Chapter 69

At the very front of the group was Yan Baiyu. The same person as always—two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth. Long familiar, nothing surprising about her.

But Yu Muyang stared straight ahead, eyes fixed, heart itching like a cat’s claw, the flesh on his face practically vibrating with excitement.

Because seated beneath Yan Baiyu was a tall, chestnut-red horse. The horse had a straight, sturdy frame and strong, agile limbs. Its chestnut coat was glossy and sleek, its mane flowing elegantly. Let alone in a godforsaken place like this—even back in the modern world, who wouldn’t be mesmerized at the sight of a fine steed?

Yan Baiyu held the reins loosely, the horse pacing gently. Behind her were twenty-some fine horses. In the middle of the procession, villagers had already drawn close, walking alongside, their faces displaying undisguised delight, elation, ecstasy.

Yu Muyang momentarily forgot about Zhang Hejun. He dashed to the front of the procession and hugged the chestnut horse’s neck. The horse snorted. Yu Muyang stroked the horse, utterly captivated. “Holy shit.”

Yu Muyang moved further back. Every horse he switched to, he exclaimed another “holy shit.” The livestock’s calls rose and fell intermittently. Then Yu Muyang saw that behind the horses, there were even a few dairy cows and sheep.

The expedition team members rode horses, herding the cattle and horses in the center. The handcarts at the back were now pulled by horses. Xu Yin sat astride his horse, a riding crop in hand, directing people. He’d been at the very tail end of the group, so far away his features were indistinct. But with a squeeze of his horse’s flanks, hoofbeats clattered, and he was suddenly right before them.

Yu Muyang gaped, then asked Xu Yin, “Good heavens, where did you get all these fine things?”

The usually stern Xu Yin couldn’t help but smile slightly. “These horses, cattle, and sheep were gifts from fellow townspeople who established a village on the grasslands. That’s a long story. Has the village been well during this time? How is the Village Chief?”

Yu Muyang’s smile froze. He remembered Li Cunxin inside, injured. He exclaimed urgently, “The Village Chief’s head was split open!”

Yan Baiyu yanked the reins, pulling her horse to a halt. Her voice was deep, yet her words came quickly. “What do you mean, her head was split open?”

Yu Muyang gave a brief account, condensing three sentences into one. He just said that someone had stolen their notoginseng, and when caught, had caused trouble instead. During the scuffle, Li Cunxin had been struck and injured. “The person is still in the village right now, in the Village Chief’s house, talking.”

Xu Yin said gravely, “Is this really what happened? Don’t exaggerate.”

Yu Muyang pointed to the sky. “How could I? Would I dare make this up? You’ll know as soon as you go back and look. Ask them—lots of people saw it.” Yu Muyang lifted his chin toward a villager nearby.

The villager said, “The Village Chief lost a lot of blood. When I saw her come out, half her face was stained red.”

The expressions on Xu Yin and Yan Baiyu’s faces turned extremely grim.

Yan Baiyu’s cold, piercing gaze moved from Yu Muyang to the path ahead. She flicked the reins, and the fine horse shot forward.

“Wait for me, I’m coming too, I’m coming too!” Yan Baiyu’s figure on horseback was simply too dashing. Yu Muyang’s heart itched to try it himself. These horses were all fitted with saddles. Excitedly, he grabbed the reins of a nearby horse, put one foot in the stirrup, but for some reason, he couldn’t summon the strength in his waist. The other leg simply refused to swing over, no matter what.

Xu Yin called to Wang Ran, “Wang Ran, you come slowly. Keep a close eye on the herd.”

After Wang Ran acknowledged, Xu Yin grabbed the back of Yu Muyang’s collar with one hand and hoisted him up, tossing him onto the horse’s back. Then he spurred his horse after Yan Baiyu.

Yu Muyang sprawled on the horse’s back, in a state of about to fall but not quite falling. His internal organs were jostled, and he was completely dazed when the horse stopped.

The speed of a galloping horse was truly nothing a little donkey could compare to. Even at the current village’s small scale, the horse had barely taken two strides before arriving.

Xu Yin reined his horse to a halt beneath the parasol tree. A horse was already tied there—the very chestnut horse Yan Baiyu was riding. Yu Muyang looked up toward the house. Yan Baiyu had already reached the door.

Yu Muyang called out, “Sister Yan, it’s him—the tallest one.”

Yu Muyang’s voice wasn’t quiet. Zhang Hejun and the others standing in front of the door all heard it. Puzzled, Zhang Hejun turned his head to look. A cold-faced woman walked over. The woman had an oppressive aura. Zhang Hejun traced its source—probably her upright, straight posture and her stride, swift as the wind yet perfectly aligned.

