Inside the ship, in their small sleeping quarter, Guo Baiyu was examining Ping'an's neck. After a period of time, Guo Baiyu then said, "This is just bruises. It will heal."
Ping'an nodded, accepting his assessment.
Zhao Renshu scolded Ping'an, his voice firm. "No more fighting criminals by yourself."
"I have promised you that I won't do this again," Ping'an replied, looking at him.
"Remember it," Zhao Renshu insisted.
Guo Longtong walked in, rubbing his shoulder. "Hey guys, Peizhi is going to cremate Yuehai's body tomorrow."
"How do you feel?" Guo Baiyu asked, concerned about his injury.
"I'm fine, but my collarbone is broken. It will heal," Guo Longtong shrugged.
"Thank you," Ping'an said sincerely, remembering he took a hit for her.
Guo Longtong smiled. "It's no big deal. It's worth it to break the collarbone."
"You seem to be satisfied with a broken collarbone," Zhao Renshu commented, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Guo Longtong smiled mischievously and said, "With this broken bone, Hongse listened to me more, so it's worth it."
"You are incredibly fantastic," Zhao Renshu chuckled, shaking his head.
When the sun rose in the morning sky, Lim Yuehai's body was reverently placed on a pile of logs. Lim Peizhi poured oil over the pyre and then lit the logs. As he recalled their shared growth from childhood, his eyes were full of tears.
Lim Yuehai was born first, but because he was a boy, he always claimed to be older. When their life together began, they were inseparable, and now as he continued his journey, her life had ended. He felt his heart was half empty, a profound void.
"Peizhi, please take good care of yourself," Huang Yueliang said gently, standing by his side. "If Yuehai sees you like this, she will not be happy. Remember that you are now responsible for her child."
"Don't worry, little sister," Lim Peizhi replied, his voice hoarse with grief, but resolute. "I will raise your son like my own. I will teach him to be a great soldier of Waterfall City and make you proud."
Due to the death of Lim Yuehai, Lim Peizhi refused to fulfill his promise to let the pirates complete the restoration of Ocean City. Instead, Lim Peizhi promised the pirate prisoners that they were welcome to write letters to their families to come live with them in Waterfall City, offering them a new life instead of punishment. Those that had families in nearby towns gathered around at the pier, waiting to board the ships. When the pirates and their families boarded the ship, the four generals of Ocean City appeared on the dock to bid farewell.
One of the older generals approached Guo Baiyu. "Savior, please speak to Childe Lim on our behalf."
"Don't worry," Guo Baiyu reassured him. "Peizhi is a reasonable person. Since Mayor Du committed suicide due to his own fault, Peizhi will not seek revenge on the innocent."
The other elder general bowed. "Thank you again. Travel safely. We will always welcome you here."
Guo Baiyu bid farewell to the four generals. When Guo Baiyu boarded the ship, Mao Zhenzhu and Cui Zuanshi yelled loudly from behind him, drawing attention. Mao Zhenzhu threw two bags to Guo Baiyu.
"Snack for your journey!" Cui Zuanshi called out cheerfully.
Mao Zhenzhu and Cui Zuanshi waved at Guo Baiyu. They giggled and said in unison, "Safe journey, handsome!" They laughed, their playful energy a stark contrast to the earlier solemnity.
Standing on the ship rail, Zhao Renshu shook his head. "These two cousin sisters remind me so much of the Xiao sisters," he mused. He looked at Guo Baiyu. "What did they give you?"
"Snacks for the trip," Guo Baiyu replied. He opened one of the bags. "Dried beef."
"Teacher Lee likes dried beef," Guozhao Zhiqiang commented, remembering his teacher.
"Baiyu. Renshu. I have something to ask," Lim Peizhi said, approaching them.
Zhao Renshu ate a piece of beef. "Say it," he grunted, chewing.
"Yueliang is going to visit her mother in Capital City," Lim Peizhi explained. "I want to trouble your disciple Zhiqiang to deliver my nephew and Yuehai's ashes to my parents."
"What do you say, Zhiqiang?" Guo Baiyu asked, turning to his disciple. "Are you willing to take on this task?"
"I am afraid I will disappoint you," Guozhao Zhiqiang replied, a rare moment of hesitation.
