Chapter 85

Zhang Jian hastily put on his clothes and stepped outside. In the dawning sky, he saw Red Wind and One-Eyed Cloud sitting by the campfire, stirring something. As he tightened his belt and approached to sit down, Red Wind silently handed him a bowl of something thick.

As Zhang Jian took a few spoonfuls, One-Eyed Cloud, who had been staring at the campfire, spoke up.

"Have you learned everything you need to know?"

"…I have a general idea of where I need to go."

One-Eyed Cloud slowly turned his head to look at Zhang Jian with his red and white eye.

"Those who kill innocent people and defile the spirits, will they pay the price?"

Zhang Jian met his gaze and replied calmly.

"They will."

The old man nodded with some difficulty, listening to Zhang Jian's unwavering voice. He then took a handful of powder from his waist pouch and sprinkled it over the campfire.

"Then I'll thank the friends of the grasslands in advance. I might not be alive or in my right mind when you come next time..."

"Sir, the morning air is chilly. Let's go inside."

The smoke from the powder he had sprinkled rose gently from the campfire. Red Wind, who had been eating, put down his bowl and helped One-Eyed Cloud to his feet. After staring at the smoke for a moment, One-Eyed Cloud quietly allowed Red Wind to lead him into the tent.

Zhang Jian, who had been watching him, noticed that his sword was lying where One-Eyed Cloud had been sitting. He picked it up and tucked it into his waistband, then continued to eat the porridge while gazing at the brightening eastern sky. The golden light of the morning, unlike the sunset, seemed to awaken the entire world, illuminating the sky brightly.

Zhang Jian chewed thoughtfully, gazing at the sky. It was time to leave again.

* * *

Zhang Jian didn't get to say goodbye to One-Eyed Cloud, as he had fallen asleep, perhaps from staying up all night. Zhang Jian decided to consider their morning conversation as a farewell and left without further ado.

While he was adjusting the saddle on Zaozao, Bi Lang and Red Wind approached with something in their arms.

"…What is this?"

"A gift for a friend who's leaving. I also packed some food."

It was well-tanned leather and dried meat. Although Zhang Jian had some silver and enough food, he didn't refuse the gift. It would have been rude to reject something they had prepared with effort.

"I also packed some tobacco dried in the style of the Central Plains. Safe travels, Zhang Jian. Come visit often."

Zhang Jian chuckled and nodded at Red Wind's words. As he was about to mount Zaozao, Bi Lang grabbed the reins first.

"I'll see you off."

She led Zaozao forward, pulling the reins. Zhang Jian, who had been watching her blankly, soon smiled and nodded to Red Wind and the tribal people who had come to see him off. Several tribal members had taken time out of their busy morning to bid him farewell.

After exchanging goodbyes, Zhang Jian followed Bi Lang and Zaozao. She spoke first.

"Will you come back?"

"Maybe, if I pass by."

She pulled Zaozao's reins and made a humming sound. Zhang Jian, wondering what it meant, didn't speak first. Sometimes silence is the best answer.

Bi Lang led the way to the edge of the village and the forest, then stopped. She took out a black spear tip from her robe and handed it to him.

"The memories and power it once held have mostly dissipated, but it can still tell you if there are any dangers nearby."

Zhang Jian took the spear tip. The strange aura that once permeated the object was indeed gone, and it now looked like a plain, black blade.

Then she said,

"…Will you come back?"

It was the same question she had just asked, but the tremor in her voice and the way she looked up at him were different. Zhang Jian, who had been staring at her, smiled faintly.

"Shamans can't have companions, you know."

"Companions?"

Bi Lang laughed loudly at Zhang Jian's words, then wiped away the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes.

"Traditions can change. As the world changes, so must our way of life. But, Zhang Jian, to be my companion, you would have to settle down in this tribe. I will become the tribe's shaman. Can you do that? Build a house, farm the land… raise children. Live a settled life. It would be fulfilling and beautiful, but also monotonous."

Zhang Jian, looking at her, shook his head and tucked the spear tip into his waistband.

"…That might be a bit difficult. At least for now."

"You're right. I expected as much. Your soul is as free as the wind, impossible to suppress or capture."

Bi Lang, who had been speaking with a smile, soon lowered her gaze to the ground. With her eyes on the ground, Zhang Jian had nothing to say, and silence filled the air between them. After a moment, she slowly raised her head and looked up at him again.

"…I don't expect to catch the wind. I just hope that when the wind passes by, it will remember me and visit. I hope it will rest here during the hot summer and take shelter from the cold winter blizzards… Is that too much to ask?"

Zhang Jian slowly shook his head.

"No, it's not."

Bi Lang smiled again.

"That's enough."

She reached out and gently brushed off Zhang Jian's clothes, then took a few steps back.

"Safe travels, Zhang Jian. See you next time."

Watching her smile as she stepped back, Zhang Jian adjusted the hood on his head and mounted Zaozao. He held the end of the hood, nodded slightly to Bi Lang, and clicked his tongue. Zaozao, as if in greeting, snorted at Bi Lang and then started to trot away.

Bi Lang stood there for a moment, watching Zhang Jian and Zaozao as they moved farther away, then turned and headed back to the village. She still had much to learn from the previous shaman and the valley spirits, and with One-Eyed Cloud's time running short, she had to learn quickly.

But she soon stopped and turned to look at Zhang Jian's retreating figure one more time. As she walked back to the village, she turned several times to look westward.

* * *

The scenery on the way to Gan Mountain City was different from the south.

