A paper crane perched atop the schoolboy’s head.
With both hands bracing the railing, he lightly leapt up, pushing hard with his waist as his body rose, legs swinging over the railing.
The slender ribbon tied atop his head fluttered, tracing a lively arc in the air.
Qu Fengyin watched helplessly as the boy jumped onto the tall wall surrounding the Scripture House.
After landing gracefully, the child turned with a mischievous grin and waved: “Jump over here! Tested and proven reliable.”
Time rewound to two incense sticks earlier.
***
The Scripture House was situated right in the center of the entire county office compound, occupying a vast area.
Xiao Liu led Qu Fengyin on a winding path, turning left and right along the straight wall, until finally they reached a neighboring building adjoining the Scripture House.
From there, what happened next turned strange and almost surreal.
Xiao Liu politely knocked on the door.
A lady in pink scholar’s dress opened it.
Her face still held the scholarly look of a bookish type, but the features were softer now.
The peach-colored scholar’s skirt she wore complemented her face, lending her a delicate femininity without any sense of discord.
The child first bowed respectfully and spoke with great courtesy:
“Sorry to trouble you, madam. I am an assistant instructor from the neighboring Scripture House. The main gate of the Scripture House collapsed today. May we borrow your third floor to jump into the Scripture House from there?”
The woman looked puzzled for a moment as she tried to comprehend, then slowly nodded—she agreed.
“I understand, young sir. Please come with me.”
***
The lady led the two inside, leaving Qu Fengyin stunned.
Why was she so cooperative? She didn’t even glance at the person following Xiao Liu, clearly showing great trust.
If only those who had once been afraid of the Jinyiwei could switch places with this woman, then their visits wouldn’t be met with so many cold stares.
Qu Fengyin couldn’t help but feel regretful.
Inside the inner room, Qu Fengyin’s only thought was how bare the space was—almost no decoration, just two tables and four chairs, the walls utterly empty.
This stark emptiness sharply contrasted with the lady’s vibrant attire, making Qu Fengyin feel an odd sense of unease.
“Thank you, sister! We’ll be gone soon. Here, these are peach blossoms I picked on the way.” Xiao Liu handed the woman a branch of peach flowers.
“For you, sister—fresh flowers for a beauty!”
A gentle softness appeared on the woman’s face, adding a touch of radiance.
She still ignored Qu Fengyin, and whenever their eyes met, she only nodded slightly.
Somewhere, she produced a white porcelain vase and inserted the bright peach branches into it, quietly admiring them.
“Well, I’m off now!”
Xiao Liu waved, leading Qu Fengyin straight up to the third floor, moving with the ease of a seasoned fugitive.
Qu Fengyin imagined that this was how the boy escaped school every day—with this same casual confidence.
The paths schoolchildren took were well known among the locals, so no one bothered much with a few extra kids around.
Qu Fengyin thought quietly, feeling more certain that this lead was the right one.
“Are you familiar with the woman just now?” he asked.
Xiao Liu paused on the stairs, eyes shifting briefly, then answered firmly: “Of course. Mr. Tao works at the Smithy in the county town. I often play with her.”
“The Smithy?” Qu Fengyin was stunned. The slender figure of that woman—she was a blacksmith?
Xiao Liu immediately caught Qu Fengyin’s doubt and cut to the chase: “Naturally. Can’t tell, huh? She’s off duty today, so we came to trouble her.”
Xiao Liu’s words sounded resolute, as if a Jinyiwei captain who had seen the world had vouched for this trust.
People couldn’t be judged by appearances. Upon reflection, perhaps the scholar’s skirt concealed strong muscles beneath.
“We’re here. Watch me.”
The schoolboy secured Ling Lingqi atop his head and gave a simple call before sprinting forward and leaping.
The gap between the small building’s railing and the towering Scripture House wall was two meters.
The combined height of the three floors was around ten meters.
In other words, a healthy person without cultivation could be crippled if they fell from there.
Qu Fengyin could not have imagined the boy to be so bold—jumping on a whim, with the reckless confidence of a young calf charging ahead.
He no longer cared about the woman’s odd behavior; his heart nearly leapt into his throat.
He lunged forward, barely catching the ribbon flapping from the boy’s head.
Only when he saw the brat land safely did he exhale in relief.
Then, that inconsiderate little devil laughed uproariously: “Ha ha ha—You look ridiculous like that!”
Qu Fengyin twitched at the corner of his eye and admonished, “Be careful you don’t fall!”
Xiao Liu snorted with a challenging look: “This height? A joke compared to the Scripture House roof.”
Qu Fengyin raised his voice: “You climb the Scripture House roof too?”
The Scripture House roof was dozens of meters high, nicknamed the ‘Express to the Underworld.’ Falling from it meant instant death with no chance of survival.
“What’s so special about it?” The boy saw Qu Fengyin’s serious tone and finally lost some of his bravado, obediently waiting for Qu Fengyin to catch up.
Qu Fengyin, trained as a Jinyiwei, moved swiftly and silently like a cat, landing without a sound.
Then, instinctively clutching a branch on the wall, he swung down carrying the six- or seven-year-old child.
The prevailing trend in this small county town was relaxation.
A passing steward glanced at them calmly, as if not seeing them at all, then turned away.
