During the ten years as Third Master Xie, besides the Xie family ties he couldn’t sever, there was also Young Master Pei.

Mingting—this was a form of address Xie Zhifei hung on his lips every day.

The person wasn’t a good person. His temper was as foul as his mouth. His bones were both lazy and light. In his heart he wanted to rise above others, but after working hard for three days, he’d revert to his original form.

The type who wouldn’t bother to pull down his pants and squat to shit unless the shit reached his asshole.

But Xie Zhifei knew very clearly in his heart—the three words “Xie Wushi” held the same importance in this person’s heart as Pei Mingting.

If there were no accidents, they truly could be good brothers for life.

But in all the world, there was no banquet that didn’t end.

“Mingting.”

Xie Zhifei looked at the person on the bed. That person had his back to him, curling himself into an arc that was both stubborn and fragile.

“Everything’s packed. We’ll leave before dawn tomorrow. You must take care in the capital. Huairen isn’t favored lately—rein in your temper. Don’t cause trouble outside.”

Facing the Xie family members, Xie Zhifei could still use his silver tongue, but facing this ancestor, for some reason, some words were very difficult to say.

He could only coax.

“Once I reach the Nujiang River, I’ll send someone with a letter for you. Don’t worry—four letters in four seasons, each letter will definitely be filled with ten pages, reporting to you about eating, drinking, shitting, and sleeping.”

That arc didn’t move at all.

“It’s only a month’s journey from Yunnan Prefecture to the capital. Your Bureau of Buddhist Registry often has opportunities for business trips. When Yan Sanhe and I marry, you must come. Don’t think of giving even one tael less in gift money.”

Xie Zhifei reached out and pushed his back.

“Huaizuo has never left Begonia Courtyard in his whole life. Third Master only has two good brothers in total, and you’re the first…”

“He’s not just the first on your side.”

Yan Sanhe leaned against the doorway. “He’s also the first on my side. Besides a certain Third Master Xie, I’ve never put another man in my heart. Young Master Pei, you’re the only one.”

Hmph!

How honored I am!

Pei Xiao grumbled internally.

Yan Sanhe walked to the bedside. Xie Zhifei gave up his position.

She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Mingting, I have nothing else to say—just two things to remind you of.

First thing: Use more eyes when looking at people. Don’t always give your whole heart and lungs to others. There aren’t many people in this world worth your whole heart and lungs—be careful you’re eaten until not even dregs remain.

Second thing: Chengyu and I will keep a room empty for you at home. If one day you don’t want to be in the capital anymore, come live at home. The food and clothing might not compare to the capital, but the liveliness will definitely be livelier than the capital.”

More lively than both sides of the Yongding River?

Some backwater place—who’d bother coming?

Over a month’s carriage ride—Young Master’s ass is too precious!

Huh?

Why is there no sound?

Keep coaxing!

Don’t you all know that Young Master Pei is very prideful and needs to be coaxed to death?

Pei Xiao focused his hearing for a while. Seeing still no movement behind him, he suddenly sat up, directly meeting a pair of heroically compelling eyes.

The owner of those eyes had a smile at the corners of her mouth, arms crossed over her chest, looking down at him from above.

What are you looking at?

I’m not a monkey performing in a theater troupe requiring you all to take turns “admiring” me.

Pei Xiao puffed out his face, turned his head away, and said nothing.

“Young Master Pei, I’m a straightforward person. I don’t speak pleasantries—only what’s in my heart.”

Li Buyan lightly raised her two delicate brows.

“Don’t be difficult either. Where the heart is, that’s where the person should be. Get your things packed smartly and come with me. My mother says raising sons for filial piety or for children and grandchildren—might as well not raise them at all.”

What kind of wild words were these?

You really dare say it!

Young Master Pei’s head turned further inward.

Huh, why is there no sound again?

He waited quietly for a while, then suddenly turned around. The room was empty—not a single person’s shadow remained.

Cold tears flowed from the corners of his eyes.

He felt himself standing lost and dejected at a crossroads, clutching his heart that leaked wind from all four sides, not knowing where to go.

…

The next day.

Before dawn, three carriages departed from the别院 (separate residence).

Driving the carriages were Ding Yi, Li Buyan, and Lu Da wearing a bamboo hat.

In Ding Yi’s carriage sat Xie Zhifei and Yan Sanhe.

In Li Buyan’s carriage, Tang Yuan and Lan Chuan leaned against each other.

Lu Da’s carriage was loaded full of food and clothing.

Young Master Pei ultimately didn’t come to see them off. He only had Huang Qi give Third Master a box, with instructions that the box must not be opened until after leaving the city.

The carriage drove out the south city gate and headed straight for the official road.

Xie Zhifei opened the box. Inside was exactly twenty-three thousand taels of silver.

“These years I’ve been an official and secretly embezzled some silver—not much, just eighteen thousand taels…”

“Good boy, I still have five thousand taels of private silver hidden under the bed…”

Xie Zhifei’s eyes reddened as he said to Yan Sanhe: “This kid really knows how to accumulate wealth!”

