Chapter Twenty-Three: Setting the Auspicious Omen Free (4k)

The young man had enjoyed a fruitful hunt. His party had downed about six deer, which, when combined with the rabbits previously caught by their sable, was more than enough to boast about upon their return.

As they rode back, the other youths could not help but glance repeatedly at the eight-foot-tall warrior who had used armor-piercing arrows for the hunt. Though he was merely a bodyguard, his majestic bearing in the saddle left a deep impression on the descendants of the founding meritocrats, even stirring a sense of yearning within them.

Shi Chao, unable to suppress his curiosity, asked Jia Mi bluntly, "Where did you find such a champion? He’s even more formidable than my sixth uncle’s guards! That bow he was using—could it be the five-stone bow, the hardest to draw?"

Amidst the envious gazes of the group, Jia Mi looked quite pleased with himself. Instead of answering directly, he turned to the bodyguard and said, "Yie-Yu, you tell them."

The warrior spoke then, his voice melodic and resonant in Chinese: "I am a Xianbei from the Subei tribe in the northern desert, and my name is Yie-Yu. The bow I use is indeed a five-stone ox-horn bow."

So, he was a Xianbei—no wonder he was so fierce! The youths were struck with realization, followed by a surge of envy.

In recent years, Hu people had become a common sight in Luoyang. The city’s markets were bustling, and Hu chieftains from Bingzhou or Liangzhou would travel thousands of miles just to trade people. If a scholar looked into the Western Market of Luoyang, they would see hundreds or thousands of Hu people crowded together, ropes tied around their necks, waiting for new masters to select them. This had once led to the Hu being synonymous with slaves, but that did not include the Xianbei.

Since the founding of the dynasty, the Qiang and Di of Liang and Liang provinces, the Xiongnu of Bingzhou, and the Jie of Jizhou had all submitted to the Western Jin. Only the Xianbei remained a constant threat to the heart of the imperial court. Years ago, Tufa Shujineng led the Western Xianbei in rebellion, defeating the court’s punitive expeditions three times in a row. In the last two years, the Murong Xianbei in the northeast had also defied imperial rule, raiding Changli several times. Yet, the strength of both these factions paled in comparison to the Tuoba Xianbei active in the Hetao region. It was said that the current Minister of Works, Wei Guan, had submitted numerous memorials claiming that the greatest future threat to the state would undoubtedly be the Tuoba Xianbei.

Thus, to the youths of that time, the Xianbei were synonymous with martial prowess, and Jia Mi, who could command such a man as his bodyguard, was naturally even more impressive. Jia Mi laughed and boasted to the others, "Yie-Yu, didn't you say you could shoot vultures? Show everyone."

Yie-Yu then cut the deer meat they had just butchered into strips and tossed them to Zhang Wei, Chen Zhi, Xun Chuo, and Pei Kai, instructing them to skewer the meat on sharpened wooden poles and hold them high to lure the vultures.

To their surprise, after a while, several dark shadows appeared in the sky, circling above them. Yie-Yu drew his bow and notched an arrow, waiting for a vulture to dive for the meat before letting fly. He released three arrows in quick succession, and each one found its mark.

One vulture, struck in the wing, thrashed on the ground, kicking up dust and scattering feathers, yet it could not take flight. The youths erupted in laughter at the sight.

As the sky darkened, the party packed up their gear and urged their horses forward, finally reaching the cave from which they had started. The attendants began preparing the evening meal while the youths rested.

Shi Chao felt somewhat dejected. He had organized this outing, but Jia Mi had stolen all the glory, which left him quite unhappy. Unable to vent his frustration on the others, he walked to the cave entrance to brood.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" A hand patted his shoulder, startling him. He turned to see it was Liu Xian.

Liu Xian held two cups of freshly boiled honey water, naturally handed one to Shi Chao, and stood beside him.

"Oh, nothing. Just catching the breeze," Shi Chao replied sullenly.

The environment at the cave entrance was indeed perfect for catching the breeze; beside them was a gurgling rocky stream, in the distance a pool of water, and on both sides, an endless, swaying dense forest. When the wind blew, one’s soul seemed to drift with the heavens and earth. Liu Xian, easily sensing his gloom, comforted him: "Don't be upset. Today was the first time I've seen your archery skills—they’re truly incredible! You startled me!"

Shi Chao’s expression softened slightly, but he muttered, "What’s the point? No one cares."

