At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, they called me a demonic monk.

"Sir, this is the boy who stole the jade pendant and tried to pawn it at our shop, but I caught him red-handed!"

Lord Ma lazily raised his eyes: "Do you have any evidence?"

"This..." Li San was momentarily speechless, then his eyes darted around, "My lord, you are wise! This lad is dressed shabbily, where would he get such a valuable jade pendant? It must have been stolen!"

Lord Ma nodded slightly and turned to Fang Yingyu: "Defendant, what do you have to say?"

Fang Yingyu knelt below the hall and recounted in detail how she saved someone and received the jade pendant as a gift. At the height of her emotion, she pressed her forehead against the cold floor tiles: "Your Honor, may I utter not a single falsehood, may I be struck by lightning!"

"Words are meaningless." Lord Ma waved his hand impatiently. "You say you saved someone, but do you have any witnesses? And where is the person who gave you the jade pendant?"

Fang Yingyu argued, "I only know that the family's surname is Ruan, and the girl's name is Ruan Shanruo."

The advisor beside him scoffed, "You little thief, do you think you can aspire to such a family?" The Ruan family was incredibly wealthy, one of the wealthiest families in Yuanzhou. Why would they risk going into the mountains alone? Why would they go to a remote temple to fulfill a vow? And yet, he just happened to run into them.

Fang Yingyu was speechless. The onlookers outside the hall began to whisper among themselves, some even shouting, "Your Honor, this kind of thief should be severely punished!"

Lord Ma slammed his gavel: "Silence!" He narrowed his eyes at Fang Yingyu, "Considering this is your first offense, I will be lenient. You are sentenced to twenty strokes of the cane and three months' imprisonment, as a warning to others! Court adjourned!"

Fang Yingyu was struck dumb, and before she could even defend herself, she was dragged away by the yamen runners. A moment later, the dull thud of caning and suppressed cries of pain came from the backyard.

When news of Fang Yingyu's imprisonment reached Sanlipu Village, the Fang family was thrown into chaos.

"My son!" Upon hearing the devastating news, Fang's mother fainted on the spot. Old Man Fang paced anxiously around the house, his withered fingers constantly tugging at his graying beard. "Father, I'll go to the city to inquire," Fang Xiaohe said in a deep voice. This young farmer in his early twenties had a fair complexion, and his brows bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Fang Yingyu, but he possessed a more composed demeanor.

"What's the point of you going?" Old Fang pounded his chest and stamped his feet. "What right do ordinary people have to reason with the government?"

Fang Xiaohe clenched his fist: "We can't just stand by and watch our brother be wronged!" He turned and went into the house, took out paper and pen, "I've seen that jade pendant. I'll try to draw it and go to the city to ask around."

And so, relying on his memory, Fang Xiaohe meticulously sketched the design of the jade pendant, stroke by stroke. Although his drawing skills were mediocre, the outline of the cloud pattern was clearly discernible.

The next day, before dawn, Fang Xiaohe set off with the painting in his pocket. The early spring morning was chilly, yet he walked until he was drenched in sweat. During their conversation at the dinner table that day, Fang Yingyu didn't tell them that the person they had rescued was a member of a wealthy family surnamed Ruan. After entering the city, without any leads, he had no choice but to start by inquiring among the wealthy households in the east of the city.

The first house was the Zhou residence, which ran a silk shop. Fang Xiaohe had barely explained his purpose to the gatekeeper when he was thrown out: "Get out! What kind of nobody dares to come and try to associate with the Zhou residence!"

The second family was the Zheng family, a salt merchant. The Zheng family steward was quite polite, but after carefully examining the painting, he shook his head and said he had never seen such a jade pendant before.

The third house, the fourth house... Fang Xiaohe visited almost every wealthy household in the east of the city, but to no avail. Some gatekeepers, seeing his patched clothes, chased him away before he could even speak; others went so far as to unleash their dogs to chase and bite him. By the end of the day, Fang Xiaohe's trousers were torn at the hem, and several bloody welts appeared on his calves.