"Hey, kid, no one is perfect," Zhao Renshu said, offering encouragement. "If you stay on the mountain all your life without experience, how can you be better?"
"Failure is not bad," Guo Baiyu added. "Failure makes us strong because we have learned something from it."
Guozhao Zhiqiang looked at Ping'an for her opinion. "Shimu?"
"If you want lifelong friends, then you must start somewhere," Ping'an said gently. "Why not today?"
"Remember, trust is not given to you, you need to earn trust," Guo Baiyu advised, giving him a final piece of wisdom.
"Senior Lim, I will take the task," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, his resolve hardening.
"Thank you," Lim Peizhi replied, relieved.
Six days later, their four ships docked outside a small town in Capital City. After two days of rest and reloading of supplies on the ship, the people boarded the ship again.
Lim Peizhi handed Guozhao Zhiqiang a tiger soapstone seal. "Seeing this is like seeing me in person. No one in Waterfall City will hurt you," he instructed. He looked at Guozhao Zhiqiang intently. "Don't show it to anyone unless absolutely necessary."
Guozhao Zhiqiang nodded, understanding the significance.
"I have another task for you," Lim Peizhi continued, his voice lowering to a confidential tone. "This task is to be kept a secret. There are seven generals in Waterfall City. One of them is planning to commit treason. I want you to find out who is the traitor that is conspiring with the Wastelanders."
"You didn't want to go back because of this reason?" Guo Baiyu asked, realizing Peizhi's true motive for staying away.
"If I am there, the traitors will always remain vigilant," Lim Peizhi explained, "but if I am not there, they may be reckless and give themselves up. I will not let anyone harm our peaceful way of life."
"Zhiqiang, remember to always be vigilant," Guo Baiyu warned. "Don't trust anybody."
One of the soldiers came up to the group. "General Lim, everyone is ready."
"Remember to take it out only, when necessary," Lim Peizhi reminded Guozhao Zhiqiang about the seal.
"I'm leaving now," Guozhao Zhiqiang said, bidding them farewell.
"Remember your tasks," Zhao Renshu called out.
"This is your first trip. Be careful," Ping'an said, her voice filled with maternal concern.
"I will. Don't worry about me, Shimu. I won't let anyone down," Guozhao Zhiqiang promised, then boarded the ship with the last four soldiers.
The group of friends watched Guozhao Zhiqiang's ship depart.
"Don't think too much," Guo Baiyu said gently to Ping'an, noticing her worry. "There will be a period in a person's life when he must choose which way to go." He patted gently on Ping'an's shoulder.
"I hope he won't let you down," Lim Peizhi murmured, his gaze still on the disappearing ship.
"What do you mean?" Zhao Renshu asked, confused.
"This is his final test, to see if he is worthy of being our disciple," Guo Baiyu revealed, his expression serious.
"Whaaat! You are testing him?" Zhao Renshu exclaimed, astonished.
"I don't understand," Huang Yueliang confessed.
"Me too," Huang Hongse agreed. "I thought we are heading to Waterfall City."
"I gave him the tiger soapstone seal," Lim Peizhi explained, "but if he uses it to command my troops, Waterfall City will be his resting place."
"Why?" Guo Longtong asked, bewildered.
"If he is a person full of greed, he will bring harm to the people we swore to protect," Guo Baiyu elaborated, his voice grave. "He has been scarred since he was a child, and his heart is full of hatred. It is difficult to say whether he is willing to take the righteous path."
"Let's hope our first disciple comes out victorious," Zhao Renshu said, a rare note of genuine worry in his voice.
Inside the carriage, heading towards Capital City, Guo Longtong said, "We have two places in Capital City where we can rest. The first is the residence of the Fang family, and the second is the residence of the Guo family."
"Hmph... you can rest at the Guo residence," Huang Hongse said madly, glaring at him coldly. "We are resting at Brightness Inn."
"Why not?" Guo Longtong asked, confused by her hostility.
"You should know better than anyone," Huang Hongse retorted.
"Did I say something wrong?" Guo Longtong pressed.
"The moment you mentioned the word "Guo," you were wrong," Huang Hongse snapped.
