Chapter 21: Wonton

Seeing Yan Kuang make no response, Cheng Ruyi continued sincerely, "Twenty strings of cash... it’s not expensive. I guarantee that from now on, Master Yan’s calligraphy will surely, surely... be on par with those Hanlin scholars, and you shall be famous throughout the capital!"

Yan Kuang could not help but laugh, then sighed helplessly. He looked down at Cheng Ruyi and said, "Isn't what you really want to say that my handwriting is ugly?"

"This... absolutely not! Master, please be discerning, how would I dare..." Cheng Ruyi waved his hands repeatedly. "Actually, Master Yan’s calligraphy is vigorous and powerful, with strokes that pierce through the paper; it’s just that..."

Yan Kuang waved his hand, interrupting his pretentious nonsense: "You still haven't answered my question. Why are you here?"

Cheng Ruyi paused, then laughed awkwardly: "If I said it was because I was worried about you... would you believe me?"

Yan Kuang shook his head.

This "Living Yama" really is a Living Yama; he doesn't grant even a shred of face... Cheng Ruyi sighed inwardly. Seeing Yan Kuang’s "get to the bottom of it" expression, he could only be honest.

Cheng Ruyi said, "I was chatting with the shopkeeper and heard that the person who sent you the letter is surnamed Han. Naturally, I... felt a little afraid, is that not human nature?"

Yan Kuang asked, "Afraid that I would capture you again and hand you over to him?"

Cheng Ruyi replied, "Master Yan... you are truly wronging me."

Cheng Ruyi adjusted his headscarf and said earnestly, "No matter how ungrateful I may be, I know how much effort you spent just to keep me alive. Saving me only to kill me—such a self-contradictory thing is not something you would do... right?"

Yan Kuang said, "Then it is fear that he might discover you are still alive, follow my trail, and catch you to silence you."

"Master Yan is indeed exceptionally brilliant!"

Cheng Ruyi nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. "That is why I came. In case something happens to you, I... I can also help a little. After all, we are now grasshoppers on the same rope, refugees on the same boat, a twisted dough-twist—whether we live, die, or end up in the frying pan, we cannot be separated."

Yan Kuang thought to himself that this was quite a string of bizarre metaphors. He rubbed his temple and said, "I suggest you use the literary talent of a top scholar for something more appropriate."

The title "Top Scholar" stung Cheng Ruyi’s ears. His glory had long since vanished, his status was gone; what top scholar was left?

He hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Master Yan, you... please stop calling me that. Hearing it now, I only find it ironic..."

Yan Kuang realized his mistake. After a moment of thought, he nodded as they walked: "It won't happen again."

Cheng Ruyi kept clutching his headscarf, following closely without leaving his side, yet his curiosity got the better of him, and he finally spoke: "Master Yan..."

Yan Kuang also said, "I have resigned from my post; you should change how you address me as well."

Cheng Ruyi pursed his lips: "I’ve just gotten used to it... Master Yan, I mean, just now, you... that..."

Yan Kuang said bluntly: "Knowing too much..."

"Is of no benefit to me, right?"

Cheng Ruyi interrupted, "I say, Master Yan... please look carefully and think clearly. I am currently living under the name of a dead man; do you think I am still afraid of that?"

Yan Kuang’s expression faltered. Cheng Ruyi’s words reminded him of his own precarious fate. He could not help but struggle with whether he should tell the other man about it, and what would become of Cheng Ruyi after he himself was gone.

Seeing him remain silent, Cheng Ruyi said, "Never mind, if you don't want to say it, then don't... But Master Yan, my background was already thoroughly dug up by you when we were at the Zhenfusi, wasn't it?"

Yan Kuang returned to his senses and nodded slightly: "Yes, standard procedure."

Cheng Ruyi asked, "Then aren't you curious whether I actually killed my father and mother, or molested my own sister?"

Yan Kuang looked down at Cheng Ruyi, watching him speak of such morally repugnant and heaven-defying crimes with such indifference. Although Cheng Ruyi’s family background and past were fully within Yan Kuang’s grasp, he still could not see through the man before him.

