"Let me be a glutton for punishment," Wang Shixiong said with a wry smile before Lin Zhaoying could speak. "Come, let's find a shop in the town ahead and have a good meal." Seeing her hesitate, as if troubled, he provocatively asked, "Dare you ride pillion with me?" Lin Zhaoying, who had been in close contact with male fellow disciples during past missions, especially Mao Ya, felt no apprehension. "Very well," she replied readily. Before her words had faded, she nimbly settled herself behind Wang Shixiong. His spirits lifted, Wang Shixiong urged the horse forward with a shout.
As they galloped, Lin Zhaoying observed Wang Shixiong from behind. She noticed his rather large ears, the fine hairs clearly visible in the sunlight. His shoulders were broad, his clothes well-made but worn. The scent of sweat grew stronger, and she felt a "grating of stubble" against her cheek, yet it felt warm, much like in her dream last night. Unconsciously, Lin Zhaoying wrapped her arms around Wang Shixiong's waist and, resting her face against his back, fell asleep.
Wang Shixiong's heart was in turmoil. Though he had been betrothed years ago, the bride's family had broken the engagement due to his defiance against the Jin. He had since encountered many women, but why did his heart race like a startled deer at this moment? Wang Shixiong regained his composure, guided the horse into a small town, and stopped before a shop. Moments later, the more he tried to calm his breathing, the faster it became. Beads of sweat trickled down his brow. He quickly lowered his head to check if he had soiled her hand, pondering, "Such delicate hands, yet so fierce?" Reluctant to wake her, he gently called out.
Lin Zhaoying dismounted coldly, watching Wang Shixiong tether the horse. After a glance around, she followed him into the shop. The shopkeeper, seeing Lin Zhaoying in her dark robes, felt a pang of fear, lest he offend her. He forced a smile and approached. Wang Shixiong spoke, ordering the local specialty, "Pine-scented grilled mandarin fish," and added, "Not too sweet, a little saltier." Lin Zhaoying was surprised. Apart from her grandmother, even Mao Ya didn't know her preferences. She wondered if he had known beforehand and was trying to please her, or perhaps their tastes were simply similar? The shopkeeper said, "Honored guests prefer saltiness. How about trying our salted duck or Pengcheng fish balls?" Wang Shixiong agreed, adding, "And two bowls of salted pork and vegetable rice." When the food was served, a medley of savory aromas wafted, and Lin Zhaoying couldn't help but pick up her chopsticks.
During the meal, the two ate in silence. Lin Zhaoying felt as if she were at home, dining with her grandmother. She also mused, "A hundred lifetimes to share a boat," wondering how many past lives' affinities had brought them to share a table like this.
Trained from childhood: "Never eat beyond seven-tenths full." Lin Zhaoying stopped eating. Wang Shixiong watched her cold gaze, stirring his own melancholic thoughts. He sighed, "I can neither stop my cup nor put down my chopsticks to eat; drawing my sword and looking around, my heart is lost. The path is difficult!"
Lin Zhaoying said, "I will focus my sword and kill you. There is a bamboo grove on the hill behind the shop. Go there to meet your death."
Seeing that she was targeting his "Chu State new moves" and was researching ways to counter them, Wang Shixiong felt pleased. However, burdened by inner turmoil, he lacked the motivation to spar. After less than ten moves, Lin Zhaoying stopped her sword and asked, "What troubles your heart? You know I intend to kill you openly, not through ambush." She guessed he had something weighing on his mind and surmised he wouldn't wish to discuss it publicly in the shop, hence her question here.
Meeting a confidante in his despair, Wang Shixiong recounted his frustrating experience trying to secure manpower and supplies from the Weiwu Alliance, only to be repeatedly put off. He felt dejected and worried about the safety of their Chu State base, pouring out his concerns to Lin Zhaoying.
Lin Zhaoying understood the whole story. While offering comfort, she silently chided herself for listening but being unable to help.
Wang Shixiong felt a sense of relief. Recalling their conversation by the grave, he understood her curiosity about the mundane lives of other couples but was puzzled by her phrase "applying dance to martial arts." He asked her about it. Lin Zhaoying explained that in the last part of her ancestral grandmother's notes, there was a mention of "Four Steps in Accordance with Music." Both her ancestral grandmother and grandmother believed these were merely musical and dance steps, but she herself thought they were movement techniques for lightness. Hence, her remark. Wang Shixiong replied, "Believe in your own ideas and strive forward." Lin Zhaoying's confidence surged.
