Journeying North

A fierce wind swept through Luduongling. 

This year, the rainfall was notably less than in previous years, leaving the sky above this remote border town tinged with a dull gray, even after the tempest had passed. 

A humble cart, newly fitted with wheels, departed from an inn in the western part of Luduongling. It took half a day to traverse the entirety of the town, exiting through the eastern city gate before continuing its slow journey eastward, eventually vanishing from the sight of the sentry standing guard at the gate. 

Aside from the slight surprise sparked by the presence of a graceful young girl, around fifteen or sixteen years of age, at the reins, the cart drew no further attention from the townsfolk. 

The Luduongling Prefecture resembled an inner city, its outer walls constructed from fired clay bricks, rising to a height of five zhang. The official residences of the prefectural officials occupied merely one-third of the northern-facing buildings, while the remainder consisted of barracks and training grounds. 

This arrangement bore no unique features; since the establishment of the Yinqun Empire, all prefectures have adhered to such a layout, determined only by the size approved by the provincial government. 

At this moment, within the central office of the Prefectural Supervisor, several tall red candles flickered. 

These candles dispelled the last remnants of darkness from the deep hall, paved with green stone slabs. However, the dancing candlelight cast a wavering glow upon Li Xiping's face, aptly reflecting his unsettled state of mind. 

As the highest official of Luduongling, overseeing four million souls, Li Xiping was of modest stature, with a long, narrow face that was unremarkable in appearance. 

His gray robe bore faint traces of oil at the cuffs, yet an overwhelming aura of iron and blood emanated from this unassuming, gaunt man in his fifties, heavy enough to stifle one's breath. 

"My Lord..." A stout, middle-aged man with thick brows, clad in black leather armor, could scarcely endure the prolonged silence and pressure. He saluted the highest authority of Luduongling, merely uttering the words "My Lord," but before he could articulate anything substantive, Li Xiping's brow twitched. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, casting a glance at the thick-browed man. "Go fetch Zhang Zhentong and bring him to Scarred Liu at Heishui Marsh." 

"Heishui Marsh?" The middle-aged man instinctively straightened but was instantly overtaken by shock. Hesitantly, he replied, "My Lord, might this be a bit too severe?" 

"Severe?" Li Xiping's expression darkened, and in that moment, a palpable scent of blood seemed to fill the hall. "Had he not spent two years with me in the border army, I would have already thrown him into the depths of the dungeons without waiting for orders from above!" Li Xiping glared at the thick-browed man, reprimanding him sternly, "Desperate times call for desperate measures. Do you not realize the gravity of our current situation within the Yinqun Empire? Failing to send him to such a place will not only fail to quell that individual's wrath but could lead to a far graver fate for him—and for us!" 

The middle-aged man felt a chill run down his spine. He understood the resolve of Li Xiping, who had clawed his way up through the ranks in the chaotic border army. In the eight years since arriving in Luduongling, he had never witnessed such a dark expression or heard such a harsh tone from him. 

"Who exactly is that person, that even a mere maid possesses such poise?" he ventured to ask. 

"A maid?" Li Xiping scoffed coldly, his narrowed eyes gleaming with intensity. "You've served in the border army; you should know that the less you know, the fewer thoughts you entertain, the more likely you are to survive." 

"I understand, my Lord." The middle-aged man felt another wave of dread wash over him. He bowed respectfully, preparing to withdraw, but at that moment, Li Xiping paused thoughtfully and added, "Make arrangements for Uncle Liu to drive; I intend to go to Lulin Town myself." 

The middle-aged man was taken aback, his eyes widening in astonishment. Yet, this time he refrained from speaking further, bowing again before exiting. 

Once the middle-aged man had left the Prefectural Supervisor's office, Li Xiping lifted the teacup from the table before him, but his hand hovered in mid-air for a moment before he could no longer contain his mounting fury. With a resounding crash, he smashed the cup to the ground. 

What could be more infuriating than witnessing the downfall of a comrade who had fought alongside him and personally sending such a brother to his doom? Even for Li Xiping, who had hardened himself to the point of indifference in the face of adversity, this surge of emotion was difficult to suppress, his chest heaving violently. 

Yet, within mere breaths, his unspoken rage subsided. He did not bother to change the gray robe that had been splattered with tea and stepped out of the Prefectural Supervisor's office, now awash in sunlight. 

Upon exiting the door, two soldiers clad in yellow quickly entered the office, hastily beginning their cleanup, while he climbed into a carriage that had been prepared outside. 

The carriage, driven by an elderly man with graying hair, departed Luduongling, traversed Wusu Town and the Thirty-Mile Marsh, crossed the Heishui River, and ultimately reached Lulin Town. 

Before long, Li Xiping, dressed in a drab gray robe, emerged from Lulin Town on foot. He climbed the earthen mound where the girl in the blue shirt had driven her cart days earlier. The aging supervisor looked up at the sky, broke off a twig from the roadside, and leaned on it as he slowly made his way toward another small town. With each step, his posture grew increasingly upright, and the twig in his hand began to resemble a sword dragged along the ground. 

... 

After lingering in Lulin Town for a day, the carriage driven by the elderly man departed the town the following morning. 

A short, stout middle-aged man and a comely woman led a lovely girl, her eyes rimmed with red, as they escorted the carriage to the town's entrance, an old yellow dog trailing slowly behind them. 

