Chapter 5: Dragon and Ding

When he saw the cloud pattern, the experiences of ten years ago seemed to surge back before Li Guanyi's eyes.

Having hidden his identity and fled for ten years, living in constant hiding, those ten 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 murderous intent.

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

These cries of pain only made the crowd's faces turn even paler.

This was the largest herbal shop on the old eastern street of Yicheng; the three martial guards hired here normally trained by grinding millstones, capable of cleanly severing tree trunks as thick as a bowl—but now 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 boy 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 as he bowed and pleaded:

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, Your Honor—could there be some mistake?"

"Huichun Hall is an old-established shop of Yicheng, running a humble, honest business, always law-abiding—how could we possibly harbor a wanted criminal? Is there not some misunderstanding? Let us speak slowly."

"This boy is frail—he may have caused a death; if blood stains your hand, it's inauspicious."

The giant roared in fury: "Hmph, slick-tongued old pig-dog—you're saying I've wronged you?"

With a casual flick, he hurled Li Guanyi flying; his right hand snatched the bulging money sack, which landed inside his robe—perhaps because the old Shopkeeper had paid enough, Li Guanyi did not crash into the wall, but struck the table; the solid wooden table cracked with a crack, and the youth 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 spine, but his internal organs were unharmed—his back was surely already 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 endlessly, begging, 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, turning every medicine cabinet upside down.

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

Medicines lay piled on the floor, their scents spreading everywhere; every room had been overturned, the herbalists and physicians of Huichun Hall ashen-faced, limbs trembling, standing helplessly, mouths open but no sound emerging.

Li Guanyi lay on the ground, watching the youth step inside.

The giant hurried forward, bowing deeply: "My lord."

The youth raised his hand, fanning the air; his spotless boots stepped over Li Guanyi's front, as if repulsed by the scattered herbs on the ground, then crushed down on the youth's spine before stepping past; Li Guanyi's bruised and swollen back flared with unbearable pain, yet he remained silent.

The youth's robes were clean and luxurious; his right sleeve hung down, densely patterned with white cloud designs, and he spoke softly:

"Didn't find him?"

The giant replied respectfully: "We've searched multiple times—truly, he is not here."

The old Shopkeeper stood by, smiling nervously.

The youth didn't even look at him, only nodded and said softly: "It seems the fugitive is cunning. Shopkeeper…"

The old Shopkeeper hurriedly replied: "Here, here—what does this honored sir command?"

The youth reached out, pulled out a scroll, and sharply unfurled it 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 old Shopkeeper shuddered and instinctively said: "No, no, I don't know him…"

The youth watched him, a flicker of light passing in his eyes, using a secret technique to confirm the Shopkeeper had truly 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 on this list!"

The youth said softly: "The fugitive is wounded—he needs these herbs to heal."

"The government is requisitioning your herbs; when we capture the criminal, we will return them in full."

The old Shopkeeper's heart cried out in anguish, nearly shouting aloud.

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 all the herbs; beyond ordinary herbs, nearly half the rare tonics—lingzhi, ginseng, and more—were taken; the old Shopkeeper knew this was just opportunistic looting, yet he could only glare in silence.

The black-robed youth with cloud patterns strode out; the giant followed closely, bowing as he helped the youth mount his horse; the giant scanned the crowd, then flung the scroll and nailed it to Huichun Hall's signboard; the painting unfurled as it fluttered down, and he shouted loudly: "This man is a high-ranking traitor, attempting to break prisoners out of jail—anyone who spots him, 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.

Five hundred taels—that's sixty million copper coins.

A massive reward! The onlookers instantly realized this must truly be a vicious, heinous criminal; "attempting to break out of jail"—who's jail could be so important that the bounty is set this high? But regardless, this man was certainly extremely dangerous. This group came and went like the wind, instantly galloping toward another large herbal shop.

The giant galloped like a flying horse, leaning close to the youth and laughing: "My lord, brilliant! That criminal is severely wounded—he must use these herbs to heal! We've emptied the medicine from every nearby town—hahaha, let's see how he heals now; we may not even need to lift a finger."

The youth said softly: "Yue Qianfeng's Wu Gong is peerless; he bears the Dragon-Tiger Manifestation, ranked forty-second on the Manifestation List."

