Green Mountain

The Zhongwu Guards chased Mrs. Lu to the east.

Old Ears, with Wu Yun on his head and Chen Ji on his back, had a sixty-pound parcel hanging from his neck. He trudged through the snow-capped mountains, looking quite pitiful.

Old Ears glanced back over his shoulder: "That woman should have led all the Zhongwu Guards away. We’re temporarily safe, but she may not be. However, she has already resolved to die; dying could be considered getting what she wanted."

Wu Yun was startled and stood up on Old Ear’s head.

Old Ears suddenly looked up at the sky, causing Wu Yun to fall unexpectedly into the snow. He thought to himself: "Qing Wentao has been exonerated; her only concern left is her son. Although she said disappearing twelve years ago was out of desperation, she still cares about this son in her heart... But how to prove it, who can’t make empty promises? We Han people like to die to prove a point, always thinking, if I’m willing to die, then you should believe what I say, right? Ha, this is all just this old man’s wild guess."

Wu Yun stood up and shook off the snow: "Did you do that on purpose?"

Old Ears pretended not to hear and continued to ponder: "Ahead lies the Changbai Mountain Gorge, Yulan Waterfall, Wangchi, and the Songjiang River. After crossing the Songjiang River and climbing another mountain, we’ll reach Erdao Baihe Town. Let’s first find a place in the Changbai Mountain Gorge to let you eat the ginseng."

He set off towards the canyon, skillfully navigating through the snow-covered mountains.

By 5 to 7 AM, they reached the canyon. Old Ears deftly found a cave to rest in. Wu Yun followed him inside, curiously looking around to see rusty pots and pans.

At the deepest part of the cave, someone had made a hearth from stones, and there were a few wooden planks serving as a bed. Nearby, logs were piled high.

Old Ears placed Chen Ji on the planks and casually explained to Wu Yun: "This is where some adventurers live. They came to the foot of Changbai Mountain to pay respects at the Martial Temple Mountain Gate. Wanting to become disciples, they were rejected by the Temple and lived in the mountain, believing that with perseverance, they could eventually move the mountain people."

After setting Chen Ji down, Old Ears let out a long sigh: "But the world is not fair. Not everything can be achieved with perseverance. There’s no such thing as late bloomers in this world, only those who never bloom."

Wu Yun looked up at the cave wall, where someone had written with charcoal: "Sincerity can turn a stone into gold."

"If the Martial Temple doesn’t accept me, I’ll cultivate on my own. Ten years or twenty. If not, thirty."

"Dad, Mom, I’ll definitely come home for the New Year next year."

"Brother Zhao Liu, who came with me, went down the mountain. He said he’s going to the Jing Dynasty to seek a job and won’t come back."

"The heavy snow has trapped us for seventeen days without seeing anyone. I dreamed of mom’s steamed locust flower buns last night, they smelled so good."

"Old Zhou on the mountain next to us has gone mad."

"Descending the mountain today, not returning."

Old Ears squatted by the hearth, pulled a few dry logs from the pile, and took out a handful of peanut shells and fire inch from his sleeve.

He crushed the peanut shells to start a fire. The dry wood burned quickly, crackling and lighting up the cave.

"Just a group of unwilling youths," Old Ears said as he added more wood to the fire, its light dancing on his face: "Some have left, some gone mad, some died. They had big ambitions but none succeeded."

He unwrapped the bundle, revealing ginseng. Wu Yun opened his mouth wide, picking up five to six pieces at a time and delivering them to Chen Ji’s hand. The ginseng transformed into translucent beads falling to the ground.

Wu Yun busily shuttled between the bundle and Chen Ji, visibly reducing the ginseng. The chill on Chen Ji’s body gradually dissipated. Old Ears clicked his tongue in amazement: "Spending money like water, suddenly this old man understands much about the past..."

He went to the mouth of the cave, stood with hands behind his back, and observed the sky outside.

