Futile Devices Scans

The mountain road was dark and rugged. Even for an official road, it was hardly smooth, yet with those long legs of his, Li Si darted forward astonishingly fast. Zhang San chased for more than a dozen steps and still could not catch him, so he had no choice but to mount General Sun’s steed and ride after him, knowing he had said the wrong thing and coaxing him ruefully.

“It was my fault. Don’t be angry. Little colt? Little fool?”

Li Si said nothing, not even answering him with “big tiger.” Instead, the steed acted like some horse spirit, snorting and making a mocking sound.

Zhang San slapped its neck. “Big Black Ghost! What are you joining in for?”

The steed had hated that name for a long time. The moment it heard it, it violently kicked up its hindquarters and threw him off.

Zhang San rolled onto the ground with an ow! Li Si stopped and looked back. Seeing Zhang San lie there without getting up for a long time, he hesitated again and again before finally returning to help him.

The moment his hand reached out, Zhang San grabbed it and yanked him down. Li Si fell into a solid, warm embrace, and a wicked laugh sounded beside his ear.

—He was pretending again!

Furious that Zhang San was still deceiving him even now, Li Si shoved against his chest and tried to get up. Zhang San cried out again, “Hiss! Don’t push, don’t push! It really is swollen. It really hurts…” Li Si still could not help worrying. He lowered his eyes to inspect Zhang San’s chest. Their summer clothes were thin, and after the two had struggled around, half of Brother Xiao’s chest was exposed. Brother Xiao even kept pulling his collar lower, trying to show him more…

Under the faint moonlight, Li Si was leaning closer with a serious and worried expression when a hand suddenly covered the back of his head and pushed him down!

Li Si managed only one word. “Liar—”

The scolding abruptly stopped.

＊

After holding him there tightly for a while, Zhang San lifted Li Si’s face and looked—sure enough, the moment Li Si had been buried there, he had gone completely stupid, his gaze frozen and his expression blank, like a little wooden horse waiting to be positioned however someone pleased.

“Hehe! Little lecher! You think I can’t handle you?”

Zhang San bit Li Si’s burning cheek, hugged him, and rolled to his feet. Then he lifted the woodenly dazed Li Si around the waist and tossed him onto the horse like a sack, before trying to climb onto the horse himself.

But Big Black Ghost, having witnessed the entire scene, kicked its hind legs and moved away several steps, snorting angrily and refusing to let this bad tiger ride.

“Hey! You two stubborn horses have quite the temper!”

Zhang San could only walk beside the steed, supporting Li Si where he lay draped over its back and keeping him from sliding off.

＊

The farther they went, the stronger the stench of scorched earth and rot became. Before long, the remains of the Xiao camp appeared along the mountain road, burned black and stretching all the way toward the rockfall. The fire had burned for a day and a night, reducing tents and Xiao corpses alike to ash and charcoal. A lingering rotten stench still spread along the road. Against the dim moonlight and the blackened, withered forest, the mountain road that had once been shaded by green trees now looked exactly like a sinister path into the underworld.

Zhang San turned to look at Li Si lying silently over the horse’s back, his head hanging down without movement, and secretly let out a breath of relief.

He did not want Sisi to see this.

He did not want Sisi to see the fresh blood covering his hands, the mountain of corpses behind him, or the road of killing that he had no choice but to walk.

＊

Late at night, Zhang San carried the dazed Sisi back to the county yamen. The sound of horse hooves woke Cook Wu and her husband. Both came outside with clothes thrown over their shoulders. Seeing Young Master Li had returned, they were delighted. Cook Wu quickly drew water for the two of them to wash, while her husband led the steed away to settle it in the stable.

Zhang San thanked the couple and urged them to return to bed, then carried Sisi into the main room and placed him on the large bed.

