A light skiff am I, as the sun descends beyond the western peaks.
Ever following the disappearing sails, I stretch to meet the vast expanse of the sky.
All things return to their quiet clarity, as the forests and mountains reveal their evening splendor.
The rippling stream, flowing dark and deep, as the sun sets, yielding to the lone rosy clouds.
Distant islands reflect the fading light, while the lake's clouds still shimmer brightly.
As twilight deepens, the colors of Chu approach; the distant shore is closed at Jingmen.
By nightfall, the clarity intensifies, a whistling north wind blows fiercely.
Geese and egrets alight by the sandy shore, their roosting place hidden by reeds.
The full moon pauses at the fore bay, and a lone zither begins to sway.
With a clear, ethereal sound, the night deepens; white dew dampens my sleeves.
In Bashi, there is a mountain named Zhuying Mountain, known for its frequent mists. Clouds and fog perpetually shroud it, and fine drizzles drift down. The mists that permeate the mountain, ever-changing, adorn Zhuying Mountain with extraordinary charm.
Zhuying Mountain is also a place of towering peaks, a continuous chain of mountains rising into the clouds. Precarious summits stand starkly, cliffs as sheer as if carved, rocks fractured as if broken. Those vertical stone steps, looking at them alone, would make one’s heart pound, let alone walking upon them.
"Are you afraid? Little Jade Slave?" On this day, at the foot of Zhuying Mountain's stone steps, two figures, one large and one small, arrived. The larger one asked the smaller one.
"With Elder Sister Tang here, Jade Slave is not afraid!" Little Jade Slave held Tang Yao's hand, looking up at the towering stone steps. She suppressed the fear in her heart and replied.
The adult was naturally Tang Yao, and the child was naturally Little Jade Slave.
After Tang Yao rescued Little Jade Slave, she brought her to Zhuying Mountain in Bashi Prefecture.
"I told you Sister doesn't go by Tang, but by Deng Ling. Why do you still call me Elder Sister Tang?"
"Tang Yao," her true name was Deng Ling Yaoyao. At this moment, she finally removed the mask from her face, revealing her true appearance: a beautiful young maiden, with skin like jade and bones like ice, her eyebrows and eyes drawn as if painted. However, because she had worn a mask for so long, her complexion appeared somewhat pale.
"Elder Sister Deng Ling? It doesn't sound nice. Elder Sister Tang sounds better," Little Jade Slave said with a smile, looking at Deng Ling Yaoyao.
"Do you like the surname Tang that much?" Deng Ling Yaoyao shook her head and chuckled.
After speaking, Deng Ling Yaoyao took Little Jade Slave's small hand and, step by step, ascended the stone steps, heading towards the mountain.
"Yes, Jade Slave likes the surname Tang. So, will Jade Slave be surnamed Tang from now on? Is that okay, Sister...?" Little Jade Slave asked with a smile upon hearing this.
"As you wish," Deng Ling Yaoyao replied.
"Sister..." Little Jade Slave called out to Deng Ling Yaoyao while struggling to ascend the stone steps.
"Hmm? What is it?" Deng Ling Yaoyao glanced at the mist-shrouded mountain and asked absently.
"Big Brother he..." Tang Yunu looked at Deng Ling Yaoyao and asked somewhat cautiously: "Is Big Brother really alright?"
"Good people don't live long; troubles linger for millennia..." Deng Ling Yaoyao gritted her teeth and said. Then, seemingly feeling a bit embarrassed, she shook her head and replied, "Didn't I already tell you? He's fine. He's doing very well. He should have already arrived in Xuelin City."
After rescuing Little Jade Slave, Deng Ling Yaoyao did not leave You Prefecture immediately. She stayed in You Prefecture for a period of time and later learned some news about Zhou Fugui.
"Where is Xuelin City?" Tang Yunu tilted her head and asked Deng Ling Yaoyao.
"It's in the far north. Serves him right to go there and suffer," Deng Ling Yaoyao replied.
