Chapter 317: Pain

After burying the young scion of the Zhong family, who had just begun his career and already found his grave, Xu Fengnian toyed with the string of golden bells he had stripped from the corpse. The wind blew, making them jingle. Taking Lu Chen, who had inexplicably become his maid, he headed deeper into Xihe Prefecture. They hadn't traveled long before encountering another group of bandits, numbering over thirty. Compared to the well-armed and formidable highwaymen they had met earlier, these bandits were much shabbier, possessing few standard weapons, let alone officer-exclusive armor like scale mail. Their only notable item was a *mashuo* (a long spear) held by their leader. However, it was exquisitely—almost gaudily—decorated: its head was fine steel, its hilt red copper, its shaft painted with vermillion lacquer, and, surprisingly, it even had a tuft of purple sable fur attached.

After the Spring and Autumn War, expensive and unwieldy *mashuo* became as rare as iron halberds. They were objects of rarity, their true worth unappreciated. Those who commonly used *mashuo* were often highly skilled scions of noble families, wielding them as a symbol of status. Yet, on the actual battlefield, during pitched battles, ordinary soldiers, eager to claim greater military honors, would swarm such individuals. The *mashuo*-wielding scions often found themselves encircled, becoming targets for group attacks. They attracted even more attention than generals in gleaming armor, because scions of great families who favored *mashuo* were usually inexperienced newcomers to warfare. In combat, their heads were far easier to take than those of seasoned veteran officers who knew well how to protect themselves.

Without a word, Xu Fengnian charged forward, capturing the leader. With a little persuasion, he extracted the truth. Indeed, these bandits had been hired by Zhong Gui to stage a bitter act, hoping to win Lu Chen's affection. What a futile effort. Next, Lu Chen watched as these bandits were slaughtered clean. A strange gleam appeared in her eyes. Xu Fengnian selected two mounts, and they spurred their horses on, traveling thirty li without seeing any sign of human habitation. They paused briefly, and he used water from his pouch to wash the horses' noses. Lu Chen, her head wrapped in a scarf, pulled back a corner, revealing her slightly chapped cherry-red lips. She asked curiously, "Is your name really Xu Lang? You must be at the Minor Grandmaster realm, right?"

Xu Fengnian did not respond. She asked again, "Are you planning to exploit my identity? I told you before that Zhong Gui and I merely left the main group to take a detour. Now, I'm the only one heading to the Commissioner's Mansion in Xihe Prefecture. If our whereabouts are discovered, how will you explain yourself?" Seeing that the young man, carrying a satchel and sword, was still practicing "silent meditation," Lu Chen did not get discouraged. She pressed him, "Traveling by horse, stopping every thirty li—are you from Beiliang?" Xu Fengnian was brushing her horse, not looking up. He then put away his water pouch, remounted, and continued forward. Lu Chen, now stubborn, struggled to keep pace, riding alongside him. She turned her head, gazing at the enigmatic young man as if a lovesick woman gazing at her lover. Xu Fengnian finally spoke, "I've changed my mind. Once I take you to a safe place, I'll leave."

Lu Chen's eyes became hazy. Xu Fengnian mocked, "One moment you were so desperate, wishing to be buried in the same grave as Zhong Gui. How is it that in the blink of an eye, you're not even willing to retrieve his corpse? Is it just you, or are all women from prominent families like this? Someone like you, even if taken as a concubine-maid, might strangle me in my sleep one night. I wouldn't rest easy." Lu Chen pondered for a moment, seemingly introspecting, then slowly replied, "What I hate most in my life is being deceived. I once told myself that no matter who I marry in the future, if he is unfaithful or sleeps with other women, it wouldn't matter, as long as he informs me and doesn't bring them into our home to disgust me. I wouldn't mind; I would continue to manage our household well. But if I were the last to know of his trysts with other women, becoming a laughingstock, I would certainly want to cut off his manhood with scissors, and then slash that woman's face so badly she could never tempt a man again!" Xu Fengnian chuckled, "You don't look like that kind of woman. When I first saw you at the Wu family ruins, I mistakenly thought you were easy to get along with, a delicate girl who wouldn't dare complain to her family even if wronged." Lu Chen bit her lip and said, "But I am that kind of woman." Xu Fengnian smiled faintly, "Should I just smash your head with a single slap?" Her eyes became alluring as silk threads, "Young Master, you must not be so heartless." Xu Fengnian simply smiled, finding it very interesting to talk to her and observe her actions. She was always full of surprises, like a well-written story.

