The beginning that doesn't count as the beginning
wedge, fish soup and coffin
wedge
In the quiet, empty courtyard, a censer of sandalwood incense burns like dust.
He stood before the carved windowpane, tilting his head slightly back, letting the gentle breeze caress his cheeks. Half of his face was ruined, with burns all over his left cheek from his chin, already scabbed over. He heard light footsteps behind him, reached out and groped at the window, turning around somewhat unsteadily: "You've come."
He is blind.
A gentle breeze stirred, and the wind chimes hanging on the windowpane began to tinkle again.
“I used to think that being blind would be very painful, but now I know it’s not like that.” He smiled slowly, noble, reserved, yet with a firmness. “I can still touch with my hands, listen with my ears, and see with my heart. The lotus in the courtyard must be blooming by now. I can smell the faint fragrance of lotus in the wind, hear the leaves rustling in the wind, and see water droplets sliding off the leaves. And there is you.”
He slowly raised his hand, his voice soft: "Let me touch your face. I want to know what you look like." His long, slender fingers traced your face carefully for a moment, then a faint smile played on his lips: "If I could see you again someday, I would recognize you immediately, and then..."
Then, I need to find someone, a very important person.
Fish soup and coffin
The sky cleared after the snow. The setting sun on the horizon was a fiery red, reflecting off the thin snow along the riverbank and giving it a pale red hue, which was quite beautiful.
Hu Man staggered through the snow, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. He was a notorious bandit, but he had been outmaneuvered while scouting the area, ending up in this wretched state. He sighed deeply, tore off a piece of his clothing, and knelt down to wrap it around his feet. After being chased for three days and three nights, his soft satin shoes had long been worn through by the thorns and gravel of the mountain; his feet were cold and aching, likely frostbitten.
Thirsty and hungry, he slowly made his way to the riverbank. At this time of year, catching a fresh fish was probably not easy. But for a skilled thief like him, it wasn't too difficult. He felt his pockets; he only had a handkerchief and a few pieces of silver, but no tinderbox.
Without a tinderbox, it meant that even if he caught a fish, he would have to eat it raw. Under normal circumstances, he would never have been willing to endure such hardship, but when he was starving and freezing like a stray dog, a glimmer of hope for survival appeared in his eyes; he no longer cared about anything else.
Hu Man staggered to the riverbank and was about to remove his outer robe and walk into the water when he suddenly heard a soft splash. About twenty paces away, half of a boat emerged from the reeds. A woman in a light green dress was kneeling at the stern, dipping a handkerchief in the river water, then wringing it out. As her clothes fluttered, a pair of fair wrists were revealed.
Hu Man's eyes lit up as he cautiously surveyed his surroundings. He had shaken off his pursuers, and there was no one else in this desolate wilderness on the Lanxi River. He crouched low and slowly approached the small boat. The woman kneeling at the stern, however, seemed completely unaware of his presence. She took an outer robe from a wooden basin behind her and placed it in the river to wash.
The outer robe was clearly a man's garment. Hu Man paused, looking at the small boat, seemingly trying to discern who might be inside through the wooden planks. The longer one lived a life of constant danger, the more cautious one became, fearing even the slightest mishap. He recalled a tale from the martial world: a young nobleman had once roamed the desolate mountains, accompanied by beautiful maids, adorned with jewels and gold, drinking from silver and jade cups, as if eager to reveal their wealthy origins. Immediately, the most notorious bandit of the martial world pursued them. This bandit was infamous for his ruthless killing, cunning, and cruelty; countless heroes of the martial world had perished at his hands. The bandit's body was eventually found in a mountain stream, eyes wide open, face contorted, with only a single wound between his brows; otherwise, there were no other injuries.
Thinking about this, Hu Man suddenly felt a chill run through his body and dared not approach the small boat again.
Suddenly, several coughs were heard from inside the cabin, and a weak male voice came through: "Yan Dan, cough cough, Yan Dan, come in..."
Upon hearing this, the woman in the light green dress immediately stood up, lifted the boat curtain, and entered the cabin. In the instant the curtain was lifted and then lowered again, Hu Man smelled an irresistible aroma that made his mouth water. For a starving person, this aroma was incredibly tempting.
He steeled himself and bravely walked over. Just then, the woman named Yan Dan came out of the cabin again. Seeing a dirty, menacing-looking stranger approaching, she took a step back in fright, her voice trembling, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Hu Man immediately put on a smile and said, "Don't panic, young lady. I'm a merchant. I just encountered some damned bandits on the road. They robbed me of my goods, and my companions were all killed by the bandits. I only managed to escape here after running over several mountains." This wasn't entirely a lie. He had indeed lost all his valuables and had to desperately cross three mountains to shake off the bandits.
Yan Dan's eyes were clear, revealing a hint of sympathy. She smiled slightly and said, "I thought you were a bad person." Her voice was soft and gentle, and her beauty was enhanced by her smile.
Hu Manxin felt an itch in his heart, so he stepped forward and bowed deeply to the ground: "I fled to the riverbank and am so hungry that I can't walk anymore. You are such a beautiful girl, you must have a kind heart. I wonder if you could give me some food."
