When Li Weiying opened her eyes, she found herself already asleep in the felt tent. Recalling the sweetness of the darkness last night, the comfort of leaning against him, and then realizing she had fallen asleep and been carried back to the tent without his noticing, she felt a slight tremor in her cheeks, a flustered feeling rising in her chest. Her lotus-colored blouse lay beside her pillow. Picking it up, she saw that the tear in the left sleeve had been meticulously mended, the stitches much tighter than her own. This Huan Lang, his mind is even more meticulous than a young woman's. Thinking this, the Turkic girl in her tent came in to call her out for dinner. Li Weiying responded and folded the lotus-colored blouse, placing it under her pillow. Stepping out of the tent, Huan She was already waiting outside. She sat down beside him, giving him a sweet smile.
Spring is a time for lovers to express their feelings, and also a good time for cattle and horses to breed. Taking advantage of this gathering, each tribe brought their finest livestock to find mates. Daman and Xutuogu refused the hundred taels of gold that Li Weiying had won. Huan She suggested returning the gold to Silifa and exchanging it for cattle and horses. Daman was overjoyed to see the thirty fine horses, fifty cattle, and one hundred sheep that Silifa had brought.
Heroes need fine steeds, and birds rely on wings. Huan She and Li Weiying, along with other herdsmen, chased and galloped across the vast grasslands, where the sky was a clear, deep blue. Thousands of horses galloped and leaped joyfully, their long manes shimmering in the sunlight. This magnificent scene prompted the men on horseback to shout loudly, and even Li Weiying couldn't help but join in the shouts.
Huan She rode his horse merrily, racing against Li Weiying. Every time he took the lead, she would eagerly try to catch up. Finally, Huan She seized an opportunity, spurring his horse and leaving her behind. He watched as her pursuit was cut off by the herd of horses from Xutuogu, and no matter how she tried to catch up, she couldn't. Huan She laughed triumphantly. Suddenly, he saw her crouch down, almost being knocked over by the passing herd of horses. Huan She jumped in surprise and shouted, "Weiying, watch out!" But he couldn't hear her through the surging herd of horses. Then, she jumped off her horse and was immediately swallowed up by the rolling herd.
Huan She's mind went blank, cold sweat poured down his back. He hurriedly spurred his horse back to find her, forcefully clearing a path to pull her, her face pale with fright, onto his horse. Holding her tightly, he asked, "Are you alright?" She was still struggling: "My flute, Cao Ling's flute!" Huan She dared not linger, and could only urge his horse to gallop in the direction the herd had run, gradually separating himself from the group. Huan She asked, "Did you lose your flute?" She said, "Yes, I lost it, I can't find it." Huan She said, "We can't go now, that was close, you scared me to death again." He held her firmly on his horse, and only after the herd had gone far away did he return to search for it.
From afar, they saw the jade flute lying quietly on the green grass. Li Weiying ran over and picked it up. The end of the flute was cracked from being trampled, and the colorful tassels were scattered and rotten. Huan She was filled with remorse upon seeing this. He called to her, but she didn't respond. She just held the flute, speechless, and tremblingly blew it once. The sound was like tearing silk. Huan She was extremely ashamed: "Weiying, this flute, I'll ask a craftsman if it can be repaired..." She whispered, "No need... it's already been discarded, I won't use it anymore. Huan Lang, I... my head hurts terribly, I need to go back to sleep." Huan She had no choice but to accompany her back to her tent.
Huan She spent the entire day in unease. Li Weiying rested for a while in the morning but did nothing else. In the afternoon, she continued herding with Huan She and the others, but Huan She always sensed an unconcealable sorrow in her eyes. After nightfall, they returned to their tents. Huan She slept restlessly when he suddenly heard a scream from the opposite tent. Knowing it was her voice, he rushed to her tent and asked anxiously, "Weiying, what's wrong?" She gasped, "I...I'm fine, I had a nightmare." He was still worried: "Are you alright? Are you really okay?" She said, "I'm fine, I'll be fine after a good sleep, I'll be fine after a good sleep. You can go back now." Huan She said, "Okay, don't worry, don't be afraid, I'm right across from you." She responded and fell silent.
