Just as the group had finished breakfast and was preparing to set off, A-Liang, holding the reins of a white mule, suddenly asked everyone to wait a moment. Then he called out, "Come forth."
From the stone plateau atop the mountain emerged the local deity of Qidun Mountain, youthful and strikingly handsome—his beauty surpassing even that of a maiden. Dressed in flowing white robes with sleeves like drifting clouds, he gracefully stepped forward, cradling a long, slender wooden box in his hands. Bowing low with a sycophantic smile to the straw-hatted man, he said, "Great Immortal, your humble servant has prepared the carriage. The remaining two hundred li of mountain road shall be smooth and unobstructed, like walking upon level ground."
A-Liang, now a far cry from the ruthless figure who had felled a man with a single strike the previous day, responded with warm courtesy, "Much appreciated, much appreciated. Please hold onto this for now. When we near the borders of Qidun Mountain, hand it back to me."
Flattered beyond measure, the young deity stammered, "Such politeness from the Great Immortal—your words are far too generous for someone as lowly as me."
A-Liang stepped forward, patted the divine spirit's shoulder, and handed him the mule's reins. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. Take the horse as well and escort it to the boundary."
With solemn fervor, the young deity declared, "It is only right. To serve as your forerunner is the greatest honor of my life."
A-Liang turned to glance at Li Huai, who had earlier caused a commotion at breakfast over a piece of braised beef—crying, shouting, threatening to hang himself, employing every trick in the book. He'd practically bartered away his mother and sister, and if A-Liang had shown interest, might've even offered his father. In the end, A-Liang did not yield, leaving Li Huai fuming and flailing, the two locked in simmering hostility ever since.
A-Liang raised a thumb and gestured toward the sycophantic young deity behind him, silently saying: "You see, brat? Your Uncle A-Liang is a big deal in the jianghu. Show some respect."
Li Huai rolled his eyes and spat disdainfully on the ground.
A-Liang snapped irritably, "Let's move!"
Moments after his words fell, three mountain turtles, each with a shell as wide as a round dining table, slowly ascended the summit. Their crimson shells burned like embers.
When the young deity with his green bamboo staff cast a gaze upon them, all three turtles instantly retracted their heads. For all his limitations in cultivation, rendering him unable to tame the two serpent spirits over the centuries, he remained the undisputed king of this mountain. As for the lesser beasts—avian or terrestrial—they were as meek before him as domesticated livestock.
Each turtle's shell could seat three passengers. The young deity, meticulous to a fault, had affixed low wooden rails around the shell rims using local hardwood, fashioned into handrails to prevent the esteemed guests from being jostled off.
Li Baoping, Li Huai, and Lin Shouyi climbed aboard in turn. Chen Ping'an was summoned by Li Baoping to join her on the turtle she had chosen. A-Liang accompanied Li Huai and Lin Shouyi, while Zhu He and Zhu Lu had their own peaceful corner.
Delighted beyond measure, Li Huai found the turtle's movement surprisingly smooth—barely a tremor shook him. It was even more comfortable than ox or horse carts. Though clumsy in appearance, the mountain turtles descended swiftly.
Ecstatic, the boy thumped A-Liang's knee. "My goodness! This is the first time in my life I've ridden such a huge turtle. A-Liang, you heartless scoundrel, you've finally done something good!"
A-Liang regarded him with a look of pity. "For you to have grown up at all, your town must be filled with simple, honest folk."
Li Huai turned to Lin Shouyi. "Did A-Liang just insult me?"
Lin Shouyi, eyes closed in quiet meditation, seemed lost in the caress of the late-spring mountain breeze and ignored the question entirely.
Li Huai shot a sly glance at A-Liang, trying to read something from the man's expression.
But A-Liang, face solemn, replied, "It was praise."
Li Huai glanced at the green-sheathed longsword resting on A-Liang's lap, then at the small silver gourd hanging from his waist. "A-Liang, let me play with your bamboo blade?"
A-Liang shook his head. "You're not suited for swordplay."
Li Huai frowned. "Then what weapon am I suited for?"
A-Liang replied gravely, "You're best at reasoning. Convince others with virtue and logic."
Li Huai sighed. "That won't work."
A-Liang, who had only meant to tease the child, now grew curious. "Why not?"
Li Huai turned his head away, gazing at the verdant trees and fleeting blossoms. In a soft voice, he said, "My voice is too soft. My mother said that in an argument, whoever shouts loudest is right. But at home, my dad barely speaks a word—he wouldn't fart even if you beat him with a stick. My sister's the shy and gentle type too. So whenever something happens and Mom's not around, the two of them just stare at each other. It drives people mad. Honestly, I don't like arguing either, but sometimes, sitting on the wall and watching my mother shout and scream at others makes me wonder—what if she grows old and can't shout anymore? What then? Our house is poor. There's a hole in the roof we can't afford to fix. My dad's useless. My sister will marry and leave one day. If we don't even have someone to argue anymore, won't bullies walk all over us?"
Lin Shouyi stirred slightly.
A-Liang clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. Such grand thoughts for someone so young?"
The boy replied wearily, "Can't help it. My mom always says I'm the only man in the family. Mr. Qi once taught us: 'A man without foresight will have immediate worries.' So I have to be… um…"
A-Liang chuckled and supplied, "Prepared."
Li Huai shook his head. "Lin Shouyi, what did Mr. Qi say a gentleman should be?"
Lin Shouyi opened his eyes and recited slowly, "Conceal one's talents, and act only when the time is ripe."
Li Huai pointed at A-Liang. "You, A-Liang, are nothing but a sloshing half-filled barrel."
Lin Shouyi looked as though he wanted to switch seats for the sake of peace and quiet.
A-Liang took a swig from his gourd and laughed. "I already arranged with the mountain deity yesterday. Before we part ways, he and those two beasts will present us with parting gifts. That wooden box you saw earlier is called the 'Horizontal Treasure Pavilion'—it's the counterpart to the Upright Treasure Shelf, filled with rare and precious items. I was going to let each of you take one. You included, Li Huai. But now... never mind."
Li Huai remained unmoved and said with measured seriousness, "A-Liang, I know there are a hundred great ships sailing in your belly."
A-Liang blinked. "What nonsense is that?"
Lin Shouyi said idly, "A prime minister's heart is broad enough to sail ships."
A-Liang slapped the back of Li Huai's head and burst into hearty laughter.
The mountain turtles picked quiet, scenic routes, treading effortlessly through hills and streams. At picturesque spots, A-Liang allowed the party to rest. During one such stop, Chen Ping'an passed a grove of bamboo stalks, green and lustrous like jade. He took the half-broken hatchet and chopped down a couple, slicing them into segments of varying lengths to be stored in his basket.
Li Huai, knowing the reason, bounced with joy. "Time to carry the book box!"
The three mountain turtles, resting in the distance, gazed at the grass-shoed youth with admiration shining in their amber eyes as he felled the bamboo.
A-Liang, sipping his wine and watching the nimble youth work, grinned. "Good eye. Shame your luck's still crap."
Before setting off again, the girl in the red cotton jacket told Zhu He she wanted to sit with Zhu Lu alone. Naturally, Zhu He agreed, only reminding his daughter to look after the young miss. Zhu Lu nodded…