Chapter Eighty-Seven

  With a loud crash, the door was kicked open by someone, and cold wind rushed in instantly. Qing Xia's eyebrows rose, and she immediately hugged Amu Ye beside her. The three brothers of Xudaleite jumped up from the fire pit, landing on the ground with a thud, staring intently at the person outside.

  Dozens of burly men suddenly burst in, the first one kicking a water vat at the entrance to pieces, and the freshly drawn well water flowed all over the floor, instantly forming small ice floes near the entrance.

  "What kind of people are you!" Xuda Lie jumped to the side of the small cabinet in the house, and with a swish, he drew out three cleavers and threw them to Ke Duo and Ban Bul, two brothers. He jumped in front of those people and shouted loudly.

  The big Han stared at Xudalai with his copper bell-like eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "Are you Xudalai? You owe us money, and now we've come to find you to get it back."

  Tuha is Xunda Lie's father, often drinking and gambling outside, owing debts and letting people come to their home to find his wife and children for accounts. Qing Xia has known them for a few days, and such things have happened many times. Xunda Lie's face was red, obviously holding back fire. The big man saw Xunda Lie's appearance, remembered his reputation, and wasn't so fierce anymore, took out a piece of paper from his pocket and said: "Debts must be repaid, Xunda Lie you're a man, won't deny the debt, right?"

  "The money he owes, go ask him for it! What's he doing coming to our house?" Bambol suddenly shouted, brandishing his big knife like an enraged tiger cub.

  Those people, upon hearing this, suddenly became furious and started making a loud noise. Mrs. Doyahua was flustered, this honest woman anxiously spun around in circles, wanting to hold back her sons but also really not willing to pay off that drunkard's debt again; in an instant, tears rushed out of her eyes.

  "What Bambur said is right, we won't be paying back this money." Xuda Lie said in a low voice, coldly staring at the group of big men opposite him, "If you want to settle accounts, go find the person who lent you the money. If you want to find me, then speak with my knife."

  As soon as the words fell, Ka Du suddenly let out a loud roar, his sturdy body like a small horse, ferociously staring at those uninvited guests.

  "What's going on, Aunt Doihana?" Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps erupted from outside. Aunt Doihana was always kind and generous, often sharing the spoils of Aketora's hunts with every household in the village, which is why she was well-liked by all. Upon hearing the commotion at her house, men, women, young, and old from each household rushed out to see what was happening. Seeing the group approaching with an air of menace, the villagers retreated back home to grab their cleavers before charging into Aunt Doihana's courtyard. In no time at all, they had surrounded the small yard, leaving no gaps in their defense.

  The thugs who came to collect debts saw the situation and knew they wouldn't get a good outcome today, not even daring to utter a harsh word before slinking away in defeat. The crowd dispersed in an instant, Qing Xia released Ah Mao's hand, and let out a long sigh of relief. It wasn't that she was afraid of these thugs, but rather didn't want them to disrupt this peaceful life.

  "It's okay, don't be afraid, I'm here." Xuda Lie suddenly leaned in, speaking with a smile, his pearly white teeth making his smile even more brilliant.

  Qing Xia said, "You be careful these next few days, if those guys don't accept defeat and come back for revenge, it'll be bad."

  "It's nothing," Xuda Lie said with a smile. "If they dare come again next time, I guarantee they won't be able to leave so easily."

  "Alright, alright, I've locked it." Bambur and Nakdo rushed back in a flurry, jumped onto the kang, and relocked the door. The room was soon filled with warmth again. With all this commotion, Qing Xia lost her appetite, ate just a few mouthfuls, saw that it had gotten dark outside, and got up to leave.

  Xu Da Lie insisted on sending her back, and Du Yihua's aunt also persisted. Qing Xia then left the door with Xu Da Lie together.

  The surrounding area of Hakuren County has many small villages like this, and Qing Xia lives in the snowy field next door. As long as you leave the pass, you can see it at a glance.

  The moon was white and big in the evening, Qing Xia and Xue Da Lie walked on the snowy ground with their horses, they had just eaten dinner and didn't want to sit on horseback, so Qing Xia suggested getting off to walk around, Xue Da Lie agreed with a smile.

  Two people walked and chatted, listening to Xudalei talk about his childhood experiences of going up the mountain to hunt. Suddenly, a white shadow flashed by in the distance. Xudalei's eyes were sharp, he quickly drew out the bow and arrow from his waist, took out an arrow, and was about to shoot at the white shadow.

  Qing Xia's hands moved swiftly and surely, grabbing hold of his hand in an instant. "Don't shoot!" she exclaimed urgently.

  Xuda Lie was stunned and before he could say anything, the white shadow had disappeared.

  "What's wrong, Xia Qing?"

