Tongxuan Mountain

After noon had passed, Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde prepared to set off, as they needed to hurry to Yuhua Pavilion. The two rose and bade Yan Jujian farewell. At the same time, Ding Mingde politely invited Yan Jujian to travel with them. After all, they shared the same destination and had met by chance; failing to invite him would seem rude and discourteous. Yet Yan Jujian's identity and background were unclear, and truly traveling together would require considerable effort to stay on guard against him. Thus, it was merely a courtesy invitation—if Yan Jujian had any tact, he would naturally decline.

Who would have thought Yan Jujian had no intention of declining at all? He agreed outright. Shi Xuan and Ding Mingde found themselves riding a tiger with no way down, so they could only invite him into the carriage. To Shi Xuan, perhaps this was for the best. A danger laid out in the open was far easier to deal with than a shadow lurking in the dark.

Zheng Daniu's face turned green as he looked at Yan Jujian's burly frame. Yet Shi Xuan's promised reward of five taels of silver left him unable to voice any objection. He could only watch helplessly as Yan Jujian climbed into the carriage, making it creak and groan beneath his weight. Even the two horses in front involuntarily took half a step back.

The two worn-out horses slowly pulled the heavy carriage along the Official Road. Ever since boarding, Yan Jujian had merely sat cross-legged in the rear and barely spoken. Aside from occasionally asking Ding Mingde a few questions, he completely ignored Shi Xuan. Shi Xuan could even sense a faint wariness from him.

Shi Xuan found this journey to Tongxuan Mountain increasingly strange. But since he was going in search of immortals and the Dao, and had his trump card hidden away, there was no way he could beat a retreat now.

The strange atmosphere inside the carriage continued all the way to the foot of Tongxuan Mountain. A little over halfway through the hour of Shen, Shi Xuan could already see the three characters "Tongxuan Mountain" written upon the boundary marker at the mountain's base.

After giving Zheng Daniu silver and sending him away, Shi Xuan used the excuse of relieving himself to go behind a rock wall. He intended to take the opportunity to listen and see whether Yan Jujian, who seemed somewhat guarded against him, would say anything to Ding Mingde after he left.

Once behind the rock wall, Shi Xuan leaned against the mountain stone, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing. He entered an ethereal state and exerted his keen senses to their fullest. The distance here was rather great, so he could not hear as casually as before.

Sure enough, he heard Yan Jujian lower his voice and say, "I wonder whether Little Brother Ding knows why I came to Shuanghu Village on Tongxuan Mountain?"

"No, weren't you going to find an old friend?" Ding Mingde asked, sounding puzzled.

"Yes. That friend of mine came to Tongxuan Mountain two years ago, and never sent back another word. I was worried for his safety, so I came looking for him."

"Did he encounter danger in the mountains? I hear there are many savage beasts here."

"Hahahaha! He would die in the jaws of wild beasts?" Yan Jujian laughed mockingly, unable to fully control his volume.

"Then... then what was it?" Ding Mingde hesitated.

"After arriving in Chuzhou City, I secretly investigated for a long time. I discovered that every year, many people disappeared in Tongxuan Mountain. And they all had one thing in common. Heh, do you know what it was?" Rather than answer directly, Yan Jujian shifted to another subject.

"E-eaten by wild beasts?" Ding Mingde answered with utter foolishness.

"Heh. They were either people like you, whose parents had both died, or people who spent all year away from home and did not return even once in several years. In short, people whose disappearance would not stir up much of a ripple."

"Ah? H-how could that be?!" Ding Mingde was somewhat frightened.

"That is why I originally intended to climb the mountain and investigate alone. But when I happened to hear that you were heading for Shuanghu Village on Tongxuan Mountain, I recalled that my friend had also mentioned that place in his letters to me, so I came to ask. Then I learned that your parents were both dead. Combined with the information I had previously gathered, I decided to accompany you."

"I... I'm not going." His teeth began to chatter as he prepared to beat a retreat.

"Little Brother Ding, don't you think that now that you have reached the foot of Tongxuan Mountain, it is a little late to turn back?" Yan Jujian's voice held amusement.

"Y-you... what are you trying to do? Brother Zi'ang—right, I'll ask Brother Zi'ang to go back with me!"

"Heh, that Brother Zi'ang of yours may not necessarily take you back."

"What do you mean?!"

"He is a master who hides his true abilities. Killing you would be easier than killing a chicken!"

"N-no, that can't be! It can't be! Brother Zi'ang is generous and forthright, carrying the air of the ancients. One look tells you he is an upright gentleman!" Ding Mingde refuted him excitedly. The more he spoke, the smoother his words became, and he delivered the latter half in one breath.

"I have not read much, but I have still heard a saying: one must not harbor the heart to harm others, yet one must never lack the heart to guard against them. You two have probably not known each other for long, have you?" Yan Jujian said leisurely.

"This, this..." Ding Mingde was left tongue-tied.

"Little Brother Ding, since you have already come here, why not lead me to investigate this until the waters run clear and the stones appear, and eliminate all future trouble? Otherwise, even if you return home, you will not find peace. Your relatives may even be dragged into disaster."

"Cousin! Right, Cousin—he is coming too!"

"That's more like it. Lead me there. I will not boast, but with me here, I can certainly protect your safety, Little Brother. That Brother Zi'ang of yours may possess formidable martial arts, but he may not be able to defeat even one of my hands." Yan Jujian's calm voice brimmed with confidence.

