Chapter 217: Early Letters

Rumble...

The second peal of thunder sounded, much weaker, its echoes reverberating through the mountains.

Lin Xinjie and Lei Yusheng adjusted their clothes, looking a little embarrassed. Their earlier panic had indeed been quite shameful.

Yin Qing and his three classmates moved further inside. Following the example of the traveling merchants, they dragged two tables into a corner, placing them diagonally, and set their book boxes on one side.

The remaining tables and benches here could block the wind when laid down, and provide a raised surface off the ground during cold and damp weather. In a desperate situation, they could even be chopped up for firewood.

"Mo Xiu, let's go gather some firewood. It gets quite cold in the mountains at night." Yin Qing suggested this to his companion, then addressed Lei Yusheng and Lin Xinjie, who seemed about to speak.

"You two stay here and tidy up, clear a small area, or move a few more tables over. That way, you'll have a good place to sleep tonight."

Hearing this, Lin Xinjie frowned.

"Why go to all that trouble? We bought an axe from the carriage driver earlier, didn't we? Can't we just chop up these tables and chairs for firewood?"

"Exactly, we're exhausted after walking for most of the day, and it's going to rain soon. Why bother going out?"

Yin Qing squatted down, took an axe from his book box, and shook his head with a smile.

"Have you ever wondered why there are still so many tables and chairs in this desolate inn after all this time? If everyone just chopped them up for firewood, it would be very inconvenient for future travelers who stop here! Unless absolutely necessary, it's better not to destroy them. While it's not raining and it's not dark yet, let's quickly go out and get some dry wood..." At this point, Yin Qing leaned closer to Lei Yusheng and Lin Xinjie and lowered his voice, "Look after the boxes."

"Alright, you two go!" "Yes, go and come back quickly!"

Yin Qing picked up the axe, called out to Mo Xiu, and headed outside. Having the other two guard the book boxes was one reason; the other was that they were true young masters who had never done any manual labor, and they were exhausted after walking for most of the day.

Mo Xiu still had some stamina, and while Yin Qing himself looked tired, he was the one with the most energy.

Among the traveling merchants, several older individuals, upon hearing Yin Qing's words, turned to observe him closely. Although they said nothing, their impression of the scholar was clearly much improved.

As Yin Qing and Mo Xiu left the desolate inn, they could feel the wind picking up outside. Looking up at the dark clouds, which seemed close to some of the surrounding towering peaks, they heard the occasional rumble of thunder.

"Let's go to the gentle slope nearby."

"Okay!"

The two rolled up their sleeves, tied their cuffs tightly with straps taken from their book boxes, and headed to the nearby hillside.

There was no shortage of firewood in the mountains. Yin Qing and Mo Xiu gathered many branches of varying sizes, and also cut some from trees. Using the axe, they lopped off some forks, tying the branches into bundles as best they could with straps. In just over a quarter of an hour, they had collected a small bundle.

Rumble...

The thunder in the sky grew louder, and the wind picked up. Mo Xiu was still gathering firewood, but Yin Qing had already stopped.

"Mo Xiu, stop gathering! It's going to rain any minute. Let's go back quickly!"

"Huh? This isn't nearly enough!"

"Hey, if we don't go back now, we'll be soaked. Getting wet in the mountains is no joke!"

The two carried the bundle of firewood, and along the way, if Mo Xiu saw any convenient dry branches or sticks, he would pick them up and add them to the top.

By the time they reached the desolate inn, the somewhat decayed wooden door was mostly closed, leaving just a narrow gap.

Creak, creak, creak...

The two pushed the door together, making the old wooden door creak against the ground. Lei Yusheng and Lin Xinjie on the other side quickly stood up and hurried over to help carry the firewood and then close the door.

Only then did Yin Qing and Mo Xiu belatedly hear the howling wind outside the door—"whoosh... whoosh-whoosh-whoosh..." The wind had become incredibly strong.

"Young men, if you don't have enough firewood, we have some here; it's all dry. And if you need kindling, come here for charcoal."

Watching the four scholars fumble around, the old traveling merchant surnamed Lu called out to them.

Traveling merchants weren't big businessmen; they earned their money through hard work. They traveled far and wide and always prepared for everything. Where firewood was available, they would cut it and burn it, and even when it wasn't, they always carried dry wood in their baskets.

The four scholars immediately looked surprised and grateful, thanking him repeatedly.

