Chapter Twelve: Reunion with Thirteen Stabs of a Single Leaf

Page 1

“Hangri, you've really gone out of your way for me this time. But how will you explain yourself to your family when you return?” Xu Xing gazed at Hangri, who was panting heavily.

The Hang family had always been supported by the Li family. Now, Li Chunyi was considered a descendant of the Li family; to oppose him was to indirectly oppose the Li family as well.

“It’s nothing. As for Li Chunyi, he no longer belongs to the Li family. Though he bears the Li surname, he’s no longer human, so the Li family won’t protect him anymore. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to act against him just now. If he were truly a visiting member of the Li family, his bodyguards would be far stronger—some even cat maidens!”

“For now, you’d better prepare yourself for tomorrow, to find a way to clear your brother’s name,” Hangri said.

Xu Xing looked at Hangri with newfound respect. Hangri was truly a man of character, willing to take risks for a friend. With Xu Xing’s upright nature, he thanked him at once.

It struck him deeply that only a day ago, the two of them had been at odds, and now, they had laid down their weapons and found peace—a satisfying turn of events.

As the saying goes, one does not truly know another until after a fight.

“Now, all we need is proof that the wounds on the deceased were not inflicted by Xu Hai, and that will suffice.” Xu Xing scratched his head as he spoke.

To his surprise, Hangri replied, “Don’t worry. Li Mo, the county magistrate, is a Li family member and has some dealings with my Hang family. If Xu Hai ends up imprisoned, I can use family connections to get your brother released.”

Xu Xing was astonished. All their efforts to gather evidence might not be as effective as a single word from Hangri.

But it made sense. The Xu family had some ties with Li Mo, but not enough to alter the facts.

Xu Xing believed that, with Hangri’s help, tomorrow’s case would be easily resolved.

Besides, how could the situation he controlled possibly go awry?

“Why don’t we go for a walk? It seems fate has brought us together,” Hangri suggested.

Xu Xing nodded; he hadn’t yet explored Haicheng.

But once he stepped onto Hangri’s boat, he regretted it. Hangri truly was a rogue.

He was well-versed in the arts of pleasure and seduction.

But thinking about it, at the age of twenty, a man’s blood runs hot—such is the first trial of youth.

Page 2

Xu Xing and Hangri wandered around Haicheng for hours, parting ways at dusk.

At their parting, Xu Xing reminded Hangri to memorize certain terms to aid him in refuting charges in court and clearing his brother’s name. Hangri nodded in agreement.

Xu Xing also told him to cleanse himself under the family’s willow tree for a night, and together, they would go to the magistrate’s court the next day. After hours of wandering and feeling weary, Xu Xing returned to the mansion, but Hangri was nowhere to be found.

Elsewhere, in a brightly lit, music-filled pavilion—the Azure Crimson Pavilion—Hangri’s shadow lingered. That night, three women and one man shared the room.

The wind chimes outside the window, tethered to the bedside, rang on until dawn, uncertain whether the wind never ceased or for some other reason.

Only when the silver moon was high did the night fall silent. Hangri departed, leaving behind two silver notes as a parting gift.

Still drowsy, Xu Xing let Hangri in, and together they slept beneath the willow tree. His thoughts wandered to Xu Hai, poisoned by whale venom.

He could not settle his mind. Xu Hai’s talents differed from his own.

Xu Hai had studied at the Southern Mountain Academy—could those at the academy be responsible?

Hangri, asleep beneath the tree, snored like a dead pig, thunderous and oblivious. Yet he carried a peculiar scent, one hardly befitting a man.

But then, after such pleasures and a bath, there was no harm done, so long as one kept to their principles.

Gradually, after a day’s toil, Xu Xing drifted off to sleep.

The next morning

The dragon-scale clouds in the sky caught the lingering glow of the dawn, and Xu Xing squinted up at the heavens, mesmerized by the beautiful scene.

Hangri lay beside him, sleeping soundly. Xu Xing let him be, as there was still time before the court session. He washed up and lay back down for a nap, instructing the servants to wake them when the time came.

“Young master, it’s time to get up. We must go to the magistrate’s court to clear the eldest young master’s name,” an old servant called.

Xu Xing was roused, staring blankly at the willow tree, which seemed a little more robust than before.

He kicked Hangri, who awoke in confusion, grumbling, “What? Isn’t it still early? Let me sleep a bit more.”

Page 3

“Come on, we need to help my brother. Who knows how he’s faring now? Get up,” Xu Xing scolded.

Looking at his former nemesis, Xu Xing felt a twinge inside. To think he was sharing a roof with someone he once considered a bitter enemy.

They had even shared a pillow for the night!

Hangri rose, lazy and disheveled, sprawling across Xu Xing, as if exhausted from last night’s battle with demon maidens.

They left the mansion together, but this time, it was not Xu Xing’s brother by his side, but his erstwhile foe.

Between the cracks of the bluestone road, moss grew, as if the fleeting years were a dream, bearing witness to the rise of countless heroes.

Before long, they arrived at the magistrate’s court. Today, the court was different—solemn and imposing, with guards markedly increased. Hangri, in his altered guise, grew nervous.

Hangri changed his tone, imitating his brother’s voice, and said, “Brother, you’re still so young, and your conduct is so upright.”

Xu Xing lightly punched Hangri, retorting, “Enough, stop taking advantage. And remember what I told you this morning. If you mess it up, we’re finished.”

“Don’t worry! I practiced those terms with the cat maidens at the Azure Crimson Pavilion last night. It’s all good,” Hangri assured, patting his chest.

Time passed swiftly. Xu Xing and Hangri were first in line, so after the court session, they went straight to the matter at hand.

The case itself was tricky; as long as Xu Xing could present evidence that Xu Hai did not inflict the wounds on the deceased, that would suffice.

“Are you confident?” Hangri asked.

Xu Xing merely smiled, not bothering to answer. Wasn’t it obvious? He was certain he could clear his brother’s name.

Entering the gate, the surroundings were familiar, save for one difference: in the hall, there was an extra figure. He wore a rain cloak and white robes, surrounded by thirteen green leaves swirling about him.