Chapter 1

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The blood of Saibei

In the deserts of Saibei [1], the two armies fought fiercely for months. The Yong army barracks received news of victory in an endless stream.

Near the battlefield, a battle flag stood in the billowing sand. The flag fluttered in the howling wind, giving off an indescribable feeling of prowess. On it was a single word written in rich ink — Huo.

Just after noon, when the sun was bearing down at its highest intensity, the shouts of people and the clashing of weapons could be heard, drowning out the ever growing howl of the wind. One thing was clear to the army of Great Yong — victory was at hand.

As a saying goes, the perfume a woman wears distinguishes their status. The mild fragrance of orchid implies a daughter of a noble, the fresh smell of camellia would be a farmer’s daughter, while those with the heavy scent of rouge would be prostitutes from brothels. On the battlefield, where the soldiers shouted themselves hoarse and everything was painted the color of blood, the only way to distinguish one’s military rank was by observing the armor.

From the central division of the army, a majestic jet-black steed with iron hooves emerged, leaving deep grooves in the sand. On it was a cold, resolute man. Even with knitted eyebrows, his face still seemed to radiate power and prestige. His expression was fierce but it did not have a trace of wickedness.

He donned a full suit of golden armor. A ray of light refracted off the heart guard [2] he wore on his chest, seeming to brighten his whole person. With his sword drawn and the navy blue ribbon on his arm flying freely, he carried the awe-inspiring air of a commander.

In the front lines was a young man wearing silver armor fighting viciously. Blood splattered all over him, making him a few degrees less handsome. He killed with enthusiasm as if he was hacking mountains, seeming extremely gallant.

He also had a ribbon wrapped around his arm. This bright red ribbon’s contrast from the golden sand was extremely pleasing to the eye. His armor glinted coldly, yet it also gave off some warmth.

“Splurt!,” came the sound of a sword stabbing into a stomach. Red blood sprayed out on the sand along with a few mushy organs when the sword was pulled out, leaving behind a wet stickiness.

This fierce battle was at its climax. This sword had killed everyone within its radius in a single breath. It turned out the person who was thoroughly penetrated was the general of the Göktürks [3]. To capture a bandit, one must capture their leader. Now that their general was dead, the enemy soldiers immediately began to retreat, yet there were still a few stubborn ones who refused to. In one swoop, the Göktürk general’s head was severed cleanly.

It was widespread in Saibei that the Huo family’s little general of the Yong Dynasty had a habit of cleaving off people’s heads. No matter the size of the military campaign, he would always sever a few heads of the enemy to flaunt with. Unsurprisingly, he took the still-warm head that resembled a ball of blood and hung it on his saddle as if it was merely a jade pendant.

The desert wind blew tirelessly, but the sand blown up in the air lessened greatly. Puddles of blood mixed with the golden sand, forming mud. Seeing the tragic end of their commander, the remaining enemy soldiers realized that their situation wasn’t too good and ran away one after the other until no one was left.

It was a victory. The commander waved his arm: “ — Bring the prisoners of war back to camp!”

Once the order was given, everyone — no matter the wounded, exhausted, or half dead — must let go of their killing intent. Unexpectedly, the vice commander with the red ribbon stubbornly didn’t. He pursed his lips, not making a single sound, and spurred his horse after the escaping soldiers.

“Huo Linfeng!” The commander roared, but there was no reply. “Stop!” He called out once more only to see the silhouette in the distance become smaller and smaller until it was no more than a shadow.

The horse trod on the bloody ground. Huo Linfeng chased for a long time with his sword in hand and the human head bobbing about on his saddle, painting quite the vivid scene. In the distance were the remnants of the enemy army that totaled to a little over thirty. When they saw him pursuing, they looked at each other and came to an agreement: they’re going to fight to the death.

“Yu [4].” Huo Linfeng stopped thirty steps away, feeling a little hot after all that chasing. He removed his helmet revealing his high ponytail. He wiped carelessly at his dripping sweat, smudging the blood stains on his temples that gave off a faint fishy smell.

The soldiers had reached the end of the road. They felt their hearts sink as they lifted their swords. They all shouted: “Charge! Kill him!”, but in reality, their eyes revealed their true thoughts: “I’m prepared for inevitable death.”

Huo Linfeng looked at them as if looking at ants. He readjusted his posture and urged his horse forwards with the tip of his boots. He knew that the later he returned to camp, the angrier the commander would be. He must hurry.

Hence, he went all out. Sand blew into the air as he fought. The sword in his hand that glowed brightly carried the strength of a thousand jin [5]. Like the King of Hell, he claimed a life with every swing of his sword. Aside from the howling of the wind, there was only the sound of killing.