Huan She lay down and dozed off for a while, when he heard a very soft voice: "Huan Lang..." The voice was so weak, like in a dream, that he couldn't hear it clearly. He continued to sleep for a while, but then suddenly woke up, jumped up, and went outside the tent. He saw Li Weiying standing with her back to him and said, "Weiying..." She turned around and threw herself into Huan She's arms: "Huan Lang, I'm so scared." Huan She then saw that her face was covered in tears and exclaimed in surprise, "What's wrong? Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here, I've always been here." He hugged her tightly.
She choked back tears, saying, "I can't sleep. I'm afraid to close my eyes. Every time I do, I dream of Cao Ling covered in blood, motionless. I'm so scared." Huan She comforted her, "That's just a dream. Dreams are always the opposite of reality. Cao Ling is alright." She said, "The jade flute is cracked, which is the image of the Li hexagram. (Li means to attach, not to leave.)" Huan She said, "The Li hexagram?... Even if it's a bad hexagram, it might not be accurate." She said, "This hexagram was originally very auspicious, but... the ninth line is extremely inauspicious, like a sudden attack, like burning, like death, like abandonment... It's like it's talking about my past and future with Cao Ling... He's straightforward. I don't know what happened to him. I'm so afraid he won't make it."
Huan She said, "No, no, he's so capable. A fourth-rank attendant! I've been trying to get promoted to sixth rank for so long." He gently stroked her, "As long as the divination is auspicious, it's alright, it's alright." He loosened his arms from her embrace, but she clung tightly, pleading, "Please don't go." Huan She said, "I'm not leaving. I know you're scared and don't dare go back to sleep. I'll go into the tent to get some clothes and stay here with you, okay?" She nodded. Huan She turned and went into the tent, returning to drape a cloak over her shoulders, then lit a fire and sat down with her in his arms. She closed her eyes, and Huan She pulled her closer, still feeling empty and uneasy. The night wind blew, stinging her face, the fire flickering and dimming, the warmth lingering in the air.
Huan She held Li Weiying for half the night, feeling uneasy as he thought of her dreaming of Cao Ling. He finally succumbed to sleep as dawn approached, but soon after, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. He awoke with a start to find a tear in his back, accompanied by Li Weiying's cry of pain. He then saw one of Si Lifa's servants lashing out with a whip. Huan She shielded Li Weiying, taking another lash to his shoulder. Seeing a cut on her arm, her clothes torn and bleeding, Huan She was both shocked and furious. He roared at Si Lifa, "What are you doing now? Still not satisfied?"
Silifa's attendant shouted, "The Khanate is in trouble! Silifa has urgently ordered all able-bodied men in this area to serve!" Xutuogu and the others, hearing the commotion, came out and asked, "What kind of service? Are we going to war?" Huan She and Li Weiying were shocked. Had they gone to war with the Tang Dynasty again? Or had the Tang already invaded this place? Silifa said, "Hmph, you think you can fight for the Khan?" Turning to his attendant, he impatiently said, "Hurry up and take them away." A Turkic soldier informed them that the mission was to forge a batch of emergency weapons and equipment for the Khanate. Immediately, thirty soldiers armed with swords came to count the men.
Huan She secretly untied his short sword and slipped it into Li Weiying's sleeve. He had just said to Li Weiying, "Don't move rashly," when a Turkic soldier grabbed his arm. He didn't resist, but Li Weiying still held onto him tightly, watching helplessly as the soldier forcibly dragged his hand away from hers. "Huan She! Huan She!" she cried out in alarm, about to chase after him, but Huan She told her, "Don't come any closer, wait for me here." A hundred able-bodied men, including Huan She and Xu Tuogu, were herded together. Several resisting youths were bound and disciplined, presumably at Si Lifa's behest. Huan She was also bound with ropes behind his back. Afterwards, the soldiers selected fifteen strong women for cooking and chores. One soldier touched Li Weiying's face but rejected her, deeming her too weak to work. Huan She was comforting himself when he saw her turn and leave, but she picked up a piece of firewood and chased after him, striking the soldier hard. The soldier was furious, his sheathed sword struck her shoulder, and he dragged her into the group of fifteen other women, cursing, "Come in and do some work for the master."
She bit her lip hard, tears welling in her eyes, but still managed to get up and look at Huan She. Huan She's hands, bound behind his back, clenched tightly. "You... why don't you stay put?" she said. "I don't want you to leave." Huan She sighed silently, thinking, "How could I want to leave you?" He said, "Then be careful." She nodded.
