Chapter Fourteen: To See the Sea, Encountering an Old Man

“Sir, you may verify it yourself—someone has indeed picked the sensitive plant beneath our willow tree.”
“That morning, I awoke to find something was amiss. Su Mei came to fetch me, asking me to serve as witness. When I first saw the stableman, I felt an odd curiosity; his demeanor was strikingly similar to Li Chunyi, the one who used to deliver meals to me—both are of the demon race.”
“And he—he is none other than the horse that Li Chunyi once rode, transformed into a man, with a fondness for sensitive plants!”
“When I arrived at the magistrate’s office, the stableman accompanied me inside, deepening my suspicions. Why would a stableman abandon his horse, unafraid of theft? As I embraced Xu Hai, I observed the stableman’s subtle expressions and sensed something was wrong; his face bore a hint of pride, not that of a mere bystander.”
“Later, as we gathered evidence, the seals outside the attic were easily torn, suggesting someone had already been there. When we found roots of the sensitive plant mixed in the whale oil, my doubts grew stronger. In this city, only my sister-in-law cultivates sensitive plants—for one reason only: the original stableman was involved in the fight with my brother, though he had changed his appearance.”
“The stableman is one of the demons; his blood stains the ancient lamp, leaving a trace that can be tested!”
“Moreover, my brother succumbed to whale poison, proving the whale oil used for lighting had been swapped. All of this—every piece—points to him!”
“What’s even stranger is that his accomplice, Li Chunyi, tried to silence us by murder. We fought fiercely; everyone else fled in panic, except for the stableman. What does that say?”
“It confirms my suspicions. All these threads weave a perfectly logical tapestry: on his first day, he already knew the route between the magistrate’s office and my home, surely more than once, surely scouting often. Most damning of all, he ate the sensitive plant—there are traces still lodged in his teeth!”
“He is a horse demon, fond of my sister-in-law’s sensitive plants.”
“The wounds on the deceased—bruises and sword cuts—were inflicted by the stableman and Li Chunyi! He stole our family’s techniques, which can be verified.”
“Even now, he bears sensitive plant fragments from my sister-in-law on his person!”
Each testimony rang with clarity and conviction, leaving no room for refutation. His words carried the authority of law; none dared question him.
When Xu Xing finished speaking, One Leaf Thirteen Thorns clapped and praised him, motioning Xu Xing to approach.
Xu Xing walked over, bowed slightly, and One Leaf Thirteen Thorns leaned in to whisper a few words in his ear.
The crowd reacted with envy, jealousy, and resentment; even from across the hall, one could sense the sour atmosphere.
“Damn, he’s really impressive—how was he ever mistaken for a useless fool before? Was he simply indifferent to the world?”
“He isn’t married yet, right? My daughter would suit him well, I think.”
“The Xu family deals in seafood? Tomorrow, I’ll buy twenty pounds of abalone to show my support!”
“That brother is so handsome.”
Public opinion shifted dramatically; everyone looked upon him with admiration.
Amidst the clamorous crowd, Mo Xi gazed at Xu Xing, a hidden dimple surfacing on her face, joyful and content.
Li Mo, seeing Xu Xing summoned by One Leaf Thirteen Thorns, understood:
“Order! Xu Xing, now the truth is revealed, you may withdraw.”