Suddenly, a snowflake landed on Old Ear’s lips. Thick snow began falling over Changbai Mountain.

He unexpectedly reached out to catch the snow: "That woman has a tough fate too. Clearly at a dead end, yet this snowstorm suddenly begins. I wonder if it could save her life."

...

...

Under the night, Mrs. Lu raced frantically through the snow-laden pines, with the Zhongwu Guards relentlessly pursuing behind her.

She suddenly stopped and looked back. The shouts, dog barks, and the light from torches drew nearer. Her footprints on the snow were deep, clearly visible even in the dark, forming a path of pursuit. She was downwind, and the wind would carry her scent to the hounds.

She looked around and saw torches encroaching from both flanks, indicating a surrounding ploy. The Zhongwu Guards aimed to drive her to a certain location, but unfamiliar with the terrain, she didn’t know where they intended to corner her.

Mrs. Lu thought briefly. She had seen the maps of Changbai Mountain, but only glanced at the corners of the Jing Dynasty and Korea’s maps. This mountain straddled the border between them.

Vaguely recalling, she knew north was the Heavenly Pool and northeast lay a Yalu River Grand Canyon cutting through the mountains...

At this moment, large snowflakes began to fall. She gazed up as they descended heavily. Looking back, within ten breaths, the snow could conceal her footprints and scent beneath its pristine layers. If the snow accumulated to knee height within four hours, she could move through it better than the Zhongwu Guards.

It seemed the heavens were intentionally granting her an escape.

Just as Mrs. Lu intended to use this chance to evade capture, she hesitated again. Watching the torchlight through the snow, she stood steadfast, waiting for the Zhongwu Guards to draw closer.

Old Ears mentioned before how wild boars protect their cubs, tigers feed their young, bears shield from snow, and wolves nourish with blood, yet he didn’t say what humans would do.

In the cold wind, Mrs. Lu waited; waited for the Zhongwu Guards to come even closer, then resumed running east. After running for a bit, she stopped again, waiting for the Guards to catch up.

Running and stopping like this, the snow fell heavier, and Mrs. Lu led the Zhongwu Guards searching the mountain towards the east, getting farther and farther from Chen Ji.

Mrs. Lu ran under the trees; the pine branches were laden with frost, which fell down in a rustle with the wind, covering her head in frost flowers as if she aged a lifetime in a moment. She didn’t bother to brush off the frost, carefully avoiding the tree roots that occasionally protruded through the snow.

However, just as she stepped over a tree root, a long knife suddenly slashed through the air, heading straight for her face.

Jishan.

Mrs. Lu forcibly twisted her waist in the air, barely avoiding the strike. Her black veil was cut off on one side, falling shakily onto the snow.

She landed on the snow, gasping as she looked at Wu Kezhi, the Grand Official who had killed without hesitation, making the Heartless Sword Dao of Cao Xizong fear leaving the mountain for twenty-eight years. He stood calmly amidst the swirling snow.

Wu Kezhi also scrutinized her; the fluttering black veil revealed a partial profile of Mrs. Lu’s jaw, but still her features were indistinguishable.

In the next moment, the Jishan Blade returned, cleaving towards Mrs. Lu’s back. She turned around, hands clasped together, and managed to catch Jishan with an iron grip, sending the gathered snow on the ground flying skyward.

The Jishan Blade twisted in her grip, and Mrs. Lu released it, letting it fly back to Wu Kezhi, the mutual probing ceasing.

Wu Kezhi was not in a hurry to make a move; he mused, "You’re not the one who induced the Martial Arts Roar. You’re here to divert the pursuers."

Mrs. Lu remained silent, her gaze wary.

Wu Kezhi continued his musing aloud, "You refused to expose your official door both times we fought. Is it because you’re afraid I’ll recognize your official door, and thus deduce his identity? Clearly, you have the opportunity to escape, yet you keep stopping. The person you’re protecting must be very important to you."