"My last name is Guo, and soon your children will become a Guo too," Guo Longtong argued, still baffled. "Why do you hate that surname?" Huang Hongse didn't answer, so Guo Longtong looked at Guo Baiyu for an explanation. "Baiyu, am I wrong?"
"You are not wrong," Guo Baiyu replied, though a faint sadness touched his eyes.
Ping'an smiled at Guo Longtong. "Longtong, Baiyu is forbidden to enter the Guo residence."
Guo Longtong hit his mouth a couple of times. "I'm sorry. I forgot," he muttered sheepishly.
"You need to hit hard until your lips bleed so that your little brain can remember it clearly," Huang Hongse said coldly, rolling her eyes and moving to sit next to Ping'an.
Zhao Renshu opened the curtain. "We are here now. Brightness Inn."
Huang Hongse forced her way out first, still fuming. She said madly, "Renshu, take Childe Guo to the Guo Residence. He wants to rest there!"
Zhao Renshu laughed. "If it's the Guo residence, he could walk there by himself. I am not going." Zhao Renshu helped Ping'an get down gracefully.
Guo Longtong stood on the carriage platform, calling out. "Hey, no one wants to help me. Remember that I was the injured person!"
Guo Baiyu put the footstool on the ground and helped Guo Longtong get off the carriage, a patient sigh escaping him. The group of friends walked into Brightness Inn. The Inn hadn't changed much since the last time the three Guozhao Hunters were there ten years ago.
Everyone sat at the table, and the waiter greeted them. They ordered their food.
"Waiter, we also want five rooms," Guo Longtong added.
"I'll go and see if there are any rooms available," the waiter replied, heading off.
After a while, the waiter returned to the table and told the group of friends that there were only three rooms available.
"It's not New Year or any festival, why is your Inn so booked?" Guo Baiyu asked, surprised.
"Oh, you may not know," the waiter explained. "Young Master Fang is getting married!"
"I didn't know that he brought Dachin back to marry him," Zhao Renshu smiled, a genuine delight in his voice.
"When is the wedding?" Huang Yueliang asked, excitedly.
"Tomorrow," the waiter replied.
"There is still time to give them gifts!" Huang Yueliang exclaimed.
"We will go shopping after dinner," Huang Hongse declared.
"Deal!" Guo Longtong said, then panicked. "I don't know what to give Yaoting and Dachin!"
"I'm sure Dachin wants nothing but us there to celebrate with them," Guo Baiyu said, a warm smile on his face.
The waiter was confused. "What are everyone talking about? Is the person you mentioned the young Master Fang?"
"Hey, there is only one Young Master Fang in Capital City," Guo Longtong retorted, annoyed. "Fang Yaoting!"
"Yes, I am confused because you keep mentioning Dachin," the waiter replied, still bewildered.
"The two people getting married is not Fang Yaoting and Lee Dachin?" Guo Baiyu asked, a sudden coldness in his voice.
The waiter laughed, a nervous sound. "No...no...no... The wedding to be held at the Fang family residence tomorrow is the wedding between Young Master Fang Yaoting and Lady Wang Shuchun!"
Guo Longtong's rage exploded. He lunged, seizing the waiter by the collar, his knuckles white, his eyes blazing with an inferno of fury. "What did you say?!" he snarled, his voice a low, dangerous growl. "Who will marry Fang Yaoting tomorrow?!"
"Lady Wang Shuchun," the waiter stammered, terrified. "Officer Wang's second daughter."
Guo Longtong breathed in and out through his two nostrils, his rage boiling over. He shouted, "Fang Yaoting!" He aggressively pushed the waiter away. "I'm going to kill you!" He threw his fan on the floor and, in a fit of fury, grabbed Lim Peizhi's sword, and stormed out of the Inn.
"Come back with my sword!" Lim Peizhi called after Guo Longtong, frustrated.
Huang Hongse stood up and chased after the injured Guo Longtong, fearing what he might do.
"If he charges into the Fang Residence with your sword, he will be killed or severely injured by the Fang's guards," Huang Yueliang said, her face pale with worry.
Zhao Renshu hit the table hard. He said angrily, "That's it. I'm going to kill him too!"
The remaining four friends had no choice but to chase their three enraged friends, plunging into yet another chaotic confrontation.