Chapter Five: Amid the Kunlun Marsh, the Crimson Jiang

The dark clouds that had obscured the sky drifted away, leaving only a thin veil of mist hanging above. The pale moon was shrouded in a delicate haze, resembling a graceful young maiden, elegant and poised.

A breeze brushed against Chen Zhian’s cheek, stirring his long hair. From afar, Xin Tong watched him approach. It was only now, at this moment, that she could clearly see Chen Zhian’s face. The youth wore a smile, his complexion fair and features rather refined.

What surprised Xin Tong most were his eyes—so strikingly beautiful. His eyelashes fluttered like delicate wings, and beneath his dark, neatly shaped brows, his eyes shone brightly, like a burning flame.

A hint of joy stirred within Xin Tong. “Thankfully, he’s not some frightful beast…” she thought. Yet then she recalled Chen Zhian’s greedy demeanor when collecting money at the government workshop, and a wave of disdain crept back into her heart.

“What good are pretty eyes? He’s just a street boy, ignorant of the fact that there are things more valuable than two hundred taels of gold.”

With these thoughts, Xin Tong turned her head away as Chen Zhian neared and was the first to slip into a quiet alley.

Inside the alley stood a sedan chair. Chen Zhian noticed the four men carrying it were quite burly, their gazes fierce and imposing, standing like iron towers at the front and rear of the chair.

“Those who train in martial arts truly possess a different aura; their presence is unmistakable at a glance,” Chen Zhian admired. Months ago, shortly after arriving in this world, he had witnessed two martial artists fiercely clashing on Qihuang Street. He still remembered their swords and knives emitting a faint aura so sharp it seemed to slice through the stone lions at the street’s entrance as if they were paper.

One of the warriors had even leapt three zhang high, landing with a force that shattered a square zhang section of the ground.

From that moment, what once felt dull about this world began to fascinate Chen Zhian.

Yet…

Martial training was not something one could pursue simply out of interest. Over a year had quietly slipped by, and Chen Zhian had yet to touch the path of martial arts.

“With these four guarding, even if someone harbors ill intent, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Chen Zhian had agreed to accompany them readily because he carried a fortune in gold and felt uneasy. Surely, a young lady from a wealthy family wouldn’t be interested in his two hundred taels.

He stepped closer.

The sedan curtain was lifted, revealing the occupant inside. Her eyebrows were like jade, her skin as smooth as mutton-fat jade—a truly stunning visage.

At that moment, a shaft of moonlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the young lady’s face, making it glow.

Naturally, Chen Zhian recalled two lines of poetry:

“A beauty is like a flower in appearance, a bird in voice, the moon in spirit, the willow in posture, jade in bones, snow in skin, and water in grace.”

Indeed, Xu Xiyue of the Xu family lived up to her renowned reputation.

Xu Xiyue also noticed Chen Zhian. He wore a gray long robe, his long hair tied into a ponytail behind his head.

At this moment, Chen Zhian looked at her, but his gaze was neither as she expected nor as greedy and dazed as when he saw the silver notes in the workshop. Instead, it held a certain clarity.

Xu Xiyue quietly uttered an inner sigh, recalling Chen Zhian’s age—three years younger than herself.

“At seventeen or eighteen, having never studied, going out to make a living, it’s natural he cares more for money than for women,” she thought.

She took a few steps forward and pointed to the quiet alley.

“Through here is Xingyuan Street, and further ahead is Xiqing Street. Will you walk a few steps with me, Young Master Chen?”

Her tone was very polite.

Yet, before Chen Zhian could reply, she walked on without waiting.

Chen Zhian understood this was the authority she now wielded within the Xu family, and he had anticipated it—after all, an unmarried lady would not lightly invite him into her sedan.

So he followed Xu Xiyue, walking beside her without falling behind.

A pleasant fragrance emanated from her, prompting Chen Zhian to involuntarily wrinkle his nose.

Xu Xiyue frowned slightly but still asked, “Your father was a scholar. Why have you not taken the imperial exams, Young Master Chen?”

Having accepted this free escort, Chen Zhian didn’t mind chatting a bit. Smiling, he said, “I once studied, but after nearly drowning—luckily I survived—I forgot all I had learned. Besides, my father said that in today’s world, studying and becoming an official isn’t a path to success. So I gave it up. He told me not to abandon the truly important things.”

“What are these important things?” Xu Xiyue tilted her head slightly.

Chen Zhian chuckled, “I don’t really know. He said there are two things I must never lose: one is conscience, and the other is courage.”

Xu Xiyue finally turned fully to look at the youth beside her.

Chen Zhian did not look back; his gaze remained fixed ahead.

Xin Tong walked alongside, lantern in hand, also sensing that Chen Zhian’s father was indeed a scholar, one who held firm to scholarly principles.

They walked for some time.

Chen Zhian seemed uninterested in the opulence of the Xu family or the beauty beside him, or perhaps he was simply shy, silent the entire way.

Xu Xiyue also said nothing.

Quick-witted Xin Tong broke the silence.

“Young Master Chen, two hundred taels of gold is a lot, but really, it’s not that much... If you had a little more courage after receiving the bridal token, you could take a big step forward. What’s the value of a mere two hundred taels?”

