Chapter 170 Try It Again

Chapter 170: Another Taste

In the blink of an eye, the Shangsi Festival on the third day of the third lunar month arrived. The grass and trees were newly green, and the warmth of spring brought flowers into bloom. The common folk had all changed into light spring garments, heading in small groups to the riverside for the cleansing ceremony.

Unfortunately, A Chan had to leave the capital today and couldn’t join in the festivities.

Shortly after mid-morning, Bai Xiuming came to pick up A Chan. Chen Hui handed him the packed luggage and pulled A Chan aside for a few more words of advice before seeing her off.

By the time the two arrived at the Fulai Inn, more than a dozen fully loaded cargo carts and several horse-drawn carriages were already waiting outside.

The horses pulling the carriages were pure white with reddish manes, looking rather mystical.

Seeing A Chan and Bai Xiuming arrive, Lie Xian emerged carrying a wooden basin filled with floating petals and a willow branch in his other hand.

Noticing her curiosity, Lie Xian explained, "This is a ritual to pray for blessings and ward off misfortune. Our ancestors will ensure our journey goes smoothly today."

Hearing that their ancestors would offer protection, A Chan immediately cooperated. Lie Xian might not be reliable, but ancestors certainly were.

She stood still as Lie Xian dipped the willow branch into the petal-infused water and swept it over her head and body.

Bai Xiuming wasn’t particularly interested in Lie Xian’s ancestors, but A Chan dragged him over anyway, forcing him to experience the protective ritual of the ancestral spirits.

After the simple rite, Lie Xian wheeled and called out, prompting people to come downstairs one after another.

Just by their appearances, it was clear they were of the same clan as Lie Xian—tall and with sharp, angular features, though the women had fairer complexions.

A Chan had already met them the day before. They greeted her warmly but ignored Bai Xiuming, lining up to be swept by Lie Xian’s willow branch before leaving the inn.

Bai Xiuming and A Chan were given their own carriage. Once they boarded, they noticed there was no coachman.

When everyone was ready, Lie Xian, riding at the front of the procession, took a white bone instrument from his waist and blew into it forcefully.

A haunting, far-reaching note sounded, and the horses in the caravan stirred to life, following Lie Xian’s lead.

With many people leaving the city for spring excursions, the caravan took a while to finally exit the city gates.

After traveling for about a quarter of an hour, the towering city walls vanished behind them. A Chan heard the sound again, this time much more urgent.

Curious, she leaned out to look, only for the carriage horses to suddenly break into a gallop. She was thrown backward, nearly falling, but Bai Xiuming snatched her up swiftly and pulled her into his lap.

For the rest of the journey, A Chan comfortably nestled against her personal pillow, refusing to move.

She had assumed Lie Xian’s claim of fast travel meant just a little faster—not racing across the ground like the wind.

After a full day of travel with only a brief rest, A Chan only just gotten used to the speed. It wasn’t until nightfall that the caravan finally stopped in a forest clearing.

A Chan was carried out of the carriage by Bai Xiuming. Though she had sat on his lap and hadn’t felt too jostled, the day-long journey had left her exhausted.

Once the caravan halted, everyone set up pots to cook. Lie Xian came over to check on A Chan, concerned when he saw her shaky legs. "Are you alright, Miss A Chan?"

"I’m fine, Brother Lie. No need to worry."

Lie Xian nodded hesitantly, clearly unconvinced.

He left briefly and soon returned with a bowl of murky brew, offering it to A Chan. "This is medicinal tea from our homeland. It restores energy. If you don’t mind..."

"Thank you, Brother Lie." A Chan accepted without hesitation. The moment she took the bowl, an earthy herbal fragrance filled her nose.

She took a sip, found it pleasant, and drank the entire bowl in one go.

Lie Xian allowed himself a small smile at the sight.

"Brother Lie, where are we now?"

She had spent the day exhausted in the carriage, aware only of their speed but not their location.

Lie Xian replied, "We’ve reached Liangzhou, within the territory of Ghost Wail Mountain. This forest is safe—we always rest here."

His words puzzled A Chan. What did he mean by "this forest is safe"?

After exchanging a few more words, someone called Lie Xian away, and he hurried off.

