In Nan’an City.
Su Zhe cut an odd figure as he walked brazenly down the main street, holding a Buddhist staff in one hand and a pipe in the other, chewing betel nut as he went. Yet passersby treated him with great respect, nodding and bowing in greeting, some even offering him fine tobacco. This had nothing to do with Su Zhe himself, but rather with Bai Hehuai, who walked beside him eating osmanthus cake.
Divine Physician Maiden Bai Hehuai became quite renowned in Nan’an City.
She chewed her osmanthus cake while curiously examining the novelties along the street. Today was the medicine hall’s once-every-ten-days closure, and she finally had some leisure time. She’d been out shopping since early morning. Before leaving, Xiao Chaoyan, who was watching the house, had made her promise not to return without a cartload of purchases. However, despite looking left and right, Bai Hehuai couldn’t find a single thing in Nan’an City that caught her eye.
“Now this is something special,” Su Zhe stopped at a small stall, looking at a crystal cup with a golden butterfly fluttering its wings inside—not a living creature, but an intricate mechanical creation crafted by a skilled artisan. “How much?”
“This isn’t priced in silver.” The vendor said haughtily. “It’s priced in gold. Thirty taels of gold, not a fraction less.”
“Thirty taels of gold for this?” Bai Hehuai glanced at it disdainfully. “The craftsmanship is decent enough. But this is the sort of trinket nobles in Tianqi City who like to show off to their guests. It has no practical use. Finding it in a street market means it’s either a counterfeit or…”
“If you’re not buying, move along! Are you here to cause trouble?” The vendor’s face darkened as he moved to act.
“Oh my.” Su Zhe lightly flicked his Buddhist staff, sending the vendor stumbling backward. Bai Hehuai rolled her eyes at him, clasped her hands behind her back, and strolled forward humming a tune. Su Zhe took a puff from his pipe, blowing the smoke in the vendor’s face before catching up with her.
“It’s stolen. There was originally a family name stamped on the bottom of the crystal cup, but he erased it,” Bai Hehuai said after they’d walked a few steps.
Su Zhe nodded. “I noticed.”
“Ah, letting him go just like that makes me uncomfortable,” Bai Hehuai said, appearing to despise evil.
“Don’t worry,” Su Zhe raised an eyebrow. “In half an hour, a crack will appear in the crystal cup. By the time he notices it, another hour later, it’ll be nothing but fragments.”
Bai Hehuai smiled. “Father is so capable.”
“Of course. The skills I once used to kill are now used for minor mischief.” Su Zhe chewed his betel nut, his tone carrying an affected melancholy. “How the mighty have fallen.”
Suddenly, the wind chimes above a nearby tavern rang out, their clear, melodious sound carrying on the breeze. Bai Hehuai couldn’t help but look up, feeling the sound was somehow familiar.
“Oh?” Su Zhe stopped, lightly tapping his Buddhist staff on the ground. The golden rings on it clinked together, producing an identical rhythm to the wind chimes.
“I’ll be right back.” Su Zhe leaped away with his staff.
Bai Hehuai wasn’t surprised. She found a tea stall by the roadside and sat down, ordering a pot of Dragon Well tea and a plate of mung bean cakes. After eating and drinking for a while, she let out a long sigh, seeming quite disappointed.
“What’s wrong, Divine Physician? Is our tea and snacks not to your liking?” The tea stall owner, who had once sought treatment at the Bai He Medical Manor, held great respect for Bai Hehuai. He had already served his finest tea and freshly baked mung bean cakes, and hearing her sigh, he hurriedly came forward to inquire.
Bai Hehuai quickly shook her head. “No, no, it’s just me today. I came out planning to enjoy myself, full of enthusiasm, but after half a day of walking, I still find it dull.”
“Nan’an City is famous far and wide for having the most novelties,” the stall owner said, relieved. “But Divine Physician, you’ve been in Nan’an City for some time now. Even the most interesting place becomes tiresome after a while, doesn’t it? Unless you consider it your home and view the city with that special feeling, then it would be different.”
“Oh? So by your logic, I should travel somewhere further away?” Bai Hehuai said pensively.
The stall owner was taken aback. “That’s not a bad idea.”
“You find it boring because you find the person accompanying you boring,” Su Zhe sat down beside her. “Boss, give me some Dragon Well tea too, your finest.”
“No problem,” the owner smiled.
“What’s the point of more tea? Let’s head back,” Bai Hehuai pouted.
“Don’t you want to know who I just met and what I heard?” Su Zhe asked.
“It’s just that Dark River matters again, isn’t it? I don’t want to hear it. Father, haven’t you left that behind? Why are they still looking for you?” Bai Hehuai said disapprovingly.
Su Zhe took a puff from his pipe. “Well, if you don’t want to know, I won’t tell you the news Su Changhe brought about Su Muyu.”
Bai Hehuai quickly pushed her plate of mung bean cakes toward Su Zhe and personally got up to take the teapot from the owner’s hands, pouring Su Zhe a full cup. “Father, please have some tea!”
“Well, this matter…” Su Zhe contentedly picked up a mung bean cake, “will probably spread throughout the jianghu very soon…”
Two cups of tea and a plate of mung bean cakes later, Su Zhe’s story was finished. He picked up his pipe and leisurely lit some tobacco, while Bai Hehuai rested her chin in her hand, gazing into the distance, seemingly lost in thought.
“Now are you relieved? He challenged Wushuang in a sword duel and emerged unscathed. He should be back in a few days,” Su Zhe took a puff and looked at Bai Hehuai, who had just come back to her senses and glanced at him. Their eyes met, and Su Zhe immediately sensed trouble, gripping his Buddhist staff and preparing to flee.
“Father!” Bai Hehuai grabbed Su Zhe’s hand.
Su Zhe smiled bitterly. “Don’t be rash.”
“How many days to Wushuang City?” Bai Hehuai asked.
Su Zhe replied helplessly, “Fifteen days! If we encounter thunder, rain, heavy snow, or strong winds… at least a month!”
“What about riding fast horses and changing mounts along the way?” Bai Hehuai pressed.
Su Zhe laughed wryly. “That would still take at least seven days!”
“Going to Wushuang City?” The stall owner had overheard. “There’s a boat at the dock today heading east. It takes four days to reach Luoyang City. From Luoyang City to Wushuang City is only a hundred li…”
“Oh ho,” Bai Hehuai raised an eyebrow.
“Damn it,” Su Zhe cursed.