The Xiao family residence in the old western alley had been uninhabited for nearly half a year. A layer of rust had already climbed over the door lock.

The doors of neighbors on both sides of the alley were all tightly shut. The Xiao family had rarely interacted with neighbors in the past. Later, when Huo Kun lost the letter and came to the Xiao house to dig three feet into the ground searching, banging on the doors of every household in the alley asking about the Xiao family’s whereabouts, the neighbors absolutely dared not have any connection with the Xiao family. Some had even moved away from this place.

Now returning to this old residence, Xiao Huiniang also did not disturb the neighbors on either side.

During her convalescence, she had already learned from Pei Song that her son had killed a Pei clan general. It was just that the Pei generals in charge of Yongzhou City had not yet obtained conclusive evidence, but her son had been wanted all along as the prime suspect.

After her injuries stabilized somewhat, Pei Song lied again, claiming it was Zhou Sui’s instruction to have her follow him and first leave Yongzhou to temporarily avoid the limelight. To avoid causing trouble for Zhou Sui, and also fearing that the Pei generals taking over Yongzhou would find her and use her to threaten her son, Xiao Huiniang followed Pei Song to Mozhou.

When Pei Song was with the Mozhou army, he found a place in a nearby village to settle Xiao Huiniang, secretly sending people to watch over her to prevent Xiao Huiniang from being rescued or meeting with any mishap. To Xiao Huiniang, he lied that he was going to complete tasks assigned by Zhou Sui. Every fortnight or so, he would go see her again. Xiao Huiniang never once doubted this.

This time, sending Xiao Huiniang back to the Xiao family’s old residence, Pei Song brought two personal guards, also lying to Xiao Huiniang that they were manor guards from Zhou Manor.

While they were busy moving the numerous items from the carriage, Xiao Huiniang pushed open the dust-covered gate of her home. Seeing that desolate and dilapidated courtyard, she couldn’t help but feel sorrowful: “Only half a year without anyone living here, and it’s already come to this state.”

She stepped over the threshold and went to pick up the fragments of shattered pottery jars and ceramic vessels in the courtyard.

Pei Song followed inside, surveying this cramped courtyard with an inexplicable expression. His voice sounded as gentle as always: “Leave it be. Let the brothers clean up.”

Xiao Huiniang threw those ceramic shards into the vegetable plot by the wall roots, then righted a stool under the eaves that had been kicked over, wiping the dust off it with her handkerchief. She smiled and said: “It’s not heavy work. This trip has been hard on you brothers. There’s nothing good to entertain you with at home. I’ll cook a simple meal in a bit—please don’t mind it…”

Pei Song noticed a wood-chopping knife full of notches in the corner of the courtyard. Normally when a household knife became dull and rolled at the edge, it needed to be sharpened before use again. This wood-chopping knife, however, had numerous additional notches beyond just being rolled at the edge—undoubtedly because after the blade rolled from use, it had been struck heavily against some sharp objects.

He picked up that wood-chopping knife and examined it carefully in his hands.

Xiao Huiniang saw this and smiled: “That’s the wood-chopping knife my Huan’er used before.”

Pei Song’s thumb touched the rusty notches and asked: “The blade has rolled to this extent—why not sharpen it before using it?”

Xiao Huiniang’s expression darkened somewhat as she said: “At that time, Huan’er had somehow offended the military lords in the city because of matters at the gambling house. He was surrounded and attacked by many soldiers. Without a proper weapon in hand, he relied entirely on this wood-chopping knife to preserve his life. This knife was hacked into this condition during that incident.”

The gambling house owner’s collusion with Huo Kun, and the disaster in Yongzhou implicated by that letter, were far too complex. Wen Yu’s identity at that time also needed to be kept secret. To prevent Xiao Huiniang from being frightened and worried after knowing everything, Xiao Li had not informed her of the letter affair’s full story.

To this day, Xiao Huiniang still believed that the calamity at home was only because Xiao Li had helped the gambling house owner retrieve account books and fallen into the other side’s trap.

Hearing these words, Pei Song was thoughtful. Looking at the wood-chopping knife in his hand, he said: “To be able to escape from being surrounded by soldiers—Brother Xiao’s martial arts are formidable.”

Xiao Huiniang busied herself with the work at hand. Hearing this, she sighed: “His fighting skills were all practiced during those years collecting debts for others, fighting and killing. In earlier years when he came home, he’d have injuries on his body every few days. Afraid I’d see them, he only dared apply medicine secretly…”

Thinking of those days when her son lived on the edge of a blade, Xiao Huiniang’s eyes reddened. Realizing she had lost composure, she quickly wiped her eyes and said with a smile: “You sit in the courtyard for a while. I’ll go boil some tea.”

