Chapter 26: The Star Harbinger of Bloodshed and Calamity

As night once again enveloped the distant Tianshan Mountains, the snow gradually ceased.

According to the officials of the Astronomical Bureau, the weather in the coming days would remain clear, without even a hint of strong winds.

Peng Qingshan sat down heavily in the snow, his hands instinctively massaging his aching legs.

At first, he couldn’t comprehend why Pei Yunqu was so interested in a boy who had fraudulently claimed military pay, but now he understood—at least the boy’s endurance on foot far surpassed his own.

A tracker of his caliber had actually lost sight of the boy, unable to keep up.

How humiliating!

Fortunately, they had confirmed the direction these people were heading. As Pei Yunqu had initially guessed, they were likely bound for Heishawa.

Suddenly, his ear twitched slightly, and the self-mocking expression on his face abruptly vanished. He slowly lifted his head and glanced to the left ahead.

Though nothing seemed visible there, his heart contracted fiercely, as if an invisible beast were fixing its gaze upon him.

After several breaths, a white figure seemed to seep slowly out of the night. The tall woman, the great swordsman verified at Mingbai Slope, appeared first in his sight, followed by the boy known as the “Grave Digger” of Mingbai Slope.

A wave of defeat surged within Peng Qingshan, yet his face betrayed no obvious emotion. He calmly stood and waited for the two to approach.

“Are you looking for us?” Gu Liubai called out from afar.

Peng Qingshan’s gaze surprised him somewhat.

There was little hostility, instead a sense of relief, as if he was glad the suffering was over.

Looking at Gu Liubai’s youthful appearance, Peng Qingshan, like Chen Tu, felt a bit defiant and retorted stubbornly, “How do you know I didn’t let you find me on purpose?”

That stubborn tone was all too familiar!

Gu Liubai’s eyes brightened instantly.

Though he adored Long Po and Yin Shiniang’s straightforwardness, having a proud, aloof swordswoman who rarely spoke made the journey somewhat dull. He found himself missing Chen Tu.

“You’re surprisingly decent—letting us catch you deliberately,” Gu Liubai smiled, “It’s just you walked too slowly. We stopped three times waiting for you, and maybe you should wipe off the cold sweat on your forehead.”

Peng Qingshan’s face involuntarily flushed.

“Forget it, no more pretending.” He sat back down.

“It’s Pei Yunqu who’s interested in you, so I’m here to see what you plan next.” Massaging his tired legs, he looked directly at Gu Liubai.

“So straightforward?” Gu Liubai glanced incredulously at Yin Shiniang beside him. He couldn’t believe anyone was more forthright than her.

“Do you know who Pei Yunqu is?” Peng Qingshan glanced at Gu Liubai, puzzled by his look toward Yin Shiniang.

“That wild young lady from the Pei family?” Gu Liubai’s expression shifted to surprise. “Looks like the emperor really values the warhorses from Heishawa.”

“Maybe not. I suspect she just wanted an excuse to go a little crazy,” Peng Qingshan muttered to himself.

Seeing Gu Liubai was easy to talk to, he relaxed and said, “Pei Yunqu instructed me beforehand—if you find out I’m tracking you, I can be frank. She holds no ill will toward you and might even help you occasionally, like securing travel permits in Heishawa.”

Gu Liubai smiled faintly, “This Second Miss Pei sounds as interesting as the rumors suggest.”

“Here, take a look. She said to prevent you from doubting and cutting me down,” Peng Qingshan produced a sachet embroidered with golden threads forming the character ‘Pei’.

“Thoughtful,” Gu Liubai considered, “But we won’t need her help with travel permits. If possible, deliver a message to her for me: to make my life easier, it’s best if no one suspects she’s watching me. The more disdain they show, the better. And don’t use any military channels for communication—face-to-face is best.”

“Agreed.” Peng Qingshan replied without hesitation.

These weren’t matters for him to ponder. Whether Pei Yunqu wanted to give Gu Liubai face was her concern.

“Do you also use a sword?” Yin Shiniang, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked as they were about to part.

Having already heard of Yin Shiniang’s deeds at Mingbai Slope, Peng Qingshan broke into a cold sweat, “My swordsmanship is just for show, not to be relied upon.”

“Let’s go—she barely showed the hilt of her sword and you noticed?” Gu Liubai sighed, a headache coming on.

Yin Shiniang clearly had more than a penchant for meddling.

How much did she love competing with others in swordplay?

Seeing anyone carrying a sword seemed to compel her to test herself.

“Too dangerous…” Watching Yin Shiniang and Gu Liubai’s retreating figures, Peng Qingshan felt a chill of dread.

If he revealed his true sect to her, he might well end up with a blade at his throat.

