When she woke the next morning, the rain had already stopped.
A full night had passed, yet Yun Lou still found her arm sore—comparable to the time she'd spent an entire night practicing with her saber.
She truly couldn't understand it. How could marital relations possibly be more exhausting than that?
But Pei Xu refused to budge. No matter how she tried last night, he remained unmoved, and in the end she bit him hard on the shoulder and turned her back to sulk herself to sleep. When she woke in the morning, she found herself wrapped up in his arms again.
Still angry about the night before, Yun Lou kicked at him with both hands and feet to push him away.
Pei Xu slowly sat up, his just-awakened face carrying a hint of pure bewilderment, dark hair falling lazily around him. His features were like fine jade, his demeanor like a snow-capped mountain.
Yun Lou took one look at him and stopped being angry.
Pei Xu had no idea he'd just diffused a catastrophe with his good looks. His voice was still rough with sleep: "Not sleeping a bit more?"
Rubbing her wrist, Yun Lou gave him a look that said far more than words: "My hand is so sore…"
Pei Xu immediately flushed crimson to the tips of his ears. He could hardly explain his loss of control the night before; reflecting on it now, he could only think of himself as indecent and absurd. He managed to say in a hoarse voice: "It was my fault. Next time, next time…"
Yun Lou assumed he would say it would never happen again, but instead he paused, as if steeling himself, and then said with grave sincerity, meeting her eyes: "Next time I'll be quicker."
Since he'd already lost control, there was no point in pretending otherwise. She was his wife, properly wed through official rites, and feeling desire for her was nothing to be ashamed of.
It was just that her health was poor. He had once read medical texts on the arts of the bedchamber and knew that intimate relations could take a heavy toll on a woman of frail constitution. The matter of consummation would have to wait until her body was properly nurtured.
Besides, last night… that had been good too. Her fingers were soft yet strong, her knuckles long and well-proportioned. When she closed her fingers around him, her grip was steady; the pressure from her fingertips was just right…
Yun Lou suddenly noticed that the man before her was breathing raggedly again. The skin of his collarbone and neck, visible beneath his loose sleep robes, was flushed a deep red.
Before Yun Lou could even ask what was wrong, he scrambled out of bed.
He called for the maids to bring water for washing up. By the time Yun Lou had slowly gotten herself presentable and sat down at the breakfast table, Pei Xu had already recovered his clean, refined young gentleman appearance.
He looked like he'd actually slept fairly well—the dark circles under his eyes had faded considerably.
Noticing his wife staring at his hands, Pei Xu felt his fingers grow warm. Feigning composure, he placed a bowl of soup in front of her: "Take a cloak with you when you go out. The weather's been changing wildly lately."
Yun Lou nodded. "Mm."
Forging weapons for Zhong Shi and Zhao Shitou was really just a side errand. Yun Lou's main purpose was to have a new saber forged for herself.
After hearing about the bounty order from the martial world yesterday, she knew their peaceful days were numbered.
The Night Wanderer came and went like a shadow, and very few in this world could recognize their face or voice. But there was no guarantee her appearance wouldn't be exposed somehow.
Since parting with Xi Ren, she'd deliberately covered her tracks. Even Zhaoying didn't know where she was. Those who'd picked up the Shen family's bounty order shouldn't be able to find her anytime soon.
And even if they did come looking, she could dispose of them silently.
All she needed was a blade.
Today the sky had cleared after the rain. Yun Lou, fanning herself with a round silk fan, strolled out leisurely with her maids and a few guards in tow.
She made her way to the blacksmith's shop north of the city, feeling the wave of heat hit her the moment she stepped through the door. The furnace fire blazed hot; an old blacksmith stood at the anvil, hammering away at a glowing red block of iron.
The shop's wall shelves displayed all sorts of items—mostly farm tools and everyday utensils, with only a handful of weapons for self-defense.
Civilian blacksmiths were subject to quotas on weapons they could produce. They had to first report to the authorities, specifying the number of weapons and where they were to be sent, before they could forge and sell them. Of course, the legendary master smiths of the martial world were exempt—the authorities couldn't control them even if they tried.
Mostly because those master smiths were so exacting about their craft that finishing even one weapon a year was considered fast. The authorities never worried that these smiths could produce an army at their pace, so they turned a blind eye.
The old blacksmith didn't recognize this delicate young lady, but he recognized Zhong Shi and Zhao Shitou following behind her. Hearing their request, he promptly went to the back and came out with several of his pride and joy: "These spears are all registered with the authorities. Take a look and see if you like them."
