Chapter 2, the clouds gather ominously without rain.

Indeed, relying solely on such divination is not reliable. Chahan Temur added the numbers of the six lines, resulting in forty-six. By subtracting this from the number of heaven and earth, fifty-five, he obtained nine, indicating that the fourth line of the Qian hexagram needs to change. This change leads to "Xiao Xu". "Xiao Xu, success, dense clouds but no rain, I am in the western suburbs." Although this is also quite auspicious, it is merely a minor auspiciousness, far inferior to the previous Qian hexagram.

Wang Baobao bowed and replied. Suo Du shouted while slapping the table: "What good words must we avoid speaking in front of the Buddha? The food and wine have arrived, and the Buddha wishes to dine with this friend Chen!" Chahan Temur smiled and said, "The villagers have just brought in a deer, and it is being simmered over a low fire. I fear the master may not be able to wait, so..." Before he could finish his sentence, Suo Du let out a strange cry: "Deer meat!" He leaped up and dashed out like a whirlwind. He said, "The villagers have just brought in a deer, and it is being simmered over a low fire. I fear the master may not be able to wait, so..." Before he could finish his sentence, Suo Du let out a strange cry: "Deer meat!" He leaped up and dashed out like a whirlwind.

The man from Qi stammered: "When the Mongols descended south, it was not indiscriminately, regardless of good or evil, noble or lowly; all Han people and southerners were executed..." "Executed indiscriminately? Then where do you come from?" Chahan Temur sneered, "People like you, with the surname Wanyan, can still escape with their lives. Even with the killings, it has not reached the point of total extermination! Consider this: what about Shi Tianze? What about Zhao Bi? What about Zhang Yi? Are they not Han people? Were they not ranked as second-tier officials in the court?" People like you, with the surname Wanyan, can still escape with their lives. Even with the killings, it has not reached the point of total extermination! Consider this: what about Shi Tianze? What about Zhao Bi? What about Zhang Yi? Are they not Han people? Were they not ranked as second-tier officials in the court? Try to find a Mongol among the commoners, or a Semu among them! The Mongols kill Han people, and Han people retaliate; when Han people kill Semu, why can’t we Semu retaliate? What kind of justice is this!

The man from Qi took a sip of tea, feeling a bit warmer. He raised his eyes and asked in return, "I am all alone, unable to stay in Shenqiu, so I wander aimlessly across the world. How could the owner of such a large estate leave his home and come here?"

Wang Baobao hurriedly caught up. Chahan Temur snorted through his nostrils, shook his head, and then sat down opposite Qiren. The servants had already brought in hot tea. Chahan Temur picked up the tea cup, made a gesture of deference, and then asked, "How did Master Chen end up in Luoshan?"

***

Temür, also known as Tamerlane, is merely a difference in transliteration. At first glance, this name appears very Mongolian; however, Chahan Temür is not of Mongolian descent but rather belongs to the Uighur people (the modern-day Uyghurs). The "History of the Yuan Dynasty" in its twenty-eighth biography records: "Chahan Temür, styled Tingrui, originates from Beiting. His great-grandfather, Kuo Kuo Tai, accompanied the army to conquer Henan in the early Yuan period. His grandfather was Mantai, and his father was Aluwen, both of whom resided in Henan, specifically in the area of Yingzhou and Shenqiu. Chahan Temür was a diligent student from a young age and once participated in the imperial examination, achieving some fame. He stood seven feet tall, had well-defined eyebrows that covered his eyes, and had three hairs on his left cheek; when angry, all the hairs would point straight. He often harbored ambitions for the contemporary world.

The man from Qi took a step back, stammering in defense: "I, I am originally Han..." Chahan Temur sneered: "You only think that the Jurchen and Khitan are Han, yet you do not realize that the Mongols and Semu people have long been united as one!" He paused, his face filled with indignation: "Since Emperor Shizu divided the world into four classes, the Mongols and Semu people have become inseparable. Last year, I traveled through Ying, Qi, Xu, and Deng, and wherever I went, I saw that all Han people were being slaughtered, while the Mongols and Semu were indiscriminately killing them—how could it be that I specifically want to serve the Mongols? It is all forced upon me by those Han people!" His face was filled with indignation: "Since Emperor Shizu divided the world into four classes, the Mongols and Semu people have become inseparable. Last year, I traveled through Ying, Qi, Xu, and Deng, and wherever I went, I saw that all Han people were being slaughtered, while the Mongols and Semu were indiscriminately killing them—how could it be that I specifically want to serve the Mongols? It is all forced upon me by those Han people!"

