Chapter Twelve: Though Life Be Hardscrabble

The Chu River was already close at hand. The sound of waves and rushing water had grown clear in the ears, and the mist that drifted across their faces was strangely soothing.

As the saying went, staring at a mountain could kill a horse before it ever arrived; now, staring at a bridge felt no different. The bridge was called Chu River Bridge, a name with neither flair nor fault. From far away, one could almost make out the statues of the water-guarding beasts upon it, yet by dusk they still had not managed to set foot on the span. After all, with so much cargo, hiring a boat might be convenient or not, but it would certainly cost far more.

Just as darkness was beginning to fall, word came that the Second Miss had ordered a camp to be made on the spot. Immediately afterward, a burst of cheering rose up, baffling Wu Yue a little. Wasn't camping after dark the obvious thing to do? One could only say that the tried-and-true routine really did win hearts.

Wu Yue and the other two were left as though forgotten, though it did not feel quiet at all. A day had already passed, and Yu Fu, perhaps having gone too long without speaking, had reached the point where extremes reversed themselves and he entered a state of full-blown agitation.

His mouth never once rested. One moment he was vowing to beat that bearded man into the ground, the next he was saying that Kail, that red-haired monster, was too much in need of a thrashing. After a while he turned around and blamed Wu Yue, this senior of his, for being rather useless. Most of all, of course, he kept correcting everyone about his name.

The vehicles were parked together. Wu Yue still had a bit of special treatment, such as being allowed to lie inside the carriage and sleep. If it had been anyone else, leaving aside gratitude, at the very least they would have had to offer a few genuine words of praise. After all, the Second Miss was already being so generous. For the three of you ordinary folk, it would be enough simply to have become acquainted with Master Kail.

The saying that what appears shabby outside may conceal jade within fit this carriage perfectly. From the outside it looked no different from any other cart, but inside it was a world apart. The floor was covered in thick carpet, so that sitting cross-legged felt especially comfortable. Brightstones were set into the ceiling, casting a soft, glowing light that made the whole carriage warm and inviting. At either end were two small cabinets for storing belongings, convenient beyond measure.

Even better was the middle of the carriage, where a small table stood with a zither upon it. Two people sat facing each other across the table, gazing into one another's eyes.

Aside from his red hair, Kail looked no different from an ordinary person of the Immortal Spirit Realm. Yet when all was said and done, among cultivators appearance was too superficial a thing to dwell on. Besides, Kail was quite handsome. If Wu Yue was the merely good-looking sort, Kail was firmly the strikingly handsome type, the kind with a bold and heroic air. Add to that the noble aura radiating from him, and finally his glorious record of slaying a soul-binding expert, and it all seemed enough to win the heart of Hai Qing, the Second Miss of the Hai family.

Of course, he had heard Wu Yue's summons. But Kail chose without hesitation to pretend not to hear it. After all, whether as a noble sky knight or as his own exalted self, a viscount, he could not allow himself to be discourteous to a lovely lady. A lady, a young miss, and truly a beautiful one at that, in looks, bearing, speech, and even background.

So the two of them sat together in perfect harmony, exchanging smiles and pleasantries, affectionate and merry, host and guest both delighted. They sipped chilled grape wine in small mouthfuls, while several fine pastries that Hai Qing considered inadequate hospitality sat on the table. Then the two of them began to study the instrument in earnest.

After a full day of Kail's deliberate neglect, the caravan's lesser leaders had also more or less confirmed that the identities of those three had nothing much to do with Lord Kail. So, following the centuries-old rule of commerce, no caravan should keep idlers, useless hands, or people of uncertain origin, one slightly plump and rather shrewd-looking man came over with a smile and said, "There are people living more than thirty li east of here. I don't know where the three of you plan to go. We may not be traveling the same way." He also implied politely that every carriage had its use and every arrangement had already been made. After all, merchants were born to be exacting and calculating; that had nothing to do with size.

When they received the answer that their destination was the same, and that the final stop was Black Curtain City, the man merely smiled without speaking, turned, and left, his lunch box still in hand. He left behind one large and two small figures staring at one another, wide-eyed and helpless.

