Bone-Returning Seed (Eight)
I was on tenterhooks for hours, but he just dismissed it so casually.
"How many trips did you make?" I shoveled a mouthful of rice into my mouth. "Coming back so late, I thought you'd fallen and died!"
"About twenty trips."
I almost choked on my food: "You—you think you're so great?"
Lin Zhong ladled half a bowl of soup for me: "Within seven days, as long as you practice properly, with Huai Xu's foundation, there shouldn't be too much difficulty in terms of technique."
Hearing him say that, I was both surprised and delighted. I quickly drank two mouthfuls of soup, but then choked.
"Cough—cough cough—" I covered my mouth and coughed incessantly.
“Master…” Lin Zhong said helplessly, moving from the opposite side to my right, and patted my back with his left hand.
"I'm fine!" I shrugged and leaned back slightly, raised my arm, pressed down the arm behind me, grabbed his wrist, and asked urgently, "Then what's the problem?!"
"I've got it in mind." Lin Zhong withdrew his hand.
I grabbed it back and snapped, "Explain yourself to me!"
“When the mind is calm, the breath is steady; when the breath is steady, the spirit is at ease.” Lin Zhong lowered his eyelids. “The most important thing when crossing the sinkhole is to concentrate. It’s not difficult to concentrate when walking on flat ground, but it is not easy to concentrate when you are high in the sky.”
"For those who cross the sinkhole, such a test is a matter of life and death, allowing no room for error; the same is true for those who care about it. Human energy is limited, and if we focus too much on the possible consequences of failure, we will become anxious and neglect the event itself. In fact, we are only walking on a chain, not our whole life."
I listened intently: "Anything else?"
"I haven't finished my meal yet."
"Oh." I let go of her hand, and felt a chill in my palm, as if a fish had slipped out.
Lin Zhong didn't sit back down opposite him, but moved his bowl and chopsticks over. I could count the rice in his bowl, but he was just eating the leftovers.
I propped my head up and said, "You've finished the salty stuff too."
Lin Zhong looked up: "I'm used to it."
I switched hands to support myself: "You got used to it pretty quickly."
Lin Zhong put down his chopsticks and continued the previous topic, saying, "Another difficulty is the wind. The sinkhole is shaped like a funnel. When you get halfway there, the iron chain sinks the most due to its own weight. At the same time, this place corresponds to the center of the funnel, so if the wind is strong, it will form a cyclone. With Huai Xu's weight, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to get out."
Hearing this, I couldn't help but feel nervous: "The timing is uncontrollable, what should we do?"
"What is the exact time to cross the sinkhole?"
"Seven days later, in Yuzhong!"
Lin Zhong nodded: "The fog will dissipate at 9:00 AM, and the sun will rise in the southeast. At this time of day, there is no other time of day more calm and peaceful than this."
I felt somewhat relieved: "Three to five days is too short, and the rainy season will be approaching in ten days. Seven days later is indeed the most suitable choice."
Lin Zhong continued, “High-altitude balance skills can be learned, and a stable state of mind can be maintained through emotional regulation. Even unfavorable weather conditions can be avoided. But there is only one thing that remains uncertain. I have pondered it for a long time but have no solution.”
I asked in alarm, "What is it?!"
“There are eagle nests on the cliff walls of the sinkhole. When the wind settles at 9:00 AM, it is also the time for them to come out and forage for food.”
Eagles hold a revered position in the hearts of the Dong people, and the eagles of Shenyang Cave are even worshipped as gods. Whether in Nanguang or Mahu, the sins of hunting eagles are far greater than those of murder.
I pondered for a while but had no good solution, so I could only say, "You just said that people's energy is limited. Since this matter is beyond human control, then there is no need to think about it anymore. Just focus on the skills and mindset."
“Okay.” Lin Zhong looked at me and said, “The section of Yuejiang Fish Mouth Rock is almost as wide as a sinkhole. Tomorrow I will take Huai Xu there to practice. The boss is familiar with Ge, the leader of the Rao Gang, so he can borrow some things for us.”
"No problem, I'll go tomorrow morning."
"As for cultivating one's mental state, it's best to avoid letting Huai Xu and Feng Qiao meet these next few days. You, Master, should also try to speak to her as little as possible."
"Whatever you say, I'll have Feng Qiao move to Yanziping tomorrow."
"That's all." Lin Zhong stood up and cleared the dishes from the table. "Boss, you can go and rest now."
"Just leave it here. You'll all be gone tomorrow, I'll have plenty of time to rest." I reached for the bowl in Lin Zhong's hand, but he wouldn't let go. I couldn't help but get angry, pointing at him and saying, "Lin Zhong! You've already disobeyed me twice today! Do you want a third time?!"
