Chance Encounter (Seeking Collection)

For the past few days, Shi Xuan had been inquiring all over Chuzhou City. Besides learning that there was a famous monk's temple on Tongxuan Mountain, he only knew that there were many wild beasts in the mountains. He often heard that people who got lost in the mountains were eaten by wild beasts. As for what specific beasts they were, the information he gathered was varied and inconsistent. Some said wolf packs, some said wild dogs, some said tigers, and some even spoke of monsters with two heads and fangs like a forest.

At this moment, Shi Xuan overheard a scholar mentioning Tongxuan Mountain. With the thought that "something is better than nothing," he stood by and observed the scholar, listening to his self-talk.

Ding Mingde considered for a moment. Given that he was already starting to drool over a cold steamed bun, he said to the bun, "We'll have food when we reach Tongxuan Mountain tomorrow. I'll eat half now and save the other half for the road tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be chicken, duck, and fish. Ding Mingde, you have to hold on!"

He picked up the bun, carefully divided it in half, picked up one piece, closed his eyes, and slowly put it into his mouth, muttering, "This is chicken, this is chicken." He took a bite and found it incredibly hard and cold, so he quickly changed his tune, "This is pork ribs, this is pork ribs..."

Although the cold steamed bun was hard and unappetizing, Ding Mingde still finished it in two or three bites. He looked longingly at the remaining half, hesitating for a long time. Only when he saw the waiter returning did he grit his teeth, close his eyes, quickly wrap it in oil paper, and then shake his head and mutter, "When Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility on a person, it first embitters their heart and will, exhausts their sinews and bones, starves their body and skin, starves their body and skin, starves their body and skin... I'll rest as soon as we get to the common lodging."

The waiter walked over with the travel permit and said, "Esteemed guest, here is your travel permit. Please follow me to the common lodging."

After some thought, Shi Xuan stepped forward and interjected, "Brother, judging by your attire, you seem to be a scholar traveling abroad. May I know your esteemed name?" Shi Xuan wanted to gather some information and feared that this seemingly pedantic scholar might dislike Daoists, so he disguised himself as a traveling scholar to strike up a conversation. As for the Daoist robe, because the Emperor revered the Dao, many scholars and literati liked to wear Daoist robes in their daily lives.

Ding Mingde saw that Shi Xuan was wearing a Daoist robe but had an elegant demeanor. He could tell Shi Xuan was educated and immediately felt a good impression. Although he remembered his cousin's advice not to talk to strangers, he still cautiously replied, "My surname is Ding, and my given name is Mingde. I have not yet entered official studies and do not have a courtesy name. May I know your esteemed surname? Are you a traveling scholar?" He planned to exchange a few pleasantries and then leave for the common lodging. His cousin had said well: be careful in all matters when traveling. He had suffered quite a few setbacks before.

"My surname is Shi, and my given name is Xuan. My courtesy name is Zi Ang. I am from Yecheng. After passing the Xiucai exam, I came to this place with a flourishing literary tradition to study abroad. I just saw that Brother Ding is refined and extraordinary, and I can tell you are a learned and talented person, so I couldn't help but come over to chat." Shi Xuan casually made up a famous northern city and gave himself an ancient courtesy name. He wasn't afraid of this scholar checking, as they likely wouldn't meet again after today.

Hearing that Shi Xuan was already a Xiucai at such a young age, Ding Mingde clearly showed a mixture of admiration and inferiority. Shi Xuan's flattery then made him secretly pleased, and he said, "You are too kind. I have been studying for over ten years. Although I have always thought highly of myself, I was still a little short last time I took the Tong Sheng Exam. Unlike you, Brother Shi, who became a Xiucai at such a young age, you are the truly great talent."

After a few pleasantries, Shi Xuan invited Ding Mingde to have dinner together. When Ding Mingde heard the word "dinner," he felt his stomach rumble. The words of refusal came to his lips several times but were swallowed by his hungry stomach. His intention to chat for a while and then return to the common lodging was completely forgotten, and his cousin's advice not to associate with strangers was cast to the winds.

Seeing that Ding Mingde had no intention of refusing, Shi Xuan asked the waiter to lead them to a secluded table in a corner. He ordered several dishes of rich meat and fish and was about to chat with Ding Mingde to gather information when he suddenly felt a malicious gaze fixed on him. Normally, even a martial arts master would not sense such a gaze, but Shi Xuan, as a cultivator, had a sensitivity far beyond ordinary people. Thus, he immediately detected that this gaze came from a man wearing a bamboo hat who had entered the inn after Ding Mingde.

Noticing someone looking their way, Shi Xuan, while inwardly wary, remained outwardly calm and chatted casually with Ding Mingde about academic matters. In his previous life, Shi Xuan lived in an era of explosive knowledge, so he had some understanding of ancient learning. In this society, which resembled ancient China, it was not difficult for him to say a few words. Of course, a deep discussion would reveal his true identity, so Shi Xuan skillfully guided the conversation, speaking less and asking more, allowing Ding Mingde to elaborate. Although Shi Xuan's knowledge of classical Chinese was not profound, he could tell that Ding Mingde's studies were rigid, which explained why he hadn't passed the Xiucai exam yet.