It took a great deal of effort to peel the chain mail off him, then Zhang San removed Li Si’s clothes until only his underpants remained. He brought a cup of tea to Li Si’s mouth and coaxed him into taking a sip to rinse his mouth, then carefully wiped him clean. Finally, Zhang San washed himself too, blew out the lamp, and climbed into bed.

His head dropped heavily onto the pillow. He pulled Sisi’s warm body into his arms and held him tightly. Only then did he finally exhale deeply in relief, releasing the tension and exhaustion accumulated over so many days.

Sleep surged over him like the tide. He stroked Sisi’s still-warm cheek and secretly stole a small kiss from his lips. Then his head tilted, and the moment his eyes closed, he fell asleep.

In the pitch-black darkness, he never noticed—after he kissed Sisi, the blank expression on the little fool’s face melted away like ice beneath sunlight.

Li Si blinked blearily in the dark. Suddenly finding himself in such a familiar yet long-lost bed and embrace, he thought he must be dreaming. Just as before, he wrapped both arms around Brother Xiao’s waist, rested his head against Brother Xiao’s shoulder, closed his eyes, and quickly fell asleep too.

＊

Li Si had a very, very long dream.

In the dream, he and Brother Xiao walked hand in hand through a golden mountain forest in late autumn. Joyful birdcalls filled the air. Several foolish roe deer poked their heads through the trees, curiously examining them. Small brown squirrels leapt among the branches beside the path, shaking their fluffy tails.

Brother Xiao was saying something, then turned toward Li Si and smiled warmly.

Li Si’s heart filled with joy. He leaned closer and kissed him, gently biting Brother Xiao’s lips again and again. So gentle kissing feels different too. It’s like kissing fragrant sweet fruit. Like kissing soft clouds.

The more he kissed, the hotter his face became. The more he kissed, the hotter his body grew. Unable to help himself, he pressed Brother Xiao down beneath him into the soft pile of fallen leaves.

Golden leaves whirled upward, dreamlike and unreal, enclosing them. Brother Xiao’s smile appeared and disappeared among them. Still smiling, he pulled open his thin clothing and exposed his chest. Sunlight flowed across him like water, painting him in brilliant shifting light. Li Si became dizzy beneath that golden glow, his body burning hotter and hotter. For some reason, he suddenly began trembling and experienced a strange reaction he had never felt before…

He could not help lowering himself toward Brother Xiao. Leaves spun and danced around them. Within the scattered fragments of golden light, his hands moved over Brother Xiao’s body, his breathing growing hotter and more frantic…

Suddenly, Brother Xiao laughed wickedly beside his ear.

Li Si’s entire body jolted!

The heat inside him became too intense and transformed into burning pain. Terrified, he looked down. The fallen leaves beneath him had burst into roaring flame, and Brother Xiao disappeared into the fire. In an instant, the whole mountain forest became a sea of flames!

＊

Li Si screamed and shot upright from the pillow like an arrow.

He had never screamed so horribly before, startling Zhang San, who had been sleeping soundly while holding him, into shooting upright too. In the blink of an eye, his hand found the saber at the head of the bed.

Shhk!

He drew it and stared tensely around the room.

—Naturally, there was nothing there.

Zhang San let out a breath of relief, returned the saber to its sheath, crawled back, and hugged Li Si again. “What’s wrong? Nightmare?”

Li Si’s face was deathly pale, and he could not stop panting. Zhang San held him close, pressed his head against his shoulder, and coaxed him softly. “It’s all right, it’s all right. Just a dream. Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Li Si hugged him tightly in return. Only after a long while did he recover from the terror of watching Brother Xiao disappear into flames.

Hearing Li Si’s breathing slowly settle, Zhang San pressed him back down. “It isn’t dawn yet. Sleep a little longer.” Li Si’s mind was still muddled. His trousers felt sticky and wet and extremely uncomfortable. He wanted to reach down and see what was wrong, but Brother Xiao was pressed tightly against him, leaving him unable to move.

