Chapter 136 Found

Chapter 136: Found

After Song Tingzhou tumbled off the cliff, Xue Sheng immediately wanted to go around to the bottom of the cliff to look for him, but unexpectedly the mountain path went south, twisting and turning, and the fog was so heavy that he got lost.

When he finally managed to get out of the forest, he realized that the five of them searching randomly was not a good solution, so he immediately asked the remaining four to go back and report to Meng Wan.

He himself had some martial arts skills, but these soldiers were raised in the camp and had never seen blood, even weaker than him. If he sent just one or two back and they got killed on the road, that'd be a disaster.

With Meng Wan getting the news, he could send more men to come and look for the husband together, and it would be best to also call Qing Xing or Elder Miao.

After the four soldiers left, Xue Sheng searched alone in the mountain forest for a long time. When it was getting dark, he finally found a mountain village, full of bamboo-structured houses he had never seen before, and the people's attire was also different from the Han. Although he had traveled extensively in his early years, he had never seen such things.

The people in the village were very unfriendly to outsiders, and Xue Sheng could not enter. The mountain forest was even more dangerous at night, so he simply found a big tree outside the village to rest.

A kind-hearted old woman in the village brought him a bowl of hot soup. Xue Sheng remembered Meng Wan's usual cautious attitude towards others. Although he thanked the old woman, he did not drink the soup.

He asked the old woman if she'd seen a stranger dressed similarly to him and very tall. Xue Sheng could not understand what the old woman said, but he understood the meaning when she shook her head.

Lord Song wasn't here?

He then asked how to get to the bottom of the cliff. The old woman thought for a while and pointed out a small path. Xue Sheng thanked her and pushed a few copper coins on her, but the old lady absolutely refused, took her bowl, and left.

Xue Sheng made a fire under the tree and gathered some dry branches around. He stayed till the dead of night, then put out the fire and climbed up the tree to take a short nap.

In the early morning, the sounds of people coming out of the village to hunt woke him up. They were still wary of Xue Sheng, this strange Han who had suddenly appeared.

Seeing this, Xue Sheng silently retreated and followed the path the old woman had pointed out last night. After walking for half a day, he indeed reached the bottom of a cliff.

Below lay a human corpse and two dead horses. Xue Sheng was startled and went forward to examine, only to find that it was the soldier who had fallen earlier.

The terrain at the bottom of the cliff was relatively flat, with no sharp rocks. If this soldier had not been pinned under the horse, he should not have died.

Xue Sheng examined the area and found a large amount of blood on the back of the other horse. The blood was not from the horse's wound, so it must have been left by Song Tingzhou. The man should still be alive, but his condition was unknown.

Xue Sheng was extremely anxious. Song Tingzhou had fallen from the horse a day and a night ago and must have been seriously injured. If he had walked on his own, he should not have gone far.

He searched the nearby forest for another day but found no trace of Song Tingzhou. At night, he went back to the outskirts of that village and made a fire to rest again.

He took out some dry rations from his bundle, casually toasted them over the fire. His water bag had long been empty. After forcing down a dry biscuit, he could not eat anymore.

In the dead of night, he climbed up a tree to rest. Before dawn the next morning, he was woken up by someone from the village.

"Danu, where exactly do you come from, and what do you want?" A person who looked like a leader asked him with a serious expression, speaking actually in Chinese.

Xue Sheng, seeing that finally someone could communicate with him, quickly climbed down from the tree. After thinking for a moment, he pointed towards the cliff where Song Tingzhou had fallen and asked: "I have an elder brother. A few days ago, he accidentally fell while passing by that cliff. I have been looking for him for two days but haven't found him. I want to ask you and your people if you have seen him?"

The Yao Chief, hearing that his words were polite and that he was looking for a relative, slightly lowered his guard. "I can help you ask the tribe if anyone has seen your elder brother. You can come in and rest for a while."

Xue Sheng was tired and exhausted, having been tense for two days. He indeed urgently needed a place to rest.

