Chapter 131 — Yunmeng (2)
Xie Jing placed his hand on the window. When the other person was around the corner, he loosened his waist and tumbled through the half-broken wooden window. His feet struck something like a broken ceramic jar. Seeing that he was about to hit the ground, he quickly grabbed it with his hands and rolled toward the edge of the window.
Outside in the courtyard, the people gave a rough glance and cursed: “Up front they were drinking and eating, leaving us to do the hard work! And here in the back courtyard, they tied up a ‘piglet,’ hit it unconscious with a rifle butt, and you think it would wake up so easily!”
The temple was large. This row had originally been the firewood room and the monks’ meditation hall, some distance from the main hall ahead. The two men outside casually lit their torches, glanced around, and soon left.
Xie Jing stared out the window. Suddenly, he heard a faint sound behind him. Instinctively alert, he sidestepped a punch. The room was dark, with another person’s heavy breathing. That person swung at Xie Jing!
Xie Jing felt the opponent’s strength was like that of a wild bull. Using his agility to dodge in the pitch black, he struggled with the attacker. He struck the person twice, but also received a punch to the face, and both endured without making a sound. Urgent to break free, Xie Jing struck hard; the broken ceramic jar he pressed into the ground emitted a dull sound, fragmenting into sharp shards. He grabbed one shard and pressed it against the other person’s neck. The person struggled, cursed once.
Xie Jing suddenly recognized the voice, and the other reacted: “Second Young Master?”
Bai Mingyu was still holding his arm, unwilling to let go, trying to break free.
Xie Jing pinched the soft tendons of his wrist, and Bai Mingyu finally hissed and released him, asking, “Who?!”
“Me, Xie Jing.”
Xie Jing pushed the window slightly open to observe outside. Moonlight shone in, allowing them to see each other clearly. Behind Bai Mingyu, the ropes had just been cut; his face and arms bore some scratches. He bent down, squatting by the wall, and looked at Xie Jing for a while before exclaiming joyfully, “It really is you! How did you get here? Were you tied up too?”
Xie Jing shook his head and pointed outside. “Yunmeng Mountain, hunting bandits.”
He then asked, “How did Second Young Master get here?”
Bai Mingyu refused to answer, looking angry.
Xie Jing glanced at the hemp rope and bamboo pole on the ground, a slight smile forming. So he had been carried here. Bandits on Yunmeng Mountain typically flipped their captives, tied them like piglets, and carried them on bamboo poles. He could imagine how furious Bai Mingyu must have been along the way, likely cursing the ancestors of those bandits.
Bai Mingyu, having been carried here, looked extremely displeased: “You Sichuan people are unreasonable!” Xie Jing corrected him: “I’m from the North, the East Courtyard.”
He looked outside, and at that moment the door softly creaked. A guard slipped inside. He had been near Lord Bai Jiu for some time and naturally recognized Bai Mingyu. Surprised and happy, he called out “Second Young Master.”
Seeing they were not alone, Bai Mingyu felt reassured. The guard handed him a gun, which he took while asking Xie Jing, “How many did you bring?”
“Three hundred,” Xie Jing replied.
Bai Mingyu frowned. “These people on the mountain look to be over three hundred. In the past two days, some have come in disguised as merchants through the gorge, spreading out to the mountain. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought this route safe enough to follow.”
Xie Jing asked in a low voice, “Are these bandits or soldiers?”
Bai Mingyu replied without hesitation, “Soldiers. Two commanders in Yicheng fought. The loser fled west—toward Sichuan.”
Xie Jing’s expression darkened. Soldiers are more dangerous than bandits. A few hundred men now might be manageable, but more deserters could come later. If they seized Yunmeng Mountain, Sichuan would be in turmoil.
Bai Mingyu said, “But don’t worry. Lord Bai Jiu has already sent government soldiers from Rongcheng, ostensibly to hunt bandits. They’ll arrive in a couple of days. Just hang on until then.”
Xie Jing was stunned. “You didn’t come alone?”
Bai Mingyu laughed. “Of course not. Lord Bai Jiu and Mr. Huang came as well. When something happens in Sichuan, he wouldn’t ignore you.”