Yan Dan shook her head apologetically: "I can't make that decision myself; I have to ask my young master." She turned around and carefully lifted a corner of the boat curtain, as if afraid that the cold wind outside would blow in: "Young master, a Mr. Shang has come in. He said he encountered bandits and hasn't eaten for several days. May he come in and sit down?"
A voice came from behind the boat curtain, just like the weak man who had spoken earlier: "It's cold outside, let him in."
Yan Dan turned her head and smiled slightly, "Please come in." She lifted the curtain and let Hu Man in. Hu Man had excellent eyesight and could tell at a glance that the pair of fair hands were beautiful, with soft fingertips, definitely not the hands of someone who had practiced martial arts, or even done heavy work. Inside the cabin, a handsome young man wrapped in a blanket leaned against the cushions, his face pale, with a sickly flush on his cheeks. He weakly cupped his hands and said, "Please sit. I am seriously ill and will not rise to greet you. Please forgive any rudeness."
Hu Man was overjoyed, but his face remained impassive: "You're too kind, young master." He was utterly exhausted and would likely need two or three days to recover. However, the only people on the boat besides the frail young woman were a seriously ill young man. Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, he could easily subdue him in no time.
Yan Dan brought over a soft cushion and invited the guests to sit down before turning to look at the steaming clay pot in the corner. Hu Man sat on the cushion, smelling the aroma rising from the clay pot, and felt even hungrier, but he could only endure it: "Why did you two end up staying in this desolate place? This area is quite unstable, with many bandit strongholds nearby. It's really too dangerous, alas."
The young gentleman sat up straight, exuding an air of refined elegance: "I found the snow scenery here quite beautiful, so I rented a small boat to stay on the river for a few days. I've never seen any bandits, but I can't let your kind reminder go to waste. We'll leave after tonight."
Hu Man immediately noticed the white jade hairpin that held the other man's hair in place; it was translucent and flawless, with a warm, lustrous sheen. Having handled many gold and silver treasures, he knew at a glance that this hairpin was quite valuable. He figured that such a young, wealthy man, coming to the desolate mountains to admire the snow, was probably just a pedantic scholar, out composing a few poems and reciting a few sentimental verses. That was what he thought, but on the surface, he feigned admiration: "Only a refined person like you could appreciate such a snow scene. May I ask your name, sir? When I return, I will certainly set up a memorial tablet for you both."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Dan chuckled. But when she saw her young master looking over, she quickly stuck out her tongue and touched her lips with her index finger, looking three parts playful and seven parts obedient. The young master turned to look at Hu Man and said indifferently, "I am Yu Mo. This is a small matter. Brother, you don't need to take it to heart."
Hu Man read Yu Mo's name several times to confirm that there was no such person in the martial arts world.
The setting sun outside had completely faded, dusk was deepening, and a cold wind was howling. But inside the cabin, the brazier burned brightly, providing warmth and tranquility, making the cold outside completely imperceptible.
Yan Dan picked up two damp pieces of linen, folded them into two thick layers to wrap her hands, and carried the steaming casserole to the low table. The aroma was enticing, and the casserole was still boiling, bubbling with white foam.
This is a pot of fish soup, simmered to perfection. The soup is slightly whitish, and the fish is white and smooth, like solidified fat.
Hu Man couldn't help but swallow. He saw Yan Dan take out a bowl and chopsticks, first scoop out a bowl, along with a fish inside, and place it in front of him: "Please eat." Then she scooped out half a bowl of soup, knelt down next to Yu Mo, and slowly blew on it to warm it up.
Hu Man finished the bowl of soup in no time, not even bothering with the fish bones, and devoured the fish meat like a whirlwind. With the food gone, his stomach was finally full, and he let out a satisfied sigh.
Yu Mo, however, couldn't swallow a single bite. Yan Dan scooped up a small spoonful of fish soup, patiently blew away the steam, and brought it to his lips. Before he could swallow, he coughed violently, coughing up all the fish soup. Yan Dan seemed flustered, gently patting her young master's back, her voice soft and gentle: "Young master, if you don't want to eat, don't force yourself. Call me when you have an appetite, and I'll cook some more."
Yu Mo nodded and leaned back on the cushion without saying a word.
Yan Dan ladled soup for Hu Man and whispered, "My young master is not feeling well."
Hu Man took the bowl: "You'll get better with some rest, but this kind of good fortune is something others can't ask for." His eyes darted around, and he had already made up his mind. This sickly young master was definitely not someone he could keep. On the contrary, this young girl was playful, cute, gentle, and considerate, and she also had excellent cooking skills. It wouldn't be bad to take her home as a concubine.
After dinner, Hu Man suddenly said, "I've eaten and drunk a lot here, and I have nothing to repay you two with. Why don't I tell you a story?"
Yan Dan smiled slightly: "Okay, I love listening to stories." Yu Mo wrapped himself in a blanket and leaned against the cushion, without saying a word.
The story Hu Man was about to tell was one that had been circulating widely in the martial arts world recently, and it was also the last time he would test the other party. Anyone in the martial arts world would definitely have heard of it.
