Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Diancang Pass, as its name implied, was a city born from a fort, with rivers facing it on two sides and Yushui River rushing through. The sides not against water included one tightly connected to the tail of the Mu Mountain range, and the other linked not to mountains, nor of course to water, but to a steep and perilous cliff.

To traverse this place, within a hundred miles around, there was only the path through Diancang Pass, and inside the pass flowed only Yushui River, that accessible, ceaseless great river. Thus, over thousands of years of dynastic shifts, Diancang Pass rarely knew peace, and warfare ensued constantly.

Precisely because it was a strategic military point, no matter how fierce the flames of war or urgent the clashing weapons, this pass was assaulted repeatedly. Even with blood flowing in rivers, its walls stained crimson were repaired again and again, growing ever taller and thicker.

Before the large ship entered the pass, viewed from Yushui River, Diancang Pass resembled an iron box dropped from heaven, firmly clamped onto Yushui River, severing it at the waist. However torrential the turbulent waves, crashing against those hard, blackish walls, they swiftly turned to mist, dispersing one by one under the red sun.

But once inside the pass, the fervor and noise brought by the Sword Discussion Tournament overflowed all at once.

Not only were there loud calls from the pier, nor just the ships traversing the pass one after another. A dense stream of people surged—the three of them, barely disembarked, were almost swept forward by the throng. He Yu, being burly, held one in each hand, preventing them from scattering.

Emerging from the ferry port, the pedestrians didn’t thin out. Colorful signs crowded densely all the way to the horizon’s edge; everywhere were red towers and painted pavilions, bright bricks and tiles built to the sky. The resonant shouts gradually faded, drowned out by the vigorous, boisterous hawking from the street.

They were jostled by several people in succession; before irate accusations could leave their lips, the crowd pushed them onward again, and in an instant, even the figures of those who bumped them vanished from sight.

Standing on tiptoe to peer around, Chen Shu shouted at the top of her voice, “Where are we headed! Shouldn’t we find a place to stay first? I just saw passing that signboard, there was—”

“That crabapple-red signboard?”

“—Ooh, how did you know?” Chen Shu exclaimed excitedly. “Do you think it’s pretty too?”

Yun Shen chuckled and said, “That sign is the gaudiest on the whole street—what other sign could you be talking about?”

“Yes! It’s the most beautiful one!” Chen Shu responded, then paused and asked suspiciously, “Are you laughing at me now?”

She was about to argue more with Yun Shen when He Yu happened to speak, pulling her attention back.

“A place to stay can wait. Since we managed to rise early, why not seize the morning lull to sign up first? That way, whether exploring, eating, or drinking, our minds will be settled. What’s more, if I recall correctly, all disciples from renowned schools have their food and lodging covered by the Sword Discussion Tournament. This year, my sect only sent me along, so you can share my quarters to avoid travel fatigue—it makes sense with multiple competition rounds stretching over ten days.”

He Yu delivered such a clear speech that it easily led Chen Shu astray. Moments later, she forgot the spat with Yun Shen and asked with concern, “So where do we go to sign up?”

“Good question,” He Yu murmured after a pause and finally admitted. “I recall roughly this route after the pier… but five years have passed, so shops changing is natural… right…”

“So Brother He Yu doesn’t know the way anymore?” Chen Shu inquired cautiously.

“That’s right. Your Brother He Yu doesn’t know the way anymore,” Yun Shen stated.

“Oh, it’s understandable why he forgot,” Chen Shu said, regaining her boldness toward Yun Shen. “After all, it was five years ago—I can’t remember which path I took or what bones I picked up back then. Can you even recall who you met, where you went, or what books you read five years ago?”

“As for that, I’ve no recollection,” Yun Shen shot her a glance and drawled. “But I do know the way to sign up for the Sword Discussion Tournament.”

“Really?” He Yu asked in pleasant surprise.

Yun Shen nodded, his gaze drifting toward Chen Shu afterward. But Chen Shu, unlike He Yu, grew angry rather than pleased upon hearing Yun Shen’s confident tone and assured demeanor, exclaiming hotly, “So why were you watching us wander all over the street and laughing at us?”

“Look at you, why so rushed?” Yun Shen said, reaching across He Yu to tousle her fuzzy head, then added meaningfully, “I wasn’t laughing at my own people.”

With that, he exchanged a glance with He Yu, and both men slightly tilted their chins in an almost imperceptible nod. Then He Yu pulled Chen Shu’s hand and placed it into Yun Shen’s grasp.

“Alright, with Brother Yun leading the way, nothing could be better.”

Passersby still streamed past now and then. Thrust forward by He Yu, Chen Shu stumbled two steps and nearly collided with some of them. She looked up at Yun Shen, but his gaze was fixed on the roadside not far away. Just as she was about to follow his line of sight, she felt her hand being naturally, firmly grasped by him, and for some reason, her heart tightened.

Her face felt warm, and so did her heart, yet Yun Shen’s hand was icy cold, like the deep mountain spring of Tianyu Mountain—chill and refreshing even in the height of summer. They had met many days ago, and she had held that hand more than once, but it was as if only now did she realize Yun Shen’s hand could entirely envelop hers.