In one moment, the soldiers were crying out in fear as they were about to breathe their last, and in the very next, they laid dead on the ground to be devoured by the sand. The desert gale clawed harshly at Huo Linfeng’s face as he turned around and stepped atop his horse.

On the way back to camp, it was hard to avoid the mess left in the battlefield. Huo Linfeng came to a halt and started humming a small tune. It was a nameless melody, carrying the heavy feeling of sorrow. After every battle, no matter the outcome, he would always hum this little melody to comfort the white bones and lonely souls of the fallen soldiers.

Once the tune was over, he galloped back to the distant camp and arrived at the commander’s tent. The little soldier that guarded the door dragged Huo Linfeng down the horse by the leg. “Hey!” He was forcefully escorted in front of the commander who had a stone-cold face.

“This subordinate is willing to receive his punishment.” He opened his mouth first to admit his wrongdoings, hoping this would lighten his punishment. He quickly added, “This subordinate will not repeat his mistakes.”

Commander Huo Jinghai was Huo Linfeng’s elder brother. He was steady like coral in the sea, honest and upright. “Don’t tell me that as the vice commander, you do not understand the principle of not pursuing the defeated enemy?” Admitting one’s mistakes here was useless as there was no bargaining. “Disobeying your superior’s orders, sixty strikes according to military law.”

Up until now, Huo Linfeng had no choice but to obediently receive his punishment. If he could make the choice again, he wouldn’t have done it any differently. Since the moment he could recognize words, he had been studying military books. He entered the battlefield for the first time at the age of thirteen and the number of lives he had claimed outnumber the grains of rice he’s eaten. He had dared to disregard the commander’s order, so naturally he was willing to bear the consequences.

He was held down and his armor and clothes were stripped, revealing his sturdy body riddled with old scars. He endured the beating. After ten strikes, red marks appeared, another twenty left his skin swollen. If it wasn’t for the endurance he had built by practicing martial arts, he would have long been beaten to pulp.

Huo Linfeng did not let out a single painful cry, but it seemed like he had grievances. He snuck a glare at Huo Jinghai.

The casualties from this brutal half-a-year-long battle was hard to calculate. This victory was reported to Great Yong’s Son of Heaven [6] right away. The turmoil at the frontier had finally been quelled. Once the Son of Heaven was notified, they would be rewarded.

Nevertheless, they still had to wait as it wasn’t urgent matters. Huo Linfeng, who was baring his fangs like a tiger on the battlefield, was now lazing around with nothing to do. He stayed in his tent naked down to the waist for three whole days to recuperate. The little soldiers were ordered around by him to the point where their legs felt like snapping.

The wounds started scabbing, finally allowing him to wear clothes. He picked out a deep blue-near-black colored martial robe with narrow sleeves and carefully embroidered patterns at its helm. After finishing off his look with a hair crown, he could be said to be “as beautiful as jade [7].”

After leaving the tent, he went to search for Huo Jinghai. “Big Brother,” he called with familiarity. The anger from being scolded and beaten had dissipated. He climbed on his horse, elated. “Let’s go!”

The two brothers galloped towards the city. The lively crowd of the common people flocked over to welcome them. Huo Linfeng was tired of all this clamor: “Big Brother, I’ll go ahead first.” He pulled the reins and left his brother behind, swiftly disappearing from view.

The land of Saibei was vast, with rows upon rows of houses. One cannot even see one end of a street to the other. “Yu!” Huo Linfeng stopped his horse on a wide street and dismounted in front of a house. The house was built with blue-gray bricks with beautiful pillars and exquisite rafters [8]. The house guard on duty saluted him respectfully. Huo Linfeng nodded in acknowledgement and entered the wide gates of the mansion.

Hanging high above the gate was an ebony plaque — Marquis of Dingbei Manor.

Inside, the old steward appeared. “Oh! Young Master isn’t injured, this old servant should go light some incense!”

Huo Linfeng walked past with loud footsteps and turned his head back. Complaining like a mischievous child, he said: “I do have some wounds from being beaten sixty times for military punishment. Big Brother himself was the one who administered it.”

He didn’t wait for a reply and passed through the courtyard. He stood in the yard to admire the scenery. There stood a tall magnolia tree in full bloom, its fresh blossoms filled with beauty. The tip of its branches brushed against the eaves of the hall. After appreciating the scene, he lifted the curtains of a side door and disappeared behind it, leaving the thick curtain swaying.