The shafts were straight and sturdy; the grip sections had been treated with iron filings to provide a steadier hold that prevented slipping.
Zhong Shi quickly picked one that best suited his weight and reach. Zhao Shitou rubbed his hands impatiently: "What about me? What about me?"
The old blacksmith asked him: "What kind of weapon do you want?"
Zhao Shitou had studied boxing under Luo Batian since childhood and knew little about weapons. He scratched his head and thought for a moment: "Give me a broad saber! I don't know anything else—a saber's the most practical."
As soon as he said that, he noticed the lady of the house looking at him with a newfound spark of approval.
The old blacksmith brought out several broad sabers for him to choose from, and Yun Lou took the opportunity to look them over as well. But none quite satisfied her. She'd need to commission a custom forge.
While Zhao Shitou was still hemming and hawing, Yun Lou drew the old blacksmith aside: "I want to have a broad saber made. Blade length three chi, blade width three cun, grip a full one cun and two fen, core of solid wrought iron, total weight five jin seven liang."
The old blacksmith gave her a peculiar once-over: "What do you need a saber that heavy for?"
Yun Lou smiled shyly: "For self-defense at home."
The old blacksmith laughed: "A saber that heavy isn't suited for self-defense at all—you couldn't even lift it." Then he caught sight of a substantial silver ingot emerging from Yun Lou's purse and quickly changed his tune: "But then again, sabers keep away evil spirits. Having one in the house does intimidate the supernatural."
He thought for a moment, then lowered his voice with a mysterious air: "Forging a blade like that takes time, but as it happens, I've got a broad saber right here that matches what you're looking for. Care to take a look, madam?"
Yun Lou naturally said yes, and the old blacksmith beamed: "This saber comes with quite a pedigree."
Yun Lou said: "Money is no object."
"Right you are—prepare to be impressed!" The old blacksmith pocketed the silver and soon emerged from the back carrying a long box.
He blew the dust off a bench, set the box down with great care, and the gesture drew everyone else over.
The moment the box opened, a cold gleam flashed out. Lying within was a broad saber forged of dark iron, radiating a chilling aura. In the gaps between the octagonal ridges wrapped around the hilt, dark, dried bloodstains were still visible.
The old blacksmith lowered his voice: "Have you fine folks ever heard the name of the master forger Gui Youzi?"
Who in the martial world hadn't heard of the legendary saber genius? Everyone held their breath involuntarily. Even Yun Lou couldn't help being surprised: "This saber is the work of Gui Youzi?"
Then she wouldn't be getting it today for anything less than a hundred taels of gold.
The old blacksmith said: "Oh, no—it's his disciple's work."
Everyone: "Pfft—!"
"Still extremely impressive!" the old blacksmith hastily added. "This is the masterpiece of Gui Youzi's apprentice, Gui Fengzi, who spent three whole years forging it. The very day this saber came out of the furnace, it tasted blood—cutting Gui Fengzi's own palm. Truly a…"
"Then you can't buy it, madam!" Zhao Shitou immediately interjected. "Bad luck!"
The old blacksmith glared at him: "What do you know! A peerless blade must drink blood the moment it's born!"
Yun Lou stared at the broad blade in the box for a moment, then suddenly looked at the old blacksmith's palms. There was a deep, old scar running through the middle of those dark, rough, rust-stained hands.
She actually liked the blade quite a lot and was about to ask the price when a familiar bright voice came from outside the door: "Old Wu, are you there?"
The old blacksmith looked out, his wrinkled face breaking into a toothless grin. "Oh! Miss Cui! I'm here, I'm here!"
Cui Lingyi stepped cheerfully through the door, but her smile vanished the moment she saw Yun Lou.
She muttered to herself—what rotten luck, running into her everywhere.
Yun Lou, on the other hand, seemed delighted to see her. She smiled and waved. "Miss Cui, we meet again."
Miss Cui was dressed beautifully today too. Her water-pink robes made her look like a delicate peach blossom just about to bloom at the tip of a branch—soft, sweet, and fragrant.
Cui Lingyi felt uneasy under Yun Lou's smiling gaze. Just then, Bian Yu stepped through the door, and she immediately ducked behind him.
Bian Yu frowned and glanced back at her cowardly retreat. His perpetually grim face grew even colder.
"Madam Pei," he said flatly, his gaze sweeping over the others. "Madam Pei is also here to buy ironware?"
