Luoyang Daughter's Journey - (Volume Two)

Author: Xiao Duan / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The ancient capital of Luoyang is filled with turmoil and mystery, the streets hold old secrets, the master of Zicheng appears in poor alleys, the magic of Daxiang Mountain is unpredictable, and in the pursuit of family and power, how much weight can love hold? Rich in historical heritage, the words are imbued with profound ancient charm. The master of New Wuxia, Xiao Duan, with his majestic brush, recreates the Han and Tang era!
Chapter 5: Yan Han Feng Hou Kong You Xiang
On the road, there were endless ambushes. People were hidden in the sand, poison was put in the water, and some even tried to lead them astray. Fortunately, Han Ke and Du Fangning were extremely alert, and their horses were also considered divine. Although they encountered danger, they were still unharmed. It was only then that Han Ke realized the strength of the so-called "Desert King." They traveled along the edge of the Badain Jaran Desert to the west, which was easier to find water and would not constantly fall into the wandering cavalry of the Qiang and Rong tribes. Whenever Han Ke fought enemies, he tried to be gentle, but Du Fangning was ruthless in her attacks, so Han Ke tried to find ways to make her fight less. Du Fangning understood this in her heart and did not want to offend him too much, so she mostly stopped fighting. One day, when they were chatting, Du Fangning smiled and scolded Han Ke for being too merciful, asking if he would be like this in future battles between armies. Han Ke didn’t speak for a long time, then said, “Actually, the day I fought in front of General Wang’s camp, as you can see, the number of people I hurt in my life probably didn’t exceed that day.” He paused, “That was also the first time I truly killed someone in my life.” There was a sense of frustration in his words. Du Fangning stood there stunned. Since she was young, she had seen or heard many kinds of killing, light or dark, and had never felt uneasy about it. She looked at Han Ke, feeling that sometimes he didn’t even seem like a normal man—least of all the kind who treated human lives as grass, or the weak ones who feared fighting with swords and daggers. He was just a man with his own sense of justice and responsibility. Gradually, the distance between them grew again as they traveled. Every night, mostly Han Ke would meditate and keep watch, allowing Du Fangning to sleep peacefully. He slept little at night, so he often dozed on horseback during the day. Sometimes, watching him ride his horse, Du Fangning didn’t know what was in her heart. Sometimes, when she woke up in the middle of the night, she would hear Han Ke gently playing the bone flute. When the flute played, it seemed that his whole mind was set free, stretching peacefully in the wilderness. Listening to it, she felt as if she had entered some deep part of his life. There, there was both desolation and tenderness, both flatness and twists. She listened quietly, feeling such a vast, open, and honest tenderness that made her long for it, yet also made her afraid, as if it was a feeling that she could never fill, no matter how much of her life she poured into it. Was this still the pure and aloof young Han Ke from the past? Thinking this, she felt as if she could sense the scouring of time’s flow, as if the past were like pebbles at the bottom of a river, being washed day by day, becoming clearer and more lovable, yet still only something to be missed. Over these ten days, they also felt that the momentum of the Qiang and Rong tribes was indeed strong. Along the way, many of the old stone fortifications of the Han army had been abandoned, but they often saw groups of a hundred or so Qiang and Rong riders galloping far away, with spoils they had captured on their horses. Every time this happened, Han Ke’s expression would darken. Sometimes, when they saw the Qiang and Rong slaughtering parents and elders, they would ride forward to rescue them. At those times, Han Ke’s attacks would become extremely fierce, often taking lives without hesitation. Du Fangning mostly stood by and watched, willing to see him show this rare display of prowess. After traveling for more than half a month, one evening, as they were heading northwest of Zhangye, they suddenly saw a green oasis ahead, lush with grass and water, with a city hidden in the middle. Han Ke had grown tired of the sand, so he was curious. At first, he thought it was a mirage, but then he saw Du Fangning smile and say, “Seeing fakes as real and now seeing the real thing, only to think it’s fake again. You, you’re really hopeless when you’re foolish. This must be Juyan City.” Han Ke hesitated for a moment. Juyan City? It was said that the residence of the Qiang and Rong “Tianjiao” Wubi Han was still hundreds of miles north of Juyan City. However, Juyan was also a crucial place where Wang Honghai had asked him to act as the “Emperor’s Envoy” to form alliances and coordinate. He had taken the imperial decree lightly and was more concerned about Wang Honghai’s request, knowing that this was the most important matter at the border. Du Fangning said, “So, Han Xuanfu, are we going to Juyan first or bypass it and go straight to the residence of the Tianjiao?” Hearing her joke and calling him “Han Xuanfu,” Han Ke smiled and said, “Let’s go to Juyan first.” Du Fangning smiled and looked at him, “We don’t look