The Yao Chief arranged for him to rest in a bamboo building at the outermost part of the village and told him that he would immediately ask the people in the village.

Xue Sheng took a rough look and felt that the village was not too big, at most a few dozen households, and should be able to ask around in half a day. He waited in the bamboo building for a while, and seeing no one around, he couldn't resist the drowsiness and fell asleep.

He didn't know how long had passed when he heard footsteps on the stairs outside. He woke up with a start, and seeing the sun high in the sky outside the window, he felt danger. He had slept so deeply just now; if the villagers had ill intentions, it would have been terrible.

Thank goodness, thank goodness.

He secretly felt lucky in his heart and warned himself that he must not be so careless again. The Yao Chief had already come upstairs.

"I have asked all the tribe members. They have not seen any strange man besides you in these days."

Xue Sheng sighed inwardly. After tonight, it would be three days. The longer the time dragged, the more dangerous the situation for the master. But if those three soldiers had returned to town smoothly, they should be able to bring people over today to search together for the master.

He thanked the Yao Chief. "Since that's the case, I won't disturb you further."

In the village, the bamboo buildings had the first floor as kitchen and dining room, and the second floor for living and sleeping, which effectively kept out moisture and dampness.

Xue Sheng was about to go downstairs with the Yao Chief when he suddenly saw a long gown hanging on an open space outside the innermost bamboo building. Although it was too far to see clearly, the villagers all wore short-sleeved shirts and shorts, mostly in blue and black, but that long gown was green.

He paused almost imperceptibly, then walked downstairs as if nothing had happened.

After taking leave of the Yao Chief, Xue Sheng did not leave the vicinity of the village. Instead, he used the dense forest to circle around to the other side of the village, closer to the innermost bamboo building. From there, he could see more clearly that the hanging garment was exactly what Song Tingzhou had worn that day.

Xue Sheng's heart was agitated, but he was afraid that the villagers were lying for some other purpose, so he dared not alert the enemy. He could only observe quietly and wait for reinforcements.

He patrolled around the village without making a sound, observing all day while avoiding the villagers. Finally, at dusk, he met up with Elder Miao and the others who had come from the town.

"Where is Lord Song? Is he seriously injured?" Afraid that Song Tingzhou might be in trouble, Elder Miao carried his medicine box and brought healing medicines as he followed the remaining soldiers to come.

Xue Sheng looked at the large group of people in front of him, casually took the heavy medicine box from Elder Miao's back, and asked: "Why have you all come? Where is my master?"

Over a dozen soldiers had followed, and even Qin Jiao had come. Was it that only the old, weak, and disabled were left in the town?

The soldier who had delivered the message replied to Xue Sheng, "When we went back to report, Meng Fulang was not in the manor. Old Madam Chang was worried when she heard the news and followed us. But the mountain road below is difficult to travel, so she stayed on the official road to wait for news, with the page in attendance."

Xue Sheng knew that Chang Jinhua was worried about her son. Falling off a cliff sounded too dangerous, and he was afraid that if his husband knew, he would also want to come.

"Have you left someone to send a message to my husband?"

The soldier answered, "Eight people have been left. They can both deliver messages and protect the husband's safety."

Xue Sheng finally felt relieved. He said to Qin Jiao, "I have found traces of the master in a nearby village, but the villagers seem to be intentionally hiding something. If all of us go over, it will inevitably cause conflict. Prince Qin, would you be willing to come with me to investigate?"

Qin Jiao now heard that it was Song Tingzhou's order. Since his immediate superior was in danger, how could he stand by and do nothing? So he agreed readily.

Xue Sheng's martial arts were not as outstanding as Qin Jiao's, but his figure was light and nimble, more suitable for reconnaissance.

He first entered the village from a secluded spot and went straight to the bamboo building he had seen during the day. Qin Jiao followed not too far behind him.

The village was remote, with cliffs surrounding it on the east and west sides. Few outsiders ever came, so there was no real defense. Once it got dark, the village gate was closed and everyone went home to rest.

Xue Sheng found a low wall and easily climbed over it.