“From a small household like yours, it’s natural you’ve never seen so much gold. Let me tell you, my Xu family’s business spans the entire Suwu Prefecture, even Jianghuai, Xinshan, Qingchuan— and even the capital. You’re giving up a vast ocean for such a small profit.”

“If you ask me, Young Master Chen, you should return the two hundred taels to Zhou Xiujing...”

“Two hundred taels is enough,” Chen Zhian waved his hand, cutting off Xin Tong with a satisfied expression. “With two hundred taels, I can buy several concubines after marriage. Besides, I’ve already promised Young Master Zhou... How can I go back on my word?”

“Is Zhou Xiujing threatening you?” Xin Tong asked. “Don’t be afraid. Our Xu family has many warriors. We can assign a few to protect you. You just said you must not lose courage, so why act so timid when trouble comes? Did your father teach you for nothing?”

Chen Zhian suddenly grew angry, his smile vanishing. He snapped, “You’re being rude. Do you want to force me into marriage?”

By then, they had left the quiet alley and reached Xingyuan Street, where sparse pedestrians strolled. Beyond lay Xiqing Street, and crossing that would lead to Qihuang Street.

Chen Zhian finally relaxed a bit. Even if Zheng Liu or Wu Peilin coveted the two hundred taels, they wouldn’t dare commit a crime in broad daylight on this street.

Since the neighboring Dayu Kingdom’s once-mighty Daxi fragmented into three states, Dayu had absorbed many talented people from Daxi, growing stronger. It ranked second among the seven states. Though the Great Qian Kingdom remained the hegemon, Suwu Prefecture’s prosperity was unmatched.

With prosperity came order. Su Nan Prefecture was neither a borderland nor a barren northwest region. Even the two martial artists Chen Zhian had seen fighting were caught by the authorities within a day.

Though Zheng Liu and Wu Peilin might harbor ill intentions, they were not ruthless bandits like those of West Penglai who shook the entire Dayu Kingdom. They wouldn’t dare kill in the streets for plunder.

“Once we reach Qihuang Street, just opposite the house is the residence of the Iron-Armed General of Suzhou. Even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn’t dare come here.”

Thus, Chen Zhian planned to leave as soon as possible.

Xin Tong sighed upon hearing Chen Zhian’s angry retort.

“A man content with mediocrity—how dull.”

“Unworthy of the lady,” she thought.

Finally, the always silent Xu Xiyue spoke, “If Young Master Chen is unwilling, then let this matter drop...”

“But Young Master Chen must understand the danger of carrying such a treasure and quickly dispose of it,” Xu Xiyue earnestly advised, surprising Chen Zhian with her kindness.

Chen Zhian wondered, “Did Miss Xu wait outside the government office just to see me off?”

He stood still, watching as Xu Xiyue and Xin Tong climbed into the sedan chair, the four strong men carrying it without looking back.

Chen Zhian made no further plans and hurried on, still clutching the two hundred taels of gold.

Inside the sedan, Xin Tong lowered the curtain and sighed, “Chen Zhian is truly a strange person. His eyes gleamed at the sight of two hundred taels, yet clearly, he has no worldly experience and cannot discern what matters most.”

She glanced carefully at her lady, Xu Xiyue. “He’s blind. Good young men eager to marry into the Xu family could line up all the way to Qingchuan Prefecture’s gate. And this greenhorn refuses.”

“Enough,” Xu Xiyue said. “Go back and tell our master to find another way for the marriage proposal.”

Xin Tong frowned, “This is troubling. If the man who accepted the bridal token refuses the marriage, others will surely mock us.”

“Miss, there are many talented youths in Su Nan Prefecture willing to marry you. Perhaps you should choose more carefully?”

Xu Xiyue didn’t answer Xin Tong but instead asked, “Where is General Xuanzi now?”

“Already at Luomen Ferry, expected to arrive by tomorrow evening,” Xin Tong replied. “He’s making good time, even faster than expected.”

Xu Xiyue muttered to herself, “The Qi Nan Leaf seeds have yet to find a better home... The Zhou family wants to trap my Xu family...”

Xin Tong said no more, recalling how lonely her lady had looked when she fetched her from Mount Qixia.

“Compared to the scheming and backstabbing in the city, Miss probably prefers the peaceful days of cultivation on Qixia Mountain... Since she cares so little for marriage and wants a commoner, perhaps she intends to resolve the Xu family’s matters, secure sufficient compensation, and then separate, returning to Qixia Mountain.”

—

Sure enough, Chen Zhian returned home safely. He entered his room, closed the door, but did not take out the two hundred taels silver note.

He had seen plenty of gold and silver in his past life and was not particularly greedy. His scheme against Zhou Xiujing was merely an attempt to profit from a fool.

That night, an image of the Jade Capital appeared in Chen Zhian’s mind. Clouds shifted and dimmed most of the view, leaving only the Kunlun Marsh veiled in mist.

As Chen Zhian’s attention settled on the mist, the Kunlun Marsh expanded until a piece of reddish ginger appeared in his consciousness.

“This ginger...” Chen Zhian pondered. Suddenly, the mist in Kunlun Marsh surged, and a message entered his mind:

[Red Ginger]: Soaked in Kunlun mist, sliced for tea, with miraculous effects to cleanse the bones, purify flesh, and wash muscles and membranes.

“Hm? Cleanse bones, purify flesh and muscles?” Chen Zhian’s heart swelled with hope.