She wriggled her fingers slightly, and Yun Shen, seemingly sensing it, lifted her hand and strode forward without a hint of hesitation.

“Do you really know which way to go?” Chen Shu asked with some concern.

Yun Shen chuckled softly: “At least I won’t sell you off.”

Strangely, perhaps because they had passed the liveliest stretch of the market, or perhaps because Yun Shen knew his direction well and walked with ease, they no longer bumped into anyone for the rest of the way. Nor were they swept off course by the crowds. They passed smoothly through several streets, and gradually, the buildings around them became more orderly; people wearing swords or knives grew more numerous. Accents varying wildly—east, west, south, north—all jumbled into a blend, making Chen Shu’s head, which had only just recovered from seasickness, feel faint and dizzy again.

Luckily, it didn’t last long. After walking another quarter-hour or so, they saw the end of the street ahead widen like a river emptying into the sea. A Vermilion Wall stood monumentally across the center of the grand avenue like some official mansion.

Despite the street’s bustle, the crowd streamed around it like water parting around rock. Standing on tiptoe, Chen Shu could see from afar that beneath the Vermilion Wall sat a table, the space before it empty enough that wild geese might alight upon it. The rushing throngs of people detoured around it with surprising obedience.

“We’re here. The Sword Discussion Tournament registration point.” He Yu said.

Only then did Chen Shu understand. She freed her hand from Yun Shen’s and shot out from the crowd, darting right up to the weathered wooden table. Only then did she see the small wooden sign planted by the table—indeed neatly inscribed with “Sword Discussion Tournament.” The ink was still damp, and a faint, elusive scent of ink drifted upward, perhaps from the sign, or perhaps from the papers on the table. Behind it sat only a stooped old man, his feet propped casually on the tabletop, a small booklet covering his face. A thunderous snore erupted from beneath the pages.

“Old uncle, is this where we register for the Sword Discussion Tournament?” she asked immediately.

The snoring halted abruptly. The legs on the table shifted. She thought the old man had finally woken up, but then the rhythmic snore began again, low at first, then growing steadily louder, unstoppable as thunder.

Chen Shu gaped, scratching her head. Standing there, she wasn’t sure if she should ask again. Or rather, she wasn’t sure if asking could rouse the old man from his slumber. She turned to see He Yu finally extricating himself with some difficulty from the crowd.

“Little Shu, how is it?” He Yu asked breathlessly as finally approached. “Is this the registration?”

“It says it is.” Chen Shu pointed at the sign. “But the person—”

He Yu didn’t need further elaboration. Approaching, he clearly heard the snoring that seemed strong enough to rattle the table and chair itself.

Yun Shen paused beside her, hugging his arms as he scrutinized the scene. Instead of offering a solution, he sighed: “Sleeping soundly in the heart of the city… this elder possesses extraordinary skill indeed.”

“He just won’t wake up,” Chen Shu said with a touch of petulance.

“Think of a way. Try moving whatever he’s got on him. Do you really need my advice for something so minor?” Yun Shen retorted.

“Who asked for your advice! I was waiting for the two of you to get here so I could discuss this together! I don’t need your help!” Chen Shu snapped. She stepped forward abruptly. “Fine, I’ll just grab this darn thing!”

“—What are you doing!” He Yu blurted out in alarm.

Yun Shen instinctively stretched out a hand to stop her, but he was a step too slow.

All she did was shoot out one hand, grab the edge of the wooden table, and pull. The entire table was easily yanked out from under the sleeping old man, leaving clear scrape marks on the ground. Bereft of half his support, the old man tumbled heavily onto the pavement with a sickening, distinctly audible crack.

It was impossible to tell whether that crack came from the impact of the old man’s body hitting the ground, or from a bone giving way beneath it.

“You foolish girl!” Yun Shen cried out angrily.

Chen Shu was startled too, genuinely not having expected the old man to be quite so… fragile. She froze for an instant, then turned defensively. “Why are you yelling at me? Wasn’t this your stupid idea?”

“I meant move what was on him! Not under him!”

“Well, it’s done now!” Chen Shu retorted stubbornly. “I’ll just heal him if it’s serious!” She planted one foot directly onto the table she’d just pulled out, preparing to leap forward and see the damage. Yun Shen was stunned speechless. He Yu was similarly dumbfounded; he, too, had stepped forward as if to intervene, but Chen Shu’s agility was unmatched. In the blink of an eye, she’d bounded across the table, landing nimbly beside the fallen figure. She bent down to examine him.

At that very moment, the old man stirred. One trembling hand groped blindly and found the leg of the overturned chair beside him. With his other hand, he indifferently brushed some dust from his clothes. Then, weak and feeble-looking, he began to pull himself up under the astonished gazes of the three bystanders, rising until he was fully standing. He lifted his face and met their stares directly.

A deathly silence fell.

“…where’s my book?” the old man asked.

Only Chen Shu reacted, reaching to retrieve the small booklet that had fallen beside the chair back. She handed it over, an uncharacteristic humility in her expression as she said respectfully, “This is your book, Elder.”

“Oh.” The old man took it, flipped through a page or two, closed it, and asked casually, “You didn’t peek, little girl? It’s not suitable for children.”

“?”