As night fell, Fang Xiaohe squatted on a street corner, eating hard, dry rations with cold water. In the distance, the streetlights were just coming on, and the sounds of laughter and chatter from wealthy families could be faintly heard, a stark contrast to his destitute state.

As dawn broke, Fang Xiaohe dragged his weary body to the gate of the Ruan residence. After days of setbacks throughout the city, his clothes were tattered, and the soles of his straw sandals were worn through. But when he looked up and saw the two gilded characters "Ruan Residence," hope rekindled in his eyes.

Dadu, Dachao will meet.

The solemnity of the Fengtian Hall was abruptly shattered by the clanging of cold, metallic armor. Yan Timur personally led twelve heavily armored guards, their eyes revealing only a pair of chilling glints, into the hall. The heavy thud of their boots on the floor tiles echoed like war drums, striking the hearts of every courtier. Their hands on their sword hilts, and Yan Timur's sinister gaze sweeping across the room, were more intimidating than any words.

Beside the high throne, seven-year-old Yilinzhiban, dressed in a hastily made, slightly oversized dragon robe, was pale with fright and trembling uncontrollably. He clutched his wet nurse's sash tightly, almost crumpling the fabric, his clear black and white eyes filled with tears of terror, wanting nothing more than to hide in her familiar embrace.

During the enthronement ceremony, the resounding bells and drums could not drown out the young emperor's suppressed, weak, and intermittent sobs. The cries echoed helplessly among the majestic beams and pillars of the palace.

Yan Temur stood beneath the imperial steps.

His voice, proclaiming the imperial decree on behalf of Heaven, was loud, steady, and unquestionable, like a tangible barrier, completely drowning out the emperor's insignificant sobs on the throne.

The voices of the courtiers urging him to ascend the throne surged forth like a tidal wave, driven by fear, with no further objections.

Just as Fang Xiaohe was about to speak to the gatekeeper, a beautifully decorated carriage slowly pulled out. The curtain was lifted, revealing a handsome face—it was Ruan Yichen. His gaze fell on the painting in Fang Xiaohe's hand, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"Brother, may I take a look at that painting?" Ruan Yichen jumped off the carriage, his voice tinged with urgency.

Fang Xiaohe hurriedly handed over the slightly crumpled piece of paper. Ruan Yichen glanced at it and exclaimed, "This...this looks like my jade pendant!" He grabbed Fang Xiaohe's wrist, "Quickly, come inside and we'll discuss this in detail!"

Inside the Ruan residence, Fang Xiaohe recounted the story of his younger brother's wrongful imprisonment. As he spoke, the seven-foot-tall man's eyes welled with tears. Upon hearing this, Ruan Yichen slammed his fist on the tea table, making the teacups clatter.

"Outrageous!" He stood up abruptly. "Brother Fang saved my Ruan family twice, yet now he is being unjustly accused because of my Ruan family's jade pendant. This matter must not be left unresolved!"

Upon hearing the news, Master Ruan rushed over. After hearing the whole story, his face darkened. He immediately wrote a petition, affixed his personal seal, and ordered his steward to prepare a sum of silver.

"Yichen, you must go to the prefectural government office yourself," Master Ruan said in a deep voice. "If that Prefect Ma doesn't know his place, I will go and pay my respects to Lord Darughachi tomorrow!"

With the Ruan family's visiting card and money, things immediately took a turn for the better. Magistrate Ma's ability to adapt to changing circumstances was unparalleled; in less than an hour, Fang Yingyu was released from the dark and damp prison.

As Fang Yingyu staggered out of the government office gate, the blinding sunlight made him unconsciously raise his hand to shield his eyes. Once his vision cleared, he saw his elder brother and Ruan Yichen walking quickly towards him. Fang Xiaohe hugged his younger brother tightly, and this usually strong and composed older brother burst into tears.

"Yingyu, you've suffered so much..."

