The Legend of Su Kuang By Piao Deng - Chapter 01
Chapter 1: « Prelude: Breaking the Formation – Dragon’s Roar » (1)
1. The Tree’s Shadow
Dragon’s Roar
Su Kuang’s First Clear Day
Blazing Fire, Crimson Sword
Drunk on Dragon’s Roar
Spring’s Final Days
Beyond the Frontier
The withered grass gradually unfolded its embrace as the entire caravan erupted in cheers.
At the entrance of the city, searching for the escort agency was easy—its flags, insignias, and banners were all marked with strict rules and regulations. The only thing that stood out was a bright red escort token pasted with crimson talisman paper. Upon closer inspection, it bore the image of a phoenix spreading its wings, its posture vigorous and powerful. Compared to other phoenix designs, this one exuded an overwhelming dominance.
In late spring, the entire grassland exuded a youthful pride, vibrant and full of life, vying with the vast blue sky for dominance. The dewdrops on the tips of the grass reflected the first rays of the rising sun, as clear as the innocent eyes of a baby. Even a group of rough men couldn’t help but be drawn to this breathtaking scene, their faces lighting up with joy.
« Master! Master—we’ve reached Lake Dada! » A soldier near the front of the procession pointed ahead excitedly, his voice ringing with joy.
The man addressed as « Master » was a slender figure among the burly, broad-shouldered guards. Dressed in an embroidered robe layered with a black sable fur coat, he wore a neatly tied Linzong scarf on his head. His sharply arched eyebrows gave him a perpetually amused expression. Tapping his left palm with a folded fan and his right with a riding crop, he teased, « Danya, is this the legendary lake where swans take flight? »
Beads of sweat glistened on Danya’s sun-darkened face as he replied earnestly, « Yes, Master! If we hurry, we can make camp by the lake by evening. Master, at this time of year, you’re bound to see swans! »
With a playful sigh, the Master quipped, « Alas, how could sparrows ever understand the ambitions of swans? »
Dan quickly exclaimed: « Red fox? Oh, the escort agency’s old man, the one called Red Fox, with that autumn-colored fur, tsk! That fur cap is really beautiful! »
The old man chuckled hoarsely: « Dan, the swan points to geese and ducks, how could it be a fox… It’s all because you didn’t study enough, forget it… forget it… »
The team leader tightened his belt and hurried to catch up with the procession, leaving behind a dumbfounded Dan, scratching his head in bewilderment.
Hey, hey, Dan! » A young escort from the team bumped Dan’s shoulder, pursing his lips: « Look at the old man over there, heh, really full of sour grapes!
Barbarian! » The man’s face flushed crimson with anger: « Our master is a scholar, not some coarse brute like you lot!
A scholar? » The escort burst into loud laughter: « A scholar who teams up with bandits to rob people? We’ve seen plenty of your kind! Let’s see how well your master’s silver tongue serves him now!
Dan tightly gripped the hilt of the saber at his waist: « Ban… Bandits? »
The escort patted his shoulder and whispered reassuringly: « Don’t worry… We’re just small-time merchants delivering goods. We’ve paid our respects to Master Feng the Fifth with proper etiquette—no one would dare trouble us. »
Dan asked curiously: « Who is this Master Feng? »
The escort flicked his whip forward and spat contemptuously: « You southerners know nothing! Listen well—Master Feng is the leader of the northern bandit gangs, commanding thousands of mounted troops. Who’d dare sell us out? » As he spoke, he proudly thrust his thumb upward, his face brimming with arrogance.
