Chapter 114: The Mountain Summit

Yang Yaozong knew that the Turks revered the wolf totem; even the two Khans of the East and West Turkic tribes dared not call themselves Wolf Kings. Yet this girl, barely fifteen or sixteen, boldly proclaimed herself the Wolf King. He looked at Ayi with a sour expression and said, “Wolf King? I’d say you’re more like a lamb—one that’s caught the attention of a wolf pack.”

Ayi snorted defiantly. “Not interested in arguing with you!” She then climbed onto the bed and muttered a string of Turkic words at Yang Yaozong.

Yang Yaozong raised an eyebrow. “Hey! Don’t bully me like that! What did you just say?”

Ayi let out a coquettish hum, then burst into a soft giggle, her eyes curving with charm as her blue gaze locked on Yang Yaozong. “None of your business.”

Yang Yaozong pouted but couldn’t help smiling. Quarreling with this Turkic girl was far more enjoyable than their usual awkward exchanges.

Ayi smiled warmly. “They say, 'Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.' Yang Guo, how about after you study in the capital, you come with me for a tour of the Turkic lands?”

Yang Yaozong shook his head with a teasing smile. “Our Great Zhou is vast and rich in culture. I could spend a lifetime studying here and never finish. Why would I want to go to Turkic lands?”

Ayi glared at him angrily, “You! Hmph!” With that, she turned away and ignored him.

Yang Yaozong sighed wryly. “You’re thinking too far ahead. We’re still locked up here. What we need to worry about now is how to escape.”

They sat at the table, eating a simple breakfast of pickled vegetables, thin porridge, and coarse corn bread. Though humble, the meal was delicious to them after their long journey of scarce food.

Just as they were finishing, Liao Qiniang entered the room.

Yang Yaozong noticed that today she wore a lightweight red dress, the sleeves cinched at the wrists, a black sash dividing the dress into two fitting sections that accentuated her slender, tall figure. Through the side slit, tight black trousers revealed her long, straight legs. Seeing her composed demeanor, Yang Yaozong guessed she had come to train Hei Yao to recognize her as master. He casually asked, “Have you eaten? Want to sit and eat some breakfast?”

Ayi behaved like a dutiful little wife, smiling at Liao Qiniang, then at Yang Yaozong, before continuing to chew slowly and savor her food.

Liao Qiniang frowned slightly, thinking to herself, does this man really treat this place like home? Her tone grew cold. “When you finish eating, come out. We’re going to train the horses.”

Yang Yaozong quickly drank his porridge and urged Ayi, “Hurry up and finish. Come with me to help the head of the family train the horses.”

Liao Qiniang glanced at Ayi and back to Yang Yaozong. “She doesn’t need to go. Don’t worry, as long as you obey, she’s safe here.”

Ayi lifted her head and smiled brightly at Yang Yaozong. “Go ahead. I trust the head of the family keeps their word.”

Liao Qiniang narrowed her eyes, studying Ayi intently. This foreign girl had been calm and composed all along the journey. Was it her nature, or did the man beside her give her courage? Turning to Yang Yaozong, she said, “Let’s go.” Then she left the room.

Yang Yaozong followed Liao Qiniang to a wide, flat meadow. Ahead lay a sheer cliff, beyond which a waterfall cascaded down the mountainside into the ravine below. Hei Yao was grazing there, lowering his head to nibble the grass. When he saw Yang Yaozong, he trotted over and rubbed affectionately against him.

Liao Qiniang looked on with envy but inwardly lamented that such a fine horse had fallen to an unworthy master. Still, seeing the harmony between man and steed warmed her heart.

She stared at the pair for a moment before asking, “What’s the horse’s name?”

Without turning, Yang Yaozong stroked Hei Yao’s mane. “Hei Yao.”

Liao Qiniang murmured the name, unfamiliar with its meaning. She shyly asked, “What does it mean?”

Yang Yaozong looked back at her, then returned his gaze to Hei Yao, caressing him fondly. “Hei means black, his color. Yao means radiant sunlight. Sun, moon, and stars can be called Yao. Flags flutter, blades clash, shining brightly, illuminating fields and waters.”

