Chapter Sixty-Two: The Bitterness of Parting

After dinner, Gan Sui and Lin Tianyu left the house.

"The roads are treacherous at night, be careful," Banxia said, draping a cloak over Gan Sui’s shoulders as she saw him out.

"You should go to bed early—don’t wait up for me."

The two of them mounted their swift horses and headed for the city gates. The soldiers on duty were just finishing their meal. When they saw Gan Sui approach, they opened the gates and warned, "Sir, there are bandits on Dongshan. You mustn’t go there."

"Understood, I’ll keep that in mind."

Once outside the city, Gan Sui urged his horse straight toward Dongshan. Lin Tianyu called out, "Wait, are you really heading to Dongshan? If you’d told me earlier, I’d have brought more men. There are only two of us, and facing a hundred bandits, we wouldn’t even make a dent. Are you just scouting?"

"Don’t worry, nothing will happen to you. Let’s move quickly."

They made haste, and when they reached the foot of Dongshan, the terrain became too rough for horses. They dismounted. Suddenly, voices barked, "Don’t move!"

Flames flared to life around them, and the chill of sword tips pressed against their throats. "Who dares trespass on Black Dragon Mountain at night?"

Lin Tianyu was ready to fight, but Gan Sui stopped him and produced a jade pendant from his robes. "We’re here to collect the goods."

The man took the pendant, examined it closely, then signaled his men to withdraw. "Please, gentlemen, follow me."

The mountain path twisted upward, steep and uneven. Gan Sui and Lin Tianyu, unfamiliar with the route, stumbled along for much of an hour before reaching their destination—a nondescript cave veiled by low-hanging vines, so well hidden that few would notice it even by day.

Inside, the cave was brightly lit. At its center stood a massive survey map of the Liang Kingdom’s mountains. Before it stood a man, who turned at the sound of their arrival. "It’s you?"

"You know Brother Duan?" The man was none other than Gan Sui’s senior, Duan Chensha, who had once helped him greatly at the Yun Yin Academy.

"Know him? I almost became his brother-in-law," Duan Chensha replied with a half-smile.

"You’ve got some nerve to joke about that. If you’d tried just a bit harder back then..." Maybe then my sister wouldn’t have married that man, and she might still be alive.

"That’s why I’m here to atone for my mistakes now. Lin Tianyu, receive your orders."

Lin Tianyu instinctively knelt. "I receive the imperial command."

"Forget it, it’s too long to recite. Read it yourself." Duan handed him the secret edict.

Lin Tianyu skimmed it quickly, then read it again in disbelief. "What does he mean by this?"

"I’ve discovered that Yun’er’s death years ago is inseparable from Noble Consort Wen," Duan Chensha said quietly, "but vengeance is impossible alone, so I sought his help."

"Did he believe you?" Lin Tianyu asked.

"Because we know each other. We both loved Yun’er—presenting him with the truth was enough."

"Then what are you waiting for? Kill that woman," Lin Tianyu demanded.

"And then?" Duan Chensha challenged.

"What do you mean, ‘and then’?"

"If Noble Consort Wen falls, Marquis Wen still has several daughters. He’ll send another to win favor at court, and his family will continue to hold power. Yun’er’s child will still be forced to live in the shadows. Don’t you see? Unless the Wen clan is eradicated, Yun’er will never rest in peace. Our goal isn’t just personal revenge, but the total destruction of the Wen family. Only then will they taste suffering a hundredfold, and only then will our resentment truly be avenged."

Lin Tianyu was silent for a long time.

"Have you found Yun’er’s child?" Duan Chensha asked, turning to Gan Sui.

Gan Sui replied, "You’ve met him—he’s Anzi."

Duan Chensha laughed, almost bitterly. "So... I should have recognized him from the start. I knew it—his eyes are so like Yun’er’s, so familiar... I thought I was imagining things, but it was really him."

Lin Tianyu, laughing, suddenly felt a sting at his nose and spoke fiercely, "Fine. However you want to do this, I’ll follow. If we fail, in eighteen years I’ll be a hero again."

Duan Chensha clapped him on the shoulder. "Don’t worry. With your valor, my strategy, and all this gold and silver, we’ll build the strongest Lin family army. All of this will be that child’s bargaining chip."

"You two haven’t seen each other in so long—catch up. My wife told me to return early, so I’ll head back." Seeing that it was late and their business was done, Gan Sui was eager to return home.

He was met with a pair of envious stares from the two bachelors, as if to say, "So what if you have a wife? No need to show off."

Gan Sui paid them no mind and rode away.

Left alone in the cave, Lin Tianyu and Duan Chensha exchanged glances. "Shall we have some wine?"

"What kind?"

"Bamboo Leaf Green. Want some?"

"Of course."

Their mood was heavy, and they soon drank more than intended. With drink came words.