It would be a lie to say he wasn't curious, yet Yan Kuang still shook his head.

"Oh..." Cheng Ruyi felt snubbed and didn't know what to say, but then he felt a weight on his wrist—

"Let's go." Yan Kuang held Cheng Ruyi’s wrist and pulled him away: "I remember there is a wonton stall nearby."

Cheng Ruyi said, "A living map of the capital, I admire you, truly."

Hearing his glib tongue, Yan Kuang had grown accustomed to it and simply continued to stride forward while pulling him along.

Cheng Ruyi followed quickly, complaining: "Slow down, slow down, you can't just rely on your long legs to..."

Yan Kuang stopped: "We're here. Sit."

Sure enough, they hadn't gone far before a wonton stall appeared before them. The stall owner was an older woman, head bowed as she worked, pinching wontons. Beside her, a soup pot with the lid pressed down sent wisps of steam curling up from the cracks. As the wind blew, the air was filled with a warm, fragrant scent.

Yan Kuang said, "Two bowls of wontons."

After pulling Cheng Ruyi to a seat, Yan Kuang finally let go. The two sat facing each other, and Yan Kuang pulled a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. He said to Cheng Ruyi: "Do you want some?"

"...What is this rare item?" Cheng Ruyi looked at the small bottle, which was different from anything he had seen at the Zhenfusi. But what good things could Yan Kuang have besides poisons and antidotes...

Thinking of this, Cheng Ruyi said, "Since I don't know what medicine is sold in Master Yan’s 'bottle,' how could I dare to say I want it..."

Yan Kuang stared at him, suddenly holding the bottle out in front of Cheng Ruyi: "It’s for eating. Just smell it and you’ll know."

"Hey, you’ve learned to be mysterious too..." Cheng Ruyi leaned in, half-doubting, but as soon as he took a breath—

A pungent, spicy sensation instantly flooded his nasal cavity.

"Ah—achoo!"

Yan Kuang quickly retracted the bottle, and seeing Cheng Ruyi sneezing uncontrollably, he couldn't help but laugh again.

"Pepper powder!"

Cheng Ruyi looked at Yan Kuang indignantly, preparing to hold him accountable, but a handkerchief was handed to him.

Yan Kuang said, "It was wrong of me to tease you. Wipe your nose."

"I, I didn't..."

Faced with such courtesy, Cheng Ruyi had nowhere to vent his frustration. He hesitantly took the handkerchief and wiped his nose.

Cheng Ruyi thought to himself: So, Yan Kuang’s normal speaking voice isn't scary. Without the deliberate intimidation and indifference, it sounded deep, yet quite gentle.

"I’ll return it to you after I wash it..." Cheng Ruyi tucked the handkerchief into his sleeve and added, "You carry this with you? Could it be that you keep it to sprinkle on enemies when you encounter them...? Pepper is worth its weight in gold; you are quite extravagant, Master Yan."

Yan Kuang said, "You think too much. I just happen to like it."

The stall owner brought over the steaming wontons. Yan Kuang sprinkled nearly half the bottle into his bowl, stirred it with a porcelain spoon to break the oil, scooped one up, blew on it, and swallowed it in one bite.

Watching this, Cheng Ruyi was stunned by the amount of pepper Yan Kuang used, and at the same time, he realized that the so-called "Living Yama" was, after all, just a living, breathing person.

Cheng Ruyi said, "Watching you eat wontons is truly a sight to behold. It would be a shame not to taste such a rare treasure as pepper. I’ll help myself."

Yan Kuang continued eating his wontons without a word. Cheng Ruyi took the pepper bottle, tapped it against his palm, sprinkled a little into his bowl, and copied Yan Kuang’s method of stirring. Only when he saw the pepper grains dissolve into the soup did he scoop up a wonton.

