The first time they met, they were both a mess, covered in grime and reeking so badly that she could not even make out his face.
The second time, she fought a gang until she was battered and bloody, only to be arrested by him on the spot and thrown in prison.
The third time they met, she was being tortured. He wrapped his fur coat around her trembling, wounded body and took her home.
After three encounters, Wang Keqi entered Zhang Liuzhong's life. Their first collaboration exposed the true face of the Deliverance God, "neither human nor ghost." Then came one bizarre case after another: a strange man who cut off feet, the Four-Mao Yamen borrowing a yin debt... But the truth behind layer upon layer of mysteries dragged Wang Keqi back to the past she least wanted to revisit.
She refused to believe it!
"Zhang Liuzhong, what's on the other side of the river?"
"This one? Mountains."
"What if it's not this river? Every river."
"Forests, people, faraway places."
To her, the faraway place was Punan, where she was now. Living in Punan had always been her dream.
In Yangong, her hometown, there was a beautiful legend. Because of this legend, Yangong had also gained a beautiful name: Red Embroidery.
Wang Keqi did not understand, and questioned the legend time and again. How could such a beautiful place as Yangong really exist?
She asked her older brother, who said it was something everyone made up because life was too hard.
Oh, Red Embroidery was just a fantasy.
Then Punan would be her Red Embroidery.
Red Embroidery was not a fantasy. It was a beautiful place.
Zhang Liuzhong told her: You are what is beautiful.
That day, snow fell thick and fast, just as it had on the day they last met.
"Don't worry about me. I'll live a good, long life. I'll miss you."
[Reading Guide]
1. Historical fantasy, with many original details. Please don't nitpick the history.
2. There are strange affairs of the martial world, investigations, plot twists, and the defense of the country.
3. Both leads have no prior romantic or sexual partners. One-on-one.
4. All medical and poison-related material in the story comes from online sources and fictional inventions. Do not try any of it!
Theme: The power of life lies in refusing to submit
