Chapter 75 Xiaoyun, save us!

“You’ve always known who you are.” Wan Qixi stared at the deep hole in his right eye. He no longer felt horrified. He wanted to touch A Jing’s face, ask how much pain the ink on his face hurt, and ask A Jing how he could bear to gouge out one of his eyes and die for his cause. How could A Jing’s one eye be used for martyrdom? He died for the entire Lu family, for the eldest young lady Lu Chaoge whom he couldn’t protect, and for the young master Lu Xiaojun, who hid in the carriage seat partition and escaped with them before the lockdown of Rongdu.

"Sister...Sister." The car wheels creaked and groaned as they rolled over the eerily quiet West Street. The usually bustling night market seemed to have been devoured by a demon, leaving only a chilling panic in the air. "Sister..."

From the partition beneath Lu Chaoge, her younger brother's timid voice called out, "Sister, where are we going?"

"Don't make a sound." Lu Chaoge slowly bent down, her fingers touching the ventilation hole in the partition, and tapping her younger brother's cold fingertips. "When we get to the city gate, whatever you do, don't make a sound, understand?"

"I'm scared..." Lu Xiaojun said, her voice trembling with tears, "I want to go home."

"Will we be able to get out?" Lu Chaoge lifted the carriage curtain, her brows furrowed with worry.

"We'll get out! We'll definitely get out!" Ah Jing, who was driving the carriage, had veins bulging on his arms, clearly having given it his all.

The carriage curtain fell, and Lu Chaoge composed herself, lowering her voice to say, "Did you hear what A-Jing said? We will definitely get out of here."

A child's low sobs came from inside the partition. Lu Chaoge was about to scold her younger brother when she realized that he was only seven years old and was huddled in the pitch-black partition, probably feeling panicked and scared. She also thought about the uncertain future ahead and how it would be if they were stopped at the city gate... her chances of survival were slim.

"Xiao Jun." Lu Chaoge gently tapped the partition. "Do you keep the sword that Master Guan forged for you with you?"

Lu Xiaojun stopped crying, touched herself with both hands, and clung to the partition, her voice choked with sobs, "Sister, I left in such a hurry, I forgot..."

"It's alright," Lu Chaoge comforted her. "Even without that sword, you can still protect your sister, right?"

In the darkness, Lu Xiaojun's forehead bumped against the partition. Through the gap in the curtain, the Vermilion Bird Gate was already appearing and disappearing. Lu Chaoge sat up and said in a deep voice, "You must remember what your sister said. When we get to the city gate, you must ask A-Jing and me to stop you. You must, you must not make a sound, and you must not cry."

--"elder sister…"

"Shut up!" Lu Chaoge snapped, interrupting him. "Uncle Deng used his own grandson to take your place. Can you bear to let Deng Qingbai die?"

Inside the partition, Lu Xiaojun clenched her thigh muscles, gritting her teeth to keep herself from making the slightest sound.

“If A-Jing and I are stopped, our carriage will definitely be taken to the government office. You should sneak out at night when no one is around. I know you and Deng Qing have sneaked out through dog holes many times before, do you think you'll do it again?”

"Yes..." Lu Xiaojun covered her mouth, "I will."

Lu Chaoge smiled with relief and continued, "After escaping the government office, go find someone."

--"who?"

“Old Master Ma, Ma Yi, he knows you, and you must know him too. I took you to his house, and you even ate some of his fruit, remember?”

"Ma Yi." Lu Xiaojun couldn't remember his name, but he remembered the fruit he had eaten. It was given to him by an older brother who could play the bamboo leaf flute. The older brother was very clever; he could pick a leaf and make music with it. The tune was melodious and beautiful. Seeing that he was listening intently, the older brother even picked a fruit for him to eat. One bite was as sweet as honey. Lu Xiaojun swallowed, thinking about it. He really wanted to eat another one. His sister said that the older brother was the son of the Ma family. His name was... what was his name? Lu Xiaojun couldn't remember anymore. "Ma Yi, I'll remember it."

“Ma Yi is on good terms with our family, and we are close friends despite our age difference. He is a rare and righteous man. He will definitely not abandon you when Tianhufang is harmed.” Lu Chaoge looked out of the carriage again. The soldiers at the city gate had also seen their carriage and surrounded them. “From now on, do not make a sound.”

Lu Xiaojun covered his mouth tightly, suppressing the convulsions of his frail body. He was afraid that he would burst into uncontrollable tears, and even more afraid that his sister and A-Jing would be taken away, leaving him all alone.

Through the hole, he saw his sister confidently hand over a crimson package, followed by a heavy money bag. Ah Jing's carriage did not move. His sister then took out the gold hairpin from her hair, hesitated slightly, and then took off the pearl earring from her ear. Lu Xiaoyun knew that his sister liked those earrings very much.