Xie Jing stayed silent.
Bai Mingyu repeated, puzzled: “I said Lord Bai Jiu came. Why didn’t you react?” Could it be that Little Xie has changed in Sichuan over these months? People’s hearts really change fast.
Xie Jing asked, “When will he arrive?”
“The Rongcheng soldiers are numerous and take a different route. Lord Bai Jiu is coming by water; he may reach the dock by noon tomorrow.” Bai Mingyu hurriedly added: “Do you have scouts on your side? Since Lord Bai Jiu just arrived, I’m afraid they might be misled—better inform them not to use the gorge route.”
“No scouts?” Xie Jing asked.
Bai Mingyu: “…I am the scout.”
While they were discussing, Xie Jing hushed, lowering his voice: “Someone’s coming.”
The guard stationed near the corner of the door. Xie Jing signaled Bai Mingyu, who immediately returned to his previous position, picking up the rope and pretending to be bound.
Moments later, hurried footsteps approached. Someone pushed open the wooden door—a bandit, attempting to check if the hostage had valuables. As he reached out, Xie Jing and Bai Mingyu struck him down together. Bai Mingyu was brutal, hitting the man’s head, who collapsed instantly.
Xie Jing glanced at the man, noting his clothing was similar to those seen near the wall before. He told Bai Mingyu: “Change into his clothes, tie him here, and sneak him out in the chaos.”
Bai Mingyu agreed. Changing clothes, he nearly passed out from the stench of the bandit’s body but endured.
The three moved in the dark, first searching two rooms to free the guards who came with Bai Mingyu. They rescued them, noticing one had a large wound on his shoulder from shrapnel and sent him back to the foot of the mountain. The other followed behind.
Xie Jing assessed the bandit numbers; as Bai Mingyu said, there were far more than a hundred.
Xie Jing quietly asked, “When you came during the day, were there other captives?”
Bai Mingyu shook his head: “In the back courtyard, it was just the four of us. The bandits were feasting in the main hall, sleeping there at night.”
Xie Jing guessed the bandits had hidden captives elsewhere. Before he could speak, Bai Mingyu whispered in his ear: “Little Xie, want to hit big tonight?”
“What?”
“The ‘merchants’ who led me into the gorge—they had only one cart, but it was loaded with explosives.”
Xie Jing’s eyes lit up. He looked at Bai Mingyu, who shook his wrist and smiled, showing white teeth.
When Bai Mingyu burned ships at Yu Port, these bandits likely hadn’t handled a gun. Bai Mingyu was not weak, and if Xie Jing hadn’t come tonight, he could have escaped himself. Knowing Bai Mingyu’s grudging nature, he likely would have set off the explosives in the main hall!
Bai Mingyu said, “Since I escaped, the bandits will surely search the mountain tonight. Better we do a big one tonight. You brought three hundred men anyway, let’s crush them!”
Xie Jing thought briefly and nodded.
Bai Mingyu, tough and resilient, cursed all the way up the mountain. The bandits thought he was just a spoiled rich kid and didn’t take him seriously. Unbeknownst to them, Bai Mingyu memorized the route clearly.
The cart didn’t carry much explosive, but enough. Bai Mingyu was very skilled at this. Xie Jing soon returned with a bottle of wine.
Xie Jing soaked strips of rope with the wine, connecting them to the half-buried explosives, saying quietly: “Safer this way.”
Bai Mingyu gave a discreet thumbs-up, hiding the pounding of his heart. Walking a tightrope with their lives made anyone nervous; Xie Jing handled it more steadily than he did.
After burying the explosives, they quietly waited.
Inside the ruined temple, the Buddha statues had been toppled. The altar was moved to the center of the hall, set with food and wine. The bandits feasted and bickered loudly. Others encouraged fights, creating chaos.
By the middle of the night, the bandits finally quieted. The patrolling bandits grew lazy, and no one dared ascend the mountain except for the captives, so they slacked off.
Dawn was approaching.
A patrolling bandit secretly drank from a small wine jar. Suddenly, a coarse wooden arrow with fire hit the jar with a “pop.” Wine spilled as flames spread like serpents to the corners of the temple.
