Chapter 235: Chapter 203: Stranger in a Foreign Land

The distant mountains layered upon each other, clad in silver, stretching endlessly as the cold wind howled, sweeping up swirling snowflakes.

A long merchant caravan braved the snow and wind, laden with various goods. Black flags representing the trading company fluttered in the wind, emblazoned with the character ’Si’.

Sang Que wore a not-so-thick dark red outfit, her hair tied up with a red ribbon. She carried a peach wood bow and an arrow quiver on her back, holding the Hundred Victory Saber in her hand, sitting at the back of a grain-laden carriage.

Roughly estimating, the outdoor temperature was around zero degrees. Fortunately, she wore modern high-tech thermal clothing underneath, so she didn’t feel cold.

The snow on the road was thick, untouched, and there was no luxury of salting it away, so the caravan moved slowly.

The Si Family was a well-known trading company in Taikang City, transporting grain to Tianliang City every few days. Tianliang City was situated at the pass of the Qingcang Mountain Range, guarding the gate between Qinzhou and Yunzhou.

Sang Que heard from locals that the Qingcang Mountains were continuous and majestic, and beyond them was the heartland of Yunzhou.

Winter stopped at the Qingcang Mountains. The heartland of Yunzhou was low-lying, with constant rain, humid and muggy, characterized by a rainforest terrain and inhabited by numerous barbarian tribes, where Gu Techniques flourished.

There was still ongoing war in Yunzhou. The barbarian tribes had their unique beliefs and refused to accept the Xuan Dynasty’s rule.

The war had lasted many years. The barbarian tribes had their share of victories, but never stepped beyond Yunzhou’s borders, retreating after driving the Xuan Dynasty people near Tianliang City.

Yet, the Xuan Dynasty was determined to conquer Yunzhou. According to the people of Taikang City, it was because the Yunzhou barbarian tribes not only raised Gu, but also worshipped various ghosts. When a child fell ill, they prayed to one ghost for healing; if something was stolen, they prayed to another to catch the thief.

Different trees could be worshipped to different ghosts, including those that healed diseases; each ailment had a different ghost for healing.

The sheer number was beyond reckoning. If left unchecked, these ghosts would eventually create chaos in the Nine States.

Sang Que leaned against the sacks of grain, looking up. The sun was gentle, with not a cloud in the sky, showing no signs of snow. She didn’t know if He Buning and the others had reached Tianliang City.

The caravan set out from Taikang City, and the journey to Tianliang City would take at least five days.

Sang Que, resting her arms and closing her eyes, thought her mother’s story needed the catalyst of time to unfold; there was no need to rush.

Thus, Sang Que followed the caravan on a routine of traveling by day and resting at waystations by night. They proceeded without incident for four days, encountering only soldiers from Tianliang City once, with no other distractions.

The weather was favorable as well, with no snowfall and the winds calmed. The melting snow on the road sped up their journey, promising arrival at Tianliang City by dusk.

Approaching noon, the caravan stopped by the roadside for the traveling party to rest and eat.

Sang Que wore the Night Traveler’s silver token at her waist, prompting the caravan to keep their distance, serving her a bowl of hot soup first.

After the meal, as the caravan prepared to depart, a sudden wind rose and the sky quickly darkened, snowflakes beginning to fall.

“This shows signs of a blizzard. Hurry and reach Tianliang City fast, but avoid making a commotion and beware of avalanches from the mountains.”

The caravan leader instructed everyone, and they mounted their horses. Just as they were about to depart, a call came from behind, not loud but clear.

“Wait a moment.”

Sang Que looked towards the voice, seeing a young man and a little boy.

Both wore dark blue cotton coats of the same fabric. The man appeared to be in his early twenties, handsome with brows like distant mountains and starry eyes, exuding an extraordinary aura.

The man held an erhu, while the boy behind him bore a resemblance, bright-eyed and looking joyful, clutching a gourd flute.

The man panted as he reached the caravan steward. “Finally, people! Could you give us a lift? If a blizzard hits, we two brothers might die out here.”

The steward, seeing the escalating snow, nodded swiftly. “Find any empty space on a cart and take a seat quickly.”

“Thank you!”

