Chapter 1: Luo Guoyun escapes to another place due to misfortune. Xiao Pingzhou gets into trouble and hides in a mountain valley.
Late autumn of 1927.
At the foot of the Qinling Mountains, on the border of Sichuan and Shaanxi, dense forests shade the surrounding fields, and the silence is profound. At dawn, a horse-drawn carriage gallops along the mountain road.
The driver was a young man in his twenties, dusty and exhausted, his eyes red from having traveled all night. His clothes were stained with blood, the color no longer discernible.
The young man looked anxious. While waving his whip vigorously, he turned his head to ask the people in the carriage, "Brother, this should be around here... Why don't we see any people?"
The man sitting in the carriage bore a striking resemblance to the young man, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and sharply defined features. He too was disheveled and haggard. In his arms was a boy, perhaps fifteen or sixteen. The boy's eyes were closed, his face pale, and a bandage swathed his left shoulder, faintly stained with blood.
"It's around here...it should be here soon!" The man reached out and felt the boy's forehead, and said anxiously, "Third brother, your body is so hot! The wound is already inflamed and burning! We have to hurry...it will be dangerous if we don't take the bullet out...!"
The boy's name is Luo Guyun. He is the only son of Commander Luo Qifeng, a powerful warlord who dominates the seven provinces of the southwest and northwest.
Half a month ago, Mid-Autumn Night.
A bloody mutiny erupted in Anyang City. Commanding over 100,000 troops, Commander Luo was caught off guard when his most trusted sworn brother, Yang Kun, known as Yang Lao Si, led over a hundred personal soldiers and surrounded the Luo residence while he and his family were enjoying a Mid-Autumn Festival dinner. Over twenty people, including servants, were slaughtered. Only his only son, Luo Guyun, managed to escape, protected by the desperate efforts of several personal guards.
Commander Luo, born into poverty, possessed a mastery of swordsmanship inherited from his ancestors, resulting in exceptional martial arts skills. Even seven or eight ordinary men were no match for him. He was also a man of integrity and righteousness. Though uneducated, he mastered the ways of the underworld, often robbing the rich to help the poor, earning him a reputation as a chivalrous warrior. Within a few years, he had gathered a band of comrades, established himself as a bandit leader, and became a powerful figure.
There were six sworn brothers in the early days, and Yang Kun was the fourth oldest. He was also the first loyal comrade to join Commander Luo in conquering the world. Having attended a private school for several years, he was considered well-educated among the brothers. He often provided advice and suggestions during external liaisons and various negotiations. Yang Kun played an indispensable role in establishing such a great foundation, earning Luo Qifeng's deep trust.
Over the past decade, Commander Luo and his men fought dozens of battles, both large and small. Like a snowball, their army grew larger and larger. From a few hundred bandits, they eventually expanded to hundreds of thousands of troops, becoming a major military force in the southwest and northwest, a force no one dared to underestimate.
Yan Dashuai of Shanxi wanted to win over Luo Qifeng. He sent representatives and found several middlemen to try to establish a relationship with Commander Luo. However, Luo Qifeng ignored those who approached him. He always felt that Yan would not last long and was not a reliable person. In his opinion, he wanted to follow Chiang Kai-shek. Firstly, this was in the interests of most of his brothers. Everyone was in the business just to provide for their families and keep their wives and children safe. Although Yan promised high positions and generous salaries, if the brothers were all cannon fodder in the blink of an eye, they would not be able to enjoy them. Secondly, Commander Bai of the revolutionary army had some personal connections with him, and they had some sympathy for each other. If the two families joined forces, most of China would be under their sphere of influence, and they would be strong in military and military, so they would not suffer any loss.
Yang Laosi was unhappy. The Vice Chairman of the Nationalist Government, surnamed Li, had a grudge against him in his earlier years. If the two families merged, they would undoubtedly make things difficult for him. He might even lose his military power and become vulnerable to being exploited. Furthermore, he had been the liaison in the negotiations with the Yan family, receiving numerous benefits privately. If the deal fell through, he feared they would not spare his life.
