《Qingling》


 1 - Good Riddance, the King is Dead

    ¡°The king is dead!¡±


    There was a clink, clink, clink of lock after lock collapsing from each cell door.


    ¡°Everyone out!¡±


    The voices were all male, and there was a waving of countless arms as the prisoners were urged outside.


    ¡°You¡¯re free to go!¡±


    All of the voices were encouraging, light, giddy, and all of the words were even more unbelievable.


    The king is dead?


    We are free to go?


    There was a cascade of protests from the prisoners, and a push back against all of those arms, which forced the detainees forward like some fast downhill stream.


    ¡°No! We cannot leave!¡±


    The prisoners latched onto the bars of the cells they passed, but the rush of the crowd swept them away. Forward, forward, forward, the stream of prisoners went.


    ¡°They are going to kill us!¡±


    The screams were full of fear, so much fear they even caused a pang in the heart of those who had long been numbed to the prison¡¯s harsh conditions.


    ¡°This is murder! Murder!¡±


    There was a march of footsteps above one prisoner¡¯s head. This prisoner forced himself upright against the door of his own cell. There were no windows. The door just looked like another part of the wall. The lights had long gone out.


    The man wondered what was happening, but he was also glad to be detained below all of the chaos. Surely, the guards were going to kill all of the ones who left.


    They had done so many times before.


    The man had lost track of how long he had been in this cell, and his body was quite adapted to being on the hard, cold floor. He hardly felt the coolness of the hardened dirt against his skin. His robes were so thin, there was hardly a point in wearing them other than allowing him to keep what little dignity he had left in front of the guards.


    Maybe he was not so lucky to be so far from the chaos; he had no chance of seeing the light of day, even if it was to die.


    The shouts continued, and the man leaned his forehead against the coolness of the door. The foul stench of the room had long become normal to his senses, and he did not realize how filthy he really was. He had grown up here, in this little room. He did everything here. There was no longer anything outside of this room he longed for.


    He used to wish for death, but he had long given up on even that.


    He was prepared to spend eternity here, until some small twist of fate finally relieved him of it.


    Sure, the chaos was a little abnormal¡ªusually, the guards would quietly round up the prisoners they wished to eliminate instead of making up some story about why everyone needed to leave. And there seemed to be many more people being led out than usual, but perhaps the country was running out of the resources needed to sustain all these prisoners.


    The man would smile if he could; those prisoners knew better than to trust those guards.


    The man listened to the pounding of footsteps above him, wondering for a moment if there was enough weight to make the ceiling collapse.


    There was hardened earth all around him, but the ceiling was strangely thin. The man was convinced the king had ordered it built like that on purpose. He could hear it every time a prisoner left for execution. He could hear it every time a group of prisoners left their cells for death. He could hear it every time a new person was brought in to be added to the prison¡¯s collection.


    The man thought of the place as the king¡¯s collection of misbehaving dolls.


    Other prisons in the country were more like labor camps, where the prisoners were put to work. Here, there was nothing the prisoners were allowed to do except breathe. Forced labor, the man reckoned, was better than no labor at all.


    Being in that little windowless room with nothing to do had driven the man to insanity.


    There was a sudden noise and the man noticed the darkness behind his eyelids had lightened a little. His eyes already hurt from the sudden light. The man wasn¡¯t used to opening his eyes often, since there wasn¡¯t anything to see anyways.


    It was more frightening to peer into an endless, starless night, then to never open his eyes at all.


    Slowly, carefully, he peeked an eye open, quite confused.


    And amazingly, he could see his own hands.


    He nearly fell over at the sight.


    Dirty and thin and possibly pale. His hands were like a skeleton¡¯s. He was afraid the bones were already protruding out of the skin. He closed his eyes again.


    His heart was pounding, and it was painful.


    His chest hurt, his lungs hurt, his eyes hurt.


    Why had those animals turned on the lights?


    He leaned against the wall, waiting.


    That steady pounding of footsteps continued above him, along with those shouts. But now, there were loud noises and shouts closer to him. Not above him, but level with him. Across from his cell.


    The man hadn¡¯t received a meal in two days. Maybe they were finally bringing some bread.


    He heard more noises, like iron grinding on iron, or wood scraping against wood. The man scrunched his eyes closed, wondering when they would turn off the lights.


    His vision was all red.


    Closer. Closer. Closer now, the sounds came.


    His mouth salivated as he imagined one of those stale pieces of rock-hard bread they would toss at him everyday. He was starving¡ªhe was always starving, but it had been two days.


    His body was expecting this piece of bread, and a little water as well.


    There was a loud rattling, until finally, a huge slam, like some heavy door hitting a wall. The man imagined a plate full of bread, and he could almost smell it. It made him all warm inside.


    There was something else, some other food he had eaten before, but it had been too long to recall. He could almost smell it as well, but he wouldn¡¯t dare dream of it.


    Those outside were running now.


    The basement wasn¡¯t too big, from what little he could remember when he first came here.


    He didn¡¯t trust his memory, though, and simply listened.


    ¡°The king is dead!¡±


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    There were those words again.


    Impossible.


    The man listened with his face against the hard-packed, dirt wall, not caring if he got any filthier, until finally, someone stopped in front of his door.


    ¡°There¡¯s another one here!¡±


    ¡°There aren¡¯t many here, but to find even one¡ª¡±


    There was a loud clang, and then a gasp.


    Door after door opened on the basement floor.


    The man knew there were others here, but he didn¡¯t know who, and he didn¡¯t know how many.


    He counted five doors opening before the door to his own cell opened. The sound of it seemed as distant and unreasonable as the sound of the other cells opening.


    Covering his eyes with his hand, he wanted so desperately to see who it was. For all he knew, the man was going to kill him dead right here, but his eyes hurt so badly, and the door opening would only allow more light inside.


    ¡°There is one in here!¡± The man who had opened the door shouted. ¡°Alive.¡±


    A few footsteps, and then, the voice was closer.


    The man peeked through his hand to see dirty black boots in front of him.


    ¡°The king is dead,¡± the man said, a grin in his voice. ¡°You are free to go.¡±


    The man on the floor did not move an inch. He sniffed, wondering if there was any bread in the man¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Did you hear me?¡± The man standing over the prisoner said. ¡°The king is dead. You can go.¡±


    The man on the floor had not spoken in a long, long time. The last time he spoke was to curse one of those guards who had thrown him a worn cloth shoe instead of a piece of bread. It tasted disgusting when the man bit into it.


    ¡°Fool,¡± the prisoner muttered.


    ¡°Do you need help?¡± The man towering over him wondered, his voice quite pleasant.


    The man on the floor snorted, allowing a little more light through his hands.


    The man was wearing black robes, and an impressive, curved sword hung at his waist.


    ¡°No fool,¡± the prisoner muttered, scooting backwards.


    ¡°Let me help you¡ª¡±


    The man on the floor shoved the man¡¯s helping hand away.


    ¡°Fine,¡± the man huffed. ¡°If you want to remain in this cell, I cannot force you out. But there will be no food or water deliveries from now on.¡±


    Hearing this, the man on the floor raised his head so he could view the man¡¯s face through the little hole between his fingers.


    Strangely, he could not see his face. All of it was covered by a black mask except for his eyes.


    All the guards were too proud to do so.


    Why was this man any different?


    Was he going to do something that he could not risk even a prisoner with a lifetime sentence seeing?


    ¡°No fool,¡± the man on the floor huffed again, feeling a spike of fear jolt through his heart.


    The man before him was motionless, quite unsure what to do with a prisoner refusing to leave.


    ¡°Maybe your family is outside.¡± The man paused, then asked, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    The man on the floor did his best to hold his head up so he could at least see the man¡¯s eyes. This was surely the man who would end his life.


    Or was he being too hopeful?


    All of the guards had always been too cruel to relieve him of this life. They had always maintained that it was better for people like him to spend a lifetime of suffering then to die.


    ¡°Thirteen,¡± was all the prisoner replied, sounding bored, as though he had said it a million times.


    ¡°Your name, I said¡± the man huffed over him. He watched the motionless prisoner for a moment, then tried again. ¡°Your family name¡­ anything?¡±


    But the man on the floor only knew himself by this name, and was quite exasperated to be asked again. Just how many times did the guard need him to repeat himself?


    ¡°Thirteen.¡±


    Much to the prisoner¡¯s dismay, the masked man lifted him as though he weighed nothing. He tried to shout, tried to hit that masked man, but he hardly had the energy to remain awake. His legs collapsed under him, and pathetically, the man fell to the floor as the man was forced to release him.


    The masked man cursed, then opted for hoisting the man over his shoulder.


    ¡°You can¡¯t even walk by yourself anymore.¡± Then, ¡°Curse the king for getting to escape so easily.¡±


    The butt of the man¡¯s sword hit the prisoner¡¯s head repeatedly as he was hazardously carried through the basement. He made sure to keep his eyes closed, afraid the light would blind him if he opened them too quickly.


    A few moments later, he was in that sea of chaos.


    The ceiling looked like the floor, and all of the prisoners hurrying to die had their heads where their feet should be. The man remained silent throughout all the shouting, separating his fingers a little so he could see just a little more. He shut his eyes at the searing pain, finding the light far too bright, then slowly tried to open them.


    The sun was far too bright today. Or maybe, it was everyday.


    He would hardly know.


    ¡°Murder!¡± Prisoners shouted all around him. ¡°Murder!¡±


    Maybe the man really was going to die.


    At least, maybe he would be lined up with others. He would not die alone.


    His mouth shifted, as if he meant to smile. All of his blood was rushing to his head, but he didn¡¯t mind. He didn¡¯t really feel anything at all, except for that pain in his eyes.


    He could hardly believe he was outside of his cell.


    Today was a rather interesting day. A nice change of pace.


    ¡°I have someone from isolation here.¡± The man holding him said urgently. ¡°He can¡¯t walk anymore.¡± Then, softly, ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to know his name either.¡±


    The person the masked man spoke to cursed, then cursed the king, then sighed.


    ¡°We don¡¯t want to shock him. Let us send him to the recovery camp for now, and get some water and food in him. Slowly.¡± The man paused. ¡°The medical personnel will know how to handle him if you inform them.¡±


    The masked man thanked the other, then continued walking, excusing himself as he pushed through the endless crowd.


    The prisoner knew the exact moment they stepped outside.


    The air was cool on his skin, and there was a slight breeze. The sun was so bright, he could only see white.


    Maybe the guard had already killed him on his way out, and the man was already opening his eyes to his next life.


    None of it mattered; he would find out eventually. For now, he wanted to feel the breeze a little longer, even if it burned his skin.


    There were many people running, shrieking, sobbing around him, but he could hardly understand why.


    It seemed those upside down people really had nothing to say.


    The masked man carried him a while longer than stopped, and shifted him onto a chair as gently as he could. The man grunted from the strain, but eventually got him on it.


    The prisoner folded over in the tiny chair, unable to hold his body upright, his hands covering his face with his hand. He tried to sneak a look at that masked man, but it was still far too bright to see anything but his silhouette.


    The man was urging someone over.


    ¡°This man is from isolation. There are around ten total from the wing I went to, but many were already dead. He has presumably not eaten or drank in days. He cannot walk, and he does not seem to know what is going on.¡± Again, that pause, then: ¡°And he doesn¡¯t know his name.¡±


    ¡°Thirteen,¡± the prisoner insisted. He tried to raise his voice into a shout but the word only came out a mutter.


    ¡°Thank you, and thank the heavens for his safety.¡± It was a woman¡¯s voice.


    The man in the chair covering half his face froze.


    When was the last time he had heard a woman¡¯s voice?


    Who knew it could be so gentle, like a soft caress.


    Unbelievably, tears welled in his eyes.


    The woman turned towards him and his eyes blurred just as her face came into view. He cursed himself, but the tears spilled over and did not stop.


    ¡°Thank the heavens for your safety,¡± the woman said to him softly. ¡°The king is dead. I know it is impossible to believe. I know you have been in there for far too long.¡± She paused, seeming to choke up. ¡°I cannot express in words my gratitude for your strength. Surely, you did something so brave to have ended up there to begin with.¡± She paused again, wiping at her face, still a blur. ¡°Thirteen.¡± His name came out another caress. Then, to herself, she muttered: ¡°Heavens, how are you Thirteen?¡±


    For some reason or other, he felt young, like the age he was before he had entered prison.


    The man could not stop crying, and he did not understand why.


    Slowly, slowly, he began to accept he was not out here to die.


    All he wanted was to see that woman¡¯s face, but his eyes would not cooperate.

 2 - Good Brother, My Name Is Not Thirteen?

    The prisoner was taken to a makeshift recovery facility and would remain there indefinitely.


    He was slowly weaned onto food that was not just stale bread and consequently gained more and more strength each day. He could even stand on his own two feet with a little help from others.


    He had remained in this hospital around a month with other newly-freed prisoners, but each day it seemed there were fewer and fewer. Family members travelling from the other side of the country or even outside the country looking for their long-lost siblings, spouses, parents, and children eventually came to this hospital and took them home.


    The lucky ones had been picked up directly at the prison.


    The man could still hardly believe any of this was real.


    He was still waiting for the day one of the hospital staff would slit all their throats, but why would they waste good food on him if they were going to do that?


    He often went back and forth with himself like this, weighing the likelihood of each scenario.


    Sometimes he would hear conversations travel in from other rooms, or even conversations between those in his own room. He wondered if it was possible that they were all in on some sick joke.


    Was the king actually dead?


    If so, that would be quite saddening.


    Yet, each time someone mentioned it, the smile on their face was cruelly wide and brimming with relief. As if with the king¡¯s death, they could finally die in peace.


    Day by day, more and more disappeared from his room, but they were immediately replaced by others. It seemed only prisoners were recuperating here.


    Some would try to start conversations, but the hardly man could say anything.


    ¡°Where did you come from?¡±


    ¡°What is your name?¡±


    Some more masked men had also tried asking him these things, as well as some nurses.


    He did not remember much from the past few decades, he realized.


    At first, all he could do was drive himself mad in that isolation room. Then, after harassment from the guards, he realized it was safer to not even think. They said that the king could hear his thoughts as well.


    ¡°What did you enter the prison for?¡±


    Really, he did not even remember. What did any of them enter prison for?


    They had all betrayed the king, betrayed their country.


    All he knew about himself was that his name was Thirteen. Maybe he had once been out of prison, but even that felt like some distant dream.


    He was no longer a part of civilization, nor could he ever imagine being. He wondered why they had bothered to take him out at all.


    Then again, he was tasting meat for the first time in a lifetime, so he was quite content.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± one of the prisoners in the room said. ¡°It is that king. He did this to us. But thank the heavens, he¡¯s gone now.¡±


    The man just nodded, not quite understanding what he meant.


    Of course, the king imprisoned them¡ªthey had all betrayed him.


    He wondered what egregious crime he committed, but thought better that he did not even recall.


    Every time he said he did not recall, or that his name was Thirteen, the nurse would give him this pitiful look with glassy eyes. So he stopped saying his name was Thirteen. It seemed that was not the correct answer here.


    It took a month for someone to show up claiming to be his brother.


    When he thought of it now, he knew he had family. Everyone did.


    He had a mother, a father, a brother¡­


    It was hard to think about them. Thinking about them had been off-limits for so long. If he thought about them, the king would surely punish them as well for his crimes.


    The guards had taunted him about them even when he had long forgotten what they looked like, what they sounded like. He had separated himself from that family long ago, until it sounded like the guards were talking about strangers.


    They could no longer trick him with even that.


    He stopped enduring it all for them.


    Now, there was a man before him with tears in his eyes. The nurse, whose face was like a breath of fresh air to the prisoner, smiled and gestured to the man.


    Her cheeks and nose were rosy, her eyes wet with emotion.


    The man was crying as well.


    Only the prisoner in that bed blankly stared at that man now, placing a few crumbs into his mouth from his plate at lunch. It took him a few hours to finish his plate everyday, and he was just finishing up now.


    ¡°This is your brother,¡± the nurse told him adamantly.


    Brother?


    ¡°Xueming¡­¡±


    Xueming¡­?


    The man only blinked, feeling the crumbs fall from his mouth onto his chin.


    The nurse patted the arm of his ¡®brother¡¯ as the man trembled in a violent wave of emotion.


    ¡°We all thought¡­¡±


    The nurse came around to the other side of the bed and collected his plate, though he still had a few crumbs left. She set the plate down on the little wooden end table. He eyed it with longing.


    ¡°Some of the good men and your brother have confirmed it.¡± She smiled, her teeth too bright for the man¡¯s eyes. The shutters still had to remain closed in the room so he could look around comfortably. He had forced his eyes completely open by the first week, and still, as he looked around it, it was like there was this permanent burning.


    ¡°Your name is Jian Xueming. You are from Yanbei Province.¡±


    The man was shocked.


    He had another name? He was from Yanbei?


    His ¡®brother¡¯ gripped his arm, and Xueming shifted uncomfortably, staring at the blue blankets laid over top of his thin legs.


    ¡°You entered Mo Fan twenty-five years ago, when you were seventeen.¡±


    Xueming paused, latching onto those blue blankets. They were rough and cheap, but to him, their warmth was impossibly comforting.


    ¡°What¡­¡± He cleared his throat, trying to speak again. His voice was coming out all wrong. ¡°What for?¡±


    His brother¡¯s eyes were shining with emotion, and he almost toppled over again. His hand was sweaty on Xueming¡¯s arm.


    ¡°What for?¡± His brother choked out, his entire body shaking, causing Xueming to shake as well. ¡°What were any of you in there for? For protesting against the king¡¯s injustice.¡±


    Xueming¡¯s heart, which had been long subdued, panged painfully. He looked over at all of those prisoners also in the room.


    He had long been convinced he had done something irredeemable. Something despicable.


    ¡°Do you remember my name?¡± His brother wiped at his eyes, trying to calm himself. His eyes were a dark brown, but shone so wonderfully, Xueming had to look away. ¡°Do not worry if¡ª¡±


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    ¡°Lanzhi,¡± Xueming said without a thought, his voice barely audible.


    He had buried all his memories of his family, buried all their names. But he had never truly forgotten them.


    In his own eyes, he felt tears well.


    He did not know he remembered. It had been a forbidden name for twenty years, just like his own.


    ¡°My dearest brother,¡± Lanzhi cried. ¡°You had been in there so long. We all thought¡­ you were¡­¡±


    The nurse¡¯s eyes were lowered, so her lashes tickled her cheeks.


    ¡°He moved to the isolation unit after only five years, the men said.¡±


    Xueming did not know what he could possibly say.


    He wanted to know what he had done¡ªwhat they had all done?


    He had betrayed the king. He had betrayed his nation. Why were they all so sympathetic to him?


    ¡°I must have¡­¡± He stopped to collect himself, to speak coherently. Speaking more than one word at a time felt so strenuous, his throat was already aching. He croaked out: ¡°...done something.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Xueming,¡± Lanzhi hugged him in a boorish hug, The breath was sucked from Xueming¡¯s body. ¡°You did nothing wrong. Nothing.¡±


    But Xueming hardly wanted to hear that.


    What did he spend his entire life in prison for, if he did nothing wrong?


    ¡°Did the¡­¡± He inhaled deeply, looking at the nurse over his brother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°...men say anything¡­¡± ¡­else?


    It was still difficult for him to speak, so that was all he could get out.


    The nurse shook her head, biting her lip. It seemed there may be something else, but she did not want to say.


    ¡°I will leave you be!¡± was all she could croak out, her voice laughably high-pitched as she scurried away.


    Xueming was perplexed, but could only focus on trying not to suffocate from his brother¡¯s impossibly tight hug.


    ¡°I will take you home,¡± his brother said suddenly, pulling away, yet keeping his hands on Xueming¡¯s shoulders. ¡°To mother, to father.¡±


    Xueming¡¯s eyes welled again, and he looked over at the shutters, trying to hurt his eyes in order to stop the tears. It did not work¡ªthere was hardly any light coming in.


    ¡°Do not worry about the rest,¡± Lanzhi promised. ¡°I will take care of it all.¡±


    Xueming left the hospital a few months later and was carefully placed into a carriage headed all the way for Yanbei province. They stopped frequently to allow Xueming to get some rest. Apparently, they were far from their home province, which was in the upper north of the country.


    Mo Fan Prison had been close to the capital, which was in the southern half of the country.


    Xueming learned a lot during his last few months in the hospital. His brother came to visit him everyday and stayed as long as the hospital allowed him. Eventually, the nurse just brought him a pillow and allowed him to just sleep over.


    ¡°Do you not¡­ have a job?¡± Xueming had asked him, wondering how he could possibly spend all day in the hospital with him.


    ¡°I took a break to come find you when the king fell.¡± Lanzhi shrugged. ¡°It was not like I earned enough for it to matter anyways. No one could.¡± Then, after a moment of reflection, he smiled and looked up at Xueming. ¡°Hopefully now that the king has fallen, the new government can fix that. Fix the country.¡±


    One day, unable to bear it any longer, Xueming asked him, ¡°Do you know¡­ what I did?¡±


    Lanzhi only stared at him a moment, then repeated what he had told him earlier. That vague response. But Xueming had long been unsatisfied with it.


    ¡°Only a few¡­¡± He took a deep breath, hiding his hands beneath the blue blanket, hiding his trembling. ¡°...were underground.¡±


    Lanzhi only stared, his eyes welling with tears, and Xueming was forced to drop the subject.


    Then, a week later, Lanzhi and him were peacefully sitting in silence, when his brother suddenly insisted, ¡°Only remember the good things from now on.¡±


    Xueming could only nod, not quite sure how he was supposed to do that. His memories of his life outside prison were at best hazy, and at worst, out of reach. He could only remember that endless darkness, a lifetime in that cell, like that was all he had ever known.


    The two brothers often listened to the news as well, through this little stone device that Lanzhi carried around. There wasn¡¯t really anything on it except what looked like a few fish gills where the voice came out and a smooth pad where his fingers swiped. He did something that looked like absolutely nothing to Xueming, but a voice would stream out nonetheless.


    ¡°Who¡­ is this?¡± Xueming would ask.


    Lanzhi would reply with the specific station or company or host.


    ¡°A lot¡­ has changed,¡± Xueming huffed with a small smile.


    Lanzhi¡¯s smile in response to his brother¡¯s nearly blinded Xueming.


    Xueming would watch Lanzhi everyday, admiring his face, wondering if they looked any similar. His brother had long, sleek black hair, narrow fox eyes, a long, wise-looking nose, and small lips. His cheekbones were sharp and angled, and his jaw, even more so. His face was small, and his shoulders wide.


    Xueming thought he couldn¡¯t possibly look anything like this man.


    However, his brother began to look more and more like Xueming the longer he stayed in the hospital. He began to develop dark under eyes, and his face was looking more and more sunken in as the months went by.


    Xueming was getting better, but it seemed like it was at the expense of Lanzhi.


    He was eager to leave, if only for his brother.


    They often listened to this little device, which Lanzhi called a ¡°little friend¡±, for hours. Apparently, it ran off of qi. Xueming kept asking for its real name, but Lanzhi insisted this was its official name. Eventually, Xueming gave up.


    They listened to the daily news until, after a month or so, Xueming was finally convinced that the king was dead. It took another month for him to decide that this was a good thing.


    It was hard for Lanzhi to understand, but he gave his brother all the grace possible; the man had gone through decades of torture, brainwashing, and trauma. He was lucky his recovery was so steady, so quick, in comparison.


