On the Road

After giving the shopkeeper a few instructions, Shi Xuan took Ding Mingde back to his own small courtyard. Though they had said they would talk by candlelight deep into the night, Ding Mingde had been exhausted and hungry from the journey. Now that he was full and satisfied, drowsiness washed over him. After chatting with Shi Xuan for a few moments, he could no longer stop his eyelids from drooping.

Seeing this, Shi Xuan smiled knowingly, recalling how he used to attend class after pulling an all-nighter. He quickly led Ding Mingde to the left wing room and settled him in.

After returning to his own room, Shi Xuan did not immediately begin his visualization. Instead, he sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. He appeared to be resting his mind or cultivating, but in truth, he had released his Spiritual Sense and vigilantly observed the entire courtyard. Shi Xuan did not dare be careless about that vicious gaze from earlier. Besides, if someone came calling, he might be able to obtain more information.

Unfortunately, the owner of that gaze did not come to scout Shi Xuan's courtyard that night. The only sounds in the courtyard were Ding Mingde's snoring and the cicadas chirping in the parasol tree, making the night seem tranquil and serene. Only after remaining on guard for two hours did Shi Xuan lower his vigilance and begin his visualization. During this period, whether on the road or in inns and restaurants, Shi Xuan had never relaxed his visualization cultivation. Every day, he could feel his soul growing stronger. He had already reached the peak of the Soul Strengthening Stage, yet regrettably, he still had not touched the threshold of the Soul Departure Stage.

The moonlight flowed like water, and the night breeze was faintly cool. After finishing his visualization, Shi Xuan sat by the window, watching the nightscape in the courtyard and listening to every subtle sound. It felt as though he stood apart from the entire world, quietly observing it. To Shi Xuan, everything truly seemed like a dream. But since he had come here, the only thing he could do was forge ahead with all his strength.

For Shi Xuan's current cultivation, daily sleep remained necessary, especially since he would be traveling to Tongxuan Mountain tomorrow and needed to keep his spirits well-rested. Shi Xuan had originally arranged a detailed itinerary, but Ding Mingde's appearance made him place Shuanghu Village first on the route. The less he knew, the more vigilant he had to be. After relaxing for a while, Shi Xuan went to bed.

He slept soundly through the night.

As dawn lightened the sky and the Clear Wind brought refreshing air, Shi Xuan finished his morning body training, ordered two breakfasts, and then woke Ding Mingde. Tongxuan Mountain lay fifty li northwest of the city. At Shi Xuan's pace, he could arrive in a few hours, but with Ding Mingde, who looked every bit the frail scholar, they would likely need an entire day. Thus, waking Ding Mingde early would leave them plenty of time, whether they traveled on foot or hired a carriage.

In the courtyard, beneath the parasol tree and beside the stone table, Ding Mingde sat opposite Shi Xuan, looking as though he had not fully awakened. Though his personality carried a touch of bookishness, he had no arrogant airs. He understood that he was merely mooching meals and lodging from Shi Xuan, so he cooperatively washed up and got out of bed.

"Brother Mingde, I have already sent the waiter to hire a carriage. That way, we can reach Tongxuan Mountain at the beginning of the Shen hour. We should make it in time, right?" Shi Xuan asked.

Ding Mingde said gratefully, "Brother Zi'ang, you have gone to so much trouble. According to my cousin, the Head Steward will wait for me at Yuhua Pavilion for one hour at the You hour. We have more than enough time."

After breakfast, Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde slung their luggage over their backs and went to the counter to pay the full lodging bill. Shi Xuan also gave the waiter an additional tip of two taels of silver. The waiter's face flushed red with gratitude as he respectfully led Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde to the inn's side entrance.

The moment they stepped out through the side entrance, they saw a rather plain carriage. The two horses looked like old nags, while the driver was an honest-looking middle-aged man. Seeing Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde emerge, he hurried forward, bowing and scraping as he said, "Two masters, you are headed for Tongxuan Mountain, yes? I, Zheng Daniu, am not boasting, but I have traveled this road for nearly twenty years. My carriage is both steady and fast."

"Yes. The waiter has already told you. As long as you drive well on this trip, not only will you receive the two taels of silver for the carriage fare, I will also give you an extra five taels of silver as a reward." Shi Xuan still had quite a bit of spare money. Moreover, having reached the Major Heavenly Cycle stage, he only needed to eat enough food each day to replenish his vital essence. He could even hunt in the wilderness, so his need for silver was not as great as it had been in Xia'an City.

"Certainly, certainly! Rest assured, both masters, rest assured!" Zheng Daniu was overjoyed to find that his earnings far exceeded his expectations. He then let the two enter the carriage, seated himself on the driver's bench, and raised the whip in his hand.

Zheng Daniu truly had not been boasting. Though the carriage's jolting was unavoidable, compared to the carriages Shi Xuan had ridden before, this one was vastly better. The clearest proof was that Ding Mingde had merely turned pale rather than vomiting. Seeing that Ding Mingde lacked the energy to talk, Shi Xuan idly chatted with Zheng Daniu instead.

As expected of someone who had driven carriages to Tongxuan Mountain for twenty years, much of Zheng Daniu's talk did not give Shi Xuan any new information, but it did indirectly confirm some of the things Shi Xuan had previously learned. For example, people truly disappeared at Tongxuan Mountain every year. Though it was always said they had been eaten by wild beasts, only a small number of bodies or bones were ever found. And at night, tiger-like roars could often be heard from Tongxuan Mountain, rumored to have come from that monster.

