A bone-chilling night wind blew past, and Li Dingyuan, who hadn’t had a drop of water all day, was nearly blown over, but it also sobered him somewhat.

No, Ruyi must have met with an accident, otherwise she couldn’t possibly disappear without saying a word to him.

Li Dingyuan regretted that he had just walked away that morning. If something had happened to Ruyi, he would never forgive himself.

He quickly flashed into the house to change into night clothing. Just as he picked up the Qingming sword, Li Dingyuan heard movement at the courtyard gate. Thinking Ruyi had returned, he immediately flew out, but became alert and drew his sword upon seeing who it was.

The visitor was exactly the Embroidered Uniform Guard Li Dingyuan had seen that morning. His flying fish robe appeared even more noble and magnificent in the moonlight, yet carried a murderous aura. He hadn’t seen the man’s face clearly before, but now Li Dingyuan, looking with prejudice, had to admit this young man was handsome, not at all like a ruthless Embroidered Uniform Guard, but more like an elegant young master.

“Where is Ruyi?” There was no one behind him, and Li Dingyuan’s heart sank. But he felt this person didn’t seem to be here to arrest him, otherwise why would he come alone?

“I’m here to take that bronze box.” The man didn’t answer but stated his purpose directly.

“Bronze box?” Li Dingyuan was startled, hesitating a moment before remembering what bronze box he meant – the one he had brought from the Li family back then. He had long since lost interest in it, but Ruyi took it with them every time they moved and treasured it greatly, though she rarely let him see it. “What do you want that thing for?” Another night wind blew, causing the other’s flying fish robe to flutter. Li Dingyuan glimpsed that under the flying fish robe, the man wore black robes, and he could vaguely see some red dragon body with scales that seemed to glimmer…

He must be seeing things, otherwise who would dare to wear dragon robes? Even Embroidered Uniform Guards couldn’t do that!

The man smiled coldly, then sighed deeply: “You actually don’t know… actually don’t know…”

“Don’t know what?” Li Dingyuan’s heart jumped as he instinctively asked.

“During the Qin Dynasty under Emperor Shi Huang, there was a saying: ‘There is imperial qi in the southeast,’ so he traveled east to suppress it. When Emperor Shi Huang traveled to Jinling and observed that this place had dragon vein terrain – crouching tiger, coiling dragon, dangerous topography with extremely strong imperial qi – he excavated the Qinhuai River to drain the dragon qi. This is the origin of the ‘Qin’ character in Yingtian Prefecture’s Qinhuai River.”

What was all this about? Li Dingyuan didn’t know why this person suddenly brought up these matters, but having been beloved since childhood, his grandfather hadn’t expected him to excel, so hadn’t pressured him too much in studying. After his family’s destruction, he had even less opportunity to learn, his life filled entirely with martial arts training and revenge. This man’s few sentences piqued his interest, and though he felt this had nothing to do with Ruyi, he couldn’t help but prick up his ears.

The young Embroidered Uniform Guard glanced at him and continued eloquently: “Actually, what Emperor Shi Huang did wasn’t limited to excavating the Qinhuai River. He also flattened Tianyin Mountain and buried a treasure at the foot of the mountain.”

“Treasure?” Li Dingyuan furrowed his brow, instinctively feeling something was wrong.

“During the Three Kingdoms period, when Sun Quan excavated in Jinling, he accidentally found a bronze box, two chi and seven cun long, with a glass lid. Inside was a white jade ruyi, with dragon, tiger, and cicada forms carved where it was held, but no one could identify its origin. He had people ask Zhong Yu, who said: ‘Long ago Emperor Qin, believing Jinling had imperial qi, flattened all mountains and hills and buried treasures to suppress the imperial qi. Could this be one of them?'”

“Bronze box!” Li Dingyuan was shocked. Could his bronze box actually have such origins? The sword in his hand was already powerless to strike, its tip touching the ground, supporting him to still stand there.

