Chapter Thirty-One: Hidden Currents of Anxiety

The tenth round was about to begin. Jiang Zhenyuan clenched his fists, his winnings piled before him like a small mountain. The others at the table were so tense their teeth chattered, gloom hanging over them like a dark cloud. After nine straight losses, their fortunes were all but gone; even the little tricks some tried to use had lost their effectiveness.

Rong Xian’er lounged across Jiang Zhenyuan’s shoulder, utterly at ease. “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “You’re sure to win.”

The final game commenced, and the entire room erupted in astonishment—he had won again. Ten consecutive victories—unprecedented! It was nothing short of miraculous. The casino owner, Master Wang, wore a look of disbelief; in all his years running the establishment, he had never seen such a streak.

Jiang Zhenyuan stared, mouth agape, just as stunned as the rest, his gaze fixed on Rong Xian’er.

She grinned mischievously, playing with the silver on the table. Winking, she teased, “General Ever-Victorious, did I not tell you so?”

Jiang Zhenyuan nodded vigorously.

The losers looked utterly devastated, on the verge of tears. Jiang Zhenyuan sighed theatrically, “Isn’t this just maddening? I didn’t even want to win this round, but when luck comes, there’s simply no stopping it.”

“Shall we go?” Jiang Zhenyuan asked.

“General Ever-Victorious, are you forgetting something? The money’s still here.” Rong Xian’er tossed a piece of silver into his arms.

“Bringing all this home would exhaust me! I’ll just leave it.” Jiang Zhenyuan waved a hand. “Boss, we’re leaving.”

The losers scrambled to reclaim what they could of their money.

Rong Xian’er caught up, eyeing Jiang Zhenyuan as if he were mad. “Hey! That was a fortune—enough to feed me noodles for a lifetime! And you just walk away?”

“I’m not short on money. I was only playing for fun.”

“One moment you’re the Ever-Victorious General, the next you’re penniless.” Rong Xian’er waved him off. “I’m done playing. I’m leaving.”

“Wait! You haven’t told me—how did I win? How did you do it?”

Rong Xian’er spun twice in place, arms behind her back. She stopped abruptly, her two blue ribbons swirling softly through the air.

Her voice rang clear, “I am Rong Xian’er, night witch of Qiliang. I was born with the power to manipulate the emotions of others. In other words, I can control how you feel.”

“Ah! That explains it. From the start, they all seemed restless and irritable. No wonder they couldn’t win if their minds weren’t in the game.” Jiang Zhenyuan’s eyes widened with realization.

Rong Xian’er snapped her fingers. “Exactly! That’s what’s called morale!”

She skipped ahead.

Jiang Zhenyuan hurried after her. “Wait, what’s the rush? Do you have any other abilities?”

“Besides my innate talent for manipulating emotions, I’ve also learned two things: one, how to control inanimate objects; two, how to divine romantic fate. But those two are forbidden outside Qiliang.”

“Divining romance? Isn’t that just street fortune-teller nonsense?”

“Don’t be so quick to judge. Here, let me show you.” Rong Xian’er placed her hand over Jiang Zhenyuan’s heart.

“Hey! What are you doing, touching me?” Jiang Zhenyuan flushed red.

“Shh!”

The heart has seven orifices; one is the root of emotion, known as the portal of feeling.

Rong Xian’er withdrew her hand after a while.

She looked up at Jiang Zhenyuan. “Unfortunately, your mind has yet to be awakened. There’s nothing there to see.” She spoke the truth; his emotional center was a blank slate, holding nothing of love or longing.

Jiang Zhenyuan leapt up. “Nonsense! I don’t believe you. My mind awakened ages ago!”

“Believe what you like,” Rong Xian’er replied, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she grinned.

The moon hung high. The street was deserted but for the two of them. Jiang Zhenyuan thought he ought to head home—he’d be in trouble if discovered.

He patted his sleeve. “I have a bit of silver left—take it as thanks.”

Rong Xian’er’s eyes sparkled as she accepted the coins. “General Ever-Victorious, you’re a good man.”

“If you ever want noodles again, come to the Jiang estate—I’ll treat you.”

“Really? Then what’s your name?”

“Jiang Zhenyuan.”

“How far is ‘Zhenyuan’?”

Jiang Zhenyuan laughed. “Ha! It means very, very far—so far you can’t see it.”

“So far you can’t see is truly far,” she mused.

“And you’re Rong Xian’er?”

“That’s right. But my friends call me Little Fairy Rong.”

“Little Fairy Rong.” Jiang Zhenyuan grinned.

“That’s me!”

“The Grand Diviner is away from Qiliang just now, so I’m free to sneak out and play.”

“The Grand Diviner? Sounds impressive.”

Jiang Zhenyuan bade Rong Xian’er farewell and left. She bounced in place, calling, “I’ll come find you, General Ever-Victorious!” waving enthusiastically.

The jingle of silver at her waist made her smile all the wider.

Jiang Zhenyuan walked briskly away, her clear voice drifting after him. He turned and saw, beneath the moon, the girl in blue—her eyes aglow with a small cluster of starlight.

Jiang Zhenyuan grinned, showing his white teeth. “Then I’ll be waiting.”

In the dim, flickering candlelight, heavy white curtains swayed like ghostly shadows. A cold wind rose, lifting the drapes, and in that shifting pale gloom, a withered face appeared, gnarled as an ancient tree. His eyes were a muddy yellow, radiating a sinister gleam that sent chills down the spine.

Beside him sat the Third Prince, Cheng Yu, holding a teacup, an inscrutable smile playing at his lips.

He spoke respectfully, “Grand Diviner, the heart’s blood of six pure-yin boys and girls has been collected, ready for your use.”

“You have done well,” came a voice, hoarse and cold as a crow’s.

“Rest assured, I have come all the way from Qiliang. I will not leave empty-handed.” He reached out, patting the prince’s shoulder, veins bulging on his wizened hand.

Cheng Yu’s composure was flawless, though his tight grip on the teacup betrayed his excitement.

“What are your plans, Grand Diviner?”

“To help you ascend the throne.”

Cheng Yu looked up, his eyes alight with unconcealed exultation.