"This story takes place in Qing Shi Town. A poor young man's father died, and he had no money for a proper burial, so he had to bury him haphazardly in a mass grave. The young man, still somewhat filial, thought that leaving his father's remains outside might lead to them being eaten by stray dogs, so he dug a hole with a shovel. As he dug, he suddenly heard a snapping sound and saw something shiny in the soil. Guess what it was?" Hu Man said mysteriously, but Yan Dan shook her head and continued, "It was a gold cup, already chipped in one side. The young man jumped into the hole and dug with his hands, soon unearthing several butterfly-shaped jade discs. He had never seen anything valuable before, but even a complete novice could tell that the jade could be exchanged for a lot of silver. He carried these treasures home, abandoning his father's body. News of his find quickly spread throughout the town and gradually to other places. Many people came to question the young man, but when they opened the door, they were startled. Guess what happened?"
Yan Dan shook her head again: "I can't guess."
Hu Man slammed his hand on the table, causing the lamplight to flicker. "That poor boy died in his own home, his eyes bulging and his face purple, as if he had been frightened. His body was rotting, crawling with maggots, and he was still clutching the treasures he had dug up from the mass grave. The people who came took the jade disc from his hand, but within a few days, they all died, all in the same manner."
Yan Dan's face showed a hint of fear, and even Yu Mo, who had been half-lying down, slightly opened his eyes.
"It was like a plague; everyone who touched the jade died. Finally, a group of very skilled people arrived in Qing Shi Town. They found the ancient tomb in the mass grave and broke in. In the middle of the tomb was a coffin. The coffin was very thick, made of fine wood, and inlaid with gold and silver. If the coffin alone was so valuable, the price of the burial goods inside was unimaginable. The group pried open the coffin and found a woman lying inside, beautiful as a flower, a living person." Hu Man's voice trembled as he said this. "Suddenly, the woman leaped up, plunged her fingers into the heart of the leader, and ripped out a bloody heart. The man's eyes bulged out, his face filled with terror, and he died without even resisting. The rest of the group immediately turned and fled. When they returned and counted their numbers, they found that several were missing, but they never dared to go back to the mass grave again."
Yan Dan was frightened and shrank closer to Yu Mo. Yu Mo gently patted her shoulder and comforted her in a low voice, "In this bright and clear world, where are there any ghosts or monsters? This story is just a legend, and it gets more and more distorted as it's passed down. Don't believe it." These two sentences were spoken with the air of a scholar.
Hu Man simply smiled and did not refute.
After a while, Yan Dan suddenly said, "Oh dear, I forgot to bring in the clothes I washed outside to dry." She stood up and hurried towards the stern of the boat. Hu Man had come looking for her after seeing her washing clothes outside, secretly amused by her carelessness, yet also finding the simple-minded woman rather endearing. Yu Mo closed her eyes and lay down motionless.
Seeing that the time was right, Hu Man drew a dagger from his sleeve and slowly walked to Yu Mo's side.
The brazier in the corner was burning brightly, its red glow illuminating the handsome young man lying on the cushion with his eyes closed, making him appear even more striking. Suddenly, Hu Man pounced, covering his mouth with his hand, raising a dagger high in his hand. Yu Mo's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes.
As the sun rises in the east, the thin snow along the riverbank melts into water droplets.
A few thin ice floes still float on the Lanxi River, and small boats are heading north downstream.
A handsome young man stood with his hands behind his back at the bow of the boat, head tilted back, eyes closed, sleeves fluttering in the wind, the surrounding mountains receding into the distance. He opened his eyes, revealing a pair of blood-red pupils: "Are you ready? We'll be ashore soon."
The boat curtain was lifted, and a woman in a light green dress stepped out, carrying a wooden tray filled with food. "Alright, alright, don't rush me." She bent down and threw everything into the river. The tray floated away with the current, the dagger sank to the bottom with a splash, and only a dirty set of men's clothes and a purple clay pot filled with mud and withered leaves floated on the surface.
"That person must be starving, he's even eating leaves and mud with relish." She smiled and looked up at the young man beside her.
"You knew exactly what it was, yet you still dared to bring it over and feed it to me. You're getting bolder and bolder." He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again, his pupils turning dark. "I see you're up to no good again." He said this with a smile, his tone hardly sounding like a threat.
Yan Dan smiled slightly: "That mortal was wicked and covered in blood. You dared to eat such a filthy spirit. Leaves and mud are much cleaner than that."
Yu Mo pondered for a moment, then nodded: "It is indeed not very clean. But it's better than nothing. Eating a pure spirit would incur divine punishment, and do you think I have too long a life?" He narrowed his eyes, a satisfied look on his face: "Just think of it as doing a good deed every day. Sacrificing yourself for the benefit of the world, what is there that can't be tolerated?"
Yan Dan remained silent for a long time, but finally couldn't help but say, "You fish spirit, you have such a thick skin."
Yu Mo looked at her and said half-jokingly, "What's wrong with that? Besides, fish and lotus are a perfect match. If I'm shameless, you are too." He pointed ahead and saw a vast expanse of mountains, with eagles circling the cliffs and the highest peaks covered in snow. "We're home."
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