Chapter 5  第5章

An Ping took a taxi home to find breakfast prepared by the housekeeper on the table—scallion oil noodles topped with a soft-boiled egg and a bowl of glutinous rice pumpkin porridge.
安平打车回了家，桌子上摆着阿姨做好的早饭，葱油小面上卧着溏心蛋，还有一碗糯米南瓜粥。

With his parents constantly abroad for business, An Ping had grown accustomed to living alone. He reheated the breakfast in the microwave while calculating the remaining homework: twenty-five test papers to complete in one afternoon... It was clearly impossible. Might as well copy the answers.
安家父母常年在国外忙生意，安平已经习惯了一个人住，他将早饭放进微波炉加热，盘算了一下剩余的作业，一个下午二十五张卷子……怎么看都做不完，算了，抄吧。

An Ping was usually a diligent student who rarely took shortcuts. Copying homework was something he hadn't done since starting high school. But after last night's ordeal, homework no longer seemed like such a big deal. Cutting corners once after a brush with death seemed perfectly reasonable.
安平是个认真的性格，平时很少投机取巧，抄作业这种事自上高中以来还是头一回，然而经历了昨晚的一通折腾，作业看起来实在不是什么大不了的事。死里逃生后偷一回懒，也是情理之中。

His mind was still preoccupied with Mu Gesheng's bizarre situation—it was so utterly inconceivable that if he hadn't read enough novels, he wouldn't have known how to piece his shattered worldview back together.
他心里还惦记着木葛生的事，毕竟实在过于匪夷所思，如果不是看小说看得多他都不知道怎么拼好破碎的三观。

Rarely free from homework, An Ping pondered for a moment before deciding to distract himself. He headed downstairs to the home theater and selected a historical film.
难得不写作业，安平想了想，决定找点事转移一下思路，他打开楼下的家庭影院，挑了一部历史片。

The subject matter was somewhat niche—a semi-fictionalized account based on historical facts. The synopsis was brief, unclear about which dynasty or era it depicted, likely set in the chaotic twilight of some bygone age.
题材有些冷门，是一部史实打底的半架空，简介很短，不知讲的是哪朝哪代，大概算个乱世末年。

An Ping pressed play, and the screen faded from brightness into darkness.  安平按下播放键，屏幕由明转暗。

A beaded curtain was lifted, light and shadows swirling like yellowed old rice paper, while deep within the winding corridor stood vermilion gates, the faint strains of a melodious aria drifting through—
一卷珠帘打起，光影流转，像泛黄的旧宣，游廊深处有朱红大门，婉转唱腔隐隐传来——

"...Awaiting the day when crows turn white and horses grow horns to bring rescue at last. Keep this letter close to your heart. I too have wandered long in exile..."
“……盼乌头马角终相救。置此札，君怀袖。我亦飘零久……”

An Ping felt he must be dreaming.  安平觉得自己大概是在做梦。

He must have fallen asleep while watching the film—there was no other explanation for opening his eyes to find himself in the last century. Before him stretched a long street, its layout suggesting the Republican era.
应该是看电影时睡着了，否则没道理一睁眼就到了上世纪，眼前是条长街，看街景布局，大概是在民国年间。

An Ping was prone to vivid dreams, and based on his experience, this one shouldn't be frightening—at the very least, it would be from a god's-eye view. As long as it wasn't a first-person immersive experience, the effect would be no different from watching a movie.
安平是多梦的体质，以他的经验来看，这梦应该不吓人，最起码是个上帝视角，只要不是第一人称亲身体验，效果也就和电影差不多。

Besides, he had already made a scene at a ghost wedding—what was one more?  再说他连鬼洞房都闹过了，不差这一个。

Horses and carriages bustled about, the street alive with the clamor of voices. Suddenly, a commotion grew louder as it approached, and a crisp shout rang out: "Make way, please make way! There's a fight going on—don't get caught in the crossfire!"
车马往来，街上人声鼎沸，突然有嘈杂声由远及近，一声清脆吆喝平地而起：“让一让啊麻烦让一让！正打架呢别误伤着您！”

In the distance, a large group of people came running, all covered in dust and looking utterly disheveled. The shouting, surprisingly, came from the very back of the crowd: "Second Brother! We're at Changmei Bridge! Finish him off with one move!"
只见远处有一大帮人飞奔而来，个个灰头土脸神色狼狈，而那吆喝居然是从人群最后方传出来的，“老二！到长眉桥了！给我一招带走！”