Once he was gone, Bai Xiuming tweaked her chin. "You’ll drink anything handed to you."

A Chan licked her lips, relishing the flavor. "It was delicious."

"Careful, or he’ll drug and sell you."

"Aren’t you here?" The truth was, A Chan knew about medicinal tea.

She also knew it was made from healing berries, which grew in the wilderness and were rare—good for the body.

Seeing his stern expression, A Chan pursed her lips and leaned in. "Want a taste?"

"No." Bai Xiuming turned his head away, but A Chan persisted until she finally kissed the corner of his lips.

"Well?" she asked.

Bai Xiuming dropped his head. "Couldn't tell. Do it again."

The two continued their playful banter until a loud cough interrupted them. A Chan pushed Bai Xiuming away and looked past him to see Lie Xing standing nearby.

"Food’s ready. Come eat."

Lie Xing led them to a cooking fire, where A Chan and Bai Xiuming each received a bowl of stew. Unleavened bread was available in a basin, help yourself to as much as you like.

A Chan ate one piece of bread and finished her bowl of stew.

After the meal, she heaved a sigh.

Her gloom was so obvious that Bai Xiuming chuckled. "What’s wrong?"

"I miss Hui Niang."

Though only a day had passed, they were already far from the capital. She was beginning to regret not bringing Hui Niang along.

A Chan muttered, "If Hui Niang were here, there’d be roast chicken for dinner tonight."

Bai Xiuming went quiet, realizing she was having cravings.

"Not tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll hunt a pheasant and roast it for you."

"Why not tonight?"

"Didn’t Lie Xian tell you? This is Ghost Wail Mountain."

"What’s wrong with this place?" A Chan still didn’t understand.

Bai Xiuming explained more carefully, "This mountain contains a ghost gate. Didn’t Shang Yin tell you? The original Shang family was built here."

Shang Yin had never mentioned it. A Chan guessed he might not know either, since the Shang family was already gone by the time he was old enough to remember.

But she finally realized why Lie Xian had said this place was safe. With the Ghost Gate nearby, no evil spirits or monsters would dare come near—of course it was safe.

Before bed, A Chan badgered Bai Xiuming to take her for a walk around the area. There really wasn’t a single trace left behind. He only pointed out the direction where the Ghost Gate was before leading her back.

After a night’s rest, the next day, A Chan, having drunk the medicinal tea, was bursting with energy again.

Before dawn, the group washed their faces by the river, and the caravan set off once more.

After five consecutive days of travel, their group had reached the border of Great Xia.

The speed of their journey was truly astonishing. After observing for a few days, Bai Xiuming discussed a horse trade worth tens of thousands in silver with Lie Xian.

These horses carried the bloodline of the auspicious measuring steed, specially bred for their trading ventures in Great Xia.

In the wilderness, horses were nothing remarkable, but within Great Xia, any mount had to resemble a horse. They had adapted to local customs, never expecting such an unexpected windfall.

That day, the caravan stopped before dusk.

When A Chan got off the carriage, she saw they had halted outside a village. At the entrance stood a stone tablet inscribed with the words "White Dragon Village."

The closer they got to the border, the more A Chan could feel the dryness—not just in the weather, but also in the scarcity of water sources along the way. Many riverbeds had completely dried up.

But this village seemed different. It was encircled by a small river, where many preteen children were playing and splashing about, making quite a racket.

Lie Xian’s group seemed to pass through this village often. The moment their caravan stopped, villagers came out to greet them, warmly inviting them to rest inside.

The one who welcomed them was a middle-aged man named Zhou Huai, said to be the son of White Dragon Village’s village head.

Though he clearly had no cultivation training, he was burly and muscular, only slightly less imposing than Lie Xing and the others. A Chan kept stealing glances at him curiously a few times.

Zhou Huai didn’t notice her gaze. As they walked, he said to Lie Xian, "Brother Xian, your quarters were cleaned long ago. How long will you stay this time? The fabric you brought from the capital last time was so beautiful—my wife still talks about buying another bolt for our Yingying’s wedding dress."

"No rush. We’ll likely rest for three days before setting off again. This afternoon, Brother Zhou can bring your wife and daughter to pick out the fabric first—I promise only the best." At this moment, Lie Xian truly sounded like a merchant.

