Chapter Eighty-Five: An Encounter with an Old Friend

An Yi stared at the young man for a while before finally recognizing him as Li Guyu, whom she had not seen for years. She never expected to reunite with an old acquaintance under such circumstances. Reaching into the pouch at her waist, she took out a porcelain bottle and held it under his nose, but despite inhaling the antidote, Li Guyu remained unconscious.

An Yi moved the lamp closer for a better look and discovered a long wound across Li Guyu’s chest, his clothes stained with blood. She hurried to lift him onto the bed and undo his garments, revealing a lean body covered with scars. Her gaze flickered, and from this alone, she could tell what kind of life he had led these past years. After bandaging his chest wound and taking his pulse, she found he also suffered internal injuries. She retrieved some pills for internal trauma, took out two, and placed them in his mouth.

Li Guyu occupied the bed, so An Yi sat cross-legged in meditation on the chair.

Half an hour later, Li Guyu awoke to find a masked woman sitting in the room. Her beautiful eyes shone brightly in the candlelight, startling him. He leapt from the bed and asked in a low voice, “Who are you?”

An Yi looked at him coldly. “Who I am doesn’t matter. Dawn is approaching. You’d best leave quickly before anyone discovers you and jeopardizes your life.”

“Why did you save me?” Li Guyu asked.

“A healer’s compassion.”

“Such righteousness, miss. I’ll remember it. Please tell me your name, so I may repay you someday.”

“My name is of no consequence to you,” An Yi replied, wary after years apart and unsure of Li Guyu’s current situation. She did not wish to reveal her identity. “Before I change my mind, take your sword and leave at once.”

Li Guyu’s eyes flickered, but he asked no more. He picked up the long sword on the table and leapt out the window.

An Yi remained seated, eyes closed. Only when she heard the crowing of roosters outside did she rise, pack her belongings, settle the bill, and leave the inn.

Leading her horse, An Yi bought some buns from a stall at the street corner. As she ate and walked toward the city gate, she saw a crowd gathered there. People leaving the city formed a long queue. She stopped a passing woman. “Auntie, may I ask what’s happening up ahead?”

The woman smiled, “The officials are on duty. They say someone sneaked into the palace last night and stole something, so they’re checking for stolen goods at the gate.”

“Thank you, Auntie.” An Yi returned a slight smile, her expression unchanged, though she was inwardly surprised at Li Guyu’s boldness—breaking into the palace to steal, though she didn’t know what exactly he had taken.

“I refuse to strip!” came a loud shout from ahead.

An Yi stood on tiptoe and saw the two women and one man she had met at the mountain temple the previous day. The officials focused on searching the man, while the women were questioned briefly and allowed to pass.

The man was tall and muscular, his gaze sharp and spirited—a martial artist, clearly. The officials suspected he was the one who had infiltrated the palace last night and insisted he undress to prove his identity.

The man, seeing himself as an upright gentleman, refused to suffer such indignity.

The officials immediately drew their blades, surrounding the trio.

In the end, persuaded by bystanders and his two sisters, the man angrily undressed in public. Finding no fresh wounds on him, the officials finally allowed them to leave the city.

Half an hour later, it was An Yi’s turn.

“What’s your name? Where are you headed?”

“My surname is Luo, my childhood name is Nineteen. I’m visiting relatives in the capital,” replied An Yi.

“Traveling to the capital alone? Lift your veil and let me see your face.”

An Yi complied, lifting the pale blue gauze in front of her face to reveal a plain, clean visage.

The official’s eyes lit up—such a beautiful girl. Yet, having some experience, they knew a woman who dared travel alone was not to be trifled with. They made no lewd remarks.

An Yi left the city, mounted her horse, and rode off in style.

She headed north, the journey smooth and easy. By May, the summer heat arrived, leaving An Yi restless and irritable. To reach the next town quickly for rest, she left the official road and, using the map given by Ji Fanyi, took a shortcut toward Shenzhou. As she passed a mountain hollow, she suddenly heard strange noises ahead.

An Yi was not one to meddle in others’ affairs and was about to detour through the woods when she heard a loud voice: “Bai Wuming, show your weapon!”

She heard no reply from Bai Wuming. After a moment’s hesitation, she dismounted, untied her bundle, patted her horse’s head, and said, “Quiet now, go wait for me in the woods.”

The horse, smart and obedient, trotted off into the trees.

An Yi used her lightness skill to approach silently. On the slope, two people stood face-to-face. The one on the left wore white, handsome and elegant, his thin lips curved in a mischievous smile—it was Bai Wuming, the chatterbox.

The one on the right was a youth of sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a crimson robe with a jade belt, his features refined. He held a long sword adorned with gems, pointing it at Bai Wuming, the tip trembling slightly. “Bai Wuming, I’ll say it again—show your weapon!”

“No need. This will do,” Bai Wuming replied, unmoved, eyes narrowed lazily, indifferent to the sword mere inches from him.

