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墨書 Inktalez
Xie Wuyuan remained oblivious to everything, busy engaging with the officials and generals who came to pay their respects. He drifted further away from the taciturn A Ying, and in turn, from me. I had completely lost hope. I could no longer stay in this place.
In the stillness of the night, I took out the wooden box left by my mother. It had been hidden under my bed. The box was made of ordinary wood and secured with a finely crafted brass lock. The key had been around my neck since childhood, threaded on a red cord, never leaving my side.
I opened the box. There wasn’t much inside. At the top lay a letter sealed with wax, inscribed with “To my son Su Yan.” Beneath it was a blue-covered book bound with thread, without a title.
I had secretly browsed through it many times. The internal cultivation methods were profound, and the sword techniques were exquisite, entirely different from what my father had taught me. There was also a crescent-shaped black iron token, Piao Miao Ling. Uncle Lin said that holding this token would grant me access to Piaomiao Peak for training.
What kind of place was Piaomiao Peak? Why did my mother warn me not to go there unless absolutely necessary?
Besides the manual and the token, there was also a map drawn on thin animal skin, depicting a range of mountains marked with unfamiliar place names. A red line wound its way through them, ultimately pointing to a peak surrounded by clouds and mist, with the words “Piaomiao” inscribed in tiny seal script nearby.
There was another letter sealed with wax, addressed “To my son Su Yan.” The handwriting was elegant and strong.
In the letter, my mother repeatedly cautioned me about the dangers of the world and the unpredictability of human nature. She advised that if I encountered good people, I should cherish those connections; if I met unworthy individuals, I must sever ties decisively and not be indecisive, lest I harm myself.
At the end of the letter, she wrote: “Yan Er, in this life, I have no regrets except for not being able to protect you completely. If one day this world makes you feel suffocated, seek out a sky that truly belongs to you. Remember, as a woman in this world, you must not rely on anyone else to live freely.”
I clutched the letter tightly as tears welled in my eyes. Mother, what I encountered was not a good person.
It was time for me to leave.
I contacted a powerful escort agency in a neighboring town—Wei Yuan Escort Agency. The Chief Escort, surnamed Qin, had some connections with my father and was known for his righteousness.
I entrusted him with the deed to Falling Star Escort Agency, its banner, and most of my brothers. Captain Qin promised to take good care of my brothers and would keep the name Falling Star Escort Agency for me.
I also needed to prepare enough money; running away required funds. I exchanged some jewelry left by my mother along with my savings from these years into silver coins and banknotes.
I packed up the "compensation" that Xie Wuyuan had sent earlier—medicinal ointments, cloth, and silver—and returned it to Uncle Lin. When Uncle Lin came back to me, he said that Xie Young Master looked quite displeased upon receiving the items. I merely smiled.
The journey to Piaomiao Peak was long and secretive, so I needed a good horse, as well as ample provisions and medicine. I took advantage of the opportunity to "shop" for Biao Ju and made sure to gather everything I needed.
To keep Xie Wuyuan and Liu Mingyue off guard, I even sought Liu Mingyue's "guidance" on women's crafts a few times, pretending to be very "yearning" for life in the capital. Liu Mingyue probably thought I had finally "accepted my fate," as her attitude softened considerably. She even hinted that once I arrived in the capital, as long as I behaved myself, she would not treat me poorly.
Xie Wuyuan was also reassured. He even took the initiative to give me a map of the capital, telling me to familiarize myself with the surroundings. Watching their self-satisfied performance, all I felt inside was a cold laugh.
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