3. A Reputation for Frivolity

What should one do upon encountering an unconscious fox spirit in the depths of the mountains?

The correct answer was to ignore him, turn around, and leave, lest trouble arise.

But considering that this particular fox spirit had helped her before losing consciousness, Tian Yu felt that abandoning him in the mountains would be downright beastly.

She did not want to be a beast, so she had no choice but to take him out.

She only wondered whether, after she brought him back, her employer would roll his eyes at her again and accuse her of making trouble for herself.

But eye-rolling was one thing. Given his temperament, once he knew the full story, he probably would not blame her.

Having weighed the matter, Tian Yu stopped hesitating. She immediately hauled the man upright, slung his arm over her shoulder, and prepared to return to town.

The hunter who had accompanied her earlier had wanted to come along, but Tian Yu was reluctant to abandon the dozen or so wolves she had painstakingly killed. She therefore declined his offer and asked him to remain in the mountains, skin the wolves, and later send half the hides to the blacksmith’s shop.

“Keep the other half for yourself. You may keep the wolf meat as well; there is no need to send it over. I have plenty of meat at home.”

The hunter waved his hands frantically. “You killed them all, Brother Yu! How could I take half? Rest assured, I will—”

“Consider it payment for the hard work of skinning them,” Tian Yu interrupted. “I am leaving now. He has a fever, and we must get out before dark.”

Indeed, it was only after helping him to his feet that she discovered how abnormally hot his body was.

If he continued burning with fever, he might not survive until tomorrow, even if the beasts did not get to him first.

Afraid that he would die on the way, Tian Yu did not dare delay for even a moment. She carried him back to the blacksmith’s shop.

But with another person hanging from her, she was far less nimble than usual. By the time she reached the town gate, night had fallen completely.

When she crossed the main street and knocked on the blacksmith’s door, the road was already deserted, without a single passerby in sight.

The unconscious man burning with fever against her shoulder stirred suddenly at the sound of her knocking, nearly causing her to lose her grip.

Fortunately, a moment later, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from within the wooden building.

“Who is it?” Tian Yong called.

“It’s me,” Tian Yu replied tersely.

“Big… Big Sister?” Tian Yong was astonished. “Didn’t you go into the mountains? How did you get back so soon?”

As he spoke, he quickly opened the door.

In the pitch darkness, he could not really make out what was happening outside. He had assumed that his elder brother—no, his elder sister—was tall and slender enough to slip through once one door panel had been removed.

The panel came down, but the shadow outside did not move.

“Take down another one,” Tian Yu said. “I’m supporting someone. One panel isn’t enough to get us through.”

Tian Yong stared. “What?”

Surprised though he was, he promptly followed her instructions and removed the second door panel, making room for her to bring the man inside.

Only after they had entered, crossed the shop, and reached the lantern-lit rear courtyard did Tian Yong finally see what was going on.

“Who is this?” His eyes widened. “He isn’t from our town, is he?”

“I met him in the mountains. He helped me before he passed out. I couldn’t leave him there to burn to death.”

At her words, Tian Yong scrutinized the two of them more carefully and noticed that her fur coat was stained red in one place, clearly spattered with blood.

He panicked at once. “Big Sister, are you all right?!”

Tian Yu fell silent.

If she were injured, would she have been able to carry a fully grown man back from the mountains?

Having a dim-witted younger brother was certainly a serious problem, but for the moment, the most important thing was to settle the sick man.

“I’m fine. The blood on me isn’t mine; it splashed onto me when I was cutting down the wolves.” Tian Yu spoke irritably. “Go ask our employer for something to bring down a fever.”

“Oh… I’ll go right now!” Tian Yong replied, patting his head in relief.

Their employer was no physician, but he knew something of medicine, and the shop kept a supply of basic herbs year-round.

Whenever the two siblings had suffered from headaches or fevers in the past, he had prescribed and prepared the medicine himself. After drinking it for a few days, they had generally recovered.

Tian Yu had fully expected things to go the same way this time. She had not anticipated that, after taking one look at the patient, their employer would draw his brows tightly together.

“What is it? Do you know him?” That was Tian Yu’s first thought.

