Chapter 08: Disaster Strikes

Mingyue was jolted awake by the bumping of the carriage. Lifting the curtain, she gazed outside at unfamiliar surroundings and unknown faces. Rubbing the dull ache at the nape of her neck, her memories gradually returned.

The night was cool as water, especially after autumn had settled over Yinzhou. In the courtyard, Mingyue rubbed her arms and urged Qin Shi, “Hurry up! I’m freezing standing here!” No sooner had she spoken than Qin Shi emerged, holding a glass lamp. Its faint glow rippled gently, inexplicably calming her heart. Mingyue rushed forward, clinging to his arm and pulling him along.

Yesterday, while Qin Shi was out shopping for supplies, Mingyue had secretly accepted a job. The client had vanished without a word, leaving only a note, which Mingyue had grumbled about for quite some time.

The Yi Family of the southern city.

Normally, Mingyue would have abandoned such a troublesome commission. But ever since the incident with Miss Wen, none of her jobs for the Lovesick Pavilion had gone smoothly. Not only did she need to support the Pavilion, but even the amount required to feed her left eye was insufficient. She was in no position to pick and choose.

Leaving the Lovesick Pavilion, Mingyue pulled her hood up and dragged Qin Shi south toward the Listening Tide Pavilion, where news spread fastest. “Really, why must it be that family?” she muttered, unconsciously tightening her grip on Qin Shi’s arm.

The name Yi Family did not actually refer to a clan with the surname Yi, but to a sprawling estate of a hundred acres whose owner’s surname was Yi. The Yi family had appeared suddenly two years ago in the southern city. Only then did the people of Yinzhou realize that the silent construction of a decade had been for them. The Yi family had no past—at least none known to ordinary folk. They rarely involved themselves in outside affairs and seldom interacted with the authorities. Strangely, no one ever troubled them, which was unusual for Yinzhou’s customs.

The people of Yinzhou, wary of strange and wealthy families, tended to be suspicious. Common folk merely gossiped, but ruffians and officials would often pay unwelcome visits. Yet when the Yi family arrived, the city was unexpectedly calm; there was no uproar, no incitement. According to those who had sneaked over the estate walls, the grounds were serene and silent, rarely noisy, but every plant was a rare treasure, every pavilion and house lavish and grand.

All this made the Yi family the most mysterious clan in Yinzhou. No one dared offend them, and everyone was both drawn to and fearful of their secrets—Mingyue included.

After walking for an uncertain time, lights appeared ahead. Mingyue suddenly stopped, nudging Qin Shi. “Go check it out first. If it’s really them, someone should come to greet us. If someone else plays a trick and we offend them, it’ll be trouble. I want to stay here peacefully.”

Qin Shi nodded and, lamp in hand, walked forward. Soon, his pale blue glow faded into the distance, and the darkness pressed around Mingyue. She quickly struck a fire starter, but before the spark could ignite, a sharp pain hit her neck. The world went black and she collapsed, only to awaken, battered, in a carriage.

Mingyue sat up and lifted the curtain again. The carriage was moving fast; jumping out would be troublesome, so she let go and slumped back. At that moment, the carriage lurched forward, sending Mingyue crashing against the driver’s back.

“All bones—so uncomfortable!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed her shoulder and hurled her out with brutal force. Mingyue scrambled up, wincing in pain, and snapped, “It was just a comment! Did you have to be so rough?” But the scene before her left her stunned and silent.

Nine men and women in strange attire had surrounded another man, and each of the nine had a green snake coiled around their necks. The snakes flicked their tongues, and eight of them cracked whips in unison; the last held a peculiar bone flute to his lips.

A chill ran down Mingyue’s spine, every hair standing on end. She quietly retreated, inching away. She couldn’t be blamed for not intervening—she herself was in danger, and even if she stayed, she could do nothing. The only person she could heal in this world was Qin Shi. Thinking of this, Mingyue’s teeth chattered. “Qin Shi, where are you…where are you?”

