Chapter 12: Deep Night

The night was deep and heavy, autumn had set in, and there were no insect sounds, only the endless, distant roar of the lake’s dark waters. A solitary moon in the sky illuminated the path ahead.



The two walked quietly along the lakeshore, neither speaking. Xu Xian felt a bit awkward, tried to start a few topics, but they all sank like stones, only the sound of water answered him.



Pan Yu was lost in thought. Normally, no matter how dull or inarticulate the other person, he could always make the conversation lively, never letting things go cold. By his usual thinking, this was the perfect time to talk deeply with Xu Xian, to become true confidants. Yet even he didn’t know why, but he simply didn’t want to speak.



Suddenly, in the darkness, a rough hand grabbed Pan Yu’s. Pan Yu was startled and tried to pull away, thinking, “Could it be Xu Xian has a penchant for men?” A wave of disgust rose in his heart, and he was about to teach Xu Xian a lesson, friend or not.



“Shh, don’t stop, someone’s following us.” Xu Xian’s voice came, calming Pan Yu’s thoughts. He felt no fear, and even smiled, “With your might, Brother Xu, they wouldn’t dare come close.” He smoothly slipped his hand free.



Xu Xian cursed inwardly, “This pampered young master doesn’t know the danger of the world. At worst, I’ll get beaten up or killed, but if you fall into the hands of some perverted bastard, you’ll wish for death and not find it!”



Xu Xian’s spiritual sense was far sharper than most; he sensed people slowly closing in, and said anxiously, “When I say run, you run with me, don’t get separated.”



“We’re xiucai from Jintian Academy. They wouldn’t dare touch us, would they?” Pan Yu’s voice was as calm as ever, betraying no fear, a testament to his cultivation of composure.



Xu Xian saw that this pretty young master was still so unruffled and got angry: “Idiot! If they dared surround us, do you think they care about scholars?”



It was probably the first time in Pan Yu’s life he’d been called an idiot. He was stunned, but not angry. “Oh, then I’ll do as you say,” he replied, with a hint of a smile.



A scholar stood on a small slope, gazing at the deep night. The wind whipped his long robe, and anyone would have thought him a patriot brooding over the nation. Only the cold glint in his eyes betrayed his “jianghu” identity. After failing the imperial exams for half his life, he’d become a bandit, originally as a strategist. When the chief was caught by government troops, he used his cunning to become the new leader.



This time, he’d brought his men to Hangzhou on business, and by chance, this happened. His second-in-command was fond of “Longyang” (boy’s love), and had tried to molest a handsome scholar in the tavern. He hadn’t wanted trouble, but couldn’t restrain his men too much, he’d thought to let them have their fun. Who’d have thought the other scholar was so fierce, striking without a word? His skilled lieutenant was knocked down, and now things were serious. If he didn’t take revenge, he’d lose all authority.



He cursed the troublemaking scholar for making things worse. But why should others suffer his insults? If Xu Xian had just swallowed his anger, would it really have ended as a joke?



People say the ancients were conservative, but in truth, male love was rampant in prosperous times, and unlike today’s closeted homosexuality, some even flaunted it openly. Especially among the elite, keeping boy lovers was almost fashionable.



“Sir, those two fat sheep are almost here.” Though he was the bandit chief, he didn’t allow his men to use underworld titles, he insisted on being called “sir.”



“B-big brother, sir. Let me skin that brat alive, and I’ll have my fun with the other one.” The beaten man’s face was twisted with hate. He was skilled, but caught off guard by Xu Xian’s bench, humiliated in front of his brothers. Now he was seething.



Suddenly, a scout’s voice came from the darkness: “They ran, sir! The two of them ran!”



“Damn it, after them!”



In the pitch-black woods, Xu Xian dragged Pan Yu as they ran, trees flashing by. Pan Yu let Xu Xian pull him, feeling the warmth of his palm, unsure what he felt inside.



Xu Xian heard the commotion behind them growing closer and grew anxious. He’d thought his night vision would let him lose their pursuers, but the moon was bright and these men were skilled at tracking. He couldn’t shake them, and dragging a delicate young master, he couldn’t run fast.



Suddenly, Xu Xian stopped, pulling Pan Yu into a hollow on a hillside, right in a patch of shadow. He pushed Pan Yu in and whispered, “Hide here and don’t make a sound. I’ll draw them away. When they pass, go the other way.”



In the darkness, Pan Yu’s bright eyes looked at Xu Xian, deep and still as a pool. He opened his mouth, “I…”



But Xu Xian had no time for words and ran off.



In the distance, there was a cry “Ah!”, as if Xu Xian had fallen.



Pan Yu’s lips curled in a faint smile.



“There! Over there! Don’t let him get away!” The pursuers quickened their pace.



Pan Yu looked at his hand in the darkness, he couldn’t see a thing, but the warmth still lingered in his palm. He sighed, stepped out, and walked in the direction Xu Xian had gone, as calmly as if strolling in his own garden.