Fang Yingyu shook her head, and Fang Xiaohe turned to Ruan Yichen and bowed deeply: "Thank you for your righteous help, Young Master Ruan."

Ruan Yichen quickly helped him up: "Brother Fang, you are too kind. This matter was originally caused by my Ruan family. My father has prepared a banquet at home to help Young Master Fang calm his nerves. Please do us the honor of attending."

At the banquet in the Ruan residence, a table was laden with delicacies from land and sea. Master Ruan personally poured wine for Fang Yingyu, saying with emotion, "Young Master Fang has saved my family twice; I will never forget this kindness and virtue." He then ordered someone to bring fifty taels of silver, saying, "This silver is a small token of my gratitude."

Fang Yingyu quickly declined, "No, you mustn't! Saving someone is just a small favor..."

"If Brother Fang doesn't accept it, he's looking down on the Ruan family!" Ruan Yichen interjected, his eyes full of sincerity.

In the end, thinking of her hungry family, Fang Yingyu had no choice but to accept the silver, which was enough to change the fate of the Fang family. After the banquet, Ruan Yichen personally saw them off, and whispered as they parted, "Young Master Fang, my sister has always remembered your kindness. Tomorrow we'll go to Cihua Temple to pray and draw lots, and while we're at it, we'll take her to Sanlipu to find you, how about that?"

Fang Yingyu's heart skipped a beat, and Ruan Shanruo's bright face appeared before her eyes, causing her ears to turn red involuntarily.

Since then, the Ruan siblings have become frequent visitors to Sanlipu Village. The breeze in the mountains and fields seems to have gained a touch more vitality because of these two guests from the city.

Ruan Yichen was most eager to learn to swim. Fang Yingyu then took them to Cihua Pool behind the village. He patiently demonstrated and supported him throughout, helping Ruan Yichen quickly overcome his fear. In less than ten months, he was able to swim several laps in the pool with ease.

Ruan Shanruo, however, discovered another kind of charm in the mountains and forests. She changed into coarse cloth shoes and followed Fang Yingyu through the wilderness. He knew every scene like the back of his hand: which mountain spring was the sweetest, which forest had the most delicious wild fruits, and where to see the most beautiful sunset—he knew them all like the back of his hand.

Fang Yingyu would unconsciously slow his pace, accommodating Ruan Shanruo's rhythm. When they reached a steep section, he would leap down first, then naturally turn back and reach out to help her. Her fingertips lightly touched his palm, and both of them seemed to be slightly stung by the mountain dew, quickly separating, yet unable to resist exchanging a smile. He taught her to identify herbs, his gaze often lingering on her focused profile as he spoke; she listened attentively, occasionally looking up and meeting his gaze, her heart pounding like a deer's, hurriedly lowering her head, pretending to examine the shape of the grass leaves, but in reality, all she saw were his bright eyes.

With Fang Yingyu by her side, Ruan Shanruo gained boundless courage, even forgetting the dangers lurking deep within the dense forest. She only remembered the babbling brook, the chirping birds, and the sunlight filtering through the leaves, falling on the tall shoulders of the young man ahead. And when he occasionally glanced back, his gaze sweeping over the tiny blades of grass clinging to her hair, he felt that the myriad landscapes of the mountains suddenly possessed an indescribable charm.

That time was steeped in the sweetness of mountain springs and the fragrance of wildflowers. Three young people gathered together, laughing and singing by the stream and under the trees. Ruan Yichen recited poetry aloud, Ruan Shanruo responded softly, and Fang Yingyu watched them quietly, occasionally adding a few words of agreement. But beneath the noise, a quiet affection was quietly growing, flowing silently in their unintentional glances and in their tacit understanding.

They had not yet truly entered the world of martial arts, nor had they experienced the harsh realities of life. The stark class divide was temporarily blurred in the face of this simple mountain life and the undercurrents of emotion. This friendship, like the untouched breeze of the mountains, was pure and natural, brushing against the hearts of the young men and women, leaving a bright and stirring mark.