Sword Arrives

Eventually, the imperial government, recognizing Supervisor Song's diligence if not his success, transferred him back to the capital, where he received a fair evaluation of 'good' in his official document. Before returning to the capital, Supervisor Song funded the construction of a covered bridge. Later, when it was discovered that a child was missing from his entourage, the prominent families of the town realized the truth. It could be said that Supervisor Song had cultivated a deep bond with the town, and with the deliberate care of the current supervisor, Song Jixin had lived a carefree and comfortable life in the town for these years. As for the maid, now named Zhigui, there were various theories about her origins. Locals in Mud Bottle Alley said that on a snowy winter day, a foreign girl had begged her way into the town and collapsed at the entrance of Song Jixin's house. If not for someone discovering her early, she would have perished and been reborn in the afterlife. The elderly workers at the magistracy had a different story, insisting confidently that she was an orphan bought by Supervisor Song years ago, specifically to serve as a companion for his illegitimate son, Song Jixin, to make up for their unacknowledged father-son relationship.

Regardless, after the maid was named Zhigui by the young master, their father-son relationship was solidified, as the influential families and gentry of the small town were well aware that Supervisor Song was particularly fond of an inkstone inscribed with the words "Zhigui."

Song Jixin snapped back to reality and broke into a radiant smile. "For some reason, I can't help but think of that persistent lizard. I threw it into Chen Ping'an's yard, but it still insisted on coming back to our house. Doesn't that say something about how undesirable Chen Ping'an's house is, even a small lizard doesn't want to go in?"

The maid pondered for a moment and replied, "Some things are just about fate, aren't they?"

Song Jixin gave her a thumbs-up and said with a grin, "Exactly! Chen Ping'an is just someone with shallow connections and little fortune. He should be content just to be alive."

She remained silent.

Song Jixin muttered to himself, "When we leave this town, should we leave Chen Ping'an in charge of our belongings? Do you think he might steal from us?"

The maid softly said, "Master, I don't think he would do that, would he?"

Song Jixin smiled and gazed toward the south, his heart filled with yearning. "I've heard that the collection of books in the capital is even more numerous than the flowers, plants, and trees in our small town!" Just then, the storyteller was saying, "Though true dragons no longer exist in the world, their subordinates are very much alive among us. Perhaps they are..."

The old man deliberately paused to build suspense, but seeing that his audiences remained indifferent and unappreciative, he continued, "Perhaps they are hidden right beside us, what Taoist immortals call 'latent dragons in the depths'!"

Song Jixin yawned.

Suddenly, a greenish-white locust leaf fell from above, fresh and lush, landing right on the youth's forehead.

Song Jixin reached out and grabbed the leaf, twisting the petiole between his two fingers.

 ————

The youngster, who was thinking about going to collect a debt at the east gate of the town, also saw a locust leaf falling in front of him as he approached the old locust tree. He quickened his pace, intending to catch it with his hand.

But a gentle breeze blew by, causing the leaf to slip past his fingertips.

The youngster moved nimbly, quickly stepping sideways to intercept the leaf.

However, the leaf spun in the air once more.

Undeterred, the youngster tried several times to maneuver and intercept it, but ultimately failed to catch the locust leaf. Chen Ping'an felt helpless.

A young man in a blue gown, who had skipped school, brushed past Chen Ping'an.

The young man in the blue gown didn't even realize that a locust leaf had landed on his shoulder sometime.

Chen Ping'an continued on his way to the east gate of the town, thinking that even if he couldn't collect the money, it was still good to remind that guy.

 ————

From the fortune-telling stall in the distance, the young Taoist closed his eyes to rest and murmured to himself, "Who said that fate's cycle has no partiality?"