East Peace Village lay at the end of the dirt road.

When they entered, all was quiet without a sound.

“It seems everyone has fled from the famine,” Fu Tingyun said softly.

“Villages like Li Family Village are rare,” Master Zhao Jiu remarked indifferently. “Most villages don’t have such advantageous terrain.”

Fu Tingyun nodded.

Asen had already found a place to stay: “Master, shall we rest here?”

The two walked over.

A large gate painted black with copper rings, high walls built of stone blocks. Inside was a spacious courtyard with three main rooms, all brick and tile structures. Beyond the main building was another smaller courtyard with three side rooms, and behind those side rooms was a skywell and a kitchen. Quite impressive.

“We’ll rest in the side rooms at the back,” Master Zhao Jiu nodded with satisfaction.

This way, if someone broke in, they would have time to react, being separated by two courtyards and the main building.

Asen loudly acknowledged the order and prepared the eastern side room for Fu Tingyun.

Fu Tingyun noticed stone tables and stools under a dead grape trellis in the corner of the courtyard in front of the side rooms. “Master Jiu, shall we eat dinner outside?” Master Zhao Jiu wasn’t particularly concerned with such details, so she was just letting him know as she began setting out the food.

Master Zhao Jiu’s expression suddenly tensed. He turned and walked outside, reaching the back door of the main hall in just two or three steps.

Fu Tingyun was startled. Master Zhao Jiu’s figure had already disappeared into the main hall, followed immediately by a woman’s scream.

Asen poked his head out from the open window of the eastern side room.

Fu Tingyun put down the bowls and chopsticks and left the courtyard.

The dark-faced man they had encountered on the road had followed them here at some point. He now lay on the ground, his shoulder pinned down by Master Zhao Jiu. The pretty-faced woman knelt nearby with the child, desperately begging for mercy: “…we only saw that this compound’s walls were the thickest, assuming it would be safest, so we came in. We’ll leave right away, please be merciful, sir!” As she spoke, she pressed the child to kowtow to Master Zhao Jiu.

Fu Tingyun felt very uncomfortable watching this.

How could they use a child as a bargaining chip?

This couple was not good people.

She quietly retreated, bumping into Asen.

“What’s wrong?” Asen asked her.

“Nothing!” Fu Tingyun replied. “Some people also had their eye on this compound. Master Jiu is negotiating with them!”

Asen didn’t suspect anything.

Fu Tingyun said, “Is the eastern side room ready? If it’s ready, let’s prepare for dinner.”

“It’s been ready for a while!” Asen said with a grin. Just then, Master Zhao Jiu strode in and said, “Asen, find another room. We’re changing our lodging!”

Asen didn’t ask any questions, simply acknowledged with a loud “Yes!” and was about to leave.

But Master Zhao Jiu instructed: “Go through the back door!”

A flash of confusion crossed Asen’s eyes, but he quickly turned and exited through the back door.

Fu Tingyun hurriedly gathered the food: “Master Jiu, are we giving up this place to those people?”

“No!” Master Zhao Jiu answered. “It’s better to be cautious.”

Fu Tingyun naturally had complete faith in his decision and quickly packed everything up.

Asen returned: “The third house next door is quite nice too, just a bit smaller.”

Master Zhao Jiu said nothing, merely exchanged a glance with Fu Tingyun, then pushed the small cart with Fu Tingyun following behind him to the house Asen had mentioned.

After all this trouble, they finished dinner under a sky full of stars.

Asen sighed: “Tomorrow will be another sunny day!”

“I didn’t know you understood the stars,” Fu Tingyun enjoyed joking with Asen.

“Master taught me,” Asen glanced at Master Zhao Jiu, who sat silently eating a steamed bun. “Master also knows where the Weaver Girl star is, and where the Cowherd star is. Brother Yucheng can even tell the story of the Weaver Girl and Cowherd.”

“Have you heard the story of Chang’e Flying to the Moon?” Fu Tingyun asked him with a smile. “Would you like me to tell it to you?”

“Of course I’ve heard it,” Asen waved his hand dismissively. “Brother Yucheng can even tell ‘The Single Sword Meeting’! Do you know ‘The Single Sword Meeting’? It’s about Master Guan, and it’s really good. How about I tell it to you?”

Fu Tingyun laughed heartily, then suddenly thought, “Oh no!” Master Jiu was always secretive about his affairs. Would he be angry that she was chatting with Asen about his companions?

Her eyes darted toward him.

He sat there quietly, smiling as he watched them, his clear eyes like the countless stars in the night sky behind him—brilliant yet serene, making one’s heart peaceful at a single glance.

Fu Tingyun was momentarily stunned.

…

In the middle of the night, Fu Tingyun was awakened by Asen pushing her: “Miss, wake up!”

“What’s happened?” For convenience, she had been sleeping fully clothed these days.

“Master heard hoofbeats.” his little face was tense in the moonlight. “It might be bandits raiding the village!”

“How can that be? Don’t they use scouts? The villagers have long since fled!” She complained, but her hands and feet moved quickly. Soon she had put on her shoes and followed Asen out of the eastern side room.

Master Zhao Jiu stood in the courtyard with furrowed brows. Seeing Fu Tingyun and Asen, he pointed to a large water vat in the northeast corner of the courtyard: “Hide there for now!”

“How?” The water vat had long been empty and had a large broken section.

She strained her ears, but the night was as quiet as ever, without a sound.

