The capital, heart of the empire, is a gathering place for the finest foods and cultures from across the land.
From the nineteenth year of Taikang to the twenty-fifth year of Jianwu, if you were to ask anyone in the Grand Qian capital where to find the best food, the answer would always be: "Wang's in the North Market. Nothing compares."
A female traveler pressed a passerby further, asking, "And what is Wang's?"
He told her: "It began as a food stall started by a former palace eunuch. He created a line of braised delicacies, first using pork, duck, and chicken offal, transforming them into dishes of remarkable flavor, aroma, and texture. Delicious hot or cold. Now the menu has grown to include all kinds of braised foods, not just offal. People say it's based on a secret recipe from the palace itself. Even the Emperor eats it and praises it without end."
"What exactly is braising?" she asked. "Is it just salt-curing?"
"Who knows? That's Wang's secret. Outsiders can't hope to learn it. Just know this much: if the Emperor eats there, that's enough. And besides, Wang's prices are low, and demand is so high that if you arrive late, you'll be stuck with nothing but duck tails."
"Thank you for the tip," the traveler said, delighted. "I'll head there right away."
The passerby added: "Young lady, you're carrying a sword into the city. You must be from the martial world. At Wang's, don't you dare cause trouble."
"What do you mean?" She was confused. "Is Wang's backed by powerful patrons? I am indeed of the martial world. I was raised in the Wuliang Temple. My surname is Ming, my given name Ying."
The passerby explained: "It's not that he has much of a powerful background. That eunuch was only from the Cold Palace to begin with. He got by through ties with the eunuch in charge of the city markets, but when that connection was cut off, he fell on hard times for quite a few years.
"But these days, you don't want to stir up trouble there. Recently a chivalrous thief has appeared in the capital, known as Baili Flying Eagle. Though he's a thief, he's a righteous one. He robs the rich to aid the poor, and he also makes it his mission to strike down petty crooks and scoundrels."
"Baili is close friends with Wang's. He often eats and stays there. If anyone from the martial world dares to make trouble at Wang's, Baili himself will deal with them."
Ming Ying was surprise. "Is this Baili Flying Eagle from Moon Kingdom. The surname Baili is only found in there. There is no such surname in our Grand Qian."
The passerby laughed. "Not at all. Baili is born and bred in Grand Qian. His real name is Gu Flying Eagle.
"Over a decade ago, when Baili first entered the martial world, he once encountered an unmatched master who displayed peerless lightness skills. The young man was so taken with it that he chased the master for a hundred li, hoping to become his disciple.
"The master didn't take him in. Instead, he casually tossed him a manual on lightness skills. With it, Baili mastered a supreme art of movement. To honor that master, he changed his name to Baili Flying Eagle.
"Since that master had come from the capital, Baili too came here to make his way, hoping he might meet that peerless figure again and formally become his disciple."
"So that's how it is." Ming Ying let out a light laugh. Thinking of that so-called peerless master, she couldn't help recalling the Xiantian grandmaster she had glimpsed as a child. That was a true peerless figure. Of course, back then she was too young to understand and had foolishly called him a strange man, earning a sharp scolding from her senior sister.
More than ten years had passed since then. Not to mention a Xiantian grandmaster, Ming Ying had barely even encountered any Five Vessels peak masters.
She took her leave of the passerby and headed north toward the market.
On the road she passed many in ragged clothes, a stark contrast to her own bright garments. Begging voices filled her ears. Ming Ying gripped her sword a little tighter and sighed inwardly: What a world this is.
When she reached the North Market, she found the place bustling. There stood a grand food shop with the sign "Wang's." Every table was full, and the servers were rushing about nonstop.
Ming Ying stepped inside. With a confident slap she laid down a silver ingot and said, "Shopkeeper, bring me one of every braised dish you've got."
Though a young woman, she carried herself with the bearing of a wandering swordswoman. From childhood she had dreamed of roaming the martial world with sword in hand. Her master once told her she had a senior aunt, of her grandmother's generation, who had lived that very dream. Wandering the realm with her sword. That aunt had died in the palace while avenging her master.
Ming Ying was determined to fulfill that unfulfilled wish: to roam the world with sword in hand.
The shopkeeper glanced at the packed tables and could only apologize. "Miss, we don't have a single seat open. I can pack everything up for you, but you can't eat here."
Ming Ying frowned. She had only just arrived in the capital and had no place to stay for the moment. Besides, she had ordered too much food to carry away.
"No rush," she said. "I'll wait outside. Call me when a seat opens up."