Yang Laosi and Commander Luo argued several times over this matter. Commander Luo, believing that the interests of the majority of his comrades could not be sacrificed for personal grudges, refused to listen. Resentful, Yang Laosi hardened his resolve and secretly gathered dozens of his trusted men. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, while Commander Luo had returned from the barracks with only a few close followers to celebrate with his family, they surrounded Luo's residence. Desperately seeking revenge, they killed Commander Luo's entire family, proclaimed themselves commander-in-chief, and declared their defection to the Anhui clique.
The two young men in the carriage were brothers, the elder named Yi Shui and the younger Yi Han. Their father was Yi Xuanming, a descendant of the Southern Chang Quan style. Yi Xuanming was also Luo Qifeng's sworn brother and the second oldest. He died young, leaving behind an orphan and a widow. Luo Qifeng brought the brothers, then five and three years old, to the Luo residence, personally raising and nurturing them. Yi Shui was a man of strategy, while Yi Han was a martial artist. The brothers worked together in perfect harmony, achieving countless military exploits and holding important military positions at a young age.
The day of the incident happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Yi brothers grew up in the Luo Mansion, and Luo Qifeng was both their teacher and their father. They spent every holiday at the Luo family's house. After Yang Laosi surrounded the Luo Mansion, he thought, since he had done it, he had to do it cleanly and leave no one alive. He rushed into the hall and unleashed a barrage of gunfire. For a moment, the sound of crying and breaking cups and plates filled the air. The Yi brothers and Luo Guyun reacted faster and quickly retreated behind the screen, but they were also injured. In a panic, Luo Guyun picked up his mother, who was closest to him and had been shot. He and the Yi brothers fought and retreated, fleeing to the backyard. They climbed over a gap in the low wall and quickly hid in a culvert, escaping the disaster.
Luo Guoyun's mother, Li Shifen, was the eldest daughter of the prestigious Li family in the southwest. She was well-mannered, well-educated, and beautiful. Commander Luo, a man of ordinary means, was naturally delighted to marry such a distinguished lady. He treated his wife with great respect and devotion, unlike other warlords who had multiple wives and concubines.
Mrs. Li gave birth to a son and a daughter. The daughter, Luo Gulan, was six years older than Luo Guyun. She suffered injuries during the birth of Luo Guyun and remained childless. Commander Luo didn't mind. He doted on his only son. From the age of five, he invited a renowned local scholar to teach him, and even personally taught him martial arts.
Luo Guyun was also highly motivated. Although he was the commander's only son, adored by the public, he possessed none of the arrogance of a dandy young man. He had been studying literature and martial arts since childhood, never failing in his craft. He possessed a fine handwriting, his regular script vigorous and powerful, with the strength and grace of Yan and Liu. Even Liu Daru, the former top scholar and renowned calligrapher, exclaimed upon seeing Luo Guyun's calligraphy, "You are a formidable young man!"
Luo Guoyun had an upright figure, a powerful waist and abdomen, and was born with a talent for martial arts. As a teenager, he wielded his ancestral swordsmanship with such ferocity that ordinary people could not get close. He also mastered spearmanship, hitting the target with a single shot from a hundred paces away, a truly remarkable feat.
Luo Qifeng was determined to have a son inherit the family business. He raised him with strict discipline, instilling in him both military and civil skills. From the age of ten, he trained in the military camp, and at thirteen, he entered the Army Military Academy. Despite his youth, Luo Guoyun emulated his father's style, treating his soldiers with clear rewards and punishments, and maintaining a balanced approach to discipline. He participated in several battles, always leading the charge with courage and strategy. Everyone was deeply impressed by the commander's son and praised the Luo family's continued succession.
Luo Guyun was just born when brothers Yishui and Yihan were brought back to the Luo Mansion. From the moment he could walk, he played with his two older brothers, studying literature and martial arts together and developing a close bond. On the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month of this year, Luo Guyun's sixteenth birthday, the three of them, following their father's example, formally swore a blood oath and became sworn brothers. Yishui was the eldest, Yihan the second, and Luo Guyun the third.