    ¡°The king¡¯s hidden treasury was found today. He was forced to desert all of this when he fled.¡± The woman was saying. Lanzhi didn¡¯t really prefer this news anchor, but she was typically on at hours no one else could bear to work. Xueming was just amazed there was a woman working such a job, and a little device playing her voice. ¡°The rebels have found hundreds of gold bars underground. There were also countless Er Bai carriages and all sorts of luxury goods found. This was all stored underground, in rooms beneath the main palace.¡±


    ¡°Er Bai?¡± Xueming asked.


    Lanzhi stared at Xueming for a moment, then half-smiled.


    ¡°It is a company that really only the royal family and higher officials can afford.¡± His smile widened. ¡°Their products are frivolous, and they are more so a statement of wealth.¡±


    Another day, they listened to this man, which was apparently Lanzhi¡¯s favorite. His voice was aggressive, yet his speech was delivered in a way that made sense.


    ¡°The rebels, known collectively as the Mandate of the People, race against the clock as they try to find all prisoners within a timely manner. Today, they have freed those from King¡¯s Calamity Prison in Yanbei Province. This is one of the most famous prisons in the province for its cruelty. Of course, nothing is more notorious than Mo Fan, but the stories coming out of King¡¯s Calamity are horrific.¡±


    Xueming looked over at Lanzhi, who offered him a small smile. Hazardously, Xueming grabbed his brother¡¯s free hand, and Lanzhi froze, his expression faltering. Xueming was trembling, surprised by his own sudden urge for physical support.


    ¡°Some of the prisoners were reportedly detained for up to twenty years here. So far, the longest-held prisoners have come out of Mo Fan, and, thankfully, already been released. They are all in recovery. May the heavens make it easy for all of them to recover from this nightmare. This entire country¡­ can now wake up from this nightmare.¡±


    Xueming shook, and gripped the blanket with his other hand in an attempt to stabilize himself. Afraid he was sweating onto his brother, he tried to pull his hand away, but Lanzhi held onto him instead. His steady gaze burned brightly.


    ¡°We are still receiving information regarding the prisons and what the people went through inside of them, but tracking down each individual is a slow process, given how unorganized the government was in general. Of course, the deprived king was the most organized about the prisons, so progress is a little faster.¡± He said the last line with malice. ¡°One of the prisoners who was released a few months ago out of Mo Fan is a man detained since the mass uprising, coined as the White Sheet Protests. He was one of the first to be imprisoned, and is credited with being the spark for the mass protests we saw across the country twenty-five years ago.¡±


    Xueming could hardly breathe now, and opted for holding his breath instead. He leaned forward, his eyes burning and ears ringing as he strained to clearly hear every word out of that little device.


    ¡°It is reported that when asked his name, he would only reply with the number thirteen.¡± The reporter was silent for a moment, and Xueming swore he heard him cursing under his breath. His voice was thick with emotion when he spoke again, though it was obvious he was trying to remain professional. ¡°This man¡­ was the last to hold a sign with actual words on it. After bravely going up against the king¡¯s guard with only a single sheet of paper and two characters on it, he was detained and disappeared.¡±


    The reporter paused again, and Xueming looked at his brother, brows furrowed, only registering that this was about him when he saw his brother¡¯s expression. His brother looked horrified, and moved as though he wanted to shut the device off, but Xueming grabbed his arm, stopping him.


    To hear about his past and have no recollection of it, was something so absurd, he hardly wanted to believe it. But he listened.


    He burned and trembled and strained and listened.


    ¡°After that, seeing how even words were no longer allowed, there were mass uprisings with people holding only blank sheets of paper. Famously, one woman held a white bed sheet. The rest¡­ is history.¡± The man paused again. ¡°May the heavens give this man, who we all know as Peerless, rest and relief for the remainder of his life.¡±


    After a long while, the man continued, but the two brothers were no longer listening.


    ¡°Now, with that reminder, a new story has recently come out of King¡¯s Calamity about a prisoner¡­¡±


    Peerless.


    Xueming gripped that blue bedsheet, gritting his teeth.


    Thirteen.


    Jian Xueming.


    For twenty-five years, he only had one name. No, not a name, but a number.


    Now, he had more than he could ever hope for.


    He existed in the hearts of all of these people.


    He had hated the king so much, he had gone up against the king¡¯s entire guard. A hundred swords against a sheet of paper and two characters.


    But what had they been?

 3 - Good Miss, This Prisoner Cannot Read What He Wrote As A Child

    Xueming found out the little friend device Lanzhi brought with him to the hospital was not the only thing he could not recognize after twenty-five years of imprisonment.


    The country had been in economic turmoil since the White Sheet Protests, but it was still like walking through a renovated house to Xueming¡ªvery much the same, but also very different.


    The towns in between the country¡¯s major cities were quite underdeveloped, containing several li of only farmland and little shoddy cottages. Xueming was quite comfortable seeing this, and even felt a little nostalgia. He silently sat in the carriage and watched the entire country pass by through the window.


    Lanzhi was sitting across from him, his body scrunched up, his position looking uncomfortable.


    Every so often, Lanzhi would ask, ¡°Are you comfortable?¡±


    Xueming only smiled and nodded in response, knowing he should be the one asking that.


    Xueming could hardly believe his eyes the entire journey to Yanbei Province. Even escaping that darkness seemed surreal, let alone being able to travel half the country with his brother. He would often pinch himself to ensure he was really awake.


    It would truly be horrifying to wake up from this splendid dream and find himself in that cell once more.


    He wore pristine white and blue robes his brother had bought for him, while Lanzhi was clothed in all navy blue. Xueming was afraid he was going to dirty them, and even more afraid about how much Lanzhi had spent on them.


    ¡°How are¡­ mother and father?¡± Xueming seemed absentminded while asking, still staring out the little window on the side of the carriage, but really, he had spent a long while working up the courage to ask.


    Lanzhi smiled, delighted to be asked.


    ¡°They are healthy. Good. They were just too old to make the journey with me.¡± He paused abruptly, seeming to hold something back. The air felt heavy and something was left unsaid.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Xueming wondered, but when he looked over, Lanzhi still seemed reluctant. ¡°Brother?¡± he pressed.


    Lanzhi sighed, his voice so quiet, Xueming could hardly hear him.


    ¡°They are too old, but not really to travel.¡± He stopped again, then after Xueming grabbed his arm, admitted, ¡°They could not handle the disappointment if we did not find you.¡±


    Xueming¡¯s lips parted, and he carefully returned his hand to his side.


    Swallowing hard, he felt his throat tighten. He had avoided thinking of his parents since¡­ well, since many years ago. They were just another pressure point the guards would use to taunt him. But now, knowing he was returning home to them, he allowed himself to think of them.


    ¡°I was afraid for them, as well,¡± Lanzhi admitted. His voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I was afraid we would not even find your body.¡±


    Xueming looked down, his eyes welling with tears again.


    He was so sick of crying, but it was like the dam had broken since he had been taken out of that cell. He had severed ties with his heart so long ago, but the emotions were not gone¡ªthey had just been suppressed. Now, he could hardly keep them down.


    ¡°You disappeared so long ago¡­¡± Lanzhi broke out in a sob, covering his face with his hands. ¡°And you were demonized so badly by the king. First, it was like there was no mention of you. Then, they used you as an example.¡±


    Xueming began to tremble and he gripped his white robes, then decided they were too expensive, and grabbed the hard cushion beneath him.


    ¡°They said you were seduced by the fox spirits and weren¡¯t in your right mind. That they tried to rehabilitate you¡­¡± Lanzhi peeked at his brother through his fingers, shaking his head. ¡°It was all the old stereotypes. It was everything they used to oppress the Fox Spirit Clan to begin with.¡±


    Fox Spirit Clan?


    Xueming had heard of them being mentioned by the news reporters he and his brother listened to everyday. They were supposedly the reason for the protests to begin with.


    From what Xueming understood, the king had weaponized the common people''s stereotypes regarding fox spirits and targeted them through social means. Then, realizing the people were still unconvinced, they started blaming the fox spirits for just about everything and mobilized the law against them. By then, the fox spirits were being treated so poorly, all they experienced was abuse, violence, and suffering.


    But what confused Xueming was why he had felt so passionate about the problem to begin with.


    His brother had avoided talking about Xueming¡¯s actions right before the White Sheet Protests, saying it did not matter, that it was too painful to talk about, that it was over now and better forgotten. But Xueming could not stand his insatiable curiosity: he had been deprived of information for twenty-five years¡ªhe would not allow this period of ignorance to go on any longer.


    While he waited for his brother to enter a shop during one of their stops, he leafed through all of the newspapers at a stand until he found a headline that seemed to be what he was looking for. He hadn¡¯t read in so long, but he could still recognize some characters. They were large and bold at the top of the paper, as if the ink had leaked through.


    Man Named Peerless is Freed From Mo Fan XX After Twenty-Five Years


    His eyes scanned the paper hazardously, trying to find what he was looking for.


    ¡­Peerless first stood in front of the king¡¯s XX twenty-five years ago, which XX the White Sheet XX that lasted for several months. Peerless is well-known to have held a sign with only two characters: ¡°XX¡±. It is XX amongst the people what this means. Whether Peerless was XX to give credit to the XXX or this was a specific name, this remains a XX.


    Xueming could read enough to understand the basic premise of the article, and found exactly what he wanted to. Except, he could not recognize these two characters he had written.


    Knowing this brother would return soon, he hurried to approach a random passerby looking at some of the clothing displayed at the front of the store. It was a woman, and a very beautiful one. She was so beautiful, Xueming was nearly speechless when he saw her face.


    The man at the newspaper stand was yelling after him to come back, but he ignored him and only continued looking at the woman in awe.


    Her hair was a dark red and wrapped in a black cloth, starkly contrasting the paleness of her skin. Her eyes were wide and fox-like, her nose tiny and round, and her lips plump and red. She wore long red and golden robes and her hands peeked out of draping sleeves. They were adorned with shiny rings and bright red nails that were so sharp, Xueming wondered if her husband was afraid when she was angry.


    ¡°Excuse me, miss,¡± Xueming hurriedly spat out, afraid his brother would come back before he could get any answers. ¡°I cannot read these¡­ two characters. Do you mind¡­ showing me how to¡­ pronounce them?¡±


    The woman¡¯s smile deepened and she nodded, taking the fresh newspaper into her hands.


    ¡°Ah,¡± she said softly. ¡°This is about Peerless.¡±


    Xueming could only nod and peek around her, praying his brother would not come out. His heart was racing uncomfortably and he felt anxious to get answers.


    ¡°These two?¡± A long red fingernail landed beneath those two characters he could not read. ¡°You mean, what Peerless wrote on that paper?¡± Xueming nodded vigorously. ¡°Ah, that is easy. Doesn¡¯t everyone know this story?¡± Her strange orange eyes peered over at Xueming suspiciously. Finally, deciding there was no harm in saying it, she said, ¡°Qingling.¡±


    Qingling?


    Xueming felt his entire body go cold, like someone had blown out all the candles in a room.


    He mulled over the two characters, analyzing their radicals, ensuring he had the tones correct. The characters meant something like ¡°pure¡± when combined together, but as the article had said, the reason behind him writing this was unclear.


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    Far too optimistically, he had thought that if he learned this, he could just remember it all.


    The sound of the characters did not unlock some hidden expanse of knowledge he had lost in that cell.


    The curve of the characters did not remind him of anything he had once known.


    Plainly put, the word meant absolutely nothing to him. He had put too much hope in his own failed memory.


    Feeling utter despair, he nodded and began to politely excuse himself, feeling cold sweat on his hands as he took the paper back.


    ¡°You seem new around here,¡± the woman called out as he left. ¡°And I suspected you at first but you are genuine, I can tell.¡±


    Xueming turned back, a little pang of hope ringing like a bell in his heart.


    ¡°Maybe you have not been here for a while, so you do not understand what is going on. I am a fox spirit going by the name of Hu Yu.¡± Xueming nodded, knowing all fox spirits assumed the last name Hu, since they did not have the custom of using last names and needed them when they were officially brought in under the same government as the common folk. ¡°There is a rumor that has been passed around since the White Sheet Protests amongst the foxfolk. Would you like to know?¡±


    Xueming nodded eagerly, approaching the woman again.


    ¡°Remember, it is only a rumor, but we all remain in close contact. This town is close to Yanbei Province, where the protests started. So, I take this information as quite reliable.¡± The woman said in a low voice. ¡°We all heard of a female fox spirit taken by the government after some trouble in Yanbei. Of course, there were many occurrences of this at the time¡ªthis was nothing new. Us foxfolk were keeping a close eye on the situation, so this part must be true. She disappeared from the city of Chongqing.¡± The woman paused for effect. ¡°The same city that Peerless faced the royal guard in.¡±


    Xueming waited with baited breath, but the woman did not continue.


    ¡°Is there anything¡­ else?¡± he asked nervously.


    The woman shrugged, suddenly nonchalant, despite her dramatic flare while storytelling.


    ¡°Not really.¡± Seeing his disappointed face, she hurriedly said, ¡°But that seems too big of a coincidence, no?¡±


    Xueming sighed.


    ¡°But didn¡¯t you just¡­ say that was¡­ nothing new?¡±


    The woman pursed her lips then broke out into a high-pitched cackle.


    ¡°Ah!¡± she cackled, spit flying out of her mouth and landing on Xueming¡¯s face. ¡°I forgot the most important part!¡±


    Xueming furrowed his brows, quite puzzled by the woman¡¯s pointless story and theatrical behavior.


    ¡°Her name was¡ª¡±


    ¡°Xueming!¡± Lanzhi burst out of the shop, his eyes wild as he spotted Xueming with the woman. His eyes landed on the woman¡¯s surprised face, then on the paper in Xueming¡¯s hands. He ripped the paper from Xueming¡¯s hands and threw it back at the stand, then steered his brother away from the shop.


    His breath came fast as they walked to the carriage.


    He held a bag of clothes in one hand and his brother¡¯s arm in the other.


    ¡°If you have any questions next time, just ask me,¡± Lanzhi said roughly into Xueming¡¯s ear.


    Xueming internally sighed, glancing over at his brother¡¯s furious expression.


    But you do not answer.


    Xueming and Lanzhi arrived in Yanbei Province within the next month, and by then, Xueming was looking and sounding a lot healthier. He had wrapped his head around much of what happened and had even become accustomed to the new conveniences of this unfamiliar nation.


    He could walk short distances on his own and wasn¡¯t pausing as frequently in his speech. He had gotten used to the sight of women, and even women from the Fox Spirit Clan, who were overly-sensual and exaggerated in appearance. After noticing nearly all of them had those fox-like eyes, red hair, long nails, and plump lips, he realized they were not trying to appear vulgar¡ªit was just how they looked.


    The farther north they travelled, the more and more foxfolk they came across. It seemed that Yanbei Province, and especially Chongqing city¡ªwhere their family home was¡ªwas about half commonfolk and half fox spirits.


    Interacting with foxfolk became a common occurrence, and Xueming realized they were an integral part of northern culture.


    The foxfolk had many markets selling all sorts of useful goods, and made up the majority of healthcare workers and street laborers. Before the king began to oppress them, Lanzhi said they even made up the majority of scholars and lecturers. The foxfolk were known for their intelligence, beauty, and charisma.


    Now, they could be seen on each street preparing for a northern winter with special mechanisms and covers Xueming was certain they had invented.


    Slowly, Xueming came to understand how he sympathized with them as an adolescent. He didn¡¯t know what compelled him to perform the suicide mission he had, but at the very least, he appreciated their presence now.


    ¡°After you disappeared,¡± Lanzhi was saying as they rolled into Chongqing city, ¡°We waited a little while, then told our neighbors you had gone off to study abroad and then when a few years passed, that you had remained in Mengjing Province. It was too dangerous for mother and father to reveal Peerless was their son. I hope you understand. Let them decide whether or not they want to reveal this secret now that there is no harm in it.¡±


    Xueming nodded once, relieved his family had not taken responsibility for his actions as well. He was afraid that if it had gotten out that Peerless was from the Jian family, the entire living bloodline would be imprisoned or killed and ten generations of ancestors would be cursed.


    He knew this, and still, went out with that piece of paper with Qingling written boldly on it. He was glad his family had somehow escaped punishment as well.


    Mengjing Province was a province at the southern tip of the country, and Xueming knew it had been strategically chosen due to this very reason; no one they knew would be able to confirm the story.


    ¡°Let us stop in Huo Guang Market for some gloves and hats¡ªwinter is coming far too quickly and I am afraid we will freeze in just a day.¡± Lanzhi said with a frown.


    Huo Guang Market¡­ this name rang a bell in Xueming¡¯s head.


    He would often come here often in his youth.


    The market was full of lights¡ªsome stationary and some seeming to float in the air. It seemed like the line of booths run by foxfolk was endless, extending out as far as the eye could see.


    Xueming shivered as he stepped out of the carriage, grabbing onto his brother¡¯s hand on his way out. His nose turned pink within the first few minutes of being outside the carriage, and his ears were burning.


    The lights danced around in his vision in dots of dark and light orange. He couldn¡¯t help but smile, listening to the hum of several foxfolk huffing as they bargained with customers. Xueming and Lanzhi waddled through the crowd, trying to find a stall with winter gear.


    Xueming rubbed his hands together, blowing on them as best he could, as they slowly made their way through the crowd.


    ¡°This place had gotten emptier and emptier as the years passed,¡± Lanzhi murmured, keeping his brother close. ¡°There was even a military presence here in the last few years. The foxfolk were always harassed, with the soldiers constantly asking for several pieces of identification. The number of permits they needed to continue operation put a lot of them out of business.¡± His brother smiled, his cheeks and nose dotted pink as well. ¡°It is good to see them all returned.¡±


    ¡°Friend! Friend!¡± One of the fox spirits called out to them, and Lanzhi shrugged at his brother with a grin, then followed the voice. They stopped in front of a stall selling decorative hair combs. ¡°Friend, come buy a hair comb for your special someone!¡±


    ¡°Fox friend,¡± Lanzhi smiled, shaking his head. ¡°Call out to someone with a special someone and you will have better luck next time.¡±


    Xueming looked down at the combs, feeling a little strange.


    Huffing, the fox spirit, who looked like a boy who was too young to be selling anything, tugged down his furry hat and tried calling out to the next closest customer.


    Lanzhi laughed and spun them away from the stall, returning to some point in the center of the crowd so they could peer at both sides of the market.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Lanzhi pointed ahead of them. ¡°Over there.¡±


    Xueming followed after his brother with a dumb smile on his face, feeling drunk on the atmosphere. He would have never imagined he would get a chance to experience this again in this lifetime.


    Lanzhi selected a white hat and gloves for Xueming, then selected his own in a dark navy. He paid the female fox spirit with a smile, then they continued down the market, wordlessly agreeing they could not yet leave.


    Xueming could walk a little more comfortably with his hands and head protected from the cold. His robes were not quite thick enough to feel warm, but the adrenaline in his body warmed him instead. He ignored the shivers passing over him, feeling so overwhelmed by the market, he couldn¡¯t focus on one thing for too long.


    ¡°Friend! Friend!¡± A male fox spirit called out when he noticed Lanzhi peering at his stall. ¡°Express your solidarity with this high-quality paper! Lest we forget the price of freedom.¡±


    Lanzhi looked down and froze, so Xueming did the same out of curiosity.


    On the wooden table top were hundreds of thick pieces of paper made of bamboo adorned with beautiful calligraphy. But there were only two characters on each sheet.


    Xueming hadn¡¯t remembered them from his previous lifetime, but he sure as hell burned them into his memory since he saw them in that newspaper. After all, how could he possibly learn the reason behind them if he could not even recognize the characters?


    In swirling calligraphy that was elegant enough that it was surely done by someone skilled, but was straight and harsh enough to feel the burning passion behind it, Xueming read and reread it until it was almost painful.


    Qingling.

 4 - Good Mother, Please Continue the Idle Talk, this Son Needs Answers

    In the vast city of Chongqing, a shabby ox cart could be seen slowly rolling off the paved road to venture off onto a path of dust and rubble. The two brothers had switched to a cart at the market, given there was only a short distance to travel.


    The sun had set long ago, but Lanzhi seemed quite familiar with the roads, and had no issue navigating home. After a long day of travelling, Xueming and Lanzhi finally arrived.


    They slowly rolled along and came to a stop beside a number of houses which were positioned closely together, all around a communal courtyard. Xueming instinctively knew which one was home.


    Lifting his eyes to that house, he was surprised to see candlelight clearly flickering inside. Xueming looked over at his brother, puzzled, Lanzhi only flashed him a half-smile and silently climbed out. He then moved to help his brother climb out, and Xueming felt his feet land on half-dead grass and an infestation of weeds.


    ¡°Go on ahead, little brother,¡± Lanzhi told him, though Xueming hardly wanted to.


    He stepped past the closest house to their cart, not even sparing it a glance, and stopped in front of a faded brown gate. With a slight nudge, the gate opened with a creak, and he entered the courtyard. He hobbled over to the house directly opposing the gate as Lanzhi gathered their things from inside the cart.


    He suddenly felt stuffy as he approached the house. It was all wood, with fairly large windows and a bright red door. There were already little red tassels and lanterns set up for what Xueming could only assume was the new year celebration, though it wasn¡¯t for nearly a month.


    He hardly felt steady as he approached the door. It was his house, and yet he hadn¡¯t been here in years; it wasn¡¯t like he felt comfortable just walking in. But it was too late in the night to make a bunch of noise until they woke up, especially given how close their neighbors lived.


    Feeling like an intruder but bearing it anyways, he opened the door, which protested the movement with a croak, and made his way inside. Candlelight illuminated the house, though not too well. His eyes appreciated the lack of light after feeling like they had been on fire all day long. He could comfortably open them and take in his surroundings.


    The little house was moderately-sized but sufficient, even cozy.


    He immediately found himself in the formal seating area, and he instinctively knew there would be private sleeping quarters and a kitchen further into the house.


    Unexpectedly, two figures sat in the shadows of the seating area, and he jumped when he noticed them.


    His heart began to pound painfully and he gripped the wall beside him for support.


    Those two figures stood up, and one of them cried out¡ªit was definitely a woman.


    ¡°Ming-er!¡± the woman cried out and collapsed on top of him.


    Xueming was quite startled to be touched so intimately and tried to back away. He could hardly see his parents'' faces, and his brain was still treating them like unidentified strangers. He was trying not to panic, trying not to run.


    But when he replayed his mother¡¯s voice in his head, he relaxed, realizing he recognized it.


    She began to cry into the pretty white and blue robes he wore, wetting the area beside his shoulder.


    He watched his father turn away, lifting his hand to his face, his back shaking.


    Xueming laughed awkwardly, quite lost on what to say.


    He choked out: ¡°How did you know¡­ I would return¡­¡± He was nearly out of air, but it would be quite inappropriate to leave it off there, so he huffed out: ¡°...Tonight?¡±


    His mother was unrelenting in her sobs, insistent on wetting his entire shoulder before she lifted her head. Her eyes were a startling blue, and Xueming idly wondered if his were actually blue and not brown. He hadn''t had the chance to look at himself since he left the prison.


    Well, he was avoiding it, to be more accurate.


    ¡°Lanzhi told us,¡± his father bellowed out, quite clearly having trouble maintaining his composure. He clearly wanted to be a part of the reunion, but was now on the other side of the room, leaning against the wall as he trembled.


    Xueming felt a pang in his heart.


    ¡°How was the¡ª¡± his mother said deliriously. Xueming was afraid she was going to start hyperventilating. ¡°How was the journey? You must be hungry.¡±


    Xueming himself was quite uncomfortable, his breath coming out shallow and rapid. Afraid he was going to start panicking, he sat down at the insistence of his mother. She disappeared down the hall, into what Xueming assumed was the kitchen.


