Jinting Han people

After turning over the haystack, one could see an extremely narrow slope between the mountain walls, extending slowly from the top to the foot, quickly obscured by other protruding rocks, leaving no clear path. The slope was so narrow, it could only accommodate one person walking sideways along the mountain wall. On the other side was an unobstructed cliff. If one was not careful, one could fall down and die without a trace.

Liu Xian wanted to warn the young woman he had just met about the danger. But it was clear she was full of life, and this wasn't her first time descending the mountain. Before he could say anything, she had already slid down the cliff face, like a butterfly, gracefully and nimbly moving across the cliff face, almost dancing. She smiled and waved at Liu Xian, signaling him to follow.

Liu Xian had no choice but to weigh the pros and cons in his mind. Avoiding suspicion with the girl was a small matter, but a safety accident would be a big matter. In this situation, he could only hurry and catch up.

The cliffs were not only dotted with jagged, undulating rocks, but also with trees and weeds growing sideways. A hint of snow fell, and the faint mist made the grass and trees sway slightly. The cool moonlight and the clear, chill air made everything seem tranquil. It must be said that in such a scene, the sight of the young woman in blue leading the way gave Liu Xian a strange and moving feeling.

Yang Huiai hummed a melody without lyrics, her voice as clear as the moonlight. But when the melody reached a certain melody, she would stop from time to time and ask Liu Xian some tricky questions:

"Luoyang people, you haven't told me your name yet."

"My name is Liu Xian, courtesy name Huai Chong."

"Liu Xian, Liu Huai Chong...you sound very gentle, but you are actually a swordsman!"

"Yes, I am a swordsman."

"So how many people have you killed? A lot!"

"Yes, it's been eleven years since I killed the first person when I was fifteen. A total of ninety-seven people have died under my sword."

"Do you remember it so clearly?"

"Human life is precious. Remembering the meaning of every person you kill and the significance of death will help you avoid indiscriminate killing. Otherwise, as the saying goes, even with a sharp weapon in hand, the desire to kill will naturally arise. If you give in to this killing intent, you will eventually become a callous monster."

"You...are indeed a gentle person."

Liu Xian couldn't help laughing. He patted the sword at his waist and said slowly, "It's normal for adults to be gentle with children."

This made Yang Huiai unhappy. She shouted, "I'm not a child. I'm almost thirteen!"

"Yeah, I'm twice as big as you."

Seeing that Liu Xian still had that smile that tolerated a child's mischief, she became even more annoyed. She simply turned her head away, stopped talking and humming the tune, and just kept walking forward with her lips pursed.

Seeing that Yang Hui was easily angered, Liu Xian did not say much. Instead, he hummed a new tune to himself. The melody was clear and lingering, like two birds singing in duet.

Then he sang softly:
"I wander the surrounding countryside, lingering in my own leisure. Orchids and hyacinths border the clear canal, while flourishing flowers shade the green islet.

If my beloved is not here, who shall I take this with? Those who live in nests know the wind and cold, those who live in caves know the rain and cloudy weather.

If you have never been far away, how can you know the longing for a companion? "

This was a love song. Liu Xian was well versed in music, and his voice was clear and deep, with a unique charm. Yang Hui loved listening to it, and her beautiful face turned cloudy and sunny. She felt that Liu Xian was a bit tactful, and she wanted to maintain some self-respect, but she couldn't hide the pride on her face. So she resisted the urge to turn around and asked Liu Xian with a smile:

"What are you singing? Who are you singing to?"

Liu Xian said: "I have been away from home for a long time and I miss my wife very much. Now that it is the end of the year, I want to sing for her."

"Are you married?"

"Yeah, I have two wives and a child who's almost five years old."

As soon as these words came out, Yang Huiai's body froze, and then trembled slightly, like a swallow that missed its return date because it was separated from its flock, not knowing where to go.

Liu Xian knew how the girl felt, but he had to say it. Yang Huiai was only thirteen, naive, and it was normal for a girl to be in love. But he was already twenty-six. Regardless of national hatred or family feuds, he was still a father, so he couldn't help but understand the reality of life. How could he possibly be destined to be with a Di girl he had just met? It would be better to make the situation clear and put an end to her thoughts and end this inexplicable late-night mountain hike.

The girl was of course sensitive, and she easily understood what Liu Xian meant. Her face turned red and white, and the shame and anger of being despised and the sadness of being rejected surged back and forth.

But young girls are often like this: the more others reject them, the more passionate they become. It's like a peach blossom in early spring, about to bloom in the cold wind. Even if the timing is wrong and the wind is biting, the instinct to bloom still takes over.