Qin Jiao raised an eyebrow slightly behind him, obviously not expecting that Song Tingzhou, a minor seventh-rank official, had such capable people by his side. It seemed he had some skills.

The village wall was built with stone at the bottom and rows of wooden stakes on top. Qin Jiao was heavier and taller than Xue Sheng. He took a few steps to gain momentum and then vaulted over the wall. Fortunately, the wooden stakes were sturdy enough and did not bend under his weight.

The two of them pressed their bodies against the stone wall at the edge of the village, hiding entirely in the darkness. Relying on the hazy moonlight, they crept forward slowly.

Oil lamps were a rarity in this small village. As soon as night fell, Song Tingzhou put down the book that Lan Duo's father had borrowed from the Yao Chief, slowly closed his eyes, and his mind could not calm down for a long time.

Whether he had seen the note or not, since he had been away for so long without returning, Wan'er would surely send someone to search for him.

This place was not far from the town. After Wan'er realized that he was not in the county town, it was very likely that he would deduce from clues that he had fallen off the cliff.

Moreover, Xue Sheng and the others would also go back to report. He only needed to wait patiently.

But thinking of what Lan Duo and her father had said about the monster with a human head and a beast's body, Song Tingzhou could not help feeling restless and could not calm down to sleep.

Furthermore, this father and daughter had concealed his appointment documents. He had to reach Xiwu Prefecture by the end of January at the latest to present his commission papers to the local prefect.

If he failed to recover the documents—or if the father and daughter destroyed them—he would first need to explain the situation to the prefect of Xiwu Prefecture, then report to the imperial court and request the Ministry of Personnel to urgently dispatch a replacement copy to Lingnan. This delay alone would constitute dereliction of duty on Song Tingzhou’s part, almost certainly resulting in a demerit recorded in his official dossier.

Song Tingzhou’s mind churned with conflicting emotions, keeping him awake for a long while.

Suddenly, he noticed the teacup he had placed behind the door earlier trembling faintly; water inside sloshed and spilled as though someone were about to push the door open from outside.

Motionless on the bed, Song Tingzhou stared coldly at the crack beneath the door, his expression icy. His right hand slid under the pillow and withdrew a rigid bamboo stick, one end embedded with a shard of broken porcelain.

A sword blade inserted from outside pried loose the door’s bolt, which dropped with a dull thud.

Sword? Or a dagger?

It differed from what he’d anticipated—and Song Tingzhou’s taut body abruptly relaxed.

“Xue Sheng?” he asked softly.

Xue Sheng pushed the door open and entered. “My lord!”

His voice rose instinctively with excitement. Qin Jiao, standing just behind him, quietly reminded him, “Lower your voice.”

Xue Sheng had already reached Song Tingzhou’s bedside. “My lord—were you seriously injured?”

Song Tingzhou threw back the quilt, revealing his left leg tightly bandaged. He offered a bitter smile. “I’m afraid I won’t be walking far.”

Qin Jiao said, “Rest easy, my lord. Our men are all stationed near the stockade—and the physician is among them.”

Yet Song Tingzhou was preoccupied with something else entirely. “What?! You brought everyone here? Then what of Wan’er?”

Qin Jiao didn’t understand. “Master Meng remains in town as usual—he doesn’t yet know you’re in danger.”

“Pingshi Town may no longer be safe. Your Lordship, please hurry—lead your men back immediately to fetch my family out of town.”

Xue Sheng urged, “My lord, let’s get you out of the stockade first. Doctor Miao is waiting outside. Once we’re clear, I’ll immediately return with men to retrieve your husband.”

“Are you leaving?” Lan Duo’s voice suddenly rang out from downstairs.

Late at night, the young woman brazenly climbed up the bamboo structure without hesitation. Spotting two unfamiliar Han Chinese men inside, she showed no fear—only red-rimmed eyes fixed on Song Tingzhou.

Qin Jiao glanced briefly between Lan Duo and Song Tingzhou, then burst into laughter.

