Mountains upon mountains, rivers upon rivers—even the most beautiful scenery can start to feel like desolate, harsh land. To avoid further harming innocents, Bai Jinshu and his companions had spent most of the past few days lingering in the remote mountains, only occasionally venturing into town for a meal or to purchase some provisions. That day, they arrived at a lakeside on the plains for a break. Finally, they were no longer surrounded by mountains, and the open view brought some relief from their recent exhaustion. As soon as they reached the lake, Ye Lihen, whose wounds had finally started to heal, began undressing without so much as a word of explanation. Knowing it had been a long time since the other had been able to bathe, Bai Jinshu couldn’t find a reason to stop him. Instead, he hurriedly pulled his Martial Uncle aside to give Ye Lihen some privacy.
Once Ye Lihen was finished bathing, Bai Jinshu made sure to lead him far from Jiang Cheng’s view again and proceeded with his usual task of applying medicine to Ye Lihen’s injuries.
Surprisingly, the sword wound that had taken so long to heal due to overlapping injuries had begun to close up quickly in the past few days. As Bai Jinshu applied the medicine, he couldn’t help but marvel, “How is it that your wound has suddenly healed so quickly these past couple of days?”
Ye Lihen answered matter-of-factly, “The medicinal powder I had you use is particularly effective for healing wounds.”
Hearing this, Bai Jinshu looked at the powder in his hand, the one Ye Lihen had given him, which was supposed to help regenerate skin and prevent scarring. “So this medicine doesn’t just remove scars—it heals wounds too?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you use it earlier?”
“I told you, this medicine makes the wound both painful and itchy. I’d rather not suffer through that.”
“But doesn’t an unhealed wound also hurt?”
“Not as much as this medicine does.”
Bai Jinshu’s hand paused as he applied the medicine. He examined the now nearly healed wound closely. “Your wound should be able to heal on its own without this medicine. If it’s really that painful, why don’t we stop using it?”
Ye Lihen glanced back at Bai Jinshu. “But didn’t you say it would be a shame if it left a scar?”
Bai Jinshu did think it would be a shame, but he also didn’t want to see Ye Lihen suffer. “A man with one or two scars seems more rugged and manly.”
After thinking for a moment, Ye Lihen nodded. “Then let’s stop using the medicine. It hurts too much.” He then casually changed the subject, “By the way, does your Martial Uncle have any scars?”
Bai Jinshu was left speechless by the question.
After a moment, he replied, “Don’t you think you’re a bit too concerned with my Martial Uncle?”
“I just think he seems very manly, so I’m curious if he’s been through many life-and-death situations.”
As Bai Jinshu carefully wrapped the bandages, he sighed, “Honestly, what martial artist hasn’t been through life-and-death situations?”
“No one wants to die, so why can’t people just go home and live peaceful lives instead?”
Ye Lihen’s question seemed naive but was actually quite reasonable. For a moment, Bai Jinshu didn’t know how to answer. “I’ve wondered the same thing. The concept of the ‘Martial World’ didn’t exist before, so maybe life was better for everyone before it appeared?”
Ye Lihen thought about it for a moment. “Are you not living a good life now?”
“It’s not that.” Bai Jinshu shook his head. “Although wandering from place to place is tough, I get to travel, meet new people, and experience new things.” As he said this, he couldn’t help but think, if not for the Martial World, he wouldn’t have met Ye Lihen. “So, overall, I’d say my life now is far more interesting than if I were stuck farming at home.”
“I’d rather stay at home and farm.” Ye Lihen mused thoughtfully.
This amusing contradiction made Bai Jinshu laugh. “You probably don’t even know what a rice paddy looks like. Could you really farm?”
“There’s nothing I can’t learn, as long as I set my mind to it.” Ye Lihen replied calmly before adding, “And I do know what rice paddies look like.”
Bai Jinshu, barely able to contain his laughter, asked curiously, “How do you know that?”
“My family has a painting from the Tang Dynasty by Han Huang called ‘Oxen Tilling the Fields.’ It depicts an autumn rice harvest.”
Feigning admiration, Bai Jinshu said, “So you even know what an ox looks like!”
“I also know that you’re mocking me, and I know how to hit people.”