The old man’s ears were sharp, and he asked, « Master, are the bandits in the mountains something the officials can manage? »
The second brother burst into loud laughter, even Dan couldn’t help but grin, fearing the old man might be embarrassed, he quickly said, « Old man, when have the officials ever cared about such things? If they did, would the bandits still be running wild? Don’t even mention them! »
The old man trembled all over, his voice sharp with a hint of urgency, « This… this is outrageous! The thieves are running rampant with torches and weapons, how… how dare they act so boldly in broad daylight? Do they think they’re the King of Hell himself? »
At these words, the crowd burst into laughter, some clutching their stomachs, others rolling on the ground, while someone deliberately raised their voice in a shrill, exaggerated cry, « Oh heavens, I’m so scared—if those villains really are the King of Hell’s men, what are we supposed to do— »
« Vulgar and uncouth! » The old man’s face flushed red as the crowd burst into laughter. He hurriedly pushed through, his steps unsteady.
Just look at the old man— » Dan Yan grabbed the escort’s sleeve and pulled: « Quick, that horse of his has run off with the baggage. Look how exhausted he is!
The honest Dan stammered, « Take a look, young master, how dare you! »
Before his words even landed, a rider kicked up dust in the distance—it was the young master galloping back at breakneck speed, his return pace ten times faster than when he’d left. He shouted hoarsely, « Tree! A damn tree! »
The crowd burst into laughter, though they were clearly startled by his sudden panic. He then gasped, « The tree… it’s moving… »
The seasoned escort leader, Helou, remained composed. Tightening his reins, he asked, « Young Master Su, could it be bandits? How could a tree possibly move? »
Su… Su… » The panting man gasped out, « There’s… there’s a roasted lamb on the tree… My lord, my turban was smashed into pieces by a bone.
He held up his turban, now stained with grease and split into several pieces. The fabric was frayed at the edges, looking utterly pitiful. The crowd couldn’t help but steal glances—indeed, there was a roasted lamb on the tree. No matter how you looked at it, the scene was undeniably bizarre.
« Look over there! » Old Man Su pointed excitedly toward an exceptionally tall poplar tree. Sturdy branches firmly supported an iron stove, from which hung a half-skinned plump lamb. A red-clad youth sat casually on one of the thick branches, swinging his legs leisurely in the air as he snapped off twigs and tossed them into the stove. In this late spring season, the branches were dry and burned easily, sending up wisps of green smoke that soon enveloped the entire tree in a hazy mist, like clouds tinged with sunset hues.
The youth seemed utterly unbothered. He reached out, grabbed a skewer of roasted lamb, blew on it lightly, and took a bite. Seemingly unsatisfied, he frowned slightly before sprinkling a pinch of what appeared to be chili powder onto the meat. Then, with evident delight, he took another bite, utterly absorbed in his enjoyment.
« Miss? » Helou’s voice was deep and steady, his left hand resting on the hilt of his goose-quill saber at his waist.
He casually picked up his wine pouch, tilted his head back, and took a hearty swig. The sunlight shone on his fair, snow-like neck, making it gleam like flawless jade.
« Get lost. » Helou’s tone made it clear he was no pushover. Since the other party refused to back down, he couldn’t be bothered to waste words and simply waved his hand in dismissal.
Hold on— » The man chuckled, sounding rather impatient. « Who do you think you are? This is the Marquis Wu Escort Agency, flying the banner of the Five Phoenixes. How dare you act so arrogantly north of the Great Wall?
Helou raised his head. « Miss, the well water need not interfere with the river water… »
The woman in red suddenly straightened her back, her eyes gleaming with a strange light as she spat, « Bah! You dare come to Phoenix Five’s territory to cause trouble? Today, you won’t leave here alive! »
Helou abruptly took a step back, his hand flying to the saber at his waist, stammering in shock, « You… you… »
Think you can just walk away? » The woman in red flicked the iron skewer from the roasted meat with a sharp motion, pointing it at the trembling young man. « You should know Phoenix Five’s rules—goods are protected, not stolen. Yet you had the gall to rob us? If I spare your life, consider it mercy—now scram!
