Standing in My Way

"Lu Qingbang and his sister fought on the eastern front and repelled the Ya army, finally letting Bailie hold its head high for once." "Not long ago, acting on orders from the Mou Kingdom, Lu Qingbang moved to rendezvous with the Bailong people. Not only did he fight with relentless courage, but he also joined forces with me to defeat and capture Wulu, the great general of the Ya Kingdom. When word reached Bailie, the common folk of Qucheng set off firecrackers, letting Bailie hold its head high once more." The soul-snatching mirror chuckled. "Indeed. After the reports of victory reached Bailie, business at Yangshan's local shops picked up even more." Island Master He had stepped in to rescue Lu Qingbang, defeated an enemy general, and even taken in tens of thousands of displaced Bailong people. This had already become a celebrated tale across Bailie, where the common folk praised Island Master He for his strength, benevolence, and noble character. In their delight, people could not resist patronizing the Yangshan shops. More than a dozen stores selling specialty goods from Yangshan experienced booming sales, completely selling out within a single day. "Sixth Lu raised a capable pair of children. Lately, they have stolen all the limelight and won great popularity among the commoners, all while mingling with the Yangshan Archipelago, which the main branch detests above all else." He Lingchuan asked the soul-snatching mirror, "If you were the head of the Lu clan, what would you think?" "I'd be a bit annoyed, and I'd feel a bit threatened. After all, the Lu clan has a fine tradition of branch houses usurping the main house." The mirror was quite good at putting itself in others' shoes. "Yes, the best move would be to take the wind out of their sails." At that point, it understood without needing any further explanation from He Lingchuan. "Oh! So that's why Lu Qinglin came back!" "The fighting on the eastern front isn't intense, so how would ordinary folk know the details? Lu Qinglin brings an elite Mou force on a march to the Bailie front to let the people witness the formidable might of Mou's iron cavalry. That way, the people of Bailie will know the Lu main branch truly has Mou's backing, and that Lu Zhensheng's promises were real." He Lingchuan asked, "Even if Lu Qingbang and his sister are capable fighters, if you were a citizen of Bailie, would you place your trust in the army of the Mou Kingdom or in the Lu siblings?" "Well... how could those two even compare?" "Exactly. There's no comparison. Everyone knows it's best to rest in the shade of a great tree." Only then did He Lingchuan raise his cup and take a sip of water. "With this single move, Lu Zhensheng ties himself and Lu Qinglin to the Mou Kingdom, making the commoners believe Lu Qinglin represents Mou's power. At the same time, it's a demonstration against Sixth Lu: *My son is simply better than yours!*" "Sixth Lu is no fool either. After this, he's bound to despise the main branch even more." When Bailie was being bullied by external foes and plunged into misery, Lu Qinglin was nowhere to be seen. But the moment Sixth Lu's son defeated the enemy, Lu Qinglin returned with troops to flaunt his might. It would be a miracle if Sixth Lu felt at ease. "Lu Zhensheng's petty schemes aren't worth worrying about. But Lu Qinglin coming back to Bailie happens to be an eyesore for me—he's standing in my way!" The soul-snatching mirror asked, "What do you plan to do?" He Lingchuan gazed out at the swaying shadows of the trees, lost in thought, and gave no answer. *** *The sky is vast, the wild boundless; as the wind bends the grass low, cattle and horses appear.* This was the very first sight that greeted Sun Fuling as she stepped down from the carriage. She could not help taking a deep breath. Even the wind tasted sweet, though the chill seeped pleasantly into her bones. Blue sky, white clouds, distant mountains, lakes, an endless expanse of wilderness, and fine horses frolicking freely across the grasslands. This picturesque scene seemed almost too beautiful to be real. Behind her, of course, stood a post station built less than half a year ago. She was the only passenger getting off here. Seeing her all alone, a woman sharing the carriage leaned against the window and asked, "Miss Sun, this wilderness is quite remote. Is no one coming to meet you?" The young woman had traveled all the way from Yuheng City alongside the woman and her family. Yet she carried only a single small bundle, unlike the woman's own family, who were weighed down by bulky crates and heavy bags they could barely lift. Being unattached truly was nice—light on one's feet, free of hassle. Only, this teacher was simply too beautiful. Although she kept her face veiled in plain cloth most of the time, revealing only her eyes, the surrounding men still stole glances at her constantly. Even wrapped in an apricot-colored cloak, the mountain breeze still traced the graceful curves of her figure. "Someone is." Sun Fuling brushed aside a stray wisp of hair from her brow. "By rights, he should have arrived by now. I'm not sure why he's late." As the caravan prepared to move on, the woman's young son leaned out the window and held out half a packet of garlic twists to her. "Pretty sister, this is for you!" Though he was missing two front teeth and spoke with a lisp, he already knew how to butter up the right person. The woman tapped her son on the head. When that old woman got off earlier, why hadn't he shown her the same kindness? Sun Fuling took it with a radiant smile. "Thank you, little one." Right then, the thundering rumble of hooves echoed from behind the post station, closing in fast. Four or five riders rounded the rear of the post station. Leading the charge was a massive black horse with a sleek, glossy coat, baring a mouthful of sharp fangs as it galloped, exuding terrifying ferocity. Sun Fuling stood directly in its path, yet the black horse did not slow in the slightest, charging straight toward her. Cries of alarm erupted from the people in the caravan. Seeing that this deer-like maiden was about to be trampled underfoot without mercy, the woman instinctively covered her son's eyes, terrified of what he might see. The black steed flashed past like a streak of lightning. Yet the imagined scene of a charging beast crushing a person never came to pass. Before anyone could blink, that flash of apricot silk was already perched atop the black horse. Just before the impact, the rider had reached out an arm and scooped her onto the saddle in one smooth motion. The boy on the carriage shouted, "The pretty sister got snatched away!" The passengers were dumbfounded. Were there really brazen bandits snatching people across the Panlong Wasteland? Yet there was Sun Fuling, resting against the bandit's shoulder with a bright smile, waving back to the boy: *Goodbye.* In the blink of an eye, the elite riders dashed into the distance, rapidly shrinking into tiny dark specks at the edge of the horizon. "My hat came off!" Sun Fuling sat astride the horse, quickly adjusting her posture and holding down her wind-tousled hair with one hand. "Putting on the airs of a bandit snatching a bride—who are you trying to scare?" He Lingchuan rested his chin against the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. "Smells wonderful. Little lady, how about becoming my chieftain's wife?" "You reek of horses." Sun Fuling patted his cheek. "And what if I refuse?" He gave a sinister grin. "Then don't blame me for—*ow!*" Sun Fuling pinched his waist and twisted hard. "*Hiss!*" Tears nearly sprang to his eyes. The teacher's grip was as merciless as ever. The riders galloped across the plains, wide and untamed. There were scarcely any roads here, but wooden cabins and tents were frequently visible, scattered loosely around water sources. The plains held lakes, streams, and even clear, sweet springs, set against distant mountains that never seemed to draw any closer no matter how far one rode. Whenever the nomads saw He Lingchuan approach, they waved and greeted him with broad smiles. "The last time I came to Tianheyuan, it was still a desolate valley. Whenever the wind blew, gray haze filled the sky, and blowing grit blinded the eyes," Sun Fuling remarked with heartfelt wonder. "This place has changed beyond recognition. I hardly knew it." "When was the last time you came?" "Mm, a long time ago. Six or seven years?" Tianheyuan lay west of Dragon Throat Pass, right at the junction where the Panlong Wasteland met the Maohe Plain—a classic sprawling expanse of long mountains and great valleys, set at high altitude.