The servants who were each doing their own tasks stopped talking when they saw him, eagerly shouting, “Young Master!” An older maid said: “Aiyo!” The exaggerated “it’s the little ancestor” hasn’t even left her mouth when the person himself was already long gone. She patted her chest, “I’m getting old. My eyesight is getting bad.”

The inner halls of the Marquis Manor were even more concealed than the daughters of prestigious families. Huo Linfeng stepped over another threshold and his eyes fell upon a hall. “Dad.” The door was wide open, but there was not a single sound within. He said clearly, “Dad, I’m home.” Upon seeing the person, he respectfully called out again.

Inside the hall, the thick, dark-colored rug muffled the sound of footsteps. On the copper furnace sat four toads emitting spirals of smoke from its pores, seeming as if they could ascend to the heavens. On the table sat a box made out of Chinese cedar containing a few sticks of high quality candles along with a piece of deer leather used to polish swords.

Sitting beside the table was a man radiating three parts pride and the remaining seven parts prestige.

He was wearing a dark set of robes with a touch of indigo on his waist. A piece of jade strung on red strings hung by his side. His clothing was neat and orderly, but his person was even more extraordinary. A beard decorated his chin. His eyebrows were sharp and his nose bridge straight. He had a pair of deep set eyes and silky black hair held together by an exquisite hair crown.

This man, who was in his forties, was Huo Linfeng’s father, Huo Zhao the Marquis of Dingbei.

Huo Zhao wiped his sword without looking up, not fussing over if this son of his lost any weight or if he was injured. “I’ve heard,” his eyes shone like a cold blade, his voice deep like a clock, “that you violated yet another military law?”

Huo Linfeng took a seat first before leaning forward: “I’ve already been punished.” He avoided answering the question directly and went to open a small box that contained pastries, steamed pears, and candied fruits. “Big Brother was just too cautious. It’s true that we should not chase the defeated enemy, but the strength difference between us and the enemy was clear. I simply did what’s called ‘to ensure victory.’” The rules were abided. After he finished explaining, he picked up a piece of steamed pear.

Speak of the devil, Huo Jinghai, who was held behind earlier, finally arrived. “Father.” He too called out first without entering the room and only stepped in after paying his respects. He sat down and reported the military situation.

Huo Linfeng chewed on his candied fruits, its sweetness filling his throat. As he lifted his head to down a cup of salted tea, he caught sight of a round face peeking out from the door. A pearl earring dangled on her earlobe, making her face look all the more rounder. This was the Madame’s [9] servant, Mei Zi.

She was calling for him! He placed his cup down and slipped out. When he exited through the small door, he arrived in the backyard. “Mei Zi, you should eat a little less!” He joked with the servant girl. They passed through the Hanging Flower Gate [10]. On the Hanging Lotus Pillar [11], there hung a little bell. Huo Linfeng jumped up and gave it a tap, causing it to jingle.

Mei Zi covered her mouth and laughed. “Madame hung it up especially for you [12]. No one else is allowed to touch it.”

Huo Linfeng said longingly: “I’m already twenty three. She still hangs bells for me to play with?”

Mei Zi laughed: “How can that be? Madame had been considering hanging a bell up for a while now. If we were to see you coming, we would be allowed to ring the bell.” She pointed towards the inner courtyard. “Once Madame hears, then she would know you have returned home.”

The bell was still tinkling, making Huo Linfeng feel warm and comfortable. He quickened his steps and rushed into the courtyard. The servants outside the Hall of Buddha busily welcomed him into the room. To speak loudly in front of the Buddha would be asking for a scolding. He lowered his voice and called out, “Mother.”

Madame Bai of the Huo Clan was a beauty in her younger years. Although she was past her prime, she was still as fine as jade. When she turned her head, her usual tranquility disappeared when she saw her son. She hurriedly got up from her praying mat.

Even with the Buddha statue watching, Huo Linfeng said innocently without care, “Mother, I’ve already gained such a big victory, why are you still praying to Buddha?”

Madame Bai took out a thin silk handkerchief to block his mouth: “First you earned a beating from your elder brother. Now you’re offending Buddha.” She removed the handkerchief and stroked Huo Linfeng’s cheek. “Was there not enough to eat in the army? Why have you gotten so thin?”

Huo Linfeng responded: “I can’t ride horses if I eat too much. It’s easier to fight on a slightly empty stomach.”

A mother’s heart would always worry. Disregarding if he had already eaten or not, she called for people to prepare a luxurious feast. Huo Linfeng accompanied Madame Bai, laughing and talking about this and that. After Madame Bai examined his wounds, Huo Linfeng left.