"Sister, what's wrong with you...?" Tang Yunu asked in surprise, seeing Deng Ling Yaoyao's bitter and resentful expression.
"What's wrong with me? Nothing's wrong with me," Deng Ling Yaoyao replied somewhat guiltily.
"Oh, Sister, I miss Big Brother a little," Tang Yunu said after nodding her little head.
"Hmph, why would you miss him? He's fallen for someone else and won't like you anymore," Deng Ling Yaoyao snorted coldly upon hearing this.
Tang Yunu turned to look at Deng Ling Yaoyao, utterly bewildered. She couldn't understand why, if Zhou Fugui liked someone else, he couldn't like her too?
Deng Ling Yaoyao led Tang Yunu up the steps, reaching the top of the stone stairway and disappearing into the mist.
"Through fire and water!"
"To die without hesitation!"
"The Ancestor's unyielding strike!"
"Benevolence of the disciples!"
As Deng Ling Yaoyao led Tang Yunu up the stone steps, a expanse of lush green trees and grass came into view, exceptionally verdant and thriving.
From amidst the tall grass, two shouts of challenge could be heard. Deng Ling Yaoyao responded fluently.
"So it's Junior Sister who has returned!" Several men in black, swords at their waists, emerged from the woods and grass. Among them, a young man said with a smile.
"Nonsense? Can't you tell from the voice?" Deng Ling Yaoyao muttered inwardly, then nodded and said to the young man, "Senior Brother."
The Senior Brother's surname was Wu, and his given name was Zong. Wu Zong walked up to Deng Ling Yaoyao and asked with a smile, "Junior Sister, you've worked hard. Did you gain anything from your trip down the mountain?"
Deng Ling Yaoyao shook her head slightly.
"Other than rescuing that lecherous fellow, it seems there was no other gain?" Deng Ling Yaoyao thought to herself.
"Oh, who is this little girl...?" Wu Zong then asked, looking at Tang Yunu.
Tang Yunu had jet-black, shiny hair, a nose that was neither too high nor too low, perfectly proportioned. Her large, expressive eyes, set against her fair skin, appeared particularly striking. With bright eyes and white teeth, she looked exceptionally well-behaved and cute, making her incredibly endearing.
"She's a pitiable child," Deng Ling Yaoyao replied faintly.
"Oh, Junior Sister is indeed kind-hearted, saving another person. However..." Wu Zong nodded.
"However what?" Deng Ling Yaoyao asked, looking at Wu Zong.
"However, if Junior Sister keeps bringing people back, there won't be enough food on the mountain," Wu Zong said with a smile.
"She's only six years old, she won't eat much of your food," Deng Ling Yaoyao said with a smile, knowing Wu Zong was just joking.
The group then proceeded up the mountain together.
"How is Father doing?" Deng Ling Yaoyao asked while holding Tang Yunu's hand and walking.
"Master is unharmed," Wu Zong replied with a smile. "He mentioned you yesterday, saying that you..."
"Saying what about me? Senior Brother, why are you speaking so haltingly today?" Deng Ling Yaoyao asked, somewhat displeased.
"Master was worried about you. He didn't actually say anything," Wu Zong quickly replied.
"Oh..." Deng Ling Yaoyao nodded her head slightly, leaving Wu Zong behind, and quickly walked up the mountain with Tang Yunu.
A trace of embarrassment or annoyance appeared on Wu Zong's face, and he then chased after Deng Ling Yaoyao.
"Junior Sister, did you see anything new on your trip down the mountain?" a young man asked with a smile as he quickly moved to Deng Ling Yaoyao's side.
"There were many new things. Seventh Brother, which one would you like to hear?" Deng Ling Yaoyao asked with a smile.
"There don't seem to be many new things. I did meet a new person, though," Deng Ling Yaoyao thought to herself.
The "new person," or rather, strange person Deng Ling Yaoyao was thinking of, was of course Zhou Fugui...
