Chapter 1: Warmth and Tenderness.

On the twenty-third day of the first lunar month, thick clouds obscured the sun, and the harsh winter had not yet dissipated. The distant Yinshan Mountains were covered in white snow, with only the foothills revealing a narrow strip of pale blue.

At the juncture of chaos, a procession of red banners stretched along the winding official road. The closer they came, the more distinct each banner became, converging towards the three-zhang-tall pagoda in the center of the city. Long banners inscribed with scriptures flared out on either side of the pagoda, like the helpless outstretched hands of a deity.

The gray sky, the gloomy high-rises, the blood-red pagodas, and the dense crowds intertwine to create a strange sense of depth. This is a fork in the road of history. Two years ago, the people of Zhongdu never dreamed that Ansanxuan City, where they prayed for good weather and abundant harvests, would become a Buddhist ceremony to deliver the souls of 200,000 dead.

Two hundred thousand people—what a huge number.

Zhongdu Chong'an City was the last pass of Shangdu Baiyujing. The Xianyu army of 200,000 was stationed here. When the Yan army broke through the city, those who died in battle and those who were captured were all buried on the ancient battlefield outside the city. The people inside the city were taken over and powerless to resist. For the past two years, they could only secretly express their grief under the guise of celebrations.

Fortunately, after the turmoil subsided, life gradually returned to peace, and the memory of that great battle seemed like a thing of the past. The usual festivities continued, with chanting, laughter, and vendors' shouts rising and falling, and children with slingshots occasionally running by.

With a "smack," it hit the bullseye. Someone clutched their forehead and yelled, "Whose debt collector is this? He splattered someone's brains out!"

The military commander, cracking his whip, chased after them, shouting repeatedly, "If you dare to shoot anyone again, you'll be fined two sheep!"

After shooing away the naughty children, the two military officers discussed which restaurant to go to for lunch. But when they turned around, they saw a tall man with blood streaming down his chest passing by.

The two military officers were stunned. Logically, someone so badly injured, with one eye blasted out, should have been in excruciating pain. But this man, waving a small banner, strolled through the crowd as if nothing had happened, leisurely heading towards the other end of the square.

Wu Hou exchanged glances and hurriedly chased after them to stop them, "Are you going to the household physician's office?"

The young man blinked one eye. "Why?"

The Marquis of Wu was startled by the question, "Aren't you in pain?"

The young man looked bewildered, and after a while he realized what was happening. He touched his empty eye socket and said, "It's a minor injury, it doesn't hurt."

The two military officers were completely dumbfounded. One of their eyes had disappeared. Was it just a minor injury?

The young man flicked his sleeves and left, leaving the two men looking at each other in bewilderment. "He must be a madman."

No sooner had he finished speaking than his colleague rushed over, gesturing wildly, and said, "Something terrible has happened! Two demons have been captured in the East Market. They look exactly like the fallen generals of the Former Yu. The captain hastily chopped off their heads, only to find that their hearts were empty—they were fakes. The general has ordered a thorough search. There are probably more than just these two in the city. If you happen to see them, capture them immediately and don't let them escape."

The two military officers immediately stamped their feet, "That kid was cunning!"

Looking back, the figure turned past the big elm tree and into the Lirenfang neighborhood.

What were they waiting for? They quickly gathered their men and rushed into the ward gate. But Liren Ward was one of the largest wards in Zhongdu, with alleys that led in all directions. Where could they find the young man? The matter was difficult, but they had to do it. In the end, they could only knock on doors one by one, and if there were any suspicious residents, they would break in and search them without hesitation.

Unfortunately, after searching most of the neighborhood to no avail, the leader of the group, Zhonghou, was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, demanding, "Where are they? Where are they?"

The two military officers were humiliated by the scolding, but luckily someone with sharp eyes spotted a drop of blood in the crack of the bluestone slab. The group immediately cheered and followed the trail, finding a second drop, a third drop... until they reached a mansion with its gate tightly closed.

Looking up, the mansion was very grand, with a large plaque above the gate reading "Lu Residence," indicating it was definitely not a humble family's home.

Someone reported: "It's a celebration today, so the neighborhood head is probably not here. There's no way to find out the details about this family."

