Already in the Jianghu

Zhao Changhe soon realized he had guessed wrong.

Master Luo led the two of them into the reception hall and dismissed the servants. A young man in fine brocade was already there, quite handsome and refined. Master Luo introduced him with a smile. "My son, Zhenwu."

Luo Zhenwu cupped his hands courteously toward Yue Hongling. "Greetings, Fairy Yue. I have long heard of your illustrious name. What a blessing it is to meet you today..."

Yue Hongling frowned. She disliked such empty pleasantries, especially those centered on her beauty. Hadn't Zhao Changhe practically gagged at them earlier? But that was how people were, and she could not be bothered to say much about it. She went straight to the point. "I have received some unconfirmed information that the Blood God Cult may attack your manor. The reason is unclear."

Master Luo paused. "Unconfirmed information?"

"Yes... Some days ago, on North Mang Mountain, I happened to overhear members of the Demon Cult let something slip in conversation. There were too many of them, and their cult leader seemed to be present as well, so I couldn't capture anyone to question them further. In any case, I came specifically to inform you. Please remain vigilant, Master Luo."

"North Mang? That's nearly a thousand li from here..." Master Luo looked at her in surprise, his expression rather strange.

Zhao Changhe sat to one side, pale-faced and bloodless-lipped, and cast her a sidelong glance as well.

For a piece of information whose truth she could not even verify, she had traveled a thousand li just to give a warning... And judging by their formal exchanges, she and Master Luo were not actually close. They had probably met only once.

Zhao Changhe kept feeling that this would have had more of the right flavor if she were a burly, heroic man. Seeing a girl behave this way was really interesting. Did dreaming of someone like her prove this was his type? Or did it prove he was gay...?

Master Luo considered for a moment. "We have never had any dealings with the Blood God Cult. You must be mistaken, Fairy Yue... Still, we are deeply grateful that you traveled a thousand li to bring us word. Why not stay at the manor for a few days and allow us to extend a little hospitality?"

Yue Hongling pointed to Zhao Changhe. "I passed through a village called Zhao Cuo earlier. Its inhabitants had all been slaughtered. This young brother was the sole survivor, and I have just rescued him myself. That offers some corroboration."

The Luo Family father and son shifted expressions slightly. "You fought them, Fairy Yue? Could you identify their background?"

Yue Hongling shook her head. "They only used crude moves, with no discernible martial foundation. They were most likely bandits serving under the Blood God Cult. The Demon Cult routinely gathers bands of thieves to pillage, and these men fit the pattern... As for why they would slaughter a village and beat the grass to startle the snake, I haven't worked that out either. Unfortunately, I was so intent on saving him that I left no one alive to question."

So this was how it concerned me... Zhao Changhe recalled her muttering, "Why beat the grass to startle the snake?" That fit, too.

His hatred for the throat-slitting demoness could not even compare with what he felt for these murderers. The rage of that moment, the hot blood surging with the urge to kill every last one of those bastards, was something no one who had not witnessed it could understand.

The Blood God Cult, then... Zhao Changhe secretly clenched his fists.

Master Luo's expression grew grave. After a moment's thought, he said, "In that case, our manor must immediately raise its guard and prepare for battle. You have already done everything kindness and duty could ask by bringing word from a thousand li away. It would hardly be right for us to keep you here and needlessly embroil you in the fighting..."

Luo Zhenwu seemed about to speak, then stopped when Master Luo glared at him.

Since Yue Hongling had come all this way with the warning, she naturally meant to help fight the Demon Cult as well. But Master Luo's attitude was rather odd... His words sounded gracious, yet he was essentially showing her the door without even offering her dinner. How could she shamelessly insist on staying? She was a free-spirited wandering heroine, not someone begging to be slighted.

At that thought, her temper rose a little. She said coldly, "I have fulfilled the obligations of fellowship in the jianghu. Since you are confident, Master Luo, I won't meddle further. I shall take my leave. There is one more matter I hope you will attend to."

Master Luo cupped his hands. "Please speak, Fairy Yue."

Yue Hongling said, "Zhao Cuo is only a few dozen li from here. Corpses now lie scattered throughout the village. The sight is unbearable. Please send people to handle the aftermath and bury the villagers. There could be no greater kindness."

As she spoke, she drew Zhao Changhe over. "This survivor is called Zhao Changhe. He is now alone in the world, with no one to turn to. Please do me the small courtesy of taking him in and giving him a place to stay."

Master Luo smiled. "Naturally. From now on, this will be your home, young brother."

Yue Hongling smiled as well and patted Zhao Changhe's shoulder. "This is where we part. I hope you'll still have today's honest simplicity in the years ahead, and that when we meet again in the jianghu, I'll still hear you call me big sister."

With that, she turned and left.

Zhao Changhe saw her to the entrance and watched intently as that figure in red strode toward her fine horse beneath the setting sun. It truly was a beautiful scene.

He had only just arrived in this unfamiliar place. Everything was baffling, and he understood none of it. Naturally, he was bewildered and quiet, which gave others the impression of an "honest, simple young lad." But Zhao Changhe knew that was not his nature. The person he truly resembled was Yue Hongling.

That was the jianghu of his dreams, the heroine of his dreams.

