Life and Death

Silence followed his words for a moment as the wind and sand brushed the ends of their hair. Mu Xingyi watched the surprise on Xu Yuan's face, taking a sip of wine as he remarked calmly, "Judging by your expression, Brother Zhou, it seems you truly were unaware of this." Realizing his reaction had slipped, Xu Yuan reined in his expression. "I've been wandering far from home for several years now. Everything I've seen and heard has been local customs and folklore; I rarely have any channels to learn of such news." "..." Mu Xingyi stared at Xu Yuan for several breaths, then gave a slight nod, his expression returning to that seemingly immutable, feeble smile. "Yes, that makes sense. While traveling offers countless novel sights, they are mostly the mundane affairs of the common folk. Grand matters of military and state truly are rarely heard of." The Great Yan Dynasty enforced extremely strict control over news regarding military campaigns. If the imperial court prepared to wage war, unless one had direct involvement, let alone commoners in the streets, even some provincial and commandery officials would only learn definitive news after open conflict had already begun. Having said this, Mu Xingyi paused and added softly, "Still, Brother Zhou, haven't you ever used a messaging crystal station to contact your family?" Xu Yuan looked into the other man's eyes and asked with a smile, "Xingyi, do you know much about the war on the Northern Border?" "..." Their eyes met for an instant. Understanding his meaning, Mu Xingyi lowered his gaze slightly. The fourteen provinces of Great Yan were simply too vast. Very few factions possessed influence that spanned the entire realm. While factions here in the Western Desert couldn't be said to be entirely ignorant of the war in the Northern Border, their knowledge was mostly confined to the surface. The reverse was equally true. Mu Xingyi offered a polite clasp of his hands, downed a cup of wine in self-punishment, and said, "Ha, it seems I was being a bit conceited." Seeing this, Xu Yuan composed himself slightly and asked, "So, could you elaborate on this matter, Xingyi?" "I cannot elaborate." Mu Xingyi set down his cup and shook his head under Xu Yuan's intrigued gaze. "Brother Zhou, what I said just now is already everything I know." "..." Xu Yuan's brow twitched involuntarily. Though he noticed Xu Yuan's subtle expression, Mu Xingyi merely drank his wine without saying another word. Silence lingered for several breaths along with the yellow sand swept in by the night wind before Xu Yuan finally chuckled and shook his head. "Please forgive my presumption, Xingyi." "I am not lying to you." Mu Xingyi's voice was very soft, his delicate features devoid of emotion. Staring at Xu Yuan, his dark eyes were as dull as ever, devoid of any glint of light. "If Brother Zhou is truly interested, I could introduce you to an intermediary broker in Zhenxi Manor. He has plenty of connections among intelligence peddlers." Xu Yuan drank a cup himself and shook his head. "There is no need for that. No matter how the war in the Western Desert unfolds, it won't have much to do with my family. I only came to these parts to admire the scenery of Thousand Thorns Gorge." Mu Xingyi returned the toast with a cup, glanced sideways toward the far rim of the abyss-like canyon beneath them, and murmured thoughtfully, "Thousand Thorns Gorge, is it... It doesn't seem very peaceful in there lately." "How so?" Xu Yuan asked instinctively. "Well, there are probably two reasons." Mu Xingyi spoke in an unhurried cadence, lightly tracing his fingertip across the table. "The first is naturally the war in the Western Desert I just mentioned. The deepest parts of Thousand Thorns Gorge reach ten thousand zhang, and the terrain is intricate. The Dachao people frequently use the topography to conceal troops within it." "And the second is that a demon dragon likely died inside Thousand Thorns Gorge." "..." Hearing this, Xu Yuan's eyes widened slightly, an involuntary sense of oddity welling up inside him. He asked in a deliberately hesitant tone, "A demon dragon? Could you tell me more about that, Brother Mu?" "Just some rumors." Mu Xingyi listlessly drank Xu Yuan's fine wine, his voice languid. "Decades