Chapter 296: Younger Brother, Help Me Wash
Several days had already passed since the two arrived in Yunji Town.
The wind and snow that had been falling from the heavens gradually stopped. Chen An noticed that most of the people here had smiles on their faces; they were neither emaciated nor ragged. They seemed completely unaffected by the disasters and warfare. It made sense, really—anyone with a brain would know not to cause trouble in Yunji Town. Just look at the carriages of the young masters from aristocratic families on the road, all lining up obediently.
Chen An even spotted a flash of imperial yellow among them. He figured it must be a carriage from the royal family. Holding Mu Sanniang’s hand, he stepped aside to let it pass.
After his recent talk, Mu Sanniang’s mood had clearly improved a lot. She was now looking up, silently observing everything around her. The pedestrians coming and going, the steaming food stalls, and the noisy sounds. Everything was full of vitality, completely different from the world she remembered. They seemed to be the outsiders in this small town, their ragged clothes clashing with the surroundings, drawing curious glances from time to time.
This place was like a paradise, untouched by any storms from the outside world. It made Mu Sanniang think of Liucheng. Perhaps the fleeting glimpses of Liucheng when its gates occasionally opened were like this. Thinking this, she unconsciously tightened her grip on Chen An’s hand. After these days together, she had unconsciously come to rely on Chen An for everything. She was supposed to be the older sister.
However, considering how reliable the boy had always been, Mu Sanniang felt too embarrassed to speak up. She had a feeling that if she had been in charge of navigation, they probably wouldn’t have found Yunji Town at all.
Chen An didn’t say much and led the girl forward, officially entering the town. He frowned slightly, his gaze drifting over the shops along the road. He was looking for a place to stay. Along the way, although they encountered more and more people, nothing untoward happened. Perhaps everyone was here for the Tai Xuan Sect’s disciple recruitment, so they were all very restrained. No one had jumped out to taunt them because of their shabby appearance. All they received was indifferent disregard. At most, people would glance at them before hurrying away.
After about a few minutes, Chen An’s searching gaze brightened. Not far ahead was an inn with a sign. Without hesitation, he pulled Mu Sanniang forward.
Upon entering the inn, the ground floor was a hall with several tables and chairs in the middle. Chen An found the innkeeper and asked for a room. He had expected that given how lively it was outside, the innkeepers in this town would hike up their prices. However, the price quoted was quite reasonable, which made Chen An sigh with relief. If the price had been too high, he would have had to continue sleeping on the streets with Sanniang.
While talking to the innkeeper, Chen An took the opportunity to ask about the Tai Xuan Sect’s disciple recruitment. The innkeeper, a short and stout middle-aged man, smiled when he heard Chen An’s question. He didn’t hide anything and casually explained while leaning against the counter. He had seen too many down-and-out people in Yunji Town over the years who, by seizing this slim chance of becoming an immortal, had risen to prominence. Therefore, he had set a personal principle for himself: to be kind to others. Even though the boy before him looked quite disheveled, he wouldn’t look down on him because of it.
“This matter of recruiting disciples has always happened; it’s not really news. As long as one is under thirteen years of age, they can try.”
Chen An was taken aback. He frowned, “If that’s the case, with so many people coming, how can the Immortal Masters possibly see each one individually?”
The innkeeper glanced at him, waved his hand, and smiled. “Of course, it’s not that simple. To see an Immortal Master, you must first ascend the mountain.”
“Climb a mountain?”
The innkeeper reached out and vaguely pointed outside the door. Chen An followed his finger and could faintly see a majestic, continuous mountain range hidden in the clouds.
The innkeeper continued, “When the day after tomorrow comes, if you wish to seek immortal fate, you must climb that South Mountain. At the foot of South Mountain, there is a stone staircase set up by an immortal’s formation, which can test one’s temperament and aptitude. If you can climb three thousand steps along the staircase, you will be able to see an Immortal Master.”
Hearing this, Chen An’s heart skipped a beat. Three thousand steps was not a lot, not by a long shot. He remembered that on Blue Star, there were many famous mountains with four or five thousand steps. If it was only three thousand steps, then this immortal fate would be too easy.
As expected, the next moment he heard the innkeeper say, “Although these three thousand steps may not seem like much, how can immortal-laid stone steps be measured by ordinary standards?” He showed a hint of emotion on his face. “Every time, countless people attempt to climb, but only a handful usually succeed in completing these three thousand steps.”
After getting the information he wanted, Chen An politely thanked him and led Mu Sanniang upstairs. The innkeeper stood in place, watching their retreating backs, stroking his chin with a look of curiosity. Looking at their appearance, and with no adult accompanying them, were they perhaps refugees from the north? He then laughed at himself. What did it matter to him? He was just an ordinary person now; why worry about such things?
…
…
It was late at night.
In the inn, on the second floor. For the first time in a long time, Chen An felt a sense of joy upon experiencing the warmth of a room. He brought in a basin of hot water and entered the room. He saw Mu Sanniang sitting by the bed, occasionally shifting her buttocks, looking a bit uncomfortable. Chen An placed the basin of hot water at the girl’s feet. He smiled, “What’s wrong, sis? Not used to it?”
Mu Sanniang looked over, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. Whether it was the days traveling from Liucheng or staying outside Liucheng, the only resting places they had were cold floors. When had they ever enjoyed such treatment? It was normal for her to feel uncomfortable.
Chen An seemed much more at ease. He smiled and said, “Don’t overthink it for now. We finally managed to get a basin of hot water from the innkeeper. Come and wash your feet quickly.” As he spoke, his gaze inadvertently fell on the girl’s feet. They were in a pair of very worn and old cloth shoes. As if sensing his gaze, those small cloth shoes also twitched restlessly. Chen An coughed lightly and withdrew his gaze. He turned around, using the excuse of getting some fresh air, and went out into the corridor.
By the bedside, Mu Sanniang looked at her younger brother’s retreating back and suddenly thought of that wicked woman who had suddenly appeared some days ago. She remembered clearly that her brother had been staring at that woman’s feet at the time. Mu Sanniang’s expression shifted, as if she were thinking about something.
A moment later, a soft call came from the room. Chen An walked in. He saw that Mu Sanniang had not removed her feet from the basin of water. He was stunned. Just as he was about to speak, he heard the girl’s somewhat shy voice. “Younger brother, help me wash…” In the basin, a clear, moist sight was visible. The girl’s ankles were slender, and her arches were slightly tensed, reflecting her owner’s agitated mood.
(End of this chapter)
