Chapter 209 Xiang Bo, you will always be Lou family's little stone.

Xiao Ma strolled confidently through West Street, a dark shadow tailing him at a distance of about half a zhang, neither too close nor too far, relentlessly pursuing him. West Street was almost at its end; turning back would mean a direct confrontation, while ahead lay the Mei family's residence…

Xiao Ma hesitated slightly, then suddenly turned and slipped into the alley. After taking only a few steps, he glanced down and saw a shadow flash by. He knew that the person behind him had followed him in. It seemed that he couldn't avoid it today. Fortunately, the footsteps were quiet, as if there was only one person, only one person... and only... him.

"—It's you?" Before Xiao Ma could finish speaking, he had already drawn his sword and was holding it horizontally in front of him. "Lou Cangyu."

"It's you." Lou Cangyu, sword in hand, smiled enigmatically. "I knew it was you, Ma Lin. Not a bad name."

Seeing that only Lou Cangyu had come, Xiao Ma relaxed slightly. He knew that one man could not fight four people, but if it were a one-on-one fight, he would have a good chance of winning against Lou Cangyu. "It's been a while since I've seen you, Cangyu."

"I heard you come from a prestigious family, a scion of a wealthy clan." Lou Cangyu looked at his former companion with a meaningful gaze. "I always felt you were different from others, but I never imagined you had such a family background."

Xiao Ma chuckled self-deprecatingly, his hand still gripping the sword warily. "So what? I still ended up with my family destroyed and my life ruined. I'm just barely surviving."

"No, no," Lou Cangyu interrupted. "It's not about surviving, it's about living a vibrant and exciting life. Compared to you, I'm the one who sneaks around in the dark, unable to see the light of day. You seem to be in a hurry. Where are you going with those fried cakes?" Lou Cangyu pointed to the oil paper package that Xiao Ma was carrying, sniffed, and said, "You bought six. Is one for me?"

Xiao Ma shook the oil paper package. "Of course, would you like one?"

Lou Cangyu shook his head and counted on his fingers, saying, "I've counted, and it seems there aren't any for me. If I were given one, someone would inevitably go hungry, which isn't good. I don't want what isn't mine."

"Hey." Xiao Ma waved his hand and said, "What are you saying? We're all brothers. It's just fried cakes. You can take them all." He handed him the oil paper package and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Take these and eat them slowly."

Lou Cangyu didn't go to take it, but walked step by step towards Xiao Ma, saying, "Good things taste better when shared. Come on, let's go to your place and eat and chat together."

As Lou Cangyu approached, Xiao Ma said, "Going to our place... might not be very convenient. Take your things and let's catch up on the old days another day."

"The future?" Lou Cangyu laughed. "You think... you still have a future? Ma Lin, you call yourself the smartest person in Xingguo Ward, do you really think you can leave Rongdu, really escape their grasp?"

Xiao Ma loosened his grip and dropped the oil paper package. "Lou Cangyu, we're brothers, you don't have to be so cruel."

"Absolutely?" Lou Cangyu laughed loudly. "Who's being absolute to whom? When I wanted to leave Xingguo Fang, they used the Blood Alliance to pressure me, insisting that I endure every single blow before they would let me go. You want to leave Xingguo Fang? You just leave like that? Not only that, they all helped you. Brothers, we're all brothers. People are different. You've never treated me like a brother. I know you all laugh at me behind my back. I'm just a little stone in the Lou family. Even if I become a diamond in the rough one day, I'll still just be a little stone that you look down on."

Xiao Ma clenched his wrist, secretly gathering strength, his expression remaining calm and composed. "No one looks down on you; it's your own inner turmoil. It's not that no one helped you. One person, one knife? If it were truly one person, one knife, would you still be alive? The brothel owner has treated your family well, and the manager has also taken good care of you..."

"Hahahaha." Lou Cangyu laughed loudly, "Pei Yuan has been good to my family. My great-grandfather died by crashing into a sword because Pei Chong forged the Flowing Gold Sword. Pei Chong was tricked and my great-grandfather was about to commit suicide to follow the sword. After that, the Lou family could not touch the forging technique and could only burn materials for the workshop for generations... And Pei Bi? He took care of me? That's because of my mother... because he cared about my mother."

