A Wandering Son Travels to the Ends of the Earth, His Loving Mother Leans Against the Hall Door

Little Bug suddenly felt an impulse. He dropped to his knees and cried, "Mother, let's go together! I always feel the village isn't very safe, and I'm worried something might happen to you."

His mother smiled. "What nonsense is this child saying? This is our family's ancestral home, with the ancestral estate and clan hall all here. How could Mother possibly leave?"

He pleaded with her for a while, but seeing that she would not listen, he had nothing more to say. He could only kneel on both knees and kowtow twice, bidding his mother a lingering farewell.

A child's attachment to their mother was inborn. Now that he was to part from her, Little Bug was still too young to truly understand sorrow. He only had a vague feeling that he might not see his mother again for a very long time, and his heart was deeply reluctant to let her go.

Ever since that last incident, when her son had been seized right inside their own residence, Wang Chong's mother had kept her heart suspended in worry. Otherwise, she would never have sent the child she treasured as the apple of her eye away to study in another land.

She was an exceedingly decisive woman. Once she had made up her mind, she did not delay in the slightest. She took her son by the hand and led him to the rear courtyard.

The carriage, travel money, luggage, personal maid, and pageboy had all been prepared long ago. Even the driver had been carefully chosen from among the dependable old household servants.

The Wang Family had passed down poetry and scholarship for generations, and Wang Chong's father served as an official at court. The family owned several hundred mu of fertile fields and more than a hundred servants, maids, and farmhands, so their ordinary days were fairly prosperous.

Wang Chong's mother worried over her child and assigned the most capable old household servant, Uncle Wang, to him. Liuzi was Uncle Wang's younger son. Father and son were both hereditary servants of the Wang Family, having served them for generations, and were the most reliable of all.

Though Little Bug did not wish to leave his mother, he knew that her temperament was as stubborn as an ox and could not be defied. With tears shimmering in his eyes, he bade her farewell, climbed into the carriage, and hurriedly set off while the day was still young.

Uncle Wang knew that his mistress worried for the young master's safety, so he drove the carriage at a brisk pace, hoping to reach a town where they could stay before nightfall.

Of the three master and servants in the carriage, Liuzi was doing well enough, and Little Bug could endure it too. Crescent, however, had gone pale. The jolting made her insides churn like rivers and seas overturned, yet she did not dare move and could only force herself to endure it, suffering beyond measure.

Crescent had originally been a maid by Wang Chong's mother's side. The young girl had delicate features and was a budding little beauty. Wang Chong's mother was quite fond of her and had already chosen her to be her son's concubine, intending to preside over their consummation once he had grown up.

If not for her worry that her son would have no one to attend him while away from home, she would not have assigned Crescent to Little Bug so early.

Seeing Crescent's pale face, Little Bug took a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and passed it to her. In a low voice, he said, "Sister Crescent, if you feel sick, vomit into this handkerchief."

Crescent wanted to refuse, but she truly could not hold it back. With a retch, she vomited.

Little Bug spread open the handkerchief and caught every bit of it. He wrapped up the filth and casually tossed it out of the carriage, then took another silk handkerchief from his sleeve. He had Liuzi open the water flask, dipped it in some clean water, and handed it to Crescent.

Crescent wiped her mouth and finally felt somewhat better. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she said, "Crescent is useless. I've caused Young Master trouble again."

Little Bug merely smiled and let it pass, without offering any sweet words to coax the little maid. He had studied since childhood and understood propriety well. Having also received his mother's instruction, he treated Crescent kindly, but harbored no improper thoughts and did not dare act overly intimate.

After vomiting, Crescent felt much better. She drank several mouthfuls of water and was about to ask when they would reach the town ahead where they could stay for the night. Suddenly, the horse pulling the carriage let out a long neigh. The carriage jolted violently, nearly throwing the little maid outside. Little Bug grabbed her, allowing Crescent to steady herself.

Without waiting for his young master to speak, Liuzi lifted the curtain and looked outside. He hurriedly pulled back in and said in a low voice, "It seems we've run into bandits."

Little Bug shuddered slightly. He had read many books, and though he usually looked dull as wood, his mind was exceedingly clear. Knowing that hiding in the carriage would be useless if they had truly encountered robbers, he rose, lifted the curtain, and stepped outside.

At that moment, Uncle Wang did not know what to say. He was trembling all over in fright. If they had encountered mere bandits, Uncle Wang, who had traveled far and wide and seen much of the world, would never have been frightened into such a state.

Standing on the carriage, Little Bug looked ahead. Where were there any bandits? He saw only a monster covered in black fur, its bones exposed through its flesh, spewing black smoke from its mouth and letting out eerie chirping laughter.

Such a fierce and sinister ghostly creature looked like an ancient corpse that had burst from its coffin. It walked openly beneath the bright daylight, its cultivation unfathomably deep. How could it not terrify people?

Little Bug was afraid, but the creature merely screeched wildly without attacking anyone. He gathered his courage, cupped his hands in salute, and slowed his voice as much as possible, speaking word by word. "Senior! You have already cultivated the Dao arts. I presume you would not trouble ordinary mortals such as us. I imagine worldly wealth is beneath your notice. If you require blood and flesh, you may take Wang Chong's life. I only ask that you spare my household servants."

The monster chirped twice, then suddenly retreated.

A short middle-aged man dressed in a black Daoist robe walked out from behind the monster. He had been blocked from view by it just now, which was why none of them had seen him.

The middle-aged Daoist in black robes sneered twice. "You brat have some spirit in your bones. I merely wished to ask for directions. Though this poor Daoist comes from an unorthodox sect, I do not harm people lightly."

Little Bug cupped his hands again, his heart settling somewhat, and asked, "Where does Senior wish to go?"

The middle-aged Daoist in black robes sneered twice more before asking, "Which direction is Little Cold Mountain?"

Little Bug was slightly startled. Little Cold Mountain was where that stone stele stood. Without hesitation, he pointed and said, "There are six or seven mountains nearby. Little Cold Mountain is an inconspicuous one among them. It lies in that direction. The mountain with a Land God Temple on it is the one."

The middle-aged Daoist in black robes nodded. He patted the monster, whose black fur covered its exposed bones, and barked softly, "Follow me, quickly."

The monster drew in a long breath, then spat out a dense cloud of black smoke. The smoke gathered without dispersing, enveloped the middle-aged Daoist in black robes, and slowly flew into the sky.

Uncle Wang fell backward, so frightened that all strength drained from his body. Only after Little Bug called to him several times did he shakily rise, crying, "This old man was scared to death! It's the first time in my life I've seen such a vicious monster."

After Uncle Wang caught his breath and wiped away his sweat, he said somewhat ashamedly, "This old man is not even a match for Young Master. You were able to converse fluently with such a monster without showing the slightest fear."

Little Bug only shook his head and said lightly, "Let's go." Then he returned to the carriage and sat down. In truth, he too had been frightened until his entire body trembled, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.

The carriage had only moved forward a few steps when Liuzi cried out, "That old Daoist seems to have dropped something. It must be a magic treasure!"

He leaped down and returned a moment later with a copper ring in his hand.

Uncle Wang wanted to scold his younger son, but out of consideration for his young master's presence, he ultimately said nothing and continued driving the carriage onward.