"Great Commander, we are just ahead," said Huang Shiba to Zhou Fugui outside Houqiu County.
Not far ahead, a small hexagonal pavilion stood, with a few figures faintly visible within.
Vouched for by Huang Shiba, Zhou Fugui met with the leader of the Xiaocheng Sect, Great Buddha Mi Shi, here.
"Brother, is there any danger?" Huang Daimei asked, looking at the hexagonal pavilion.
Attendants like Pi'e also cast worried glances at Huang Shiba.
Their concern was too obvious, and in full view of everyone. Thus, Huang Daimei's face flushed, and she hastily explained, "I mean... they... might not have good intentions... Great Commander is the hope of the people of Donghai Commandery. If anything were to happen to him, then..."
The more Huang Daimei explained, the more awkward it became. It would have been better if she hadn't explained at all.
"Then what?" Huang Shiba glared at his younger sister and said calmly, "In this Donghai Commandery, no one dares to harbor ill intentions towards the Great Commander."
In such a short time, had his usually proud younger sister taken a liking to this Xianbei lackey, this Hu Great Commander? Huang Shiba mused to himself, somewhat perplexed.
When a man comes of age, he marries; when a woman comes of age, she is married. Huang Daimei had reached marriageable age, and the Huang family was a prominent clan in Donghai. How could there not be proposals? However, Huang Daimei had found all the arranged marriages unsatisfactory.
Zhou Fugui nodded in approval at Huang Shiba and instructed Pi'e and the others, "You all stay here."
"Master..." Pi'e said worriedly to Zhou Fugui.
Pi'e wanted to escort Zhou Fugui.
"How many people have they brought? We don't need to appear too afraid, do we?" Zhou Fugui glared at Pi'e and said, "Bringing so many people, it's embarrassing..."
Zhou Fugui and the leader of the Xiaocheng Sect met in the hexagonal pavilion. Besides a retinue of personal guards and attendants, there were over a hundred men under Huang Shiba. Compared to the few people in the hexagonal pavilion, it did indeed seem like an overreaction.
"Pfft!" Huang Daimei couldn't help but giggle. "It's your Great Commander's reputation that's being embarrassed."
Zhou Fugui glared at Huang Daimei, then urged his horse forward, galloping towards the hexagonal pavilion.
Huang Shiba followed Zhou Fugui, and Huang Daimei trailed behind.
"Giddy up..." Zhou Fugui sped towards the pavilion, reining in his horse before it, and gazed at the people within from his saddle.
There were four people in the hexagonal pavilion. One was Zhou Fugui's old acquaintance, the leader of the Xiaocheng Sect, Mi Shi. After several years, with his hawk-like nose and weasel-like eyes, he had become even more sinister. However, a few streaks of white hair now adorned his temples, and his skin was more wrinkled, like old tree bark.
Another person was also Zhou Fugui's old acquaintance, Qin Yulian, the daughter of the Qin family.
Qin Yulian wore a bamboo hat pulled low, her face veiled by white gauze. She wore a white daoist robe with striped patterns and stood gracefully beside Mi Shi, her eyes flickering, with a faint trace of tears. Her expression was exceptionally complex as she looked at Zhou Fugui.
Zhou Fugui was originally Qin Yulian's fiancé, and Qin Yulian was originally Zhou Fugui's betrothed. They could have become a loving couple. But fate intervened. First, the Qin family broke off the engagement, and their marriage was canceled. Then, Zhou Fugui, seeking revenge for his brother, killed the entire Qin family, making them enemies.
Although Zhou Fugui ultimately spared Qin Yulian's life, how could such deep-seated hatred be easily forgotten?
Zhou Fugui, clad in Mingguang armor, stood tall, a heavy sword at his waist, riding on his horse. His expression was stern. Compared to years ago, his youthful awkwardness had long since vanished, replaced by a more heroic demeanor. His thick black beard made him appear exceptionally dignified, commanding an aura of awe that prevented others from approaching.
"Disposition influences temperament, and environment shapes character." His imposing appearance was far from his youthful looks. Moreover, Zhou Fugui was now a high-ranking official of the Great Yan and the commander of the Snow Bear Army, naturally exuding an air of authority, incomparable to his past self.
Qin Yulian felt a pang of regret in her heart. If only... if only at that time... she wouldn't have ended up in such a pitiful state, serving an old monk.
Zhou Fugui also gazed at Qin Yulian with a complex expression.
He didn't care much when the Qin family broke off the engagement. At the time, Zhou Fugui had just arrived and hadn't fully understood the situation. Whether the Qin family broke off the engagement or not, Zhou Fugui hadn't taken it to heart.
But later, the Qin family colluded with the Duan father and son to kill his elder brother. In a fit of rage, Zhou Fugui annihilated the entire Qin family. Looking back, he realized that his actions had been somewhat improper, perhaps hasty or ill-considered.
"Vengeance has its target, and debts have their master." He should have killed Qin Zhuang's patriarch, Qin Tianming, to avenge his brother, not taken his anger out on the rest of the Qin family, especially the women and children.
This was probably the punishment for his youthful impulsiveness. Almost losing his life in Pijin City and then being banished to the border to guard it – these were the consequences of youthful recklessness.
Therefore, Zhou Fugui acted with more maturity and less impulsiveness now, constantly reminding himself.
With Qin Yulian being the sole survivor of the Qin family, her life must have been exceptionally bleak. Thus, Zhou Fugui's eyes held a hint of pity and a trace of apology.
