During the first lunar month, a ceaseless stream of distinguished visitors came bearing gifts. Lingzhou Prefect Yan Jiexi arrived with his children, Fengzhou Governor Li Gongde followed on his heels, naturally bringing along his son Li Hanlin whose reputation was spectacularly poor. Because their sons were childhood friends with the Crown Prince, these two prefectural officials enjoyed a deep relationship and had always been fortunate enough to receive a favorable glance from the Prince of Beiliang. Even occasional oversights in governance would be glossed over lightly by the Great Pillar of State.

Among them, Yan Jiexi had an advantage others could only envy. Prefect Yan had a daughter of first-rate learning and appearance whom even the Great Pillar of State praised highly, personally commenting “steady and peaceful, dignified and generous.” At the time, many deeply believed this woman would enter the Prince of Beiliang’s palace. Perhaps the Crown Prince was just too dissolute—there’d never been any substantive movement.

Today the Great Pillar of State personally received the two prefects. Li Hanlin’s backside couldn’t stay put—he’d long been fidgeting. The Great Pillar of State waved his large hand and said the word “scram.” Li Hanlin immediately received amnesty as if from heaven, pulling along his sworn friend Yan Chiji who didn’t forget to bow and salute before bolting out.

Fengzhou Prefect Li Gongde sighed long and short. This scoundrel was too undignified. The Great Pillar of State laughed, saying Hanlin’s temperament was quite good. Only then did Li Gongde feel at ease. A light word from the Great Pillar of State was a hundred times more useful than ten thousand words of criticism in the prefecture.

Yan Jiexi’s daughter Yan Dongwu also gracefully took her leave to stroll about the palace. Women who could receive favorable comments from the Great Pillar of State were extremely rare. She was publicly recognized by Beiliang scholars as “Woman Scholar”—proficient in music, go, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song, with refined elegance, bright and moving. If not overshadowed by Beiliang’s foremost extraordinary woman Xu Weixiong, she’d be even more famous.

But from the first glance at Xu Fengnian, she’d felt no goodwill whatsoever, regarding this Crown Prince as an empty-headed good-for-nothing, never concealing it. Xu Fengnian responded needle-tip to wheat-awn, saying Yan Dongwu was a fame-seeking money ghost—harmonious on the surface but actually deeply calculating, appearing gentle and harmless yet being a knife. Whoever married her would be bringing home a sharp blade—family misfortune.

In short, these two had been at odds for years, each finding the other disagreeable. If they could avoid meeting, they would. So when visiting each other’s homes, they never greeted each other. Her brother Yan Chiji had originally hoped to cement family ties with Brother Feng, but later seeing it was hopeless, gave up.

In the twilight, Yan Dongwu walked along a secluded path, inwardly sneering. Not hearing of the Crown Prince causing trouble for half a year—supposedly he’d been confined to read sage texts—she didn’t believe the Great Pillar of State could confine Xu Fengnian’s feet. Who knew what tremendous disaster he’d caused this time.

Yan Dongwu heard a sinister, mocking voice: “Oh my, this young lady has such courage, daring to tour Xu the Good-for-Nothing’s territory alone. Aren’t you afraid that good-for-nothing will abduct you for wanton violation?”

Without even raising her head, she knew it was that mortal enemy whose fate clashed with hers—the Crown Prince who couldn’t pass examinations or accomplish great deeds.

Yan Dongwu couldn’t be bothered to respond. Quickening her steps, she wanted to leave early—out of sight, out of mind.

Xu Fengnian relentlessly blocked her path, his posture improper as he teased, “Miss, how about ​Read on Jormuntl​I escort you? Can’t let you suffer Xu the Good-for-Nothing’s poisonous hands. If your chastity isn’t preserved, who’ll marry you? I heard a little prince in the capital is smitten with you. Could it be you’re preparing to become an imperial consort?”

Yan Dongwu’s phoenix eyes glared furiously.

Her face was cold, but inwardly she felt slight surprise. This scoundrel she hadn’t seen in over three years seemed much darker and more robust. Yet that unmistakable dandy air—mountains may change but nature is hard to alter—was still just as detestable. Her thoughts meticulous, she noticed Lingzhou’s greatest young master was no longer wearing a fancy sword but had switched to a blade, not worn at his waist but carried in hand—incongruous.