Zhao Shitou was actually a little afraid of him. Whenever Bian An was busy and sent Bian Yu to instruct the martial arts hall disciples on spear techniques, Bian Yu was like a grim-faced king of hell, drilling them until they were weeping and wailing.
Yun Lou gave a small nod and a smile. "I'm here to pick up a couple of suitable weapons for my two bodyguards."
Bian Yu noticed the long spear in Zhong Shi's hands. Technically speaking, Zhong Shi was his junior martial brother. He gave a slight nod, then his gaze was drawn to the dark iron broad blade resting on the bench. "That blade... isn't bad."
"A blade? What blade? Where?"
Cui Lingyi popped out from behind him. Seeing the long knife in the box, her eyes lit up. "Such a cool blade! I'll take this one!"
Yun Lou was surprised. She glanced at Cui Lingyi's waist—sure enough, there was no sword hanging there today.
The reason Cui Lingyi had come today was precisely to buy a blade. Ever since Pei Xu got married, she had been listless and downcast. Cui Zeshi, heartbroken over his beloved daughter, had hired a martial arts instructor from Jiangling to distract her.
Cui Lingyi had always loved waving swords and brandishing weapons since she was a child, but she was never focused—she dabbled in everything and mastered nothing.
The newly hired instructor specialized in blades. After seeing him perform a set of sword techniques, Cui Lingyi was utterly captivated and immediately decided to abandon the sword and learn the blade instead. So far, she'd only picked up a little bit of the basics, but she'd rushed Bian Yu here to help her pick out a weapon.
She reached out to grab the blade, but her wrist was gently caught by Yun Lou from the side.
Cui Lingyi turned and saw Yun Lou giving her a small smile. "Miss Cui, I've already set my sights on this blade."
Cui Lingyi froze. Weren't you buying weapons for your bodyguards? Both bodyguards already had their chosen weapons in hand—why did she need to buy another one?
She immediately turned to the old blacksmith. "Has she paid for this blade? Has she settled the price?"
The old blacksmith let out a sigh. "No, not yet." He pointed at Zhao Shitou. "This young man just said the blade was unlucky, and the madam was still deciding."
Cui Lingyi sneered. "Then it's not settled."
She brushed off Yun Lou's hand and gripped the handle tightly. She'd expected the blade not to be too heavy, but the moment her wrist exerted force, she realized she had underestimated its weight.
But everyone was watching. Cui Lingyi gritted her teeth and heaved the broad blade out of the box. "How much is this blade? I'll take it."
The old blacksmith looked awkwardly at Yun Lou. After all, the blade had only come out because of this madam's interest. Selling it to someone else now would make his little shop seem dishonest toward its customers.
Yun Lou didn't seem bothered at all. "If Miss Cui likes it, I'm happy to give it up. But this blade doesn't suit you—it's too heavy."
Cui Lingyi glared at her. "That's none of your business!"
She couldn't outdo her in a tug-of-war over people, but surely she could win this blade! The knife was so heavy she could barely lift it—there was no way that delicate little thing Yun Lou could handle it. If she bought it, it would only gather dust as a decorative piece!
At the side, Bian Yu frowned. "This blade really isn't suitable for you."
Cui Lingyi was furious. Could nobody stay on her side today?
She turned and glared at Bian Yu. "I don't need you to tell me that either!"
She lifted the blade with effort, then turned back to stare daggers at Yun Lou. "I'm taking this blade, no matter what."
It felt like buying this knife would finally let her score one point back.
Yun Lou was about to say—"Suit yourself, I can always have the blacksmith forge a better one to my specifications"—but just as she opened her mouth, Cui Lingyi's eyes went wide across from her, finger pointed at her. "You—"
Yun Lou felt a rush of heat burst from her nose, streaming down her lips and seeping into the corners of her mouth.
The thick, metallic taste of blood.
She wiped at the gushing nosebleed with her hand, realizing the strange poison she'd been afflicted with was flaring up again.
Yun Lou reached toward Cui Lingyi. "You—"
She wanted to say, "don't be scared," but as soon as she opened her mouth, her throat burned and another surge of bitter warmth rushed up—she vomited a mouthful of blood.
Cui Lingyi was standing right across from her and got splattered by the sudden spray of blood all over her outfit. The broad blade clattered to the ground. Her face paled with terror as she instinctively grabbed hold of Yun Lou's swaying body, too frightened to speak.
From the side, Yinyin let out a piercing shriek: "Miss Cui has made our madam vomit blood!!!"
Cui Lingyi clutched onto Yun Lou and burst into tears.