The employer shook his head and said that he did not. Then he stepped forward, took the young man’s wrist, and felt for his pulse.

Before long, he released the man’s wrist and sighed.

“He does not have a fever. He has been poisoned. After being poisoned, he circulated his inner energy, causing the poison to enter his meridians. That is why he remains unconscious.”

Tian Yu was speechless.

This sounded as though she bore at least part of the blame.

“Can you cure the poison?” she asked hurriedly.

“If he had not circulated his inner energy, it would not have been difficult.” He paused. “Unfortunately, he did.”

Tian Yu’s head began to ache in earnest.

Looking at their employer, she revealed an expression resembling defeat—a rare sight—and said, “He circulated his inner energy to save someone.”

“Was the person he saved you?” Their employer raised a brow, as if asking why she would need rescuing when she had already learned his blade technique.

“No… not exactly. But it was related to me.”

With a click of her tongue, she recounted the circumstances of their meeting.

When she reached the end, thinking of the young man’s current condition, she frowned again.

Seeing the worry on her face, their employer grew serious as well.

“You need not be so anxious. Though the poison is difficult to cure, it is not yet life-threatening.”

Tian Yu immediately caught the implication. “Do you have a way?”

He shook his head. “I do not.”

“But I know someone who can cure it.”

“Who?” Tian Yong asked.

Their employer did not answer. He merely glanced at the unconscious young man and said, “I will go and invite that person here. I should return in about a month. Until then, you must watch him carefully. Do not let him circulate his inner energy again.”

Tian Yu froze.

She had studied the blade under him for years. Though he had never spoken of it and she had never asked, it was obvious that he had a deeply complicated past. He had devoted himself to living in seclusion and was unwilling to mention those former affairs.

Otherwise, he would not have hidden away in this small town in Guandong for ten full years.

And now, for the sake of the man she had brought back, he was actually going to leave?

He truly was the same as ever—hard-mouthed yet soft-hearted.

Tian Yong was equally astonished and instinctively asked, “A month… Could it be that the person you are going to find isn’t in Guandong?”

Their employer nodded. “There is no one in Guandong who can cure this poison.”

After saying that, he turned and began walking out of the courtyard.

Tian Yu was startled. “You’re leaving now?”

Shouldn’t he sleep first and set out in the morning?

“What else would I do?” he retorted. “A life is at stake. Since I have to go, sooner is better than later.”

Tian Yu fell silent.

It did seem reasonable.

“All right, then.” She nodded. “I wish you a safe journey.”

“It will be safe.”

Leaving those words behind, he hurriedly led his horse out into the night.

…

The poisoned young man remained unconscious for three full days before waking.

During the first two days, his fever refused to break. Afraid that he would burn his brain to mush if it continued, Tian Yu instructed Tian Yong to cool him physically.

Following her orders, Tian Yong soaked a cloth in cold water and wiped down the young man’s body.

Only after repeating the process three times did the heat finally subside.

On the day he awoke, the hunter he had saved happened to return from the mountains.

At dusk, carrying a stack of wolf pelts, the hunter sought out the blacksmith’s shop and immediately asked Tian Yu, “How is that gentleman who saved me?”

Before Tian Yu could answer, a cry of surprise came from the rear courtyard.

“You’re awake!”

It was Tian Yong.

Tian Yu’s breath caught. After a moment’s thought, she invited the hunter inside.

The hunter followed her into the house. Upon seeing his benefactor, he naturally offered a profusion of thanks.

Then, remembering that the gentleman had collapsed that day, he began asking after his health with great concern.

The young man leaned against the bed and listened quietly. At last, he smiled and said, “There is no need to worry. That day, I merely lost my way in the mountains and exhausted myself. I am perfectly well now.”

The hunter was overjoyed. “That is wonderful!”

“I have been thinking about this ever since I went into the mountains. Now that I know you are safe, I can finally set my mind at ease.”

Once he had confirmed that his benefactor was unharmed, the hunter did not linger. Before long, he left in high spirits.

It happened to be late by then, so after seeing him out, Tian Yu simply closed up the shop for the night.

