Vol. 2 - Chapter 23 - Sworn Brotherhood

“But let’s get one thing straight first!”

A rare seriousness appeared on Hua Xiyue’s face. “I’m just the messenger. Whatever happens afterward, I’m not getting involved.”

“I’ve got no interest in being framed out of nowhere and turned into some notorious villain.”

With Qiong Aohai’s experience still fresh in her mind, Hua Xiyue had no desire to follow the same tragic script.

Qiong Aohai hesitated for a moment, then hardened his resolve. He cupped his fists respectfully and said, “Then I thank you, Miss Xiyue.”

Hua Xiyue waved her hand with bold generosity. “No need for that!”

“We’re all children of the Jianghu.”

Imitating Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai, she picked up a wine bowl, trying to down it in one go.

But remembering the intense burn from earlier, she quickly lowered the bowl and took only a small sip.

Even that small sip turned her cheeks red from the spice.

Hua Xiyue forced herself to maintain composure, though her heart groaned.

This wine tastes awful...

Sun Sheng looked over at Qiong Aohai. “Do you remember what the person who gave you that brocade slip looked like?”

“And what about the man in black you fought—any identifying traits?”

Qiong Aohai thought for a moment, then said, “The man who gave me the slip had only one eye. He wore an eyepatch over his left.”

“As for the man in black… his hands were strange. Not at all like those of a martial artist.”

“His hands were smooth as jade, long-fingered and pale. But I’m certain—he was definitely not a woman.”

Sun Sheng nodded, committing the details to memory.

“I have some connections. Maybe I can dig something up.”

“These next few days, why not stay here, Brother Qiong?”

“Even the Six Doors may not find this place. The waters of Lake Tai are dotted with docks, islets, and hidden paths—outsiders wouldn’t know where to start.”

Qiong Aohai thought it over and nodded. “Thank you, Shi—”

Before he could finish, Sun Sheng shot him a glare. “What did we agree on?”

Qiong Aohai grinned. “Brother Shun!”

“Good! Brother Qiong!”

Sun Sheng smiled and clinked bowls with him.

“Drink!”

“Eat!”

“Whatever tomorrow brings, let’s think about it then!”

“Hahahahahaha…”

The two of them laughed and drank into the night.

…

-The Next Morning-

Sun Sheng’s head was splitting, his mind a fog.

He opened his eyes to find himself lying on a bed, Qiong Aohai asleep beside him.

Qiong Aohai’s cheeks were flushed, sound asleep.

“Well, well, if it isn’t our dear Lord Zhang Shun?”

“Awake already?”

A crisp voice called out nearby.

Sun Sheng clutched his aching head and turned toward the sound.

There sat Hua Xiyue, still dressed as a man, perched casually in a chair. A plate of shrimp sat on the table before her.

With delicate fingers, she was peeling them with practiced ease.

She lifted her gaze and looked at Sun Sheng, smiling sweetly. “Remember what happened last night?”

Sun Sheng looked utterly lost. He tried to recall, but every attempt sent pain shooting through his skull.

It felt like someone had smacked the back of his head.

Just then, Qiong Aohai stirred and opened his eyes.

The moment he did, he too grabbed the back of his head, wincing in pain.

“Well, well—Second Lord Qiong is awake too?”

Hua Xiyue greeted him with a grin.

The two men sat in stunned silence, blinking for a long moment before the fog began to clear.

Fragments of last night drifted back, chaotic and scattered.

As Hua Xiyue finished peeling a plate of shrimp, she dipped one into the sauce and popped it into her mouth.

Then, in a calm voice, she said, “Last night, you two got roaring drunk and insisted on dragging this young lady into your sworn brotherhood.”

“You want a sworn oath? Fine.”

“But Zhang Shun, you actually said you were representing your elder brother in the oath, making yourself the third brother and Qiong Aohai the second.”

“And you wanted me to be the fourth?!”

Her smile turned cold.

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai vaguely recalled what had happened.

They’d been competing in a drinking match. Sun Sheng lost.

Drunk and impressed by Qiong Aohai’s tolerance, he declared him worthy to be his sworn brother.

The two of them swore their brotherhood in front of a tree outside the house.

Sun Sheng kept shouting that he already had an older sworn brother and could only accept a second.

Qiong Aohai kept muttering “Shishu”, saying the generations didn’t match, and refused.

