Feng Ruzhi

At Zi hour, Feng Ruzhi once again stood by the Yellow River, staring out at the sails fluttering faintly in the moonlit breeze, waiting for the one who had promised to come home. She remembered. A long, long time ago, when she was still a little kid, there had been someone else standing by the riverbank, arms akimbo, waiting. That figure, chewing on a sprig of foxtail grass, hair tousled like the wind had scruffed it apart, was a little frightening under the moonlight. Back then, A'Cuo had still been timid, unlike herself, who was already bold and brash. Without a second thought, she had grabbed A'Cuo by the collar, barreled past the cook standing at the doorframe, and sat down at the table in one breath. Three seconds. Within three seconds of sitting down, the jibber-jabber would start. "How many times do I have to tell you? Do not stay out playing until it's dark!" "With your half-baked skills, if you run into the Unbound Cavern, you'll end up sold to the Ghost Revelry Hall!" "Don't you dare play dead! I'm talking to you, A'Ru! You too, A'Cuo!" If "Fox" A'Zheng was around, he'd strike a pose and try to smooth things over: "Master Pops, come now, don't stand in the doorway. I'll keep an eye on them next time. It's not good to keep the master waiting, either." If Mother were to clear her throat and look toward the door, that cook would instantly droop his head and shuffle himself inside. That was the signal for another peaceful night. The moonlight remained the same. But the people beneath it were gone.

There are many stories of marriage contest in storybooks. Some tell of heroic maidens from famous martial arts families who, unable to find a satisfactory husband, hold grand arenas to seek the world's most talented man as their spouse. Others speak of poor girls in the streets who, though forced to sell themselves to bury their fathers, refuse to marry fools, so they hastily post notices for martial arts contests to find kindred spirits in the martial arts world. As a child, Feng Ruzhi loved these tales of knight-errant couples and martial arts grievances. She would chase after the storytellers from the Nine Mortal Ways, asking repeatedly, "And then? And then?" Then… many years later, on the stage of Verdant Hill Village, Feng Ruzhi also held a marriage contest. Not for knight-errant couples or martial arts grievances, but for one thing, money. She needed money to feed the brothers and sisters of the Bloodscale Hall, to repair the Huzhi Golden Dyke, to forge swords for the newly adult members of the hall, and to burn paper money for her mother… even that cost money. But the imperial court wanted to cut off the Yellow River's grain transportation, and money didn't fall from the sky. After much thought, she decided to get it openly from passersby. Hence, this marriage contest: first, to earn rewards and win money from wealthy young martial artists; second, to attract more merchants who would drink dogwood soup, bringing more business and commotion; third, to exchange martial arts skills and improve herself, making all this effort worthwhile; fourth, ahem… after fighting so much, she had disillusioned herself with the old storybooks from the Nine Mortal Ways. All that talk of knight-errant couples and martial arts grievances seemed tacky to Feng Ruzhi, downright vulgar. What nonsense love and romance! Nothing was as real as two copper coins. But that day, a reckless young hero jumped onto the stage, caught the silk ball, and looked strangely familiar… Though he didn't seem like a noble or wealthy man, there was something intriguing about him. Why not investigate? Feng Ruzhi put on a Nuo mask, held her spear, and turned around: "Next?"