Just as noon arrived, Zheng Daniu saw the sun blazing overhead and said to Shi Xuan, "Master Shi, we have already covered more than half the journey. Another hour or so, and we will arrive. There is a tea stall up ahead. Since it is past noon, why not have some tea and food there, rest for a while, and then continue?"

Shi Xuan looked at Ding Mingde's pale face, considered the short distance remaining, and nodded. "Then let us go rest there. It is indeed past noon."

After the carriage traveled for another quarter of an hour or so, they saw a crude tea stall by the roadside. A tiny pavilion served as the kitchen, while a large awning stood outside with five or six square tables casually arranged beneath it. Together with a banner bearing the character for "Tea," that was the entirety of the tea stall.

As soon as Shi Xuan's carriage stopped, a petite middle-aged woman emerged from the tea stall. Her hair was slightly graying as she said to the group, "Are you guests here for tea? A large pot costs only ten copper coins. We also have smoked meat, smoked chicken, and rice."

"Bring us a large pot of tea, and slice a plate each of smoked meat and smoked chicken. Fill the bowls with rice. Is this enough? Keep the rest as a tip." Shi Xuan looked at Zheng Daniu and Ding Mingde, then handed the proprietress one tael of silver.

"Enough! More than enough! Please sit inside at your leisure, honored guests." Seeing such generous customers, the proprietress became exceedingly attentive.

Perhaps because it was August and the weather was scorching, few people wished to travel far to burn incense and worship Buddha. There was only one guest at one table in the entire tea stall. He was exceptionally burly, nearly as tall as the proprietress even while seated. With thick brows, large eyes, and a full beard, his exact age was impossible to tell. He wore an old Taoist robe riddled with holes and stains. A massive sword rested on his table, twice as wide and one-fifth longer than the swords commonly carried by Jianghu wanderers. Besides that, there was a large pot of tea, a plate of smoked meat, and several steamed buns that looked as though he had brought them himself.

Apart from that, a cloth curtain had been set up at the edge of the woods behind the tea stall, guarded by several sturdy escorts. It appeared that the female relatives of some powerful family were out traveling.

Zheng Daniu took some food and tea back to the carriage to enjoy. First, he needed to watch over the carriage; second, he felt that his status did not qualify him to dine with Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde.

Shi Xuan had originally intended for all three of them to eat lunch together, but Zheng Daniu insisted, and Shi Xuan could not force him. Thus, he and Ding Mingde ate smoked meat with tea while casually chatting about Ding Mingde's upcoming work as a Tutor at Tongxuan Mountain.

Though Ding Mingde had been made somewhat dizzy by the jolting earlier, the sight of food restored his spirits. As he ate, he spoke animatedly about his future arrangements.

At that moment, the burly Taoist abruptly stood. He was a full nine chi tall—one chi being roughly 0.23 meters—nearly a head taller than Shi Xuan. He picked up his massive sword and slowly walked behind Ding Mingde. Expressionless, he nodded once at Shi Xuan. Shi Xuan did not know what he intended, so he merely watched him warily. From this tall, brawny stranger's gait and bearing, Shi Xuan could tell he was an expert, though Shi Xuan did not yet have the ability to judge his exact realm.

Ding Mingde was in the midst of an enthusiastic account when he suddenly felt a shadow fall over his head. Shi Xuan opposite him was also smiling at something behind him. Ding Mingde hurriedly turned around and saw the burly Taoist standing behind him like a mountain pressing down upon his head. Involuntarily, he shifted a little closer to Shi Xuan.

The burly Taoist said coolly, "I, too, am going to Shuanghu Village on Tongxuan Mountain. I heard that you two are traveling the same road, so I came over to make your acquaintance." Whether he deliberately wore such a cold expression or truly did not know how to deal with people, he appeared extremely arrogant.

"Greetings, daoist priest. To meet by the roadside is fate. May I ask your honored name?" Shi Xuan spoke, inwardly on guard.

"I am not a daoist priest. I merely wear this Daoist robe because it is loose and comfortable. My surname is Yan, and my master gave me the name 'Jujian.'" Yan Jujian remained expressionless.

His master's skill at naming people was truly atrocious. Shi Xuan silently mocked him twice before introducing them. "This is Mister Ding Mingde. He is going to Shuanghu Village on Tongxuan Mountain to serve as a Tutor. I am Shi Xuan. I was originally traveling to Tongxuan Mountain for leisure, but happened to meet Brother Ding. We hit it off at first sight, so we decided to travel together."

Yan Jujian carefully studied Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde, then said meaningfully, "I am going to Shuanghu Village on Tongxuan Mountain to seek an old acquaintance."

Without seeking either man's consent, Yan Jujian sat down of his own accord. Shi Xuan wanted to see what this tall, brawny stranger was after, so he did not stop him. After exchanging pleasantries, Yan Jujian began asking Ding Mingde about Tongxuan Mountain. Though he beat around the bush, he seemed truly bad at conversing with others, making his intentions crystal clear to Shi Xuan. Only Ding Mingde, that bookworm, failed to see through him. Delighted to have made a new friend, he answered every question readily. Shi Xuan muttered to himself, Could he also be here to seek immortals and pursue the Dao?

Yet when Shi Xuan tried in turn to probe Yan Jujian for information about Shuanghu Village on Tongxuan Mountain, he found that this tall, brawny stranger answered nearly all his questions with, "I do not know," or simply ignored them outright.