Chapter 300: Mountain Dislike in the Mountains, City Joy Outside

A genius lives a brilliant life.

The woman's eyes and brows were full of allure, yet she merely feigned being pitiful and timid, not rushing to throw herself into the scholar's arms.

"Are you the mountain chief, this highway bandit?"

"Wrong. I am just a low-ranking minion. I'm here to abduct a woman for the mountain chief to be his bandit wife. If I succeed in this task, I can be promoted from a small minion to a big one."

"So, haven't you already embraced the mountain chief's wives? Besides, this is a desolate wilderness. Even if a strong man like you were to do something to a young woman like me, there would be no one to hear my cries, neither heaven nor earth."

"That's true. But if you were to become the bandit's wife and tell the mountain chief, wouldn't I be beheaded? Hmph! Young lady, stop talking nonsense and unsettling my mind. Though I'm just a nobody now, I aspire to become the mountain chief. Even if you were a flirtatious woman willing to lie with me under the open sky, I would firmly refuse."

"Bah! How dare you flirt with me! If my young master hears this, he'll hack you to death with a single stroke."

"Who is your young master? Does he possess my combined skills in saber and sword, with such impressive abilities? Furthermore, your young master surely isn't as dashing and carefree as I am."

"You petty thief, you're nothing but a frog in a well! How could you ever know the virtues of my young master?"

"I'm certainly no frog in a well; I'm a road-blocking mountain toad! Young lady, you may insult my appearance, but do not insult my profession as a mountain bandit!"

"Alas, my young master once said he's determined to build a pigsty on the field ridge, ensuring that good fortune stays within the family. But it's strange, why hasn't he 'taken a bite' out of me yet?"

"Your young master truly is a gentleman; I admire him greatly!"

With a bright moon and strong wind, it was a perfect night for murder, or perhaps a romantic rendezvous for a solitary man and woman. What a dull pair they must have been to be chatting idly on a muddy path in the dead of night.

After all the chattering, the woman in splendid clothes finally fluttered like a graceful butterfly into Xu Fengnian's embrace.

Xu Fengnian embraced her soft, alluring figure, took a deep sniff, and closed his eyes in ecstasy, saying, "After all the smelling, your scent is still the most fragrant. It's even more fragrant than a delicious roasted sweet potato when one is starving."

The woman clung tightly to him, pressing against his chest as if she wished to melt into his body, and murmured, "My name is Hongshu, you know."

This young master and servant had left Beiliang almost simultaneously. Their reunion in a distant land now seemed heartwarming, but who could know the thrilling and perilous experiences each had faced on their respective journeys? With those they cared about, they always presented a smiling face.

"Hongshu, loosen your grip; you're squeezing me so tight I can't breathe."

"Young master, you are now a master of masters!"

"Even so, loosen your grip. It's not proper to be holding me like this all the time."

"Oh, young master, you have an extra sword! Will you show it to your humble servant? If it needs polishing, I would be glad to do it."

"You're asking for a beating! Stop being mischievous and let go quickly."

"Young master, when you returned from your last journey, you boasted in the Wutong Courtyard about formidable swordsmen who could 'slice down beauties with a sword from between their legs.' Is this that sword?"

"Can't you have some decorum?"

Xu Fengnian was caught between laughter and tears. He slapped her buttock lightly, then gently broke free from her embrace, glaring at her. He saw her face was strangely flushed, as if she had taken an aphrodisiac.

They looked at each other. Xu Fengnian pinched her nose and smiled, "Why are you here? What are you doing at the Shenmen Thatched Hall?"

Her eyes, those of Hongshu, the top-tier maidservant of Wutong Courtyard, were filled with a wistful longing. She articulated each word clearly, saying, "I missed my young master."

Xu Fengnian made a gesture as if to hit her, but she leaned closer, offering herself to him. Xu Fengnian frowned. Hongshu smiled, whistled, and a fine horse galloped over. Taking its reins, she said seriously, "Your humble servant left Beiliang a few days later than you. The King's Residence has arrangements in Dunhuang City, which coincidentally involved this thatched hall. My original intention was to suppress a faction led by Shen Kaihe, who was secretly aligning with Murong Baoding, the Military Governor of Orange State. I didn't expect the young master to be so formidable, causing such havoc in the hall that even Shen Zhi was killed. Your humble servant just happened to remove a spy planted by Zhuwang. Afterward, I used a trick to mislead the previous hall master, Shen Shuihu, making him believe it was Murong Baoding's spy. Your humble servant promised him that Dunhuang City would take the blame for this, betting that he wouldn't dare to actively bring this up with Murong Baoding. During this time, your humble servant has been imitating the handwriting of that 'Dragonfly Catcher' to deliver truthful secret messages. It won't be exposed for now. At least until Your Highness leaves Jinxi Prefecture, only then will the 'Butterfly Catcher' who handles contacts 300 *li* away realize what happened. With a bit of luck, Your Highness might even return to Beiliang before any clues are revealed to them."

