Chapter 5: I Don’t Want Any Money

Mu Mu had later rented a small courtyard within the inn.

Nan Feng didn’t mind spending some coins for the place. In his eyes, money was made to be used.

After settling down, Nan Feng began to exercise his body; at least some martial arts moves had to be displayed.

In the past, Nan Feng’s leg techniques—the roundhouse kick and the sky-stomping kick—were all easily and effortlessly displayed with great force. However, now, with this body, if he dared to display those moves, his muscles and tendons would be split and injured.

Nan Feng’s exercise methods were so dazzling to Mu Mu, who took care of his daily life. Back in the Tang manor, Mu Mu had seen warriors practicing their skills but had never seen anything like Nan Feng’s techniques.

While Nan Feng was taking a bath after a rigorous workout, Mu Mu spoke up and said that he planned to accompany Nan Feng on a trip to the capital in order to find Tang Yun.

“Let’s not go for the time being. If she doesn’t care about my situation, telling her won’t make a difference. And if she does care about my situation, telling her will only further worry her. So in either case, there’s no need to tell her.” Nan Feng thought for a moment and spoke, as he could clearly see the essence of the matter.

Mu Mu didn’t say anything else because he felt that what Nan Feng said made sense.

While staying in Wangjiang City, Nan Feng spent most of his days training and taking care of his body, and in the evenings, he would take a stroll around the streets to familiarize himself with this new world.

With his understanding, Nan Feng learned that there were many martial arts academies in the Bauhinia Kingdom, but they were of different levels. The best academy was the Bauhinia martial arts Academy in the capital, where it was a matter of pride for the children of noble families to attend. The second-best were the academies in each county. The Bauhinia Kingdom had twelve counties, each with its own academy.

Those who performed well in the academies were valued by the kingdom and had a chance to be selected to attend the martial arts academy in the capital. While those who perform well in the academy in the capital could be awarded official positions and nobility titles, making the capital academy the only path to a bright future for commoners and martial artists.

After staying at the inn for half a month, Nan Feng thought about it and felt that it was inappropriate for Mu Mu to stay this way. What would happen to Mu Mu after he entered the martial arts academy? He couldn’t just leave him behind and ignore his existence.

After thinking for a while, Nan Feng called for him, “Mu Mu, you don’t have to follow me anymore. We have earned a lot of coins from Tang Yuan and Tang Qiqi. See if you can buy a courtyard around Wangjiang City and settle down in it.”

“Young master, don’t drive Mu Mu away. Mu Mu can’t go back to the Tang marquisate.” Upon hearing Nan Feng’s words, Mu Mu suddenly became a little anxious.

“Don’t worry; sit down first and let me explain slowly. Even if we could return to the Tang manor, we wouldn’t. In life, you can live with nothing, but you can’t live without dignity. I’m asking you to buy a courtyard so that you have a home and can live your own life in the future without having to care about other people.” After seating Mu Mu on a stool, Nan Feng expressed his own views.

“No, then the young master will have no one to take care of him.” Mu Mu still shook his head.

“After I enter the martial arts academy, I’ll mostly be in seclusion for cultivation. Besides, I can take care of myself. When I’m done in the academy, I’ll come find you. To put it another way, even if I don’t do well in the academy, we will still have a home and a place to settle down, right?” Nan Feng said with a smile.

After hearing Nan Feng’s explanation, Mu Mu nodded his head in understanding.

“Then you take care of this matter!” Nan Feng said to Mu Mu.

Mu Mu ran to find a suitable place to live, while Nan Feng stayed in the inn, constantly training his body, strengthening his physical strength and power as well as the flexibility of his body. Without flexibility, not to mention harder movements, he wouldn’t even be able to perform his leg techniques properly.

After completing his training for the day, Nan Feng tidied up a bit. Then, as he noticed Mu Mu hadn’t returned, he went out to wander around the streets. The evening view of Wangjiang City was breathtaking, with the Lanjiang River water brought in from outside the city to form a small river. The riverside was lively with red lights, green wine, and a series of small bridges connecting the sides of the river.

