Chapter 10: Dreamscapes in Paint and Shadow

The rain had not yet ceased, so the two sought shelter in a teahouse. The proprietress was a kindhearted soul who even brought them clean towels. Outside, the rain drummed on, while inside, the stove kept a pot of water boiling, making the room exceptionally warm. Before long, two cups of steaming tea were placed on the table; Cheng Ruyi eagerly cupped one in his hands to warm himself.

"My thanks to Officer Yan for the tea," Cheng Ruyi remarked with a raised brow.

Yan Kuang did not respond, merely gazing silently at the water dripping from the eaves, which had formed a small stream.

Cheng Ruyi understood what Yan Kuang wanted to ask. He took a sip of the hot tea, looked out at the rain, and began to speak to himself.

"Just now, I went back quietly... I ran into Old Hua. It seemed as if she were waiting for me. As soon as we met, she happily led me to the alley behind to... see her children."

As he spoke, Cheng Ruyi freed one hand and opened his palm toward Yan Kuang. "Five. Five in total. Each one is different—white, mottled, gray, black, and yellow."

He closed a finger for each one he mentioned. By the end, Cheng Ruyi let out a long, languid sigh.

"It is a pity the weather was poor; I had no time to name her children... I walked, and she followed, until she understood that I would never return to that house again. Only then did she turn back to find her little ones."

"She has her attachments, and I have places I must go. When fate reaches its end, one must eventually part ways. Don't you agree, Officer... Yan?"

"Why?" Yan Kuang asked, turning his head to look at him.

Cheng Ruyi drank a mouthful of tea and exhaled a puff of white mist into the cold rain. "Officer Yan, I wonder if you have heard that those who chant sutras and have kind hearts will buy live wild game from the market to set free. Alas, such kindness can sometimes lead to disaster. Perhaps they inadvertently release a poisonous or ferocious beast, causing it to harm innocent bystanders. Or perhaps they choose the wrong time or place..."

"Even if they are free, they cannot survive."

Yan Kuang frowned. "But you are not—"

"Officer Yan, the tea is getting cold."

Yan Kuang caught the subtext in Cheng Ruyi's words, but he was interrupted before he could speak. He reached out to touch the teacup; it had indeed turned lukewarm, with faint wisps of steam barely visible on the surface.

Yan Kuang fell silent and drank his tea quietly. He knew that further words were useless. Though they had not known each other long, he had already begun to grasp the temperament of this down-and-out scholar.

The rain came fast and went quickly.

Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the rain gradually ceased, leaving only the water accumulated on the eaves and trees to drip down like a lingering shower. As the day turned to dusk, the sky took on a dark blue hue, streaked with gray clouds, through which a hazy half-moon faintly emerged.

Cheng Ruyi propped his head up and looked outside. "The rain has stopped... Officer Yan, are we going back?"

"The night market is about to open. Don't you want to see it?" Yan Kuang fished out some small pieces of silver, placed them on the table, and rose to leave.

"It's open even after the rain? Hey, wait for me!"

Cheng Ruyi hurriedly grabbed his white paper umbrella and gave chase, thinking to himself that this cold-faced man was just using his long legs to bully him.

"Keep up. I won't be responsible if you get lost."

"I am your pris—who else would be responsible if not you!"

Yan Kuang walked toward the main street with his hands behind his back. Cheng Ruyi complained bitterly, reaching out to grab his sleeve and shaking his head.

Cheng Ruyi had to lower his voice. "Officer Yan... show some consideration for the wounded, won't you? My body hurts; I can't walk that fast..."

"Did I punish your legs?" Yan Kuang asked, looking genuinely puzzled, even beginning to recall whether he had ever used leg-crushing stocks on Cheng Ruyi.

Cheng Ruyi gritted his teeth and stammered, "No... it's my... my back that hurts..."

Yan Kuang remained confused. "What does walking have to do with one's back?"

Cheng Ruyi clenched his fist and took a deep breath, mentally cursing him as a "thick-headed King of Hell."

Yan Kuang seemed to sense Cheng Ruyi's resentment. He wondered if he had said the wrong thing, or if he really had used the stocks on him and the leg pain was just too embarrassing for him to admit.

As he pondered, Cheng Ruyi had already marched ahead, pouting with his umbrella. Yan Kuang caught up in two strides.

After a moment's thought, Yan Kuang said, "Walk slowly then."

"Oh, my thanks to the officer for your consideration." As Cheng Ruyi spoke, he glanced at the man beside him, and at the same time, the scenery behind Yan Kuang came into view.

