Talk to the owner

“Oh, this journey proved quite lengthy. It’s a blessing this boy is so lean; otherwise, my ageing back would surely have given out.”

Before the gates of the Shangguan manor, Hú Délù gently set Yún Mù down, his hands immediately going to rub his own aching lower back as he grumbled under his breath.

Overhead, the brilliant moon already hung high in the night sky.

“You, boy, if not for the worry that delivering you back too soon might stir suspicion in that Shangguan Hóngzhì fellow, I wouldn’t have endured these pointless hardships… I swear, I’m at my wits’ end. I can’t tell if you were my father or mother in a previous life, but every time our paths cross, you cling to me like a spectre.”

“No, to be precise, my entanglement with you was quite unavoidable, considering it’s all thanks to that little brat, the Empress…”

He stopped mid-sentence, electing not to elaborate further. Instead, he gave the boy’s now-healed arm a light kick, a cheerful chuckle escaping his lips.

“Heh, my handiwork isn’t half bad, if I do say so myself. Though I did have to employ a touch of demonic energy to mend it, these clothes are a surprisingly faithful reproduction… I just hope you’re sharp enough, kid, not to let any cracks show when they start asking questions.”

In truth, given Hú Délù’s formidable abilities, he could have transported the boy from the city’s west side to this very spot in the span of half an incense stick’s burning. Yet, after weighing certain ‘eating, drinking, and merrymaking’ necessities, he ultimately chose to take his sweet time, ambling along at a relaxed pace.

Of course, he did manage to accomplish one proper task during his journey.

This very outfit was crafted from needle and thread, along with fabric he purchased out of his own pocket. Finding a random rooftop, he then, with his exceedingly practiced sewing skills, meticulously recreated the patched tunic he remembered Yún Mù wearing.

His purpose, naturally, was to prevent Shangguan Hóngzhì from ever learning about the boy’s encounter with Shangguan Ce that day.

To wield the power of the stars without even opening one’s meridians, and with uncultivated strength, to very nearly slay someone approaching the second rotation—even if it was due to the opponent’s sheer carelessness—was truly unprecedented and utterly astonishing.

Should this truth ever come to light, the boy’s chances of survival would plummet significantly. No one would tolerate such a profound hidden danger existing, unless, of course, he were a complete and utter cripple.

Thus, the adage ‘conceal your wealth, hide your talent’ held true.

“Ugh…”

“Hm? Awake already?”

A faint sound emanated from beneath him, accompanied by a subtle stir, signaling that the boy was on the verge of waking.

Hú Délù swiftly withdrew his foot, an eyebrow arching in surprise, before he quickly vanished, reappearing on the nearby eaves.

Muttering a low incantation, he transformed, his form shifting into that of a grayish tanuki, which then shook its tail and melted into the shadows.

“Where am I…?” Yún Mù instinctively raised an arm, his pupils constricting sharply. “Ah, right, Shangguan Ce.”

His gaze lifted to the familiar grand gates, where, beneath the dim lamplight, no one could be seen.

“How odd. How did I return? I distinctly recall nearly killing that man.” He shook his head vigorously, attempting to recall the events that followed. “Ugh… nothing comes to mind. This won’t do; I must go confirm. If he’s still alive, he’ll surely pose a threat to Grandpa Xie and the others.”

“My blade… Yes, I must get my blade…”

He cast his gaze downward, yet a throbbing pain flared in his head. The inexplicably restored old clothes and his right hand, now completely healed, both assaulted his senses.

“I…”

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

A rough, guttural voice echoed, and in the crimson glow of a nearby lantern, a towering figure cast a long shadow, engulfing both him and his own form.

“Greetings, Family Head.” Yún Mù turned, cupping his hands in a respectful bow, his movements utterly natural. “This humble one was delayed while out today, which is why I’ve only just returned to the manor.”

“Delayed…?” Shangguan Hóngzhì paused for a beat, then raised a hand to pat the boy’s shoulder. “As long as no misfortune befell you, it’s fine. Come inside.”

“Yes.”

The boy’s gaze flickered to Shangguan Hóngzhì’s boots before he slowly straightened up, the image of being knocked unconscious earlier flashing through his mind.

‘Was that truly the Family Head then? But… why would he knock me unconscious?’

“Yún Mù, do you know why I am still awake at such a late hour?”

Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, this abrupt question severed his train of contemplation.

“Family Head, this humble one does not know…”

“Ah, you truly are just like your master, so straightforward in your speech,” the tall man said, shaking his head. “I came looking for you out of concern.”

‘Concerned for me?’

The boy felt a flicker of surprise, but then quickly understood. Such concern from Shangguan Hóngzhì seemed perfectly reasonable, for his very body was being prepared for Shangguan Qiūyuè. Should anything untoward truly befall him, it would undoubtedly complicate everything.

“My apologies… Family Head, this humble one was foolish.”

