Before Lin Chaoying could speak, Wang Shixiong smiled wryly and said, "Let me be a contented ghost. Come, let's go to the town ahead and find a place to eat our fill." Seeing her gaze at him, hesitant, perhaps due to her gloomy mood, he challenged her, "Do you dare ride with me?" Lin Chaoying recalled having had close contact with male fellow disciples during past missions, especially Mao Ya. What was there to fear? Lin Chaoying readily agreed, "Alright." Before her words had fallen, she lightly settled herself behind Wang Shixiong. Wang Shixiong's spirits lifted as he spurred his horse forward.
As they rode, Lin Chaoying observed Wang Shixiong from behind. She noticed his ears were quite large, and under the sunlight, the small hairs around them were clearly visible. She also found his shoulders broad, his clothes well-made but worn. The scent of sweat grew stronger, and her cheeks felt the "rubbing of coarse fibers," yet it felt warm, much like in her dream last night... Unconsciously, Lin Chaoying embraced Wang Shixiong's waist and rested her cheek against his back, falling asleep.
Wang Shixiong's heart fluttered. Though he had been betrothed in his youth, the bride's family broke the engagement due to his resistance against Jin invaders, and he had since encountered many women. Why did his heart pound like a startled deer now? Wang Shixiong steadied his mind, urged his horse into a small town, and stopped before a shop. For a moment, the more he tried to breathe calmly, the faster his breath became, and beads of sweat trickled from his temples. He quickly lowered his head to see if he had soiled her hand, thinking, "Such delicate little hands, why are they so fierce?" Reluctantly, he gently woke her.
Lin Chaoying dismounted coldly, staring as Wang Shixiong tied up his horse. After surveying their surroundings, she followed him into the shop. The shopkeeper, seeing Lin Chaoying in her dark robes, felt fearful, afraid of offending her, and forced a smile as he stepped forward to greet them. Wang Shixiong spoke, ordering the local specialty, "Pine-scented Grilled Mandarin Fish," and instructed, "Not too sweet, a bit more on the salty side." Lin Chaoying was surprised. Besides her grandmother, not even Mao Ya knew her preferences. She thought he couldn't have known beforehand and was deliberately trying to please her; perhaps their tastes were just similar? The shopkeeper said, "Honored guests prefer salty. How about trying our Saltwater Duck and Pengcheng Fish Balls?" Wang Shixiong nodded in agreement and added, "And two bowls of Salted Meat and Vegetable Rice." When the food was served, the varied salty aromas wafted towards them, and Lin Chaoying couldn't resist picking up her chopsticks.
During the meal, they spoke no words. Lin Chaoying felt as if she were at home, dining with her grandmother. She also thought, "After a hundred lifetimes, we share the same boat," and wondered how many lifetimes of fate had brought them to share a meal at the same table.
Trained since childhood: "Never eat until completely full," Lin Chaoying stopped her chopsticks. Wang Shixiong watched her cold gaze, his heart tugging with melancholy. He sighed, "I can't eat with my cup and chopsticks stopped, drawing my sword and looking around in despair. Life is indeed difficult!"
Lin Chaoying said, "I will focus my sword and stab you to death. There is a bamboo forest on the hill behind the shop. Go there to meet your death."
Wang Shixiong, seeing her targeting his "Chuzhou New Moves," was delighted to have developed a counter-strategy. However, he was preoccupied with something else and truly lacked the energy to spar. After less than ten exchanges, Lin Chaoying stopped her sword and withdrew, asking, "What troubles your heart? You know I am killing you openly, not through a sneak attack." She guessed he had something on his mind and surmised he wouldn't want to discuss it publicly in the shop, which was why she had brought him here to ask.
Misfortune met understanding. Wang Shixiong recounted his request to the Wuwu Alliance for manpower and supplies for their stronghold, only to be met with endless prevarication and no concrete arrangements after two days. He felt frustrated and worried about the safety of their Chuzhou stronghold, pouring out his concerns to Lin Chaoying.
Lin Chaoying understood the entire situation. While she offered words of comfort, she secretly blamed herself for only listening and being unable to help.
Wang Shixiong felt his chest lighten. Recalling their conversation by the grave that day, he understood why she was curious about the trivial aspects of other couples' lives, but he couldn't grasp the phrase "applying dance to martial arts." He asked her about it. Lin Chaoying explained that the end of her ancestral grandmother's notes contained "Four Steps to the Melody." Both her great-grandmother and grandmother believed these were merely musical and dance steps, but she herself felt they were Qinggong footwork, which led to her remark. Wang Shixiong said, "Believe in your own ideas and strive for them." Lin Chaoying's confidence soared.