ago, a shapeshifting demon dragon fled into Great Yan territory. After being heavily wounded by powerful figures of Great Yan, its whereabouts became unknown. My great-grandfather took part in that encirclement back then. When I was young, he once spoke of this matter with me, saying he suspected the demon dragon died inside Thousand Thorns Gorge." Xu Yuan's eyes flickered. Reaching out, he took the exquisite wine flagon to refill the other man's cup and asked in a low voice, "You mean to say there is a demon dragon's legacy hidden in Thousand Thorns Gorge?" "Brother Zhou, do you think that if there truly were a demon dragon's legacy inside Thousand Thorns Gorge, my Mu Family Chamber of Commerce would just sit by and do nothing?" "..." Xu Yuan remained silent. "Do not fret, Brother Zhou... I did not say this to toy with you." Mu Xingyi's voice was mild and deliberate. "At first, I indeed thought it was false news. But recently, this false news seems to have come true." "Why?" "I heard that not long ago, someone spotted a living demon dragon appearing in Thousand Thorns Gorge. Connecting the two pieces of information, the conclusion speaks for itself." "You mean a demon dragon came from Guyuan to search for its clansman's remains?" "..." To this, Mu Xingyi did not answer immediately. Exhaling softly, he gave an ambiguous response: "Perhaps, or perhaps not. The source regarding the demon dragon's appearance has not been verified. However, if you intend to travel through Thousand Thorns Gorge, Brother Zhou, it would be best to proceed with caution." "..." Looking at the sickly, indifferent young man before him, Xu Yuan's thoughts grew complicated. Honestly, saving the caravan back then had merely been done out of habit, and befriending him was because he found his personality interesting. Mu Xingyi knowing about the war in the Western Desert, or even the matter of Li Junwu and the Great Desert Divine Maiden, could be explained by his family background. But the matter of the little demon dragon and the Little Dragon Maiden could not be explained by family background alone. Taking a deep breath, Xu Yuan cupped his hands in a salute. "Thank you for the warning, Xingyi." Mu Xingyi smiled, shook his head, and lowered his gaze, half-squinting at the wine in his cup. "My life was saved by you, Brother Zhou. This information is useless to me anyway; if it can be of help to you, all the better." "..." He couldn't read him. This Mu Xingyi was clearly far from simple. Whether it was his unshakeable composure when facing the wolf pack, or his sickly constitution and utterly indifferent attitude toward everything, it all indicated that a tremendous secret lay behind the person before him. To run into and rescue such a person by sheer chance... Either his jinx attribute was flaring up, Or the big ice block was working her juju... The next morning, Once the curfew was lifted, the vast Zhenxi Manor gradually stirred from silence into bustling clamor. As a former strategic mountain pass, the interior of Zhenxi Manor originally had few civilian facilities. However, as the front line pushed westward and the Zhenxi Army established the Monan Protectorate west of Thousand Thorns Gorge, Zhenxi Manor became the deep rear. Over years of commercial and traveler traffic, it had gradually developed some of the prosperity of Great Yan's inland provincial capitals. Every land nurtures its own people. Perhaps influenced by the culture of the Western Regions, or perhaps simply the nature of the local populace, Compared to the cumbersome scholar robes and restrictive attire of Great Yan's heartland, the local customs were extremely open. Many men walked down the streets bare-chested. Of course, those were the men. The women still wore tube tops to cover their modesty, but for most, that was about it. Exposed midriffs, slender waists, long athletic legs, and healthy bronze skin formed a feast for the eyes at every glance. The grand caravan bearing the insignia of the Mu Family Chamber of Commerce paraded through the streets, drawing sidelong glances from residents on both sides. Ran Qingmo and Bai Muxi remained curled up in the carriage cultivating, while Xu Yuan and Mu Xingyi rode their horses at the very head of the caravan. Watching