Chapter 5  第5章

Anping took a taxi home to find breakfast prepared by the housekeeper on the table—spring onion noodles topped with a soft-boiled egg, accompanied by 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, Anping had grown accustomed to living alone. He reheated the breakfast in the microwave while calculating the remaining homework—twenty-five test papers in one afternoon... There was simply no way to finish them all. 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。

Anping 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 himself some slack after a brush with death felt only natural.
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。

He was still preoccupied with the matter of Mu Gesheng—after all, it was utterly bizarre. If not for his extensive reading of novels, he wouldn’t even know 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 and decided to distract himself. He headed downstairs to the home theater and picked out 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 loosely based on historical events. 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 light to dark.  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 melodic 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, that we may meet again. Keep this letter close to your heart. I too have wandered long..."
“……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 during the movie—there was no other explanation for opening his eyes to find himself in what appeared to be 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 dreaming frequently, and based on his experience, this dream shouldn’t be frightening—at the very least, it was 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’d already survived a ghost wedding—what was one more bizarre dream?  再说他连鬼洞房都闹过了，不差这一个。

Horse-drawn carriages came and went, the streets bustling with noise, when suddenly a clamor rose from the distance. A crisp shout cut through the air: "Make way, please! Step aside! We’re in the middle of a fight—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！”

A large group of people came sprinting into view, all disheveled and frantic. Strangely, the shout had come from the very back of the crowd. "Second Brother! We’re at Changmei Bridge! Finish him off in 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, who had already leaped to the end of the long street in just a few words. There stood a bridge, separated from the opposite side 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 opposite 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 boy on the bridge than whatever terrifying thing 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 as it barreled straight toward the bridgehead. The crowd instantly scattered, flung into the air like blossoms in a storm before plummeting into the water with a chorus of splashes. Before long, the shallow inlet was packed with people, like 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 boy at the bridgehead clapped his hands and laughed. "If you’d drawn your blade earlier today, Second Brother, neither of us would be nursing a wounded arm and 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. Had his imagination leveled up? How could he dream up someone so breathtaking?
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？

Not just breathtaking—that word felt too flat. It was a beauty utterly devoid of 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 so striking it stole one's breath, his bone structure so sharp it radiated lethal intent. His back stood straight as if liquor had been poured over steel, carving bones and igniting fragrance.
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。

Anping stared dumbfounded, but most passersby seemed accustomed to it. "Young Master Song came down from the mountain?" "Today's the fifth, the academy's closed." "As expected, these lads always end up fighting whenever they come down." "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 his words were down-to-earth. "Finally done with this damn fight. 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 boy on the opposite bank fished someone out of the water and said cheerfully, "Mister, do me a favor and tell your young master this: I beat him this time 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 along to kowtow to me. As for forcibly occupying people's homes—I'll beat him every time I see it. Tell him to check if his ancestors' graves are still intact before trying anything."
“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, what's with all the nonsense? Are 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 Four raised his hand and tossed the person back into the water again. "One knife strike every three days? Then how do you explain slaughtering that pig with a knife yesterday..." Just as he reached the middle of the bridge, there was a sudden crack beneath his feet, followed by a thunderous crash—the entire bridge collapsed beneath him.
“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。

"...Second Brother, that's too harsh." Old Four emerged from the water, sputtering. "Was it really necessary to chop down the bridge just because I mentioned you killing a pig?"
“……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？”

"Don't you dare say you didn't eat any of it?" Second Brother snorted coldly. "Did I slaughter that pig to feed dogs?"
“你好意思说自己没吃？”老二冷哼，“我杀猪喂狗吗？”

"Oh, getting angry now?" Old Four stuck out his tongue playfully. "Woof."  “呦，生气了？”老四做个鬼脸，“汪。”

"Damn your ancestors." The second brother curled his lip as he hauled the man out of the water. "Looking like this, you're in no state for drinking. 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 number... 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." The second brother hoisted him up by the belt without ceremony. "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！”

"Are you fucking blind or just don't know when to quit?"  “你他妈是不是不知道蹬鼻子上脸怎么写？”