Zhonghou snorted, "Why bother asking? If we find a demon, it's a demon's den. Who cares about his background!"

With a kick, the door swung open, and seven or eight martial arts masters rushed in, causing chaos and confusion inside the house.

Zhonghou's hawk-like eyes swept across every face as he sternly questioned whether he was harboring the man who had been blinded by an arrow.

The servants and maids in the courtyard all shook their heads, saying, "No, no."

"Don't believe that," Zhonghou chuckled. "Closing doors and windows in broad daylight, there must be some kind of conspiracy!"

If the government becomes suspicious, the people who want to clear their names must cooperate obediently. The Marquis's words were merely a routine notification; the next moment, the officers were already at their waists, ready to search the place thoroughly.

However, just before they could rush into the main hall, a foot stepped out from behind the threshold, blocking the path of the warriors. It was a man around fifty years old with a stern face, who said, word by word, "The world is changing. People even dare to search my residence."

Could this person be someone of considerable importance? Zhonghou had to proceed with caution, sizing up the man before him. "I am Zhonghou, a general from Wuhoupu in the West Market, ordered to apprehend the unruly children who disrupted the ritual. Today is the Ansan Festival. Have any members of your household gone out to visit the city? Has anyone been injured by the unruly children's arrows?"

He had tried his best to control his tone, but the other party was not buying it and said bluntly, "I am Lu Kongshan. I am here during the Ansan Festival. No one has returned to the city, and no one has been shot."

Zhonghou thought he was just making excuses. "Why not celebrate the Umbrella Festival? The people of Qianyu believe in Buddha. Is your family an exception?"

The atmosphere was tense, as if a fight was about to break out at any moment. Although Lu Kongshan did not answer, his eyes stared straight at him, his pupils indescribably empty and deep, making one's heart tremble if stared at for too long.

Zhonghou was furious and about to make a scene when he suddenly heard a light and cheerful voice coming from inside the door. Zhou Quan explained, "General, please calm down. We just moved from Laoyin Pass to Chong'an City last month. We are not Yu people, so we do not celebrate the Ansan Festival."

Everyone turned to look, and a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen years old walked out from behind the door. She was wearing a dark green, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and a sandalwood-colored, gold-trimmed, narrow-sleeved blouse. A ring-shaped gold hairpin adorned her cloud-like bun. Although she was not dressed in elaborate or luxurious attire, her every move exuded a sense of abundance, a gentle warmth, and a peaceful, serene beauty.

The rude military officer immediately realized he couldn't lose his composure in front of the woman, and his hands, which were holding his sword, unconsciously crossed in front of his abdomen. "So you're from Laoyin... Madam, you've moved your whole family to Zhongdu, is it for business or...?"

"I'm visiting relatives," the young woman said with a smile. "My family name is Lu, and we share the same ancestry as the Grand Tutor. My grandfather was the uncle of Grand Tutor Lu Min."

The group was quite surprised, and Zhonghou raised his voice to a fever pitch, "Really?"

The young woman seemed startled, momentarily stunned. If there was one major difference between father and daughter, it was undoubtedly their eyes. Lu Kongshan's eyes exuded a deathly aura, while the young woman's were different. Zhong Hou felt he had never seen more beautiful eyes, brimming with life and unforgettable charm. Like an ancient well studded with starlight, when they gazed upon you, the moment stretched into eternity, and you suddenly understood what it meant to see a glance that lasts a lifetime.

Such a beautiful woman certainly wouldn't lie. Zhonghou rubbed his nose and reluctantly said to the head of the family, "The Grand Tutor has been renovating Zhongdu by imperial decree and has been staying in Chong'an City. Since Lord Lu has come to visit relatives, he must have already met the Grand Tutor!"

Lu Kongshan didn't speak, but turned to look at the young woman beside him. She answered for him, hesitatingly saying, "We've been here for a month, and we heard that the Grand Tutor is unwell, so we haven't dared to bother him."

Zhonghou was puzzled. "Grand Tutor is unwell? He was the one who presided over the opening ceremony of today's celebration. When did he fall ill?"

