Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 112: Sand Bandits

There were no arrow horses this time, and they had no time to take any detours. The members of the Kushan Sect, after discussing for half a day, decided to travel with the Sun Clan’s medicinal herb convoy.

With Sun Huaijin around, they didn’t need to worry much. Despite Elder Sun’s somewhat dazed appearance, he was as efficient as ever. The five of them divided into three carriages, with plenty to eat and drink. The carriage was filled with medicinal herbs, which exuded a pleasant aroma.

“Since Sister Shen is a woman, it’s convenient for her to sit alone. This carriage is quite big; the four of us can squeeze into one. It’s better this way—”

Yan Qing hadn’t finished speaking when he was silenced and dragged back by Su Si. “What do you mean ‘big’? Look how many herbs are packed inside. The Sect Master even brought a pile of books. There’s no room for you. Come on, let’s take another carriage.”

Yan Qing looked at Su Si puzzledly but eventually didn’t argue and obediently boarded the carriage.

Since medicinal herbs were fragile, the Sun Clan’s carriages had wheel covers made of bamboo, which were even more stable than ordinary carriages. As usual, Yin Ci gave Sun Huaijin some instructions. As soon as he entered the carriage, he was almost startled by the scene inside.

In a short while, Shi Jingzhi managed to create a makeshift nest using the herbs inside the carriage. From the outside, one would only see herbs, but inside, everything was orderly. There was a place to lie down and sit, and even a small gap left to look outside. Beside Shi Jingzhi was a precarious pile of books on one side and a pile of food containers on the other. He sat atop a bag of herbs, looking as if he was sitting on a throne.

Seeing Yin Ci coming in, Shi Jingzhi quickly shifted to make room on the “throne”, offering the side with the food containers to Yin Ci.

Yin Ci chuckled. “This kingdom of herbs, this disciple rather not share.”

However, he still sat next to Shi Jingzhi. Yin Ci glanced at the pile of books and found various versions of Sun Wang’s biography and about ten volumes of “Great Yun’s History”. Shi Jingzhi seemed to have returned to his bookish state from the Northlands, only this time he was reading history.

But this time, Sect Master Shi remembered to negotiate. “A’Ci, let me lean on you first, and then you can lean on me later.”

Before long, Yin Ci faced his second historical review. Shi Jingzhi rested his head on Yin Ci’s lap and held a book in front of him. “The journey is long. Let’s go over each battle from the founding period, shall we?”

Yin Ci looked down and saw a pair of smiling eyes above the book. Just as he was about to touch them, Shi Jingzhi ducked his head behind the book. “Let’s start with the earliest ‘Puzhong Rebellion’—”

The carriage was packed with herbs and books. Sunlight streamed in from the gaps. Although Yin Ci usually disliked cramped spaces, the aroma of the herbs put him at ease. The warmth on his thigh felt incredibly comforting. A golden beam of light glided over the cover of “Great Yun’s History”, making the floating dust sparkle.

Yin Ci took a deep breath, letting the warm, herb-infused air fill his lungs. Then, smiling, he leaned down, his lips brushing the rough spine of the book. “Go on, ask.”

Yin Ci hated reminiscing, especially about the ambiguous past. Even though he’d seen many delusions, every delusion had the same ending—he must have been betrayed, leading him to a state of despair.

In a way, Yin Ci’s situation was the opposite of Shi Jingzhi’s. He might not have lost any memories, but the fragments of his daydreams, colorful as bubbles, obscured the truth behind a mist. Each time Yin Ci tried to discern reality, the vast darkness would engulf him again.

However, in this ordinary moment, the darkness didn’t return.

Yin Ci played with Shi Jingzhi’s fingertips, staring at a clean, rounded fingernail. He spoke distractedly, and more blurred, uncertain “memories” emerged.

[I’ve collected so many beautiful stones. Cuicui will surely love them.] A handsome man in the yellow sand appeared, beaming. [Unfortunately, there’s nothing here but sand. When we go south to fight, I can also buy some jewelry to bring back.]

[Brother Sun brings back some sand, and your wife will love it too!] The soldiers beside him laughed. [Every time Brother Sun goes out, he picks up gifts. Your wife is so blessed—]

“Brother Sun” wasn’t laughing. [What blessing? Fighting every day, how can that be a blessing? My second child can recite the Three Character Classic* yet doesn’t even know what his father looks like. I’ve promised your sister-in-law that once the world is at peace, I’ll hang up my armor, return to the fields, and go to the countryside to live a simple life with her—that’s a true blessing.]

*A classic Chinese text that was written in the 13th century. 

[With you and Imperial Preceptor He, peace will come sooner or later. Brother, after the war is over, will you leave the army? Isn’t it good to be an official?]

“Brother Sun” heaved a sigh. [I can’t recognize many characters, and when leading soldiers, I can only follow orders. When it comes to being an official, I have to rely on my dear brother… My brother is young and talented, without family encumbrances. He’s the ideal candidate for officialdom!]

He rubbed the beautiful stone in his hand and turned around. [But I wonder where we could find a woman worthy of my brother. Fortunately, Brother Xu is the one who worries about arranging a marriage. In my opinion, with your face, you should marry the most beautiful woman in the world—]

“A’Ci?” Shi Jingzhi’s voice seemed distant and muffled. “A’Ci, what happened?”

The howling sound of wind and sand by Yin Ci’s ear gradually faded, his gaze slightly scattered. “Hmm?”