The patroller, dazed, sobered from the wine. A thin black whip coiled around his neck from the darkness, dragging him down into a tree shadow.
Within breaths, fire snakes spread, fireworks ignited at corners, explosions and thunderous sounds shook the temple hall and buildings. Black smoke mixed with screams filled the sky.
On Yunmeng Mountain, a sudden roar shook the forest. At the mountain’s foot, Xu Jun, guarding the gorge, stared intently at the mountain path.
Time ticked by. Xu Jun sweated but restrained the urge to ascend and wait in ambush. Fifteen minutes later, bandits began fleeing down the mountain, some armed, some carrying only bundles. Xu Jun’s eyes turned red, and he gritted his teeth: “Attack!”
Not all three hundred men had guns, nor could all shoot accurately. Xu Jun had prepared, placing dozens of firecrackers in iron buckets near the Sichuan exit, creating noise. Already terrified, the bandits mistook firecrackers for gunfire, panicked, and several were hit by stray bullets. Chaos ensued, and the surviving bandits rushed into the gorge.
Above the gorge, salt workers pushed huge boulders down, blocking paths and killing many. Wails echoed through the gorge.
Xie Jing and his men finished at the ruined temple. His marksmanship was precise; nearly twenty bandits were incapacitated. Few remained, quickly dealt with.
Gunfire sounded at the foot of the mountain. Bai Mingyu asked, “Little Xie, how many did you really bring? I’d swear it’s several thousand!”
Xie Jing laughed. “My uncle alone could hold a thousand.”
Bai Mingyu, still ringing in his ears from explosions, asked again.
Xie Jing patted his shoulder: “I said, get up. It’s time to find people!”
Bai Mingyu rose. “Who? Didn’t we already sweep down the mountain?”
Xie Jing ignored him, climbing down with the guards, searching thoroughly and bringing back a bloodied minor leader. He looked miserable but only had a foot and half an arm injured. Xie Jing interrogated him, learning the bandits had hidden captives in a cliffside cave. They quickly went to rescue them. Several Sichuan merchants and civilians had been tied up. How many survived until now was unknown.
The cliffside was steep, with only two pine trees above, each with thick hemp ropes showing signs of wear.
Xie Jing said, “Wang Su and I will go down. Bai Mingyu, you’re strong—if something happens, I’ll wiggle the rope, you pull us up.”
Bai Mingyu nodded, wrapping the rope around his arm: “Don’t worry, I won’t let go even if it costs me my life.”
Xie Jing: “I won’t take your life. Keep it for Miss Hongqi.”
He descended without caring that Bai Mingyu’s face flushed.
The cliff cave held no bandits, only previous captives. Xie Jing and Wang Su rescued all: six men, five women, and a few children. Xie Jing covered the children with thick clothes and carried them up. Gold bars and jewels were found, slowly moved up in baskets.
Upon returning, Bai Mingyu snatched a knife from a girl, scolding: “I risked my life to save you. Why would you try to die? Think of your parents at the foot of the mountain!”
Xie Jing laid down the children and said: “She doesn’t want to live because of her parents.”
Compared to Central Plains girls, Sichuan women valued family honor more. Xie Jing handed a gold bar to the girl: “Take this. Go home to your parents, or leave—better than dying. You survived all these days; don’t die in vain.”
The girl, clothes torn and face bruised, finally wept. Xie Jing did the same for another girl; Bai Mingyu, though pained, gave them a handful of jewels.
Xie Jing sent guards to escort the rescued down the mountain and rested under a tree.
Bai Mingyu, still uneasy, sat beside him. “Everyone’s found?”
Xie Jing: “Yes, these are all the survivors.”
“She said one more died last night.” Bai Mingyu clenched his fists, eyes red: “If I had moved faster, maybe one more could have been saved.”
They sat in silence.
The sun rose, lighting Yunmeng Mountain again.
The ruined temple remained, smoke drifting from a few spots. The main hall was blown apart, beams collapsed, walls fallen, sunlight illuminating the toppled Buddha statue in golden light.
The Buddha’s hands were clasped, expression serene, eyes compassionate.
Xie Jing paused, hands clasped, bowing respectfully, then left.
