Ever since the official notice was posted in the county seat, the Yun family tragedy had become the talk of the town over tea and meals. Many believed that Yun Dagang had succumbed to a bout of madness and slaughtered his entire household.
Because the entire family had been butchered, the Yun residence became a place people avoided like the plague. Every soul within had met a violent end, and who knew how fierce and vengeful their ghosts might be? Whenever passersby walked past, they hardly dared to breathe.
That evening, Gu Qingyun paid a quiet visit to the Yun manor. Yun Xiu’er was still staying in her secluded courtyard. Seeing her arrive, she curtsied.
“Thank you for your immense benevolence, my Lord.”
Gu Qingyun studied her closely. “Do you intend to remain attached to this body indefinitely?”
“Yes. The two of us plan to share this body together. We have decided to donate the Yun family’s silver to the benevolent hall to accumulate merit for her, and I will stay by her side to keep her company.
“From now on, no one will be able to bully her. When this body can no longer hold on, I must trouble you, my Lord, to help collect and lay the corpse to rest.
“Besides, there is no chance this manor will ever sell, so leaving it as it is gives us a place to stay.
“My resentment is too heavy; this body will likely last for only about a year. Of course, we would never ask you to help for nothing. We have already prepared the silver for collecting the remains.”
Seeing Gu Qingyun hesitate to take it, Yun Xiu’er’s expression darkened slightly. She bit her lip. “Does my Lord find this silver tainted?”
Gu Qingyun shook her head and took the silver pouch. “I merely felt that I shouldn't take money from you two.”
Yun Xiu’er’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “Benefactor, please accept it. If you don't take it, how could Sister Yun and I have the cheek to trouble you with our final arrangements?”
Stowing the silver into her robes, Gu Qingyun said, “When the time comes, I’ll spend every last coin of this on you and buy you an expensive coffin.”
As soon as she said it, Gu Qingyun felt something was oddly off about her words.
Stepping out of the Yun residence, Gu Qingyun felt a heavy weight in her chest. At barely twenty years of age, what should have been the prime of life was already withering away before it could even blossom, all because of biological parents—and having endured so much agony, she couldn't even help.
...
Inside the county yamen's duty office, Gu Qingyun and Bai Fan found an unoccupied table and sat down. She took out preserved fruits and roasted peanuts brought from home. Both were crafted by her older sisters, pleasantly sweet and sour, and quite to Gu Qingyun's liking.
Bai Fan ate a few handfuls, his face brimming with envy. “Sister Yun, your days are truly as carefree as an immortal's. We both support our families, but every time I head home, my mother only fawns over me for a brief moment before immediately growing sick of me. Unlike you—the moment you step through the door, everyone gathers around, treating you like a lord.”
Blowing on her scalding tea twice, Gu Qingyun gave a beaming smile. “It's normal. I'm used to it.”
Bai Fan stared dumbfounded. “Sister Yun, aren't you supposed to comfort me? Why are you singing your own praises instead?”
Pulling back her smile, Gu Qingyun put on a stern face. “Then don't eat.”
Bai Fan: “...”
He was going to eat anyway.
Watching his antics, Gu Qingyun couldn't help but chuckle. She pointed at Little Black crouching quietly nearby.
“I took two days off. Tomorrow night, you patrol with Little Black. The day after tomorrow depends on the situation—if the weather is bad, I might be delayed. If I'm not back by then, just help me request another two days.”
Bai Fan patted his chest. “Rest easy, Sister Yun! With Lord Cat around, everything will be smooth sailing.”
Gu Qingyun cast him a side-glance. The boy possessed zero self-awareness. If it weren't for his abysmal luck, would she have bothered worrying about him?
...
Early the next morning, when the sun had just begun to peek above the horizon, Gu Qingyun was already fully dressed. She wore a heavy cloak over black martial attire.
The outfit featured narrow sleeves and a cinched waist bound by a silver-scaled belt. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail with a red ribbon, exposing a smooth, full forehead.