The young Embroidered Uniform Guard smiled mockingly: “Ruyi… do you know what ruyi means? Ruyi, Sanskrit name Anaratha, called ruyi in Qin times. The handle can be about three chi long. When one’s back itches where hands cannot reach, it’s used for scratching, following human intention, hence called ‘ruyi.’ But a Heavenly Ruyi formed from concentrated imperial qi can truly follow human intention. Over all these years, has even one of the wishes you made to her not come true?”

Li Dingyuan felt like he’d been struck on the head, staggering backward several steps and nearly falling to the ground.

Distant memories surfaced from his mind.

Eight years ago in that broken house, the last thing a small boy saw before losing consciousness was the glass lid of the bronze box falling and shattering from his arms. Looking at that lustrous white jade ruyi, the small boy murmured not to leave him alone… When he woke up again, he saw a small girl.

The scene shifted to still in that broken house, the small girl compassionately stroking the small boy’s head: “Jie’er, what do you want?”

The small boy touched his empty little belly, making a bitter face: “I don’t want to go hungry…”

“I know where there’s silver!” The small girl smiled and led the small boy to dig up grandfather’s money box from that broken house. The two children stared blankly at a stack of banknotes and a handful of gold leaves.

Another scene change – the small boy and girl were a year older. The small boy was angrily tearing up the Four Books and Five Classics in his hands while the small girl stood aside indulgently watching his actions. After he calmed down, she walked over and patted his shoulder, gently asking: “Jie’er, what do you want?”

The small boy rubbed his face and said gloomily: “Reading won’t work. I don’t have proper household registration and can’t even apply for the county school examination. But for martial arts, I can’t find a good master. Those martial arts schools only teach superficial exercises for health.”

The small girl smiled: “I have martial arts manuals here! I can also find you a satisfactory sword…” The small girl led the small boy to a mountain forest, digging out a peerless martial arts manual and a sword that could cut through iron like mud from a cave.

…

Memory frames flashed through his mind. Large things like silver or martial arts manuals, small things like new robes or delicious food – over their eight years together, whenever Li Dingyuan spoke of something, Ruyi would always wear that calm smile and easily arrange whatever he requested.

Before, he had always thought Ruyi was too virtuous, too clever, but now… this person was saying Ruyi was that white jade ruyi? So she could fulfill all his wishes?

This was absolutely ridiculous!

But… did he really have no doubts at all?

Ruyi never spoke of her own affairs, never had any complaints or demands of him, never… never disappointed him…

Could… could this all be true?

Li Dingyuan suddenly thought of last night, Ruyi’s tender smile, and felt his heart and courage shatter.

What wish had he made to her again?

Right, he insisted on revenge… all these years, no matter how many times she asked, he stubbornly insisted on revenge…

Li Dingyuan threw down the Qingming sword in his hands, not caring that this beloved iron sword fell into the dirt. He frantically grabbed the man’s lapels, asking urgently: “Where is Ruyi? Where is she? What do you want the bronze box for?”

The man didn’t mind being grabbed, saying flatly: “Seeing you injured, she could no longer endure. Last night I secretly covered for you, yet you were still so clumsy. She feared next time you’d never return. She had always been sealed in the bronze box. After you accidentally broke the glass lid and released her seal, she gradually recovered her imperial qi while growing up with you. What a pity for such a fine Heavenly Ruyi.”

“You mean…” Li Dingyuan was thunderstruck.

“That expression – who are you performing for?” The man’s words were utterly mocking, sneering freely: “I’ve seen many people like you. Even if Ruyi told you the truth, you probably wouldn’t change your choice. You might even make more difficult demands of her. Hmm? Am I not right?”

Li Dingyuan gripped the other’s lapels tightly, veins showing on his arms from the force, but he couldn’t say a word of refutation.

Yes, what right did he have to be angry?

Panic rose in Li Dingyuan’s heart – could he really be as this person said, that knowing Ruyi’s true identity, he would instead exploit her?

Revenge… Ruyi… which was more important…

A scale swayed in his heart as the tragically dead family members and the gentle-smiling Ruyi alternately appeared in his mind. Li Dingyuan was horrified to discover he truly didn’t know how to choose.

Had Ruyi seen clearly into his heart?

Was that why she decided as she did…

“Ruyi she…” Li Dingyuan struggled to find his voice, but after only three words, he couldn’t continue.

