Chapter Twenty-Three: Leaving Qingyang

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Ye Sansi awoke. He sat up, patted his head, washed up, and pushed open the door. Outside, he saw Liu Lingshuang and Lin Nian’er sitting on the stone bench, chatting.

When Liu Lingshuang noticed Ye Sansi coming out, she abruptly stood up, then snorted and sat back down, feigning annoyance. Lin Nian’er laughed, “Young Master Ye, you’re finally awake. You nearly worried Lingshuang sick.”

Liu Lingshuang pouted, “Who was worried about him? I was just afraid I wouldn’t fulfill Uncle Shu’s request. I, the young lady, have no concern for that wild man. Hey, wild man, don’t get any ideas.”

Lin Nian’er stifled a laugh, and Ye Sansi scratched his head, grinning foolishly. Lingshuang rose, glanced at Ye Sansi, then turned away with a slight smile and the air of a young mistress. “Wild boy, what are you grinning at? Go eat breakfast. Afterward, Uncle Qi is going to subdue the demon. We should go watch. What do you think?”

“That sounds great, hahaha.”

When they reached the dining hall, Qi Fei was nowhere to be seen. Lin Youzhi asked, “Where is Swordsman Qi? Wasn’t he with you?”

Li Taiyi replied, “No, when I went to his room early this morning, he was already gone. I thought he’d gone to check on Brother Sansi.”

Liu Lingshuang added, “No, Nian’er and I have been at the door since early morning. We didn’t see Uncle Qi.”

Li Taiyi scratched his head. “That’s strange. Father said he’d rid Qingyang City of the demon, so why change his mind now?”

“You rascal, do you take me for someone untrustworthy?” Qi Fei’s voice called as he approached.

Li Taiyi greeted him, “Old man, where have you been? I thought you ran off scared of that big demon.”

“Ha! As if that demon could scare me. I couldn’t sleep last night, so I went for a walk outside the city—and took care of the demon on the way.”

Li Taiyi gaped, “You took care of it?”

“Yes, the corpse is still outside the city.”

Lin Youzhi stood up and walked over, bowing low. “Swordsman Qi, please take the seat of honor. Breakfast will be served soon. To think you could eliminate the demon so quickly! I haven’t even found rare wine to celebrate. Why not stay a few more days?”

Qi Fei sat down, waving his hand. “No, no, once I finish breakfast, I’ll leave. As for wine, I can find my own. I’m too used to freedom to stay comfortably in the Lin household.”

Ye Sansi interjected, “Elder brother, there are still martial skills you haven’t taught me. Are you leaving already?”

“My good brother, I really can’t stay. Let your cousin Taiyi teach you; he’s about your age, and it’ll be easier for you to learn from him than from this old man.”

Ye Sansi nodded. Soon, the dishes were served—today’s spread was especially lavish, with two large platters of meatballs, his favorite. The steward handed out four empty bowls—one each for Taiyi, Qi Fei, Sansi, and Lin Youzhi.

Lin Youzhi raised his cup. “I was unable to drink before due to official duties. Now that Swordsman Qi has rid Qingyang City of a scourge—not just bandits, but true evil—I am truly delighted and must toast you.”

The steward filled their cups. When it was Sansi’s turn, he looked at Liu Lingshuang, who covered her mouth with a laugh and nodded. Only then did he allow the steward to fill his cup.

Before long, the table was a mess of empty dishes and cups. Lin Youzhi, who had intended to have just one drink, was coaxed into drinking several large bowls by the others. He became quite drunk, slumping over the table and babbling nonsense. Grabbing Ye Sansi’s hand, he said, “Young hero Sansi, look at my daughter—tell me, isn’t she beautiful? Isn’t she?”

Ye Sansi, a bit tipsy himself, glanced at Nian’er and replied with a silly grin, “Beautiful, she’s beautiful, haha.”

Lin Nian’er’s cheeks flushed as she covered her mouth, laughing, and whispered to Lingshuang, “Father’s really drunk, asking such nonsense. Hmph!”

Lin Youzhi continued, “From now on, you must take good care of her. She’s my only precious daughter—when I’m gone, she mustn’t be wronged.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Nian’er’s eyes grew red, but Lin Youzhi went on, “How about this, brother Sansi—today, let’s become sworn brothers. I’ll be your second brother, how about it?”

“Father!” Lin Nian’er protested, standing up. “You’re truly drunk, saying all sorts of nonsense. If you keep this up, I won’t speak to you anymore.”

Lin Youzhi knocked his own head. “Right, right, how could I say such things? I am indeed drunk. Good Nian’er, it’s my fault. Young hero Sansi is meant to be your husband—how could I become sworn brothers with him? That was a lapse, a lapse.”

“Father! You! Hmph, I won’t talk to you anymore.” Blushing furiously, Lin Nian’er fled the room.

Lin Youzhi laughed, “Look, she’s even shy! Hahaha.”

After the meal, Lin Youzhi was carried to his room in a drunken haze, while the others strolled in the courtyard to digest. Taiyi asked, “Old man, what kind of demon was it?”