After Xiao Huiniang entered the kitchen, Pei Song glanced at the wood-chopping knife in his hand and returned it to its original place.

It seemed this woman did not know about her son learning martial arts from someone in the heavenly prison.

He continued surveying every scene and object in this dilapidated house and courtyard, recalling the past events he had heard from Xiao Huiniang’s mouth and the fragments of words he had obtained from interrogating Yongzhou jailers. He felt as if he could personally see the youth he obscurely dreaded yet had never met—the fading shadow of how he had grown year by year in this dilapidated dwelling during those past years.

Pei Song raised his finger and rubbed over a fist-shaped indentation on the courtyard wall made of packed yellow earth, looking down at the dust and dirt that stuck to his fingertips.

The fist print on the wall should have been left when the other person was in his teens.

He had practiced the boxing techniques learned from Qin Yi very well.

Pei Song flicked off the fine dust from between his fingers, his lips pressed into a straight line.

Despite trying hard to tell himself he didn’t care, there was still an obscure feeling in his heart—one he himself couldn’t explain clearly—of jealousy.

That’s right, jealousy.

He had lost his father at a young age, yet that person had a mother who cherished him like life itself, and also had the father that had been taken away from him.

And him? He had nothing. All that was left for him was endless betrayal and hatred.

A layer of gloom stained the depths of Pei Song’s eyes, the aura around his body also gradually growing cold.

“Young Brother Song?”

“Young Brother Song?”

Xiao Huiniang called out twice before finally bringing Pei Song back to his senses. He instantly restrained the fierce look in his eyes and turned his head with a gentle face: “Hm?”

He had lied to Xiao Huiniang that his surname was Song, single name Pei.

Xiao Huiniang smiled cheerfully: “Go sit over there and have some tea. The food still needs a while.”

Pei Song expressed his thanks and walked absent-mindedly to the corner of the courtyard where Xiao Huiniang had placed a tea table. The table was a folding wooden one with a long bench and a reclining chair beside it.

His two personal guards had apparently already been greeted by Xiao Huiniang and held tea in their hands, but didn’t dare sit down.

Seeing Pei Song approach and Xiao Huiniang enter the kitchen again, one of the guards lowered his voice and called: “Master?”

Although they were puzzled why that old woman clearly had no further use yet Pei Song uncharacteristically had not directly ordered her life ended and instead maintained the previous lies.

But anyone who could serve by Pei Song’s side had discernment, knowing not to ask what shouldn’t be asked.

Moreover, that Xiao-surnamed youngster was already dead, and Zhou Sui, this thorn, would soon be removed. So whether this old woman lived or died had no significant impact on them.

This call at this moment was to ask Pei Song’s permission whether they could leave.

If they stayed here, when the old woman came out later and had them all sit down to eat together, they questioned whether they had that courage.

Pei Song said nothing. Holding the cup in one hand, he drank a mouthful of tea and slightly raised his hand toward one person.

Having received permission, that person immediately disappeared like a shadow.

When Xiao Huiniang came out again and learned that the other two had already left first, she kept muttering about how courteous they were. Pei Song leaned against the kitchen doorframe, watching Xiao Huiniang busying herself by the stove. He only felt that in his memories, when Mother had personally cooked, it seemed to be this same scene.

He offered to help tend the fire. Xiao Huiniang used the excuse that the kitchen was too cramped and shooed him out to sit in the courtyard and enjoy the cool air.

The sun had already tilted west. At the horizon’s end, vast expanses of fiery clouds spread out.

Pei Song sat on the reclining chair, listening to the distant barking of dogs from the streets and alleys, the clashing sounds of spatulas and woks from the kitchen, and the soft rustling of the evening breeze passing through the treetops. The constantly taut nerves in his mind seemed to slowly loosen their strings. Looking at the new clothes Xiao Huiniang had half-sewn for him in the sewing basket nearby, he suddenly felt unprecedented peace and tranquility.

As if in childhood when Mother was still alive, before the Qin family was raided—he was just tired from practicing martial arts, lying on the stone table napping for a bit.