Lin Xi sat in the cushioned carriage, waving fervently at the three and the old yellow dog, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Mom, Dad, little sister, you all should head back. Dad, I've hidden the alcohol you've misplaced under my bed, and I've turned it into medicinal wine. If you miss me, just take a sip each day. Mom, take care of your health and avoid catching a cold again. And little sister, behave well; your brother will bring back plenty of delightful things for you. And Ah Huang, don't even think about those two birds!" 

"Wah..." Initially, Lin Qian had been fine, but upon hearing Lin Xi's parting call, she pouted and burst into tears as she watched the cart speed away. 

Tears streamed down the comely woman's cheeks. "You little rascal!" The stout middle-aged man, resembling a merchant, seemed ready to scold Lin Xi, but after a single exclamation, he discreetly wiped his eyes, watching the cart recede into the distance. This portly merchant then shouted, "Rascal, don't speak nonsense when you're out there; the world beyond isn't like Lulin Town!" 

"Dad, hasn't your farthest journey been to that nearby prefecture?" Under normal circumstances, Lin Xi might have retorted, but today he simply nodded, raising his voice enough for the three at the town's entrance to hear, "Understood, Father." 

"You little rascal." The middle-aged merchant muttered another reprimand, but his eyes were completely misty. 

The cart journeyed northward, soon rendering the figures of the two adults, the child, and the old yellow dog invisible, until even the outline of Lulin Town itself faded from view. Only then did Lin Xi lower the curtain of the carriage window, letting out a soft sigh as he leaned against the plush cushions inside. 

Though he had never ventured beyond Lulin Town, he was in no hurry to admire the scenery outside; he understood that at this pace, in this vast world, he would surely see many different sights in the coming days. 

Although he had fully integrated into this world over the past two years and accepted his current identity, the scene before him inevitably stirred many thoughts. 

During his last journey to school, when he boarded the incomprehensible train of this world, he was alone. His father, who spent years in the tea trade, had only sent him the tuition for four years of college in one lump sum. His mother, who had squandered their family fortune in gambling, had been estranged from his father for five or six years and was likely unaware of his acceptance into university. 

It was only the unattainable that seemed all the more precious. Thus, upon discovering he had entered this world, becoming another person with unique abilities, he harbored no desire to leave this small town to explore the outside world or achieve something monumental. Even his understanding of the Yinqun Empire was limited to its reputation as a powerful nation governed by strict laws, occupying nearly the entirety of Zhongzhou, divided administratively into towns, prefectures, counties, and provinces. 

With a somewhat well-off background, free from worries about sustenance, a shrewd yet kind-hearted father who would kneel in a temple for two days and nights to pray for his ailing son while promising to donate half of his wealth, a clever and obedient little sister, and a mother who appeared stern but was truly gentle and nurturing, he found contentment in this tranquil little town.

However, the two connected carriages shattered the tranquility of his once peaceful existence. 

Though he remained unaware of the identity of the girl younger than himself, it was evident that she was intrinsically linked to the carriage. 

"What manner of place is Qingluan Academy?" 

At the mere thought of the girl's ever-serious demeanor, a peculiar expression crossed Lin Xi's face. 

He then retrieved a slender cloth pouch from his side and carefully unwrapped it. 

Inside lay a dagger, honed to a deadly sharpness, glinting ominously in the light. 

Clutching the gleaming dagger, concealed beneath his sleeve, he gently lifted the front curtain of the carriage. 

The elderly man's hair was a wild shock of white, appearing unkempt, resembling a clump of cotton; he sat at the front of the carriage, facing away from Lin Xi, seemingly dozing off amidst the jolting of the wheels. 

Lin Xi observed in silence for a moment before making an incomprehensible move. 

His expression remained calm, even tinged with curiosity and anticipation, as he stealthily thrust the dagger toward the old man's back. 

"Swish!" 

The air around the peaceful carriage suddenly chilled, yet the old man did not turn. Lin Xi's heart constricted violently, a wave of icy dread enveloping him, rendering the scene before him indistinct. In an instant, he was hurled from the carriage, crashing heavily into the thicket by the roadside, gasping for breath, feeling as though his very being had shattered, in a state of utter despair. 

"What do you intend to do?" The carriage came to a halt, and the white-haired elder regarded the pitifully battered Lin Xi with a gaze full of coldness. The dagger that had been in Lin Xi's grasp now lay oddly bent between the elder's fingers. 

"Ugh!" 

Finally regaining his breath, Lin Xi expelled a mouthful of dry leaves and dirt. Yet, faced with the chilling presence of the old man, he seemed to have come to an understanding, muttering to himself, "So this world truly harbors formidable masters." 

"Can you fly? Do you possess a flying sword? Magic?" Under the astonished gaze of the white-haired elder, the bloodied boy, having barely risen to his feet, earnestly posed these questions. 

"Get in the carriage. Next time you attempt something like this, I shall break your hands," the elder replied, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized Lin Xi for a moment before turning away, his tone cold and decisive. 

Without receiving a response, Lin Xi shook his head in resignation, then softly uttered two words: "Return." 

And so, Lin Xi indeed returned to the carriage, finding himself back in the moment before he had drawn the dagger from his pouch. He leaned against the soft cushions inside, his clothes immaculate, his face devoid of any wounds. 

The already bent dagger lay undisturbed in his pouch, while the once menacing elder, who had exuded an aura of lethal intent and bloodshed, now appeared merely as a harmless, ordinary old man, dozing intermittently at the front of the carriage. 

Beneath the bright spring sunlight, the carriage, untouched by any incident, continued its journey northward.