At the same time, the closed main door was pulled open partway. Xia Qing came out holding the water basin and was confronted with the person walking toward her. She froze, and then her whole face blossomed like a flower. Filled with surprise and delight, she cried, “Sister Baiyu!”

Xia Qing was so overjoyed she wanted to jump up and hug her, but the heavy water basin held her down.

Yan Baiyu glanced at Xia Qing, then her gaze dropped to the basin in Xia Qing’s hands, its water sloshing. A towel was draped over the edge. The bloodstains that had seeped into the towel hadn’t been completely washed clean, diluted into a patch of pale pink. The water in the basin was no longer clear; it was turbid with red. A distinct smell of blood drifted out.

Yan Baiyu abruptly looked at Zhang Hejun beside her. Zhang Hejun was still unaware of what was happening, not yet recovered, when the woman turned toward him. A sudden punch landed squarely on his face.

Yan Baiyu’s punch was not only decisive and swift but also delivered with correct force. Taking this hit, Zhang Hejun’s brain blanked for a moment. His vision flickered like an old television with bad reception. His body lurched backward uncontrollably, and he was caught by a companion beside him, sitting him on the ground.

Once Zhang Hejun came back to his senses, he felt a dull ache in his nose. A warmth spread inside his nostrils, and two streams of hot, bloody mucus flowed out. Covering his nose, bewildered at having been punched for no reason, he said angrily, his voice nasal, “What are you doing?!”

Zhang Hejun looked up. The woman was already walking toward the main door. Standing before him, he didn’t know when, was a man. The man was bear-like in stature—tall, broad, and solid. That sharp, penetrating gaze looked down at him, and the menacing presence suppressed him, making him forget to breathe for a moment.

Xu Yin reached out and grabbed Zhang Hejun’s collar, hauling him up from the ground.

Yan Baiyu pushed open the main door and crossed the threshold.

The atmosphere inside the room was congealed and heavy. The sounds from outside were blocked by the door, unable to intrude.

The people inside sat on two sides. Yang Tainan was hunched forward, his forearms resting on his thighs, his fingers interlaced. Sun Er sat upright, her legs together, the teacup held in the hands resting on her lap. She was looking at Li Cunxin. Zhao Penglai leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, fingers pressed beneath his chin, frowning. Li Cunxin had her eyes closed, a hand supporting the side of her forehead, her head slightly bowed.

The creak of the turning door drew the attention of those inside. Yang Tainan and the other two looked toward the door. Yunxiu said, surprised and delighted, “Baiyu? You’re back!”

Zhao Penglai stood up. Li Cunxin opened her eyes and looked up. After her initial confusion, joy appeared on her face. Yan Baiyu walked straight toward her. Li Cunxin had just called out, “Baiyu—” when Yan Baiyu was already before her. Li Cunxin caught the scent of dust and grass clippings mingled with the cold, travel-worn smell of a long journey closing in on her. Yan Baiyu cupped her face and brushed aside the hair on her forehead.

The wound on Li Cunxin’s head had stopped bleeding. The last ooze of blood had stained a patch of the bandage wrapped around her head red. Yan Baiyu cast a chilling look at Yang Tainan and the other two, her face showing anger.

Sun Er could feel the hostility and fury in Yan Baiyu’s expression. Just by observing the reactions and words of Li Cunxin and the others, she could also guess that this person had a deep relationship with Li Cunxin, that she must have just returned only to hear about Li Cunxin’s injury, and was therefore angry.

Sun Er said, “Village Chief Li, regarding this incident…”

Li Cunxin stood up. “It’s getting late today. Why don’t the few of you stay here for the night? As for the matters concerning your village… we can discuss them tomorrow.”

Yang Tainan and the other two stood up one after another. Yang Tainan said, “No, it’s not convenient for us to stay overnight here. We need to return today.”

Li Cunxin said, “You may return. But Zhang Hejun and the other four must remain here.”

Yang Tainan opened his mouth to speak, but Li Cunxin cut him off. “The fact that Zhang Hejun and the others dug up the notoginseng and assaulted people is true. Compensation and punishment haven’t been discussed or settled. The men cannot be released.”

Yang Tainan sighed. “Very well then. We’ll trouble you. However, we still need to send someone back to inform the village, so the people there won’t worry. Besides, we have a doctor on our side. We could also bring her along to look at the injuries of those hurt.”

When Li Cunxin heard Yang Tainan mention a doctor, her eyes flickered. She nodded and said to Yunxiu, “Yunxiu, you and Xia Qing will stay at Cuo Jin and Sister Beibei’s place tonight. Let them stay at your place for now.”

