Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wild Chapter Two: Journey Afar

Lingjiao Town.

A single street, a handful of shops, and some twenty or thirty households.

A shallow river wound its way through the town, its banks fringed with uneven clusters of trees.

On the pebbled shore, two old horses nibbled at their fodder; two heavy wagons sat idle to the side; more than a dozen men lounged about, each resting in his own chosen spot.

The party from Yu Family Village arrived here by mid-afternoon. Instead of pushing on, they decided to spend the night under the open sky.

Yu Ye sat alone amid the wild grass, anxiety etched on his face.

They said that from here, it would take only three to five more days' travel south to reach Lingjiao Valley. Whether he could find any trace of his father there, he did not know.

A few yards away, the clear river flowed quietly. Across the water, ancient trees leaned crookedly, and birds huddled on the branches, occasionally chirping plaintively in the cold wind.

A group of people approached from the direction of the town.

It was Yu Ergou and his father, accompanied by several young men in their early twenties—Yu Quan, Yu Meng, Yu Zhuang, and other kinsmen.

Autumn hunts and winter expeditions were great events for the mountain folk. According to old custom, the Yu, Bai, and Feng villages traveled together. After Yu Family Village arrived first at Lingjiao Town, Yu Youcai instructed the clansmen to rest on the riverbank, while he himself led Yu Baoshan to the inn to await the arrival of the others.

Yu Ergou, unable to bear the boredom, coaxed his father and friends to go explore the town. At dusk, they returned, laughing and talking loudly.

"The Fengs are already at the inn, but the Bais haven’t arrived yet."

"Third Uncle should let us stay at the inn, too—better than sleeping out in the wild."

"Our Yu Family Village is too poor for inns."

"Yu Ye, catch!"

Yu Ergou drew near and tossed something with a flick of his hand.

A handful of plump, red wild jujubes landed in Yu Ye’s lap.

Lying in the grass, Yu Ye savored the crisp sweetness of the mountain fruit. It was rare for him to travel this far from home, and he longed to join the fun in town, but feared being unwelcome, so he stayed put. If not for Yu Ergou’s care, the journey would have felt much lonelier.

Moments later, laughter echoed across the river.

The surface shimmered in the glow of the setting sun, water splashing and sparkling as figures cavorted and played.

Yu Ergou and the others had thrown off their robes, stripped to their underclothes, and were running barefoot through the river. Some caught fish and tossed them ashore, prompting another round of cheers.

Yu Ye felt a surge of excitement.

He had grown up in the mountains and always loved catching fish and birds. Seeing his companions having such fun, he couldn’t resist joining in.

He sprang to his feet, grabbed a stick, and went to the river.

On the grassy bank, a few fresh fish still flopped about—not large, but lively.

"Yu Ye, come play with us!" Yu Ergou called.

Yu Quan and Yu Meng laughed:

"The water's freezing—don't let him catch a chill."

"Look at him, all clumsy."

"Hahaha..."

The river was eight or nine yards wide, but no more than a foot deep. Though winter had chilled the air, fish still swam against the current.

Yu Ye removed his boots, picked up a stick, and slowly waded in. The icy water made him shudder violently.

Another burst of laughter from Yu Ergou and his friends.

Yu Ye pressed on, wading a few paces further. He was young and proud; how could he show weakness? Steadying himself, he raised his stick.

Just as he lowered his head to search for fish, the sound of hooves rang out.

From the far side of the riverbank, a white horse burst into view.

The horse charged straight into the water, churning up great waves with its iron hooves, a striking sight. Its rider was a woman, clad in azure, her face hidden by a cloth scarf—her age and features impossible to discern.

Yu Ergou and his companions stared, wide-eyed with curiosity.

More horses and several wagons appeared atop the riverbank.

Yu Ye was about to look up when he spotted a shadow darting in the water at his feet. He swung his stick down in haste—splash!—and a fish leapt free of the water. Overjoyed, he lunged to grab it.