"Shixian," Chahan Temur raised his head and called out to Li Siqi by his courtesy name, "You should be extra cautious." Li Siqi smiled and cupped his hands in salute, "Elder brother, please rest assured; I will take care of it. I cannot leave the city of Luoshan for even a moment; I will head there right away. Elder brother, please attend to the matters of the Zhuhe-Tu-Shu carefully." As he spoke, he cast a sidelong glance at Qi Ren, smiled mysteriously, and walked away with his head held high.

The Qi person stood by, listening to their discussion, unable to interject, and could only stand with arms crossed, remaining silent. After Chahan Temur watched Li Siqi leave, he turned and smiled, saying: "We have been so focused on our own discussion that we have neglected Master Chen. Please, have a seat, please do." "I won't sit," the Qi person sighed lightly, "I, I should be leaving."

The man from Qi stood aside, watching several servants skillfully wash away the bloodstains on the wall, as if they were accustomed to such tasks. He felt a sense of unease, unsure whether it was better to stay or to leave quickly. Suddenly, he heard Chahan Temur slowly say, "Has Monk Peng arrived at Luoshan? Could it be that Xu Shouhui also wants to get involved?" "This matter..." Li Siqi glanced at the man from Qi, smiled again, leaned down to whisper something in Chahan Temur's ear. He then heard Chahan Temur slowly say, "Has Monk Peng arrived at Luoshan? Could it be that Xu Shouhui also wants to get involved?" "This matter..." Li Siqi glanced at the man from Qi, smiled again, and leaned down to whisper something in Chahan Temur's ear.

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Chahan Temur hurried a few steps and entered the main hall, where he saw the stout monk Suo Du occupying the main seat with a large knife in hand, while Chen Qiren was seated to the side and Wang Baobao stood beside him. Chahan Temur quickly cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Master has returned—oh, and Master Chen is here too." Suo Du impatiently called out, "Quick, bring the wine and meat. After such a fight, the Buddha is starving!" Chahan Temur hurriedly signaled to Wang Baobao, "You go and drink with the master; I have a few words to discuss with Master Chen."

He, Chahan Temur, glared at Wang Baobao, "He is the second signatory of the Board of Rites, and it is only natural that he looks down on us commoners. Your recklessness is quite evident, and you do not think carefully. Do we really need to rely on him for our connections with the court?"

Chahan Temur paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, the three long hairs on his left cheek bouncing in rhythm, mirroring his current state of mind: "The dragon lurks in the abyss, when will it ascend to the heavens! The heavens have already leaked, I have received the grace of the nation, if I cannot leap to make up for it, would it not be a lifelong regret!" He then contemplated the fourth line of the hexagram Xiaoxu, which states: "Six four, with trust, blood departs, vigilance emerges, no blame." Although it also indicates "no blame," the meaning of this line is rather difficult to decipher. "Blood departs, vigilance emerges?" Chahan Temur gently twirled the long hair on his cheek, "Could it be that at the beginning of the uprising, there were already losses? Or... must I find someone to kill as a sacrifice to the flag?" The Book of Changes states: "Six four, with trust, blood departs, vigilance emerges, no blame." Although it also indicates "no blame," the meaning of this line is rather difficult to decipher. "Blood departs, vigilance emerges?" Chahan Temur gently twirled the long hair on his cheek, "Could it be that at the beginning of the uprising, there were already losses? Or... must I find someone to kill as a sacrifice to the flag?"

