Chapter Sixty-Six: All Things Are but Straw Dogs

The stars in the sky still twinkled, like eyes blinking softly. Yet in the yellow sands, those once-bright, youthful eyes had grown dim and lifeless. Lu Liaoliao silently closed the unyielding eyes of the dead with his hand, using his long sword with effort to dig a shallow grave nearby.

Bai Xiaode sighed and pulled Lu Liaoliao away from the pit he was digging. “Even if they were ruthless sand bandits, they only fought so desperately for a morsel to survive. Now that they’ve died by our hands, we can’t just leave them to rot in the wilderness.”

Lu Liaoliao looked up at Bai Xiaode, his eyes as bright as the stars, yet shadowed by a deep and inexplicable sorrow.

Bai Xiaode shook his head. “The desert has its own rules. If you bury these men, what will the eagles in the sky eat? What about the hyenas on the ground? Only by entering the bellies of those beasts can their souls be set free. That’s how Heaven has decreed it.”

The thought of being torn apart by eagles and hyenas after death sent a chill through Lu Liaoliao. Powerless, he let fall his sword, Autumn Water, and slowly walked toward Emil, who waited not far away.

Once you’re accepted by these hearty steppe merchants, their warmth and respect are expressed by forcing you to drink cup after cup, not letting you rest until you’re utterly drunk. Emil would always carefully clean up after Lu Liaoliao, who would have vomited everywhere, and then gently cradle him to sleep.

They crossed the desert and arrived in Dunhuang. Emil had lost all interest in trading. After disposing of their goods, the two, now unburdened, visited the Thousand Buddha Caves, explored the Singing Sand Dunes, and wandered around Crescent Spring. They put aside worries about the difficult road ahead and the burdens on their shoulders, simply laughing freely and cherishing each day together.

After bidding farewell to Bai Xiaode and his companions, they headed toward Guizi, the capital of the Anxi Protectorate.

“A solitary plume of smoke rises straight over the vast desert; the long river, round with the setting sun.” Watching the desert scenery recede, Lu Liaoliao softly recited. It seemed that this old man Wang Wei truly had talent, though he lacked the unrestrained boldness and grandeur of his own master, Lu Liaoliao mused.

“Why is it that these ordinary desert scenes, when spoken by you, become so beautiful?” Emil gazed, entranced, at the solitary plume of smoke rising straight into the sky.

“If your heart finds it beautiful, then it is beautiful,” Lu Liaoliao said, pointing to his own chest.

Emil touched her own prominent chest in confusion. “Here? Is it truly beautiful?”

Lu Liaoliao’s mouth went dry; he took a hearty swig from his water skin. He decided that this was far enough for the day.

No matter how deeply entwined or passionate their journey together, the road’s end would eventually come. When Guizi, the capital of the Anxi Protectorate, appeared before them, Emil’s homeland—the beautiful grasslands beneath their feet and the sky above—was not far away.

Entry inspections at Guizi had become stricter than ever, making entry as slow as a snail’s pace. Carts lined up, winding like a long snake. Some merchants set up tents to drink and dance or rest, while others began trading on the spot.

With careful inquiry, they learned that High General Gao Xianzhi had led his troops westward to attack the Stone Kingdom, so Guizi, the main stronghold, was on high alert.

Not daring to linger, they hurried on, missing the city’s unique music and dance, and pressed toward the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

The sky was the same, the grasslands unchanged. But as they listened to the herders singing and driving their flocks, Emil realized she recognized none of those faces.

Sitting atop a high rock, watching birds soar in the sky, tears slid down Emil’s cheeks.

“Wild geese in the sky, flying in pairs, the river long, the autumn grass yellow, the sound of the qin on the grasslands is sorrowful. The wild geese fly south, crossing the reeds. The sky is vast, and where are the geese bound? In my heart is my northern homeland…” Emil sang softly the song of her homeland, her voice growing ever quieter until it was nearly inaudible.

Lu Liaoliao said nothing, only held Emil tighter and tighter.

“Our homeland was once between the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, but under the Huns’ oppression, we were forced ever westward, farther and farther, until we could never return. We wandered here, squeezed between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Tang Empire, barely surviving. But now, even this place is no longer safe.”

Emil gazed into the sky, as if searching for a place to rest.

“Liaoliao, why can’t people in this world live in peace, without killing and plundering each other? Why must there always be so much war and bloodshed?”

Lu Liaoliao shook his head gently. He knew all too well that what Emil longed for would never come to pass.

They stayed no more than two days with a hospitable herding family before refugees began to appear—those fleeing from the Stone Kingdom. Seeing their bewildered, desperate faces sent Emil into deep despair.

“This vast heaven and earth is but a bigger cage. No matter how far we fly, we can never break free. Liaoliao, let’s go back.”