Xu Fengnian swung onto his horse, then bent down to pull Hongshu up. Embracing her slender waist and resting his head on the plump shoulder of the senior maidservant, he frowned and asked, "What if it's exposed?"

She calmly replied, "It doesn't matter. I will simply follow the clues and eliminate a dozen or so 'Dragonfly Catchers' and 'Butterfly Catchers' in one go. This will disrupt their operations, ensuring they're too busy to investigate Your Highness's whereabouts, and will only be led by your humble servant."

Xu Fengnian remained silent.

Hongshu, whom even King Xu Xiao of Beiliang praised for her ingenious mind, softly said, "Young master, Hongshu was born a deathsworn. If I don't die, what is there to live for, if not to help my master kill people?"

Xu Fengnian lightly bit her earlobe and commanded, "Don't say that, and don't do that either!"

Her body trembled, and she leaned back slightly.

Xu Fengnian, who could be said to be unperturbed by temptation, asked, "In these years, whenever you left the King's Residence, were you always heading towards Dunhuang City in Beimang?"

Hongshu meekly and obediently hummed in affirmation. Among the many maidservants in Wutong Courtyard, all charming and graceful, each possessed unique qualities and exceptional beauty. Not to mention Qingniao, the daughter of the Spear Immortal Wang Xiu. Luyi was a national-level chess player, only losing to his second sister Xu Weixiong, whom Xu Fengnian had been defeated by for many years, and she was also skilled in five-character quatrains, with a robust poetic style. The maidservant renamed Huanggua had outstanding musical accomplishments and was an exquisite cook, whose homemade pastries rivaled those of imperial chefs. Only the wealthy Beiliang King's Residence could afford to gather so many women in one courtyard; any one of them, taken out, could drive the scholars of Beiliang to obsession. Hongshu was undoubtedly the most interesting one. While Qingniao, also a senior maidservant, was cold and unapproachable, Hongshu was far more alluring. Everyone genuinely liked her; she always considered the overall situation and handled people perfectly. Her contribution to the courtyard's harmony was immense, and Xu Xiao's praise that she could become an unrivaled imperial consort in the palace was truly not an exaggeration.

Her allure was evident on her face, yet a coolness resided in her bones. Xu Fengnian had been close to her since childhood, perhaps drawn to each other by their somewhat indifferent natures, like groundhogs in winter, huddling together for warmth.

Xu Fengnian asked curiously, "According to what you've said, do you have another identity in Dunhuang City?"

Hongshu placed her hands on his arms wrapped around her waist, nodded, and said, "Of course I do. Dunhuang City is a complex web of entangled and intertwined forces. Your humble servant entered early, when Dunhuang City was in a state of transition and instability, which allowed me to gain a huge advantage. To my knowledge, there are no fewer than eight major factions. Among them, three local factions, built up over two generations in Dunhuang City, form a tripartite power balance, openly and relentlessly engaging in political intrigue. As the young master knows, when the Northern barbarians try to imitate our dynasty's strategizing, it often appears somewhat awkward, though some of their displays of bravery are quite impressive. Aside from the two external forces supported by Murong Baoding and the Military Governor of Jinxi Prefecture, Buque Terrace, the Ninth Temple of the Beimang's Ten Great Sects, is rooted in Dunhuang City. They are city elders who rarely engage in disputes and never act for their own benefit at others' expense. The remaining two forces are alliances formed by wealthy merchants and magnates; their actions are particularly cunning and should not be underestimated. Merchants, being profit-driven, excel at fishing in troubled waters, and their abilities are unparalleled."

Xu Fengnian sighed with emotion, "There are indeed many intricacies."

Hongshu leaned against his chest, closed her enchanting, limpid eyes, and whispered, "Recently, your humble servant only heard that a disciple of Official Cao on the grasslands had deflated Tuoba Chunxun's arrogance, and I knew it must be you, young master."

Xu Fengnian stroked her dark hair and smiled, "You and I are like frogs meeting bullfrogs in a hot oil pan—we're fellow sufferers."

Hongshu said in a cloying voice, "Your humble servant is a woman, you know."

Xu Fengnian didn't respond to that comment. Recalling Zhongyi Village, he felt deeply moved and smiled, "These past few days, while staying in Liuyi Mountain, I met a direct descendant of the Han family and encouraged him to go to Jizhou. Hongshu, when you have time, send a message back to Beiliang and invite my master to make a move in the game; he excels at this."

Hongshu nodded and said, "All right. I'll do this once we reach Dunhuang City, and I guarantee no mistakes will be made."