"Of course, thank you for your understanding," the shopkeeper replied cheerfully.
Ming Ying stepped out of the shop and waited by the side.
After half an hour, a table inside finally opened up. The shopkeeper was about to call her in when a finely dressed young man strode in with three attendants and shouted, "Shopkeeper! Two braised ducks, three braised chickens, and four jin of braised intestines!"
"Oh, it's Young Master Wang," the shopkeeper said carefully. Then he hurried to order his staff: "Quick, set up a table for Young Master Wang."
Turning back, he added with a smile, "Young Master Wang, everything will be ready at once. The ducks, the chickens, the intestines."
At that moment...
Smack!
Ming Ying's soft sword struck the counter.
She had heard the news of an open table, come back into the shop, and seen the table given away to these newcomers instead. Anger flashed in her eyes. Fixing the shopkeeper with a cold stare, she said, word by word, "I was here first."
The shopkeeper leaned forward and whispered urgently in her ear: "Miss, that's Young Master Wang, the son of the Minister of Personnel. Best not to cross him. Why not wait for the next table? I'll be sure to give you that one."
"I was here first!" Ming Ying repeated, her voice firm and unyielding.
"This…" The shopkeeper was at a loss for words.
Ming Ying's beauty had not gone unnoticed. Young Master Wang gave her a sly look. "Such a fiery swordswoman," he said with amusement. "Why not share a table with me? You can eat for free. So long as you drink a couple cups with me…"
Before he could finish, Ming Ying seized him by the shoulder with one hand and flung him across the room.
The three attendants rushed at her at once. Ming Ying spun lightly on her heel and lashed out with three swift kicks, sending them sprawling face-first to the floor.
"Good! Well done! A true swordswoman of the jianghu!" The other diners broke into applause and cheers, delighted at the spectacle. In these times, ordinary folk held no fondness for the sons of officials.
Ming Ying had just beaten the son of the Minister, and the crowd only praised her more. Some even whispered urgently: "Run while he doesn't know who you are. The capital is in chaos; he may have influence, but he won't be able to touch you."
Ming Ying understood well enough. She turned to make her escape... when suddenly, a man in white robes stepped out from the back room like a phantom, barring her way.
The man spoke loudly and firmly: "I, Baili Flying Eagle, have made it clear: anyone who dares to cause trouble at Wang's establishment will be thrown out. Though Manager Wang handled things poorly today, the matter is still under discussion. Yet you, young lady, took it upon yourself to attack another. Do you take me, Baili Flying Eagle, for nothing?"
The young woman shot back, "If I want to leave, I'll leave. If you want to stop me, then come after me!"
With that, Ming Ying displayed her flawless lightness skill and stepped away in a flash.
When Baili Flying Eagle caught sight of her movement, he froze in shock. "The Flowing Step of Water and Fragrance!" he cried out. "Junior Sister, don't go! I'm your Senior Brother!"
At once, he too gave chase with his own mastery of the Flowing Step of Water and Fragrance.
...
Meanwhile, a white horse was galloping toward the capital.
Riding free with wine and song, taking joy in vengeance and loyalty. Such is the way of the jianghu.
In the quiet woods, Li Qing urged his horse forward, singing loudly, startling a whole forest of birds. Bandits nearby dared not approach.
After twelve years away, the capital was finally in sight, and Li Qing's heart leapt with joy.
Not long after...
"Whoa."
Li Qing pulled on the reins. "What is it?" he asked.
"I need to pee," said the eight-year-old child sitting in front of him, timidly.
The child seemed terribly afraid of Li Qing.
This was the child whose spiritual root the White Lotus Sect had discovered.
Li Qing set the child down from the horse. Since the child had been taken in as a disciple for Rong Ku, Li Qing had never taught or even asked the child's name. Earlier, he had simply knocked the child unconscious and left him in a village by Dragon Pool Abyss to be cared for by a peasant woman. Because of this, the child had no idea he was actually the leader of the White Lotus Sect.
The child shrank back and hurried off into the woods. Li Qing frowned. "Why are you running so far?" he called out. "I don't eat people. If a tiger jumped out, I couldn't save you."
At the mention of a tiger, the child burst into tears. "You're a bad man! I'm a girl!"
Li Qing: "....."
So she was a girl. He had thought all along she was a boy. Her hair was cropped short.
"Don't cry, don't cry. I was joking. The tiger's long gone. I killed it myself. Once we reach the capital, I'll take you to eat something good. There's Wang's braised pork intestines; they'll have you licking your lips!"