Chapter 11: Dark Clouds

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“Master Yan, how rare this is. I never thought this ring toss could catch a big white goose.” Cheng Ruyi was still curiously examining the large white goose, but in his hand, Yan Kuang had silently slipped ten rings.

Yan Kuang said beside him, “Don’t just look, give it a try.”

Seeing Yan Kuang’s calm and unhurried demeanor, which was clearly more about enjoying the spectacle than generosity, Cheng Ruyi hesitated but eventually set down his umbrella and peony flower, picking up a ring. “Alright… since you insist, Master, I’ll give it a shot.”

With that, Cheng Ruyi picked up a ring and tossed it casually. As expected—

Nothing was caught.

Cheng Ruyi sighed. “Well, asking for directions with a ring toss, and got nothing in return.”

The stall owner smiled cheerfully but said nothing. Yan Kuang saw this and handed another ring to Cheng Ruyi, gently grasping his hand and slightly raising his arm.

In a low voice near Cheng Ruyi’s ear, Yan Kuang said, “Keep your arm steady, use your wrist strength, but don’t throw with full force. It’s skill, not power, that counts at this distance.”

Yan Kuang’s words made Cheng Ruyi’s ears tingle, and he instinctively shrank his neck.

Cheng Ruyi murmured hurriedly, “Got it, got it, Master.”

Yan Kuang released his hand. Cheng Ruyi threw again, and this time the small ring floated lazily, landing around half of the stall owner’s shoe.

Yan Kuang’s expression was indescribable.

The stall owner awkwardly laughed and bent down to retrieve the ring. “Young master, that doesn’t count.”

Cheng Ruyi looked at Yan Kuang with embarrassment. “Master, I told you, my aim’s terrible.”

Yan Kuang took a ring from his hand and tilted his head, asking, “What do you want then?”

Cheng Ruyi scanned the entire stall thoughtfully and finally pointed to a storybook. “That one. Maybe it’s some rare book… though it looks rather thin. Could be an incomplete edition.”

Yan Kuang knew he was speaking nonsense again but simply tossed a ring.

Cheng Ruyi watched as the ring, which had been lifeless in his hand, now seemed to be blessed by some fairy breath—it flew smoothly and squarely landed around the storybook.

The stall owner was surprised. “This young master has good luck!”

Cheng Ruyi thought to himself, this isn’t luck—it’s the grim reaper’s intervention. What can’t be obtained?

The stall owner used a long pole to lift the book and handed it to them. Yan Kuang glanced at it briefly and immediately returned it.

“Hey? You caught it with difficulty, why not keep it?” Cheng Ruyi reached out to accept but was blocked by Yan Kuang.

Yan Kuang looked a little embarrassed. “There’s nothing interesting about it.”

Cheng Ruyi was puzzled. “A rare book? Could it be forbidden...”

“No, but…” Yan Kuang hesitated, but Cheng Ruyi had already taken the book from the stall owner.

“Heartless, top scholar... thin, love, legend?”

Cheng Ruyi laughed bitterly, flipping through the pages of “The Heartless Top Scholar’s Callous Tale.”

Sure enough, the protagonist was himself.

Yan Kuang understood that seeing a story with himself as the main character must be complicated, but he could think of no comforting words and remained silent.

The stall owner said, “Ah, young masters, you don’t know? This is the hottest short story right now, just published recently, and it’s hard to get even if you rush to buy.”

“Yes… yes, haha… I’ll keep it for now, just keep it.” Cheng Ruyi stuffed the book into his chest, trying to hide his embarrassment, and picked up another ring to try again.

“Master Yan, that jade double-fish pendant looks pretty nice, right? Here! If I catch it, I’ll give it to you…”

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With that, Cheng Ruyi gave up and tossed the ring blindly with his eyes closed.

Yan Kuang watched the ring fly at a slant. It hit a branch sticking out from a potted plant, knocking off a green leaf, which floated down onto the big white goose’s head.

Yan Kuang sighed.

Cheng Ruyi lowered his gaze. “Master Yan, maybe we should go…”

Before he could finish speaking, Yan Kuang smoothly took another ring from his hand and threw it again.

“Clang!” The ring landed perfectly, snugly wrapping around the double-fish pendant. Even the tassels and hanging strings aligned without being crushed.

The stall owner blinked, hardly believing it. Cheng Ruyi was stunned too. Seeing the stall owner hesitate, Yan Kuang took the pole himself, lifted the pendant off, and handed it to Cheng Ruyi.

Cheng Ruyi took it in a daze. Seeing he had no interest in trying again, Yan Kuang took the remaining five rings from him.

“What else do you want?” Yan Kuang asked.

Cheng Ruyi held the pendant and said, “Master Yan, forget it… I only found the goose amusing at first…”

Before Cheng Ruyi could finish, a swift shadow appeared, and a ring was already hanging around the goose’s neck. The big white goose was quite upset, honking loudly.

Cheng Ruyi was surprised. “I didn’t say I wanted to…”

The stall owner’s face immediately darkened, quickly saying, “No, no, that won’t do!”

The goose was originally brought out as a gimmick and placed far inside the stall. It was a live animal and always restless, and the owner never expected anyone to actually catch it. Now he complained that to catch the goose one had to hook five rings in a row.

Cheng Ruyi was about to argue when Yan Kuang already flicked his wrist, tossing the remaining four rings simultaneously. With several clanging sounds, all the rings hung on the goose’s neck.

