YCY - 14

Chapter 14: The Vicious Waves at the Riverbank

The sky was dark, heavy clouds pressing down on my back like lead. With every three steps, I turned to look back, imprinting deeply into my heart the uneven rooftops and bustling streets of Fandu, illuminated faintly by a few rays of sunlight filtering through the clouds.

I only wished that today’s sun would never rise, even if every day thereafter were shrouded in black clouds. If time could stop at this moment, my brother could keep his life.

“Brat! Move faster!” A heavy kick landed on my back, sending me sprawling to the ground with a muffled groan.

“Young Mistress!” Nongmo rushed forward and lifted me into her arms. She carefully examined my palms, gently blowing on them. “Does it hurt?”

I brushed off the dust, ignoring the scratches on my palms, and shook my head. “No, it doesn’t hurt. Nongmo, what time is it now?”

She held me close as we hurried after Zhuyun, letting out a soft sigh. “After leaving the women’s prison and hearing the night watchman’s gong, we’ve been walking for a long while. It should be around the hour of Mao now.”

Mao, Chen, Si, Wu—has it really come so quickly? Looking westward at Fandu, my heart shattered. On the night of the Winter Solstice, before we could escape, the five-door commander enforcing the curfew arrived with his troops. Commander Rong sighed deeply and ordered my brother’s arrest. Clutching his robe, I begged him for a little more time so my brother and I could say our farewells. But Uncle Rong sighed again, saying he had to imprison my brother before Chancellor Qian did; otherwise, if my brother fell into Qian’s hands, he might not even be allowed to die. That moonless night, I sat alone in Mingxin Courtyard, facing the biting northern wind, drinking dewdrops, and waiting for the sunrise. When dawn finally broke and the cold night faded, I was met not by hope but by a group of imperial soldiers sent to confiscate our family estate.

Drop by drop, tears soaked the bamboo leaves. Wave by wave, the cold wind carried vengeance. That day, as I was pushed onto the prisoner’s cart, I saw Uncles Han Shuo and Han Qi kneeling by the roadside, fists clenched, their eight-foot frames trembling as tears streamed down their faces. Their eyes were filled with regret. But I did not cry. To shed tears now would mean the defeat of my spirit. No! I believed—believed that heaven does not abandon those who wish for life. Wasn’t the rain in Sheyue Valley a sign from above? Heaven, surely, will not fail to distinguish between right and wrong, between the virtuous and the wicked!

It must be so! It must!

Struggling free from Nongmo’s arms, I jumped down, took her hand, and followed the group closely. Silently, I thought: Moreover, neither Uncle nor the soldiers of the Han army would let Brother face execution without a fight. They would not allow King You to sever the bloodline of our Han family. So, all I need to do is stay alive until Brother comes for me. Even if the mountains are shrouded in mist and our family scattered, there will eventually come a day when the clouds part and we reunite.

At that moment, the morning sun tore through the dark clouds, casting a beam of golden light directly onto me. I tilted my head up, staring resolutely into the sky. Was this a hint from heaven?

Following the escorting soldiers, we moved swiftly. After traveling several dozen li out of Fandu, the scenery changed abruptly. A red wall stood ahead, its paint peeling. The roadside pond had dried up, leaving behind a field of withered grass and rotting fish. Most of the thatched huts nearby were abandoned, their bamboo fences collapsed, their courtyards overgrown with moss. An empty bundle of mugwort hung under the eaves, evidence that the family had left after the Dragon Boat Festival.

Inside Fandu, songs and dances filled the air, bridges and pavilions gleamed. Yet just ten li away, the villages were desolate, the trees bare and the vines withered. In one winter, the world had split into two starkly different realms. Jing and Yong loomed menacingly, the Qian family overstepped their bounds, and King You had lost his way. The kingdom of You was in decline.

Looking up at the half-hidden sun amidst the thick clouds, I realized it was nearing midday. Oh, Brother, you must, you absolutely must survive this calamity!