Ignoring his false modesty, Liu Xian sat on a rock and smiled. "How can you say it's useless? Among the eight of us, you personally shot two deer—that’s impressive. In a few years, when you come of age, you’ll surely be even better than Yie-Yu. Perhaps you’ll become a general and go on to pacify the Xianbei."

Shi Chao was quite satisfied with this answer and smiled, but then, thinking of something, he glanced back at Jia Mi, who was resting with his eyes closed. A shadow fell over his face again. "It’s still useless. By then, Jia A-Zhen will have relied on his two aunts to likely become a Chancellor, and I’ll be pressed beneath him my whole life."

"Don't be so absolute. Life is only fifty years; who can say for sure?" Liu Xian recalled the history he had read. "Han Xin was merely a wandering knight in his early years, and He Jin was just an obscure butcher when he was young. Yet, in the end, didn't they both hold power that shook the world and win fame across the four seas?"

Shi Chao asked, "Then how did they do it?"

Liu Xian had asked this question himself, and the younger Master Ruan had answered: "Patience, waiting, and a little bit of luck."

"Luck?" Shi Chao laughed. He gazed out at the mountains and said casually, "If there is such a thing as luck, I’d like to see that white deer again."

He clearly did not mean it, as even a child knew that luck was fickle. After all, life was a process of constant disappointment followed by the hope of learning self-reliance.

Yet sometimes, luck is like a louse beneath a fur robe; it loves to bite when one least expects it.

Just then, a bush on the mountain path rustled, and a white object emerged. Upon closer inspection, it was a small deer, entirely white. It was slightly larger than a common yellow hound, with slender limbs and smooth fur that evoked both solemnity and charm, much like the clerical script on a stele. Under the sunset, the white deer’s eyes shone brightly, like an elf fashioned from snowy velvet.

Liu Xian and Shi Chao were stunned. For Liu Xian, seeing such a beautiful creature was like a stream of clear water washing over his mind, clearing away all distractions and leaving behind only a pure appreciation. He stared, unblinking.

The white deer, as if by telepathy, turned back, tilted its head, and let out a soft cry at Liu Xian before suddenly turning and sprinting away.

"It’s the white deer! Piji! Quick, chase it!" Shi Chao didn't even care about his horse; he grabbed his bow and arrows and ran down the mountain path. Liu Xian, empty-handed, followed him.

By rights, a human should not be able to catch a white deer. But this deer was young and not particularly fast. Although it gained some distance at first, it could never fully shake them. Then, it took a sharp turn and dived into the dense forest, which hampered its speed.

Liu Xian and Shi Chao struggled through the thorns and brambles in the dim woods, catching only glimpses of the deer’s shadow. After running for a while, both were gasping for breath. The deer, clearly exhausted as well, began to slow down. They continued to run, one after the other, until finally, Liu Xian and Shi Chao, spent, stopped to catch their breath. The white deer also stopped, tilting its head to examine these two uninvited guests.

The sunset had almost vanished, and the night was imminent; all around them was the rustling of wind in the branches.

Shi Chao felt a sense of frustration, but lacking the strength to even draw his bow, he leaned toward Liu Xian and sighed, "Another wasted effort..."

Liu Xian continued to stare at the deer, smiling as he replied, "How can you say that? Haven't we already had our wish fulfilled by seeing this white deer?"

Shi Chao knew what he meant. Before they left, Liu Xian had said that even if they couldn't catch the deer, it would be fine, as at least the world would have the chance to admire it. Shi Chao had agreed, but humans are creatures who always want more; once something is seen, they want to possess it. Shi Chao remained silent, his eyes fixed gloomily on the deer in the distance.

Liu Xian understood his friend’s thoughts; if they returned like this, his friend wouldn't sleep well tonight. A sudden inspiration struck him, and he said to Shi Chao, "Xinu, drop your bow and arrows."

Shi Chao didn't understand, but out of trust, he complied.

The sound of the bow and arrows hitting the grass startled the deer, which jumped back two steps but then curiously turned to look. Seeing its intelligence, Liu Xian slowly pulled two pieces of candied fruit from his sleeve and tossed them lightly into the clearing between them.

The white deer seemed confused, but as the rich scent of fruit reached it, it could not help but move forward. After a cautious look to ensure the two remained still, the deer moved as gingerly as a maiden leaving her chamber. It took nearly a quarter of an hour for it to reach the treats and begin chewing.