The group was led to the riverbank at the foot of the North Mountain. The area was fenced off, and soldiers guarded the entrance and exit. Several workshops were also set up under the blacksmith's arrangement. The Turks were originally slaves who forged iron for the Rouran people, and ironworking was their specialty. The able-bodied men were divided into several groups. The experienced ones worked directly with the blacksmiths for forging, while the others were responsible for supplying blacksmithing materials. Huan She was busy from morning till night, without a moment's rest, chopping trees and splitting firewood. Just when everyone else was resting and eating, he was sent to watch the fire and operate the bellows.
Li Weiying secretly took some flatbread and water and slipped to his side. He had taken off half of his robe and tied it around his waist, leaving his upper body bare. His wheat-colored skin was covered with numerous wounds from previous battles and tortures, and several fresh whip marks were still bleeding, mixed with profuse sweat that streamed down his chest and back. Hearing Li Weiying's footsteps, he turned around, his face, tanned dark by smoke and soaked with sweat, revealing a smile that showed his white teeth: "How did you know I was hungry?" He took the bowl and gulped down the water first, then grabbed the flatbread and ate it in large bites.
Li Weiying whispered, "Huan Lang...you've suffered. I insisted on winning against Si Lifa, and in the end, he's the one seeking revenge on you." Huan She said, "Weiying, you don't need to blame yourself. Even if you don't get in his way, he'll still find fault with you. I..." Before he could finish speaking, a soldier noticed and lashed Huan She with a whip, causing him to drop his half-eaten pancake. The soldier shouted, "Go check the fire! You, go back, don't come any closer." Li Weiying had no choice but to leave the work shed. Huan She shouted loudly in Chinese behind her, "He's seeking revenge on me, I'll definitely do something bad, I'll teach him a lesson he won't be able to forge this weapon in ten years!" Li Weiying laughed loudly upon hearing this.
Several days passed. Huan She was doing heavy labor in the work shed, while Li Weiying and the other women did laundry and cooked for the soldiers and craftsmen. She saw Huan She so exhausted that his legs could barely stand, and he was often beaten by Silifa and the soldiers. She felt deeply sorry for him and tried to get close to him, but the soldiers always stopped her. Fortunately, one evening, Silifa received a report and went to Khan Futu City. The soldiers were less strict with him, and Li Weiying finally found Huan She and the others resting in their small tent. She called out to him, but he didn't come out. Xutuogu heard her voice and told her that Huan She was resting behind the tent.
Feeling her way to the back of the tent, she vaguely saw a person sitting motionless in the darkness. She said, "Huan Lang, is that you?" The person stirred slightly but didn't answer. Li Weiying gently tugged at his arm, "Huan She, is that you?" He cried out, his voice tinged with pain. Li Weiying recognized Huan She's voice and felt relieved. She said, "Are you in pain? Why aren't you saying anything?" He said softly, "You... don't come any closer. I'm injured, very tired, and just want to rest." She asked urgently, "Where are you injured again? How bad is it? Let me see." He said impatiently, "I told you I need some peace and quiet!"
She listened without speaking, stood for a moment, then took out something wrapped in a brocade handkerchief from her bosom, put it down, and left. Huan She regretted his hasty words and chased after her, grabbing her arm and saying, "Wei Ying, don't be angry with me, I... I'm in a bad mood." She said softly, "I know you've been working hard these past few days, it's all my fault that you've been tired, so how could I be angry? Please don't be upset with me." She opened the handkerchief and exclaimed, "Oh dear, it's all broken." Huan She quickly said, "It's alright, it smells so good, I'll eat it." He picked up a crumpled piece of cake, still warm from her body, and put it in his mouth. After a few bites, he suddenly said, "Wei Ying, how come you have extra cakes?" He knew the soldiers were very careful with their food, so she smiled and said, "Oh, did I make these?" Huan She grunted and tilted his head back to put the remaining crumbs into his mouth. Seeing that he had finished eating, she said happily, "I'm glad you didn't mind. I'll go now, otherwise the soldiers will find you and beat you again. Your injuries... you should rest well, I'll come see you again tomorrow night. But you mustn't ignore me tomorrow, and don't hide from me in the dark, it scares me." He said apologetically, "I won't, I won't again."