After escaping from Luo's mansion, the three brothers hid nearby, intending to wait for Yang Laosi's men to leave before sneaking back to see what was going on. However, within two hours, a raging fire erupted in the mansion, blazing to the sky and illuminating half of Anyang City.
Luo Guyun's mother, already gravely injured, watched the raging fire, thinking of her husband's tragic death and the destruction of her family. She desperately wanted to follow him, but she died. Before she died, she removed a jade pendant from her neck and handed it to Luo Guyun. She instructed the three brothers to find a way out of the city and flee to a place called Lizhuang in the western Sichuan plains. That was her dowry farm, remote and hundreds of miles from Pingyang City. It was registered under the name of one of her dowry maids, so Yang Laosi's men would be unable to find it.
When Yang Laosi saw Luo Guoyun escape, he knew he was a formidable threat and would remain a threat until he was eradicated. He dispatched countless pursuers, laying a tight net and vowing to bring Luo Guoyun to his death. The three men hid from place to place, refusing to take the main roads and instead choosing secluded and difficult terrain to avoid Yang Laosi's pursuit.
After running around for ten days, I finally managed to escape to the Qinling Mountains and was about to enter Sichuan.
Luo Guyun was shot in the left shoulder, shrapnel lodged in his flesh, and he dared not seek medical attention. Despite his robust physique, the wound became infected and inflamed. By the time he reached this place, he was completely exhausted, with a persistent high fever. He had been unconscious for two days and was in critical condition.
This place was still over 300 li away from Lizhuang, and it looked like they couldn't hold out any longer. The brothers Yishui and Yihan made a plan, turned their horses around, and galloped towards Alsophila Valley, several dozen li away.
Alsophila Valley lies at the foot of Mount Zhongnan. Commander Luo had an old friend, Sun Zhongxing, known as Imperial Physician Sun, who lived there in seclusion. Imperial Physician Sun was once an imperial physician to the Qing court, renowned for his exceptional medical skills. Twenty years ago, the imperial court collapsed, and the old emperor fled. Imperial Physician Sun returned to his hometown, secluded in Alsophila Valley. On his way home, he encountered bandits and his belongings were robbed. Fortunately, Commander Luo rescued him, saving his life and expressing his immense gratitude.
Luo Guoyun's mother was in poor health, and Imperial Physician Sun had been prescribing her medication year-round. Three years ago, Imperial Physician Sun sent a message to Commander Luo, saying he had formulated a new pill formula that would benefit his wife. Commander Luo dispatched Yi Shui to retrieve the medicine. Yi Shui vaguely remembered the route, and relying on that memory, he rushed to Alsophila Valley.
He was half asleep. His parents lay in a pool of blood, he could hear the servants crying, screaming, gunshots... Luo Guyun slowly woke up.
A pair of clear and bright eyes came close to me...
The child was staring at him curiously. When he saw him open his eyes, he excitedly turned and ran to the door, shouting in a clear, childish voice, "Grandpa, Grandpa... He's awake, awake!"
Luo Guyun looked around the room he was in… green tiles, white walls, wooden lattice windows, where was this…?
Following the shouting, Yi Han was the first to step over the threshold.
Yi Han took two steps at a time and walked to the bedside, his voice trembling with excitement: "Third brother...it's been seven days...you finally woke up!"
It turned out that Luo Guyun had been in a coma for seven days.
Then came an old man in his sixties, none other than Doctor Sun. He quickly sat down beside the bed, took Luo Guyun's hand, felt his pulse, and was about to speak.
"Who is this...?" Luo Guyun was filled with questions. He had been in a coma since before coming to Alsophila Valley, and was a little lost.
"This is Doctor Sun, an old friend of my adoptive father." Yi Han simply told Luo Guyun how he came to Alsophila Valley, picking out the most important things.
"Thank you, Doctor Sun, for saving me..." Luo Guyun had been brought up in a strict etiquette and abided by the rules since he was a child. It was difficult for him to stand up and greet.
"My dear nephew, don't be so polite. Lie down quickly! It will be serious if the wound moves!" Doctor Sun hurriedly held down Luo Guyun.
"Is his injury... serious?" Yi Han asked worriedly.