Silently holding Nongmo’s hand, I stared straight ahead, wishing I could tear apart the gray clouds with my own hands and drag the winter sun out from behind them. Our group of seven or eight consisted of elderly men, women, and children, each burdened with sorrow and despair. Nongmo and Zhuyun walked beside me, occasionally smoothing my hair. Han Quan led the way, shielding us three women from the lecherous gazes of a yellow-toothed soldier and the gusts of sand blowing in our faces.

As the shadows on the ground crept closer to our feet, noon arrived silently. My heart pounded wildly, and I clutched my robe tightly, my breathing erratic. My legs felt as though they were weighed down by lead, unable to move.

“Young Mistress…” Droplets of water splashed onto my hand, cool against my skin. Struggling to lift my head, I saw Zhuyun, Nongmo, and Uncle Quan with tears in their eyes, weeping quietly by the roadside. I widened my eyes, exposing them to the cold wind, forcing back the tears welling up inside. “Why are you crying? Brother, I, and everyone else—we won’t die!”

“Young Mistress…” “Young Mistress!” “….”

Tilting my head back, I forced the cold tears back into my eyes and spoke firmly, word by word: “Brother won’t die! He’s definitely still alive!”

“Damn it! You four in the back, hurry up!” A whip cracked through the air. Zhuyun shifted her body, biting her lower lip, and blocked the force of the blow. I reached out and grasped her trembling hand. Zhuyun struggled to tug her lips into a smile, a faint trace of blood appearing on her dry lips.

A low-ranking official in an ochre robe stepped back and tugged at the leading officer’s horse bridle, cautiously saying, “Lord Wang, we’ve been walking for three hours. Let’s stop and rest for a bit.”

The green-robed military officer, his belly protruding, rotated his neck and replied, “Hmm, let’s take a short rest at the Leiyue Rock ahead. After resting, we’ll cross the river.”

“Yes!” The small official nodded and jogged to the front, waving his whip carelessly, causing a child to cry loudly. “Listen up, all of you bastards! We’ll rest at the front beach soon. If any of you dare to have any funny ideas, I’ll cut you down!” He drew a slightly rusted saber and waved it ostentatiously, then raised his eyebrows at the dozen or so soldiers in the group. “Men, keep your eyes peeled. After we cross the river, I’ll take you to Yuhua City for some fun!”

“All right!” “Big Brother Ma, forget Yuhua City! Look at that girl over there—she’s prettier than the four beauties of Fandu!” “Yeah, she’s got curves where it counts. Damn, she’s hotter than my old hag of a wife by a million times!” Soldiers in earth-colored uniforms ogled Nongmo, licking their lips disgustingly.

“Enough.” Lord Wang patted the small official’s head and awkwardly dismounted. “Go stand guard. This group has offended Chancellor Qian, so make sure none of them escape!” As he passed by us, stroking his sparse beard, his cloudy eyes roved over Nongmo lewdly.

Han Quan, shackled in iron chains, hastily positioned himself in front of us. I pulled out the wooden hairpin Huamei had left behind and gripped it tightly, glaring at him warily. The pot-bellied man sneered, dismissing us with a wave, and strutted away, leaning on a young soldier.

Slightly relieved, I led Nongmo and the others to a secluded corner to sit. The soldiers gathered in groups of three or five, drinking heavily and exchanging crude jokes while eyeing Nongmo. I nibbled on a hard piece of steamed bread, swallowing bits absentmindedly, thinking: These soldiers are all so lax—it wouldn’t be impossible to escape. However, there are four of us, and escaping unscathed won’t be easy. Perhaps we could use a beauty strategy, first ensnaring that fat mantis, then slipping away in the chaos. But that would put Nongmo in a compromising position—no, no. Shaking my head, I sighed and steeled myself to think carefully: On land, escape is impossible. That fat mantis’s fast horse could easily catch up to us, a group of weak women and children. Now, the only option is to escape by water. Kneeling halfway, I glanced at the nearby Leiyue Rock and listened to the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. A plan formed in my mind, and I smiled in relief, about to speak, when suddenly shouts erupted from the dense forest.

