Chapter 259: with translation of chapter title

Huh, what is this?

Tuan Tuan picked up that thing and the small ball that had split in half.

She walked back to the table, handed the clump to Xiao Ningxun, pursed her lips, and looked at her own small ball with heartache, clutching it in her little hand, thinking only of restoring the ball to its original state.

Xiao Ningxun carefully unfolded that thing bit by bit.

It turned out to be a square foot of thin silk, on which extremely fine ink lines depicted mountains and rivers.

In the upper right corner of the silk was a neat line of small characters: 'Act when the time is right.' Beside it was a red seal, but the ink was blurred and hard to read.

Xiao Ran leaned in, eyes wide: 'What is this?'

Lu Qi examined it carefully for a moment: 'This material resembles the "ice silkworm silk" commonly used in the previous dynasty, waterproof and fireproof. Looking at the terrain drawn here, it seems something is hidden here.'

He pointed his finger at a valley marked with a special symbol on the map: 'Xuan Elder, take a look—where does this depict?'

He handed the ice silkworm silk to Xuan Fu Weng.

Xuan Fu Weng took it, glanced once, and said: 'This place is thirty li west of Black Wind Gully, at "Falling Eagle Ravine"! That spot is even more remote than Black Wind Gully!'

Xiao Ran's eyes shone amazingly, his face full of excitement: 'Could this be the treasure map often mentioned in those storybooks? Little Tuan Tuan's luck is truly heaven-defying—she even found this while fleeing for her life!'

After saying that, he vigorously ruffled the little tuft of hair on Tuan Tuan's head: 'Want Ninth Brother to take you treasure hunting?'

Tuan Tuan pouted her little mouth, still trying to press the two halves of the ball together: 'It's broken, it won't go back together—what should I do…'

Everyone looked at her earnestly worried little expression and couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Ningxun put the Treasure Map away in his bosom: 'Let's set this aside for now. The priority is still to rescue Chief Xie. No matter how dangerous Black Wind Gully is, we must go through it.'

Xuan Fu Weng's expression turned solemn as he clasped his fists: 'Thank you all. If you can rescue the Lone Boat, my promise will certainly be kept.'

Lu Qi returned the salute: 'Seniors, you're too kind. We'll take our leave now—we need to go back to get the carriage first, then head to Black Wind Gully.'

Xuan Fu Weng smiled slightly: 'The carriage can't go up that road; we'll need to ride horses.'

Lu Qi nodded: 'Then let's go buy horses first.'

Xuan Fu Weng shook his head, turned his wheelchair to the window, and pushed it open.

He slightly raised his head, narrowed his eyes, took out an antiquated bone short whistle, and brought it to his lips.

He gently exerted force, and a few melodious, clear cries, resembling the calls of desert sandgrouse beyond the frontier, flowed from his lips; the sound wasn't loud but had great penetrating power.

'Birdie?' Tuan Tuan put down the ball, pattered over to his side, clung to the windowsill and looked up at the sky: 'Grandpa, are you calling your pet bird?'

Xuan Fu Weng rubbed her little head: 'Not a bird. Tuan Tuan likes little birds; when you come back, Grandpa will give you two fine ones!'

The others also wore puzzled expressions.

After a moment, similar bird calls faintly came from several directions, with slightly different tones.

Xuan Fu Weng closed his eyes to listen carefully, his fingers lightly tapping the wheelchair's armrest.

Immediately, he blew the bone whistle again; this time the tune was shorter and more urgent than before.

Not long after the whistle faded, only the southeast direction returned a clear, steady response.

Xuan Fu Weng opened his eyes, put away the bone whistle, turned his wheelchair to face everyone: 'Go on, head southeast, pass two intersections, and look for a shop called Liuxiang Pavilion.'

'Horses, dry rations, and fresh water have all been prepared. When you get there, just mention my name.'

Everyone's hearts were shaken.

Lu Qi clasped his fists and said sincerely: 'The Western Ridge Horse Brigade lives up to its reputation; I admire it.'

Xuan Fu Weng waved his hand: 'Hurry up—saving the Lone Boat is urgent.'

Tuan Tuan lifted her head to look at him: 'Grandpa, aren't you coming with us? You can't go back home—what if those villains come bully you again?'

Xuan Fu Weng felt warm inside, holding her little hand: 'Good Tuan Tuan, you still think of Grandpa. Don't worry—I have plenty of places to go; you hurry off, be sure to come back safe, little one.'