About a quarter of an hour later, the rain finally poured down—"splash, splash, splash..." Fortunately, although the inn had been abandoned for a long time, there weren't many leaks, mostly just in a few outer corners. Yin Qing and the traveling merchants' spots remained dry.

Two fires blazed inside the inn. Yin Qing used a few earthen bricks from the inn as a makeshift stove, imitating some of the traveling merchants by collecting rainwater in a pot and bringing it back to boil.

In the mountains, the sky darkens much faster once it rains. The traveling merchants were clearly well-prepared; those closer to the fire warmed themselves, while those further out donned rain capes and straw hats, and surrounded themselves with tables and benches.

Yin Qing's group was smaller, and they weren't cold by the fire. They also prepared their dry rations, skewering them on wooden sticks like the traveling merchants to make roasted steamed buns.

"This night isn't too hard to endure; it's just that I might not be able to sleep."

Lei Yusheng said this, took a book from his book box, and began to read it by the firelight.

About two hours later, Yin Qing, Mo Xiu, and Lin Xinjie were still sitting by the fire, wide awake and staring at each other. Lei Yusheng, however, was already asleep, curled up on a low table with a book for a pillow.

"I really have to admire Yusheng..." Lin Xinjie muttered, twitching his mouth, while Mo Xiu beside him looked exasperated and amused at the same time.

"What did he say just now? That he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight?"

Many of the traveling merchants had also laid down, and several were even snoring, clearly sound asleep. However, a few were still awake, and the night watchmen were chatting softly.

"Uncle Lu, where do you think those scholars are from? Their accent doesn't sound like they're from Wanzhou." Someone glanced over and asked curiously.

"I don't know, and it's none of our business anyway."

"Scholars can become officials once they pass the imperial examinations. Hey, Uncle Lu, when do you think I'll get rich enough to study, then pass the highest exam, and live the rest of my life in wealth and luxury?"

The elder surnamed Lu looked at him, then at the scholars.

"Hmm, soon. Someone will wake up and take over your watch in a bit."

The man scratched his head, not quite understanding what Uncle Lu meant, feeling that his words were irrelevant. Yin Qing, however, who had heard clearly, chuckled softly from his spot.

The elder surnamed Lu then sighed at the man.

"Ah, that's the difference in brains!"

Just then, a sudden knocking sound came from the entrance of the desolate inn.

Bang, bang, bang... bang, bang, bang...

"Is anyone there? We saw the firelight!"

The sharp voice and knocking immediately woke up all the sleeping traveling merchants.

"The door isn't barred, just push it open!"

No sooner had the traveling merchant finished speaking than someone outside pushed the door open, causing the wooden door to scrape against the ground as it moved.

Whoosh... whoosh... Splash, splash, splash...

Outside, a violent storm raged.

Rumble...

"Ah!"

As lightning illuminated the doorway, a woman's shriek rang out. Several figures at the entrance quickly entered the inn, then pushed the door shut again.

By the light of the fire inside, both the traveling merchants and the scholars could see that there were three women. Although they had umbrellas, they were clearly quite soaked, rubbing their arms and looking very cold. Their clothes clung to their bodies in places, revealing their graceful figures.

"May we warm ourselves by the fire?" The leading woman looked from one group to the other and asked.

Among the traveling merchants, most stared intently at the three women's bodies and faces, yet almost all of them gripped their axes without saying anything unnecessary.

On the scholars' side, all four, including Yin Qing and the newly awakened Lei Yusheng, were also looking at the women. However, having received strict education from their tutor, their gazes were not overly direct, even Yin Qing's, who was the youngest.

Naturally, the three women walked towards the scholars' side.

Lei Yusheng quickly got down from the table and sat upright by the fire. Lin Xinjie, meanwhile, moved a stool and wiped off dust with a cloth.

"Young men, you are scholars. Men and women should not touch each other!" The elder surnamed Lu suddenly said this. He was old and shrewd; in a desolate mountain wilderness in the middle of the night, the sudden arrival of three women seemed very strange indeed.

Yin Qing immediately seized the opportunity to speak.

"You're right to remind us, Elder. These ladies are drenched and need a separate place to warm themselves by the fire. By the way, Elder, how about we offer our campfire to the three ladies? As scholars, we should naturally avoid impropriety. How about we squeeze in with you all? Mo, you agree, don't you?"

The other three looked at Yin Qing, hesitant and not answering.

"Good, good. Then you young men come over here!"

Yin Qing cupped his hands towards the elder, then shot a stern glance at his three friends, forcefully pulling them towards the other side.

"Oh... we don't mind..." One of the women said blankly.