Zhou Huai beamed. "Then many thanks, Brother Xian. I’ll bring them after lunch."

The house arranged for the caravan was near the village outskirts. Opening the window revealed the river surrounding White Dragon Village. This row of houses seemed newly built, with a well in the open space in front.

When A Chan and Bai Xiuming entered, the room was sparse—just beds, tables, and chairs, with no other furnishings.

The moment they stepped inside, A Chan declared, "I want to bathe!"

After days of travel, she felt like a walking dirt clod. She hadn’t even let Bai Xiuming hold her these past few days.

"Alright." Bai Xiuming closed the doors and windows, then took out A Chan’s bathtub from his storage bag and set it up, along with the bedding.

Before the journey, Chen Hui had packed all of A Chan’s daily necessities, including bedding and the bathtub.

Since A Chan had said Bai Xiuming could carry everything, she had prepared thoroughly—though A Chan hadn’t had the chance to use them until now.

After drawing water from the well, Bai Xiuming heated it with his Internal Energy before stepping out.

He wandered around and returned with two pheasants in hand.

Villagers he passed smiled and greeted him, showing no distance, but Bai Xiuming remained aloof, barely exchanging words. Gradually, no one approached him anymore.

Not far ahead, he saw Lie Xing surrounded by several aunties, carrying a basket filled with fresh vegetables and several fat, still-flopping fish—likely just caught from the river.

Spotting Bai Xiuming, Lie Xing raised a hand in greeting. "Brother Bai, out hunting?"

Now that Bai Xiuming was a valuable customer of the caravan, Lie Xing’s attitude had shifted quickly.

Tens of thousands in silver could finance their trade for years. Moreover, someone who could buy horses in the capital likely held a high status—possibly even an official.

Though Lie Xing and the others had no intention of getting too close with Bai Xiuming, they knew more friends meant more opportunities. They couldn't risk offending him.

Bai Xiuming nodded and handed over the two pheasants. "A Chan wants chicken. Could you have someone cook one up? The other is for you."

Lie Xing agreed readily. "Sure, thank you, Brother Bai."

Then, lifting the fish tied with straw, he asked, "Does Miss A Chan like fish?"

Bai Xiuming glanced at the fish and declined. "She doesn’t eat fish."

"Ah." Lie Xing muttered quietly, "Miss A Chan is quite picky."

Bai Xiuming chuckled lightly. "Indeed, very picky."

Not long after A Chan finished bathing, Bai Xiuming returned.

She stood by the window, staring at the riverbank.

Bai Xiuming walked over, standing behind her as he gathered her still-wet hair. "What are you looking at?"

"Those children." A Chan tilted her chin slightly, nodding toward the window.

His fingers combed through her hair as he dried it, sparing a glance out the window.

"What about them?"

"They look only seven or eight, but they’re all so sturdy."

The children wore short-sleeved tunics—understandable for March, since children didn't feel the cold. But for children that age to have such well-developed muscles was unusual.

Bai Xiuming gave them only a cursory glance before looking away. "Perhaps they’ve eaten well since childhood."

"What could they eat to become like that?"

"The fish here are fat."

"Really?" A Chan wasn’t particularly interested in fish now. After tasting dragon carp, other fish paled in comparison.

After a satisfying lunch of stewed chicken, A Chan was in good cheer. When Zhou Huai brought his wife and daughter to pick fabric from Lie Xian, she tagged along.

Accompanying Zhou Huai was a middle-aged woman—his wife, Wu Shi—and two young women.

One was slightly shorter, resembling Wu Shi with plain features. The other was tall, fair-skinned, and exceptionally pretty.

As Wu Shi explained, the shorter one was her daughter, Zhou Ying, while the taller one was their adopted daughter, Zhou Ning.

Both girls had already reached marriageable age. Zhou Ying had recently gotten engaged.

Zhou Ying was bubbly and sociable, unabashed when talking about her wedding. She seemed familiar with Lie Xing, bombarding him with questions about the capital, her eyes shining with excitement.

Compared to Zhou Ying, Zhou Ning was far more reserved.

Though she was the prettier one, she hadn't uttered a word since entering the room, keeping to the corner until Zhou Ying called her over.