After chatting for a while, the waiter began serving the dishes. Seeing Ding Mingde's eyes practically flying towards the food, Shi Xuan smiled and invited him to enjoy.

Ding Mingde initially tried to maintain his image, taking only small portions and chewing slowly. However, as he ate the delicacies he hadn't enjoyed for a long time, he soon began to eat heartily, with oil smudged all over his mouth.

Shi Xuan seized this opportunity and casually asked, "May I ask what brings Brother Ding to Chuzhou City?"

It took Ding Mingde a moment to realize Shi Xuan was asking him. While gnawing on a chicken leg, he mumbled, "Brother Zi Ang, you don't know. I come from a rural area between Chuzhou and Mingzhou. I grew up in poverty, and my parents passed away a few years ago. All I have left is a few acres of land, which is barely enough to cover my educational expenses." After swallowing a few bites of meat, he continued, "Furthermore, I haven't entered official studies and cannot be exempted from corvee labor, so life has been very difficult, and I often rely on my relatives for support. A while ago, my cousin returned from Chuzhou City and found me that night. He said a wealthy landowner in a village on Tongxuan Mountain wanted to hire a tutor for his daughters to teach them some basic knowledge. Because it was on the mountain and for teaching girls, scholars with official titles were unwilling to go. My cousin happened to know the steward of this family, so he recommended me. The steward said that as long as I wasn't a shallow-minded person, I would definitely get the position."

At this point, Ding Mingde put down his chopsticks and said excitedly, "The Sage said, 'Education should not be exclusive.' And it's just teaching girls basic principles of conduct, which I agree with. Moreover, after becoming a tutor, apart from teaching every afternoon, I can arrange my time as I wish for the rest of the day. Haha, I'll have food every day and free time to study. I'll have a much better chance of passing the Tong Sheng Exam in a year and a half."

Shi Xuan nodded in agreement, "Brother Ding, with your talent, if you could stop worrying about food all day and focus on your studies, your achievements would surely be limitless. May I ask which village you are going to? I happen to be visiting Tongxuan Mountain tomorrow and can accompany you there."

"My cousin said it's called 'Shuanghu Village.' It's a very remote and hard-to-find place, but the steward will wait for me near Yuhua Pavilion not far from the mountain entrance tomorrow and then take me there. If you, Brother Zi Ang, have the inclination to travel, we can visit this village together. It is said to be a place with a very idyllic, otherworldly charm." After such a short acquaintance, Ding Mingde already considered Shi Xuan a close friend, addressing him by his courtesy name.

Shi Xuan had been inquiring for many days and had indeed never heard of a place called Shuanghu Village. He was looking for traces of the Daoist sect, and such remote places in famous mountains and rivers could not be overlooked. Therefore, he gladly said, "That's exactly what I want. Brother Ding, you are truly my kindred spirit. You know I love visiting famous mountains, especially places with such an idyllic, otherworldly charm. But may I ask why your cousin isn't accompanying you?"

"My cousin is a merchant and travels constantly. He didn't come with me this time, but he said he'll be done soon and will come to Tongxuan Mountain to meet me." Ding Mingde looked very grateful towards his cousin.

Shi Xuan smiled and said, "I heard earlier that this is your first time traveling. I didn't expect your first trip to be alone with a single sword. It truly has the spirit of us scholars traveling thousands of miles with swords."

"Not at all, not at all. This sword of mine is just for show. It's actually made of wood, meant to scare off petty thieves on the road." Speaking of this, Ding Mingde was quite proud of his method. "However, on this journey, I've come to understand the many difficulties of traveling. Fortunately, all dangers have been averted."

Shi Xuan inquired in detail about the various dangers and hardships Ding Mingde had encountered on his journey. According to Ding Mingde, this time it was truly a case of good fortune smiling upon him. For example, after being drugged in a black inn, the innkeeper and the staff had a falling out and all perished; for example, someone tried to strike up a conversation and scheme to swindle him out of money, but inexplicably fell into a trap and was caught by the constables; for example, encountering river pirates on the river, but the other party hit a reef and sank. With all these incidents, Ding Mingde had reached Chuzhou City without any real harm.

Although Ding Mingde felt he had good luck, Shi Xuan did not see it that way. Once might be a coincidence, but twice or thrice was suspicious. However, he only had Ding Mingde's side of the story, so Shi Xuan couldn't deduce the problem. He could only secretly heighten his vigilance. He couldn't be careless on his trip to Tongxuan Mountain with Ding Mingde tomorrow.

Shi Xuan asked a few more probing questions and found that Ding Mingde knew almost nothing about Shuanghu Village, and he knew less about Tongxuan Mountain than Shi Xuan did. Only then did he stop asking and say to Ding Mingde, "Brother Ding, we hit it off immediately. Why don't you stay in my courtyard tonight? There are two spare rooms."

Ding Mingde already considered Shi Xuan a friend and smiled, "It is more respectful to accept than to decline. Tonight, I can have a heart-to-heart talk with Brother Zi Ang by candlelight. It will be most delightful."