The next day at noon, Huan She and several young men returned with the felled logs. The rough ropes, stinging his sweat-drenched skin, cut deep into the wounds, the salty sweat and sharp barbs causing excruciating pain. The blue sky above grew higher and clearer, the summer sun blinding him. He almost collapsed, but a lash on his back snapped him back to reality. Forcing himself to look up, he met the worried gaze of Li Weiying, who was making cakes in the distance. Huan She forced a smile, then lowered his head to continue hauling the logs back to the work shed.
In his youth, his uncle had said there were three hardships in the world: blacksmithing, boat rowing, and tofu grinding. Huan She, then preoccupied with sword practice, had dismissed it, but today he believed it all. Before, he'd only been tending the fire and operating the bellows; today, he'd been dragged to blacksmithing. Alas, they say that tempered steel can be melted into silk, but each forging required hundreds of hammer blows, large and small, the furnace scorching him until he was drenched in sweat, his shoulders and arms aching and swollen, almost too heavy to lift. He weakly struck the red-hot blade twice with a "ding-ding," and faintly heard two "clangs" in the distance. A thought struck him, and he struck three more times, but received no response. Just as he was about to despair, three more clangs rang out. Huan She happily struck four more times, and received four more in response. Just as he was about to continue playing, the foreman cursed, "Looking for a beating? Are you blacksmithing or banging a gong?" Huan She cursed under his breath before continuing to swing his hammer.
Exhausted, Huan She endured the night. His rations were withheld by the soldiers. He leaned against the back of his tent, his stomach growling with hunger, but the thought of Li Weiying's imminent arrival filled him with joy. Lost in thought, he suddenly heard a commotion. Looking around, he saw movement in the direction of the women's tent. Worried that something might have happened to Li Weiying, he turned and ran, only to be stopped halfway by the soldiers. Huan She grabbed one of them anxiously: "What's going on over there?" The soldier didn't answer, simply sending him back.
He anxiously watched her tent for a long time, and as things gradually quieted down, he felt a little relieved. He sat up in his robes, keeping watch until midnight. Exhausted, Huan She was almost asleep when he felt the pain in his body gradually fading. Opening his eyes, he saw her soft hands applying something to his wounds. "Wei Ying," he called her name happily. Her gaze was gentle: "This is badger oil; it might be useful." He was taken aback: "Where did you get badger oil?" She replied, "I caught a badger in the first half of the night. We shared it, but I kept the oil to make medicine." Huan She asked in surprise, "How did you catch it?" She said proudly, "I heard sounds of animals a few nights ago, so I set up a trap and caught the badger when it came to eat the bait." Huan She praised, "My wife is so clever; I should have known sooner." She chuckled, "That's a trick I played as a child; Cao Ling played it many times."
Mentioning Cao Ling, she fell silent. Huan She said, "Wei Ying..." He hesitated for a long time, then sighed, "Wei Ying, I... I heard that spirit stones... spirit stones probably still exist, but I've heard that the gods are sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased, so even if you pray, it's not certain." In the darkness, Huan She could still see her eyes light up. She said, "Really?" She murmured, "Then, I'll wait until the gods are pleased before I pray, perhaps to accumulate some merit." Huan She said, "You... shouldn't believe too much. I'm just afraid you'll blame me later..." She said, "Huan Lang, it was I who dragged you here. I know this is wishful thinking. Cao Ling... I don't expect too much, he... I just want him to be safe." Recalling the horror of the dream, her voice trembled. Huan She said, "I'm relieved that you think this way." Li Weiying said, "We've worked so hard for the spirit stone for so long; we have to find it to have some peace of mind. If we really find it, whether it works or not, I won't ask for anything more. I've done everything I could..."
Huan She took her hand and gently stroked it, then suddenly asked, "Was it you who answered me this morning?" She replied, "Yes, I saw you were forging iron and couldn't speak, so I responded by pounding the dough with the mallet." He laughed, "Do you know what I said?" She said, "You 'dingding' meant 'Wei Ying,' so I 'dangdang' meant 'Huan Lang.' Then you asked, 'Are you tired?' and I replied, 'I'm fine.' Then you asked, 'When are you coming to see me?' and I said, 'I'll come as soon as I'm done with work,' so that must be it." He chuckled mischievously, "My wife misunderstood. 'Dingding' meant 'I'm hungry,' 'dingdingding' meant 'I want to eat chicken,' but 'dingdingdingdingding' actually meant 'It would be best if there was wine,' hehe."