Their bodies lay together without the slightest gap. Li Si’s chest pressed against Brother Xiao’s warm, soft chest. Even their heartbeats seemed joined together. Gradually, Li Si’s body began burning terribly again. Something hard seemed to appear between them. It grew harder. Li Si’s own body felt stranger and increasingly uncomfortable.

His voice trembled. “Saber…”

Half Zhang San’s mind had already been swallowed by returning sleep. With his eyes closed, he thought hazily: Saber? Did I put the saber on the bed just now…? Huh?

His eyes snapped open, every trace of sleep vanishing. His tiger paw reached downward and grabbed hard, and Li Si let out a miserable Aah!

—This time it isn’t my saber! Hehe!

＊

Cook Wu went to sleep early and woke early. Every day before dawn, she rose and busied herself in the little kitchen in the courtyard, preparing breakfast for Commander Zhang and the clerks and runners serving at the county yamen.

The courtyard was pitch-black, illuminated only by the glow of the stove. By that light, she was deftly scattering flour and kneading dough when a miserable scream suddenly came from the main room.

Judging by the voice, it was clearly Young Master Li.

Cook Wu quickly wiped her hands on her skirt and hurried across the courtyard. Before she reached the door, another scream came from inside: “Aah!”

She ran to the doorway and raised her voice. “Young Master, what happened? Boss?”

Young Master Li did not answer. The Boss quickly called back, laughter still in his voice. “Sister Wu, it’s nothing! He had a nightmare!”

Hearing how cheerful he sounded, Cook Wu relaxed and returned to the kitchen to knead dough.

＊

As usual, Cook Wu brought them two fragrant bowls of noodle-piece soup—surely this was what Young Master Li would most want for his first breakfast after returning to Ant County.

But Young Master Li did not even have time to take a single bite. His little head lowered, refusing to look at her, he hurriedly hugged a bundle of something and fled the room. He drew a basin of water himself, crouched in the farthest corner of the courtyard, and began washing clothes.

Cook Wu called warmly, “Young Master! Eat your noodles first! I’ll wash those for you!”

Young Master Li jumped in fright, kicked over half the basin, and dragged both himself and the basin even farther away. “No, no, no! I’ll wash them myself!”

Cook Wu was broad-minded and forgetful by nature. She had completely forgotten that this scene looked strangely familiar and glanced blankly at the Boss—the Boss was leaning out to watch Young Master, a chopstickful of noodle pieces suspended in midair. He had not eaten for quite some time, and a wicked grin stretched across his face.

“Little fool!” he laughed. “Come eat first! I’ll help you wash them afterward!”

Li Si’s whole face turned scarlet. His hands scrubbed even faster, scrubbing his underpants so violently they practically seemed about to spark.

“You go away!”

He remembered that Brother Xiao had called it a saber before too. It was not a saber at all! Just now, Brother Xiao had even grinned wickedly while grabbing him there, squeezing hard enough to hurt!

Not one truthful word ever came from Brother Xiao’s mouth!

Big tiger! Big liar!

＊

After being bullied too many times in succession, Li Si became so furious that he truly refused to have anything to do with Zhang San. He would not speak to him and would not let him come close. Zhang San, however, was delighted beyond measure, knowing that his little colt had grown up and could now wield a “great saber” too. He followed Li Si around the county yamen, coaxing, teasing, and pestering him endlessly.

Cook Wu watched the Boss behave like an ignorant little lecher. Faced with the sweetheart he fancied, he had no idea how to properly express himself and knew only how to cling, harass, tease, and take liberties. He really was terrible.

Seeing Young Master Li become so angry that he removed his saber sheath and waved it to drive the Boss away, she could only step in to rescue him. “Young Master, yesterday County Commandant Liu brought some peanut cakes and said they were from you. My husband and I both tasted them. These capital peanut cakes really are fragrant! You were thoughtful. Thank you! But neither of us eats much sweet food. We tasted two pieces and still have two left. I was afraid they’d go to waste, so how about you and Boss share them?”