After not returning to his courtyard for months, he decided to sneakily check on the servants to see if they had been slacking off. When he got there quietly, he only saw a meticulously cleaned courtyard. “Young Master!” A shout sounded unexpectedly. It was his personal servant, Du Zheng.

Du Zheng was short and thin. Huo Linfeng, who was two years younger than him, had saved his life once. “Young Master! Young Master!” He shouted three times in a row, panting as he ran over. He laughed stupidly as he said, ”Young Master, hehe.”

This foolishness was making Huo Linfeng’s head hurt. He turned back to his room, shed his sword, and carelessly laid down on a couch. Du Zheng knelt down next to the couch to massage his leg. His muscles were iron hard, so he did not feel anything, but Du Zheng’s hands were starting to hurt instead.

“Young Master, was the battle exciting?” Du Zheng asked.

Huo Linfeng replied: “When the matter revolves around protecting the common people and the life and death of others, what is there to be excited about?” His face was solemn, his pupils seeming to reveal something. Without his stubbornness, his pretending to be obedient in front of his father and brother, and his act of a spoiled child in front of his mother, he would be the Huo Linfeng wearing the red ribbon in the desert.

“It’s peaceful now,” He looked at the scenery outside his window, “Nothing else matters, everything is fine now.”

Once night fell, a servant girl would come with an incense stick to light the candles. A male servant simply won’t do, as their hands were too big. The incense stick would always burn out before they could even finish lighting one corridor.

After brightening all four corners of the courtyard, the servant then went to boil tea for the masters of the house. Huo Linfeng looked up from the book he was reading and caught a glimpse of a delicate hand with painted red nails. “You don’t have to light my place up,” he ordered lazily, not attempting to conceal his dislike of people disturbing his peace.

The servant girl, whose name was Bao Yue, softly said, “Madame instructed this slave to do chores around the house. I’ve disturbed Young Master’s peace, please forgive me.”

Leaving quietly would have been perfectly fine, but why bring up the Madame? Huo Linfeng waved his hand. “No need to come here in the future, you may go.”

Bao Yue walked away with a sway of her hips. That leisurely air of hers showed that she was a favored servant. “Young Master,” Du Zheng popped out, offering tea. He scooched closer to the lamp, “Hehe.” His innocent and naive face held a rare hint of mischievousness.

Huo Linfeng was a little suspicious: “Why are you always laughing so foolishly?”

Du Zheng said: “Good things are about to happen, of course I would laugh.” He couldn’t wait to tell the good news, so he bravely inched closer, “I heard from Mei Zi that the Madame had long since told Bao Yue to not do housework. She even gave her gold accessories and jade pendants, planning to marry her off to Young Master!”

It was not uncommon for an unmarried man to accept one or two servant girls. Huo Linfeng snapped his book close and gave Du Zheng a jab with it. How idiotic, how was having a servant marrying you good news? After thinking about it, it was more convenient for her to just light candles.

Huo Linfeng went back to his room. After the battle, his breathing had gotten more uncomfortable, so he snuffed out all the candles. Du Zheng was following behind him with his eyes wrinkled, “Young Master, you really blew them out……” He finally understood the meaning and his eyes widened, “So you don’t like Bao Yue! How about Bi Zan? I feel like Wan Sheng isn’t too bad either……”

Bang! The flower engraved door shook as Huo Linfeng’s temper flared. Du Zheng dared not say another word. He pulled over a mat and sat crossed legged on it. He rolled up his sleeves and silently guarded for the night.

Du Zheng secretly thought, please don’t let Mei Zi be the one Master likes. Mei Zi was the one he liked.

Huo Linfeng had no idea what his little servant was thinking about. He fell on top of his bed. The soft, silky smooth pillow was quite difficult to get accustomed to. Back at the barracks, the beds were made from hard planks, completed with rough bedding. The pillows were filled with who-knows-what. When the military situation was urgent, they would just lie down stiffly like a corpse without even removing their armor.

In the two or three months they stayed in the desert, the soldiers would just light a few bonfires and rest around it. The desert wind blew harder at night, so they didn’t dare lie down in fear of being buried in sand. They could only sit in pairs and shield each other from the sand to pass the cold and bitter night.

As Huo Linfeng recalled the past, he sat up on his bed, hands playing with his embroidered quilt in the darkness. He thought, was it really time to find himself a romantic partner? A certain someone who, at this very moment, would be burrowed in his arms, listening to him talk, and would make sure he always rests comfortably no matter where he runs to?