Xu Fengnian said softly, "My master actually always regarded Go as a 'wild fox Zen'—he didn't take it seriously or think highly of it. He'd say that while the moves of chess pieces might seem intricate, they are far less unpredictable than the human heart. A single piece on the chessboard can take root and become vibrant again, but after all, black remains black and white remains white; their colors never change. Yet a person can turn black into white, rendering loyalty, righteousness, and kindness meaningless. Before, I didn't think much of it, simply assuming my master was making excuses because his chess skills weren't good enough to even beat my second sister. But looking back now, I understand his painstaking efforts. In the past, under the shade of the trees at the King's Residence, watching small ripples or the rise and fall of great waters, it was always like watching a play. Without personally entering the game and experiencing it, perhaps those old foxes were too deeply hidden for me to truly see clearly. In Liuyi Mountain, at the small Zhongyi Village, observing the actions of its leaders, I've gained a different kind of understanding. Hongshu, does this count as what my master called 'cutting a small opening to make a grand statement'?"

Hongshu stroked the back of Xu Fengnian's intertwined hands and softly chuckled, "Young master is becoming more understanding."

Xu Fengnian was just about to reprimand his senior maidservant when she suddenly turned her head, her sharp chin raised, her alluring face now devoid of playfulness. She said, "Young master, I'm not talking about Hongshu, but about those who have lived in the shadows for years, even decades, and will die nameless. You must remember their contributions."

Xu Fengnian nodded, "I've noted it."

The transmission of these messages relied on lives and blood. On the battlefield, they were scouts and cavalrymen; in the shadows, they were secret agents and spies. The latter were even more capable of causing thunder in silence.

"Hongshu, this horse is good. Is it a famous horse from Beimang?"

"It's a Night-Shining Jade Lion. One horse can be worth fifty taels of gold."

"You rode it from Dunhuang City? What kind of status do you have to be so grand?"

"Young master will know when he arrives."

"Won't tell me? I'll tickle your armpit then."

"Young master, don't!"

"Hmm? You're rebelling against me! You say no and it's no? Who's the young master and who's the maidservant here?"

Playfully bickering, they didn't look for a place to rest. They galloped swiftly under the starry night, arriving at dawn in a small town that didn't even have city walls. Hongshu, who had slept in Xu Fengnian's arms, continued to keep her head down, not letting others see her captivating beauty.

They stopped at an inn to rest their horses and themselves. After paying, they left in less than an hour. The innkeeper and his assistant, who had been entranced by Hongshu's face and figure, watched their retreating backs, pounding their chests and stamping their feet. "That damned scholar, he's picked such a beautiful flower!" The innkeeper and his assistant suddenly came to their senses. The assistant, a step ahead, was about to rush to the room where the couple had stayed. "Coming and going so quickly, what could they have done in just an hour? Any man with half a brain would know!" "To smell the scent on the quilt, to catch a whiff of their 'immortal' aura, that would be a great blessing!" The innkeeper fiercely grabbed the assistant's collar, angrily shouted, and shooed him off to do his proper work, then rushed into the room himself. He found the quilt neatly clean. Still hopeful, he pounced onto the bed, but smelled no feminine fragrance. The middle-aged, bald innkeeper was disheartened once more. He slammed a fist on the bed and cursed resentfully, "That kid, he's no man! Such a celestial woman—if I could have a good time with her, I'd willingly lose ten years of my life!"

The saying that a swift horse can travel a thousand *li* in a day is utterly impossible for a single horse. Military horses, for instance, need their noses wiped every thirty *li*. Furthermore, even if one were willing to run horses to death, it would only be possible to achieve the near-limit daily travel of 800 *li* for urgent military dispatches by changing horses every few tens of *li* through the Liyang Dynasty's continuous post stations. During the Spring and Autumn Wars, there was a rare instance of a messenger covering 900 *li* in a day, but that widely circulated feat involved bypassing over a dozen post stations and running two priceless, famous horses to death. This Night-Shining Jade Lion, with its impressive stamina and endurance, although not ridden in a great hurry, also didn't stop much. It took three days and three nights before they finally saw the vast city outline of Dunhuang.

It was just dawn. Dunhuang City's night curfew was strict, and the city gates had not yet opened. Hongshu suggested they first go and see the Caiji Buddhist Grottoes outside Dunhuang City.

The Caiji Grottoes contain over 26,000 statues, including those of great Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, celestial beings, and flying immortals. It is an undisputed Buddhist holy site, second only to the Two Zen Temples in the Central Plains and Mount Landuo in the Western Regions.

Unlike many major religious sites, the Caiji Buddhist Grottoes are not built on mountains, nor do they seek the highest elevation for the Buddha. They rise from flat ground or are carved into mountains, allowing visitors and devotees to fully enjoy the scenery from the top of Mount Caiji. The sole main Buddha is carved directly from the mountain, making no ascent necessary.