  Qing Xia was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just thought you should let it go."

  A sudden sentence made Xuda Liet stunned, Qing Xia lowered her head and said softly: "In my early years, I also saw this snow fox. The locals said that this animal is spiritual and cannot be caught. At that time, I didn't believe it, and I insisted on catching one. Later, within three days, the little thing starved to death without eating. Not long after that, a major change occurred in my life, and I almost died, not to mention being far away from my hometown. Now seeing it, I always feel like it's revenge against me."

  "Earlier years?" Xuda Lie asked: "Xia Qing, have you been outside the pass before? When was that?"

  Qing Xia smiled and said in a soft voice, "Many things from before are already forgotten."

  Xuda Lie didn't know that apart from Guanwai, there were many other places with such small creatures. He didn't ask more questions and changed the subject, asking: "Xia Qing, are you really going to leave Guanwai?"

  "Let's see," Qing Xia said, walking beside Xuan Da Lie on the left side of the horse, looking at the road ahead. "Actually, I don't know where I can go either. If I can wait for my big brother, I probably won't stay in one place for long. Let's just wander around and see which place is good, like it there, and settle down, that's also fine."

  Xuda Lie continued to ask: "Isn't it bad outside the pass?"

  "Great," Qing Xia turned her head and smiled, "what's not good about it? This is the best place I've been to. There's you, Banbur, Nake Duo, Amu Ye, and Dui Hua's aunt's delicious hand-pulled noodles. There's no better place than this."

  "Why don't you stay?"

  "Stay behind?" The woman was slightly stunned, then smiled lightly and said: "This isn't my home after all."

  "Where is your home?"

  Qing Xia's smile suddenly became very faint, she raised her head, gazing far away at the distant and faint clouds, her voice carrying a hint of low and ethereal tone.

  "Actually, I don't know either." Qing Xia smiled slightly and said to Xudalie: "Xudalie, you are really lucky, having a warm home, such good younger siblings and mother. Although your father is not capable, he is still your father after all. If you can help him, then help him. Otherwise, if something happens in the future, you will regret it. Alright, I've arrived, don't see me off, hurry back."

  Xu Da Lie stopped in his tracks, watching Qing Xia's small figure lead the horse up the snowy slope step by step. His body seemed to freeze, unwilling to leave for a long time. Suddenly, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted loudly: "Qing Xia, are you coming to my house for New Year?"

  Qing Xia didn't turn around, just waved his hand and shouted loudly: "Let's talk about it again!"

  The sound floats and drifts in the cold air, with a long echo.

  Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Qing Xia was awakened by the cold. The fire in the brazier had gone out, and she shivered as she crawled out from under the woolen blanket. Her mouth felt very dry, and when she picked up the cup on the table, she saw that the water inside had frozen into ice. Shivering, she lit a new fire, boiled some water, ate a few bites of steamed bun that had gone soft, and then curled up in her bed, not wanting to go anywhere.

  The weather has been getting colder and colder recently, and she was lucky to have woken up in time. If the fire had gone out in such cold weather, many people would have frozen to death in their sleep. If she hadn't woken up earlier, by the time Yang Feng arrived, he might only find her corpse.

  Thinking of Yang Feng, Qing Xia couldn't help but sigh. As time passed, she felt more and more anxious in her heart, always feeling that something was wrong. She thought to herself that she couldn't wait any longer, and if he still didn't come after two more days, she would return to Nan Chu again. Just as she was thinking this, a sudden urgent horseshoe sound rang out. Qing Xia was extremely alert and quickly put on her clothes and boots. As soon as she opened the curtain, Bambur's body crashed into hers.

  "Bamboo, what's wrong?" The child was panting, seemingly having run all the way, with his thick cotton hat soaked in sweat. Qing Xia furrowed her brow and hastily asked: "What happened? Why are you so anxious?"

  "Jiema Agu," Bambur panted, hastily saying: "Xudale has been in the mountains for three days and hasn't come out yet. This morning, that group of rascals from Baiguan came again, bringing over 40 people. Seeing Xudale wasn't there, they robbed our family's cattle and sheep. They also wanted to rob Ke Duo's little red horse, but Ke Duo wouldn't give it to them, so they fought and he got hit with a stick. He still hasn't woken up yet. They also took away Amuye, saying that if we don't send her back by tonight, they'll kill her."

  "What?" Qing Xia was shocked and hastily asked: "What about the people in the village? Didn't anyone help you?"

  "They trampled on their plates before they came, yesterday the Mu Lian department came to fight against the autumn wind, and all the men in the village went to guard the north."

  Qing Xia furrowed his brow and said in a deep voice, "Let's go! First, let's take a look at Ke Duo."

