Chapter 130: Repay Kindness with Kindness, Repay Grievance with Grievance

Gong Zhenyong was quite polite to the young man beside him in brocade robes and a golden crown, but looking at Li Guanyi, he said irritably: "Boy, hurry up and come out. What, you think it's comfortable staying in a place like this?!"

"Come on out."

Li Guanyi put on his shoes and walked out. Though he had only been here for two nights, it felt like a long time; the sunlight falling on his body was warm.

Li Zhaowen very impolitely draped an arm over his shoulder, unfolded the folding fan in her hand to shade both herself and Li Guanyi, and said with a smile: "I say, Brother Li, Brother Li, although I said before that with a temperament like yours and your Wu Gong, one day you'll likely end up in prison."

"But you don't have to do me such a favor, old brother."

"It's only been a few days, and you actually went in?"

Li Zhaowen teased him, open and at ease, but Li Guanyi felt this fellow must have a sharp-tongued affliction. He cupped his fist toward Gong Zhenyong and said: "Sorry for the trouble this time, General."

Gong Zhenyong's impression of this young man improved further, and he said: "What nonsense are you spouting."

"If you ran into something like this and didn't act, then I'd have beaten you out of the Imperial Guard myself. When you should act, act. If something happens, I'll cover for you; if I can't cover it, there's still someone above."

"If even a soldier's spine bends, then this nation of ours is truly finished."

He raised his hand and tossed over a waist token, saying:

"Your position, your crimson robe, your jade belt have all been confiscated. Your post is suspended, you've lost your assignment as a Staff Officer. You can only be a Regular Ninth Rank, Lower Grade guard now. Don't worry—once this period passes, at most after the Grand Sacrifice, they'll restore your original rank."

Li Guanyi thanked him and fastened the waist token at his side.

He already understood the importance of status.

Gong Zhenyong looked at the young man in brocade robes beside Li Guanyi; the latter smiled and gave a slight nod.

Gong Zhenyong's brow furrowed.

Back in the day at the border passes, he had charged the iron cavalry of the State of Ying and also fought with people from the Longxi Duke's residence, so he merely nodded, his attitude rather cold.

Originally Li Guanyi would have had to stay confined until after the Grand Sacrifice, but the young man beside him held too high a status—especially high during the Grand Sacrifice.

Today she suddenly brought it up, mentioning offhandedly that Li Guanyi was her good friend, so an edict came down from above very quickly, ordering Li Guanyi released. It was prettily called a release, but really those lofty lords above just wanted this young man to keep the duke's son from another nation company and help him relax.

This left Gong Zhenyong feeling stifled for a long while. He took up his blade and hacked apart a boulder, snapping the blade in the process, before feeling a little better. Though he had already been serving as an officer in Jingcheng for many years, there were still times he couldn't get used to it.

The one who raided the Ghost Market was caught, and they wanted to keep him locked up no matter what.

Yet because they needed him to keep a high-ranking member of Ying company, he was released.

Didn't we just win a battle in the Western Regions? Why be so timid and overcautious?!

Anger burned in Gong Zhenyong's heart, but his expression was calm as he said: "Orders from above."

"Before the Grand Sacrifice, you don't need to come to the palace for duty."

Li Guanyi was stunned. Gong Zhenyong patted his shoulder and grinned:

"Of course, if you want to come back, we'll be waiting for you."

"Go on."

Li Guanyi and Li Zhaowen left the Imperial Guard's grounds. A carriage was already waiting outside, but Li Zhaowen waved it off, signaling the carriage to go on its way. She and Li Guanyi walked side by side outside. The morning in Jiangzhou city was still peaceful, showing no trace of the great event that had happened the day before.

Li Guanyi was currently dressed in a blue robe. The sword at his waist had been bestowed by the court, and because of this incident it had been confiscated as well. A wooden hairpin bound his hair. He looked like an ordinary young man, rather plain.

Just released from the little black room, naturally plain, he chatted casually with Li Zhaowen.

"But Brother Li, your information network is sharp enough."

