Old friends reunited, new bonds formed.

Yu Chang felt a touch of regret. Things had not gone as planned, and his embarrassment led him to ask the others to leave; he could only tell himself that children must carve their own path. If they failed, he would be their support, their father, and he would never stoop to trading his children for fame and fortune. Such are the hearts of parents everywhere.

After the banquet, Zhang Ling strolled by the pond with the old man, chatting idly.

Zhang Ling noticed the old man always held that teapot in his hands. Even when Zhang Ling offered money, he refused to replace it with a finer one. So Zhang Ling asked, “Senior, is this teapot very important to you?”

The old man gazed into the moonlit sky with a serenity that was hard to describe, smiling as he replied, “Back in the army, I never cared for wine. Those fellows would drag me along, but I was always a lightweight. The leader would spot me at once, and they’d take care of themselves, leaving me to suffer most. Once, I shielded the general from a blade. In a year, I earned barely a handful of coins, and the general then was just a common infantryman. He saved up for half a year to buy me this teapot. He couldn’t afford cups, so we used our rice bowls for tea, plucking orange peels and fresh leaves along the road. We’d scoop water while cooking and brew a pot. It was bitter, but at least it was hot.”

The old man’s smile grew broader as he spoke, and Zhang Ling understood this was a tale of savoring hardship, though he himself had never experienced it. He could not truly share their feelings.

Zhang Ling asked with a smile, “Do you have any other wishes, Senior?”

The old man answered wordlessly at first, walking on as if pondering. At length, he said, “If you ever feel cold, come here for tea. As long as I live, the tea will never be cold.”

Zhang Ling did not follow, but stood still, softly promising, “Alright.”

In the quiet courtyard outside Yu Chang’s study, two young men and women sat together. Though both were over thirty, their martial mastery had nearly reached perfection, so age left little mark on their youthful faces. Only after reaching fifty would time begin to show.

The woman was Ming Yue, who had come to collect debts. She spoke calmly: “According to the word spread by the Hall of Enlightenment along the Seven Realms Line, my father appeared in Wu two months ago, though he didn’t stay long. He left a map at the branch hall there.”

She handed the map to the man opposite — a rough outline of Wu’s territory, marked in several places. He recognized them at a glance and said, “I’ll go to Wu myself to investigate. If Zhang Ling gets into trouble, I’ll need your help.”

Ming Yue replied with a hint of irritation, “That boy is trouble enough on his own.”

Yu Chang had spoken with his daughter and was relieved that her feelings were not too deep, sparing her unbearable heartache. She was always reserved and proper, afraid her father might worry, so she pretended to be at ease.

Though Yu Chang saw her smile, he knew his daughter best. She was only acting for his sake. He did not disturb her further; he had said all he could. Sometimes, only solitude could bring solace. When her mother died, he wept alone, not wanting to wake his young children.

When his children were troubled, he as their father would lose sleep. He decided to read in his study, but as he turned the corner, he saw the two in the courtyard. The woman greeted him; he knew she was staying at his house. He called out, “Miss Ming Yue, who is your companion?”

The man rose from the pavilion, and in the moonlight, Yu Chang recognized Zhang Jingqian, who had escorted Zhang Ling. The woman smiled, “The Sage of Medicine from the Valley of Kings.”

Yu Chang was astonished to meet the famed healer at such a moment and greeted him respectfully, “So it is the Sage of Medicine. I have long heard your name. May I ask what brings you here?”

Zhang Jingqian smiled warmly at the elder, saying, “I have a patient in Jade Brocade City, and came to treat him. I happened to meet an old friend and stopped for a chat. I hope I haven’t disturbed you, Commander Yu.”

Yu Chang waved his hand, laughing, “The Sage of Medicine and the scholars of the world are praised throughout the rivers and lakes. Even royalty would treat you with honor. It is my privilege to have you here.”

Zhang Jingqian replied humbly, “I do have urgent business today and won’t trouble you further.”

As the night breeze swept the courtyard, Yu Chang squinted and when he opened his eyes, the Sage of Medicine was gone, and Ming Yue had also risen to take her leave. After everyone departed, Yu Chang sighed, “All feasts must end. I do not ask for another meeting, only that I have no regrets in this moment!”

...

Wu Zhi removed his disguise, tidying up his disheveled look from Ming Yue Tower earlier that day. He acted as if nothing had happened, heading toward the mountain behind Jade Brocade City. Yet as soon as he reached the courtyard on the mountain, he spotted several familiar figures and struggled to hide his amused smile.

Wu Zhi, knowing his embarrassment had been discovered, wore a face of anger, glaring at the head poking out from a dirt pit and scolding, “Mud Eel, what are you laughing at? If you went, you wouldn’t fare any better. I know where all your tunnels are — believe me, I’ll block every one of them!”

The man in the pit was unfazed, grinning mischievously, “How many times do I have to tell you, my name is Earth Dragon! And what if I laugh at you? Can you fill pits faster than I dig?”

Wu Zhi stepped closer to the burrow. The man called Earth Dragon grinned slyly and quickly retreated into the tunnel. Wu Zhi took a pellet from his pocket and a stone from the ground, hurling them both inside. Instantly, a foul stench erupted from within. Wu Zhi covered his nose and mouth, hearing a string of coughing and muffled curses. He raised a pinky with a wicked smile, “Little Eel, you’re no match for me.”

The others were used to such antics. About twenty feet to Wu Zhi’s right stood a lush pomegranate tree, not yet bearing fruit, or else the ground would be littered with seeds. A young man with a farmer’s build and slightly dark skin jumped down from the tree, carrying a hoe. In a thick local accent, he said, “Besides those two at the Yu residence and the sharp-eared one from the Ye family, I ran into a master of hidden weapons at the market yesterday. He was so skilled, I teased him once and nearly didn’t make it back.”

Wu Zhi recognized the description instantly, as a member of the Hall of Enlightenment, and turned, saying, “Li Da Mi, that’s Mo Li from the Mo family — the youngest master of the clan, here searching for someone.”

Holding a spear engraved with dragons and serpents, Liu Yuan Cheng, who had fought Song Linjie to a draw earlier, stood at the edge of the mountain and said, “So that makes four people entering the academy.”

Wu Zhi looked at him, “Hard to say. Every time the academy recruits, thousands come. Some always slip through. But the vice dean said only you and Iron Fool are to take the test.”

“Who’s calling me?”

From a small courtyard dozens of yards away, a child barely four feet tall — childish in appearance but already of age, though a natural dwarf — was practicing boxing. Suddenly, he smashed the courtyard wall with a punch and raced to the square. Li Da Mi called out “Senior Brother” to him. Though he looked young, he had reached adulthood; his growth halted halfway.

Wu Zhi reminded him, “Iron Fool, Dean Song said you can spar, but don’t hurt them.”

Iron Fool looked disappointed. Wu Zhi added with a wicked grin, “But that Zhang Ling fellow — as long as you don’t kill him, beat him within an inch of his life.”