When the deer looked up again, Liu Xian timed another toss of two treats perfectly. The deer let out a cheerful low cry and stepped closer. After doing this several times, most of the deer’s hostility had vanished.

When the deer was only seven or eight steps away, Liu Xian signaled Shi Chao. They crept toward the deer and scattered the rest of the treats on the ground, reaching out to touch it.

The moment they touched its fur, the deer shivered slightly, looked up at Liu Xian, and let out two soft cries before continuing to eat.

By now, the moon had risen, and dappled moonlight flowed through the gaps in the treetops, spilling over this rare omen of peace. The chilly wind and the faint night made the moment feel dreamlike, yet the cool, soft sensation beneath their hands told the boys that this was real.

For Liu Xian and Shi Chao, they didn't know what to say or do. After the overwhelming joy, they had only one thought: to remember this moment forever.

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats came from the north. Liu Xian looked over and saw a spark of fire moving rapidly through the trees. Startled by the noise, the white deer leaped from their hands and fled.

The person riding toward them, caught off guard, didn't think twice. In the darkness, an arrow whistled out, striking the white deer in the hind leg. The deer, unable to steady itself, collapsed. Its front hooves kicked wildly at the air, but no matter how it struggled, it could not rise.

Liu Xian was shocked. He turned to look, and as the horseman reached them, he realized it was Wang Zhou.

Wang Zhou held his bow in one hand and the reins in the other. He dismounted nimbly and laughed at them, "Good fellows! You ran so fast that when we left, we couldn't see you anywhere. We looked for a long time, only to find you here!" He then walked up to the wounded deer and laughed, "Why didn't you just kill it? Why make me shoot this arrow?"

With that, Wang Zhou drew his Fubo sword from his waist and moved to bleed the deer. Seeing the gleaming blade approaching, the white deer knew its end had come; it stopped crying out, its hooves ceased their kicking, and clear tears welled up in its longan-like eyes.

Liu Xian, unable to bear the sight, stepped forward to stop Wang Zhou’s hand. "The white deer is an omen of peace and highly intelligent. Wouldn't it be a pity to kill it? Let it go."

Wang Zhou scoffed at this. "That is the view of a bookworm. All things in heaven and earth exist to serve mankind. If I don't kill it now, with that arrow in its leg, can it even survive? It will only become food for tigers and leopards. Better to peel its skin for clothes and make the most of it."

He tried to push Liu Xian’s hand away, but Liu Xian held firm. Annoyed, Wang Zhou shoved him hard, sending him stumbling. Seeing Liu Xian still trying to intervene, Wang Zhou’s patience and surface kindness vanished. He cursed, "Get out of the way, you descendant of a fallen state!"

Liu Xian was filled with a sudden, boiling rage. He made a snap decision and lunged forward. Wang Zhou, thinking Liu Xian meant to push him, raised his arm to block, but Liu Xian unexpectedly struck his wrist and snatched the Fubo sword! Reversing the blade, he roared back at Wang Zhou, "You pig-herding slave!" He raised the sword as if to strike, but Shi Chao, quick-eyed, pulled him back.

Gripping the sword, Liu Xian felt an infinite strength. He said to Shi Chao, "Xinu, this is none of your business." He then turned to the stunned Wang Zhou and said, "You are welcome to try your sword."

Liu Xian then walked back to the white deer without looking back. He pulled the arrow from its leg, plucked some foxtail grass from the ground, chewed it into a paste, and applied it to the wound. He tore a strip of cloth from his own hem and bandaged the leg. Throughout the process, the white deer remained motionless, watching him quietly.

Once finished, Liu Xian’s expression was serene, even smiling. He patted the deer, and as if by telepathy, it stood up, let out a low cry at him once more, and stumbled off into the depths of the forest.

When the white deer’s shadow vanished under the moonlight, Liu Xian turned to look at Wang Zhou. Wang Zhou still stood there, bewildered, his right hand still held in a phantom grip. Liu Xian returned the Fubo sword, called to Shi Chao, and set off on his own back to the path.

The moon had risen high into the mountains; pale golden clouds intertwined with the dark brown Milky Way. After leaving the forest, the deep blue sky felt as if it could be touched. Countless snow-capped peaks rippled with purple waves under the moon’s glow. Since the dawn of creation, countless quiet mountain moonrises had been like this. If not for the footprints on the snow, it would be hard to believe what had just occurred.

The three returned to the cave in silence, had their evening meal, spoke with their companions as if nothing had happened, and went to sleep.