Liao Qiniang deliberately avoided Yang Yaozong’s gaze but turned back to him and Hei Yao when he spoke of sunlight and celestial bodies, flags and blades with such enthusiasm. Frowning, she said, “So it just means ‘very powerful,’ huh?”

Yang Yaozong raised an eyebrow, then frowned slightly. “Yeah, you could say that. Very powerful.”

Liao Qiniang scoffed. “Scholars are always so verbose. One sentence would do, but they have to go roundabout. Still, that’s a good name; it suits this fine horse.”

Yang Yaozong chuckled awkwardly. Suddenly, he heard children playing atop the mountain. He looked up but saw nothing, then turned to Liao Qiniang. “Are there people on the peak?”

Liao Qiniang glanced at him coldly and ignored the question.

Yang Yaozong thought to himself, this woman’s mood changes faster than flipping a book. He recalled hearing from a man on the boat that Liao Qiniang’s stronghold was at Baodu Cliff. In his previous life, he had visited Baodu Cliff but never reached its peak. He knew it was named after an old man who, unable to bear the heavy taxes imposed by officials, decided to spend his remaining days atop the steep Lou Mountain, carrying a calf with him. The man cleared the land and lived harshly until a celestial being enlightened him and he ascended to immortality. Hence the place was called Baodu Cliff.

He remembered a poem about Baodu Cliff and recited softly while gazing at the summit: “Far away, the mountain holds good fields, tilling rain, clouds, sun, and moon alike. How I wish for a long ladder to climb up and carry the calf, with no taxmen to chase me to the edge of the sky.”

The poem was simple and clear. Liao Qiniang was stunned, staring at Yang Yaozong in disbelief. She wanted to ask if he had been here before but thought it unlikely, so she changed her question. “What’s your name?”

Yang Yaozong was amused that the head of the family only now asked his name. The title “head of the family” stirred a playful thought in him. Smiling, he said, “My name is Yang Zirong.”

Liao Qiniang repeated quietly, “Yang Zirong?”

Yang Yaozong remembered Ayi was also on the mountain and knew him as Yang Guo. Not wanting to upset the volatile Liao Qiniang over a name, he laughed and said, “I’m just teasing you.”

Liao Qiniang frowned and stared coldly. “Teasing me?”

Yang Yaozong cleared his throat. “My name is Yang Guo.”

Liao Qiniang fixed him with a sharp gaze. “Then what is your real name? Who is this Yang Zirong? I only asked your name; why lie to me?”

Seeing that she was genuinely angry, Yang Yaozong smiled sheepishly and calmly said, “He’s my brother.” Hastily changing the subject, he began mimicking gestures and saying, “Have you heard of ‘The Heavenly King covers the earth tiger! The pagoda subdues the river demon!’ Ma ha? Ma ha? Speaking at noon, no one’s home! Why so red? Full of spirit! Why yellow now? Wax to keep the cold away!”

Liao Qiniang frowned, watching his gesturing and acting coldly. “Never heard of it.” She recognized it as some sort of underworld jargon and recalled a secret phrase Yang Yaozong had mentioned before. She asked, “Where did you hear these?”

Yang Yaozong couldn’t explain it was from a past life, so he said casually, “Heard it in the borderlands.”

Liao Qiniang scrutinized him intently.

Feeling uneasy under her gaze, Yang Yaozong cleared his throat. “Want to try riding Hei Yao?”

Though still suspicious, Liao Qiniang saw he didn’t wish to say more and muttered to herself, “Yang Zirong? The borderlands?” She resolved that his affairs were none of hers. Once the horse was trained, she’d let him go. They probably wouldn’t meet again. Then she stepped toward Hei Yao.

Yang Yaozong reached out to touch Hei Yao. The horse tried to shy away but was calmed by his soothing strokes. Reluctantly, Hei Yao allowed Liao Qiniang to stroke his mane and body.

Yang Yaozong knew from Hei Yao’s attachment that once the horse accepted him as master, it would not obey anyone else. Hoping to please Liao Qiniang and perhaps glean some information for escape, he noted her smile and Hei Yao’s calmness. “Mount up!”

Liao Qiniang grabbed the saddle and lightly leapt onto Hei Yao’s back. The horse grew restless. Yang Yaozong quickly calmed him. Seeing Liao Qiniang flushed and glaring at him, he hurriedly explained, “I was telling Hei Yao to be good. Don’t misunderstand.”