The shouting came from a young man, his expression lively and movements nimble, leaping to the end of the long street in just a few words. There stood a bridge, separated from the opposite street by a shallow inlet.
喊话的人是个少年，神色飞扬手脚轻灵，几句话间就跃到了长街尽头，那里有一座桥，和对街隔着一道浅水湾。

The youth stood on the other side of the bridge, flipping anyone who tried to cross into the water. Yet the crowd continued surging forward relentlessly, each face etched with desperation, as if they’d rather brave the young man’s resistance than face whatever horror pursued them from behind.
少年站在桥对面，将想要过桥的人通通掀翻入水，然而人群依然源源不断涌上前，个个都是逃命的神色，仿佛即使打不过桥头少年也要硬着头皮上，因为后边追着什么更恐怖的东西。

As the bridge grew increasingly crowded, a sudden gust of wind swept down the street, roaring toward the bridgehead. The crowd instantly scattered like blossoms in a storm, flung into the air before splashing into the water below. Plop after plop echoed until the inlet was packed with people, resembling a pot of tightly packed dumplings.
眼见着桥上越来越拥挤，长街突然涌起一道疾风，哗啦啦席卷而过，直奔桥头而去，桥上人群瞬间炸开，天女散花般被掀上半空，接着砸入水中，扑通扑通的声音此起彼伏，没多久浅水湾里就落满了人，像一锅拥挤的饺子。

"Swift as the wind, scattering petals and flowing water," the young man at the bridgehead clapped his hands and laughed. "If you’d drawn your blade earlier today, Second Brother, neither of us would’ve ended up—one with a wounded arm, the other with a twisted ankle."
“出刀如风，落花流水。”桥头少年拍了拍手，笑道：“老二你今天要是早点拔刀，咱俩也不至于一个伤了胳膊一个崴了脚。”

"The master said there's been no trouble lately, so the blade can only be drawn once every three days." A youth of similar age walked down the long street, cradling a vermilion longsword in his arms.
“先生说了，近日无事，三天只能拔一次刀。”长街里有人走来，也是个年纪相仿的少年，怀里抱着一把朱红长刀。

An Ping watched from the sidelines, dumbfounded. Was his imagination leveling up? How could he dream up someone so breathtakingly handsome?
安平在旁观视角里看呆了，心说他这脑补能力是升级了么？他居然能梦到这么好看的人？

Handsome wasn't the right word—too flat, too inadequate. This was a beauty devoid of any femininity, sharp and stunning.
不是好看，用好看形容太平板，那是一种毫不女气的漂亮，锋利而惊艳。

The youth had phoenix eyes. Holding the sword, his very aura resembled a blade—his beauty breathtaking on the surface, his bone structure radiating lethal sharpness beneath. His back stood straight as if wine had been poured over steel, the scent of scorched bone rising from honed metal.
少年生了一双丹凤眼，他抱着一把刀，气质也像一把刀，皮相上漂亮得惊心动魄，骨相里锋利得杀气四溢，背挺得很直，如同刀上泼了酒，刮骨燎香。

An Ping stared dumbfounded, while most passersby seemed accustomed to it. "Young Master Song came down from the mountain?" "Today's the fifth day—the academy's closed." "No surprise these young masters love brawling whenever they descend." "Boys will be boys..."
安平看傻了眼，路人却大都习以为常，“松少爷从山上下来了？”“今儿初五，书斋停学。”“果然这几位哥儿下山就喜欢打架。”“少年郎嘛……”

The youth called "Second Brother" looked otherworldly but spoke with earthy familiarity, "Finally fucking finished. Let's go get drinks."
被叫做老二的少年看着不似凡俗，开口却很接地气，“可算他娘的打完了，找地儿喝酒去。”

"Hold on." The youth from the opposite bridge fished someone out of the water, grinning as he said, "Big brother, do me a favor and pass this message to your young master: This time I beat him up and made him call me 'Dad.' Next time he'll have to call me 'Grandpa,' and the time after that he can bring his real father to kowtow to me. As for seizing commoners' homes—I'll beat him every time I see it. Tell him to check if his ancestors' graves are still intact before trying that again."
“稍候。”桥对岸的少年从水里捞出个人，笑嘻嘻道：“这位大哥，麻烦给您家少爷带个话，这次他被我揍了，我让他叫我爹，下次他就要叫我爷爷，下下次他就能带着他亲爹一起来给我磕头了。强占民宅这事儿，我见一次揍一次，让他动手前先看看自家祖坟有没有刨干净。”