Pulling Nongmo up hurriedly, I saw the soldiers around us drop their wine bottles and scramble drunkenly to their feet. The fat mantis pressed his hand on the small official’s head, steadying his hat, and staggered upright. “Wha… what’s happening?”

Suddenly, five or six masked black-clad figures emerged from the woods, wielding swords and surrounding us carefully. The fat mantis shouted bravely, “You… you bandits dare to block an official escort!”

Nongmo bent down, lifting me into her arms and holding me tightly against her chest. Zhuyun and Han Quan stood stiffly in front of us.

“Leave quickly, and our master might spare your worthless lives!” The ochre-clad official raised his rusty sword and advanced two steps.

The leader of the black-clad group narrowed his eyes, swung his sword, and the official collapsed without a sound. The fat mantis trembled as he ran toward his horse but was struck in the back of the head by a flying dagger before he could touch the saddle.

“Ahh!” One of the women accompanying us screamed, startling the previously frozen soldiers into action. Abandoning us, they grabbed their weapons and fled in all directions. The black-clad figures spread out rapidly, and soon cries of agony filled the air as over a dozen bodies lay scattered on the ground.

Were they here to save us? Gripping Nongmo’s clothes tightly, a flicker of hope ignited in my heart. But when I saw the leader coldly raise his sword and kill a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl, that hope was instantly shattered. “Run! Hurry!” I widened my eyes, held my breath, and urged them urgently. Nongmo carried me and turned to flee, with Han Quan and Zhuyun following closely behind. Together, the four of us dashed into the dense forest.

The crisp sound of breaking branches echoed in my ears as I leaned against Nongmo’s shoulder. Through the trees, I saw a black shadow leap swiftly from branch to branch. In the blink of an eye, it overtook us and stood in our path, brandishing a sword.

“You…” I stared intensely at the black-clad figure and spoke clearly. “You’re not bandits. Bandits don’t wear masks!”

He narrowed his eyes and snorted disdainfully.

“Qian Qiao Zhi!” I clenched my fists and shouted furiously. “You’re the lackeys of that treacherous chancellor, aren’t you!”

The black-clad figure’s eyes widened in surprise. My guess was correct—Qian Qiao Zhi truly intended to wipe out the Han family’s bloodline completely.

“Your death warrant!” A cold voice barked as the blade swung toward us.

Zhuyun and Han Quan lunged forward to block one of the attackers, shouting urgently at Nongmo, “Hurry! Take the young mistress and leave!”

“Ugh…” A large sword was embedded in Han Quan’s back, and a stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. “Hurry…” He clung to the attacker’s leg, his cheeks trembling as he struggled to speak.

Nongmo retreated a few steps, closed her eyes, and steeled herself to run. “Uncle Quan!” I cried out desperately, reaching out my hand as I lay on Nongmo’s shoulder. I saw Han Quan’s face turn ashen, blood gushing from his mouth and staining the dark ground crimson. His gaze gradually dimmed, and he finally collapsed. The black-clad figure kicked him aside and was about to pursue us when Zhuyun grabbed his other leg, immobilizing him.

Zhuyun’s slender figure knelt on the ground, her disheveled hair framing her face. Her pale brown eyes appeared unusually pure and vivid. “Young Mistress! Take care!” The trees grew denser, obscuring my view of the distance. “Zhuyun!” I let out a piercing cry, my heart feeling as though it were being sliced by a knife, my chest pierced by a dagger.

“Young Mistress, don’t be afraid!” Nongmo gasped for breath while trying to comfort me. “Don’t be afraid!”

Pushing through the tangled branches, the scene suddenly opened up before us. The river wind howled fiercely, and the surroundings were desolate. The rhythmic sound of waves filled our ears. On the black shore rocks, three bold cursive characters were carved: Leiyue Rock.