Lin Zhong uttered two words softly—"I don't want to," lowered his head, put down the bowl and plate, and walked away without looking back.
The next morning, I went to Yanziping first and told Wang Yunhui and her husband about my and Lin Zhong's plans. They both said that they could leave Feng Qiao to them without worry, and worried that I wouldn't be able to manage the inn by myself, so they specially asked a villager who knew how to repair horseshoes to come and help me.
After completing the handover at Yanziping, I rode my horse toward the Sanhe branch of Raobang.
When Chief Ge learned of my purpose, he immediately declared that he would take care of the matter and dispatched his men with the strongest ropes to build a rope bridge at Fish Mouth Rock. He had twin granddaughters who, upon hearing that Huai Xu was only a few years older than them, insisted that their grandfather assign the lifeboat task to them.
Leader Ge said to me with great pride, "My two little girls were born on a boat and grew up in the water. Their swimming skills are second to none among the gang's boys. If you trust Qing Niangzi, let them come with you."
I bowed and thanked them, saying, "Thank you for your help, Boss. With Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang as boatmen, Qingcheng would be more than happy to have you."
"Let's go! Let's go! Goodbye, Grandpa!" The twins hurriedly shook off Chief Ge's arm and ran towards me. Each of them grabbed one of my arms and dragged me out the door.
Behind them came the leader's instructions: "You two stay quiet on the water. Remember, don't bother the sister crossing the rope bridge with any questions!"
"Okay!"
Returning to Fish Mouth Rock, Lin Zhong and the brothers from the Rafting Gang were tying ropes and pulling cables. I brought Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang to Huai Xu's side. Meeting her affectionate gaze, I remembered Lin Zhong's instructions from last night. Many words could only be kept in my heart, unable to be spoken.
I hardened my heart and said, "Listen to your Uncle Lin, practice diligently. I have things to do at the inn, so I'll be going now."
*9.2 Update*
As midday approached, the supply cavalry arrived one after another, thanks to Wang Yunhui for providing me with help.
We worked from midday until dusk, and finally we could rest, catch our breath, and have a cup of tea.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Ding." I poured tea for the old man and grabbed a handful of money from the counter to give him. "I don't know what's wrong with us today. Even the four of us are rarely this busy. I've made you work so hard for me. Please accept this money, don't think it's too little."
"No, no!" Old Ding refused repeatedly. "What are you talking about, Qing Niangzi? Mr. Liu and Madam Wang asked me to come to the inn to help you. If I take your money, wouldn't that be a slap in their face?"
"That's all separate matters. They asked for my help, and I'm thanking them." I insisted on giving him the money. "Uncle Ding, if it weren't for your help today, we wouldn't have been able to finish the work before sunset. When Huai Xu comes back and sees this, she'll definitely be anxious. At a time like this, we can't let her be distracted, can we?"
Old Ding nodded: "Of course. The children's affairs are of paramount importance."
After seeing Old Master Ding off, I hurriedly went to the kitchen to start a fire and cook rice. I hastily stir-fried two dishes and made a pot of soup. Just as I put it on the table, Huai Xu came in crying. He passed by me without stopping, bowed his head and called out "Godmother" before running straight back into the house.
I turned to look at Lin Zhong: "What... happened?"
Lin Zhong remained calm: "Ignore her." He picked some vegetables into a bowl and then ladled out a bowl of soup.
Seeing this, I quickly grabbed a tray, which Lin Zhong took, filled with food, and carried it into Huai Xu's room.
The door opened and closed, and Huai Xu cried loudly.
Feeling uneasy, I asked Lin Zhong, "Will it be okay to ignore this?"
"The only one who can truly help her is herself." Lin Zhong picked up his chopsticks and handed me a pair. "Let's eat, boss."
I hummed in agreement: "The dishes were really too salty today. You should drink more soup."
Lin Zhong took a couple of bites, nodded, and said, "Don't burn it tomorrow."
I felt a little embarrassed: "If you hadn't said yesterday that my cooking was too salty, I would have been so focused on how much salt to put in today that I added too much."
Lin Zhong glanced at me: "It's not because of that."
I glared at him and asked, "What's the reason for that?"
Lin Zhong lowered his eyes: "You're too tired."
The next day, the inn was a little quieter. I asked Old Ding to watch the shop for me, took out a straw hat, put it on, and headed towards the Yuejiang River.
Not daring to get too close to Fish Mouth Rock, I quietly circled around to the Blue Stone Beach, where a group of women were washing clothes by the water. When they saw me, they called out loudly, "Lady Qing is here!"
"Is Qing Niangzi here to see her little sister?"
I made a shushing gesture to them and crouched down next to a burly woman. She kindly stepped aside to give me her seat, but I quickly stopped her, saying, "Sister-in-law, don't move! I'll leave after watching for a while."