More and more items were being sent out, and the surrounding soldiers showed no sign of making way. Lu Xiaojun saw that A Jing quietly reached for the horizontal sword under his seat, almost touching the hilt.

Lu Xiaojun's heart was in his throat. He almost burst into tears. Just as he was about to lose control, his sister took out a handful of copper coins from her sleeve, held them in her palm, and handed them to him. A moment later, she called for Ah Jing to hurry up and leave.

Ah Jing spurred his horse out of the city gate with a "Giddy up!" Lu Xiaojun heard the night watchman ring the midnight gong, covered his ears, and finally burst into tears.

"Ah Jing," Wan Qixi said in a trembling voice, "shouldn't I call you Grand Preceptor Cui?"

The repeated calls of "A-Jing" awakened Cui Jin's long-dormant memories. For many years, no one had called him A-Jing. On his escape, he lived in hiding, and everyone called him "that cart driver." He cultivated in Cangshan, and the people who sought his teachings called him "Immortal Cui." He was welcomed into Rongdu by Mu You and was revered as the "National Preceptor." He traveled throughout the court and the country, and no one dared to disrespect him.

But all he wanted was to hear someone call him "A-Jing". He was A-Jing, and only A-Jing. He accompanied the young lady to discuss swordsmanship, taught the young master martial arts, ate and lived with the blacksmith, and protected the shopkeeper when he went shopping. He was A-Jing, the swordsman of Tianhu Workshop.

Ah Jing, Ah Jing, this name was given to him by the young lady Lu Chaoge. The old blacksmith Deng Bo found a skinny boy on the mountain road on his way back to his hometown. Feeling sorry for him, he took him back to the workshop. He originally thought that he could just make a living as a sword slave. However, the workshop owner Lu Nian saw his bone structure and aptitude at a glance. It would be a waste to make him a sword slave and do odd jobs. She pondered what she should let him do.

Cui Jin remembered his first meeting with Lu Chaoge until his death. He stood trembling beside Uncle Deng, seeing Lu Nian's closed eyes and silence, assuming the brothel owner didn't want him to stay. Just as he was about to speak, offering to do anything, he suddenly heard heavenly music from outside the door, like celestial melody. Cui Jin turned to look, and in just one glance, his bleak life was transformed, making him willing to stay in Tianhu Brothel for the rest of his life, to stay by Lu Chaoge's side, as a slave, a companion, to live and die together. Even now, as the second-highest position in the Great Jin Dynasty, he was still willing to give his life for her.

"Let him be the swordsman."

At that time, Lu Chaoge was only eleven or twelve years old. Her eyes were bright and mischievous. She pursed her red lips and uttered these words. Looking into his eyes, they were sparkling and warm. She walked into the hall without any of the restraint of a young lady. Her stride seemed to carry the world in her heart. Her red dress was as fiery as the midday sun, so dazzling that Cui Jin could not open his eyes.

The noblewoman's radiant presence made Cui Jin uneasy. His hands were sweaty, and he wished he could bury his head in the ground. He wanted to beg the shop owner to let him stay, saying he would do anything for her. Swordsman? He had never heard of such a thing before. He didn't even know what a swordsman did. But he knew that if he missed this opportunity, he would regret it to death.

"I'm willing to be a swordsman!" Cui Jin shouted with all his might.

“Father, he’s willing.” Lu Chaoge stared at him intently. “Then from now on, you’ll practice swordsmanship with me.”

Cui Jin nodded firmly, afraid that she might suddenly change her mind. Looking at Lu Chaoge's bright and lively face, she asked herself again, "My name is Lu Chaoge, what's your name?"

His name? His surname was Cui, and his given name was Jin, but since his parents passed away, no one knew his name anymore. Cui Jin disliked this name. The person with this name should have a life of wealth and glory, but he was just a pitiful person forgotten by the world. He didn't deserve a name, nor should he have one. He longed for a new name.

"Don't you have a name?" Lu Chaoge gazed at him, her eyes overflowing with pity.

Cui Jin remained silent, gazing at Lu Chaoge's face bathed in sunlight. The red ribbon in her hair swayed in the wind. She had a pair of amber eyes, and to this day, those eyes remained deeply etched in Cui Jin's heart, never forgotten.

Lu Chaoge was thinking about what name to give this boy when she suddenly thought of something. She walked around Cui Jin twice and saw that he was dressed in rags and covered in bloody scratches from thorns. Lu Chaoge closed her eyes slightly and thought for a moment before saying, "A-Jing! I'll call you A-Jing."

“Ah Jing?” Lu Nian frowned and shook his head. “What kind of name is that? If you’re going to be a swordsman for Tianhu Workshop, you need to have a resounding name.”