Anping watched the two bickering all the way until they stopped before a grand mansion—a stately compound with vermilion gates flanked by palace lanterns. Instead of using the main entrance, the second boy veered into a side alley and began hammering on a narrow side door. "Hey, Chai! You in there or not?"
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?" Old Fourth lifted his eyelids slightly. "Whose house is this? Which doctor is this rich?"
“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 Family, Chai Clan," the second brother said. "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! Put me down! Even if the Chai family physicians sold me off, I couldn't afford them!" The fourth brother, being held by his belt, struggled violently upon hearing this. "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 charity clinic where anyone, rich or poor, can seek treatment," the second brother said. "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 overnight and return to the mountain 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 father? Put 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-dressed figure emerged. "Young masters, are you knocking for medical consultation?"
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 flung his hand, tossing the person directly through the doorway. "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 bowed with clasped hands. "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 had even finished, the other 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, unfazed, 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 secluded courtyards. It seemed Old Four was visiting for the first time too, as a servant boy led them to a medicine room where a young apprentice stood up from grinding herbs, "Good evening, young master. What injuries need treating?"
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, sorry to trouble you, little physician." Old Four rolled up his sleeve, startling Anping—half the man's arm was covered in blood, the flesh mangled beyond recognition. No wonder Second Brother had forcibly dragged 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 apprentice examined it by lamplight, then brought over a wooden tray with tweezers and sutures. "This will be very 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, little physician can stitch directly." Old Four waved his hand, "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 his 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。”

The fourth brother 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 medical instructions strictly." The medicine boy worked with practiced efficiency, cleaning and bandaging the wound in one fluid motion. "The young master is still of tender age. Proper care is essential for 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, little doctor." The fourth brother laughed at this. "Your skills are so refined, yet you look younger than me. How come you sound older than my master when you talk?"
“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 of the Chai family, not yet initiated into their medical traditions." The medicine boy neatly packed his tray and bowed properly. "In terms of medical skills, I'm not worth one ten-thousandth of 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 sudden interest. "Chai Shuxin of the Chai family—started practicing medicine in his youth, with hands that could 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。”

"The young master has a healer's benevolent heart—a model physician." But the medicine boy refused to elaborate further, dutifully seeing his guest to the door.
“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, then a flash of anger crossed his face. "No need for the young master's concern." Before the words had fully left his mouth, the medicine chamber door slammed shut with a "bang." The fourth brother hadn't even had time to ask where he was supposed to stay, leaving him staring blankly 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 he take offense at me 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？”

The fourth brother knocked on the door, but there was no further response. This was rather amusing—it piqued his interest and gave him the perfect 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 young man leaped onto the roof eaves 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 landscape garden, with deep greenery and winding corridors. The fourth brother took a lantern from the roof beam and rummaged through some unknown room to find a box of pastries, strolling around while cracking melon seeds. "Medicine room, study, tearoom, medicine room, medicine room..." He wandered through over a dozen rooms in a row. "Is the Chai residence just one big pharmacy? Why are there so many medicine rooms?"
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 the second brother all day, he was starving, his stomach practically sticking to his back.
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 all day without eating? ...Ah, found it!" Finally locating the kitchen, fully stocked with pots, pans, and utensils, the fourth brother 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 had nothing but vegetables.
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 mansion of physicians, it's a den of monks.  这不是一府大夫，这是一窝和尚。

After some thought, Old Four went out and turned left. Not far away was a pond where he swiftly caught a fish, cleaned and scaled it, stuffed it with ingredients, and put it in the pot. He then fetched a few medicinal herbs from the neighboring pharmacy, adding them to the fish soup for nourishment and flavor enhancement. As an afterthought, he scooped up a bottle of medicinal wine, broke the clay seal, filling the room with its crisp and fragrant 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 Four took the earthen pot off the stove, grabbed a pair of chopsticks and tossed them outward, "Brother, you've been standing there watching for quite a while. The fish is perfectly seasoned—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, "You even made it past 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. By the way, your family's melon seeds 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 to the other person's face, acting quite familiar without any awareness of being an intruder, "Your Chai household rarely touches meat, right? My cooking—care to try?"
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, and koi soup." Lao Si declared proudly, "Freshly scooped from the pond. I specifically picked one with beautiful patterns—look how vibrant and colorful this pot is."
“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 took two steps back, the corridor lights illuminating his figure—a youth about Lao Si's age, with coldly refined 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 carp 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 the Hour of the Dog."  “戌时后不宜进食。”

"What the hell?"  “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 medicinal herbs."  “不可擅动药材。”

"You're so stingy!"   “你怎么这么抠呢？”

"Nothing from this pot shall pass your lips."   “锅中之物，不可入口。”

"Tch, suit yourself if you don't want any." Old Fourth waved him off, taking a spoonful of fish soup himself. "Tastes good to me—more for me then... Hey hey hey what are you doing?!" Several silver streaks shot toward the clay pot in Old Fourth's hands, which he barely managed to dodge. "What'd 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, flicking out another handful of silver needles instead. Old Fourth scrambled around the kitchen, dodging. "Look, if you want some just say so—no need to be shy! Why take it out on the pot? Wait—you can control needles mid-flight? Are you from the main Chai family branch?"
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？”

