Suppressing the North and Displaying Might: Chapter 124: Meeting Bai Shu Again

“He said his name is Tian Baishu?” Li Qiutong exclaimed in surprise.

“That’s right.”

“Hurry, hurry, hurry, please invite him in. No, I’ll go out to greet him.” With that, Li Qiutong ran out, her heart pounding with excitement.

At the doorway, Li Qiutong finally saw the familiar figure—still dressed in a loose robe, with sparse beard stubble, the very image of a scholar who seemed least like one.

“Brother Shu!” Li Qiutong called out from a distance.

Hearing the voice, Tian Baishu looked up to see Li Qiutong running toward him.

“Boy, long time no see.”

“Yes, it really has been a long time.” The two embraced warmly, their joy palpable.

After they parted, Li Qiutong noticed another figure standing beside Tian Baishu—his fiancée, Shu Luoluo.

“Sister-in-law is here too.” Li Qiutong was in high spirits; no matter what his current status was, the only elder brother in his life was this childhood companion.

“That’s right. Long time no see. Now I should call you General Li,” Shu Luoluo said, still a bit formal toward Li Qiutong.

“General? Just call me Xiao Tong. Come in, it’s too cold outside. Brother Shu, Sister-in-law, please come inside. I was just about to eat.” Li Qiutong warmly led them inside.

“Xiaoyu, go get some more dishes and pour some wine.”

Tian Baishu quickly interrupted, “I wouldn’t dare drink with you, boy.”

Li Qiutong suddenly realized, “Right, right, I can’t drink. How about this: Brother Shu drinks, I won’t.”

“You’ve done quite well these past few years. When Luoluo and I heard the new general was Li Qiutong, we were sure it had to be you.”

Li Qiutong sighed, “What’s so good about it? I had a falling out with the Tang Kingdom and Tang Zong, so I had no choice but to flee to Zhenbei Pass. I never thought I’d meet you here. When I heard that Qiuming City was captured, I even sent people to look for you but couldn’t find you.”

Talking about this, Tian Baishu sighed deeply. “It was really luck that I happened to be visiting a relative near Zhenbei Pass with Luoluo and hadn’t yet returned when we received the news of Qiuming City’s fall.” As a native Song person, Tian Baishu held an immense love for his country. Suddenly becoming a citizen of a fallen kingdom was a painful experience.

Li Qiutong noticed the melancholy on Tian Baishu’s face. “Brother Shu, let the past be past. You’re settled in Zhenbei Pass now, right?”

Tian Baishu drained his cup. “Yes, the past drifts away like the wind, only the fallen country’s people remain.”

They talked at length about their experiences. Li Qiutong learned that Tian Baishu’s relative had founded the Zhenbei Academy near the pass to teach and promote literature. Tian Baishu served as a lecturer there, giving his talents purpose. However, years of war and Zhang Xiu’s embezzlement of public funds had left the academy barely surviving. First, students couldn’t afford tuition, then the elder council couldn’t allocate funds, leaving the academy supported solely by Tian Baishu’s uncle’s own money. Worse still was the dwindling student body—forced conscription and new mining districts drew students away, some leaving without even completing primary education.

“Xiao Tong, actually, the main reason I came to see you this time was to meet you and ask for a favor,” Tian Baishu said, his tone tinged with awkwardness. Given his character, he wouldn’t have come to this old friend after so many years without a pressing need.

Li Qiutong was frank. “You say it, Brother Shu. I’ll definitely help.”

“It’s just that my uncle’s academy is facing difficulties, and with the ongoing wars, fewer and fewer people are studying. I think this is a serious issue.”

Listening and recalling past events, Li Qiutong understood the situation. “No problem. Brother Shu, education is indeed a good thing. Tomorrow, I’ll bring some people to visit your academy. Whatever you need, just say the word.”

Li Qiutong’s straightforward response eased Tian Baishu’s uneasy heart. Though they were once close, Li Qiutong had become prosperous while Tian Baishu had fallen on hard times.

“Thank you, Xiao Tong.”

“Brother Shu, meeting again in these turbulent times is a blessing.”

“Yes, fate has its own design. Let’s drink to old times.” Tian Baishu emptied another cup.

“Brother Li, are these your friends?” Lin Ai, just awakened, found Li Qiutong by following the voices.

“小 Ai, you’re awake. Come sit with us.”

As Lin Ai sat down, Li Qiutong introduced, “Xiao Ai, this is Tian Baishu, my closest brother back in Qiuming City. This is Shu Luoluo, my sister-in-law.”

Shu Luoluo greeted politely, “Hello.”

Tian Baishu curiously asked, “Is this beautiful lady your sister-in-law?”