Second Brother grew impatient, "Fourth Brother, what's with the fucking lecture? You done yet?"
老二听得不耐烦，“老四你在那废什么话？有完没完？”

"Coming, coming." Old Fourth raised his hand and tossed the man back into the water. "One knife every three days? Then how do you explain slaughtering that pig yesterday with a knife—" Just as he reached the center of the bridge, a sharp crack sounded beneath his feet, followed by a thunderous crash as the entire bridge collapsed.
“来了来了。”老四一扬手，再次将人丢回水中，“三天出一次刀？那你昨天拿刀杀猪是怎么算……”他刚走到桥中央，却听到脚下噼啪一响，接着轰隆一声，整座桥塌了下去。

"Damn, Second Brother, you're ruthless." Fourth Brother surfaced from the water. "So what if I said you slaughtered a pig? Was it really necessary to chop the bridge in half?"
“……老二你太狠了。”老四从水里冒出头，“不就说你杀个猪吗，至于把桥劈了？”

"You dare say you didn't eat any?" Lao Er sneered. "Was I slaughtering pigs to feed dogs?"
“你好意思说自己没吃？”老二冷哼，“我杀猪喂狗吗？”

"Oho, getting angry?" Old Four made a face. "Woof."  “呦，生气了？”老四做个鬼脸，“汪。”

"Fuck your ancestors." Lao Er curled his lips and hauled the man out of the water. "Look at your sorry state—forget about drinking. Go find a doctor and get that arm stitched up."
“汪你祖宗。”老二撇撇嘴，将人从水里捞了出来，“看你这熊样也别去喝酒了，找个大夫，缝你的胳膊。”

"No big deal, no big deal! If we're any later, we'll miss Guan Shanyue's opening song... Hey, why are you like this again!"
“不碍事不碍事，再去晚点关山月的第一支曲子就要开唱了……欸你咋又这样！”

"Cut the crap." Lao Er hoisted him up by the belt. "Find a doctor first. Next time, we'll book Guan Shanyue for a private show."
“别给我扯淡。”老二直接将人拎了起来，手里提着对方的腰带，“先去找大夫，下次把关山月包下来。”

"Then I want Aunt Yue to play mahjong with me!"  “那我要越姨陪我搓麻将！”

"Do you even know how to spell 'give an inch and take a mile'?"   “你他妈是不是不知道蹬鼻子上脸怎么写？”

An Ping watched as the two bickered all the way until they stopped in front of a grand mansion. The entrance was imposing—a deep courtyard with vermilion gates flanked by two palace lanterns. Instead of using the main gate, Second Brother turned into a side alley and began pounding violently on a side door. "Hey, Chai! You in there?"
安平看着这两人一路吵吵闹闹，最后停在一座宅邸门前，门庭建的很气派，深宅大院，朱红大门前挂着两盏宫灯。老二没有走大门，而是拐进了一旁的偏巷，对着角门哐哐哐一通猛敲，“姓柴的！在不在？”

"Are you knocking or robbing?" Fourth Brother lifted his eyelids lazily. "Whose house is this? What kind of doctor lives in such luxury?"
“你在敲门还是打劫？”老四掀了掀眼皮，“这是谁家？哪家大夫这么有钱？”

"The Medicine House, the Chai family," Second Brother replied. "Neither of us brought any money, but we can probably get credit here."
“药家，柴氏。”老二道：“咱俩出门都没带钱，这里大概可以赊账。”

"Fuck! Let me down right now! Even if the Chai family doctor sold me, I couldn't afford him!" Old Fourth struggled violently while being held by his belt. "Since when do you know any Chai family doctors? Don't get scammed!"
“我□□他妈快放我下来！柴氏大夫卖了我都请不起！”老四被人提着腰带，闻言一阵挣扎，“你什么时候认识的柴氏大夫？别被人骗了吧！”

"I don't know them, but the Chai residence runs a charitable clinic that treats everyone regardless of status," Second Brother replied. "That fight earlier wasn't finished - that bastard definitely won't give up. I'm going back to beat up his father too. You stay here tonight and return to the mountains tomorrow."
“不认识，但是柴府有济民药堂，无论贵贱皆可入内求诊。”老二道：“刚刚那一架还没打完，那孙子肯定贼心不死，我回去把他爹也揍了，你在这儿住一晚，明天回山。”

