Volume One The Carefree Journey Amidst Indistinguishable Paper Leaves Chapter Forty The Black Kirin

Duan Canghai was taken aback at first, as if surprised that Yang Ning could say something so eloquent. Then he shook his head and said, “Your Lordship misunderstands. Not to mention a kick—even if I had taken a knife, I would have no complaints.” He slowly sat down, gazing up at the sky, now growing dark, and murmured, “I’m just missing the General. He shouldn’t have... he shouldn’t have left like this. He was a hero among men; heaven should not have been so unjust...” As he spoke, tears rolled down his cheeks.

Yang Ning knew that real men rarely shed tears. For someone as tough as Duan Canghai, it would take the deepest sorrow to bring him to weep.

It was clear that Duan Canghai and Qi Feng, along with the others, were utterly devastated by the death of the Marquess of Brocade Garments, Qi Jing. It was equally evident how much esteem the late Marquess commanded in their hearts.

Yang Ning thought to himself that he knew precious little about the Marquess’s household. If he were to pass himself off successfully, he would need to know as much as possible. Now, with Duan Canghai half drunk and half sober, it was the perfect opportunity to glean information. He reached out and patted Duan Canghai’s arm gently in consolation.

Duan Canghai looked at Yang Ning and said, “Your Lordship... you’re different today than before.”

Yang Ning’s heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged. “How am I different?”

“In the past...” Duan Canghai hesitated, shook his head, and said, “Perhaps it’s the General’s spirit watching over you, that you escaped danger unharmed, and now you... you seem to understand more. The General would be pleased.”

Yang Ning smiled, knowing it was his behavior at the mourning hall that had surprised them all.

“My father... what exactly happened to him?” Yang Ning paused before asking, “How did he pass away?”

Duan Canghai’s expression darkened as he sighed, “I’ve already inquired—his old wounds acted up, and he died suddenly.”

“His wounds?”

“For years, the General was stationed at the front lines. The Huai River frontier suffered from Northern Han raids almost every year. Although there were no major battles before the Battle of Huai River, skirmishes never ceased.” He paused, glanced at Yang Ning, and shook his head. “But I suppose Your Lordship doesn’t care for these tales. I’ll stop rambling.”

“Who said I don’t care to hear them?” Yang Ning smiled. “Uncle Duan, today I suddenly wish to know more about my father’s past. Please, tell me what you know.”

Duan Canghai looked surprised. “In the past, whenever I spoke of the General’s stories, Your Lordship paid no heed. Why the interest today?”

“Times have changed,” Yang Ning sighed, putting on an air of sorrow. “Now that my father’s gone, I... I want to know more about him.”

Duan Canghai nodded slightly, thinking that the Marquess’s death had at last awakened something in his young master—a small comfort to him. “Your Lordship knows, of course, that the title of Marquess of Brocade Garments was passed down from the Old Marquess. He was the finest general of Great Chu, who followed the late emperor onto the battlefield and carved out our prosperous domain.”

So this marquisate was hereditary, Yang Ning thought. The Old Marquess must have been Qi Jing’s father—his own grandfather in this identity.

“The Old Marquess once crossed the Huai River and captured the prefectures of Runan and Shouchun...” Duan Canghai paused, as if thinking these places would mean little to the young lord, and so he simplified, “He seized two prefectures from the Northern Han, drove the blade deep into their side, and ever since, the Northern Han have longed night and day to reclaim them, but have never succeeded.”

“It seems... Grandfather was a master of war,” Yang Ning remarked.

Awe filled Duan Canghai’s face. “Indeed. Like father, like son. In those days, the General followed the Old Marquess into battle. When the Old Marquess passed away, the Northern Han tried to seize the two prefectures. The situation was dire, but the General held the front and drove them back. From then on, his fame shook the land.” Pride shone in his eyes, as if recounting the highest of honors.

“And after that?” Yang Ning asked.

“The emperor ordered the General to hold the Huai River front. The Northern Han attacked countless times, but every time they left in defeat.”

“It seems the Northern Han are truly useless,” Yang Ning laughed. “They couldn’t take back the blade pressed against their own heart.”

Duan Canghai immediately grew solemn. “Your Lordship, though the General was brave and our soldiers skilled, you must never underestimate the Northern Han.” A glimmer of something unreadable crossed his eyes. “In those days, the Marquess of Changling commanded the Blood Orchid Army, a force as fierce as any.”

“Marquess of Changling?” Yang Ning was curious. “Was he so formidable? And what kind of force was the Blood Orchid Army?”

Duan Canghai’s tone grew grave. “When the General held the Huai River, only the Marquess of Changling from the Northern Han could truly rival him.” He sighed. “Beitang Qing, the Marquess of Changling, was one of the foremost men in the Northern Han—accomplished in both civil and martial arts. His greatest feat was training a powerful army whose armor was inlaid with a red orchid, as if stained with blood. Thus, they were called the Blood Orchid Army.”