Li Si saw the oil-paper packet in her hand. “Sister Wu, there’s no need to thank me.” He reached out to take it, but at that moment Zhang San sidled closer again. Li Si abandoned even the peanut cakes, hopping sideways and escaping several steps away in the blink of an eye.

Cook Wu glanced reproachfully at the Boss, stuffed the peanut cakes into his hands, and signaled for him to use them to coax Li Si properly.

Zhang San smiled. “Thank you, Sister Wu.” He tucked the packet into his robe, then chased Li Si again.

＊

He chased him all the way to the stable and cornered Li Si together with Big Black Ghost. The big horse and the little horse both widened their eyes and glared at him with shared hatred.

“You dislike me this much? You won’t even eat peanut cakes?” Li Si glanced at Zhang San’s chest, where the packet of peanut cakes made his robe bulge slightly. He immediately remembered being wickedly pressed into that same chest the night before. Furious, he swung his saber sheath. “Go away!”

“Neigh!” Big Black Ghost joined in.

Zhang San was not angry. “I have to go out. I need to discuss some things with Brother Liu and patrol the county. Are you going to rest here alone for the day or come with me?”

Li Si frowned without answering, his face full of suspicion.

Zhang San pretended to turn and leave. Footsteps followed. When he looked back, Li Si immediately stopped moving again and stood several paces away, glaring angrily.

Zhang San suppressed his laughter and continued walking.

＊

The two went on foot to the southern city gate.

The streets and lanes they passed were actually much livelier than they had been several months earlier when Li Si left. Work and vitality had returned to the common neighborhoods, and even vendors were calling their wares in the market.

“We widened the suspension bridge on the cliff with the She Family Army and opened the mountain road. Ox carts can travel through now, so the county’s woodwork, stonework, and mountain goods can still be hauled to Fuzhou and sold for grain. Even some of the stones from that ratlike Shu Da Fu’s courtyard were carted away and sold… You’re standing that far away. Can you even hear me?”

Li Si tightly gripped his saber sheath and waved it angrily in his direction.

＊

They did not find Liu Wu at the southern gate. The soldiers said County Commandant Liu was halfway down the mountain overseeing the defenses at the rockfall, so Zhang San took Li Si down the mountain again. The day the western camp commander opened a gap through the rockfall, he had not dared advance rashly. That caution had actually been correct, because rows upon rows of concealed horse-trap pits lined the mountain road, packed tightly enough to block it completely. Only one narrow, inconspicuous gap remained against the mountain wall for Great Xuan defenders, oxen, and horses to pass through.

Zhang San led Li Si around the horse-trap pits and downward. From far away, they could see layer after layer of wooden frames rebuilt behind the rockfall. The gap that had been opened was also being filled back in by craftsmen pushing stones into place.

Zhang San did not want Li Si to see the underworld-like scene on the other side. So he lied that the ladder frames were not finished and that Li Si, unfamiliar with them, might damage them by stepping in the wrong place. He refused to let Li Si climb onto the stone pile, then climbed the ladder frames himself and found Liu Wu supervising work at the top.

Liu Wu was helping the craftsmen carry several pieces of timber. Hearing someone approach, he stopped and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Commander?”

Zhang San helped him, and the two moved the timber to where the craftsmen needed it.

Zhang San said, “I’ve been thinking. This still can’t stop crossbow bolts and catapult stones. If the Xiao bandits attack again, we’ll still be forced back. In Kuiyuan, I saw Chief Commander Wang use wooden posts and rope to make a net fence that could catch arrows and stones.”

Liu Wu thought for a moment. “What if they use fire arrows?”

“Then add another layer of cowhide over the net.”

“The oxen were all burned by you…”

“Shh!” Zhang San immediately looked down. Li Si was helping a craftsman hold a ladder, and the surroundings were filled with the loud noise of chiseling and construction. He clearly could not hear them. Zhang San relaxed. “I’ll find a way to buy some cowhide from Fuzhou. You arrange for people to start making the net as soon as possible.”