“When you’re threatening someone, you need to look fierce and angry. Acting all calm like this doesn’t have any impact.” Bai Jinshu advised seriously.
Unbothered, Ye Lihen replied, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Bai Jinshu couldn’t help but laugh at the gentle tone. “Are you good-tempered or bad-tempered?”
“My mother told me that I should try not to get angry because when I do, I lose my rationality.”
Normally, when someone said, “My mother says” it made Bai Jinshu think they lacked initiative and maturity. But when Ye Lihen said it, it somehow carried more weight. “Have you ever done anything irrational?” Bai Jinshu asked.
Ye Lihen hesitated for a moment before responding, clearly unsure whether he should speak. After a while, he finally admitted, “I’ve killed someone.”
Bai Jinshu was a bit taken aback by the confession, but on the other hand, it didn’t seem all that surprising. Despite his young age, Ye Lihen’s demeanor and actions didn’t align with someone innocent and inexperienced.
“Have you ever killed anyone?” Ye Lihen asked quietly, catching Bai Jinshu off guard.
Bai Jinshu had never taken a life. He had encountered wicked bandits and petty thieves, but at most, he had crippled their martial abilities or broken their limbs. Taking a life was far different from the straightforward justice romanticized in teahouse stories. As long as there was a chance to avoid it, Bai Jinshu wouldn’t kill—this was his principle, and he wouldn’t compromise on it. Yet, when Ye Lihen looked at him with that faint uncertainty and asked, Bai Jinshu instinctively nodded. “As someone from the Martial World, who hasn’t shed some blood? As long as you can live with yourself and your conscience is clear.”
Ye Lihen studied Bai Jinshu for a long time, then softened his tone. “You haven’t killed anyone.”
Bai Jinshu didn’t deny it again. He realized he couldn’t fool Ye Lihen.
Ye Lihen’s gaze grew gentler, and he turned back to the lake. Casually, he changed the subject again, “We’re almost at Renwang Mountain. Are all your fellow disciples there?”
Bai Jinshu worried that Ye Lihen might ask something like, “Are any of your junior brothers married?” So he preemptively shared, “I have several junior brothers and three junior sisters. My youngest junior sister left the mountain a while ago, but my fifth and seventh junior brothers should still be there. My second junior brother has been on the mountain teaching students for years. He’s married, and my seventh junior brother is engaged to someone he’s been promised to since birth.”
Ye Lihen’s rare smile showed through, and he raised an eyebrow at Bai Jinshu. “So your fifth junior brother isn’t married yet?”
Bai Jinshu sighed with a laugh, “I knew you’d be interested in that.”
“I’m not concerned about your fifth junior brother’s marriage.” Ye Lihen clarified.
Half-joking, Bai Jinshu asked, “Is he less appealing than Lin Ling’s two brothers?”
Ye Lihen seriously considered it. “I wouldn’t know—I’ve never met them.”
“But you’ll probably meet my fifth junior brother soon.” Bai Jinshu smiled at the thought of reuniting with his junior brothers. “My fifth junior brother is quite an interesting fellow. And my second junior brother’s student is also fun—he’s about your age, though I doubt the two of you will get along.”
“Why wouldn’t we get along?”
“Do you find digging for earthworms fun?”
Ye Lihen immediately frowned in disdain and made a decision. “When we get to the mountain, I’ll just stay with you.”
Bai Jinshu laughed. “Then I’ll take you to catch sparrows.”
Ye Lihen side-eyed him. “Is this how you Renwang Sect people waste your time?”
“That’s nothing. You should see what happens when Master’s away—then it’s real chaos.”
“What do you do when your Master isn’t around?”
“Give me three dice, and I can throw three sixes anytime. That’s because Master would often leave the mountain when we were kids, so I got really good at it. Since then, I’ve won countless amounts of pocket money from my junior brothers.”
“What are dice?” Ye Lihen asked, genuinely puzzled.
This question completely stumped Bai Jinshu.
“… You don’t know what dice are?”
“There’s nothing like that in the paintings hanging on my family’s walls.”
Ye Lihen’s reasoning was so matter-of-fact that Bai Jinshu almost found it logical. Still, he pressed on. “Doesn’t your family gamble during the New Year?”