The man from Qi shook his head and smiled bitterly: "What grudge is there to settle? It is merely about killing. I have never liked conflict, as you know. I will leave, and whether we meet again in the future, let it be determined by fate"

During the Yuan Dynasty, the people under its rule were divided into four classes. The first class consisted of Mongols (including Mongolians and Tibetans), the second class comprised the Semu people (the term "Semu" refers to various groups, primarily the inhabitants of the regions conquered by the Mongols, such as the Western Regions and Persia), the third class included the Han people (residents of the Central Plains, including Han, Jurchens, Khitans, and Tanguts, among others), and the lowest class was the Southerners, referring to the people under the rule of the Southern Song Dynasty. Therefore, even according to this hierarchical system, Chahan Temur was classified as a Semu person rather than a Mongol. The third class is the Han people (residents of the Central Plains, including Han, Jurchens, Khitans, and Tanguts, among others), and the lowest class is the Southerners, referring to the people under the rule of the Southern Song Dynasty. Thus, even according to this hierarchical system, Chahan Temur was classified as a Semu person rather than a Mongol. However, since he had lived in the Central Plains since his great-grandfather's time, later, when the Yuan Shun Emperor heard that the positions given to him and Li Siqi were too low, he remarked, "People say the state looks down on the Han people; if so, it indeed looks down on the Han people." He was regarded as a Han person.

In a moment of confusion, without any direction or clarity, I suddenly heard the servant lightly tapping on the window: "Sir, the young master and Master Suo Du have returned..."

Chahan Temur was taken aback, leaning forward slightly and asking, "What do you mean by Master Chen's words?" The Qi man, unhurried, took another sip of tea before explaining, "The south has collapsed, and there is still the north; the area inside the Great Wall has collapsed, and there is still the area outside the Great Wall. I possess nothing and have nowhere to escape, which is why I am worried. What does the estate owner have to be concerned about?"

Qi Ren had yet to grasp the situation, while Chahan Temur sheathed his sword with a frown and asked, "What on earth is going on?" Li Siqi kicked over the corpse of Suo Du, wiped his long knife with the monk's robe, and proudly replied, "Elder brother, this mad bald man treats you and me like mere weeds. How can you endure such indignity?"

"Is he really leaving just like that?" Wang Baobao furrowed his brows and asked in confusion, "What if he goes to Luoshan to report..."

Oh, Chahan Temur came to a halt, "Is everything going smoothly?" "It seems... it seems to be going smoothly..." the servant replied hesitantly, "Master Chen from 'Shenqiu Big Meat Restaurant' has also gone to the manor with them."

"Certainly not," Chahan Temur waved his hand, yet he was not angered by it. "I believe he will not. Baobao, do you know the difference between a hero and a villain? A hero knows who must be killed and who can be spared without harm; whereas a villain is overly suspicious, killing all those who could be either spared or executed, leaving behind a legacy of eternal infamy..." He patted Wang Baobao on the shoulder: "Am I someone who kills indiscriminately? A hero knows who must be killed and who can be spared without harm; whereas a villain is overly suspicious, killing all those who could be either spared or executed, leaving behind a legacy of eternal infamy..." He patted Wang Baobao on the shoulder: "Am I someone who kills indiscriminately? Do not be a mere murderer who knows nothing but killing!"

Master, please wait! Chahan Temur raised his long knife, intending to place it between Wang Baobao and Suo Du to inquire further. Suddenly, a flash of blade pierced in from the side, fiercely cutting down towards the steel cone.

The man from Qi let out a long sigh, slumped down in despair, and could no longer find the words to respond

The affairs of the world are but a grand dream, bustling with conflicts and disputes, which I have long grown weary of. The man from Qi replied, "It is better to take a rest, drifting through the rivers and lakes, and live out the remainder of my days in peace." Chahan Temur stared at him: "Do you not wish to assist me in avenging your illustrious ancestor, who was such a heroic figure in his time? If you choose to associate with the common folk, I will not stop you; I only ask that you inform me of your whereabouts, in hopes of meeting again in the future.

Chahan Temur's expression darkened as he sighed: "Master Chen is asking knowingly. In the next color category, where in Shenqiu County is there still a place for me? Alas, Master Chen often nags about the sky collapsing and the earth sinking, which has led others to give him the nickname 'Qi Ren'. Yet, they do not understand the depth of your insight—does it not seem that the sky is indeed about to fall and the earth is about to sink?"