On her feet were deerskin boots. Standing as tall and straight as a pine, she carried an imposing, heroic presence without a trace of delicate softness—every inch the picture of valiant grace.
At that moment, she was outside the residence, holding the reins of her horse and waiting.
Before long, Old Lady Zhang appeared at the entrance carrying a bundle. Seeing Gu Qingyun dressed like this, she beamed so widely she couldn't close her mouth.
“My precious grandchild looks truly magnificent dressed up like this. Those noble households certainly know how to pick clothes; it suits you wonderfully.”
Gu Qingyun smiled softly. “Grandma, let's hurry. It's three hundred li; we probably won't get there until midnight.”
Only Lady Su and her two sisters-in-law came out to see them off. Everyone else had already left to sell food. The visible daily earnings spurred their desire to make money even more, leaving them completely unbothered by fatigue.
Gu Qingyun helped Old Lady Zhang mount the horse, bade farewell to Lady Su and the others, then leapt into the saddle. Squeezing her legs lightly against the horse's flanks, the brown horse galloped steadily forward into the morning sun.
Sitting in front, Old Lady Zhang was still unaccustomed to riding, her voice trembling slightly. “Qingyun, ride slower. Grandma's a bit scared.”
With one hand, Gu Qingyun untied her cloak and draped it over Old Lady Zhang. Keeping her back straight, she reassured her, “Don't worry, Grandma, I'll be careful. The morning dew is heavy, so wrap the cloak tightly around yourself and get some more sleep.”
“Qingyun, why don't we turn back? Your granduncle lives too far away. You're already exhausted from night patrols on regular days, and now you have to rush through the night for an old woman like me.”
Hearing this, Gu Qingyun's eyes crinkled with warmth. “Grandma, we've already left the county seat; there's no turning back now. It's Granduncle's sixtieth birthday. At his age, every visit counts, and since he is your elder brother, we naturally have to be there.
“Besides, I'm young and not tired in the slightest. Just take a nap, Grandma. We'll try to get there before nightfall.”
Looking at her increasingly capable granddaughter, Old Lady Zhang felt both immense pride and a pang of sorrow. Who could have imagined that after her three sons died, it would be this granddaughter who shouldered the family mantle so early?
She had even renounced marriage for the sake of this household. When Qingyun grew old, would those nieces and nephews truly treat her well?
Gu Qingyun had no idea what tangled worries filled her grandmother's mind; all her attention was focused on making good time. To keep the brown horse from collapsing of exhaustion, she channeled spiritual energy into it every half shichen. Throughout the journey, the horse didn't rest for a single moment.
Seeing that her grandmother was sound asleep, Gu Qingyun eased their pace, gathered her spiritual energy to envelop the two of them and the horse, reached down, and slapped the ground, chanting softly:
“Earth Vein Traverse.”
In an instant, the two people and the horse vanished into thin air. When they reappeared, they were already a hundred li away.
When Old Lady Zhang awoke from her slumber, she couldn't help praising the vigorous horse. “What a wonderful horse! It's been running for two shichen without showing the slightest trace of exhaustion. Qingyun, are we almost at Meizhuang?
“Could this horse be one of those sweat-blood horses people talk about? Two shichen, and it's run nearly two hundred li, yet it looks just as energetic as when we set out!”
“Mm, as long as you know, Grandma. Just don't mention it to anyone. If people find out I have such a fine horse and the County Magistrate regrets his gift, what if he takes it back?”
Old Lady Zhang rolled her eyes at her. “Your grandmother has eaten more salt than you've eaten rice! I know well enough not to flaunt wealth. I wouldn't even tell your brothers and sisters.
“Just keep it buried in your belly. Otherwise, if they ask to borrow the horse in the future, will you lend it or not? Let them earn their own money and buy their own.”
Gu Qingyun chuckled under her breath. “I'll listen to Grandma. Let's make a stop at Zaozhuang up ahead to get something to drink and feed the horse some fodder before heading out again. After riding for this long, I really am a little stiff.”
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