Chapter 52 Untitled Draft?
The path down the mountain was soft and slippery from the morning dew, and the withered branches crunched underfoot, much like the unspoken schemes within the Wujia Clan. Black Bear walked beside Zhang Qiling, his left hand discreetly pressed against his lower back—when he shielded Xie Yuchen from the knife, the blade had sliced through his jacket, and the blood seeping out had clung to his skin, causing pain with every movement. But he pretended nothing was wrong, deliberately nudging Zhang Qiling's waist with his elbow: "Dumb Zhang, you were quick enough to reach for the hidden compartment just now, Wu Xie didn't notice anything amiss—"
Zhang Qiling didn't turn around, but his fingertips precisely landed on the wound on Hei Xiazi's lower back, pressing lightly. The pressure wasn't strong, but it was enough to make Hei Xiazi gasp. "Say something if it hurts." His voice was low, only the two of them could hear, the end of his tone still carrying a lingering chill, but the fingertips on the wound subtly loosened their pressure—in his previous life, Hei Xiazi had developed a fever after this journey because he hadn't treated his wound in time, and he hadn't forgotten. As for Wu Xie, he had long known that this child belonged to the Wu family, but Wu Xie himself hadn't recognized, or rather, was unwilling to recognize, his true role within the Wu family.
Xie Yuchen, who was following behind, happened to see this scene and couldn't help but sneer, "Can you two tone it down a bit? Didn't you see Wu Xie almost crushing his mask?" As he spoke, he raised his hand to wipe the blood from his arm—he had been cut by the man in black earlier, not deep, but it had bled quite a bit, and now, with the wind blowing, it was chillingly cold. As the head of the Xie family, he was always decisive and efficient. Seeing Wu Xie's absent-minded appearance, he felt it was a waste of time, but he didn't really abandon him.
Wu Xie was indeed clutching the bronze mask, his knuckles white, the edges of which had left red marks on his fingertips. Beneath the mask was his second uncle's old buddy, the one who had helped him move goods in the warehouse just last week—his second uncle had patted him on the shoulder and said, "Young Master, keep the fragments of meteorite jade in the warehouse safe, don't let anyone covet them." Now, thinking back, that wasn't a warning, but clearly a confirmation that the item was in his possession. He wasn't just shocked—his second uncle was one of the heads of the family, he had even thought of himself as his second uncle's "heir," but now he realized he wasn't even a proper pawn; even the buddy who moved the goods was an informant watching him.
“Last week when I was moving goods, he even helped me pick up the chalcedony fragments that had fallen on the ground…” Wu Xie’s voice was hoarse. He had long forgotten the swelling and pain on the back of his hand. His mind was full of those overlooked details—the way the shop assistant looked at him, the water his second uncle handed him, and even before his aunt was “captured,” his second uncle specifically asked him to go to his aunt’s house to get “ancestral items.” It turned out that from the very beginning, he was just bait in his second uncle’s hands, and even his aunt was just a role played by Wu Jia.
They hadn't gone far when the sound of car engines came from the mountain pass. Three black SUVs were parked in the tall grass. Zhang Yan, who was in the lead, was wearing a dark gray windbreaker. When he saw Zhang Qiling approaching, he immediately bowed and said, "Clan leader, everything is arranged. The medical kit is in the second car. We've booked a room with a heated kang bed at the guesthouse down the mountain. We've left five disciples at the ancestral hall to clean up the scene and dispose of that guy's body—so that Wu Xiaosan doesn't have to worry about it." He was the steward of the Zhang family overseas and had followed Zhang Qiling since childhood. He knew the clan leader's rules best—everything, big or small, had to be arranged in advance so that the clan leader and Hei Ye wouldn't have to do anything, while also taking care of Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen's feelings.
Zhang Qiling nodded, his gaze first sweeping over Hei Xiazi's lower back before he said to Zhang Yan, "Give me the spare wound medicine, and treat Wu Xie and Xie Yuchen's injuries as well." He had long anticipated that Wu Erbai would use Wu Xie as bait—that was the rule of the Wu family; for the sake of their goals, they would even sacrifice their own family members. In the six months since his rebirth, he had the Zhang family keep an eye on Wu Erbai's every move, even investigating the identity of this fellow clearly, just waiting for Wu Xie to break through this barrier himself.
Just as Hei Xiazi was about to wave his hand and say "no need," Zhang Qiling grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the second car. Xie Yuchen impatiently kicked Wu Xie: "What are you standing there for? Let's go! Get your injury treated first. If your hand is so swollen that you can't hold anything, you'll only be a burden when we get to Changbai Mountain." His tone was sharp, but he still walked towards the car door first, not really leaving Wu Xie behind.
