Chapter 61: Nianci, Killing People is Easier Than Killing Chickens
“At midnight I go out under a dark sky, the rough grass dampens my clothes. I enter the market to earn grain, and return to share it with my wife and children.”
The snow in Daxing Prefecture began to fall at dusk yesterday, blanketing everything overnight. By dawn, the world was a single expanse of white, with no other colors.
Two Qingcong horses approached from the north. The man on horseback looked like a scholar, with a lazy demeanor, his whole body greasy, his clothes disheveled, and his face covered in dirt, appearing as if he hadn’t bathed in months.
The scholar’s appearance made it difficult to associate him with the refined air of a learned man, yet upon seeing the middle-aged woodcutter walking in the snow, he recited these lines to the woman accompanying him.
The woman wore a fur coat and had a beautiful appearance, though her face bore the marks of time. Hearing the scholar speak, she sighed and said, “Poor families in dire straits, when winter comes, chop firewood to sell, yet have none to warm themselves. The charcoal seller worries about low prices in the cold. It’s not just Daxing Prefecture; Lin’an Prefecture is no different.”
“Pitifully, my clothes are thin, and I worry about low prices in the cold.” The scholar sighed. The two horses kicked up flying snow as they moved further away. The scholar then said to his companion, “That woodcutter has martial arts.”
The woman chuckled, “I noticed that too. An ordinary woodcutter wouldn’t be able to move so swiftly in this icy weather.”
“With that man’s foundation, he’d be better off as a guard for a wealthy family than a woodcutter. I wonder why he chooses this livelihood.”
“Who knows?”
The sound of horse hooves and voices faded into the wind and snow. The scholar and the woman departed. On the path they had taken, another Wuzhui horse broke through the wind and snow. The horse was exceptionally spirited, tall and well-fed. The rider on its back was like a large meatball, with short arms and legs, a head as large as a bucket, tucked into his shoulders, making his neck invisible.
The Wuzhui horse galloped along the main road. The woodcutter watched the rider’s receding back and muttered to himself, “This Zhongdu truly is a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, a hub for all walks of life, an excellent place to gather information.”
The woodcutter continued on his way, heading towards the horse market in the suburbs.
Still a hundred paces away from the horse market, two shop assistants hurried over. “Master Yang, why are you still chopping wood in this freezing weather?”
The man named Yang said, “I can’t sit still. Thank you, young sirs.”
“Master Yang, your words are too humble. Please don’t say that again next time.”
As the two shop assistants spoke, one carried the firewood, and the other gave the man named Yang some copper coins. He then said, “Master Yang, come for a drink when you have time.”
“Alright!” The man readily agreed, cupped his hands in a bow, and turned to leave.
The snow was falling heavily. The man walked briskly for several miles along the horse path, heading towards a small, albeit somewhat dilapidated but clean, courtyard by the river near Zhongdu City.
Before he could get close, the wooden gate of the small courtyard was pushed open. A young girl with bright eyes and white teeth emerged. She held a broom and swept away a large patch of snow from the ground before turning back into the courtyard. When she came out again, she was holding a dustpan and an iron spear. Her clear and melodious voice rang out, “Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck…”
More than ten chickens, appearing from nowhere, rushed over eagerly. The girl scattered bran to feed them. Then, she picked up her spear, preparing to practice martial arts. However, seeing the chickens pecking at the feed, she felt a sense of contentment, a feeling of home despite the cold, and a sense of belonging in life, unlike before, when there was only the path ahead and no known destination.
As this thought settled, the girl murmured to herself, “Head Escort Zhang and Escort Zhou should be arriving in Zhongdu soon.”
The woman’s name was Mu Nianci, and the woodcutter was Yang Tiexin.
After parting ways at Fengling Ferry, Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci traveled through Anyang and Cangzhou, arriving directly in Zhongdu. Yang Tiexin had already decided to stay at Fu’an Escort Agency, traveling for escorts and gathering information about the descendants of his sworn brother, thus negating the need for a martial arts competition to recruit a husband.
Upon entering Daxing Prefecture, he presented a letter from Zhang Wangyue to the escort agency. During this time, the agency had been in a fierce battle with the Yellow River Gang, and the escort leader had already dispatched a runner to deliver the news at full speed into the city.
Duan Huai’an had a false alarm and exclaimed that the escort agency was blessed by heaven. If not for the escort leader and Zhou Yan, Fu’an would have faced utter destruction. In the eyes of the Boss, these two were the pillars of Fu’an, one present and one for the future of the agency. They strongly recommended Yang Tiexin, so how could the Boss not value him?
He immediately wanted to hire Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci, father and daughter, as escorts and provide them with a residence.
However, Yang Tiexin refused all of this, stating that they would wait for Zhang Wangyue to return from his escort duty and undergo the martial arts assessment according to the agency’s procedures.
Duan Huai’an admired his character even more.
A man of integrity who would not bend his waist, Duan Huai’an complied with Yang Tiexin’s wishes.
Yang Tiexin no longer used the alias Mu Yi. Using his savings, he purchased this courtyard in the suburbs of the capital and diligently practiced his spear techniques, as he could not afford to be a burden due to his low martial arts skill when he eventually took on escort duties.
Mu Nianci was even more diligent. She no longer had to wander aimlessly through the seasons, seeking a husband through a martial arts competition, with no fixed abode. Although her current life was far from luxurious, she had at least found stability.