At that moment, a sharp cry rang out:

"Move!"

Horse and rider bore down on him.

Yu Ye had no time to dodge. With a dull thud, he was sent flying, landing two yards away with a heavy splash onto the pebbled shore.

Meanwhile, the white horse leaped ashore, rearing up, mane tossing, head held high, whinnying fiercely. The rider twisted in the saddle, her scarf fluttering in the wind, briefly revealing fair skin; in the last rays of the sun, that fleeting glimpse of her face only deepened her beauty and mystery.

Yu Ye lay on his back, clutching a stick in one hand and a fish in the other, looking utterly bedraggled.

The rider glanced back, a trace of apology in her eyes, but she spurred her horse on, galloping away in a spray of water and grass.

Yu Ye struggled upright, dazed.

Before he could catch his breath, a cacophony of hooves, splashing water, and shouts erupted.

Several horses and four wagons crossed the river, followed by dozens of men, all rugged mountain folk armed with bows, crossbows, and blades—strong and formidable.

Yu Ergou and the others scrambled ashore, exclaiming in awe:

"That girl is amazing!"

"I heard she’s Miss Bai—comes from quite a background."

"Yu Ye, are you hurt?"

Sitting barefoot on the ground, Yu Ye was still in a daze. Only when Yu Ergou asked did he notice blood on his hand. In his fall, he’d kept hold of the fish, not knowing its sharp fin had sliced his palm. He wiped the blood away and answered, "It's nothing!"

Night fell.

On the riverbank, a fire was lit.

The men from Yu Family Village gathered around it for warmth, roasting their food.

Yu Ye lay alone in the grass, silently gazing at the sky.

A cold, crescent moon hung solitary at the edge of the heavens, a few faint stars flickering. As the night deepened, a boundless chill swept over the land.

Yu Ye wrapped his sheepskin robe tighter around him, feeling dejected. In his blinking eyes, a hint of confusion flickered.

That girl who had charged through on horseback—Miss Bai.

A young woman, taking part in the winter hunt?

Why was she so wild?

Yet he couldn’t blame her; after all, he’d blocked her path. But she had barely seemed to move, and he hadn’t been struck by the horse, yet he had somehow been knocked flying.

What exactly had happened in that instant?

"Yu Ye!"

His fifth uncle, Yu Shitou, walked over, carrying a grilled fish skewered on a branch.

Yu Ye scrambled to his feet, hearing, "You silly boy—when a horse charges at you, you don't dodge? Lucky you weren't badly hurt!"

His uncle’s words were full of elder’s concern.

Yu Ye took the fish and said, "Uncle, may I ask you something?"

Yu Shitou was turning to leave, but paused.

"My father... is he really dead?"

"Yes."

"And his body..."

Yu Shitou suddenly lost patience, and without turning replied, "Rest up, we’ll be leaving early."

"Uncle..."

Yu Ye wanted to ask more, but his uncle walked away, hands clasped behind his back. Crestfallen, Yu Ye took a bite of the fish, but the flesh was tasteless in his mouth.

Nearby, the fire blazed brightly, illuminating rough, smiling faces. The river flowed on, its gentle murmur never ceasing. A faint mist drifted from the water, spreading across the wilds...

After midnight, the wind began to rise.

Unable to bear the cold, Yu Ye woke from his dreams.

The moon had vanished from the sky; the wind howled in the darkness.

He got up.

The fire from the night before had long since burned out. Over twenty mountain men sprawled here and there, sound asleep. The two old horses tied up in the distance snorted in his direction.

Yu Ye wiped the dew from his face, grabbed his stick, shouldered his bundle, then stood there uncertainly.

His uncles and cousins were still fast asleep, but he was already preparing to set out. His mind was so troubled he could not rest; rather than wait, he might as well walk about to stretch his limbs and warm himself.

He set down his bundle and wandered along the riverbank.

