Chapter 19: The Journey
As dusk settled over the wilderness, the sky gradually darkened, revealing the faint outline of a village in the distance.
Ninth Master Zhao came to a halt, grabbing the sweat-soaked towel draped over the handlebars to wipe his brow before instructing A Sen, "Go take a look!"
"Alright!" A Sen replied cheerfully, darting off toward the village in a flash.
Ninth Master Zhao retrieved a waterskin from the side and handed it to Fu Tingyun. "Have some water."
Though the sun had already dipped below the horizon, the scorching heat of the day still lingered on the ground, steaming up in waves that left them drenched in sweat. Wrapped up tightly as she was, Fu Tingyun’s throat had long gone parched. But seeing Ninth Master Zhao and A Sen pressing forward without complaint, she had kept silent.
Fu Tingyun thanked him and took the waterskin, gulping down several mouthfuls.
The water soothed her dry throat, instantly refreshing her.
She exhaled in relief and handed the waterskin back to Ninth Master Zhao with a smile, about to say, "You should have some too," when she suddenly remembered the impropriety of sharing between men and women. She quickly swallowed her words and awkwardly tried to retract her outstretched hand—just as Ninth Master Zhao glanced over, their eyes meeting directly.
Fu Tingyun’s face flushed crimson.
Hesitating like this—how petty she must seem!
But this wasn’t just any trivial matter. No matter how much she wished to be open and natural, she simply couldn’t.
She felt disheartened.
Ninth Master Zhao, however, didn’t seem to dwell on it. "The world is in chaos right now," he said. "Even if it looks deserted now, taking out a single bun could draw a crowd fighting to snatch it. Best to be cautious. Bear with it a little longer. Once we find a place to rest, you can loosen your headscarf and fan yourself."
So he had mistaken her discomfort for impatience with the heat…
Fu Tingyun relaxed inwardly at the misunderstanding.
Thank goodness for it—otherwise, she wouldn’t have known what to say!
"Rest assured, Ninth Master," she replied deferentially. "I understand."
Ninth Master Zhao gave a noncommittal hum and fell silent again, his gaze fixed on the distant village.
The surroundings were eerily quiet, devoid of any sound. Fu Tingyun could even hear her own shallow breaths.
They couldn’t just stand here without speaking, could they?
After all, Ninth Master Zhao was her savior.
Fu Tingyun racked her brain for something to say.
"Ninth Master, how much longer until we reach Weinan?"
"About ten more days," Ninth Master Zhao replied absently, his voice indifferent as he continued staring at the village. "We’ll definitely get you there before Mid-Autumn Festival."
As if she were rushing back to her uncle’s house just for the festival!
Fu Tingyun pressed her lips together.
Still, since he had brought it up, she felt obliged to offer pleasantries. "What kind of mooncake filling do you prefer, Ninth Master? I’ll ask my aunt to make extra so you and A Sen can try some."
She already knew he had arranged to meet companions in Xi’an on the fifteenth of August, so he certainly wouldn’t stay in Weinan for the festival—nor would he likely want her to know about his plans. Pretending ignorance, she suggested making mooncakes as a token of gratitude instead.
Ninth Master Zhao turned to look at her. "No need for formalities. I’ll leave as soon as I deliver you to your uncle’s house."
"You—!" Fu Tingyun trembled with frustration.
This man couldn’t distinguish kindness from rudeness—he was utterly… utterly dense!
She turned away sharply, sipping water while waiting for A Sen’s return.
Ninth Master Zhao could sense the shift in Fu Tingyun’s mood.The Fu family had always prided itself on its "unblemished reputation and strict household discipline," so naturally, the fewer people who knew about her feigned death, the better. Otherwise, why would she have tactfully inquired about how he spent the Mid-Autumn Festival? Now that he had made it abundantly clear he wanted nothing to do with her, what more did she have to worry about?
He was utterly perplexed.
Silence once again fell between them.
In the distance, a small, bouncing figure appeared on the ridge of the field.
Fu Tingyun instinctively straightened her posture and craned her neck to get a better look.
As the figure drew nearer, it turned out to be A Sen, his face dripping with sweat.
A wave of relief washed over Fu Tingyun.
"Master," A Sen wiped his forehead with his sleeve, "there's no one alive in the village."
Ninth Master Zhao nodded and said to Fu Tingyun, "We'll rest in the village tonight."
Fu Tingyun murmured an acknowledgment. Seeing that the ridge was only wide enough for one person, she stepped down from the wheelbarrow.
Ninth Master Zhao didn't stop her but instructed A Sen, "You lead the way!"
A Sen cheerfully responded with a "Yes!" His infectious enthusiasm lifted everyone's spirits.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but smile as she followed A Sen onto the ridge.
Ninth Master Zhao pushed the wheelbarrow behind them.
A Sen kept turning back to warn her, "Miss, be careful here—there's a ditch," or "Miss, watch out—this part is narrow," afraid she might stumble.
The fields were parched, leaving only a layer of yellow earth, and the small ditches on either side were dry. Fu Tingyun wasn't too worried and followed A Sen into the village with a smile.
The village consisted of a row of about a dozen or twenty households. At the entrance stood a few thatched huts, low, cramped, and dilapidated—perhaps uninhabited, as some had already collapsed. It was too dark to make out the interiors clearly, but a nauseating stench wafted out.
Fu Tingyun covered her nose.
From behind, Ninth Master Zhao urged, "Hurry up!"
After sitting in the wheelbarrow for hours, even she felt exhausted, let alone the one pushing it. He must have been eager to rest for a while!