Li Weiying laughed so hard she almost fell over, then suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear, I forgot again!" She pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom, quickly opened it, and saw, "It's broken again." Huan She took the broken pieces of cake, ate one, and looked at her pale, thin face, saying, "Did you save it for me instead of eating it yourself?" She avoided his burning gaze and said, "Of course not." He said, "Don't hide it from me." She smiled softly, "You do so much hard work every day, people make things difficult for you, and I always see you not getting enough to eat... I'm not hungry, and this cake is awful."
Huan She lowered his head and put another piece of broken biscuit into his mouth. His throat was so sore that he couldn't swallow anymore. He put down the brocade handkerchief, hugged her, and said, "You've had a long day. Go to bed early." He escorted her back to her tent. He saw her lightly lift the curtain, a strand of her black hair fluttering in the wind. He wanted to follow her in, but the curtain suddenly fell, blocking his longing in the thick night.
Chapter Fourteen
14. [Spirit Stone]
Although Huan She secretly tried some underhanded tactics, such as exploding the bellows, polluting the stream water used for quenching, and reducing the number of forgings during the refining process, the craftsmen were strict in their checks, and each time they were caught, the entire group would be beaten. That evening, he secretly met with Li Weiying and said dejectedly, "I hope they can't finish forging the weapons. I can't imagine the weapons I forged with my own hands being used to kill Tang people." Li Weiying comforted him, saying, "Huan Lang, the Western Turks have many enemies. These weapons might be used against other countries. Don't blame yourself. We're currently in their hands, so it's best to be careful. There's still hope for the future." Huan She had no choice but to accept his fate.
Midsummer arrived in the blink of an eye, and the weapons forged day and night by over a hundred people were finally completed. Since Silifa was still in Khan's city and had not yet returned, Huan She and Li Weiying were released along with the others after their labor service was finished, and were spared further punishment. They returned safely to Daman's tribe with Xutuogu, and everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief. Having gone through such ordeal, everyone had lost a considerable amount of weight. Daman ordered that sheep be cooked for food, and personally led men to slaughter each sheep by its rump, picking only the fattest ones.
After resting for more than ten days, she looked up at the ever-changing clouds in the sky, eagles soaring and geese gathering. Li Weiying held Huan She's erhu and played a tune. When the piece ended, her fingertips continued to pluck the strings, producing a soft, humming sound. Huan She followed her gaze; the high Tanhan Mountain was now tinged with a pleasant green, its peaks still capped with snow. Huan She pressed down on her trembling strings and whispered, "It's time." Li Weiying looked back into Huan She's affectionate eyes and smiled slightly.
Having spent over a season in the high mountains, and with regular riding and archery to keep fit, coupled with the pleasant summer weather, Li Weiying and Huan She made their way up the Tanhan Mountain again. The journey was surprisingly easy, unlike the initial struggle. Wildflowers dotted the landscape, their vibrant blooms adding to the charm. The two walked briskly through the blossoms. Huan She's dark robes were stained with golden petals, highlighting his handsome features and romantic air. Li Weiying stood amidst the flowers, a perfect harmony of person and blossoms. The mountain mist swept up the petals, making her and her robes flutter, creating an ethereal scene. Huan She was captivated. She smiled brightly, "Poems often speak of pausing amidst the spring blossoms; let's rest for a while." Huan She gently replied, "Alright." They sat down side by side, gazing at the vast glacier cascading down the mountainside, marveling at the wonders of Zhongling's creation.