In You Prefecture City, Zhou Fugui's righteous intervention, killing several barbarians and saving the Qin girl, was quite heroic. Yet, he ultimately took the Qin girl as his concubine... What was his intention with the Qin girl then? Was it chivalrous benevolence, or lust at first sight? Deng Ling Yaoyao was utterly perplexed by this.
If Zhou Fugui hadn't taken the Qin girl as a concubine, Deng Ling Yaoyao might have invited him to the mountain to learn martial arts and then roam the world upholding justice!
He acted as a lackey for a tiger, leading his troops to attack Guangling Prefecture first. The Yan army breached the city, engaging in widespread slaughter and plunder. Yet, Zhou Fugui led his men to rescue Little Jade Slave and many other Han people. So, what kind of person was Zhou Fugui? Was he inherently cold-blooded, or did he possess a benevolent heart? Was he a traitor to the Han, or a loyal and righteous person? Deng Ling Yaoyao still could not ascertain what kind of person Zhou Fugui truly was.
To avenge his brother and sister, Zhou Fugui raised his butcher's knife, engaging in extensive killing. While taking revenge on his enemies was understandable, he did not spare women and children. So, was Zhou Fugui a passionate man, or a brutal executioner? Deng Ling Yaoyao remained confused.
What kind of person Zhou Fugui was completely bewildered Deng Ling Yaoyao. When Deng Ling Yaoyao had decided to save him, she had also been hesitant.
It was with a heart full of doubt that Deng Ling Yaoyao returned to Zhuying Mountain.
As everyone spoke, they arrived at a place resembling a temple.
The building's exterior was grand. Red walls, pointed roofs, and golden glazed tiles formed a hall that pierced the sky. Pillars made of rosewood exuded an ancient charm. In the front courtyard, there were the Four Heavenly Kings: the Eastern Guardian King, Dhritarashtra, Mo Lishou, holding the Purple Golden Dragon Flower-Marked Leopard; the Southern Growth King, Virupaksha, Mo Liqing, wielding a treasured sword of green light; the Western Broad-Eyed King, Virupaksha, Mo Li Hong, holding a lute of jade; and the Northern Many-Hearths King, Vaishravana, Mo Li Hai, commanding the Primordial Pearl Umbrella.
The Four Heavenly Kings or Celestial Kings, resplendent and imposing.
Outside the building, there was a stone tablet. The plaque bore three powerful, red characters: "Shangzhi Pavilion," exuding a solemn and dignified aura. The entire interior was divided into three floors: the first floor had blue tile flooring, the second was supported by wooden frames, the corners were wrapped in blue bricks, and numerous lanterns hung under each eaves, presumably for nighttime illumination.
"Wow..." Tang Yunu, holding Deng Ling Yaoyao's hand, looked at the building and exclaimed, "Sister, do you live in here? It's so magnificent!"
"A humble dwelling in the mountains, what's so magnificent about it?" Deng Ling Yaoyao said, yet her expression showed a hint of pride. "There are many magnificent and grand places in the world, like the imperial palace. Little Jade Slave, have you seen the imperial palace?"
Although the imperial palace was magnificent and grand, it was not as tranquil and elegant as Shangzhi Pavilion, Deng Ling Yaoyao thought with some pride.
"Jade Slave has only heard of it, but never seen it," Tang Yunu replied, shaking her head.
"Mmm, Sister..." Before Deng Ling Yaoyao could finish speaking, a middle-aged beautiful woman emerged from the house.
"Yaoyao, are you still out here fooling around? Hurry inside!"
The middle-aged woman wore a bright red short jacket with gold trim, pale purple wrist guards on her small sleeves, and a pair of bright red trousers. A wide, pale purple sash was tied around her waist, and she wore bright red boots. A golden-sheathed short sword was sheathed at her hip. She was spirited and imposing, like a ball of fire, standing in the corridor, hands on her hips, shouting at Deng Ling Yaoyao in a Bashu accent.
"Mother..." Deng Ling Yaoyao, seeing this, scurried over like a mouse encountering a cat.