Even in the hush of early morning, the street pulsed with life, a river of bustling figures. Ping'an, a desperate whisper in the wind, chased Lee Dachin through the waking town, their pursuit spilling into the wild embrace of the outskirts. The air, crisp and cool, whipped past her face as she pressed on, the distant mountains looming like silent, watchful giants. The path narrowed to a small dirt track, a ribbon of earthy brown winding between stoic trees, each of their leaves a verdant blur. Underfoot, pebbles shifted and crunched, a rhythmic counterpoint to her pounding heart, while scattered wildflowers, oblivious to the urgency, painted bright splashes of color along their hurried escape.
"Ping'an, please go back," Lee Dachin begged, not slowing his pace.
Ping'an urged, concern for Lee Dachin's injured chest evident in her voice. "If you don't come with me, I won't go."
Lee Dachin dismissed Ping'an's concern. "I'm going home. You don't need to follow me."
Ping'an quickly grabbed Lee Dachin's arm, stopping him. She demanded, "Dachin, stop!" She pulled him closer to her. "What's wrong? Last night, Childe Fang confessed his love in front of everyone. Today, you're behaving strangely."
"It is a joke, why take it seriously?" Lee Dachin replied, trying to downplay it.
Suddenly, a sword flew towards them out of nowhere. Ping'an knocked the sword away using her whip, but the sword returned to its master's hand. The person holding the sword was Yang Delun.
"The joke is on you today," Yang Delun sneered, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
"Yang Delun," Ping'an murmured, recognizing him. She looked at Lee Dachin. "When I fight him, you run."
Yang Delun immediately attacked Ping'an, his movements swift and aggressive. As Ping'an engaged him, Lee Dachin tried to escape. Yang Delun, however, sent a talisman directly to Lee Dachin's shoulder, paralyzing him and making him unable to move.
Yang Delun then attacked Ping'an aggressively. Yang Delun forced a kick towards Ping'an, but she blocked it with her left hand.
Ping'an stumbled four steps back from the force. She commanded her three swords, and they flew directly at Yang Delun, attacking him from multiple angles.
Yang Delun couldn't believe that this woman could command three swords so effectively. He no longer wanted to extend the fight any longer, because it would ruin his plan. He jumped over Ping'an and aimed his sword right at Lee Dachin's neck, using him as a hostage.
"Call your swords," Yang Delun demanded, pressing the blade closer to Lee Dachin's throat, "otherwise he will die."
Ping'an opened her right palm, and then her three swords flew into her palm. These three swords became three small swords, the size of hairpins, resting in her hand.
"Let him go," Ping'an commanded, her voice firm.
"Give me your sword," Yang Delun demanded, pressing the sword harder on Lee Dachin's neck.
Ping'an threw her three swords to Yang Delun. As he caught them, Yang Delun threw some white powder onto Ping'an's face, and then she blacked out, falling unconscious.
After Ping'an regained consciousness, she lay on the concrete floor. She adjusted her eyes and realized she was inside an abandoned temple. She saw a chain tying her feet to Lee Dachin's feet.
"Ping'an," Lee Dachin whispered, sitting up, his voice weak. "Where are we?"
"I don't know," Ping'an replied, looking around the desolate space.
"Who is that?" Lee Dachin asked, remembering the attacker.
"That's Yang Delun," Ping'an explained. "He's impersonating Renshu. We exposed him a few days ago. I think he's seeking revenge."
"Are we in danger?" Lee Dachin asked, his voice trembling.
"I'm not sure. I think we are his bait to lure Renshu," Ping'an theorized, her brow furrowed in thought.
Lee Dachin lowered his head sadly. "You shouldn't have followed me home."
"I know I shouldn't have followed you," Ping'an replied, her voice filled with self-reproach. "If I hadn't followed you, you might not be in this situation."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help you," Lee Dachin said, tears welling in his eyes.
"Dachin, what's the matter?" Ping'an asked, sensing his deeper distress. "Are you arguing with Childe Fang?"
"No. We didn't argue," Lee Dachin replied. "Do you mind if I lay down? I feel uncomfortable sitting."
"Here, rest your head here," Ping'an said, patting her right thigh.
Lee Dachin put his head on Ping'an's right thigh. She felt his forehead; it was slightly hot. She took out her medicine bottle and gave Lee Dachin a pill.
"Here," Ping'an said, "It's for pain." She put the medicine into his mouth.
The two friends then heard the chilling sound of wolf howling outside the door, close by.
"We are being guarded by wolves," Ping'an worried, her voice hushed.
Back at the inn, everyone at the table was laughing at Guo Longtong's dramatic display of sadness earlier.
"Bookworm, you almost killed me!" Zhao Renshu chuckled, still amused.
"What makes you think Ping'an has an affair with Childe Lee?" Lim Peizhi asked, amused by Guo Longtong's wild accusation.
"If I were you, I would check my eyes," Zhao Renshu retorted to Guo Longtong and continued to laugh.
Just then, Yang Delun walked into the main dining hall, his hands clasped behind his back, a sinister smile on his face. "Enjoy your last laugh," he sneered.