In his heart, he couldn’t see the clear outline of their figure or the distinct features of their face. He was only certain that Bao Yue wasn’t the one, neither was Bi Zan nor Wan Sheng. Mei Zi, that round-faced servant girl, was content as long as she has good food, so why would she want a husband? He wanted someone… someone who would be willing to listen to him patiently.

What does this person look like? Are they at the other ends of the world, or are they at the tip of the sea? Would they listen to him talk until they were tired or call out “Little Marquis” to him comfortingly? These, he didn’t know.

Within joy and happiness births worries. He tossed the blanket away and felt his wounds through his thin robe. Only a few scabs remained, so he might as well return to the military.

Huo Linfeng was brought up attentively. Besides the few times where he discussed official business with Huo Zhao and Huo Jinghai, he would be idling about. First, he went to the magnolia tree, cutting off a branch before planting it in his own yard. Afterwards, he left the house. When walking past a brothel, he ran into another soldier out relaxing. He offered to treat the soldier to a drink. He called for a performer to come dance and sing and stayed out playing for a couple shichen [13].

During this time, the servant guarding the gate had changed shifts: “Such a strong smell of wine, who is it that can be so disgraceful.” The scent started off quite distant, but it got stronger as if the person was getting closer. The servant jumped in fright and immediately stopped his thoughts when he saw who it was, “Young Master, how come it’s you, I’ll go get someone to cook sour soup right away!”

Huo Linfeng said: “I’m not drunk, I don’t need to sober up.” After three whole jars of wine, his eyes were still as bright as deep springs. Madame Bai heard him coming through the inner court’s side room and called her child over with a few waves of her hand. He pulled over a stool and sat down: “Mother, I drank a bit of wine.”

Madame Bai covered her face with her handkerchief, saying that he reaked too strongly of wine. “Bao Yue, go make Young Master a bowl of sour soup.

Huo Linfeng did not refuse. He folded his ten fingers together, his thumb rubbing his index finger. By the time the soup was served, his finger was rubbed until his skin was warm. He hesitated before taking a sip. He lifted the corner of his eyes, seeming to be swallowing with great difficulty.

“Sour soup, yet it’s not sour at all.” He looked at Bao Yue who was standing on the side. With her lotus root pink dress and her face full of cosmetics, she looked a bit bewildered when he started nitpicking.

He only took one sip before standing up: “Your bowl of sour soup is not sour at all. It’s tasteless. You don’t need to make it anymore, merely lighting the candles is enough.” After he finished talking, there was a hint of regret in Madame Bai’s eyes. “Mother, my wounds have healed. I’m going to the army barracks tomorrow morning to train the soldiers.

Huo Linfeng acted orderly. Once he declared his decision, he immediately went to pack his luggage, which only consisted of a few pieces of spare clothing. The moonlight seeped in through the window that was left ajar. He moved closer to shut them and started to polish his Jueming Sword [14], his most precious treasure.

There was the sound of footsteps, as Du Zheng had come once again to guard the night. After a while, there was a quiet voice of someone talking. “……didn’t dare to get angry, but how dare she get angry?” Mei Zi’s voice said quietly, following with Du Zheng’s sound of agreement. “Bi Zan and the others all laughed at her. Strange, they’ve never even had the chance to cook sour soup, so why are they like this to Bao Yue?”

Du Zheng: “If Young Master said it wasn’t sour, Bao Yue should’ve just gone to get a plate of aged vinegar!”

The two covered their mouths and giggled, the place under the window seemed to be radiating rainbows and sunshine. Huo Linfeng finished polishing his sword and poked his head out the window: “Do you still have any more jokes? If not, I’m going to bed.”

Du Zheng looked up in horror and Mei Zi’s face flushed red. To be caught gossiping by their master… ahh the sky must be falling. Huo Linfeng’s thoughts strayed a little, thinking that these two looked like they were caught in an act of adultery. But he couldn’t say this out loud. If he did, Mei Zi would most definitely throw herself into a lake within the next shichen.

“Nothing to say?” He asked before waving his hands, “Then you may leave, I’m tired.”

Translator’s Note: Heyyyy. This is my first time translating so please point out any errors/typos I made or anything I can improve on hehe _(:3 」∠)_. Anyway, I’ll be figuring out a posting schedule (I translate at the pace of a snail so idk, maybe I won’t have a schedule and just post whenever I finish translating).

Also! Make sure you support the author if you can by purchasing the novel! (the chapters are only free up to 20) Buy it here and if you don’t know how to use JJWXC, learn here.

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Notes

Click on the highlighted words to locate it in the chapter.

Hanging Flower Gate

Hanging Lotus Pillar

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