Li Zhaowen said with an easy, carefree laugh: "Big events in Jingcheng can be hidden from many people, but they can't be hidden from many others. Brother Li, your name can be considered famous far and wide now. Yesterday every nation knew that a fifteen-year-old Imperial Guard officer took a sword and charged into the Ghost Market."

Li Guanyi said: "... Fine, but shouldn't we change how we address each other?"

"You call me Brother Li, I call you Brother Li."

"So which one of us is Brother Li?"

"Or are you Brother Li's Brother Li?"

A cold joke, but it seemed to hit Li Zhaowen's funny bone. She mulled it over, then suddenly burst out laughing, laughing until she bent forward and backward, tears coming to the corners of her eyes. Finally, laughing until her stomach hurt, she slapped Li Guanyi's shoulder with one hand and said: "Hahaha, hahahaha, Brother Li, you're really something."

Li Guanyi felt this fellow had a sharp tongue and a pretty low sense of humor, and said:

"Who's Brother Li? Which Brother Li?"

"Pfft—hahahahaha, you, you stop talking, haha..."

Li Zhaowen was amused again. Laughing until her stomach ached, she said: "Fine, fine, then let's change how we address each other." She smiled, unfolded the folding fan in her hand to hide her upturned lips, placed her left hand behind her back, and said with a dashing flair: "I'll call you Brother Li."

"As for you, just call me Erlang."

Li Guanyi said nothing either way, but as the two walked, he keenly noticed people around him looking at him, their gazes seeming a bit strange.

Was someone following him?

And it seemed the number of people following him had increased?

Li Guanyi turned around and heard the sound of hoofbeats. Someone came riding. The so-called 'walking horse' was different from a galloping warhorse—this kind of horse moved with each of its four legs going at its own pace, as if walking, steady yet fast, like the cross-legged canter of the 'Flying Horse of Gansu' from his previous life.

The so-called 'viewing flowers from horseback'—such a horse was not cheap.

On top sat a handsome young man in brocade robes, surrounded by attendants and other sons of wealthy families. His brows were arched, a folding fan in hand, and his features were quite good-looking.

Except he seemed to have been beaten up by someone, his face still bruised and swollen.

Even so, he still held his chin up, quite self-satisfied and proud.

It was Yan Daiqing, the son of Vice Minister Yan, who had been in the brawl with Li Guanyi and the others at Changfeng Tower—or rather, the civil official's son who had been beaten one-sidedly. The people around him were presumably also sons of those civil official families.

These civil official family sons looked at Li Guanyi and said with a smile: "Oh, isn't this Captain Li Guanyi, the one who 'wore the crimson robe'? The Regular Eighth Rank, Lower Grade Staff Officer. Why are you dressed in common cloth today?"

"Where's your crimson robe?"

"Where's your white jade belt?"

They mocked him, their tone carrying a certain lightness, as if the young man before them had fallen on hard times.

And they themselves had won.

Yan Daiqing said: "Enough, let's go, we're off to the banquet."

A Vice Minister was a clean and noble post, and Yan Daiqing still had some prestige among these civil officials' sons, so after laughing for a while, they left. Yan Daiqing rode at the rear on horseback. He had already ridden far, but his hand tightened, still gripping the reins.

That very spirited horse slowed its pace.

Li Guanyi lifted his gaze and suddenly heard Yan Daiqing riding ahead, saying:

"You're truly stupid!"

"A man of wealth doesn't sit where danger lurks—didn't you know to come back and find someone?!"

"Absolutely foolish, as dumb as an ox! Hmph!"

Li Guanyi was startled. The young man with a clean reputation clenched his lips, drew his sword, and hurled it onto the ground before Li Guanyi. Li Guanyi reached out and caught it—the moment his hand closed on the hilt, he knew it was no ordinary blade, but a weapon of the Sharp Blade tier. Yet Yan Daiqing, still bruised and swollen from the beating, remained haughty:

"I've heard your poems. You're a swordsman."

