Chapter Forty-Seven: Jade Ring Lingers, Unwilling to Return

Not far away, Yang Yuhuan witnessed the scene of Yu Lang meeting Qingqing. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, and she sighed softly, “It is easy to find treasures beyond price, but hard to find a true companion. If I were a few years younger, I would compete with that girl Qingqing for Yu Lang’s affection. Ying, it’s been nearly three years since I left Chang’an for Yangzhou in the blink of an eye. Does His Majesty still remember me? Or perhaps he has found new favorites in the depths of his palace and long since forgotten this old companion?”

From the shadows emerged a man known as “Eagle.” “His Majesty has always kept you in his thoughts. Once the arrangements in Chang’an are settled, he will summon you back to the capital.”

Yang Yuhuan gave a bitter smile. “Summon me back to the capital? I have no wish to return only to meet my death. With Consort Wu Hui gone, there are still Consort Zhao Li and Consort Liu Hua, all deeply rooted in Chang’an. I cannot contend with them.”

Clearly, Yang Yuhuan still bore the scars of the assassination attempt three years prior. Li Longji had permitted her to come to Yangzhou only because Master Chen Wuning of the Xiyue Academy was here—no one dared lay a hand on Yang Yuhuan. In addition, the Emperor had sent this mysterious shadow guard called “Eagle” to watch over her safety. Yang Yuhuan did not know the true extent of Eagle’s cultivation, only that on that fateful night, he had slain at least two assassins at the peak of the Void-breaking realm, and gravely wounded a master of the Profound Comprehension stage.

Eagle replied in a low, solemn voice, “I will not allow anyone to harm you.”

Yang Yuhuan’s smile was sweet as honey. “And if Chen Wuning wishes to kill me, could you stop him?”

“Within the Xiyue Academy, I could only die; but outside its walls, he would not dare pursue you.”

“You’re such a block of wood—do you know how to smile? Do you feel sadness? Have you ever had your heart moved by a woman?” Yang Yuhuan’s eyes were as seductive as silk as she leaned closer to him.

Eagle melted back into the darkness, pretending not to hear.

“Is it time to leave?” Yang Yuhuan plucked a tender willow twig and toyed with it in her hand—a habit she could never break when troubled.

Yu Lang had set up a pot outside his dormitory, with several fine charcoal blocks burning beneath it.

All his friends were busy: some chopping vegetables, others mixing sauces, bustling about with cheerful energy.

It was Yu Lang who had introduced the novelty of hot pot.

Li Chun, always looking for fun, came over. “Lang, aren’t you afraid that Steward Zhang from the Introspection Hall will deal with you?”

Yu Lang tasted the sauce Xue Wenyang had prepared, nodded in satisfaction, and replied to Li Chun, “You mean Old Zhang at the gate? I’ve slipped him some silver—he’s one of us now.”

Li Chun was stunned. “Even Old Zhang is one of our brothers now?”

When Yu Lang first arrived at the Xiyue Academy, Instructor Shen from the Disciplinary Hall and others constantly set traps for him. Yu Lang, not to be outdone, countered each move. He would give as good as he got, sending gifts large and small to Instructor Shen’s home, and always bringing back rare treasures for him from his ventures outside. Even a heart of stone would eventually soften. Once, Yu Lang even risked his life to save Shen’s grandson from danger during an expedition. From then on, the two made peace, and Instructor Shen began calling him “Brother Lang,” completely disregarding the difference in their ages.

Instructor Shen became one of their own, Old Zhang too, and even Instructor Huang bared his yellowed teeth in a grin and sought to arrange a marriage whenever he saw Yu Lang. Li Chun wouldn’t be surprised if Yu Lang, after eight or ten years at the academy, turned the whole place into his own backyard.

Yu Lang had learned, after a year of silent suffering, that it was better to have more friends and fewer enemies. When he first arrived, he was stubborn to a fault, unable to tolerate even a grain of sand in his eye. If someone struck him, he would pay them back double, making life exhausting. It was Yang Yuhuan who once explained the wisdom of turning foes into friends as they stood by Jade Belt River. The strategies she shared made Yu Lang’s heart race—she was as simple as water in some ways, yet unfathomable in others, truly enigmatic. Daring not to adopt all her methods, he chose only the gentler ones. For example, the incident with Shen’s grandson had been orchestrated by Yu Lang himself, all to win people’s hearts.

Instructor Shen, no fool, saw through Yu Lang’s ploy. He realized that, as an old man, he had much to lose, but his grandson was still young. If he pushed Yu Lang too far, what if Yu Lang retaliated? Thus, Shen used this opportunity to befriend Yu Lang, securing some protection for his grandson.

Meanwhile, Instructor He from the Hall of Rites found Yu Lang a constant headache. Yu Lang’s mischief and rule-breaking had filled several ledgers with punishments. Yet, deep down, He rather liked Yu Lang’s spirit. Despite his present dignified manner as an instructor, in his youth, He had been the academy’s king of troublemakers. Moreover, Yu Lang was the most favored personal disciple of Dean Chen, so Instructor He often covered for him, glossing over minor mistakes and being lenient with major ones.

Thus, Yu Lang quite enjoyed his days at the Xiyue Academy—with friends to share wild adventures, instructors who treated him as their own, and many fond memories. If possible, he truly wished to stay and inherit Master Chen Wuning’s legacy, just as his teacher hoped. Yet, his heart was still burdened by too many concerns and attachments, and the peace in the land could not last forever. Sooner or later, the inevitable would come.

Li Dahu burst in energetically. “Brothers, guess what I’ve brought for you? Spirit bird meat! These two spirit birds were at least of the Hundred-Refinement level—I shot them down with a single arrow each! I lay in ambush on Longevity Mountain for three full days waiting for them!”

Dai Yang drooled. “They say eating spirit bird not only nourishes your qi sea and enhances cultivation, but is also a powerful tonic for men.”

“What do you need a tonic for? The one who needs it most is Lang—on one side is the childhood sweetheart Qingqing, and on the other, the matchless beauty Yuhuan. Even Instructor Huang’s daughter, Huang Ying, is quite the beauty…” Zhang Chengxing, after spending time with this crowd, had shed his uprightness for a more roguish air.

Li Dahu cleared his throat and said with mock severity, “You can admire the ladies in your heart, but there’s no need to say it out loud.”

Yu Lang feigned a lunge at them, and the group burst into laughter. Yu Lang didn’t mind these jokes—he’d always seen Yang Yuhuan as a slightly foolish elder sister in need of protection. Huang Ying was a good girl, and Yu Lang knew Zhang Chengxing liked her, so he’d been quietly playing matchmaker. Qingqing was his last remaining kin in this place, someone he would entrust his life to. As for Ning Xue, she was a thorn in his heart. If Yu Lang had ever truly loved anyone, it was his girlfriend Ning Xue from his previous life. Though four years had passed since he came to the Tang Dynasty, he still dreamed of those days. But this Ning Xue was not that one; only their appearances were alike. He constantly had to remind himself not to let the two overlap in his heart.

“Wine is here!” Yang Xu rolled in a cart of fine wine from the distillery Yu Lang had started.

Li Chun was beyond caring—he no longer bothered to wonder how a whole cart of wine had gotten past the two gatekeepers on duty.