She thought for a moment, then deftly lifted the curtain and peeked out. At that moment, someone lit some cold fireworks, which shone brightly, making her fair and beautiful face clearly visible.
Xiao Man looked nine-tenths like her mother. She was delicate and charming, with slightly furrowed brows and eyes that seemed to be about to drip water. She looked extremely innocent, pitiful, and naive. From childhood to adulthood, countless people had been fooled by her appearance, including her father and stepmother, as well as the people in the town.
Seeing her frail and delicate appearance from afar, Shovel's heart broke. He was convinced that Xiaoman was a fragile and helpless princess who had been tricked and taken away, and that he was the chivalrous knight who broke into the palace that night, determined to bring the beauty back!
Xiao Man said softly, "Master Qian, thank you for always caring for and looking after me. This really is my godfather. I went to the Western Regions with him for two days and will be back soon, so you don't need to worry."
Qian Zilai frowned, and the shovel had already shouted, "Little Little Little Man! Don't, don't, don't listen to that person! He's lying to you! If you go to the Western Regions, you'll never come back!" He stammered as soon as he saw Little Man, but he was anxious and eventually spoke fluently.
Xiao Man smiled sweetly, "Brother Shovel, you really don't need to worry. How could my godfather harm me? He promised to take me out to play and even gave my dad some money. I'm so grateful to him. My godfather would never lie to me, right?"
She looked at Old Sha with utter innocence. He cursed her inwardly as a little fox, but could only nod and smile in agreement. Letting her speak was one thing, but she insisted on saying such ambiguous things. If she really couldn't come back, wouldn't that make No Return Mountain an enemy of these people? This little girl is too wicked!
The shovel was frantic, wishing he could snatch her away and give her a good whack on the head to wake her up. Qian Zi, however, saw through the situation and waved his hand to stop him from continuing, saying in a deep voice, "Xiao Man, you like to play, but don't play yourself to death."
Xiao Man smiled faintly, a hint of sadness appearing between her brows. She said softly, "Master Qian, you're so kind to me. How could I possibly play games? Actually, as long as my parents are doing well, I... I don't care what happens to me."
She downplayed the seriousness of the matter, shifting all the blame onto her family. The townspeople already looked down on Xiaoman's father for abandoning his wife and children to marry someone else; the locals were honest and simple, and they couldn't stand such things. They had gossiped endlessly about it, and even felt a little sorry for Xiaoman. To others, her words sounded like she was implying her family was after the three thousand taels of silver.
Qian Zilai's brows furrowed even deeper.
Old Sha laughed and said, "Mr. Qian, my goddaughter is still young and doesn't know how to speak well. If she offends you, please don't take it to heart."
Qian Zilai coldly said, "You've only known your goddaughter for a few hours, and you're already calling yourself 'father'? I don't care if I get involved in this matter, but Xiaoman has grown up in Wutong Town. If you've arrested the wrong person, I'll be very worried for you, Brother Sha!"
Old Sha remained expressionless, still smiling: "Thank you for your concern, Elder Qian. Then... what about your esteemed disciples...?"
Qian Zilai turned and left, waving his hand: "Go back, all of you!"
Shovel panicked immediately upon hearing this, "Master! Xiaoman was taken away by them..."
"Shut up! You idiot!" Qian Zilai roared, startling him so much that he swallowed the rest of his words.
"Xiaoman, be a good girl. You're a good child, you know?" Qian Zilai finished speaking, sighed, and finally left with his disciples.
As an outsider, he shouldn't interfere in other people's family affairs. Since it was her father's decision, then it was the child's unfortunate fate. Besides sighing, what help could he offer?
Seeing them walk away, Old Sha directed the camel caravan to rearrange itself and continue on its way. Turning back, he saw two men in white standing guard not far from him. He pondered for a moment, then beckoned them over and whispered, "Go back to Wutong Town, put on some makeup, and find out more about this girl's background. Report back quickly."
The two agreed, immediately abandoned the camel, and turned back to Wutong Town.