"I said it before: where there's injustice, a gentleman cannot be without a sword."

"Until your sword is returned, use this one for now."

"Next time we meet, you and I remain opponents on opposite sides of literature and martial arts. Last time, your lot ambushed me—your benches smashed me countless times. I'll make you pay back."

He hesitated. Literature and martial arts were sharply divided, yet he gripped the reins tightly, his hands tense and uneasy, before whispering softly:

"Well done."

He kicked his horse's flanks, and the steed surged forward. The sons of the literary clans still laughed together; no one noticed Yan Daiqing's sword was gone. Yan Daiqing merely said: "Lost it."

"What? That sword was a rare Sharp Blade! We must find it."

"No need. That sword is lost—perhaps it's better off in my hands."

Li Guanyi held the sword, raising an eyebrow.

The blade was long and slender, sheathed in sharkskin, its hilt inlaid with a piece of Bai Yu. His finger pressed against the guard, and the sword hummed with sharpness, radiating chilling cold. Its surface gleamed clean, inscribed with an inscription.

【A gentleman is like jade: firm yet not sharp, soft yet with restraint】

A weapon of the Sharp Blade tier, perfectly forged, capable of withstanding the internal qi of a General-tier martialist without shattering, allowing qi to flow smoothly without obstruction, sharp and resilient. A martialist below the Fourth Floor could wield this sword and fully unleash their strength.

Li Zhaowen gently fanned his folding fan, thoughtful, then smiled: "Of course."

Li Guanyi returned the sword to its scabbard and asked: "What's 'of course'?"

Li Zhaowen laughed carefree: "Don't you know, Li Brother? Among the younger generation, your reputation has quietly risen to the very top. In Chen State, you're already among the strongest."

"Young people admire only four words: daring to act, daring to do."

"Neither wealth nor power can bend their spines."

Li Guanyi said nothing, remaining silent.

Li Guanyi and Li Zhaowen entered a roadside teahouse. Li Zhaowen ordered many authentic Jiangnan dishes with practiced ease—not at some grand restaurant, but a place ordinary folk frequented. Most believed Jiangnan cuisine was light, but that wasn't true.

In some areas, dishes were greasy, heavy with oil and sugar.

Others were light: tea was brewed, and women would come selling tea snacks and treats—middle-aged women, arms laden with willow baskets, filled with small reed-wrapped packets containing roasted sesame seeds, peanuts, and soybeans.

Li Guanyi and his companion sat down and didn't order any snacks.

Someone immediately approached, plucked several small reed packets from the basket, placed them before Li Guanyi, then turned and walked away without a word. Li Guanyi froze and said: "Madam, wait—I haven't paid you."

He called out, but she didn't answer. He hurried after her and saw her face was deeply wrinkled, her white hair like dry straw—she looked seventy or eighty—but Li Guanyi's internal qi sensed she was no older than thirty or forty.

Her eyes were red as she turned and knelt before Li Guanyi. The young man reached out to stop her.

The teahouse Shopkeeper said: "Young hero, accept it."

He whispered: "She's a woman of bitter fate. She came to Jingcheng with two daughters to make a living. Both daughters were taken—knees smashed, tongues ripped out, forced to beg. Her husband went to demand justice and was beaten to death, thrown into the river. We saw what you did yesterday."

"Poor people have nothing. But at least this gives her a hope."

"Knowing those who harmed her daughters have been punished, she's returned home. Now, those three lives have a resting place."

Li Guanyi released his grip. He watched the white-haired woman walk out, then burst into wild sobs and laughter downstairs before stumbling away. Li Guanyi said: "Will she…?"

The teahouse Shopkeeper whispered: "You mean, will she do something foolish? No."

"Her two daughters and husband are dead, but they left behind a few mu of land. Someone must tend their graves."

"People like us are weeds in chaotic times. As long as the roots aren't pulled, we survive—eat grass, chew bark, we must live, don't we?"

"Live, even stuck in mud, even crawling on the ground under feet—live."

"As long as we live, one day we'll see a peaceful age."