The first-aid kit in the car was specially made by the Zhang family, complete with iodine, gauze, and hemostatic powder. Zhang Qiling had Hei Xiazi sit in the back seat and immediately lifted his jacket—the three-inch-long gash on his lower back was still bleeding, its edges tinged with red. He didn't speak, but took a cotton swab, dipped it in iodine, and moved so gently as if afraid of breaking something, even slowing his breathing. Hei Xiazi looked at his drooping eyelashes and suddenly laughed: "Mute Zhang, your skills are much better than that kid Zhang Yan's. Last time he changed my dressing, he almost tore my skin off."
Zhang Qiling didn't reply, but simply sprinkled the hemostatic powder on the wound and wrapped it tightly with gauze. Finally, he gently pressed the edge of the gauze with his fingertip, as if to check if it was tight enough: "Don't move around, we have to go into the mountains tomorrow."
On the other side, Xie Yuchen disinfected the wound on his arm himself, his movements swift and efficient, without even flinching from the pain. Wu Xie sat beside him, staring at the bruise on the back of his hand, his voice muffled: "Master Hua, why did Second Uncle act like this? Couldn't he just have me give him the meteorite jade marrow directly? Why did he have to use Auntie as a cover, even using the porters?"
Xie Yuchen rolled his eyes at him, quickly and neatly wrapping the gauze: "You think he doesn't trust you? He doesn't trust the others in the Wu family. The internal factions of the Wu family are in a mess right now. He's afraid that if he asks for it directly, someone will intercept it and he'll be accused of 'embezzling' it. Using you as bait, he can get the meteorite jade marrow and also use us to eliminate his opponents, killing two birds with one stone." As he spoke, he rummaged through the medical kit and took out an ice pack, throwing it to him, "Apply it yourself, don't dawdle like a little girl."
Wu Xie took the ice pack and awkwardly applied it to his hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhang Qiling in the front row handing water to Hei Xiazi. Hei Xiazi took a sip and handed it back, and Zhang Qiling drank from the same bottle opening as him. He felt a tightness in his chest, but he couldn't help but complain, "Can you two be a little more considerate? There are two injured people here."
Black Bear raised an eyebrow and turned around: "Little Third Master, are you envious? If you're so capable, find someone who can take a knife for you and change your medicine."
Xie Yuchen scoffed: "Him? He'd be lucky if he didn't get stabbed by someone else."
After driving for more than half an hour, they entered the small town at the foot of the mountain. The guesthouse Zhang Yan had booked was a two-story building with a courtyard. Red lanterns hung at the entrance, and several apple trees grew in the yard, making it look like a proper farmhouse inn. The landlady was already waiting, and upon seeing them enter, she immediately greeted them with a smile: "Mr. Zhang, you booked the room, right? The heated kang bed is all set, and the food will be ready soon. We've stewed local pheasant and made cornbread. Please rest and warm up."
Zhang Yan carried the luggage into the room and said to Zhang Qiling, "Clan leader, I have already had my disciples investigate Master Wu's convoy. He took more than a dozen men to Erdaobaihe, and the convoy was carrying TNT explosives. Our people have been watching him for three days. He has already figured out that the meteorite jade marrow is in your hands. This time, he wants to go to the Cloud Top Heavenly Palace ahead of time to blow up the bronze gate and rush to open the secret inside to establish his authority."
Zhang Qiling sat in a wicker chair in the living room, stroking a fragment of meteorite jade in his hand, his eyes devoid of emotion: "Understood. Have your disciples follow, but don't alert them. We'll set off again tomorrow; rest today." He had long understood Wu Erbai's intentions—those without a family were always driven by profit, and Wu Erbai, as the head of the family, was even more eager to consolidate his position, naturally willing to take risks. In the six months since his rebirth, he had already had the Zhang family establish surveillance along Changbai Mountain, from Erdaobaihe to the Cloud Peak Heavenly Palace, with disciples watching every place, ensuring Wu Erbai couldn't cause any trouble.
Black Bear leaned over and sat on the rattan chair next to him, snatching the fragment of meteorite jade marrow from his hand. "Stop thinking about it, or the pancakes will get cold. The proprietress said this pheasant has been stewed for three hours; if you miss it, you'll miss out on its freshness." As he spoke, he handed the fragment back, deliberately rubbing his fingertips against Zhang Qiling's palm. "Don't worry, I'm here. Even if that old fox Wu Erbai has no family to run, he can't beat the two of us plus the entire Zhang family—besides, I haven't seen the snow on Changbai Mountain with you yet; we can't let those bastards spoil the fun."