"You're going to beat up his dad? Let me down! I'm coming too!"  “你要揍他爹？放我下来！我也要去！”

As the two were locked in their standoff, the side gate creaked open, and a servant stepped out. "Young masters, are you here seeking medical treatment?"
两人僵持间，角门吱呀一声打开，一个小厮打扮的人走了出来，“二位少爷，敲门可是为看诊？”

"Show him." The second brother waved his hand and directly tossed the man inside. "I'll come collect the goods tomorrow."
“给他看。”老二一扬手，直接将人扔进门里，“明儿我来上门取货。”

"Young master, rest assured," the servant said with a cupped-hand salute. "It's already late today. Please come fetch him tomorrow."
“少爷放心。”小厮拱手施礼，“今日天色已不早，请明日来接人吧。”

"Second Brother, stop right there! I'm coming too!" Before the words even finished, the other party had already kicked the door shut.
“老二你给我站住，我也要去！”话音未落，对方已一脚踢上了门。

The servant smiled as if accustomed to such scenes and bowed slightly. "This way, young master."
小厮见怪不怪地笑了笑，躬身道：“这位少爷，请吧。”

The Chai residence was vast, with deep courtyards. Even Old Four seemed to be visiting for the first time as a servant led them through winding paths to a medicine room. A young apprentice grinding herbs stood up, "Good evening, young master. What injuries require attention?"
柴府很大，庭院幽深，老四似乎也是第一次来，一路被小厮领进了一间药室，一个正在捣药的小童站起身，“少爷晚好，请问是要看什么伤？”

"Just some scrapes, troubling the young physician." Old Four rolled up his sleeve, startling An Ping—half the man's arm was covered in blood, the flesh mangled beyond recognition. No wonder Second Brother had insisted on dragging him here. The fabric of his clothes must have been special, showing no trace of injury from the outside.
“一点擦伤，麻烦小大夫了。”老四将袖子卷起来，安平看见吓了一跳，这人半个胳膊上全是血，皮肉模糊惨不忍睹。也难怪老二会硬把人押来，这衣服不知用的什么料子，在外居然一点看不出。

"There are blade fragments embedded in the wound," the medicine boy observed by lamplight, fetching a wooden tray with tweezers and sutures. "This will be extremely painful when removed. Would the young master like anesthesia?"
“伤口里有刀片残留。”药童端着灯看了看，拿来一只木盘，里面是镊子针线，“取出来时会很疼，少爷要麻醉吗？”

"No need, young physician can stitch directly," Old Four waved dismissively. "By the way, does the Chai residence serve meals here? Any liquor available?"
“不用，小大夫直接缝就行。”老四摆摆手：“话说柴府这儿管饭么？有没有酒？”

"No meals after Xu hour in the Chai residence." The medicine boy worked swiftly, already threading a needle as he spoke. "After suturing, avoid alcohol and meat for seven days."
“柴府戌时后禁用餐。”药童下手很快，言语间已经开始穿针引线，“缝合之后，七天内忌酒及荤腥。”

Lao Si showed no reaction to the flesh wound, but the medicine boy's words made him grimace. "Seven days?"
老四对皮肉伤没什么反应，药童一句话却让他苦了脸，“七天？”

"Your wound is deep. Seven days is already the minimum. Please follow the doctor's orders strictly." The medicine boy worked with practiced efficiency, cleaning and bandaging the wound in one fluid motion. "Young master is still of tender age. Proper care now ensures long-term health."
“您的伤口很深，七天已经是最低，还请务必遵照医嘱。”药童动作很麻利，取刀片清理包扎一气呵成，“少爷年纪尚小，须注意保养，方是长久之计。”

"Interesting way of speaking for such a young doctor." Lao Si chuckled at this. "Your skills are so refined, yet you look younger than me. How come you sound even more old-fashioned than my master?"
“小大夫说话倒有意思。”老四听得笑了起来：“医术如此精湛，看着比我还小，怎么说起话来比我师父还显老。”