"Aren't you right?"

Li Guanyi turned and saw his table already piled high with things.

Those who had secretly followed the young man now came, placing down their offerings—nothing valuable: sesame seeds, peanuts, roasted soybeans, heaped in abundance. Li Zhaowen closed her folding fan and tapped it lightly against her palm. She thought for a moment, then stood.

Quietly watching, the old Shopkeeper placed a teapot on the table and whispered:

"Drink this tea. No charge."

"The food isn't fine, but it's authentic. When you come for tea, I keep it ready."

"When you leave, I'll clean up."

"We're no great household, but we know gratitude."

Li Guanyi looked at the people. Li Zhaowen reached into her robe to take out silver coins.

But the young man seized her wrist. Li Zhaowen felt his grip tighten. She turned, startled, and saw his lips press down, then sharply lift—his face broke into a brilliant smile.

Li Guanyi pulled Li Zhaowen along and sat boldly there.

He poured a cup of tea, grabbed a handful of roasted beans, popped them into his mouth, drank the tea with the coarse snacks, and grinned: "Excellent. Perfect flavor. Delicious."

"This tea is good too."

Those who had given their offerings but felt their gifts unworthy sighed in relief. Their faces showed smiles—mingling deference, relief, gratitude—tearful smiles.

Li Guanyi's approval and his joyful acceptance of their gifts felt like a final accounting. A silent, vast ceremony had been completed.

It was one word.

Reward kindness, repay hatred.

You avenged me—I repay you. You accepted. Now, on the surface, we're even. I've honored my dead, and I've honored you. My knees still stand straight. I live on the ground, yet I can say I'm a man who never forgets gratitude or origin, right?

When I meet my dead, I can say: I honored you. I avenged you.

The boy did not use silver to insult the last hidden dignity in their hearts.

The boy laughed loudly, and the crowd dispersed; Li Zhao Wen leaned against the window, watching them leave, and said softly: "All people know of the Gongyang Confucians' revenge, yet they forget the principle that kindness must also be repaid. The Way of Confucianism truly lies hidden among the common folk."

"Repay kindness with kindness, repay hatred with hatred."

"With such people, such public sentiment, if they ever rise as one, who could stop them?"

She turned around and saw the boy sitting there, forlorn; Li Guanyi sipped tea cup after cup, his expression calm. Li Zhao Wen realized that this boy-friend had changed in some way since their first meeting.

She thought for a long time, and finally understood this change.

In the past, he thought only of his own affairs; now, he thought of slightly more.

His actions and conduct were different.

He carried the bearing of a heroic hero.

Li Guanyi said: "Sorry, Er Lang, today is probably not a good day for drinking and drunkenness… but I'm bold enough to ask you for something."

Li Zhao Wen said: "Brother, speak."

Li Guanyi said: "Feng Qi Wu."

Li Zhao Wen was surprised, then smiled and nodded. She called the Shopkeeper for paper and ink, wrote a letter before Li Guanyi, showed it to him, and said: "This item is at my home. I'll send a letter by a roc bird—it will arrive in a few days."

Li Guanyi had not expected that the boy would not even ask why.

So Li Guanyi did not ask her why she was helping him.

He simply said solemnly: "Thank you!"

Li Zhao Wen smiled: "Between you and me, it's only right."

That day, they did not drink to their fill; Li Zhao Wen made plans to meet again, then watched the boy pack everything away, leaving not a single sunflower seed behind, before he departed. Li Zhao Wen unfurled her folding fan, gazing at his back, and whispered:

"... The coiled dragon lies hidden in the abyss—but what stirred in you the desire to soar?"

She sighed: "How many heroes there are in this world."

Li Guanyi returned to the Xue family, but never expected an unimaginable guest there.

It was one of the people he had saved—the iron-armed Tiele boy who had dared to hand him a knife.

And—

Khan Qibili, of the Tiele tribe!

?? Today the author locked himself out, peacefully… waiting for the master to come and pick the lock to get in, so it's late…

? How shameful