Suddenly, someone grabbed her crawling body and pressed her down. Mingyue, terrified, looked back to see a blood-drenched figure collapse into her arms.

“Ah!!!!” Her scream echoed through the empty valley, sending birds into flight.

It took Mingyue a long time to calm herself. Using a clean patch of the stranger’s clothes, she wiped his face, staring for a while before recognizing him as the carriage driver. But she couldn’t treat wounds... She waited a moment, then reached out to check his breath.

Finding him lifeless, Mingyue felt a strange relief. Though she hadn’t intended to save him, witnessing a death always left a knot in her heart. Mingyue was always kind to herself—she never did anything that made her uncomfortable. After covering his face with his own clothes, she took his sword and pressed onward.

Though Mingyue lacked skill, she wasn’t ignorant. The odd costumes of those men and women reminded her of something she’d read—a sect of southern shamanic sorcery. They operated within ancient Shu, which, though annexed by Que, had not been erased.

Mingyue suddenly halted. After a moment, she looked up and exclaimed, “Have I come from Luo to Que?” She collapsed on the grass, too weary to care how long she’d been unconscious, how the Yi family’s commission had gone, or what had happened to Qin Shi. She wondered, even if she managed to escape the mountain, how would she return to Yinzhou? She’d never left the city, didn’t know the roads, and had not a coin to her name…

“Am I truly to die and rot in the wild?”

After a brief silence, Mingyue angrily stripped off her bloodstained coat, grabbed the sword, and ran forward. She was only sixteen—she refused to die here, what an unbearable fate!

She had no idea how long she ran, only that if she stopped, she’d never stand again. The sun set, the moon rose, stars glittered in the night sky. Mingyue finally saw the edge of the woods, but at that moment, she saw something else. She stopped, her legs giving way as she staggered but managed to steady herself. Hands on her knees, she looked up, irritation on her face, and panted, “Tell me, what must I do to be sent back?”

“Mingyue, you are indeed straightforward.” The young man in front stepped toward her. When the lantern behind him illuminated his features, he smiled. “I am Jun Yi. My elder brother wishes to ask you for something.”

Mingyue raised an eyebrow. Jun Yi smiled. “The Lovesick Elixir.” His bright eyes shone, and under the mingled glow of moon and lantern, he seemed a bit roguish.

“Not just the elixir, even the whole Lovesick Pavilion is yours, but let me rest and eat first—my legs are about to break!” Mingyue waved him off, too weary to argue. All she wanted now was to leave and sleep; everything else could wait.

“Agreed.” Jun Yi tossed her a water bag, but as she tilted her head to drink, he strode over, scooped her up, and carried her away. “Rest for now, Mingyue. We’ll discuss arrangements once we arrive.”

Jun Yi’s scent was faintly fragrant—not unpleasant, but lacking Qin Shi’s refreshing cleanness. Before long, Mingyue drifted into sleep, water bag slipping from her grasp and spilling onto the ground.

Upon opening her eyes, she saw pale curtains and sat bolt upright from the couch, only to collapse again moments later. The ache in her body reminded her of everything before; escape was hopeless, so she needed to plan her next steps.

“Mingyue is awake?”

Hearing this voice, Mingyue blinked several times, surprised at how familiar she was with Jun Yi. Wait—Jun Yi, his surname was Jun! Mingyue’s eyes widened as countless thoughts flashed through her mind, just as Jun Yi’s handsome face appeared close. She smacked his head away and rolled to face the inside of the bed. If she remembered correctly, the Jun family belonged to the Gentleman’s Hall, one of the four pillars of the martial world’s righteous path. Mingyue covered her face—not because she knew all the secrets of the jianghu, but because the first commission she took after acquiring the Lovesick Elixir was connected to the Gentleman’s Hall...

That painful lesson, those harsh memories—she thought she’d forgotten, but now realized the past was vivid, impossible to escape.