The large goose honked loudly in fright, struggling and pecking at the metal rings, making them jingle loudly.

“You’re deliberately causing trouble, aren’t you!”

The stall owner was dumbfounded. “Cheating… you must be cheating!”

The stall owner, unwilling to lose his goose, started to make a fuss on the spot.

Seeing Yan Kuang’s face darken, Cheng Ruyi quickly grabbed his arm and tried to calm the stall owner with a smile. “Shopkeeper, sorry, we don’t want your goose… My master is a courier; his aim is indeed good. Please don’t shout, we’re leaving right now, really…”

“Let’s go… Master Yan, let’s go…” Cheng Ruyi tugged hard on Yan Kuang’s arm, but the other was as steady as a mountain, unmoved by his little limbs.

“Master Yan…” Cheng Ruyi stood on tiptoe, whispering in his ear, “If he shouts and calls people over… your status, and mine…”

Yan Kuang understood and didn’t argue, turning away decisively. Cheng Ruyi hurriedly gathered his umbrella and flower and followed, leaving the stall owner grumbling in dissatisfaction.

Cheng Ruyi tucked the pendant into his sleeve pocket and said as they walked, “Please forgive me, Master, for causing trouble. Don’t stoop to the level of petty people. Although he’s right… with the grim reaper involved, it’s a kind of cheating.”

Yan Kuang disagreed. “How is that cheating? Besides, my aim isn’t that great. It’s just that he’s rarely seen a skilled hand.”

Cheng Ruyi pursed his lips, unconvinced. “Master Yan, you’re too modest. Your aim isn’t bad at all.”

Yan Kuang answered without hesitation, “I have an old acquaintance who can throw stones a hundred meters to light floating lanterns. Compared to her, my skill is nothing.”

Cheng Ruyi imagined it and marveled, “The Pacification Office really gathers heroes…”

“She is not part of the Pacification Office.” A woman’s image suddenly appeared in Yan Kuang’s mind. Though her face was blurred, her voice was clear, gentle as a breeze and flowing clouds, softly calling him ‘senior apprentice brother.’

“She’s my junior sister,” Yan Kuang said darkly.

Cheng Ruyi was curious: “Oh? May I ask, Master Yan, who was your teacher…”

Yan Kuang’s expression suddenly grew cold. “Knowing too much won’t do you any good.”

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Cheng Ruyi frowned and lowered his head, thinking why Yan Kuang had suddenly put on that deadpan face again—he had started this conversation, and now this expression… Truly, the grim reaper’s temper was unpredictable; it was best to be cautious.

They fell silent. After turning several corners, Cheng Ruyi, bored, pinched a peony petal, staining his fingers red.

Seeing that fewer people were around, Cheng Ruyi asked, “Master Yan, when shall we return?”

Yan Kuang paused, about to reply, but then frowned sharply.

Years of scraping by on the edge of danger had honed Yan Kuang’s acute sense of threat.

“Get back!” Yan Kuang suddenly shouted, pushing Cheng Ruyi away and turning to block—

A cold blade hurtling straight toward his vital spot!

Cheng Ruyi was pushed far back, dizzy, with screams and footsteps around him. He didn’t know where his peony had gone but instinctively gripped his umbrella, holding it before him.

As he came to, he saw a burst of blood-red fireworks explode in the air.

Yan Kuang had kicked the attacker away and tossed a signal flare into the sky from his waist.

Yan Kuang swept his gaze around, finding no ambush on all sides, only a black-clad figure not far away, relentlessly charging him with a raised blade!

This time, Yan Kuang finally made out the attacker’s face.

The steel blade roared mercilessly, coming for Yan Kuang’s chest again. Cheng Ruyi saw this and closed his eyes in fright.

Yan Kuang was calm and steady, feet planted firmly. As the blade neared, he sidestepped, grabbed the attacker’s wrist, twisted it behind, and a crisp cracking sound echoed—the attacker’s bone broke.

As the steel blade dropped, Yan Kuang quickly moved behind the man, locking his shoulder, and with a push, disarmed one arm.

After three cries of pain, Cheng Ruyi’s ears fell silent, and he dared to open his eyes slowly. Yan Kuang pinned the attacker’s knee, both hands restraining his arms.

The man hung his head, unable even to straighten his body.

“Why is it you…” Yan Kuang whispered.

Hearing his voice, the man writhed in agitation, ignoring the pain, struggling fiercely.

He looked up angrily. “Yan Kuang! I will kill you! I… will kill you!”

Cheng Ruyi gripped his umbrella tightly, hesitating as he stepped forward a few paces but still kept five steps away.

“You know you can’t kill me. Why risk your own life?” Yan Kuang frowned, tightening his grip to calm the man.

Cheng Ruyi finally saw the man clearly. A young man about his age, his face twisted with rage and pain. Though not handsome, he was not ugly either.

“You ruthless dog traitor!” the man growled through clenched teeth. “I followed you through life and death struggles, and what did I get?”

“Only that you killed my wife!”

“She was so happy, waiting for me to hand in my resignation and marry her back in Qizhou… but you! You beast! Dog traitor! You killed her!”

“You killed her…”

The man lost control, screaming repeatedly. Yan Kuang raised his hand and struck him unconscious with a palm strike.

Cheng Ruyi stood nearby, holding his breath, noticing Yan Kuang glance toward him.