"Do you remember the first time we drank together?"

"Of course. Just before Yun’er’s wedding, we snuck out the Daughter’s Red wine our parents had hidden for her."

"I remember the taste—so sour and bitter, every sip felt like heartache, but we kept drinking until we were both muddled."

"How could I forget... The thing we treasured most was just taken away, and he didn’t cherish it at all... Qi Nanxing, that bastard!"

"I’m a bastard too. I hate myself... I regret it..."

"So do I..."

"But it’s all right. We can still raise that child..."

"Yes, the child. Yun’er, I found your son. I saw him." I will protect him well.

Gan Sui rode hard all the way home. When he returned, Banxia was lying in bed reading a travelogue.

"You’re back."

"I told you to rest early. Why are you still up?"

"You weren’t home. I couldn’t relax, so I read to pass the time. I didn’t realize how late it was—I got caught up in the story."

"Where did you go?" she asked.

"I went to Dongshan."

"Dongshan? There are bandits there! Why did you go so late? Were you hurt? Where’s Lin Tianyu?"

"I’m fine... He stayed behind at Dongshan."

"What?"

"Let me explain. Two months ago, an earthquake at Mochi exposed ruins from the previous dynasty in Dongshan, filled with treasures. Senior Duan happened to be there and reported it to His Majesty. The Emperor sent secret guards to excavate and hide it, posing as bandits to avoid suspicion."

"But I heard they were robbing people."

"That was also by imperial command. That corrupt official embezzled disaster relief funds, intending to send them to Marquis Wen. His Majesty ordered the ‘bandits’ to intercept it and plans to allocate half the money to build the Lin family army. Lin Tianyu will set out for the northern deserts tomorrow—there he can trade for good horses with the nomads and keep the army hidden from Marquis Wen’s reach. The other half will soon be sent to Cloud City, where the academy elders will use it to expand their industries, which already cover much of the kingdom. With this money, they’ll grow even further."

"That’s a clever plan. Inns and taverns are the best places to gather information. Why not open brothels as well?"

"The Emperor considered it, but Master thought it beneath scholarly dignity. Perhaps His Majesty will assign others to the task."

"That shouldn’t be overlooked. They say men are most loose-lipped in bed."

"My lady speaks from experience?"

"Naturally. See, you tell me everything, don’t you?"

"I’ve laid all my cards on the table. You’d better take good care of me."

"Don’t... you’re terrible..."

After a while, when their playfulness subsided, Banxia lay nestled in Gan Sui’s arms. "Gan Sui, I know who Anzi is."

"Oh?"

"I know there’s no turning back from the path you’re on. Don’t worry about me. We’ve both died once before—another time holds no fear. Do what you must."

Gan Sui held her tightly and kissed her forehead. "Don’t worry. We’ll grow old together."

They fell asleep in each other’s arms, peace and warmth settling over all.

Lin Tianyu returned early the next morning. Gan Sui and Wei Wenyuan had gone out, but he didn’t mind. After washing up, he came to bid farewell.

Before leaving, he asked Banxia, "May I see Anzi?"

"Of course. I’ll take you."

Lin Tianyu walked to Anzi’s room. The child was reading, swaying his head in rhythm, utterly endearing.

Upon seeing him, Anzi ran over. "Uncle, are you leaving?" He noticed the bundle in Lin Tianyu’s hand.

"Yes, Uncle is leaving. May I give you a hug?"

Anzi thought for a moment. This uncle looked so sad—if he refused, would he cry? "All right."

Lin Tianyu picked him up. "Anzi, I am your maternal uncle."

"Uncle?" Anzi glanced at Banxia, who nodded. Anzi asked, "Have you met my mother?"

"I have. She was the kindest, most beautiful woman in the world. But beauty meets a cruel fate. Still, from now on, I will protect you. Anzi, I must go, but wait for me—one day, I’ll bring you the strongest army in the kingdom as your gift." With that, he handed Anzi to Banxia.

"Please take good care of him."

"I will. You take care as well." Banxia carried Anzi to the doorway to see him off.

"Who knows when we’ll meet again. Write if you can. Farewell, Anzi."

"Goodbye, Uncle."

Lin Tianyu mounted his horse. He thought he saw Shanzhi behind the door, but when he looked again, perhaps it was just his imagination. No matter—no one can see the future, and making promises only brings more sorrow.

"Let’s go. Hyah!"

Banxia and Anzi waved after him. After hardship, the youth finally began his transformation.

"If you couldn’t bear to leave, why not say goodbye properly?" Banxia asked, watching the shadow behind the door.

"Farewells are meaningless," came the response. "We were never destined to walk the same path. He will become a general revered by thousands, and I am but a lowly shadow guard—worlds apart. Better to keep the beauty of it in our hearts."