Chapter 5: The Dragon and the Ding

When he saw the cloud pattern, the experiences of ten years ago surged back before Li Guanyi’s eyes.

Having hidden his identity and lived in exile for ten years, constantly fleeing and hiding, those years had been calm—but now, this illusory, bubble-like peace was shattered; the cloud pattern from ten years ago reappeared, the stench of blood clinging to his nostrils, the giant’s hand as solid as iron, Li Guanyi strained to pry it loose but achieved not the slightest effect.

The giant held his waist saber with one hand, his tiger-like eyes scanning left and right with lethal intent.

No one around dared speak; only the muffled cries of pain and ragged breaths of the three martial guards remained.

Those cries of pain only made the crowd’s faces turn even paler.

This was the largest herbal shop on the old eastern street of Guanyi City; the three martial guards hired here normally trained by grinding millstones, capable of cleanly severing tree trunks as thick as a bowl—yet they had been kicked down and could not rise for half a day; everyone merely covered their mouths and noses, faces filled with panic.

They looked at the teenager being choked and lifted up, their eyes filled only with pity.

Only the shopkeeper of Huichun Hall hurried over, bowing low, his face beaming with a servile smile, grabbing the giant’s arm, shoving a bulging sack into his sleeve, and bowing apologetically:

“A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, sir! Could there be some mistake?”

“Huichun Hall is a time-honored establishment in Guanyi City—we run a modest, honest business, always law-abiding; how could we possibly harbor a wanted criminal? Is there some misunderstanding? Let’s talk this through calmly.”

“This boy is frail—he may have caused a death; if blood stains your hands, it’s inauspicious.”

The giant roared in fury: “Hmph, slick-tongued old pig-dog! Are you saying I’ve wronged you?”

He casually flung Li Guanyi away, then seized the bulging money sack with his right hand, slipping it into his robe; perhaps because the old shopkeeper had paid enough, Li Guanyi did not crash into the wall—he landed on the table, which cracked with a sharp snap, and the teenager fell heavily to the ground.

A flash of crimson light surged within the bronze ding in his chest; Li Guanyi felt a sharp pain in his back, but his lungs and organs were unharmed—his back must already be bruised and swollen; he barely rolled over, lying face-down, hiding his face, yet his heart instantly settled—

They weren’t here for him.

The shopkeeper pleaded and begged endlessly, even invoking connections with powerful figures in the city—but none of it worked; the giant raised his hand, and the band of sword-wielding men stormed into Huichun Hall like madmen, smashing and ransacking, overturning every herbal cabinet.

In the span of a single incense stick, Huichun Hall lay in ruins.

Herbs lay scattered across the floor, their fragrances mingling; every room had been turned upside down; the herbalists and physicians stood pale and trembling, mouths open but no sound emerging.

Li Guanyi lay on the ground, watching as the young man stepped inside.

The giant hurried forward, bowing deeply: “My lord.”

The young man waved his hand dismissively; his spotless boots stepped over Li Guanyi’s body, seeming to disdain the scattered herbs, crushing down on the teenager’s bruised back before stepping past; the pain was excruciating, yet Li Guanyi remained silent.

The young man’s robes were clean and luxurious; his right sleeve hung down, densely embroidered with white cloud patterns, and he spoke softly:

“Didn’t find him?”

The giant replied respectfully: “We’ve searched multiple times—truly, he’s not here.”

The old shopkeeper stood by, smiling nervously.

The young man didn’t even glance at him, merely nodded and said coolly: “The fugitive seems cunning, shopkeeper…”

The old shopkeeper hurried to reply: “Yes, yes! What does this sir command?”

The young man reached out, unrolled a scroll, and snapped it open downward: “Have you seen this man?”

The old shopkeeper stared closely—the scroll bore only a few brushstrokes, depicting a middle-aged man.

His hair and beard curled, his face broad with round eyes; even in the drawing, an overwhelming aura made the heart tremble—as if one had beheld a human-shaped azure dragon; the shopkeeper shuddered involuntarily: “No, no, I don’t know him…”

The young man studied him; a flicker of arcane light passed through his eyes, confirming through secret arts that the shopkeeper had never seen this man.

He slightly lifted his chin; the giant beside him pulled out a sheet of paper and tossed it down, barking:

“Bring out every herb listed here!”

The young man said coolly: “The fugitive is wounded and needs these herbs to heal.”

“The government is requisitioning these herbs from your shop; once the criminal is captured, they will be returned in full.”

The old shopkeeper’s heart sank in despair, nearly crying out.

Once the officials take something, how could they ever give it back?

But seeing the giant’s brutality, he dared not speak—only allowed the sword-wielding men to carry off the herbs; beyond ordinary medicines, nearly half the rare tonics—lingzhi, ginseng, and more—were taken; the shopkeeper knew this was plain looting, yet he could only glare silently at the man.

The black-robed, cloud-patterned young man strode out; the giant followed closely, bowing as he helped the young man mount his horse; the giant scanned the crowd, then hurled the scroll and nailed it to Huichun Hall’s signboard; the painting unfurled as it fluttered down, and he shouted:

“This man is a high-ranking criminal, attempting to break prisoners out of jail; anyone who spots him must report to the yamen.”