Fu Tingyun quickened her pace and entered the village.
A Sen pointed ahead. "Miss, we'll rest there tonight—it's the most intact house in the village."
Fu Tingyun followed his gaze to a three-room house with whitewashed walls and gray tiles, which looked dignified and imposing.
"That house does look well-kept!" she remarked with a smile.
Suddenly, several dogs sprang out, baring their teeth and growling as they encircled them.
Fu Tingyun was startled and instinctively hid behind Ninth Master Zhao.
A Sen, however, was thrilled. "Master, dogs!" he exclaimed, darting like lightning toward one of them. The dog leaped at him just as fiercely.
Fu Tingyun gasped in alarm.
"Come back!" Ninth Master Zhao's voice rang out, cold and stern.
A Sen halted abruptly, sidestepping just as the dog lunged at him and missed.
Ninth Master Zhao had already pulled a staff from the pile of baggage and tossed it to A Sen. "Just kill them. Don't bother with these dogs."
A Sen caught the staff, which was taller than him, and without hesitation swung it down. The dog, mid-leap, let out a brief, sharp yelp before collapsing motionless to the ground.
Fu Tingyun stared at A Sen in astonishment.
He was only eight or nine years old, yet he moved with such skill—swift, decisive, and chillingly ruthless. This was no ordinary child still in his youth.She suddenly felt that this child with delicate features, who was always cheerful no matter the circumstances, was so unfamiliar.
Fu Tingyun turned her gaze toward Ninth Master Zhao.
In the darkness, he stood silent as a mountain.
The dog whimpered and fled in all directions.
A Sen chased after it, raising his stick and bringing it down. The dog let out a mournful howl.
She had once kept a white Pekingese with large, glistening eyes as gentle as jade. It would crouch by her feet while she embroidered or wrote, and whenever she looked up, it would bark affectionately at her, running over to lick her shoes—utterly adorable...
Fu Tingyun felt a dull ache in her heart.
Unable to bear it, she closed her eyes.
After the sound of thuds and a few more pitiful cries, the surroundings fell silent again.
Ninth Master Zhao said indifferently, "Let's go," then pushed the cart into the house.
Without glancing to the side, Fu Tingyun lowered her head and followed him inside.
A Sen, who had somehow caught up, pulled a fire starter from his pocket, and the room was bathed in an orange glow.
Fu Tingyun surveyed her surroundings.
The shrine in the center of the main hall was empty. Aside from a large incense table, the room had no furnishings. It was clear the owner had left in an unhurried manner.
Ninth Master Zhao didn’t pause, heading straight toward the back.
There was a courtyard there, with some kind of flowering tree planted in the corner—now withered—and a well beneath it.
A Sen ran over to crank the well’s pulley.
"No water!" he said, disappointed.
Ninth Master Zhao didn’t even glance at him, as if he found him foolish. He set the cart aside and pushed open the door to a side room.
A Sen hurried over with the fire starter.
"You’ll sleep here tonight," Ninth Master Zhao said from inside the side room.
Fu Tingyun stepped inside.
The room held only an earthen kang, covered in a thick layer of dust.
A Sen was bent over, searching the room.
Ninth Master Zhao frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Seeing if I can find an oil lamp," he said with a grin, looking at Fu Tingyun. "Then the young lady can see better!"
Without a word, Ninth Master Zhao snatched the fire starter from A Sen’s hand and wedged it into the window lattice.
A Sen rubbed his head and laughed.
In the dim light, his smile was shy and bashful.
But Fu Tingyun felt a chill in her heart, no longer able to share in that joy.
A Sen broke off a branch from the withered tree and began sweeping the dust from the side room.
Ninth Master Zhao motioned for Fu Tingyun to step into the courtyard. "Take off your headscarf and get some air."
Fu Tingyun murmured an acknowledgment and silently removed the scarf.
Though there was a faint breeze, she didn’t feel any cooler.
The gray-blue sky held only a few scattered stars.
Ninth Master Zhao sighed as he looked up. "I’ll look around," he said, then walked through the house.
A Sen had finished tidying the side room and pushed the cart inside. From it, he pulled out jars and pots. "Master, I’ll go brew the young lady’s medicine now."
Ninth Master Zhao gave a noncommittal "Mm" and sat on the edge of the kang. "Further ahead is Huayin City. The authorities have posted guards at the gates, so the refugees are likely gathered outside the walls. We’ll take a detour. If we find another village like this, we can brew your medicine. If not, you’ll have to go without." He pulled an egg from the cart. "Eat this first to fill your stomach."
Staring at the egg in his palm, Fu Tingyun felt a mix of emotions.He could take such meticulous care of her, yet also mercilessly beat those dogs to death... She recalled their first meeting... He had nearly strangled her to death, yet also risked his life to save her and escort her to find her relatives... What kind of man was he really?
She gazed at him in confusion.
He merely tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Eat up! In a few days, you won’t have this anymore."
"I don’t want to eat!" Seeing his calm and indifferent demeanor, Fu Tingyun inexplicably felt a surge of anger. She moved to sit at the far end of the kang. "I’m not hungry yet!"
Ninth Master Zhao raised an eyebrow and placed the egg on the kang.
Fu Tingyun sat stiffly upright, refusing to even glance at the egg.
The fire starter crackled and sparked as A Sen carefully brought in the medicine. "Miss, please drink it quickly!" he chattered. "Luckily those trees had already withered, or else we wouldn’t even have firewood." Spotting the egg on the kang, his eyes lit up. "Miss, why haven’t you eaten it?" He swallowed hard.
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O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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