Mother would lovingly fan him. Father would also show affection after he fell asleep, no longer maintaining a stern face. When he woke up and climbed the wall, he could still see Sister Yichu next door tending flowers and plants in the courtyard. Seeing him, she would take out pastries wrapped in an embroidered handkerchief and ask with a smile if he wanted some…

He fell deeply asleep in the evening breeze and twilight clouds.

Xiao Huiniang walked out of the kitchen to fetch dried ginger hanging under the eaves. At first glance seeing the person sleeping in the reclining chair, her heart jumped in alarm. She thought it was Xiao Li. The words “Huan’er” reached her lips before she saw clearly it was Pei Song.

All sorts of feelings surged up in her heart. Xiao Huiniang’s expression was sorrowful. She raised her sleeve to silently wipe the corners of her eyes.

Though it was summer, the evening wind still carried a chill. Fearing Pei Song would catch cold sleeping like this, she went inside to fetch a thin blanket and gently draped it over him.

Whether Pei Song had not slept well for a long time or the surrounding environment was too reassuring, someone who would normally wake instantly at the slightest disturbance showed no sign of waking this time.

Xiao Huiniang thought he was tired. Having heard him say earlier that he no longer had parents at home, seeing Pei Song sleeping on the reclining chair without any defenses, she felt as if she were looking at her own son. She sighed softly: “Also a child with a bitter fate.”

When Pei Song woke, the sky had already completely darkened. An old yellow lantern hung under the eaves.

Xiao Huiniang carried out a large bowl of stewed soup from the kitchen, smiling at him: “You’re awake? I was just about to bring out the dishes and call you!”

Pei Song looked at the thin blanket covering him. First somewhat dazed, then his brow unconsciously furrowed tightly: “Was… this something you covered me with?”

Xiao Huiniang didn’t notice his abnormality and arranged the bowls and chopsticks with a smile: “Earlier when I came out and saw you sleeping, I was afraid you’d catch cold, so I covered you with a thin blanket.”

“I see.” Pei Song seemed to ask casually, but his five fingers grasping the thin blanket slowly clenched. His bones tensed until they turned white. In his half-lowered eyes, a patch of gloom.

When had his vigilance deteriorated to this extent?

Even when his guards who had followed him for many years approached within three chi, he could wake instantly.

Tonight he slept deeply while someone draped a blanket over him, yet he was completely unaware.

This feeling of the situation obscurely no longer being under his control made Pei Song disgusted and inexplicably anxious. Hostility even grew in his heart.

She was nothing more than an old woman whose life he spared only to control Xiao Li.

Now the scheme had succeeded. Whether this old woman lived or died had no impact on him. It was no different from releasing a small cat or dog—he had merely given her a way to live.

From beginning to end, she was only a pitiful creature he could use and then discard at will. Would he let down his guard against her?

Was it because of that bit of clumsy flattery that he had also laughably softened his heart?

This thought was almost immediately denied as soon as it emerged. It was just that playing this act with the old woman still had some interest, and he was briefly confused by the maternal nature she created. How could he possibly lower his defenses against a lowly old woman?

“What are you spacing out for? Quickly use your chopsticks.” Having arranged the dishes, Xiao Huiniang saw Pei Song sitting there with an unclear expression and couldn’t help but urge.

Pei Song responded but didn’t move his chopsticks. His knuckles unconsciously tapped lightly on the armrest of the reclining chair. His eyes were hidden under half-lowered black lashes, as if hesitating whether to change his original decision.

Xiao Huiniang warmly beckoned him: “Try this scallion-fried spare ribs. My Huan’er used to love eating this dish most. I’ve made plenty. Later, take some back with you for those two young brothers to try as well.”

After speaking, she took another small bowl and ladled him a bowl of pork trotter soup: “And this pork trotter soup—most nourishing. I see you’ve gotten even thinner than before. When away from home, you must also take good care of yourself. Don’t always skip meals…”

These nagging words inexplicably soothed those sharp and restless emotions.

For an instant, a strange thought suddenly flashed through Pei Song’s mind. Keeping this old woman alive and letting her continue treating him this way might not be impossible…

Xiao Huiniang didn’t know his thoughts. Looking at this young man before her who was about the same age as her son and whose temperament was also somewhat similar, she truly felt maternal compassion and continued: “From now on, if you have free time, come sit at Da Niang’s place often. Treat this place like your own home.”

Pei Song’s motion of drinking soup paused. His heart felt as if hot water had seeped in, submerging all that cold killing intent. The thought that had just emerged grew even stronger. As if possessed by ghosts and gods, he responded affirmatively.

