A serene and clear night unfolded under the broken moon, hanging leisurely in the sky. The Milky Way stretched like a silver ribbon, visible through the gaps between the trees. The night sky resembled a vast blue sea.
"...And so, the story of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils ends here..."
Before an old temple, in the open forest, a campfire crackled and danced. Ning Yi finished recounting the tale with a casual shrug and a smile. "I really nailed the timing."
Lu Hongti sat nearby, poking at the fire with a branch. She remained silent for a while before asking, "What happened to the Song Dynasty afterward?"
Ning Yi thought for a moment, then rolled his eyes. "How should I know..."
"Such a boring story."
Silence settled between them. It was the night of June 23, soon to pass into June 24. Over nearly 20 days together, most things that needed to be said had already been said. Lu Hongti had taught Ning Yi a practical inner cultivation technique that would yield results with gradual practice. Meanwhile, Ning Yi had crafted a detailed development plan for the small bandit gang Lu Hongti led on Mount Lüliang—an area of expertise for him, and one likely to succeed.
These plans weren't traditional company frameworks or rigid military rules but adapted to the village-like and family-style structure of the bandits. Mechanized regulations were impossible; subtle and gradual adjustments were all that could be managed.
A healthy and stable organization naturally possessed significant vitality and growth potential. A truly skilled strategist could foresee the ripple effects of even minor actions. Since Ning Yi couldn't personally visit Mount Lüliang, he designed key objectives for Lu Hongti to implement. If a few milestones were achieved, the group's social structure would shift accordingly, paving the way for further development.
Strategic Plans for Lüliang Bandits
Ning Yi's advice included several principles:
Regulations and Leadership: Lu Hongti was to establish basic rules to prevent internal conflicts, like the one that forced her to personally intervene in the matter of Song Xian's punishment.
Small Elite Squads: He suggested training three to four elite five-person squads. These teams would undergo intensive, purpose-driven training akin to special forces. Proper incentives would be given, but the privileges granted to these groups must come with strict ethical guidelines to avoid negative impacts. Properly managed, these privileges could inspire others and foster competition.
Economic Cooperation: Collaborating with merchants passing through their territory to provide protection services in exchange for resources. Over time, they could negotiate with neighboring bandit leaders for resource-sharing agreements.
Narrative Control: Encourage storytellers to focus on tales of Liao brutality and heroic resistance, avoiding frivolous folklore. This would subtly cultivate unity and a sense of purpose among the group.
These ideas and more were jotted down in a small notebook. Although Ning Yi initially hesitated due to security concerns, Lu Hongti argued the notebook could be entrusted to a wise elder in the village for consultation. She treated it like a tailor-made military manual for Mount Lüliang, often seen poring over it with great care.
"First, this has nothing to do with me. You've never been hosted by 'Blood-Handed Butcher.' Second, only show this to someone genuinely selfless and trustworthy. If your Liang Grandpa is as old and detached as you claim, it should be fine. Otherwise, if you choose poorly, your leadership might crumble. When that happens, just remember—don't cling to power. Save your life and escape if necessary."
"You know quite a lot for a mere scholar." Lu Hongti seemed wistful after a pause. "Honestly, I didn't think much of you at first. But now I wonder... should I just abduct you to Mount Lüliang?"
Ning Yi chuckled. "You overestimate me. I only know a few cunning tricks. Honestly, I can't guarantee any of this will work."
"It's not trickery. I can tell the difference." She shook her head, then added after some thought, "Will you pursue a government position someday?"
"A live-in son-in-law doesn't make a good official. Besides, my research into natural sciences is already dismissed as unconventional."
"Oh, that reminds me—what about A Chinese Ghost Story? You never finished it that day."
"Not telling." Ning Yi flatly refused.
"Why not?" Lu Hongti was stunned.
"Stay alive, and if we meet again, I'll finish it for you."
She mulled this over, then smiled before turning her head away with a playful huff. "Goodnight."
She lay down on the grass behind her, leaving Ning Yi to ward off mosquitoes with a smoldering leaf. Eventually, he too reclined, gazing at the flowing stars above.
"What are you thinking about?" she suddenly asked.
"Mosquito repellent," Ning Yi replied. "The smoke here is killing me. Back at the Su household, even mosquito coils had issues; they contain traces of arsenic and might harm humans. I'm wondering if there's a better formula. It should be simple, but I never delved into it before..."
