Volume One: Youths Meet in Humble Times Chapter Fifty: Seven Years Pass in the Blink of an Eye

Li Yu's days in the small town passed in tranquil ease. Though his life was not as idyllic as rising at dawn and resting at sunset, he had at last begun to resemble a child again. The Shen siblings often took him around the town to play—fishing in the river, searching for birds on the mountain, catching snakes in the woods, digging for eels in the fields—allowing him to experience everything a boy his age ought to. The gloom between his brows, born of hardship and wandering, gradually faded away, and in the gentle rhythm of daily life, even the last vestiges of complaint and resentment toward life vanished from his heart.

Still, the days were not entirely free of trouble. After the incident with Xu Kaijiang and the others, they made several attempts to provoke and test Li Yu, but his calm indifference rendered their efforts as futile as punching into cotton—forceful, yet unable to find purchase. When they finally considered more underhanded means, Li Yu's presence alone, as if a beast had awakened, was enough to terrify them with a single glance. Their courage withered, and they dared not trouble him further. As for Zhang Boqian, after being blamed for the demise of Zhang Xi's doppelganger, he was strictly forbidden from harassing Li Yu again and was instructed to stay far away whenever he saw him. The other four families received similar warnings. Thus, life became much more peaceful for him, and even Shen Xun and Shen Tang seldom suffered bullying from those quarters anymore.

Perhaps because his state of mind had changed, Li Yu no longer felt so constrained in his dealings with others. In conversation, he gradually became more willing to express his own views.

One day, as he played at the Shen siblings’ home, Zhou Ce arrived unexpectedly. Pushing open the door, he found the three of them in Shen Xun’s room: one embroidering, one writing, one painting—a scene of perfect serenity. With a sigh, he complained, “It’s so peaceful here. My house is nothing like this; the noise is enough to drive me mad.”

Shen Tang set aside her embroidery frame and got up to pour Zhou Ce a bowl of tea. He accepted it with thanks and continued to grumble, “I never realized how shameless they could be. No matter how tactfully I say I don’t want to help them investigate the stone stele, they pretend not to hear and come every day, pestering me for over half an hour. They’re driving me crazy.”

Shen Xun put down his brush, blew on the ink to dry it more quickly, and said, “I told you to just refuse outright, but you wouldn’t listen. You said it wouldn’t be proper, but I don’t see why not. If there’s something I don’t want to do, why should I be forced?”

Zhou Ce could only give a bitter smile, unable to reply. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered Shen Xun’s suggestion; in fact, he wanted to do just that. But his position in Tianmen Town was awkward—though he lived in the eastern city, he had no family there and relied on himself for everything. If he alienated people, life would only become harder.

At this, Li Yu couldn’t help but interject, “Why don’t you just tell the Lord Mayor?”

All three turned to stare at Li Yu in disbelief. When he saw their reaction, he asked, “Did I say something wrong? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Shen Xun put down his pen and paper, looking at Li Yu earnestly. “Little Fish, it’s not a question of right or wrong, but of propriety. If someone entrusts you with something you can’t do, you can’t simply hand it off or report it to someone else.”

Li Yu was puzzled. He countered, “But hasn’t Brother Zhou already told us?”

Shen Xun flushed, scratching his head awkwardly. “Ah, that’s different! We found out immediately, openly and honestly. But if A Ce were to tell the mayor or someone else afterward, that wouldn’t be the same.”

Shen Tang couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth. “Brother, you’ve finally been left speechless for once. Serves you right.”

Zhou Ce put on a show of righteousness. “I may not like dealing with them, but I won’t betray them either!”

Now it was Li Yu’s turn to regard them with a hint of disdain. He didn’t voice his opinion directly but instead spoke of his past. “When I was younger, before my master brought me here, the children in my village would always split into two sides over trivial matters. Those who stayed out had to pick a side if they wanted to play; to them, there was no shame in it—it was just how you joined a group. But it wasn’t easy; you had to show loyalty, join them in opposing the other side. In that case, what do you think is the right thing to do?”

Shen Xun replied without hesitation, “I wouldn’t pick a side—I’d only stand with what I think is right.”

Shen Tang thought for a moment and said, “I agree with my brother; I’d stand with what’s right.”

When it came to Zhou Ce, he hesitated under their expectant gazes. After a long pause, he said, “I don’t know. I just want to live my life in peace.”