Zhao Changhe watched Yue Hongling mount and ride away, feeling reluctant to part. He had no idea how to talk to the Luo Family father and son, much less how they intended to settle him in...

As he was thinking this, he suddenly froze.

He could clearly see behind him: the Luo Family father and son stood outside the hall, staring coldly in the direction Yue Hongling had left.

She traveled a thousand li to warn you. Never mind that you didn't even offer her a meal-what's with those expressions now?

Zhao Changhe unobtrusively edged back a few steps, straining his ears to eavesdrop.

The blind person had said these Eyes Behind the Head could slightly improve Zhao Changhe's ordinary eyesight, but he discovered that they seemed to enhance his hearing a little, too. Sounds were much clearer than before. The two men paid no mind to this "honest, simple village lad" and continued talking. Though their voices were low, he could still faintly make out their words:

"Father, why did you let her leave? We could have kept her here and entertained her. Perhaps we could even have..." Luo Zhenwu spoke quietly, making a fist with a rather lewd expression.

"You little bastard!" Master Luo hissed through clenched teeth. "Yue Hongling is at the Profound Pass Eighth Level and ranks fifth among the Hidden Dragons. She's a rising storm! Even I have no certainty of beating her, and you dare scheme against her? If it failed and she escaped, do you have any idea what the consequences would be?"

"We could trick her into a secret chamber and use traps..."

"You don't know shit! Didn't you notice that her hand never left her sword hilt from the moment she entered? Her eyes and ears were constantly watching for every sound and change around her. Those are instincts forged by years of weathering the jianghu! Would someone like that casually follow you somewhere unfamiliar?"

Luo Zhenwu: "..."

Master Luo looked exasperated at his son's failure to amount to anything. "Let me tell you: among women who have made a name for themselves in the jianghu, the prettier they are, the harder they are to prey on. More men covet them than you've ever even met. Think how many treacherous hearts and monstrous schemes they've faced along the way. The fact that they're still roaming the jianghu rather than serving as someone's plaything is proof enough!"

Luo Zhenwu: "..."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

That makes so much fucking sense. Did she only seem careless when she let me sit behind her earlier? Was she actually watching me on purpose? Seeing me obediently keep a few inches away, maybe even blushing, was probably why she thought I was an honest, simple lad...

But that's just how us straight guys are...

Master Luo continued coldly, "Right now, she only thinks we were rude and has left displeased. That's a good thing. If she stayed longer and discovered that you were actually the one who sent those men to Zhao Cuo, you'd learn the meaning of endless trouble!"

Zhao Changhe's expression changed instantly.

"Those villagers brought it on themselves by not knowing their place!" Luo Zhenwu said bitterly. "What's the big deal about having some fun with one of their village girls? The whole village picked up hoes and rebelled. If we didn't teach them a lesson, they'd think we were easy to push around!"

Master Luo did not respond to that. He merely said, "Fortunately, Yue Hongling was too intent on saving him to investigate their background thoroughly and assumed they were bandits from the Demon Cult. Instead, she cleared us of any connection, and the Blood God Cult has neatly taken the blame."

Luo Zhenwu said, "In other words, her supposed corroboration for a demonic-cult attack doesn't actually exist. Doesn't that prove she's clutching at wind and shadows, raising an alarm over nothing? We really have nothing whatsoever to do with the Blood God Cult."

Yet Master Luo fell into a strangely hesitant silence. Only after a long while did he say, "Better to believe there is a threat. Strengthening our defenses can do no harm. I'll write to the Demon Suppression Office in the capital and ask First Seat Tang to send people to watch over us."

Luo Zhenwu did not quite understand, but he did not argue with his father. Finally, he cast a meaningful glance toward Zhao Changhe's back at the entrance. "That boy's still leaning by the door, gazing after his benefactor like a fool. Should we..."

As he spoke, he made a cutting gesture. "In case he discovers something later and comes after us for revenge."

Master Luo shook his head. "No. What if Yue Hongling takes it into her head one day to visit the boy she rescued? It would be hard to explain if he were gone. Just consider it a courtesy to her. Take him in as an outer disciple and leave him on the sidelines. Besides, Yue Hongling killed everyone you sent to Zhao Cuo, and no one else at the manor knows about this. How could he possibly discover the truth?"

Luo Zhenwu muttered resentfully, "Father, you're far too wary of Yue Hongling. I haven't even brought up avenging the men she killed... Her Sunset Glow Manor is only some ninth-rate sect..."

Master Luo sighed. "People know you because of the Luo family. With her, it's precisely the opposite... Only because of Yue Hongling did the world learn there was such a place as Sunset Glow Manor. If you really want to possess her, perhaps you could find an opening through those humble origins of hers... But with the woman herself, you'd best behave."

He paid no further attention to his son, whose eyes had begun to gleam. Putting on a smile, he personally walked over to Zhao Changhe and patted his shoulder warmly. "Gazing after her from the doorway like this-are you reluctant to part with your big sister?"

Zhao Changhe drew a deep breath. By the time he turned around, his face wore an honest, guileless smile. "Yes. Big Sister Yue is so pretty."

Master Luo laughed heartily. "Train hard in martial arts. Your big sister is waiting for you in the jianghu."

What an elder he was, making one feel bathed in a spring breeze... Yet he failed to notice that Zhao Changhe's fists were clenched so tightly the veins stood out.