Footsteps echoed near the entrance of Song Jixin's residence. Just as Liu Xianyang was about to leap down from the wall, a voice reached him before the speaker appeared—a gentle, smiling inquiry:"Are you that boy Liu, the apprentice of Old Yao from the Baoxi Kiln?"
It was the kiln overseer clad in white, with a jade belt at his waist. He stepped out boldly past the threshold, his face beaming as he looked toward the wall. Liu Xianyang stiffened, suddenly bereft of the strength to jump down. He forced a dry laugh and replied nervously,"Yes, sir. When Your Excellency came to our Dragon Kiln for the opening ceremony, my master had me demonstrate a few techniques."
The man nodded, giving the tall youth a once-over before speaking directly,"Young man, would you like to see the world beyond this town? Enlist in the army, fight in real battles. I promise you—if you survive ten years, a high rank shall be yours. I'll personally host a banquet in your honor at the capital. What say you?"
Behind him, Song Jixin's face darkened like storm-laden skies. He gripped tightly the old dragon rain-pendant gifted by Fu Nanhua. Branded for years as an illegitimate child, a bastard, he now knew the man's true identity. And thus, he understood—those four words, "host a banquet personally," were nothing short of an imperial talisman, the longest ladder toward official ascension in the Great Li court.
Liu Xianyang, scrambling for a fitting phrase, stammered,"Thank you for your generosity, sir... I—I am truly flattered and terrified by the offer... but I've already promised to apprentice under Master Ruan at the smithy. It would be dishonorable to go back on my word. I hope Your Excellency will not... will not hold it against me..."
His words faltered mid-sentence, stuck in his throat. His face flushed red with urgency. Song Jixin, feigning helpfulness, offered a prompt,"The saying is, 'a gentleman overlooks a petty slight.'"
The man in white chuckled, unfazed."No matter. If ever you leave this town, head toward the Danyang mountain pass. Seek out a martial man named Liu Linxi. Tell him the capital's Song Changjing recommended you for military service. If he doubts you, just tell him Song Changjing says Liu Linxi still owes him thirty thousand Sui cavalry heads."
Liu Xianyang nodded blankly,"Alright."
The man departed with a smile. Song Jixin saw him off to the gate, intending to stop there, but the man seemed to have predicted his reluctance and, without turning, said,"Come with me to the overseer's office—I want to introduce you to someone."
Song Jixin's feet rooted to the ground like stakes. His face darkened further."I'm not going!"
To the townsfolk, the overseer's office was an unreachable institution. But to a boy who'd grown up surrounded by whispering gossip, it was a dragon's lair—a trial he was unwilling to face. Yet the man, known for decisive action beyond these walls, did not grow angry. Instead, he slowed his pace and said,"According to intelligence reports, you've already met that Sui dynasty prince named Gao, haven't you? Do you realize the House of Gao and our Song clan are blood-sworn enemies—rivals spanning a thousand years? That prince dared infiltrate this heartland town deep in enemy territory, yet you, a prince of Great Li, refuse to visit a mere administrative building in your own domain?"
Rather than dwell on the message's weight, Song Jixin instinctively turned toward Liu Xianyang. The tall youth sat on the wall, casually massaging his hands and tapping his legs, as though he hadn't heard a word.
The white-robed vassal lord of Great Li curved his lips into a faint smile. A pleasant surprise, he thought. The boy was indeed one of the old Song clan's bloodline. But then he remembered who the boy's mother was and sighed inwardly, irked and troubled.
Clenching his teeth, Song Jixin called back to Zhi Gui at the door,"I'll be back soon. Don't worry about lunch."
He stepped out the gate, then paused to add with a grin,"Take the pouch of silver beside my bed. Go to the Du family's shop and buy that dragon-phoenix incense pendant. We won't need to save money anymore."
Zhi Gui nodded, raising a silent, careful gesture. Song Jixin flashed a carefree smile and strode away.
Once he had gone, Liu Xianyang cautiously asked,"Zhi Gui, what's the relationship between Song Jixin and that overseer?"
Zhi Gui looked at the tall youth with pity.
Liu Xianyang couldn't stand that look."What? So what if he knows some big-shot kiln official?"
Zhi Gui smirked faintly, then went inside to fetch food, feeding the old mother hen and her fluffy chicks.
For no reason at all, Liu Xianyang felt dejected. He leapt down from the wall and shouted into the house,"Chen! Let's head to the smithy. I've had enough of this crap!"
In the neighboring courtyard, a girl's voice teased through the wall,"A monk seeks a stick of incense, a man seeks pride. But a coward has nothing but a belly full of useless fire."
Liu Xianyang's blood surged. His ears turned crimson. He strode to the wall and slammed a fist down,"Wang Zhu! Say that again if you dare!"
The maid dropped her corn and greens, clapped her hands, and turned with a bright smile,"You think you're someone special? Just because you said so?"
Liu Xianyang gazed at the maturing girl, blooming more stunning by the day, but found himself at a loss for words. His heart felt hollow, as though a porcelain bowl had shattered within.
Chen Ping'an had long been standing at the threshold. Seeing this, he stepped inside and said quietly,"Let's go."
The two boys walked shoulder to shoulder through the alley. Suddenly, the taller youth asked,"Chen Ping'an, am I a complete failure?"
Chen Ping'an pondered, then answered seriously,"The neighbors always said my mother was kind and my father was the quiet type. So I think... liking someone may not have much to do with being a failure or not."
Liu Xianyang groaned,"Then I'm even more doomed. Even if I build my own Dragon Kiln someday or master all of Master Ruan's skills, she still wouldn't like me, would she?"
Chen Ping'an wisely fell silent, not wanting to add fuel to the fire.
As they strolled down the familiar alley, a memory surfaced in Chen Ping'an's mind—of a past journey with Old Yao deep into the mountains, following a stream. They saw a young deer drinking at the water's edge. It did not flee from them, and after drinking, it simply stood gazing at its own reflection in the stream, unmoving. Beside the reflection lingered a solitary fish, circling beneath the surface.
Before leaving his ancestral home, Miss Ning had advised him: since he now had a sycamore leaf talisman for protection, he should leave town sooner rather than later. With its unseen blessing, fewer misfortunes would befall him. She wasn't sure if the matter with Liu Xianyang might eventually involve him, too. But Chen Ping'an insisted on witnessing Liu being accepted as Master Ruan's apprentice before departing—only then could he find peace of mind.
After all, without Liu Xianyang back then, he would've starved to death.
Of course, deep down, Chen Ping'an had also hoped Miss Ning would remain at his home until her wounds healed. But he hadn't dared voice that hope, for fear she'd mistake it as flirtation.
Suddenly, he asked,"That treasured armor your grandfather left you... you'd never sell it to an outsider, would you?"
Liu Xianyang answered as if it were the most obvious truth in the world,"Of course not! I'd rather die than sell it."
He playfully punched Chen Ping'an's shoulder."I'm not a money-grubber like you."
He clasped his hands behind his head."Some things you don't have now, you can earn. But some things, once lost, are gone forever."
Chen Ping'an murmured,"I understand."
As they neared the alley's end, Liu Xianyang suddenly cursed under his breath. Chen Ping'an looked up, his thoughts interrupted, his mood suddenly heavy.
It was Lu Zhengchun, the eldest son of the Lu family from Fulu Street. Years ago, it was this very man who led a gang of ruffians to block Liu Xianyang in this alley… and nearly—