Bi Li's injuries had healed.
A Cheng gave her a bamboo hat with a veil, and took her out every day to see the world.
"A Cheng, what is a 'handsome guy'?"
Bi Li stepped back half a pace, bringing her face close to A Cheng's ear from behind. The plain white veil brushed lightly against his earlobe, a little ticklish.
A Cheng's fingers twitched, and he felt uncomfortable.
A certain dead youth within him began to struggle.
"'Handsome guy' means a good-looking boy."
"Oh, wow, then many people call you a handsome guy."
"It's a courtesy, just like many people call you a beautiful girl."
A Cheng explained. He didn't like Guangdong, but it was a very inclusive place that made one want to get lost and be gradually assimilated.
They could only stay here until Father bought a boat.
"A Cheng," Bi Li pointed at a street-side restaurant, "what do those characters say?"
"Claypot rice."
"Huh? 'Claypot'? What kind of 'pot' is that?"
"A hen, ah."
A Cheng's tongue slipped, and he said something witty.
"Hehehe, ha."
Bi Li laughed very happily.
A Cheng felt incredibly refreshed. The mountain spirit girl's smile was always so healing, like a good medicine that made one's heart beat wildly.
A Cheng gently shook his head and said nothing more, but the smile on his lips could not be suppressed.
"A Cheng, look, a martial arts competition for marriage."
At the end of the street, a group of red-clad servants emerged, beating gongs and drums. Among them, three older-looking men were distributing notices, and in the back, there were people holding large banners that read "Martial Arts Competition for Marriage."
Throughout the entire process, apart from the noisy instrumental music, the group of people didn't utter a single word. They were like a troupe of musical puppets, or transparent figures pulling back the curtain before a circus act.
"What is a martial arts competition for marriage?"
A Cheng explained that a family wanted to marry off their daughter, so they invited heroes and talents from all over. At the venue, they would test their skills and martial arts, and the winner would be chosen as the husband.
"What is getting married?"
"It's when two people are together."
A Cheng gave a bitter smile, "But, people like us don't count."
"Why?"
"No reason."
"A Cheng, I want to get married to you."
"No, you don't."
"I really do!"
Bi Li gently thumped A Cheng's back, and he felt an empty sound reverberating in his chest.
"...Wait until you've studied more, understood things, then you'll know."
A Cheng said words he didn't even believe himself, his tone difficult.
Returning to the inn and entering the lobby, he saw Father drinking at the counter. The innkeeper also held a small white porcelain wine cup, chatting idly with Father.
A Cheng rarely saw Father in such a relaxed state.
He leaned against the counter, his right hand propping up his head, his face flushed with the haze of alcohol, a faint smile on his lips, even giving off a benevolent feeling. His gaze was hazy, blurred with moisture, like someone who had just yawned, lazy and comfortable.
A Cheng led Bi Li around the door, out of Father's line of sight.
There were about ten tables and chairs in the lobby, and it was dinner time. Guests were eating and drinking, and the noisy sounds were chaotic. A Cheng's arrival did not attract anyone's attention.
He specifically chose a low table in a corner for dinner. It was near a pillar and even had a curtain, making it a small private booth. Here, Bi Li could take off her bamboo hat and reveal her true face.
The waiter, whom they knew well, came over and said the first thing, "Handsome guy, still the same as yesterday? Three hot dishes, two cold dishes, one bowl of four liang of rice, one bowl of two liang of rice, right?"
"Yes."
The waiter smiled and went to the back kitchen.
Guests always liked to discuss current events while eating.
Not long ago, clues emerged regarding the mastermind behind the Vajra Sect's destruction.
It was said to be Heretics from the Evil Path Star world.
They had crossed the star river using some unknown method.
The surviving disciples of the Vajra Sect and the sect masters of the remaining thirteen sects were in urgent consultation, planning to gather martial artists from all over the world ahead of schedule and restart the war between the righteous and the Evil Taoist.
"They all said the last war was won easily. It turns out the other side was preserving their strength. How cunning!"
The guests were all criticizing the cunning of the Heretics from the Evil Path Star. A Cheng looked through the curtain at Father; he was still drinking, with no extra movements. He couldn't even discern the slightest hint of agitation from his back. His feet rested on the crossbar of the high stool, motionless.
Father should be the one who hates those Heretics the most.
Yet, A Cheng felt that Father was leading them to escape. The fact was, the young man who was so spirited on the righteous and Evil Taoist battlefield was now a coward. What had made him weak?
A Cheng guessed, perhaps it was Father's ridiculous ideal.
To live in seclusion, to curl up, to be a long-lived turtle.
...
Father bought a boat, and they set sail, leaving the land behind, where war was brewing.
There were islands along the way, but not all were suitable for habitation.
Father seemed to know everything. He usually didn't show off his skills, but whether it was sailing or survival, he was extremely proficient, almost like an old fisherman who had lived on a boat all his life, rather than a farmer who had lived deep inland for a long time.
A Cheng didn't ask; he was only responsible for the food.
To be honest, what he made wasn't delicious. There was no soy sauce or vinegar, only crude sea salt, making monotonous sea fish. Besides the bitter saltiness and faint taste of meat, there was nothing else to surprise the palate.
Father always ate whatever was available, and A Cheng didn't waste the food he made, but Bi Li was really not very willing to eat it.
A Cheng secretly gave her the last remaining epiphyllum.
It had been picked several months ago, but the epiphyllum was still fresh.
Bi Li was very happy with this one flower.
She began to accept the coarser part of human diet.
Leaving the land, leaving the disputes, also meant leaving behind enjoyment.
The three drifting at sea had no way of knowing the war situation.
A Cheng and Father had already been identified as deserters, and the commander responsible for sending them messages had blocked them.
Each province had one Governor of Official Documents responsible for transmitting official documents, which were then passed down to the School Text Captain in each city, and further down to the Commander. Each Commander was responsible for a hundred households, hence also known as the Hundred Household Commander.
The last message the Commander sent them was a complete lockdown of the area; no sails were allowed to enter the sea, and those crossing provinces needed a travel permit. Any violation would be treated as desertion.
This was a very severe punishment; it could even be said that A Cheng and his Father were already dead men, unless they never returned to land and were never found.
Father was indifferent to this, but A Cheng was very angry.
However, with Bi Li present, the two of them never argued.
Finally, in late autumn, they found a uniquely endowed island: abundant fresh water, deep forests, vast land, and some abandoned houses on the beach. It was estimated that fishermen had once lived there, but now the original inhabitants had gone to war, and the houses were naturally vacant.
The three began a new life.
...
One day, A Cheng woke up from meditation. The epiphyllum tattoo, which had been still for a long time, transmitted a warm sensation; someone had sent a message.
He pondered for a moment, decided to check, but the person he saw surprised him greatly.
It was their Commander.
"Wanted: Mountain Spirit Bi Li, female appearance, identified as the main culprit of this great war. Reward of ten thousand taels for discovering her whereabouts. Three divine-tier martial arts techniques of choice for capturing her and bringing her to justice."
A Cheng's face turned pale, his body swayed, and he felt only dizziness.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 30 - 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!