Dan was startled and hurriedly moved to shield his master. Helou’s face darkened as he coldly ordered, « Grab your weapons! »
With a faint sigh, he shook his head, as if pitying the crowd before him. Suddenly, his palm shot out—a jar of chili powder mixed with the force of his strike erupted into a swirling crimson haze. The strike was so fierce that the chili powder scattered like hidden blades, forcing everyone to shut their eyes and mouths. Alas, poor Master Su! His throat, eyes, and nose were all scorched by the fiery spice. Coughing violently, he doubled over, tears and snot smearing his face. Each cough only drew in more of the burning powder, leaving him no choice but to endure the torment, nearly wailing in agony.
Dan Ye was crying, and he quickly tried to comfort him, though he himself was suppressing violent coughs. He gritted his teeth, holding onto Ye tightly with one hand while gripping his sword hilt with the other, fearing that the enemy might launch a surprise attack.
He Lougang had just waved his palm to disperse the pink mist when a surge of red flames rushed toward him. He barely managed to block it with his sword, but his arm felt sore as if struck by a tiger, and his Yanling saber nearly slipped from his grasp. Raising his head, he saw the red-clad enemy flicking pieces of burning charcoal toward them, darting forward like a shooting star aimed at the group.
« How amusing… how amusing! » The man laughed heartily, leaping onto a tree branch and shouting, « Hey! Listen up, Su Mansion! Hand over five thousand taels of gold in exchange for your precious—Old He, you’re done for! » With that, he stomped his feet, using the branch’s recoil to propel himself toward Su Ye. The tip of the iron rod in his hand glowed red-hot, dripping with sizzling grease.
Dan only saw a flash of red before a sharp pain shot through his wrist. The man he was holding onto was suddenly snatched away. With a sharp whistle, a fiery red steed galloped forward—astonishingly swift. The red-clad enemy smirked, lifting the unconscious Su figure onto the horse’s back before swiftly riding away.
« Stay right there! » He Lou swung his saber down toward the empty space behind him. Su Kuang’s face, entrusted to the escort agency in the capital, was known to be as cunning as a fox—there was no way he could dodge this strike.
The fox-like man was indeed a ghost—his body twisted unnaturally in midair as if boneless. The iron rod in his hand transformed into a thousand crimson flashes, encircling He Lou like a swarm of fiery wasps. He Lou’s wrist ached sharply, and his saber clattered to the ground—by the time the red-clad guards rushed over, the figure had already vanished like a wisp of smoke, leaving behind only a trail of dust and the echo of unrestrained laughter.
« Ah— » Dan Ren gritted his teeth and chased after, his blade slashing down with a whoosh. His eyes suddenly blurred, and something hot and wet splashed onto his face—half a chunk of roasted lamb, still warm, its surface crispy and fragrant, generously sprinkled with chili flakes. It burned his throat so fiercely that tears welled up in his eyes from the pain.
Dan Han held the mutton, his face pale as a ghost—just one move had left his eyebrows, throat, chest, and both wrists covered in searing red scars. The iron skewer’s tip still glowed red-hot, as if it might burn through him at any moment. He Lu stared blankly for a moment before spitting out the mutton in his mouth, muttering, « This… this wild beast… what terrifying skill! »
Dan Han half-sobbed, « Master He, where did this guy come from? How could he dare provoke you like this? »
He Lu sighed and said, « Enough… this must be Feng Wuye, the ‘Phoenix Fifth Master.’ Forget about the Dragon Girl—consider us unlucky. »
The Dragon Girl? » The escort gasped in shock. « We actually ran into the Dragon Girl of Mandala? That demoness, how could she appear here? » He glanced at Dan Han, who seemed on the verge of tears, and sighed. « Dan Han, it’s not that we lack courage, but we’ve encountered a real monster this time. Let me tell you, across the northern deserts, there’s one dragon and one phoenix. The phoenix is Feng Wuye, and the dragon is none other than that Dragon Girl. She’s ruthless beyond measure. In just a moment, she can strip a man of his wealth and life… They say in the martial world, that demoness practices dark arts to steal men’s vitality!
