Tales of the Four Lacks

A martial arts tournament in the Central Plains and beyond the frontier. What storm of bloodshed will this competition, full of rising talents, unleash? When will the tangled grievances between generations finally end? Amid the rivalries between sects, who wins everything, and who loses it all? Can he or she truly live as they wish, carefree, free, uninhibited, and without regrets? Can the women break free from the chains of fate? How will the men fulfill their dreams? Come join me and witness it all! Lively, playful, mischievous junior x wise and courageous senior who cares for the world (Their physical identities are still unknown, but from beginning to end, the person each cares about most is the other.) In the early chapters, use masculine pronouns for Yu Wuming; in the middle, when he distances himself from everything, and later, once everything is out in the open, switch back to feminine pronouns. Luyi uses feminine pronouns throughout. Serious blurb: Green shadows stretch across the slanting sunset as twilight falls, clothes brushed by willows in the morning breeze. Free yourself from the sorrow of parting with an old friend, yet realize that you still do not understand your own heart. May all matters be settled in clarity, though the road to the martial world is hard to grasp. Partings go unrecognized, peace is cut short, and night rain breaks the clear oak beneath the paulownia tree. When he was young, Yu Wuming was saved by the kind Green-Clad Sister, and he never forgot her. He was determined to repay her kindness. Their paths crossed again when he was a teenager, finally giving Yu Wuming the chance not to become an ingrate. As they spent more time together and faced one crisis after another, their feelings grew ever deeper. Which of them will be the first to understand what is in their heart? When they meet again, neither recognizes the other, but their hearts have already drawn close. Where will these feelings lead? The time to part once more seems to be approaching. Not-so-serious blurb: Yu Wuming: Sister, look! Luyi: Look at what? (Yu Wuming smears soot on Luyi's face.) Luyi: Oh, you! Don't run! (Luyi tackles Yu Wuming and tickles him.) Luyi: Are you going to do that again? Yu Wuming: No, no, I won't. (muttering) You splashed water in my face first, tsk. So the officials can set fires, but the common people can't even light a lamp? The people outside: What are you two doing? They both jump up, straighten their clothes, and say: Nothing, nothing. Don't get the wrong idea. We weren't doing anything. Everyone turns away, grinning to themselves: We know, we know. We understand. Gui Wuli: I'm really not lying. If you don't believe me, ask Old Seven. Yu Wuming: Sister Su, it really has nothing to do with me. I don't know anything. Su Weixing slams her palm on the table, setting down a stack of banknotes. Gui Wuli drops to his knees with a thump, his sleeve knocking Yu Wuming over. Yu Wuming gets up and sits on the floor, hurriedly waving both hands. "No, no, Sister, I'll tell you. He asked to borrow some money because he was a little short. I just asked if he'd been gambling or gotten cheated, and he said neither, he just didn't have any money. I only lent it to Brother Li because that's what he told me. I really don't know anything else. Waaaaah!" Gui Wuli glares at Yu Wuming. What a useless idiot. Then he sighs. "I just wanted to buy you a gift, but I haven't had much money lately. I didn't think you'd misunderstand." Su Weixing steps forward and helps them both up. "The gift isn't important. What matters is the thought. Don't hide things from me next time. I saw you suddenly had so much money and thought you'd done something terrible." Gui Wuli: It won't happen again. Never again. (One hand pours tea for Su Weixing while the other tries to push Yu Wuming out the door.) Yu Wuming has his grievances, but nowhere to air them... Xi Ming: Tell me, does Jia Wuyi not understand plain speech? (She glances toward the door.) Yu Wuming: Hmm? Why do you say that, Sister? Xi Ming: I told him not to hover around me. I don't want to see him, but he keeps showing up anyway. Yu Wuming: So you dislike him? Xi Ming: I... I don't. It's just... sigh. Yu Wuming: So why did you ask me to come today? Xi Ming: He comes by every day, but he hasn't shown up these past few days. I wanted to ask if something happened to him. Yu Wuming: What could happen to him? He's fine every day, except... Xi Ming quickly presses him: Except what? Yu Wuming suddenly leaps up and pulls someone down from the rafters. "Except that the person he likes doesn't like him back." Jia Wuyi, embarrassed and angry, tries to cover Yu Wuming's mouth. Xi Ming blushes and says, "I'm glad you're all right." She turns to leave, but Jia Wuyi quickly grabs her arm. "I heard everything. Let me explain. I know what you're worried about and how you feel. Don't worry, I won't bother you. Go do what you want, and I won't get in your way. I only ask that you stop pushing me away." Xi Ming sighs. "What am I supposed to do with you?" Leng Wuqing: ... Theme: Martial heroes and the imperial court, fields and villages, grasslands beyond the frontier. What, in the end, is a true life?