like an Emperor’s Envoy in this state. You’re all dusty, it’s more like someone who killed someone in the Guan area and fled to the frontier for refuge. Let’s not reveal our identities, just go into the city to explore the situation, okay?” Han Ke smiled and nodded. Seeing her speak so softly and persuasively, his heart moved slightly. Fearing that he might again be overcome by warm feelings, he shook his horse’s reins and ran forward. Du Fangning, however, had already seen the blush on his cheeks and smiled, riding her horse to follow him. Just a short distance outside the city gate, they saw that the people of Juyan City were dressed very differently from the Han people—men often carried curved daggers and wore pearls, exuding an aura of confidence. Older men had thick beards, and the young men who were good-looking were tall and fair-skinned. The women had exaggeratedly painted rouge near their cheekbones, making their cheekbones appear higher and their eye sockets deeper, though it seemed strange, it also had a unique bright and charming posture. The people walking around seemed mostly merchants, with donkeys, camels, and horses mixed together, speaking various dialects of Hu, but each with a different tone, as if they were living in a place where the five Hu tribes were mixed. Han Ke didn’t understand what they were saying, but he saw some people looking at them with a mix of awe and envy, pointing and gesturing. He turned to look at Du Fangning, but saw her face turn red, and he guessed what was in her mind. Du Fangning scolded, “Why are you laughing?” She had already changed into the common dress of a Hu woman when she stopped her horse outside the city. The clothing of the women in the Hu region was already bright in color, and the clash of various colors brought out the natural and lively charm of the young girl hidden in Du Fangning. Throughout their journey, Han Ke had tried to maintain a composed demeanor, keeping a distance from Du Fangning. Seeing her now, he felt a wave of confusion in his heart. He looked up and saw that Juyan City was built of earth, with yellow walls. Camels and horses entered and exited, everything was so different from the Han norms. The rules and systems of Chang’an and Luoyang seemed distant in this foreign land, and a desire rose in his heart—like a flower that had bloomed without reason in the rules of his homeland, accidentally drifting to a foreign land, yet receiving the soil and vitality it dreamed of, allowing it to imagine it blooming brilliantly. Did she travel thousands of miles to accompany him to the frontier because she had thought of this? Thinking this, Han Ke felt a blush on his face, and his body under the fur robe grew hot. He felt a boiling heat that made him feel uncomfortable. He didn’t dare to look at Du Fangning again, but he felt that she, too, was like an accidental new flower from a foreign land, giving him a completely new meaning. And around her, there were no more tangible or intangible constraints. Here, at last, they could become an ordinary couple, so what would happen between them? Suddenly, the sound of hooves interrupted Han Ke’s thoughts. He frowned and looked back, feeling that the sound of the hooves was extremely arrogant. The people outside the city gate showed a hint of panic and quickly moved to the sides. Strangely, the guards were also looking fearful and kept stepping aside. Han Ke wanted to see who was so bold, but when he turned around, he saw thirty or so men in Qiang and Rong attire riding towards the city gate. The men on horseback were dressed in fine clothes, and they didn’t even pause at the city gate, riding straight into the city. The people on the roadside hadn’t noticed yet, and they didn’t have time to avoid them. Han Ke and Du Fangning were at the city gate and saw a child panic and run in the direction of the hooves. Han Ke quickly dodged and grabbed the child’s arm, pulling him back to the side of the road. When he looked up, he saw a mess of overturned vegetables and fruits on the ground, while the thirty or so riders had already galloped away triumphantly. Along the way, they had overturned so many stalls. Han Ke frowned. Du Fangning whispered, “They are the new envoys sent by the Qiang and Rong—the nearby people say they are here to summon the Juyan King to join the Tianjiao’s camp, trying to force the Juyan King to turn against our court.” Han Ke’s expression tightened. Fangning, who understood Hu language, finished speaking and listened for a moment, then whispered, “I’ll go see and see what they’re up to.” She looked up and saw a small inn nearby, “You go book a room there first, and I’ll come to the inn later.”