They stared at each other, seemingly oblivious to the world around them, causing Huang Daimei, who had followed closely, to become intensely suspicious. She looked at Qin Yulian, then at Zhou Fugui.
Could she be Yingying? Huang Daimei secretly speculated.
She wasn't anything special, and she was so close to that old monk. The "others" Zhou Fugui mentioned might be this old monk. Huang Daimei inwardly began to compare them, feeling a sense of disdain.
To reject such a heroic and handsome gentleman and instead serve that disgusting old monk? Why would she do that? Huang Daimei was deeply puzzled.
"Young Master Huang, this humble monk greets you." Mi Shi greeted Huang Shiba, then instructed Qin Yulian, "Yulian, go and help the Great Commander dismount."
Mi Shi spoke politely but remained seated in the pavilion, showing no intention of rising to greet him. Instead, he looked at Zhou Fugui with a hint of triumph.
Years ago, Mi Shi had wanted to recruit Zhou Fugui into his service, but Zhou Fugui had outwardly complied while inwardly resisting. After he escaped, the Yan army purged and massacred the Xiaocheng Sect. This blood debt, of course, was to be blamed on Zhou Fugui.
Subsequently, Zhou Fugui was banished to the northern frontier to guard the border, while Mi Shi and his followers were issued wanted posters by the Yan court, hunted everywhere. Mi Shi and his group were forced to live in hiding until now.
One was far away guarding the northern frontier, and the other was hiding all over the central plains. They had no further contact, but unexpectedly met again here.
At this time, Zhou Fugui was a high-ranking official, a vital minister of the Great Yan, holding immense power and status. Mi Shi, however, had accomplished little over the years due to his constant hiding. Therefore, Mi Shi was deeply resentful.
However, having already had his betrothed under his control and trampled upon, it slightly eased Mi Shi's resentment.
Mi Shi even revealed a hint of a triumphant smile.
"Commander Zhou, please dismount!" Qin Yulian slowly walked out of the pavilion and approached Zhou Fugui, taking hold of his horse's reins.
Zhou Fugui nodded, dismounted, and said softly to Qin Yulian, "Yu... Lian... are you... doing... well? Alas, youth and ignorance, doing... things without consideration... Alas... why did it come to this?"
Qin Yulian lowered her head and remained silent, extending her hands to take the horsewhip from Zhou Fugui.
"My Great Commander doesn't need your service!" Unexpectedly, Huang Daimei stepped forward, snatched the horsewhip from Zhou Fugui's hand, and said provocatively to Qin Yulian.
"Little sister, don't be ridiculous!" Huang Shiba's face darkened as he reprimanded her.
Zhou Fugui and Mi Shi were about to discuss important matters. Why was she throwing a childish tantrum at this moment? Huang Shiba thought, unable to laugh or cry, looking at Huang Daimei.
"Little sister?" Mi Shi finally noticed Huang Daimei. Although she was disguised as a man, it was evident that she was younger, more vibrant, and more alluring than Qin Yulian.
Mi Shi's triumph diminished, and his resentment intensified.
Given that Zhou Fugui was a high-ranking official of the Great Yan and so young and heroic, would he lack young and beautiful women around him? Mi Shi didn't think so; he just felt, what was he lacking compared to Zhou Fugui?
"Who is she to you?" Qin Yulian finally asked.
"Her...?" Zhou Fugui glanced at Huang Daimei and smiled. "I wish she were someone to me, but she doesn't want to be."
"Hmph!" Huang Daimei blushed and spat at Zhou Fugui, then reached out to pinch his waist, only to hit the hard armor.
Huang Shiba, startled, quickly dismounted and dragged Huang Daimei aside.
If this continued, who knew what embarrassing situation might arise, Huang Shiba thought to himself.
Zhou Fugui then strode into the pavilion.
"Great Commander Zhou has excellent fortune!" Mi Shi said with a smile as Zhou Fugui entered the pavilion.
"Not at all, not at all..." Zhou Fugui also sat unceremoniously on a wooden stool in the pavilion and smiled at Mi Shi. "I am far inferior to you, Old Buddha, in your prime."
Zhou Fugui could clearly see the intimate relationship between Qin Yulian and Mi Shi, so he retorted.
"Alas, I am old, old. The young are better than the old!" Mi Shi sighed deeply, then suddenly widened his slightly closed eyes, a sharp glint flashing within. He looked at Zhou Fugui and asked, "Great Commander, are my hundred or so subordinates alive or dead?"
"If Old Buddha orders them to die, they die. If Old Buddha orders them to live, they live," Zhou Fugui replied calmly, his right hand gripping his sword hilt, the other resting on his knee.
"Good, Great Commander's actions are indeed shrewd!" Mi Shi praised, then looked at Zhou Fugui's right hand gripping the sword and asked with a smile, "We are commoners, while Great Commander wields heavy troops, yet why are you so tense?"
Over the years, Mi Shi had somewhat underestimated Zhou Fugui, who was then not even twenty. At this moment, Mi Shi shed his condescending attitude and approached as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Tense?" Zhou Fugui chuckled. "Who is Old Buddha, that I wouldn't be tense? However, to speak frankly, I have been a soldier for years, and a sense of vigilance is always with me. Did I frighten Old Buddha? If so, it is my fault!"
Having said that, Zhou Fugui unbuckled his heavy sword and threw it to Huang Shiba.