He rambled on about scientific curiosities, some comprehensible, others less so. Lu Hongti listened, smiling faintly, until sleep overtook her.
Tomorrow, they would part ways.
A Parting Gift
At dawn, they went about their morning routines: greetings, washing, cooking porridge. By the water's edge, Lu Hongti adjusted her expression, trying to mask a slight stiffness. After breakfast, they sat silently on the temple steps until Lu Hongti finally stood, slung her bundle over her back, and stepped outside.
"I'm heading back to Mount Lüliang," she said, smiling mischievously. "There's something I need to tell you."
"Hmm?" Ning Yi raised an eyebrow.
"Even though you love martial arts, you'll never become a first-rate expert. At most, you'll be second-rate."
"Yeah, yeah, you've said that before," Ning Yi replied dismissively. "I'm content being second-rate."
Her grin turned teasing. "This is your punishment for not finishing A Chinese Ghost Story last night."
With that, she strode toward a large tree ahead. Bathed in sunlight, she turned back. "Do you know what a first-rate expert can do?"
Her gaze sharpened. Then, with a sudden surge, her form blurred into motion.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of powerful impacts resounded three times, and then Ning Yi saw her turn and glance back. Her skirt spun in the air, drawing a perfect circle. At that moment, she seemed to float, her feet barely touching the ground, as though she was gliding over water. Behind her, with a cracking sound, the entire trunk of a massive tree broke, the crown tipping and crashing down. Branches and leaves scattered in a storm of motion, the wind pressure rippling outward. The morning sunlight broke through the scene, bathing her in golden light.
"You're doing this all wrong…"
Staring in awe at the magnificent sight, Ning Yi stood there dazed for a moment before muttering under his breath and shaking his head. Lu Hongti, as if glowing in that radiant light, smiled joyfully. "I'm leaving now."
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
She paused, a little surprised. Ning Yi exhaled slowly. "I think of you as a friend."
Lu Hongti looked at him, silently waiting for him to continue.
"So… I won't go to Luliang Mountain with you. But if you're ever in trouble, come find me. And no matter what happens, promise me—you have to stay alive."
She remained silent for a long while, then finally nodded. "I'll look forward to the day I can have that roast chicken on Luliang Mountain. And don't forget—get your friend to bring the shop over there too. Take care."
"You take care too."
Ning Yi watched her figure as she descended the mountain, fading into the glowing horizon until she disappeared completely. Only then did he stretch, glancing back at the ruined temple behind him. The mountain wind swept past, and after a long while, he retrieved a booklet from his pocket and casually flipped through it. It contained the internal martial arts techniques Lu Hongti had left for him.
"In the end, I still got my hands on it…"
There wasn't much triumph in his tone as he said this. He patted the little booklet, sighed, and tucked it back into his pocket. Then, he started down the mountain path.
His left hand was still bandaged, but after twenty days of rest and practicing internal techniques, his spirits were noticeably better. After a while, he emerged onto the main road. As Jiangning came into view, something caught his attention—there were noticeably more raggedly dressed refugees traveling with their families. He recalled something Master Qin and Master Kang had mentioned—waves of disaster victims were likely heading this way.
For now, the situation didn't seem too dire. Once inside the city, the atmosphere lightened a little. Ning Yi made his way toward the Su residence, glancing at his bandaged left hand and pondering how he would explain it to Chan'er and the others. As he passed a street corner, a carriage rolled by, and suddenly, Su Tan'er's head popped out, looking back at him. She called out, "Stop, stop, stop!"
The carriage came to a halt about ten meters away. Su Tan'er's gaze lingered on Ning Yi's bandaged left hand. She bit her lip, then disappeared into the carriage for a moment, seemingly saying something like, "Li Heng is back." She then jumped out of the carriage. Behind her, Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er followed suit.
Su Tan'er lifted her skirt slightly and jogged a few steps before slowing down, apparently waiting for the maids to catch up. She looked at Ning Yi's left hand with a slight frown. Soon, the three maids gathered around Ning Yi, fussing over his injury and chattering worriedly. Ning Yi, seeing Su Tan'er approach, smiled wryly.
Su Tan'er let out a long, complicated sigh. "You're back?"
"It's fine now," Ning Yi replied, his tone calm. On Jiangning's sunny streets, with the morning light streaming down, those simple words seemed to bring an end to the storm.