“If verified, reward: five hundred taels of silver.”

One tael of silver equals one guan of copper coins; silver is valuable, roughly one hundred to two hundred copper coins per guan.

A grand reward! But onlookers immediately realized this must truly be a vicious, desperate criminal—what prison had been broken into to warrant such a high bounty? Regardless, this man was certainly extremely dangerous. The group moved like the wind, vanishing in an instant toward another major apothecary.

A massive reward! The onlookers instantly realized this must be a truly vicious, desperate criminal; “attempting to break out of jail”—who’s jail could warrant such a reward? Regardless, this man was certainly extremely dangerous. The group rode off like a gust of wind, heading toward another major herbal shop.

The giant galloped beside the young man, laughing loudly: “My lord, brilliant! The fugitive is gravely wounded—he must use these herbs to heal! We’ve emptied the herbs from all nearby towns—ha! Let’s see how he heals now; we may not even need to lift a finger.”

The young man said coolly: “Yue Qianfeng’s martial arts are peerless; he bears the Dragon-Tiger Manifestation, ranked forty-second on the Manifestation List.”

“Even after being wounded by the Grand General and the current female sword immortal of Luzhou Sword Pavilion, he won’t die easily.”

“Besides, the Ten-Thousand-Li Tracking Hound has been dispatched.”

The giant paused, then suddenly understood, laughing: “Ah! So that’s it—we’re publicly seizing herbs to force Yue Qianfeng out, but in truth, we’re putting on a show to lull him into complacency; if he emerges, perfect—if he hides in doubt, once the Ten-Thousand-Li Tracking Hound arrives, we’ll find him directly!”

The young man said: “There’s a third reason.”

The giant bowed his head, listening intently.

The young man spoke slowly: “The yamen is running low on herbs.”

He sat atop his tall steed, gazing down at the passing townsfolk, and said coolly: “We protect the people—without us, how could they live in peace?”

“This is a perfect opportunity—no need to fabricate another excuse to obtain the medicine. It saves both of us effort. These common folk, if they can serve us, are contributing to the state and realm; we should be honored.”

“With this opportunity at hand, why search for another excuse to take herbs? It saves us both trouble. These common folk, if they can serve us, are contributing to the state—shouldn’t they feel honored?”

“Ow, it hurts.”

“Ouch—be gentle, gentle…”

“It hurts!”

Inside Huichun Hall, groans filled the air; some were gathering herbs, others helping the three martial guards to their feet; Elder Chen lifted Li Guanyi up, glanced at his bruised back, sighed: “Bad fall—but luckily, no internal damage. Thank heaven.”

“I’ll give you some ointment; apply it at home, it’ll heal faster.”

Li Guanyi winced in pain, which made Elder Chen chuckle.

The old physician’s smile vanished as he looked outside: “Alas… they came with force—likely they’ll ransack every herbal shop and clinic in the city. Who’s this performance for? Again…”

Li Guanyi said: “As long as it has nothing to do with us, that’s fine.”

The elder sighed: “Yes—these imperial enforcers always act like tyrants. Look at these herbs—not for nourishing qi, then for calming the spirit. This time, it’s not about any fugitive; they simply need herbs for their own cultivation, and they’re biting into us.”

Li Guanyi took the ointment from the physician and whispered:

“Elder Chen, there are too many ears.”

The old man fell silent, added extra tonic herbs to Li Guanyi’s dose, patted his shoulder, and went back to his duties.

All customers had left Huichun Hall; the atmosphere inside was heavy. Li Guanyi, injured, returned home early; on the way, he bought a roasted chicken, a flask of old wine, and several steamed buns, walking slowly. His home was remote; he took a secluded side path, where only he walked.

Ahead lay a ruined mountain shrine.

He stopped.

The bronze ding in Li Guanyi’s chest warmed slightly.

The crimson jade fluid within its engraving slowly accumulated; the chilling sensation of toxins was driven away, replaced by healthy vitality; the bronze ding glowed faintly, a breath of energy flowing into his eyes, allowing him to see certain special entities with the naked eye.

He lifted his head; faint blue light shimmered in his pupils. In his vision, a being beyond ordinary hovered slowly above the mountain shrine.

Crimson scales flowed like clouds and mist, resting quietly; the clouds seemed linked to the horizon’s haze; behind it lay the city, scholars hurrying past, shy maidens, a green horse trotting along an ancient path, a swaying physician, children running and laughing.

All of it lay beneath this being’s shadow.

The being was so vast, so peacefully gazing down at the tiny boy before the shrine.

Dragon.

Li Guanyi steadied himself, feeling the bronze ding’s engraving slowly fill with jade fluid.

He lowered his head, ignored the dragon, and entered the mountain shrine—where few came in a year.

Inside the ruined shrine, he raised his gaze, his eyes naturally falling to an almost imperceptible corner.

There sat a beggar.

He possessed a towering frame no ordinary beggar could have; his ragged clothes were stained everywhere; his eyes were closed, his eyebrows wild, his back straight, his thick hands resting on his knees, his beard and hair stirring gently in the wind, sitting there calmly—as still and silent as a tiger in the night.

He looked exactly like the man in the portrait nailed to Huichun Hall’s sign.

(End of Chapter)