"You flatter me, young master. I'm merely an outer disciple, not yet versed in the Chai family's medical traditions." The medicine boy neatly arranged the medicine tray and bowed properly. "In terms of medical skills, I'm not even one ten-thousandth as skilled as my young master."
“少爷过奖，小子只是外门童子，并未得柴氏家学。”药童收好药盘，端端正正行了个礼，“若论医术，不及我家公子万一。”

"I've heard of your young master," Old Fourth said with growing interest. "Chai Shuxin of the Chai family—started practicing medicine young, with miraculous hands that bring the dying back to life. They say he's quite the remarkable character."
“我听说过你家公子。”老四闻言来了兴趣，“柴氏柴束薪，年少悬壶济世，一双妙手回春，据说是个妙人。”

"Young Master possesses a compassionate heart befitting a model physician." The medicine boy declined to elaborate further, politely escorting the guest outside.
“公子少年仁心，是医者典范。”药童却不肯再多说，规规矩矩将人送出门外。

"Many thanks, young doctor." Old Fourth returned the bow with a smile, then ruffled the boy's hair. "You're still young—get to bed early if you want to grow tall."
“多谢小大夫。”老四也笑着回了个礼，接着伸手在人头上揉了一把，“看着你年纪不大，早点睡，这样才长得高。”

The medicine boy froze for a moment before anger suddenly flashed across his face. "No need for the young master's concern." Before the words had fully left his mouth, the medicine room door slammed shut with a bang. Before Old Fourth could even ask where he was supposed to stay, he found himself staring at the closed door.
药童愣了愣，脸上突然浮上一丝怒气，“不劳少爷费心。”话音未落，药室门被“砰”地关上。老四还没来得及问自己住哪，只得和大门面面相觑。

"Angry?" He rubbed his nose. "Did I offend him by calling him small? Or is it about not growing taller?"
“生气了？”他摸了摸鼻子，“嫌我说他小？还是长不高？”

Old Fourth knocked on the door, but there was no response. This was rather interesting—it piqued his curiosity and conveniently gave him an excuse to wander around the Chai residence.
老四敲了敲门，然而再无回音，这倒是有意思，他起了兴致，刚好给他理由在柴府转悠。

The youth leaped onto the roof ridge and surveyed his surroundings. "With all these Western-style mansions being built in the city these years, it's rare to see such an ancient garden still standing."
少年提身跃上房檐，四下打量，“这些年城里都兴建洋公馆，居然还能看见这么古的园子，真是难得。”

The Chai residence was a classic Chinese landscape garden, with lush greenery and winding corridors. Old Fourth plucked a lantern from the rafters and rummaged through some unknown room to produce a box of pastries, strolling while cracking melon seeds. "Medicine room, study, tearoom, medicine room, medicine room..." He circled through over a dozen rooms. "Is the Chai residence just one big apothecary? Why is everything a medicine room?"
柴府是标准的山水园林，花木幽深，回廊曲折，老四从房梁上摘了一盏灯，又在不知哪个房间掏了一只点心盒子，一边溜达一边嗑瓜子。“药房、书房、茶室、药房、药房……”他一连转了十几个屋子，“这柴府是个大药铺子吗？怎么全是药房？”

He had the least patience for medicine—his aimless wandering wasn't to find a medicine room but the kitchen. After fighting with Old Second all day, his stomach was growling fiercely.
他最不耐烦吃药，转来转去不是找药房，而是找厨房，他和老二打了一天的架，早饿得前心贴后背。

"Are the Chai family all medicine pots? Do they just take medicine instead of eating? ...Ah, here it is!" Finally locating the kitchen, fully stocked with pots and pans, Old Fourth peered into the vegetable basket. "No way... Where's the meat?!"
“柴府人都是药罐子吗？不吃饭天天吃药？……有了！”终于找到厨房，锅碗瓢盆一应俱全，老四往菜篮子里看了看，“我去不会吧……肉呢？！”

He turned the kitchen upside down, only to confirm one thing: the Chai family kitchen served only vegetarian dishes.
他把厨房翻了个底朝天，最终确认，柴府厨房，只有素菜。

This isn't a residence of physicians, it's a whole nest of monks.  这不是一府大夫，这是一窝和尚。