“Enough, enough. There’s no need for such formalities between us. Your master and I shared a rather good relationship, and her passing all those years ago truly grieved me deeply.” Shangguan Hóngzhì lifted his gaze to the moon. “It’s just that I later dispatched men to scour the entire vicinity of the Endless Cliff, yet… alas…”

He let out a prolonged sigh, his face seemingly overcome by a profound sorrow, a sight that caused the boy’s heart to involuntarily tremble.

‘My master, huh…’

Indeed, in the deepest recesses of Yún Mù’s heart, he had always resisted believing that Lín Xīzhī was truly gone.

Should anyone inquire about his reasons, he would likely scratch his head, a stubbornly earnest smile gracing his lips.

‘Everyone claims Master died, but no one ever found her bones, did they? She was so incredibly powerful; she once rescued me from villains amidst a raging blizzard. How could someone like her simply… vanish so easily?’

If pressed further, asking why, if he harbored such hope, he would then erect a cenotaph, offering annual homage and speaking those intimate words to her?

At such a moment, the boy would likely fall silent for a long while, before finally answering with a calm, yet resolute, certainty:

‘I believe… I will likely never again have the chance to see Master alive in this lifetime.’

‘But if, by some chance, there truly is a Yellow Springs (TL Note: A mythological underworld in Chinese folklore, similar to Hades or the River Styx) after death, and I can meet her there, with my continued offerings, she would surely embrace me with a smile, stroke my head, and commend me as a sensible, good child.’

‘And what if… what if she is, in fact, still alive, and one day she truly sees this grave mound I’ve erected? She would likely be so enraged she’d plant her hands on her hips and berate me as an unfilial little scoundrel, wouldn’t she? Yet, deep down, she would also surely understand that her little apprentice never, ever forgot her, and has always, always remained a good child who cherished her memory.’

Yún Mù, above all else, never wanted his Master to think of him as a bad child.

“Family Head, thank you. If Master’s spirit truly resides in the heavens, knowing of your deep concern for her, she would undoubtedly feel a profound joy.”

“Oh, no need to overstate things,” Shangguan Hóngzhì demurred, waving a hand dismissively. He then patted Yún Mù’s shoulder again, this time with a far gentler touch, before smoothly pressing a finely crafted outer robe, made from the most exquisite material, into the boy’s hand. “Go and see her. That girl has been ceaselessly calling for you since she woke, refusing to stay in the main courtyard no matter what… Alas, she’s incredibly stubborn; even my words as her father hold no sway.”

His voice held a mixture of doting affection and helpless resignation as he gestured with his chin towards the side courtyard, then gave Yún Mù a gentle push. “A grown daughter cannot be kept at home forever… Go quickly, and remember to drape this outer coat over her. The night air grows quite cool.”

“Yes, Family Head.” Yún Mù bowed deeply in acknowledgement, his fingers tightening around the outer coat, its fabric cool and smooth against his skin, before he turned and headed towards the dark, silent side courtyard.

****

Shangguan Hóngzhì remained standing, watching the slender figure disappear into the shadows of the doorway. The feigned kindness and sorrow on his face quickly receded, replaced by his usual deep indifference.

He did not leave immediately. Instead, he turned, his gaze sharply sweeping over the shadowed eaves where Hú Délù had just vanished, then silently pushed open a side door.

From within the door’s shadows, as if seeping directly from the ground, several dark figures appeared without a sound. Two of them were supporting a boy, limp as mud—it was Shangguan Ce, his spirit all but shattered.

“Ce’er, did you complete the task I assigned you?”

“The task… the task… What task was I supposed to do…” Shangguan Ce’s face contorted grotesquely. His two supported arms suddenly shot up, and he collapsed onto the ground with a thud, clutching his head and trembling violently. “The task, the task, the task I was supposed to do was… the task…”

Witnessing his strange state, Shangguan Hóngzhì’s expression remained relatively calm. A tyrannical surge of star power instantly enveloped the disheveled boy on the ground. He paused for a moment, then cast his gaze towards the black-clad figures.

“When you found him, did you see who injured him?”

“Reporting to Family Head, we discovered Young Master Ce in an alley in the commoner’s district west of the city while on a mission. At that time, he was already…”

“Useless!”

With a swift kick, he sent Shangguan Ce flying directly into the opposite wall. Amidst the loud cracking of the wall and a muffled groan, the usually arrogant Shangguan family scion lay unconscious.

“You two, take him inside and treat him with the best medicine. Whether he can return to normal depends on his own fortune.”

“Yes, Family Head!”

“As for the rest of you, follow me to the west of the city to apprehend the culprit. I have no patience to wait for you to find any traces.”

As he spoke, these black-clad figures vanished into the shadows like ghosts, leaving no trace.

Shangguan Hóngzhì slowly raised his right hand. In his palm, a strand of pure, almost eerie white energy had, at some unknown point, gathered.

He lightly twisted his fingertips, and the strand of energy silently dissipated, as if it had never existed.

“To think there are members of the demon race in this city… That is somewhat beyond my expectations.”

With a powerful step, he soared into the air.

His direction of travel was towards the west of the city.