Under the veil of night, a man and a woman approached a brilliantly lit city on the western border, their movements peculiar—the woman carried the man on her back, while the man bore a violet case. Both wore expressions as pale as gold leaf, their faces sallow, as if bound by shared suffering.
The woman glanced at the city, stark against the darkness, and asked coldly, “So this is your so-called ‘City That Never Sleeps’? Why come here? There were plenty of other ways to shake off that old mad dog.”
The man forced a weary smile. “This city was originally called Snow Lotus City. If luck is on our side, we might find what we need here.”
The young woman, whose haggard appearance could not mask her breathtaking beauty, frowned. “Snow lotus? You need it for medicine?”
To describe her beauty, one could exhaust all the flowery phrases—”fish-drowning, goose-falling, moon-hiding, flower-shy,” or “kingdom-toppling, nation-enchanting”—yet none carried the weight of those four words: *peerless elegance*.
In an era, only one could claim such grace.
And at this moment, she might well deserve it—if not the sole, then at least one of four.
The man, whose looks matched hers in refinement, offered no further explanation. Instead, he lifted his gaze toward the city, lost in thought—until a sharp pain jolted him back to reality. She had knocked her head against his.
Having endured countless such unwarranted blows, he snapped, “What now? You insisted on carrying me after I woke up! If I hold your neck, you threaten to toss me yards away. If I barely rest my hands on your shoulders, you throw me off. Now I can’t even put my hands anywhere without you accusing me of impropriety! Jiang Ni, why don’t you just chop them off?!”
Earlier, his accidental brush against her hair had irritated her. Now, his incessant grumbling frayed her nerves. Without hesitation, she jerked her head again, their skulls colliding with a crack—a move as self-destructive as it was aggressive. “I *would* feed them to dogs,” she hissed, “but even dogs wouldn’t want them!”
With undignified spite, he shot back, “Oh, so *you’re* the dog? How else would you know what they’d eat?”
Snow Lotus City was a small, isolated settlement beyond the frontier, forming a strategic triangle with the southern and western passes connecting to the Western Regions. Renowned for its generations of snow-peak lotus harvesters, even the distant Northern Liang royalty—often mocked as “barbarians”—coveted its blooms as imperial tribute. The snow lotus, now as precious as the famed sea hawks of Liaodong, was hailed as the king of herbs. Yet it grew only on sheer cliffs at dizzying heights, its flowering period spanning fifteen to thirty years—akin to a maiden’s prolonged seclusion. Many harvesters passed down discoveries from father to son, only for the blooms to be snatched at exorbitant prices by wealthy patrons who haunted the city.
Every aspect of life in Snow Lotus City revolved around these white treasures. But as their numbers dwindled over the decades, each new discovery sent ripples of frenzy and bloodshed through the streets. Spies, court officials, warlord enforcers, reckless heroes, and fortune-seeking merchants—all converged here, a den of intrigue and danger.
Naturally, this lawless city had no curfew. After entering, she stood bewildered amid the bustling crowds. Finding lodging? That required silver—which they lacked.
He scoffed, “For someone who can supposedly wield a sword across a thousand miles, you’re awfully shy about freeloading. See that inn with the ‘Joyful Departure’ banner? If you won’t bully your way in, *I’ll* reason with the owner.”
Suppressing her fury, she entered the packed tavern. The moment they crossed the threshold, every patron turned to gawk at the odd pair—a woman carrying a man, who in turn carried a case.
“One room,” he announced, fanning the flames.
The innkeeper, a weary old man with downturned brows, perked up at their ragged yet noble bearing. His eyes widened at the priceless violet sandalwood case. *What brings such highborn dragons to my humble inn?*
With a silent prayer, he ushered them to a secluded third-floor chamber. The usually sluggish servant scurried in with premium tea, ogling the woman until the old man dragged him out. “Fool! A goddess like that isn’t for your eyes! Stick to your work, save up, and marry the girl next door—that’s your lot!”
The servant grumbled, “A few more glances won’t cost her any flesh!”
The old man cuffed him. “No, but it might cost *you* yours! That woman’s no delicate flower—she’s trained.”