Yan Dongwu retreated a step, pulling away from Xu Fengnian as she mocked verbally, “Can’t learn the skills of that blade wielder with the ferocious mask, so you can only learn the easiest thing—wearing a blade? What grand ambitions Your Highness has!”

Xu Fengnian hummed a few times, then shifted Embroidered Winter to rest on his shoulder, hands draped over it, appearing even more roguish as he grinned. “The Woman Scholar has heard of that blade wielder’s magnificent deeds? Tell me, should I go reward him with several thousand or ten thousand taels of silver? I have news that tonight outside the city there’ll be a melee. I’m pondering how much silver to bring. Woman Scholar, you’re quite skilled at calculations—why not strategize for me?”

Yan Dongwu sneered coldly. “You dare witness that bloody scene? How many taels to give is Your Highness’s private matter. Dongwu would kindly remind His Highness to remember to bring an extra set of clothing.”

Xu Fengnian clicked his tongue. “The Woman Scholar is truly a master strategist—even calculated I’d piss my pants. Impressive, impressive. Before I said you wouldn’t speak of matters not concerning you, one question would get three head shakes of ‘don’t know.’ Now it seems I truly wronged you.”

Yan Dongwu lost patience grinding words with Xu Fengnian. Coldly and firmly: “Step aside!”

Xu Fengnian, resting against Embroidered Winter blade, said carelessly, “Woman Scholar, dare you come with me to witness that blade wielder?”

Yan Dongwu said decisively, “I dare not!”

Xu Fengnian teased, “Are you afraid of seeing my disgraceful state, or afraid of seeing the blade wielder and unable to resist eloping with him? Yan Chiji says you always secretly read knight-errant biographies. Really not curious what hero lies behind that ferocious mask?”

Yan Dongwu’s privacy exposed, yet she showed no embarrassment, remaining silent.

Xu Fengnian looked regretful. “Won’t go? Fine. Sharing joy with Read on Jormuntlothers isn’t as good as enjoying it alone.”

Shouldering Embroidered Winter blade, he brushed past Yan Dongwu.

Yan Dongwu suddenly wrinkled her nose, turning around to ask for the first time proactively, “You’re really going to be that sucker, that wealth-scattering boy?”

Xu Fengnian smiled. “There are two horses in the stable.”

In the end, two riders left the city.

Wearing thick fur to hide her identity, Yan Dongwu galloped on horseback, inwardly regretting immensely—how had she been given a bewitching potion by this Xu good-for-nothing? She’d originally thought the palace would have iron cavalry escort, but after twenty li outside the city there was still no sign. Curiously she shouted, “Xu Fengnian, where are you taking me?!”

Xu Fengnian held his blade in one hand, turning his head to smile. “Another twenty li and you’ll know. Are you afraid I’ll take you to some desolate wilderness for indecent acts? Relax, melons twisted off aren’t sweet—I understand this principle better than anyone now.”

In the starlit night, Yan Dongwu saw a face that seemed to have become unfamiliar.

Another twenty li.

She saw a small hillside with flickering campfires on the opposite side.

Xu Fengnian took the lead leaping his horse up the slope.

After Yan Dongwu rode her horse to the summit, her face turned deathly pale.

Below the slope sat a dozen-some burly men drinking from large bowls and eating chunks of meat, every [unauthorized copy]face sinister. Seeing Xu Fengnian, they looked at him like a fat sheep. Seeing the luxuriously dressed Yan Dongwu, their eyes filled with blazing lewdness. Thrown to this godforsaken place living in fear, having a tender-skinned beauty delivered to their mouths—not eating her would invite heaven’s punishment.

Yan Dongwu stared blankly at Xu Fengnian’s profile. Was this dandy using such a vicious and base method to take revenge on her?

Xu Fengnian stared intently down the slope, smiling softly. “Miss Yan, don’t rush to bite your tongue and end it. Xu Fengnian isn’t as filthy as you think. Handing you over to a group of dead men—Yan Chiji would break off our friendship and fight me to death. No matter how you calculate, it’s a loss down to grandma’s house.”

Xu Fengnian exhaled a long breath. In the Major Cold season, this wisp of white mist was particularly clear in Yan Dongwu’s eyes.

Then she saw this idle Crown Prince pull a ferocious mask from his bosom and cover his face. Drawing his blade, he thrust the sheath into the soil. A series of soundless movements made his entire temperament instantly transform.

