Chapter Four: The Western Wind Stirs a Lake of Blood

Xu You remained silent for a moment, then said, “Let’s not talk about what happened before I was gravely wounded and lost consciousness—I remember all of that. But what happened afterward? How did I escape, and how did I end up here? Qiu Fen, tell me.”

Fear flickered in Qiu Fen’s clear eyes, and her slender, fragile body began to tremble. “Young master, you’ve only just started to recover… perhaps we should talk about this another time…”

Xu You took her hand, speaking softly. “Don’t be afraid—it’s all behind us now, and we’re both safe. My health is fine, and you saw what happened today; hiding isn’t a solution. If I know sooner, I can make arrangements sooner.”

“Alright…” Qiu Fen raised her head, her gaze distant and unfocused, murmuring, “That night the marauding soldiers burst in, killing everyone in sight, flames rising from every courtyard. You took your sword and rushed out to fight, and I couldn’t bear to stay inside, so I followed you in secret. But I was so terrified—seeing all those bodies on the ground, blood nearly covering my shoes—I couldn’t find the courage to stand by your side, so I hid in a cave beneath the rocks by Yanliu Lake… Young master, I was useless, truly useless. Please blame me…”

Although Qiu Fen possessed the skills of a ninth-rank martial artist, she was still just a young maid, and had learned martial arts only to satisfy Xu You’s whims. She had no real experience in combat, so that night’s carnage left her trembling in fear, able only to hide in the cave and watch, which was not unexpected.

“The enemy had the advantage in numbers and caught us unprepared—having you out there would have only meant one more life lost. Why blame you? What happened afterward?”

“After that… from the cave I saw Steward Li die, Sister Xiaoxi die, Big Feng die… all those I knew, and those I didn’t, fell one by one beneath the blades of those red-robed armored men. Until… until I saw you struck down, covered in blood, lying on the ground. Only then did I rush out, drag you into the lake while no one was looking, and swim with you through the river channel to the outside…”

Xu You suddenly understood how he had managed to escape calamity. Since the Shen clan had torn off all pretense and led troops in a direct assault, their aim must have been to wipe out the Xu family entirely. As a direct descendant, he would have been a prime target. Fortunately, the night was dark and the enemy, blinded by their bloodlust, hadn’t recognized his face. Otherwise, after he was wounded, they surely would have taken his head for a reward. No matter how quick-witted Qiu Fen was, she would have been too late.

“After coming ashore, all of Yixing was filled with the sounds of killing. I had nowhere to escape with you on my back, when suddenly I encountered a Taoist. He said nothing, just stopped the bleeding, gave you two pills, and pointed out a hidden cellar in an abandoned temple for us to hide. There, I held you for three days and nights, until he appeared again, told me it was safe, and said to carry you back to the city to see the Prefect…”

Xu You frowned deeply. The rest he had learned piecemeal after regaining consciousness. The new Prefect of Yixing, Li Zhi, was upright and impartial, and under the Emperor’s orders, he had boldly arranged for them to stay in this humble farmhouse, inviting the famous physician Wen Ruquan to treat his wounds. But at that time, Xu You’s life hung by a thread, and his spirit was nearly gone. It was then that he was struck by fate—a car accident, traversing the boundaries between worlds, and ending up in the body of this unlucky soul.

For more than twenty days afterward, he drifted in and out of consciousness, struggling daily at the edge of life and death. Were it not for Doctor Wen’s superb skills, he would have surely perished. Later, though his health improved, his mind was caught in turmoil between the modern era and this ancient world, until yesterday, when he finally resigned himself to the fact of his crossing, and stepped outside for a brief glimpse of the world.

Looking back, it was likely yesterday’s outing that had alerted the spies watching in secret, leading to Chen Mu’s troublemaking visit today.

It was a demonstration, a humiliation, and a warning to those still watching the Xu clan of Yixing: though the Xu family still had a direct heir, as a great family of Jiangdong, it no longer existed.

Indeed, for the Xu clan to be bullied by a third-rate steward, there was no longer any reason for its existence.

“What kind of Taoist was he?”

Qiu Fen thought for a moment. “I’m not sure… I only remember he wore a linen robe and was tall and thin. As for his face, I simply can’t recall.”

Xu You pondered for a while, setting aside his questions about the Taoist; after all, it was not urgent. Looking at Qiu Fen’s youthful face, he asked, “With no savings at home, how have we been getting food these days?”

“At first, the Prefect sent rice, fruit, vegetables, bedding, clothing, and other necessities, but for the past week or so, they’ve stopped coming. I’ve had to borrow from the villagers… Though most are afraid of trouble, Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang are kind-hearted and secretly give me a little. If we’re careful, it’s enough, but it’s a hardship for you, young master…”

Li Zhi’s cessation of aid was probably due to pressure from the Shen clan. He couldn’t be blamed; at a moment of crisis, arranging skilled medical care was already a mountain of kindness. Otherwise, in someone else’s hands, with Shen’s influence, even the Emperor’s orders could be twisted—let the illness take its course, and report death from ineffective treatment. The Emperor might sigh, but would he pursue anyone’s responsibility?

Xu You held Qiu Fen’s small hand, and said solemnly, “For me to escape death, first I must thank the ancestors of the Xu clan, and second, I must thank you!”

By placing Qiu Fen on the same level as the clan ancestors, he startled the little maid so much she nearly bent to her knees again. Xu You stopped her, speaking kindly, “From now on, without my permission, you’re not allowed to kneel—do you hear?”

Qiu Fen stared at Xu You, silent for a long time. To her, kneeling was a matter of course, nothing worth such earnest admonition. But she also knew that his words were sincere, so she nodded emphatically.

By afternoon, Qiu Fen returned empty-handed, sitting dejectedly on the steps in the courtyard, saying nothing. Xu You, frustrated by his time indoors, sat at the door and easily understood what had happened. This morning, Chen Mu had caused trouble; though he’d been frightened off, the death of the tiger does not end its influence, and the neighbors’ attitudes had changed. Qiu Fen had gone out to seek food, but even a bowl of thin porridge was unobtainable—the first time since their misfortune.

“We had breakfast; I’m not hungry now. When we are, we’ll find a way,” Xu You went to comfort her.

Qiu Fen bit her lip, playing with the leaves on the ground, her face pale. After a while, she said softly, “I just learned that Uncle Yu’s fishing boat was set on fire, and he himself had his ribs broken—he’s bedridden now. Aunt Zhou and Aunt Wang’s homes were also vandalized by thugs…”

Xu You’s hand clenched tightly, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, but his temperament, honed by years in high office, remained steady as a mountain. In their current situation, anger would do nothing, so he quickly suppressed his feelings. “Did anyone report it? Prefect Li’s reputation is well known—surely he won’t ignore this?”

“I don’t know, but I haven’t seen any officers from the yamen. Uncle Yu and the others probably fear bringing even greater disaster, so they’re enduring it in silence.”

Xu You was silent for a long time. “I’ve said before—this kindness, I will repay it one day!”