Master Zhao Jiu effortlessly turned the water vat upside down on the ground: “Hide inside the vat.” Then he instructed Asen, “Bring the miss’s bundle, water skins, and steamed buns, and hide them in the vat too.”

Fu Tingyun was speechless, not knowing what to say.

Asen obeyed immediately, quickly bringing everything Master Zhao Jiu had mentioned.

“Sit on your bundle on the ground,” Master Zhao Jiu said, lifting one edge of the vat and gesturing for her to crawl in quickly. “Don’t come out unless I come for you. Do you understand?” The last question was asked sternly.

Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly and crawled in clumsily. Asen pushed the water skins, steamed buns, and flatbreads in after her.

Master Zhao Jiu and Asen climbed onto the kitchen’s crossbeam.

In the cramped, dark space, amid the silent environment, time seemed to slow down.

Fu Tingyun felt somewhat afraid. But trusting Master Zhao Jiu, she remained motionless, hiding in the vat.

After an unknown length of time, firelight suddenly shone through the broken section of the vat.

“Zhao Jiu, I know you’re in there,” a rough voice shouted. “Fate brings us together over a thousand miles, but without fate, we pass by as strangers. Since fate has brought us together, shouldn’t we settle our accounts? I’ve been dreaming about you!” By the end, his tone had become chillingly sinister.

Weren’t they supposed to be hiding from mounted bandits?

How did this turn into an encounter with Master Zhao Jiu’s enemy?

Fu Tingyun’s heart suddenly suspended in anxiety. Worse still, hidden in the vat, she couldn’t see anything, and felt helplessly distressed!

“Old Four Feng, I’ve also been looking for a chance to settle our accounts,” in the quiet night, Master Zhao Jiu’s voice gradually rose, coming ever closer to Fu Tingyun. “Since you’re in such a good mood today, let’s settle them properly!” She knew Master Zhao Jiu had come out and was standing in the courtyard. “But if I remember correctly, you once said that whether speaking or eating, everything relies on fists. I think today we might as well use our fists to settle accounts!” Following this, Fu Tingyun heard a loud “bang,” a man’s roar of anger, horses neighing, and women’s terrified screams, all mixing in a chaotic clamor.

When Master Zhao Jiu saw the delicate face standing beside Old Four Feng, he knew he would have to kill everyone today—this woman had seen Fu Tingyun, and Old Four Feng, knowing he was traveling with women and children, would surely think they were his family. He would likely try every means to capture them as bargaining chips, which would be troublesome! As for how this woman came to be with Old Four Feng, he had no interest in knowing.

He moved like lightning, carrying his eyebrow-high staff straight toward Old Four Feng.

Old Four Feng hadn’t expected Master Zhao Jiu to charge at him while exchanging pleasantries, and hurriedly retreated on his horse.

The reins were pulled tight, and the horse neighed once. Master Zhao Jiu had already pressed his palm against the horse’s head. The horse didn’t even grunt before collapsing with a thunderous sound.

Old Four Feng was greatly alarmed. When Master Zhao Jiu’s hand touched the horse’s head, he knew the horse was doomed. Before the horse fell, he leaped from its back, drawing his sword with a “clang” and holding it before his chest.

Unexpectedly, Master Zhao Jiu ignored him completely. Instead, his fingers flicked upward, and suddenly a white light, brilliant as a shooting star, streaked through the air.

“This is the second time I’ve killed a woman!” Master Zhao Jiu muttered. The woman standing beside Old Four Feng suddenly widened her eyes. In the torchlight, blood slowly seeped from her neck…

All the men retreated several steps on their horses.

The woman collapsed to the ground.

“Master Zhao Jiu’s willow leaf dagger truly lives up to its reputation!” Old Four Feng glanced at the woman lying on the ground, his face turning ugly. “I use a blade too, but I use a large one!” As he spoke, the snow-bright blade edge surged toward Master Zhao Jiu like waves.

Master Zhao Jiu stepped back, his eyebrow-high staff blocking his face.

The waves instantly receded.

The eyebrow-high staff had broken into two pieces, one half falling to the ground with a “thud,” the other half still in Master Zhao Jiu’s hand.

Old Four Feng squinted at Master Zhao Jiu, then leaped up, chopping down at him with the force of a mountain.

Master Zhao Jiu raised the remaining half of his eyebrow-high staff to meet the attack.

With a “crack,” the staff split again down the middle. However, Old Four Feng felt as if he had kicked an iron plate. He flipped several times in the air before landing, his body wobbling as he retreated several steps before regaining his balance.

Master Zhao Jiu’s expression grew solemn.

This was the first time he had formally crossed hands with Old Four Feng. In just two moves, Old Four Feng had demonstrated two skills—one soft, one hard—showing that his martial arts had achieved a balance of hardness and softness, reaching a high level.

He formed a fist seal.

Old Four Feng lunged forward.

The cold blade light formed layers of nets, trapping Master Zhao Jiu within.

Master Zhao Jiu slowly threw punches, hitting east and west. Wherever his fist wind reached, the net immediately tore.

Old Four Feng snorted coldly, mending the torn net.

Gradually, Master Zhao Jiu’s punches became faster, while Old Four Feng’s net-forming slowed.

Suddenly, with a crisp “clang,” Old Four Feng leaped backward.

Silvery white fragments were scattered on the ground, like broken moonlight.

Old Four Feng’s face was pale as he stood there, holding the bladeless hilt of his sword, with crimson liquid flowing from the corner of his mouth.