Legacy of the Blade

Fu Nanhua instinctively reached for the jade pendant hanging at his waist.

"The old dragon spreads its wings, crafting miracles from nature's wonders. A gentleman never parts with his jade."

Tai Jin Jian thought for a moment, then closed his eyes. After a brief pause, he opened them and said, "Song Jiuxin, Gu San... I'll choose Gu San."

Fu Nanhua raised an eyebrow slightly. "Good. It's decided then!"

In the pair's line of sight, a young boy was weaving his way through a narrow alley. He stopped at a small courtyard door, appearing ready to unlock it and enter.

Fu Nanhua quickened his steps with Tai Jin Jian following close behind. Smiling, he said, "What a coincidence. We meet again."

The young boy, Chen Ping'an, who had just left Gu San's home, turned at the sound. He nodded and asked, "Do you need something?"

Fu Nanhua replied fluently in the local dialect, "This is called Muddy Alley, right? I wanted to ask if there's someone here named Song Jiuxin and a little child called Gu San. I'm from the capital, and my family has a long-standing relationship with Song Jiuxin's father. This young lady beside me, surnamed Tai, is from the maternal family of Gu San's mother. By sheer coincidence, we both ended up in this alley. Don't you think it's incredible? It feels like everything is just falling into place."

Fu Nanhua spoke with an easygoing smile. Even when addressing a young boy in straw shoes from the lowest rung of society, he carried himself gracefully. He slightly bent forward to speak to the boy, maintaining an approachable posture that neither came across as arrogant nor insincere. He left an impression of a gentleman who was humble and amicable.

The boy looked up and nodded with a shy smile. In a soft voice, he said, "It's quite a coincidence."

Fu Nanhua's smile deepened. "So, are the two families here?"

Unexpectedly, the boy shook his head and said, "I was an apprentice at a kiln outside the town until recently and only moved here a short while ago. I'm not familiar with the neighbors yet. Maybe you should ask someone else?"

Fu Nanhua smiled but didn't rush to respond. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

The tall woman, Tai Jin Jian, chuckled and said, "Little brother, lying isn't good. Do we look like bad people to you? Besides, it's broad daylight. What could we possibly do to harm you?"

Chen Ping'an blinked and replied, "But I really don't know."

Switching back to formal speech, Tai Jin Jian asked Fu Nanhua, "Do you think the boy is angling for a reward?"

Fu Nanhua's expression remained calm. "Doesn't seem like it."

A faint trace of impatience flickered across Tai Jin Jian's face before she masked it. "If worst comes to worst, we'll go door-to-door and find them eventually."

Fu Nanhua waved her off, keeping his tone patient as he addressed the boy. "Help us out, and I'll give you something in return. What do you say?"

The boy scratched his head. Though his frame was slight, his clear eyes revealed sincerity.

Suddenly, Fu Nanhua straightened up, his posture now sharp.

He had spotted another young man squatting on a nearby wall, observing them intently.

The young man on the wall had the air of a scholar, while a girl stood nearby, half-hidden. Her features were delicate and fresh, with brows as fine as ink strokes.

At that moment, Fu Nanhua felt confident.

The boy standing before him would inevitably end up within his grasp.

The young man on the wall rose and called out loudly, "Are you looking for someone?"

Fu Nanhua and Tai Jin Jian tilted their heads up. The former replied, "Yes, I'm looking for you. This young lady beside me wants to find Gu San. Can you help?"

The young man frowned. "Do you know me?"

Fu Nanhua smiled. "Of course, I don't know you personally, but I do know Master Song from the Ministry of Rites."

Song Jiuxin cut straight to the point. "If you want me to find that slug Gu San, fine, but what's in it for me?"

Without hesitation, Fu Nanhua removed the jade pendant from his waist and tossed it high into the air, ensuring the young man on the wall could see it clearly. "This is for you."

Song Jiuxin caught it, his expression briefly betraying a hint of surprise. However, his face quickly resumed its calm demeanor. He lowered his head and said to his maidservant, Zhi Kui, "You go."

She nodded and left the courtyard. As the girl silently stepped into the alley, the entire Muddy Alley seemed to brighten for a moment.

Fu Nanhua turned back to Chen Ping'an and said with a smile, "Kid, let me share a saying with you: 'Even the gentlest rain cannot nourish rootless grass.'"

Then, he strode toward the girl.

Tai Jin Jian lingered for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. In a low voice, she asked the boy, "Do you know what that means?"

Her eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and mockery. Without waiting for his response, she said with a faint smile, "It means you just missed a great opportunity. That gentleman could have given you a fraction of what he has, and it would've been enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life down here. The lucky part? You'll probably never understand what you lost today. Ignorance truly is bliss."

Fu Nanhua overheard and thought she was wasting her words.

In this small town, the gap between people—especially in status—was more unbridgeable than life and death.

Tai Jin Jian began walking toward Zhi Kui but still addressed the boy in straw shoes. "Remember this: 'Even the gentlest rain cannot nourish rootless grass.'"

The boy's expression didn't change, but he suddenly raised his voice. "Careful behind you!"

Tai Jin Jian froze.

Then the boy muttered, "Dog poop."

Tai Jin Jian instinctively stepped back. The moment her foot landed, she realized something was amiss.

Few things are as embarrassing as stepping in dog poop and having someone witness it. Worse still is when that person points it out to you.

Tai Jin Jian wasn't a shallow woman. As a favored daughter of the Yun He Mountain Lord, she had earned her spot among the elite. Yet here she was, in this muddy alley filled with chicken droppings and dog waste, far removed from the pristine peaks of Yun He Mountain.

And so, this day ended with her misstep—literal and metaphorical.