"But we do mind! A young lady's reputation is no small matter!"

Without further ado, Yin Qing dragged them over to the traveling merchants' side, not even bothering to take their book boxes. At that moment, his strength was astonishing; he managed to pull the three reluctant scholars by himself.

The three women were visibly stunned. After a long pause, the leader chuckled, teasing, "What a bookworm!" Then she led the other two women to sit by the campfire where Yin Qing and his companions had been, instinctively glancing at the four book boxes.

On the other side, the elder surnamed Lu nodded at Yin Qing and the others, motioning for them to sit in the empty spots near the campfire, and spoke in a very low voice.

"When traveling, caution is the best course of action!"

Yin Qing simply cupped his hands, remaining silent. Unlike the others, he seemed to detect a faint musky odor, which made him particularly uneasy, especially since these women looked perfectly human.

For some time now, besides studying by the river, he would occasionally chat with the old tortoise in the river when no one was around. He had heard from the old tortoise of Chunmu River that despite the apparent peace in Dazhen, the world was actually teeming with countless mountain spirits and demonic entities. Regardless of their strength, any that had truly cultivated human forms possessed considerable spiritual power.

Of course, transformation to human form involves the crucial word 'cultivation.' Some spirits' human forms are merely illusions created by supernatural powers or demonic arts; their true nature remains unchanged, but ordinary mortals cannot see through them.

Then there were various methods to lure mortals, such as 'deceptive sacrifices,' which involved surreptitiously taking primordial yang or vital essence, sometimes shortening a person's lifespan, and other times even costing them their lives.

As the saying goes, 'one is affected by one's company.' Yin Qing had encountered a few such matters, and instinctively felt that there was something wrong with these three women.

With a 'thud,' one of the book boxes toppled over, spilling its contents, including an inkstone and a weasel-hair brush.

"Oh dear... Whose things are these? I accidentally knocked them over!" One of the women appeared very distressed.

"Mine, mine! Oh, don't step on the Xuan paper!"

"Ah... don't step on it!"

Mo Xiu's heart raced, and he quickly ran over. Yin Qing called out, "Mo Xiu!" but it was too late to stop him.

However, nothing happened when Mo Xiu approached. The woman apologized profusely and helped him pack the book box. Seeing Mo Xiu's clothes inside, she timidly said,

"Young master, my clothes are all wet, and I'm cold and uncomfortable. May I borrow some of your clothes to wear?"

"Huh? Uh... oh..."

Mo Xiu looked at the woman, whose clothes clung to her, and felt a flush on his face. He then opened his book box to get her some clothes.

"What about us...? Young masters, could you lend us some clothes too?" The other two women feigned weakness nearby.

Yin Qing suddenly had an idea. He glanced at the elder surnamed Lu, then stood up and bravely walked over. Seeing Lei Yusheng and Lin Xinjie also about to stand, he turned and said sternly,

"Sit down!"

After saying this, Yin Qing immediately put on a smiling face as he turned and hurried over.

"How about this? I also have a few sets of clothes. I'll get them for the two ladies!"

The women covered their mouths and chuckled.

"Then thank you, young master!"

"You're welcome!"

Yin Qing half-squatted, using the awkwardness of a man who had never been close to women to cover the sweat of panic that was actually forming on his forehead.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of one of the women squatting beside him, watching him. Something seemed to move beneath her skirt behind her. A faint, musky odor reached his nose again, making his movements appear more hurried.

'Found it!'

What Yin Qing found was a letter that Ji Yuan had given to Yin Zhaoxian when he first left Ning'an County. Yin Zhaoxian had then given it to Yin Qing when he traveled to Wanzhou, both for his son to practice calligraphy and as a form of encouragement.

Yin Qing discreetly pulled the letter from the old envelope, then hid it in his clothes and took it out.

"I wonder if these clothes will do?"

"As long as they're not left without proper cover."

One of the women playfully picked up the clothes and shook them, and a letter fell out.

A deterrent spiritual light flashed from the letter.

"Ah!" "Ah...!" "Ah!"

The three women suddenly leaped away from the campfire, their faces filled with terror.

"Oh dear, Master Ji's letter fell out! It's all my fault for not putting it away properly!" Yin Qing's surprised voice rang out. After confirming that the letter was indeed effective, he picked up the paper from the ground. In his eyes, each character on it seemed to shimmer with a faint, flowing light.

An early letter from Ji Yuan, though not a decree, still held the concentrated will and spiritual energy imbued in it years ago.