“All right.”

“Also, I remember there are mountain folk in the county who are good at catching snakes?”

“It should be those hunting families. They usually sell snakeskin and snake gall for medicine. Ask the medicine-shop keeper and he’ll know which households.”

“Good. You keep working. I’m going.” Zhang San did not bother climbing back down the ladder frames and simply slid along the stone pile.

Liu Wu poked his head over the edge and called after him. “Commander, what are you catching snakes for? What wicked idea do you have now?”

Zhang San looked back with a laugh and showed two wicked tiger teeth. “Your Commander has plenty of wicked ideas!”

＊

He slid all the way to the bottom of the rock pile and sidled up beside Li Si. Li Si was helping someone steady a short ladder and did not dare move. Zhang San wrapped an arm around his waist and took advantage of him, earning an angry glare.

The glare only made Zhang San laugh. He simply hugged Li Si outright and rested his head on his shoulder. “Let’s see how long you can stay angry.”

A voice came from atop the little ladder. “Hey, hey, Boss. There are people everywhere.”

What a mood-killing bastard! Zhang San looked up and scolded, “Why are you here? I was looking for you two at the gate earlier!”

Zhou Qi said, “There isn’t even a Xiao ghost at the gate, never mind a Xiao bandit. What are my brother and I supposed to watch? We rebuilt that sentry tower for nothing! You and Young Master Li use it for making out more than we use it for watch duty…”

Zhou Ba called from beside him, “Boss, you came just in time! Help steady mine too! My ladder’s wobbling!”

Zhang San could only let go of the hand he had been using to take liberties. While holding the ladder, he scolded, “You two stop blindly helping around here. I was just about to find you something to do. Go to the tunnel entrance halfway up the mountain and carve out a sentry hole there. I checked last night. From that side, you can see the riverbank below the mountain too. It’ll work just as well as the old fortress sentry tower, and it’ll be more hidden and safer.”

Zhou Qi said happily, “That sounds great! We’ll go this afternoon!”

＊

After inspecting the southern gate, Zhang San took Li Si through the streets and lanes, then went to the drill ground.

One hundred new soldiers had been added there, packed densely together, all assigned by the She Family Army. Defending this little city required neither cavalry nor elite troops. The She Family Army itself was fighting difficult battles, so they had selected only around a hundred young, strong recruits to reinforce Ant County—after all, they had strength, and that was enough for throwing rocks at Xiao bandits.

Zhang San hesitated at the entrance. On one hand, he wanted Li Si’s help training the soldiers. Such a good drill instructor would be wasted if unused. On the other hand, he was afraid Drill Instructor Li might use the opportunity to stay inside and refuse to return to the county yamen to sleep.

“There are more people this time, and the sleeping quarters are crowded. There isn’t any extra bedding,” he told Li Si.

Li Si did not understand the twists and turns hidden in his meaning. The moment he saw soldiers training, his hands itched. Without answering, he walked into the courtyard.

“Sisi.” Zhang San followed anxiously and tried to touch his hand. “I’ll come pick you up tonight and we’ll eat at Elder Sister’s house?”

He had even resorted to Elder Sister.

Li Si seemed to have eyes on his back. He hopped forward two steps, turned around, and threateningly waved his saber sheath again. “You’re not allowed to touch me!”

“Will you eat dinner?”

“…I’ll eat!”

＊

Commander Zhang walked away cheerfully, needing to inspect the northern gate, arrange to buy cowhide, find people to catch snakes, and perhaps deal with county business as well. From dawn to dusk, he truly was busy.

Behind him remained a courtyard full of new recruits watching this cold-faced young drill instructor walk inside. Even Commander Zhang had to smile and coax him. None of them knew what sort of background he possessed.

He really was full of swagger.