"Alas... if you had arrived a few hours later, even a god would have been powerless! This bullet wounding the bone isn't a big deal... the key is that it's been lodged there for over ten days, festering and inflaming, causing a high fever—a symptom of septicemia... so many soldiers on the battlefield died from high fevers caused by injuries they didn't receive timely treatment for..." Imperial Physician Sun became quite eloquent when it came to medical theory. "Luckily, my nephew has practiced martial arts for years, so he has a strong physique and a strong will. He can endure this. If it had been someone else, it would have been hard to say."
"Brother is so awesome!" The child who had been standing nearby listening to the adults talking spoke in a crisp and pleasant voice.
"Who is this child...?" Luo Guyun turned his gaze to the child he saw the first time he woke up.
"This is Xiangyue, the son of Xiao Leshi," Doctor Sun replied. He took the child standing behind him and held him on his lap. He touched his head lovingly and said, "Yue'er, call me Brother Yun."
"Brother Yun." Xiao Xiangyue smiled sweetly at Luo Guyun and greeted him formally. Pulling on the sleeve of Luo Guyun's shirt that was exposed outside the quilt, she shook it and begged, "Brother Yun, please get well soon. Yue'er wants to play with you."
Doctor Sun said, "You've finally made it through the gates of hell. But you can't be careless. You need to rest for at least two months. Don't move your bones anymore, or your arm will be crippled... If my place doesn't bother you, you might as well stay here and make plans once you've recovered."
"I feel embarrassed to bother you like this." Luo Guyun hesitated, not wanting to cause trouble for others.
"My dear nephew, please don't be polite. Commander Luo is a chivalrous man who saved my life and we have been friends for many years. Now that he is in trouble, I am truly sad..." When he said this, his eyes were slightly red.
"Brother Yun, just recuperate here." A crisp child's voice came to the conclusion as Xiao Xiangyue, who was sitting in the arms of Doctor Sun, opened her big, clear eyes.
That evening, Yi Shui, who had gone out to gather information, returned and was delighted to see Luo Guyun had regained consciousness. Alsophila Valley was remote, and Yang Laosi's men probably wouldn't be able to find it for the time being. The three of them settled down and waited until Luo Guyun recovered before setting off again.
The Alsophila Valley is surrounded by high mountains and dense forests, home to rare plants not found elsewhere. The unique climate here ensures the medicinal herbs harvested are more authentic and effective. Imperial Physician Sun excelled at developing formulas, extracting and refining herbs into pills. He built a few small houses at the valley's entrance and settled there, primarily to facilitate his mountain herb-gathering. The finished medicines were purchased by pharmacists, and due to their effectiveness, they were in short supply and extremely popular.
Far from towns and villages, the area was nearly deserted. A single hunter family lived at the valley's entrance. As Dr. Sun settled there, his reputation gradually spread. Villagers from all over the surrounding area, navigating the vast distances to seek his help, even with difficult ailments, would brave the long journey. Dr. Sun, a compassionate doctor, earned a good income from selling pills and medicine, and was well-off. Therefore, he never charged for his treatments, earning him immense respect.
Twenty years ago, Imperial Physician Sun cured a farmer of a long-standing illness. Seeing that he was still single, even in his forties, the farmer insisted on marrying his eighteen-year-old daughter to him. They had a son, Sun Mu, who turned twenty this year. Imperial Physician Sun passed on all his medical skills to his son. Together, father and son collected herbs in the mountains and made pills. His daughter-in-law, Song, though a peasant, was hardworking, simple, and capable. The family lived a carefree, happy, and stable life.
Doctor Sun's residence was a three-sided courtyard, with a five-room main house and three east and west side rooms, surrounding a small courtyard. Besides Doctor Sun's family, the main house also housed two pharmacies and a study.
Luo Guyun lived alone in a room in the east corner to recuperate, and the Yi brothers lived next door.
Xiao Pingzhou and his son Xiao Xiangyue lived in the west wing opposite. Xiao Pingzhou was well versed in music, and his room was filled with his various sheet music and musical instruments.