Just then, a woman's scream echoed from the restaurant kitchen: "A ghost! A ghost!" They exchanged a glance and rushed to the scene. Someone burst out of the kitchen. Lin Zhaoying saw Wang Shixiong execute a capturing hand technique. The person countered with the same move but in the opposite direction, breaking free. Lin Zhaoying quickly moved to intercept and unmasked the person, recognizing him as Zhou Botong.
"Yin Pingzhi ordered me to come and told you to return as soon as possible," Zhou Botong said first. Wang Shixiong said sternly, "You don't need to wear that either, disturbing the residents!" Zhou Botong smiled sheepishly, "I bought this at the market, it's fun, and I forgot to take it off." Wang Shixiong knew further inquiry would be pointless and returned to the main topic, "What's the situation at the base?" Zhou Botong pointed at Lin Zhaoying and said, "Mao Ya sent his Dark Swordsmen to infiltrate the base and cause destruction and harm, while externally, he ordered the Jin army to attack." Lin Zhaoying sneered, "Good. Since I'm ordered to kill him, I'll accompany you to Chu State and see how you harm people and how you save them." She felt the words were somewhat contrived, but Zhou Botong clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Great! We should go and see, let's look together."
Wang Shixiong, indifferent, and unsure how to handle the situation, turned and walked away. Since Yin Pingzhi had ordered Zhou Botong to hurry them, the Chu State base must be in imminent danger, necessitating them to travel day and night. Arriving at a dilapidated temple for rest, Zhou Botong leaped onto a beam to sleep, repeatedly exclaiming how interesting it was and wanting to imitate her. Under Wang Shixiong's reprimand, he obediently lay down on the ground with him.
Shortly after falling asleep, Lin Zhaoying heard a faint sound. Thinking it was Zhou Botong being mischievous, she sat up abruptly. To her shock, he was sitting on the beam, reaching out to grab her feet. Embarrassed and angry, she kicked him forcefully without a word. Spinning and landing, she realized it was another dream. Lin Zhaoying gazed at the sleeping Wang Shixiong, resentfully thinking, "Don't disturb my dreams again."
On their journey to Chu State, the two displayed their accumulated knowledge and creations, engaging in frequent verbal and practical exchanges. It was less an attack on each other and more a joint study. Finally, Zhou Botong asked Lin Zhaoying, "When will you finally kill him?"
Lin Zhaoying replied, "Once we reach Chu State and see the situation, I will fight him."
Zhou Botong shook his head and sighed, "Your swordplay is fierce, but you are still no match for him. It's best to assassinate him."
Lin Zhaoying haughtily stated, "As I said, it will be an open kill."
Zhou Botong nervously exclaimed, "Will you continue fighting until you both become old men and women?" He then acted out a scene, continuing, "'Old man, I've come to challenge you again.' My senior brother would reply, 'Old hag, don't rush. The weather's changing, your back still aches. Sit down, have some tea, and later we'll see if the hen has laid an egg.'"
Lin Zhaoying wondered, "Will it really turn out like this?"
Wang Shixiong, embarrassed, rebuked, "Junior brother, stop fooling around."
Zhou Botong cried out, "Then I won't get to play!"
Lin Zhaoying asked, "What do you want to play?"
Zhou Botong seriously told her, "Within these ten years, you kill him. Then, I will take ten years to avenge him and kill you. After that, your disciples will spend another ten years killing me. Ha, this way, we won't lack company for thirty years."
Wang Shixiong hurriedly said, "Don't take offense, my junior brother always says wild things."
Lin Zhaoying asked, "He plans for his next thirty years, what about you?" Wang Shixiong replied, "I hope to expel the Jin invaders and restore our Great Song dynasty. Even if it's difficult to achieve for now, we must compel the Jin pirates to sign another reasonable peace treaty, allowing the Song people to return freely to their country, ensuring a peaceful life for those in Jin territory, and preventing them from harbormg ambitions to invade again." Lin Zhaoying said, "Didn't you hear what he just said? For trivial personal grudges, they so readily seek revenge and extermination, let alone wars between nations." Wang Shixiong was about to retort but instead let out a deep sigh. Seeing his crestfallen and dejected expression, Lin Zhaoying's heart ached too.