Dan was so scared he stammered, « Why… why did you have to pick that particular young master… Good heavens, where in the world did he run off to now?! »
The escort leader sighed deeply, « No choice… Dan, let’s just prepare the dowry for the young lady quietly. Be good—five thousand taels of gold, not a penny less. »
How can we possibly afford that? » Dan finally burst into tears. « The young lady is in Zhenjiang, so far away, while that young master has already fled to the sunny south ages ago!
Whether he fled or not, Dan, we must do our best. » He Lou shook his head. « This escort mission… seems doomed from the start… Forget it, let’s just set off early and get it over with.
Master He! » Dan Yan was practically frantic, grabbing at his sleeve: « Master He, I beg you, please ask Fifth Master Feng… this shipment’s seal is from the capital, it’s…
Miss Long, I’m afraid Fifth Master Feng only manages the goods, not the people. You’d be wasting your time looking for him. » He Lou shook his head: « Those bandits who intercepted the shipment in the grasslands… they probably wouldn’t even recognize Miss Long’s name…
Dan Yan desperately clutched his wrist: « Master He! »
He Lou sighed helplessly: « Listen to me, Dan Yan. See that finger-like peak to the northwest? There’s a massive red boulder there—that’s Fifth Master Feng’s territory… But let me tell you, Fifth Master Feng isn’t someone to be trifled with. I advise you to leave this matter be. Even if you somehow managed to get an audience with him, let alone whether he’d agree to help, do you really think you could handle the consequences? »
Dan Yao shook his head, his face resolute: « I appreciate your kindness, Master He, but no thanks. » With that, he turned and sprinted northward without the slightest hesitation…
Master He flung the fiery red cloak over his shoulder. The exceptionally fine steed beneath him showed no sign of slowing its breakneck pace. Seated firmly in the saddle, he gripped the stirrups tightly, as if fearing the slightest jolt might unseat him. His sharp eyes swept over the descending bandits—their legs, crisscrossed with scars across the grasslands, were lean and sinewy, without an ounce of excess flesh. The thin crimson silk trousers clung to their saddles, sweat-drenched yet revealing every contour. These Jiangnan bandits, with their delicate skin and frail frames, seemed barely able to withstand a strong breeze.
The young lady surnamed Long suddenly fell silent, suppressing her anger. Her eyes, sharp as hooks, fixed on his legs. In an instant, her rage flared, and she lashed out with a whip aimed straight at his face, shouting furiously, « Shut up! »
« Tsk tsk tsk… Eyes off what’s improper… » Old Man hurriedly shut his eyes, yet the crimson undergarments seemed to sway tantalizingly before him. Struggling to resist, he couldn’t help but peek—just then, the Dragon Maiden slightly arched her back, her movements deliberate, and with a sudden, alluring sway of her hips—his blood surged in a heated rush. « Ah-ah-oh-oh, » he stammered incoherently before collapsing to the ground in a daze.
« Got you! » The young lady flicked her whip with a snap, sending the old man tumbling head over heels. His rear end stuck up in the air as he instinctively shielded his head, his beady eyes darting around mischievously—utterly shameless in his playful antics. The young lady chuckled and raised her whip again, ready to strike.
But the fool just stared blankly: « Miss… miss is so pretty… miss, uh, uh, what? »
The dragon maiden flicked her whip, lifting it to her slender waist, then coiled it behind her back. A faint smile played at the corners of her lips as she said, « You there, the one who calls himself a hero yet cowers behind his little sister, getting beaten black and blue—what a useless lump… Hmph, forget it! You, fool, what’s your name? »
The man hurriedly twisted around to answer, « My surname is Su, given name Kuang, courtesy name Dada. I’m twenty-two this year and still unmarried. »
« Pah! Who asked about your marital status? » The dragon maiden stamped her feet, her red sleeves fluttering as she vanished in a cloud of dust.
