Chapter 207: The Knight in a Difficult Situation

Ji Yuan unfolded the letter, checking carefully for anything he might have missed before refolding it and returning it to the envelope.

'His handwriting reflects the man himself. For Du Heng to write so fluidly and powerfully with his left hand suggests a martial arts prowess that, while not yet perfect, is incredibly vibrant and vigorous.'

After putting Du Heng's letter away, Ji Yuan turned his attention to the letters from Yin Qing and Yin Zhaoxian.

Yin Qing's letter was as expected, mainly a general update on his recent activities. He mentioned reading by the river, detailing the books he'd read and the subtle reactions of the water's surface, though he made no direct mention of "big green fish" or "old turtle." This letter appeared to be the most recent, written about half a month prior.

Yin Zhaoxian's letter, on the other hand, was written in late autumn. While the distance from Wanzhou to here was comparable to Jinzhou, Du Heng's letter arrived over a month later than Yin Zhaoxian's. This disparity was due to differences in road conditions and development, as well as Yin Zhaoxian's status as a prefect, which affected mail delivery speed.

In his letter, Master Yin, uncharacteristically, confided some of his frustrations to Ji Yuan. He admitted that even with prior mental preparation, the world of officialdom proved far more complicated than he had imagined. From the highest levels down to individual prefectural offices, there was an abundance of incompetence and petty infighting. Engaging in hollow pleasantries was secondary; what truly bothered him were the individuals who were utterly useless, doing nothing but eating and drinking, yet refusing to remain idle. However, he also noted that over the past two years, his self-cultivation had progressed, and he was becoming increasingly adept at his duties, having begun the process of reforming Lishun Prefecture.

Of course, the primary reason for Yin Zhaoxian's letter was not to air his grievances with Ji Yuan; he was not one to be so trivial. The truly significant news was that his wife, Madam Yin, had been confirmed pregnant some time ago, and he had specifically written to inform both Ji Yuan and Yin Qing.

As he finished reading his friend's letter, a rather curious expression crossed his face.

"I wonder... how will Yin Qing react when he reads Master Yin's letter?"

Having finished all three letters, Ji Yuan stood contemplating in the courtyard for a moment. He then looked up at the snow-laden branches of the date tree and, extending his hand towards it, spoke.

"A fresh date, if you please."

As he spoke, a crimson date detached from the branch, falling perfectly into Ji Yuan's open palm.

Much like the time the rock turned to ash, this crimson date felt cool in his palm, yet he could sense a gentle, spirit-infused warmth emanating from within.

With the date in hand, Ji Yuan hurried back inside. He retrieved two locks, secured the house door, then stepped out into the courtyard and locked its gate. While the likelihood of someone coming to find him was small, this gesture would at least signal his absence on a journey, preventing others from waiting for him indefinitely.

Having completed these tasks, Ji Yuan stood outside the courtyard gate. He withdrew a brocade pouch from his robes, and with a simple gesture of his finger, imbued it with a message. Then, with an effortless toss, he sent it soaring into the Jū'ān Pavilion courtyard. The pouch string traced a graceful arc before the pouch snagged perfectly on the lintel of the main house door inside.

The brocade pouch dangled, gently swaying on the door. As it moved, a tiny white paper head stealthily peeked out from its opening, glanced around, and then quickly retreated back inside.

After a final glance around, Ji Yuan, no longer hesitant, executed a light-footed leap, a spell of concealment already cast. He ascended high into the sky on a gentle breeze, then rode the clouds away from Ning'an County.

Jinzhou lay to the northwest of Jizhou and directly north of the Capital Prefecture. Although the straight-line distance was shorter than traveling from Jizhou to the Capital Prefecture, an ordinary person making the journey from Jizhou to Jinzhou would find it considerably longer. This was due to the extremely poor transportation infrastructure; the roads were not only rugged but also lacked accessible waterways.

While flying offered Ji Yuan fewer terrestrial restrictions, his journey was far from entirely smooth. After three or four hours in the air, the stratospheric winds grew turbulent, frequently swirling downwards. This forced Ji Yuan to fly with considerable caution; in some areas, had he not been prioritizing speed, he might have found it smoother to travel on foot.

Approximately an hour after sunset, Ji Yuan descended onto the land of Jinzhou under the dim sky. He immediately noticed that the temperature was considerably colder than in Jizhou.

This was a northern border province of Dazhen, and in terms of prosperity, it ranked among the lowest in the empire. Its sparse population was a major factor. While natural disasters weren't particularly common, the winters and early springs were exceptionally harsh, significantly shortening the growing season.

Ji Yuan had landed in an unnamed town, a place whose identity he did not know. He hadn't asked for directions or consulted any divinations; he had simply followed the spiritual connection between himself and the chess piece to arrive there.

Standing just outside the town, he opened his Dharma Eyes to survey the area. Although his observation was cursory, there was no overt demonic or malevolent aura. However, he noted that the 'human fire' – the collective vital energy of the populace – seemed rather weak, like a fire struggling to burn. This alone gave Ji Yuan pause.