—They hadn’t stayed in an inn in a long time, and Han Ke felt a sudden urge to blush without knowing why. Du Fangning didn’t ride her horse; she gently slid off and walked towards the direction of the Qiang and Rong envoys. That woman seemed to have noticed Han Ke’s hesitation and suddenly reached under the table, pulling out a piece of sandalwood. She lit a flint, igniting the sandalwood, and a fragrance rose from the wood. Then, she flicked her hand, and the sandalwood went out. Next, she spread a white silk cloth on the table and handed the sandalwood to Han Ke, whispering, “Draw it. What you draw is what you’re worried about in your heart. If you draw it, I can tell you the answer.” It was like this again—why was it always like this? Always strange and mysterious things happening to him. Han Ke felt his body tremble slightly. He rarely feared anything in his life, but this faint, unbelievable, yet undeniable thing made him feel a near-instinctive panic. The woman said lightly, “Don’t worry about not being able to draw it. Close your eyes, close your eyes, and you’ll be able to draw it.” It was like this situation repeating itself again. As if hypnotized, Han Ke unconsciously closed his eyes. His recent days had been chaotic, and he felt a faint unease in his heart, though he couldn’t be sure what it was. Then, with his eyes closed, he felt the woman take a deep breath from the incense burner in her hand, and a puff of smoke was blown into Han Ke’s face. As he inhaled the smoke, Han Ke seemed to enter that hazy, unconscious state again. He felt his hand moving, but he didn’t know what he was doing. In this desolate border city, a black-clothed woman, a desolate alley, a mysterious life… everything in his mind seemed unreal. After a long time, the woman sighed softly and said, “You can open your eyes now.” Han Ke seemed to snap out of a half-dream, surprised to find that he, who had never understood painting, had actually drawn another picture! The white silk was now in the woman’s hands, her eyes gazing at him quietly through the black veil. Han Ke also looked at the painting, seeing a young man of his teens with big eyes, a pointed chin, low and lively eyebrows, and a slightly pouted, slightly angry little mouth, with a slight tiger tooth showing slightly—he had drawn Xiao Ji! That child who had been bothering him for a long time. Han Ke stared at the painting, feeling that it was the first time he had seriously looked at Xiao Ji’s face. His slightly pouted lips seemed to be annoyed at his sudden departure, his expression hard to tell whether it was anger or mischief, but why was there such a sense of sorrow in his eyes? That sorrow shouldn’t be something a child of his age should have, but—he was indeed sorrowful. That’s right, what he had been worrying about these days was him, his mystery—Han Ke went to the small, unremarkable inn at the city’s edge and booked a room, tying the two horses to the manger. He waited for a while, but Du Fangning hadn’t returned, so he went for a stroll on the street. Juyan City had many merchants, with shops of all sizes, and many stalls were set up on the roadside, selling vegetables, fruits, noodles, miscellaneous goods, pearls, and daggers. Han Ke looked for a while and felt admiration. Then, as he turned a corner of a mosque, he suddenly felt as if someone was following him behind. Han Ke dodged and turned around, only to see a woman standing behind him. She suddenly spoke, her Chinese mixed with Qiang and Rong dialect, “Guest, do you want to have your fortune told?” Her voice was extremely strange; although she was speaking Chinese, it seemed like she hadn’t spoken it in a long time and wasn’t very proficient. Han Ke looked at her, seeing her wearing a loose black robe that covered her head to her feet, with a thick black veil covering her face, even her eyes were covered. The women in Juyan City were dressed in bright and colorful clothes, but this sudden black robe had a very abrupt look. Startled, Han Ke felt a familiar sense of familiarity, almost shouting, “Aunt Yu!” However, the woman was taller than Aunt Yu, and after speaking, she didn’t pay attention to Han Ke and turned to leave. Han Ke thought for a moment and followed. He saw her walk through the streets and alleys, about a mile away, turning into a small alley and entering a mud-brick house. The house was in a desolate area, with a dilapidated alley, broken wells, and ruins, yet every wall had grown grass, as if the alley had been empty for a long time. Only the room she entered was clean. Han Ke paused, looking at the desolate alley, then he smelled a familiar fragrance, the “Agarwood” he had smelled from Aunt Yu—supposedly produced in Siam, how could it be in Juyan City, so far north in the desert? Was she related to Aunt Yu? Han Ke walked to the low door of the small house and saw that the walls inside were empty, all book_contents=Third Part · Juyan HuntTitle: Juyan City North Hunt TianjiaoChapter 1: Old Friend Honghai Bows to the GeneralChapter 2: Border Storms Touch the Earth’s ShadowChapter 3: No One to Harmonize, Think of YingChapter 4: Discussing the Young and Borrowing from QinChapter 5: Yan Han Feng Hou Kong You XiangChapter 6: EmeiChapter 7: Hu Horse Sings and Willow Fortress：：：：：：：Fourth Part · War Horse RestsTitle: War Horses Are Better Than Returning HorsesChapter 1: Westward Expedition Adjusts Ten Thousand Pieces of GoldChapter 2: Only True in the Middle of DrunkennessChapter 3: Moving Three States, Defense CommissionerChapter 4: Eight Seats, Grand Lady of the CourtChapter 5: Sacrificing Life, Discussing Military StrategyChapter 6: Dragging Jade Waist and Gold to Serve the Lord’s BodyChapter 7: Jiang Tian Mo Mo Birds Fly in PairsChapter 8: Wind and Rain Sometimes the Dragon WhispersChapter 9: War Horses Are Better Than Returning HorsesChapter 10: A Thousand Families Now Have a Hundred LeftChapter 11: Cut Yan Ge, Initial Momentum RisesChapter 12: Even More Shocked by the Swordsmanship Returning to the SoulChapter 13: The Two Palaces Are Safe, Peaceful StonesChapter 14: Ten Thousand Nations Return, with a Female MinisterChapter 15: Going to Zi Tai, Connecting to the Northern DesertChapter 16: Desolate Spring, Gazing Far into the Distance