    His father glanced over at him and choked out a sob again, then forced himself to sit across from Xueming, his hands trembling. The benches in the seating area formed a semi-circle and were covered in mismatched cushions.


    His mother appeared moments later with a bowl of stew and Xueming gratefully accepted it.


    ¡°I made some noodles with minced meat,¡± she told him.


    The bowl was trembling in her hands, the chopsticks rattling against it, and Xueming hurriedly took it into his hands.


    He was quite unpracticed with chopsticks when he came out of imprisonment, but over the past few months, he and Lanzhi had eaten quite a few meals, and he was used to it again.


    He delicately took some noodles covered in tiny pieces of meat and ensured they were soaked in the oil floating at the top before stuffing them into his mouth. He nodded excitedly with his mouth full and his mother clapped her hands together, smiling.


    She sat beside her husband, watching Xueming with stars in her eyes.


    Lanzhi entered the house a few moments later, smiling at the sight of his brother and his parents in the seating area. He was quite breathless and simply stared at them a few moments before interrupting.


    ¡°Mother, father,¡± he greeted them, and his mother hurried to collapse on top of Lanzhi.


    ¡°Oh, my son!¡± she began to sob again, this time wetting Lanzhi¡¯s shoulder. She was quite short in comparison to him, but reached up to pat his hair. ¡°You did so well.¡±


    Xueming stared at his noodles, finding it quite hard to swallow, his throat constricting with emotion.


    Lanzhi peered over at Xueming, and tried to lighten the mood with, ¡°Can I get some noodles as well?¡±


    His mother disappeared into the back of the house again, crying out, ¡°Ming-er, there is plenty left when you are ready for more!¡±


    Xueming nodded as he placed more noodles into his mouth.


    Soon enough, all of them were seated in one room, reunited after twenty-five years.


    Lanzhi was politely slurping noodles beside his brother as their parents watched them with delighted gleams in their eyes. His father coughed incessantly into his palm, trying to get rid of the flood of emotion washing over him.


    ¡°How was the journey?¡± their mother asked again, still quite overwhelmed. Her words came out in squeaks.


    Lanzhi nodded, glancing over at Xueming.


    ¡°It went smoothly enough.¡±


    Xueming was quiet for a moment, then swallowed the contents of his mouth and looked up at his mother. Her blue eyes were shining.


    ¡°Sorry it took so long.¡± Xueming said, thinking nothing of it. His parents¡¯ faces froze. ¡°I had to stay in¡­ the hospital for a few months¡­ before we could travel.¡±


    Lanzhi stopped eating beside him.


    His mother, looking like that stiff smile was permanently etched onto her face, stood up abruptly, croaked out in a shrill voice, ¡°Let me see if the noodles are still warm,¡± then disappeared into the back of the house again.


    His father turned his body completely away from them, towards the empty bench to Xueming¡¯s left, and covered his face with a hand.


    Lanzhi set his bowl on his lap and rubbed Xueming¡¯s arm in comfort.


    Xueming went back to eating his noodles, deciding he would have to wait a while before saying anything like that again.


    Eventually, his parents recovered, and his mother had actually managed to boil tea during her disappearance. She brought out four tea cups, which clattered on their tiny dishes as she carried them out. Lanzhi went to carry the teapot, which was intricately decorated with swirls and dots of red paint, and set it down on the low wooden table between them.


    She also set out a bunch of sweets, such as hardened candy, dried fruit, and sesame treats.


    Xueming brought the hot tea to his lips, finding it scalding, but he did not even flinch. The pain was nothing compared to what he was used to, and the heat was welcome; it was quite cold tonight.


    Xueming was hyper aware of this moment, like time had slowed and everything around him became painfully clear. Like he could see even a speck of dust floating in the air, or even the slightest twitch in his mother¡¯s expression.


    He was gathered with his family in his home, enjoying tea and sweets and most importantly, each other¡¯s company. He had not given himself permission to dream like this in many years, and hoped he could remain in this illusion for a while longer. Actually, he never wanted to wake up from it.


    It was nice to remember his family for once.


    ¡°Er, er! Try some,¡± his mother insisted as she pushed the bowl of hardened candies to his side of the table.


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    Carefully, Xueming reached for one and brought it to his lips.


    He figured he would wake up before he could even take a bite¡ªreality was indeed cruel. But he reached for it anyway despite the risk, not wanting to hurt his mother even the slightest bit. He bit down, and amazingly, his mouth was flooded with the sweetness, and the dream did not end.


    Lanzhi had fed him some treats on the way home, but this was his first time tasting his mother¡¯s sweets in years.


    Tears welled in his eyes, and after watching him, his mother choked up as well, turning to her husband and covering her mouth with her hand. Her husband patted her back comfortingly.


    ¡°These¡ª¡± she choked out, pushing the plate of sesame treats towards him as well. ¡°These are from Chengan¡¯s mom.¡±


    Lanzhi picked up a piece of dried plum and bit into it.


    Xueming frowned, taking another bite of the candy.


    ¡°Who?¡±


    His mother was speechless again, and almost collapsed onto her husband when she realized the boy she was referring to hadn¡¯t even been born when Xueming was taken into prison.


    ¡°Auntie Xinrou¡¯s daughter-in-law,¡± Lanzhi said in a low voice.


    Auntie Xinrou was one of their closest neighbors as far as Xueming could remember. She was always at their house and vice versa when Xueming was younger.


    ¡°Oh,¡± Xueming nodded, picking up a piece of the sesame treat to reassure his mother.


    She seemed to recover upon seeing him try it.


    ¡°Xiaojun-er is so filial,¡± his mother began to blabber, ¡°Remaining in the house with his wife and son.¡±


    Xueming nodded, making the obvious connection from both context and memory that Xiaojun was Auntie Hong¡¯s son. He was content to be able to follow along to this extent, and rewarded himself by devouring the sweet.


    At the very least, Xiaojun¡¯s wife was talented in the kitchen.


    ¡°That is to be expected,¡± Lanzhi retorted back.


    His mother huffed, giving him a look that told him he was the complete opposite of Xiaojun.


    ¡°Yes, well, not every son does what is expected.¡± She grumbled, and for that her husband hit her lightly on the arm, thinking he was being discreet. Xueming and Lanzhi shared a look. ¡°Yes, well!¡± his mother said loudly, realizing the inappropriateness of the topic on Xueming¡¯s first night back. ¡°This family was just a little unlucky. At least you, Ming-er, got to¡ª¡±


    Lanzhi set his cup down with a clang, his harsh gaze a warning for his mother.


    Their mother, quite startled, and realizing what she had been about to say, stood again, and excused herself lamely to the kitchen.


    Xueming pretended he did not hear anything, and simply took a sip of tea under his family¡¯s watchful eye, but her words were quite puzzling. Maybe he really couldn¡¯t follow along.


    A short while later, his parents insisted they retire for the night, knowing their sons must be tired after travelling for so long.


    Xueming was led to the back of the house and stopped in front of his old room. It felt strange to be here, like he had only ever lived here in a previous life.


    Slowly, he pushed the door open, and stopped.


    For some reason or other, he knew that everything was exactly the same as it had been when he had left it.


    A pile of books lay in the corner of the room, with all his notes strewn about, and various pens on the floor. A small bed was lodged in the corner of the room, as if sleeping was only an afterthought. A tiny desk was placed across from it on the other wall.


    Xueming walked closer, as if in a trance.


    He put his hands on the bed, noticing the sheets were fresh. His mother surely laid out clean sheets in anticipation of his coming.


    Lightly, he sat down, and only looked up from his things when he heard a knock at the door.


    ¡°Ming-er?¡±


    Xueming was quiet for a moment, then crooked out, ¡°Yes, mother.¡±


    His mother pushed the door open only enough for her to enter, then shut it closed. She wore a pale undershirt and pants, and the color was such a natural shade, Xueming figured the cloth must be undyed. As she approached closer, he saw they were very old clothes.


    She hesitated in the middle of the room, then sighed and sat on the bed beside her son. Petting his head, she kept her voice low and her eyes on Xueming¡¯s chest, unable to meet his gaze just yet.


    ¡°I just wanted to see my son before he sleeps.¡±


    Xueming offered her a small, clumsy smile, thinking he likely looked odd trying to smile. He hadn¡¯t yet become accustomed to it.


    ¡°I will be here in the morning.¡±


    His mother¡¯s eyes hardened.


    ¡°You sure will be.¡± Petting him again, then letting her hand rest on his back, she said in a small voice, ¡°No one will take you away again.¡±


    Xueming laid his arm around her in an awkward hug.


    ¡°I just wanted to say,¡± she paused, looking up at him, ¡°Ignore all the idle words your mother said.¡± She smiled softly. ¡°Half of what comes out of my mouth is nonsense anyways.¡±


    Xueming furrowed his brows, feeling some stir of emotion in his chest. He found it quite difficult to reply.


    ¡°Ignore it all,¡± she said again, her tone lightening, ¡°Except when I say you need to eat more.¡± Xueming actually felt his smile soften. ¡°And that you and your brother are the most filial.¡± His vision began to blur, along with hers. She choked out the next words in what was nearly a whisper: ¡°...And that I am so happy you could make it home.¡±


    Xueming was awoken by a soft shake of his arm.


    He hadn¡¯t really had a sleep routine in prison, but he never truly had a good night¡¯s rest there. It felt as though when he closed his eyes, he was entering some strange half-conscious state of restlessness.


    Now, he was just starting to realize the joy of sleeping in, but he was still a light sleeper.


    Which was why it was surprising when he finally heard all the commotion in the house.


    His mother¡¯s blue eyes glimmered before him, her face far too close for comfort. Her hand was gentle but insistent, and she continuously whispered what everyone was claiming to be his actual name.


    ¡°Xinrou-jie is here with Xiaojun-er and his little Chengan.¡± She flashed her son an apologetic smile as he blinked, trying to understand. ¡°I told them to come later but they were so concerned.¡±


    Xueming tried to prop himself up on an elbow, looking around as he noticed the light pouring in from both the hallway and the window beside him. The sun was already out; he had slept through the entire morning.


    His mother was already dressed for the day in a long blue top with wide sleeves and matching pants. Her hair was twisted up off her neck with dainty little hair pins. She had stayed up so late last night preparing food and worrying over her sons, but her blue eyes were shining as if she was completely refreshed.


    ¡°I think Lanzhi already told you we initially lied about your whereabouts,¡± she winced, taking her son¡¯s hand into hers. ¡°I feel¡­¡± she hiccuped dramatically. ¡°Especially since you initially were going to study¡­¡±


    Xueming shook his head, swallowing down a yawn, his eyes heavy as he watched emotion twist his mother¡¯s expression.


    His mother flashed a smile as she tried to calm herself.


    ¡°Well, we changed the story now that it is safe to do so. We said you had actually been arrested one day in Huo Guang Market for associating with the¡­ foxfolk.¡± She was carefully watching his reaction, but also felt quite embarrassed and wanted to look away. She felt small, powerless, cowardly, to have even lied about her son¡¯s whereabouts to protect herself. As if she was erasing what he went through before it even happened. ¡°That you defended them,¡± she sighed, rubbing her face with a hand. ¡°Since we all know they were being treated unreasonably by that unbearable king.¡±


    Something in her seemed to snap, and the gleam in her eyes turned ferocious. Xueming watched his mother with curious eyes.


    ¡°They tried and tried for years to convince us that the Fox Spirit Clan were animals by nature,¡± she spat out. ¡°But it is the king¡¯s men who were dog trash. It was the king who was a bastard.¡±


    Xueming¡¯s mouth twitched. He almost felt the urge to laugh.


    His mother flashed another smile, reigning her emotions back in, and rubbed his hand gently.


    ¡°Anyways, we said you were actually held in Mengjing, since that only made sense.¡±


    Xueming cleared his throat lightly and nodded once.


    ¡°That is fine.¡± He paused, looking at the uncertainty on his mother¡¯s face. He added, ¡°That helps a lot.¡±


    It would be quite unbearable to pretend he had gone off to study and live as he pleased for the past twenty-five years, when he had actually been in prison.


    ¡°Mengjing prison¡­¡± Xueming said slowly, straining to remember which prison was there. His eyes suddenly snapped up as he remembered. ¡°Mengjing Eming, no?¡±


    His mother nodded gravely.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he sighed. ¡°I will say I was there¡­¡±


    ¡°I am so sorry, Ming-er,¡± his mother said in a thick voice, burying her face in his hand.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he said honestly, though it seemed they were both talking about different things. ¡°I am sure¡­ it is not much different there¡­ anyways.¡±


    Xueming carefully stood and got dressed in those pristine white and blue robes his brother had bought him on their journey home. He was a little wary about meeting others, and listened to their chatter from his room for a while to prepare. Their voices were only a low hum, so he couldn¡¯t quite understand what they were saying.


    After washing up, he took a deep breath, feeling as though there was a stone in his stomach, and slowly made his way to the reception room they all sat in last night.


    The hum of voices had been continuous and even passionate at times while Xueming was getting ready, but all conversation ceased as soon as he appeared. His eyes landed on their neighbor, Auntie Xinrou, whose hand was clasped in his mother¡¯s. She was seated on the wall directly across from him beside a petite-looking woman.


    His parents were on the bench to his right, and Lanzhi and Auntie Xinrou¡¯s son were on the one to his left. A boy looking who appeared to be in his early adolescence was seated on a little stool beside that unnamed woman.


    ¡°Ming-er,¡± Auntie Xinrou cried out, immediately standing and coming over to get a closer look at Xueming. He began to feel bugs crawling all over his body, like there was some insatiable itch he could not satisfy.


    Her tough arms wrapped around him in a bear-like hug and the air was instantly knocked out of him. Auntie Xinrou was small but sturdy.


    Xueming felt raw emotion swell in his eyes, in his mouth, in his throat. For some reason, he felt like crying again.


    ¡°Thank the heavens for your safety,¡± the woman said sincerely, pulling back to look at him, still holding by the arms. ¡°We could only find out what happened when the king was overthrown. To think¡­¡± Her voice trailed off.


    Xueming was staring at that little boy, who was curiously staring back with an unrelenting gaze.


    ¡°To think that you had¡­ gone to hell,¡± she choked out.


    Xueming¡¯s mother stood to come hug her best friend from behind.


    Xueming would have collapsed from the weight of her words, if not for that little boy distracting him. He ignored the women¡¯s crying, finding it unbearable.


    He had gone to hell.


    But now, he was home.


    He spotted some more sesame sweets on the table, which were surely from that petite woman Xueming could only assume was Auntie Xinrou¡¯s daughter-in-law. He glanced around for somewhere to sit.


    He really only had a simple thought in his mind.


    It would be nice to eat some more of those.

 5 - Good Doctor, This Man Not Only Knows of Peerless

    Xueming was stuffing sesame treats into his mouth, listening to the vindictive chatter of his gathered family members and neighbors.


    Each family¡¯s matriarch was battling to outdo the other, so the topics quickly escalated: first beginning with local love scandals, then evolving to stories that implicated provincial-level government officials and three generations of their ancestors. After that, the two families began to shout back and forth over theories on how the tyrant king really died, or if he really had at all.


    Xueming blinked and chewed through each point, finding himself quite enlightened by the conversation.


    Auntie Xinrou, her very filial son Xiaojun, and Xueming¡¯s mother were the most engaged in the conversation, while Xueming¡¯s father entertained himself with a cup of green tea that had long gone lukewarm, Lanzhi simply blinked at whoever spoke next, and Xiaojun¡¯s wife clutched a fresh cup of steaming tea that she occasionally sipped.


    That little boy, Chengan, who looked to be on the edge of childhood and the cusp of adolescence, alternated between gnawing on the sweet in his hand and reaching for another one.


    Xueming and him were exchanging silent reviews of each treat, but when they finished trying all the treats, they would just start over. Neither knew when they had started cooperating like this.


    Xueming would first reach for a new sweet, taste it, and then nod, finding everything quite pleasing, and then Chengan would opt for the same treat, taste it and either make a face or nod as well.


    Chengan seemed to hate the dried plum, his face growing progressively more disgusted the more he was compelled to eat it, and eventually he outright refused to follow Xueming¡¯s lead when he reached for it. But Xueming happily ate it while the little boy went hungry.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe it¡ªthe entire country was taken in a mere seven days.¡± Auntie Xinrou was saying, shaking her head as she took a sip of tea. She grimaced a little, likely from the cool temperature of the liquid, and Xueming tried not to smile.


    ¡°It seems impossible,¡± Xueming¡¯s mother agreed, also taking a sip of the tea for herself.


    Xueming and Chengan were currently tasting the plain pancakes.


    Xueming nodded, and Chengan also nodded.


    ¡°Things are already improving in mere months,¡± Xiaojun commented idly, glancing over at the Lanzhi, but instead of some exciting follow-up, all he received in support was a quiet nod.


    Xueming figured he could replace Lanzhi with some clay doll and pull a string to move its head and no one would know any better.


    ¡°It was the scariest when they were racing to release all of the¡­¡± Auntie Xinrou paused, her eyes flickering to Xueming, who was peacefully finishing the pancake in pace with Chengan. ¡°...prisoners.¡±


    A moment of silence washed over them, and Xueming¡¯s mother hurried to speak up.


    ¡°I heard Gao Meimei delayed her marriage since the king¡¯s death,¡± she bellowed out in a nasily voice, skillfully steered the conversation back to a matter of tier-one severity, wanting to avoid any discussions of prison in front of Xueming.


    ¡°Ah, yes¡ªpoor girl,¡± Auntie Xinrou pursed her lips and took another sip of the tea, only to remember why she hadn¡¯t liked it in the first place. With a clang, she set down her cup. ¡°She¡¯s already delayed it this long. I am surprised she still has a suitor at her age¡ªyou would think it¡¯s too late now, but I guess the wealthy play by different rules.¡±


    Xueming reached for a stuffed pancake now, vaguely remembering some little girl named Meimei. She wasn¡¯t one of their neighbors, but someone well-known within the community. He even went to school with the girl.


    ¡°Her family has been struggling since the king died,¡± Xueming¡¯s mother was saying.


    ¡°Serves them right,¡± Xueming¡¯s father suddenly piped up, setting his tea down as well.


    Xusheng¡¯s mother, ever the hostess, quickly went to change their tea out after finding an appropriate time to excuse herself.


    ¡°Her father worked for the old king, yes,¡± Xiaojun also piped in, ¡°But could anyone really blame him? We are all just trying to survive.¡±


    Auntie Xinrou¡¯s family could be more compassionate since they had never really experienced any losses due to the king, but the Jian family had lost their son for twenty-five years, so they were less rational about the matter.


    ¡°Master Gao simply adjusts the rudder according to the wind,¡± Xueming¡¯s father said between his teeth. ¡°That family will be fine.¡±


    Xueming was finally able to attach a name to a face that he found in many of his childhood memories. Gao Meimei was a girl who had just been starting her studies as he was leaving them behind.


    It was strange for Xueming to think of this little girl getting married.


    It was like time had stopped for Xueming when he had been detained, and he expected everything to be the same when he returned to Chongqing. Like he could spend an eternity in prison and she could still only remain a child.


    But what was stranger was that he found there were others in his memories that he had played with whose names seemed like they existed on the tip of his tongue. These memories were veiled by a wall of mist, but the mist was not a result of his stay in prison¡ªit was simply due to the natural eroding effect of time.


    Xueming stopped chewing, the stuffed pancake still undigested in his mouth.


    Xueming¡¯s mother soon returned with the emptied cups and began to pour fresh tea into each of them. Only Xiaojun¡¯s wife had been smart enough to stay quiet and drink her first cup quickly.


    On the thought of Xiaojun¡¯s wife, Xueming made sure to glance at her only long enough to not be disrespectful. He only wanted a glimpse to try and wrap his head around it¡ªthe entire sight of Xiaojun with a family was quite strange. Xiaojun, too, should just be an adolescent.


    It seemed only Xueming¡¯s family hadn¡¯t changed since he had been detained, like their life had been on pause as well.


    Xueming felt a pang in his chest, and he swallowed that piece of pancake whole. Before he could choke, he downed the cold tea he had kept from his mother¡¯s sweeping hands like a squirrel hoarding a prized nut.


    What positions would Lanzhi or Xueming be in if he hadn¡¯t ever dared protest with that little sign and those two characters he had bet his entire life for? Would at least Lanzhi have been able to meet a woman, have a family, and live happily, not prone to overworking or overthinking about his brother?


    It was quite bitter to think that Xueming had been correct in his stance¡ªjust correct twenty-five years too early.


    ¡°I heard Meimei fell in love with one of the foxfolk when she was younger and Master Gao has been trying to marry her off ever since.¡± Xueming¡¯s mother laughed lightly as she poured tea.


    No one except Xueming noticed how his older brother froze, his dark, frosty gaze pinning him in place. But Xueming was too tired and too distracted by the sight of Xiaojun with a wife and child to care. He made a smacking noise with his mouth and tongue as he once again tasted the bitterness of the cold tea, choosing to only half-listen.


    ¡°Oh, the one they all used to play with?¡± Auntie Xinrou piped in eagerly, her eyes drifting over each person gathered. However, she soon noticed Lanzhi¡¯s expression and became a little hesitant, wondering how she could both humor her friend but also appease her friend¡¯s son. ¡°What¡­ What was his name?¡±


    Xueming¡¯s mother was oblivious to her own son¡¯s brooding as she pushed the fresh cups of tea around the table. Her eyes landed on Xueming¡¯s empty cup like a hawk, but she figured there was no way for her to fight it out of his hands.


    ¡°Ah, how could you not remember?¡± she laughed lightly. ¡°I guess Xiaojun never really had time to play with them. It was¡ª¡±


    Suddenly, Lanzhi shot out of his seat, his body teeming with tension, his face stiff with anger. His eyes were blazing as he looked at Xueming, who was only contently eating his pancake. Really, he was the only one who was bothered, but that only told him he was the only who was sane.


    ¡°I need to go into town today,¡± he declared. The two families looked up at him with wide eyes, their expressions fearful, and realization dawned over them a little too late. How forgetful and thoughtless they were before they spoke! ¡°I need to deliver medicine,¡± he stated plainly, his eyes never leaving Xueming, who was the only one who didn¡¯t look scared. ¡°And I wanted to take Xueming with me.¡±


    Only moments later, stuffed in a rather large overcoat, Xueming was being dragged out the door.


    ¡°I always speak so idly,¡± they both heard their mother say in anguish.


    Xueming pretended not to hear and let himself be half-carried outside.


    ¡°What is¡­ the rush?¡± he asked, trying to sound casual.


    His brother was clearly uncomfortable with the previous topic, but only flashed him a tight smile.


    ¡°I am late,¡± he excused his abrupt behavior smoothly. ¡°I informed a few patients I left in dire situations that I would be returning ahead of time, and I must take over for my colleague, who is travelling within the next week.¡±


    Lanzhi was a local doctor in Chongqing, and had been working as such for as long as Xueming had known him. It seemed not much had actually changed concerning his older brother.


    They walked over to the ox cart they had taken from Huo Guang Market and Xueming climbed in with the grace of a parcel being carelessly tossed inside. He sure felt like heavily packaged freight in this coat.


    ¡°I have to return this today,¡± Lanzhi said as he passed by the cart to untie the ox.


    Xueming was quiet, trying to find the courage to ask.


    ¡°How¡­ How did you afford to take a carriage from¡­ the capital? Even this? We¡­ travelled such a¡­ long way¡­?¡±


    Lanzhi did not speak, and Xueming figured he would not receive an answer now.


