The Reticent Blade

This was the second time Ah San had come to the Liangzhou Prefecture. The last time he was here, his master was leading his senior brothers and sister and himself as they ran for their lives.

It had been eight years since.

Back then, he was sixteen, and his junior sister was only fourteen.

Ah San still remembered the small noodle shop in Shiniu Alley, in the southern part of the city. He was standing there now. The alley was pitch dark, and the houses were dead silent. Apparently, most of the residents had fled.

The reason he remembered the noodle shop in particular wasn’t because their plain noodles were delicious, but because his senior brother had died there.

Ah San reached out and brushed the doorpost in front of the shop. Then, with his thumb and forefinger, he pinched off a small clump of dust. It seemed the owner had left some time ago, as a layer of dust had already accumulated at the door.

Ah San took a step forward and gently tried to push the shop door. The wooden door creaked but didn’t budge. As expected, the door was locked. Sighing, Ah San reached for the right doorpost and felt around. Before long, his hand found a deep groove, a mark left by an arrow.

Eight years ago, that arrow had almost taken his life. If his senior brother hadn't pulled him back at a critical moment, he wouldn’t have lived to return to this place.

The arrow mark was still there, but the fresh splinters from that day were gone. Time had worn the mark smooth. Ah San suddenly shook his head and chuckled. Not only were the splinters gone, but even the pungent smell of grease was no longer present.

Lost in thought, Ah San paused. He stepped back a few paces and looked up, only to see the signboard overhead that read: "Shiniu Cloth Shop."

Ah San let out a self-deprecating laugh. So, the noodle shop had long since ceased to exist. At some point, it had become a tailor's shop.