"Lou Cangyu!" Xiao Ma found it grating. "Aunt Lou and Steward Pei have nothing to hide. Everything she did was for you and your older brother. Have you ever thought about what kind of disaster awaits the people of Canglang Island after taking this step... Your mother and you are still on the island."

Lou Cangyu's face darkened, as if he were caught in a painful dilemma, but this dilemma vanished in an instant, and his face turned into a terrifyingly ruthless expression. "They have held me back for too long... far too long..." Lou Cangyu looked up at the sky with sorrow. A black crow had been circling above their heads for a long time, cawing softly as if urging them to do something. "Nothing in this world can bind me, Lou Cangyu. Not even my own mother or my elder brother. What my mother wants is for me to make something of myself and revive the Lou family. Now... what she hopes for is right before my eyes. I must not... disappoint her. I can do it. I definitely can do it."

“You’re wrong.” Xiao Ma shook his head. “Aunt Lou never wanted you to be successful. She just wanted you to live a peaceful and healthy life.”

"You're talking nonsense!"

“If that were true, she wouldn’t have cried on the day the Meteor Sword was tested,” Xiao Ma insisted. “Cang Yu, did you see the tears welling up in your mother’s eyes?”

Mother's tears? Lou Cangyu recalled the scenes of that day:

"The journey home is just around the corner. Are you willing to return to Rongdu with Xingguofang?"

--"willing!"

Lou Cangyu recalled that it was he who took the lead in shouting, saying, "Your subordinate is willing to go through fire and water for Xingguo Ware without hesitation."

"Yes, yes!" Everyone shouted along with Lou Cangyu, raising their arms.

Everyone was excited and their shouts made Lou Cangyu's ears ring. He saw faces flushed with joy. He tried to find his mother in the crowd, but she was short and had been pushed away by the excited crowd... Mother, were you crying? Why was she crying? Lou's little stone had finally made something of himself, why... was she crying?

"You're talking nonsense." Lou Cangyu drew his sword and pointed it at Xiao Ma. "My mother is overjoyed, why would she cry?"

"Then why is she unwilling to come to Rongdu with you?" Xiao Ma pressed. "Aunt Lou can come along."

Yes, Lou Cangyu's wrist stiffened. Why wouldn't her mother come to Rongdu? She was a capable person who managed things inside and outside the neighborhood; she could have come with her.

"Why isn't Mother leaving? Steward Pei has already agreed to take Eldest Brother with her."

And Ji Yuan and Ji Fang, they don't want to leave Canglang Island. What are they afraid of? Lou Cangyu's head suddenly throbbed with pain. Being able to go to Rongdu, walk the main road, and do great things is a blessing for everyone. Why do they resist this blessing? Why are they unwilling to cherish this hard-won blessing? Why is it only him... only him who is willing to follow this path... even if he dies, he will never regret it.

“That’s because they’re being stubborn.” Lou Cangyu suddenly opened his eyes and glared at Xiao Ma. “Just as inflexible as you, insisting on taking the wrong path instead of the main one. Ma Lin, I’ll ask you one more time, where are they? Take me to them.”

Xiao Ma looked at Lou Cangyu in disbelief, as if he were looking at a fool. "You're asking me? Lou Cangyu, do you think I'd tell you? You're right, we can't be brothers at all. How could I be brothers with a fool like you?"

"You want to die." Lou Cangyu gripped his sword and charged straight at Xiao Ma, who nimbly dodged and swung his sword back without fear.

"Ma Lin, you can only beat me once in your life. You are my defeated opponent, forever." Lou Cangyu slashed several times with sparks flying, each move determined to take his opponent's life. Xiao Ma deflected each attack, steadily holding the oil paper package in his hand, carefully smoothing the hemp rope, and looking up at the sky. The thick fog had almost dissipated, and the boatman must be preparing to set sail.

—Xiao Jing, wait for me, I'll be back soon.

dockside

"The fog is about to clear," the boatman called to the group. "Let's pack up and get ready to go."