When she returned to the rear courtyard, the young man who had previously been leaning against the bed had already risen.

By the dim candlelight, she studied his expression and said, “My younger brother has probably told you what happened these past few days?”

The young man nodded. Then he cupped his hands and bowed to her.

“Thank you, Miss, for saving me.”

Hearing how he addressed her, Tian Yu guessed that Tian Yong had indeed let something slip. She did not particularly mind. After all, ten years had passed, and the Seven Great Families of Guandong had more or less abandoned their search for the siblings’ whereabouts. Revealing her sex—and revealing it to someone from outside the region—was hardly a serious matter.

She shook her head. “I merely brought you out of the mountains. I have no way to cure your poison.”

The young man smiled. “If you had not brought me out, I fear I would have died before the poison even took full effect.”

Late autumn in Guandong was unlike late autumn elsewhere. Snow could fall at any moment, especially in the mountains where he had been stranded.

Tian Yu understood this simple truth perfectly well.

That was precisely why she found it so difficult to believe.

“Did you know that you had been poisoned?” she could not help asking.

“…Of course I knew.” He sighed.

She stared at him in disbelief. “If you knew, why did you still intervene?”

He remained silent for a moment before answering softly, “Once I had seen it, I could not simply stand by and watch someone die.”

Tian Yu was speechless.

So he was not a male fox spirit after all. He was a male bodhisattva.

“All right.” She decided to end the subject. “Get plenty of rest from now on, and whatever you do, do not circulate your inner energy again. We will wait until our employer returns with the person who can cure you.”

At that, hesitation appeared on the young man’s face.

“My poison comes from the secret formula of the most mysterious organization in the martial world, the Celestial Sect, from many years ago. I fear there may be no one who can cure it.”

Tian Yu had no idea what the Celestial Sect was, but she trusted the man with whom she had lived and studied for ten years.

“If our employer says someone can cure it, then someone can cure it,” she said. “You need only wait in peace. He will be back in a month.”

The young man fell silent again.

He seemed caught in a dilemma, his handsome features filled with conflict.

But before long, he drew a deep breath and spoke once more.

“In that case, I shall impose upon you and remain here for the time being,” he said. “However, someone at home is waiting for my return. I wonder whether you have any means of sending a letter to Baoding for me?”

Tian Yu fell silent.

Good sir, do I look like someone with connections of that sort?

“I’m afraid not,” she answered candidly. “Our town rarely sees outsiders.”

“I was asking too much of you.” He did not insist, merely giving a rueful smile. “If anyone should apologize, it is I.”

Perhaps unwilling to continue discussing a subject that brought him regret, he changed the topic himself.

“By the way, I have not yet asked how I should address you.”

“My name is Tian Yu. Tian as in the sky, and Yu as in a feather.”

The young man paused, then called her Miss Tian Yu.

Tian Yu did not respond. Instead, she warned him, “The people in town do not know that I am a woman, and I have no wish to frighten them. Just call me Tian Yu.”

“Very well. I shall remember that.” He nodded. “You may call me by my name as well. My surname is Li, and my given name is Xunhuan.”

“Li… Xunhuan?”

Wait.

Li Xunhuan?

Was he the Li Xunhuan she knew—the Little Li Flying Dagger?

Seeing the shock on her face, Li Xunhuan assumed that, like the classmates who had studied with him in his youth, she found his name overly frivolous, and so he explained.

His grandfather had not given him the name with any implication of seeking pleasure or indulging in frivolity. The old man had merely hoped that he would live freely and joyfully, unlike his grandfather and father, who had been burdened by the pursuit of fame and status, spending their lives in melancholy and never finding happiness.

Tian Yu was speechless.

That explanation sounded perfectly reasonable, but it was not what she cared about. What mattered was that he was actually Li Xunhuan!

Li Xunhuan—the ultimate Gary Stu of wuxia fiction.

Even an entertainment-industry nobody like her, someone the audience would surely consider illiterate, knew who he was.

Then she remembered the flying dagger he had unleashed that day, and everything suddenly clicked.

So her transmigration story was neither an ancient version of heading east to seek a new life nor a tale of an orphan’s revenge.

It was a wuxia novel.