Nongmo hesitated for a moment, holding me as she took two steps back. Just as she turned to run back, a dark shadow descended from the sky, blocking our path to survival. Nongmo quickly set me down and hid me behind her. She slowly backed away, pulling a copper hairpin from her hair and gripping it tightly in her palm, though her hand trembled uncontrollably. The black-clad figure sneered and rushed forward, seizing Nongmo’s wrist. With a clang, the hairpin fell to the ground, and Nongmo crumpled in pain. Wrapping her other arm around the figure’s waist, she turned her head, sweat pouring down her face, her brows tightly knit. “Young Mistress… run!”

“Nongmo…” I stumbled backward two steps, stunned.

“Quickly… go…” A sharp blade pierced through her waist, and she looked at me with lingering affection. “Live… on…”

“Nongmo!” Watching her slender body collapse limply to the ground, my vision blurred. Suddenly, drops of hot blood splattered onto my face. Blinking, I saw the black-clad figure withdraw the blade and shake it forcefully. Crimson droplets spattered across the pale stone, and I scrambled backward. Suddenly, my foot slipped, and I turned sharply to see the river below gently lapping against the shore, making a rhythmic slapping sound. With no escape route left, this must have been the situation Father faced before he leapt off the cliff. Slowly raising my head, I fixed the figure’s cruel eyes in my memory, vowing to repay him a thousandfold someday. Taking a deep breath, I planted my feet firmly, crossed my arms, lowered my head, and leapt backward.

A buzzing sound filled my ears as the bone-chilling cold seeped into my skin and sank into my heart. Puffing out my cheeks, I focused my energy in my abdomen, slid my arms through the water, and dove deeper. Now was not the time to surface—if he saw I was still alive, he would chase me relentlessly. The river was bitterly cold, making my teeth chatter uncontrollably. Widening my eyes, I peered through the slightly yellowish water, assessing my surroundings. Kicking my legs, I used the current’s force to swim like a fish toward the rocky wall. When I was close enough, I gripped the protruding rocks tightly and cautiously raised my head.

Leiyue Rock jutted out like a bronze goblet, its rim extending outward into the river. Looking up, I could only see the overhanging cliff face and the water-soaked rock walls. Letting out a long sigh, I realized that hiding beneath this rocky overhang would provide temporary safety.

The river surged and receded, and my small body swayed with the waves. My fingers began to slip, and I was in danger of being swept away. Clenching my teeth, I concentrated all my strength into my fingertips, gripping the rock wall tightly. Blood seeped from beneath my nails. The sharp pain, combined with the bone-chilling cold, assaulted my chest in waves.

“Dong Ge, everything’s clear over there!” A loud shout came from above.

“What’s all the racket!” It was the leader’s voice.

“All of them are dead anyway, what’s there to fear! Is that girl dead?”

“She… dow…” The roaring waters made it hard to hear clearly.

“Then she’s definitely dead!” The loud voice rang out clearly. “How could a little girl survive in these violent waters? Unless her dead parents are holding her up from below!”

Gripping the rock wall tightly, I bit my lower lip and stared wide-eyed, searching for footholds underwater. After fumbling around for a while, I finally found two protruding stones and clung to the rock like a gecko.

“Look, there’s no one in the river. Today’s waves are pretty rough—it’s likely she’s already been swept away! Dong Ge, stop worrying! Just tell the chancellor we stabbed the girl twice and threw her into the river. That fulfills the chancellor’s goal—to have both the Han boy and girl die before noon as sacrifices for our young master’s third-day rites!”

In You Kingdom, on the third day after someone’s death, the family offers fruits and prayers to guide the deceased’s soul. This is known as the “third-day rite.”

Qian Qiao Zhi, how ruthless you are! To prepare offerings for your son’s third-day rite, you slaughtered all the accompanying soldiers and prisoners, just to take my life. Aren’t you afraid that your son will bear even more blood debts, suffering excruciating punishments in the eighteen levels of hell? Ever since my parents died, you never intended to spare us siblings. From the moment you sent troops to aid Jing, you resolved to annihilate the entire Han family!