Chahan Temur took a few steps back, sat down in his chair, and rested his chin in thought. He did not expect that before any major event had occurred, one person would already be killed. Suddenly, he was startled; could this be the fulfillment of the phrase "blood goes, vigilance emerges" from the hexagram of Xiaoxu (Small Taming) 64? Killing Suo Du not only posed no harm to himself, but could it instead be a way to accumulate thick clouds in order to seek a sign of rain? "Thick clouds do not bring rain, I am in the western suburbs," was Li Siqi's estate not directly to the west of Luoshan City?

***

Wang Baobao chuckled, "Unexpectedly, halfway through, a monk named Peng appeared. If it weren't for Uncle Chen's assistance, my life would have been in jeopardy." Chahan Temur's expression turned cold as he asked, "Is that why you intended to kill Suo Du?" Wang Baobao hurriedly explained, "Adoptive father, this was also a situation where the arrow was already on the string, and it had to be released. If Suo Du does not die, we will eventually be destroyed by him."

The two were secretly astonished, when the blade flashed again, swirling like colorful clouds. Suddenly, they saw the large, bald head of the assailant flying out at an angle, blood splattering wildly, as if half the wall had been painted with vermilion.

"What Baobao said is true," Li Siqi smiled and nodded at him, "But you, my child, have always had strong opinions since you were young. For such a significant matter, you must first discuss it with your adoptive father or me. If I hadn't arrived in time, wouldn't you have been afraid that instead of defeating the tiger, you would have been harmed by it?" Wang Baobao shrank his neck and stuck out his tongue: "Who would have thought this fellow was so fierce? Even two qian of arsenic couldn't take him down..."

"Master Peng?" Chahan Temur suddenly exclaimed, "What were you just saying about Master Peng?" "Indeed, it is Master Peng Yingyu who has arrived at Luoshan," Li Siqi replied solemnly while calling for servants to come in and collect the body of Suo Du and clean up the bloodstains.

Wang Baobao suddenly emerged from behind Chahan Temur, performing a hollow somersault, and with a move called "Immortal Ape Picking Fruit," he swiftly caught the bloody human head in his hand, laughing heartily: "Indeed, what a 'Lightning Blade,' it lives up to its name!" A burly man in gray stood firmly beside the corpse of Suo Du, which leaned against the wall, holding the bloody long knife upside down, and coldly sneered: "Hmph, 'the number one expert in the Northwest,' what a grand boast! If I don't deal with him, he wouldn't even know my methods, Li Siqi!"

"If it weren't for Master Chen, it would be a disaster," Li Siqi spat on the corpse of Suo Du and cursed angrily, "Damn it, I shouldn't have leaked the news about Sun Chaozong coming to Luoshan to this scoundrel. He deliberately set a trap to capture him—this is the territory of the vegetable people. If Sun Chaozong gets trapped here and the news leaks out, before we even make a move, Liu Futong will surely send his troops to fight, and Zhuang Yun will have to let us go!"

Chahan Temur's left hand suddenly trembled, but he quickly steadied himself, lifted the heavy curtain, and walked through the corridor towards the front hall. This estate was quite large, with three main sections. Chahan Temur emerged from the eastern wing and hurried for quite a while before he reached the entrance of the front hall, where he heard his adopted son Wang Baobao's voice saying: "Uncle Chen, can you guess whose estate this is?"

"Oh," Qi Ren was greatly surprised, "You, you are not..." Wang Baobao smiled and said, "Uncle Chen, didn't I just ask you to guess whose estate this is?" He pointed to Li Siqi and added, "It is indeed the property of my Uncle Li."

Qi Ren also stood up, shaking his head and sighing: "Why do you have to serve the Mongols?" Chahan Temur stopped in vain, turned his head to stare at Qi Ren, and coldly retorted: "Then why do you have to worry about the Han people?"

It is already noon, and if we sit a little longer, we can go after having our meal," Chahan Temur stood up, holding the hand of Qi Ren, "Ah no, you might as well stay here tonight..." "Shall I assist you in attacking Luoshan County?" Qi Ren said with a bitter smile, "Forget it, our paths are different, and we cannot collaborate.