“Let’s call him A-Jing.” Lu Chaoge said stubbornly, “I want him to be a troublemaker that no one can mess with, to pave the way for Tianhufang. So let’s call him A-Jing.”

“I like to be called A-Jing.” Cui Jin said boldly, afraid that the brothel owner would forbid him from using this name. He liked it very much after hearing it just once. “From now on, I am A-Jing.”

“Father, look, he likes it very much.” Lu Chaoge smiled brightly, holding the sword with a heroic posture in one hand. She handed the sword to him, “You can practice with this sword first. When your swordsmanship surpasses mine, I will ask Uncle Deng to forge an even better one for you.”

Seeing that the boy he brought back could be kept, Uncle Deng was relieved and stroked his beard, saying, "Miss is comfortable using this sword. A-Jing is not yet a student, so there's no rush for him to use a sword. When he is old enough to use it, I'll have Xiaotian forge one for him."

Just as Cui Jin was about to reach for the sword, Lu Chaoge, finding Deng Bo's words reasonable, withdrew his sword and said, "That's right. Guan Xiaotian just sharpened my sword, and A-Jing hasn't even started learning yet, so he might easily get hurt. Father said that Guan Xiaotian is a rare sword-making genius, so let's wait for him to forge a sword for A-Jing."

Cui Jin felt somewhat frustrated that what she had just acquired was taken away with a single sentence. However, she dared not act rashly, as she had the talent to keep. Cui Jin lowered her hands and remained silent, but couldn't help glancing at Lu Chaoge out of the corner of her eye.

This was also the first time Cui Jin had heard anyone mention Guan Xiaotian. He had only stayed at Tianhu Workshop for a few days when he met this sword-making prodigy, who was said to be a once-in-a-century talent. Guan Xiaotian was a few years older than him and Lu Chaoge, around fifteen or sixteen years old, but he already had the appearance of a rough man. His hands were large and broad, covered with calluses. Despite his young age, he could already carry heavy bags weighing over a hundred pounds. In the foundry, he buried his head in his hammer, wiping away the sweat that poured down his face. He didn't even look up at anyone who passed by. Sparks flew all around him, and his muscular body was one with the ironwork. No external disturbances could interfere with him.

Upon seeing Cui Jin, Guan Xiaotian grinned and revealed a hint of youthful masculinity, but his imposing physique still commanded the imposing presence of a grown man. Compared to his robust physique, the slender Cui Jin could be almost ignored.

Lu Chaoge often came to discuss casting techniques with Guan Xiaotian, becoming so engrossed that she would stay for hours on end. Cui Jin followed beside her, listening in utter confusion, unable to glean a single word. Cui Jin watched the two of them, hating his complete ignorance of casting techniques; he couldn't even distinguish between iron and copper, and he barely knew any characters. Aside from sword practice, it seemed he could learn nothing else.

Cui Jin practiced martial arts with a frenzied passion, finally receiving the sword forged for him by Guan Xiaotian. Cui Jin remembered the sword; Guan Xiaotian had put a lot of thought into it. The sword was nimble and lightweight, perfectly suited to his frail physique. Yet, Cui Jin was also filled with shame and indignation. Was Guan Xiaotian mocking his small stature? Of course, he wouldn't be foolish enough to say it aloud. He gratefully accepted the sword and from then on studied even harder. Being small and thin, he ate more and practiced more. Unable to read, he began his education alongside the young master. Finally, one day, he could recognize all the characters in the *Zhu Jing* (a classic text on casting). He recited the text to Lu Chaoge, watching as Lu Chaoge's eyes gradually lit up, revealing a surprised smile—"A-Jing, you can recite the *Zhu Jing*!?"

For ten years, Cui Jin—no, it was A Jing—had become the most trusted person in the Lu family. Even the young master loved to ride on his shoulders, waving his little wooden sword and shouting, "A Jing, teach me! A Jing, teach me!"

At this time, Lu Chaoge would pick up the young master and point at his nose fiercely, saying, "You're really something else. You want someone to be your master, and you dare to ride on their head?"

At six or seven years old, Lu Xiaojun was at an age that even dogs would dislike. She threw down her wooden sword and ran to the forge, saying, "If I don't want to learn, I won't learn. I'll go find my Master Guan. He said he'll forge a real sword for me."

"Lu Xiaojun, are you trying to reach for the heavens!"

Memories flooded back. Every sleepless night, when Cui Jin closed her eyes, she would see Lu Chaoge's amber eyes and hear her cheerful laughter—"A-Jing, go practice your sword, A-Jing?"

"Ah Jing, Ah Jing!"

Whenever Cui Jin was immersed in these calls, a shrill scream would immediately reach his ears:

"Ah Jing, save us! Ah Jing! Ah Jing!"