As the steward urged the caravan to depart, Sang Que returned to the cart she had been on. If there were any vacant spots, it would likely be this one, as the others were filled to capacity.

The man took a quick survey and settled in front of Sang Que, noticing the token at her waist. He showed no fear, first lifting the boy onto the cart to sit atop the sacks of grain, then sat across from Sang Que himself.

“Apologies for the intrusion, Lady Night Traveler,” smiled the man.

Sang Que nodded slightly, intrigued by the man’s foreign accent, distinct from the local’s, and asked, “Where are you two from?”

The man tossed his hair back, smoothing his sleeves and setting his erhu down. “My brother and I are wandering performers, just out of White Tower Village, heading back to Tianliang City.”

“Are you from Tianliang City?”

The caravan resumed its journey.

The man’s eyes sparkled, “To be honest, my brother and I are originally from Yunzhou. Surviving the perpetual wars there was tough, so we came to Tianliang City for a living. I am Cheng Ge, and this is my younger brother, Xingzhu. May I ask the Lady Night Traveler’s name?”

Sang Que frowned slightly, sensing the beginning of her mother’s tale was manifesting, yet the ’stranger’ seemed to refer to both herself and this Cheng Ge before her.

A Yunzhou man making a life in Qinzhou is indeed a stranger.

During Sang Que’s distraction, the little boy atop the grain sacks eyed both Sang Que and the brightly-eyed Cheng Ge, secretly pouting before abruptly calling out to Cheng Ge.

“Dad!”

Cheng Ge widened his eyes in shock, turning to Xingzhu.

Xingzhu dramatically covered his mouth. “Oops, I forgot! Outside, I should call you Big Brother, not Dad.”

Cheng Ge’s eyelids drooped in exasperation, while Xingzhu stuck out his tongue defiantly.

Catching Sang Que’s skeptical glance, Cheng Ge laughed heartily, “Ha! Don’t mind him, miss. My little brother is just joking. I haven’t even married, let alone have a son this age!”

Sang Que asked curiously, “By Xuan Dynasty law, one must wed by sixteen. How is it you’ve not married?”

Cheng Ge sighed with frustration, “The people of Xuan harbor prejudice against Yunzhou folk. My maternal family hails from Yunzhou, my paternal from Qinzhou. Despite reaching marrying age, none would wed me.”

“Each year, the government gathers us and those past marrying age to present to unwed maidens for selection. But due to my low status as a singer in the underworld, there are no takers…”

Sang Que raised an eyebrow, marveling at the Xuan Dynasty maidens, who value more than appearance in choosing a mate.

“I am Sang,” she introduced herself to Cheng Ge, then fell silent.

The snowstorm intensified, and the wind grew sharp, biting the faces of those on the open cargo carts, making further conversation impossible amidst the blinding white.

Thankfully, the experienced Si Family caravan soon descended the mountain path, reaching the main road to Tianliang City.

After another hour of swift travel, Sang Que finally beheld the majestic city’s outline amid the snowy expanse, its towering black walls emblazoned with the red ’Xuan’ flags, exuding a chill of killing intent.

As the caravan neared the city gates, a group of soldiers, pulling three large prisoner wagons, overtook them from behind.

Each wagon held men of varying ages, clad in coarse cloth, faces ashen.

The soldiers hurried into the city while the caravan paused to wait.

Cheng Ge remarked to Sang Que, “Those are draftees taken from nearby villages.”

Sang Que glanced at Cheng Ge, wondering how he had avoided conscription, especially given Cloud State’s wartime demands for soldiers. She almost said so.

Just then, a familiar meow directed Sang Que’s attention to a black cat.

“Xuan Yu?”

Sang Que lifted Xuan Yu, filled with joy. She saw He Buning and the others rushing out from the city gates, including Xiao Liu driving a donkey cart, followed by Xiao Wu, and the rest.

Xiao Liu, not on horseback, was driving the donkey cart.

He Buning, speaking with certainty beneath his breath as he approached Sang Que, said, “You’re back just in time. Come with me; there’s a case!”

Sang Que felt a slight tremor in her heart. Was this the beginning of the story her mother had written, when strangers suddenly appeared?

“””

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep