Chapter 13: Entering the Forest

The man who brought Zhang Xiaohua and the others now interjected, teasing the big man, "Now, Liu the Butcher has wronged a good person again. This young brother came from Guo Village, bringing news about your daughter. I bet you were so scared that you forgot all about it."

Liu the Butcher didn't mind the villagers' words. He patted Zhang Xiaohua's shoulder, making Zhang Xiaohua grimace, and said, "I can tell this young brother is a broad-minded person. How could he mind such a small joke?"

Zhang Xiaohua looked at his hand, which was used to slaughtering pigs, and thought, "I would like to mind, but you'd have to give me the courage. Please, don't be so friendly; my body is still recovering." He said aloud, "I dare not, I dare not. This must be Liu Yuanyuan's father, right? Your imposing figure is just as she described." He added in his mind, "More like a bear's figure."

Liu the Butcher was delighted to hear this, his eyes narrowing. He said, "Yuanyuan talked about this with you? She... By the way, how did Yuanyuan and Qianqian end up in Guo Village? Are they both fine?" It was only now that he remembered to ask about his daughter.

Mr. Liu spoke up, "Let's go inside and talk. From the look of this young brother, it seems the two girls are fine."

With that, he invited Zhang Xiaohua and his companions, as well as the villagers, into the house. The villager who had led them said, "I won't go in. I'll head back and bring Liu Kai back for you."

Mr. Liu nodded in thanks and watched the villager leave before inviting Zhang Xiaohua inside.

Zhang Xiaohua entered the courtyard and saw that the small yard was about the same size as his own. It was simply arranged, with fewer farming tools and no open-air stove. There were two rooms in the front, and surprisingly, two rooms on each side. He wondered why the Liu family, with only three people, needed so many rooms. When he entered the main room, he noticed the difference. In the Liu family's main room, there was a painting of an elderly scholar at the entrance, with a few plates of fruit and pastries in front of it, as if it were being worshipped. On the left wall hung a painting of a snowy scene with people admiring the snow in a pavilion. On the right wall were several calligraphy pieces, which looked impressive, though Zhang Xiaohua couldn't read them.

In the center of the room was a square table with a teapot, several cups, and a plate of food. There were two chairs on either side of the table, and on the walls were smaller square tables with chairs, each with a potted plant. In the corners of the room, there were also potted plants.

Zhang Xiaohua looked around this room, which was so different from his own, and thought, "Is this the difference between a scholar and a farmer?" His own home, under his mother's care, was also very clean and tidy, with paintings of deities on the walls. His mother didn't seem to know about placing potted plants. Zhang Xiaohua's mind wandered, thinking, "If Liu Yuanyuan were to take care of our home, what would it be like?"

He stood there, not because he was lost in thought, but because he didn't know where to sit. In his own home, there were only a few chairs, and they usually stood. Mr. Liu's home, being a scholar's, had many chairs, and there must be a proper way to sit. He didn't want to sit in the wrong place.

Mr. Liu, seeing this, quickly invited Zhang Xiaohua and the others to sit down. Then, Liu the Butcher brought them tea. Zhang Xiaohua took the teacup and drank it in one gulp, smacking his lips. The water tasted good. Liu the Butcher, seeing him finish, quickly poured another cup. Zhang Xiaohua and his companion had been walking all morning and were very thirsty. They drank four cups of water before stopping. Liu the Butcher, like Mr. Liu, was full of gratitude. Although he was a butcher, he knew that the long journey and the thirst were all for the sake of bringing news about his daughter.

After drinking the water, Zhang Xiaohua was about to speak when he heard hurried footsteps from outside. Soon, a scholar, about the same age and height as his older brother, ran in. It must be Liu Qian's brother, Liu Kai. Liu Kai entered the room, greeted Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher, and then Mr. Liu introduced Zhang Xiaohua and the others to Liu Kai. Liu Kai bowed in return, and Zhang Xiaohua and his companion, not knowing the proper etiquette, awkwardly returned the bow. Liu Kai then asked Mr. Liu, "How is my sister?"

Zhang Xiaohua, looking at the scholar who was much thinner than his older brother, thought, "Ah, scholars have so many formalities. Liu Kai is quite calm, only asking after all the formalities. If it were Liu the Butcher, he would have asked right away. He must be secretly annoyed that Liu Kai came at the wrong time." He glanced at Liu the Butcher, who was also anxiously waiting for Zhang Xiaohua to speak.

Sure enough, before Mr. Liu could speak, Liu the Butcher said, "Have a drink of water first. This young brother hasn't said anything yet, and you're back."

Liu Kai sat down opposite Zhang Xiaohua, not drinking the water, but looking at him expectantly.

Zhang Xiaohua then introduced himself and recounted the events of the previous day in detail, but he was careful not to mention the specific amount of money the bullies had paid.

Zhang Xiaohua's speech was not very smooth, but even so, the four people in the room were on the edge of their seats. Mr. Liu, Liu the Butcher, and Liu Kai were pale with fear, and Liu the Butcher even jumped up from his chair several times, only to be gently restrained by Mr. Liu.

After Zhang Xiaohua finished, Liu the Butcher quickly poured him two more cups of water, and everyone drank a cup. It seemed that not only the speaker was thirsty, but the listeners were also tense and thirsty.

After drinking the water, Mr. Liu walked up to Zhang Xiaohua and bowed deeply, saying, "I thank you and your father for saving my daughter." Liu Kai and Liu the Butcher also bowed, and Zhang Xiaohua, startled, jumped off his chair and awkwardly returned the bow.

Zhang Xiaohua reassured them, "Liu Yuanyuan and the others are staying at our place, and they are fine. You don't need to worry." In fact, everyone knew their loved ones were safe, but without seeing them with their own eyes, they couldn't help but feel uneasy.

After everyone sat down again, Mr. Liu said, "From Guo Village to here, it took Zhang Xiaohua and the others a whole morning. We can't bring the children back today. How about this: Second Brother, you go back first and have your wife prepare lunch. Let Zhang Xiaohua and the others eat first. After lunch, let Liu Kai go with Zhang Xiaohua to Guo Village. We'll go together tomorrow to bring the children back. What do you think?"

Liu the Butcher said, "No, I'll go first. I'm not at ease. Going to Guo Village at night will be dangerous, and I'll be safer with them."

Mr. Liu thought about it and agreed.

Lunch was at Liu the Butcher's house, as Liu Qian was not there, and Mr. Liu's family had no one to cook. Liu Yuanyuan's mother, knowing her daughter was safe, prepared a lavish meal to thank their saviors. Zhang Xiaohua, who was already hungry and hadn't had braised pork in a long time, ate until he was full.

After lunch, Zhang Xiaohua and the others, along with Liu the Butcher, set off for Guo Village. Not far from them, about a few hundred miles away, the Five Claw Peak presented a different scene.

When the shadow passed between the two jujube trees in the morning, Yan Ming, the hermit, quickly leaped to the trees. It was fortunate that he was a martial artist with keen eyesight; otherwise, he might not have seen it clearly. The others were still confused and could only stare at Yan Ming's back. Yan Ming, not angry, called out, "Aren't you coming?"

When everyone gathered between the two trees, they examined them closely, but they seemed no different from the other jujube trees. Yan Ming smiled and said, "There's no need to look. They are definitely the same as the others; otherwise, it wouldn't be so complicated. Now, we are about to enter the forest. Take out the leather in your hands." They did as he said, and Yan Ming continued, "Get some fresh blood and smear it on the top of the back of the leather." He took out a dagger, cut his finger, and smeared the blood on the leather. Ma Xiangyang, Wen Wenhai, and Tan Wen did the same, and words appeared on the leather: "Go straight for ten trees; go back for six trees; go left for six trees; go right for eight trees." Yan Ming then arranged the leather according to the pattern and formed the entry code: "Go straight for ten trees, go right for eight trees, go back for six trees, go left for six trees."

Yan Ming said, "Alright, everyone, get ready. We are about to enter the forest. I will lead the way, followed by Ma Xiaojia and Wen Xiaojia. Xue Nüxia and Situ Bangzhu will be in the middle, and the Tan brothers will bring up the rear. Everyone, stay alert and follow closely, don't fall behind."

The jujube forest, which had been eerie at night, was now bathed in bright sunlight, but the dense fog still lingered, making it hard to see the end. The cold wind blew through the treetops, making a "whooshing" sound, but it did not seem to dissipate the fog.

Yan Ming took out his dagger and marked the two jujube trees, then cautiously entered the forest between them. The others followed in the order he had specified.

The fog in the forest was thick, and visibility was limited to about ten paces. The air was very humid, and soon everyone's clothes and shoes were soaked. To prepare for any unexpected dangers, they all held weapons, which made them feel the cold. The jujube forest had not been entered for many years, and the ground was covered with thick layers of fallen leaves and rotten jujubes. Walking was difficult, and the branches and leaves of the jujube trees were so dense that they sometimes blocked the path. However, no one dared to cut the branches, fearing that it might trigger some unforeseen event.

As they were walking in silence, suddenly, Situ Ping cried out, "Look over there."

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