“My family doesn’t celebrate the New Year.” Ye Lihen replied without hesitation.
Bai Jinshu suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Although he had left home at a young age, every New Year spent on Renwang Mountain had been lively and joyful.
“I’ll take you to celebrate New Year’s with me next time.” Bai Jinshu said softly after a brief pause.
Ye Lihen’s expression softened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. Perhaps it was because smiles were so rare on that face, but to Bai Jinshu, it seemed especially radiant. He found himself momentarily mesmerized.
“When the time comes.” Ye Lihen said seriously, “I definitely won’t gamble with you.”
Bai Jinshu burst out laughing. “I’ll teach you how to cheat. But before that, I’ll show you what dice look like.”
Ye Lihen seemed to ponder something. “Among your fellow disciples, who’s the most fond of gambling?”
“My fifth junior brother is a natural-born gambler. If anyone challenges him to a bet, he’ll accept it, whether it’s for money or anything else.” Bai Jinshu said offhandedly, “But why do you ask?”
“I’m thinking about making a bet with him.”
Ye Lihen’s tone was so serious that it seemed he had already decided what kind of bet he wanted to make, even though he had never met Bai Jinshu’s fifth junior brother.
“What do you want to bet on?” Bai Jinshu asked curiously, studying Ye Lihen.
“I want to bet that within three days of us arriving at Renwang Mountain, someone will come to the mountain…” Before he could finish, Ye Lihen suddenly attacked. He pulled a dagger from his sleeve and, catching Bai Jinshu off guard, thrust it straight at his heart.
From a distance, Jiang Cheng, who had been coming to fetch the two, saw Ye Lihen’s dagger plunge into Bai Jinshu’s chest. Dark blood quickly spread from the wound.
“Jinshu!”
Jiang Cheng was stunned by the sudden attack and instinctively cried out.
Upon hearing his voice, Ye Lihen looked up. Realizing that Jiang Cheng had arrived, he abandoned the idea of delivering another blow. He quickly used his qinggong to flee, his movements showing no signs of being hampered by internal injuries.
Jiang Cheng had no time to chase after him. He immediately rushed to his fallen nephew’s side and lifted the seemingly lifeless Bai Jinshu.
“Jinshu, how are you?”
Bai Jinshu’s right hand instinctively pressed against the dagger in his chest. “I… I managed to dodge… dodged the vital spot. But… the wound doesn’t hurt… It seems the dagger is… poisoned.” he gasped, his voice weak and barely audible.
Jiang Cheng, worried, was about to inspect the wound when Bai Jinshu’s hand suddenly moved. He thrust the dagger toward Jiang Cheng’s throat.
Even someone with Jiang Cheng’s peerless martial skill would normally find it impossible to avoid such a close-range ambush. But Jiang Cheng reacted with incredible speed, catching the blade between his fingers in an instant.
“Jinshu, what’s going on?”
Jiang Cheng frowned, looking at his seemingly unharmed nephew.
Bai Jinshu humbly bowed his head in apology. “Martial Uncle, forgive my disrespect. I was merely trying to test your skills.”
“This wasn’t Brother Bai’s idea—it was me who goaded him into it.” Ye Lihen, who had returned, corrected Bai Jinshu.
Jiang Cheng glanced between the two of them before shaking his head in exasperation. “I suppose this is just the custom of Renwang Sect. I’m not blaming you.” He then looked back at Ye Lihen with concern. “Little Ye, judging by your movements just now, has your internal injury healed?”
“It’s about eighty or ninety percent recovered.”
“That’s good.” Jiang Cheng nodded in relief.
Jiang Cheng wasn’t aware of just how serious Ye Lihen’s injuries had been, so he wasn’t particularly surprised. But Bai Jinshu, who had previously seen the extent of the injuries, was quite taken aback. The little charade they had just performed hadn’t been pre-discussed, and Bai Jinshu had simply gone along with it. He hadn’t realized that Ye Lihen’s internal injuries had nearly healed. However, with Jiang Cheng present, Bai Jinshu refrained from asking Ye Lihen any further questions.
Unaware of Bai Jinshu’s thoughts, Jiang Cheng handed back the retractable spring-loaded dagger and said, “If you two are done fooling around, let’s head out.”
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