Chapter 0141: A Decade Apart Silently Passes, Fortunately the Person Remains Upon Return
The price difference between a redeemable pawn and an absolute sale was too large. The man frowned slightly.
He naturally preferred the redeemable option, so he could eventually reclaim the Dragon-Patterned Spear. However, the offered price for redemption was disappointingly low—insufficient to purchase the provisions needed for his troops’ return to the capital.
“Absolute sale, but add more silver,” Xie Shoujun tightened his grip on the long-tasseled spear. After all, the weapon was merely an object, while his soldiers’ lives mattered far more.
“Well…” the shopkeeper hesitated, “this is already a very high price. You can inquire around—our establishment is known for its honesty and fair dealings. Moreover, I’m offering this price precisely because this spear has supposedly taken Xiongnu heads. As for whether this black spear has truly…”
The shopkeeper left his sentence meaningfully unfinished.
Xie Shoujun understood the implicit message: if the spear hadn’t actually been used against the Xiongnu, it wouldn’t be worth this amount.
“One hundred twenty taels,” Xie Shoujun pressed his hand against the Black Dragon Long-Tasseled Spear. Sensing the shopkeeper’s interest in the weapon, he raised the price by forty taels. “This spear has claimed at least a hundred Xiongnu heads.”
“Sir, you must be joking,” the shopkeeper chuckled in amusement. “To claim a hundred Xiongnu heads, one would need to be a general constantly stationed at the frontier. You appear more like a Jianghu wanderer. If you said it had taken a hundred bandit heads, I might actually believe you!”
“Let’s do this—since you’re sincere about selling, ninety-five taels. Not a coin more,” the shopkeeper glanced at the Black Dragon Long-Tasseled Spear. Truthfully, he sensed the spear held significant origins. The northern regions teemed with martial artists, and legendary weapons were plentiful. With just one look, the shopkeeper could tell this was no ordinary spear, and he felt it might be one of the renowned weapons he’d heard of…
Which one was it again?
The shopkeeper racked his brains but maintained a composed expression as he continued bargaining with Xie Shoujun.
Eventually, they settled on ninety-eight taels. The shopkeeper feigned painful reluctance, “Very well, sir, you have a deal.”
Xie Shoujun breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
He had worried the pawnshop keeper might suddenly change his mind, and this was the most reputable pawnshop he could find.
While waiting for the shopkeeper to prepare the pawn ticket, Xie Shoujun gave the Dragon-Patterned Spear one final caress, as if stroking a beloved companion of many years. His eyes held profound reluctance and melancholy.
This spear had been entrusted to him by the previous border general on his deathbed, with the hope that Xie Shoujun would repel the Xiongnu within his lifetime and restore peace to Jian’an’s borders.
Now he was pawning it… So be it. He could only hope that in the future, no enemies would threaten the borders, rendering the spear unnecessary.
“Sir, please sign and stamp here.”
The pawn ticket and ink pad were placed before Xie Shoujun. He picked up the brush, took a deep breath, and finally signed with a heavy expression.
“Has Your Highness truly considered this?”
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice sounded from the pawnshop entrance.
Xie Shoujun looked up to see a man in white robes stepping inside. His snow-white fur cloak appeared slightly dusty from travel, yet it couldn’t diminish his handsome features or his noble, elegant demeanor.
“You are…” Xie Shoujun studied the newcomer, finding him unfamiliar.
“I am Shen Yuan, newly appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice and Imperial Inspector of Liaozhou.”
Shen Yuan gave a slight bow and presented his identity token before stepping up to the counter. He pushed the pawn ticket toward the shopkeeper with a faint smile. “This is the divine weapon wielded by the current First Prince—the Black Dragon Spear, which has claimed countless Xiongnu heads and been stained with their blood. Yet you value it at less than a hundred taels? I wonder if you’re being dishonest or simply lack discernment?”
The shopkeeper’s jaw dropped, his gaze shifting suspiciously to the dark dragon spear.
No wonder he had sensed something extraordinary about the weapon, and the customer’s demeanor was equally distinguished—it turned out to be the current First Prince!