Xiao Huiniang’s gaze toward him became increasingly kind and gentle: “You truly resemble my Huan’er. Looking at you, I often feel as if I have another son…”

This was originally a joking remark, yet it struck Pei Song like a blow to the head, instantly awakening him from that warmth.

He looked at the remaining half bowl of soup in his hand and after a moment of silence said: “Unfortunately, my mother passed early. I always want to see her again, but in the end, I cannot.”

Xiao Huiniang, seeing she had unintentionally touched upon Pei Song’s sad matter, hurriedly comforted him: “You’re so accomplished. Your mother’s spirit in heaven would be happy for you seeing this.”

Pei Song ate his food with ambiguous meaning: “I also hope my mother is happy.”

Having drunk the pork trotter soup halfway, Xiao Huiniang took the bowl to the kitchen to refill it. Pei Song stared at her back in a daze for a while.

When Xiao Huiniang came out again with the bowl, greeting him to continue eating, he took the soup bowl from Xiao Huiniang’s side and ladled a bowl for her as well, handing it to her: “Da Niang, you eat too.”

Xiao Huiniang was clearly very happy. When receiving it, her face was full of smiles. Though her mouth said he was being courteous, she directly drank several mouthfuls from the bowl.

During this latter half of the meal, they conversed more harmoniously, truly like a mother and son separated for many years.

After the meal, Xiao Huiniang wanted to clear the dishes. Pei Song suggested keeping her company for a while. Xiao Huiniang then took the nearby sewing basket, and borrowing the lantern’s light, while sewing new clothes for him, she chatted leisurely with him.

When speaking of Xiao Li, Xiao Huiniang’s voice was full of bitterness: “I’ve always just hoped that Huan’er could live an ordinary, common life, finish this lifetime. I don’t need him to have great abilities. If he had truly been like an ordinary peddler or porter, even if I had died at Zhou Manor back then, he wouldn’t have impulsively killed that Pei general, and now wouldn’t need to live hiding here and fleeing there…”

Pei Song had been watching the fine stitches Xiao Huiniang laid down. Hearing her say this, he suddenly asked: “You don’t hope he would avenge you?”

Xiao Huiniang sighed: “People die sooner or later. I’ve already burdened him too much. If I had died under that blade, it would merely be seeing him for a few years less. Because he avenged me, now he can’t even return home…”

Xiao Huiniang spoke to the point of sadness, unable to conceal her choking emotion. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand before continuing: “I’d rather he be a coward and weakling. At least he could have a lifetime of peace.”

Pei Song was silent for a while, then asked: “Do all mothers under heaven think this way?”

Xiao Huiniang said: “Which mother wouldn’t hope for her child’s well-being?”

Her eyes were somewhat blurred looking at things. Xiao Huiniang thought it was because the light was too dim. She wiped the needle at her temples and continued: “I don’t even know if I can see that child again…”

She seemed sleepy. Her eyelids gradually closed. Her head with graying temples drooped forward about to fall.

Pei Song supported her, letting her back rest against the pillar, to sleep forever.

The sewing basket in Xiao Huiniang’s hands slipped out. The fabric and thread spools inside rolled all over the ground.

Pei Song sat on the nearby stone steps, looking at Xiao Huiniang’s serene face as always, slowly saying: “Da Niang, sleep peacefully.”

He had ultimately still harbored killing intent. When ladling soup for Xiao Huiniang, he had sprinkled colorless and tasteless poison into it.

Not because she had made him unconsciously lower his defenses, but because although she could accomplish the former, the kindness she showed him was stolen.

Only by borrowing the pretext of working with her son could he obtain her compassion and warmth.

If she knew he had schemed to kill her son, would she still treat him this way?

The firelight from the distant Zhou Manor had already reddened half the night sky. Pei Song sat on the stone steps for a while, then used a fire starter to set the entire Xiao household ablaze as well.

He turned and left in the firelight. The sewing basket that had fallen to the ground and the unfinished garment were also slowly ignited by the flames.

Pei Song did not look back again.

He had only missed his mother, which was why he treated this woman differently.

But she was ultimately not his mother.

This farce—it was time for it to end.

—

Xiao Li galloped all the way on horseback. When he reached the western city, half the alley of adjacent houses had already been swallowed by flames.

This was a residential alley, unlike Zhou Manor’s independent compound. Small dwellings often crammed several generations of a family. After discovering the fire, it triggered considerable chaos. Everywhere were children’s crying sounds and shouts to fight the fire.