In a clearing among sparse trees, Xu Xian looked around, he was surrounded. Blades flashed in the moonlight, and his palms were slick with sweat. He knew these weren’t thugs like Li Si, but real bandits, if anything, even less scrupulous.



A scholar stepped from the shadows, smiling: “I only wanted to talk, young master. Why so afraid?”



Xu Xian was surprised, he hadn’t expected someone like this. But since the man wasn’t attacking, he was happy to stall for time, hoping for rescue, though it was unlikely. He folded his arms, “What does sir wish to discuss?”



“You hurt my man. Do you think you can just walk away?”



Xu Xian replied coolly, “I regret injuring your comrade. I was just about to fetch some money from home for his medical bills, but you couldn’t wait.” His face showed no remorse.



The beaten second-in-command, seeing his enemy, was furious. If not for the chief’s pretense of civility, he’d have attacked already. Now he could barely hold back. “I’ll kill you today, you bastard!”



The scholar held him back, his face gentle. “You look like a poor scholar. We’re all unlucky people, I don’t want to make things hard for you. But the other one looks rich. Tell me where he is. We’ll hold him, you bring us a thousand taels for his release, and we’ll let him go.”



Xu Xian hesitated, as if tempted.



The scholar was pleased. He prided himself on “winning with wit, not force,” and believed his silver tongue could do what others never could. He was giving Xu Xian a way out, planning to get Pan Yu’s location and then deal with him. Seeing Xu Xian waver, he felt contempt, how could such a coward succeed in the exams, while he, a true talent, was forced to be a bandit? His resentment toward the system only grew.



But Xu Xian kept thinking, opening his mouth several times but saying nothing. After a long while, he finally sighed, “He’s probably at the yamen by now! Hahaha, idiot, no wonder you never passed the exams and ended up a bandit. You probably aren’t even a xiucai, are you?” Xu Xian’s laughter startled a few birds from the trees.



The scholar’s face turned ashen, Xu Xian’s words had hit his sore spot, as they would for any scholar. He glared at Xu Xian, who stared right back.



In the end, the scholar looked away, suddenly recalling the “awe-inspiring righteousness” he’d read about but never felt. He was a little ashamed, but not moved, whatever “righteousness” was, it didn’t matter now.



He only felt deeply insulted, his anger boiling over. He was about to give the order when a calm voice cut him off.



“Brother Hanwen, you truly are a hero, fearless in the face of danger.” Xu Xian, who had been so steady, now turned red and snapped, “You idiot!” From the shadows, Pan Yu stepped out.



Moonlight poured over his blue robe. The night wind stirred his hair, making him look like a spirit or an immortal. Pan Yu walked out calmly, and the bandits didn’t dare stop him, letting him walk to Xu Xian’s side.



Xu Xian scolded him, but Pan Yu only smiled.



The bandit scholar prided himself on his wit, but tonight these two scholars outshone him in every way. His clever tricks seemed worthless before their bearing.



His jealousy grew. With a shout, the bandits attacked. Xu Xian tried to pull Pan Yu behind him, but grabbed only air. Pan Yu’s figure was already moving, weaving through the crowd. Wherever he passed, men flew up and crashed down, lifeless. The moonlit figure, so ethereal, became a harbinger of death. The bandits’ courage broke, and they scattered.



But Pan Yu didn’t let them go. With a single leap, he caught up, and with a gentle palm to the back, the fleeing bandit’s chest caved in, and he fell with the others.



The second-in-command was brave, seeing that running meant death, he drew a steel blade and stabbed at Pan Yu’s back. Pan Yu was chasing another bandit, his back turned.



“Watch out!” Xu Xian shouted.



Pan Yu turned and smiled at Xu Xian. Without looking at the attacker, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, he reached back, caught the blade, and with his other hand, pointed like a sword at the man’s forehead. The man’s eyes bulged, blood streamed from his seven orifices, and he collapsed. Pan Yu tossed the blade aside, his pale hands unscathed, only a few shallow dents on the blade.



Xu Xian stared, dumbfounded. Anyone would be shocked to see a lamb turn into a tiger.



Pan Yu waved his white hand in front of Xu Xian’s face, “Hanwen? Let’s go home. The authorities can clean up here tomorrow.” His face was as calm as if he’d just returned from a moonlit stroll.



Xu Xian finally found his voice: “You know martial arts!?”



Pan Yu looked a little embarrassed. “Please don’t tell anyone, Brother Hanwen. It’s a pity the chief got away.”



Xu Xian looked deeply at the gentle, jade-like man before him and said, “Let’s go.” He turned toward the academy.



Pan Yu followed, walking lightly and silently. Sometimes Xu Xian felt as if no one was behind him, but when he turned, Pan Yu would smile at him.



The academy’s lights were in sight. Xu Xian felt a knot in his chest and finally stopped. “Did I act like a fool tonight?”