“Old man, we’ve taken up enough of your time, we’ll be on our way.” Mo Yi put down the earthenware bowl and shook his head. “Oh, by the way, I saw a rain cloud on the northwest side when I came from Yu Family Village. Based on the current wind direction, I estimate it will rain here in two or three hours, and it won’t be a small drizzle. The weather has been good for the past few days, followed by heavy rain.”
The old farmer was a little confused. He put down his pipe and questioned, “Young man, although I haven’t read any books, this is a time of great drought. Don’t you know the benefits of sunshine for crops? If I harvest the wheat too early and it doesn’t turn out well, I’ll be the one losing out!”
The old farmer’s questioning reached the courtyard. The old woman, who was praising Mo Luo Xue’s delicate hand, also heard it. She didn’t even turn her head as she scolded her old man, saying that he was short-haired and short-sighted. Such a beautiful daughter, how could her brother talk nonsense? If he said it would rain, it would rain. Go quickly and harvest the wheat.
Mo Yi found it comical. Why did Mo Luo Xue’s beauty mean he had to be intelligent? He shook his head, closed his eyes, and looked at the sunshine, wanting to savor this sense of leisure. Once they entered the No-Man’s Land, it would be almost impossible to enjoy such a moment.
Surprisingly, Mo Luo Xue didn’t put on airs in front of the common people. In front of the old woman, she was as serene as her daughter, allowing the old woman’s rough hand to glide across her hands, which were as smooth as jade. She listened quietly to the old woman’s chatter, nodding and responding from time to time. A sense of leisure and warmth filled the somewhat dilapidated courtyard.
Mo Yi didn’t comment on this. It was a sign of her lack of maternal love.
Mo Yi and Mo Luo Xue’s mother died early, and Mo Tianjiao never truly took a wife after that. Therefore, Mo Luo Xue had spent her childhood without a mother. Mo Yi felt sympathy for her.
“Sigh, even the most icy woman has a tender heart.” Mo Yi patted his thigh and walked towards the kitchen, trying to find some food.
Mo Luo Xue urged her horse forward, leading Mo Yi away from the old farmer’s house and heading towards the No-Man’s Land. There were jackals and poisonous snakes, zhanqi and poisonous creatures, but there was also a sacred mountain, a Xian Shan, that held the dreams of countless people seeking immortality!
“Old man, if our son hadn’t died in the army, he would be about as old as that young man.” By the field, the old woman stroked her wrist.
“About that.” The old farmer answered, busy carrying wheat. “Did you give the jade bracelet that your ancestors wore at your wedding to that girl?”
“Didn’t you give the heart protector to that young man when your son went to war?” The old woman asked.
“Wish them a safe journey.” The old farmer said. He stooped over and pulled out his pipe, tapping it a few times. “Old woman! Bring me a bowl of water!”
“Quit smoking! You’ll cough yourself to death.” The old woman grumbled as she left to fetch water for the old farmer.
The old farmer looked at the golden wheat field and laughed out loud. He took a deep breath, straightened up, and sang a mountain folk song:
A field of wheat, ten thousand grasses green! Young men and women ride their horses! Ten thousand miles ahead, the road opens wide! Return home in glory, with smiles on our faces!
…
The old woman, who had gone into the kitchen, picked up a bowl of water. As she was about to leave, she suddenly noticed a stack of golden banknotes on the stove, all denominations of ten thousand.
“It’s true that beautiful girls bring good young men with them!” The old woman chuckled, tucked away the fortune, and then quickened her pace towards the wheat field, where her husband was waiting for her.
Two hours later, the autumn rain arrived as expected. Those who sought sunshine suffered heavy losses, but the old farmer and his wife reaped the benefits, not losing a single grain.
Nighttime, the No-Man’s Land on the border of the Yi Kingdom, the primeval forest.
The sky was overcast, and heavy rain poured relentlessly. Although the dense leaves above provided some cover, large drops of rain still fell through the gaps, saturating the once dry earth. Wild wolves howled, their voices echoing far and wide.
Mo Yi and Mo Luo Xue couldn’t travel under such conditions. Their plan to cross the primeval forest overnight was thwarted. To reach the Xian Shan, they had to cross this vast forest.
Mo Yi and Mo Luo Xue found a place with thick leaves that didn’t drip rain. The banana trees above them shielded them completely.
Mo Yi took out his flint and found some dry grass and dead wood that hadn’t been soaked by the rain. After tinkering for a few minutes, he successfully started a fire.
“Whew, warm.” Mo Yi wiped his rain-soaked hair and sat in front of the fire. He even tossed a piece of paper nearby for Mo Luo Xue to sit on.
Mo Luo Xue gave him a faint glance and sat directly opposite the fire, with the flames separating them as if an invisible wall.
Mo Yi didn’t mind. Changing someone’s opinion of you was extremely difficult. Mo Luo Xue’s upbringing made it even harder for her to change her view of Mo Yi.
“Are you hungry?” Mo Yi asked.
“…” Mo Luo Xue didn’t answer. She simply looked down at the burning fire. The flames illuminated her profile, and in her clear eyes, Mo Yi could see the reflection of the dancing fire.
Mo Yi helplessly scratched his head. It seemed like his role as her brother was a failure. He stood up and walked towards the Blood Sweating Horse that was tied to the banana tree. He pulled out a package wrapped in oiled paper from the large bag on the horse’s back and returned to the fire.
Mo Yi casually picked up a few sturdy ironwood branches from the ground and opened the oiled paper. The fire illuminated the slabs of cured meat.
Mo Yi skillfully took the cured meat and strung them together into four skewers, which he inserted into the ground, each skewer ten centimeters away from the fire. The high heat slowly licked at the cold meat.
Mo Yi sat by the fire and roasted the cured meat with a serious expression. He had stolen it from the old farmer’s kitchen. In exchange for those slabs of cured meat, Mo Yi left behind banknotes worth the same amount of gold. He didn’t just get the cured meat, but also a heart protector that the old farmer secretly slipped to him. It was said to be a relic from his son’s return from the battlefield. Mo Yi didn’t mind the bad omen and simply put it on.
As the temperature rose, the surface of the cured meat began to ooze fat, and a savory aroma spread through the air. The whole forest was filled with a tempting smell.
Mo Luo Xue’s expression remained unchanged. Mo Yi didn’t react either. Both of them maintained their silence. The only sound in the world seemed to be the raindrops hitting the banana leaves above and bouncing off… The world was noisy, yet strangely quiet.
The cured meat was done. Mo Yi took two skewers of glistening meat from the ground and casually tossed one over. For Mo Luo Xue to avoid getting covered in grease, she had to catch it. Mo Yi’s method of offering food was simple and brutal.
The two silently ate the cured meat without saying a word.
People often say that silence doesn’t last long. There’s always an unexpected event that breaks the peace, whether it’s awkward or harmonious. As for whether the surprise is good or bad, no one knows.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes behind Mo Yi! At the same time, a hand covered in blood emerged!