Su Kuang scratched his head in bewilderment. « If I may be so bold, might I ask the fair maiden’s name? »
The Dragon Maiden let out a cold snort, her dark whip slicing through the air with a dazzling arc. The whip’s shadow condensed and dispersed in an instant, forming the character « Qing. »
The « Frozen Market » technique was one of Long Qing’s most formidable skills. Su Kuang, caught off guard, barely managed to evade, his clothes fluttering as he chuckled, « Miss Long, your whipplay is quite impressive. »
Long Qing slightly raised her chin, patting the crimson-clad forehead beside her: « Red Robe, well done! At least someone here knows quality when they see it! »
Su Kuang seemed oblivious to whom Long Qing was scolding under her breath and muttered to himself, « So beautiful, and her whipplay is exquisite… But why must such a fair lady be a thief? »
Long Qing glared fiercely: « What do you want? »
Su Kuang shook his head: « Miss, your martial skills are impressive, but why resort to robbery? Even if I’m a useless weakling, I still have a pregnant wife at home. Raising a child isn’t easy. If you snatch this money today, won’t your conscience ache knowing some mother will be left destitute? How can you bear it? »
Long Qing burst into laughter, but a sudden chill flickered in her eyes: « Are you from the Su family of Jiangsu Prefecture? »
Su Kuang smiled wryly and shook his head: « Even if I were, Miss, you might not necessarily let me go. »
Long Qing turned her head and said with a smile: « What are you afraid of? Su Kuang, you’re overcomplicating things. »
Su Kuang reluctantly bowed and replied: « Not at all, not at all. I was just thinking that the young lady might have misread my intentions, that’s all. »
Long Qing endured the pain with gritted teeth. His fair skin and refined features bore no trace of martial training, and his gentle, honest face showed no signs of hardship. Yet, he pretended to be clumsy to avoid suspicion.
Heh heh, you! » Long Qing slapped the red-robed man’s forehead with a grin. « You’re just a reckless fool who follows Brother Mantuo blindly. You’re nothing but a lackey!
The red-robed man seemed momentarily stunned by the insult, but his courage flared up instantly. With a furious roar, he charged toward Mantuo like a wild goose taking flight.
The grassland stretched endlessly ahead. In the distance, Mantuo could already see the shimmering lake, its shores lined with lush green meadows that grew damp and marshy near the water. Su Kuang crouched low on his horse’s back, its hooves kicking up clumps of wet grass and occasionally sending smooth, clean stones skittering into the rising tide.
Jet-black hair cascaded down—this was undoubtedly the renowned Dragon Maiden. Her features were bright and spirited, with brows and eyes that seemed to outshine the very sun.
« Sister Dragon! Sister Dragon! » The quiet wilderness suddenly erupted into a clamor as a flock of brightly dressed girls chirped and fluttered about, instantly transforming the grassy plain into a riot of color. Su Kuang took a step back—these were the young ladies from the northern quarter of the manor, all around fifteen or sixteen years old, a lively and cheerful bunch.
Amidst the gaggle of girls, Long Qing’s smile grew increasingly warm. Suddenly, she raised a hand and lightly tapped a pressure point on Su Kuang’s chest, then flipped backward with a laugh, calling out, « You little rascals, where have you been running wild? Come, come, let’s go back—have you turned the Mandala Palace upside down again? »
« Sister— » The girl at the forefront threw herself into Long Qing’s arms. « No way! We’ve swept the house spotless, just waiting for your reward! » She was plump-cheeked, with round, sparkling black eyes that shone like stars—a true beauty in the making.
Reward! Reward! » Long Qing gently pinched Jingjing’s nose, her voice dripping with fond indulgence. « Come now, Jingjing. Let’s go play and amuse ourselves to atone for your earlier mischief.
« Understood! » The maidservants dared not disobey Long Qing’s order. They hastily lifted Su Kuang while a group of sisters clustered around Long Qing, escorting her toward the summit of the Mandala Palace.
The crowd of maidservants jostled and squeezed their way forward, vying to stay close to Long Qing. In an instant, Jingjing found herself « pushed aside » by the eager swarm—
Sister, sister! Let me adorn your hair with this falling blossom pin and comb your tresses for you.