Brown ropes spanned the two banks of the Yuejiang River, about ten zhang wide and high. Two bamboo rafts floated on the water, poled by the twins of the Ge chieftain's family.
Lin Zhong stood on one side of the rope bridge, arms bent and elbows folded, motionless as a pine tree. Huai Xu, holding a bamboo pole in both hands, was crossing the bridge from the other side, heading towards the opposite bank.
I held my breath and stared at the figure slowly moving on the rope bridge. My heart was pounding like a drum. When there was only a little bit left, I couldn't bear to watch anymore, so I pulled down my straw hat and turned my back.
The washerwomen all put down their wooden mallets and craned their necks to wait. After a while, the woman next to me nudged my shoulder and said, "Look, look! The girl has gone over there!"
I breathed a sigh of relief and looked across the river. I saw Lin Zhong take the bamboo pole from Huai Xu's hand and wave for her to turn around. Instantly, my heart clenched again.
Huai Xu spread his arms and moved forward slowly. When he was close to the middle of the river, perhaps because the sun was setting and the wind was rising, and there was no bamboo pole to maintain his balance, he swayed a few times and still could not stay steady. He fell straight into the river from the rope bridge.
Sighs rose and fell around them. It was unclear whether it was Da Shuang or Xiao Shuang, who, like an arrow, steered the raft towards the spot where Huai Xu had fallen into the water, pulled him up, and rowed him toward the shore.
The woman beside me patted my shoulder and comforted me, saying, "You walked much better today than yesterday. Don't worry, the mountain god will protect you!"
The women around also chimed in, "Yes, Qingniangzi. The mountain god will surely protect you!"
Upon hearing this, my eyes welled up with tears, and my nose tingled. I quickly thanked him and left. Not far away, I saw a familiar figure flash by under a tree ahead.
"Feng Qiao!" I called out, stamping my foot.
“Aunt.” Feng Qiao stopped and turned around, his eyes red and swollen, as if he had just cried.
Seeing him like this, I couldn't bear to scold him, so I pulled him to a quiet place: "Don't come here again tomorrow. If Huai Xu sees you, she'll feel bad."
Feng Qiao burst into tears: "I understand, Aunt."
"Stop crying." I crossed my arms and looked him over. "Your crying makes me want to cry too."
Feng Qiao wiped away his tears: "Aunt, I heard from Uncle Xu's acquaintances that in the past ten years, no one who has crossed the sinkhole at Shenyang Cave has survived."
I scolded him, "Don't listen to his nonsense. Your Uncle Lin just passed away the day before yesterday, and he's perfectly fine."
Feng Qiao stammered, "But Uncle Lin is Uncle Lin..."
“But what!” I interrupted him. “Huai Xu is Uncle Lin’s apprentice. Don’t you trust Huai Xu, or don’t you trust your Uncle Lin?”
"I believe..."
"Just believe me." I waved my hand at him. "Go back and stop overthinking things."
“Aunt…” Feng Qiao hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
"What else is there? Speak quickly!"
Feng Qiao mustered his courage and said to me, "If it's Huai Xu... then what's the point of me living? Aunt, please, Uncle Lin, bury us together."
"Feng Qiao!" I exclaimed, "I really want to slap you twice across the face! Can't you think of anything nice?!"
"You, trying to commit suicide for love? Do you think Huai Xu would want you to do that? If you dare to do anything reckless, I'll burn you to ashes and scatter them everywhere, you believe me?"
"Do you think Huai Xu crossed the sinkhole for your sake? Do you think my mother crossed the sinkhole just to marry my father? If you think that way, you look down on them!"
"You are Huai Xu's beloved, that's true, and my mother loves my father just as much. But there are other paths to take, so why insist on crossing the sinkhole?"
"Because what they want more is the right to choose their lover and the freedom to be with the one they love openly and honestly! Do you understand?"
"I'm doing this not for any particular person, but for myself! And also for the many other Dong women who are in the same situation!"
Feng Qiao cried, "But Aunt, why Huai Xu? Why does she have to suffer so much?"
Seeing him wipe away his tears with his sleeve, I suddenly remembered that I had brought a handkerchief. It was given to me by Wei Ji at the meeting in Zhoupu the day before yesterday. I didn't think it was anything valuable, so I washed it and kept it for myself.
I took a handkerchief from my waist and handed it to him, saying, "Wipe yourself. Don't ask why. Brave people always do more and go further. You like her, isn't it because she's that kind of person?"
Feng Qiao wiped away his tears and said, "But there's nothing I can do, nothing I can help with..."
“You’re wrong.” I patted him on the shoulder. “You are her greatest source of courage.”
"Really, Auntie?"
"real."
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