CALID Chapter 57

Reunion

Duan Xu seemed oblivious to any potential issues with his words as he leaned back lazily in his chair. “When I first returned to the Southern Capital, Jingyuan would always talk about her brothers, praising them endlessly, but never once did she praise me. My sister-in-law said she’s overly attached to her brothers, but I think it’s not her brothers she’s attached to, but you.”

Fang Xianye raised his hand, pointing at Duan Xu, warning, “Duan Shunxi, what are you up to?”

Over the years, Fang Xianye had come to realize Duan Xu’s unpredictability. When Duan Xu went crazy, he believed he could do anything, even betray his own identity.

Duan Xu gently pushed down Fang Xianye’s finger with a smile. “If you also like my sister, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to arrange a good match.”

Fang Xianye immediately refuted, “You’re talking nonsense. You’re from the Du faction of the Duan family, and I’m a retainer of Duke Pei. In the eyes of the world, we’re mortal enemies, and that’s how we have to operate. If I were to marry your sister, what would that mean? Besides, if you don’t tell her about what happened in Daizhou those seven years, she’ll never accept me. With her temperament, how could she keep it a secret if she found out about those things? Are you trying to harm her?”

Duan Xu gazed at Fang Xianye for a moment, then chuckled softly. “After giving so many reasons, you still haven’t said you don’t like her.”

Fang Xianye was momentarily speechless. He gritted his teeth, turned his head, and took a sip of water to cool down.

Rarely did Duan Xu not press his advantage further. He remained silent, his eyes downcast, while Miss Luoxian began to sing a song accompanied by the crisp sound of the pipa. Her melodious voice filled the room, singing, “He teaches me to let go of past grievances, to restrain my coquettishness, to renew myself, to change my temperament, to stop longing for the past, to turn away from the bitter sea, and to realize early…”

Finally, Duan Xu spoke softly, “Fang Ji, I’ve fallen for a girl.”

Fang Xianye’s teacup lid hit the teacup with a light “ding.” He looked at Duan Xu somewhat knowingly, observed for a moment, and then said, “It seems she doesn’t feel the same way about you?”

Duan Xu shook his head, unsure whether to say “she doesn’t” or “I don’t know.”

“She didn’t return to the Southern Capital with you?”

“No, she went home.”

This wasn’t like Duan Xu, Fang Xianye thought, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Duan Xu was always adept at seizing opportunities, employing both hard and soft tactics. He had plenty of means at his disposal, but understanding others’ feelings was not his strong suit. Even with just a three-point chance of success, he would turn it into a ten-point situation.

Duan Xu let out a long sigh. “Her family is well-off, and she’s their only daughter. If we want to be together, I’ll have to marry into her family.”

Fang Xianye choked on his hot tea again.

Turning to look at Fang Xianye, Duan Xu’s eyes held a hint of a smile. He reassured Fang Xianye, “Don’t worry, she rejected me. In her eyes, the Duan family of the Southern Capital, or even the entire world, means nothing.”

Duan Xu paused for a moment before saying, “Xianye, do you also believe that in this world, there’s no one who can’t live without someone else, and no one who can’t live without someone specific?”

Fang Xianye’s eyes flickered, and he sighed softly, placing the teacup on the table.

“Yes,” he replied.

Duan Xu fell silent for a moment. When he looked up again, his smile had returned. “Perhaps,” he said.

Fang Xianye frowned.

He had always felt that Duan Xu’s spirit was somewhat extraordinary, but there didn’t seem to be any major issues. However, Duan Xu didn’t express his emotions like an ordinary person; it was as if there were two conflicting selves within him.

“What’s wrong with you?” Fang Xianye asked.

“Don’t worry, the affairs of the court will never drag you down,” Duan Xu said casually.

He had indeed easily performed a play of rivalry with Fang Xianye, with Miss Luoxian adding fuel to the fire, spreading the news of their conflict throughout the Southern Capital. It was as if their dispute mirrored the factional struggles behind them.

Although the Wang family’s son had little to do with the matter, he somehow felt honoured to be involved. Upon hearing that his father and Duan Xu’s father intended for Duan Xu to marry his sister, he enthusiastically acted as a matchmaker for the two. When Duan Xu walked into the Jade Tower, he saw the Wang family’s son eagerly waving at him from the second floor railing, accompanied by a woman in pink who covered her face with a folding fan.

Duan Xu lightly furrowed his brow, then smiled and walked over to sit in front of the Wang family’s son. “Are you bringing your younger sister here to challenge me?” he asked.

