Chapter 2: A Daughter of the Ma Family

For a man to look dashing, he must wear black; for a woman, white mourning is the finest adornment. The young woman who emerged from behind the hillside was dressed all in white, her features delicate and lovely—a true beauty, pleasing to the eye. Yet, as Wei Ba looked at her, noting that although her face was still youthful, her gaze carried a world-weariness, he could not feel the slightest delight. Instead, he shuddered, instinctively sitting up straighter, his aching muscles tensing in readiness to flee. It was as if the person before him was not a beautiful young woman, but rather a graceful, predatory panther.

In that instant, Wei Ba truly felt fear. Had he not just exhausted himself running, he might have bolted already. This was pure instinct, a primal reaction to danger. The young woman was like a drawn sword, radiating murderous intent; her eyes were as sharp as blades, piercing straight into the heart. Behind her, several attendants stood, bristling with hostility and menace. In a heartbeat, the Wei Ba who was determined to defy fate and fight for himself reverted to the faceless bystander he had been in his previous life, with nothing left in his mind but the urge to escape.

It was not just him; even Wei Wu, who prided himself on his courage, instinctively tensed in readiness. He watched the girl in white warily, his left hand moving to his back and his right to his waist—reflexes honed by years of sword practice. Yet he carried no blade now, and as his hand found only empty air, he grew flustered. Still, glancing back to see Wei Ba, whose face was even paler than the girl's clothing, he gritted his teeth and mustered the courage to shout, "Who are you? This is Hanzhong! We are from the General Who Guards the North's household!"

The girl in white spared them a single, disdainful glance and snorted.

Stung by her contempt, Wei Ba was suddenly both angry and ashamed. A man who had lived two lives—yet here he was, terrified by a mere girl. How humiliating! As Wei Wu had said, this was Hanzhong, and their family truly ruled this land. Since she dared appear here openly and knew he was the General's son, she must herself be someone of status, not some wandering bandit. If that was the case, what did he have to fear?

Wei Ba realized that, though he had once scoffed at those who relied on powerful fathers, he now had a formidable one himself—and it felt rather good.

He gently nudged Wei Wu aside and stepped forward, putting himself between his brother and the girl. Forcing a smile and feigning composure, he puckered his lips and whistled.

It was crisp, loud, and irreverent.

The girl in white, who had worn only scorn until now, looked surprised when Wei Ba approached. Her icy gaze wavered with curiosity. But at the sound of his brazen whistle, her anger flared anew, her face returning instantly to a frosty severity.

"So, you're just a scoundrel," she sneered. "The General Who Guards the North has certainly raised his son well."

Wei Wu, incensed, stepped out from behind Wei Ba, pointing at the girl and shouting, "Watch your mouth, brat! Don't you dare insult my father!"

"I'm only speaking the truth," the girl retorted, shooting him a sidelong glare before her eyes returned to Wei Ba. "Besides, it was your family who first slandered my father. I am simply returning the favor."

Wei Ba frowned, a sudden realization dawning on him. Understanding the girl's identity, he felt a wave of relief, his smile growing broader.

"Miss, isn't that a bit of an accusation?" he said lightly.

Her brows arched. "Why? Do you think 'stray dog' is a compliment?"

Wei Ba smiled faintly. "Hardly a compliment, but hardly slander, either. In fact, Lady Kong herself was once called a stray dog. By comparing your father to Confucius, how could I be slandering him?"

"Confucius?" The girl's brows lifted in doubt, her sharp eyes momentarily uncertain.

Without hesitation, Wei Ba continued, "If you don't believe me and think I'm talking nonsense, you can check the books yourself. If you find nothing, come to the General's mansion—I will be delighted to explain."

Her cheeks flushed as she bit her lip, then she scoffed, "In that case, isn't your Wei family also a pack of strays? Nanyang is in enemy hands too, and you are exiles as well."

Wei Ba's expression did not change as he sighed softly. "That is precisely why we must cherish our time, strive to reclaim our homeland, and return in glory, rather than waste words here. Miss, I have matters to attend to, so I won't stay to debate. If you wish, you are welcome to visit us at the General's mansion."

Embarrassed and annoyed by his double-edged words, the girl snorted and turned away. Surrounded by her fierce attendants, she strode down the hill. Several warhorses stood waiting in the distance. She mounted one with graceful ease, gave a sharp command, and the horse reared and galloped off, its hooves thundering as she vanished from sight.

Wei Ba watched her disappear behind the slope and could not help whistling again. Women of this era were not as bound by rules as in later times, but even so, few rode so boldly. She was every bit the match for those modern women in leather, straddling Harleys, parading down city streets.