After a few steps, a shadow darted after him.

Yu Ye spun around.

It was a black dog, tail wagging, tongue lolling, bounding up to him.

"Go on—shoo!" Yu Ye feigned a kick.

The party had brought several village dogs on this hunting trip. He’d been bitten by one before and still bore a grudge.

The black dog scampered away.

A fine mist hovered over the river, swirling in the wind like drifting smoke. The surrounding mountains and wilds grew hazy and unreal. Alone in this landscape, Yu Ye felt both lonely and drawn to explore the unknown world beyond.

Heading north, the river deepened. The shore thickened with reeds and shrubs.

He walked at a leisurely pace, swinging his arms and legs to loosen up. Feeling a childish urge, he picked up a pebble and skimmed it across the water. It bounced a few times, then vanished with a splash.

Soon, a pile of rocks blocked his path. The reeds grew even denser.

Yu Ye, finally warmed, undid his robe and relieved himself, shivering at the chill. As he was about to return, he paused, listening.

"Senior brother..."

"Junior sister..."

Who was speaking?

The rocks and bushes blocked his view.

Still puzzled, Yu Ye heard the voices again, drifting on the wind—

"How goes Master’s retreat..."

"The Xuanhuang Pill failed at the last step. I was sent down the mountain, to accompany you north to the Great Marsh..."

"If only we had the elixir, could Master reach Foundation..."

"It could be soon..."

The Great Marsh?

He remembered his father saying their ancestral Yu Family Village was but an obscure backwater. Beyond Xingyuan Valley and Lingjiao Town, there existed vast lands called the Great Marsh.

Senior brother, junior sister?

Who were these two, and what were Xuanhuang Pills and Foundation-building?

Yu Ye’s curiosity got the better of him. He crept closer.

Suddenly, the voices ceased. At once, a sharp shout rang out overhead:

"Who’s eavesdropping?"

Yu Ye jumped, startled.

Two shadows dropped from the sky, a blast of wind hit him, and before he could react, he was slammed to the ground. His back was pressed as if by a boulder, pinning him helplessly.

"Boy, are you looking to die?"

"Ah—!"

A foot pinned his back, his ribs creaked in agony, and he cried out, unable to breathe.

"Senior brother, don’t complicate things!"

"Hmph..."

Face in the grass, Yu Ye’s bones ached as if they would break, and he could barely draw breath. Suddenly, the weight lifted. He scrambled upright, gasping.

A lone figure stood before him, coldly demanding:

"What are you doing here?"

Dawn was just breaking.

The speaker was a young woman, dressed in blue robes, her hair tied in a man’s topknot, but her face veiled by cloth—her features unreadable. Yet her manner was familiar: cold, distant, unfathomable.

Yu Ye stammered, "I—I’m Yu Ye from Yu Family Village."

She frowned slightly. "What did you hear?"

"I—I was just... relieving myself..."

"Filthy oaf!" she spat in disgust, turned, and with a bound flew from the ground—vanishing in an eyeblink like a wisp of wind.

Yu Ye was shaken.

The rocks and bushes stood twice as tall as a man, yet she’d leapt over them in a single bound. Her senior brother, it seemed, had already left: that one had been even more ruthless, nearly taking his life without a word.

What had he overheard, anyway?

He hadn’t understood a thing.

Crack!

A whip snapped in the distance.

The last vestiges of night faded.

In the dawn, Yu Baoshan and his father were rousing the others. Soon, a crowd of people and horses gathered on the riverbank, the commotion lively and loud.

The people of Bai and Feng villages had joined those of Yu Family Village.

It was time to set out.

Yu Ye dared not linger, and hurried back.

Yu Ergou and several young men were joking together. Seeing Yu Ye return, Ergou gave him a knowing look and whispered, "Hey, I found out—Miss Bai’s name is Bai Zhi!"