Qian Zilai's words aroused Old Sha's suspicion. Normally, there's only one Dragon's Horn in the world, and he couldn't possibly be mistaken. However, there's always the possibility of those with ulterior motives trying to pass off a fake as the real thing. This matter couldn't be taken lightly. If he mistook the young master, he would be making a grave mistake, and the girl herself couldn't be spared.
A murderous intent flashed in his heart. He turned and glanced at the cart. Xiao Man was peeking out from inside, her fair and delicate face smiling like a spring flower in full bloom, utterly innocent and adorable. For a moment, he felt a pang of tenderness, but then he thought of how mischievous and cunning she was at such a young age, and how cold and ruthless she was, and his dislike for her returned.
The heavy rain gradually stopped, and the dark clouds dissipated from the sky, revealing a crescent moon.
Ahead lies Yumen Pass; beyond it lies the Western Regions. The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Zhihuan wrote: "Why should the Qiang flute lament the willows, for the spring breeze does not reach Yumen Pass?" The desolation and barrenness of the Western Regions evoke a profound sense of melancholy.
Xiao Man gazed quietly at the Jade Gate Pass, which stood as silent as iron under the moonlight. No one knew what she was thinking.
Once she gets past this hurdle, perhaps her fate will be different? Facing the vast road ahead, knowing it was all an illusion, she still kept moving forward.
What awaits her ahead?
Chapter 8 of the Horned Scroll: Emergence from Seclusion (Part 2)
Updated: 2008-10-04 15:08:51 Word Count: 3534
After leaving Yumen Pass, it took less than three days to enter the boundless desert.
No matter how sturdy and exquisite the vehicle was, it was too fragile to withstand the desert. Xiaoman was forced to switch to riding a tall camel, and was covered from head to toe in a cloak to prevent the scorching sun from burning her.
The desert landscape has remained virtually unchanged for millennia. As far as the eye can see, there are undulating sand dunes, with golden sand stretching all the way to the horizon.
Xiao Man once heard a passing merchant say that although the desert usually appears calm and peaceful, like a young woman yet to be married, once it goes berserk, it can be more mad than the fiercest woman. A massive sandstorm can drastically change the entire desert terrain in just one day and night. If you get lost in the desert, you might have a sliver of hope if you have a camel, but if you walk alone, you are certain to die.
She had originally planned to memorize the route so that if people discovered she was an imposter, she could escape back along it. But now it seems unlikely. Crossing the desert alone is less desirable than being killed outright.
It was noon, and Xiaoman was so hot from the sun that she felt weak all over and dizzy. The sand on the ground seemed to be boiling, and waves of heat were rising up. She was so hot that her vision was blurred and she couldn't see anything clearly.
She had no choice but to reach for the water bag hanging on the camel's back, tilt her head back, and take a sip; the water was scalding hot. She was starting to lose her balance, swaying precariously on the camel, and looked like she was about to fall. Old Sha quickly went over to support her, whispering, "We can rest in two more miles. Hang in there."
She patted her burning face, trying to regain her composure. Old Sha tore open the water bag and poured it over her head. After two bags of water were poured over her, she finally came to her senses and lay still on the camel's back.
The child hadn't complained once on the way, which surprised Old Sha. He had thought that, given her personality, she would surely make many demands, but she was surprisingly quiet. Actually, he didn't know that Xiao Man wasn't unwilling to speak; she was just too hot from the sun to do so.
The camel caravan traveled for nearly two more miles, and finally a small wooden shed appeared on the sand ahead. There was a well under the shed, which should be the place they were talking about for resting.
Old Sha carried Xiao Man into the wooden shed, and immediately someone brought over melons and fruits that had been frozen in the well, while others kept sprinkling water on the surrounding sand to cool it down.
Xiao Man took a bite of the icy melon and finally felt alive again.
Looking at the sweltering desert outside, she felt her legs go weak and turned back to ask, "When will we get there?"
Old Sha smiled and said, "No rush. Let's wait here for a few people. They should be here soon. We'll talk when they arrive."
