Chapter 17: Descending the mountain

Jiang Changbai naturally heard this sound as well, and her complexion changed abruptly; she unconsciously grasped Song Juguang's hand, as if this could cause her to feel at ease. Song Juguang didn't throw it off either, and actually used a hand to pat the back of Jiang Changbai's hand as an assurance. No one moved more, the two hand in hand, only hearing the sound coming from above their heads. That sound suddenly stopped, and then a soft yet distressed bear's cry came. Immediately afterwards, there was a rustling sound, like some sort of animal's footsteps. The sound was chaotic and hurried, and listening to it, it seemed to not be singular. There was the sound of tearing and furious howls in succession; even one couldn't see it, they could more or less guess the unusual, disorderly fight above.

Song Juguang raised her head, shooting a glance at the clearer and clearer moon, and, unable to continue remaining here for any longer, she said, "This minister will go up first and take a look."

Jiang Changbai, fearing for her safety, wanted to speak and hold her back. But before the words emerged, Song Juguang moved first. The pitfall that was like heavenly city moat couldn't obstruct Song Juguang in the slightest, and she leapt out in a single jump, lightly jumping onto the ground. Only once Song Juguang had landed steadily did she become aware of what sort of scene was before her.

A young bear cub and a green-eyed, hungry wolf faced each other, their bodies covered in wounds, yet neither was willing to submit. Hearing that there was a sound by the side, the bear and the wolf turned their heads to look at Song Juguang. Yet after the bear cub saw Song Juguang, it retreated a step, and let out another mournful growl, and turned around, heading into the trees, its figure disappearing.

As a result, in that open space, only Song Juguang and that hungry wolf remained, facing each other. Song Juguang's face didn't have the slightest expression of facing a second fight; it was incredibly serene, and she only crossed her arms and calmly gazed at that wolf. The wind rustled the leaves, and traces swept across the ground. Half an incense's time passed, and then the wolf unhappily turned around and left. Seeing the wolf head into the distance, only then did Song Juguang return to the side of the trap.

In the trap, having not heard Song Juguang's reply for a long while, Jiang Changbai's heart had long since leapt up. In the freneticness, she touched the brocade bag that He Leyong had stuffed in her hands just before, and only then realised that within it wasn't at all the insect-repellent herbs that she'd thought, but actually a piece of neatly-folded vellum. Jiang Changbai merely assumed it was a map with the record of the path down the mountain, and so didn't care whether it was an item left behind by the hunter, and was about to open it up. It was just that, before she could spread it out, she saw Song Juguang stick her head out over the pit. "A Bai, it's safe now."

The skies were dark, but under the swaying shadows of the trees, Song Juguang's eyes held a light. The feelings in Jiang Changbai's chest were swept clean, and she extended a hand out to her.

Standing together with Song Juguang, Jiang Changbai's heart would always be a bit more at ease.

The brocade bag was opened, yet that neatly-folded vellum didn't have a single word on it. At first, they assumed they'd seen wrong, but once Song Juguang lit a bamboo torch,^[1] the two turned it all over, looking a good number of times, yet couldn't see a single line or stroke.

Jiang Changbai looked at the vellum, and then looked at the deceased black bear laying on the ground. With a sigh, she said, "I've understood." The hunter hadn't had the means to buy a porcelain bottle to put the bear gall in, and so had prepared a piece of vellum inn the brocade bag. She'd intended to use the vellum to wrap it up after she'd cut out the bear gall, and take it home whole. In the end, she hadn't used it.

Song Juguang sighed, and folded the vellum back up along its original creases, and put it back in the brocade bag. Yet, the next moment, from the bag on her body, she took out an empty, sunken water flask, and, grasping a dagger, walked towards the bear. "We might as wel take it, it'll count as helping complete her wish," Song Juguang said.

The scent of blood in this place became heavier and heavier; they couldn't stay long here, and so the two hurried down the mountain. But when they came to the hitching post for the horses at the foot of the mountain, they found that only a single horse remained. The other horse's reins were still tethered to the tree, falling emptily, with an unexpected degree of oddness. The surrounding environment suddenly become eerie; the night was deep, and, in the shroud of darkness, an unclear sound burst from between the trees, as if there were an uncountable number of eyes staring at them. The sound of the wind rustled by their ears, and from a distance, the dim sound of wolves' howls came. The two exchanged a glance; they could both read the words in the other's eyes. This place wasn't suitable for remaining.

Jiang Changbai forcefully suppressed the panic in her mind, and said, "Let's first leave, and go bring some people to bring Laoshi back to the capital."

Song Juguang naturally didn't make any suggestions, and, without delaying, untied the reins, and led the horse to Jiang Changbai's side. The two sat on the horse, one in front and one behind, and hurried towards the village. Luckily, the horse's speed was no different than when they'd come.

The night breeze rushed past, mixing with the slight chill from who knew where, raking against their faces like the cut of a blade. Jiang Changbai bacme aware of Song Juguang's body's press against hers, and became aware that Song Juguang's steady breath, carrying a slight warmth, lightly brushed against the side of her face, and felt her heartbeat increase, her cheeks faintly heating.

The surroundings flew by in a rush in the dark, only an indistinct scene left behind. This day was unexpectedly cool, yet there wasn't anyone who felt it was cold. Yet Song Juguang couldn't notice Jiang Changbai's mood, her eyes fixed ahead. The events that had occured tonight went beyond her expectations, and for a moment, her heart was distracted and her thoughts in turmoil, and she only thought of hurriedly descending to the village at the foot of the mountain and finding a place to rest.