Author's Note: Regarding Chahan Temur

Chahan Temur and Qiren held hands in front, followed by Wang Baobao, as they continued to send them off at the village gate. It was unclear when the heavy snow had stopped, yet the world remained an endless desolation, cold and lifeless. The three stood silently at the village gate, gazing into the distance. On the vast snowy plain, a few mottled footprints meandered deep into the horizon, as if stepping into an unknowable future. Although it was already noon, the sunlight remained faint and cold, imparting an inexplicable sense of oppression and suffocation.

Chahan Temur gazed at him for a while, nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice: "Very well, let me accompany you for a while."

Chahan Temur was taken aback for a moment and asked in confusion, "Are you telling me to go to the western frontier?" However, Qi Ren did not respond, focusing solely on drinking tea. Chahan Temur shook his sleeves and suddenly smiled bitterly, saying, "Since my ancestor descended from Emperor Shizu to conquer the Song dynasty, we have resided in Henan for three generations. Although the frontier is appealing, it is no longer my homeland. Where do you expect me to retreat to?"

The man from Qi lowered his head and remained silent for a moment, then softly said: "You may return to the borderlands and the northern deserts, why must you..." Chahan Temur raised an eyebrow, the three long hairs on his cheek quivering, and said sternly: "Fine, fine, you have lived here for ten or twenty generations and are considered people of the Central Plains, while we have only lived here for three generations and are not considered so. Must we be driven out by you, is that not so?!"

The blade glimmered densely like silk, showing no signs of stopping. Suo Du, evading two strikes, was ultimately forced to block with a horizontal cone. Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. Chahan Temur and Qi Ren focused their gaze, only to see Suo Du being propelled a full yard away, leaning against the wall. His right hand had lost the steel cone, yet a large stream of blood was gushing from his wrist.

The heavy snow fell continuously from the hour of Chen until noon without stopping. The north wind relentlessly beat against the window panes, echoing in Chahan Temur's ears like the sound of thousands of horses galloping on the battlefield. He had just played the zither once, but his mind was in turmoil, and the music could not maintain its tranquil elegance. Unable to sit still, he stood up and stared blankly at the map laid out on the table

Chahan Temur stood up, lowered his head, and paced, saying: "Heavenly principles? Hmph, whether good or evil, heaven is simply heaven; apart from that, what other heavenly principles are there? Master Chen is indeed a wise man. I have come to Luoshan to do something, and I believe you already know what it is. I do not wish to say much, as it would ruin our gentlemanly friendship. You need not advise me; there is only this one path before me, and my mind is made up. Whether I succeed or fail, it does not weigh heavily on my mind."

After a long while, Qi Ren bowed deeply and said: "The dragon lies hidden in the abyss, waiting for the right moment to act. Since you have already made up your mind, go ahead with your plans; there is no need for further farewells." Having spoken, he turned and quickly walked away, as if eager to escape the clamor of the mundane world. Chahan Temur watched his retreating figure and stroked his beard, sighing: "Chen Qi Ren, Chen Qi Ren, if only I could be as carefree as he is, breaking free from the shackles of fame and fortune, would that not be wonderful..."

He paused for a moment, and his voice gradually softened: "You know me well. I, Chahan Temur, have been in Shenqiu for so many years. When have I ever oppressed the good people? When have I not regarded the Han people as brothers? Yet when the Cai people arrive, the first to be killed will be me. That Han county magistrate is corrupt and lawless, robbing men and dominating women, yet he is merely driven away with a single beating. What is the reason for this?"

The atmosphere in the room became unusually oppressive. Suddenly, a loud cry was heard from Wang Baobao: "Father, save me!" Immediately, he somersaulted in from outside and stumbled to hide behind Chahan Temur. Chahan Temur was taken aback and hurriedly reached for the long knife hanging at his waist. Before the knife could be drawn, he saw Suo Du rushing in like a gale, brandishing a steel spike, while shouting: "Little beast, dare to plot against your master!"

"In this chaotic world, where do you intend to go?" Chahan Temur asked with concern. "Where can't I go?" Qi Ren gently pushed Chahan Temur's hand aside, "In this vast world, where is it that I cannot go?" "Though the heavens and the earth are vast, where can they accommodate a mere inch of space?" Chahan Temur pressed on, "Do you truly have a heart as tranquil as still water, floating beyond the world, indifferent to the fame and fortune of the mortal realm?"

