Chapter Thirty-Nine: Living in the Filthy Abyss

After an early dinner, everyone stayed in their rooms, venturing out only for necessities, quietly resting to restore their energy, or, like Luo Changning, meditating to cultivate their inner strength.

Even the usually playful Ma Xue'e behaved herself, refraining from disturbing the others. She sat alone in the inn's ground-floor hall, listening idly to the guests as they boasted and bantered.

The hall was crowded, not a single table left empty, and voices filled the air in a constant hum. At one table sat two burly, bearded men, likely brothers, their faces strikingly similar, even their eating gestures mirrored one another. They peeled mantis shrimp with greasy fingers, their beards shining with oil.

Smacking his lips, the sturdier of the two asked, "Do you think a dark horse will emerge in this contest?"

The other stuffed shrimp into his mouth, giving his brother a look as if he were simple-minded. "Bah, you fat-headed fool, quick enough to grab your food, but your brain’s gone soft! Year after year, the top prize always goes to Divine Hand Martial Hall. How can disciples trained by an innate martial artist be compared to those taught by acquired ones?"

Scratching his head with oily fingers, he grumbled, "You never know. There’s still the Luoyang Martial Hall in Qingyang County. Master Xiang isn’t to be underestimated! Remember four years ago? They nearly won..."

His brother rolled his eyes and grabbed the last shrimp. "You really are dense. Back then, Gao Ba had just broken through to the innate realm. Now he’s reached the peak of the entry stage—how can it be the same?"

The sturdy fool could only watch as the shrimp was snatched and devoured by his second brother. What could he do? He wasn’t strong enough to fight back—such was the cruel world, ruled by martial prowess.

Conversations at the other tables revolved around the martial hall ranking tournament.

"I bet Divine Hand Martial Hall will win again."

"So boring, there’s nothing new about these contests anymore."

"Exactly! It’s just a bunch of kids in the acquired realm competing. I’m tired of watching!"

"Hah! You talk as if there are plenty of innate experts in Qiuhe Prefecture. There are only a handful—can count them on one hand. Aren’t you an acquired martial artist yourself? Maybe you’re not even as good as those kids!"

"Well, born in Annan Province as we are, a bunch of frogs in a well, even having a tournament like this is a rare diversion."

"I wonder how magnificent those battles between innate and transcendent masters must be. If I see one in my life, I can die without regret!"

His companion looked at him with disdain. "You? I fear you’d be shattered by their true energy before you even got close..."

"I heard that Ling Yancheng from Divine Hand Martial Hall is quite impressive. So young and already unlocked the twelve meridians and governor-conception channels, his four senses opened as well. He’s got a real chance at advancing to the innate realm. Seems there’s no suspense for the top disciple title this time!"

...

Ma Xue'e propped her chin on her hand, poking holes in her plate of pastries with fingers as delicate as magnolia petals, leaving the treats in a sorry state.

Her rosy lips pursed as she muttered, "Hmph, poke you all to death, you blind fools! Divine Hand Martial Hall, Ling Yancheng—what’s so impressive? You don’t know how formidable my brother and Changning are! Just wait, they’ll beat them all into pig heads, big pig heads..."

She kept poking until all the pastries on the table were reduced to powder.

"Oh no, now nothing’s edible. How unfortunate! I must make sure my brother turns them into big dumb bears!" Ma Xue'e gnashed her teeth, blaming the ruined pastries on the people from Divine Hand Martial Hall.

Greedy though she was, her upbringing forbade her from eating the pastry crumbs; she could only abandon them.

With a sigh of despair, she remembered all the delicious snacks she’d eaten at the night market the evening before, swallowing hard. She longed to taste them again, especially the bright red candied hawthorns—tart and sweet.

Maybe I should go out and eat something?

She clapped her hands—what a brilliant idea! Decision made.

Young girls act on impulse; she settled her bill and stepped out of the inn.

Tonight was even livelier than the last. Red lanterns filled every street and alley. Ma Xue'e wandered, buying and tasting treats, her pink dress fluttering as she moved through the crowd.

Even after leaving Mount Mokehui, she hadn’t ventured out much. She knew every stream, every longan tree, every beehive on the mountain, but the world below was dazzling, and soon she lost her way, unsure where she was.

She bit into a hawthorn, blinking her apricot eyes in confusion at her surroundings.

How could these flat streets be harder to recognize than mountain paths?

Standing before a stone bridge, Ma Xue'e kept sneezing, her nose reddened.