“That demon was indeed formidable—a fiend that had transformed from a malevolent spirit, formed from concentrated resentment. There’s a mass grave outside the city, full of vengeful ghosts. When one among them turned into a demon, the others attached themselves to it, greatly increasing its power. Eventually, it began to take human form. Fortunately, it was destroyed early. Had it lingered, these demons would have become unafraid of sunlight, and then the people of Qingyang City would truly have suffered.”

“I see,” Taiyi replied.

Qi Fei stretched, “Now that the demon’s gone, I’ll be on my way.”

“Old man, won’t you stay a bit longer?”

“You rascal, you know I can’t stay put. The world is too interesting—I must go see it. By the way, what are your plans?”

“I’ll escort Lingshuang home, then accompany Brother Sansi—no, Uncle Ye—to Immortal Island to study magic.”

“Good. When you reach the Liu Fortress, give my regards to Brother Liu.”

Liu Lingshuang chimed in, “Don’t worry, Uncle Qi. I’ll tell my father everything that’s happened here, haha.”

“Good.” Qi Fei cupped his hands. “Ye, Taiyi, Lingshuang, I’ll take my leave. May green hills and flowing waters last forever—until we meet again.” With that, he leapt into the air, mounted his great blade, and vanished from sight.

Ye Sansi gazed upward in awe, “Wow, big brother can ride a sword—no, a blade! If I’d known, I would have learned that from him. Then I wouldn’t need to go to Immortal Island.”

Li Taiyi laughed, “Brother Sansi, don’t bother. Even if my father returned, he couldn’t teach you. He stole the art of riding the blade—it’s usable, but without the secret formula, he can’t teach it to anyone. Otherwise, I’d have learned it by now.”

“What a shame,” Sansi sighed.

Liu Lingshuang suggested, “It’s still early. Why don’t we leave today? I’m a bit worried about home.”

“Agreed,” Lin Nian’er said, coming forward. “Let’s leave while father sleeps—I’ll leave him a letter so he won’t be too sad.”

“But isn’t that too cruel to Uncle Lin?” Lingshuang put her arm around Nian’er.

“It’s better to rip the bandage off. If I left in front of him, he wouldn’t let me go, and weeping in the streets wouldn’t be good. If he wakes to find me gone, perhaps it won’t hurt so much. Don’t you agree?”

“That makes sense,” Lingshuang nodded. “Let’s each pack up and meet at the main gate.”

“Alright.”

Ye Sansi returned to his room and packed his few belongings—a memorial tablet, an incense burner, and some sticks of incense, nothing more.

At the gate, the others were already waiting. Lingshuang made a face at him, “Sansi, you’re so slow at packing. We’ve been waiting ages.”

Ye Sansi grinned sheepishly and joined them, seeing Chief Yuan was there as well. Chief Yuan said to Lin Nian’er, “Miss, are you really leaving while the master still sleeps? He’ll be unable to bear it when he finds out.”

“Brother Yuan, I know. But you understand my father—if I left before his eyes, he’d be even more reluctant to let me go. Please, look after him for me. He’s upright and diligent, and overworks himself for the magistrate’s office. If you see him up late, remind him to rest. If he won’t listen, don’t press him. He responds better to kindness—make him a cup of calming tea and he’ll sleep after drinking it…”

As Lin Nian’er spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks and her voice broke. Chief Yuan promised, “Miss, don’t worry. I will protect the master with my life, no matter what.”

Liu Lingshuang hugged Lin Nian’er, gently patting her back. Ye Sansi and Li Taiyi bowed to Chief Yuan, then the group left the Lin residence and Qingyang City.

Chief Yuan watched Lin Nian’er’s retreating figure, reluctant to part. He whispered, “Miss, I can no longer protect you. May everything go well for you.”

“Gone?” Lin Youzhi slowly emerged from the doorway.

“Master?”

“Hahaha, that Nian’er—she thinks I’m truly drunk. When I was young, I could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. If not for the demands of the magistrate, I’d have drunk my fill today.”

“But, master, why did you do this?”

“Wasn’t it to give both Nian’er and myself an out? She was right—if I watched her leave, I wouldn’t bear it. If she saw me in tears, she wouldn’t go. So I pretended to be drunk and let her sneak off. That way, it’s easier for both of us.”

“Master!”

Before Chief Yuan could finish, Lin Youzhi patted him on the shoulder. “Yiyi, you grew up in the Lin family. Nian’er treats you as an elder brother, and I think of you as my own son. But you’ve always been too stiff, always seeing yourself as a servant. In what way have I ever treated you like a servant? I built the martial hall for you, found you the best teachers, arranged the best position for you, even entrusted you with the keys to the treasury and the secret chambers. Why do you still call me ‘master’? From now on, call me ‘father.’”

Yuan Yi, moved by these words, knelt and kowtowed, his forehead bleeding. “Master, your kindness to me is beyond repaying. I would die for you. In my heart, I am no longer Yuan, but Lin. Yet your great family name, how could I, a humble man, bear it? I ask only to remain by your side, to serve and protect you, desiring nothing else.”

He looked up, blood streaming from his brow. Lin Youzhi quickly helped him up. “You’ve always been like this—too earnest, too principled. From now on, you are my son, Lin Yi. Call me ‘father,’ will you?”

“Father!”

“Good, good child. Now go and tend to your wound.”

“Yes, mas—Father!”

“Hahaha, good.”