Xiao Pingzhou's ancestors had been court musicians for generations, and he was a close friend of Imperial Physician Sun. After the fall of the imperial court, he returned to his hometown of Yangzhou and formed a theatrical troupe. Xiao Pingzhou possessed extraordinary talent, mastering a wide range of musical instruments and songs, and even writing his own scripts and repertoire. His choreography became a huge hit in Jiangnan, and audiences were enthusiastic. The wealthy families of Jiangnan were proud to have their troupe perform, and their fame quickly soared.
Xiao Pingzhou was a handsome, suave, and talented young woman. His opera troupe featured a female lead, Xiao Yuegui. She was exceptionally beautiful, a talented singer and actress, and her melodious voice captivated the audience. Xiao Yuegui and Xiao Pingzhou were deeply in love and had already been engaged. However, the son of the Jiangnan governor coveted Xiao Yuegui's beauty, and after several attempts to woo her failed, he attempted to force himself on her. How could Xiao Pingzhou tolerate this? In a rage, he accidentally struck the governor's son to death.
Having caused such a catastrophic disaster, Xiao Pingzhou couldn't stay in Yangzhou any longer. He fled overnight with the pregnant Xiao Yuegui. The warlord was powerful, and wanted notices were posted everywhere for Xiao Pingzhou, the murderer. The two endured a horrific journey, suffering immensely. Perhaps she had a miscarriage along the way, and by the time they reached Alsophila Valley, Xiao Yuegui was already dying, having been born prematurely at just seven months. Poor Xiao Yuegui, after exerting her last bit of strength to give birth, died.
Xiao Pingzhou was heartbroken after the loss of his beloved. He named his son Xiangyue, meaning "thinking of the moon," in memory of his late wife, Xiao Yuegui. Xiangyue also refers to Xiaoxiang Moon, a renowned courtesan. The name is a reference to the line "The cold moon buries the flower's soul," recited by the owner of the Xiaoxiang Pavilion in the novel "A Dream of Red Mansions." Xiangyue, meaning "Xiaoxiang's cold moon buries the flower's soul," laments Xiao Yuegui's tragic fate.
Premature babies born at just seven months old usually have a hard time surviving. Fortunately, Imperial Physician Sun was highly skilled and, through his meticulous care and careful use of all available methods, he was able to save Xiao Xiangyue's life.
Xiao Xiangyue's life was saved. Due to congenital deficiencies, the child was weak since childhood and fell ill every other day. Every winter, he would catch a cold and cough if he caught a cold. When he was five years old, he had a serious pneumonia with a high fever for three days and three nights, and he almost died. Imperial Physician Sun stayed by his bedside day and night, giving him acupuncture. He also searched through medical books and found that a plant called Aster truncatum was very effective in treating pneumonia, but it had long been extinct in mainland China. The child was also lucky. It happened that a doctor who had returned from Southeast Asia in the provincial capital came to visit Imperial Physician Sun. It turned out that he had brought back some Aster truncatum seeds. Imperial Physician Sun planted Aster truncatum all around the theater, and used the rhizomes for fumigation every day, and crushed the leaves to make porridge and soup. After more than half a year of treatment, he finally saved Xiao Xiangyue's life.
Although my life was saved, I was left with some aftereffects. I was prone to chest tightness and shortness of breath, especially during the spring pollen season. In severe cases, I would develop redness and rashes all over my body.
Xiao Xiangyue also suffered from a severe headache, which was extremely devastating. Imperial Physician Sun, judging by the symptoms, suggested a blood clot in his skull, possibly a condition he had in the womb or a dystocia resulting in head damage at birth. Before the age of eight, he suffered several attacks, and even Imperial Physician Sun was helpless. On several occasions, he appeared on the brink of death, only to be reluctantly accepted by Hades, who saw him as too young, and barely managed to pull himself back from the brink. After the age of eight, perhaps because he had grown and developed stronger, the attacks became less frequent.
Xiao Pingzhou buried his wife on the hillside behind her, mourning her every day and refusing to leave. Furthermore, Xiao Xiangyue's health made it impossible for her to survive without Doctor Sun. So he settled down in Alsophila Valley, and ten years passed in a flash.
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