“My lord has two key hidden lines in the north: one is Du Leng, the other is the Pure Yang Taoist. After the Qingsha Pass ambush, Du Leng must have leaked information, allowing the Pure Yang Taoist to find the broken arrow before my people. Regardless, I must thank you for this.”
Duan Guihong said, “You know the Emperor fears you and might even want to kill you, yet you still saved him at the Wanshou Banquet? Righteousness without martial prowess, compassion without military command – such feminine virtue will eventually destroy you.”
Fu Shen sighed, “When they need me, I’m called a ‘righteous army’; when they don’t, I’m called ‘feminine’. Whether I’m benevolent or compassionate isn’t determined by your casual remarks.”
“You…” Duan Guihong was speechless, angrily saying, “A son unworthy of his father!”
This had no effect on Fu Shen, who casually responded, “Indeed, I’m not similar.”
Duan Guihong sat silently for a moment, then suddenly said, “You’re not like your father, but more like your second uncle. Correct?”
Fu Shen: “Perhaps?”
Duan Guihong said, “You came to ask about Autumn Night White? Fine, I’ll tell you an old story.”
Fu Shen gestured for him to continue.
Duan Guihong spoke of events from the fourth year of Yuantai, when the Northern Yan Army fought the Eastern Dazha.
That autumn, Fu Tingxin was accidentally wounded by a Dazha assassin’s poison arrow, severely injured and nearly killed. The entire army was helpless, and even imperial physicians from the capital could do nothing. Fortunately, Ganzhou was near Yizhou, where Western Dazha people lived. Having some acquaintance with a Western Dazha traveling doctor, Duan Guihong, with a “try anything” attitude, asked him to examine Fu Tingxin.
The Western Dazha doctor recognized the poison.
There was a rare blue scorpion on the grasslands, extremely precious and hard to find, with a highly toxic tail sting called “Blue Moon.” Though the doctor couldn’t find an antidote, he had seen a grass from the Tianfang caravan – white flowers pure as snow, with fruit juice like milk. Tianfang people had used this herb to treat companions stung by desert scorpions. He helped Duan Guihong connect with a Tianfang merchant. After much effort, Duan Guihong learned the herb’s name and, guided by the merchant, found the plant and seeds in the Southern Frontier.
