novelhk Chapter 18 Entering Bingzhou
Chapter 18 Entering Bingzhou
In the distance, a continuous mountain range came into view, with a towering peak rising straight into the clouds, as straight as a sword.
"Ahead lies the Danhu Mountains, the border between Zhongzhou and Bingzhou." Now that he no longer needed to wear handcuffs and shackles, Ning Shi had adapted to the current pace, adjusting his breathing with each step. "After Danhu Mountains, we'll reach Jiaozhou. Because of the towering, continuous mountain ranges surrounding Jiaozhou, the climate is much milder than Zhongzhou. With its many hills and rivers, it's a place with four distinct seasons."
In the past few days, apart from removing their handcuffs and shackles and providing some extra care in terms of food, Ding You and the other constables did not treat the Ning family any differently. Knowing some of the inside story, Physician Zhao kept a distance from the Ning family, neither too close nor too distant.
Ning Ziqing looked at the distant, undulating mountain range and slowly began to match it with the records in the classics she had read.
Danhu Mountain is located at the border of Zhongzhou and Bingzhou. Its peaks soar into the clouds, resembling a giant sword piercing the sky. The mountain is mostly covered with rugged rocks, which are bluish-gray in color and hard in texture. The patterns on them are like python scales or celestial runes, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
Vegetation is sparse in this mountain, with only hardy pines and cypresses taking root in the crevices of the rocks. Their branches twist and turn, their needles like jade, growing tenaciously in the icy snow, adding a touch of life to this desolate place. However, beneath the towering pines and cypresses, there are many thorny thickets, their thorns sharp enough to cause cuts and bleeding if one is not careful.
Legend has it that humans and demons once fought a great battle at Single Fox Mountain. An ancient demon is sealed at the foot of the mountain, and this towering, sword-like Single Fox Mountain was once a sealing artifact used by a powerful human to firmly imprison the demon. If Single Fox Mountain is damaged, the seal will loosen, and the demon will be unleashed, leading to widespread destruction. Therefore, at the foot of Single Fox Mountain stands a fortified city—Fengyang City—guarded by over ten thousand soldiers, and a powerful Earthly Fiend is stationed there.
Ning Ziqing's thoughts were in turmoil. Looking at the increasingly clear main peak of Single Fox Mountain in the distance, he couldn't help but ask, "Father, is there really a demon sealed beneath Single Fox Mountain?"
Ning Shi also gazed at the mountain peak with its jagged rocks and intertwined pines and cypresses. "That's how it's recorded in historical records, but that was two hundred years ago. Although Lord Diwei has been stationed in Fengyang City, no one except the Celestial Masters knows exactly what happened back then."
"Father, are we going to enter Fengyang City today?" Ning Xiaoxi asked expectantly.
"No, exiles are not allowed into the city. We will stay at the post station outside the city. We are now in Zhongzhou. We will travel along the official road and there are post stations where we can rest. Bingzhou is not as prosperous as Zhongzhou, nor is it as well-equipped. The places we will travel from here are mostly rugged paths, and we will spend most of the night in the wilderness."
Yes, they were exiled, not traveling. It seems that the real hardships began after they entered Bingzhou.
The closer you get to Shanhu Mountain, the more you can feel the biting cold wind. The undulating mountain range blocks this cold wind from entering Shanhu Mountain.
Ten-mile post station outside Fengyang City
Dingyou and Wu Dayong, a constable from Bingzhou, were counting and handing over exiled prisoners.
All the prisoners stood in the cold wind, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
Wu Dayong was a burly man with a cold and stern face. Perhaps because he was stationed at the foot of Shanhu Mountain, he was more ruthless and murderous than the constables in the capital city of Zhongzhou.
Ding You first bowed and said, "Officer Wu, it's been a long time. Today we are escorting prisoners here to hand them over to you."
Wu Dayong nodded slightly, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Officer Ding, you've had a hard journey. Was it smooth sailing?"
Ding You sighed and said, "On this journey, we unfortunately encountered two instances of demonic disturbances."
Wu Dayong frowned as well. "It's been a long time since we've heard of any demons causing trouble in Zhongzhou. How could it be such bad luck that Brother Ding ran into them?"
“Who says otherwise? Fortunately, they were all low-level demons. The first time, Lord Di Sha captured them, and the second time, because it was just a newly formed Cold Crow Ghost Messenger, we were able to wipe it out with the help of Lord Yi Cheng.” Ding You said, taking a step closer to Wu Dayong and whispering, “To be honest, Brother Wu, during this time, Ning Xiaoxi, the daughter of Ning Shi, the former Vice Minister of Rites, helped me get rid of the ice curse that I had inadvertently contracted.” As Ding You spoke, he kept a close eye on Wu Dayong’s expression. “I don’t know why that young lady Ning is on this list of exiles, but since she saved my life, I would like to ask Brother Wu to take care of me on the journey ahead.”
Wu Dayong was initially moved when he heard that Ning Xiaoxi had the ability to dispel the ice curse, but he became thoughtful after hearing Ding You's next words. He knew that the prisoners being exiled were all implicated in the Third Prince's demonic curse case, which was a serious case related to demons. Among the exiled prisoners was a young woman with the ability to exorcise demons. No one knew if there were any other arrangements involved.
Thinking of this, Wu Dayong's usually cold and stern lips curled up slightly. "Brother Ding, rest assured, the journey to Bingzhou will take into account your previous arrangements and will not make things difficult for you."
Ding You clasped his hands in a salute. He had done his best to take care of Ning Xiaoxi, and whether it would bring her good fortune or misfortune was no longer within his control.
"Waaah..."
Suddenly, a deep horn sounded in the distance.
"Oh no, there's something fishy going on." Wu Dayong immediately shouted, "Quickly, take all the prisoners into their rooms and don't let them move around." Then he turned to Ding You and said, "Brother Ding, please also go into your room and rest. Ignore any noises outside."
Ding You obediently led his servants into the west wing of the post station.
The exiled people, seeing this familiar scene, seemed to have grown accustomed to it. They then automatically and consciously followed their respective guards into their rooms at the post station.
Looking at the familiar room layout, the Ning family felt right at home. Ning Shi and Ming Luoying put down their baskets and made the bed, while Ning Ziqing tended the stove, adding firewood and boiling water. Ning Xiaoxi took out an earthenware pot and coarse rice, skillfully starting to cook porridge.
On the other side, Zhou Liangwu's two sons also took out the soup pots and rice flour they had purchased at the post stations along the way, and their mother and aunt gathered around the stove to cook porridge.
Zhou Liangwu's wife, Li, was a commoner woman he married while stationed on the border. Back in her family, she was the eldest sister who managed the household's food and drink, so she was quite familiar with these daily necessities. However, Zhou Liangwu had always prevented her from taking the lead, so she had stayed obediently in the back.
Only after the Ning family was freed from their handcuffs and shackles did Zhou Liangwu allow her to start purchasing everyday necessities from the post station staff, but he still forbade her from getting too close to the Ning family.
The old imperial physician, Zhao Yao, had been accompanying the Ning family for the past few days. He had witnessed Ning Xiaoxi's abilities firsthand, and although he didn't know why she was hiding them, he was unsure if they could survive in the far north of Youzhou. Following someone capable was always a good idea. His three sons weren't particularly bright, and he feared they wouldn't be able to survive on their own. The old man also wanted to see if the Ning family could truly be relied upon, so that they could at least stay alive.