    The silence was a plain enough reply: Don¡¯t ask.


    They travelled back in the direction of Huo Guang Market, but not so far south, until they reached the most bustling part of the city.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Lanzhi led his brother through busy streets, with merchants¡¯ shouts, children¡¯s laughs, and lovers¡¯ whispers all around them. Lanzhi steered them left, then right, then left, until eventually Xueming felt fairly lost.


    They stopped in front of a shop and Lanzhi motioned for them to climb out of the cart. Moments later, Lanzhi disappeared inside, with Xueming waiting near the front.


    He watched the streets, finding it all so familiar yet so new.


    There was a certain joy amongst the people he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. A certain freedom.


    Xueming¡¯s mouth curled at the edge, but he was too distracted to notice. He watched people jump and shout and dance all around him.


    It was well into the afternoon, with the sun bright and warm in the winter chill.


    Xueming shivered a little, feeling like a little child wearing his father¡¯s coat, but he was grateful for the extra warmth. He had never had such a luxury in prison.


    Lanzhi appeared before him in record time, and steered him by the arm down another street. Even here, it seemed the streets were decorated for the new year. Xueming suspected the people were celebrating something else this year.


    They walked a while before Lanzhi stopped in front of another street.


    ¡°What happened to your little mobile shop?¡± Xueming smiled a little more as he asked.


    Lanzhi gave him a look, then paused.


    ¡°Heh,¡± he snorted, giving Xueming a clap on the back. ¡°I share this place with colleagues. Don¡¯t think I can afford this on my own.¡±


    Still, Xueming admired how far his brother had come.


    ¡°What?¡± Xueming continued as they entered the little shop, listening to a bell chime as the front door opened. ¡°Do you also serve the¡­ wealthy now too?¡±


    Xueming was immediately hit with the smell of herbs when he entered, but the combination was so muddled, he could not quite pin down the scent to a specific plant.


    Lanzhi did not reply, but instead instructed Xueming to remain near the entrance as he disappeared behind a counter and into a back room.


    A few moments later, two men emerged out of what seemed like thin air.


    Lanzhi smiled over at Xueming, then addressed the man, ¡°Doctor Liu, this is my younger brother, Jian Xueming.¡±


    Doctor Liu was a tall man with a harsh appearance. His face structure was all hard lines, and his hair was extremely dark, and simply tied back. He wore plain yet elegant robes that were pale, off-white. His entire appearance was quite intimidating. Xueming would hate to be a patient of his.


    Xueming extended his greetings with the man and then began to analyze the pattern in the wood of the floor panels.


    ¡°I have a few days left in the city, which will make the transition smooth. ¡± Doctor Liu was saying, ¡°Let¡¯s split the work today, until you are comfortable doing it all yourself.¡±


    Lanzhi nodded gratefully.


    ¡°I have finished everything that needs to be prepared today,¡± Doctor Liu informed him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go deliver a few and then take it easy for the rest of the day?¡±


    Lanzhi followed his directions and returned to the back.


    Xueming felt quite awkward in the room alone with the man, but he seemed to simply be organizing things at the counter. He bent over to scribble a few notes on a large sheet of paper.


    ¡°Honorable younger brother,¡± Doctor Liu suddenly called out, and Xueming was forced to stop staring at the floor. ¡°I gladly took over for Doctor Jian while he went to go get you.¡±


    Xueming only felt his breath catch in his throat.


    ¡°I think the heavens truly have blessed us.¡±


    Xueming simply stared, his ears burning a little as he listened, hoping his brother would return so he wouldn¡¯t be left alone with this man any longer. His hands were clammy as he played with his fingers.


    ¡°I just wanted to express my sincerity and gladness for honorable younger brother¡¯s health and safe return home.¡±


    Nodding with a small smile, Xueming managed to clear his throat and say, ¡°Thank you for¡­ serving in my¡­ brother¡¯s place.¡±


    The room went quiet a while later, until Lanzhi popped back in with a number of medicines in hand. There were notes on top of them, but Xueming could not see what was written from a distance.


    ¡°There are only a few,¡± Lanzhi noted as he came out.


    Doctor Liu nodded, smiled, and then said, ¡°You two should take a break.¡±


    Lanzhi was just about to protest when Doctor Liu continued.


    ¡°There is a shrine set up to honor Peerless in the city centre. Go take a look.¡±


    Xueming froze, his awkward smile freezing with him. Lanzhi cleared his own throat, then simply nodded and walked towards the front door.


    ¡°He was recently released like honorable younger brother,¡± Doctor Liu continued, oblivious to the brothers¡¯ discomfort. ¡°I am certain you heard of him before¡­¡± Doctor Liu paused, and Lanzhi was already halfway out of the shop. His voice came almost like a hum. ¡°Well, yes, unless you were arrested before even him¡­¡±


    ¡°We will be taking our leave now, Doctor Liu,¡± Lanzhi said in a disgruntled manner, then, seeing his younger brother was unmoving, barked out a: ¡°Xueming.¡±


    Outside the shop, Lanzhi and Xueming loaded the medicine into an ox cart belonging to the doctors.


    ¡°I will bring you home before I come to return this cart,¡± Lanzhi said, still clearly disturbed by the exchange just moments before.


    Xueming opened his mouth in protest, finding he did it automatically before his older brother hit him with a sharp gaze that held him in place.


    ¡°You cannot walk such a distance, it¡¯s obvious,¡± he said, venom in his tone. Then, sighing, Lanzhi realized he was taking out his anger on a brother who had done nothing wrong. ¡°I will try to share a ride with someone on the way back. There are always people coming and going for work.¡±


    Silently, Xueming stared at his older brother. Gradually, the wrinkles between his brows relaxed, and the tumultuous line of his mouth settled.


    Just as the two were about to depart, with Lanzhi aware of their destinations, and Xueming, a trusting passenger along for the ride, they were haphazardly blocked by a man. The man wore pristine blue robes, though they were not as nice as the ones Lanzhi had gifted. He looked all proper and mannered, with dark brown hair and gentle eyes, though his actions were rather rash and even rude.


    ¡°I am a servant coming to plead for my master,¡± the man said quite confidently, though there was a little slip in his voice that informed the brothers of poorly-concealed nerves.


    ¡°If this master has the luxury to send a servant, then this master can also find a doctor suitable for his station,¡± Lanzhi said plainly, and Xueming looked over at him, quite surprised by how heartless his response was.


    The servant was unmoved and actually smiled in amusement.


    ¡°If my master could afford to call a doctor to his house, does the doctor not think he would?¡± the servant said honestly.


    Lanzhi was silently brooding, and the servant took it as a welcome to continue.


    ¡°My master can no longer continue to accept service from private doctors. Please, even if the service is less, he needs to purchase treatment for his wife.¡±


    Lanzhi shook his head, already taking the reins of the cart.


    ¡°I cannot afford to take new patients right now. Please, try to find someone else,¡± Lanzhi said sternly, his words polite, but his tone a warning.


    ¡°Please,¡± the servant¡¯s voice changed a little, dropping, breaking, and Xueming looked at his brother with shining eyes, wondering what he was thinking. ¡°I have the prescription already. The master¡¯s wife would not even need a diagnosis¡ª¡±


    Lanzhi glared at the man, boiling over with anger.


    ¡°I will not accept this diagnosis just because a private doctor has given it.¡± His voice lowered, but it was not any less harsh. He glanced over at Xueming, who was frowning conspicuously. ¡°Has the master¡¯s wife not been on the same treatment for a while? Clearly, it has not helped.¡±


    Xueming¡¯s eyes widened a little.


    His brother seemed to know of this wealthy master¡¯s wife, even if he was not her doctor.


    Wincing, the servant protested back: ¡°That is because the mistress¡¯ condition is incurable!¡±


    Lanzhi scoffed, raising the reins once. The servant did not move from in front of the ox.


    ¡°Then continue to use this prescription,¡± he said in a tone that made it clear this was none of his concern.


    The servant seemed on the verge of tears.


    ¡°The prescription is not for a lifetime! I cannot continue to get treatment for the mistress without another doctor¡¯s assessment!¡±


    Sighing, Lanzhi looked at the man with a glaze over his eyes, feeling a little pang in his heart as a physician. Still, the rest of his body remained cold as ice.


    ¡°There are many other doctors in the area¡ªthis is Chongqing,¡± Lanzhi said lazily, his tone no longer venomous, but exhausted.


    ¡°Please,¡± the servant whined. ¡°My master did not turn Doctor Jian away like this¡ª¡±


    Lanzhi froze, his gaze bitting. To think this servant would have such audacity.


    Xueming peered between the servant and his brother, feeling as though he was watching a dramatic play. All he needed was some snacks. He bitterly thought that Chengan was likely still eating without him now.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see I am with my didi?¡± Lanzhi suddenly yelled, overcome with anger. Xueming jolted beside him, his body reacting immediately. ¡°Can the mistress not leave us alone even now? Do I owe the Hao family something?¡±


    ¡°No, no!¡± The servant insisted back, quite startled and embarrassed to have angered him to this extent. ¡°My master and mistress are so happy that the second young master of the Jian family is back safe and sound! My master does not wish to make Doctor Jian feel as though he owes something!¡±


    ¡°Then go find some other doctor!¡± Lanzhi spat back, his face bright red.


    ¡°My master cannot!¡± the servant fell to his knees, his hands collapsed together as though he was praying. ¡°My master needs discretion and Doctor Jian is the only one he can trust!¡±


    The three were silent for a long while, with the two brothers watching the servant lower his forehead to the ground. One brother¡¯s gaze burned with unchecked rage, while the other¡¯s was filled with ignorant pity.


    ¡°Gege,¡± Xueming said in a soft voice, lifting his eyes from the servant to his brother¡¯s stark and cold face.


    It was just one word, but it was enough.


    Lanzhi knew what his younger brother was asking of him. And after a long stretch of silence, he actually agreed.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Lanzhi sighed. It was the last word he ever wanted to say. He glanced at Xueming, taking pity on him instead of the servant. It was not good to show such apathy now, when his younger brother was still recovering. ¡°But I will come to the Hao family house last. After I have delivered all the medicine to my actual patients. Understood?¡±


    The servant cried out some indiscernible sound, then kowtowed three times and leaped to his feet, a shy smile on his face.


    ¡°This kindness will not be forgotten, Doctor Jian!¡± He exclaimed, bowing hysterically. ¡°May the heavens bless you both, Doctor Jian and Young Master!¡±


    The servant scurried away, knowing now was the time to retreat back to his master¡¯s house.


    After only exchanging a look, the two brothers started their journey across Chongqing city, delivering medicine to those awaiting it. Lanzhi led the cart through many side roads, and eventually, Xueming realized they never crossed the centre of the city despite it being much faster.


    Xueming looked at his brother with a mix of emotions, finding him quite complex in personality.


    There were a lot of people his brother knew that he did not.


    There was a lot his brother had experienced these past twenty-five years that he was unaware of.


    Maybe in time, he would come to understand Lanzhi again. Maybe in time, Lanzhi could understand him.


    For now, they would avoid seeing the shrine built for Peerless, because that was what his older brother believed Xueming needed.


    But in truth, Xueming knew it was what Lanzhi needed.

 6 - Good Mister, This Servant’s Words Were Careless, Please Have Some Tea

    It was dark by the time Lanzhi and Xueming finished delivering all the medicine.


    Peering over at his younger brother, Lanzhi casually said, ¡°I will take you home before I go to the Hao family house.¡±


    Xueming glanced over, giving his brother his best awkward smile.


    Just as casually, Xueming said, ¡°No worries. I will finish the entire day with gege.¡±


    After another beat of staring, Lanzhi steadied his nerves and smiled back.


    ¡°No need to bother didi with this,¡± he shook his head, already turning the cart around with the reins. ¡°I am certain you are tired.¡±


    Xueming paused just as long as his brother had, then placed a hand softly on his brother¡¯s arm, shaking his head.


    ¡°This didi wishes to see gege¡­ work,¡± Xueming said insistently. ¡°I have already¡­ come along for¡­ the rest of the day. Why does gege wish¡­ to send me back now?¡±


    Lanzhi glanced at his younger brother, though it was hard to see each other¡¯s faces in the shadows even this close.


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Lanzhi explained, exasperated, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to tire you out. First the Xie family came, and now you have been travelling all day.¡± He paused, sighing, ¡°And it is only your first day back. I am certain that mother and father wish to see you.¡±


    Xueming latched onto his brother¡¯s arm like a parasite now, leaning over.


    ¡°Mother and father will see me¡­ tomorrow¡­ and forevermore¡­¡± he retorted, though it was genuine. ¡°Let me finish¡­ the day with¡­ gege.¡±


    Truly, Xueming was way too old to be acting this bashfully, but Lanzhi seemed to bend to his brother¡¯s will when he did. Xueming wanted to feel embarrassed, but he barely felt anything.


    ¡°This Hao family cannot live¡­ anywhere near¡­ our house anyways,¡± Xueming commented in a matter-of-fact manner. ¡°They are a family of¡­ wealth.¡±


    Xueming happened to be correct.


    It was a simple deduction on Xueming¡¯s part, but wealthy families did not live in the northern neighborhoods of Chongqing like the Jian and Xie families did. The more expensive, urban areas of the city were in the southern half, so the wealthier families also lived in neighborhoods in the south. Not even the ¡°city centre¡± was really in the center of the city, but further south.


    Lanzhi and Xueming were just around the center of the city, since Lanzhi planned to take Xueming back first, and chose to deliver medicine to the northernmost house last.


    It was a while before they arrived at the house, and on the way, Lanzhi explained the Hao family¡¯s situation. The master of the house had been a high government employee for the previous king, so they were naturally wealthy.


    It was only now, since the master had lost his status and income, that the family was falling apart.


    The simple, shabby ox cart, now empty of all medicine, stopped in front of a grand gate decorated with red and gold dragon carvings. There were guardian dog statues protecting the door on either side and Xueming found himself almost unable to look away. A shimmering bronze plaque atop those red and gold carvings had an intricate character on it. Xueming assumed it was the family¡¯s name.


    That same servant that had pleaded with Lanzhi earlier was waiting behind the gates, and who knew for how many hours he had waited.


    ¡°Doctor Jian!¡± he said in a hushed yet excited voice, opening the gates with a few grunts. ¡°Welcome, welcome. Let me take care of your cart.¡±


    ¡°My little brother remains outside,¡± Lanzhi stated in a rough voice.


    The servant looked over at Xueming with worried eyes, his mouth agape, and his expression even a little fearful.


    ¡°Doctor Jian,¡± he protested quickly, so quickly Xueming was uncertain whether the servant actually wanted to be heard. ¡°It is too cold now. At least let him wait in the reception.¡±


    Lanzhi did not reply, and so the servant took that as agreement.


    Past the gate, they entered a small courtyard with buildings on either side. Xueming instinctively knew these side buildings were reserved for servants. Red lanterns lined the buildings in a symmetrical manner, only stopping when they reached the entry hall. The three walked along the stone flooring, listening to their boots clack against the tiles.


    At the end of the path were a few stone steps which the servant ushered them up, then quietly knocked a few times on a dark wooden door with a smooth, curved roof overhead and another dragon painted wildly below it.


    That same wooden door creaked open and a man holding an oil lamp appeared in the crack. There was a faint smell of burning and Xueming noticed the entry hall lit up by various flickering candles, creating shadows that danced all around the room.


    The man¡¯s face appeared oily and the dark circles beneath his eyes were exaggerated by the shadows. The oil lamp illuminated deep red silk robes with dragon embroidery on the shoulders. He smiled when he saw the two brothers and quickly ushered them inside. The servant did not enter with them and instead scampered back out towards the gate.


    With a shudder, the door was shut behind them by the man.


    ¡°Doctor Jian,¡± the man greeted him with a nod. ¡°And Brother Jian.¡±


    Both Xueming and Lanzhi extended their greetings as well with clasped hands.


    ¡°I am most grateful for your esteemed presence and hope I have not inconvenienced you.¡± Lanzhi remained silent as the man spoke. ¡°My wife is often very sick, and I can no longer deal with the private doctor we called on. I hope you understand.¡±


    Lanzhi nodded stiffly, and Xueming peered over at him curiously.


    The reason for needing Lanzhi¡¯s services was vague, but all of them knew the actual reason. Xueming found it a little amusing that this mister felt the need to keep up pretenses.


    ¡°Since Your Excellency has called, how could I not answer? Please, let us not delay this matter further. Lead me to your wife so I can assess her.¡± Lanzhi said curtly but politely.


    The man nodded with a small smile, then gestured for them to follow him further into the hall.


    ¡°Please, I ask that my brother remains here,¡± Lanzhi said sternly, his eyes flashing with something unreadable. His entire posture seemed stiff.


    The man nodded again and extended his hand to a seating area along the side wall.


    ¡°Please, Brother Jian, take a seat.¡±


    Xueming took a seat on a shiny bench made of fine wood and stared at the painting covering the wall from ceiling to floor. A large dragon with a twisting tail and slack, threatening jaws covered the entire expanse.


    Xueming wondered if the master allowed the depiction of any other animal in the entire residence.


    The man and Lanzhi walked through the hall to the next door leading to the inner courtyard. Xueming wanted to come along, but didn¡¯t want to push his luck either.


    Lanzhi seemed quite uncomfortable here.


    Xueming was unsure how much time had passed with him sitting there, idly analyzing the dragon¡¯s beard, when a door opened and Xueming¡¯s jaw moved ever so slightly towards the sound.


    ¡°A new doctor?¡± A small, feminine voice said.


    ¡°Isn''t the master worried?¡± Another one said.


    There was a creak and then another, and then a bunch of shuffling noises. Xueming felt as though he should make his presence known, but something held him back.


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    ¡°The master should be more worried about how he will continue to pay us,¡± the first one said in a slightly aggravated tone.


    ¡°Dajie!¡± The second one protested. ¡°You are dead if someone hears you!¡±


    ¡°What do I care?¡± the first complained. ¡°The master has no way of sustaining this life anymore. Surely, the mistress¡¯ identity is bound to be exposed. That, or the heavens will be merciful and take her first.¡±


    ¡°No, I am dead if someone hears you,¡± the second one said, moving something that caused a loud scraping noise.


    Xueming assumed they were servants by their manner of speech.


    ¡°We are dead anyways if they find us now,¡± the first said in a comically nonchalant tone.


    ¡°It¡¯s your fault!¡± The second one said, ¡°We should have been doing this yesterday!¡±


    The first one giggled lightly.


    ¡°You think the master can afford to get rid of us now?¡± The first one asked spitefully. ¡°Good luck finding new servants, when everyone knows he chose the wrong side from the start.¡±


    The second one was quiet for a long while, and Xueming¡¯s eyes became heavy. For a moment, he even forgot where he was and let his drowsiness wash over him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why the master bothers,¡± the first continued after a while. Her voice was much closer now. ¡°The mistress has had the same ailment since she entered the residence. There¡¯s no fixing it.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think the master is so deluded,¡± the second one whispered, afraid to even speak the words. ¡°He is just trying to maintain the mistress¡¯ current condition.¡±


    ¡°Please, she is bedridden every other day,¡± the first one scoffed. ¡°What is there to maintain?¡±


    ¡°Dajie!¡± the second one shrieked again, her voice lowering to a hiss when she realized how loud she was, ¡°This is your mistress you¡¯re speaking of!¡±


    Xueming was being lulled to sleep right there on that bench¡ªafter all, he had slept in much worse conditions. These two voices were like a part of some strange fever dream.


    ¡°Ha!¡± The first one laughed. ¡°My mistress? The lady is just some concubine the master could never elevate to wife. How convenient for him that my actual mistress died.¡±


    ¡°Dajie,¡± the second one sighed. ¡°You are a hopeless cause. I am leaving you to clean up alone.¡±


    Suddenly, there was a loud shriek, but Xueming was long used to screams and hardly stirred.


    ¡°Dajie! What is it?¡±


    ¡°A¡ªA man!¡±


    The second one sighed loudly, and though she had been startled, she was smart enough to apply reason.


    ¡°This is surely the master''s guest.¡± She bowed and extended proper greetings for a servant. ¡°Esteemed Sir, we apologize for the disturbance¡­¡± Then, she realized what they had been doing, what they had been saying, and her eyes went wide. ¡°Esteemed S¡ªSir, we were just¡­¡±


    Xueming felt a pang of pity, despite how distasteful the other one was, and blinked slowly, acting puzzled.


    ¡°Ah, I am Doctor Jian¡¯s younger brother.¡± He watched those frozen servants¡¯ faces. In the shadows, he could only notice one with a slightly tanned appearance, and the other, rather pale. ¡°I fell asleep. Maybe you were¡­ calling me earlier... and I could not hear¡­¡±


    The paler one was quicker to catch onto the opening Xueming was giving them, and smiled softly, stepping forward with clasped hands. Her hair was a distinct red, and her eyes, a pale hazel that appeared yellow in the light. She looked similar to that woman who had taught him those two characters. Unsurprisingly, Master Hao also kept foxfolk servants.


    ¡°Ah, yes, Master sent us over to inquire if Mister wanted to drink some tea?¡±


    The other one, who had the dark hair of a northerner, finally caught on and smiled, though the flush on her face still told Xueming she was disturbed.


    ¡°Let us lead you to the main hall while we serve you some tea?¡±


    Xueming was eager for some sort of amusement, and nodded in agreement to these two servants¡¯ new plan to salvage their jobs.


    They led him further into the hall, and he looked to the right, where they had been bustling around. Nothing seemed out of place.


    Past the next door, which was made of the same dark wood as the other one, they entered the inner courtyard. The place was quite beautiful, if not a little neglected.


    There were connecting stone paths to each door of the surrounding buildings. The space created a sort of rectangle, with the main hall and side buildings of private family quarters surrounding them.


    The pathways were cushioned by tiny ponds and flower beds, though the ponds seemed a little dried up, and the flowers wilted. The two servants hurried straight, directly to the main hall, where a large dark door below an overbearing curved roof loomed over them.


    ¡°This way, Mister,¡± the fox spirit servant murmured, allowing the other one to open the door and then gesture for him to enter.


    Upon entering, Xueming saw a large central table with various chairs placed symmetrically around it. The chairs were a deep rich red that shone beneath the candlelight and engraved with dragon heads, as Xueming expected. There were long tables placed along the walls on either side filled with candles, offerings, and some decorative objects, though the placement was symmetric, strategic, and minimal.


    Someone here had a good eye.


    Xueming took a seat on one of the chairs at the persistence of the human servant, who then hurried to another room, presumably to get that tea that was promised.


    Just as the fox servant attempted to excuse herself as well, Xueming called out to her.


    ¡°Miss Hu,¡± he said casually, as if he had known her his entire life.


    The fox servant was surely startled, but her smile turned from one of politeness to a genuine grin.


    ¡°This servant is at the behest of Mister,¡± she replied, quite diligently.


    ¡°I am curious, where is the¡­ first lady of the house?¡± Xueming wondered, his eyes flickering to the back of the main hall. This question revealed he had in fact heard everything the two had said earlier, but that much was already obvious.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the servant¡¯s smile dropped a little. ¡°The first lady has long since passed.¡±


    He only hummed in response.


    ¡°Then who is the¡­ mistress my older brother is¡­ taking care of now?¡±


    The fox servant did not yet relax, uncertain of where this line of questioning was going.


    ¡°Doctor Jian treats the favored concubine of Master,¡± she said carefully.


    ¡°My brother told me¡­ the poor mistress has been ailing for¡­ quite a long time,¡± Xueming said regretfully.


    Nodding, the fox servant pursed her lips.