As they spoke, the Zhongwu Guards arrived behind Mrs. Lu, torches in hand, drawing knives to surround her in a fan shape.

But Wu Kezhi suddenly said, "She’s not the one I’m looking for; she’s been running east... you all go west and chase."

The interpreter among the Zhongwu Guards, out of breath, pointed west and shouted, "Gather over there!"

Mrs. Lu’s heart sank. Just as she was about to step forward to intercept the Zhongwu Guards, she saw Uncle Changsheng and Aunt Qiubai emerging from the heavy snow, encircling her alongside Wu Kezhi. She could only watch as the Zhongwu Guards pursued westward.

Uncle Changsheng observed Mrs. Lu, whose demeanor suddenly shifted; she stood upright, unyielding amidst the snow.

Mrs. Lu surveyed her surroundings, her sharp gaze like a knife, slowly sweeping over Wu Kezhi, Uncle Changsheng, and Aunt Qiubai.

Uncle Changsheng cautiously retreated half a step, "Careful, she’s a tough one."

Aunt Qiubai sneered, "Pathetic."

Mrs. Lu’s gaze settled on Aunt Qiubai, "Even the world’s indisputable Martial Temple Mountain people must bully with numbers, come at me together."

Aunt Qiubai replied in a deep voice, "No need to provoke. I alone am enough to take you down."

With that, she stepped forward, her movements stirring the snow on the ground into a wave crashing toward Mrs. Lu. As she reached Lu, Aunt Qiubai attacked with her head, shoulders, elbows, hands, tail, hips, knees, and feet, all with explosive, fierce, and clean moves.

But Mrs. Lu’s figure darted unpredictably, stepping through the directions of Qian, Kan, Gen, Zhen, Xun, Li, Kun, Dui, moving ceaselessly around Aunt Qiubai like a dragon. With piercing, moving, intercepting, blocking, pushing, supporting, leading, and ushering, her moves resembled a snake or a gust of wind, with her waist carrying her whole body, force rising from the ground, emerging from her legs, dominated by her waist, culminating at her fingers.

As they exchanged blows, explosive sounds rang continuously, snow kicked up by their movements exploded around them, the burst snow blanketing the world in an instant.

Uncle Changsheng, watching from outside the circle, exclaimed in wonder as he turned circles around the two women within, witnessing their extreme contrast. Observing for a moment, he looked towards Wu Kezhi in astonishment, "Did I see right? My missus is losing ground?"

Wu Kezhi remained silent, observing quietly.

But at this moment, Aunt Qiubai, realizing the close combat provided no advantage, suddenly pressed against Mrs. Lu like a metal mountain. This time, however, Mrs. Lu didn’t evade. She absorbed the force of the Iron Mountain Lean, using Aunt Qiubai’s momentum to propel herself out of the snow fog, escaping the encirclement of Wu Kezhi and the others, and sprinted towards the northeast.

Uncle Changsheng let out a strange cry, "Such a cunning fox! After her!"

From high above, looking down at the snowy mountain, one fleeing, three in pursuit, the four appeared as small black dots on the vast snow mountain, racing towards the edge of the mountains.

Wu Kezhi heard the roaring water, his expression changing; it was the thunderous roar of the Yalu River cutting through the gorge.

Tracking further for several hundred paces, he saw Mrs. Lu reach the edge of the Yalu River Gorge and leap off the hundred-meter cliff.

Uncle Changsheng reached the cliff’s edge, skidding to a halt, nearly toppling over. Steadying himself, he looked down, watching as the figure in black had fallen into the raging white waves and vanished: "Dear heavens, where did this woman come from, does she seek death?"

Aunt Qiubai gazed at the turbulent river below, her eyes burning.

Uncle Changsheng turned to her, "Hey, what are you planning to do..."

His words trailed off as Aunt Qiubai also leaped down, plunging into the surging Yalu River, swept towards the downstream by the torrential waters.

...

There will be another update tonight, everyone can read in the morning.