As a resident of the northern borderlands, the shopkeeper had heard rumors: the First Prince was stationed long-term at the frontier, and he possessed a black dragon spear that had slain numerous enemy generals. It was his most treasured possession!
But… who would have imagined the First Prince would come here and even pawn the Black Dragon Spear?!
Staring at the returned pawn ticket, the shopkeeper was filled with regret and frustration. If this truly was the First Prince’s spear, it could easily be resold for ten times the price later. If only he had offered a hundred and twenty taels upfront!
Now, with the ticket pushed back, it was uncertain whether he could even secure the deal.
“Your Highness, are you pawning this spear to purchase military provisions?” Shen Yuan turned to Xie Shoujun and inquired.
Xie Shoujun remained silent for a moment before nodding.
“There’s no need to worry about provisions, Your Highness,” Shen Yuan said, picking up the Black Dragon Spear and returning it to Xie Shoujun. “Fortunately, I arrived in time. If this spear were to appear in Liaozhou, it would surely cause trouble.”
Xie Shoujun accepted the spear, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Shen Yuan smiled but offered no further explanation. “This isn’t the place to discuss it. You’ll understand once we reach Liaozhou. For now, please accompany me back to the camp. There are urgent matters to discuss.”
Xie Shoujun glanced at the pawn ticket on the counter, hesitating slightly. The sharp-eyed shopkeeper quickly reassured him, “Your Highness need not worry. If you return, we will not lower the price.”
Reassured, Xie Shoujun stored the spear and followed Shen Yuan out of the pawnshop.
On the way, Shen Yuan explained his purpose. “I came at the summons of the Second Prince, to request Your Highness’s assistance in organizing the Ice Sculpture Festival in Liaozhou. The Second Prince has already sent a letter to His Majesty, and a reply should arrive soon. As long as you lead your troops to assist him, the Second Prince will ensure your soldiers are provided for.”
“You mean… my second brother sent you?” Xie Shoujun was momentarily stunned, his emotions complex.
To him, his soldiers were like a second life, and the Black Dragon Spear embodied the legacy of his fallen comrades at the border—neither could be abandoned.
Previously, his second brother had saved countless brothers with explosives, and now, not only had he saved him once more, but he had also enabled him to keep the Black Dragon Spear…
How could Xie Shoujun not feel gratitude and moved?
But… “His health has always been frail. Why has he come to this harsh, bitter land?”
Xie Shoujun frowned deeply, his handsome and steady face etched with concern and disapproval.
The north was too cold—how could their father allow the Second Prince to undertake duties in Liaozhou? Especially during this once-in-a-century snow disaster. If he were to catch a chill, given his delicate constitution, how much suffering would he have to endure?
The instigator, Shen Yuan, uncharacteristically guilty, rubbed his nose.
“His Highness the Second Prince is compassionate and pities the impoverished commoners of the northern regions. He wishes to find them a way out, which is why he personally came to Liaozhou,” he said unhurriedly, his expression softening unconsciously whenever he mentioned Xie Chengze. “Moreover, the Second Prince is not as fragile as you imagine. He is simply a bit lazy by nature.”
Shen Yuan’s tone was overly casual and familiar, tinged with a hint of unspoken emotion. Even Xie Shoujun, who was not particularly emotionally perceptive, couldn’t help but scrutinize Shen Yuan carefully upon hearing these words.
This person seemed quite close to the Second Prince.
Had this man been by the Second Prince’s side all these years he was away?
An indescribable feeling inexplicably rose in Xie Shoujun’s heart. He was comforted that Xie Chengze had companionship in the capital and wouldn’t be lonely, yet he also felt a twinge of jealousy that it wasn’t him who had stayed by Chengze’s side these past ten years.
That child had always been sweet-tongued, fond of following him around since childhood, calling him “big brother.” He wondered if, after he left, Chengze had started calling someone else “brother.”
But… he wanted to see him more and more.
He wondered if Chengze still loved to laugh, if he still had a sweet tooth, if his once-ugly handwriting had become elegant through practice, and most of all… if he too had been thinking of him, far away at the border.