    ¡°Yes, Mister,¡± the human servant came in with a pot of tea and a tea cup that rattled as she carried it on a tray. ¡°For twenty-five years, my poor mistress.¡±


    Xueming never took his eyes off of the fox servant, and her entire body seemed to freeze.


    Smiling in alarm, she shot a look over to her colleague.


    ¡°If I may,¡± the fox servant interrupted, watching the tanned girl pour Xueming some tea. The fox servant waited for Xueming¡¯s permission to speak freely, then said, ¡°I am surprised Mister knows nothing of the Hao family.¡±


    Xueming frowned a little, quite in agreement with the girl. There was a lot he needed to learn.


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± he spoke softly, the gleam in his eyes softening as well. ¡°Just a few months ago¡­ I was in prison.¡±


    Both the servants were speechless as the girl quietly poured him tea and pushed the cup towards him.


    Weakly, the fox servant said, ¡°That is my mistake, Mister.¡±


    Xueming only pursed his lips and brought the steaming green tea to his mouth. It burned his lips and his tongue, but the heat was welcome, and it was not like he was unaccustomed to pain.


    Suddenly, the doors to the main hall swung open and all three of them jolted in their spots.


    ¡°Didi,¡± Lanzhi burst out, hurrying towards them. ¡°Why are you here and not the entry hall?¡± He was quite alarmed, his eyes shooting daggers at the two servants before him.


    Master Hao was approaching them as well, looking furious.


    Seeing his face, the two servants hurried to excuse themselves, knowing they were in for it later. Xueming noticed the fox servant cast him one last look before she left.


    ¡°I am so sorry, Doctor Jian. This is my mistake.¡± The master said in a fit of anger. ¡°I did not instruct my servants properly.¡±


    Lanzhi stared at Xueming for a long moment, letting his anger boil over like tea spilling over the top of a pot. Then, he sighed and took a seat across from his younger brother.


    ¡°How is Master Hao¡¯s wife?¡± Xueming broke the silence first, finding it quite awkward to be the only one completely calm and completely puzzled. He felt he was the only one who never understood what was going on.


    Lanzhi sighed, looking at Xueming as he rubbed his face.


    Master Hao felt he could save the situation and clasped his hands together.


    ¡°I am most grateful for Doctor Jian¡¯s careful attendance of my wife. Please, I urge you and Brother Jian to stay the night. It is too late to travel now.¡±


    Lanzhi looked as though he wanted their host to drop dead, but still had enough sense not to look at Master Hao directly with those eyes.


    ¡°We are fine to go home now,¡± was all he replied in a surprisingly unpleasant voice.


    Xueming, still quite puzzled by the master¡¯s desperation and Lanzhi¡¯s rage, remained quiet for now.


    ¡°Please, Doctor Jian,¡± Master Hao repeated himself. ¡°Brother Jian will not be disturbed in the guest residence.¡±

 7 - Good Master, Whose Name Did You Just Say?

    Xueming was in fact disturbed in his guest residence by his own brother.


    Lanzhi hardly waited for Xueming¡¯s response before he barged into the room, his single, heartless knock no more than a formality.


    He eyed his younger brother, who was lazing on the bed, half-curled like some beaten down animal as he stood in the doorway. His gaze was steady and unrelenting, and his mouth quivered but he didn¡¯t say a word.


    ¡°Lanzhi-ge?¡± Xueming attempted to lift his head off the bed, but it felt as though it weighed the same as a hundred sacks of wheat.


    ¡°I am just checking in on you,¡± Lanzhi finally spoke, a light smile on his lips.


    Despite it being the evening, Lanzhi was still in his daytime robes, looking as though he hadn¡¯t had the time or energy to change into something more comfortable.


    Xueming thought it was fortunate they had come in the robes they purchased on their journey home, or else they would look odd against the splendid backdrop of the Hao residence.


    No matter one¡¯s station or condition, who would want to feel lacking amidst beautiful things?


    ¡°Where were you?¡± Xueming peeked over at him from the bed. His head had fallen back on the pillow, his neck long given up on keeping him upright.


    To light up the room, a great many candles were placed wherever there was free space. It was keeping the room comfortably warm despite the cold of the coming winter seeping in through the windows. Xueming rather liked it here.


    ¡°Assessing the master¡¯s wife,¡± Lanzhi commented off-handedly.


    Now, Xueming pushed himself upright.


    The whole affair was curious¡ªthis woman seemed to be an open secret in the residence, and according to what he had heard from the servants, she had been ill for a long time. As long as he¡¯d been in prison, as a matter of fact.


    ¡°What is her condition?¡± Xueming wondered.


    Lanzhi pursed his lips and remained in his spot in the doorway, looking as though he had no intention to enter the room.


    ¡°Not too good, to be honest. She¡­¡± Lanzhi paused, unsure how much he should say. ¡°She had an incident when she was younger and¡­ has never been the same since.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Xueming pondered, relying on his days of studying to take a wild guess at her condition. If her ailment was not physical, then she was most likely affected by the trauma and stress of whatever had happened. Almost as if he were playing a game, Xueming guessed: ¡°Did she have some sort of¡­ qi deviation?¡±


    Lanzhi looked thoughtful for a long while, then nodded, replying in a deep voice, ¡°Something like that.¡±


    Xueming was quiet as well, then hummed, ¡°Well then¡­ typical medicine won¡¯t do a thing.¡±


    Lanzhi finally stepped into the room, watching his younger brother with careful eyes.


    As he approached the bed, he wore a gentle smile on his face, and settled on the opposite side as Xueming. He ducked beneath the canopy draped over the bed to sit, looking unsurprised when he landed on a deep red silk comforter¡ªembroidered, as expected, with dragons. He lifted his robes and placed them down carefully to ensure the outer layer did not touch the bed.


    ¡°What¡­ will you do then?¡± Xueming asked, his unblinking eyes shining with the blank wonder of a child.


    Lanzhi smiled bitterly, sweeping his hand over the edge of his robes, his eyes cast down.


    ¡°I will do what I can, but I fear it won¡¯t be enough. It is long past the time for the honorable lady to be able to recover with simple stabilizing procedures,¡± Lanzhi clucked his tongue, his eyes a little hazy.


    Xueming¡¯s eyes looked to the side as he thought, a little confused by the whole situation.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the master hire¡­ private doctors?¡± Xueming said beneath his breath. ¡°It¡¯s been years¡­¡±


    He was still quite awkward with words, and even poorer at explaining his thoughts, but Lanzhi understood what he meant. His brother sighed, the look on his face as if he was speaking about an old, troubled friend.


    ¡°Master Hao spent his life grounded in the tangible, far removed from the world of cultivation. He was already skeptical, but when he heard doctors claim that the honorable lady had deviated, he would chase them out, dismissing it all as mere fantasy.¡± Sighing, he rubbed his face with a hand, his sleeve willowing with the rapid movement. ¡°I hate to say it, but her condition is beyond my ability.¡±


    To hear such a thing was strange for even Xueming, who had the instincts of someone who had spent their adolescence cultivating. The entire situation made him curious, so he decided to press on about the matter.


    ¡°Did the master¡¯s wife deviate¡­ after marrying into the Hao family?¡± Xueming wondered, brows furrowed.


    ¡°As far as I know, the master brought her in not knowing what she had experienced,¡± Lanzhi spoke carefully, his voice pushing past clenched teeth. He looked a little tense, a little too red beneath the candlelight, but Xueming chalked it up to the reflection of the red sheets on his pale skin. ¡°It is a little hard to know when exactly it started, but her fits have been reported since the day she was brought in.¡±


    Xueming pondered this information for a while, recalling that the servants had said she had been ill for as long as she had been here. Lanzhi¡¯s version of the story seemed true enough.


    ¡°Well, does the master¡¯s wife¡­ have a history of cultivating?¡± Xueming took a wild guess, watching his brother¡¯s face just as hawkishly as his brother watched him. But Lanzhi¡¯s expression was tightly controlled, as if he was reigning in every muscle. ¡°Otherwise, there is not much else¡­ that can cause this except for¡­ some life-altering event.¡±


    Lanzhi remained quiet while Xueming thought about it. Finally, he decided to voice what he had learned.


    ¡°One of the servants mentioned¡­ the master¡¯s wife has been suffering¡­ for twenty-five years¡­¡± Xueming stared at Lanzhi with candid eyes, revealing the burning turmoil that existed beneath his indifferent expression. ¡°Maybe¡­ she experienced something¡­ during that time¡­ as well.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Lanzhi said firmly, as if he couldn¡¯t deny Xueming¡¯s prediction fast enough. ¡°No history of cultivating,¡± he added. Then, to top it all off: ¡°She was just a normal girl.¡±


    Xueming hummed, pinching the red satin beneath him until it was completely malformed. He idly watched it fall back into place, not quite the same as before.


    ¡°Then something¡­ must have happened,¡± Xueming said quietly, quite convinced despite his brother¡¯s denial.


    ¡°Forget it,¡± Lanzhi snapped, lifting himself from the bed. ¡°There is nothing we can do. You are long past studying these matters and I am a doctor working with herbs. As the previous doctors before, I must simply manage symptoms.¡±


    Xueming frowned, rubbing the satin out, trying to smooth it.


    ¡°The symptoms must be¡­ quite dire at this point. It has¡­ been so long.¡±


    Chuckling once, Lanzhi rubbed his face again, his back to his brother.


    ¡°Dire,¡± he repeated in a harsh tone.


    ¡°Well¡­ are they not?¡± Xueming wondered, watching his brother¡¯s back with a firm gaze.


    Lanzhi paused for a moment, then turned around and looked at Xueming. His expression was unreadable, but his own thoughts were apparent as soon as he opened his mouth.


    ¡°How did you not have your own deviation?¡± He asked, eyes wild.


    Xueming¡¯s speech suddenly failed him, his tongue turning to something consisting of jellied meat. His hands left sweat stains on that delicate satin, and his entire body went cold.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± was all he could reply, and only after a long while.


    Lanzhi hid his face in his hands again, his entire body trembling as he walked away from the bed and towards the door.


    ¡°I am sorry, didi,¡± he said in a low tone, sounding as though he found even those few words unbearable. ¡°This is not fair to you.¡± He took a deep breath, his voice distant, as though he was speaking to only himself. ¡°I came to check on you.¡±


    ¡°Then check,¡± Xueming called after him, looking quite alarmed. His legs were oddly bent on the bed, as though he was ready to fall off of it.


    Lanzhi peered at his brother from across the room, balancing on the tips of his toes, swaying left, then right, as if he was torn between staying and leaving.


    ¡°I should let you rest,¡± he finally concluded.


    But Xueming was already pushing himself off the bed, his legs wobbling as if they had turned to soft tofu. His head was spinning, and his vision was blurry. There was no certainty that he would be able to stand on his own right now, and Lanzhi noticed.


    Hurrying over, he went to place his arm beneath his brother¡¯s and help him stand up, but Xueming actually remained seated, a small smile on his lips.


    Lanzhi scowled and helped Xueming scoot over so he was safely on the bed, then protectively stood beside him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to rest,¡± Xueming grumbled, feeling like a child as his brother towered over him. To think at his ripe age, he would have to use a trick to get his brother to stay! ¡°I am restless.¡±


    Lanzhi had a small smile on his face when Xueming, who was scowling like a toddler, looked at him.


    ¡°Just lie your head down at least,¡± Lanzhi suggested, but Xueming hit his hands away comically.


    Xueming stared at his brother a beat, then began to pick at the sheets again.


    ¡°You knew them before,¡± Xueming said, but it wasn¡¯t exactly a question.


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    Lanzhi tilted his head to the side, his dark brown hair spilling over his shoulder like the ripples of a waterfall. He looked confused, and Xueming wondered when his brother had gotten so adept at lying.


    ¡°You and that servant¡­ spoke like you¡­ knew each other,¡± Xueming observed carefully. ¡°And you know a lot¡­ about them.¡±


    His brother¡¯s expression seemed to twitch, but it may have just been a trick of the candlelight.


    ¡°No,¡± Lanzhi replied smoothly. Then: ¡°Only in passing.¡± After a long pause, Lanzhi sighed and rubbed at his face, then said: ¡°Master Hao is a well-known figure, and so is his unruly servant. I have met them before, yes.¡±


    Xueming swallowed hard, trying to organize his thoughts into something coherent.


    Why would he deny it at first?


    ¡°Will you forgive me?¡± Lanzhi asked, peeking between his fingers with one eye.


    Xueming¡¯s heart began to beat with a dull thud.


    ¡°For what?¡± He finally croaked out.


    Lanzhi stared at him for a long while, then finally lowered his hands. The face he revealed looked genuinely torn and sorrowful.


    ¡°For speaking out of turn,¡± Lanzhi explained. ¡°For making outrageous comments. My mind is always racing, as a doctor. As your brother.¡±


    Xueming could not exactly pinpoint what Lanzhi was speaking about, but he figured it was about something he had said earlier. Well, the man was always saying something. It was nothing new.


    And Xueming was not made of soft tofu, even if his legs acted otherwise.


    Lanzhi bent his knees a little so he was eye level with his brother, and took his hands into his own. His expression was stern, serious¡ªmore so than before.


    ¡°I am harsh in my words, I know,¡± Lanzhi half-smiled. ¡°But you don¡¯t need to be concerned over any of my patients. I want you to just live as you please. I will take care of all the trouble.¡±


    Xueming stared at Lanzhi for a long while, then eventually smiled back.


    ¡°Is this household trouble?¡±


    Lanzhi¡¯s eyes flashed once and his own smile stiffened.


    ¡°You said it,¡± Lanzhi hummed, then released his brother¡¯s hands and began to walk towards the door, as if he had had enough of their conversation. Anymore, and maybe he¡¯d be forced to say something he didn¡¯t want to.


    ¡°Then why bother with them?¡± Xueming asked innocently.


    Scowling, Lanzhi only continued towards the door, waving his hand as if it was the most unconcerning thing in the world.


    ¡°There is a debt.¡±


    And with that, Xueming was left alone in the room, feeling quite disturbed.


    Xueming fell asleep in a fit, waking up far too often to enter any sort of peaceful sleep. It was as thought his body was not letting him fall into a deep sleep, afraid of the nightmares that would haunt him.


    The sheets were no longer cooling his body, and instead felt like they were trapping heat. After another frustrated roll over in the bed, Xueming pushed himself out of bed, stripping all of his robes, feeling the sweat on his skin vanish almost instantly, causing him to shiver.


    Most of the candles had gone out and despite the insulation in the room being quite good, it was getting colder as the night went on.


    Half-naked, Xueming went to the window to look out, but there were only a few lanterns lit, so he could hardly see anything but his own distraught reflection.


    It was definitely some odd hour in the morning, given how dark it was, and yet, Xueming decided to wander outside. He put his outer robes back on, along with his shoes, and stepped out into the cool air. It felt like a wave of relief on his overheated body.


    Xueming and Lanzhi were staying in guest residences in the inner courtyard, which could only mean Master Hao held their presence in high esteem.


    As he stepped outside, he heard a trail of soft chattering, and out of curiosity, decided to follow it.


    Xueming stepped away from the residences, away from the light the lanterns provided, into the darker areas of the courtyard. He walked towards the sound of the voices, and slowed down when he squinted and realized it was Master Hao and Lanzhi, both seated under a lantern hanging off the main hall.


    There was a distinct bubbling sound that itched at Xueming¡¯s brain and he peered at the master¡¯s feet, following a pipe all the way up to his lips. The master was smoking from a water pipe, while Lanzhi, quite predictably, abstained a few feet away.


    The two were standing and discussing something in low voices, and Xueming had half a heart to interrupt them and half a heart to listen from a distance.


    ¡°No,¡± Lanzhi said in a bitter tone.


    Xueming was only partially shocked to hear him speak so harshly, especially to Master Hao. The master did in fact lose his status with the king¡¯s demise, but there was still a ghost of it there. Besides, he was still the master of the Hao residence, which garnered respect from its sheer size alone.


    Lanzhi never really cared about trivialities like status, only respecting them to give the other person the face their ego demanded.


    ¡°Doctor Jian,¡± the master protested. Xueming noticed he was unrelenting even in the face of anger. ¡°Your younger brother needs time to recover.¡± He paused, a little hesitant, having the gall to add: ¡°I do not want what happened to my wife to happen to him.¡±


    Lanzhi turned to the master, a feral gleam in his eyes. He looked like an animal with nothing to lose.


    ¡°Xueming is different!¡± he shouted, then, collecting himself, said in a low voice: ¡°He is stronger.¡±


    The master sighed, and that bubbling sound itched at Xueming¡¯s brain again.


    It seemed Xueming had walked in on a rather heated argument, and like watching some bad play, he couldn¡¯t look away.


    Xueming even started holding his breath to ensure he could hear them both clearly.


    Puffing out a cloud of smoke, Master Hao breathed out, ¡°He is indeed. But why force him to continue enduring? Let me help him a little.¡±


    ¡°This won¡¯t help him,¡± Lanzhi said, a little calmer, but his tone was still frigid.


    ¡°He needs some direction now.¡± Master Hao continued. ¡°We can endure even hell if we have something to hold onto. Let me give him at least that.¡±


    Lanzhi flew into a fit again.


    ¡°You think he had anything to hold onto in Mo Fan?¡± he whisper-shouted. ¡°He did not even remember his own name! He forgot all of us just to endure! Heaven knows what they tortured him with!¡±


    The two men were quiet, and Master Hao did not even take another puff of smoke in.


    Xueming felt his heart in his ears. His throat was lodged with something thick and suffocating. He gasped out a little for breath.


    ¡°...I just want to help him in some way.¡± Master Hao admitted softly.


    ¡°Help him by leaving him alone.¡± Lanzhi snapped viciously. ¡°It is better for you to stay out of his life.¡± Then, even harsher: ¡°It is better for those two to stay out of each other¡¯s lives.¡± Master Hao must have given him a look, because Lanzhi continued, ¡°What? You want to lose what little you have of your wife?¡±


    Master Hao was silent for a long while.


    ¡°Maybe¡­¡± Master Hao eventually huffed out. ¡°Maybe I have not acted in the best of ways¡­¡± Lanzhi actually remained quiet, letting him work out his thoughts. ¡°But I have watched her suffer for so long. Yes, I cannot let her go, but, I cannot help but feel as though I have some responsibility in this. That I can do something¡­¡±


    Lanzhi sighed, pacing a little as Master Hao blew bubbles again.


    The scented air from the pipe eventually reached Xueming, even from a distance, and Xueming grimaced, finding the smell too harsh.


    ¡°In your own way, you saved her.¡± Lanzhi coughed a little, refusing to look at the master. Instead, he looked off to the guest residences. ¡°I could not do the same for my brother. Who am I to worsen your guilt?¡±


    Master Hao seemed to cough a little as well, though it didn¡¯t seem to be from smoking.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do, you know,¡± Lanzhi said in a sad voice. ¡°Her illness is in the heart. There is no medicine to treat that.¡±


    Master Hao nodded once, and Xueming heard that bubbling again.


    ¡°I know,¡± he eventually croaked out, but the words came out broken, half-audible, as if mimicking the sound of his own heart splitting.


    Xueming felt his vision blur, and he lifted his gaze to the sky, finding the stars just blobs of light. The moon was bright tonight, so bright that it bled and blurred at the edges. He felt an ache in his throat, but he did not know why.


    ¡°My wife was, of course, quite affected by what had occurred,¡± Master Hao suddenly said, lost in his own thoughts. He was hardly speaking to Lanzhi anymore ¡°But it was only on our wedding night¡­¡± He huffed out a puff of smoke. ¡°That night¡­¡± His voice cracked. ¡°I hadn¡¯t ever seen her like that.¡±


    Lanzhi looked over at the master thoughtfully, thinking like a doctor again.


    ¡°It was likely she had her¡­¡± He paused. ¡°...mental break then.¡±


    Master Hao remained silent, and Lanzhi looked at him, a little puzzled.


    ¡°You know, don¡¯t you?¡± Lanzhi said in realization.


    Master Hao made a small noise.


    ¡°It is hard not to.¡± He took another inhale of the smoke. ¡°Well, I will tell you another night.¡± His smile tightened, his face hidden by a mirage of smoke. ¡°Let us retire. I will hardly be able to sleep the rest of the night if I am to remember such awful things.¡±


    Xueming cursed silently, feeling as though he was just on the verge of saying something that would be decipherable. So far, it was quite difficult to understand what the two were saying without the context they obviously had.


    Lanzhi made no signs of movement.


    ¡°Then,¡± Lanzhi started, his tone a little heavy. ¡°You admit it. After all these years.¡±


    Master Hao breathed out languidly until he had no more breath to breathe out.


    Finally, he took the bait.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Your wife¡¯s condition¡­¡± Lanzhi started, then stopped, as if he didn¡¯t know what he wanted to say. He was on the attack, and he realized he didn¡¯t even know why. ¡°Well, you acknowledge it is beyond my abilities. This isn¡¯t just some simple trauma¡­¡± He stopped again, cursing beneath his breath, at a loss for words. ¡°Fox spirits¡­ they¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop,¡± Master Hao pleaded. ¡°I asked you here because you are the only option I have left.¡± With surprising self-awareness, he threatened: ¡°Don¡¯t make me chase you out as well, doctor.¡±


    Lanzhi narrowed his eyes.


    ¡°After all these years, you still won¡¯t.¡±


    Master Hao sighed, then inhaled again, looking far older than his age, as if the years had worn him down tenfold.


    ¡°Doctor Jian,¡± Master Hao said calmly. ¡°Even if I were to admit it, what would that solve?¡±


    Lanzhi smiled bitterly, his voice almost a growl.


    ¡°Perhaps nothing,¡± Lanzhi admitted. ¡°Perhaps it would make me feel better though.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Master Hao wondered, utterly puzzled. ¡°What care do you have in the matter?¡±


    Lanzhi¡¯s words came out so low, Xueming hardly heard them.


    ¡°Maybe then you could admit to yourself this was all way over your head.¡±


    Master Hao made a noise, his brows furrowing as he pointed his pipe at Lanzhi.


    ¡°It was,¡± he said nonchalantly. ¡°There. What now? Do you also want me to put my wife out on the streets?¡±


    Lanzhi turned away as if he could no longer bear to see him.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to guilt me,¡± Master Hao chuckled sadly. ¡°I already do that well enough on my own.¡±


    It was a long, long while before anyone spoke again, and Xueming peered in the darkness, wondering if they had left. But the two were still standing there, mulling over everything that had been said in their heads.


    Neither looked at the other when Master Hao broke the silence.


    ¡°Thank you¡­¡± The master said as he collected his water pipe from off of the ground, looking as though even bending over was strenuous for his body. ¡°...For what you are doing for my Qingling.¡±


    Lanzhi scoffed, already walking away.


    ¡°It is hardly anything.¡± He said bitterly. ¡°It is like throwing a pot of water on a forest fire.¡± Then, he peered over one last time, the expression on his face violently unrestrained. ¡°And don¡¯t say that name again while my brother is here.¡±

 8 - Good Woman, the Master Already Gave Us Steamed Buns

    Xueming had only fallen asleep for a few hours when he was disturbed again.


    Lanzhi burst through the door with the look of a woman certain she was about to catch her husband in some compromising position. A bead of sweat rolled down his face, and he wiped it away as though he were swatting a fly.


    Xueming jolted awake, finding the surface beneath him too soft to be a dirt floor, and the room too light to be a cell. For a moment, he was utterly disoriented and quite puzzled as to his whereabouts.