All along the journey, witnessing the deep affection between the Song couple, he’d assumed their bond unshakable. Yet after merely four or five days apart—tsk, tsk!

As a subordinate, he ought at least to read the room tactfully. Unwilling to watch them quarrel, he tugged Xue Sheng beside him, intending to descend and wait below.

He tugged sideways…

Tugged again…

Turning back, he stared at Xue Sheng—still standing rigidly in place, utterly unmoved.

“I’ve told Miss Lan Duo repeatedly: I have a husband at home—the love of my life—and I will never abandon him to marry you.” Song Tingzhou had said this countless times. With an impatient expression, he tapped his fingers against the book beside his bed—each tap venting his frustration.

Wan’er remained in town, his condition unknown—but this girl acted as though she couldn’t grasp plain speech. If she persisted and drew villagers’ attention, they might band together to stop them, creating yet another complication.

Song Tingzhou shot Xue Sheng—a silent signal from beside the door—to strike Lan Duo unconscious at the opportune moment.

There was no time now to inquire about the appointment documents; Wan’er’s safety came first.

“Then… if he’s devoured by the mountain demon, you still won’t marry me?” Lan Duo insisted stubbornly.

This being her first love, even Song Tingzhou’s coldness couldn’t suppress her question—but the words sounded both like a curse and a wish, darkening his expression further.

“Not only is my husband’s wisdom sufficient to keep him from peril—even if…” Song Tingzhou exhaled heavily, “…even if something truly befell him, I would never marry anyone else!”

The moment he spoke, his chest ached unbearably—and his hands clenched involuntarily into fists.

“Xue Sheng!”

“Then go!” Lan Duo suddenly shouted, wiped her tears, and fled sobbing.

Leaving Xue Sheng stunned where he stood. “My lord?”

To prevent mishap, Song Tingzhou ordered, “Follow her. If she calls for help, render her unconscious. Search her dwelling for my bundle.”

“Yes.” Xue Sheng leapt downstairs.

Song Tingzhou then turned to Qin Jiao, who had watched the commotion silently, and said, “Your Lordship, I must trouble you to assist me downstairs.”

Qin Jiao suddenly felt genuine admiration for Song Tingzhou. “Lord Song, no formalities necessary. This bamboo structure is steep—I’ll carry you down on my back.”

“Many thanks, Your Lordship,” Song Tingzhou replied politely.

Both he and Master Meng Wan knew Qin Jiao—the squad leader—had accompanied them only because the crown prince had other plans. He would likely remain in Xiwu Prefecture only briefly. As heir to the Marquisate, he deserved due respect.

Qin Jiao’s build closely matched Song Tingzhou’s—luckily, he’d come along, for Xue Sheng alone might not have been strong enough to carry him.

After descending, Xue Sheng returned—with Lan Duo’s father following behind.

“I know you must be someone important from outside. Lan Duo is still just a child—I hope you’ll forgive her, considering we saved your life.” It seemed he already understood why his daughter had run back in tears. In his hand, he held the blue bundle Lan Duo had found—now returning it to Song Tingzhou.

Song Tingzhou immediately inspected the documents inside. Slightly wrinkled but undamaged—he felt immense relief.

Yet Lan Duo’s father assumed the other man feared they’d stolen something from within. “We haven’t touched anything inside.”

“I know. Miss Lan Duo is still young—she deserves a life of her own. I am not a suitable match for her.” Song Tingzhou withdrew two silver ingots from the bundle. Fearing Lan Duo’s father might refuse them, he instructed Xue Sheng to place them inside the bamboo dwelling where he’d stayed.

Lan Duo’s father sighed. “Follow me—I’ll open the stockade gate for you.”

Given his leg injury, scaling the wall would have been difficult—so they used the gate instead.

Qin Jiao carried him on his back, with Xue Sheng trailing behind. After exiting the stockade, Song Tingzhou turned to Lan Duo’s father, who stood by the gate, and said, “Thank you, Uncle, for saving my life. Should you ever face hardship in the future, please come to Hexian County to find me—I am of the Song family.”