Eyes alight, the youth whispered, “Could she be the famed Violet Bamboo Immortal? Maybe that case holds her legendary blade!”
The old man snorted. “Dream on. She’s long been General Liu’s guest.”
Inside, she dumped him onto the bed, set the case on the table, and sank into a chair, eyes closed. She’d flown her sword thousands of miles from the misty south to the western deserts, only to clash with that Northern Mang hound the moment she landed. Then came the grueling escape, her qi in turmoil, a deep gash barely bandaged at her neck.
Had that old fox Li Mibi not been distracted protecting Tuoba Pusa, she might never have reached this city.
Skill in combat, she knew, wasn’t the same as skill in killing. The old man in sheepskin who’d taught her calligraphy, not swordsmanship, and Advisor Cao had both drilled that into her. Yet when she’d marshaled rain and mud into twin sword arrays upon their first encounter, Li Mibi had dismantled them effortlessly.
The man—Xu Fengnian, miraculously alive—spoke softly from the bed. “Li Mibi’s only at the Finger Mystic realm, but like Han Shengxuan, he’s peerless within it. Even ordinary Heavenly Phenomena experts struggle against him. But don’t think he wasn’t rattled by your arrays—he just hides it well. If he hadn’t bluffed, and you’d turned the tables to kill Tuoba Pusa, how would he face the Northern Mang empress?”
She sneered. “My fault, then?”
When he didn’t rise to the bait, her temper flared hotter. “Oh, the great Xu Fengnian, one of the world’s four grandmasters—almost beheaded like common prey! Was all that ‘New Martial Emperor’ talk just paid propaganda?”
Xu Fengnian sighed. “The man I nearly killed wasn’t some nobody—it was *Tuoba Pusa*. Without Li Mibi’s interference, I’d be parading his head on a pike at the border right now, sending Northern Mang morale into the abyss. That’d save a hundred thousand Liang lives.”
Jiang Ni cut him off. “Yet here we are, hiding like strays.”
Xu Fengnian grinned. “If I’m a stray, what does that make you? A pair of strays, then?”
For once, she didn’t retort.
He struggled upright, gazing at the luminous city. “Tuoba Pusa will recover faster. With Li Mibi’s ambush skills, our only hope is to stall southward until Xu Yanbing and Tantai Pingjing force them to retreat. Another five days, and they’ll likely withdraw.”
Jiang Ni asked coldly, “When can you walk?”
“Two more days. They might catch up in one. Meaning you’ll probably fight again.” He grimaced. “Though my luck’s been rotten lately.”
She frowned. “In your state, how will you barter for a snow lotus?”
He smirked. “You think Snow Lotus City lacks Northern Liang’s hidden hands?”
Her eyes narrowed. “This inn’s one of your spy dens?”
“Would we be this shabby if it were?”
Infuriated at being teased, she glared.
Xu Fengnian leaned against the bedpost. “Be a dear and fetch us some supper.”
Reluctantly, she went downstairs. The old man, though wary, provided food without demanding payment—even offering an extra room.
When only the innkeeper returned with the meal, Xu Fengnian relaxed. “Don’t worry, we’ll pay in full. But tell me—any connections to Snow Lotus Tower? I hear their courtesans are the finest. Since my companion’s sulking elsewhere, I’d hate to leave without… sampling the local delights.”
The old man chuckled knowingly, then sighed. “The Tower’s ladies are picky—they never leave their pavilion. But others are more… accommodating. I could arrange a selection, discreetly. Any preferences?”
Xu Fengnian waved a hand. “Surprise me.”
As the innkeeper bowed out, Xu Fengnian exhaled, weariness overtaking him.
His luck, it seemed, had indeed run thin.
Xu Fengnian shook his head with a smile. “Forget the girls from other alleys. We’re here for the reputation of Snow Lotus Tower. Whether the girls are fresh or not isn’t the most important thing—what matters is having something to brag about when we go back. Otherwise, where we eat doesn’t matter, does it? Do you really think the women of Snow Lotus City can outshine the top courtesans of the Central Plains? Innkeeper, don’t you agree? Here’s the deal: I once had a friend who was a regular at Snow Lotus Tower, someone who tossed around thousands of taels like they were nothing. Go find the madam of Snow Lotus Tower and tell her that a young master surnamed Xu from Fushui County, a friend of the trade, wants to drink with their top courtesan. Let them name the price—whatever they dare to ask, I’ll pay. Innkeeper, just pass the message. Whether it works or not, when we check out, I’ll add an extra ‘travel fee’ for your trouble.”