Looking at the wonton, Cheng Ruyi realized it was a familiar "double-leaf ingot" shape. Watching the owner’s movements—pinching, twisting, and pressing the edges—it truly had the flavor of his hometown. He was so absorbed that he didn't realize it was burning hot until he put the spoon in his mouth. Unable to spit it out, he turned his face away and exhaled.

Hearing the sound, Yan Kuang looked up and saw Cheng Ruyi’s face flushed red, his mouth half-open as he gasped for air.

"Burned yourself?" Yan Kuang poured a cup of cold tea and handed it over: "How old are you, and you still don't know to blow on wontons before eating?"

"...I forgot for a moment." Cheng Ruyi swallowed the wonton and took a few gulps of cold tea to soothe the burning on his tongue.

Yan Kuang remarked, "Forgot? Could it be that there was a virtuous and beautiful lady over there, and you were too distracted by her?"

Cheng Ruyi paused, looked up, and glanced toward the stall owner again: "You aren't wrong, Master Yan, there is one."

Cheng Ruyi said, "Look at that boss lady."

"Your tastes are truly broad and unique." Yan Kuang glanced at him and continued drinking his wonton soup, having already finished half the bowl in the blink of an eye.

"That boss lady... she seems unable to speak; she uses gestures." Cheng Ruyi was deep in thought, then turned to Yan Kuang and asked: "What? What did you just say?"

Yan Kuang said nonchalantly, "Eyes, ears, mouth, and tongue are the roots of trouble. Like this, perhaps one can find more peace and nature."

Cheng Ruyi stirred his wontons: "That's easy for you to say... Besides, how do you know she can't hear?"

Yan Kuang had spoken off the cuff, and realizing it was indeed a bit inconsiderate, he lowered his voice: "When did I say she couldn't hear?"

"You... you’re doing it again?"

Cheng Ruyi rolled his eyes, recalling how Yan Kuang had tricked him into "taking poison" at the beginning. He thought: *What a Yan Kuang, he was being "mischievous" from the start; I was just too scared to notice!*

Yan Kuang added, "Keep your voice down. Be careful, or the boss lady might hear you and hit you with her rolling pin—I won't be able to save you then."

Cheng Ruyi looked at the sky: "Just drink your pepper soup, Master Yan."

Yan Kuang didn't forget to correct him: "It's wonton soup."

"You put so much in it... alright, wonton soup."

Cheng Ruyi pretended to reach for the pepper bottle, taking the opportunity to lean in and whisper: "Master Yan, I’m not joking. Look closely at how she walks. Does it look right to you?"

Yan Kuang swallowed a wonton and glanced sideways, but inadvertently caught something else new.

The boss lady’s stance was as steady as a rock, her footing grounded deep and heavy. And she was not the only one who was unusual.

"Uninvited guests" had been arriving at the stall one after another, and one look told him they were veteran killers who took lives for a living.

Yan Kuang simply moved his stool next to Cheng Ruyi’s and whispered in his ear: "How did you notice?"

Cheng Ruyi said, "I just felt something was wrong. To get to the root of it, one still needs the Yama Commissioner."

Yan Kuang pondered: "She may not be here for us. But those four people to the southeast, and the two behind me near the alley entrance—did you see them?"

"I..." Cheng Ruyi scooped up a wonton, pretended to be burned again, and used the opportunity of turning to fan his mouth to scan the people Yan Kuang had mentioned.

Cheng Ruyi said, "This is so hot, it’ll take a while to finish..."

After saying this, Cheng Ruyi turned back and whispered: "Master Yan, the people who want you dead are really lining up... Do you have any good ways to deal with this?"

Yan Kuang whispered first: "The main street of the capital is crowded and noisy, and the enemy is in the open, just as we are. If we act rashly, it will be inappropriate."

Then Yan Kuang added, "Is it hot?" With that, he took Cheng Ruyi’s bowl, blew on it a few times, and drank all the soup in one go.

Yan Kuang said, "That way, it will cool down faster."

"Yan... Yan Kuang? You’re really not human..." Cheng Ruyi was stunned: "How are you not afraid of the heat!"