"Wow, what a horse," Wei Wu exclaimed enviously, drawing a silent sigh from Wei Ba. This kid was still young—he only saw the horse, not the rider atop it.

"Brother, who was she? She came at us fierce as a storm, but after a few words, she just left?"

"She lost her nerve, what else could she do?" Wei Ba replied smugly, glancing sideways at Wei Wu and shrugging, finally reclaiming some dignity as the elder brother. These days, it was Wei Wu who had helped him most during their training, but he had also given him no end of grief. If not for his determination to overcome himself, he would have been crushed by that sharp tongue long ago.

"Lost her nerve? Why would she do that?" Wei Wu still looked baffled, his big eyes blinking in innocent confusion.

"As a descendant of the Ma family of Fufeng, not even knowing the origin of 'stray dog'—isn't that shameful enough?"

"Ma family of Fufeng?" Wei Wu frowned, still not quite grasping it. "You mean, her surname is Ma too?"

Wei Ba was exasperated. He reached out and cuffed the back of Wei Wu's head. "Of course! She was here to honor Ma Chao. Those Qiang bodyguards' respect for her makes it obvious—who else could she be but a Ma?"

"Oh—" Wei Wu finally caught on, drawing out the syllable, then asked, "No wonder she accused you of insulting her father. So she's Ma Chao's daughter. But what's the story with this 'stray dog,' and what does Confucius have to do with it?"

Wei Ba felt a twinge of guilt. Though he had read many miscellaneous books, he had not truly studied the classics. He only knew of this allusion because it had once sparked a scholarly controversy. After tracking down the book, he gained a basic understanding of the Analects—the only Confucian classic he had read in full. His earlier bravado about waiting to explain was only because he had guessed the girl was from the Ma family, famous for scholars like Ma Rong, the teacher of great men like Lu Zhi and Zheng Xuan. Even Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan were considered their disciples' disciples. For a Ma not to know this allusion was embarrassing; she would surely check herself rather than ask him directly. Yet if pressed, he wouldn't be able to explain it thoroughly.

"Well, that's a complicated question," Wei Ba said evasively. As they rounded a bend and saw Ma Chao's lonely tomb in the distance, he was struck by a wave of emotion. Ma Chao died in Chengdu, yet was buried at Yangping Pass, probably because it was closest to Liangzhou, and he had lived in Hanzhong for a time. For one of the Five Tiger Generals, the famed 'Silken Ma Chao,' his end was solitary indeed. Thinking of Ma Chao, he was reminded of Ma Dai, which left a bitter taste. In the tales, it was Ma Dai who later beheaded his own father, Wei Yan, dooming the Wei family. Though he knew the stories were part fact, part fiction, that particular tale seemed far-fetched—yet when one's own interests were involved, unease lingered.

He would have to warn his father, Wei Yan, to keep his distance from anyone named Ma. Since the days of Ma Teng, the Ma family had been notorious for rebellion. Ma Dai might not have matched Ma Chao in valor, but when it came to intrigue, Ma Chao would be left in the dust.

"Come on, brother, tell me the story," Wei Wu pleaded, tugging Wei Ba's sleeve and wriggling in mischief. With his strength, Wei Ba could barely resist, stumbling along until he relented. "All right, let go, and I'll tell you."

"Okay, okay, go on!" Wei Wu released him, beaming as he tidied Wei Ba's clothes with exaggerated care. Wei Ba cleared his throat, assuming the manner of a learned scholar, and recounted the tale. Wei Wu listened, eyes wide with delight, clapping and laughing. "Now I get it! Even that Confucius, whom all the scholars revere, was once called a dog. That's brilliant—next time I meet a scholar who annoys me, I'll call him a dog too. If he doesn't like it, I'll tell him to read more books!"

Wei Ba rolled his eyes, turning away to feign an appreciation of the scenery. Oblivious, Wei Wu continued plotting which scholar to insult first, and then added admiringly, "Brother, I see you're not entirely useless after all. At least among us brothers, you have a bit of learning."

"Hey, is that a compliment or an insult?" Wei Ba retorted, embarrassed, reaching to twist Wei Wu's ear. "You rascal, ever heard of brotherly respect? Eldest brothers are like fathers!"

Wei Wu only laughed, dodging away. "You're not the eldest, so why should I be afraid? Besides, Father isn't dead yet—it's not your turn to lecture me. Are you cursing Father? Just wait, I'll tell him—you'll be in trouble!"

Realizing his slip, Wei Ba awkwardly slapped his forehead. "Oh dear, I'm dizzy—I'm going to faint!"

"You faker! I don't believe you," Wei Wu chortled, clutching his stomach with laughter. "I'm telling Father—he'll tan your hide for sure!"

—New book upload! Your support is vital—please click, recommend, and bookmark! One more chapter coming today.