Row upon row of red buildings lined the street, bustling with guests. Girls of all styles stood before the doors, waving their fragrant handkerchiefs to lure in patrons. The air was thick with cloying perfume, vulgar and overwhelming.

"Hey there, sir, come in and take a look! Autumn Moon House has just brought in a new batch of girls—none have been plucked yet, so tender, just waiting for gentlemen to take their pick..."

"Ah, Officer Li, you’re here at last! Hongmei’s missed you so much, it’s been ages since you visited!"

"You little flirt, do you miss me, or my little brother here?"

"Oh, you’re so naughty, always teasing Hongmei..."

...

Listening to the laughter and lewd words ahead, Ma Xue'e felt increasingly bewildered.

What are they talking about? Why are they clinging to each other?

She’d grown up in the mountains, never witnessing such scenes, nor hearing anything like it. No books she'd read described these matters. Still young, she was naturally confused, instinctively disgusted, as if eating stinky tofu in a latrine.

She was about to approach and ask for directions when a cheerful voice called out beside her.

"Xue'e, what are you doing here?"

The voice sounded familiar, though she couldn’t place it. Turning, she saw Mo Feng approaching with a smile.

"Mo junior, why aren’t you resting at the inn?" Ma Xue'e asked, puzzled. Tomorrow was the competition, and everyone else was conserving their strength.

She was Xiang Yinglong’s friend, so she addressed Mo Feng as junior.

"Heh, had something to do nearby, came to visit an old acquaintance," Mo Feng replied, dimples making his childlike face look innocent. "Are you lost?"

Her current predicament revealed, Ma Xue'e felt a pang of embarrassment and nodded.

"The county town is too big. I got lost and can’t find my way back to the inn."

His smile deepened, and he reached out to gently pat the girl's head.

"Luckily you ran into me. Let’s go back together."

"Alright, I’ll have to trouble you to lead the way!" Ma Xue'e looked up and smiled at him.

Her mind whirled with thoughts: Strange, I felt annoyed when Mo junior patted my head, as if a big dumb bear had snatched away my favorite treat. And it reminded me of last night, when Changning wiped my mouth—his fingers were cold, gentle as feathers...

Hearing the voices of men and women around her, Ma Xue'e couldn’t help recalling the fleeting glimpse of that boy’s bare backside not long ago.

Her cheeks flushed, warm and hot...

It had only been a glance, and it was too dark to see anything clearly.

Dark-faced Luo Changning: I’m pale now...

Mo Feng gazed at the smiling, rosy-cheeked girl before him, eyes flickering: She’s unlike any girl I’ve ever known, pure and kind, making me want to tear her apart. Why should some people be as clean as moonlight, while others live in filth?

He smiled and said, "Xue'e, don’t call me junior anymore—it sounds so distant. Besides, I’m just a young man, and it’s embarrassing to be called junior by a little girl. Why not just use my name from now on?"

"Mo Feng?" It felt odd—she rarely addressed anyone by name, except Changning and the big dumb bear.

"Hehe, let’s hurry, or they’ll worry about us."

Side by side, separated by a short distance, they walked toward Evergreen Inn. Gradually, the rowdy red-light district faded behind them, as did the filth.

With a not-so-familiar boy beside her, Ma Xue'e felt awkward and uneasy.

She wondered: Strange, I feel relaxed and happy with Changning and Brother Xiang, but walking with Mo junior is uncomfortable...

Mo Feng soon broke the silence.

"Are you and your brother from Qingyang?"

"Yes and no. My brother and I have lived in Qingyang County since we were very young, but we’re not originally from here. I remember traveling in a carriage for ages, then crossing a long river to get here. I was sick a lot, throwing up and running fevers, but I can’t recall much else—it’s all faded away..."

Ma Xue'e frowned, trying to remember, but truly, everything was lost—even the faces of her parents.

"Who taught your brother martial arts? Must’ve been a formidable elder to produce an innate martial artist. I envy you—I wish I could learn too, so I could uphold justice and punish evil!"

"My brother had no master; he taught himself. If you want to learn, I’ll ask him—he’ll definitely teach you." She too wanted to be a fearless heroine, whipping villains into bamboo sticks!

Mo Feng’s smile faltered, his gaze darkening. He quickly replied, "No need to trouble you, Xue'e. I was just saying. The martial hall needs me, and upholding justice can wait until I’m older."

Soon, they returned to the inn. The hall was nearly empty, save for a few drunken patrons.

They went their separate ways to rest, and the night passed without incident.