    Xueming slowly came to as his hands clenched the red satin engulfing him, finding the clothes adorning his body unfamiliar. His brother almost blended in completely with the darkness, but he could make out his figure from the light streaming in through a window to his right. All of the candles had gone out since last night.


    ¡°Xueming-di,¡± Lanzhi half-smiled, looking like an escaped prisoner himself. His eyes were wild, his hair a little messy, his clothes unchanged from last night.


    Squinting his eyes, his heart still pounding from the scare, Xueming said in a casual tone, ¡°Did you even get an¡­ incense stick¡¯s¡­ worth of sleep?¡±


    Lanzhi looked a little disoriented himself, and ran a hand over his hair, a damp cloth in his other hand.


    ¡°Hm¡ªyes, yes, don¡¯t worry,¡± Lanzhi smiled casually. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ I was already here, and the honorable lady isn¡¯t faring too well.¡±


    Xueming decided to stand up and stretch his body a little, letting his brother fill the silence.


    ¡°Master Hao would definitely be less worried with a live-in doctor.¡±


    Xueming nodded, remaining quiet.


    Really, they both knew that was not an option now.


    ¡°I am afraid I cannot provide sufficient symptom management for this.¡± Lanzhi paused, his expression twisting to one of turmoil. No matter the history between their families, this woman was his patient now. ¡°I am considering calling a local Daoist priest or¡­¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Master Hao say¡­ he cannot trust anyone else with¡­ this?¡± Xueming pursed his lips, watching his brother¡¯s face carefully.


    Xueming couldn¡¯t quite explain why, but he had learned enough to know this family had a turbulent past. And somehow, he was involved.


    ¡°Yes, yes, the master did,¡± Lanzhi sighed. ¡°But this isn¡¯t really a private matter anymore. And things have changed.¡± He did not explain exactly what had changed, but his gaze was stern, his conviction strong. ¡°Lucky the honorable lady has not fully turned into something demonic. But we cannot be certain that will not happen.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the other doctor was¡­ stabilizing her qi,¡± Xueming said.


    Lanzhi nodded in agreement, saying: ¡°There really is no other reason the mistress isn¡¯t worse.¡±


    Lanzhi failed to discreetly tuck away the damp cloth he was holding after realizing it was still in his hand, and Xueming spotted red.


    Lanzhi eventually left to go wash up and change and Xueming, after promising to remain in his chambers, ventured outside.


    The courtyard appeared quite different in the morning light; the atmosphere was no longer suitable for secret late-night conversations.


    Xueming spotted the same lanterns, now rendered useless by the morning sun, and the same main hall, its front now vacant of a furious doctor and an idle master inhaling from a bubbling water pipe. The morning air was crisp and chilly, and Xueming¡¯s elegant white robes did nothing to stop it from biting his skin.


    Xueming hardly felt it.


    As if he were the master of the residence himself, Xueming strode directly to the main hall, pushed open the front doors and slipped inside.


    ¡°What¡ª¡±


    Xueming turned to see the same fox spirit servant dusting the table in the center of the hall. She was clearly startled, not used to having so many guests run amok in the residence. She remembered herself, though she seemed quite relaxed upon seeing Xueming.


    ¡°Mister,¡± the fox spirit greeted him. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    Xueming panicked for a moment, his eyes flickering around as he did his best to appear casual while he thought up an excuse for his presence.


    After a short moment, he grunted out: ¡°Master Hao called for me.¡±


    Smiling, the female fox spirit replied, ¡°Ah, then please take a seat. I will be finished shortly.¡±


    Whether she believed him or not, she could hardly protest.


    A few moments later, a door within the main hall opened and shut, and a raging Master Hao came hobbling out from behind a hidden corridor


    ¡°You continue to clean even with a guest here?¡± He snapped.


    The servant girl jumped in fear.


    ¡°Please, Master Hao,¡± Xueming interrupted, feeling a little guilty. ¡°I am the one¡­ that entered uninvited.¡±


    The fox servant peered over at Xueming, her mouth a grimace.


    His eyes offered a silent apology for his previous deception.


    ¡°Please, there is no such thing as Brother Jian entering here uninvited,¡± Master Hao hastily replied, sending a glare over to the fox servant, who politely bowed, then walked away. Master Hao turned to Xueming with a smile, finding him seated at the large center table, eyeing his own willowing sleeves. ¡°Brother Jian, is something the matter? Did these useless servants forget to serve breakfast?¡±


    Xueming smiled back, though it didn¡¯t meet his eyes, and it was that same clumsy half-lift as before.


    ¡°No, no,¡± he hurriedly replied, stumbling over his words. He didn¡¯t want the servants to suffer any more blame on his behalf. ¡°I¡­ I am afraid¡­ Lanzhi-ge and I will leave today¡­ and¡­ wanted to¡­ extend my gratitude¡­¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Master Hao said, looking a little uncomfortable, and even moreso, a little guilty. ¡°It is I who must extend my gratitude for Doctor Jian¡¯s diligence and your support. I hardly expected him to come, let alone stay up all night caring for my wife.¡± He paused, glancing over at the front door. ¡°Look, I know this may be imposing, and you just arrived in Chongqing a few days ago. But¡­¡± Xueming tensed, though he was unsure why. ¡°...I wanted to know if you were in need of work. I¡­ find myself in a difficult situation, and your brother told me¡­ about what you went through¡­¡±


    Xueming hardly expected Master Hao to be this anxious. But he also didn¡¯t expect himself to be so furious. At the mention of his new arrival and a hint at his past suffering, he began to tremble.


    ¡°What would Master Hao¡­ have me do?¡± He piped up, noticing the man was trailing off.


    Just then, the front door swung open again, and Xueming felt like he truly had been caught in an affair. His brother was frowning, and that frown soon turned to a hard-set line.


    ¡°Master Hao,¡± Lanzhi said, his tone venomous.


    A slight breeze blew into the room, causing his robes to sway slightly, and some rebellious strands of hair to fly into the air. His expression was the most unsettling to look at.


    The two waited for Lanzhi to continue, but he said nothing more. There was really nothing more he needed to say.


    ¡°Please, Doctor Jian,¡± Master Hao said, already admitting guilt. ¡°Brother Jian seems interested. This could be¡ª¡±


    ¡°I said no,¡± Lanzhi snapped, his eyes wild as he looked at his brother. ¡°We need to leave, but I just wanted to check on Master Hao¡¯s wife once more.¡±


    Xueming nodded, unsure whether to stand or remain seated. If he had learned nothing else from overhearing last night¡¯s conversation, it was that he would not be coming with Lanzhi to do that.


    ¡°Doctor Jian¡ª¡± Master Hao protested, though Xueming hardly knew what he could ask for now.


    Lanzhi was already treating his wife, despite how difficult his relationship with Master Hao was.


    ¡°And Master Hao,¡± he interrupted sternly, his eyes clear. ¡°Your wife¡¯s situation is beyond my capabilities. I will be bringing in someone else to help.¡± As Master Hao opened his mouth, Lanzhi said: ¡°The king has fallen. It will be fine.¡± Xueming, always out of the loop, could only guess what that meant, but it seemed to quiet down Master Hao.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me,¡± Master Hao finally grumbled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Her qi is out of whack. Demonic energy is consuming her mind.¡±


    Lanzhi actually burst out into laughter.


    ¡°So you finally acknowledge it.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Master Hao said seriously. ¡°But every doctor says the same thing.¡±


    ¡°Well, if every doctor says the same thing, then one of them must be your teacher,¡± Lanzhi stated plainly. ¡°What is the harm in just letting the doctors decide at this point? Your wife is already at her limits. This is beyond your desires now¡ªif you do not let me treat her, then I will have no choice but to bring this to the closest sect. We cannot let her devolve into a demon.¡±


    ¡°She had an incident when she was younger!¡± Master Hao protested. ¡°She experienced great grief!¡±


    Lanzhi shook his head, bemused.


    ¡°You bring a wolf into the house and deny it''s a wolf,¡± Lanzhi said, though without malice. ¡°This is like asking a ghost to write a prescription! I won¡¯t be involved in such malpractice.¡±


    Master Hao was quiet for a moment, then suddenly looked over at Xueming, his eyes widening like he suddenly saw the light.


    ¡°Is Brother Jian not capable? Did he not study under a priest his entire youth?¡±


    Xueming looked over at Master Hao in alarm, wondering how much more the man knew about his past than he did himself. Xueming only had faint memories of learning under a priest as a young adolescent, but they dispersed like clouds after a rainstorm just as he attempted to latch onto them.


    Lanzhi was silent for a long while, then shook his head, sighing in disappointment. There was even a flicker of disgust on his face.


    ¡°You know my brother¡¯s past and do not relent.¡±


    Master Hao was quiet as well. Even if he did not have the awareness to self-reflect, he at least had the wisdom to remain silent.


    Xueming, meanwhile, was struggling to recall anything about his years studying under a priest, though the pounding in his brain only worsened the harder he tried.


    ¡°I will check on the master¡¯s wife, then we will leave,¡± Lanzhi said quietly, sounding exhausted. His eyes remained on his brother, as if he were the only thing he had the energy to care about now. Lanzhi¡¯s voice was harsh when he finally addressed Master Hao. ¡°You have no say in this matter any longer.¡±


    Lanzhi turned to leave, and Master Hao¡¯s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again.


    ¡°I¡ªI had to keep it a secret for so long!¡± He quivered, looking like a shell of a man instead of a grandiose master. ¡°I am¡­ worried.¡±


    Lanzhi looked over his shoulder, almost reaching the front door. His gaze softened, but his tone was still harsh.


    ¡°What do you not understand? The king is dead. You will hardly be shunned for keeping your wolf.¡± He snorted, adding, ¡°This is not my place to say, but there is no one left to say it: it is your support of the previous king that has ruined your ambition. Not your wife.¡±


    Xueming and Lanzhi returned home on the ox cart with a bag full of minced pork buns.


    The last thing Lanzhi wanted to do was accept anything from Master Hao, especially after their most recent argument, but for the sake of his brother and what was left of Master Hao¡¯s face, he begrudgingly walked away and let Xueming accept the steamed buns.


    It was the last thing Master Hao could do for them before they left.


    ¡°Will you be visiting the¡­ Hao residence¡­ again soon?¡± Xueming asked hesitantly.


    What Xueming meant, of course, was whether Lanzhi would be caring for the mistress in person again.


    Lanzhi left Master Hao with the comforting news that his wife had calmed down a little following a night-long fit of coughing blood and hallucinations, and that she was peacefully asleep when Lanzhi left. Master Hao was grateful, but Lanzhi warned that what he had given her was a temporary measure.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lanzhi tsked, playing with the reins a little. ¡°I must prepare her medicine tomorrow and deliver it.¡± He sighed, rubbing his face a little, looking quite haggard. ¡°I need to sort out all the patients Doctor Liu needs me to take over. Most of them are my previous patients, but there are some new ones.¡±


    Lanzhi and the rest of the doctors working out of that little shop ranged from costly private doctors to those who practically worked for free. Lanzhi accepted any patient he thought he could properly treat for a reasonable price.


    Of course, the master¡¯s wife was an exception, but Xueming did not know enough to understand why.


    ¡°You had to leave them¡­ for so long,¡± Xueming noted, pursing his lips a little.


    Lanzhi looked over at his brother with a surprising glare.


    ¡°Doctor Liu is just as capable. Besides, I have watched over some of them for years.¡± His voice quieted a little, though he smiled. ¡°It was time I spared time for my younger brother, no?¡±


    Xueming, a little startled, clumsily smiled back, lifting a shoulder in a sort of shrug.


    ¡°No?¡± Lanzhi¡¯s smile widened, though there was a sad gleam in his eyes. ¡°You were good to sort yourself out there alone?¡±


    Xueming¡¯s bottom lip trembled as he thought about it.


    How would he have gotten home by himself?


    He hadn¡¯t even known his name.


    It was a privilege to have such a good older brother.


    Upon seeing Xueming¡¯s eyes well with tears, Lanzhi¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Ah, forget it. Your gege never knows the right thing to say.¡±


    Xueming shook his head, finding he could hardly control the muscles in his face as he hunched over and choked in silent, dry sobs. There was an ache in his chest, the kind he could only relieve with a scream, but he held his breath, unwilling to make any noise.


    Lanzhi immediately reacted, his face wet with tears and his shoulders beginning to shake as he too began to cry.


    They both remained painfully silent, as if a single sound would alert the other of their distress¡ªonly, both brothers knew of the other¡¯s agony.


    Lanzhi stared straight ahead at the road, determined to continue leading the ox cart home.


    A while later, Xueming found himself alone at the front door of his house as Lanzhi parked the cart somewhere safe and ensured the oxes had everything it needed to spend the night nearby.


    Lifting his hand, Xueming almost wanted to knock, but it was his own home, so he felt a little awkward. Still, he hadn¡¯t been here since he was an adolescent, and he felt somewhat like a distant relative from overseas coming for that once-in-a-lifetime visit, and so it felt awkward to just walk in.


    But Lanzhi soon returned, and not wanting to just stand there, Xueming forced himself to enter.


    ¡°My sons are back?¡± Their mother called from the kitchen, her tone seven parts excited and three parts sarcastic. She appeared in the corridor and rushed over with a plate of steamed buns.


    But Xueming was holding that bag of steamed buns, which was now only half full.


    ¡°Here, here, quickly eat,¡± she insisted, leading Xueming to the reception area. He plopped down on a bench and the bag of steamed buns hit the floor.


    ¡°Mother,¡± Lanzhi clucked his tongue.


    ¡°Oh, son!¡± His mother smiled brightly, urging her first son over as well. ¡°Here, you must be hungry.¡± Then, to Xueming, who hardly moved, she insisted, ¡°Eat, eat!¡±


    ¡°Mother,¡± Lanzhi said again and Xueming winced. ¡°We already ate¡ª¡±


    But Xueming had already stuffed a steamed bun into his mouth, causing Lanzhi to pause. His mother clapped her hands together, and seeing her so pleased, Lanzhi just shook his head and disappeared down the hallway.


    Warm red bean paste exploded into Xueming¡¯s mouth as he broke the skin of the steamed bun, overwhelmed by the flavor. He nodded encouragingly as his mother asked, ¡°Is it good? Is it good?¡± with only her eyes.


    Half an incense stick¡¯s time later, Xueming escaped to his room.


    He had kept his mind fairly clear for the past day and a half, a skill he had quickly developed after learning the prison guards¡¯ favorite pastime was taunting inmates with their deepest worries. The more one cared about, the more one had to lose.


    Despite his unreliable memory, he would always remember what the prison guards claimed they had done to his mother, his father, his brother, and¡­ well, to anyone else in his life whose name he could no longer recall.


    It was a relief to see those things hadn¡¯t actually happened, that they were all safe and sound, but how could he have possibly known that in the dark? In that cell?


    The paper tiger that had been their king made it seem as though even the walls had ears and eyes¡ªthat nothing they did and nothing they said could be kept a secret. Any dissent against the regime, and it was like one had never existed to begin with.


    But surprisingly, Xueming existed even to strangers by the name Peerless, even when that name had certainly been forbidden to utter. He existed even after disappearing for twenty-five years, in the hearts of disgruntled civilians.


    In the hearts of his family.


    There was someone he had forgotten, or many that he had forgotten¡ªwho could be sure?


    But he knew there was surely someone who had meant quite a lot to him, or maybe just the concept of her did. Who knew if he had actually known her¡ªit seemed quite impossible, given her station and his.


    Qingling.


    It had to be her¡ªthe master¡¯s wife.


    There was much Xueming did not understand, but at the very least, her story had made an immeasurable impact on his life¡ªenough to protest even a tyrant, knowing his life would be forfeit in doing so.


    And maybe he would have thought he had the wrong person, but Lanzhi and Master Hao spoke as if they knew each other from long ago. Lanzhi was also insistent Xueming stayed far away from the Hao residence.


    Well, he hadn¡¯t insisted hard enough.


    Xueming started on the floor, then ended up on the bed, then at his desk, and then back on the floor. He felt his back and arms ache after just a short while, but he did not stop looking through all of the old textbooks he had.


    He indeed did have a past of studying cultivation, though he hadn¡¯t bothered joining a sect. He was too old, and his background too insufficient to make the connections in order to join.


    Still, judging from the amount and level of the textbooks he had, it looked like he had reached a pretty high level under this priest Master Hao had mentioned.


    Xueming flipped through each book until he was called for dinner, quite frustrated at how difficult he found reading. Some books were so high a level he could hardly recognize the majority of characters, and as a result, couldn¡¯t understand the content.


    His own notes seemed like they were written by a stranger.


    Sighing, Xueming shut one of the textbooks, choking on a cloud of dust as he did so.


    Who was he kidding?


    He was long out of practice.


    He had wasted away over the past twenty-five years until he was little more than a skeleton. He could hardly walk properly and sounded like a toddler when he spoke. His skull was empty, filled with nothing but memories of that dark cell and fragments of things he had learned as a child.


    He could hardly help himself, let alone some master¡¯s wife.

 9 - Good Friend, Won’t You Tell Me What I’ve Forgotten?

    A few days passed with Xueming relatively undisturbed.


    Xueming spent a good portion of those days eating and sleeping, but in between these crucial activities, he would attempt to read some of his old studying material, then throw it in frustration, then clutch his arm in pain from how much even that hurt.


    After throwing a few books across the room, he would idly listen in on some of his mother and Auntie Xinrou¡¯s conversations.


    The woman was over more often than not, and Xueming wondered if she ever spared her own family some quality time.


    Regardless, he was glad that his mother had had a close friend to support her all these years.


    Sometimes, Xiaojun¡¯s wife would also be dragged over to help make something.


    By the third day of what had become his daily routine, Xueming began to wander out of his room and make his presence known. The women were excited to include him in their activities as soon as he appeared.


    ¡°Oh¡ªMing-er, perfect!¡± Auntie Xinrou called out upon noticing him at the kitchen entrance. ¡°Come taste this stew¡ªyour mom thinks it''s too bland, and your brother¡¯s wife thinks it''s just right, but we cannot trust her to tell the truth even after all these years.¡± Auntie Xinrou eyed her daughter-in-law, who was smiling sheepishly. Affectionately, she muttered, ¡°Silly girl, still trying to impress me even now¡­¡±


    Xueming approached the ladle Auntie Xinrou was using to vigorously stir the stew within a laughably large pot, and was instantly basked in a compelling aroma of garlic, ginger, and vinegar. With his mouth wide open, he was just about to slurp from the ladle when there was a light knock at the front door.


    Smiling, Xueming backed away from the three women, who all watched him a little too openly, and excused himself with a lame: ¡°I will check¡­ who that is.¡± His mother looked like she wanted to protest, but she didn¡¯t dare coddle him in front of others, even if they could be considered family.


    Xueming awkwardly turned and walked to the front door, feeling his nerves get the better of him. After convincing himself he would only have to endure a simple interaction, Xueming took a deep breath and opened it.


    Xueming¡¯s voice caught in his throat at the sight of the man on the other side of the door. There was a long stretch of silence as Xueming stared at him, still unpractised in the art of manners. But the man was staring back just as strangely, just as mannerless, as if he too couldn¡¯t believe his eyes.


    The man¡¯s skin was unnaturally pale, as if he hadn¡¯t ever lifted a finger outside his house except to offer up a paper umbrella to the sun. His hair was a deep, shocking red, and his eyes were almost luminous, appearing like some impossible mix of hazel and silver. His nose was strong and pronounced, and his mouth was agape in shock.


    Even more striking were his robes, which were entirely black, like a bad omen. Yet, Xueming found them nice enough.


    Despite his pale skin, Xueming knew he was not so well-off, and instead, just had the natural complexion of a man of the Fox Spirit Clan.


    That same mouth lifted ever so slightly into a smile and those pale eyes brimmed with emotion.


    The man threw his arms over Xueming in a tight embrace and Xueming froze, quite startled to be held so intimately.


    ¡°Ming-er?¡± His mother called out, her voice a little too close to come from the kitchen. ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Xueming could hardly reply¡ªhe really didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± His mother said, just as startled. ¡°Huaian-er¡­¡±


    Xueming was a little relieved to hear his mother knew this man, though he was still very uncomfortable to be in the tight grip of a stranger.


    The man pulled away, his hands on Xueming¡¯s shoulders, but his smile fell a little upon seeing Xueming¡¯s face. There was no recognition in his eyes or excitement on his face¡ªXueming looked at him blankly, as he would anybody.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Huaian said, his hands faltering. Finally, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, he let his hands fall to his side. ¡°I heard from your older brother¡­¡± He paused, looking down. ¡°...I really couldn¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Xueming felt as though his heart was in his throat.


    A silence fell over the three of them, and his mother tried to recover the situation for them, letting her hand fall on Xueming¡¯s shoulder as she smiled lightly, trying not to cry.


    ¡°Ming-er, this was one of your childhood friends, Hu Huaian.¡± She choked a little, glancing at the man. ¡°You¡ªYou used to play together.¡±


    After Xueming¡¯s mother¡¯s effort, Huaian seemed to recover a little and looked up smiling.


    ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you come in?¡± His mother continued, gesturing inside the home.


    Huaian hesitated, looking at Xueming for confirmation; he was currently only a stranger, and didn¡¯t want to make Xueming uncomfortable.


    Xueming nodded a little, and Huaian lowered his head gratefully, then entered the home.


    Huaian had never been one to let things fall to awkwardness, so he spoke as Xueming¡¯s mother hurried back to the kitchen to make some tea.


    ¡°I met your brother in the city by chance and he said you were back, but I wanted to give you a few days to settle in before I intruded.¡± Huaian said with a playful grin, as if the unbearable moments in the doorway had never happened.


    Xueming led his old friend to the seating area without even a hum in reply.


    ¡°He warned me that you¡­ that you likely wouldn¡¯t remember me, but I don¡¯t mind.¡± His voice cracked a little, and it sounded very much like he did.


    Xueming took a seat across from him and looked over his appearance once more, then finally spoke.


    ¡°How long¡­ have I known you?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Huaian thought about it for a little while, smiling sadly. ¡°I would say¡­ we met around five years before you¡­ left¡­¡± He quickly recovered, realizing the mistake he had made. ¡°We used to play in Huo Guang Market quite a lot, waiting for our parents to finish work.¡±


    Xueming¡¯s brows furrowed, straining to remember anything to support Huaian¡¯s claim.


    ¡°My¡­¡± Xueming paused. ¡°My father was a teacher.¡±


    As a matter of fact, in some hazy flash of memory, Xueming could recall the school of his childhood was quite close to the market.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Huaian nodded enthusiastically, as though Xueming had remembered him entirely. ¡°My father used to sell hair combs at one of those booths there.¡± He lifted a shoulder. ¡°It was a pretty common job for a fox spirit.¡± His smile widened and his eyes shone, as if he wasn¡¯t truly there, but lost in a memory. ¡°It was more uncommon to have a parent as a teacher if your family name was Hu.¡±


    Xueming thought for a moment, then nodded.


    ¡°Well, yes, I don¡¯t recall any teachers¡­ that were.¡±


    Huaian¡¯s mouth parted a little and his gaze was piercing as he looked at his old friend, a little confused. Then, he wiped his face clean and fixed a smile on his lips.


    ¡°There were a few,¡± was all he said.


    Xueming peered at his old friend, feeling quite puzzled. He had childhood memories of his family and his neighbors, but this man, yet Huaian seemed to be absent from all of them. Still, Xueming found no obvious reason to doubt him¡ªhis mother remembered him and there was little reason for anyone to lie about this.


    Maybe, he could learn more about himself from this man; it seemed they had been close.


