Chapter 18: Liu Chengyuan’s First Encounter with Qian Yu

　　Lei Yongbang unsealed the envelope, only to discover it contained two letters. One was addressed to Liu Chengyuan’s father, and the other to Chengyuan himself. As Lei unfolded the letter meant for Chengyuan, his eyes were drawn to its heart-wrenching opening:　　“My dear Chengyuan, as I write this letter, I am still a fleeting presence in this mortal world. But by the time these words reach you, your mother will already have become a shade in the underworld. With tears blending into the ink, I compose this message, often tempted to lay down my brush, yet fearful that my silence might leave my true feelings forever hidden from you. Thus, I summon my strength and write, so that you may understand, my cherished child.　　I was born a Sogdian, once the sacred maiden of the Manichaean faith in the Western Regions. However, the righteous sects of China have long branded Manichaeism as a heretical and demonic cult. Eighteen years ago, I journeyed to China on the orders of the Faith’s leader to spread our teachings. Yet, I was met with hostility and ambushed by the so-called righteous factions of the martial world, suffering grievous injuries. It was your father who, driven by a sense of justice, came to my rescue. He not only saved my life but also escorted me to the Valley of the Medicine King, seeking the aid of a divine healer to restore my health.”　　Your father and I, bound by mutual affection, became a couple. To avoid the shadow of my past, I concealed my identity and followed him back to his hometown in Sanyuan County, where we settled into a quiet life. It was there that you were born, and for more than a year, we enjoyed a period of peace and contentment. I had dared to dream that we might spend our days in tranquil happiness, but alas, such bliss was fleeting. The Manichaean faith, relentless in its pursuit, dispatched envoys far and wide to uncover my whereabouts. Before you had even outgrown your swaddling clothes, their agents had already tracked me to Sanyuan County.　　The Manichaean faith imposes strict doctrines: a sacred maiden may neither marry nor bear children. To do so is to invite death—not only for herself but for her husband and child as well. Your father and I stood no c