Old Fourth pondered for a moment, then went out and turned left. Not far away was a pond where he quickly caught a fish, cleaned and scaled it, stuffed it with ingredients, and put it in the pot. He also fetched a few medicinal herbs from the neighboring pharmacy, adding them to the fish soup for nourishment and flavor. As an afterthought, he grabbed a bottle of medicinal wine, broke the clay seal, filling the room with its crisp, intoxicating aroma.
老四想了想，出门左拐，不远处就是池塘，三两下捞上一条鱼，洗净刮鳞，填料入锅。他又从隔壁药房拿了几味药材，掺在鱼汤里滋补提鲜，顺手再捞上一瓶药酒，拍开封泥，满室都是清冽酒香。

Moments later, when the fish was done, Old Fourth took the earthen pot off the stove. Picking up a pair of chopsticks, he flung them outward, saying, "Brother, you've been standing there watching for quite a while. The fish is well-seasoned now—care for a bowl of soup?"
片刻鱼熟，老四将砂锅端下灶，抄起一双筷子朝外掷去，“兄弟你站那看半天了，鱼已入味，可要尝一碗汤？”

"The Chai residence is heavily guarded. How did you get in?" A figure appeared outside the kitchen. "And you even made it through the Ninefold Corridor."
“柴府戒备森严，你是怎么进来的？”厨房外出现一道身影，“居然还过了九折回廊。”

"That's not hard to do. By the way, the melon seeds at your place are quite tasty." Lao Si said with a spoon in his mouth, "Don't be nervous, I'm just being kept here temporarily. Someone will come to pick me up tomorrow morning."
“那个不难，话说你们家瓜子还挺好吃的。”老四叼着勺子，“别紧张，我是被寄存在这儿的，明儿一早就有人来取。”

He cheerfully lifted the clay pot toward the other person, acting with unearned familiarity and showing no awareness of having broken into someone's home. "Your Chai household rarely touches meat, right? My cooking skills are worth trying, don't you think?"
他笑眯眯地将砂锅举到对方面前，相当自来熟，丝毫没有打家劫舍的自觉，“你们柴府很少沾荤腥吧，我的手艺，可要尝尝？”

"...What is this?"  “……此乃何物？”

"Red date onion koi soup." Lao Si declared proudly, "Freshly caught from the pond. I specifically picked one with beautiful markings. Look how colorful this pot is—so pretty."
“红枣洋葱锦鲤汤。”老四得意洋洋道：“刚从池塘里捞的，我特意挑了个花色好的，看这一锅花红柳绿，多漂亮。”

The other person retreated two steps, the corridor lights illuminating his figure—a youth about Lao Si's age with sharp, cold features, looking down at the clay pot in Lao Si's hands.
对方退了两步，廊下灯火照亮身形，是个和老四差不多的少年，眉眼冷隽，垂眸看着老四手里的砂锅。

After a moment of silence, the other raised his eyes to meet his gaze. "Koi are not for eating."  沉默片刻，对方抬眼看向他，“锦鲤不可食用。”

"Huh?"  “啊？”

"It's inadvisable to eat after Xu hour (7-9 PM)."  “戌时后不宜进食。”

"What nonsense is this?"  “什么玩意儿？”

"No unauthorized entry to the kitchen."  “不可擅闯膳房。”

"Where did this conversation go?"  “这话题跑哪儿了？”

"No tampering with the medicinal herbs."  “不可擅动药材。”

"Why are you so stingy?"  “你怎么这么抠呢？”

"What's in the pot is not for eating."  “锅中之物，不可入口。”

"Ah, if you don't want to eat, then forget it." Lao Si waved his hand and took a spoonful of fish soup himself. "I think it tastes pretty good—your loss... Hey hey hey, what are you doing?!" Several streaks of silver light flashed toward the clay pot in Lao Si's hands, barely dodged by him. "What did this pot ever do to you?"
“嗐，你不想吃就算了嘛。”老四摆摆手，自己喝了一勺子鱼汤，“我觉得味道不错，你是没口福了……诶诶诶你干什么？！”几道银光闪过，直冲着老四手里的砂锅而去，被他堪堪避开，“这锅和你有仇吗？”

The other didn't answer, instead flicking several more silver needles in retaliation. Old Fourth dodged frantically around the kitchen, "Look, if you're hungry just say so—no need to be shy! What's the point of taking it out on the pots and pans? Hey—wait, you can control needles by mistake? Are you from the main Chai family?"
对方不答，反手又是几枚银针甩出，老四在厨房里上窜下跳，“不是，你想吃你就说啊，干嘛不好意思，拿锅撒气算什么事儿？欸你会错手御针？你是柴氏本家人？”

