The day they returned to the Mountain Protection Brigade after witnessing the execution, Xu Yao went straight home at the first opportunity.
At the time, Chen Chong had only asked a single question: "Check whether your things and your silver went missing."
"Nothing's gone. Not a coin missing."
As Xu Yao said this, he clearly saw a look of relief wash over Chen Chong's face. "Good. Head home, then. You just watched an execution, so get some good rest and steady your nerves."
Xu Yao had indeed been shaken by watching the execution, so upon hearing this, he quickly turned to head home. Only after stepping out the main gate did he realize he had left behind the gifts Ning Wuxia had sent. Looking sheepish, he hurried back to fetch them.
Watching the kid's retreating back, Chen Chong smiled.
His mind was still a bit unsettled after all. But remembering right after stepping out the gate and turning back immediately was already pretty good.
He still needed more tempering!
Chen Chong thought back to himself—at what point had he become capable of leaving nothing to chance, overlooking not a single detail? As he pondered, he let out a sigh.
Still, with so much silver and so many fine goods left in the kid's room, nothing had been taken even after several days away, which brightened Chen Chong's mood again.
Xu Yao carried the bundle home, having naturally hidden the dagger on his person long before.
"Mother, look at this. What do you think?"
Xu Yao pulled his mother into the room with the proud look of someone presenting treasure.
"Oh my!"
Liu Taohua was instantly dazzled by the gleaming hairpin and bracelets. This time, she didn't even notice the silver; her eyes practically turned into the shape of the bangles. "My goodness... Heavens above, this is gorgeous..."
"Hehehe..." Xu Yao grinned with satisfaction.
"Where did you get these?" Physician Xu was also dazzled by the sparkling hairpin and bracelets.
Liu Taohua could not wait any longer, eagerly grabbing a bracelet to slip over her wrist.
"A perfect fit! And this silver can stretch?"
Liu Taohua gasped in shock. "Is this even silver?"
Xu Yao blinked, puzzled. "...I think so?"
The family spent quite a while inspecting them, discovering that the bracelets and hairpin truly could contract and expand. If it was too loose once put on, it would automatically snug up; if too small, it would automatically widen to let the wrist slip through.
"What a treasure!"
Liu Taohua and Physician Xu were utterly stunned. To think such treasures existed in the world!
Then husband and wife asked their son together, "Where did you get them?"
"Remember those two dignitaries who came a while back? I just helped out a little..."
Quite pleased with himself, Xu Yao recounted the tale. "...So after she left, the dignitary had someone deliver these, along with pipe tobacco for Father. Several jin of it! And this silver is my share of the collective bounty from that mission."
After hearing him out, neither Liu Taohua nor Xu Dashi showed any joy. Instead, they fell into deep thought.
Liu Taohua slowly set down the bracelet and asked in a low, troubled voice, "Big Fatty... is this Miss Ning very pretty?"
"Yes, she's extraordinarily beautiful," Xu Yao replied without hesitation. "I've never seen such a gorgeous woman. She's like a heavenly maiden—no, even more beautiful than one."
Liu Taohua lowered her head, the worry in her eyes deepening.
She glanced at her husband.
Xu Dashi sighed, at a loss for words. After a long silence, he gave a dry chuckle and said in a tone meant to sound keenly interested, "Big Fatty... these two dignitaries of the Ning clan... they can actually fly?"
Physician Xu had phrased it as a statement, his tone carrying an implicit reminder.
"Yes, she can fly. She's incredible," Xu Yao answered with certainty.
Then Xu Yao paused, recalling Chen Chong's earlier reaction. Realization dawning, he chuckled. "Father, Mother, aren't you two overthinking things? She's a high and mighty figure. I just did a small favor, and she gave a little something in return, that's all. How could your son be so oblivious to his own station?"
"Don't worry, I won't harbor any foolish notions. Why are all of you fretting over something that has no basis whatsoever?"
Xu Yao spoke solemnly, though somewhat amused by their concern.
"We were never worried you'd get wild ideas, heh. It's good that you aren't, very good," Xu Dashi said with a smile.
Then he turned to his wife. "Go ahead and wear the hairpin and bracelets later. Once you put them on, they look pretty much like regular bangles anyway, just a bit shinier. Down the road, they can serve as family heirlooms."
Weighed down by worry, Liu Taohua nodded and sighed softly.
Not a trace remained of the excitement from having received treasures.
Instead, she was deeply uneasy.
Right now, she only ached for her son, yet she could not blame Miss Ning in the slightest. For such an exalted personage to do all this was already stooping to befriend someone far beneath her. Exalted people like that were rare anywhere in the world; what ground was there for dissatisfaction?