  Just about to leave, suddenly turned back, went into the account room and extinguished the fire, and took all kinds of things such as daggers and hooks on his body.

  "Let's go." He flipped onto the horseback, and the two of them rode together on one horse, rushing towards the village at high speed.

  "Jiema Agu, over here."

  All the way down to the cellar with Bambur, Mrs. Doyi saw Qing Xia and burst into tears. This honest woman was frightened, guarding her son who had a head injury, she had no solution at all. Seeing Qing Xia was like seeing a lifesaver, holding her hand and not letting go.

  Finally, after much effort, the old lady was settled down. Qing Xia quickly and skillfully bandaged the wound on Nuo Duo's head. The wound wasn't big, just a cut through the scalp. But whether or not there was internal damage from a concussion wouldn't be known until he woke up. Qing Xia washed her hands in the basin filled with bloody water and said to Ban Bu'er: "You stay here and watch over Nuo Duo and your mother. I'll go to the county seat now to find Ah Mu Ye, then find someone to go into the mountains to look for Xuan Da Lie."

  "Jiema Ahgu!" Old Aunt Duo Hua's head finally cleared up, and she grabbed Qing Xia's hand in a hurry, saying: "Those people are very cruel, Jiema Ahgu is a delicate girl, she will be bullied."

  Qing Xia saw her worrying about herself at this time, and couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart. She smiled and comforted her, patting her hand, saying: "Don't worry, nothing will happen. I know the bearded men on the Han Da Yan, if it doesn't work out, I'll ask them for help. You can rest assured at home, I promise to bring A Mo back safely."

  Bamboo patted his mother's shoulder and said, "Mom, don't worry, Jema Agu is not an ordinary Han girl, she's a capable person."

  "May the gods of Sundah bless you, may the gods of Sundah bless you." Old Lady Doyi muttered to herself, and no longer stopped him.

  Qing Xia smiled and said to Ban Buluo: "I'm leaving, you be careful, take good care of Ama and Gege, no matter what happens outside, don't come out."

  "Alright," Bambol replied: "Jemah Agu, hurry back."

  Qing Xia nodded and walked out of the cellar, which was located in the stable. She scattered some wild grass on top of it, making it invisible again. After looking around cautiously, she climbed onto her only warhorse tied up nearby, mounted its back, and galloped towards the main road.

  The morning sunlight was dazzling, shining brightly on the snowy ground. The White Crane County was not big to begin with, and before long, they arrived at the county center. Bambur had already given her the address, and Qing Xia rode her horse swiftly towards the designated location.

  As they were about to arrive at the casino, a sea of people suddenly appeared in front of them, filling the entire street. Qing Xia furrowed her brow and looked over, seeing countless people gathered around something, seemingly watching some sort of commotion. However, their enthusiasm was causing chaos, blocking the only road and making it impossible to pass through. Qing Xia dismounted her horse and tied it to a crooked tree, attempting to squeeze through the crowd. But after finally reaching one end, she found that the small corridor entrance was completely blocked by an enormous luxurious carriage, not even allowing a fly to pass through.

  The reason why there are so many people here is that the problem lies in this place. In Hakuren County, there is a unique custom where locals, regardless of whether they come from the south or north, and regardless of whether they believe in Buddha or Yuanshi Tianzun, all convert to worshiping the god Xunda when they arrive. This so-called Xunda God has an origin story: it is said that he was born from the union of the White Tiger God of the North and a human woman. Later, when a great storm swept through the north, he ran into the eye of the storm and transformed into a stone mountain, blocking the storm's path and saving countless northern villagers. As a reward for his good deeds, this half-human, half-beast became a god after death, eternally protecting the people of his hometown. He is indeed a god with a strong sense of dedication. To commemorate him, later generations set up a statue in Hakuren County, the first county outside the pass, and moved a massive boulder to the middle of the road, carving out a large tunnel for people to walk through. Qing Xia thought that they might have wanted everyone to experience what it's like to block a storm with their bodies. However, under normal circumstances, there wouldn't be any issues, but today, when this huge horse carriage stopped here, it completely blocked the entire road, making it impossible to pass through.

  Qing Xia's brow furrowed, and he looked around, but didn't see the owner nearby. Just as he was about to reach out and pull the carriage away, a clear and crisp voice suddenly rang out, standing out amidst the din of noise.

  "Old fellow, you can't say it that way."

  A young man stood in the center of the crowd, dressed in brocade and wearing a jade belt and a python robe, surrounded by an aura of fragrance, wearing deerskin boots on his feet, and a snow-leopard fur hat on his head. His hands were tucked into a silver fox fur muffler, and his pair of phoenix eyes lazily gazed at the old man kneeling in front of him, wailing loudly, with a smile like a fox.