Bai Mingyu followed, seeing his side profile. Xie Jing’s face was pale as if translucent, calm with closed eyes, dressed in black Sichuan style clothing. His hair was tied casually with coral beads; a simple silver earring adorned his left ear.
Hunters from halfway up the mountain arrived, and Hu Da and others, having killed a few fleeing bandits, also reached the scene.
Xie Jing stayed behind, cleaning his arms with wine from a water pouch. Bai Mingyu noticed his scratches, smelled the wine, and asked: “Your arms?”
Xie Jing calmly: “Nothing, just scraped on the cliff.” He tossed some wine to Bai Mingyu.
Bai Mingyu: “…You’ve become wilder than before, hardly like yourself.”
Xie Jing smiled: “How’s that different?”
Bai Mingyu: “I can’t say, just feels different. Little Xie, will you go back?”
Xie Jing cleaned his wound and said simply: “Of course.”
Footsteps sounded at the mountain entrance. Xie Jing’s ears twitched. He looked up; familiar boots appeared. Bai Mingyu shouted “Lord Bai Jiu!” Xie Jing froze, overwhelmed with joy, slowly smiling.
Lord Bai Jiu bent to inspect the disheveled young man, soot on his face, yet his eyes shone like childhood, hiding little excitement.
Lord Bai Jiu: “What, a few months gone, can’t even call out?”
Xie Jing quickly stood, calling “Master.” Almost stumbling, supported by Lord Bai Jiu, he looked up, smiling, all fatigue gone.
Xie Jing: “Master, how did you come up? The second Young Master said you’d arrive at noon. It’s unsafe. Shouldn’t you go down first? I can accompany you?”
Lord Bai Jiu patted his head. “The foot of the mountain is still messy. I brought help; the mountain is safer.”
Xie Jing: “Who did you bring?”
Lord Bai Jiu: “An old friend.”
Xie Jing didn’t ask further; his heart was only on one person.
Bai Mingyu busy outside, Xie Jing explained the previous night’s events, omitting many dangers, blaming unavoidable ones on Bai Mingyu.
Lord Bai Jiu noticed Xie Jing’s arm injury, frowning: “This isn’t from a cliff scrape. Bullets are indiscriminate; you rushed in too recklessly.”
Xie Jing: “Master, I was wrong.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Wrong how?”
Xie Jing whispered: “I was showing off.”
Lord Bai Jiu lightly flicked his forehead: “You know your limits but shouldn’t risk yourself. I gave you Wang Su to protect, not for you to endanger yourself.”
Xie Jing held Lord Bai Jiu’s sleeve, looking up.
Lord Bai Jiu sighed, rubbing the forehead he tapped earlier: “I didn’t sleep last night, worried something would happen. Seeing you calms me. Don’t do this again, or I’ll lock you up for life.” His voice low, nose almost touching Xie Jing’s.
Xie Jing nuzzled, reassured by the familiar scent.
Lord Bai Jiu cleaned Xie Jing’s wounds, changing the bandage, checking other injuries: minor ankle wounds and a bruise at the mouth.
By afternoon, news arrived from the foot of the mountain, asking them to descend.
When Bai Mingyu looked for Lord Bai Jiu, he saw him carrying Xie Jing. The once mighty Sichuan young master now rested on Lord Bai Jiu’s back, only the arm bandage visible. Bai Mingyu was puzzled: “When did Little Xie get injured? He was running and jumping like before.”
Xie Jing glanced back: “Last night, climbing through a window to rescue the Second Young Master—injured then.”
Before he finished, Bai Mingyu loudly coughed, rushing to volunteer: “Lord Bai Jiu, I can carry Little Xie!”
Lord Bai Jiu: “No, watch ahead, don’t go off the path.”
Bai Mingyu walked ahead, sulking. Though blind, he felt certain Little Xie was secretly laughing at him. Always pretending around Lord Bai Jiu, never treating him as a brother.
Author’s notes:
Carrying the ‘piglet’
Bandits: “We’ve struck gold! Caught a fat one!”
Bai Mingyu (struggling on bamboo pole): “I warn you! Put me down or I’ll flatten your mountain!”