Just then, a woman's scream came from the restaurant's kitchen: "There's a ghost! A ghost!" The two exchanged a look and hurried towards the source. A person burst out of the door. Lin Chaoying saw Wang Shixiong use a capturing hand technique, to which the person responded with the same technique but in the opposite direction, breaking free. She quickly moved to intercept and unmasked him, recognizing him as Zhou Botong.
"Yin Pingzhi sent me to tell you to return as soon as possible," Zhou Botong said first. Wang Shixiong said sternly, "You don't need to wear that either; you're disturbing the peace!" Zhou Botong smiled sheepishly, "I bought this at the market, it's very fun, and I forgot to take it off for a moment." Wang Shixiong knew it was useless to press the matter and returned to the main topic, "How is the stronghold situation?" Zhou Botong pointed at Lin Chaoying and said, "Mao Ya sent their Dark Swordsmen to infiltrate and sabotage the stronghold, injuring people. On the outside, he ordered Jin soldiers to attack!" Lin Chaoying sneered, "Good. Since I'm ordered to kill him, I'll go with you to Chuzhou and see how you harm people and how you save them." She inwardly felt her words were rather forced, but Zhou Botong clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Wonderful! We should go and see, let's all go see."
Wang Shixiong couldn't be bothered to pay attention, nor did he know how to handle the situation. He turned and walked away. Since Yin Pingzhi had ordered Zhou Botong to urge him, the Chuzhou stronghold must be in imminent danger, hence the need to travel day and night. Arriving at a dilapidated temple to rest, Zhou Botong leaped onto a beam to sleep. He repeatedly exclaimed how interesting it was and wanted to imitate her. Under Wang Shixiong's reprimand, he obediently lay down on the ground with him.
Not long after falling asleep, Lin Chaoying heard a faint noise. She guessed it was Zhou Botong playing a prank. She immediately sat up and was shocked to find him sitting on the beam, reaching out to grab her feet. Both ashamed and angry, she kicked him fiercely without saying a word. She spun and landed, realizing it was just a dream. Lin Chaoying gazed at the sleeping Wang Shixiong, resentfully thinking, "Don't disturb my dreams anymore."
On their way to Chuzhou, the two revealed all their learned skills and innovations. They engaged in frequent verbal and practical sparring, which, rather than being mutual attacks, could be considered joint research. Finally, Zhou Botong asked Lin Chaoying, "When will you make your move to kill him?"
Lin Chaoying replied, "When we reach Chuzhou and see the situation, I will duel him then."
Zhou Botong shook his head and sighed, "Your swordplay is fierce, but you are still no match for him. You should still assassinate him."
Lin Chaoying haughtily stated, "I already said it will be an open kill."
Zhou Botong said anxiously, "Will we really have to fight until we're old and wrinkled?" He then proceeded to act, continuing, " 'Old fellow, I've come for a duel again.' My senior brother would reply, 'Old crone, don't rush. The weather is changing, and your back still aches. Rest for a few more days. Sit down, have some tea, and later we'll go see if the hen has laid an egg.'"
Lin Chaoying thought to herself, "Will it really become like this?"
Wang Shixiong, embarrassed, scolded, "Junior brother, stop fooling around."
Zhou Botong shouted, "Then I won't get to play!"
Lin Chaoying asked, "What do you want to play?"
Zhou Botong seriously said to her, "You must kill him within these ten years; then, I will take ten years to avenge him and kill you; and after that, your disciples and their disciples will spend another ten years killing me. Ha, then we won't be bored for thirty years."
Wang Shixiong anxiously said, "Don't take offense, my junior brother always talks nonsense."
Lin Chaoying asked, "He also plans for his next thirty years. What about you?" Wang Shixiong replied, "I hope to drive out the Jin soldiers and recover our Great Song dynasty's rivers and mountains. Even if it's difficult to achieve for now, we must force the Jin rebels to sign another reasonable peace treaty, allowing the Song people to return freely, ensuring a peaceful life for those in Jin territory, and preventing them from ever again harboring ambitions to invade our borders." Lin Chaoying said, "Didn't you hear what he just said? For ordinary personal grudges, they resort to mutual revenge and extermination. How much more so for wars between nations." Wang Shixiong was about to retort but suddenly let out a deep sigh. Seeing his dejected and disheartened expression, Lin Chaoying also felt a pang in her heart.