“Seeking pleasure is a common thing for men. How could my little sister, such a well-read and reasonable young lady, mind your friendships with beautiful women?” The Wang family’s son wore a nonchalant smile on his face. Although he had a decent appearance, he indulged in wine and women all year round, his gaze already clouded and depraved.

Duan Xu’s gaze shifted to the woman beside him. She lowered the folding fan in her hand, revealing a delicate and gentle face with almond-shaped eyes and willow-like eyebrows. She curiously glanced at him.

Duan Xu bowed politely. “I’m Duan Xu. Nice to meet you, Miss.”

The woman returned the gesture and said, “I’m Su Yi. Nice to meet you too, sir.”

The Wang family’s son, lacking in other areas, had a keen eye for romantic matters. After a brief exchange, he went off to mingle with his beauties, leaving Duan Xu and his sister at the wine table. He instructed Duan Xu to accompany Su Yi back to the mansion.

Su Yi nervously gripped the handle of her folding fan, her eyes occasionally darting towards Duan Xu. Duan Xu smiled brightly, leaning against the window and looking at her. “Are you unwilling to meet me here?” he asked.

“No…” she replied hesitantly.

“Are you actually concerned about men drinking flower wine?”

Wang Su Yi was startled, not understanding how this young man in front of her had seen through her in just a moment. Fortunately, Duan Xu smoothly shifted the topic elsewhere, chatting with her in a gentle and inconsequential manner, mostly about the scenery of the Southern Capital and the anecdotes of noble families. The topics weren’t boring, but Wang Su Yi felt that this person didn’t seem so eager to get to know her after all.

Suddenly, a loud thunderclap resounded from the sky, startling Wang Su Yi so much that she almost knocked over her wine glass. However, in the split second when the glass tilted, Duan Xu swiftly steadied it, surprising her—she hadn’t even noticed when he had moved.

Duan Xu smiled and said, “Be careful.”

This was the gentlest smile he had shown since entering. It seemed to evoke some interesting memories.

Clearing her throat, Wang Su Yi looked somewhat embarrassed as she glanced at the street outside the railing. “It’s raining,” she said.

Duan Xu also looked out the window. Along with the thunder, heavy rain poured down from the gloomy sky, splashing onto the street tiles and forming foot-high water droplets. The air was filled with mist, and pedestrians on the street hurriedly opened umbrellas or covered their heads to seek shelter from the rain. For a moment, the street was bustling with chaos and excitement.

“Yes, it’s a summer thunderstorm…” Duan Xu’s voice trailed off.

Wang Su Yi turned her head to look at him in confusion, only to see that the smile had vanished from Duan Xu’s face. He stared at a certain spot on the street with wide eyes, as if unable to believe it. The trembling emotion in his eyes was completely different from the jovial youth he had just been.

Before she could ask, she blinked and saw Duan Xu push the table, flip over the railing, and land on the roof of the first floor amidst the exclamations of the diners. With another leap, he landed on the street, using the roof as a cushion for a moment before disappearing into the rain-soaked street below.

Wang Su Yi was momentarily stunned. She couldn’t believe that Duan Xu couldn’t even wait to use the stairs. Her eyes stared in the direction he had disappeared as if afraid that blinking would make him disappear. What had he seen?

She had never imagined seeing Duan Xu act so recklessly.

Duan Xu ran swiftly through the crowded street, dodging and weaving among the people with the speed and agility he had learned in brutal combat, not allowing anyone to slow his pace. The rain beat against the Broken Illusion Sword at his waist, making a clattering sound, soaking his clothes and dirtying his boots. People seemed to be discussing what he was doing, but he paid no attention.

Amidst the thousands of people and the cacophony of sounds, only a pair of eyes occupied his blank mind.

His breath was tense until he grabbed the hand of a girl holding a red lotus paper umbrella, pulling her back and making her stumble.

The girl looked very unfamiliar, with plain, round eyes and average eyebrows. She wore a simple cloud-patterned ivory-coloured long dress, and her hair was partially pinned up with a jade hairpin, with the rest hanging loosely behind her. She seemed to be the most ordinary commoner girl in the Southern Capital, standing in the rain holding an umbrella, with a candy figure in the hand that he was holding, which seemed a bit ridiculous.

She furrowed her brows, trying to pull her hand out of his grasp, and angrily said, “Who are you? Where did this presumptuous person come from!”