Many rivers flowed, and dense coniferous forests covered the landscape, with almost no barren wastelands like in the south. The forests and rivers were home to many animals and fish. The journey was pleasant, with water easily accessible. Although the morning mist made it feel damp, it was much better than the yellow dust of the south.

Zhang Jian arrived at Gan Mountain City before a week had passed since he set out west.

One of the three major cities of the New Continent, Gan Mountain City.

There were a couple of small port towns further north, trading in logs and leather, but when people spoke of the northern city, they usually meant Gan Mountain City. One of the first three cities where the people of the Central Plains set foot in the New Continent, it was smaller than the other two but still a large city worthy of the name.

Perhaps because it rained and was foggy year-round, the people here were often cynical. Strangely, despite this, the nightlife was highly developed, with numerous brothels, restaurants, and inns forming distinct districts.

It was also a place where new immigrants from the Central Plains, the original inhabitants of the New Continent, and a few natives mixed and caused all sorts of problems.

As Zhang Jian and Zaozao approached Gan Mountain City, many people passed by them. The road was bustling with those leaving and those returning. Unlike Shen Shitian, which had a clear sky, the sky over Gan Mountain City was overcast and gloomy, and the ground was wet and muddy.

Zaozao, annoyed by the mud sticking to her hooves and dirtying her coat, kept snorting. Zhang Jian patted her neck and led her into the city.

He headed for the inn district, planning to find a place to eat and stay. Although he had entered the city, the black spear tip showed no reaction, perhaps because there were too many people or because the target was too far away. It seemed he would have to do some legwork.

Just then, a group of children rushed up to Zaozao, chattering excitedly.

"Sir! Sir! Please come to our Wang Family Inn, the best in Gan Mountain City!"

"No! Our Yi Family Inn is the best in Gan Mountain City! I'll take you there, sir!"

"The best inn in Gan Mountain City is our Five Dragons Inn! Please come! If you come now, you'll get a bottle of Chuzhuye at half price!"

"No, sir! Why go to an inn at all? Just come to our brothel! It's still daytime, but we'll make a special offer just for you!"

The children were touting for business. With dozens of inns along the street, it was perhaps inevitable that they would try to attract customers. However, what caught Zhang Jian's attention was the child who, amidst the squabbling over whose inn was better, suddenly invited him to a brothel.

Zhang Jian pulled on the reins to stop Zaozao, rested his elbows on the saddle horn, and looked down at the children, specifically at the one who had invited him to the brothel.

The child's face lit up at his gaze and he shouted again.

"Are you hungry? Our Taiping Tower has top-notch chefs! You'll get a better meal than at most restaurants! Need a place to stay? Our rooms and beds are always clean and comfortable, far superior to other inns! You won't want to get up the next day! And most importantly, at Taiping Tower, you can enjoy the true nightlife of Gan Mountain City! A city that rivals Chang'an, a true city of the night!"

While the child was speaking, Zhang Jian slowly took out paper and a tobacco pouch and rolled a cigarette. He put it in his mouth and lit it with his index finger. When the child finished speaking, Zhang Jian exhaled a puff of smoke and looked at him again.

The other children had already dispersed. This street was for inns, and the child touting for a brothel was, in a way, breaking the rules. However, the other touts, while giving him hostile looks, didn't try to stop or interfere with him.

This suggested that the child had some backing or was a formidable character despite his small size. Zhang Jian, noticing the scar on his forehead that ran from his eyebrow, guessed it was the latter.

Thinking this, Zhang Jian chuckled and said, with the cigarette in his mouth,

"Alright. Let's go to this Taiping Tower."

"Thank you, sir!"

The child bowed deeply and then approached, taking Zaozao's reins and leading her forward. Despite the crowded street, the child led the way confidently. Zhang Jian, impressed by his boldness, asked suddenly,

"What's your name?"

"My name? I'm Guan Liang, sir!"

"I'm Zhang Jian."

"…Pardon?"

The child, who had been speaking cheerfully, seemed confused by Zhang Jian's words and repeated the question. Zhang Jian explained,

"Is it strange to introduce ourselves?"

"…No, many people ask my name, but no one introduces themselves right away."

Zhang Jian chuckled.

"Then you'll get used to it. Nice to meet you, Guan Liang. I'm a wanderer named Zhang Jian."

The child, looking puzzled, tilted his head and replied,

"…Nice to meet you, Zhang Wanderer, or sir. Uh… I'll take you to Taiping Tower."

Guan Liang, seeing Zhang Jian's smile, also smiled and tightened the reins, leading the way. Noticing that the child's stiff expression had softened, Zhang Jian adjusted his hood and followed leisurely.

"Here it is. I apologize for repeating myself, but our brothel really has delicious food and clean rooms. It's a great place to stay, even if you don't want to enjoy the entertainment."

Zhang Jian looked at the place Guan Liang was pointing to. Compared to the bustling inn district, the brothel district was relatively quiet, likely because it was still early. The brothel Guan Liang pointed to was not very large but looked clean and had an elegant sign.

"That sign was written by Mr. Wang Shangxun, a regular at our Taiping Tower. I heard he paid off six months of debt with that sign, but considering Mr. Zhang's character, it's probably just a rumor—"

At that moment, several people's screams came from inside, and someone was thrown out of a first-floor window of Taiping Tower. The man, who had already been beaten up, rolled out, his face a mess. Then, several men, clearly thugs, walked out of the brothel.

Zhang Jian, holding the cigarette in the corner of his mouth, watched the scene with a blank expression. The moment he entered Gan Mountain City, the city's chaos had already greeted him.