Yan Dongwu covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

It was a good season for killing. On snowy days, corpses would quickly become like icicles under the eaves—not appearing dirty, especially the pools of filthy blood which after freezing resembled women’s embroidery. This pleased Xu Fengnian, whose killing for now could only emphasize swift speed.

Four or five batches killed carelessly—once killing became smooth, there were some experiences inconvenient to share with others. But licking blood while walking the jianghu, how lonely without a cheering confidant. Otherwise why did masters always choose rooftops or mountain peaks for duels? At the very least, bustling markets with many mouths?

Moreover, Xu Fengnian had found Yan Dongwu disagreeable for many years—disagreeable was her airs and affectations as the Yan family’s eldest daughter. He actually found her face and figure quite agreeable. So he’d hatched a wicked plan to lure her out to see the world. Having finally gained a rare spectator besides Old Kui, Xu Fengnian felt it necessary to kill more attentively, more decisively and ruthlessly. Scaring her soul away would be best.

The bandit leader gestured, sending two capable but not-so-trusted fellows as vanguard. Naturally they weren’t too willing—heard that blade wielder who specialized in killing their kind wasn’t gentle, rarely leaving intact corpses.

But the leader had spoken: just kill that masked one and you can taste that little woman first. This made the two bandits who’d been holding it in too long disregard their lives. The key was they’d been inexplicably thrown here and learned that killing the person who wanted to kill them would absolve their death sentence, and they’d receive a huge reward and return to military service. Already a life-or-death deadlock, heads heated, they couldn’t care about much else.

Embroidered Winter collided with a refined chopping blade in a bandit’s hand. Xu Fengnian twisted sideways, adhering blade sliding down, severing several fingers of that charging pawn. Before the man could cry for father and mother, he smoothly swept up and took off a head.

Feet never stopping, Embroidered Winter tumbled, cleaving the second bandit at the waist.

Xu Fengnian charged straight into their midst.

Embroidered Winter like a rolling snowball surging.

Only an incense stick’s worth of time.

All dead, with very few intact corpses.

Xu Fengnian finally exhaled a long breath. The so-called “drumming up spirit in one go” held extreme truth. Using the blade most taboo was chaotic energy flow—he was beginning to understand.

Xu Fengnian removed the fanged blue face covering his features. His bearing changed again, returning to that roguish handsome young master. With a light flick of his wrist, he shook blood droplets from Embroidered Winter blade onto the snow, carrying the blade up the slope.

Yan Dongwu sat on horseback trembling, biting down to persevere, seemingly unwilling to lose the aloof bearing accumulated over years. Xu Fengnian glanced at her and wiped Embroidered Winter blade on her thousand-gold-worth white fox fur, leaving slight traces. This crude action frightened that golden branch and jade leaf into crying out, her delicate body swaying as if about to fall.

Xu Fengnian stopped frightening this great family’s young lady whose brilliant mind had gone blank. Inserting Embroidered Winter into its sheath, he walked several steps, mounted his horse with a flip, and said softly, “Let’s return.”

Forty li returning to the city—Xu Fengnian in front, the mediocre equestrian Yan Dongwu behind, following with difficulty.

On horseback, Xu Fengnian spent most of the time with eyes closed in meditation, breathing long and deep.

Blade practice—killing people was only secondary. The true tempering still waited for him in the palace’s small courtyard.

The city gate captain opened his eyes wide to recognize the Crown Prince’s countenance, hastily shouting to open the gates, deathly afraid of angering this Beiliang devil incarnate and having ​stolen content​to pack up and go home to raise chickens and farm. Xu Fengnian delivered Miss Yan to the prefectural residence, smiling. “This horse—you have to return it to me.”

After dismounting, Yan Dongwu remained a silent lady. Xu Fengnian paid no mind. Bending to take the reins from her hand, he tapped her bottom with Embroidered Winter’s sheath, teasing, “Lost your soul?”

Yan Dongwu’s face showed displeasure.

Xu Fengnian used Embroidered Winter blade to hook up her delicate chin, saying slowly, “Your father has a letter addressed to Imperial Protector Wang in the capital, sitting right on Xu Xiao’s desk. So you lowering yourself to go outside the city with this Crown Prince of no virtue or character to admire snow—wasn’t a wasted trip.”

Yan Dongwu’s eyes grew flustered.

Xu Fengnian smiled flirtatiously, tossing the blue face from his bosom to her. “Tonight Miss Yan gave such face. As a return gift—it’s yours. In the future when you resent me again, take it out on this.”