She gritted her teeth and pretended to be strong, forced a smile, and said, "You're really weird. Who asked about your child? We just met for the first time. Do you think I like you?"

Liu Xian smiled and said, "It seems I was being too sentimental."

So, both of them fell silent, advancing cautiously along the cliffs. Before they knew it, Baiqingyuan was already some distance above them. The path beneath their feet was sometimes steep, sometimes flat, and sometimes even disconnected, with either slightly protruding rocks or horizontal beams rooted into the mountainside. It was hard to imagine the girl's groping to find such a path connecting the upper and lower parts of this precarious cliff.

After groping along the cliff for about half an hour and still not reaching the end, Liu Xian couldn't help but ask, "Miss Adie, haven't we arrived yet?"

The girl also recovered from her brief heartbreak and was happy with her freedom. This is also a typical characteristic of boys and girls: they dare to love and hate, and do things on impulse. In one moment, they may feel that it will last forever, but in the next moment, they will be attracted by other things.

The girl had sensed a hint of surprise in Liu Xian's words, and then a touch of pride welled up in her. She bent down, slipped under a pine tree, and poked her head out from among the needles, saying with a deliberately stern face, "Hehe, you'll see it soon."

Seeing that the girl was still keeping him in suspense, Liu Xian could only shake his head helplessly, leaned over and walked under the pine tree to continue playing with her.

Just as Yang Huiai had said, the line was nearing its end. After walking about a hundred steps, they came into view a dark cave entrance. The entrance was as narrow as the mountain path, barely wide enough for someone to enter sideways. They had no idea what lay inside.

At the entrance to the cave, Yang Huiai pulled a tinder from her belt, then picked up a torch from the grass on the ground and lit it. The flames instantly illuminated the surroundings, making Liu Xian, who was already accustomed to moonlit nights, feel a little dazzled. After adjusting, the girl's rosy smile was already before her eyes. She handed the torch to Liu Xian, and seeing his puzzled expression, Yang Huiai said as a matter of course:
"Why, I brought you here to fulfill a vow, and you still want me to keep holding the fire?"

This made a lot of sense. Liu Xian obediently took the torch and made a gesture of invitation to the girl.

The two of them followed into the cave. Although the entrance was narrow, it gradually widened after a few dozen steps. A stone spring flowed through it, making a gurgling sound. Walking further out along the stone spring, they soon came to another cave entrance, but it was blocked by various bushes and weeds, making it less conspicuous. The girl pushed aside the weeds and slipped through as lightly as a butterfly, with Liu Xian following closely behind. Suddenly, the view opened up to a relatively gentle slope. In the northeast corner, there was a high platform. There, the stone spring gathered into a small pool, surrounded by fruit trees such as pear, peach, and loquat. A few small red and white fish swam in the pool, and the surface of the water reflected the torches and the moon, a very sad and beautiful scene.

When you walk to the water pool and look down, you can vaguely see the mountain road you took when you went up the mountain. However, due to the viewing angle, you cannot see the water pool and cave from the mountain road.

"How is it?" Yang Huiai stood by the pool with her hands on her hips, her eyes sparkling. She was a little excited and a little nervous, but she still pretended to be strong and asked Liu Xian with a smile, "Isn't it beautiful here?"

Seeing the girl's expression, Liu Xian couldn't help but smile. He nodded and said, "Yes, the quiet night surrounded by the deep forest, the beautiful woman shining on the moon pool, it's a very beautiful place."

"I discovered this on my own when I moved back with my father and brother. None of them knew about it."

Yang Huiai sat down on a white stone, hugging her knees with one hand and stirring the clear water with the other. After Liu Xian sat down, she said softly:
"For the past two years, whenever I've been feeling down, I've come here alone to relax. When my father and brothers can't find me and get mad, I'll sneak back. Don't tell anyone!"

"I know, but I won't tell anyone."

It's not just boys and girls; everyone has a private little world in their hearts. When they're upset and don't want to communicate with anyone, they hide there. Liu Xian used to be the same. His teacher's thatched cottage and his mother's lonely grave were places where he could relieve his pain, but he never told anyone about them.

When the girl heard this, she smiled again and said eagerly, "Wait a moment, I will help you realize your wish right away."

After saying this, she cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered to the trees beside the rock pool. The sound was like that of a small animal, very soft and sharp. After a while, a creature the size of a full-grown house cat suddenly emerged from the grass.

Its appearance was peculiar, though. Its head resembled that of a small bear, its dark eyes framed by fluffy reddish-brown fur, and its round cheeks dotted with frosting-like white fur. Its moist black nose, as if dabbed with morning dew, moved slightly with its breath. Its pale golden brows rose slightly as it tilted its head, and the snow-white tufts at the tips of its ears twitched with the movement. Its short limbs, combined with its large, fluffy tail composed of nine alternating red and gold rings, added to its adorable appearance.

