Red Candle Town was encircled by tall walls, and Chen Ping'an's group had to enter through the northern gate. Yet, an unexpected situation arose almost immediately. Armed soldiers guarded the gate, demanding official documentation before granting passage. Chen Ping'an stood dumbfounded—he had no idea what such documents even were.
A'Liang, who had long secured a gold ingot, grinned and cheerfully produced a crumpled official paper from his robe. After the guards examined it, he sauntered into the town without even glancing back at his donkey, waving theatrically to the stunned group. His antics provoked Li Huai's furious curses, who threatened to butcher the white donkey, while A'Liang simply laughed and walked away.
Zhu He was equally at a loss. His family patriarch had given no instructions on this matter before their departure. Aside from his age, Zhu He was almost as ignorant of the outside world as Chen Ping'an. As for surviving hardship in the wild—he was far inferior to the boy who had grown up in a kiln.
A sudden thought struck Zhu He: if money could make the world go round, surely it could grease this wheel too. He attempted to discreetly slip some silver to one of the guards, only to be met with a spearpoint pressed against his chest and a stern rebuke. Even the mild-tempered Zhu He began to fume. A fifth-tier martial artist like himself, had he enlisted, could have easily risen to command over thousands.
Just as he prepared to argue, Zhu Lu gently tugged on his arm and whispered,
"Father, Da Li's military law is precise in its punishments and rewards. It's known for its extremes—either exceedingly lenient or exceedingly harsh. Don't pick a fight with these soldiers. Commoners like us never gain the upper hand."
Zhu He furrowed his brow, snorted coldly, but ultimately yielded to reason—civilians ought not contend with officials.
Zhu Lu comforted him quietly,
"Father, once we return, let the patriarch secure an official identity for you. With such protection and your skills, you'll soon make a name for yourself. You won't have to endure such indignities again."
Zhu He strode away with heavy steps, then glanced back at the gate guard with a sneer.
"Truly, the old saying holds: the King of Hell is easy to meet, it's the little devils who are hard to deal with."
Everyone instinctively turned to Chen Ping'an. After a moment's thought, he said slowly,
"If there's no other way, we'll have to bypass Red Candle Town. We'll camp outside tonight. We can hire someone to purchase necessities for us. The real trouble is, we won't be able to access the water transport dock within the town. Our planned route will need adjustment. We were meant to travel over two hundred miles down the Embroidered River by boat—far easier than traveling on foot, and without detours."
Just then, a middle-aged man in a green official robe briskly emerged from the town gate. After surveying the group, his eyes settled on Zhu He. He cupped his fists and said,
"I am Cheng Sheng, currently serving as Station Deputy of Pillow Post in Red Candle Town. Might you be Master Zhu He from Longquan County?"
Zhu He remained silent, his expression guarded.
The man claiming to be the station deputy gave a hearty laugh.
"Your family's patriarch sent a letter directly to our magistrate, detailing your itinerary and requesting that proper hospitality be extended. In addition, there are letters addressed to each of you, now awaiting at our station. I prepared your lodgings a week ago—plain but clean. Forgive the simplicity, and please don't complain to the magistrate. Should he take offense, I might be out of a job by tomorrow."
He suddenly recalled something.
"If Master Zhu remains skeptical, I can summon someone from the station—a man from Fulu Street in Longquan County, an old yamen runner who now works under the overseer. One of the letters is from the Da Li capital itself, personally entrusted to him, and meant to be delivered to a young master named Lin Shouyi."
Lin Shouyi stepped forward, his expression tinged with the aloof pride typical of noble-born youths.
"I am Lin Shouyi of Longquan County. Deputy Cheng, may I ask the name of this man?"
Chambermaid Zhu Lu looked on in surprise. This Lin Shouyi seemed quite different from the taciturn and stern boy she remembered. Li Baoping and Li Huai exchanged glances and nodded subtly.
Deputy Cheng replied without hesitation,
"If memory serves, his name is Tang Shutou. He's around forty, not fluent in official Da Li dialect, and known for his fondness for drink—though his drinking habits…"
Lin Shouyi nodded and asked casually,
"Has the Deputy been waiting at the north gate all this time just for us?"
The man chuckled,
"I'd like to say yes, but I haven't the cheek. Our Pillow Post lies just north of the town, not far from here. Besides, there's a beacon tower atop a nearby hill. I'm on good terms with the beacon chief and asked him to keep an eye on the road. Once he spotted Master Lin or Master Zhu, he sent word immediately."
Lin Shouyi nodded and said no more, turning to Chen Ping'an, who gave a slight nod.
Zhu He smiled and said,
"Much obliged, Deputy Cheng."
Cheng Sheng quickly waved a hand,
"I'm unworthy of such a title. Just a humble servant running errands for the esteemed. Let me go notify the gate guards—we'll have you inside the town in no time."
Deputy station masters belonged to the Da Li bureaucracy but held no real status. Such clerks were considered low-grade functionaries, far removed from the ranks of true officials. The distinction between noble and base was a wide chasm.
Soon, Cheng Sheng led them to the city gate. Though the guards allowed them passage, their expressions remained sour. Cheng Sheng walked first through the shaded tunnel of the gate, then turned to Zhu He and said in a low voice,
"They're mostly veterans from the frontier. Not terribly capable, but mule-headed to the bone. Sometimes even our magistrate can't manage them. Best not to take offense, Master Zhu."
Though Zhu He lacked street smarts, he understood the danger of speaking too freely. He offered no reply.
They passed a shop exuding a chilling air, where robust young men came and went. From within, flashes of white light occasionally flickered.
Li Huai stopped in his tracks, unable to look away. Zhu He, too, glanced in curiosity but soon lost interest.
Cheng Sheng explained,
"That's a weapons shop. Swords and blades, mostly, though they stock a few other arms as well."
Lin Shouyi asked,
"Isn't this illegal? What if civilians get into brawls armed with these weapons?"
The deputy laughed,
"The authorities turn a blind eye for the most part. But if trouble arises, they come down hard. If the magistrate's men aren't enough, he can call upon all the martial clans in the region to quell disputes."
Da Li valued martial prowess. The land teemed with sword-bearing wanderers—some mere street thugs with lofty dreams, others scions of noble clans inspired by chivalric ideals. Though the imperial court officially banned weapon sales, ordinary swords of mediocre craftsmanship were often overlooked, depending on local governance. If the magistrate hailed from scholarly roots, he'd likely impose strict bans; if he came from the battlefield, leniency prevailed. Still, high-grade weapons such as war bows and elite armor were forbidden everywhere.
Signal towers, postal stations, marketplaces, taverns, brothels—Red Candle Town had them all. The town bustled with noise and color, far livelier than Chen Ping'an's hometown. Crowds surged through the streets, lined with dazzling shops and vendors shouting over one another.
After casual conversation and a stick of incense's time, they arrived at Pillow Post. Soon, a stablehand led away their donkey and horses. True to his word, Deputy Cheng had arranged accommodations in both first- and second-tier lodgings. He made no decisions in their place...