"This..." Ding Mingde's voice wavered with uncertainty.

"In all the world, including those old monsters who have hidden themselves from society, the people who can defeat me can be counted on ten fingers." Yan Jujian's steady voice inspired great confidence.

"Fine! I agree!" Ding Mingde agreed through gritted teeth.

Seeing that the two had finished discussing matters, Shi Xuan remained behind the rock wall for a while longer before slowly emerging. With a broad smile, he apologized to the two, saying that something he had eaten had upset his stomach.

Yan Jujian still ignored Shi Xuan as before, while Ding Mingde, who had never been good at acting, responded with a slightly evasive manner. Shi Xuan pretended not to notice and urged the two to climb the mountain with him. Tongxuan Mountain looked exceedingly strange, but if a place was not strange, why would they bother going there?

The three walked silently along the mountain path. Ding Mingde in particular was so weighed down by fear and gravity that his waist was nearly bent. Had Yan Jujian not been standing directly behind him, Shi Xuan truly suspected that he might shout "Ah!" and turn around to flee.

Tongxuan Mountain was deep and tranquil, birdsong ringing crisp and clear. Even in the blazing summer heat, one could feel a thread of coolness in the air. In such surroundings, the three soon arrived at a lavishly decorated pavilion. The plaque above bore three seal-script characters: "Yuhua Pavilion." A stone stele stood to the pavilion's left, recording its history. It had been funded and built by a Minister of the previous dynasty, while wealthy families from Chuzhou City had donated funds for repairs twenty years ago and again three years ago.

Upon seeing the pavilion, Ding Mingde said to Shi Xuan and Yan Jujian, "My cousin said that the Head Steward of Shuanghu Village would wait for me here beginning at the hour of You. There are still more than two quarters of an hour until then, so why don't we rest in the pavilion for a while?"

Shi Xuan nodded in agreement, while Yan Jujian neither agreed nor objected. The three entered the pavilion and each took a seat in a different direction. Shi Xuan intended to use the interval to restore his energy and prepare for the journey ahead, so the moment he sat down, he closed his eyes to rest his mind, and his Internal Energy began circulating slowly. Shi Xuan did not know whether Yan Jujian had the same idea, but he noticed that Yan Jujian, too, sat upright with closed eyes and did not utter a word. Ding Mingde, meanwhile, was restless. Several times he rose as if to approach Yan Jujian, only to hesitate, turn back, and sit down again.

While circulating his energy, time flew swiftly. Soon, the sun began to slant westward. Judging by the shadows, Ding Mingde realized that the hour of You was nearly upon them, so he stood up, intending to wake the other two. Yet before he could speak, Shi Xuan and Yan Jujian opened their eyes at the same time.

Shi Xuan rose and said with a smile, "It seems the hour of You is nearly here." At that moment, he saw a figure emerge from around a bend in the distant mountain road. "Uh, could that be the Head Steward?" He pointed in that direction.

Ding Mingde hurriedly turned to look, but his eyesight was poor, and he could see only a blurry black silhouette.

The figure hobbled toward them, taking the time of an incense stick to reach the pavilion. He was an extremely old man, dressed in patterned black cloth and wearing a magistrate's cap. The hair showing beneath the cap was entirely white, and deep wrinkles covered his face like orange peel. His whole body was dry and gaunt. In one hand, he carried a large red lantern bearing the character "Wang."

As Shi Xuan looked at the old man, a strange feeling rose within him. It seemed as though something had been placed inside that body. Unfortunately, this was not a convenient time to use a technique to open his Heavenly Eye and take a look.

Yan Jujian lightly pushed Ding Mingde, who had frozen in place. Only then did Ding Mingde seem to wake from a dream and step forward to salute him. "Might you be the Head Steward of the Wang Family in Shuanghu Village?"

The old man raised his head and inspected Ding Mingde with cloudy eyes. He returned the salute, his voice hoarse. "This old man is indeed he. Are you Mister Ding Mingde?"

"That is indeed me. May I ask the Head Steward's honorable name?"

"This old man is naturally surnamed Wang. My lowly name does not dare sully Mister Ding's ears; just call this old man Steward Wang. And these two are?" The Head Steward looked at Shi Xuan and Yan Jujian behind Ding Mingde.

"These two are my friends, Shi Xuan, Shi Zi'ang, and Yan Jujian. They escorted me here and wished to tour Tongxuan Mountain while they were at it. Would it be possible to bring them both to Shuanghu Village to stay for the night?" Ding Mingde seemed to have long prepared what he would say.

The Head Steward's cloudy eyes swept back and forth over Shi Xuan and Yan Jujian. Shi Xuan felt a chill run through him, as though some cold-blooded creature had fixed its gaze upon him.

After several breaths of silence, the Head Steward finally said flatly, "Since they are Mister Ding's friends, they are guests of Shuanghu Village. They are naturally welcome. I only fear that our hospitality may be lacking."

"Then we will impose upon you. Thank you first, Head Steward." Yan Jujian secretly nudged Ding Mingde again, and Ding Mingde hurriedly expressed his thanks, settling the matter.

The Head Steward looked over the three once more, then half turned around. "Three honored guests, follow closely behind this old man. The mountain paths are often shrouded in thick fog, and it is easy to lose one's way." He then lifted the lantern and hobbled back along the way he had come.

Shi Xuan and the other two exchanged glances. Ding Mingde shut his eyes and followed closely behind the Head Steward, while Shi Xuan and Yan Jujian walked side by side at the rear.