“The Blood Orchid Army?” Yang Ning laughed. “That name sounds rather feminine.”

Duan Canghai forced a smile. “It sounds feminine, but in battle they were fiercer than beasts. Our control over Runan and Shouchun was always threatened. Once, when the General was in Runan, the Northern Han suddenly attacked Shouchun. The city called for aid, and the General immediately led the Black Qilin Battalion to the rescue, never expecting Beitang Qing would ambush them with the Blood Orchid Army...” He trailed off, his expression turning somber, fists clenched.

Yang Ning couldn’t help but ask, “Is the Black Qilin Battalion so formidable?”

“Your Lordship, do you recall the corpses outside the ancestral hall? I said they were likely the work of the Black Sabre Battalion. Do you remember?” Duan Canghai asked.

Yang Ning nodded. “You all seem to fear the Black Sabre Battalion.”

“The two most elite forces in Great Chu are the Black Sabre Battalion and the Black Qilin Battalion,” Duan Canghai said slowly. “In their prime, they were equals. Every soldier aspired to join one of these two. The Black Qilin Battalion was created by the Old Marquess himself—a true army of iron and blood. Though neither was large, both were renowned across the realm.”

“So the Black Qilin Battalion is still at the front?”

“The front?” Duan Canghai gave a bitter laugh. “The Black Qilin Battalion no longer exists. When they met the Blood Orchid Army, they fought for three days and nights. The Black Qilin were almost entirely wiped out, and the Blood Orchid Army suffered heavy losses...” He sighed. “It was then that the Third Master fell in battle.”

“The Third Master?” Yang Ning paused. “That was... my third uncle?”

Duan Canghai nodded. “It has been ten years. Your Lordship was young then, perhaps your memory is dim. The Third Master commanded the Black Qilin Battalion—he was the General’s right hand and a pillar of Great Chu...” His eyes reddened. “He died in his prime, sacrificing himself for the nation, leaving behind the Third Lady...”

“You mean to say, Third Lady is... she was married to my third uncle?” Yang Ning didn’t finish, but at last he understood: Gu Qinghan was not one of Qi Jing’s concubines, but the lawfully wedded wife of the Third Master of the Qi family. No wonder she showed no deference to Concubine Qiong.

“Third Lady’s fate has been bitter...” Duan Canghai’s voice dropped. Perhaps the wine had loosened his tongue. “All these years, the household was managed by her. If not for her, the marquisate would not be as orderly as it is now.” He added, “Your Lordship, she has cared for you all these years. You must treat her well.” Realizing he was overstepping, he gave an awkward smile. “Forgive me, Your Lordship—I’ve had too much to drink and am rambling.”

Yang Ning naturally did not mind, but instead asked, “And my... my mother?”

He had always found it odd. As the legitimate son of the Marquess, his mother should be the Marquess’s wife, yet it seemed that Gu Qinghan, the Third Lady, managed household affairs. Since entering the household, he had not seen the Marquess’s wife at all. If she were present, Gu Qinghan would have introduced him after paying respects to the Dowager.

It was as if she did not exist in the household.

A strange look passed through Duan Canghai’s eyes. He clearly knew what Yang Ning wanted to ask, but instead of answering, he stood up. “Your Lordship, we should go to the mourning hall. Everything is ready—we should accompany the General.”

“Sit down,” Yang Ning said, pulling at Duan Canghai’s sleeve to make him sit. He frowned, “Why do you always try to leave when I ask about my mother?”

Duan Canghai’s expression grew odd. He glanced around, then lowered his voice, “Your Lordship, this... you should ask the Dowager another time. There’s a rule in the household—no one may mention the First Lady. Honestly... I know nothing about her. I couldn’t tell you even if I wished.”

Yang Ning could never have expected such a reply.

He was startled and puzzled. Why would the Qi household have such a strange rule? The First Lady, as the Marquess’s wife, should hold great authority—higher even than Gu Qinghan. Why was she not to be mentioned?

It was all very mysterious.

“How many years have you served in this household?” Yang Ning asked. “How can you know nothing about my mother?”

Duan Canghai rubbed his forehead and replied softly, “After the Black Qilin Battalion was destroyed, the General brought me, Qi Feng, and Zhao Wushang back to the capital to serve in the household. It’s been many years now.”

“After the Black Qilin Battalion was destroyed?” Yang Ning was startled. “What is your connection to the Black Qilin Battalion?”

Duan Canghai looked Yang Ning in the eye and said, word by word, “The three of us all came from the Black Qilin Battalion. I served at the Third Master’s side as his deputy!” His gaze was both sorrowful and filled with an unhidden pride.