Yet this great person was simply too thoughtful. Even after leaving, she still remembered his father and mother, specifically sending the things they needed and loved most.
This gesture alone, combined with that beauty her son described as surpassing a celestial maiden, had planted a silhouette in the boy's heart...
"Sigh."
At this thought, Liu Taohua let out a deep, silent sigh as she counted the silver, feeling her heart already breaking for what her son would suffer in this life.
Caressing the bracelet on her wrist, she wanted to pack it away, but another thought crossed her mind: what if, what if that girl comes to our home someday? If she sees that I'm not wearing it, would she think ill of it...?
She lost count of the silver, so she had to feel through it and count all over again.
Furthermore, she dared not voice her worries, fearing that bringing it up would only plant the thought in her son's head and solidify lovesickness. All she could do was vent by pinching and twisting Xu Dashi's flesh again and again.
His face contorting in pain, Xu Dashi hastily dodged away. He took out his tobacco leaves and, following the method Ning Wuxia had described, crumbled a bit of the Heavenly Fragrance Golden Silk tobacco and ground it together with his own shredded tobacco, blending the two.
Packing a pipe bowl, he asked Xu Yao, "Come on, let's go stand outside by the door for a bit. Have a chat."
"Alright."
Xu Yao followed his father out to the tree stump by the front gate. Physician Xu squatted atop it and lit his pipe. Taking a draw, he felt a cool, delicate aroma rush into his lungs. In an instant, his entire body felt soothed and refreshed. With a cough, he actually hacked up a mouthful of thick phlegm.
As a physician, Xu Dashi naturally understood what this meant.
Gauging his bodily state carefully, he let out a long sigh. "Splendid stuff. A miraculous remedy to preserve life... and several jin of it, at that."
An endless sea of complex emotions swirled in his eyes.
Looking at his son standing beside the low fence wall, he gave a quiet sigh.
For a long time, between the father and son who had supposedly come outside to chat, neither uttered a single word.
The night grew progressively darker and heavier.
The bowl of the pipe flared and faded in the dark.
After a long silence, Xu Dashi tapped out his pipe, straightened his body, and remained quiet for a moment before turning around. "It's late. Go to sleep. An exalted figure gave us so much, practically handing us family heirlooms. This is a tremendous favor, a great debt of kindness. In the future... remember to repay it. We mountain folk don't like being in anyone's debt, but once we owe someone, we owe them, and we must keep it in mind."
"It has to be repaid one day."
"Yes, I will remember," Xu Yao answered earnestly.
Physician Xu nodded and went inside.
He had not uttered a single word about his worries regarding his son's feelings, subtly shifting everything toward the matter of owing a debt of kindness and gratitude.
That night.
Xu Yao lay on his small bed.
Gazing at the moonlight through the window, he couldn't help asking himself, "Everyone is worried I'll fall for her, but have I?"
Ning Wuxia's face flashed before his mind's eye.
Charming and adorable, her eyes brimming with spirit, her voice crisp and clear: "Big Fatty, Big Fatty, are the apricots tasty?"
As she spoke, the girl had visibly gulped down her saliva, making no effort to hide it.
Xu Yao smiled despite himself.
Then, pulling back his smile at once, he told himself silently, "I haven't fallen for her!"
...
Days and nights turned, and time flew by.
Xu Yao continued his cultivation and mission assignments as usual, using his keen eyes to perceive danger, as though nothing had changed.
Yet in the subtlest ways, a difference had emerged.
He was more meticulous, steadier, and more effective. Everyone could sense his astonishing, rapid progress, and Liu Zhen and the others were full of praise.
Just then, however.
Chen Chong summoned Xu Yao to his quarters and gave him an assignment that left him completely dumbfounded.
"In the Demon Suppression Bureau, bloodshed is a matter of routine, and treacherous schemes are the norm. If you wish to rise into the highest ranks, you must possess the methods to achieve it. In all things, you must plan before taking action; that is essential for preserving your own life.
"Our entire First Brigade, including myself, consists of thirty-six men. During this coming period, I want you to observe every single one of them: what their personalities are, what they are prone to do, what their weaknesses are, and what methods could be used to counter them, lure them, turn them against us, or kill them.
"If someone were to target the entire First Brigade by exploiting their temperaments, whom should they start with? From what angle should they strike?
"If they wanted to wipe us out to the last man, how should it be done? And if any slipped through the net, what then?"
"Every single man!"
"The requirement: at least eighty percent accuracy. For anything below eighty percent, you'll be strung up and whipped once for every person you miss."
Chapter 50