The cave.
The campfire.
The young man seed like a knight protecting a princess.
He looked at his family, all asleep.
He gently moved his sister Little Jiang Yu aside, took off his jacket, and covered her with it.
Taking off his jacket made him feel a bit chilly.
He stood up and began practicing sword forms.
The sa few moves—one swing, one chop, one slash, completely devoid of any profound technique.
Jiang Feng practiced ticulously.
The campfire illuminated the cave, casting the shadow of the young swordsman on the cave walls, as if witnessing an ancient immortal master performing a sword dance through the ages.
The more he practiced, the more fluid his movents beca, the more at ease he felt, first finding the sword in his hand heavy, then just right, and finally forgetting he was holding a sword at all.
For all he saw were his loved ones, and he had beco their protector, at peace.
Qin Luoxia fell asleep quickly, but soon woke up again. Seeing Jiang Feng practicing, and with her Husband and Mianmian by her side, she adjusted her posture to hold them both in her embrace, and went back to sleep.
She didn't bother with Jiang Yu, who was sleeping sprawled out against the cave wall, limbs akimbo, impossible to hold, as long as she didn't roll into the fire.
Before dozing off again, Qin Luoxia wondered if her second daughter would be able to get married, or if on her wedding night she might kick her Husband out, with that temper of hers. Maybe she would end up having to take in a son-in-law, making Qin Luoxia worry whoever's family he ca from.
Jiang Changtian's sleep was light, unable to rest properly in an unfamiliar place. He thought he had slept, but it was only for a mont before Jiang Feng got up, waking him. He watched Jiang Feng practice for a while, then closed his eyes again.
He was going over his actions that day.
He had told the local Ming County mountain bandits not to attack the county office, as there was an ambush waiting, and lured them to attack Squire Liu instead.
He had told the villagers that bandits from Jǐ Mountain County would be coming, warning them to hide.
Squire Liu had received his ssage, but surely wouldn't believe it, since the Jǐ Mountain County bandits never ca this way.
His actions were clumsy and didn't stand up to scrutiny.
Just like when he unintentionally told that rchant caravan that Wu Liu was his wife's lover, and carelessly ntioned where to buy poison and what toxins would be most lethal.
Instantly fatal.
He had been sloppy.
If anyone seriously investigated the case, they might trace it back to him.
But when he saw Wu Liu's rotting corpse, he felt happy.
Genuinely happy.
He even felt that eating at that day was no longer a disgusting act.
at that was usually hard to swallow beca strangely appetizing when he pictured Wu Liu's corpse, as if he could taste the flavor instead of feeling nauseous.
He thought, his mother was right—he had a demon inside, a beautiful face but a demon's heart. That's the kind of person he was.
He had to hide that demonic side, not wanting Sister Xia to know. He craved her embrace, her care, her adoration.
He was utterly false.
Look.
His mother was right.
To have soone killed, just accuse them of a cri.
He would doubt himself, believing he was that kind of person, and slowly beco that person.
Unfilial, disrespectful, heartless and dishonest, his mouth full of lies.
Not only had he beco that, he had surpassed it.
He had even learned to kill.
The first he killed was himself.
Tonight, those bandits would co, they would definitely co.
Because when he went during the day, the bandits were sharpening their blades.
Those who had turned to banditry lacked great wisdom. If they had it, they wouldn't have fallen to such depths.
They were desperate.
Hearing that the Jǐ Mountain County bandits had occupied the county office and declared themselves kings, they beca desperate.
Worried that if they didn't act, they would be left behind, hoping to strike it rich.
But the Jǐ Mountain County bandits were different—he had inquired carefully at the county office and could not tell if they were real bandits or not. They were well-trained and rebelling for certain, or perhaps only using the guise of bandits.
The Ming County bandits were simply impoverished, their mountain hideout remote, just a group of vicious but dim-witted n.
He told them to attack the county office, which they didn't really have the guts for, but were compelled to go through with to save face in the outlaw brotherhood after being riled up on rumors.
They were being swept along and would retreat at the first sign of an ambush, but at that point they needed sothing to show for their efforts, to avoid losing outlaw credibility.
So they would definitely co.
And tonight.
Jiang Changtian kept his eyes closed.
Carefully going over every word he had said, each step, ticulously recalling the sturdy n he had seen, rely glancing at them earlier but now vividly rembering how many there were and what weapons they carried.
Squire Liu's estate also had guards.
Squire Liu certainly wouldn't believe him, being a prominent figure disinclined to hide away.
But he would arrange more guards than usual.
In the village, Sixth Auntie wouldn't hide, probably assuming he was behind so trickery, following Squire Liu instead.
Those close to Squire Liu would likely seek refuge at his estate.
Others concerned for their lives would flee to the mountains like them.
Night raids by bandits rarely scattered into the mountains chasing impoverished villagers.
Considering everything, Jiang Changtian then drifted back to sleep.
This ti, Sister Xia held him in her embrace, and he fell quickly into a deep slumber.
Once Jiang Changtian's breathing beca even, Qin Luoxia opened her eyes.
Her gaze was sharp.
She gestured silently to Jiang Feng.
"You keep watch. I'm going out to look around," she mouthed soundlessly.
Jiang Feng wanted to go instead, but seeing the hung ga in the cave and his mother's resolute eyes, he obediently nodded.
Qin Luoxia gently laid her Husband down, tucking Mianmian into his embrace.
Then she rose.
Taking up the long spear she had prepared, she left the cave.
Outside, the wind cut like a knife.
The cold air sharpened Qin Luoxia's senses.
Behind her in the cave were her loved ones.
Outside stretched the boundless darkness of the mountains.
The gentle wife and mother who had just held her Husband and child was now binding her sleeves and trousers, her face covered in cloth wrappings, her head hooded. Her tall, strong fra bound with strips of cloth across her chest and around her waist made her look like a sturdy man.
She had made up her mind. Whether the bandits ca or not, Squire Liu would die tonight.
She had never killed before.
But lately, she had slain many fierce beasts.
She knew nothing of great justice or right and wrong.
She only knew that her mother had said her father died in battle, his remains never found, uncertain of whom or what he had fought and died for, leaving behind wife and children to wander begging for survival.
Her mother had brought her along that path of destitution until arriving here. She knew the hardships her mother had endured, the regrets her mother voiced on her deathbed about having no face to et her father.
How she wished she had been grown then, able to protect her mother.
Now she would ensure her family all remained alive and intact. Anyone who tried to harm them, she could kill their entire clan.
She wasn't afraid to kill, truly.
From a young age fleeing famine, she had seen the dead.
Seen people kill.
At this mont, Qin Luoxia exuded none of the gentle warmth she showed cuddling her little daughter.
Her whole being radiated ferocity, like a predator calmly hunting prey in the deep forest.
She raced swiftly towards the village.
lting into the night.
The cold wind howled.
The rustling leaves sang their mournful tune.
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