This morning, business at the smithy was rather slow. Only a few people came in with some broken plows or hoes to be repaired. Jack Reed had disappeared to who knows where, and only David Clark was in the shop, working slowly, while William Thompson tidied up the finished iron tools nearby.

Suddenly, Jack Reed rushed in from outside, panting and said, “Master, can you advance me two strings of coins? I heard that Cuihua House has two new Song dynasty women, their skin is so fair and tender!”

“I just gave you two strings of coins the day before yesterday. Sooner or later, you’ll die on a woman’s belly!” David Clark cursed as he took out two strings of coins from his chest. Jack Reed snatched them and ran off without a trace. Hearing this, William Thompson felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife. Of course, he knew who Jack Reed was talking about. Large tears rolled down from his eyes. David Clark looked at him in surprise, and after a moment, seemed to understand something, sighed, and turned to go upstairs.

Jack Reed didn’t return until dusk, humming a tune as he came back from outside. As soon as David Clark saw him, he asked with a stern face:

“Why are you back so late?”

“Master, you didn’t give me enough money, so I was only number fifty-eight in line. The Song dynasty women really are something, not like the old women here with their rough faces and dark skin. Master, you should try it too!”

William Thompson could no longer hold back. He stood up and shouted angrily, “You’re a Han, too! How can you be so cruel to your own sisters!”

Jack Reed was taken aback, but instead of getting angry, he laughed and said, “I humiliated you this morning and you didn’t say a word, but now you’re shouting? Don’t tell me she’s your lover? Oh right, I heard that woman is also from Min County. Heh! Want me to tell you about her charms?”

“You bastard!” William Thompson grabbed a knife and lunged at Jack Reed, but David Clark caught him, knocked him to the ground with a backhanded slap, and said coldly, “Don’t forget who you are!”

William Thompson raised his head and stared fiercely at Jack Reed. Jack Reed was about to humiliate the Song youth again, but for some reason, when their eyes met—eyes that seemed far too intense for their age—he suddenly felt a bit guilty.

“Jack Reed, Steward Xiao’s butler has come to urge you several times. Hurry up and deliver those two wagon wheels.”

“Damn it, I’m going again tomorrow. I’ll wear her out!” Jack Reed cursed as he carried the wheels away.

An hour later, Jack Reed finally returned. When he entered the room, he seemed a bit off. He glanced at William Thompson, wolfed down a few mouthfuls of food, and went upstairs to sleep.

As William Thompson was closing up the shop, David Clark slowly walked up behind him. After a while, he said in a low voice:

“I just heard from Jack Reed that the woman jumped to her death. Sigh! Such is fate!”

“Clang!” The door bolt in his hand fell to the ground. William Thompson threw himself onto the bedding and burst into tears.

Chapter Three: Merchant’s Retinue

Spring passed and autumn came; in a flash, five years had gone by.

William Thompson had grown into a tall young man, but his mind was already that of a thirty-year-old. Years of working as a blacksmith had completely changed his scholarly melancholy, adding a touch of ruggedness to his brow, but William Thompson had also become more silent. All these years, he had been waiting for his body to grow, always pondering the fate of his people and himself. This year, he heard that Genghis Khan had died. He knew that not long after Genghis Khan’s death, the Xia and Jin dynasties would be destroyed, and a great massacre would soon begin. If he didn’t want to be killed by the Mongols, he had to return to the Song dynasty as soon as possible.

In the second year of Emperor Lizong’s Shaoding reign in Song, and the sixth year of Emperor Aizong’s Zhengda reign in Jin, Genghis Khan’s third son, Borjigin Ögedei, ascended the throne. According to Genghis Khan’s arrangements before his death, Ögedei and Tolui soon led their armies across the desert to the south, preparing for a massive attack on the Jin dynasty. The Jin dynasty hurriedly adjusted its deployments to strengthen its defenses. At the same time, it began conscripting soldiers nationwide, requiring every two households to provide one man for the army.

That morning, David Clark quietly packed his belongings. He had thought that his lame leg would spare him from this disaster, but the army was in urgent need of blacksmiths, so he was conscripted as well. Today was the day to report.

“Li, this land has already been bought by Master Xiao from the street in front.” He handed a piece of paper and a silver mirror to William Thompson.

“You’d better go to the Xiao residence with me! It’s chaotic outside, and you’ll be conscripted if you’re alone. All these years, I haven’t given you much. This is a silver mirror, left to me by my mother. I’ll give it to you! It might save your life at a critical moment. Jack Reed has disappeared again—just tell him for me, and leave his things in his room. That child. Sigh!”

David Clark took one last look at the shop, wiped away his old tears, opened the door, and left.

William Thompson opened the slip of paper—it was his slave certificate. At the bottom, in the section for release of freedom, were the four characters ‘Lintao David Clark’, along with a handprint. The date was actually the day after David Clark had bought him. William Thompson suddenly felt his nose sting with emotion.

“Master!”

William Thompson ran after him. This was the first time in five years he had called David Clark “Master.”

David Clark turned back in surprise, his eyes a little moist. He smiled slightly, waved his hand, and walked away with unsteady steps.

“Take care, Master!”

William Thompson slowly knelt down. This parting might mean they would never meet again.

It wasn’t until dusk that Jack Reed finally appeared at the smithy door.

“The old man’s gone?”

William Thompson looked at him with disgust and ignored him.