Rising Phoenix

“Deal!” Helian Zheng straightforwardly agreed. “This Prince always pays his debts!”

“Good.” Feng Zhiwei replied, smiling and leaning against her hand, examining the Prince with amusement. “If this Concubine wins, you can never mention this concubine matter again, and from now on whenever you see me you must call me Aunt.”

“Daring!”

Eight whips arched golden through the air, striking towards Feng Zhiwei’s face.

Feng Zhiwei sat peacefully, not even cocking an eyebrow as she carefully peeled her walnuts, unperturbed by the wind of the whips and the looming shadows.

Helian Zheng stared at Feng Zhiwei before bringing up his arm, the eight fierce whips freezing and pulled back as if part of the Prince’s limbs.

“Very bold.” Helian Zheng narrowed his eyes for the first time, “and if you lose?”

“If this Concubine loses,” Feng Zhiwei replied, blowing her walnut meat clean, her watery eyes glancing over at the Prince. “Then I will go to the steppes as is required; you can have the servant girl as you wish; and from the southern skies to the northern seas I will be your companion, and everything in the world that is within my power, the Prince need only ask.”

Helian Zheng’s first reaction was of dissatisfaction. The girl was already his concubine and she clearly needed to go to the steppes and give him her servant girl, but the final words of “need only ask” were so soft and tender, like a peach blossom drifting in the spring wind.

As he looked up at the lovely girl blowing gently on her walnut, the corners of her eyes tilted over so slightly upwards, he felt as if he was looking at a beautiful feather dancing in the wind. That floating dance had sunk into his heart, filling him with a desire he could not satisfy, and for a dazed moment he felt as if she had peeled the walnut to feed him…

He was so dazed in fact that he did not even know what he himself said in reply, he only saw the surprise on everyone’s faces and hear Feng Zhiwei’s clapping praise: “The Hu Zhuo Prince is forthright.”

The praise lifted Helian Zheng’s spirits, sitting and waiting for Feng Zhiwei’s words. She said: “This Concubine only has this one servant girl, what does the Prince think appropriate? Should we fight round-robin or brawl, or do you want to have your guards fight first and you serve as anchor?”

Helian Zheng cocked his eyebrows, somewhat displeased: “You are just sending your servant girl out for some pointers, why should I take part? Why round-robin? San Sun is enough.”

“This Concubine bets everything on my Yiyi.” Feng Zhiwei replied, her face amused. “Does the Prince dare to be the same?”

“Why should I not dare?” Helian Zheng replied proudly. “San Sun, give good pointers.”

“Rest assured! Tonight Your Highness and Old San will both enter the bridal chamber!” A face-tattooed Eight Valiants laughed even more brazen than Helian Zheng, the mythical beast inked on his face creased with his smile.

Feng Zhiwei stood and walked over to Servant Girl Gu, sighing deeply: “Ai, my poor Yiyi, such a tender and fragile girl going forward for me to fight the valiant warriors of Hu Zhuo…”

“She can also add a wager.” Helian Zheng casually gestured, growing more and more generous.

Feng Zhiwei immediately leaned forward into Servant Girl Gu’s veil, whispering: “Add one, add one.”

At first she thought the reticent Servant Girl Gu was ignoring her, but then he surprised her by saying: “After the fight.”

Feng Zhiwei paused, looking up at Servant Girl Gu with some amazement, wondering which kitchen’s smoke had polluted him into actually thinking about a worldly matter like betting.

In her amazement, she did not realize that she had brought her eyes so close to Gu Nanyi, her upturned face almost brushing against Gu Nanyi’s chin, the veil the only barrier between her long eyelashes and Gu Nanyi’s skin. The indifferent Gu Nanyi looked down, the young girl’s smooth face filling his eyes, and he suddenly realized that the girl was far too close.

He did not understand why his mind was frazzled or his heart filled with discomfort, as if he were looking at a small, delicious walnut marooned at the bottom of a cliff, and though it smelled amazing, it remained distraughtingly out of reach.

Gu Nanyi stilled for a moment, pondering, but he failed to understand what he was feeling or why, so he chose the easiest solution and pushed Feng Zhiwei away, stepping forward without a backwards glance.

The Hu Zhuo guards were grouped casually, laughing and teasing San Sun for his imminent happiness. Helian Zheng sat to the side, drinking tea and served by the Qiu Mansion retainers as he cast glances at Feng Zhiwei, watching her move, growing more and more pleased by her beauty — just like the tea, better tasting after each sip.

But when Gu Nanyi stepped forward, Ba Biao immediately fell silent.

Helian Zheng turned his head towards his guards and saw Gu Nanyi, the hot tea almost choking him in his startlement.

A strange jade sword had appeared in Gu Nanyi’s hand, a broiling scarlet fashioned out of blood jade protruding from an intricate pagoda styled golden hilt.

Golden pagoda hilt, blood red sword — the mismatch of colors filled the heart with a strange coldness.

Gu Nanyi stood, his posture full of openings, but all of them illusory, his stance a harmonious whole without weakness.

Footwork, weapon, or demeanor all made obvious this servant girl’s skill, and if the steppe men were still foolishly celebrating, they would truly have thrown away their steppe warrior’s fame.

San Sun grew solemn, turning towards Helian Zheng.

The Prince slowly placed down his tea cup, staring up into the sky for a long moment before gesturing decisively towards his guard.

San Sun straightened, nodding wordlessly and unhooking a pair of golden maces from his belt and stepping forward.

In that moment, Feng Zhiwei actually grew to somewhat respect Helian Zheng.

It was clear that Gu Nanyi was no pushover, but the Prince was still willing to wager his name and his desires on his follower’s success, allowing his man to fight freely. His trust and his faith in his followers was extraordinary.

For such a lord, one could die smiling.

San Sun stepped forward, respect and gratitude in his heart for his master’s faith, a righteous hunger filling him as his blood pumped loudly in his ears. His hands stood easily under the weight of his golden maces, and as he faced Gu Nanyi’s lazy stance, he could not help but feel recall his own undefeated record and wonder if he had misjudged this maid.

How could she be an expert? She was stilling holding a walnut!

“Hei!”

With a grunt, his wide mace flew forward, pulling a fierce wind and falling like a round sun, bearing downward with the weight of Mount Tai.

The wind was so forceful that it seemed capable of smashing Gu Nanyi to paste, the sudden breeze billowing out Gu Nanyi’s sleeves, seemingly about to blow away the tall and thin man.