Yan Sanhe smiled leisurely.

“Still can’t compare to someone. When someone was young, he was so afraid I’d find his private money—he’d hide a bit in his shoes, hide a bit in wall cracks. Most infuriating was he’d hide it in bird nests.

Not only could he hide it, he could swindle. Within three days of my monthly allowance reaching my hands, he’d definitely swindle it away.

The reasons were bizarre and varied.

Having silver would give you styes, make you unable to sleep, make you stupid, and when you grew up you’d reek of copper smell and wouldn’t be fragrant anymore…”

At this moment, the carriage suddenly sped up rapidly.

Warm breeze, autumn sun, the girl beside him lost and regained, the girl chattering about embarrassing incidents from Begonia Courtyard in the past…

Xie Zhifei’s sorrow of parting suddenly lightened.

…

Racing all the way, they rested at relay stations at night and continued traveling early the next morning.

At dusk the sky suddenly darkened, a light drizzle began to fall, the temperature dropped sharply, and all around was a hazy mist.

“Young Master, there’s a pavilion ahead. Shall we rest our feet and add a layer of clothing?”

Perhaps because they’d left the capital, Lu Da’s voice carried a trace of excitement.

Yan Sanhe: “Good!”

Entering the pavilion, Lan Chuan brewed tea. Tang Yuan found thick clothing from the trunks. Ding Yi and Li Buyan watered the horses.

Lu Da leaped up and landed on the pavilion roof, habitually observing the surroundings.

The surrounding tree shadows were indistinct—nothing unusual. Just as Lu Da was about to jump down, suddenly his body inexplicably shivered.

Immediately after, an indescribable feeling seized his heart. He instantly realized—

This was killing intent!

“Third Master, protect the Young Miss! Ding Yi, Li Buyan—prepare for battle.”

His words had barely fallen when densely packed black-clothed figures surged from the tree shadows. Lu Da’s gaze swept over them and his entire body, even his blood, turned cold.

Too many people—it was completely overwhelming. Even ten more of him probably wouldn’t help.

Someone wanted to put the Young Miss to death!

At this moment, hearing the shout, Ding Yi and Li Buyan drew their swords and charged forward.

Li Buyan even shouted loudly: “I’ll fuck the eighteenth generation of ancestors of that bastard surnamed Zhao! Going back on his word—a petty man! Die for this aunt!”

Xie Zhifei pulled a large saber from the carriage. With no time to say more, his gaze looked deeply at Yan Sanhe once, then he too charged forward.

He didn’t even have time to think—why would so many black-clothed figures appear in this desolate wilderness? Had the Emperor truly gone back on his word?

The instant Xie Zhifei swung his large saber, Yan Sanhe regretted it.

If she had left the separate residence alone and departed the capital by herself, would there be a different outcome?

If she killed herself at this moment, would it let Xie Zhifei, Li Buyan and the others survive?

“Tang Yuan, you protect Miss. I’ll meet them in battle.”

One sentence shattered all of Yan Sanhe’s regrets to powder.

There would be no different outcome. They wouldn’t survive. From the first day they followed her, the outcome was already determined.

Yan Sanhe shouted loudly: “Lan Chuan, be careful!”

Lan Chuan, so young, holding a soft sword Li Buyan had given her, charged into battle full of spirit.

She hadn’t even stabilized her horse stance yet and only knew a few showy moves.

But so what?

Master Lu Da had said: in killing, what’s important is the word “kill.” As long as you don’t want to die, find a way to kill the others.

“M-Miss, hide behind me.”

Tang Yuan’s two legs trembled violently, but she still shakily stood in front of Yan Sanhe.

“No need!”

Yan Sanhe pulled a golden hairpin from her chest. This hairpin was a gift from Li Buyan.

“If there really is a worst case, find a way to give yourself a quick end.”

“N-no, Lu Da, he…”

“It’s useless!”

Yan Sanhe smiled silently: “No matter how formidable someone is, they can’t defeat an army of thousands.”

Yes, couldn’t defeat them.

Lu Da’s back had already taken a sword strike, blood flowing like a stream.

Following Lu Shi’s side all these years in comfort, injury seemed like something from a past life. As blood dyed his clothing, it also exploded the desperate strength from within his heart.

His strikes became faster. Black-clothed figures fell before him one by one.

On the other side, Xie Zhifei roughly spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva while his peripheral vision hurriedly swept toward Yan Sanhe’s direction.

She stood calmly in the center of the pavilion, her gaze looking toward him.

Their eyes met.

He understood the deep meaning behind her calm—live together, die together.

Right—what was there to fear about death?

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t died before!

Xie Zhifei roared: “Ding Yi, Hero, Lu Da—kill for me!”

“Third Master, you’re still missing one person!”

In the fine rain, a steady voice carrying no emotion rang out. Everyone hearing this voice shuddered violently.

It was Zhu Qing.

One person, one horse, one sword.

—