Indeed, those who become great swordsmen were either mad warriors or sword fanatics.

As night fell, Chen Tu’s vision finally failed him completely.

The once blurry path was swallowed whole by darkness in an instant. He strained to see, but his eyelids felt glued to his eyeballs.

Even the blazing campfire was just a glaring blur.

Sitting beside the fire, sorrow overwhelmed him. He cursed Gu Shiw, speaking to Du Haha at his side, “Du Haha, that despicable thief is deliberately tormenting me. Once I recover, we’ll set a trap for him together.”

The man beside him spoke up, “Tuzi, I’m not Du Haha, I’m Lan Yufeng.”

Chen Tu nearly fell headfirst into the fire.

The Black Eye Disease was a ruthless epidemic. For ordinary folks, it might not seem so frightening—Chen Tu himself only felt weaker than usual, with dimmed sight and dulled senses of smell and taste. Most would just sleep it off in days, or so Gu the Thief claimed.

But for men who must wield weapons daily, the disease’s onset was terrifying.

Though Chen Tu cursed Gu Shiw, he couldn’t muster defiance.

He knew well what kind of person Yin Shiniang was. Usually, he stood no chance against her. But if she caught the Black Eye Disease instead, he felt he could even take her down.

Without Gu Shiw’s sharp insight, Yin Shiniang was likely doomed to fall under the sword of the Xie family this time.

The warmth of the fire somewhat comforted the weakened Chen Tu.

Just as he began to forgive Gu Shiw and drifted toward sleep, a bowl of medicinal broth appeared at his lips along with Lan Yufeng’s voice: “Tuzi, it’s time for your medicine.”

“Medicine?” Chen Tu was confused. “What medicine?”

“To cure your illness. Gu Shiw told me to prepare it tonight. He said if that Xie fellow has any unforeseen traps, you’d be in grave danger without it.”

“Medicine for my Black Eye Disease? Didn’t he say there was no cure?”

Upon saying this, realization struck him. “Damn that Gu Shiw! Is he just toying with me?”

…

Heishawa.

The vital fortress beyond the border loomed imposing.

In the darkness, the flickering wind lanterns on the city walls resembled solemn eyes watching the surrounding gloom.

To preserve warmth inside and for urban warfare tactics, all windows in Heishawa’s houses were small, each building clad with local stone tiles, exuding a rugged, austere air.

Numerous arrow towers rose throughout the city, casting a monstrous sense of oppression under the night sky.

Atop an arrow tower in the city’s northern corner, two officials from the Astronomical Bureau stood side by side. One held a brush and paper for recording, the other a brass tube and other instruments. Both intently observed the celestial phenomena above.

The wind and snow had stopped, revealing many hidden stars.

Suddenly, a star in the northeast corner flashed a fleeting red light.

That brief crimson spark seemed to stir the aura of dozens of surrounding stars, causing the two officials’ faces to change in alarm.

Even in that instant, the older official in his fifties, holding the brass tube, trembled uncontrollably.

He thought his eyes were deceiving him.

But after exchanging a glance with the younger official beside him, he knew it was no illusion.

Whether from the former court’s Imperial Astronomical Office or the current Astronomical Bureau, all stargazers and geomancers gained experience through meticulous daily records.

Many arcane star omens defied explanation; the only reference was similar events recorded over decades or centuries.

“A blood star shines upon the world—a calamity of sword and war… We must prevent Second Miss Pei from coming to Heishawa. If she disobeys, once in the city, she must meet with me first.”

Both officials had come from Chang’an.

Officials from Chang’an knew Pei Yunqu’s temperament to some extent.

Warnings were absolutely necessary.

Given the power of the Pei family, failing to warn her beforehand could result in more than just salary punishment for officials at their rank—perhaps even losing their heads.

But this Second Miss Pei would certainly not listen.

This crazy girl of the Pei family never trusted the Astronomical Bureau’s predictions and was notorious for her rebellious spirit.

“What? Blood disaster? Sword and war calamity? That’s intense… How come I never heard?” Upon hearing the urgent news, Pei Yunqu, who had planned to leisurely ride a carriage to Heishawa, decided against any wandering and resolved to reach Heishawa as fast as possible.

The two veteran officials, descending from the arrow tower, had already made up their minds: no matter if she whipped them, they would cling to Pei Yunqu’s entourage.

If they were to die, they would die together—at least it would be straightforward.

Another unspoken reason was that Pei Yunqu’s close circle was certainly safer, guarded by formidable experts.

In their eyes, if such a slaughter were to occur and only one could survive in Heishawa, it would be Pei Yunqu.

If three survived, the other two would surely be those closest to her.