Sun Sheng, enraged, dragged him into the oath anyway.

Then he tried to rope in Hua Xiyue, making her the “fourth sister”.

Hua Xiyue’s face had turned purple with rage. After they finished their ridiculous ceremony, she gave each of them a good smack to the back of the head.

They’d both passed out on the spot.

And only now were they waking up.

So now Qiong Aohai was the second brother, and Sun Sheng was the third.

The two men looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Hua Xiyue rolled her eyes at them, ate a few more shrimp, and said, “This old lady is off.”

“You two better stay alive. I’d hate to hear next time that weeds are growing knee-high on your graves.”

With that, she put down her chopsticks and said breezily, “I’m leaving.”

Shouldering a small bundle, she walked away.

…

-The Orphanage-

Da Ming’s Room

Da Ming carefully slipped on his new cloth shoes and took a few tentative steps on the floor.

There were still two hours until noon.

He didn’t know why, but he was feeling unusually nervous.

He couldn’t concentrate on anything—his mind was filled with thoughts of that girl.

The moment he thought about seeing her again, his heart pounded like crazy.

Even harder than when he chopped trees or did heavy labor.

After sitting in his room for a while, Da Ming grew increasingly restless.

He stood up, walked to his cabinet, and took out a few scattered silver notes.

He counted them—altogether, ten taels.

This was money he had saved up for a long time.

Originally, Da Ming planned to save a bit more and buy a new eighty-jin axe.

Now, he had changed his mind.

The pastries at Rice Fragrance Pavilion were expensive, but Da Ming wanted to treat that pretty girl to some.

Ten taels should be enough to buy a few.

Thinking of this, a goofy smile spread across Da Ming’s face.

That pretty girl had given him a tiger tooth necklace, so he ought to give her something in return too.

His father always said: when dealing with others, courtesy must be returned in kind.

Da Ming tucked the silver notes into his chest pocket, still smiling, and stepped out of his room.

…

-In the Courtyard-

In the spacious room on the west side of the orphanage, a group of older children sat together.

Chen Ye held a book in his hand, standing at the front, with a blackboard hanging beside him.

He was giving a lesson to the children.

“Today, we’re studying the Three Character Classic,” he said.

“Repeat after me.”

“People at birth are innately good.”

“Their natures are similar, but habits make them different...”

Every morning, Chen Ye would gather the children and teach them basic knowledge.

It had become a routine by now.

Da Ming passed through the courtyard, glancing at Chen Ye with admiration in his eyes, and let out a couple of simple, happy chuckles.

Father is so amazing. He knows everything.

With that thought, he turned away, his mood lifted, and left the orphanage heading toward Rice Fragrance Pavilion.

---

He hadn’t walked far before he reached the location.

He looked up at the sun—still some time before noon.

Da Ming stood quietly outside the pavilion, waiting.

Time passed, second by second.

Above, the sky was a clear blue, and the sun slowly moved to its highest point.

Da Ming was still waiting.

He tilted his head up and squinted at the sun, frowning in thought.

It’s noon already.

Why hasn’t she come yet?

An uneasy feeling began to grow in his chest.

…

“Hey!”

A voice called out behind him.

Da Ming’s eyes widened with joy as he turned his head eagerly.

Behind him stood a shop assistant.

The assistant was a few steps away, clearly sizing Da Ming up.

Seeing Da Ming’s tall, muscular frame, the assistant swallowed nervously but forced himself to speak up.

“Um… you…”

“You, uh…”

He barely got two words out before he saw Da Ming’s simple, honest face.

Relieved for some reason, the assistant’s expression turned to annoyance and disdain. His tone shifted.

“I’m asking, are you buying something or not?”

“If you’re not buying, stand farther away. Don’t block our business.”

Da Ming’s face flushed red with embarrassment.

He scratched his head and gave a sheepish grin. “Sorry…”

The assistant’s impatience only deepened.

He snapped, “If you’re gonna just stand there, at least do it off to the side. Don’t you know you’re getting in the way?”

“You’re so big and tall—can’t you use your brain a little?”

Da Ming glanced at where he was standing—he was still a few steps away from the pavilion’s entrance.

He shouldn’t be blocking anything.

Just as he opened his mouth to defend himself—

A clear, pleasant voice rang out.

“Who says we’re not buying?”

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