    ¡°How did you¡­ get here?¡± Xueming wondered, an idea suddenly entering his mind.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Huaian¡¯s face lit up again. ¡°I rented an ox cart from the city. It¡¯s a little too far to walk from where I live.¡±


    Xueming¡¯s lips parted, as if to offer some form of compensation, but he soon realized he had nothing to his name. He could hardly even offer his name when someone asked.


    Instead of letting his lips close though, he used the opportunity to propose his idea.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we¡­ go?¡±


    Huaian¡¯s face lit up immediately at the suggestion, and he grinned encouragingly, though he soon sat back, remembering himself. He was like a stranger in front of Xueming, even if he carried years of memories with him.


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    ¡°Are you sure? I mean,¡± he paused, looking down the hallway. It was almost as though he wanted to ask if Xueming had permission, but it was quite inappropriate, given he was a middle-aged man.


    Still, Xueming had just recently gotten back and Huaian knew his mother well enough to know she would refuse if given the chance to weigh in.


    But Xueming had suggested it, so Huaian eventually allowed himself to lean forward on the edge of the bench. He swept the long sleeves of his black robe out of the way, then stood up excitedly, beckoning Xueming to stand up.


    A burst of adrenaline shot through Xueming, as if he were once again an adolescent disobeying his parents. He swayed slightly; his legs were not yet strong enough to withstand such sudden movement.


    Huaian quickly latched onto his friend¡¯s arm to support him and they raced to the door like two teenage fugitives.


    ¡°Xiongdi and I will be heading to the market in search of hair combs!¡± Huaian shouted into the hallway. ¡°See you later, Auntie!¡±


    Huaian gladly took responsibility for their little escape and the two of them quickly landed in the ox cart before Xueming¡¯s mother could frantically storm out of the house. Thankfully, she had been preoccupied with preparing treats for their newest guest, and could only yelp as she heard the front door slam shut.


    Xueming was wrapped up in a blanket Huaian had left in the cart and despite the icy chill of the air, he was glad to feel the wind on his face. His cheeks reddened and his face soon froze, awkward smile and all. Huaian had to shout over his shoulder whenever he wanted to speak.


    ¡°What¡­ What are you doing now?¡± Xueming asked, opting for the safest question possible.


    ¡°Well,¡± Huaian flashed him a grin, delighted to be asked just about anything by Xueming. ¡°I actually have my own company¡ªI know, I know, it is quite prestigious.¡± He said upon seeing Xueming¡¯s surprise. ¡°Well, not really,¡± he snorted. ¡°It is one of those construction management companies. You might have seen us out preparing for winter. If you haven¡¯t already noticed, it¡¯s all foxfolk.¡± He muttered: ¡°Dirty work for lowly people.¡±


    Surprising both Huaian and even himself, Xueming lightly hit his friend on the back.


    Huaian threw his head back in laughter, and Xueming noticed his entire face was turning red, along with his cheeks and ears. It almost matched his hair.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± Huaian said. ¡°I guess the king is gone so that is no longer true.¡± His eyes flashed to the side. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see if our position actually changes in society. Or will it continue to be foxfolk on the streets laboring away alone?¡±


    Xueming shook his head even though his friend couldn''t see him.


    Realizing himself, Huaian looked back with a scowl on his face, sounding guilty.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to start complaining like this. It was ignorant of me.¡±


    Xueming felt a pang in his heart, confused and irritated by the way Huaian spoke, but he remained silent.


    Clearing his throat, Huaian tried and failed to express himself on the topic.


    ¡°Listen, I hear your family doesn¡¯t want to mention anything about what happened¡­ So I won¡¯t mention it. But if you ever want to come down to meet any of us, maybe observe, maybe even work a little¡ªnevermind, how could I make you work? Look, any of my men would love to meet you. Even if they don¡¯t know who they¡¯re really meeting¡­¡± Huaian paused, a little uncertain. ¡°Well, your family is at least admitting what happened to you. And I would honestly be livid if they didn¡¯t.¡±


    Stunned, Xueming leaned onto Huaian¡¯s back, clutching the sides of the ox cart to steady himself.


    It was a little exhilarating to know that right in front of him was a man who knew everything he wanted to know. Really, this man knew young Xueming better than he did. Still, Xueming hesitated, thinking of his brother.


    Lanzhi was adamant on not saying a word about it, and he must have a good reason.


    But Xueming concluded that even if he could remain ignorant for a year or two, eventually, he would want to know what happened.


    He could not die without knowing if he had ever lived.


    A low fire burned in his belly despite the frigid cold. It was something he hadn¡¯t remembered feeling since, well¡­ ever, and he relished in it.


    ¡°You know I don¡¯t even¡­ I didn¡¯t even remember¡­ my own name,¡± Xueming began, feeling a little out of breath. He was too anxious, his heart pounding uncomfortably, and knew he had to relax if he were to continue. ¡°If you could tell me¡ªtell me what happened then.¡± He paused, inhaling lightly, the crisp air burning his throat. ¡°Before I was taken.¡±


    His sentences were hardly smooth, hardly fluent, and he often felt as though the rest was caught in his throat. Like a child who knew all the right things, but couldn¡¯t convey them properly.


    Huaian understood what his friend wanted easily. Xueming expressed more than he gave himself credit for, but it was pointless¡ªHuaian was cautious, despite the appearance of his bubbling personality.


    Clearing his throat, Huaian forced a smile, saying, ¡°I am surprised your brother did not inform you on the way here.¡± Then, a little guilty, he added: ¡°Perhaps it was too soon.¡±


    Xueming did not reply and only waited.


    He was not employing any specific conversation tactic on purpose, such as using silence as a weapon to force the other person to speak, but it was working regardless.


    Huaian continued: ¡°When I met you, you were always a very persistent child. We fought often.¡± With a grin, he had: ¡°I have always been quite headstrong, so we were always at each other¡¯s necks. Eventually, we saw each other nearly everyday for a little bit, while you waited for your father to finish teaching. There was a lot of trust in the community, between us, you know? That much has changed these past few years though.¡±


    ¡°It will return,¡± Xueming said encouragingly.


    Huaian only hummed in half-agreement.


    ¡°Honestly,¡± he cleared his throat, feeling a little awkward. ¡°We didn¡¯t see each other as often when you began studying, but we still hung out.¡±


    ¡°Only us?¡± Xueming wondered.


    Huaian was both caught off guard and not. He had expected this; it was hardly avoidable. And yet, somehow he had to avoid it. He promised he would.


    ¡°No,¡± he muttered, ¡°There were others.¡±


    Xueming glared at his friend¡¯s back, the black of his robes stark against the white of their surroundings. The shacks were turning into finer buildings now, and the streets were more well-kept, but they were still far from the center of the city.


    ¡°Qingling?¡± Xueming blurted out, the name feeling unnatural, like his tongue was twisted as he said it. He had repeated it so many times in his head, but hadn¡¯t actually practised saying it out loud.


    Huaian was quiet for a long while, his back stiff, with only his arms moving to control the reins.


    ¡°So you know,¡± he sighed. ¡°Then why did¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not much,¡± Xueming cut him off. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ really anything. Just a name.¡±


    Huaian was silent for another long while, his gaze shining with something Xueming could not decipher.


    ¡°You won¡¯t tell me?¡± Xueming wondered, his heart pulling in his chest.


    Huaian only shook his head, his own throat feeling as though it was utterly closed. He felt like he was drowning.


    ¡°As my friend,¡± Xueming pleaded. ¡°I have¡­ waited.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t guilt me,¡± Huaian pleaded back. ¡°I want to tell you, but I made a promise.¡±


    Xueming felt as though he was walking in fog.


    His entire life he had spent in the dark. He hardly remembered living beneath light. And now, he was supposedly free, and he could see the light all around, but it did not clear anything up.


    Xueming knew it was likely his own brother who had forced Huaian into silence. To protect him.


    Surely, Lanzhi had used an excuse such as that.


    His heart suddenly flared with hatred, and he wanted to lash out because of it.


    ¡°I will¡­ find out anyways,¡± Xueming said, his voice icy and determined.


    ¡°I count on that,¡± Huaian replied back with a half-smile.


    The two fell into silence again.


    The buildings grew stories above them, and Xueming even found himself enjoying the view. The roads were clear despite the light snow, which was so bright, it burned his eyes. He silently thanked the foxfolk for clearing the snow and went on to stare at each building with wonder, trying to erase that hatred from his heart until his chest lightened and he could breathe again.


    ¡°I will work,¡± Xueming suddenly declared, his voice projecting as though he was announcing something grand on a stage.


    Huaian gave him a puzzled look and immediately shook his head, but Xueming did not relent.


    ¡°How else would¡­ I spend the rest of¡­ this useless life?¡± Xueming sighed, his forehead hanging so low, it brushed the back of Huaian¡¯s robes. He wrapped the blanket tighter around himself. ¡°Let me work¡­ ¡° Then, as an afterthought, he added: ¡°If I even can.¡±


    Huaian was distracted by the conversation, by the tension and emotions that it stirred after years of suppression, and absentmindedly drove the ox cart along the route he knew best.


    Huaian was cautious, but not as cautious as Lanzhi.


    He cut straight through the heart of the city to get to Huo Guang Market and both men found themselves stopped in the middle of the road due to all the traffic. It was quite expected that there would be so much traffic, since no one feared to leave their house anymore. Foxfolk poured into the streets like never before.


    And in the centre of the city, just as Doctor Liu had warned, Xueming and Huaian stared at a massive shrine. As expected, the bronze statue of the previous king seated on a throne was stationed in the centre. The king seemed to sit proud and tall over the city, but he was headless now.


    What seemed like hundreds of papers, all with the same two characters written on it, covered the statue''s body, the chair, and the large expanse of stone slab beneath it. The people only theorized the word¡¯s meaning, but they remained in solidarity with their hero of the past, refusing to forget what he refused to, holding dear the name that he held dear.


    On the stairs were hundreds of candles and oil lamps and offerings, and below that, what looked like thousands of people.


    The sea of northerners surrounding the shrine was impossibly large and there was little space between each. Some were praying, some kowtowing, and some simply standing in respect. No one took notice of the two stunned men in a line of traffic that easily fit in with the line of lowly ox carts and fine Er Bai carriages.


    Xueming was the first to look away, but Huaian stared as if he couldn¡¯t look away. His brows and mouth were twitching uncontrollably, and Xueming would have laughed, until he realized Huaian may be reliving the past all over again.


    How could he laugh, when he did not know what that felt like?


    Huaian likely avoided remembering their time together, even if he couldn¡¯t forget it entirely. As Xueming had.


    With a twist of his heart and a stone in his stomach, Xueming wondered whether Huaian was envious, or even a little hateful that his friend had the rare privilege of a clean slate, and was unapologetically trying to claw his way back.


    ¡°Qingling,¡± Xueming read out one of the hundreds of papers, offering his friend one of his awkward sympathetic smiles. His own mouth and eye twitched and he felt a little delirious. ¡°She was with us too¡­ right?¡±

 10 - Good Peddler, Forget Quiet and Loud, I Just Want to Live!

    Xueming and Huaian were silent for the remainder of the ride.


    The trek through the city centre was painfully slow, and they remained within view of the Peerless shrine for around two incense sticks¡¯ time. The wheels on their cart seemed like they could only make one full turn before halting again.


    Eventually, after a long while, Huaian turned away from the shrine and never looked back. Xueming hardly expected him to explicitly reply to his previous question, but silence was sometimes just as telling as words.


    He was slowly fitting all of the pieces into place, one by one, to get a clearer picture of his past.


    Huaian¡¯s silence also likely signaled his unwillingness to speak on the matter, so Xueming did not press him. Xueming was asking about himself like a stranger would, so he was hardly sensitive in his approach. In reality, he was unknowingly poking a bear, and only beginning to realize it.


    Huaian only seemed to relax when they made it past the shrine, his shoulders visibly slinking back. He flashed Xueming a reassuring smile as they made their way through the bustling streets. It was late afternoon, and there were many people out. Xueming hardly knew what day it was.


    Well, he hardly remembered to count the days.


    He had long lost track of that in isolation; for all he knew, only a year or so had passed in that eternal darkness. Yet it felt like a lifetime¡ªand his approximation had been nearly correct.


    Now that he was outside and his eyes and ears were burning at the unrelenting brightness of the sun and the crisp chill of the winter air, he could no longer imagine surviving even a day more inside that cell.


    Xueming smiled, feeling so light he could float away.


    There were lanterns everywhere in preparation for the new year celebration and Xueming¡¯s eyes felt they would burst at the display of the bright colors. His head whipped left to right and his hands switched from one side of the ox cart to the other as he rapidly looked at each building.


    Eventually, Huaian noticed and began to tremble with laughter, finding that his middle-aged friend was very much like a child.


    ¡°We are here,¡± Huaian said quietly, breaking their pact of silence.


    But Xueming could already tell they had arrived.


    His line of sight was filled with the colors and bustle of the Huo Guang Market. It was not as lively as it could be, but given the hour, it was quite crowded.


    The foxfolk behind the various stalls were busy peddling their goods and services, while the customers boldly bartered back. The entire display was so lively, Xueming felt his heart would burst.


    With Huaian¡¯s help, he climbed out of the cart and waited near the entrance for Huaian to park nearby.


    Xueming noticed that while most of the workers behind the stalls bore the distinct features of the foxfolk, a few of them did not. The crowd seemed pretty evenly mixed, but it was difficult to really tell beneath all the thick coats and fur hats.


    Xueming shivered, only to feel a tap on his shoulder.


    Huaian was back, and effortlessly led him into the crowd with his hand on Xueming¡¯s wrist.


    Xueming felt his breath catch in his throat as he was jostled left and right by the crowd. He was unaccustomed to being in such a crowded place, but he didn¡¯t want to cause Huaian any trouble, especially since he was the one who suggested they come.


    The first night he came to Huo Guang Market with Lanzhi, he was too overwhelmed to even notice his own nervousness. The firefly-like lights, the endless sea of people¡ªit was all things he¡¯d been kept from in Mo Fan.


    Now, his breath came heavy, but he only noticed how shallow it was when they stopped in front of a stall deep within the market. He was finding it difficult to focus; his eyes traced over every little thing available to see.


    It was getting dark now, and the various lights around them¡ªa mix of little fireflies and glowing lanterns¡ªhad a little blur at the edges.


    Huaian clapped Xueming on the back as he grinned at a man in front of them. A stall separated them, yet Huaian had no regard for maintaining the polite distance of a customer.


    Xueming looked at the paper sign on the stall, and slowly read it.


    Thousand Mirages Construction


    Winter Management and Repair Inquiries


    Xueming looked up at the man behind the stall, noting his large square face, which was half-obscured by a grey fur hat and a high-neck coat. The man¡¯s eyes were impossibly pale¡ªlike the snow beneath them¡ªand Xueming shivered again.


    ¡°This is¡­ your company,¡± Xueming whispered in realization.


    Huaian grinned and roughly pulled Xueming to his chest, knocking the air out of him.


    ¡°We work with the government for most projects, but this year is a little chaotic given the situation,¡± his eyes flashed brightly. ¡°The people are reporting things themselves, and we find it much faster this way.¡±


    ¡°During the winter,¡± the man behind the stall continued for Huaian, ¡°We mostly do repairs and snow management. Summer¡¯s when all the actual building gets done.¡±


    ¡°Huanfeng,¡± Huaian chided playfully. ¡°Your shifu is speaking. Don¡¯t try to sound smart and interrupt.¡±


    The silver-eyed man only made a face, then went back to gazing at Xueming, who shifted uncomfortably, still being jostled about by the unrestrained crowd.


    ¡°Xiongdi, this is one of the men who only exists to pour my tea,¡± Huaian said cheekily, dodging the man¡¯s swinging arm. ¡°Hu Huanfeng.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the man, who Xueming could now identify as Huanfeng, shook his head with a sigh. ¡°That is indeed my full government name.¡± He paused, his expression deadpanned. ¡°And I really only pour tea. This is my side job when my esteemed shifu cuts down on staff and then flails around to cover shifts.¡±


    Huaian laughed, eyeing the people surrounding them and leading Xueming to the side, behind the stall.


    ¡°Just call him whatever you please,¡± Huaian patted Xueming, allowing Huanfeng to speak to approaching customers. The two foxfolk that had stepped forward were quite young and bright-eyed, and Xueming could only assume they were a couple.


    Huaian bent down to ruffle through some documents behind the booth, though Xueming was uncertain if he actually needed to or if he was just making himself look busy.


    ¡°Sir, Sir!¡± the female foxfolk said in a spirited voice. ¡°The side of our house recently caved in due to an overload of snow!¡± She glanced over at the man at her side, but he seemed to have no intention of speaking. ¡°We bought the house brand new only a year ago! How could this be? We are in one of the coldest cities to the east of Chongqing, and could only come here for support.¡±


    ¡°Yes, well anything recently built by the previous king is infamous for being poor quality. ¡± Huanfeng eyed them carefully, then calmly asked: ¡°Which city?¡±


    Xueming followed Huaian¡¯s gaze to the customers, wondering why he was staring so intently. Then, he realized Huaian was simply doing his job, and he too began to analyze their appearance in light of their story.


    Xueming started by eyeing their faces, noticing the deep red blossoms on both of their cheeks and nose, the nasally sound of the woman¡¯s voice, likely caused by her half-frozen face, and their heavy fur coats. They wore all-white robes and absurdly large hats, to the point where the woman¡¯s eyes were barely visible.


    They seemed to fit their story, at least in Xueming¡¯s eyes. He looked back at Huaian, but he was no longer eyeing them so scrutinizingly.


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    ¡°Harbing city!¡± the lady replied instantly, like she was a soldier at attention.


    Huanfeng looked over at Huaian, then easily bent down to sift through the documents while Huaian popped up like some toy on a spring that was finally released. Xueming had to look away to keep himself from cracking a smile.


    Despite their bitter exchange, the two men seemed awfully coordinated while working.


    ¡°While we do not directly support Harbing City right now, we have been looking to open a branch in that area. Some experience there would help us immensely,¡± Huaian smiled craftily. ¡°If we come to service you, would you be willing to share the news of our good work with your neighbors?¡±


    The lady smiled cheerfully, looking relieved to be offered support.


    ¡°Of course, of course, laoban!¡± the lady agreed immediately.


    ¡°A new branch?¡± Huanfeng muttered, drawing Xueming¡¯s attention. ¡°After performing the usual winter cut?¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Huaian said steadily, both a businessman and salesman in one. ¡°We are aware of how little support even the major cities are getting during this transitional period in our government, but to think Harbing is receiving none, when it is typically affected the worst¡­¡± He shook his head dramatically, easily receiving a paper from Huanfeng below without even sparing him a glance.


    Xueming was absentmindedly listening to the exchange, half-curious about the way Huaian worked, but even more curious if those little lights really were fireflies. He tilted his head back as far as he could, exposing his long, slender neck to the crisp winter air. He took one step out from behind the booth and was suddenly lost in the sea of people.


    He whipped his head around, finding a person wherever he looked. He no longer had sight of the Thousand Mirages Construction booth, and could only succumb to the sway of the crowd, letting himself be led to another part of the market. He tilted his head back again, trying to distract himself with the glow of those little lights, but his breathing came quick and shallow.


    All around him were people wearing all sorts of overcoats and hats, with various hair and eye colors. It was impossible to tell how many people were native to Chongqing and how many had travelled to experience Huo Guang Market¡¯s famous atmosphere.


    Murmurs and cackles and shouts overwhelmed his ears, and his heartbeat pounded in his chest, in his throat¡ªall the way up to his ears¡ªuntil he was certain the entire crowd could hear it. He closed his eyes, willing his racing heart to slow. Eventually, he stopped moving and slowly opened them, letting himself adjust to the warm glow of the yellow lights before taking in his surroundings.


    It seemed he had been pushed out much deeper into the market, halfway behind a stall. He landed beside a man whose face was barely visible behind two high stacks of paper, shouting something that was, at first, impossible to understand.


    Xueming looked at the man in confusion, his shouts sounding muffled, as if he was plunged underwater.


    After realizing he was standing somewhere customers and onlookers were not supposed to be, he walked around to the front of the booth.


    He looked down at one of the stacks of paper and sounded out the characters on the very top one. But with just a glance, he could recognize those two characters anywhere; they had been burned into memory since the first time he read them.


    This was the stall he and Lanzhi had ended up in front of during their previous visit to the market.


    That man shouted those same words from before, as if he was simply one of those little friend devices stuck on repeat: ¡°Express your solidarity with this high-quality paper! Lest we forget the price of freedom!¡±


    Then suddenly, upon spotting Xueming, the man changed his tune after noticing someone had approached.


    ¡°Friend! Friend!¡±


    Xueming politely nodded, glancing back down at the paper after finding it too difficult to maintain eye contact. Those characters seemed to lift off of the page, as if floating on top of it. The black ink was bold and pronounced and their contrast against the bright paper burned Xueming¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°The entirety of Chongqing is laying down these exact sheets on the king¡¯s headless statue! Don¡¯t miss out!¡±


    Xueming chewed on his lip, realizing how ignorant he was to the ways of the market.


    ¡°You sell these?¡± he muttered, then louder: ¡°How much?¡±


    The man smiled, and Xueming noticed he was missing some teeth.


    ¡°It¡¯s tough right now for everyone. I¡¯ll take whatever you¡¯ve got¡ªcoins, pig fat, you name it.¡±


    Xueming tsked, tugging at his robes.


    ¡°You should¡­ give these out¡­ for free,¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°Huh?¡± the fox spirit shouted back, a little puzzled. ¡°How will I afford the paper and ink then? You know some scholar volunteered to do this exquisite calligraphy, but imagine he didn¡¯t? How much do you think it is to hire someone for that? Most of us are illiterate.¡± He paused, as if dismayed. Then, he added: ¡°And I have a family to feed, you know!¡±


    Xueming was rendered speechless, realizing just how ignorant he really was. He really didn¡¯t understand how the world worked, and he could hardly remember how he had seen it as an adolescent. It felt as though he were a child, coming to the most basic of conclusions.


    His face burned red, but he forced himself still.


    ¡°What¡­ can you tell me¡­ about this?¡± Xueming forced every word out of his mouth, flushing as the man¡¯s face twisted with each word he spoke.


    ¡°Huh? You don¡¯t know this? Everyone knows this!¡± the man shouted, his energy apparent. ¡°What are you, a foreigner? But your language isn¡¯t half bad¡ªjust a little slow.¡± Xueming took that as a compliment; he already felt like his manner of speech was no better than a child¡¯s. ¡°Then what, just get out of prison?¡±


    Of course, the man hardly expected this guess to be correct, but Xueming winced, averting his eyes, and the man quieted down, a little shaken.


    ¡°Ah, ah!¡± He recovered within a few moments, ever the salesman. ¡°Sorry for my temper! It¡¯s the energy here. I spend my entire day in this mess, you know.¡±


    Xueming shook his head to show he didn¡¯t mind.


    He really didn¡¯t.


    It was Xueming who was the bother here, not anyone else. He was too slow and too ignorant and too childish to keep up at his ripe age. He was the burden.


    But he was trying to catch up.


    ¡°Here, take this for free. I made a lot already.¡±


    The fox spirit shoved a paper towards Xueming, but Xueming only shook his head.


    ¡°I want to¡­ know about this,¡± he insisted firmly.


    The man¡¯s eyes wandered behind Xueming to make sure no customers were being held up, then he sighed pitifully and relented.