On the return journey, the two grew ever more silent. But at night, their passion grew more frenzied, as both knew well that the day they returned would also be the day they parted.

By the time they reached Lingzhou, nearly three months had passed.

In Lingzhou, Lu Liaoliao dared not be careless. He disguised Emil thoroughly, scarcely letting her leave their lodging. After quietly inquiring at the Sihai Trading House, he learned that Lu Jiu and the others had left for Fanyang in the north over two months ago.

Heading toward Fanyang, they could no longer drive a big cart openly on the main road, but instead sold it for two ordinary horses and took back roads, sleeping in the forests by night.

One evening, beneath a tree thick enough to require several people to encircle, the two nestled together, gazing at the distant moon and listening to the chirping insects and birds in the mountains. They drew closer and closer until they became one.

“Ouch!” Lu Liaoliao suddenly cried out.

Emil turned, her flushed face filled with concern. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Liaoliao clutched his waist, slowly withdrawing from Emil’s side, embarrassed. “I think I twisted my back.”

A soft giggle came from the branches above, startling Emil into a shriek. She hastily pulled down her skirts and hid behind Lu Liaoliao.

Furious, Lu Liaoliao glared up into the dense leaves. “Who’s the shameless rogue spying on a couple in their private moment? Get down here this instant!”

“Ha! I was only hunting in these mountains and fell asleep in this very tree. You two, for no reason, picked this wild place for your tryst, disturbing my sleep and shaking the tree. Now you’ve hurt your back—serves you right!” came the voice of a young man from above.

“Damn you! You dare spy on me and my wife, and you still have the gall to talk back! If you have any guts, come down here right now!” Lu Liaoliao cursed, still rubbing his waist.

“You disturbed my sleep, and you still claim the right? If you have guts, come up here yourself!” the young man retorted from the tree.

Frustrated, Lu Liaoliao shouted, “If you’re not a coward, tell me your name!”

“My name is Li Huaiguang, son of the General of Shuofang! I saw you sneaking about with a woman in this remote place—clearly you’re up to no good. If you have guts, report your own name!” the young man replied loudly.

Angry and dizzy, Lu Liaoliao didn’t care who this Li Huaiguang was and cursed, “I am Lu Liaoliao of Chang’an. My wife and I lost our way and stopped here to rest, only to meet a shameless brat like you. If you have any courage, come down and face your grandfather Lu in three hundred rounds!”

Riled, Li Huaiguang flipped down from the tree, sneering at Lu Liaoliao. “You with the twisted back, do you even know who your Grandpa Li is? From childhood I’ve mastered all eighteen weapons, and no one has lasted three rounds with me. You think you can last three hundred?”

Lu Liaoliao saw that the young man was tall and strong, fair-skinned, about twenty years old, carrying a powerful bow and a long sword at his waist, exuding confidence—a man clearly proud of his skills. With his own back aching, he doubted he could best him.

“My back is twisted; I can’t stand and fight. If you’re a hero, dare you fight me sitting down?”

Li Huaiguang laughed contemptuously. “Not only will I fight you sitting, I’ll let you have one hand free.”

With that, the brash youth sat directly in front of Lu Liaoliao, arms akimbo, glaring at him.

But Lu Liaoliao didn’t let Emil fetch his sword from the horse. Instead, with a lightning-fast motion, a transparent sword was suddenly at Li Huaiguang’s throat.

Li Huaiguang’s face turned red, his eyes wide with outrage. “Shameless trickster! How dare you play dirty!”

“Foolish boy! This is called using strategy. Did you truly think I’d fight you hand to hand with a twisted back?” Lu Liaoliao looked at him with disdain.

“You’ve already seen everything. What now? Will you gouge my eyes out?” Li Huaiguang said, putting on a bravado.

Lu Liaoliao turned to Emil, who was so embarrassed she dared not raise her head. “Go take his bow and sword, and tie up his hands and feet.”

At that, Li Huaiguang twitched his shoulder, ready to resist.

“I advise you not to move. My sword may look clear and harmless, but it is exceptionally sharp—the famed Shadowless Sword, Chengying, from the Spring and Autumn period. Heard of it?” Lu Liaoliao boasted.

“What? That’s my family’s heirloom sword! How did you get it?” Far from frightened, Li Huaiguang was nearly beside himself with excitement.

“And just because you say it’s your family’s means it is? Where my sword came from is none of your business!” Lu Liaoliao spat lightly.

Unconcerned, Li Huaiguang never took his eyes off the sword, even as Emil struggled to remove his bow and sword. His gaze burned with longing.

Lu Liaoliao forced himself to stand, letting Emil hold the sword to Li Huaiguang’s throat while he tied the young man’s hands and feet with cloth strips Emil found, and thoroughly searched him for money.

At dawn the next day, the two left behind the cursing Li Huaiguang and went on their way.