Yunxiu responded, “Alright.”

Yunxiu led Yang Tainan and the other two out of the room. Yang Tainan looked at Sun Er and said, “You should go back. Between you and me, the village always needs one of us there.”

Sun Er shook her head, lost in thought. After a moment, she said, “Let Little Qi go back. I’ll stay here with you.”

Meanwhile, Yu Muyang, seeing the people come out, couldn’t resist peering inside from the doorway.

Li Cunxin spotted him out of the corner of her eye. It felt as if a hard rod was lodged in her throat—uncomfortable. She said, “What are you skulking around for? Get in here.”

Yu Muyang put on a fawning smile and entered the room. Behind him, trailing like a tail, was a string of people.

The several villagers who’d fought with Zhang Hejun and the others in Chang Yue’s house filed in, crowding by the door. They stood somewhat stiffly.

Li Cunxin paced slowly from Yu Muyang to Miao Bing at the very end, then back again to Yu Muyang. Her eyes appraised them. Appraising and appraising, she let out a laugh. “Everyone was so mighty and capable today. Ah. Heroes of Mount Liang, the lot of you.”

Li Cunxin said to Yu Muyang, “Yan Qing, the Prodigal Wanderer? Huh?”

Where could Yu Muyang not hear she was speaking sarcastically? Glancing at the bandage on Li Cunxin’s head, his jokey grin finally collapsed.

Li Cunxin said to Miao Bing, “Hua Rong, the Little Li Guang? Hmm?”

Miao Bing squeezed out an awkward smile.

Li Cunxin gave a cold snort. “I couldn’t call you off, couldn’t pull you back. My words floated by light as a breeze past your ears, yeah? The words of me, the village chief, don’t count for anything. Do you all think listening or not is all the same? You want to do whatever you please, so why don’t you just be the village chief instead? How about that?”

A row of people hung their heads, staring at their toes. No one made a sound.

Li Cunxin asked Yu Muyang, “Yu Muyang, you want the job?”

Li Cunxin then asked the man beside Yu Muyang, “Wu Zhen, you take it—you want to be village chief?”

The man waved his hands repeatedly. “Village Chief, don’t joke. I was wrong, I really know I was wrong.”

Li Cunxin let out a deep, heavy breath through her nose. For a long time, she said nothing. Outside the house, the sound of Yunxiu fetching water rose. The villagers’ delighted exclamations, the neighing of horses, the soft bleating of sheep drifted in. On the other side of the door, inside the house, it was utterly silent.

Yu Muyang and the others couldn’t stand the silence. They lifted their eyelids slightly to glance ahead. Zhao Penglai stood with his hands behind his back, silent. Yan Baiyu stood over there by the chair back, like a statue. Li Cunxin’s gaze swept over faintly, and the few instantly shrank their gazes back.

Li Cunxin said to Zhao Penglai, “Next year’s roster of people to send to the stone mine—scrap it. Let these few take those spots. I see they’ve got plenty of strength and plenty of fire.”

Zhao Penglai nodded. “Fine.”

The few felt bitterness in their hearts. Working the stone mine was grueling, punishing labor. There wasn’t a single person who’d gone to mine these past two years who hadn’t complained bitterly. They would rather take a beating. They looked at Yu Muyang, hoping he could plead for them. But Yu Muyang kept his jaw clenched tight and said nothing. They opened their mouths, but couldn’t bring themselves to ask.

“In the future, anyone else like this—throw them all into the stone mine. Won’t let your strength go to waste.” Li Cunxin said to Yu Muyang and the others, “Get out.”

This time, the few were obedient. No more refusing to listen, no more being impossible to move. Hearing those two words, they didn’t need Li Cunxin to say them a second time. As if granted amnesty, they hastily left.

Zhao Penglai glanced at Li Cunxin, then at Yan Baiyu. He chuckled. “Seems pretty lively outside. I’ll go see what good things Brother Xu and the others brought back this time.”

Zhao Penglai left. Only Li Cunxin and Yan Baiyu remained in the room. Li Cunxin stood there dryly for a moment, pressed her lips together. Her mouth felt a little dry. She looked at the tea on the table, wanting to go drink some water, but felt that making a move right now would seem strange.

“I…” The moment Li Cunxin spoke, her voice cracked. She quickly cleared her throat. “This time, you guys… were gone for so, so long.”

“Mhm.” Yan Baiyu responded simply, her gaze quietly resting on her.

Li Cunxin blinked. Her mind blanked. She forgot the follow-up line she’d meant to say—”Did you run into any trouble on the road?” When there’d been other people around, she hadn’t felt it. Now, alone, even her breathing was a little disordered.