Sure enough, a woman rode up through the crowd. By her dress, it was clearly the same lady who had earlier called him an uncouth peasant, though her face was still veiled. Even so, her slim figure, her upright bearing on the horse, made her stand out.

She was called Bai Zhi?

Yu Ye couldn’t help but glance at her again.

Miss Bai rode through the crowd, fording the river. Yu Baoshan and some of the young men tried to approach and strike up a conversation, but she was gone before they could catch up, leaving them disappointed.

There was no sign of Bai Zhi’s senior brother.

"Miss Bai returned home for the winter hunt, just to travel outside her sect. They say she’s practiced the arts since childhood and knows the ways of spirits and ghosts, tsk tsk!"

Yu Ergou, older than Yu Ye by a couple of years, loved to collect stories; he recited Miss Bai’s background with relish. Yu Quan, Yu Meng, Yu Zhuang, and the rest all wore expressions of open admiration.

Yu Ye rubbed his chest, quietly picking up his stick and bundle.

For some reason, he felt a strange fascination with Bai Zhi’s origins, but dared not dwell on it—perhaps even a little afraid. He had nearly lost his life, all because of that ill-timed moment of relief.

Yu Baoshan’s father, Yu Youcai, was head of Yu Family Village. After exchanging greetings with the leaders of the Bai and Feng clans, he urged everyone to harness the wagons and gather their belongings.

The head of Bai Family Village was Bai Xuan, a sturdy middle-aged man; the Fengs were led by Feng Shuanzi, who, though past fifty, was still vigorous and sharp. Each led their own carts and horses across the river.

Yu Family Village set out after them.

On the far bank, a broad road stretched into the distance.

As they traveled, mountains rose in layers, wild plains stretched endlessly, and the world seemed vast and waiting to be explored.

Soon, the sky began to darken. Fierce winds swept up dust and grass, swirling across the road.

"Oh no, a storm’s coming!" Yu Ergou cried.

Nine wagons, more than a dozen horses, and nearly a hundred men pressed on through the swirling dust toward the south.

By noon, the wind still howled.

The party took a brief rest before continuing.

By dusk, the mountain road grew narrow.

Between the ridges ahead, a small village appeared.

Yunling Village.

This so-called village consisted of barely a dozen households, a few low thatched huts scattered across a hillside.

Beyond the slope and snug against the village, a shallow hollow and a small pond offered shelter from the wind and a place to rest.

Yu Youcai, Bai Xuan, and Feng Shuanzi exchanged a word, then told everyone to make camp. The men set to unhitching the wagons and lighting fires to cook.

Yu Ye looked for a sheltered spot, but people were everywhere.

He set down his stick and bundle and helped gather firewood. Once the fire was burning, he slumped down on the ground by himself.

After a long day’s journey, he was utterly exhausted, and his boots were worn with two holes.

Ignoring his disheveled state, Yu Ye pulled out a rice cake. He’d barely taken a few bites when fatigue overcame him and he could no longer keep his eyes open. He thought he heard Yu Ergou flop down beside him, complaining:

"Oh, my legs feel like they’re falling off..."

Drowsiness overtook Yu Ye.

He seemed to hear his uncle’s voice—

"Young men can’t bear hardship—just sleep now..."

Dimly, an oil lamp glimmered in the darkness. A middle-aged man sat by its light, his rough hands fumbling with a needle, awkwardly mending an old garment. When the needle pricked his finger, he shook his head with a sigh, then turned to the child beside him, smiling gently: After a day’s play, you must be tired—sleep now...

Beside the burly man lay a child, five or six years old, lively and bright-eyed. Gazing at that gentle smile, the boy yawned and closed his eyes, drifting into a carefree sleep.

In his dreams, the child seemed to be embraced by his mother, warm in her arms, though her face remained a blur. The spring sunlight was bright, the summer flowers brilliant, and his father’s broad figure, tall as a mountain, sheltered him from wind and rain, holding up the sky...