This wasn't merely due to a sparse population; even an individual's 'human fire' could vary in strength.

Tingshui County boasted only one modest inn. Despite its official designation, to Ji Yuan, it felt more like an oversized town.

At the Welcome Guest Inn, several of the upper rooms had been occupied by the same guests for half a month: Du Heng and some of his chivalrous companions.

Curiously, the wooden walls on either side of the middle room, among the three adjoining upper rooms, had been knocked down. This created a combined space where nine beds were placed as close together as possible. Several braziers, filled with continuously burning charcoal, kept the interior wonderfully warm.

In the center of the triple room, Du Heng sat imposingly, a long, unsheathed saber held in his left hand, its tip resting on the floor. His eyes were closed, yet his posture suggested he was poised to erupt into action at any given moment.

Nearby, three other martial artists were present; some sat at a tea table, others cross-legged on the floor, practicing internal cultivation. On the closely arranged beds, several people were asleep. Three appeared to be unharmed, but four others had faces pale with a greenish tinge. Even in their sleep, they were covered in a cold sweat, their bodies huddled tightly as if shivering.

A knock echoed.

"Who's there?"

At the sound of the knocking, Du Heng's eyes snapped open. A martial artist seated near the table also called out a low query towards the door.

"Guests, the hot water is ready. Shall I bring it in?"

It was the inn's attendant. Du Heng exchanged a glance with one of the martial artists, who nodded, rose, and carefully opened the door to peer at the attendant before responding.

"Please bring it up. Oh, and have you heard any news?"

The attendant yawned, glancing into the room before answering.

"In the dead of winter, what news could there be? The heavy snow has sealed the roads, and not many people are traveling around here."

"Alright, you can go now."

"Yes, sir!"

The martial artist watched the attendant depart before closing the door once more.

"Hero Du, it's been calm ever since we arrived in this county. It seems we've finally shaken them off."

Du Heng glanced at his companions, frowning as he shook his head.

"Not necessarily. We can't let our guard down. Our adversaries this time aren't common scoundrels; one careless mistake could lead to utter ruin!"

"Indeed!" "You're right!"

As the others assented, their eyes, too, reflected a deepening worry.

"This winter has truly delayed us, otherwise we would have been in the prefectural city by now."

"There's nothing for it. Jinzhou is vast and sparsely populated, and the roads are atrocious. These small counties, even their county seats, are inferior to larger towns in the inner provinces. Some don't even have a City God Temple!"

As if to lighten the mood, one of them offered a jest.

"Having gone through this, we'll certainly have stories to tell in the martial world when we return. Hero Du, remember the tale of a master from your Du family slaying a ghost while drunk? Perhaps we're not so far behind them now?"

Du Yutian's tale of drunken ghost-slaying was no secret in the martial world, though few believed it, including Du Heng himself at one point. However, the people in the room now were far more inclined to accept it as truth.

Du Heng remained silent, but another companion offered a self-deprecating remark.

"But it seems we haven't actually managed to kill those ghastly things!"

At this point, the man who had just spoken seemed unsure whether he was expressing lingering fear or rising anger.

"Damn it, we clearly chopped off that demoness's head, yet she still wouldn't die and even came back for us! And those terrifying children were mostly unharmed; only Hero Du, by fiercely channeling his blade energy, managed to make one of them burn. No one would believe us if we told them this!"

"The worst part is this poison. Even Li Tongzhou, with his formidable martial arts, couldn't expel the toxins. All the medicine we used only made him weaker. Otherwise, with him and Hero Du holding the fort, how could we have been... Ugh!"

Du Heng remained seated, saber propped, listening to his companions speak without offering a word himself.

"Brother Du, do you think we'll make it out?"

One of the men, with faint dark circles under his eyes and a weariness similar to Du Heng's, spoke. As he did, the room immediately fell silent.

Du Heng looked at the man, then surveyed the others around him.

"We definitely will. We've sent out so many letters; help is sure to come!"

"But given the situation in Jinzhou... the letters sent after winter might not have gotten through. And those sent before winter..."

The martial artist trailed off, leaving his thought unfinished. Everyone understood; before winter, they hadn't grasped the gravity of their predicament and had been focused on treating their injured companions. It was only after winter set in that the situation turned eerily strange, with even those who had been stable suddenly worsening.

"No, they won't!"

Du Heng declared in a low, firm voice, his tone intended to boost their spirits.

"I once received word from the Wei family that a highly esteemed teacher of mine had returned home from his travels and suggested I visit him. I was away at the time and couldn't return, but I wrote to him before winter set in. As long as my teacher receives that letter..."

A faint creaking sound began. "Crack... crackle, crackle, crackle..."

A subtle creaking sound filled the room, and Du Heng's words faltered. All the martial artists instinctively looked up towards the ceiling.

One of them, feeling goosebumps rise, pointed upwards and whispered.

"The... roof..."