Dodging and eating at the same time, his movements were incredibly nimble. In no time at all, the pot of soup was emptied. "Stop stabbing! I'm done eating!"
这人一边躲一边吃，身形极其灵活，没一会儿功夫一锅汤就见了底，“你别扎了！我吃完了！”

The other person paused at these words, "...You finished eating?"   对方闻言一顿，“……你吃完了？”

Old Fourth let out a burp.   老四打了个嗝。

Red date, onion, and koi fish soup—An Ping was floored. How could anyone finish this? What kind of tongue and stomach did this guy have?
红枣洋葱锦鲤汤，安平看跪了，这都能吃完，这是什么舌头什么胃？

"Strenuous activity after a meal is inadvisable. As a physician, you should have compassion—let's take it slow." Old Fourth made a timeout gesture, only for another silver needle to graze past his temple. "Still attacking?! Guests should be treated with courtesy—is this how your Chai family welcomes visitors?"
“饭后不宜剧烈运动，你是医者，要有仁心，咱们先缓缓。”老四打了个暂停的手势，不料又是一枚银针掠鬓而过，“怎么还动手？！来者皆是客，这就是你们柴府的待客之道？”

"Nonsense."  “胡搅蛮缠。”

"How about this—how much is your fish worth? I'll pay you back, alright!"  “要不这样，你家这鱼多少钱？我赔给你行吧！”

"Red-crowned koi. Each one's worth a whole tavern."  “丹顶锦鲤，一条抵得上一间酒楼。”

Old Four choked on his breath, stunned for a long moment before replying earnestly: "...Then you'd better just treat me as a thief."
老四一口气卡在嗓子眼里，噎了半天，诚恳道：“……那你还是把我当贼吧。”

The other man frowned and fell silent. Seeing that reasoning was futile, Old Fourth immediately leaped out the window, and the two began a chase—one fleeing, the other pursuing. "I say, why are you so rigid? I'm still injured—where's your physician's compassion? Or do you have ulterior motives? What, taking advantage of the dark and windy night to abduct an innocent man? Who'd have thought someone so young could be so sinister—fuck, help!"
对方皱了皱眉，不再说话，老四眼见说不通，立刻跳窗翻了出去，两人一个跑一个追，“我说你这人怎么这么死板？我还是伤患，你的医者仁心呢？还是说你别有所图？怎么，趁着夜黑风高就想强抢民男？看不出来你小小年纪就如此居心叵测——我操，救命啊！”

Old Fourth had honed his skills through years of street fights—his first priority was to break the opponent's spirit, and only then would he throw punches. So as he sprinted wildly, he kept up a relentless stream of taunts, waiting for the other to lose his temper and expose a weakness. The more upright a person was, the thinner their skin tended to be, and this young man in particular carried himself with such refined dignity—he probably wouldn’t last long.
老四是常年打架练出来的身手，其上诛心，其次揍人，故而一边撒丫子狂奔一边喋喋不休，只等对方恼羞成怒露出破绽。越正经的人往往脸皮越薄，更何况这少年看着就一身清贵，想必遭不住。

Sure enough, an angry shout came from behind: "Shut your mouth!"  果然身后传来一声怒斥：“住口！”

Silver needles rained down from the sky, but Old Fourth had been waiting for this very moment. With a backhanded flick, he scattered a handful of copper coins to deflect the needles, then surged forward instead of retreating. Seizing the instant of his opponent's stunned hesitation, he lashed out with a sweeping kick, sending the man flying straight into the lake.
银针泼天盖地而来，老四等的就是这一刻，反手甩出一把铜钱将银针击落，接着不退反进，欺身而上，趁着对方愕然的刹那，一脚横踢扫出，直接将人踹进了湖里。

"That kick just now was an old soldier's trick from the barracks—crude but effective, perfect for dealing with someone like you. Your fighting style is too orthodox, can't defend against it."
“刚刚那一脚是军营里老兵的把式，土而实用，对付你这种人正合适，你的身手路子太正，防不住。”

Lao Si sat on the eaves, pulling out a handful of sunflower seeds from who-knows-where. "Listen, brother, you can't out-talk me, and you can't out-fight me. How about we call it quits? Part ways peacefully, what do you say?"
老四坐在房檐上，不知又从哪里掏出一把瓜子，“我说这位兄弟，你说也说不过我，打也打不过我，要不咱就算了，就此一别两宽，你看行吗？”

