Chapter Nine: A Bao

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Buzz!

A sound as faint as a mosquito's hum rang out, and almost at the same instant, a tiny spark flashed from the tip of the Evil-Repelling Brush resting on the inkstone, streaking like a miniature bolt of lightning. In the blink of an eye, it vanished, disappearing without a trace...

Unaware of this, Chen Jianchen stood with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window. After sending Wang Fu on his way, he couldn't shake a sense of unease; even after returning home, his heart remained restless, especially since he had failed to find the Taoist priest. The reason wasn't solely his concern for Wang Fu, but more so his lingering doubts about the true identity and origins of the Peach Blossom. Chen Jianchen wanted to get to the bottom of this matter—if things really were as dangerous and sordid as he imagined, it was better to be prepared than to lose his life in ignorance.

Outside the window, the sky was blood-red with the setting sun.

Chen Jianchen suddenly turned and went to his desk. Without a second thought, he lifted the Evil-Repelling Brush and wrote a large character on the sheet of white paper spread across the table:

"Chaos!"

The character was bold and vigorous, flowing like dragons and dancing like phoenixes, brimming with energy, utterly unlike the restrained, standard script he usually wrote. Since he had grown accustomed to writing with a brush, Chen Jianchen had deliberately used his reading time to practice calligraphy. His passion for calligraphy far surpassed his interest in memorizing the Four Books—his drive to study would not change in the short term, so he might as well hone his writing, a skill useful for making a living.

In the Heavenly Unity Dynasty, fine calligraphy was highly prized; becoming a renowned calligrapher brought prestige and admiration wherever one went.

"That which disturbs my heart, today brings many worries..."

Chen Jianchen sighed, put down the brush, and left the study.

"Liuxian, it's almost time for dinner—where are you headed?"

Hearing the movement, Lady Mo poked her head out from the kitchen and called out.

Chen Jianchen replied, "Mother, I'll take a quick walk and be right back..."

He was already out the door, not pausing as he strode straight to the edge of the village. The sun was sinking behind the hills, the sky awash with crimson clouds, and an uneasy tension filled the air.

Chen Jianchen arrived at the stream outside the village, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the heavens. Suddenly, a timid greeting came from his side: "Liuxian, why are you here..."

Startled, Chen Jianchen saw a young girl standing three paces away, dressed in a blue cotton jacket. She was delicate and lovely, her features refined and pure, untouched by the slightest hint of jewelry or finery, making her appear all the more naturally beautiful—like a lotus emerging from clear water, clean and graceful, standing tall.

Abao...

The name quickly surfaced in Chen Jianchen's mind—Abao was a girl who lived at the far end of Jingyang Village, only thirteen years old, orphaned, and utterly alone, evoking much pity. When they were children, Chen Jianchen and Abao often played together in the water and mud, almost like childhood sweethearts. But as Chen Jianchen gradually devoted himself to his studies, their relationship grew distant and eventually ceased altogether.

In the past, Chen Jianchen was a classic bookworm, stubborn and irritable, indifferent to anything beyond his books. Yet Abao would sneak over from time to time, sitting far away as she listened to his sonorous reading, completely entranced.

Of course, at the time, Chen Jianchen was oblivious to all this—even if he had noticed, he wouldn't have responded.

After losing her parents, Abao lived a life of hardship. With no relatives, land, or skills, she survived by gathering firewood and wild fruit in the hills. Her house had long since collapsed, so she took shelter in a small temple to the Earth God at the edge of the village. The villagers, moved by her plight, would occasionally bring her firewood, rice, or oil to help her get by.

Children from poor families mature early. Though Abao was illiterate, she was honest and understood many things. Her gentle nature and natural beauty made her blossom like a flower. Still young, she was not yet of marriageable age, but in another year or two, she might find a prosperous family and escape her suffering.

In fact, some matchmakers had already approached her, suggesting she become a child bride for various families, including some wealthy households in Jiangzhou City. Yet for reasons unknown, Abao always shook her head, preferring to endure her hardships alone.

When her gaze met Chen Jianchen’s, she quickly lowered her head, nervously twisting the hem of her jacket and murmured, "Oh... I forgot you're a scholar now, with an official title. I should call you..."

"Just call me Liuxian; I like the sound of it."

Chen Jianchen interrupted her, cutting off whatever she was about to say.

Abao looked up in surprise, her clear eyes wide. When their eyes met, she quickly glanced away, her cheeks flushing, unsure what to say—for it dawned on her that she hadn’t spoken a single word to Chen Jianchen in years. Though they lived in the same village, fate had separated them, making it seem as if they were worlds apart.

Seeing her in that worn, patched jacket, Chen Jianchen asked, "It's so cold—why are you out here?"

Though the day was clear, the air was bone-dry and cold. Now, as evening approached, a northern wind had begun to blow, and Abao shivered faintly, like a flower shrinking from the chill.

Hearing his question, Abao instinctively grew tense, taking a long moment before answering softly, "A Taoist priest came to the Earth God temple just now... I was scared, so I ran out."

Her voice was so gentle that Chen Jianchen almost missed it. He replied absentmindedly, then suddenly snapped to attention. "A Taoist priest? What did he look like?"

With the conversation underway, Abao gradually relaxed. "He was a middle-aged priest with a beard... He carried a bamboo pole with writing on it, but I couldn't read what it said."

Chen Jianchen quickly asked, "Did he have a wooden sword strapped to his back, and was he holding a bell in his other hand?"

Abao scratched her head, thinking a moment before replying, "I think he had a sword on his back, but I didn't see a bell... I didn't get a good look before I ran off."

Chen Jianchen pondered for a moment. It seemed likely this priest was the one from Mount Laoshan. He had searched everywhere in vain, only for the priest to quietly appear in the village. What was he up to?

Chen Jianchen had no particular expectations regarding this Taoist; he simply wanted to ask him a few questions. Whether the man was a legendary recluse would be revealed upon meeting, allowing Chen Jianchen to decide how best to proceed.

With this in mind, Chen Jianchen feared the priest might leave again, so he immediately broke into a run toward the temple at the edge of the village. Abao, though confused, followed without hesitation.