Liao Qiniang communicated with Hei Yao through body language for a while, then dismounted, clearly pleased. She smiled at Yang Yaozong. “I’m going to the mountain peak. Do you want to come?”

Yang Yaozong thought the main purpose was to survey Baodu Cliff’s terrain, so he nodded eagerly. “Let’s go!”

Liao Qiniang and Lao Wu, nicknamed Simple Bear, carried several large bags. Leading Yang Yaozong out of the stronghold, they headed up the mountain. There was no path, and the climb was steep and difficult. Liao Qiniang tied two large sacks to her back and led the way; Yang Yaozong followed lightly behind, while Simple Bear, burdened with several heavy bags, brought up the rear. Before leaving, Liao Qiniang introduced Yang Yaozong and Simple Bear. Yang Yaozong called him Brother Bear. Simple Bear looked down on the frail scholar but, out of respect for Liao Qiniang, merely snorted disdainfully.

Seeing himself the only one climbing lightly, Yang Yaozong said, “Head of the family, why don’t you give me one of those bags to carry?”

Liao Qiniang ignored him, but Simple Bear interjected, “The head of the family’s bags contain flour and rice, weighing nearly four hundred jin. Can you, a scholar, carry that much? Don’t make things worse. If you get hurt, we’ll have to carry you up too.”

Yang Yaozong was surprised Liao Qiniang could carry such heavy loads uphill but noticed she sometimes wiped sweat from her brow. Though skilled, she wasn’t as formidable as Jing Yijun, who could carry him through the mountains without breaking a sweat. Still, she was stronger than he was.

Yang Yaozong chuckled awkwardly. “Brother Bear, let me help you with some of those bags. You’re carrying so many.”

Simple Bear liked Yang Yaozong’s sincerity but wanted to see if the scholar was truly incapable. He laughed, “Alright, I’ll give you one. Don’t try to be a hero if you can’t handle it.” He handed over an unknown heavy bag.

The moment the bag was on Yang Yaozong’s back, he felt it weighed at least one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty jin. Fortunately, it was within his capacity.

Liao Qiniang frowned and glanced back at Yang Yaozong. She was curious about this Yang Guo. He was called a scholar, yet there was a roughness to him, a personality that hardly fit the image of a bookworm.

Simple Bear saw Yang Yaozong following steadily with the heavy bag and thought better of him. “If you get tired, just say so.”

Yang Yaozong found Simple Bear honest and cheerful, so they chatted as they climbed.

“What’s in your bag, Brother Bear?”

“Wild game from the mountains. The things I carry are all daily necessities.”

“Do you always have to lug all this stuff up to the peak?”

“What choice do we have? The path is steep and blocked by dense forest. We can’t use ropes easily. Even if we could, the ropes wouldn’t last long hauling loads up nearly a hundred-meter cliff.”

“What if it rains or snows? That steep path must be even harder.”

“We still go up. It’s dangerous but better than letting people starve.”

“How many people live on the peak?”

“About a hundred. You’ll see once we get there.”

They talked back and forth, while Liao Qiniang remained silent.

The climb grew ever steeper near the summit. Yang Yaozong and Simple Bear fell silent, focusing on each step to avoid falling. Liao Qiniang occasionally glanced back and helped Yang Yaozong over difficult spots. Yang Yaozong did the same for Simple Bear at the rear.

At last, the three reached the summit and moved a short distance inward before setting down their heavy loads.

Yang Yaozong saw about thirty houses clustered at the summit’s center, surrounded by cultivated fields growing vegetables and greens. Women and elders worked in the fields, while children played nearby. Upon seeing Liao Qiniang, a dozen women hurried toward them, followed by thirty children.

The women greeted Liao Qiniang, Simple Bear, and Yang Yaozong warmly, then scrutinized Yang Yaozong closely before helping carry the bags toward the center. The children surrounded Liao Qiniang, calling her aunt, sister, or auntie, pulling her toward the center with affection. Some children ran to Simple Bear, while several clustered around Yang Yaozong, their curious chatter buzzing like bees.

“Why have I never seen you before?”

“Who are you?”

“What’s your name?”

Yang Yaozong felt overwhelmed, encircled by a swarm of inquisitive little bees.