The guy kept dodging while eating, moving with incredible agility. In no time, he'd finished the entire pot of soup. "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 upon hearing this. "...You finished it?"  对方闻言一顿，“……你吃完了？”

Lao Si let out a burp.  老四打了个嗝。

Red date, onion, and carp soup—Anping was floored. How could anyone finish that? 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 exercise after meals is inadvisable. As a physician, you should have compassion—let's take it slow." Lao Si made a timeout gesture, only for another silver needle to graze past his temple. "Still resorting to violence?! Guests should be treated with courtesy—is this how the Chai Manor receives 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？”

"Utter nonsense."  “胡搅蛮缠。”

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

"A red-crowned koi—each one's worth an entire tavern."  “丹顶锦鲤，一条抵得上一间酒楼。”

The fourth brother choked on his breath, swallowing hard 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 party frowned and fell silent. Seeing that reasoning was futile, the fourth brother immediately leaped out the window, initiating a chase—one fleeing, the other pursuing. "I say, why are you so rigid? I'm still injured—where's your medical compassion? Or do you have ulterior motives? What, planning to abduct a civilian under cover of darkness? Who’d have thought someone so young could be so sinister—Holy shit, 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！”

Years of brawling had honed the fourth brother’s skills—first to provoke, then to strike. As he sprinted wildly, he kept up a relentless stream of taunts, waiting for his pursuer to lose composure and reveal an opening. The more upright a person, the thinner their skin—especially this youth, who carried himself with such refined dignity. Surely, he wouldn’t hold up under the assault.
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 enraged shout erupted 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 the fourth brother had been waiting for this moment. With a backhand flick, he scattered a handful of copper coins to deflect the needles, then pressed forward instead of retreating. Seizing the moment of his opponent's shock, he swept out with a sideways 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 practical. Perfect for dealing with someone like you. Your martial arts are too orthodox; you 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。”

The fourth brother sat on the eaves, pulling out a handful of melon 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—sound good to you?"
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 of the lake. His voice carried across the water, calm yet chilling: "You'd better run. Fast."
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。”

"Escape? If I could escape from you, would I be here reasoning with you?" Old Fourth glanced at the other person, suddenly pausing mid-bite of his melon seeds. "Wait—no way? What's that look in your eyes? Are you planning to kill someone?"
“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 crawling through battlefields, he knew that gaze all too well. If things escalated into a fight, the least consequence would be someone losing limbs, 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。

"Hey buddy, my arm's still injured," he tried negotiating. "Beating me like this wouldn't be fair."
“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 water from his clothes. "A scholar prefers death to humiliation," 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 the Medicine Sect had produced generations of extraordinary physicians. As healers serving the world, one of their greatest assets was their skilled hands. Pulse diagnosis and acupuncture all relied on manual dexterity—the Chai clan had always prioritized hand care. Normally, Chai physicians wore gloves at all times, and there were typically only two situations that would make them remove them.
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 to save a life—or to take one.  要么救人，要么杀人。

Alright, Old Four shut his mouth. Given the situation, it seemed there was no way out without a fight. This guy was way too petty—so what if his clothes got wet? It’s not like he was some delicate maiden, was there really a need for such a fuss?
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 kept that thought to himself, lest the guy across from him blew his top again. Fine, if he wanted a fight, he’d get one. It wasn’t like they were tearing up his own garden—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。

"Alright then, if you want a fight, I’ll oblige." Old Four rose from the eaves, hands clasped behind his back. "Before we start, 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, a bright moon hanging high above 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 youth looked at him calmly and said, "From the Chai family of the Medicine Sect, Chai Shuxin."  少年看着他，淡淡道：“药家柴氏，柴束薪。”

The fourth brother froze for a moment, then laughed, "So you are the young master of the Medicine Sect. I've long heard of your reputation. To have the fortune of crossing blades with you today is truly a rare delight 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 from the Wood General's Manor, under the Celestial Calculations lineage—Mu Gesheng."—  “在下木将军府，天算门下，木葛生。”——

Author's note:  作者有话要说：

Hope waits till raven's head turns white and horse grows horn to rescue. Keep this note in your bosom. Long have I wandered too—Gu Zhengguan—
盼乌头马角终相救。置此札，君怀袖。我亦飘零久——顾贞观——