Rising Phoenix

“How does it feel to be drunk?”

“Like stars are everywhere…

“Next time I will drink with you…”

“Wu…”

Ning Yi’s eyelids drooped shut and his words slurred.

Feng Zhiwei examined him, slowly, gently buttoning up his robes.

Her voice was like the peaceful dusk, tranquil and calming, sidestepping any suspicion.

“Feng Zhiwei is very troublesome…”

“Yeah, she…”

Ning Yi’s eyes shot open.

His blurry eyes were instantly crystal clear, his pupils dark as night.

He looked up at Feng Zhiwei with a burning gaze, causing her heart to miss a beat.

The two occupied the small carriage, one lying and the other sitting, face to face. The air stilled around them as a bird cried up above and in the distance a crow cawed.

Finally, Ning Yi turned away and said: “Out.”

Feng Zhiwei quietly retrieved her basin and left the carriage. Yan Huaishi was soon summoned by Ning Yi, and Feng Zhiwei watched as the young master bowed and listened to the orders. Finally, he walked over to Feng Zhiwei and explained: “His Highness wishes to return to his men and has asked us to send people to escort him.”

“You can lead this.” Feng Zhiwei replied, her hands clasped behind her back as she looked up at the distant, thick clouds. “Find the best men and take two hundred of our three hundred Chang Ying Guards. His Highness is not well and is unable to protect himself, so tell the men to be careful.”

“If we send so many, what will we do if something happens to us?” Yan Huaishi asked with worry.

“We’re only escorting him a short distance. Safely send him back and safely return, what is there to worry about.” Feng Zhiwei smiled. “If something happens, all the guards together might not be enough.”

A short while later, Chunyu Meng departed with two hundred guards to escort Ning Yi’s carriage to his men. Ning Yi did not show his face a single time, and Feng Zhiwei could only stand under the setting sun and watch the coach depart. Ning Yi must have assumed she was intentionally plying him with alcohol to find out his secrets, but she truly had had no idea he could not handle his drink and has only spoken words off the top of her head…

She smiled with some bitterness. He could believe whatever he wanted; the trust between them was already pitifully small; it would have been lost sooner or later.

The sunset’s red glow filled the sky, casting gold on everyone’s brows and lashes. Feng Zhiwei looked up at the fiery twilight and grew uneasy, and she called for her men to halt the convoy and find a place to rest.

There were not post-houses in the area so they entered a small town called East Village and lodged in an inn. The inn was small but very clean, with new quilts and mattresses. The owner saw Feng Zhiwei’s surprise and explained, smiling: “A few days ago, many honored guests came and thought my old quilts and bedding too modest, so they paid to replace them.”

Feng Zhiwei hummed in response, not paying close attention as she pondered her own matters. The owner showed off a silver ingot he had stored in his sleeve and said: “Since the opening of this inn, I’ve never seen such a large silver ingot!”

Feng Zhiwei glanced down and grunted before turning to leave, gesturing for her men. The owner turned as well and headed for the door when a flash seemed to shoot through Feng Zhiwei’s mind; she turned hurriedly and called out: “Owner, will you show me that silver ingot again?”

Reaching out to the agreeable owner, Feng Zhiwei grabbed the top quality fine silver and examined it. “Xi Ping[1]” were carved into the bottom.

She brought it to her nose and breathed in the faintly fishy smell.

Minting of coins was restricted, and only Xi Ping Province Chang Ning Vassal State were allowed to mint their own ingots. Minnan Province’s neighbor had their own silver mines and circulated their own silver money, and the close economic relationship between the two regions had led to widespread use of Xi Ping Province’s silver.

And the slightly fishy tang…

The Chang Family’s people had arrived from Minnan, here on the only route from Dijing to Minnan.

Feng Zhiwei’s hand turned cold.

Whom had the Chang Family come for?

Her? The new head of the General Maritime Department that would be the end of their power?

Or Ning Yi? The Prince moving to reclaim military power and threaten the Chang Family’s might?

Ning Yi!

With only two hundred guards, alone on the road, drunk and powerless! A crisis was upon them!

Feng Zhiwei shot forward, rushing from the room and jumping on a horse, galloping into the dark, misty night.

The Guards and students were gathered in the front yard for dinner, and Feng Zhiwei had seen Gu Nanyi ordering water brought into his room, so he was probably showering. She did not enter, only knocking on the window frame as she passed, calling out: “Brother Gu, come find me along our path today!”

No voice called back in reply, but she had not time to waste. Rushing to the stable, she found a powerful horse and climbed atop it, but as she mounted the steed and looked back, she saw dark figures climbing over the courtyard wall and heard the clamor of overturning tables and chairs.

Her heart skipped a beat — she finally understood the Chang Family’s decisiveness; they had sent two groups to come kill both Ning Yi and her!

Feng Zhiwei clutched her reins, two choices before her. Ning Yi’s troops were still on the road and her guards had been divided; great danger had come to both parties.

Her team was being attacked; how could she leave?

But Ning Yi’s great vulnerability was her fault; how could she abandon him?

She hesitated for a moment and then her eyes firmed. She called into the night:

“The Qing Ming Students all have great backgrounds, please keep them safe or I will be gravely sentenced, please!”

After calling out, she turned to leave, and the powerful horse neighed and charged out into the night, away from the fighting and clashing in the front yard.

Feng Zhiwei had always been aware of the invisible guards around her, though she had never felt the need to investigate. An emergency was upon them and Helian Zheng, Yao Yangyu and the others were too important to lose, so she could only drag out her invisible guards.

As for herself, Gu Nanyi would come for her.

Feng Zhiwei disappeared through the yard gates, and she had no idea that just as she ran off, Gu Nanyi turned down the street corner a few hundred meters away, slowly strolling back towards the inn. The inn’s outhouse was built on the other side of the street some distance away, and Gu Nanyi had had some stomach problems and needed the toilet for a while. He had not been in his room washing up.

He soon heard the noise in the front yard and was just about to dash forward to investigate when two grey figures appeared beside him, falling to their knee as they called out: “She has left and asked you to follow her to our path this morning, and she has asked us to protect her team here.”

Gu Nanyi frowned, slowly repeating: “Our path…”

“We sent two people to protect her, but her horse is the swiftest breed in the entire world. It’ll be difficult to catch up to her.” The masked, grey robed man continued, his eyes bright. “The team here is weak and the enemies strong. If we must protect everyone, we cannot spare any of our people… Sect Leader, will you be able to find the way yourself?”

[1] West Peace, Xi Ping Province