“I came to take the bronze box to give her a resting place.” The young Embroidered Uniform Guard waved away the dumbstruck Li Dingyuan, frowning as he straightened his flying fish robe. After ensuring the inner robe wouldn’t show, he flicked non-existent dust from his clothes, saying flatly: “I don’t know what wish you made, but she willingly severed herself, completely cutting off the dragon qi of Jinling Yingtian Prefecture. Though this Ming Dynasty may continue, this place should no longer be the capital in a few years.” He surveyed the surroundings, finally settling on a certain spot, continuing: “And in the future, it will never be the capital again.”

Having said this, he no longer paid attention to Li Dingyuan collapsed on the ground, walking directly to Ruyi’s room, taking the broken-lidded bronze box, and departing gracefully.

Completely ignoring the heart-rending cries coming from that small courtyard.

“So that’s why Nanjing couldn’t be the capital?” The doctor looked at the agonized youth in the residence, quietly discussing with Lu Zigang beside him. They hadn’t arrived early, but had heard most of what they needed to. They couldn’t help but sigh for that unfortunate youth and persistent Heavenly Ruyi. There was no way to judge who was right or wrong – after all, the hatred of family annihilation couldn’t be simply erased with words. The Heavenly Ruyi’s character was so resolute, preferring to shatter like jade rather than survive as broken pottery. She would rather risk her life to fulfill the youth’s wish than stay by his side watching him repeatedly take risks.

“From a scientific perspective, we can’t think that way, but it’s very strange. Since the 3rd century AD, Nanjing has successively been the capital for ten dynasties or regimes: Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, Southern Dynasty’s Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, Southern Tang, Ming, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and Republic of China, but none lasted long. We’re now in the Ming Dynasty under Zhu Yuanzhang, and before long his son Zhu Di will move the capital to Beijing.” Lu Zigang stroked his chin thoughtfully: “Maybe Emperor Qin Shi Huang really did drain the dragon qi and sever the dragon veins. Otherwise, such a place of crouching tigers and coiling dragons has no reason to be cursed – every dynasty that made it capital was short-lived. Except for the Ming Dynasty, though if Zhu Di hadn’t moved the capital, it might have been dangerous too.”

The doctor felt chills down his spine from Lu Zigang’s words, pushing him urgently: “The compass got the time wrong again. Let’s go back quickly. By the way, how did the boss ever become an Embroidered Uniform Guard? That flying fish robe was quite handsome! But I feel like the boss just now seemed to notice us?”

“Probably didn’t notice… otherwise he should have come to check.” Lu Zigang spoke without much confidence, looking down at the compass in his hand. The pointer wasn’t turning fast – it would be a while before it returned to position.

“How much longer? I don’t want to keep peeping through windows here. What if that boy comes inside, how would we explain… Ah!”

The doctor suddenly exclaimed quietly, making Lu Zigang look up to see the youth raising the sharp sword in his hand, planning to cut his own throat. The doctor couldn’t bear such scenes of disregarding life and immediately wanted to rush out and stop him, but Lu Zigang grabbed his arm, saying sternly: “Have you forgotten? What did I tell you before we left? Don’t interfere with history that has already happened!”

“But…” The doctor’s face flushed red with urgency. He immediately wanted to shout to stop the youth’s suicide, but before he could speak, he saw the youth’s sword pause in mid-air, then run frantically out of the courtyard gate. The doctor was stunned: “What happened to him?”

“Let’s follow and find out. He might think the boss was bluffing, but from my experience, what the boss said is indeed true.” Lu Zigang shrugged, relaxing. Regardless of whether this youth ultimately committed suicide, at least it wasn’t happening in front of them. And honestly, this youth was already ancient history – they were just observers.

Lu Zigang looked at the doctor’s worried expression, feeling some unease in his heart.

He could completely treat these time-space journeys as holographic movies, but could the doctor do the same?

“What do you think will happen to that youth later?” The doctor pushed his glasses nervously.

White light flashed from the compass. Lu Zigang said calmly: “Anyway, for us, he’s long been dead.”