Zhang Qiling took the fragment, stuffed it into his pocket, and without saying a word, moved the rattan chair closer to Hei Xiazi—their knees lightly touched, and they could feel each other's warmth even through their pants. This was the most reassuring moment he had experienced since his rebirth. He no longer had to carry everything alone like in his previous life; he had someone he could rely on and reliable help by his side.
Before long, the food was served. A large pot of stewed pheasant sat in the center, oil floating on the surface of the soup, its aroma filling the air; the cornbread was golden and crispy, with a hint of corn sweetness; and there was a plate of stir-fried wild mushrooms, fresh and juicy, looking very appetizing. The proprietress also brought out a pot of rice wine: "This is homemade, not very strong, just right to warm you up."
Zhang Yan poured wine for the others, but didn't drink any himself—he still needed to keep an eye on the disciples' news. Hei Xiazi first served Zhang Qiling a bowl of chicken soup, then picked out a boneless chicken leg and put it in his bowl: "Dumb Zhang, drink more to replenish your strength, the mountain road will be difficult to travel tomorrow." Zhang Qiling didn't refuse, took the bowl, but picked out the chicken skin from his own bowl and gave it to Hei Xiazi—he knew Hei Xiazi loved chicken skin, but always used "high cholesterol" as an excuse to restrain himself, only relaxing a little at times like this.
Watching this scene, Wu Xie picked up a piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it without any taste: "I used to think that even if my second uncle used me, he would still show some mercy... Now I realize that in the rules of the Wu family, there is no mercy at all."
Xie Yuchen took a sip of rice wine and put down his cup: "It's not too late to see the light now. At least you weren't kept in the dark until the very end. If you had been pushed out to take the fall when you were actually in front of the bronze gate, it would have been too late."
Hei Xiazi patted Wu Xie on the shoulder: "Third Master, don't look so gloomy. Even if you're from the Wu family, as long as you don't collude with your second uncle, we'll consider you a friend. Besides, this trip to Changbai Mountain is just a vacation. We can also see how the Wu family fight amongst themselves. It'll be quite interesting."
Wu Xie forced a smile, said nothing more, and lowered his head to drink the chicken soup. He knew the others were trying to comfort him, but the hurdle in his heart wasn't something he could overcome in a short time—his second uncle, whom he had relied on since childhood, had never considered him "one of his own."
After dinner, Xie Yuchen went back to his room to organize his equipment and check his wounds again; Wu Xie followed Zhang Yan to look at the topographical map of Changbai Mountain, wanting to learn more about the Cloud Palace; only Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi remained in the living room. Hei Xiazi leaned back on the sofa, lifted the gauze on his lower back to look at it: "It's alright, no more bleeding. Dumb Zhang, do you think Wu Erbai really managed to blow open the bronze door of the Cloud Palace with explosives?"
Zhang Qiling sat down next to him and reached out to rewrap the gauze, tightening it slightly more than before: "In their previous life, they blew it open once, releasing the Corpse Beetle King inside, and most of the Wujia people were killed or injured."
Hei Xiazi grasped his hand and gently pinched the back of his hand with his fingers: "Then this time we'll block his path ahead of time. I don't want to deal with the Corpse Beetle King again. Last time in Xisha, I almost got bitten on the leg by those things, and I still have the scar."
Zhang Qiling looked up at him, the coldness in his eyes softening slightly, and gave a soft "hmm." In his past life, he had guarded behind the Bronze Gate for ten years, missing too much—missing Hei Xiazi's injury in the Xisha Islands.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Zhang Yan knocked on the door: "Chief, everything is ready. The winter clothes, trekking poles, snow boots, and dry food are all in the vehicle. The disciples are already waiting in Erdaobaihe to change into snowmobiles."
The group packed their things and went downstairs. The landlady had already prepared breakfast: millet porridge, fried dough sticks, and pickled radishes—simple yet comforting. Hei Xiazi drank two bowls of porridge, then stuffed a fried dough stick into his mouth, saying indistinctly, "Landlady, your fried dough sticks are even more delicious than those in Hangzhou. Next time I come to Changbai Mountain, I'll definitely stay here again."
The proprietress smiled and said, "Welcome, welcome! Next time you come, I'll stew some roe deer meat for you and also give you a Changbai Mountain wild vegetable bun."
The car drove away from the town, heading towards Erdaobaihe. The scenery outside the window gradually changed; the trees became fewer and fewer, the snow piled up more and more, and the main peak of Changbai Mountain in the distance was faintly visible, covered with a thick layer of snow, like a sleeping giant. Wu Xie leaned against the car window, looking at the snow scene outside, and said softly, "My second uncle used to say that Changbai Mountain was the root of the Wu family, and whoever could get what was behind the bronze door would be the new head of the Wu family... Now that I think about it, he just wanted to sit in that position himself."