"Little Ma!" Mei Xiaojing jumped up in a flash. "Little Ma hasn't come back yet."

Stunned, Ji Fang got up with his cane and searched frantically towards the dock entrance. Amidst the comings and goings of people, he still couldn't find Xiao Ma. Strangely enough, two quarters of an hour had passed, almost the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, why hadn't Xiao Ma returned yet?

"That shouldn't be the case." Guan Ye felt something was wrong. "Xiao Ma is always very sensible. He said he'd be back in a quarter of an hour, and that's the longest he could say.

Mu Chenbi rubbed his numb muscles and bones, "Could it be..."

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey." Guan Ye covered his mouth. "Nothing will happen, nothing will happen to anyone."

Mu Chenbi glanced at Mei Xiaojing, whose face was full of anxiety, and whispered to Guan Ye, "You wait here, I'll go out and find Xiao Ma."

“I’ll go with you.” Guan Ye grabbed Mu Chenbi’s arm. Seeing Mu Chenbi staring at her blankly, her eyes, hidden beneath her phoenix-feather eyelashes, shone with immense relief. She quickly added, “You’re tall and strong; you’d be too conspicuous traveling alone. With me here, I can provide some cover…”

Mu Chenbi found it amusing and turned around, suppressing his laughter, saying, "The boatman can't wait much longer. Since we're going together, let's hurry up."

"Guan Ye," Mei Xiaoqing said gratefully, "you must...find Xiao Ma."

Guan Ye raised her arm high and waved to Mei Xiaojing behind her, "Of course."

“Miss Mei,” Ji Fang said cautiously, “Xiao Ma is very clever; he would never let anything happen to himself…”

Before Ji Fang could finish speaking, Mei Xiaojing's fist came flying at him. He was hit several times without warning, and several punches landed on Ji Fang's still-healing wounds, making him howl in pain. Ji Fang didn't understand. He hadn't said many words, so why was he being beaten up for saying something wrong?

"Pah! Pah!" Mei Xiaoqing cried out, "Xiao Ma will be fine, he will definitely be fine, you're the one who's going to be in trouble..."

Ji Fang was inexplicably hit a few more times, then suddenly the fists stopped falling. Ji Fang mustered his courage and opened his eyes. He saw Mei Xiaoqing curled up next to the sandbag, sobbing. Crystalline tears fell in strings, just like... just like the pearls in Feng Shisan's box.

"Ji Fang." Mei Xiaoqing looked up, her eyes swollen like peaches. "I'm sorry, Xiao Ma will be alright, and you will be alright too. I was just so worried about Xiao Ma that...that's why..."

"It's alright." Ji Fang was flustered and didn't know what to do. He timidly withdrew the hand he had reached out to Mei Xiaojing and hid it behind his back. "Little Ma is a lucky person. She will definitely be alright."

As the sun rose, West Street became increasingly lively. No one knew that in a nearby alley, two swordsmen were engaged in a fierce battle. They were clearly acquaintances, but their swords clashed, and the swordsmen's eyes held no trace of past affection, only ruthlessness.

"Ma Lin, I'll ask you one more time, where are they!" Lou Cangyu said murderously, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. "If you tell me, I will report to the Grand Preceptor that you and I have no blood oath with Xingguo. The Grand Preceptor is wise and benevolent, you are not necessarily going to die."

Xiao Ma stood firm and refused to yield an inch. "It's not certain, but you might still die. Lou Cangyu, even if you climb the social ladder, you'll still have to be mindful of others' feelings. Can't you even protect your brother's life? Whether the brothel owner bestowed the Pei surname upon you or you've now latched onto Cui Jin, you're still just a small stone in the Lou family, forever."

These words struck a nerve with Lou Cangyu. Lou Cangyu roared and drew his sword, aiming straight for Xiao Ma's throat. Xiao Ma hadn't expected him to actually try to kill him. He dodged to the side with a light step, but even though he moved as fast as the wind, he still felt a chill on his neck. He reached down and touched it; his palm was covered in blood. Xiao Ma gasped, knowing that today, in this narrow alley, only one of them, Lou Cangyu, could escape.