"The impostor is here again," Zhao Renshu muttered, his smile fading.
"Zhao Renshu, I was humiliated by you last time," Yang Delun stated, his voice ringing with arrogance. "This time I want this town to know that Yang Delun is better than the great hunter Zhao Renshu."
"I believe I have told you not to show up again," Zhao Renshu said coldly.
Yang Delun laughed arrogantly, but there were two voices echoing, the sound unnervingly layered. "I believe I will beat you this time and take away your title."
"You should save the embarrassment," Huang Hongse said coldly, recognizing the sinister quality of his voice.
Yang Delun walked behind Zhao Renshu. He whispered into Zhao Renshu's left ear in a low voice and showed him something that immediately changed Zhao Renshu's facial expression. The entire group noticed the sudden shift in Zhao Renshu's demeanor.
"At noon tomorrow, in the town central square," Yang Delun stated, his voice a chilling challenge.
"I will be there," Zhao Renshu said firmly, his eyes burning with resolve.
"See you then," Yang Delun smiled, and walked out, leaving a tense silence in his wake.
"You don't need to fight him," Huang Yueliang said, concerned.
"This person is a little different," Guo Baiyu observed, his brow furrowed. "He and the Yang Delun we met are not the same person."
Zhao Renshu turned to Guo Baiyu, his face filled with great concern. "He got Ping'an and Dachin."
"They ran away together. Are you sure?" Guo Longtong asked, still clinging to his mistaken belief.
"Stop fantasizing," Huang Hongse snapped at him, her patience thin.
"He showed me Ping'an's swords," Zhao Renshu confirmed, his voice heavy with dread.
Ping'an leaned her head on a pole while Lee Dachin rested his head on her right lap. As they got to know each other more, Ping'an became fond of Lee Dachin. Lee Dachin's upbringing was no different than Ping'an's own. Ping'an had always thought that she was the most unlucky person in the world, but she was luckier than Lee Dachin; at least her grandmother had cheered her up when she was sad, comforted her when she cried, and encouraged her when she lost all hopes. She slowly removed Lee Dachin's hair away from his face, her touch gentle.
Lee Dachin slowly opened his eyes. "Ping'an," he murmured.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?" Ping'an asked softly.
"No," Lee Dachin replied.
"Dachin, I always thought I was the hapless person in the world," Ping'an confided.
"No, you are not," Lee Dachin said, shaking his head. "I envy you very much."
"Have you quarreled with Childe Fang?" Ping'an asked, returning to her initial concern.
"No," Lee Dachin replied.
"If not, why did you suddenly rush out?" Ping'an pressed.
"I told him I can't be with him," Lee Dachin confessed.
"I know how you feel," Ping'an said, her voice full of empathy. "Now, you think this is the best way for both of you. You did this for him and yourself, to prevent others from gossiping." She patted him gently on his head. "Baiyu once told me that we can lie to the whole world, but we can never lie to ourselves. If we are loyal to ourselves, there is nothing to be ashamed of. He also asked me why I made a decision without considering his feelings." She felt warm tears on her knees, realizing Lee Dachin was crying. "No matter where you go, people will talk. Choosing this path is not easy. If the other person gives up too easily, that person is not worthy of your love."
Lee Dachin cried softly, "Thank you."
Ping'an stretched out her hand and wiped his tears. "You are worried that Childe Fang's action was because of Baiyu's rejection. You are afraid that you are a substitution."
"We're moving too fast," Lee Dachin whispered.
"You should always give others a chance to prove themselves," Ping'an advised gently. "How do you know that he is lying or not lying without giving him a chance to prove himself?"
"He is too good for me," Lee Dachin insisted, still insecure.
Ping'an smiled at him. "Look at me, do you think people like me are good enough for Baiyu and Renshu?" She made a funny face and looked down at Lee Dachin, trying to cheer him up.
The two friends burst out laughing, a much-needed moment of lightness amidst their predicaments.
"Thank you for cheering me up," Lee Dachin said, wiping his eyes.
"That's what friends are for," Ping'an replied. "There is no school in Cloud City. You can come and teach there. You will make a better living teaching there than here. We can build a school for you. You can repay us back by taking care of our home while we are out hunting."
"Sounds great," Lee Dachin said, a spark of hope in his eyes.
"Everyone in Cloud City is friendly," Ping'an continued. "There are about a hundred and twenty-three people living there, and also it's only a two-day walk from Cloud City to Capital City." She smiled at him, painting a hopeful picture of their future.
Suddenly, Yang Delun walked in with a fainted woman thrown over his shoulder. He threw her on the concrete floor beside Ping'an and Lee Dachin. Lee Dachin noticed that this was the same lady who had fought with Miss Huang and Childe Fang yesterday morning—Yao Lulu.
"What is she doing here?" Ping'an asked, her face hardening.
"Let's see who dies tomorrow!" Yang Delun cackled, his voice a menacing duet of his own and Xianmu's. "Ha...ha...ha..." He walked out, leaving them trapped with the unconscious woman.