The man from Qi held the teacup, gazing out at the still swirling snow outside the window, and replied softly: "Indeed, the sky may fall, but it does not necessarily mean it will fall completely. The earth may sink, yet with a selfless heart, where can one not find a place to reside?"

The man from Qi set down his tea cup, raised his head to look at Chahan Temur, and slowly said: "The Mongols have taken control of the Central Plains, yet they do not understand the importance of caring for the people's livelihood. Instead, they impose harsh taxes and treat the common folk as mere grass and straw. If such evil heavens do not collapse, what justice can there be? How can the lord go against the will of heaven?"

***

In summary, although Chahan Temur wore crotchless pants like the Mongols, he was not a Mongol.

Wang Baobao trembled slightly upon hearing this: "Are you saying..." Chahan Temur nodded and softly recited: "The 'Yijing' commentary on Xiaoxu states: 'Strong yet gentle, firm in the center with determination, action leads to success.' One must 'act' to achieve great fortune

The timing is not right; it is only October, yet such heavy snow falls. What could this signify? He sat down again, opened the wooden box on the table, and found fifty-five divination sticks inside. This time, having escaped from Shenqiu, aside from the gold and silver valuables that had already been carefully hidden, he only carried a few rare Song dynasty books and this box of familiar divination sticks. He silently prayed, took out the sticks, removed six of them, and with the remaining forty-nine, he meticulously performed the eighteen transformations, resulting in the hexagrams of seven, nine, seven, nine, seven, and seven, which represented the 'Qian' hexagram. This time, having escaped from Shenqiu, aside from the gold and silver valuables that had already been carefully hidden, he only carried a few rare Song dynasty books and this box of familiar divination sticks. He silently prayed, took out the sticks, removed six of them, and with the remaining forty-nine, he meticulously performed the eighteen transformations, resulting in the hexagrams of seven, nine, seven, nine, seven, and seven, which represented the 'Qian' hexagram. 'Qian, the Creative, is characterized by success, benefit, and correctness,' indeed a highly auspicious hexagram.

A misstep caused Suo Du to hesitate, intending to evade the blade, but the flash of the knife was so swift and unparalleled, as if it were a lightning bolt pursuing him. Suo Du was forced to raise his dagger to block, and with a loud "clang," he staggered back three steps, involuntarily gasping in cold air. He had assumed that the one attacking was certainly Chen Qiren, but to his surprise, upon closer inspection—"It turns out to be you!"

Wang Baobao chewed on the meaning of Chahan Temur's words, nodding gently in a seemingly understanding yet ambiguous manner. Chahan Temur looked up at the sky, as if pondering something. After a considerable amount of time, he suddenly smiled slightly, the three long hairs on his cheek swaying in the wind: "The dragon lies hidden in the abyss, waiting for the right moment to act—though he knows this is a dragon, how can he comprehend the dragon's form, which is fragmented yet unified, changing in myriad ways? Even if he wishes to send word, he would not be able to catch up!"

This is the person I often mention to you, Master Chen from Shenqiu, Chen Qiren. Chahan Temur quickly introduced the two, and then inquired, "I have yet to ask about this morning's events; what would have happened if it were not for Master Chen?"

The elder brother is being overly petty; once the troops are mobilized and the territory is secured, the court will naturally issue decrees. What need is there for him? Moreover, if this troublesome bald man is left behind, he will surely ruin our grand plans. If it were not for Master Chen today..." Li Siqi looked towards Qi Ren, sheathed his sword, and smiled while cupping his hands.

Is there perhaps an obstacle in between? Chahan Temur pondered the fourth line of the hexagram. In the Book of Changes, it states: "Nine four, perhaps leaping in the abyss, no blame." The phrase "no blame" relieved Chahan Temur. However, what does "perhaps leaping in the abyss" mean? Gan Bao explained: "Leaping refers to a temporary rise. It is neither stable on the ground nor able to soar into the sky." It also implies: "This refers to King Wu raising his troops at Mengjin, observing the situation and then retreating." It seems that success is certain this time, yet he has not gained fame through battle...