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墨書 Inktalez
Luzi stood with a cane, wiping his sweat and looking up at the distant high mountain. It was a steep mountain resembling a sharp knife, which he had stumbled upon a few years ago due to getting lost in heavy fog. The temple on this mountain had long been abandoned, and the clay statues inside were unrecognizable as to which deity they represented.
According to local legends, this was the place where King Wu learned from Thunderous Child during his campaign against Zhou. If that were true, then the deity worshipped in the temple should be Yun Zhongzi, the disciple of the Primordial Supreme Being. However, the elders claimed they heard it from even older generations that the temple housed the hundredth son of Zhou Wenwang, Ji Chang, who later became the saint known as Thunderous Child. He was called the Fortune Immortal because he had not committed any offenses against deities for one thousand five hundred years.
People seek blessings for their parents and relatives, so there is ample reason to worship the Fortune Immortal. But theoretically speaking, no one among the living elders could definitively confirm whether the statue behind the offering table was indeed Thunderous Child.
Thunder represented the Zhen hexagram. With two thunders combined, one should remain calm in times of crisis. Even when faced with sudden events, one could remain composed! Luzi thought about this and took a deep breath to adjust his breathing rhythm. He waved to Chuchu behind him and continued forward with the marching group.
The pace of the group was too slow!
Li Xin, responsible for covering the rear, felt no sense of ease as he tightly gripped his bowstring, ready to shoot at any moment. The midday heat combined with his anxiousness made beads of sweat gather on his forehead and drip onto his arms without him noticing. He had just sent Shisan to find Luzi, intending for this important figure to move ahead lightly. He planned to select a few strong young men to follow for protection, hoping to reach Thunder Mountain Temple at the front as quickly as possible. Sight Block was running out! It seemed so close yet uncertain when they would actually arrive at that designated spot!
Unexpectedly, Luzi rejected this kind offer outright. He even had Shisan relay back that if they all stayed behind, what use would it be to have just a lone chancellor left? Instead of pondering such matters, they should first consider how to ensure the safety of the rear guard!
Upon hearing this outcome, Li Xin immediately wanted to find Wei Wujie and settle things decisively. After all, death was inevitable; it didn’t matter whether it came sooner or later!
Shisan sensed something was off and urged him not to abandon Brother; leaving would be dereliction of duty! Indeed, it would not be fitting for a soldier of Great Qin to seek personal revenge by straying from the main force. He knew there were some past grievances between Li Family and Wei Wujie but was unclear about their specifics or severity. Regardless, their primary task now was to ensure Luzi's safe escape. That was what mattered most! As for personal or family grievances, there would be time later to settle those accounts. One must distinguish between personal issues and national interests!
Hiding behind a tree, Li Xin confirmed there were no pursuers before nodding in acknowledgment that he had indeed been moved by Shisan's reasoning. Since it was temporarily safe behind them, there was no point in lingering; they should hurry back to catch up with the main force!
As long as they didn’t act recklessly! Shisan nodded and glanced back for a moment before signaling for two others to help clean up their footprints. After confirming that the ground was clear, he grabbed Li Xin's arm and ran forward.
When the group finally reached the foot of Thunder Mountain, Luzi signaled everyone to rest while waiting for Li Xin and his team. They were exhausted beyond measure and couldn’t care less about whether the ground was clean or not. He set down his two bundles on the ground and found a spot to sit without wanting to get up again. He took the leather bag that Chuchu handed him, shook it lightly, found there wasn’t much water left, and passed it back for her to drink first. After all, there was a sweet water well at the temple; it wouldn’t be too late for men to drink after climbing up the mountain.
If we talk about physical condition, everyone here is in top shape. If they were all lightly equipped, they would have reached the mountain by now. The reason for their exhaustion lies in each person's burden. In order to carry as many supplies as possible, whether it be arrows, weapons, or food, they took whatever they could. According to Li Xin, this is preparation for a prolonged battle!
Due to their physical condition, their recovery is faster than that of ordinary people. Just as they were catching their breath, several figures appeared on the rocky path obscured by fallen leaves. The few young men responsible for covering them quickly nocked their arrows and aimed at the sudden figures, ready to alert if the target was hostile.
As the footsteps drew closer, it turned out to be several elderly men carrying bundles. How could there be old men appearing in this desolate mountain area during broad daylight? Could they be monsters? As this thought crossed their minds, everyone resting on the ground tightened their grip on their arrows, aiming at the newcomers.
The elderly men seemed to have poor eyesight; it wasn't until they got closer that they noticed a group of people standing at the entrance to the mountain trail. They were startled by the sight of what looked like bandits!
Luzi raised his hand to signal everyone to lower their bows and then stepped forward to greet the elderly men. "Elderly gentlemen, do not be afraid; we are good people. I am Luzi, the Innkeeper of Prosperous Silk Shop. These are my companions; there are no villains among us."
Speaking of Prosperous Silk Shop, it is well-known throughout the land. Whether poor or wealthy, everyone has purchased fabrics from its branches. Considering the different purchasing groups, the shop has separate sections for high, medium, and low-end materials. Thus, it is known that the fabrics sold here are of good quality and reasonably priced, never deceiving customers.
Luzi was well aware of the materials used in his shop's goods and recognized the fabric worn by these elderly men, which is why he revealed his identity. In unfamiliar territory, one can bridge distances by referencing something familiar.
Sure enough! The frightened elderly men relaxed upon hearing about the shop and carefully examined Luzi before asking, "Are you Luzi the Innkeeper?"
After confirming his identity again, the elderly men finally lowered their guard. They bowed towards the mountain and murmured, "May the deities bless us!"
In times of chaos, human life is as cheap as grass. This sentiment resonates deeply with those living in border regions. When an army arrives, an entire village could be wiped out. If it weren't for their deep attachment to their homeland and unless absolutely necessary, no one would wish to leave. The elderly who have lived here for generations adhere to the saying of returning to one's roots; even if all the young people leave, they still choose to stay rather than seek out so-called paradises.
According to his original intention, Luzi's mission was to make contact with powerful officials from various nations. Over the years, he has witnessed more extravagance and reckless spending on this side while seeing families torn apart and homes destroyed on that side. Many sell their children just to survive; if not for economic necessity, how could it come to this? This reality has only strengthened his resolve for national unity.
As long as there is no war, even if a country faces challenges, there will still be limits within it. What brings more suffering to the people is not just hardship but also years of warfare and endless slaughter. War can destroy once-happy homes and ruin upcoming harvests; losing shelter and food means losing the ability to survive. Moreover, continuous bloodshed leads countless young laborers to die on battlefields or become disabled, leaving more farmland untended. If this vicious cycle continues, unseen deaths will only escalate further.
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