luo Wanqing carefully observed his pulse, words, and behavior to guess his weaknesses.

This person had chronic ailments requiring care, and often suffered headaches; liver qi stagnation, heavy thoughts—he likely suffered from chronic shallow sleep.

He used to live well, and even now, as a prisoner tried to stay clean, disliked steamed bun meals—he should be someone who valued comfort and pleasure.

…

As Luo Wanqing pondered with lowered head, the young man leaned against the tree, smiling as he observed her.

His gaze lingered too long, and Luo Wanqing finally noticed. She looked up curiously, meeting his eyes.

His gaze was open and honest, without any impropriety. Luo Wanqing was very confident about her current face and wasn’t worried that he might be attracted to her appearance, so she couldn’t help asking: “What are you looking at, sir?”

“Looking at your eyes.”

The young man said this while leaning closer, gazing intently at Luo Wanqing’s eyes.

He came quite close, making Luo Wanqing’s body go rigid. She forced herself not to react to avoid appearing at a disadvantage, only asking: “Why look at my eyes?”

“I always feel Miss’s eyes seem familiar.” The young man spoke, making Luo Wanqing’s heart skip a beat, instinctively thinking he had discovered something.

But after careful consideration, she relaxed again. Nine Frost and she were strangers—he had never seen her before.

Even if he had, with her current appearance, even her mother might not recognize her, let alone a stranger.

She maintained her composure and let him observe. After gazing intently for a while, he shook his head: “But looking closely, they’re quite different.”

“How different?”

Luo Wanqing’s gaze fell to the ground, her thoughts focused on the young man’s pulse.

The young man pondered: “Those eyes burned with fire but were somewhat naive, clear as a deer’s, still holding hope for the human world. But Miss’s eyes are murky and dark, profound as the sea. If I had to say what’s similar, perhaps they’re equally stubborn and beautiful?”

Saying this, the young man seemed to reach a conclusion and turned to look at Luo Wanqing holding his arm, saying softly: “Miss, are you finished with the pulse diagnosis?”

“Hmm?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t understand why he suddenly asked this. The young man smiled and lowered his voice, his tone carrying some teasing: “Miss, when you diagnose pulses, you use tremendous strength. If you continue for another moment, my hand will break.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s expression stiffened slightly. She withdrew her hand and saw several finger marks on his wrist. Not daring to look too closely, she said calmly: “Your body is in good condition, sir.”

“And then?”

“Some external injuries, plus heavy thoughts, are causing shallow sleep and headaches. I’ll try to find medicine to help regulate your condition on this journey. Also, if you don’t like eating steamed buns, sir, what would you prefer?”

“Hmm,” the young man thought for a moment and made a simple request: “I like eating meat.”

Luo Wanqing nodded seriously: “Rest assured, sir, I’ll find a way.”

“Miss is truly capable,” the young man smiled. “I’ll depend on Miss for this entire journey. May I ask Miss’s honored name?”

“Liu Xiniang,” Luo Wanqing formally introduced herself. “Imprisoned for trafficking private salt. I hope for your guidance in the future, sir.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater – Great Xia Prison Etiquette: Self-Introduction]

Ordinary person introduction: “I am XXX, from XX (place name)…”

Prisoner introduction: “I am XXX, imprisoned for XX crime, sentenced to XX (punishment), hoping all fellow prisoners will take care of me.”

[Mini Theater]

Luo Wanqing: “Secured a strong ally—this time, Hero Nine Frost will carry me to victory!”

Young man: “Flying is possible, but as for whether Nine Frost is carrying you… Hmm… take another look?”