Chapter 25

Translator: Tygris
English proofreader: Nyamachi & 247Reader

The wind sweeping across the wilderness carried an unmistakable sense of danger. The women ran in terror, and the men immediately grabbed their weapons.

The alarm bell in the camp suddenly rang out. The old man strode out of his tent and shouted, “Women, take the children and head south to Xiyao City! Men, come with me! We must hold them off!”

“How could the wolf bandits be here?”

“This is already Prince Yan’s territory!”

“I see them! Everyone, run!”

Some of the young men had already released the horses, and the women climbed onto the saddles with their children in their arms. Families barely had time to say goodbye before being forced apart. Chaos spread in all directions; shouts and cries blended. Just a few hours ago, this place had been a sea of joy, and in the blink of an eye, it had turned into a living hell.

Wolf bandits. I had heard Xiao Xuan mention them before. Grassland marauders who plundered caravans and herders, burning, killing, kidnapping—there was no crime they wouldn’t commit. They had roamed the plains for decades, haunting the no‑man’s‑land. ^[1]三不管 (sān bù guǎn), literally ‘not under the purview of the three [authorities]’, is a Chinese term that originally referred to a special area in Nanshi, Tianjin, at the end of the Qing Dynasty that was not under the jurisdiction of the Japanese and French concessions nor the Chinese government. Later, it was extended to refer to a general term for a place or matter that is not managed by anyone. Due to political concerns, both Qi and Liao refrained from sending troops to wipe them out, only fighting back when the bandits trespassed into their territory. Two years of tolerance had allowed their power to take deep root, until they’d become a malignant tumor of the grasslands.

I was still dazed when someone suddenly grabbed me.

Xiao Cheng had clearly just rolled out of bed—his clothes weren’t even fastened, exposing a large stretch of pale chest the shade of soft and silken tofu. His hair was loose and messy. Unfortunately, the stubble on his face ruined the overall look.

Xiao Cheng was furious and flustered, “What are you staring at? Your head’s about to be gone and you’re still gawking.”

He dragged me and started running. Despite looking frail and scholarly, Xiao Cheng was surprisingly fast, his feet practically flying. I struggled to keep up, panting hard. As we ran, he asked, “Where’s the horse you rode in on yesterday?”

I grabbed the whistle hanging at my chest and blew it once. In no time, that clever, obedient warhorse pushed through the chaos and ran straight toward us.

Xiao Cheng shoved me toward the horse. “Hurry and go back to the city with the other women.”

“Hey!” I protested. “And what exactly can you do by staying here?”

Xiao Cheng bristled in indignation at my implied insult. ^[2]歧视 (qí shì) means to look down on someone, thinking of them as inferior or incapable. “I may not be good at martial arts, but I know poisons.”

I flashed him a grin. “And how do you know I don’t?”

Xiao Cheng was stunned.

I had already turned around, scooped two children onto the horse, and slapped its flank. The horse sprang forward and galloped away.

“You…” Xiao Cheng was in disbelief.

I pulled him along, running toward where the men were gathering. “The Old Man is my family. When family is in danger, how can I just stand by and do nothing?”

The wolf bandits had already arrived—tall, broad‑shouldered figures with black cloths over their faces, riding tall and robust horses, cold blades flashing. I saw their leader strike down several herders in just a few moves. Those were the same friends who had sung and danced with me last night.

My eyes burned red. Without thinking, I was about to rush forward, but Xiao Cheng grabbed me just in time. “I at least know a few tricks. I’ll help the men—you go help the women.”

I hid behind a tent and watched him. His clothes fluttered as he moved, quick and light. With a handful of powder scattered into the wind,  several attackers fell into a faint.

Goodness… truly, you can’t judge a person by appearances. ^[3]人不可貌相 (rén bù kě mào xiàng) means approximately the same thing as ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’ but human-specific. He looked like a frustrated literary youth, but who knew—maybe he was actually a martial arts expert, like Song Zijin.

I turned around to look for the women and children who hadn’t managed to escape yet. Rounding a burning tent, I saw a bandit yanking at a bundle in a woman’s arms. She was struggling desperately to hold on, and the man, impatient, raised his blade. I rushed forward and slapped down on his shoulder.

