Homecoming

Homecoming

Two carriages rolled slowly along the official road, while the scenery around them gradually shifted from unfamiliar to familiar. When dense forests gave way to patch after patch of farmland, it meant Fenghua County was no longer far away.

"At most, there's half a day's journey left, so don't be anxious," the driver said in a thick local accent. "So long as it doesn't suddenly rain, I guarantee I'll get you home before evening."

"Much obliged." Wei Wushuang cupped his hands, then ducked back into the carriage. This was already the fourth time that day he had asked the same question: How much longer until they reached Fenghua County?

"We've already traveled five or six days. Why fuss over another half day?" Xia Fan rubbed his forehead and said weakly, "Since you don't get carsick, why not use this time to practice drawing in qi?"

Though they had hired two carriages, he had basically been crammed together with his fellow townsman during the day. It was not that he did not want to travel with the Fox Demon, but that he feared Wei Wushuang might come looking for him to chat when bored and easily stumble upon a flaw.

Long-distance travel in this era was absolutely a grueling, time-consuming ordeal. Even with a carriage, the experience was hardly pleasant—the only buffer between the carriage compartment and the rutted road was the passengers' butts. If the carriage went even slightly faster, it would shake as though it were about to fall apart. Had the physique of a Fangshi not been so sturdy, he figured he would have thrown up several times already.

"Please forgive my embarrassment, Brother Xia. I'm just a little nervous." Wei Wushuang rubbed his hands together.

"Nervous about what?" Xia Fan straightened up and shifted into a more comfortable position. "You're already a properly registered Fangshi of the Bureau of Military Affairs, at the very least an eighth-rank official. Your father must be over the moon."

"You don't understand, Brother Xia." Wei Wushuang revealed a bitter smile. "I have a group of friends... no, I should say a group of acquaintances. The sort of... peers I often run into when doing business."

"I get it—the Fenghua County business circle." Xia Fan immediately understood. Anyone who got along with Wei Wushuang was bound to be around his age, and what merchant family did not have a few young masters?

"Business circle? That does have a certain ring to it. No, that isn't the point." Wei Wushuang shook his head. "In most people's eyes, my father's grain shop might count as a sizable business, but to them, it's really nothing special."

Xia Fan silently nodded. That was probably like saying a man's appearance was utterly ordinary.

"On top of that, my talent is limited. I can preserve what I have, but I can't make it bigger. My achievements fall far short of theirs, so they've mocked me plenty in the past. As for my taking the Scholar Examination this time, they all agreed that there was no way I could pass..."

"But you did pass." Xia Fan found that strange. "Wouldn't that be the perfect way to crush their swagger?"

"That's exactly the problem." Wei Wushuang scratched the back of his head in distress. "We were only registered by the Bureau of Military Affairs; we don't have anything that can serve as proof. The official appointment order won't arrive for another half month. If I say I was selected, they definitely won't believe me. I've been thinking about how I can convince those people. If I don't explain it well, won't they mock me even harder..." At this point, he raised his head. "Brother Xia... if they host a banquet, could you come with me and testify for me?"

Xia Fan rolled his eyes inwardly. "So what you're nervous about is—you want to show off, but you're afraid no one will believe you?"

"Ahem, Brother Xia, you're too blunt."

"I'm not going." He refused without hesitation. "You're at least part of their circle. What about me? Why would they believe the words of someone whose background they know nothing about?"

Wei Wushuang's expression instantly became much more dejected.

"Besides, I suggest you don't bother thinking about how to explain it." Xia Fan continued, "You only need to state the result. Don't answer anything else; let them guess all they want."

"Wouldn't that make me the laughingstock..."

"Laughingstocks spread fast. Only when they want to make you into a laughingstock will they do their utmost to spread it around. I'd wager that within a week, all of Fenghua County will know the news." Xia Fan gave a cold laugh. "But they can only laugh for half a month at most. The louder the mockery, the harder the backlash. So long as you can endure it and handle things properly, they won't be able to hold their heads up before you for the rest of their lives."

Wei Wushuang froze. "You're sure?"

"Very sure." Xia Fan folded his arms. "I have experience with this."

"Teach me, Brother Xia!" Wei Wushuang hurriedly leaned closer. "What should I do to handle it properly?"

"Simple. The appointment order will be delivered to the government office first, right? First, quietly let the office know not to send it over the moment it arrives. Set a time instead, then arrange a little setup..." Xia Fan guided him step by step. "In short, when everyone is once again mocking you over the Scholar Examination, the doors suddenly fly open, an official courier arrives carrying the appointment order, and hands it to you before everyone's eyes. Wouldn't that reversal leave a deep impression?"

Wei Wushuang had never received such systematic instruction in showing off. His eyes lit up as he listened.

"From that moment on, every barb will turn back upon the mockers themselves. And the affair will be entertaining enough that it spreads even faster and farther than before. You only need to keep one thing in mind: don't kick them when they're down." Xia Fan gave his final summary. "The more calm and unruffled you remain throughout, the more it highlights the gap in standing between you and them. Turn and leave, giving them only your back. That will be enough."

"Brother Xia..." Wei Wushuang took a deep breath. "You truly know everything!"