“You—how dare you look down on me! Take this!” The red-robed youth’s face flushed with anger. With a shout, he lunged with his sword.

Sword flashes filled the air, shadows swirling. Bai Wuming was enveloped by a dense web of sword energy, yet he remained calm, not attacking, relying on agile footwork to weave through the blades, his robes fluttering like an immortal.

Suddenly, Bai Wuming struck, his move swift and unorthodox, snatching the youth’s wrist amid the torrent of swordplay. The long sword was instantly seized.

The youth stared in shock, his sword taken without ever seeing Bai Wuming’s technique.

Bai Wuming, now holding the sword, did not press his advantage. He stepped back twice, his gaze steady, his tone sincere: “Young Master Tang, I’m a physician. I treat all patients, regardless of gender. Miss Fang is merely a patient to me.”

“You don’t like Miss Fang?” The youth eyed Bai Wuming suspiciously. “She’s beautiful, gentle, and kind. How could you not like her?”

Bai Wuming laughed softly. “Miss Fang is a wonderful person—no one could dislike her. But the way I like her is different from the way you do.”

“You—I…” The youth’s thoughts were exposed, and his ears reddened with embarrassment.

“Young Master Tang, if you truly like Miss Fang, you should tell her openly, not challenge me to a duel.” Bai Wuming handed the sword back. “She’s so kind—whether you hurt me or I hurt you, she’ll be saddened. How could you bear to make her unhappy?”

“You’re right, Bai Wuming. I apologize for the trouble. I’ll take my leave.” The youth accepted the sword and vanished in a flash.

Seeing Bai Wuming unharmed, An Yi quietly stepped back to leave, but Bai Wuming had already noticed. “Who’s there?”

Not wanting to see him, An Yi used her lightness skill to escape, but a white shadow flashed in front of her, blocking her way.

“So, it’s a young lady,” Bai Wuming’s gaze sharpened, gently shaking his folding fan. “Why were you lurking nearby, spying?”

“Who was spying? I was merely passing by,” An Yi replied tersely.

“Nineteen, how come you’re here?” Bai Wuming recognized her voice in surprise.

“Why shouldn’t I be here?” An Yi retorted.

“Of course you can be here, Nineteen. Might I ask where you’re headed?” Bai Wuming smiled amiably.

An Yi ignored him and walked straight ahead.

Bai Wuming followed, laughing. “What important business brings you to Shenzhou, Nineteen?”

“None of your concern.” An Yi took out a short flute and blew two notes. Her horse emerged from the woods. With a light tap, she mounted gracefully, placed her bundle on the saddle, took the reins, and rode off.

“Nineteen, wait for me!” Bai Wuming smiled, put away his paper fan, and chased after her using lightness skill.

An Yi’s horse was a steed of exceptional stamina. Bai Wuming’s skill was excellent, but a man could never match a horse’s endurance. He watched helplessly as An Yi rode off into the distance.

Having shaken off Bai Wuming, An Yi was in high spirits and slowed her pace. After rounding two bends, she spotted a shabby teahouse by the roadside with two customers inside. She shook her water flask—nearly empty. Dismounting, she planned to rest, refill her water, and feed the horse.

Entering the teahouse, An Yi removed her veil hat.

The teahouse owner stared dumbstruck, while the assistant drooled openly. The two customers also gazed at her, unable to look away.

An Yi was used to such attention along the road and remained unmoved. “Owner, a pot of plain water, please.”

“Miss, though our shop is modest, we do offer some decent teas. Why not try a pot and savor it slowly?” the owner asked, smiling eagerly.

“No need, plain water will suffice.”

“Would you care for some snacks? We have dried fruits, bean curd, steamed buns, and broad beans.”

“No, thank you,” An Yi refused again.

Seeing her resolve, the owner stopped pushing. “Please wait, the water will be ready soon.”

Shortly, a pot of plain water was brought to her.

An Yi poured herself a cup, sniffed it, and a cold smile crept across her lips—she had wandered into a den of thieves. The water carried not only the smoky scent of firewood, but also a hint of drugs. As she set the cup back on the table, she flicked her left fingers, sending a pellet of sedative flying.

The four men, seeing she didn’t drink, grew anxious and exchanged glances. After a while, the two disguised customers couldn’t hold back, about to draw knives from under the table, but suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed.

The owner and assistant, startled, managed a step before falling as well.

An Yi sneered. Four fools—lacking even basic knowledge of the martial world. They should know that lone women, the elderly, and children always have something to rely on and are not to be trifled with.

“You run a roadside den, harming travelers. Who knows how many you’ve ensnared? Killing you today is a service to the people.” An Yi approached the four, her fingers moving swiftly as she struck two fatal points on each.

The hunters had become prey, losing their lives.

An Yi pushed open the teahouse door and searched the premises, finding a gem-encrusted sword, three hundred taels in banknotes, and dozens of taels in silver.

The sword looked familiar to An Yi. After pondering, she went outside and called out loudly, “Bai Wuming! Bai Wuming!”

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