Xiao Man had no idea what he was up to, but she was lucky that they weren't setting off right now. She really didn't want to climb back onto that smelly camel's back again; after a day of jostling, her back was about to fall apart.
A sudden gust of wind arose, whipping the sand into golden waves, like ocean waves. Xiaoman had never seen the sea before, but she had heard that it was a vast lake, larger than all the other lakes combined, boundless, with its azure waters merging with the sky, a breathtaking sight. The waves in the desert were also beautiful, but they were a lifeless, almost deathly beauty.
Xiao Man was staring blankly when two people suddenly walked into the shed and whispered something to Lao Sha. He nodded, stood up, and said, "I'll be right back."
As they walked outside, the two men suddenly knelt down and whispered, "We've thoroughly investigated Wutong Town, and this girl is indeed not the young mistress of Cangya City. Her true identity is the daughter of a restaurant owner in town. That owner abandoned his wife and children and left the town for more than three years. He only returned to collect his wife's body after she died, and then started the restaurant business. This girl is indeed his daughter."
Old Sha's heart sank. He knew that this matter was of great importance. Mistaking the young master of Cangya City was a minor matter. The most crucial thing was that the horn of the young dragon was actually on Xiaoman. It seemed that someone was definitely up to something, diverting their attention and hiding the real young master somewhere.
Seeing that he remained silent, the two dared not speak either. They had made a grand show of taking Xiaoman away from Wutong Town, and the rumor that the young master of Cangya City had ended up in Bugui Mountain must have spread throughout the martial arts world. Now that they suddenly discovered it was false, not to mention the damage to Bugui Mountain's reputation, Bugui Mountain would have to bear all the interests, responsibilities, and obligations involved. It would be as if they had been tricked and suffered a huge loss in silence.
Old Sha pondered for a long time before saying, "This is my fault; I wasn't careful enough. If I had let you inquire beforehand, we wouldn't have made this mistake. So, that girl really is just an ordinary person?"
The two men said, “Speaking of which, she is not an ordinary person. The girl’s biological mother is the third daughter of Mr. Guo from Suzhou. Seventeen years ago, she was kidnapped by villains while going out to offer incense. They demanded 10,000 taels of gold, but Mr. Guo refused. The villains then abandoned her near Yumen Pass, where she was rescued by the girl’s father, which led to their marriage.”
Old Sha was a little shocked: "Mr. Guo? Is it Mr. Guo Yusheng?"
"That's right, it's Mr. Guo."
Old Sha frowned and remained silent. Guo Yusheng was a renowned wealthy man in the Suzhou and Hangzhou area. Unlike ordinary merchants, he was well-versed in poetry and literature, fond of romance and nature, and a highly respected refined gentleman. He was also generous and hospitable, enjoying the company of chivalrous figures in the martial arts world, treating them with sincerity. He had a considerable reputation in the martial arts community. So Xiaoman was actually his granddaughter. No wonder her behavior differed from that of girls from humble families; her mother was a true heiress… But Mr. Guo didn't seem like someone who loved money more than anything. How could he have sacrificed his daughter's life for ten thousand taels of gold back then?
"Mr. Sha?" The two men called out when they saw that he remained silent. The most important thing now was how to resolve this awkward situation.
Old Sha composed himself and whispered, "This matter must be kept a secret. Everyone keep your mouths shut and no one is allowed to tell anyone!"
He turned around, and Xiaoman was still sitting in the shed, nibbling on a piece of melon. At that moment, he couldn't think of anything else; he only felt that this little fox had deceived him. Although she had previously said that she was not the mistress, he had only taken it as an excuse, never expecting that she was truly a fake!
A murderous intent flashed in his heart—it was all her fault that he, Sha, who had dominated his life, had finally fallen at the hands of a little girl. If he did not get rid of this hatred, how could he be considered a human being?
"You take the camel caravan and go ahead, I'll follow shortly," Old Sha said calmly.
