“Don't worry yet. Brother Yi and the others are at Wenshan. It’s possible Constable Zhang and his men just lost their way for a moment and decided to rest near Wen County.”
Nan Zhi saw her family had lost their anchor and spoke up immediately.
“It takes half a day to get to Wen County and back. Don't panic, Mother, Father. The messenger might already be on the road.”
Upon receiving the news, Nan Zhi immediately opened the map in the upper right corner.
The small green dot representing Nan Yi was not in the county town.
She zoomed in to observe closely. Sure enough, she found Nan Yi’s silhouette near Wenshan.
The small yellow dots representing the yamen runners were scattered sporadically in the mountains, spinning around like headless flies.
The map hadn't explored the area near Wen County, so Nan Zhi only saw a few glimpses.
Fortunately, Nan Yi was not in any life-threatening danger at the moment.
“How can that be? Brother Yi is the most stable person. If something held him up, he would have sent word back.”
The joy on Chen Jingui’s face receded like the tide, her color gradually fading.
Though she trusted Nan Zhi, the sudden news of her son entering the mountains to hunt a tiger was terrifying, leaving her mind in a tangled mess.
“He didn't come home all night. Why... why hasn't the yamen said anything?”
“I don't know. But a crowd has gathered at the county yamen, all looking for people. I thought I’d come back to let you know first before going back to investigate. Since Sister Zhi says so, you should put your mind at ease.”
Nan Dazhuang caught his breath, glancing at Nan Zhi. Seeing her certain expression, he felt a faint sense of relief.
He comforted Chen Jingui further:
“Maybe it’s like Sister Zhi said, and Brother Yi and the others were just delayed in the mountains. Besides, Brother Yi is with Constable Zhang! That Constable Zhang used to study martial arts with wanderers. He’s skilled. Forget a tiger, even if they met a pack of wolves...”
“Pah, pah, pah!! That mouth of yours... I wish I could take a needle and thread and sew it shut!”
Chen Jingui scolded him in anger:
“There’s a man-eating tiger in Wen County, so they sent our Dingyuan County runners to kill it? Which bastard thought of that?! That damned Registrar Hu said last month that our Eldest Sister killed a demon and the imperial Demon Suppression Division would have rewards, maybe even a chance to remove Brother Yi from the official registers. But he kept pushing it off, and now there’s still no word. My Brother Yi is a scholar at heart; making him go kill a tiger is clearly making things difficult for him! Just wait until Brother Yi comes back; I’ll spit right in that Registrar Hu’s face!”
A tiger!
She had heard that in distant places, some tigers became monstrous. One had blocked a village entrance, eaten over a dozen people, and then fled into the forest. Many brave men went up the mountain to hunt it, but most were bitten to death. One survivor had half his face licked by the tiger; the barbs on the tiger’s tongue had scraped away the flesh, leaving only white bone. It was said that when he spoke, one side of his mouth moved while the other half was a skull!
Anyone who heard this story would be left speechless, a chill running through their body. It was simply too terrifying.
“Mom, we can talk about spitting on people later. Right now, Brother Yi’s safety is the priority. I just used a spell to check, and I’m afraid Brother Yi and the others are lost in the Wenshan forest and can't get out. It’s almost night, and the mountains are cold and infested with demons. Without a local who knows the paths, it’s easy to get trapped.”
Nan Zhi’s mind raced, and she made a decision in seconds:
“Father and I will leave for Wen County immediately. We’ll gather some people, light torches along the road, and bring some food and wine to meet them on their way back. Maybe they’ll see the light and find their way out of the forest.”
As soon as she finished, Nan Dazhuang strode out of the courtyard to borrow a cart and animal from the neighbors.
“Good, good, good.”
Chen Jingui grabbed Nan Zhi’s hand, repeating the word “good” before shouting urgently:
“Sister Ye, go bake some more pancakes quickly so your father and sister can take them on the road.”
Nan Ye hurriedly complied, rushing to knead dough and bake the cakes. As she worked, she kept craning her neck to see if Nan Dazhuang had borrowed a cart.
Waiting was always the most agonizing part.
Chen Jingui lit a candle and found the winter knee pads from the bottom of a chest, fitting them onto Nan Zhi’s legs:
“The forest is full of miasma, heavy dew, and dampness. Wear these to keep warm. You’re young and don't understand; if you catch a chill now, you’ll realize how many ailments it leaves behind once you have children. It’s a real torment!”
Nan Zhi wanted to explain that these things were useless to her since they didn't increase her stats, but seeing Chen Jingui’s expression, she swallowed her words. This genuine care was something she had never felt in the real world.
...
Less than an hour later, a panting Nan Dazhuang pulled a beast to a stop at the door. Before he could even catch his breath, he shouted for Nan Zhi:
“Sister Zhi, I got a cart! Let’s go!”
Nan Dazhuang had asked everyone he knew nearby and finally managed to borrow a donkey cart.
—Horses were only for the wealthy; for ordinary folk, owning a donkey or an ox was already a major asset.
Neighbors looking for excitement poked their heads out. Unexpectedly, Chen Jingui didn't scold anyone this time. She just stood there with a wooden expression, loading the luggage for the journey onto the cart.
“Mom, take Sister Ye inside and lock the door. Just wait for us to come back.”
Nan Zhi jumped onto the cart and turned to shout:
“I’ve already spoken with the ghosts in this city. I’ve asked them to watch the house for me. You can sleep soundly tonight. If you hear anything suspicious, just shout. If anyone isn't afraid of ghosts, they’re welcome to try coming through the door.”
More than half of the curious neighbors immediately pulled back.
Chen Jingui seemed to remember something else and ran back inside, rummaging through chests until she found a rabbit fur vest.
Nan Dazhuang usually slaughtered pigs, but occasionally hunters would bring their kills to sell. He would save the rabbit skins and sell the meat to the city’s restaurants. Many people in Dingyuan County ate game, so rabbit meat sold well. Over the years, Chen Jingui had accumulated several good pelts.
She draped the rabbit fur vest over Nan Zhi, sighing in relief as if she had completed a vital mission. She waved to the father and daughter:
“Go on. Don't worry; if any blind fool dares to come to our door, I’ll castrate him. Go meet Brother Yi and the others. Sister Ye and I will wait for you to come home for a drink.”
Looking at the fine lines around Chen Jingui’s eyes, Nan Zhi found herself saying, “Mom, don't worry. I will definitely bring Brother Yi back safely.”
Chen Jingui sniffled and muttered:
“Everyone back safely... everyone back safely is best. Alright, go now. If you don't leave, the city gates will close.”
Sitting on the donkey cart, Nan Zhi watched Lingbai Alley grow distant, a faint sense of reluctance stirring in her heart.
Nan Dazhuang, who was driving, did his best to block the wind for her. She had warm pancakes tucked in her clothes, a fur vest around her neck, and knee pads hand-sewn by Nan Ye.
The night wind was sharp, but Nan Zhi’s eyes crinkled into a smile.
She seemed to be liking this “game” more and more.
Rate on N.U.