The streets and alleys were packed with people. The horse couldn’t run at all. Xiao Li’s heart beat so fast it seemed about to leap from his chest. He didn’t know where that obscure sense of unease came from. After returning to Yongzhou, he had clearly already gone home first to look. There were no traces of anyone living at home.

Later he went to the escort agency to find former brothers from the gambling house, asking if they knew his mother was still alive. All the brothers were shocked and astonished, stating they knew nothing. Godmother and the others even worried he might be suffering from excessive worry and developed delusions.

But this sudden great fire was truly suspicious.

Xiao Li randomly grabbed someone from the crowd and demanded: “What’s with this fire?”

That man had only half-dressed, his shoes trampled off his feet, his face full of panic: “I don’t know either! I heard someone shouting about a fire. Ran out to look and saw the houses in the Xiao family’s area were already burning!”

Hearing these words, Xiao Li’s eyes turned fierce. He released the person, abandoned the horse, and directly ignored the fire situation, squeezing toward the front.

Common people living nearby drew water from wells and poured it on the vigorously burning houses. But because the nearby high temperature was oppressive, they simply couldn’t get close. Most of that water splashed on the sides with little effect.

Xiao Li squeezed to the very front, snatched the water bucket from a man’s hands, splashed it over himself, then headed directly into the alley ravaged by great fire.

People beside him shouted in alarm: “You can’t go! Can’t go! The beams inside have all burned and collapsed!”

Xiao Li turned a deaf ear. Enduring the high temperature that scorched his skin and flesh with excruciating pain, he stubbornly charged straight toward the innermost area.

Burned and broken crossbeams fell blocking the path. He kicked them aside with brute force. Scalding smoke and dust choked his lungs painfully. He simply covered his mouth and nose with a soaked sleeve, his feet not daring to stop for a moment.

Finally kicking open the already burned main gate, when he saw the person sleeping-like leaning against a pillar shrouded in great fire, all the blood in Xiao Li’s body seemed to flow backward.

He could no longer care about covering his mouth and nose. He almost roared “Mother” heart-rendingly as he rushed toward that figure.

But Xiao Huiniang would never respond to him again.

The clothing on her body had already been burned away by the flames. Xiao Li randomly scooped water from the water vat that had just been filled in the afternoon by Pei Song’s two guards and splashed it to extinguish the fire on Xiao Huiniang. He also removed his own outer garment that had been half-dried by the high temperature baking, soaked it in the water vat, and wrapped it around Xiao Huiniang to hold her: “Mother, we’re leaving now!”

When his touch discovered the body beneath his palm had already stiffened, Xiao Li lowered his head, his throat emitting an extremely desperate choking sound.

More beams burned and broke. Behind him, the dwelling he had once spent everything to buy to bring Xiao Huiniang out to live in had already turned into ruins in the firelight.

He steadily lifted the person up. His skin and flesh were torn open by the high temperature, gushing fresh blood. What he said was still only one sentence: “Mother, let’s go out.”

—

When those several old subordinates Zhou Sui sent to help Xiao Li learned from Xiao Li to seize horses and rushed to the west of the city, they saw the western city had already descended into complete chaos. Yet amid the chaotic crowd, a space had spontaneously been cleared.

They abandoned their horses and squeezed through the crowd. They saw Xiao Li’s clothing burned ragged and tattered, the exposed skin and flesh without exception blistered from burns, bloody and mangled.

He knelt before a corpse, his back silhouette as silent as a towering snow-covered mountain.

The several men all paused, not daring to approach further.

Outside the crowd, more commotion came. They didn’t recognize them.

But it was Song Qin, Zheng Hu and a group who, seeing the firelight, had rushed from the escort agency.

They saw Xiao Li. The subordinates first urgently called “Big Brother,” then after seeing the corpse before Xiao Li, without exception were stunned, then showed expressions of immense grief.

Zheng Hu, red-eyed, said almost disbelievingly: “This… is this truly Da Niang?”

The wounds on Xiao Li’s forearm were still bleeding outward. His back to the group, he said: “Big Brother, Tiger, trouble you to first take my mother somewhere quiet.”

After speaking, he picked up the long blade from the ground and left on his own.

Song Qin was the most composed among them. He had already realized that Xiao Huiniang, who had passed away half a year ago, appearing now in Yongcheng and suffering the same fate as the Zhou family, was likely no simple matter. He hurriedly shouted toward Xiao Li’s back: “First Brother, don’t act rashly!”