The Shen siblings did not catch the implication of his words—perhaps Zhou Ce himself did not fully understand their deeper meaning. But Li Yu did. After that statement, Li Yu thought to himself that Zhou Ce could have added, “I only stand where it benefits me.”

He continued, “In my view, it doesn’t matter which side they stand on—or even if they don’t choose a side at all. To have no stance, or to stand only for oneself, is still, in essence, picking a position. Yet no stance can always be right. Right and wrong are matters of perspective—like cows eating grass and wolves eating cows; is one right and the other wrong? It’s not about right or wrong, just their positions.”

Shen Xun pondered this and, after a while, asked, “So, what would you choose?”

Li Yu replied, “I wouldn’t choose sides—only do what I believe is right.”

Realization dawned in Shen Xun’s eyes. “So when you say not choosing, you really mean focusing on the matter, not the person—not aligning yourself with any side, but doing what you believe is right at the moment, no matter who it involves.”

Li Yu smiled, knowing Shen Xun would understand. Shen Tang, too, nodded, “It’s a bit roundabout, but I get it—you mean, just follow your heart.”

Though Zhou Ce was somewhat enlightened by their words, he still couldn’t decide what to do. Seeing this, Li Yu decided to push him just a bit further. “Do you think the Lord Mayor treats you well?”

Zhou Ce answered without hesitation, “Of course.”

Li Yu pressed on, “So, on one side is the mayor, who’s good to you; on the other, people you don’t care for. Whatever your stance or motivation, wouldn’t you naturally stand with the mayor?”

Zhou Ce wavered. “That’s true, but I…”

Li Yu fanned the flames. “We don’t know the details about the central stone stele, but if they want you to investigate it, they must be after something. I might not know what, but the mayor certainly does. If someone is plotting under his very nose, don’t you think you should warn him, for his own protection?”

At this, Zhou Ce’s expression grew grave. He hadn’t thought of it that way before, assuming they were just curious. But if they persisted so doggedly, there must be something more. Now, with Li Yu’s reminder, he felt increasingly uneasy.

“You’re right. I really hadn’t considered it thoroughly before. I thought they were just curious, but if they’re so desperate to involve me, there must be more to it.”

Seeing Zhou Ce finally understand, Li Yu felt relieved.

It was true; he wanted to help Zhou Ce with this dilemma, but he also hoped to ease his master’s burdens. Though his master said little, Li Yu sensed that trouble was brewing in Tianmen Town, and that it would certainly involve the five great families. If the mayor became more wary of them, perhaps his master would have less to shoulder.

Forgive him for manipulating Zhou Ce.

Li Yu had always known he was neither a gentleman nor a good man. Yet all he ever wanted was to protect those he cared for. To achieve that, he did not mind resorting to schemes and stratagems.

So the matter was settled, and for now, put to rest. But to his surprise, three days later, Zhou Ce came to see him in person, handing him a token with a complicated expression. “Uncle Zhang asked me to give you this. With this token, you may enter the mayor’s library freely.”

Li Yu didn’t take it at once. He glanced at the Daoist, who stood nearby and smiled, “A gift from your elders should not be refused. Take it.”

At this, Li Yu accepted the token. Before leaving, Zhou Ce asked, “Next time I go, should I invite you?”

Li Yu considered, then nodded. “That would be good. Thank you, Brother Zhou.”

After Zhou Ce left, Li Yu told the Daoist his thoughts about why the mayor had given him the token. The Daoist did not seem to mind. He simply said, “Little Fish, just live your life well. Let your master handle the rest. Don’t worry.”

Yet for some reason, the Daoist’s reassurance left Li Yu uneasy. He longed to do more, but he lacked the ability and could only obey for now. Still, he resolved in his heart to grow stronger as soon as possible, for only then could he protect the people he wished to protect.

As the years passed, winter turning to spring, Li Yu’s days were spent in study and cultivation. He diligently read his scriptures, practiced the Daoist’s Heavenly Inquiry Sword, and sought ways to refine the Dragon Pearl, hoping to aid the dragon spirit in taking shape. Day by day, his bond with the dragon spirit deepened, and his mastery of the Dragon God Technique became ever more refined. Even those who tried to probe his body could only determine he was half-dragon, which spared him much trouble.

The vast sea became his private domain; as long as he kept away from the deep waters, he enjoyed unmatched freedom there.

Seven years slipped by in the blink of an eye. At dawn one day, he burst from the sea and returned to shore, gazing at the rising sun. In his eyes shone a steely resolve. No matter the tempests to come, he would remain unshaken.