The purchase of the small courtyard had nearly depleted Yang Tiexin’s savings, so he chopped wood and sold it to supplement their income. Mu Nianci raised some chickens. The Boss of Fu’an secretly arranged for the shopkeeper of the horse market to look after them, so Yang Tiexin’s firewood was directly purchased by the horse market.
Sometimes, Mu Nianci would think of Zhou Yan and envy his archery skills. If she possessed such abilities, they would not lack meat during the harsh winter months.
The day before yesterday, her father went to the escort agency. A runner had returned ahead of schedule, saying the escort team would arrive in Zhongdu within a few days. Mu Nianci naturally couldn’t help but fantasize about her future new life.
The sound of footsteps crunching on the snow approached. Mu Nianci saw Yang Tiexin and quickly went forward. “Father is back. I’ve made you wild vegetable and egg soup and steamed buns. I’ve already eaten.”
“Mm, you continue practicing. Don’t mind me.”
“Okay!”
Yang Tiexin entered the small courtyard, appearing under the eaves with a porcelain bowl in one hand and a steamed bun in the other.
Through the open doorway, amidst the wind and snow, it was unclear whether the spear was dragging Mu Nianci or Mu Nianci was pushing the spear. The figure in red, wielding an iron spear, whirled like an angry dragon, charging forth with a roar.
Yang Tiexin frowned, thinking, “Why is this girl practicing spear techniques? The Yang Family Spear Technique is passed down to males, not females.”
…
The mountain path winds, and the gentleman is unseen; only the tracks of horses remain on the snow.
As the escort team’s tracks rounded the mountain pass, they were only half a day’s journey from Zhongdu and would arrive by noon. A festive atmosphere permeated the team.
Huyan Lei’s loud voice boomed, “I’m telling you, in Anyang, Brother Wang, Brother Shi, and others saw a swordsman performing swordplay. His movements were like ‘swift as Yi shooting down nine suns, majestic as the emperors riding dragons. Coming like thunder to quell rage, stopping like the sea and rivers freezing clear light.'”
“It’s a pity Brother Zhou didn’t see it,” Wang Kui said with regret.
“It was not fated. Brother Zhou has outstanding talent. If he had been there, perhaps that swordsman would have been like True Person Sun, passing on his skills to you,” Escort Shi said.
Zhou Yan was a bit bewildered.
He had comprehended the essence and form of the Quanzhen Swordplay while contemplating swords in the Taihang Mountains near Anyang. He then practiced Yue Family Scattered Hands on the mountain peak. The majestic Taihang Mountains and the vast Sea of Clouds inspired him. He also grasped the iron-blooded intent and the sweeping force of autumn winds within this cultivation technique.
With breakthroughs in various cultivation techniques, Zhou Yan descended the mountain. He happened to see traces of the escort team camping and, after a little inquiry, learned that the team had passed Anyang three days prior. He rode his horse at full speed and finally caught up with the team in the territory of Zhongdu on this snowy morning.
Zhou Yan rejoined the team, and Huyan Lei and the others were excited. They couldn’t help but tease him about the swordsman in Anyang.
After coming to his senses, he asked Huyan Lei, “Was he really that formidable?”
Huyan Lei thumped his chest. “He was not deceiving anyone. The Taihang swordsman was as agile as a dragon.”
Zhou Yan chuckled.
“Really, Brother Zhou, don’t disbelieve me.”
“Heh heh…”
In such an atmosphere, the escort team arrived in Daxing Prefecture.
…
Fu’an Escort Agency became lively, with a fervent atmosphere like during the New Year.
Zhang Wangyue detailed the events that occurred along the way to the Boss. While Duan Huai’an sighed with emotion, he also spoke of Yang Tiexin’s current situation.
As dusk descended, the light quickly faded, leaving only a sliver of white on the western horizon.
Zhang Wangyue summoned Huyan Lei and Zhou Yan.
“Master Yang lives in the suburbs. Let’s go see him together.”
Huyan Lei: “That suits me perfectly.”
The escorts felt a strong affinity for Yang Tiexin. The Huyan family and the Yang family had a connection.
“I’ll go get some wine!” Zhou Yan said.
Through the wind and snow, the three rode out of the city to the small courtyard in the suburbs, dismounted, and tied their reins to a willow tree by the river.
The gate was open. In the courtyard, a young girl in red, sitting on a bench, held an old hen with her left hand and a kitchen knife in her right, hesitating, unable to bring herself to strike.
“Don’t blame me when you die. Father needs nourishment.”
“Cluck, cluck, cluck!”
“Are you blaming me? I’ve only raised you for a few dozen days.”
Zhou Yan thought in confusion, “Is it harder for people of the Jianghu to kill a chicken than to kill a person?”
He walked over and, to Mu Nianci’s surprised and embarrassed expression, took the kitchen knife. With a swift motion, he brought it down.
“Thwack!”
Thank you to “Finally Have Time,” “Walker Shangqiu,” “Fatty Who Can’t Swim,” and “YI998” for their generous tips. Thank you to all who supported with monthly votes. An extra chapter will be added tomorrow for monthly votes.
“Pull You into My Embrace” and “Stream Mountain Travel Map” generously cast over twenty monthly votes. I’ve never received so many when writing books before. “Finally Have Time” has even reached the “Executive” level. If these three great patrons are still following the novel after it has been published, the author will add an extra chapter specifically for them, otherwise, I will always feel uneasy.