Sister, that little thief Jingjing stole two pieces of my lotus jade pastry again!
Nonsense! Stole? She was just competing with Sister Long for them! With her martial arts skills, she’s just greedy!
Stole? With her martial arts skills, who could’ve pressed her Jade Pillow acupoint? Who made her cry in fear?
« Bah, testing seven or eight times, only to gain some petty advantage through a sneak attack… »
Long Qing chuckled softly, her eyes brimming with tender affection. She reached out to tousle the hair of the little maid who had just lost at cockfighting, gently stroking the sparkling forehead. « Still upset about losing? Sister will win it back for you next time. » On that fair forehead, the sunken scar—once so severe—now seemed to be gradually healing. The shadow it cast should have long since faded away.
The crystal-clear eyes, brimming with tears, shimmered intensely. Long Qing, standing in the row of criminal officials’ families, was abruptly seized—her delicate wrist gripped tightly as a drunken soldier, lewd and aggressive, forced her into a corner. Her back slammed against the wall, and with a sharp cry, her clothes were torn as he roughly yanked her forward.
Long Qing hacked down the enemy soldiers, then swiftly pulled the child into her embrace. Jingjing, like a small bird or beast caught in a trap on a winter night, struggled desperately in her arms, smearing blood across Long Qing’s delicate face.
Wake up, little sister, wake up… » Long Qing gently stroked Jingjing’s trembling back, « Come with sister, let me heal your wounds…
Jingjing’s limbs convulsed violently before finally settling into a terrifying stillness—a calm so profound it chilled the bones.
In the Hall of Mandala, Long Qing had tried every delicacy imaginable, yet the little maid simply clung to her legs, shivering as she sat stubbornly on the floor—refusing to move or eat. Long Qing remained steadfast by the girl’s side, neither coaxing nor forcing, simply sharing her silence with gentle patience. Just as exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her, Jingjing suddenly tugged at Long Qing’s sleeve and whispered hoarsely, « Sister… I’m hungry… »
« Really? » Overjoyed, Long Qing immediately presented a box of exquisite pastries—by sheer coincidence, it happened to be Suzhou’s famed « Lotus Jade Custard Puff » from the renowned Heyu Confectionery.
Jingjing trembled as she brought the cake to her mouth, while Long Qing held a bowl of chicken soup, gently blowing on it to cool it down.
Sister— » Jingjing’s tears fell drop by drop, and soon she burst into loud sobs: « Mother is gone, Father is gone too—
Little sister, don’t cry… » Long Qing wrapped an arm around Jingjing’s shoulder while offering the soup to her lips with the other: « Little sister, the poison of the mandrake is fierce, but our parents haven’t truly left—they’ll always be with us sisters…
This group of sisters… Long Qing’s eyes shone brightly.
The abandoned children, the trafficked infants, the babies left to die in the wilderness, the abused runaways hiding in tattered tents—Long Qing’s heart ached with compassion. From the moment she laid eyes on them, she could no longer turn away. In such circumstances, how could she not love the happiness that blossomed on their innocent faces? The girls’ radiant smiles, pure and warm, were like sunlight to Long Qing, forever dispelling the faintest shadow of gloom.
« Sister! Who made the incense so fragrant? It’s all thanks to you! » Jingjing, dressed in a neat uniform with a fork tucked at her waist, proudly handed Long Qing five shiny wooden boards.
Long Qing smiled gently and said, « Alright, how could I not? If it weren’t for Sister Long’s help, what would you all have done? »
Ah… ah… » The little girl raised her face, her dragon-like eyes sparkling with joy as she exclaimed, « I miss you, sister!
« Sister is here. » In the hall of Mandala Palace, Long Qing’s eyes gleamed brightly as she stepped forward—bandit or not, this girl was truly a sight to behold. Just one glance from Long Qing could make the wealthy and powerful tremble, plucking a single hair from their heads would be enough to calculate their entire fortunes.