The main Buddhas of the Caiji Grottoes are the Three World Buddhas, seated on Sumeru pedestals. The central one stands 66 *zhang* tall, with a full, solemn face and stone robes draped diagonally in front of the seat. The two on either side are over 40 *zhang* tall, with Bodhisattvas flanking them, and at the ends of each side are eight Gandharvas.

Seeing the towering Buddha statues from afar, Hongshu smiled and said, "Behind the main Buddha are 81 lotus flowers, and each lotus flower has a Bodhisattva of Offering seated on it. Many in Beimang believe in Buddhism, and these 81 Bodhisattvas have been almost entirely claimed by powerful figures. The incense offerings are so prosperous that even the Two Zen Temples might not compare. For over a dozen of these great Bodhisattvas, not to mention wealthy families in Dunhuang City, even many of the rare great *Siti* on the grasslands would have to weigh their options before voluntarily giving up the idea of competing for them."

Xu Fengnian merely smiled and looked up for a closer view.

The main Buddha displayed the Abhaya Mudra.

The caisson ceiling of the grotto featured a large, shallow-carved lotus flower, clearly done with the rounded knife technique of the Southern Tang Dynasty, which deeply impressed Xu Fengnian. There were also hundreds of Apsaras, with graceful postures and serene expressions.

Xu Fengnian bowed his head and pressed his palms together.

Both the Beimang and Liyang dynasties were expected to launch a grand suppression of Buddhism, yet Xu Fengnian still bowed to the Buddha.

Hongshu didn't believe in Buddhism, but she followed suit.

After standing for a long time, Xu Fengnian remained silent. He turned to leave, took the horse's reins, but didn't mount. He softly recited, "Observe freedom and be free, without others, without self. Ask where one truly is, knowing one's place, naturally finding freedom. The Tathagata Buddha is the Buddha of coming, of future, of coming. Investigate how this life came to be; once it has passed, it is as if seeing the Tathagata."

Hongshu charmingly chuckled, "Young master, this couplet is very fitting and appropriate."

Xu Fengnian turned his head and smiled, sighing, "Indeed."

Remembering something, Xu Fengnian said, "I met a monk this time, and you'll definitely never guess who it was."

Hongshu straightforwardly said, "Monk Longshu, Abbot of Two Zen Temples. Your humble servant knew he had come to Beimang. Since you put it that way, it must be him. This Buddhist saint is truly extraordinary. Otherwise, how could one praise him by saying, 'He saves all beings from the sea of suffering; not only the dragon in Kunlun Pond knows his teachings. A roar from the Buddhist lion can stir the waters of Mount Penglai.'"

Xu Fengnian looked disappointed.

She covered her mouth and smiled.

She took a few steps back, pointed to the mountaintop, and softly said, "I just received news that the Empress wants to invite the Imperial Preceptor Qilin Zhenren to build a Taoist temple on Mount Caiji."

Xu Fengnian muttered to himself, "Do Buddhism and Taoism despise each other in the mountains?"

Xu Fengnian rode away from the Caiji Ten Thousand Buddha Grottoes, mounted his horse with her, and galloped towards Dunhuang City. Hongshu asked, "Young master, the Buddhists speak of the six paths of reincarnation. Do they truly exist?"

Xu Fengnian calmly replied, "If you believe, they exist; if you don't, they don't."

She hesitated for a moment and looked back.

Born with a destiny to die at any moment, she had always wanted to give herself to the young master, only then would she die willingly. If she died sooner and there truly was reincarnation, then she would fervently believe in Buddhism in this life, and in her next, be reborn as a prettier woman, perhaps even meeting him again.

She didn't want to live until she was old and faded, to the day she was wrinkled and ugly; that would be too unsightly.

Xu Fengnian suddenly said, "Hongshu, in the future, if I have a daughter, no matter who her mother is, will you help teach her how to dress up and apply rouge, alright?"

She blinked her eyes and asked with a blush, "But I'm just a worthless maidservant."

Xu Fengnian said gravely, "I am a man, you are a woman. It's that simple. If you say anything about being 'worthless' again, watch me punish you."

Hongshu lowered her head, then looked up, gazing at him rapturously.

Outside the city, master and maidservant, both joyful?

He continued, "If you agree, once we're in the city, I'll tease you. Forget hitting you; I'll devour you completely!"

"Really?"

"A gentleman's word is his bond."

"Is young master a gentleman?"

"A scoundrel's word, once spoken, cannot be retracted even by nine oxen and two tigers."

"Young master is truly bold!"

"That's right! Let's go! Let's pick a big bed and tumble into the covers."