Sensing that Young Master Xu was enjoying the conversation, she pressed on, gently saying, "I guess you must come from a martial arts family, not a military family like Zhong Gui. Because when you kill, you feel guilt." Xu Fengnian burst into laughter, holding his belly. "What do you know?!" She tilted her head, her face innocent, and asked, "Was I wrong?" Xu Fengnian laughed mockingly, "Stop pretending with me. I've seen more beautiful women than I can count. Your looks aren't even worth seventy coins; they're not worth mentioning." Lu Chen didn't mind the disparagement, muttering to herself, "I was never a beautiful woman anyway." Xu Fengnian changed the subject, "You mentioned the Zhong and Lu families are jointly heading to Xihe Prefectural City this time, with your father Lu Gui leading your Lu family. What are you plotting?" Lu Chen shook her head, "I've never concerned myself with such matters, nor do I have access to insider information." Xu Fengnian glanced at her clear, autumn-like eyes and gave up probing further. Lu Chen chuckled, "I can't believe that Zhong Gui, who was called 'a man of complete talent and courage,' just died, and his death wasn't heroic at all."

Xu Fengnian casually tossed away the string of golden bells. His original intention had been to use Lu Chen's identity to rampage through the heart of Xihe Prefecture, killing as many as he could to gain experience. However, he had learned that several masters from the Zhong family were also on this journey, without exception, especially Zhong Liang, who ranked seventh among the demonic masters. Even Zhong Shentong, one of Beimang's twelve great generals, was disguised and hidden among them. After weighing his options, he decided not to stir up trouble and delay his appointment with Luo Yang in white. He feared that even if he escaped the Zhong family's pursuit, he wouldn't be able to leave Beimang. Lu Chen saw this action and, smiling, drew a dagger from her sleeve, saying plainly, "I was planning to find an opportunity to stab you to death. Now, should I give you the dagger, or throw it away?" Xu Fengnian, without turning his head, said, "Keep it. If you don't take it out before the next thirty li of travel, you'll die a muddled death just like Zhong Gui." Lu Chen laughed happily, "I guessed correctly." Xu Fengnian inexplicably sighed, "In this martial world, skilled fighters are common, but truly profound individuals are rare." Lu Chen asked, "Then, Young Master, are you a skilled fighter or a truly profound individual?" Xu Fengnian shook his head, "I cannot be a profound individual."

The two spent the night in the wilderness, resting at the base of a leeward slope. The temperature difference between day and night was extreme. Xu Fengnian gathered many dry branches and threw them into the campfire. Aside from secretly nurturing his sword and maintaining the bonfire, he feigned sleep all night. At dawn, seeing that she was still dozing, he walked alone to the top of the slope and gazed up at the sky. Suddenly, Xu Fengnian darted back to the base of the slope, his gaze complex as he stared at the trembling woman holding the dagger. She had been so ruthless as to draw four bloody gashes across her own face with the dagger, tearing her skin and flesh. What kind of woman, with what an unyielding spirit, could commit such an act? In truth, both of them, with their keen minds, understood that with every step closer to Xihe Prefectural City, she was potentially a step closer to the path to the underworld. The Zhong and Lu families were not short of shrewd and cunning figures who had perfected their schemes. Zhong Gui, a master of exceptional martial arts, was dead, yet she, a weak woman, had abnormally survived. It would be almost impossible for her to deceive her way through and continue to live a life of wealth and comfort. Even Xu Fengnian couldn't conceive of how she could fabricate a flawless excuse. He claimed he would take her to a safe place, but in reality, for a woman surnamed Lu, the shade that once shielded her would now be the most perilous place in the world. This pair of men and women, whose fates had inexplicably intertwined, neither seemed to be a good person. After disfiguring herself, she could claim that enemies had killed Zhong Gui and then let her live as an insult to both the Zhong and Lu families. Only then could she forcefully create a "live eye" on a dead-end chessboard, securing a chance for survival.

But was such a method too great a price for a woman to pay? Was it too drastic? Both men and women cherish their lives. It is common sense that men cherish life, and women cherish their looks. A surge of malice rose within Xu Fengnian, almost prompting him to kill her instantly. But then he slowly exhaled a breath, suppressing his murderous intent. The woman looked at the young man before her, whose full name she didn't know, her eyes glazed over. Not tears streamed down her cheeks, but blood covered her face. The woman, who had once claimed she wasn't beautiful, finally saw her gaze clear, and tears welled up. With tears in her eyes, she smiled and said, "It hurts."