Seeing his icy gaze, the two men knew he was about to unleash a killing spree. Neither dared utter a word, and they silently circled around to the back, made up an excuse, and led the caravan away into the distance.
Xiao Man was still munching on a melon when she saw Lao Sha return with a strange expression and a pale face. She said, "Godfather, you must take care of yourself. There are no doctors in the desert. If you get sick, it will be terrible."
The word "godfather" sounded incredibly ironic to Lao Sha. He sneered, sat down, and said calmly, "Xiao Man's identity is not simple. How could a commoner like me have the honor of being your godfather?"
Xiao Man sensed something was off about his words, so she stopped eating the melon and started scrutinizing him with her eyes.
She was a very clever child; it was rare to see someone so young and so quick-witted. Normally, he would never have the heart to kill such a beautiful young girl.
“I only just found out that your mother is the daughter of a wealthy man in the Suzhou and Hangzhou area. No wonder you behave differently from children from ordinary families.”
Xiao Man immediately realized that he had finally come to his senses that she wasn't the real mistress. Old Man Qian's words had probably aroused his suspicion, and he'd been sending people to investigate her these past few days. Tsk tsk, that damned Old Man Qian! He's already lecherous and annoying enough, but now he's trying to push her into a fire pit!
Neither of them spoke, and the shed fell into an eerie silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiaoman finally chuckled softly, "Is Godfather going to kill me to remove this disgrace?"
Old Sha said coldly, "Don't use those two words!"
He planned to stab her in the heart and give her a painless death.
Just as his fingers gripped the hilt of his sword, he heard the sound of footsteps on sand behind him. The camel caravan that had just left had returned. No matter how fierce he was, he couldn't kill in public, so he suppressed his anger and turned around, coldly saying, "Why are you back again?!"
A deep, gentle voice said, "Mr. Sha, Master Jin was worried that you might encounter danger on the road, so he sent me to pick you up."
Old Sha's expression changed instantly. He stared blankly as a pure white camel slowly crossed the sand dunes and arrived at the shed. Amidst the jingling of camel bells, a man wrapped in a black cloak dismounted from the camel and walked in.
He walked over to Xiaoman, sat down, removed his cloak, and looked down at her. Xiaoman felt a buzzing in her head and froze.
The sun outside was dazzling, but even a thousand more suns couldn't compare to the man's brilliance. He was only about twenty years old, with long hair tied up in a single lock like silk ribbons at the back of his head, the rest hanging down over his shoulders.
Xiaoman had never seen such a handsome and elegant man. His eyes were extremely dark, like a deep pool of water, and when he gazed at her quietly, there was not a ripple in them.
His gaze was cold, yet somehow it didn't make him unpleasant.
This is probably the type of noble young master or wealthy young man described in books. So noble, handsome, aloof, polite, and reserved... Xiaoman suddenly felt that she had been looking at him for too long, so she gently looked away.
Whoever this person was, they arrived just in time; any later and she would have inevitably perished in the desert.
The man looked at her for a while before saying, "This must be the young mistress of Cangya City. I am Tianquan from Bugui Mountain. Please forgive my rudeness, young mistress."
His manners were impeccable, yet he exuded a chilling aura. Sitting next to him, even the sweltering desert seemed less daunting.
Xiao Man remained noncommittal; her status as a mistress was fake, and it had just been exposed. She didn't answer, only letting out a snort through her nose.
Old Sha quickly smiled ingratiatingly and said, "How could it be that the young master has come to pick us up! This... we are not worthy of such an honor!"
Tianquan didn't answer. He stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said calmly, "Let's go. Master Jin is still waiting."
A small wax ball rolled into his palm. Old Sha's heart skipped a beat. Taking advantage of everyone's inattention, he crushed it with his fingers. Inside was a small piece of paper with a line of words written on it. He quickly read it, broke out in a cold sweat, and was overjoyed, shocked, and terrified. He was speechless for a long time.
Chapter 9 of the Horned Scroll: Leaving the Gate (Part 3)