Chapter 34: Reunion Again

Zhao Ti heard the horse neigh and couldn’t help but feel pleased; he thought to himself he should go find the owner and see if he could buy it—if possible, he could ride straight to Dali.

He walked forward slowly, glancing around the courtyard; it was a solitary residence, and he couldn’t help but wonder—though this place was remote, the house stood just beside the road, hardly the sort of secluded retreat, so who would live here?

As he pondered, he reached the door and knocked on the door ring; inside, there was no response.

He knocked again, harder this time, and called out: “Is anyone home?” Still no answer.

Zhao Ti thought for a few breaths, then pushed hard—and found the door barred from within, not merely left ajar; he frowned.

“Master, please open the door, or if you break it, you’ll have to pay for the damage,” Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes.

A sharp, resentful voice rang out from within: “Who are you? Break the gate, you pay double—don’t think you can run off!”

Zhao Ti chuckled: “So there is someone inside—why pretend no one’s home?”

The sharp voice replied: “My master lives in seclusion and does not receive outsiders. Leave at once.”

Zhao Ti said: “I only need to ask for directions and a few questions—I’ll be gone after.”

The sharp voice drew nearer: “What directions? This is the abode of a hermit. If you seek a village, just follow the road—you’ll find one sooner or later.”

Zhao Ti rubbed his chin: “I also wanted to buy something from the master—would you sell it?”

At that moment, a sharp “click” sounded—the wooden bolt was pulled back, and the two gates swung wide open. A young maid, her hair tied in pigtails, stood with her hands on her hips: “What do you want to buy? We’re not a shop or market—if my master gets angry, you’ll regret it.”

Zhao Ti smiled, stepped aside with fluid grace, gliding past the maid, and headed toward where he’d heard the horse’s neigh: “I’d like to see the horse—would you sell it?”

The maid froze: “You want to buy the horse? That horse isn’t for sale!”

Zhao Ti strode straight to the stable; when he drew near, a horse’s head emerged, its eyes gleaming brightly, radiating noble spirit.

He circled to the stable door and saw it was a jet-black steed, majestic and proud. It stamped twice on the ground, then pawed the earth twice toward him.

Zhao Ti couldn’t help but admire the horse—but why did it look so familiar? He studied it again—this was the same horse ridden by the black-clad masked girl he’d met in Danhua Town.

Zhao Ti raised an eyebrow—the girl was almost certainly Mu Wanjing; if Mu Wanjing was here, then the Great Black Forest a dozen li away must be the entrance to Wanchou Valley.

He stared at the horse, wondering—had Duan Yu not yet come to borrow the horse to rescue Zhong Ling? Was he still lost in the Langhuan Fudi, unwilling to leave?

The maid rushed over: “You—” Before she could finish, a flurry of urgent sounds echoed from afar—many people were closing in from all directions.

The maid’s face paled; she turned to run back into the courtyard—when a girl stepped out along the stone path within.

The girl was slender and graceful, dressed in black, her face veiled by a light gauze; her brows arched like distant mountains veiled in mist, her eyes gleamed like polished lacquer, her skin was as white as jade, and her hands were gloved in thin silk.

She glanced first at the courtyard gate, then walked over to the horse and said to Zhao Ti: “Who are you?” Her voice was soft and melodious, yet utterly cold, devoid of warmth.

Zhao Ti smiled faintly: “Don’t you recognize me? We met before in Danhua Town—you rode in on horseback.”

The girl stared at him: “You? What are you doing here?”

At that moment, the sounds outside reached the walls—rustling, but no one showed themselves.

Zhao Ti said: “My companion and I were traveling through Wuliang Mountain when we stumbled upon a martial feud—we got separated and lost our way, and ended up here. Seeing this courtyard, I came to ask for directions and perhaps buy a horse to continue.”

The girl studied him for several breaths, then said: “Leave.”

Zhao Ti glanced at the black horse beneath the stable: “Would you sell this horse? I’ll pay double—could you part with it?”

The girl spoke coolly: “I won’t kill you—leave now, or if I change my mind, even begging won’t save your life.”

Zhao Ti shook his head: “Lady, that’s an exaggeration. If you won’t sell, just say so—why threaten a life? My life belongs to no one—I won’t give it to anyone.”

The girl frowned, and with a sharp “clang,” drew her long sword: “Will you leave—or not?”

Zhao Ti’s lips curled slightly: “I’ll leave—put away your weapon.”

He turned to walk out, passing within three feet of the girl—suddenly, he caught a scent: not quite orchid, not quite musk; faint but deep, sweet and cloying—and his heart stirred.

As he reached the wooden gate, about to step out, two staffs suddenly shot forward from outside, striking his face with force.

Zhao Ti leapt back swiftly: “Who’s out there? Why ambush me?”

No one answered from outside. He turned to look at the girl—she was watching him, her eyes unmoving.

Zhao Ti scratched his head, muttering: “The girl inside tells me to leave, but outside, someone’s trying to kill me if I go out—what am I supposed to do?”

The girl spoke: “This man came to ask directions—this has nothing to do with him. Tell him to leave.”

Outside, there was no reply. Zhao Ti stepped forward again—this time, twin steel hooks flashed from either side, snatching at him. He leapt back five or six steps and shouted: “Who are you thieves? Why ambush me without cause? Have I ever wronged you? Are you trying to murder the innocent?”

His expression darkened. Though he’d recognized the black horse and deduced the girl was Mu Wanjing, and had thought of Li Qingluo sending assassins from Suzhou, he hadn’t expected to stumble into this exact moment.

He’d heard the distant sounds as soon as he reached the stable—but by then, escape was impossible. If he left this courtyard, those outside would never let him go—they’d attack.

At that moment, an old voice called from outside: “This brat’s all powdered and perfumed—he’s definitely that woman’s lover! Trying to trick us into letting her sweetheart escape—how could the world be so kind?”

Zhao Ti snapped: “I’ve never met this woman before! Don’t slander me, you cowards—if you’ve got guts, come inside and speak!”

Zhao Ti turned and sat down on the steps beneath the house. The girl walked over coldly, ignoring the people outside, and fixed him with a gaze: “Are you with them?”

Zhao Ti said: “What kind of question is that? Didn’t you see me in Danhua Town? Don’t you know whether I’m with them or not?”

The girl fell silent for several breaths: “Can you fight?”

Zhao Ti said: “I’ve learned a few flashy, useless moves—otherwise I wouldn’t dare travel the mountains and rivers, enjoying the scenery. But it’s just shallow skill—nothing worthy of notice.”

His evasive leap back from the staffs and hooks had been too swift for an ordinary man—he’d have been struck long ago.

The girl’s eyes locked onto him, then suddenly pointed her sword at his chest: “You’re lying!”