“Hey, Bro.” 

He turned toward me in confusion. I threw my handful of powder in his face. His eyes rolled twice, and he collapsed with a thud.

The woman, still shaken, stammered, “Miss…”

I scolded her, “Do you want money or do you want to live? Why are you still not running!”

She scrambled to her feet and fled.

My sharp eyes caught sight of A‑Zi charging out with a huge broadsword in his hands. I grabbed him. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to kill those bandits!” The young boy, carrying a blade taller than he was, was stubborn and determined.

“Put the sword down.” I stuffed a small packet of powder into his arms and pushed an antidote pill into his mouth. “There isn’t enough medicine. Dissolve this in water and throw it at them. Use it sparingly.”

A‑Zi calmed down a bit. Understanding what I’d meant, he ran off with the medicine.

I followed behind the retreating women and children with a portion of powder. The remaining batch was much stronger—those who inhaled it suffered severe skin damage. ^[4]溃烂 (kuǐ làn) is a verb meaning to ulcerate or to fester, breaking down. I had never done anything so cruel before, but seeing the herders who hadn’t escaped fall under the bandits’ attacks made my heart twist in pain. ^[5]心如刀绞 (xīn rú dāo jiǎo) means to feel as if one’s heart were being sliced open by knives. I hated that I was too weak ^[6]无缚鸡之力 (wú fù jī zhī lì) means to not even be strong enough to truss up a chicken. to fight them hand-to-hand.

Suddenly, terrified screams rose from ahead. I looked over—wolf bandits who had been repelled in the north had circled around and were now attacking from the south.

The women fled in panic, shouting as they ran. Those who were even a little slow fell to the flashing of blades; those who ran fast still couldn’t escape the feathered arrows. In an instant, the air was filled with cries of fear. A sharp pain tore through my chest, and anger surged through my blood, burning away every trace of fear and hesitation.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zhu Yina clutching her newborn daughter, supported by her husband. I rushed to them and said urgently, “This won’t do. Brother, you carry her—I’ll take the baby.”

Zhu Yina looked at me and, trusting me completely, placed the child in my arms. Her husband lifted her onto his back and ran, and I followed close behind with the baby.

But behind us came the pounding of hooves, and a suffocating sense of danger swept toward us. The small pills in my hand were useless against something like this.

A shadow fell over us. I turned and saw a pair of bloodthirsty eyes and a flash of cold steel. Instinctively, I knelt and shielded the child with my body.

But the expected pain—or death—never came. The horse let out a sharp, frightened cry, and a heavy body crashed to the ground beside me.

Choking on dust, I coughed and opened my eyes. A long arrow with a blue feathered tail had pierced the bandit’s throat; he died with his eyes wide open. ^[7]死不瞑目 (sǐ bù míng mù) is a phrase used that literally means, ‘to die with one’s eyes open.’ It’s used to describe when someone dies while worrying about something and is often used to describe someone who is very unwilling to accept something.

A piercing gaze fell upon me from above. Trembling, I looked up. Under the blazing sun stood a tall figure, sunlight at his back, looking down at my small, crouched form. Beneath a bronze mask, a pair of icy blue eyes stared unblinkingly. His azure dragon horse ^[8]青龙马 (qīng lóng mǎ) is a way to describe a legendary warhorse with extraordinary abilities that is fit for a hero of great stature. 青龙 (qīng lóng) refers to the azure dragon: Azure Dragon – Wikipedia reared and neighed, and the shadows of man and beast completely enveloped me.

This was…

“Oh my dear mother…” ^[9]While this is literally crying out for his mother, the phrase is more of an indication of fear/panic/comedic overreaction. Xiao Cheng let out a very unhelpful wail.

“Your mom?” I blinked at him.

Xiao Cheng’s legs were shaking, sweat pouring down like rain, and his tongue was no longer cooperating. “I‑I‑I, A’min, take care, we’ll probably never meet again—!” Before he even finished, he was already sprinting far, far away.

