World of Honor

The rain was torrential, the thunder and lightning deafening. It was as if the sky had a gaping hole, and the raindrops as big as beans poured down, making a loud noise on the eaves. All the shops on the long street had closed their stalls, even the taverns by the roadside had shut their doors. A boy in ragged clothes ran through the rain curtain and took shelter under a relatively large eave. The whole street was deserted, he looked around and took out a steamed bun from his bosom.

It must have been a freshly baked bun, it was still steaming.

The boy grinned and started to gnaw at it, but his face was so dirty that he stained the white bun black. He ate and laughed, but then he cried again. He swallowed the whole bun and then collapsed on the ground, sobbing. He looked at the rainwater on the ground and choked out, “Who are you? Why… why do you want to kill me?”

A few men in straw raincoats, who were knife-wielding assassins, had somehow appeared on the opposite eave. They silently watched the boy cry, and then slowly drew their long knives.

The rainwater washed the blades until they were shining, shining so coldly that it made one’s heart ache.

“Who can save me, who can save me, who can save me!” The boy shouted to the sky.

Naturally, there was no voice to answer him. The men jumped down from the roof, splashing the rainwater on the ground and hitting the boy’s face. The boy seemed to wake up in an instant, and suddenly straightened up and ran along the roof.

One of the assassins immediately leaped in front of the boy, then lifted his foot and kicked the boy into a puddle on the side. He raised his long knife and walked towards the boy step by step.

The boy lay on the ground, looking up at the sky. Blood flowed from his nose and mouth, staining his clothes red.

Is it over?

His life had not even begun properly, and it was going to end like this?

The blade flashed, and the boy closed his eyes.

“Never put your fate in someone else’s hands, not every time in life, there will be someone to save you.” A gentle voice sounded above his head.

The rain seemed to stop, but why was the sound of rain still in his ears?

The boy opened his eyes and saw a paper umbrella held above him, blocking the rainwater. A handsome scholar in white looked down at him and smiled slightly, “But maybe this is too harsh for a boy.”

“Who… who are you?” The boy asked fearfully.

“I’m temporarily called Xie Kanhua.” The scholar bent down and reached out a hand to the boy.

The boy hesitated, subconsciously wanting to retreat.

“I’m your family.” The scholar still smiled gently.

The boy looked into the scholar’s eyes, and finally reached out his hand. The scholar pulled the boy up, then stretched out his hand and scratched the boy’s wet hair. “Let’s go.”

The boy glanced around, and saw that the assassins in straw raincoats were all lying on the ground, motionless.

“Are they dead?” The boy asked.

“I don’t like killing people, I just crippled their martial arts.” Xie Kanhua bent down and handed the umbrella to the boy. “I’ll carry you, you hold the umbrella for me.”

The boy looked at his clothes and then at Xie Kanhua’s snow-white robe, feeling a bit embarrassed. “It will stain your clothes.”

“It doesn’t matter, they are trivial things.” Xie Kanhua put the umbrella in the boy’s hand and then picked him up.

“White clothes are hard to wash when they get dirty.” The boy said softly.

“That’s why I have a lot of white clothes.” Xie Kanhua laughed. “Traveling in the martial arts world, it’s inevitable to get some dust, but I can’t change my white clothes, so I just have a lot of them.”

“Why can’t you change your white clothes?” The boy asked.

“Because women like them.” Xie Kanhua’s voice was serious.

TN: Dear readers, I hope you are enjoying this translation. If you are reading this on any other website than the translator’s website (dwarflib.online), I kindly ask you to visit the original source. I often update and revise the chapters I have already translated, so you might be missing out on some important changes or corrections. Thank you for your understanding.

“I want to wear them too.” The boy said shyly.

“I have prepared some for you.” Xie Kanhua’s voice had some pride. “From now on, you will live with me, and naturally you will be like me, white as snow, graceful and elegant.”

“My name is Chen Sancai.” The boy suddenly said.

Xie Kanhua shook his head. “No, from now on you’ll be called Su Baiyi.”

The boy’s eyes lit up. He didn’t care about his name, but he cared very much about his surname. “Su?”

“Yes. A very nice Su. There was a very beautiful and gentle woman who had this surname Su, and there was also a very great and heroic man who had this surname Su. So you’ll also be amazing in the future. Because you’re not only surnamed Su, but you also have a master surnamed Xie.” Xie Kanhua raised his head. “Hold the umbrella higher.”

The boy hurriedly lifted the umbrella. “A master surnamed Xie?”

“Me.” Xie Kanhua smiled.

Su Baiyi, from that day on, lived with this person who claimed to be his family and also his master, Xie Kanhua. They found a quiet little village called Apricot Blossom Village, because Xie Kanhua said the wine there was good. They bought a courtyard and settled down. Su Baiyi always wanted to ask about his origins, but Xie Kanhua always said that he would naturally know more when he grew up. And Xie Kanhua, he drank wine every day, read books, taught Su Baiyi martial arts, and seemed to enjoy himself in this small village. Only sometimes, when he drank too much of the Apricot Blossom wine, he would lie on the apricot tree and sing.

“Binding wood with silk, three stars shining bright. What a special night it is, to find such a treasure in sight. My child, my child, where can you find such a treasure in sight?

Wrapping grass with silk, three stars in the edge. What a lucky night it is, to have such a fate to pledge. My child, my child, where can you have such a fate to pledge?

Securing Chu with silk, three stars in the place. What a glorious night it is, to meet such a dazzling grace. My child, my child, where can you meet such a dazzling grace?”

The song was melodious and lingering, with a hint of sadness in it. Every time he listened to it, he would shed tears, but… why was the voice this time a woman’s?

Su Baiyi finally opened his eyes in a daze. He saw a woman sitting on the tree not far away, wearing a purple dress, swinging her long legs.

“You’re awake?” The song suddenly stopped. The woman leaped down from the tree and landed in front of Su Baiyi. Her voice had some surprise.

Su Baiyi slowly opened his eyes. The appearance of the woman in front of him gradually became clear. She had bright eyes and white teeth, fair skin and beautiful features. If the person of dazzling grace sung in the song had a specific appearance, it must be like this.

“Speaking of which, this is the third time we’ve met, but maybe this time we can really get to know each other.” The purple-dressed woman stood up and flicked her hair on her forehead. “My name is Nangong Xi’er.”

“What a lucky night it is, to have such a fate to pledge.” Su Baiyi had just woken up from a deep sleep. His head was buzzing. He didn’t know if he was still dreaming.

The purple-dressed woman nodded. “Yes, it’s this night.”