They climbed higher, the snow beneath their feet growing thicker, and the two shivered from the cold, quickly donning their fur coats. Suddenly, they heard a series of thuds, and about a hundred greyish-brown snow chickens with white-spotted wings slid down the snow slope in front of them. Their plump bodies rolled and slid across the thick white snow, the loud sound echoing through the valley, even causing the snow beneath Huan She and Li Weiying to tremble slightly. Huan She laughed, "What plump fairy birds!" Li Weiying had a sudden thought, "Huan Lang, we don't necessarily have to climb to the summit. Following them might lead us to the spirit stones." She added, "It's a pity they slide so fast." Huan She thought for a moment and said to her, "Sit down and curl up tight, hug your knees." She did as he said, and Huan She gave her a push from behind, sliding down with her amidst her screams. Just as they reached the bottom of the slope, he leaped up first and caught her securely in his arms. Li Weiying, still panting, clung to his neck: "Huan Lang, the method you came up with scared me to death!" Huan She smiled and said, "I'm just a rough man, that's all I can do. Hmm, if you don't let go, you won't be able to catch up." A blush rose on her face, and Huan She put her down, then pulled her along and ran quickly.
The two chased after the snow chickens when a sudden downpour began, growing increasingly fierce and torrential. Huan and Li were greatly surprised, never expecting such heavy rain on a snow-capped mountain. The swift rain stung and chilled them, and forgetting their pursuit of the scattering snow chickens, they hurriedly ran towards a cave ahead. When they were still an arrow's throw from the cave, a thunderous roar seemed to erupt from the mountaintop. Listening intently, Li Weiying exclaimed in horror, "An avalanche!" Huan She's expression also changed, and he grabbed her, fleeing in the opposite direction. They had barely run ashore when massive chunks of snow and ice, carrying mud and rocks, combined with the torrential rain and the convergence of several nearby mountain streams, instantly transformed into a flash flood rushing towards them. They ran back for their lives, and several times Li Weiying couldn't keep up with Huan She and fell. Huan She would forcefully pull her up and twist her way forward, finally reaching a mountaintop where they saw the raging torrent below. They both escaped death, their faces ashen.
They were now only in a shallow, narrow, recessed cave, but fortunately, their fur coats were quite waterproof, and they weren't soaked. Huan She took out a flint from his pocket, and together they gathered some pine branches to start a fire for warmth. Outside, the rain was still pouring down, and darkness was slowly falling.
Huan She poked at the fire when Li Weiying suddenly exclaimed, "Huan Lang, look what's that?" Two shimmering green dots appeared in the darkness. Huan She felt a chill run down his spine: "A wolf!" He drew his short sword, shielding her behind him, and said, "Run away as soon as I make a move." She held his hand, trembling slightly with fear, but resolutely replied, "I won't go." The green light slowly approached them, then stopped. In the firelight, it was clear that it was a fully white adult leopard with light gray spots. It stretched out its front paws, touched the ground, and then withdrew them. Li Weiying suddenly said, "Huan Lang, it seems to want to take shelter from the rain, but it's afraid of the fire." The leopard was powerful and large, yet at this moment it seemed remarkably gentle.
Huan She composed himself and said, "Wei Ying, let's take a gamble. Are you... afraid?" She looked at Huan She and smiled, "No." Her hands were still trembling, but she threw a handful of snow into the fire first, and Huan She followed suit, extinguishing the flames. She whispered to the snow leopard, "Good boy, you can come over, but don't touch me, be a good boy, be a good boy." She placed a piece of bread in front of the cave. The snow leopard stood facing them for a long time before slowly strolling over, sniffing the bread, showing no interest. It then hissed, squeezed next to Li Wei Ying, and shook its head, splashing rainwater all over her face. She froze, too afraid to move. After a while, the large leopard finally lay down.
Li Weiying's legs gave way, and she collapsed into Huan She's arms. Huan She caught her, carefully shifting his body to turn her around, then leaned against the leopard. The leopard roared, startling them both so much that their hearts seemed to stop. The snow leopard stood up, its emerald green eyes blinking curiously, then lay down again.
The mountain rain at night was bone-chilling, and with a ferocious beast nearby, the two dared not close their eyes. The snow leopard, however, was quite leisurely, occasionally letting out a hum. Huan She whispered to Li Weiying, "Alright, I'll take another gamble." He tentatively touched the snow leopard's back, but the leopard lazily ignored him. Huan She patted it again, and the snow leopard still didn't resist. Huan She simply pressed against its burning body and said, "Weiying, this is very warm." She hesitated for a moment, then gently leaned closer, and indeed, it felt incredibly comfortable.