    ¡°All I know is what everyone knows. Don¡¯t go thinking I am any more knowledgeable just because I¡¯m selling them.¡± He huffed, running his fingers over his mouth a few times, trying to warm them up. ¡°The story goes like this: Peerless¡ªyou know Peerless, right?¡± Xueming nodded feverishly. ¡°Well, Peerless knew this woman who was arrested for¡­ what else? Having the last name Hu. Rumor has it they were quite close. Well, he definitely saw something, enough to push him¡ªHeavens bless his soul¡ªto stand in front of the royal guard and hold up, well¡­ this.¡± The man shook the paper he had offered to Xueming, then carefully set it back on the pile.


    ¡°What did he¡­ see?¡± Xueming wondered, half to himself and half to the man.


    But his memory failed him.


    It was as though he were a child, free of any past.


    ¡°Well,¡± the man chuckled, flashing his toothless grin. He patted his hat a few times, like he was checking it was still there. ¡°That¡¯s what we don¡¯t know.¡± After a thoughtful pause, he added: ¡°We all heard he left prison. Maybe he¡¯ll come out and tell us all.¡± He paused again, rubbing at his chin. ¡°But maybe he won¡¯t. I would understand wanting to live quietly after all that, you know?¡±


    He looked at Xueming, who only stared back, neither shaking his head nor nodding.


    He had no thoughts of living quietly or loudly¡ªhe was simply trying to live.


    ¡°But, you know, I heard he doesn¡¯t really remember anything.¡± Then, with a grunt: ¡°Not even his name, poor soul. May the Heavens give him rest after all this.¡± He glanced down at the paper, shaking his head. ¡°This Qingling too.¡± With another pause, he added with a genuine smile: ¡°They¡¯re both from Chongqing though, so maybe I will see them and not even know.¡± Quieter, he said: ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what they want, I¡¯m glad.¡±


    Xueming nodded once in gratitude, preparing to step away, but the man continued, as if Xueming had opened a river that could never be dammed again.


    ¡°I wonder if they¡¯ve reunited by now.¡± The man¡¯s smile widened, and his eyes glazed over, as if he wasn¡¯t really speaking to Xueming, but to anyone willing to listen. ¡°You know, they won¡¯t be hard to spot¡ªthere aren¡¯t many foxy wives and mundane husbands just strolling around.¡± He paused, sentimentally humming: ¡°But maybe that will change now.¡±


    Xueming nodded again with a tight smile, a stone heavy in his stomach. He suddenly longed to return home and see his mother¡¯s face, but he hardly knew how he had even gotten here. The blur of the lights made him feel drunk, and the conversation was nauseating him.


    The fox spirit noticed Xueming turning away and called out to him.


    ¡°Sir, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    Xueming half-turned back to the man, already distracted by the large crowd. He bumped into a few people and wondered how he was supposed to find his way back to Huaian.


    ¡°Thirteen,¡± he uttered back, the response practised, automatic¡ªhardly worth a second thought.


    The man behind the stall watched with wide eyes as Xueming mindlessly disappeared into the crowd.


    As if his reply had been the most casual thing in the world.

 11 - Good Uncle, Why Do Mostly Men Buy Hair Combs?

    Xueming was unsure how he made it back to Huaian¡¯s stall alive.


    By the time he made it back to the stall, his cheeks were pink from a mix of panic and cold, his eyes were wild and unfocused, and his breath came short and quick. Still, he kept away from the stall and off to the side as though he had never left.


    ¡°Xiongdi,¡± Huaian called out with a grin. ¡°Good timing¡ªI just finished up with the customer.¡± Noticing Xueming¡¯s disturbed expression, he drew closer, brows furrowed, and wrapped his arm around Xueming¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    Xueming shut down his concern with a shake of his head, wanting to forget ever wandering in that swarm of people. Wanting to forget that man and that tall stack of papers. He would be careful not to step out into that crowd alone again.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Huaian clapped him on the back, shooting a look back at Huanfeng, then stepping out into that mass of people again. ¡°Let¡¯s leave before Huanfeng pushes me into dealing with another customer.¡± He sighed dramatically, wiping at his forehead, though the temperature really allowed for no sweat even if he had been doing something arduous.


    Huanfeng shot his boss a glare, but his gaze relaxed when he caught Xueming¡¯s eye.


    ¡°Just remember, Huanfeng,¡± Huaian said, enunciating each syllable as though he were speaking to a child. Xueming was beginning to notice how agitating Huaian could be. ¡°Customer first.¡± With a sigh, he looked up at the sky, as though his wisdom was beyond the mortal realm. ¡°Times are tough for the nation¡¯s citizens¡ªif we have to go out of our way a little, is it not within our capacity?¡±


    ¡°And employees last,¡± Huanfeng muttered beneath his breath, but his boss was lost in the heavens and could hardly hear him.


    Xueming was carefully observing the two men, surprised by the way they bluntly communicated. But he was even more surprised when Huanfeng shot him a shameless grin, as though he were proud of his own attitude. As if he were utterly confident Xueming would not say a single word against him to his boss.


    He wouldn¡¯t.


    Huaian led Xueming back into the crowd, making sure to hold onto his wrist as they waded through the mass of people. It was a little darker now, and the vibrant lights were all around them, their edges even more blurred than before. Xueming followed the string of lights as though they were his official guide, trying to ignore all of the bumps and jostles his body received from the crowd.


    The two men seemed to walk diagonally through the crowd, back towards the entrance they had come from. Huaian soon stopped in front of a stall amidst a number of interested observers, and Xueming had no choice but to stop as well.


    Huaian easily pushed his way through to the front as though he were this stall¡¯s most important customer and Xueming stumbled after him, helplessly bumping into the people Huaian had already pushed aside.


    ¡°Hair combs for your special someone!¡± the peddler yelled, his tone shrill and piercing.


    Upon closer inspection, Xueming recalled this same little boy in an oversized fur hat selling hair combs when he and Lanzhi had come to the market for the first time since his return to Chongqing.


    Huaian laughed loudly, throwing his head back in front of the little boy as though it was the funniest thing in the world. But his laughter sounded a little forced.


    ¡°Give it a rest already,¡± Huaian huffed, his mouth twisting from a large grin to a mocking scowl. ¡°This generation is alone and miserable. You won¡¯t make any sales.¡±


    The little boy turned a haughty gaze on Huaian, which Xueming found surprisingly viscous. It was as if the boy had no shame, despite the crowd of customers around them.


    ¡°Just because you are alone and miserable, doesn¡¯t mean the rest of us are.¡±


    Huaian feigned shock, slamming a hand down on the stall and dispersing some of the crowd¡ªwho, quite frankly, weren¡¯t that interested in the hair combs to begin with.


    ¡°Did even this younger cousin beat me to a wife at the ripe age of ten?¡± Huaian bellowed out, causing the little boy to flush a cherry red.


    But it only took him a few moments to recover.


    ¡°Get out of here!¡± the little boy shouted, looking as though something popped in his head and he had already lost any control. ¡°I¡¯ve lost all my customers!¡±


    Huaian turned to Xueming as though they weren¡¯t disrupting the stall¡¯s business and the little boy hadn¡¯t said a word. He lifted his free hand to gesture to his cousin like he was something on display, still gripping Xueming with his other hand.


    ¡°This is my shushu¡¯s son, Xiao Nai. Since I refused to take over the business, my father had no choice but to turn to the¡­ less skilled side of the family for someone to replace him. His brother worked here with this little brat until he was old enough to haggle back.¡±


    Though the little boy was already impossibly red, his face darkened even more, and Huaian¡¯s grin didn¡¯t seem to help.


    Huaian idly picked up a red hair comb decorated with tiny golden flowers as though he weren¡¯t being glared at and turned it over in his fingers. Xueming found the comb to be quite beautiful and was mesmerized looking at it.


    ¡°Here, take this.¡±


    Huaian shoved the comb into the hand he had been holding, then released Xueming and turned back to his cousin.


    ¡°Hey¡ª¡± his cousin protested. ¡°Who are you to take this? You left the business!¡± Nai¡¯s shining eyes landed on Xueming, who was lost in thought looking at the comb. ¡°And who is this that you are giving a hair comb to? Your man?¡±


    The boy spat out the words, though Xueming hardly understood the implications.


    Huaian only laughed, not affected in the slightest.


    ¡°Ah, yes, well¡­ then I can¡¯t hide it any longer.¡± He gazed at his cousin intently. ¡°I have beat you to finding a wife.¡±


    Xueming finally glanced up at his friend, a little puzzled.


    With a face of disgust, the little boy snarled, ¡°You are unfit to be in public.¡±


    Huaian only gently laughed and continued to pick through the hair combs, messing with their careful arrangement, leaving many lying crooked or even on top of another comb. The little boy even began to wrestle Huaian for one.


    ¡°Ha!¡± the boy said quite loudly. ¡°We all know why you¡¯ve spent your miserable life alone!¡± Huaian actually briefly paused, a little startled, his fingers stiffening on the comb. Xueming watched them carefully, gripping that red hair comb like his life depended on it. ¡°What was her name¡­ Mingming? No¡­¡±


    Huaian pulled his arm back sharply, the motion so swift and fierce that if someone had actually been directly behind him, they would have been severely injured. His fingers wrapped around a blue and orange hair comb and Xueming wondered if it would be able to withstand his frigid grip.


    ¡°Who did you hear that from?¡± Huaian snapped, his voice almost like a bark.


    Nai¡¯s confidence faltered a little, his cruel smile falling. He even seemed a little frightened at his cousin¡¯s sudden change. As if they were no longer bantering and he didn¡¯t know why.


    ¡°Who?¡± Huaian growled, his arm still drawn back like he was about to throw a punch.


    A little startled, Xueming gingerly reached out to hold onto Huaian¡¯s arm, trying to bring him back down to earth. He felt as though his friend were quickly floating away.


    ¡°My¡­ My mother,¡± the little boy squeaked out, wincing as he realized he had betrayed his own mother.


    Huaian remained frozen for only a moment longer, then seemed to sigh, his arm slowly lowering to his side in defeat. Xueming hoped Huaian would realize there wasn¡¯t anything malicious behind his cousin¡¯s words; he had probably overheard his mother gossiping with some other women. This was nothing new.


    Huaian glared at the ground, and Xueming thought he was still burning with anger¡ªuntil he noticed a pink blush creeping up his friend¡¯s neck, up his jaw, all the way to his ears. The surrounding crowd had been frozen in silence, watching the scene in horror, but they soon shuffled away and began to whisper, unable to endure the tension in the air any longer.


    Nai, sounding a little guilty and even more frightened, murmured, ¡°Uncle¡­¡±


    Huaian gently tossed the hair comb back onto the stall, glancing at the makeshift wall behind his cousin. After a few deep breaths, he seemed to recover and his usual smile fell into place.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s alright if we take this hair comb, no?¡± He raised Xueming¡¯s hand as if he were nothing more than a doll. The red comb shone brightly beneath the overhead lights and nearby lanterns.


    The little boy nodded like his life depended on it.


    ¡°What am I¡­ going to do with¡­ this?¡± Xueming protested, not wanting the little boy to suffer even this small loss.


    ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out,¡± Huaian responded, his smile genuine.


    Xueming exhaled in relief.


    ¡°Uncle,¡± the little boy blurted out. ¡°I am¡ª¡±


    ¡°Xiaozi,¡± Huaian said gently, even reaching over to pull down that oversized hat so it covered his eyes in a teasing gesture. ¡°Tell your mother to buy you a smaller hat.¡±


    The little boy was quiet a moment, then his voice came in uneven waves¡ªsometimes loud and sometimes soft¡ªlike he was choked up.


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t¡­ Why doesn¡¯t uncle buy it for me?¡±


    Xueming felt like his heart was going to break with how gentle this cruel boy suddenly became, but Huaian only rolled his eyes.


    ¡°How greedy can this little cousin of mine be?¡± He scowled, shooting Xueming a quick grin. Nai lifted the hat up from his face, revealing pale hazel eyes. Then, softer, Huaian said: ¡°Fine, don¡¯t tell your mother¡ªthis uncle of yours will provide.¡±


    Just as Huaian began to turn away, Xueming murmured out a small, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Then, with a small smile, he followed Huaian away from the stall.


    As Xueming turned, his gaze flashed across the table and the hair combs blurred together into a dazzling cascade of colors. His head suddenly pounded, as if something long buried was forcing its way out. The explosion of colors invaded his vision, like several brushstrokes across a canvas.


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    The pounding grew faster and louder until he could no longer think, until it became unbearable. He squeezed his eyes shut, hunching over in agony. His lips parted and he huffed out softly, but didn¡¯t dare make a sound.


    He never dared make a sound.


    His frail body was hunched over and he clawed at his chest, reaching all the way up to his head, until suddenly, the pounding in his head stopped.


    Xueming held his breath, wary that the pain would return.


    He waited, and waited, but there was no trace of pain, almost as if it had never been there. Instead, his head felt as light as air, as if it could drift even above the clouds. Something in his mind had bent and snapped, but there was no sound¡ªlike a flash of lightning without the rumble of thunder.


    He imagined himself to be floating, until that long-buried memory finally clawed its way out, tethering him to the ground. He inhaled softly and slowly opened his eyes.


    He was still in the same place, in the same market, and yet, he wasn¡¯t.


    His line of vision settled just above the stalls, which was quite different from what he was used to. It seemed he only had to slightly bend over to touch the grass. It was much warmer here, wherever here was, and the grass was free of frost.


    A cool breeze glided over him like a gentle embrace.


    Almost instinctively, Xueming knew he was in Huo Guang Market in late spring, waiting for someone. He tilted his head back, loving the warmth of the sun on his face and the breeze fluttering his lashes, tickling his nose. He could smell dew and earth and fresh leaves, and felt the itch of a fly trying to land on his arm.


    He peeked over at it, but was too relaxed to swat it away.


    Every day, he waited like this for the same person.


    Xueming had just been released from the very same school his father worked at and came to the market to wait for him to finish. He was always done with his lectures earlier¡ªhis father taught older students, and older students stayed later.


    He didn¡¯t remember the first time he wandered off school grounds after he finished his classes, but it hadn¡¯t taken more than a few days before he grew too bored to wait in that building¡ªa place he associated with too much sitting and too little fun.


    Huo Guang Market was just a short walk away from the school he attended and was only beginning to open for the evening. Still, only a few stalls were set up this early, since the only customers at this hour were women and the elderly.


    Xueming lazily walked around on his stubby little legs, seeing the market stretch out far beyond what his eyes could see. He figured it would be impossible for him to ever reach the end of the market¡ªif there even was one. The stalls seemed to go on for several li and vanish into the horizon.


    He wandered from stall to stall, not daring to go so close as to be called over by any of the peddlers, but close enough to see what they sold. He had already come here several times and saw only what he expected: summer clothing at one, leftover winter clothing at another. He proceeded to spot the stall with women¡¯s shoes, a stall with jewelry he knew was fake, an empty stall, and a stall covered with a sheet he knew would open up to be a candy stall later that night.


    He walked at the fastest pace his little legs would take him, sniffing and looking and listening¡ªwhatever was most appropriate for each stall. He usually liked to admire the lights, but knew they wouldn¡¯t come on until later. The lanterns from the spring festival had been taken down, but the all-year lanterns were hanging on the market¡¯s fencing, waiting to be lit.


    The memory of this year¡¯s spring festival lingered in his mind; he could still taste those crisp rice cakes his mother had made and those few coins his father had spared him, his tongue overwhelmed by the sweetness of the treats and tangy metal of the memory.


    Of course, he didn¡¯t eat the coins themselves, but what they could buy him.


    Xueming had impulsively spent all of the money he collected at this very market, buying hard candy and sesame treats and devouring them all in the same night. Gege had spent his New Year¡¯s money on some books about¡­ well, Xueming could hardly list the topics, but Lanzhi was always speaking about it.


    He abruptly stopped at a stall that had only recently opened up¡ªXueming would know, since he was always here.


    Behind the stall was a man carefully setting out hair combs to sell, and for some reason, Xueming approached closer than he had planned. He drew near enough to see even the smallest details on the combs and was overwhelmed by their beauty.


    The man smiled at him warmly, and Xueming carefully looked over the man¡¯s appearance. His bright red hair was loosely tied back into something that resembled a horse¡¯s tail, and his soft, pale eyes quickly returned to inspecting the hair combs after just a single glance at Xueming.


    His hands were large and steady, perfectly aligning each hair comb in an orderly fashion. He was in no rush, but didn¡¯t drag the task out either.


    Xueming found himself standing there on the grass, content to just watch the man.


    He hadn¡¯t really ever bothered to look at the table before, only noticing that across from the stall selling maps, there was a new stall selling small objects.


    ¡°Er,¡± the man beckoned out softly. ¡°My own son is quite stubborn. Want to help me set up for the night?¡±


    Xueming hesitated a little, peering left and right, before he slowly looked at the man again.


    ¡°Why only for the night?¡± Xueming asked with the unrestrained, unfiltered speech of a child.


    The man smiled and held out a shiny red hair comb for the child to take.


    ¡°It only makes sense, given the customers,¡± the man said plainly, then peered over at the boy with a serious gaze. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t there customers out all day?¡± Xueming challenged half-heartedly, blowing his lips together quite idly. He was simply gazing at that hair comb in wonder¡ªhe didn¡¯t dare take it.


    But the man seemed just as unwilling to relent; he very patiently held out that hair comb, as if he were willing to do so for the rest of the night.


    ¡°Yes, er, but who buys hair combs?¡± the man asked.


    The little boy thought about the question for a while, nervously twisting his hands behind his back. His body tensed with the same panic he felt during oral examinations at school¡ªexcept this was different.


    At school, he didn¡¯t care to impress the teacher, but this man seemed quite friendly, and Xueming wanted to help.


    ¡°Well, anyone can,¡± Xueming muttered, feeling unsatisfied with the same. He had thought for a long time, but couldn¡¯t come up with anything else.


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± the man spoke patiently. ¡°But they are mostly purchased by men, and men cannot shop until later at night.¡±


    Xueming carefully considered the man¡¯s words and, having nothing of value to say, only nodded curtly, deciding the man must know best.


    ¡°Come, help me set up,¡± the man called him over again, nonchalantly¡ªas if Xueming had been working for him for years.


    Xueming took a step closer, and then another, until he was directly in front of that hair comb the man so patiently held out. He felt apprehension building up in his chest, as if something would happen when he took it¡ªas if it was bait, and touching it would entrap him.


    Gingerly, he placed his stubby fingers around the comb, his gaze flickering between the object and the man¡¯s face. The man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t twist into one of evil giddiness, but he still drew his arm back with the quickness of someone spearing a fish.


    The man busied himself with grabbing another hair comb, hiding his amusement as he bent down.


    Xueming flushed with embarrassment but still shamelessly lifted himself onto his toes to peer over the stall, surprised to see a little boy about his age pouting on the ground beside the man.


    ¡°Who is that, Mister?¡± Xueming wondered, sounding as if he were the son, and that little boy the stranger.


    ¡°This is my son,¡± the man replied carefully, tapping a free spot in a lineup of hair combs, and Xueming carefully placed the one he was holding down. ¡°He refuses to try in case he fails.¡±


    Xueming nearly burst into a fit of laughter but quickly decided against it. He bit down on his lip, not wanting to offend the man.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother with ¡®Mister¡¯,¡± the man spoke again. ¡°I have no education or social standing. I am just a man selling hair combs.¡±


    Xueming was quiet for a moment, surprised to be handed another hair comb. This one was a dark blue, but there were white flowers painted on it. This one was notably beautiful too.


    ¡°Well, the hair combs aren¡¯t too bad, Uncle,¡± Xueming said cheerfully.


    The man smiled brightly, seeming to genuinely appreciate the compliment.


    ¡°Thank you, er. They are made by my wife.¡±


    Xueming nodded again respectfully, carefully placing the comb to start another row on the table. His father would scold him if he broke one and they had to pay for it, so he was extra diligent.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± Xueming asked the man¡¯s son, and feeling a little embarrassed, added: ¡°I am Jian Xueming.¡±


    The little boy, with strange eyes of silver and hazel, only stared at Xueming with a jutted lower lip¡ªlike even that question would make him cry.


    His father sighed as the silence bore down on them, but only continued placing those hair combs, quickly finishing up the next row. Xueming noticed each row had its own color theme, finding it quite satisfying to look at.


    Xueming tried again, not liking how uncomfortable he felt under the little boy¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Do you attend school?¡± Xueming asked.


    The little boy shook his head, now looking at Xueming with curious eyes.


    ¡°Ah, well I do,¡± Xueming continued in a hurry, accepting another hair comb from the man. This one was the light cream color of milk candy. ¡°I am waiting for my father to finish work. He works at the school.¡±


    The man smiled and nodded.


    ¡°I was wondering why there were so many children here running around unsupervised.¡±


    Xueming pursed his lips, starting a new row of hair combs before the man could instruct him to. A sense of pride washed over him.


    ¡°We aren¡¯t unsupervised, Uncle,¡± Xueming said in a low voice, a little embarrassed to be arguing back. ¡°My father said there are many adults here to watch over me.¡±


    The man looked down thoughtfully and continued placing white and cream hair combs in the row Xueming had started.


    The little boy suddenly stood up, almost knocking his nose into the stall.


    He wore plain clothes and his red hair was unruly, but his expression was bright and clear. He opened his mouth wide and his voice came in a bellow, like he was making some mighty declaration.


    ¡°I am Hu Huaian!¡±


    Abruptly, the scene around Xueming warped and fizzled away, and he lost all sense of stability.


    Xueming stumbled into the crowd, feeling Huaian catch him again, and he whipped his head around, feeling too tall and too awkward in his own body. Huaian¡¯s baby face flashed in his mind, but his eyes settled on a mature man of many years.


    Xueming felt a little pang in his heart as he realized that bright smile was still the same. He really had inherited a lot from his father.


    ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Huaian wondered with furrowed brows, raising his voice so he was heard over the bustle of the crowd.


    They had been jostled around until they were rather far apart, their connected arms fully straightened, but Huaian appeared by Xueming¡¯s side in an instant.


    Xueming smiled back, but for once, he did not care or feel that his smile was awkward or clumsy and did not suit his face. Huaian¡¯s smile naturally widened, though he didn¡¯t know why his friend was suddenly so pleased¡ªhe was just happy that Xueming was.


    ¡°I remembered something,¡± Xueming said in a whisper, as though he was afraid the memory would be taken away if he said it too loudly, too proudly.


    But the images of the memory flashed through his mind and he latched onto it, vowing to never let it go again.


    ¡°Well, what is it?¡± Huaian asked, immediately holding out his free arm to block anyone from bumping into them. He kept his eyes on Xueming, his lips hesitantly smiling, unsure whether this was good or bad news.


    Xueming was almost certain that Huaian didn¡¯t even know how he moved to protect him¡ªit was all instinctual, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Xueming beamed, overwhelmed by the fact that his friend had been there for him all along.


    Huaian expected nothing of him¡ªnot even remembering. Huaian had done that all these years for the both of them.


    Xueming had been freed of that cell months ago, but only now did he feel that he was ready to stand up and walk out.


    ¡°I remembered something!¡± Xueming declared, a little more giddily. He began to shake Huaian¡¯s arm up and down, and soon they were both jumping in excitement.


    He was so ecstatic, he didn¡¯t even feel the protest in his legs.


    It must have been a sight to see two middle-aged men jumping around like little children playing a game, but neither of the men thought of it¡ªor cared.


    Xueming stumbled, but Huaian carefully caught him and pulled him closer, shielding him from the push and pull of the crowd.


    Xueming beamed at his friend with a wide smile, shouting over the crowd even though he was close enough to Huaian to be heard.


    ¡°I remembered you.¡±