"What is this...?" Liu Xian had never seen such an interesting little animal before, and he couldn't help but lean forward slightly. This frightened the little creature, and it jumped and immediately threw itself into the girl's arms. After settling firmly, it turned back to look at Liu Xian tremblingly.

Yang Huiai felt tickled by its fur and couldn't help giggling. Then she hugged it and introduced it to Liu Xian:

"It's called Bai Li, it's the local fire fox (red panda), and it's also my good friend, the mountain spirit of Qiuchi Mountain!"

"The first time I encountered it was at the foot of the mountain. My father had forgotten the way up and was wandering in the woods. Many of our tribe members had contracted the miasma and fallen ill. I was so anxious that tears welled up in my eyes. I made a wish in my heart, hoping that the White Horse God would have pity on us and send a messenger to help us find the way up the mountain."

"Then I met it in the woods. It approached me and ran up the mountain. That's how we found Qiuchi Mountain, the place my grandfather had always missed. Isn't that a coincidence?"

"Later, we settled down in the mountains. My elder and second brothers went with His Majesty to fight. I heard that many people died in the battle of Niyang! I was terrified, so I made another wish to the White Horse God, hoping that my elder and second brothers would be safe. As soon as I made the wish, it walked a path through the cliffs and led me here. I just happened to see my elder and second brothers leading their people back. They were safe and sound."

"By then I was convinced that Bai Li was the mountain spirit! Don't you have a national hatred or family feud that you want to seek revenge for? You can make a wish to it, and it will definitely bless you."

Hearing this, Liu Xian laughed again. What kind of thing was this? Although Liu Xian didn't know if there were ghosts or gods in the world, he thought that mountain spirits at least weren't like this. Wouldn't making a wish to it make him look foolish?

But when he looked into Yang Huiai's sincere eyes, he felt a little touched and thought to himself: It's not a big deal, and there's no need to hurt a girl's kindness.

Liu Xian sighed, then stood up and slowly walked to the girl. He then knelt on one knee, pinched the fire fox's left front paw with one hand, and said to it:

"Mountain Spirit, if possible, I hope you can help me fulfill my ancestors' regrets, or at least give me some inspiration."

After saying that, he let go of her hand and sat back down. Looking back, he saw Yang Huiai staring at him in a daze.

Liu Xian smiled and said, "What's wrong?"

Yang Huiai blushed and quickly lowered her head and said, "Nothing."

"It's getting late, shall we go back?"

"I'm not going back. My father and brother keep me locked up at home like a birdcage every day. I can hardly breathe!"

"But I have something to discuss with your father and brother tomorrow, so I'm afraid I can't stay here long."

Speaking of this topic, Hui Ai's curiosity was piqued again. She hugged Bai Li tightly and asked, "So, you are from Jin? What are you doing here?"

Liu Xian said, "I am the commander-in-chief of the Jin army's recruitment drive. I have come here specifically to negotiate peace with your father and brother."

As soon as he finished speaking, a sound of breaking air suddenly rang out in the silent night. Liu Xian had a premonition and immediately lowered his head and crouched.

After a flash of lightning, there was a clang. Liu Xian was all too familiar with the sound of an arrow piercing wood. He didn't dare delay, rolling over to the girl's side and scooping her up into his arms. At the same time, he drew his Zhaowu Sword with his left hand and quickly dodged into the woods, the direction opposite the arrow's strike.

Who is it? Liu Xian was puzzled, but unexpectedly, a chill came from the back of his head. He turned around suddenly and found that an arrow was already against his forehead.

The man holding the arrow was a wild man wearing a deerskin and covered in hair and beard. Beside him, five other wild men dressed similarly, pointed their bows and arrows at him. They didn't even have shoes, so it was no wonder Liu Xian didn't notice any sound.

Seeing this, Bai Li jumped out of the girl's arms, ran into the bushes, and soon disappeared.

Liu Xian threw down the Zhaowu Sword, raised his hand, and said slowly:
"I am Liu Xian, commander of the Pingxi Army of the Great Jin Dynasty. Who are you? I can negotiate any conditions you have."

A young man in the center put down his bow and arrow, swung his palm and slapped Liu Xian in the face. This made Liu Xian dizzy, and then he heard him curse:

"What bullshit Jin? I, Zhuge Yan, am the grandson of Zhuge Kongming, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty! I'm going to kill you, a bunch of Jin dogs!"

This was truly deafening. (End of this chapter)