“…You stopped answering when I asked about the second major conflict of the ‘Battle of Shafu’.” Shi Jingzhi frowned slightly, stretching his arm to rub Yin Ci’s forehead. “You suddenly stopped responding.”

“Hmm.” Yin Ci rubbed his temples, feeling as if his insides had been frozen. “I was just distracted for a moment.”

“To be honest, I always feel you have some connection with Sun Wang.” Shi Jingzhi stood up and massaged Yin Ci’s acupoints on his head. “After all the games we’ve played, your commanding spirit is not something that can be cultivated from trivial skirmishes.”

“You just find me pleasing to the eye.”

“I’m not blinded by love; it’s called seeing clearly from an outside perspective.” Shi Jingzhi pulled on Yin Ci’s long hair. “I’m also somewhat of a veteran; I wouldn’t be mistaken.”

Yin Ci gave him a sidelong glance. “Somewhat of a veteran?”

Shi Jingzhi tilted Yin Ci’s head back. “From the time I was sensible, my elder brother taught me military tactics and strategies using the sand table. Before I left the palace, Great Yun consulted me for every battle. Saying ‘somewhat’ is just my modesty, understand?”

He still couldn’t let go of the fact that he was once defeated by this person.

“The Emperor really made good use of the ‘Children of Desire’.”

“Indeed… Wait, don’t change the topic.”

Yin Ci was more forthcoming. “I do have vivid impressions related to Sun Wang, but he’s unnamed in history, and the mansion mentioned doesn’t exist. Maybe I was one of his subordinates, which led to such a vivid fantasy.”

Shi Jingzhi looked at Yin Ci quietly for a while. Surprisingly, instead of probing further, he gently kissed the side of Yin Ci’s neck.

“Mm, once we find out what the Immortal Assembly is up to, we’ll know in due time.” Shi Jingzhi rested his chin on Yin Ci’s shoulder, speaking in a calm and matter-of-fact tone.

Yin Ci was silent, thinking Shi Jingzhi would probe deeper. Instead, Shi Jingzhi casually flipped through his books.

Sun Huaijin had influence everywhere. Along the way, they weren’t detected by officials or other martial masters. Except for the cramped carriage, Yin Ci had never felt so at ease.

They were half a day away from Shafu when Shi Jingzhi finished his last book. He stuck to his disciple excitedly. “A’Ci, Shafu can be considered your territory. If things don’t work out, you—”

Before he could finish, everything suddenly spun. Ancient books scattered everywhere, the medicine Shi Jingzhi painstakingly collected was ruined, and even the Medicine Cures Illness flag was almost broken.

“There’s no sign of intruders. The carriage got caught.” Yin Ci protected Shi Jingzhi’s neck, speaking coldly. “A trick of the sand bandits.”

Subconsciously, Shi Jingzhi placed the flag in front of them, then put it away upon hearing this. “…The sand bandits have reached here?”

Sun Huaijin was as slippery as an eel. For his business caravan to be robbed now meant that the surroundings of Shafu had become chaotic.

“A few days ago, Elder Bao of the Ling Sect was killed. His Shafu branch lost its leader, so some disorder is expected,” Yin Ci whispered. “Many of his subordinates are sand bandits, not necessarily loyal to the Yan bloodline.”

With the death of Bao Zu, the sand bandits, who were once loosely controlled by the Chigou Sect, now acted freely and chaotically.

The trained coachmen of the Sun Clan weren’t alarmed but tried to placate the bandits with money. However, the bandits didn’t care. Before the coachmen could react, they were beheaded.

“There are people in the medicine cart!” Several voices shouted.

Yan Qing had already raised the Sword of Compassion wrapped in cloth, standing in front of Shen Zhu. Su Si also drew his butcher knife, his amorous almond eyes darting around. Thanks to the sudden collapse of Sect Master Shi’s medicine nest, the disciple and master of the Kushan sect were covered by the herbs and could only watch the scene unfold.

After their ordeal at Zongwu Mountain, if these two servants couldn’t handle a few sand bandits, they might as well be expelled on the spot.

“Heh, I’ve seen couples elope before, but this is the first time I’ve seen a trio. Quite interesting, huh?” The leading bandit, belly sticking out, flashed a mouthful of yellow teeth. “Using Elder Sun’s carriage, you must be wealthy.”

Su Si responded with confidence, “Among the three of us, one is a servant. Can you guess which two are eloping?”

The bandit was momentarily stunned. Su Si chuckled and was about to strike his throat. However, before he could step forward, a sudden blow from a long stick hit right on the nerve of Su Si’s wrist. He clicked his tongue and spun the butcher knife in his hand, preparing to strike again when—

“I’ll handle these few.” A cold, feminine voice spoke up. “The rest of you, go collect the herbs.”

“Yes, yes, as the young lady says.” The leader left with a smirk.

They all recognized this voice. Su Si’s blade halted mid-air, and the expressions of everyone from the Kushan sect froze in unison.

Shi Jingzhi opened the herb bag in alarm and looked closely. The speaker was dressed in shabby sand bandit attire with a cheap iron sword hanging from her waist and her long hair tied into a high ponytail. Though her face was covered with wind-blown sand, her features remained clear—

It was unmistakably Shi Zhongyu.

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The author has something to say:

Shi Zhongyu: ? Wherever there’s trouble, you guys seem to be there.

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