After everyone finished eating, they began to leave the roadside teahouse. Yong Taihua and his group were sitting not far from Rao Zhengsheng's table. Yong Taihua overheard that Rao Zhengsheng and his companions were heading to Sword Village, and, curious about their intention, he decided to approach the group.
Yong Taihua, the Young Master of Sword Village, approached Rao Zhengsheng and said, "Xiong-Tai, I heard that you are going to Sword Village."
Rao Zhengsheng confirmed his destination. "Yes, we are heading there."
Yong Caixia stepped forward, asking politely, "Xiong-Tai, may I ask why you are going to Sword Village?"
Rao Zhengsheng explained the political connection. "I promised Chief Yuan that I will send Xiurong there."
Yong Taihua narrowed his eyes in recognition. "Chief Yuan? Yuan Zixin of the Yuan family?"
Yuan Xiurong confirmed the lineage herself. "Yes, I am his daughter, Yuan Xiurong."
Feeling comfortable that the people going to visit his home were friends and not enemies, Yong Taihua formally greeted them as the Young Master and Heir of Sword Village. "I am Yong Taihua of Sword Village. It takes five days to walk to Sword Village from here, and it only takes two days to get there on boat. "Would you and your companions be interested in having a ride with us and saving yourselves days of walking?"
Only then did Rao Zhengsheng truly realize how badly his group, including the injured Xue Horan and Dong Lanying, needed aid. Since Yong Taihua offered a free, faster ride, even if Rao Zhengsheng disliked relying on others, he shouldn't deny it. Rao Zhengsheng accepted the offer. "Then I will trouble Yong Gongzi for two days."
Yong Taihua asked the customary question. "May I know your name?"
Rao Zhengsheng stated his controversial identity clearly. "I am Rao Zhengsheng of The Rao Household."
Yong Taihua paused, the accusation of the previous night coming to mind. "Now I understand why Cao Gongzi thinks that you killed the two Qianbei and blame Chief Cao."
Rao Zhengsheng challenged him directly. "Since you know who I am, do you still want to take me with you?"
Yong Taihua, demonstrating the hospitality and honor of the Sword Village, responded firmly. "Within the bounds of the four seas, all men are brothers. Rao-Xiong, rest assured. Also, if you are with me as my guest, Cao Gongzi will not do anything irrational."
Rao Zhengsheng bowed slightly in gratitude. "I thank Yong Gongzi, in advance."
Yong Taihua led the way. "Let's go, I will take you to the dock."
It took about two hours for the combined group of martial artists to reach the pier. The docks were bustling with activity, people selling everything from accessories to motion sickness medicines and patches. Xue Horan, ever the diligent and thoughtful companion, purchased a piece of embroidered handkerchief featuring two plain fish and a small sewing kit. He paid the old saleswoman quickly and chased after the others who were already boarding the boat.
Once everyone was aboard, the boat started to depart.
Yong Taihua approached Rao Zhengsheng to apologize for the cramped accommodations. "Sorry, there are many people on this boat, but there are only two compartments left. I'm sorry, but the three of you"—he looked at Rao Zhengsheng, Yongzheng, and Xue Horan—"The two guniangs could share the smaller compartment. The three of you wouldn't mind sharing the larger compartment. I hope Rao-Xiong doesn't mind."
Rao Zhengsheng waved off the concern. "It doesn't matter, thank you again for your hospitality."
As soon as the three men entered their compartment, they realized the bed was a little too small to comfortably fit three grown men. Yongzheng suggested pragmatically that the two classmates should take the bed, and he would take the floor. Rao Zhengsheng and Xue Horan couldn't protest, as Yongzheng was already lying down on the wooden planks.
Rao Zhengsheng announced, "Horan, I will be back. I'll see how Lanying and Xiurong are. If there are snacks, I will bring it to you."
Xue Horan smiled affectionately. "Okay."
Xue Horan watched Rao Zhengsheng slide the wooden door shut. He immediately took out the handkerchief and sewing kit he had purchased. He began to stitch around the two plain orange fish. When he was finished, his creation was beautiful: the two fish were surrounded by water lilies under pink petals. He also carefully sewed a blue butterfly onto one of the pink lilies. He then folded his completed handkerchief into a square shape and began sewing the four corners to transform it into a small money bag.
Suddenly, Yongzheng got up with a startling abruptness and rushed out of the sleeping compartment. Xue Horan quickly stuffed the newly finished money bag into his robe and chased after Yongzheng, but the Taoist had vanished.
Xue Horan walked toward the back of the boat, searching. Just when he was about to walk past a large stack of rice sacks, he caught sight of Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong talking quietly together on the front deck of the boat.
Rao Zhengsheng held Yuan Xiurong's hands, his face etched with apology. "Xiurong, I'm sorry, I haven't paid attention to you these past two days."
Yuan Xiurong pulled her hands back slightly. "I understand. Lanying told me about you and Horan." She looked up at Rao Zhengsheng, tears pooling in her eyes. "Rao Gege, tell me honestly, do you really plan to marry Horan?"
Rao Zhengsheng did not waver from his commitment. "I promised him to marry him."
Yuan Xiurong pleaded with logic. "The promise of a child should not be taken to heart."
Rao Zhengsheng sighed heavily. "You don't understand." He looked away momentarily. "Horan has done a lot for me. I can't leave him. No matter what happens in the future, I know I must marry Horan."
Yuan Xiurong pressed the painful question. "Rao Gege, did you marry him out of pity or because you like him?"
Rao Zhengsheng looked back at her and gave the complicated truth. "Both."