The old innkeeper was overjoyed and scurried off to play matchmaker.
Not long after, Xu Fengnian saw the door open, revealing her standing there with a forced smile. Before he could explain anything, she slammed the door and left.
Less than half an hour later, there was a gentle knock on the door. Xu Fengnian said calmly, “Come in.”
Two women entered the room, dressed in plain clothes. Only when they removed their veiled hats did it become clear that one was a mature beauty, while the other was in the prime of youth—both exuding an undeniable charm from head to toe.
The younger woman’s gaze held curiosity and scrutiny as she took in Xu Fengnian’s appearance. The older woman, who had been nervous the entire way, was so frightened that she immediately dropped to her knees, not daring to utter a word or even breathe too loudly.
Xu Fengnian spoke softly, “Madam Song, rise and take a seat. Even Lu Qiuer, whom the entire Liyang considers heartless, privately holds you in high regard.”
The woman’s eyes reddened. After rising, she performed a respectful bow before sitting down.
Xu Fengnian smiled and asked, “Is this the next top courtesan of Snow Lotus Tower, Yu Qingling?”
The woman, who had already recognized Xu Fengnian’s identity, nodded respectfully. “Yu Qingling is an orphan from Snow Lotus City. She entered Snow Lotus Tower as a child and was personally groomed by me as a trusted confidante. However, for caution’s sake, she was only officially registered in the third-tier archives of Fushui Bureau four years ago. Last year, she accomplished a minor feat, and this spring, she was promoted to the second-tier. Currently, she is tasked with monitoring Liu Huaixi, the city’s most influential local figure. Nicknamed ‘General Liu,’ he is a native of Snow Lotus City with over a thousand men under his direct command and significant influence in Nanzhao. Several of the local Miao tribes owe him deep gratitude. I suspect Liu Huaixi was originally a puppet of the Liyang’s Zhao Gou, but after three of their spies died mysteriously last autumn and winter, it’s unclear whether he has since been turned by Northern Mang or Western Shu. Yu Qingling’s mission is to uncover clues. If she can recruit him for Fushui Bureau, she will have proven herself worthy of her second-tier status.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled. “Liu Huaixi has managed to maneuver among major factions, playing both sides while steadily growing his power. Starting as a street thug, he established himself by thirty-five and became a regional warlord in southern Xiyu. A man of such ambition and cunning naturally possesses great personal charisma. Intelligence reports say even the daughter of a Liyang prince in Nanzhao willingly became his hidden lover, eloping with him and abandoning her arranged marriage.”
The woman glanced at the younger woman standing there dumbfounded and smiled faintly. “If she can escape the tiger’s den unscathed, that’s best. If she ends up devoured, it wouldn’t be surprising. But if she aids the tiger, then she deserves death. Since Yu Qingling has joined Fushui Bureau, she knows the difference between public and private.”
Her next words revealed the iron-blooded demeanor of “Madam Song,” a top-tier spy: “If she makes a mistake, Fushui Bureau won’t even need to issue orders—I’ll clean up the mess myself. And if I misjudged her, I’ll personally apologize to Chief Chu.”
Yu Qingling bit her lip, standing there gracefully, looking even more pitiable.
Xu Fengnian neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead, he turned to the young woman famous throughout Snow Lotus City. “Yu Qingling, tell me honestly—what kind of person do you think Liu Huaixi is?”
Still unable to guess the young master’s identity but recognizing how seriously Madam Song treated him—even humbling herself to call herself “this servant”—Yu Qingling believed he must be a high-ranking figure from Fushui Bureau visiting Snow Lotus City. Nervously, she carefully chose her words. “Ruthless, but loyal to those he cares about.”
Xu Fengnian dismissed it with a laugh. “Does Snow Lotus City have any snow lotuses available now?”