If there had only been her, now, she would have stayed without care in the mountain forest. But, with this golden branch, jade leaf royalty of Jiang Changbai by her side, Song Juguang's mind couldn't help but be more worried. As the Great Li's Emperor, she couldn't come to any harm in a remote place like this.

It had to be the separation of five years; Song Juguang only remembered the past, yet didn't much understand the Jiang Changbai of now.

The horse seemed to remember its companion who had been lost in the mountain forest, and was, at this moment, particularly alert. Countless shadows fell behind them, the craggy mountain path finally coming to an end. In the not too distant village, the tea-selling banner still fluttered; it was just that no traces of the old woman who had stood beneath the flag in the daylight remained. But only when they came close did they realise that, in the house by the banner, a small, dusky lamp had been lit and flickering.

Actually, if they only went another ten or so li, it would be the Great Li's imperially-mandated horse relay station; Song Juguang was also more inclined to stopping there. But Jiang Changbai insisted on stopping here, and asking for lodging at that old tea seller woman's house. Song Juguang, exasperated, whistled to attracted a crow. The skies had, naturally, grown very dark, and the crow's body was dark, and traces of it were even more invisible. Jiang Changbai dismounted the horse and headed for the house, not paying any more attention towards Song Juguang. Song Juguang drew out a scarlet red, small object from her cuff, and tied it on the crow's foot, and then, immediately and without word, released it.

Over there, Jiang Changbai hesitated for a while, and then rapped on that dilapidated wooden door.

"Who is it?" The sound of the old tea selling woman came from within the house, and then after a while longer, the door was opened. The old woman recognised them with a glance, and a thread of surprise appeared on her face. "It's you two?"

Jiang Changbai nodded, and said, "Da-niang,^[2] just now, we made a loop, yet couldn't find an inn. The night's too late, so we wanted to ask to lodge here for a night; would that be suitable for you?"

The old woman furrowed her brows slightly, seeming as if somewhat embarrassed. But in the end, she nodded, and moved aside to welcome the two into the room. There wasn't any decoration within the house, and the furniture was also incredibly simple. But it was incredibly clean, and there was even the faint scent of tea permeating the air. On the table, there was only a lit, dusky yellow oil lamp, the flame swaying, casting dim light and shadow on the wall.

This old woman's house seemed to not any more prosperous than He Leyong's; the room only had a single, wooden, long table, precisely the one that was put at the door during the day. With the years of exposure to the elements, the originally firm wood boards also bore some cracks .

Only at this did Jiang Changbai attentively look at the old woman's face. If He Leyong looked old, then this old woman, comparatively, was in even worse condition. Her face was filled with deep wrinkles, and, because of years of work, her hands were rough. Her back was hunched, making her cut an even sorrier figure.

The old woman retreated a few steps, and indicated to them to sit down.

"Da-niang—"

"You two—"

The two voices sounded at the same time, falling one after another. Jiang Changbai looked towards the old woman, and said, "You go ahead."

The old woman didn't refuse, and when she spoke again, her voice had an expectancy and anxiety. Her eyes fixed tightly on Jiang Changbai, only hoping for some news from her. "When you two were on the mountain, did you meet anyone?"

So, Jaing Changbai also knew that what the old woman and she wanted to speak about where the same matter, but telling the death of a daughter to a mother wasn't an easy matter. As a result, she almost spoke, and then ended them all with a sigh. After thinking a long while, she still didn't say anything, and only took out the brocade bag from her breast, and slowly placed it in the old woman's hands.

How could the old woman not recognise the brocade bag? The threads and strokes on it were her novice embroidery, and she knew that her daughter had always had it at her side, never leaving it behind. Now, seeing this brocade bag be taken out by a strange woman she'd only met once, she indistinctly guessed her daughter's ending. But she still didn't dare to believe it, her gaze falling on Jiang Changbai's figure once more, and she asked despite knowing the answer, "This is?"

Jiang Changbai's mind was somewhat uneasy, and she turned her head to look at Song Juguang, but from within her eyes, could only read a similar emotion. So, Jiang Changbai once more breathed deeply, and, one word and phrase at a time, passed on the story she'd heard from He Leyong for the old woman to hear.

"Pa." The sound of the brocade bag hitting the ground.

The old woman bent to pick it up in a hurry, and when she raised her head once more, her face was already covered in tears. Her hands shook, and she shoved the brocade bag into her chest. As she pressed it close, she mumbled, "A Fu."

Jiang Changbai waved at Song Juguang; Song Juguang, guessing her intention, took out the beg she'd used to hold the bear gall in out, and held it out before the old woman. Jiang Changbai sighed, and said, "When we came down the mountain, we ran into a black bear; this is a bear gall; I hope you can care for your health."

The old woman was now already tearful, and naturally, her hazy eyes were fully muddied by the cover of tears. She raised a shaking hand, and then suddenly dropped it once more. "Do you want some wine?" the old woman asked.

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Translator's notes:

[1]: 火折子 (huozhezi) were a type of rudimentary predecessor to matches which were first attested in use in the Northern and Southern dynasties era (420 CE to 589 CE). They were created by placing rolled paper and sulphr into the natural cylinder formed by bamboo, which had been lit on fire, and then closing the cap to cut them off from oxygen. When the cap was removed, the contents could be blown on to encourage reignition, which would allow one to use them similarly to a torch.

[2]: 大娘, a respectful address for an older woman.