The lake surface calmed for a moment before a splash broke the silence. The opponent emerged from the water and walked toward the pavilion at the center, his voice carrying across the lake, calm yet chilling: "You'd better run."
湖面平静片刻，接着哗啦一声，对方出了水，走进湖中心的凉亭，声音隔着湖传过来，平静中透着寒意：“你最好快逃。”

"Run? If I could outrun you, would I be here trying to reason with you?" Lao Si glanced at the other side, his sunflower seed-cracking suddenly halting. "Wait—what's that look in your eyes? Are you planning to kill me?"
“逃？我要能逃得过你我至于在这儿讲道理？”老四看了对面一眼，嗑瓜子的动作突然停住，“我去不是吧？你那是什么眼神？你要杀人？”

Having grown up on battlefields, he was all too familiar with that look in the eyes. If a fight broke out now, at best someone would lose an arm or a leg, and at worst, it wouldn't be surprising if lives were lost.
他自小在战场摸爬滚打，对这眼神可太熟悉了，这要是动起手来，轻则有人缺胳膊断腿，重则丧命也不奇怪。

"Big brother here, my arm's still injured," he tried to negotiate. "Winning like this wouldn't be honorable."
“这位大兄弟，我胳膊还伤着呢。”他试着打个商量，“你这样胜之不武。”

The youth wrung the water from his clothes. "A scholar may be killed, but not humiliated," he said, removing his white silk gloves. "If you can kill me, feel free to walk out of the Chai residence—no one will stop you."
少年拧干衣服上的水，“士可杀，不可辱。”说着摘下白绸手套，“你若是能杀了我，尽管走出柴府，不会有人阻拦。”

The Chai family of physicians had produced generations of exceptional medical practitioners. As healers serving the world, one of their greatest assets was their skilled hands. Taking pulses and administering acupuncture all relied on manual dexterity, so the Chai family had always placed great emphasis on hand care. Normally, Chai physicians wore gloves at all times. There were typically only two situations that would make them remove those gloves.
药家柴氏，历代医术卓绝，而医者悬壶于世，最大的倚仗之一就是一双妙手。问脉施针靠的都是手上功夫，柴氏历来注重双手养护，平时柴氏医者都会带着手套，能让他们摘掉手套的情况，通常只有两种。

Either save lives, or take them.  要么救人，要么杀人。

Alright, Lao Si shut his mouth. Judging by the situation, there was no leaving without a fight. This guy was way too petty—just some wet clothes, it's not like he was some delicate maiden, was such a big fuss necessary?
得，老四闭了嘴，看这架势，不打一架是走不了了。这人也忒小气，不就是湿个衣服么，又不是姑娘，至于这么大动干戈？

But he didn't voice this thought again, lest the guy across from him explode with rage again. Fine, if it's a fight he wants, then a fight he'll get. It wasn't his own garden being wrecked anyway, so what was there to fear?
不过这话他没再说出来，免得对面那位又炸了肺。打就打呗，反正拆的不是自家园子，怕什么。

"Fine then, if you want to fight, I'll oblige." Lao Si rose from the eaves, standing with hands clasped behind his back. "Before we begin, may I know your name?"
“行吧，你要打，我奉陪。”老四从房檐上起身，负手而立，“动手之前，请教姓名。”

The two stood facing each other across the lake, beneath a bright full moon as the night breeze carried a slight chill.  两人隔湖而对，一轮明月高悬于上，夜风微凉。

The young man looked at him and spoke calmly, "Chai Shuxin, of the Chai family of medicine."  少年看着他，淡淡道：“药家柴氏，柴束薪。”

Old Fourth froze momentarily before smiling, "So you are the young master of the Chai family. Your reputation precedes you. To cross paths in battle today is truly a fortunate encounter in this lifetime."
老四一怔，随即笑道：“原来阁下便是药家公子，久仰。今日幸得一战，足慰平生有缘。”

"I am Mu Gesheng, under the Tianxuan lineage, from General Mu's residence."  “在下木将军府，天算门下，木葛生。”——

Author's Note:   作者有话要说：

I wait for the crow's head to turn white and horses to grow horns—our rescue will come. Keep this letter in your sleeve. I too have wandered long—Gu Zhengguan—
盼乌头马角终相救。置此札，君怀袖。我亦飘零久——顾贞观——