Chapter 11: Chu Heng Returns

At the age of fifteen, Gu Yichen finally reunited with his long-lost servant, Chu Heng.

Chu Heng had been orphaned since childhood. At the age of five, he had been abandoned on the streets, curled up at the entrance of a dilapidated temple. His eyes reflected a resilience and stubbornness beyond his years. Back then, he resembled a lost little beast, gazing at the world around him, as though he could never belong to it.

When the Duke of An passed by, he saw the pitiful child and, sensing his potential, decided to take him back to his mansion.

Upon entering the Gu residence, Chu Heng was filled with gratitude. Every time he encountered someone, he instinctively knelt and bowed, which puzzled the servants. He approached this unfamiliar home with reverence and thankfulness, but in his heart, there was always a lingering sense of loneliness and unease. That is, until he met Gu Yichen.

At the time, Gu Yichen was also five years old, running around the courtyard with a bamboo dragonfly in his hand. He saw Chu Heng kneeling to one side, looking up at him expectantly. After a moment of contemplation, he stopped and tilted his head, examining the small figure. A few seconds later, he smiled and handed the bamboo dragonfly to Chu Heng: "I heard we're the same age. Come play with me."

Chu Heng froze for a moment. When his fingers touched the bamboo dragonfly, his eyes instantly filled with tears, and the emotional walls he had built up collapsed. He lowered his head and knelt deeply, overwhelmed by a warmth he had never felt before.

In that instant, he felt an overwhelming sense of dependence, as if he had found a place of peace in his life. That deep bow was his silent vow: "I will protect the young master for life."

However, fate did not treat this pure bond kindly.

The downfall came suddenly, like a thunderclap. The Gu residence collapsed overnight, and Chu Heng was forced to separate from Gu Yichen. Amidst the chaos, he was pursued by men in black, narrowly escaping death multiple times.

It was then that Wei Wu, a former trusted aide of the Duke of An, appeared from the shadows and saved him. Wei Wu had once been the Duke's secret agent in the Intelligence Bureau, carefully hidden from the eyes of the world. He had managed to avoid the purges that followed.

Wei Wu took Chu Heng to a hidden base, where he carefully taught him espionage skills: stealth, disguise, tracking, counter-surveillance… The life-or-death tests turned Chu Heng from a frail child into a calm, resolute spy. Yet, despite the heavy responsibilities, the memory of the young master and the warmth of those days remained in his heart.

Every night, when silence enveloped the room, he would take out the weathered bamboo dragonfly, staring at the moonlight and silently swearing: "I will find the young master and protect him with my life."

At the age of fifteen, fate once again brought them together.

During a mission, Chu Heng learned of Gu Yichen's whereabouts. After hearing the news, he immediately set out, eventually finding the long-separated young master in a humble dwelling.

Chu Heng knelt on the ground, holding the now worn bamboo dragonfly in both hands, his voice choked with emotion: "Young master, Chu Heng has finally found you."

Gu Yichen's gaze immediately fixed on the familiar figure before him. He stared for a long time, and after a while, he lowered his head and helped Chu Heng to his feet, his eyes filled with indescribable emotion: "You still kept this bamboo dragonfly?"

Chu Heng's eyes filled with tears. In a soft voice, he said, "Young master, I have never forgotten you, nor have I ever forgotten the teachings of the Duke of An."

Gu Yichen sighed deeply, patting Chu Heng on the shoulder, his tone firm yet gentle: "It's good that you've returned. From now on, we are brothers, bound by life and death. No one can ever separate us again."

As those words were spoken, Chu Heng felt a warmth surge through his heart, and the wounds of the past seemed to heal in that moment.

Late at night, with the room bathed in the dim light of flickering candles, Gu Yichen stood in the center of the secret chamber, his expression calm. With his hands clasped behind his back, his tall figure cast a long shadow in the yellow candlelight. His gaze, like a deep pool of water, was fixed steadily on Wei Wu standing across from him.

Wei Wu, the commander of the Intelligence Bureau, still appeared young, though the marks of time were evident in the deep lines on his face. At this moment, he slightly bowed and respectfully offered a letter and a jade pendant, speaking in a low voice: "Young master, this is the last letter from the Duke of An and me. It may contain some long-hidden truths."

Gu Yichen's pupils contracted slightly. He stared at the letter in his hand for a long time before finally reaching out to take it. As his fingers brushed the paper, a subtle wave of emotion rose within him, as if long-forgotten memories had been gently awakened. The name "Duke of An" rang in his ears, carrying an indescribable pain.

Wei Wu, observing him, saw a flicker of guilt and nostalgia in his eyes as he added softly: "Back then, the Duke of An personally set up an extensive network of spies to monitor the political situation. But… the betrayal of a traitor caused the entire network to be uprooted in one night, and everyone was purged."

Gu Yichen's gaze turned cold, as sharp as a blade. In a low voice, he asked: "Who is the traitor?"

Wei Wu shook his head, his face shifting slightly as a shadow of pain flashed in his eyes. "I have not been able to determine who it is. At the time, I had been transferred to the Intelligence Bureau and was not involved in the spy network. I maintained only a direct line of communication with the Duke of An, which is why I survived."

With those words, he pushed the letter forward. His tone softened: "You should take a look for yourself."

Gu Yichen slowly unfolded the letter. The ink had faded slightly, but the handwriting was still strong and firm. The familiar strokes momentarily made him feel as though he had returned to the carefree days of his youth.

"Ah Wu,

The political situation is unstable, and danger lurks everywhere.

I suspect there is a traitor in my midst, and some important seals have gone missing. This matter involves great stakes, so do not let it be known. You must investigate thoroughly, but above all, prioritize your safety."

Those few lines of text hinted at an impending storm. Gu Yichen held the letter tightly, and the image of his father, the Duke of An, surfaced in his mind. The calm, composed man whose face was etched with wisdom now seemed burdened by the weight of responsibility.

Wei Wu stood by, his voice barely audible as he spoke: "The seal mentioned in the letter may have been used by the traitor to forge documents or frame others. I tried to investigate but was unable to pursue it further."

Then, he handed Gu Yichen a jade pendant, his voice deepening: "This is a token the Duke of An left for me, a symbol of life and death entrusted between us."

Gu Yichen took the jade pendant, feeling its smooth, cool surface. As his fingers traced over the word "义" (meaning "righteousness") engraved on the back, a sharp pain shot through his heart. That word seemed to be carved into his soul, pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe.

He raised his eyes to look at Wei Wu, his gaze as deep as the sea. With a determined voice, he said: "My father entrusted this to you, and you've done everything you could. I will remember this debt. From now on, I will uncover the truth, bring justice to the Gu family, to my father, and to all the innocent lives lost."

Upon hearing this, Wei Wu's eyes reddened slightly. He lowered his head and bowed, replying in a low voice: "Young master, Wei Wu will follow your command, and will never regret it, even unto death."

The candlelight flickered, and shadows danced in the room, casting a somber mood on their faces. The letter and jade pendant, once relics of the past, had now become the link between what was and what would be. They awakened long-buried secrets and set the stage for the tumultuous waves of fate yet to come.