Zhou Ying first picked out a light green fabric and held it against Ning Ning, asking, "Ning Ning, do you like this color?"

Zhou Ning hesitated before nodding.

"Then we'll take this fabric for Ning Ning to make a new dress." She glanced at Wu Shi, as if seeking her approval—after all, good fabric didn’t come cheap.

But Wu Shi nodded without hesitation. "Good, this color suits Ning Ning well."

Later, Lie Xian and the others brought out some jewelry, and Wu Shi selected a pair of silver bracelets, putting one on each girl’s wrist.

A Chan got bored after a bit. This time, Lie Xian hadn’t sourced goods from elsewhere, so most of what they brought was from the capital—nothing new to A Chan.

She stepped outside and saw two stools by the wall. Choosing one, she sat down.

Before long, the girl named Zhou Ning also came out. She studied A Chan for a while before walking over and sitting beside her.

For some reason, once the girl approached, A Chan felt the air got cooler.

"My name is A Chan. What’s yours?" A Chan asked.

"I’m Ning Ning." Zhou Ning’s voice was raspy, like she rarely talked. She played with her fingers while stealing occasional glances at A Chan.

"How old are you, Ning Ning?"

"Sixteen." After answering, Zhou Ning asked in return, "And you? How old are you?"

"I’m nineteen."

Zhou Ning looked behind A Chan, her expression doubtful, as if she didn’t quite believe her age.

But she said nothing further. Instead, she rummaged in her sleeve for a moment before pulling out a small, white disc the size of a palm.

It resembled polished seashell, gleaming silver in the sunlight.

Zhou Ning offered it to A Chan.

"For me?" A Chan asked.

Zhou Ning nodded.

The moment A Chan took it, she felt a coolness wrap around her.

It wasn’t an unpleasant chill—just a pleasant, damp coolness. Holding this in summer would surely be comfortable.

Surprised, A Chan examined the disc. It must be special, though she couldn’t figure it out right then.

Just then, Zhou Ying’s anxious voice suddenly rang out: "Ning Ning, where are you?"

Before the words faded, Zhou Ying had already appeared.

Seeing Zhou Ning sitting with A Chan, she glared suspiciously. "My sister doesn’t like to talk. You didn’t bully her, did you?"

"Ying Ying, watch your mouth," Wu Shi’s voice followed as she stepped out, offering A Chan an apologetic smile. "Please excuse my daughter, miss. She didn’t mean it—she’s just worried about Ning Ning."

"It’s fine. They’re clearly close sisters."

Then Zhou Ying noticed the disc in A Chan’s hand and asked sharply, "Where did you get that? Is it Ning Ning’s?"

A Chan’s face went cold. She lifted her eyes, her gaze sharp. "What? Do I need to explain the origins of my belongings to you?"

Perhaps sensing A Chan’s unyielding demeanor, Wu Shi elbowed Zhou Ying. "Watch your tone. Say you’re sorry now."

Zhou Ying pouted and mumbled reluctantly, "Sorry."

Then she quickly pulled Zhou Ning away.

"I’m so sorry. My Ying Ying always jumps to conclusions," Wu Shi apologized again, though her eyes lingered on the disc in A Chan’s hand.

Coolly, A Chan tucked the disc away and said bluntly, "Then you ought to teach her some manners, ma’am."

With that, she stood and left, not caring how Wu Shi looked.

Returning to her room, A Chan found it dead quiet. She tiptoed to the bed, where Bai Xiuming lay apparently sound asleep.

Leaning down, she tapped the tip of his nose. He didn’t stir.

Then she moved her finger to his lips—but before she could do anything, he suddenly opened his mouth and gave her finger a playful bite.

A Chan almost jumped out of her skin, glaring. "You were pretending to sleep!"

"Not pretending. You disturbed me."

"Liar. I was being very quiet."

"Not because of noise. What did you bring back?" Bai Xiuming asked.

A Chan paused before pulling out the disc Zhou Ning had given her.

Bai Xiuming looked at it startled. "Dragon scale?"

"Dragon scale? But the ones I know look different." A Chan frowned, doubting her memory.

Taking the disc, Bai Xiuming examined it before returning it. "It’s from a young dragon. And... this is an inverse scale."