The woman replied, “As luck would have it, there are two. One was found by a team of lotus gatherers sent by Liu Huaixi’s estate. The other was retrieved by a local boy who followed his late father’s instructions, waiting six years and braving the mountains four times before finally harvesting it this year. The first is up for sale—rumor has it Liu Huaixi originally intended to gift it to the Nanzhao prince’s estate as an apology to his father-in-law. Later, it seemed the weaving bureaus of Western Shu and Southern Border’s princely domains expressed interest in purchasing it to present to the current empress, currying favor with Liyang’s new ruler. But there’s also a top-tier martial artist from the Central Plains who has been waiting here for years, offering to serve Liu Huaixi in exchange for the lotus—apparently to cure a woman’s illness. After the boy returned with the lotus and an old man who had lost his legs, the factions began a new round of competition. After all, snow lotuses are exceedingly rare. Thirty years ago, one sold for thirty thousand taels of silver. Now, they’re practically priceless—even a hundred thousand might not be enough. But that ignorant boy insists he won’t sell it. He wants to give it to a girl from the Ma Family Fort, the daughter of the fort’s lord, who was betrothed in an arranged marriage as a child. Maybe they had some past connection, which is why the boy is so determined, even risking his life. Right now, the boy and the lotus, stored in an ice cellar, are being guarded by that Central Plains martial artist. They must have reached some agreement—without the swordsman’s protection, the boy would’ve been dead long ago.”
Madam Song lowered her voice. “Do you need Snow Lotus Tower to secure the two lotuses? If so—”
Xu Fengnian waved his hand. “No need for Snow Lotus Tower to intervene. Just tell me their exact locations.”
Madam Song’s eyes burned with determination. “Fushui Bureau established Snow Lotus Tower in this city—do you think it’s just for show? How many have already died on the borders of Liang and You Provinces? Even if Snow Lotus Tower were wiped out, how many would that be?”
Xu Fengnian smiled. “Madam Song said Snow Lotus Tower distinguishes public from private. So should I.”
Madam Song shook her head. “It’s not the same!”
Xu Fengnian looked at the woman, who seemed ready to die for the cause, and said calmly, “I decide.”
Madam Song was stunned.
Xu Fengnian glanced at the door and coughed. “Madam Song, please arrange a carriage for me—any will do. I need to go to the boy’s place immediately. Just point the coachman in the right direction. Oh, and give the innkeeper some extra silver. If I need anything later, I’ll definitely come to Snow Lotus Tower. If not, don’t act on your own. Consider it Fushui Bureau’s rule.”
Two carriages parted ways outside the inn. Inside one, Madam Song sat expressionless. Yu Qingling, who was about to enter the tiger’s den at General Liu’s estate, mustered the courage to ask something, but Madam Song coldly cut her off. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”
In the other carriage, Xu Fengnian leaned against the wall, while Jiang Ni sat upright, her back pressed against the purple sandalwood sword case, her expression unreadable.
After winding through narrow alleys, the carriage stopped at the mouth of a dim, cramped lane. The honest coachman lifted the curtain apologetically. “Young master, miss, the alley’s too narrow for the carriage. You’ll have to walk about thirty steps ahead.”
Jiang Ni stepped out first, tossing over her shoulder, “Hold onto the wall if you have to.”
Xu Fengnian, with a wry smile, let the coachman help him down before dismissing him. True to her words, he had to brace himself against the wall to walk, looking utterly pathetic. Jiang Ni walked slowly a few steps ahead, but couldn’t resist mocking him. “If you’d spent the night at Snow Lotus Tower, you wouldn’t even be able to walk tomorrow, wall or no wall.”
She added salt to the wound. “‘Forget the girls from other alleys. We’re here for the reputation of Snow Lotus Tower.’ Tsk, tsk. Truly the pinnacle of spoiled young masters. Only a seasoned rake could say something like that.”
Xu Fengnian laughed angrily. “You eavesdrop and still have the nerve to criticize?”
Jiang Ni snorted. “My ears are sharp. You think I wanted to hear such vulgar talk?”
They arrived at a dilapidated yellow mud house without a wall. Jiang Ni stood with her arms crossed, the purple sandalwood sword case on her back. Xu Fengnian tried to steady himself by placing a hand on her shoulder, but she dodged, forcing him to bend over, hands on his knees. On the steps sat a middle-aged man with a sword across his lap—likely the Central Plains swordsman regarded as a martial arts master in Snow Lotus City. Xu Fengnian didn’t recognize him, and after four or five years in the city, the man didn’t seem to recognize him or Jiang Ni either. As for the figures lurking in the shadows, Xu Fengnian, though physically weakened, could sense them clearly. He might not be able to handle Li Mibi or Tuoba Pusa now, but causing carnage here wouldn’t even require lifting a finger. And with Jiang Ni by his side, unless one of the top fourteen martial artists or a near-peer grandmaster showed up, it was no concern.
The swordsman stared ahead coldly. “I don’t care about Liu Huaixi’s lotus, but the one inside this house is already mine. Leave. If you refuse, fine—ask my sword.”
Xu Fengnian panted heavily, looking up at the man exuding an air of mastery. “May I ask what mighty title this hero goes by?”
The swordsman didn’t answer, but a loud, weathered voice came from inside the house. “What kind of hero? Just one of the many losers I defeated back in the day—Dong Yuanrui of Eastern Yue. I could’ve beaten him with one hand. The martial world these days is a joke. A nobody like him, waving a broken sword, counts as a big shot now? In my time, true talents were everywhere. Take the spear-wielding hegemon of Liang, Wang Xiu, or the Green-robed Ancestor of Fengdu—they were barely worth my time as warm-ups. Only one swordsman, surnamed Li, was my true rival—though we respected each other…”
A young voice interrupted the old man’s rambling. “Enough, enough! I was the one who carried you out of that cave in the snow mountains. Heroes don’t brag about past glories, got it? Eat your pancake!”
Xu Fengnian, baffled, glanced at Jiang Ni. Her lips twitched. “Never heard of him. The old man in sheepskin never mentioned anyone like that.”
Xu Fengnian muttered, “His aura now is barely second-tier, maybe first-tier at his peak. But his boasting puts even Old Li to shame.”
Then he saw Jiang Ni stride forward. “What are you doing?”
Jiang Ni said coolly, “Going in to beat him until he can’t talk nonsense anymore.”
Xu Fengnian laughed helplessly. “He’s an old man. Can’t he indulge in some tall tales? Besides, listing all those heroes, he still put Old Li at the top. For that alone, I’d like to share a few bowls of wine with this ‘senior.’”
Jiang Ni stopped but suddenly turned her head toward the alley’s bend. Following her gaze, Xu Fengnian saw a young girl leading a chestnut horse, walking forward with the fearless recklessness of youth.
The girl entered the den of danger, eyeing Xu Fengnian warily before smiling at Jiang Ni—much to his chagrin.
She called out, “Hong Shuzhi, stop being stupid! Sell that lotus to anyone, you hear me? That’s all I’ll say. I’m leaving!”
Turning away, she tried to hide her sobs. “From now on… we go our separate ways!”
A thin, sallow boy rushed out of the house, tears streaming. “Ma Shanggong, your father said if I brought back a snow lotus, he’d call off your engagement to that bastard!”
The girl spun around, furious. “My father just wanted you to die in the mountains, you idiot! Even if you got the lotus, so what?!”
Covering her face, she sobbed. “We can’t be together…”
The boy cried too. “I don’t care! I don’t even need you to be with me now—just don’t marry him! That’s enough to make me happy!”
Xu Fengnian remained bent over, his expression unreadable.
Then Jiang Ni approached and kicked him in the shin.
Xu Fengnian asked, “What’s wrong?”
She glared at him, furious. “You’re not going to do anything?”
Quickly, her face twisted into a menacing scowl as she added, “If you won’t, then I will!”
Xu Fengnian chuckled, placing a hand on his back as he slowly straightened up, his smile radiant. “Let me catch my breath first, just a moment. Of course I’ll handle it—how could I not?”
Gazing at the young boy and girl, Xu Fengnian sighed with emotion. “How wonderful.”
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