"Ah, this is only the most basic stuff."

"There's something even more impressive? How would that work?"

"What you have is the 'Don't Bully the Young' version. That one is the 'War God Returns From Retirement' version... not quite suitable for you. But I can tell you about it."

"Please do, Brother Xia!" Wei Wushuang nodded repeatedly.

"Da Qi has a War God who, after returning home many years later, discovers that his household has changed beyond recognition. With one command, a hundred thousand soldiers come rushing over..." Since he had nothing better to do, Xia Fan simply began inflicting harm upon his fellow townsman.

Amid this serious yet lively lesson in showing off, the carriage slowly rolled into Fenghua County.

"Brother Xia... are you really not coming to stay at my place?" At the edge of the street, Wei Wushuang reluctantly tried to persuade him to remain. "My family has plenty of spare rooms."

Xia Fan returned to his own carriage and cupped his hands toward the other man. "I'm used to wandering and dislike being tied down. Besides, you'll probably be the subject of endless gossip during this time, so I won't add to your troubles." Free food and lodging would naturally have been nice, but there was still a Fox Demon in the carriage who needed settling in. He could only refuse through gritted teeth.

"Since Brother Xia is so free-spirited by nature, I won't force you. Once the storm has died down, I'll certainly treat you to a meal." Wei Wushuang said solemnly.

"Easy enough. I'll be going first."

"Until we meet again!"

After bidding farewell to his fellow townsman, Xia Fan had the driver take him straight to Yingsong Inn. The rooms there were moderately priced, and it was not in the center of the county—perfect for quietly hiding someone away.

With the settlement allowance reissued by the Bureau of Military Affairs, he directly booked a large room with its own side courtyard. Not only were there three rooms within the suite, but bamboo woods lay just beyond the courtyard wall. Even if the Fox Demon were discovered, she could easily use the wall to escape.

"Until I take up my post, this will be our temporary residence." After sending the innkeeper away, Xia Fan found an opening to bring Li into the room. "You can choose whichever of the three rooms you like. If there's anything else you need, just tell me."

Li removed the layers of cotton cloth wrapped around her head, braced herself with one hand, and let out a soft hum as she stretched. Clearly, the long journey had not treated her kindly either. Lying inside the carriage, she had not only needed to remain as still as possible to keep the driver from noticing anything unusual about his "luggage," but she also could not remove the cloth around her head, lest an accident leave her with no room to maneuver. One could well imagine what it felt like to be confined in that cramped space, jolted and overheated.

Yet the Fox Demon's recovery ability was equally astonishing. Though her wounds had not fully healed, she could already walk, and her prognosis was excellent. There was no sign of inflammation or infection whatsoever. In his era, it would have been a medical miracle, one hundred percent.

Li looked around the room. "I usually drink dew and dine on wind. Having somewhere to shelter from the rain is already good enough, so I have nothing to complain about."

No... at the very least, you need a new set of clothes, Xia Fan could not help thinking.

She had been lying down the whole time before, covered in blood, so he had not paid much attention. Only now did he realize that the Fox Demon's figure was truly striking. When standing, she was tall and slender, and the arms, shoulders, and back exposed by her clothes were not soft and boneless like those of ordinary women. Instead, they bore the natural contours of muscle, balanced with a thread of resilient beauty.

And there were those bare feet, each toe distinct, the arches curved in smooth, harmonious lines. Merely looking at them was pleasing to the eye.

Women in this era covered their feet even more tightly than their bodies, wrapping them in coarse cloth socks at all times. Those like the Fox Demon, who did not mind going barefoot at all, were few and far between.

If she kept wandering around the room in that tattered outfit, he feared he would be iron-deficient within a few days.

"What are you looking at?" Li suddenly asked.

"Ahem, nothing..." Xia Fan quickly looked away. "I was thinking about what we should eat tonight."

"Hmph, that doesn't sound much like the truth."

Could I even say the truth? He was preparing to change the subject when Li spoke first. "Enough. Don't worry about me; go take care of your important business first. I remember you said one reason you took the Fangshi examination was to redeem your master?"

Xia Fan nodded.

"You've completed the first step. You must be impatient to rescue him now, right? Compared to that, dinner can wait."

That was true... Going to Qingshan Town for the examination had taken nearly a month. His master had probably suffered quite a bit by now. Though he was a bargain master he had picked up by the roadside, the man had at least led him into an entirely new field. That alone made their master-disciple bond real, and he could not simply leave him alone. Better to free him from the hands of the criminal underworld as soon as possible.

Hopefully, after this lesson, his master would not gamble so recklessly as before.

"I understand. Then wait here until I return."

Li gave an "Mm."

When he reached the door, Xia Fan stopped again and turned back with some hesitation. "About what I said before, about going to the Capital Region..."

"Isn't that perfectly normal? Given your ability, I never placed much hope in it to begin with." Li shrugged. "Don't worry. So long as you remain a Fangshi, there will always be a chance to learn the information I want."

Sure enough, it still had that familiar flavor... Since she was in the mood to mock someone, she clearly had not cared much about it after all.

Xia Fan was relieved as well. Slinging his money pouch over his back, he left the room.