A streak of black flashed past. Thunk! An arrow embedded itself into the pillar right in front of Xiao Cheng, the tip stopping barely two centimeters from his nose.

Xiao Cheng went pale as paper, his teeth chattering. ^[10]牙齿打架 (yá chǐ dǎ jià) literally says ‘teeth fighting’. I, on the other hand, let out a low whistle of admiration.

The mysterious man’s subordinates wore black clothing and bronze masks, their bodies strong and agile. At a single command from their leader, the warriors charged the wolf bandits. Professionals were indeed different from a disorganized mob—their strikes were clean and efficient, cutting through the chaos without hesitation. In a blur of blades and shouts, the bandits were already half defeated.

The wolf bandit leader saw the arrow and shuddered. With a long howl, he rallied his men and fled.

The mysterious uncle beside me seemed to smile—hard to tell with such a finely crafted mask, but his subordinates, however, clearly understood him and did not pursue.

Only then did I stand up with the child in my arms, my legs still a little weak. The danger seemed to have passed, but the scene around us was full of devastation. ^[11]满目疮痍 (mǎn mù chuāng yí) literally means that everywhere the eye can see is filled with wounds and trauma. The dead, the wounded, burning tents, people running in panic… My heart twisted painfully, and I held the baby tighter.

The Old Man came stumbling over, supported by others, a bit injured. “Mr. Cheng, Miss Min, thank you.”

I wanted to say that the real thanks should go to the masked uncle—but then I saw Xiao Cheng’s face twist into a shape I had never seen before, as if he had just witnessed a zombie rise from the grave or saw his stocks crashing

Just as I was wondering, the uncle beside me spoke, his voice deep and rich, smooth as velvet… though the tone carried a hint of mockery.

“A‑Sheng, this is your idea of escaping?”

But Xiao Cheng did not appreciate this heavenly voice. ^[12]天籁 (tiān lài) describes something as of the heavens, better than anything man-made or of nature. Quite literally perfect and divine. He shook all over, drenched in sweat, his eyes rolling back as he collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

Startled, I rushed over and pinched the point between his nose and lip. Xiao Cheng squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth: “G‑gentler…!”

I immediately let go and spread my hands toward the masked uncle. “He seems to have fainted.”

The man’s icy blue eyes flashed with cold anger. He growled out, “Pretending. Fine—take him back.”

To what? Feed him to the pigs?

I did feel a bit of camaraderie with Xiao Cheng, but with the masked uncle’s overwhelming presence pressing down like a mountain, who could resist? I obediently stepped aside. The “unconscious” Comrade ^[13]同志 (tóng zhì) historically just meant like-minded individuals or similar, but since the fall of Imperial China/in modern China, it carries the meaning of a member of the same political movement. When used in a non-serious, everyday situation, it is meant to be somewhat humorous. Cheng was hoisted up by two burly men and tossed onto a horse like a sack of grain.

The Old Man and the surviving tribespeople knelt, thanking the man for saving them.

He responded with a cool, indifferent sound and nudged his horse to leave.

As he turned, he glanced back at me. His icy blue eyes locked onto me.

“Who are you?”

What a domineering, rude question. I answered calmly, “A stranger.”

The uncle seemed to smile again—hard to tell under that exquisite mask. “A member of the Kingdom of Qi?”

I smiled as well. “From the capital.”

He looked me up and down. “You know how to use poison?”

I smiled without answering.

The uncle said, “What is your relationship to Xiao Xuan?”

A faint tremor ran through my heart, but I smiled and countered, “And who might you be, Uncle?”

The uncle gave a gorgeously flamboyant smile. “You’ll find out.”

With that, he rode off, taking the bundled-up Xiao Cheng along with him. ^[14]扬长而去 (yáng cháng ér qù) means to leave in a very confident manner, kinda like swaggering, but without the negative connotation.

TL Notes

hiii Tygris here! for transparency and full disclosure, due to my dwindling free time and because this novel was originally written in very modern Chinese, I am using machine translation to help speed up the process. some of the time I save I put back into making sure that the translation is accurate and adding footnotes for anything that might be of interest to the reader. thank you for your support and i hope that you enjoy this translation!! 

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