Hearing the rough drumming music, Nan Feng furrowed his brows. He loved music but didn’t like this kind of aggressive rhythm. Instead he preferred delicate, artistic tunes that had a sense of imagination and emotion to them.

After feeling the several coins in his robe sleeves, Nan Feng walked into a music instrument store 

Nan Feng took a look at the musical instruments in the store, and with a wry smile, he realized that he could not find anything that he liked.

“Boss, is there a craftsman here? Can this ancient zither be modified?” Nan Feng called out to the boss of the store.

“Yes, but young master, you need to pay for this ancient zither first,” the boss said, looking at Nan Feng.

Nan Feng nodded and paid the coins. Then he took the ancient zither and followed a craftsman to the backyard.

Nan Feng handed a coin to the craftsman and explained his idea. He wanted a guitar, and he had bought the ancient zither only for its strings.

The craftsman was a bit stunned. The guitar that Nan Feng mentioned was something he had never heard of before, but he still went ahead and followed Nan Feng’s instructions.

The materials were readily available, and it only took a short time to make and process them. Half an hour later, the guitar was finished. Nan Feng tuned the sound strings and was very satisfied. He nodded to the craftsman and said, “Thank you, master.”

“You’re welcome, young master. You have broadened my horizons with this new idea.” the craftsman said, as he brought another case for Nan Feng.

Leaving the music store, Nan Feng walked along the street. By now, the moon had risen, and the street was filled with all kinds of sales calls.

Far away from home, I’m a man in a foreign land! Thinking about this, the current Nan Feng felt very lonely.

Nan Feng arrived at a small bridge, leaned against the railing, and began gazing at the bright moon in the sky. He had no idea where his original world was.

Sitting down on the stone lion claws by the bridge, Nan Feng opened the guitar case hanging from his shoulder. He strummed a few notes and began to play and sing a piece that he particularly liked—”Melody of Water”.

At which time shall the bright moon appear? Wine in hand, I ask the blue-green sky. And up in the celestial palace towers, who knows which year it is tonight?

I’d fain return to heaven, borne on the winds; But fear that the jade towers, high as they are, might yet be cold beyond my endurance. Yet here I dance and play with the moonlight’s shadows. How could heaven compare with the human world?

Rounding the red porch, hanging under silk blinds, the moon illuminates my sleeplessness. If the moon bears no grudge against men, why is it round when departures are at hand?

Man’s lot is joy, sorrow, to part and to unite; The moon’s is to wax and wane, in cloudy or clear nights. Such things we can never steer, try as we might. And though separated, ever the same moon see.

The mood was good, but as he was getting engulfed in that dream-like state, suddenly someone just ruined those feelings.

Pa!

A crisp sound interrupted the musical rhythm of Nan Feng, who was singing with both eyes closed.

And then, in the guitar case that Nan Feng used to carry the instrument, a gold coin was continuously spinning.

Looking up, Nan Feng noticed that there were quite a few people surrounding him, and he didn’t know who tossed the coin that was currently lying in the case of his guitar.

Nan Feng immediately realized that he had been misunderstood by the crow; at this moment, in the eyes of others, he was either a street performer or a beggar.

“Everybody. I’m not a street performer; I was just inspired and couldn’t help but sing a few verses. So please don’t misunderstand; whose money is this? May they come and take it back.” Nan Feng raised his voice.

“This young master’s music is graceful and uncommon. Besides, we all here are going through times of hardship, so let’s just help each other out.” A man threw another coin into Nan Feng’s guitar case.

Right afterwards, the situation got out of control, and everyone who was watching started generously donating money.

“Nan Feng here thanks everyone. Actually, I just left home, and I was feeling a little sad and sentimental, so I just used this song to express my inner feelings.” Nan Feng stood up with an embarrassed face, as he saw two familiar faces amongst the crowd—Yi Lin and Yi Xuan.

****

In Chinese, “灯红酒绿” “red lights and green wine” is a common phrase used to describe a lively and bustling scene, especially at night. The “red lights” refer to the illumination and bustling atmosphere of the area, while “green wine” refers to the alcohol and merrymaking that often accompany such nighttime gatherings.