Yuan Xiurong finally pulled her hands away, turning her back to him to fiercely wipe away her tears. "What about me? Did you promise to marry me out of pity, or do you really like me?"
Rao Zhengsheng turned Yuan Xiurong back to face him, his eyes sincere. "I promise to marry you because I like you." He sighed again, trying to lay out his difficult truth. "Xiurong, in the future you will be my wife and the mother of my children."
Yuan Xiurong's voice was a choked whisper. "What about him?"
Rao Zhengsheng confirmed the impossibility of parting. "He is the person I can never leave behind. No matter where I go, he will always be with me, and you are the same." He reached for her hands again. "Xiurong... I may be asking you too much, but can you accept it? I genuinely like you, and I like him."
Yuan Xiurong's own ideal of love was simple and exclusive. "Rao Gege, I have only liked you since our first meeting. I also hope for you to only like me."
Rao Zhengsheng hesitated. "Give me some time to make up my mind."
Yuan Xiurong then spoke sadly, referencing her fear of being discarded. "A flower is beautiful in the eyes of others only when it is newly blossomed. Once it wrinkles, no one will look at the flower anymore."
Rao Zhengsheng gently pulled her into his arms and kissed her on the forehead, confirming her importance to him.
Yuan Xiurong, clutching him tightly, made a silent, desperate plea. "Rao Gege, can you not go back to the compartment?"
Rao Zhengsheng hummed in agreement. "Hmm..."
Yuan Xiurong hugged him closer, knowing she had won a temporary, significant battle. "Thank you."
As Xue Horan watched Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong hug each other under the moonlight, he had to admit that the two were perfect to some extent. One was a big hero with grand dreams and ambition. The other was an elegant woman who was very knowledgeable and capable of helping the great hero achieve those dreams and ambitions.
If he had stayed on Butterfly Island, he would never have known that Rao Zhengsheng had a person like Yuan Xiurong—the most suitable life partner for him—waiting in the Central Plains. If he hadn't decided to leave the island, right now, he would still be the fool who waited obediently. He would still be dreaming that one day Rao Zhengsheng would walk the red carpet with him, kneel before his parents, and serve them tea. How stupid is he? He never knew that life outside of Butterfly Island was not full of cupcakes and rainbows.
He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and walked slowly towards the stern of the boat. There, he saw Yongzheng vomiting over the side of the boat.
Xue Horan rushed to his side. "Yongzheng, are you alright?"
Yongzheng wiped his mouth, groaning. "I vomited up everything I ate before boarding the boat."
Xue Horan chided him gently. "Why didn't you tell me that you were seasick?" He felt helpless. "I don't have any medicine either." He looked up at the roof of the sleeping compartment. "Over there, when we are higher up, you will feel less sick. Let's find a way to get up."
Yongzheng gratefully hugged Xue Horan's waist, and the two flew onto the top of the boat in a single light leap. They sat on the roof, feeling the cool wind pass over them.
Xue Horan coached him. "Take a few deep breaths and you will be fine."
Yongzheng murmured, "Thanks."
Xue Horan reached into his robe and handed Yongzheng the money bag he had just made. "Here." He handed the money bag to Yongzheng. "I see your old money bag is severely torn and stale. I made a new one for you."
Yongzheng took the money bag, examining the delicate needlework. "You made this?"
Xue Horan explained his design choices. "I didn't stitch the two fish, but I added a little bit more. I thought the two fish by itself looked ugly, so I added the water, the two lily pads, the pink lily, and more." He pointed to the small blue butterfly. "This butterfly reminds you that you have met someone like me." He smiled sadly. "Do you like it?"
Yongzheng's eyes softened. "I like it." He took out the money from his old bag and put it in the new one. He tied the money bag tightly to his belt and tucked it securely into his sash. "Horan, thank you for your money bag."
Xue Horan lay back on the roof with his hands behind his head. He remembered that even if he returned to the compartment, Rao Zhengsheng would not sleep next to him. It didn't make sense to sleep in the compartment, so he might as well enjoy the cool breeze of the late summer night.
He reflected bitterly: he truly loved Rao Zhengsheng, and whatever Rao Zhengsheng told him, he would believe it wholeheartedly, even when he suspected it was a lie. He now understood why Rao Zhengsheng wanted him to stay on Butterfly Island—Rao Zhengsheng would have his fulfilling life here in the Central Plains, while he would wait like a dry well on Butterfly Island.
Suddenly, his heart ached, and before he knew it, tears were already streaming down his eyes.
Yongzheng, who was lying down beside him, looked at Xue Horan and saw a shimmering reflection off his the corner of his eyes. He put his hand behind his neck and lay down fully. "Why are you crying? Did your Zhen Ge bully you?"
Xue Horan quickly concocted an excuse. "No, I think I have been away from home for too long, and miss my parents." He sniffed.
Yongzheng asked calmly, "Are you going to go home?"
Xue Horan accepted the inevitable. "I guess so. I have nothing here but a burden to others." He sighed. "Also, I have found the answer I was looking for, so there is no reason to stay longer."
Yongzheng offered a small promise. "If I ever travel down south, I will come visit you."
Xue Horan replied, his voice soft. "Alright." He looked up at the bright, full moon. "Yongzheng, look at the full moon tonight, it's so beautiful."
Yongzheng turned his head slightly to look at Xue Horan's tear-stained profile in the moonlight, and he said, "Yes, the moon is very beautiful."
The night was young. A young couple—Rao Zhengsheng and Yuan Xiurong—hugged each other on the front deck. On the top of the boat, under the starry night sky, another young couple—Xue Horan and Yongzheng—rested together enjoying the stars.