Chapter 381 - 372: Hidden Dragon, Riding the Wind

Chapter 381: Chapter 372: Hidden Dragon, Riding the Wind

A carriage came swaying and bumping along the main road from Xunyang to Lu Mountain.

The horse pulling it was nothing special, and the carriage itself could hardly be called grand or luxurious, but the driver was quite eye-catching.

He was around his early forties, with a strong, well-built physique and deep-set eyes. He wore a simple outfit of fine silk, which gave him an air of uncommon distinction.

A man like that could be a great personage of any status, but he certainly didn’t look like he should be a mere carriage driver.

The County Soldiers manning the checkpoint, shouldering their guns and collecting a so-called "transit tax" from passersby, probably thought so too. Consequently, when the carriage drew near and the driver swept a cool gaze over them, they immediately waved it through, not daring to mention the small toll.

The carriage passed the checkpoint and continued toward the foot of Lu Mountain.

Along the way, they encountered many more privately-erected checkpoints; some were manned, others abandoned.

Back when the Warlords carved up the country, this area had a checkpoint every hundred paces and a toll station every few hundred yards. Soldiers swarmed like lice, and taxes were as plentiful as hairs on an ox.

Though not as exaggerated as it once was, the situation showed signs of relapsing into its former state.

After a stop-and-go journey, the carriage finally arrived at the foot of Lu Mountain. The driver found a spot to park, dismounted, and then stood respectfully by the carriage door, calling out, "Venerable Lord."

The curtain was lifted, and a handsome young man in a cloud-patterned long gown stepped gracefully from the carriage.

It was none other than Fu Juemin.

Fu Juemin stood on the carriage shafts, gazing at the massive, dark cyan silhouette of Lu Mountain before him. He ordered Hong Huan to find a guide to lead them into the mountains.

The foot of Lu Mountain was still quite bustling with people.

Although it hadn’t yet developed into the famous tourist destination it was in his previous life, many people from the surrounding areas still came here for leisure.

In a clearing not far from Fu Juemin, several luxurious carriages were parked, surrounded by a crowd of guards and servants—clearly the retinue of a wealthy family on an outing.

Besides them, there were also many woodcutters, professional sedan-chair carriers, porters, and guides.

Since ancient times, no matter the place, the locals have always lived off the land—making a living from the mountains if they lived by mountains, or from the water if they lived by water.

Hong Huan soon returned with a man in tow: a short, skinny fellow with dark, sun-beaten skin. He called himself He San, said he lived near the foot of the mountain, and had grown up on Lu Mountain, so he knew it like the back of his hand.

"Then have you ever heard of Hidden Dragon Waterfall?"

Fu Juemin asked.

The man lowered his head in thought for a moment, then replied, "I can’t say I’ve heard that name, sir. But among the peaks of Lu Mountain, there are more springs and waterfalls, big and small, than you can count.

"The same waterfall might have many different names.

"I remember where every one of them is, so I can take you to find them one by one..."

Fu Juemin saw that the man spoke in an orderly fashion and was satisfied with his answer. He nodded and said, "Then let’s go."

He and Hong Huan had brought almost no luggage. The man, He San, couldn’t have been happier with such low-maintenance clients; otherwise, he might have had to work as a porter in addition to being their guide.

The three of them rested briefly at the foot of the mountain and left the carriage in the care of a stablehand. Just as they were about to head into the mountains, a man who looked like a steward approached, wishing to speak with Fu Juemin.

Hong Huan stepped forward to meet him. Upon asking, he learned that someone wanted to invite Fu Juemin to travel with them.

"My lady saw that the Young Master is traveling with only one companion, with no luggage and no provisions.

"Once you’re in the mountains, if you get hungry or thirsty, there’s nowhere to buy anything. Besides, there might be bandits in these mountains. The two of you are on your own and vulnerable. Why not join us?"

The steward spoke very politely. Fu Juemin glanced toward the carriages he had noticed earlier and saw several fashionably dressed girls in Western-style dresses hiding their faces with fans, peeking at him.

When they saw him look over, they quickly shrank back, turning their heads aside to pretend they were admiring the scenery.

Fu Juemin couldn’t even be bothered to reply to the offer. He simply smiled, then turned and walked straight into the mountains with Hong Huan and He San.

...

"Miss, he’s not willing."

The steward walked back to the carriages, reporting to the three young women in Western dresses with a helpless expression.

The prettiest of the three, a girl with a touch of baby fat on her cheeks, had already seen Fu Juemin’s back as he disappeared into the mountains without a second glance. A look of deep disappointment crossed her fair face. "Oh," she murmured, nodding. "I see."

A skinny girl beside her tried to console her. "It’s okay, Xiuxiu. There are plenty of good-looking guys out there. Judging by his clothes, his family background can’t be all that great. Who wears a traditional long gown these days? It’s just so... dated."

The skinny girl stuck out her tongue in disgust and said with a laugh, "My cousin is coming back from his studies abroad next month. I’ll let you see what a real, talented, and modern young man looks like then!"

Xiuxiu smiled and said, "Okay," but in her heart, she paid no mind to her friend’s words.

’She had met plenty of so-called "overseas returnees" and "talented young elites," but this was the first time in her life she’d ever felt that special something for a man she had only just met. She had finally worked up the courage to send someone over to talk to him, but unfortunately, he wouldn’t even give her a chance to get acquainted.’

The other girl, who was a bit plump, offered more effective consolation. "Once we’re in the mountains, we’ll definitely have another chance to run into them. They don’t have any food or water, and they probably didn’t even bring insect repellent. When the time comes, won’t they have to come crawling to us for help?"

Hearing this, Xiuxiu’s eyes instantly lit up. She urged them on, "Then let’s hurry into the mountains."

"Ooh, can’t wait to go rescue your sweetheart?"

"What nonsense! I’m going to tickle you!"

The three girls dissolved into a fit of giggles and playful shoves, their spirits high. They were completely oblivious to several of their guards not far away, who were exchanging glances with glinting eyes, as if secretly plotting something.