Chapter Ten: Yu Lian and Pennilessness

The campus was blanketed in snow. Some menial workers and volunteer students were loudly shoveling the thick layers off the pathways. A few girls, carrying large bamboo baskets, were scattering salt on the freshly cleared roads—an idea borrowed from the Five Northern Islands, where salt helps melt the snow and keeps the ground from icing over.

Winter’s darkness fell early, and the sky was already dimming; lanterns glowed everywhere. Lin Qi strolled through the covered walkways, yawning. Wherever he passed, people made way for him; students, arms full of books as they left their classes, whether men or women, all kept their distance from him with careful caution.

A deep chime sounded from the bell tower in the heart of campus—dinner was ready in the dining hall. A few goldfinches fluttered down from a barren tree, pecking hungrily at the withered grass now free of snow. Looking at the tiny birds, Lin Qi sighed softly, “Winter birds are as pitiful as a penniless Lin Qi—how wretched we are!”

He glanced at a tall, round stone tower in the distance, a greedy glint flashing in his eyes before he curled his lip in disdain.

As elites of the Empire, students of the Fifth University enjoyed excellent accommodations. Lin Qi’s dormitory was built of heavy, gray marble, rising six stories high and housing up to two thousand students. At each corner stood a thirty-meter-tall square tower, sharp and imposing, while the center boasted a huge domed roof. The towers were adorned with strange, winged statues, and the dome itself was inlaid with colorful, translucent shells, dazzling in their brilliance.

Upon entering his room, Lin Qi found Yulian—one of the Iron Fist Brotherhood’s core members and his own right-hand man—lounging on his bed. Yulian had his legs propped on the headboard, a letter in hand, and was smugly twirling his rakish little moustache as he chuckled.

Two years older than Lin Qi, but in the same academic year, Yulian was infamous in the Fifth University as a notorious gallant. Born into a fallen noble family, he was tall, strikingly handsome, his golden hair meticulously styled. The slight curl of his moustache made him seem as if he were always smiling. His eyes, a limpid sky blue, sparkled with mischief, ever ready to cast a flirtatious glance. With his robust build, charming looks, intoxicating gaze, honeyed words, and a hereditary baron’s title, Yulian was a frequent guest in the dreams of many young women in University City.

Seeing Yulian’s shameless grin and the pink note in his hand, Lin Qi couldn’t help but sigh, “Heavens, what unlucky woman have you snared this time? My dear Yulian, another romantic escapade for your collection?”

Yulian pressed a tender kiss to the letter, then carefully folded it into a rose and tucked it into his shirt pocket. He shook his leg triumphantly, grinning at Lin Qi as he held out a hand. “Boss, lend me a ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’—this is the daughter of a small-town lord inviting me to an intimate, private rendezvous.”

Drawing a deep, dramatic breath, Yulian burst into an operatic recitative: “A marvelous tryst, a bashful maiden, a pure white body, a supple form. Moonlight, roses, a serenade, fine wine and tender veal steak—oh, with just one ‘cock-a-doodle-doo,’ what a glorious night awaits me!”

Lin Qi sighed softly, pulling out two atonement slips he had bought from Father Barin at the school gates. Solemnly, he placed the rough, palm-sized slips into Yulian’s hand. “God will save your soul, damn you, Yulian! I haven’t a single coin left—do you hear me? Not one!”

He gave Yulian’s oily head a hard smack, scowling. “A troupe of Gisei wanderers has arrived outside the city.”

Yulian’s eyes widened with a sly grin. “Ah, yes, a grand Gisei troupe—over three hundred strong, including forty-seven lovely young ladies. The lead dancer, Gina, has a truly magnificent figure. Honestly, one hand isn’t enough to grasp her! Boss, you know me—I’ve touched no fewer than three hundred bosoms, but none compare to hers!”

“By the gods!” Lin Qi rolled his eyes, exasperated. The Gisei troupe had only just arrived, yet Yulian had already charmed the lead dancer. Such efficiency—Yulian truly had a gift for seduction.

Curling his finger, Lin Qi gave a cold snort, “Mr. Gron wants to meet Gina—the lead dancer, Gina, right? He wants to dine with her. You know what that means. Name your price for Gina. If she’s satisfied, take her to Mr. Gron. The usual arrangement applies.”

Yulian sprang up, snapped his fingers with delight, and spun lightly on his toes. “I knew it! My date with the darling daughter won’t be delayed. Oh, a lord’s daughter—a proper lady—I can’t wait for the moment I unlace her bodice!” With a passionate hug for Lin Qi, he danced away, as fluid as a cloud. “Relax, boss, your credits—and my dating funds—are as good as secured. Mr. Gron is a generous gentleman, I know that well!”

“Damn you!” Lin Qi muttered helplessly, watching Yulian’s retreating back. Frowning, he opened his drawer—sure enough, the last three silver coins he’d hidden in the secret compartment were gone without a trace. In the entire Fifth University, only Yulian would dare sneak into Lin Qi’s room and steal his last bit of private money.

His three beloved silver coins had vanished, and without dinner in sight, Lin Qi’s heart throbbed with pain.

“Oh no! I must find a way to make some money!”

Pacing anxiously around his room, Lin Qi sighed, “Winter—I detest winter. As soon as it arrives, merchants and travelers dwindle by ninety percent. Every winter, money becomes a worry! Damn those patrolling dragon riders, damn the Security Bureau—why must University City be crawling with so many copper-helmed officers?”

Just thinking of those secret police in their copper helmets made Lin Qi’s heart ache.

“I must get some money!”

Penniless, Lin Qi sighed, gazing through his window at the tall, cylindrical stone tower.

“I must get some money, curse it!”

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