The two walked with confident strides. They knew well that Mo Xi had come here. When they met her again, Xu Xing paused, looked at her, and smiled softly.
Under the watchful eyes of all, the two strode forth with heroic bearing, graceful and unrestrained, their unique silhouettes gradually fading from view.
Tears welled in Mo Xi’s eyes. Her maid approached and asked,
“Miss, what’s wrong? Do you still find it hard to let him go?”
Startled by her maid’s voice, Mo Xi returned to herself, her cheeks wet with sorrow, but she replied, “No, I was just thinking of happier times—those memories still move me to tears.”
“Sigh, the master only acts for your own good.”
...........
At the stone lion by the gate, Hang Ri put his arm around Xu Xing, impatiently asking, “What did you mean to her just now? And, I really don’t have feelings for her—I was just heated at the time, and only opposed you because of her.”
Xu Xing smiled, glancing at the deep blue sky where seagulls soared freely, then turned to look at the gate of the magistrate’s office and said,
“No one looks back to love her again. What I meant just now was: let her sever all lingering thoughts. It was her own choice before.”
Hearing this, Hang Ri gave a thumbs up, praising, “That’s you, all right! By the way, what did One Leaf Thirteen Thorns whisper to you?”
Xu Xing grinned, “The secrets of heaven must not be revealed!”
“Hmph, I don’t care to know anyway. Perhaps the tree-lined path you yearn for is already frosted over at dawn and dusk.”
“But I haven’t used the technique I practiced—what a letdown.”
“If you do use it, it’ll be hard to resolve.”
Walking along the stone path, one could sense traces of ancestors who once lived here.
Some places once lacked roads, but as more people walked them, paths appeared.
Perhaps unbeknownst to you, someone had long since carved out the way, intimately familiar with every twist and turn.
For example, this stone road: on rainy days, when water accumulates, its drainage is effortless.
Regarding the words of One Leaf Thirteen Thorns, Xu Xing merely smiled and stayed silent, dodging the topic and never mentioning what was whispered.
The two parted ways, and as Xu Xing watched Hang Ri go his own way, he felt a surprising warmth in his heart.
The sound of an erhu rang out, like spring breeze, echoing through every street and alley, soothing the wounded souls.
In this affair, Xu Xing sensed Hang Ri’s true heart—not wicked, but impulsive and somewhat stubborn; yet his uprightness and bold spirit were undeniable.
Watching Hang Ri depart, Xu Xing smiled, looking forward to meeting him again at Beihai Academy.

Returning home, the familiar surroundings greeted him, though his elder brother was gone. Thoughts of the stableman raised many questions, and Li Chunyi behind it all was certainly just another pawn.
This muddy affair was truly chaotic—so many have yet to emerge.
The road ahead is long and must be taken step by step.
After tidying up, Xu Xing rose to gaze out at the Bitter Sea once more. Although he lived by the shore, he hadn’t visited in a long while.
He could hear the tides rise and fall daily, the vast waves crashing, the sounds of the sea, yet he had not truly seen the ocean. His heart yearned for it.
People are drawn to water—it is the source of life.
Xu Xing was no exception; he loved exploring the unknown, driven by powerful curiosity, determined to walk a path never trodden before.
No predecessors, no followers—this was the motto Xu Xing always cherished!
After instructing the servants, he left. His father, a merchant of conscience, gave half his annual earnings to the people. Though strict at home, he was always amiable to outsiders.
His father had purchased three courtyard homes in Sea City. This house was meant as his brother’s wedding chamber; Xu Xing himself owned one, but rented it out, choosing instead to share a roof with his brother and sister-in-law for convenience.
He moved against the tide of people, toward the sea. When he finally beheld its vastness, he felt all his efforts worthwhile.
The waves crashed against the decayed reefs.
To prevent sea demons from coming ashore, many tall embankments had been built.
On the embankments stood soldiers in splendid uniforms, vigilant and wary against the monsters lurking in the sea. They were appointed heroes, fighting for the common folk.
Xu Xing walked along the shore, longing to set foot on the golden beach beneath the embankment, though it was forbidden.
He yearned to leave his footprints there, even if the waves would soon wash them away.
At that moment, he spotted an old man, unkempt and filthy, heading toward the edge of the embankment.
The coastal soldiers ignored him, for in recent years, many had jumped into the sea—crushed by pressure, by harsh reality, or by other reasons.
The old man shuffled forward, bent and frail, step by step toward the edge.
Ahead lay the drop below the embankment—dozens of feet high. If he fell, he would be shattered, his bones lost to the sea.
Xu Xing did not hesitate. He rushed toward the old man, shouting anxiously,
“Hey, what are you doing, you fool? Stop! There’s someone at home who still needs you!”