"Even after being wounded by the General and the current female sword immortal of Luzhou Sword Cottage, he won't die easily."

"Moreover, the Ten-Thousand-Mile Tracking Hound has been summoned."

The giant paused, then suddenly understood, laughing: "So that's it! We publicly seize the herbs to force Yue Qianfeng out—but in truth, we're putting on a show to deceive him. If he emerges, perfect; if he hides, trembling in doubt, once the Ten-Thousand-Mile Tracking Hound arrives, we'll find him directly!"

The youth said: "There's a third reason."

The giant bowed his head, listening intently.

The youth spoke slowly: "The yamen is short on herbs."

He sat atop his tall horse, gazing down at the passing townsfolk, and said softly: "We protect the people—without us, how could they live well?"

"We're merely borrowing some."

"With such an opportunity, why find 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 be honored?"

…………

"Ow, it hurts."

"Ouch—be gentle, gentle…"

"It hurts!"

Inside Huichun Hall, moans filled the air; some were gathering herbs, others helping the three martial guards to their feet; Elder Chen lifted Li Guanyi up, examined the bruised and swollen back, sighed deeply, and said: "You fell hard—but luckily, your internal organs weren't damaged. Fortune favors you."

"I'll give you some ointment—apply it at home, and you'll heal faster."

Li Guanyi winced in pain, which actually made Old Chen chuckle a little.

The old physician's smile faded. He looked outside and said, "Sigh… they're coming in force. I'm afraid every pharmacy and clinic in the city is going to get ransacked. I don't know who they're putting on this show for — here they go again."

Li Guanyi said, "As long as it has nothing to do with us, that's fine."

The old physician sighed, "Yes, these Riding Constables are always so overbearing. Look at these herbs — all of them are for nourishing Qi or calming the spirit. This time it's probably not about some fugitive at all; they're simply short on medicinal ingredients for their own cultivation, so they come and take a bite out of us."

Li Guanyi took the medicine from the physician's hand and said softly:

"Old Chen, there are too many people and too many ears."

The old man stopped the topic, added a few more tonic herbs to the young man's medicine, patted his shoulder, and went off to busy himself.

The guests of Huichun Hall scattered in an instant, the atmosphere inside the shop turning gloomy. Li Guanyi, having been injured, headed home early. On the way back he bought a roast chicken, a pot of aged wine, and a few steamed buns, and walked slowly. His home was in a rather out-of-the-way place, so he took a secluded side path, where he was the only one walking.

Ahead was a dilapidated Mountain God Temple.

He stopped.

At Li Guanyi's chest, the bronze cauldron grew faintly warm.

The crimson jade liquid inside the bronze cauldron's brand slowly began to accumulate, and the cold, venomous sensation was driven out once more, replaced by healthy vitality. The bronze cauldron glowed faintly, and a wisp of energy flowed into his eyes, allowing him to see certain special existences with the naked eye.

He raised his head. A faint cyan light shimmered in his eyes, and within his gaze, an extraordinary creature slowly circled above the Mountain God Temple.

Crimson scales shimmered like flowing clouds, resting quietly. The clouds seemed to merge with the mists at the horizon. Behind it lay the city — scholars strolling through the sights, bashful beauties, a blue horse clip-clopping along the ancient road, a physician nodding his head, and children running and laughing.

All of this seemed to prostrate itself beneath that being.

That being was so vast, so serene, gazing down with lowered eyes at the tiny youth before the temple.

A dragon.

Li Guanyi steadied himself, feeling the bronze cauldron's brand gradually accumulating jade liquid.

He lowered his head, paid no heed to the dragon, and simply entered the Mountain God Temple that had seen almost no visitors in a year.

Inside the dilapidated temple, he raised his head, his gaze landing with practiced ease on a spot at the very edge that was hard to notice.

A beggar sat there.

He had a tall, imposing frame that any ordinary beggar would absolutely lack. His tattered clothes were stained everywhere. His eyes were closed, his eyebrows wild and unkempt, his back ramrod straight. His thick, large hands rested on his knees, his beard and hair rose and fell in the wind. He sat there quietly and at ease, like a silent tiger in the night.

He looked exactly like the portrait hanging in Huichun Hall.

(End of this chapter)