the clusters of architecture with their Western Regions flair recede on either side, Xu Yuan admired the scenery along the way while chatting intermittently with Mu Xingyi. Last night's conversation had been quite fruitful; Xu Yuan had learned many Western Desert secrets from Mu Xingyi. In contrast, however, Mu Xingyi had not asked Xu Yuan a single question. This kept Xu Yuan on guard, yet despite repeated probing, he detected no hostility from the man whatsoever. Mu Xingyi truly seemed to harbor no ill intentions. Having milked so much intelligence for free, Xu Yuan felt a bit sheepish. So, as compensation, he had produced a bottle of vintage wine worth ten thousand taels of silver last night, intending to give this lad a little dose of financial shock. Unfortunately, Mu Xingyi's face maintained that same half-dead smile, unperturbed in the slightest. Just like right now. Xu Yuan glanced at the young man beside him. Happening to meet his gaze, Mu Xingyi nodded and looked toward the approaching Xizhi Gate, offering a calm smile. "Once we pass through the city gates, do you plan to set off immediately into Thousand Thorns Gorge?" Reining in his thoughts, Xu Yuan looked around at the surrounding streets and smiled. "Since I am traveling the world, having arrived at a new place, I naturally should look around. After seeing you out of the city, I plan to spend two days sightseeing in Zhenxi Manor." As a local, Mu Xingyi pondered briefly before asking softly, "Zhenxi Manor, is it... There are a few decent scenic spots in the city. Regrettably, I have pressing duties and cannot accompany you. Would you like me to introduce some friends to guide you, Brother Zhou?" Xu Yuan thought about it and shook his head. "Thank you for the kind offer, Xingyi, but I prefer discovering interesting things on my own rather than following an itinerary that others have already walked." "Heh, you truly are an interesting man, Brother Zhou." Mu Xingyi smiled faintly and looked at the towering gateway drawing near. "Zhenxi Manor is a fortified military pass after all, so the formalities for entering and exiting the city are quite cumbersome. Let us part here." With that, Halting his demon horse, Mu Xingyi turned halfway in the saddle and formally clasped his hands in a respectful bow toward Xu Yuan. "Brother Zhou, after this farewell, I fear we may never meet again. Take care!" Xu Yuan pulled on his reins, but rather than returning the bow immediately, he narrowed his eyes and teased, "Never meet again? Why do I feel like you're cursing me to meet with misfortune in Thousand Thorns Gorge, Xingyi?" Mu Xingyi slowly straightened and shook his head. "Heaven favors the worthy, Brother Zhou. Naturally, no harm will befall you." Dismounting from his horse, Xu Yuan also returned a solemn bow and said with a smile, "From your mouth to Heaven's ears. Once I return from Thousand Thorns Gorge and find some free time, I'll visit the Mu ancestral compound to catch up with you." "..." Mu Xingyi smiled gently at those words, but offered no reply. He nodded and prepared to ride away. Standing in place and watching the brocade-robed young man atop the tall demon horse slowly head toward the gateway, Xu Yuan's brow gradually furrowed. Suddenly realizing something, he transmitted his voice: "Have you run into trouble?" "..." Riding forward, the brocade-robed young man continued without the slightest pause, as if he hadn't heard the transmission. Xu Yuan's brow knitted tighter, and he continued transmitting: "Xingyi, if someone wants to harm you, I can escort you to the Monan Protectorate." As he spoke, Xu Yuan took a step toward the gateway. But just as his foot lifted, he saw the young man, who had already merged into the shadow of the tunnel, raise a hand and wave behind him. Immediately after, Mu Xingyi's characteristically languid voice drifted over softly: "It is all the same. "Brother Zhou, "a person is born merely to die. Sooner, later—I do not care." "Xu Yuan..." Seeing Xu Yuan remain silent ever since returning to the carriage, Ran Qingmo quietly dispersed her technique and asked softly, "What happened?" His thoughts interrupted, Xu Yuan looked up at the girl in black, the corners of his lips curving into a smile. "What do you mean, what