Are You A River Spirit?

A certain brother handsome found himself comfortably tucked under warm furs, in a spacious tent. His name is Wang Lei, a promising young general on his first campaign at the western regions. By his bedside was Ji An, his battlefield squire and personal servant who has followed him since young, carefully brewing a pot of ginger tea.

"Can you tell me again, how you found me?"

The very patient Ji An let out a small sigh, and started over once more, "General Wang was found half buried in the sand, cooking like duck eggs. Or a sweet potato. Isn't that how children cook sweet potato in the countryside?"

Wang Lei's brows furrowed. He didn't appreciate the comparison, isn't this fellow getting cheeky? But he was already too familiar with Ji An, although a servant, they've been through too many life and death trials together, that it was difficult to have a conventional master and servant relationship. This time, Wang Lei, accompanied by Ji An and a small contingency were ambushed by rebels. An unexpected move, considering they were acting as a peace envoy. The rebels forced them off the road, chased Wang Lei's small group, finally forcing him off a cliff and down into the river.

Ji An lightly coughed, sensing the displeasure in Wang Lei's mood. He continued with a more serious tone, "Fourth Young Master was half dressed, but in good condition with no serious injuries considering he had fellen of a cliff and been pulled by the river currents, 18 li down stream, like the 18 levels of the underworld. It is indeed divine will that 4th young master had not been carried off by the cranes towards the setting sun. And perhaps, fate still has plans for my young general's meritorious deeds in the coming days." By which Ji An meant, it was incredibly fortunate that Wang Lei was not dead. But Ji An said it in such a way to bootlick and flatter his master, who was falling into a foul mood.

Wang Lei was in deep thought, recalling some hazy memories, not minding the insincere flowery words from Ji An, "I think I saw the person, if it was a person, who had dragged me out of the water and buried me in the sand. Could it be they thought I was already dead, and wanted to bury me as a mercy? But that was not right, why were there embers of a fire as well?"

"Did they try to burn 4th young master but failed, so decided it easier to bury master? They had robbed master, then buried master! Such despicable hoodlums!" Ji An was crying with righteous indignation, who dare hold premature funeral rights for his noble young master? The most promising talent to come out of the Wang clan in this generation!

But that was not right either. That person Wand Lei saw, patted his back and helped him cough out water. They saved his life, and kept him warm. But isn't it one only buries the dead?

The circumstances were indeed very curious, but this was the kind of speculative conversation that Ji An enjoyed. His imagination was tickled, he got excited, "Fourth Young Master, you saw the person?! Or was it not a person? Maybe a deity, an unnatural being come down from heaven. Or hell? Was it a river spirit?"

A river spirit? That actually made sense, or more likely a mischievous nine tailed fox. Recalling the weight of that person, as they lay on his chest and nuzzled his ear, Wang Lei blushed, a little feverish. The locals of the western region were prone to revere deities and gods living in bodies of water, but Wang Lei was not the kind to believe something was otherworldly, when it could easily be explained by his simple five senses. That was definitely a person, whether male or female, he did not know. But he was sure that person was Han, furthermore that person was from the northeast provinces, because they spoke in a language similar to his own hometown vernacular. They spoke closely in to his ear, hot breath calling him back. How interesting.

At that time, by the river, although he outwardly seemed dead or unconscious, Wang Lei had several instances of lucidity. He could hear and feel, he had a short glimpse of someone's face, with a nose where a nose should be, with eyes where eyes should be, he could remember. Wang Lei looked at his side sword hanging on a tent post. It was bent, with several dents. What a pity, that was a gift from his parents intended for his capping ceremony at age 20. But since he left home before the coming of age ceremony, barely aged 16, to follow the legendary general Li Maogong to the southside of the Yellow River, to have the Wang Clan take root in the capital of Chang'an, his parents gave him his present in advance.

There was also the mountain pattern armour that was stolen. A beautiful work of art he had made to his measurements, at great expense. There were only a handful of weapon smiths with the skill to create chainmail in that pattern, and this small guild of weapon smiths were tight lipped about their methods. It was only through the introduction of Li Xiu, the younger daughter of General Maogong, he was able to commission the armour. The sweet, dewy face of Li Xiu presented the finished chainmail to him, as he was leaving through the west gate of Chang'an capital. She discreetly and intentionally brushed his fingers with her own, as she handed him the armour set, "I wait for Wang's family, fourth young master's safe return. When you come back, ask father to wed me!"

Wang Lei's thoughts of Li Xiu were interrupted, he again remembered the warm body pushing on his bare chest, and felt confusion, a sense of violation, that made him green. He vowed, "Don't run away too far, little river spirit. I guarantee we'll meet again."