Chapter 25: Searching for the Beloved in the Dim Light

Everything has an end. The longer and more complicated something is, the more sudden its end often is. (Gu Long)
……
As for Liu Yi, once the Ten Heroes left Fengmo Town, they rode at full speed straight toward Mo Ying’s location in Miao Country. In just three hours, they reached the general area indicated by the Wolf King.
Liu Yi looked around. Mountains rose one after another, like walls reaching into the clouds. A clear stream gathered into a small pool at the foot of the mountains, surrounded by wildflowers. At the base of the mountains lay a lush green grassland, encircling everything like a landscape painting.
In the midst of this landscape painting stood three thatched cottages connected together…
Liu Yi waved his folding fan and said, “We’ve finally arrived. I wonder how Ah Jiu is doing. There’s less than a month left before the deadline set by the emperor. I also don’t know how the Great Sword King is faring… Sigh.”
The Ten Heroes said in unison, “Let’s go in first to check on Ah Jiu.”
Liu Yi nodded, tightened his grip on the reins, and the two horses neighed as they rushed toward the cottages.
At that moment, something suddenly moved in the bushes, and a green figure appeared in front of Liu Yi and the Ten Heroes. In panic, Liu Yi and the others quickly grabbed the reins. The horses neighed and leaped upright on their front legs.
Fortunately, Liu Yi had learned the skill “Hidden Spin Nine Shadows.” When the horse got scared, he immediately used the “Enwrap” technique to stay firmly seated on it. But the Ten Heroes were different. Though they held on tightly, the horse stood almost upright at high speed. With a “thud,” the Ten Heroes fell off their horses.
A clear laugh rang out, “Haha, haha, this is so fun! How can you be so stupid?”
The Ten Heroes rubbed their butts while cursing, “Damn it, you’re scaring people to death…” Mid-sentence, he suddenly stopped. Although he cursed more often than he ate, he never cursed women (except, of course, demons). Seeing that it was a woman standing in front of him, he immediately stopped talking.
Liu Yi carefully observed the woman on horseback. She was in her twenties, not particularly beautiful, but exuded an air of elegance and refinement. Perhaps living in these mountains for so long had given her a touch of natural grace.
She wore light green clothes—a short skirt over long pants, with a white apron-like thing tied around her waist. She wore silver hair ornaments, looking very cute. Her eyes, neither too big nor too small, seemed to speak. She glanced at Liu Yi, then at the Ten Heroes, and back again. In her hand was a two-foot-long curved sword pointed at herself. She tried to look serious, but couldn’t help but laugh heavily…
It was then that Liu Yi realized the truth behind a saying: “Women aren’t cute because they’re beautiful; they’re beautiful because they’re cute.” The woman before him was exactly that kind of cute and beautiful, making Liu Yi take an extra look.
The green-clad woman spoke, but after a long time, neither Liu Yi nor the Ten Heroes understood her. Based on Liu Yi’s experience, she was probably speaking the local dialect…
Liu Yi bowed and said, “Miss, are you speaking… human language?”

The woman in green swung her short curved knife and snapped, “Nonsense! What else could I mean but human speech?” Finally, after hearing Liu Yi speak, she also started using Mandarin, though not very fluently.
Liu Yi nodded, thinking to himself, “It’s good that we can communicate. If this girl couldn’t understand me and chopped at me, that would be bad for her.”
Shi Jieyi asked, “It’s broad daylight—are you trying to scare us?”
The girl in green smiled awkwardly and said, “Actually… it’s not to scare you. This is a private place. Why did you intrude?”
Liu Yi replied, “I am Liu Yi, a scholar from the south. My two friends are here to ask the renowned physician Mo Ying to treat their injuries. We didn’t intend to intrude on any private property.”
Hearing this, the girl sheathed her short curved knife and fastened it to her waist. “Oh, so you’re the rogue scholar Liu Yi mentioned by that Wolf Uncle. I knew it.”
Liu Yi cursed inwardly, “Why does that Wolf King spread his reputation everywhere? And now he’s even called an uncle.”
Helplessly shaking his head, Liu Yi said, “It’s really me.”
Shi Jieyi asked curiously, “Who are you?”
The girl in green stuck out her tongue and giggled, “I forgot to introduce myself. Everyone in this area calls me ‘Jili’. Come, I’ll take you to see my father.”
Liu Yi was puzzled. He dismounted from his horse and said, “Miss, we’re looking for Mo Ying, Senior Mo.”
Jili giggled again, “That’s right. He’s my father. My Chinese name is Mo Lanshan, but everyone in my clan calls me Jili.”
Only then did Liu Yi understand. He led his horse and Shi Jieyi behind Jili.
As they walked, Liu Yi asked, “Miss Mo, is the Wolf King still here?”
Jili replied, “Wolf Uncle? He said he had something to do, so he left Sister Ajiu here and left. He said someone would come to take care of her in a few days. Wolf Uncle is so accurate in his predictions.”
Shi Jieyi snapped, “What kind of person abandons someone here? He doesn’t even finish what he starts.”
Jili explained, “We can’t blame Wolf Uncle. My father was treating Sister Ajiu, and he couldn’t help. When he was asked to gather herbs, he refused. My father got angry and drove him away.”
Liu Yi waved his fan and said, “That guy is just like that. Luckily, I didn’t take him as a master back then. I guess Miss Mo must be the most tired these days—no one to gather herbs, so you must be the one bearing the heaviest burden.”
Jili waved her little hand as they walked, her wide sleeves swaying, looking especially cute. She modestly said, “Brother scholar, you’re too kind. If I don’t gather herbs, what will happen to Sister Ajiu?”
Watching Mo Lanshan’s actions, Liu Yi felt an indescribable emotion. Even after meeting the beautiful but willful Ajiu and the clever and pretty Shui, he hadn’t felt this way… Just as Liu Yi was lost in thought, Mo Lanshan said, “Brothers, wait here for a moment. I’ll go inform my father.” With that, she entered the house.
In the time it took to brew tea, an old man dressed in gray Hanfu came out. With white beard and white hair, he might have looked old, but he exuded an air of elegance.
The old man stepped forward and said, “You two must be Sister Ajiu’s friends.”

Liu Yi and Shi Jie nodded. Liu Yi continued, “It’s true. Because of the urgency, we had no choice but to ask the Wolf King to send them over first; we rushed here right after.”
The old man nodded and said, “It’s just in time that you two came. One of you go take care of A’Jiu, and the other go gather herbs. I should rest too. All these days, I haven’t even gotten tired.” With that, he stretched.
Liu Yi nodded and said to Shi Jie, “You go take care of A’Jiu. I’ll go gather herbs.”
Shi Jie replied worriedly, “Boss, let me go gather herbs instead. I’m not afraid of hard work.”
Liu Yi tapped Shi Jie’s head and said, “You don’t cherish the chance I’m giving you. Am I someone who gets tired easily? It’s just gathering herbs. If you go, I’m afraid you might bring back poisonous herbs.”
After thinking about Liu Yi’s words, Shi Jie quickly laughed and said, “Thank you, boss.” Then he went inside the house.
Mo Ying looked at Liu Yi and said, “If you’re going to gather herbs, follow Jili’er. That way, I won’t have to worry about her all the time. She’ll tell you what kind of herbs are needed. I need to go in and tell that silly boy how to take care of A’Jiu…” With that, she turned and went inside.
Jili’er laughed and said, “From now on, you’ll be with me. That way, I won’t be lonely gathering herbs all by myself…”