happened?" Ran Qingmo studied his expression for several breaths before murmuring, "You seem to be in a bad mood..." Hearing this, Xiao Bai, who had been silently grinding her cultivation on the side, hurriedly dispersed her technique as well and looked at Xu Yuan with concern. Damn it, she actually failed to notice the Young Master's mood and let Mr. Ran beat her to it. Under the gaze of both women, Xu Yuan pondered for a moment before deciding to tell the truth: "A friend I know is about to die, so my heart is a bit conflicted." Ran Qingmo's eyes held confusion; she didn't understand. Bai Muxi thought for a moment and ventured to ask, "Is the friend Young Master speaks of that Mu Xingyi?" "Yes." Xu Yuan nodded, sighing. "He gave me a lot of useful information last night, without asking for anything in return." Bai Muxi's eyes flickered, and she slowly got up to sit beside Xu Yuan. "That man's complexion is excessively pale, and observing his qi pathways, his depletion is severe. He should be suffering from a very serious hidden ailment..." "It's not because of that." Xu Yuan shook his head and said leisurely, "Someone in the Mu Family Chamber of Commerce probably wants him dead, and he doesn't intend to resist." "A death wish..." "Right. Even if I wanted to help, there's no way to." Xu Yuan nodded slightly, his eyes lowered. "I just don't know what made that kid turn out like this..." Before his voice faded, Xu Yuan suddenly felt a cool, soft little hand rest upon his head. Pat, pat. Looking up, he saw Ran Qingmo standing before him, gently stroking his head with clear, innocent eyes. Silence fell inside the carriage. Xu Yuan looked bewildered. Without stopping the motion of her hand, the girl in black asked softly, "Xu Yuan... do you feel better now?" "..." Just as the corner of Xu Yuan's lips curved upward, out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Bai Muxi quietly raising her hand as well. "..." Xu Yuan looked at her hand. "..." Bai Muxi blinked. "..." Xu Yuan repeated his pointed stare. "..." Xiao Bai pouted and silently lowered her hand. Letting out a soft huff, Xu Yuan reached out and took Ran Qingmo's outstretched hand, pulling her down to sit on the other side. He slumped directly back onto the soft couch behind him, gazing at the slender silhouettes of the two seated women, and said gently: "Let's not speak of this anymore. Once I meet the Black Scale Guards' lead contact in Zhenxi Manor and receive the intelligence, we'll go retrieve the Dragon Transformation Essence. "Still, it's thanks to Mu Xingyi's intelligence confirming the location, or we might have ended up spending a year and a half searching aimlessly in Thousand Thorns Gorge." Saying so, Xu Yuan retrieved a sundial clock, checked the time, and said softly, "It's already the hour of the dragon. The Black Scale Guard contact should be arriving shortly." Half a quarter of an hour after his words fell, a rhythmic knocking sounded softly against the door. Three long, one short. The signal was correct. The carriage door opened, and a scruffy, stubble-faced middle-aged man stepped slowly into the carriage, silhouetted against the morning sunlight. Zhou Chen glanced at the unfamiliar brocade-robed young master seated between the two women. Meeting his gaze for an instant and seeing the strange, playful mockery in the young man's eyes, Zhou Chen felt slightly displeased. Is this the person here to collect the intelligence? How ill-mannered... Frowning, Zhou Chen saw that the young man had no intention of rising to greet him. He casually tossed the sealed letter containing the secret intelligence onto the carpet of the carriage, turned silently, and took a few steps away—only to suddenly recall that the silhouette in black beside that young man looked rather familiar... After thinking for a moment, Zhou Chen's pupils constricted violently. Fuck. I'm done for. He spun around swiftly to look back at the secret letter he had tossed onto the floor. Through the open carriage door, he saw that the brocade-robed young master had already bent over and picked it up. Xu Yuan gently dusted off the sealed letter and raised an eyebrow at Zhou Chen, who stood frozen outside the carriage. "Not leaving, Mr. Zhou?" "..." Zhou Chen was speechless.