There is a small coastal city in the Jiangbei Prefecture called Xianlong Port. It is said that long ago, someone witnessed a sea dragon stirring up the ocean here, creating a spectacular display of stormy skies and turbulent seas. The incident was rumored to have even alarmed the imperial court, but the truth of it remains uncertain. Regardless, the name Xianlong Port has endured through the years.
It's said that those who live by the sea thrive on the sea. Most of the residents in this city rely on fishing and shipbuilding to put food on the table. Since shipbuilding is a craft handed down through generations, the city gradually became a city of carpenters. In fact, thirty percent of the imperial navy's warships originate from Xianlong Port. While it cannot compare to major metropolises, such a bustling scene in a small port city is still quite rare. The huge shipbuilding industry made the small city quite prosperous.
As Tang Jinnian and Rao Shuang walked along the road leading to Xianlong Port, he warned her, "Don’t reveal your martial arts easily after we enter the city. It will bring unnecessary trouble."
Rao Shuang curiously observed this unfamiliar city and casually asked, "Why? What kind of trouble?"
Tang Jinnian seemed a bit irritable and replied impatiently, "Xianlong Port builds ships for the imperial court and is under constant supervision by the Imperial Guardians. If it were just local officials... it wouldn’t be a problem. However, the Imperial Guardians are fond of chasing shadows and catching the wind. If they discover you’re from the jianghu, they might arrest you and throw you into prison for interrogation."
Rao Shuang seemed unconcerned. "With you here, who could capture me?"
Tang Jinnian sneered coldly. "You can try and see if I’ll lift a finger to help you."
Accustomed to Tang Jinnian’s brusque tone, Rao Shuang wasn’t offended. She curiously probed, "Are you also afraid of the Imperial Guardians?"
Tang Jinnian fell silent. After walking a short distance ahead, he finally said in a low voice, "My family lives here..."
Rao Shuang suddenly recalled that Tang Jinnian had once told her his mother still lived here.
At the city gate, they handed over their documents. Seeing that Tang Jinnian was a local, the guards didn’t question them much and allowed the two to enter the city directly.
Xianlong Port had a seaport that attracted many merchants who came and went. The streets were bustling with people, and the sounds of hawkers shouting their wares filled every corner of the city.
Rao Shuang seemed to be growing impatient after walking for so long without reaching their destination and couldn’t help but ask, "Where do you live?"
Tang Jinnian frowned slightly and didn’t respond.
Rao Shuang’s eyes darted around slyly as she asked, "Hmm... Forsaken Phoenix, are you feeling a bit homesick?"
"Even if you stay silent, no one will think you are a mute," Tang Jinnian replied, his brow twitching.
Rao Shuang pouted and said nothing more.
After walking for over a quarter of an hour, the bustling parts of the road gradually disappeared. The tall buildings on both sides of the street turned into squat buildings with low eaves. Rao Shuang couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Having traveled with Forsaken Phoenix for quite some time, she had observed that, while he wasn’t wastefully extravagant, he was undoubtedly generous. She had never seen him short of money. Though she didn’t know the full extent of his wealth, she could hardly imagine him living in a place .
She followed Tang Jinnian through several narrow alleys while lost in thought before they stopped in front of a modest courtyard.
Rao Shuang snapped back to her senses and began to take in the scene before her. Calling it a courtyard would be generous. It was merely a small area fenced off with a bamboo enclosure. To the left of the door was a tiny vegetable patch with a few hardy greens that looked somewhat wilted. The simple wooden one was slightly ajar, with the padlock hanging to the side. The entire house looked quite old.
Rao Shuang opened her mouth, unable to suppress her burning curiosity.
Tang Jinnian nodded without answering. He reached out to gently push open the bamboo gate and stepped inside first.
As the two entered the small courtyard, a woman’s voice called out from inside the house, "Is that... is that my Inky?"
"Pfft—" Rao Shuang burst out laughing, while Tang Jinnian’s face darkened. He reprimanded her in a low voice, "Be quiet!"
As he finished speaking, the creaky wooden door squeaked open, and an elderly, hunched-over woman with graying hair stepped out. She wore plain linen clothes that had been washed so many times that they had faded. Her face was lined with deep wrinkles, but her expression was kind and gentle. She stood at the doorway, squinting her eyes as she peered in their direction.
"... Mother," Tang Jinnian called out softly.
Although the elderly woman’s eyesight was poor, she smiled cheerfully when she heard the familiar voice. "Ah, my Inky has come back home! Good, good, it’s good to have you back...
"Hmm?" The woman suddenly paused, flaring her nostrils slightly as she sniffed the air. She then took a couple of steps toward Tang Jinnian and remarked, "That fragrance... is that makeup?"
With that, the elderly woman quickly approached Tang Jinnian, pushed him aside, and leaned forward to scrutinize Rao Shuang with squinted eyes. Her face broke into a wide grin as she exclaimed, "Oh my, oh my! Where is this young lady from? Such a lovely fragrance..."
She then grabbed Rao Shuang’s hand and carefully held it in her own. "Such soft, tender skin... Eh? But why are there calluses? Are you from a farming family, young lady?"
Rao Shuang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, feeling slightly awkward as she glanced at Tang Jinnian. She had practiced martial arts since childhood, how could her palms and fingertips not have calluses?
"Quick, tell me," the old woman said, tugging firmly on Tang Jinnian’s sleeve. "Where is this young lady from? When did you start seeing each other?"
Tang Jinnian looked helpless. Carefully shaking off his mother's grip, he walked toward the house and casually said, "She’s just a maid I brought back to take care of you. You can order her around as you please."
"You—" Rao Shuang’s face flushed red with anger.
"Nonsense!" Before Rao Shuang could say another word, the elderly woman had already scolded Tang Jinnian on her behalf. Turning back to Rao Shuang, her face once again beamed with joy as she warmly asked, "What is your surname, young lady? Where is your family? Are your parents still alive?"
Rao Shuang was momentarily overwhelmed by the old woman’s enthusiasm and stammered, "Ma, Madam..."
"What do you mean, Madam!" The old woman’s expression turned stern as she lightly tapped Rao Shuang’s forearm. She put on a cheerful smile and continued, "We’re all family now, just call me Mother..."