Even the children in a nearby class, interrupted from their studies, paid no mind to their sudden appearance.
Xiao Liu enthusiastically interacted with the teacher inside the classroom. The teacher replied in a flat tone while casually tapping a misreading child on the head.
The children in this disturbed class appeared to be about the same age as Xiao Liu.
But compared to the rebellious child running around and skipping classes, these students—whose faces were growing more gentlemanly—seemed much more well-behaved.
Inside the classroom, about seven or eight schoolchildren sat cross-legged on mats, holding books in their hands.
Their youthful faces were expressionless, lips moving in unison, reciting the Three Character Classic with unified rhythm and precise pauses.
The clear and melodious chanting seemed to embody a thriving vitality.
Qu Fengyin watched this scene, lost in thought.
“Daydreaming? Why are you spacing out?”
Qu Fengyin was startled, lowering his head to see Xiao Liu had already finished talking with the teacher.
He didn’t know what background this kid had, but everyone seemed to know him well enough to chat.
Was his fabricated assistant instructor identity real after all?
Xiao Liu, unaware of Qu Fengyin’s swirling thoughts, teasingly said, “This place is pretty good, huh?”
Qu Fengyin pulled at the corners of his mouth: “It’s alright.”
The schoolboy’s curious eyes watched him: “Want to think about staying here?”
“Stay…” Qu Fengyin repeated, “here?”
Xiao Liu smiled brightly, pushing the door open and leading Qu Fengyin out, walking ahead with an incredibly light step: “Exactly! Stay here.”
***
They walked along the long corridor, where every classroom held students bobbing their heads back and forth, reciting classic texts.
Their attire was proper, their demeanor dignified.
“The Path of the Great Way is…”
“Therefore, the old are provided for in their final days, the strong are put to use…”
“Therefore, the outer doors are not closed—this is called the Great Harmony.”
The gentle chanting was like a blunt knife tapping repeatedly, scraping against Qu Fengyin’s skull.
As if trying to open a crack and sneak inside.
The schoolboy in front kept speaking: “This place is great. No worries, no need to fret about food or clothing.”
Xiao Liu’s voice blurred as only the classroom’s recitation echoed in Qu Fengyin’s ears.
“The children don’t need to worry… The Scripture House will teach them from a young age…”
These words clashed within Qu Fengyin’s chaotic mind.
Suddenly, his eyes cleared for a moment, and his pace faltered.
His voice trembled slightly: “Xiao Liu, what did you just say?”
Xiao Liu raised an eyebrow and turned with a smile: “I said I know people in the county office. I think we’re destined to meet. If you want to settle here, I’ll help you with everything!”
***
【Age 7: Qu Bazhe always has so many strange questions.
You hold Ling Lingqi casually as you answer.
Qu Bazhe’s steps are unsteady, he looks exhausted, sweat cold on his forehead, as if an illness is creeping in, but he insists on touring the Scripture House with you.
You admire his perseverance. Even Ling Lingqi remarks he’s a real man.
After touring the Scripture House, Qu Bazhe’s condition improves, his complexion no longer pale.
He suggests visiting other places, eyes bright yet strangely weak from overexertion.
You spend the whole day wandering this small county town, helping Qu Bazhe find a place to stay.
After all, he is new here.
If lucky, he’ll settle there. If not… you smile sweetly, tilting your head and holding the paper crane close.
Zhu, you blend into the room as if nothing’s wrong, sitting at your own desk, resting your chin on your hand, looking at Ying Ming with a sweet expression.
Returning to the orphanage, dinner has already been served.
Ying Ming is lighting a lamp in his room, standing tall and graceful.
Oh, who could blame a child who loves adventure? Not even a deity!
Ying Ming casts you a glance filled with complexity, as if saying, “Where were you last night? Naughty child.”
The reproach feels like a stern yet loving father’s.
But it’s fine. These years, your childlike nature may not have progressed, but your thick skin certainly has!
You act like nothing happened, flipping open the notebook on your desk, adding another entry about your and Ling Lingqi’s adventure.
The moon presses against willow branches.
It’s a dark, windy night. Good children should sleep soundly, conserving energy for tomorrow.
But you are a rebellious child.】
***
A frowning constable steadied himself against the doorframe of the county magistrate’s rest chamber.
He quickly slipped inside and closed the door behind him.
The bright moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting clear, watery light onto the floor.
The black-clad constable scanned the room with a serious face.
It was silent and empty.
He frowned in confusion.
At this hour, the magistrate’s room was empty?
The room, like others in the county town, was sparsely furnished.
At its center stood a long desk with brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone placed neatly.
Two wooden chairs sat on either side.
Without hesitation, the constable’s gloved hands methodically sifted through the papers on the desk.
“Such a strong will to stay behind? Attacking me at night? Don’t you know what ‘rest time’ means?”
A child’s teasing voice came from nearby.
Qu Fengyin’s cold sweat burst forth instantly. He swallowed hard and looked around cautiously.
Disbelief filled his eyes.
Why was this child here? No—more precisely, how did he know to come here?
Xiao Liu stood with arms crossed, leaning against the wall.
Yet the shadows cast over his brows gave him a chilling aura.
His eyes were pitch black, like two deep whirlpools under the moonlight.