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墨書 Inktalez
Just leaving the bustling crowd of hundreds of thousands, Luzi rode his horse leisurely towards Shanxia, taking half a day to adjust to this unusually calm environment. In contrast, he preferred the current atmosphere.
Aside from the howling mountain wind, the only sound was the night breeze rustling through the treetops. His restless heart gradually settled down, becoming quiet and peaceful, almost intoxicating. He didn't notice when the starry night sky began to drift with a hazy mist, which condensed on his leather armor and turned into glistening droplets that slid down.
As the spring rain began to fall gently, the mountain wind suddenly felt less cold. While walking and enjoying the moment, Luzi discovered a few small terraced fields in the mountains, and his stomach unexpectedly let out a rumble. With the appearance of a path worn by repeated footsteps, a small village hidden in the forest suddenly came into view.
No matter how chaotic things were outside, small villages like this in the mountains were hardly affected by the ravages of war. It’s almost a joke but also true that even in government-level records, these villages were not documented.
This led to many amusing situations; the villagers living in such isolation often didn’t even know which Feudal State they belonged to. Coupled with their sparse population and seclusion from the world, these villages were often intentionally or unintentionally overlooked during population censuses.
China is vast and rich in resources, with a large population concentrated in prosperous areas forming towns. Those who live in seclusion tend to distance themselves from the hustle and bustle, seeking places that are almost isolated from the world as their paradise. They are neither oppressed by government bullies nor threatened by war, finding joy in working at sunrise and resting at sunset.
If it weren't for the conflict between Qin Zhao at Shangdang Mountain, and if Luzi hadn’t been chased to the brink of jumping off a cliff to end his life, how could he have discovered such a hidden place among the mountains during these chaotic times?
The fence made of branches stood only about a meter high, and the wooden door was likely a true reflection of not locking up at night. Considering it was late at night and disturbing others would be inconvenient, Luzi simply took off his sword hanging from the saddle. After adjusting his attire, he walked up to knock on the door.
When a voice from inside asked who it was, a trembling Luzi quickly replied softly that he was a lost traveler. The mountain path was difficult to navigate, and he hoped to borrow a place to stay for one night. He requested some food from the host, promising to leave at dawn without causing any further disturbance.
Upon hearing about his request for lodging from outside, there was an immediate silence within.
After waiting for a while in the rain, Luzi raised his hand to wipe the water off his face. Just as he was about to leave, he saw a warm light suddenly illuminate from inside. It had a hazy quality filled with warmth.
As the door opened, a little kid around four years old rubbed their sleepy eyes and walked into the yard. After adjusting for a moment, they finally saw Luzi and his horse outside; then they jumped back inside without coming out again.
Luzi, who was puzzled about the situation, wanted to ask for clarification when Little Kid quickly ran out to open the wooden gate. In a soft voice, he reminded Luzi not to speak and then took Luzi's hand, leading the intruder inside.
Little Kid moved a wooden stool over, indicating for Luzi to sit down, and then looked over this late-night visitor from head to toe.
In military attire, Luzi had not brought any belongings. With the flickering firelight, he began to carefully observe the little boy. The boy was charming, resembling a porcelain doll with delicate features, clearly not a child from an ordinary farming family.
If his assumptions were correct, this family must be city dwellers seeking refuge. Just as Luzi confirmed his thoughts and was about to speak, the curtain of the room on the right was lifted, and a woman stepped out. He quickly stood up to greet her, seriously stating that he was not a bad person. His armor could prove his identity, so Sister-in-law need not worry.
The woman was evidently not the kind of rough mountain dweller accustomed to living in isolation; she returned the greeting gracefully and explained to Luzi that only her son and herself were at home. She hoped for forgiveness for not welcoming the general sooner.
In these times, many people knew soldiers since wars were happening everywhere. However, for villagers who rarely concerned themselves with military matters, it was somewhat difficult to identify someone by their official position. Even if a high-ranking officer rode up on a fine horse in front of them, they might not recognize him unless someone pointed it out. To them, all soldiers appeared similar; they were just soldiers.
Given that an unusual Little Kid had appeared first and then a well-mannered woman came out afterward, Luzi refrained from asking where the man of the house was because if there had been a man present, there would have been no need for the boy and woman to come forward.
For these reclusive people, national wars had nothing to do with them. A guest was simply a guest; there were no notions of national grievances or enmity. Luzi decided not to hide his identity any longer; after expressing his apologies again, he explained that he was a general from Qin State. He had gotten lost while marching and inadvertently ended up here, hoping Sister-in-law would not hold it against him.
Upon hearing the name of Qin State from the general across from her, the woman couldn't help but look at Luzi more closely. Feeling somewhat bold, she gestured for him to go into the left room to change clothes. There were men's clothes inside, and she hoped the general wouldn't mind.
After expressing his gratitude, Luzi entered the room and found some clothes to change into. When he came out again, he had transformed into an unmistakable villager.
The woman began to start a fire and prepare food while taking Luzi's soaked military uniform from him. As she added firewood to the stove and started drying his clothes, Luzi felt helpless since he didn't know how to help with household chores. Concerned that Zhou Zhi might find another way around, he quietly asked Little Kid if there was somewhere to hide his warhorse outside.
Upon hearing that there were horses outside, the woman quickly called Little Kid over and whispered a few words to him. Understanding what his mother meant, the little boy told Luzi to stay inside. After saying this, he bounced out of the yard intending to fetch the horse.
The warhorses of the Military are all loyal to their masters. Not even a child could lead one away, let alone a few adults. Concerned about the potential danger posed by the Seven Star Black Steed, Luzi followed closely behind and untied the reins.
Luzi, this little child, was particularly fond of warhorses. He simply picked one up and placed it on the saddle, signaling to hold on tight. After confirming it was safe, he asked, "We can go together; you just need to lead the way."
The Little Kid sitting on the saddle appeared extremely excited, wriggling his body left and right. Noticing that the general was standing still holding the reins, he quietly reminded him that there was an abandoned house around the corner ahead where they could hide the horse.
Luzi calculated that it wasn't far; if they spotted pursuers, they would still have time to mount and escape. Nodding in agreement, he reminded the kid to hold onto the saddle tightly while leading the warhorse forward slowly.
"Kid! How old are you this year?"
Perhaps this is the benefit of being naive! If the little boy knew that he was being led by a general of Qin State, he might faint on the spot. After counting, how many people in Qin State would dare let Luzi lead their horse!?
"Five years old!"
Hearing the response, Luzi nodded and then asked, "Can you tell Uncle what your family name is?"
The Little Kid, completely innocent and without any ulterior motives, immediately replied without hesitation, "Meng!"
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