That day, Hǎilán (海蓝) market had a completely different atmosphere and was brimming with excitement. A group of travelling performers, who visited only once a year, had gathered in a corner of the great square and were performing a famous scene from the ancient tale of Fèng Qiú Huáng (凤求凰). A vast crowd had gathered round their small stage, yet amidst that sea of people, a familiar face could be seen, Hàn Yuè (汉月). Wearing a simple blue robe, she had once again sneaked out of the manor to witness her favourite performance. With a faint smile on her lips, she was lost in the romantic atmosphere and the daring escape of those legendary lovers.
Suddenly, the sharp crack of a shattering earthenware jar jolted her from her reverie. The jar belonged to a drunken army officer who had stumbled blindly into an old cabbage merchant's cart. The poor old man was blameless; he had been standing quietly in his spot when the inebriated officer careened into him. Stricken with terror, the merchant stood trembling. The officer, his eyes bloodshot with rage, grabbed the man by the collar and roared,
"You brainless old fool! Are you blind? You've ruined my entire day!"
"I swear..." the old man whimpered, shaking, "I was just standing here, I did nothing..."
But the officer's fury only mounted.
"You dare talk back to me??"
With brutal force, he shoved the man to the ground and delivered a ruthless kick to the cart, sending cabbages tumbling across the dirt.
Hàn Yuè's brow furrowed. Unable to abide such injustice, she stepped forward with courage and delivered a stinging slap across the officer's face. A deathly silence fell over the market. She was taken aback by her own actions for a split second, but she forced herself to stay calm. Then, her voice ringing out firm and steady :
"You brute! How can you torment a helpless man so?"
"How dare you, you sharp-tongued wench!" the officer bellowed in a rage.
Hàn Yuè's handmaid, standing at her side, gripped her mistress's arm in a panic, attempting to pull her back.
"My Lady... he is inebriated; he knows not what he does. I beseech you, let us leave!"
Yet, She stood her ground, remaining steadfast.
But it was too late. Still half-dazed by drink, the officer drew his dagger from its sheath and growled, "How about I fill my wine cup with your blood instead?"
The crowd recoiled in terror, a frantic mutter rising through the throng. Even Hàn Yuè, seeing the sheer madness in his eyes, took a sharp step back, her breath catching in her throat. Beside her, the handmaid, unable to endure any more, had dissolved into fits of sobbing. She gripped her mistress's arm tightly, her whole body trembling.
At that precise second, a sharp whistle pierced the air. An arrow, appearing as if from the heavens, struck the officer's throat with lethal precision. The man's eyes bulged, the dagger slipped from his trembling hand, and he collapsed to the ground without so much as a groan.
Pandemonium broke out. Shrieks of horror rent the air as the crowd scattered in every direction, desperate to escape the unseen marksman. Amidst the chaos, Hàn Yuè stood frozen, her head whipping round as she searched for the one who had loosed the fatal arrow.
In that moment, the very ground beneath her feet began to shake. A horse, galloping at breakneck speed, tore through the crowd. A rider clad in black, his face obscured, charged toward her. Without slackening his pace for a moment, he leaned over with staggering skill and swept his powerful arm around Hàn Yuè's waist. He lifted her from the ground like a feather and sat her upon the saddle before him.
Hàn Yuè had no time to react; she was utterly petrified. In a heartbeat, she found herself swept up and held fast within the rider's arms.
"Do you like it? This is how I come for you!", he said.
Still reeling from the shock, she turned her head ever so slightly, as a single tear escaped her eye,
"Hēiláng (黑狼)!?"
As he spurred his mount toward the city gates, Hēiláng tightened his embrace, drawing her close until his temple rested against hers.
"Close your eyes, sweetie," he murmured, "Let us away to a place where only you and I exist, just like Sīmǎ Xiāngrú (司馬相如) and Zhuó Wénjūn (卓文君)."
Hàn Yuè drew a long, deep breath, closed her eyes, and surrendered herself to the journey into the unknown...