In the middle of the night, Li Weiying suddenly whispered, "Huan Lang, Huan Lang." He opened his eyes: "What is it?" She whispered, "Look over there, it looks like there's a light." Huan She looked intently and indeed saw a flickering light in the mountains, which disappeared in an instant. Huan She pondered for a moment and said, "I've memorized the location. Let's go look there again tomorrow; perhaps that's the spirit stone."
The two humans and the beast spent the night huddled together in the shallow, narrow mountain cave. As dawn broke, the snow leopard shook itself, stepped out of the cave, and walked to the edge of the cliff. Huan She and Li Weiying followed.
A blazing sun burst forth, and a snow leopard craned its neck and roared towards it. Huan She, standing beside it, was moved by the scene and suddenly let out a long howl as well. Li Weiying smiled, gently took Huan She's arm, and leaned on his shoulder, watching the rain clear and the sun shine on the snow-capped mountains, feeling the heroes' voices resound and their hearts filled with boundless pride.
The snow leopard nuzzled Huan She, glanced back at the two of them, and leaped down the mountain, disappearing in a few bounds. Li Weiying praised, "How dashing!" Huan She said, "Since you like it so much, how about I transform into a leopard someday?" Li Weiying laughed, "You're so rascal, I don't want to." After a tense night, the two finally relaxed and started joking around.
After eating some dry rations, Huan She and Li Weiying headed towards the spot where they had seen the firelight the previous night. A faint wisp of smoke drifted by ahead, and Huan She said, "This is it." Approaching a very narrow crevice in the mountain, the closer they got, the hotter it became. Huan She peered into the crevice, but the heat made him retreat immediately. Li Weiying moved closer and said, "It's so hot, I can't go in." Huan She then clung to the crevice and said, "There seems to be something inside, I'll go in and take a look." Li Weiying said, "Don't go in, it's too dangerous." Huan She didn't reply, but picked up a snowball and rubbed it on his body, then scooped up a handful of snow and covered his head, saying, "Don't worry, I'm very smart, I'll come back if things get bad." He then pushed her down onto the snow.
Li Weiying cried out and scrambled to her feet. Huan She had already crouched low and crawled into the crevice in the mountain. A moment later, he curled up and pulled away, coughing violently, his hair and clothes steaming. He flung something away and began to roll frantically on the snow. Li Weiying was alarmed and quickly took off her fur coat to vigorously pat him down. Huan She lay on the snow, panting, his face blistered from the smoke. She clung to him, crying, "Huan Lang! Huan She!" He said, "Cough, cough, get up. I've finally caught my breath." She let go, grabbed some snowballs, and used them to wipe his red and burning face, tears streaming down her face.
Huan She pushed her away: "Sigh, I'm not dead yet. Here, these are the spirit stones." He got up and touched the snow, placing them in Li Weiying's palm. They were two white, bright, lustrous objects, about the size of eggs. She asked, "These are the spirit stones?" Huan She replied, "Most likely. The snow-capped mountains with their three peaks, wildflowers, celestial birds, and mythical beasts are all there. When I climbed in, there were some stones in the cave that were burning themselves, but they were too hot for me to handle. These two are a bit smaller."
She gazed at the object she had longed for for so long, and now that she held it in her hands, she could hardly believe it. Huan She took the spirit stone and placed it on the ground, saying, "Make a wish, but, well, it may not come true immediately. In any case, the gods know your heart's desire." He took out a flint from his robes, but his hands trembled so much that he couldn't light it.
She held Huan She down and said, "Don't hit me, don't burn me, I don't want to make a wish..." Huan She said, "You...you've changed your mind?" She said, "...Perhaps Cao Ling is doing well with Miss Xue now. I need to go back to Chang'an to see first, and then think it over carefully."
Huan She asked in a daze, "You're going back to Chang'an?... You're going back already?... That's right, you should go back too." His voice was filled with utter desolation. Li Weiying said, "No, there's no rush. Besides, you..." Huan She said, "Why do you need to worry about me? I'll protect you, but I'm afraid I can only get you to Yiwu. If you go any further east, the Tang army will capture you and you'll be dead." He gave a bitter laugh, "Hmm, I wonder what the scenery will be like on the way to Chang'an in a prison cart? Heh, I'll have to try it. At least they'll provide food and drink; it'll be better than when we were fleeing."