Duan Xu’s eyes flickered slightly as he stared at her intently. Raindrops poured down from his hair and eyebrows, seeping into his eyes, but he didn’t blink.

“So you’ve already forgotten me so soon?”

He flashed a bright smile.

“I am Duan Xu, the Xu who resides in the wolves, styled Shunxi.”

He paused for a moment, enunciating each word deliberately, “He Simu.”

The girl stood in silent confrontation with him for a moment, then slowly relaxed her brows. She took a deep breath and held the umbrella over their heads, shielding him from the wind and rain.

“So you’ve recognized me, little fox.”

Duan Xu tightened his grip on her hand, while He Simu acted as if nothing was amiss and said frankly, “How did you manage to recognize me?”

He fell silent for a moment, his gaze falling on the candy figure in her hand, and said, “And who else would draw a crow as a candy figure?”

He Simu turned the candy figure in her hand. She hadn’t started eating it yet, and indeed, it was a rather artistic representation of a crow. It was impressive that Duan Xu could recognize it.

They stood on a stone bridge, with Duan Xu standing a few steps higher than her. He was completely drenched, water streaming down his arms and wetting her sleeves and wrists. His eyes seemed to be misted with water too, like water jewels lost in the rain, on the verge of melting away.

With a smile in his eyes, he said, “So you’ve come to the Southern Capital.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

His tone was as if they were just casually chatting between friends.

He Simu found it absurd. The unfamiliar face carried a familiar indifference. She turned her head away and said, “I have my own reasons for coming to the Southern Capital. I didn’t come to find you, so why should I tell you?”

“So, you’re not planning to see me then?”

“The Southern Capital isn’t that big. You’ve seen me, haven’t you?”

Duan Xu seemed like he wanted to say something more, but before he could, he saw a white robe fluttering in between them. A leisurely voice spoke, “What a coincidence, General Duan. Why are you holding onto my friend like this?”

Duan Xu turned his head and saw a man dressed in white robes with a golden constellation pattern embroidered on them. The man had waist-length hair tied behind his head with a hairband. His features were finely chiselled, with deep eyes as profound as the night. Unfortunately, his complexion was poor, and he appeared very thin and frail. He held a white carved wooden cane that reached his shoulders, giving the impression of illness and an inability to move freely.

Behind him stood a beautiful woman in purple robes, quietly holding an umbrella for him.

Duan Xu’s gaze swept over him and He Simu before he bowed and greeted, “Imperial Tutor, Miss Ziji.”

It was surprising to see such a close relationship between the Ghost King and the current Imperial Tutor.

The Imperial Tutor, Feng Yi, smiled and turned to He Simu, “In the time it took you to turn your head, you’ve already made a candy figure. Yet you can’t taste anything from it. Why do you love these things so much?”

He Simu clicked her tongue and replied, “Mind your own business. With such poor health, why would you insist on going out for a stroll in the rain? Do you want to shorten your life?”

“Everyone has their quirks, let’s not dwell on them. Shall we go?”

“Let’s go.”

Their conversation was familiar and intimate, as if they shared an unspoken understanding. It seemed that Imperial Tutor had known He Simu for a long time, and she seemed to prefer his company over any evil spirit in the Ghost Realm.

Imperial Tutor was also a living person.

He Simu wanted to turn away, but her hand was tugged by Duan Xu—he still seemed unwilling to let go. He looked at her without speaking, without the carefree smile he had moments ago, with tears forming at the corners of his eyes.

He Simu remained silent for a moment, then smiled gently. She gently withdrew her hand from Duan Xu’s grip and placed the handle of the umbrella she held into his hand, asking him to hold it.

Duan Xu lowered his gaze to her hand. This body she inhabited had warm and soft palms, covering his hand, and after a moment’s pause, as if to comfort him, he lightly patted it.

She then took his free hand, placed the crow-shaped candy figure she made into it, and through the amber-like translucent candy, she smiled brightly, “Help me taste if it’s sweet.”

Just like their initial encounter on the walls of Liangzhou, where they both had their secrets and tested each other. She had changed bodies, changed appearance, but from the depths of her eyes, the same soul could be glimpsed, reflecting the same him, as she offered him a candy figure.

Then He Simu let go of Duan Xu’s hand, Feng Yi held up the umbrella, and she walked under Feng Yi’s umbrella, waving her hand back as a farewell to Duan Xu, before walking away with Feng Yi and Ziji.

Just like every time she left, this time she didn’t look back.