The sky after the rain was still misty, but every household had lit their lamps. The rainwater on the road had not yet dried, and the puddles reflected the lamp light, shimmering brightly.

Indeed, vendors had pushed their carts out to hawk their wares, and some street stalls had laid out waterproof oilcloths, with owners busily arranging delicate little trinkets.

A young woman with a basket full of fresh flowers hanging from the crook of her arm walked toward them with a smile.

"Two young masters, would you like to buy some flowers?"

"No," Yan Kuang said indifferently. Fearing he might be recognized, Cheng Ruyi intentionally turned his body, revealing only half of his face.

The flower seller smiled sweetly. "These flowers lose their freshness only a few days after being cut. You two are so handsome—if these flowers could have the honor of being tucked into your hair, it would not be in vain for them to bloom this lifetime."

Yan Kuang was at a loss for words. In truth, he had not walked the streets like a normal person for decades, let alone spoken with others—especially women.

He frowned, afraid of scaring her, and not knowing what to say, he simply fished some silver from his pouch and handed it to her.

Forcing down his embarrassment, Yan Kuang said stiffly, "Just give me one."

Cheng Ruyi remained silent. He had long sensed Yan Kuang's awkwardness but found it amusing and only wanted to watch the show. He suppressed a laugh as he watched the flower seller shyly pull out a red peony and slowly hand it to Yan Kuang.

Yan Kuang thanked her, and the flower seller left reluctantly, looking back every few steps.

Cheng Ruyi turned and teased, "Truly, the God of Slaughter puts down his blade to embrace the fragrance of the wind... Hey!"

Before Cheng Ruyi could finish his teasing, the large red peony had already been tucked into his own hair by Yan Kuang.

"Officer Yan... I say, this isn't appropriate, is it?" Cheng Ruyi reached up to take it off, but Yan Kuang caught his wrist.

No matter the time, Yan Kuang's grip always carried an oppressive force, and Cheng Ruyi dared not move.

Yan Kuang feigned seriousness. "Whenever a prisoner is released from jail, the jailer tucks a flower into their hair to ward off bad luck."

"Is that a real custom, or did you just make that up?" Cheng Ruyi twisted his wrist. "Ouch, ouch, ouch, don't squeeze..."

Yan Kuang then remembered that Cheng Ruyi's wrists had been chafed by the fishing line earlier. He loosened his grip and looked: there were indeed layers of bloodstains on Cheng Ruyi's slender, pale wrist.

Cheng Ruyi quickly blew on his wrist, then turned it to inspect the crisscrossing marks, sighing, "It looks like a twisted silver bracelet."

Yan Kuang couldn't help but frown. "What kind of ghostly description is that? You can even joke about this."

Cheng Ruyi raised a brow. "Doesn't it look like one? Besides, I'm returning with you in a moment, so this hardly counts as being released from prison. Why tuck a flower in? Take it off, take it off."

As he spoke, Cheng Ruyi took the peony off. "I'll hold it for you. When we get back, I'll place it on your desk. When you're working, this can count as 'red sleeves adding fragrance,' right?"

Yan Kuang couldn't help but retort, "You talk about not being able to survive, but with your eloquence, Mr. Cheng, I'm sure you could make a living as a storyteller at the bridge."

Cheng Ruyi held the flower closer. "My thanks for the compliment, but how do you know I haven't done that before?"

Yan Kuang glanced at him and said languidly, "Mr. Cheng is truly a man of many talents. It seems there is much I do not know."

Cheng Ruyi was not to be outdone. "Officer Yan is the one who hides his depth. There is even more that I do not know."

The two walked and talked. The street grew increasingly crowded, and the number of stalls multiplied. They passed a ring-toss game, and Cheng Ruyi subconsciously slowed his pace.

Yan Kuang stopped as well. The stall owner, seeing a potential sale, rushed over.

"Two gentlemen, my items are all top-notch! Easy to toss and cheap, twenty coins for ten rings! Come, give it a try!"

Seeing that he seemed interested, Yan Kuang asked, "Do you want to try?"

Cheng Ruyi was a bit surprised, then shook his head repeatedly. "Me? My aim is terrible."

Yan Kuang asked in confusion, "Then what are you looking at?"

Cheng Ruyi pursed his lips. "Can't I just look? Officer Yan, look, this stall is so novel. There are vases, hairpins, jade bracelets, flowers, jade pendants, potted plants, storybooks, and..."

"A big goose."

Cheng Ruyi pointed forward as he spoke.

Yan Kuang finally saw it clearly: at the very back of the stall, a large white goose, tied by a thin chain to its leg, was looking at them, full of spirit and head held high.

It even let out a timely "honk."