After a long while, silence returned to the cliffs above. I exhaled deeply, my limbs numb and frozen. Cold water dripped from my hair, and I felt utterly lifeless. Opening my mouth, I bit down hard on my lower lip, drawing blood. The cool, metallic taste sharpened my mind momentarily. I couldn’t afford to lose heart now—I couldn’t let myself down. My life was bought with their sacrifices—their sacrifices. Tears streamed silently down my face, mingling with the blood from my lips and flowing into my mouth. Bitter and metallic, they seeped into my heart, twisting my insides with grief too profound for words.

Gasping for breath, I clung to the rock wall, struggling to maintain my position as the fierce waves tried to sweep me away. My palms were raw and bleeding from the abrasive stones, and my skin was wrinkled from prolonged immersion in the icy water. Finally, I navigated past Leiyue Rock and crawled trembling onto the shore. A cold gust of wind blew, chilling me to the bone as I collapsed into the grass, utterly drained.

All around me, I heard only the rustling of the wind through the dry grass, a quiet so profound it lulled me to close my eyes. Father, Mother, I’m so tired, so sleepy. My body went limp, collapsing on the ground, and I drifted in and out of consciousness. Suddenly, Nongmo’s haunting voice echoed in my mind: “Live… on…”

I must live! My eyes snapped open, and I gritted my teeth, forcing my trembling body to rise. Each step felt impossibly heavy, the wet soles of my shoes emitting strange squeaking sounds. Clinging to a withered tree by the riverbank, I stumbled forward, my figure disappearing into the birch forest along the river. I didn’t know how long I walked, only that my body burned with fever, my head heavy and my legs weak. Forcing my eyes open, I saw the sky darkening, the surroundings growing blurry. Then, the world spun, and it felt as though only my head remained—my limbs had vanished. Memories swirled together, spinning rapidly, and my mind was a chaotic mess.

Why is it so dark? Has night fallen? Or am I fading away?

Clouds obscured the sun—it was the hour of Shen. Along the riverbank, a flat-bottomed boat was moored. Dozens of burly men, each with a crimson cloth wrapped around their heads and dressed in rough robes, disembarked, looking like river pirates.

A black-clad man stood at the helm, issuing quiet instructions. “Ah Mo, return within half an hour.”

“Yes.” A purple-clad man bowed and led a group of over ten men away swiftly.

About the time it takes to drink four cups of tea, Ah Mo and his companions returned to the reed marsh near the riverbank.

“Where are the people?” The black-clad man frowned slightly, glancing at him.

“Reporting to Protector Lin, we searched the area and found only corpses in the dense forest. It seems all the prisoners and guards were ambushed by bandits.”

“Dead?” The black-clad man scanned the surroundings, his gaze landing on something in one of his subordinate’s arms.

“Ah, after much searching, we finally found a woman on the stone ledge behind the forest. Her wounds avoided vital areas, but she lost a lot of blood and is barely alive.” Ah Mo gestured, and the subordinate hurried forward, allowing Protector Lin to see the woman’s face.

“This is…” The black-clad man furrowed his brow deeply and sighed. “Hurry aboard. We can’t stay here long!”

“What about the woman? Keep her or leave her?” Ah Mo observed Protector Lin’s expression carefully.

“Bring her aboard!” The black-clad man lifted the curtain and entered the cabin. “Bring her in—I’ll treat her wounds.”

“Yes!” Over ten purple-clad figures darted onto the boat like lightning.

“Change outfits, head to Meng Lake!” A roar came from within the cabin. The boat unfurled white sails and hoisted a merchant flag. Amidst the reeds, more than a dozen crimson cloths fluttered, their deep red color standing out starkly against the white reed flowers.

What the passengers on this boat didn’t know was that the girl their master sought to rescue was lying unconscious three li away in a birch forest, stricken with a chill, and sinking into a deep sleep…

The winds churned the waves fiercely at the riverhead, separating two golden carp east and west.

Fate plays tricks—dark and light, right and wrong.