The young woman gave an ambiguous smile and said to Lu Kongshan, "Grandpa, could it be that we've made a mistake? The general said my cousin isn't sick." She then asked Zhonghou, "General, are you here to search our house? Our entire family hasn't left the house today, and no one has been injured. If you don't believe me, please come in and check."

But how could a mere military officer be allowed to barge in at the residence of someone who had revealed his identity and claimed to be the Grand Tutor's uncle? The Marquis had no choice but to come up with a compromise, bowing and saying, "Lord Lu is a close relative of the Grand Tutor, and we dare not be presumptuous. I will return to report to the Supreme Court and then come to visit again. The city is somewhat chaotic today, so I will leave a few men to stand guard outside the residence for the time being, and also to ensure the safety of Lord Lu and his wife."

Lu Kongshan still maintained his arrogant demeanor, not even nodding.

The young woman, more polite than her father, bowed and thanked the Marquis, saying, "If you see the Grand Tutor, please convey my greetings: We send our regards from afar. It is not easy for us to see the Grand Tutor, but if he wishes to see us, he need only grace us with his presence at Liren Lane. We will sweep the snow and dust, always ready to welcome the Grand Tutor."

Zhonghou readily agreed and led his men out of the Lu residence, turning back every few steps with a sigh: "This young lady probably takes after her mother. Look at her father-in-law, he's like a stone spirit, even if he died, he couldn't have given birth to such a beautiful daughter! Xiafang, what a wonderful name, it suits her perfectly."

Anyway, when it comes to beauty, the military general didn't have many fresh descriptions, only that she had black hair and a beautiful face, and looked like the flying apsaras in the Choko Temple.

After Zhonghou had gone far away, Wuhou, who was left behind, was still lingering outside the gate. The young lady gestured to her servants to close the gate before turning and walking up the corridor.

The houses in Chong'an City were all built very high, with carved wooden panels rising on both sides. Sunlight streamed through the openwork, casting dappled shadows as people walked. This interplay of light and shadow reminded her of the day she entered the city—

My feet trod across the scorched earth, some shallower than the marks left by burning battle flags and chariots, others deeper than the blood and flesh gushing forth from bodies buried in the mud.

At the end of the corridor was a dark room. She went down the steps and pushed the door open. It was pitch black inside, with only a small sliver of light shining through a vent in the wall, like a sharp sword cleaving through the darkness.

She blew on the tinderbox, lit the candle on the table, took the lamp, walked to the wooden box in the corner, and opened the lid.

The candlelight spread from her shoulders and back to her neck. The person in the box finally turned around, one eye socket empty, the bloodstains long since dried, giving her a wronged expression.

She reached out and pinched his chin to examine him. "You were really hit?"

The person inside the box didn't speak, but reached out his right hand towards her, holding the lost eyeball in his palm.

Thankfully, it wasn't damaged. She breathed a sigh of relief, took it, and put it in the box. Just as she was about to get up, she was pulled back again. Looking down, she saw several snow-white fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes. She had no choice but to take a few steps back, gesturing for him to come out of the box.

To outsiders, it might seem amazing that someone so tall could shrink into a box only two feet square. But that box had long been his refuge, like a child clinging to its mother; if hurt, it would rather break itself than not seek refuge there to heal.

Fortunately, only her eyes were injured. She examined her from head to toe; broad shoulders, narrow waist, excellent bone structure. Unfortunately, her face was too ordinary, and she couldn't stand looking at it. So she looked away and ordered, "Hide here and don't come out. Make another trip to Jiuzhang Prefecture tonight. To catch the thief, catch the king first, understand?"

Before gaining divine consciousness, Yanren only possessed the most basic thought processes. He struggled to think, "Climbing walls?"

She shook her head. "There's a military commander outside the wall. Take the secret passage."

Two years of preparation, and only one main entrance for entry and exit—that's unacceptable!

He touched his eye socket again, "My face is ruined."

She hummed in agreement. "I'll have the puppeteer change it for you later."

This face was only for temporary use; it doesn't belong to this body. Most living things in the world are pieced together from various sources. Take humans, for example; who doesn't carry a few faces in their pocket, ready to be used and replaced as needed?

A note from the author:

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After a long break, I'm starting the serialization today. Happy reading!