The caravan then resorted to isolation tactics, such as pretending not to see them and not giving them any food, waiting for victory without battle and hoping the three would surrender in frustration.

"It smells like food. It has to be food," Yu Fu insisted loudly.

For the entire day, aside from the bearded man who had been sneering at Yu Fu and tossing over a few rock-hard steamed buns, which Wu Yue had singed over a flame until they smelled pleasantly toasted, there had been nothing else to eat.

Yu Fu, small though he was, did not go easy on the buns. Most of them ended up in his stomach. He finished them quickly, and the only thing he felt afterward was even hungrier. Only then did he realize how delicious food could be. Wu Yue was the same. The cultivation of qi gathering stage six did not allow him to go hungry for days. Hunger had grown so intense that he could not even meditate.

At last, Wu Yue sent out one final message. If there was still no response, he would not mind changing summon creatures. Power that one could not fully command was always a danger.

The zither and the pastries in the carriage were taken away, and exquisite dishes were put in their place. Their conversation also moved from musical instruments to romantic literature. Their eyes met by chance, and then they smiled in understanding. It was a moment steeped in warmth.

That warmth was soon broken when Wu Yue's voice, carrying a faint intent to kill, sounded in Kail's heart.

Kail could not help but sigh. At this moment he was a noble, not a knight. As a noble he loved romance and freedom, but he feared death even more.

Kail set down his bowls and chopsticks and offered an apologetic smile. "My beautiful lady, I am terribly sorry, but I must go see my friend now. I know this is very rude of me. Still, I ask that you agree to my request, and forgive me."

"A friend?" Hai Qing's smile remained gentle, though her eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.

"Yes. Even though we have only known each other for three days," Kail said sincerely. When he had been a knight, he had felt proud of this friendship. But now he was a noble lord. It seemed contradictory, yet in truth it was not. After all, the creature before him retained only instinct, nothing more.

Hearing this, Hai Qing also let out a quiet breath of relief. She knew all too well what sort of people were in her caravan, but she had no intention of correcting them. Merchants who did not pursue profit, who were not exacting and meticulous, were they still merchants?

Now that she was at ease, Hai Qing smiled and said, "Since they are Master Kail's friends, then let us go and have a look together." She then instructed, "Go and bring out the finest food in the caravan."

What a coincidence it was that when these words were spoken, the rather plump merchant who had wanted to drive Wu Yue and the others away happened to be standing there and heard every syllable. It was like being struck by lightning. A roar went off in his head. What on earth had he done? He had actually tried to drive away people whose friend the Second Miss wanted to befriend, and even withheld their meals. At once, cold sweat poured down his back.

A single thought can lead to heaven or hell. With just one sentence from Hai Qing, the fat man felt as though he had been hauled back into the human world and let out a hard, relieved breath. Hai Qing said, "Master Kail is truly a good man. Even friends he has only known for three days he remembers so fondly. If anyone were to become Master Kail's true old friend, how fortunate that would be."

Only after hearing this did the fat man come back to himself. His eyes rolled as he thought: Did the young lady say that on purpose for my ears? Was she trying to tell me something, perhaps that I should play the villain and drive those three away? After all, those three ordinary people were somewhat of a burden on Master Kail. Master Kail himself is kind-hearted, but we are not.

At this moment, as a noble, Kail's emotional intelligence was also quite high. So he smiled and said, "Knowing Miss Hai Qing is my good fortune as well."

The two of them spoke cheerfully as they walked toward the rear, clearly intending to inspect the people below them.

Kail had long since removed his armor and now wore a brocade robe, his noble air unmistakable. Beside him, Hai Qing was dressed with exquisite elegance, radiant with beauty. Standing together, they looked much like a pair of immortals made for one another. As for Wu Yue and the other two, they were in rather sorry shape, their clothes shabby and untidy. Yu Fu and Zhao Qingzhu were hugging the lunch boxes and devouring the food with reckless haste. The plump steward stood behind them, his contempt undisguised.

Wu Yue narrowed his eyes at Kail, waiting for an explanation. If that explanation did not satisfy him, someone would die. Kail understood that very well.