Li Qiutong clarified, “No, Xiao Ai and I are just friends. Actually, it was you who introduced me to the Lin family, so I met her. Without Xiao Ai’s help, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Tian Baishu’s expression suddenly darkened. “You’re from the Lin family?”

“I’m Lin Ai, the current head of the Lin family. Mr. Tian, I’ve heard of your reputation as a genius scholar of Qiuming. It’s an honor to meet you.”

But Tian Baishu’s face remained gloomy. “I dare not. I am just a poor scholar, how could I associate with the illustrious Lin family?”

Li Qiutong sensed the tension rising and was about to speak when Lin Ai calmly asked, “Mr. Tian, what do you mean?”

Tian Baishu smiled bitterly, “Hmph. Though I have no talents to repay my country, my conscience is clear—I have never betrayed Song. I am loyal to Song, unlike some who hold high positions yet sell out their country for personal gain. Luoluo, let’s go. This filthy place is no place for us.” With that, he brushed off his clothes and left without another word.

“Brother Shu, what’s wrong with you?” Li Qiutong asked, puzzled, about to follow.

Shu Luoluo stopped him. “General Li, don’t worry. I’ll check on him. Sorry for disturbing you today.”

“Brother Shu didn’t even explain himself. Sister-in-law, remind him that when I’m free in a few days, I’ll come visit you both.”

Shu Luoluo nodded, glanced at the silent Lin Ai, then followed her husband. Li Qiutong sighed and returned to his seat. Lin Ai sat silently, expressionless—Li Qiutong had never seen her like this before.

“Xiao Ai, are you okay? Those scholars can be like that. Don’t take it to heart,” Li Qiutong said with concern.

Lin Ai lowered her head. “Brother Li, do you think I’m a traitor too?”

Li Qiutong exhaled and smiled. “If you’re a traitor, then am I not a turncoat as well?”

“That’s different. You never had much connection with the Tang Kingdom, but the Song and the Lin family have a history of hundreds of years. Yet I’ve sold out my own country,” Lin Ai’s voice carried sorrow and guilt. Before making this decision, she had expected to be branded a traitor. But she believed she could bear it, believed that for the Lin family, she could face any blame and punishment. But when others accuse you directly, the pain is unbearable.

Li Qiutong was silent for a moment, then said, “If you’re a traitor, so be it. There’s no perfect way in this world.” As he spoke, Li Qiutong extended his fingers, conjuring two martial energies—one black, one white—in the shape of yin and yang.

“See, like my yin-yang martial energy, nothing in this world is purely black or white. There’s no absolute wrong or absolute right. You betrayed Song for the Lin family; I betrayed Tang for my brothers. It’s the same thing. Over these years, my greatest realization is that as long as a person follows their original intent, that’s enough. Other people’s opinions are just that; don’t betray your own heart.”

Lin Ai looked up at Li Qiutong’s smiling face. “Brother Li, thank you. I understand now.”

Seeing Lin Ai’s smile gradually return, Li Qiutong relaxed. “Look, the food’s getting cold. I’ll make you something fresh.”

“You can cook?” Lin Ai asked in surprise.

“Of course. Today, I’ll show you some skills.”

In the kitchen, Li Qiutong asked the chef to go home early and began a fluid series of cooking moves. Lin Ai stood nearby, wanting to help but realizing she couldn’t—she didn’t know how to cut vegetables or stoke the fire.

“By the way, did you bring the sword I gave you last time?”

“I did.” Lin Ai handed the sword behind her to Li Qiutong.

Li Qiutong took the sword and sliced into the meat. “This sword is really good for cutting.”

Watching Li Qiutong busy at work, Lin Ai didn’t mind that he was using their shared token to cut food. She only felt her heart beating faster.

“So, you really haven’t changed. It’s me who has changed.”

In the corner, leaning against the wall, two voices whispered from the Yin-Yang Dragon Patterned Staff.

“Yulong, do you think tonight those two will end up together?”

“Impossible. Qiutong’s heart still belongs to the lady he met last time. Xiao Ai is nice, but I can tell Qiutong’s heartbeat isn’t as fast around her.”

“Heh, Yulong, you don’t understand. A man can’t resist a woman who likes him.”

Yulong’s voice shifted. “So if a little female dragon liked you, you’d abandon me?”

Zhulong sensed something wrong. “That’s impossible. I’m not a foolish human.”

“Last time we saw that fox, your gaze changed.”

“No, no! It was surprise. It was the first time I saw a female besides you. You have to understand me.” Zhulong explained patiently.

Yulong ignored him, just watching the two laughing people.

“Who do you think Qiutong will end up with?”

“I think he’ll have both,” Zhulong blurted without thinking.

Yulong rolled her eyes, refusing to continue the conversation.