Xie Yuchen leaned against the other car window, closing his eyes to rest. Hearing this, he said calmly, "Everyone has ambition, it just depends on whether they have the ability to achieve it. If he wants to be the leader, he has to see if we agree, and even more so if the Bronze Gate agrees."
Sitting in the passenger seat, Hei Xiazi turned to Zhang Qiling and said, "Dumb Zhang, when we get to the snow, you'd better hold my hand tight. My eyes can't see well in the snow, don't let me fall into a snowdrift." He said this half-truthfully—although wearing special sunglasses alleviated his snow blindness considerably, he mostly wanted Zhang Qiling to pay more attention to him. Although the reborn Zhang Qiling was still quiet, he was much gentler than before, and he wanted to enjoy this special gentleness as much as possible.
Zhang Qiling didn't expose him, but simply nodded: "Okay, I'll hold your hand."
When the car arrived at Erdaobaihe, there were indeed several modified snowmobiles waiting. The Zhang family members, dressed in uniform black winter clothing, bowed immediately upon seeing Zhang Qiling approach: "Clan leader! The snowmobiles have all been checked, filled with gas, and the snow chains have been installed. We have already scouted the road ahead; there are no hidden potholes or traps."
Zhang Yan helped the group change into their heavy snow gear and handed them several large hand warmers: "Chief, Blackie, Flower, and Little Third Master, stick these on your waists and knees. The temperature on the mountain can drop to minus thirty degrees Celsius, so don't let your joints get cold."
Hei Xiazi took the hand warmers, opened two, and carefully placed them on Zhang Qiling's lower back—he knew Zhang Qiling's back was injured and would easily ache in the cold, especially in the snow. Zhang Qiling didn't stop him. After he finished, he took the hand warmers and placed them on Hei Xiazi's knees: "You also need to be careful with your old knee injury."
Xie Yuchen took the heat packs and applied them himself, then tossed two more to Wu Xie: "Apply them yourself, but don't put them in the wrong place. Put them on the inside of your clothes, otherwise they won't work." Wu Xie quickly caught them and clumsily applied them, not forgetting to say, "Thanks, Master Hua."
The group boarded snowmobiles: Zhang Qiling and Hei Xiazi in one, Xie Yuchen and Wu Xie in another, while the Zhang family members rode in two more, following behind. The snowmobiles sped across the snow, leaving long tracks. The wind stung their faces like knives, but looking at the distant, snow-capped mountains and the azure sky, they felt a strange sense of peace.
Hei Xiazi sat next to Zhang Qiling, gripping the handlebars with one hand and holding Zhang Qiling's hand tightly with the other. The sunlight in the snow was too dazzling, and his vision was indeed a little blurry, but holding Zhang Qiling's hand made him feel fearless. "Dumb Zhang, look at the snow slope ahead. Can we slide down it in a bit? That way we won't have to drive."
Zhang Qiling glanced at the snow slope and shook his head: "There's hidden ice below, it's dangerous." His tone was calm, but full of concern.
Black Bear laughed: "I'll listen to you. If you say it's dangerous, then I won't slip."
In another vehicle on the snow, Wu Xie looked at the two people standing close together in front of him and couldn't help but say to Xie Yuchen, "Master Hua, how many years do you think Xiao Ge and Blind Brother have known each other? They seem closer than family."
Xie Yuchen glanced ahead and said indifferently, "Don't pry into their affairs. Anyway, following them is more reliable than following your second uncle."
After traveling for more than two hours, the snowmobile finally arrived at the outpost near the Heavenly Palace on the Clouds—a wooden cabin hidden in a mountain valley, half-covered by snow and almost invisible without careful observation. The Zhang family members had already lit a fire inside; the iron stove was glowing red-hot, and warmth wafted out.
Zhang Yan pushed open the door: "Clan leader, you all warm yourselves up by the fire first. I'm going to check on the disciples who are keeping watch on the perimeter. I'll come back and report immediately if I get any news."
Black Bear rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, and went to warm them by the fire. "It's so much warmer inside. My nose almost froze off outside." He said, pulling out a few bars of chocolate from his backpack and distributing them to everyone. "Here, have some energy. Chocolate keeps you full."
Zhang Qiling took a piece, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet taste dispelled much of the chill. Xie Yuchen took the chocolate, broke off half, put it in his mouth, and handed the rest to Wu Xie: "Here, have some energy. Don't mess up when we get to the Bronze Gate entrance."
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