He paused, still uneasy: 'Let Tuan Tuan stay with me—she's too young. You go on; I have a secure hiding place and won't let her face danger.'

Xiao Ningxun nodded secretly; although Xuan Fu Weng was deep‑schemed, he was a man of feeling.

He clasped his hands and said: 'Thank you for your kindness, Elder Xuan. Before leaving, my father specifically instructed me not to be separated from Tuan Tuan. Moreover, my little sister's abilities are beyond mine; please rest assured.'

Tuan Tuan opened her little arms and hugged Xuan Fu Weng: 'Grandpa, I'm going with the brothers—don't worry! Your whistle is so cute; let me play with it when I return! I'm off!'

Xuan Fu Weng startled, took out that bone whistle and placed it in her hand: 'Since Tuan Tuan likes it, Grandpa will give it to you—come back soon to see me!'

Tuan Tuan delighted beyond expectation: 'Thank you, Grandpa! I'm off!'

The group no longer lingered, quickly left the teahouse, and headed southeast.

After passing two intersections, sure enough, a shop with an elegant façade appeared before them, its black background with gold characters reading 'Liuxiang Pavilion'.

The gate stood open, wafting a light, sweet floral scent.

Xiao Ran stared hard at the three big characters of Liuxiang Pavilion, pointed at them, and said: 'Is this it? Didn't we get it wrong?'

Xiao Ningxun also looked hesitant: 'It looks like a place patronized by women—is this really the horse brigade's shop?'

Xiao Er and Lu Qi exchanged a glance, both equally puzzled.

Horse brigade… women—those two don't go together at all!

Tuan Tuan sniffed: 'Smells nice!'

She took Xiao Ningxun's hand and walked inside: 'Come on, Third Brother—Grandpa didn't say just mentioning his name would do? Let's go in and ask; then we'll know.'

Xiao Ningxun smiled: 'Exactly! It's got to be our Tuan Tuan—always hits the nail on the head.'

He led his sister into the shop.

Inside, the lighting was soft; various rouges and powders were neatly displayed, with several female customers browsing.

It turned out to be a rouge shop!

A shopkeeper's wife in plain attire came forward, her smile gentle: 'Welcome, guests—what would you like to look at?'

Lu Qi stepped forward a bit and said softly: 'Madam Boss, Xuan Fu Weng sent us to fetch something.'

The shopkeeper's wife's smile didn't change at all; she gave a slight nod: 'Please follow me.'

She led the group through the front hall to the rear courtyard.

Under the tree in the courtyard stood four tall, divine black horses, fully equipped, with bulging water bags and dry rations hanging beside their saddles—everything was indeed ready.

"They are fine horses—swift of foot, steady of temperament, and they know the way." The shopkeeper's wife said softly, "Go out the rear gate and you'll find the lane that leads straight to the north gate. Gentlemen, may you have a smooth journey."

Without any extra pleasantries or questions, the shopkeeper's wife turned and left.

Xiao Ningxun mounted his horse, holding Tuan Tuan firmly in front of him.

Tuan Tuan twisted her small body, glanced back, and shouted crisply at the shopkeeper's wife's retreating figure: "Auntie! Your incense smells wonderful! When I return, I'll buy some for Mother!"

The shopkeeper's wife felt a stir in her heart, stopped her steps, turned back, and said, "This journey is dangerous; if you encounter a fork, remember to keep to the right." Having spoken, she turned and left.

Everyone glanced at one another.

Xiao Ran scratched his head, looking puzzled: "Who is that again? His words make no sense."

Xiao Ningxun shook his head and shouted, "Giddyap!"

The party went out the rear gate, passed through the lane, bolted out the north gate, and headed straight for Black Wind Gully.

The group rode hard, and finally, before evening, they arrived before a vast mountain hollow.

"Whoa—!" Xiao Ningxun pulled his horse to a halt.

They lined up side by side, looked up, and saw that the mountain hollow had a peculiar shape, as if split open by a giant axe, with steep cliffs on both sides and jagged rocks scattered about.

Yet this scene was utterly different from the dangerous, eerie landscape they had imagined.

As the sun set westward, its golden afterglow poured unreservedly into the hollow, blanketing the exposed rocks in a warm orange hue.

Within the hollow, pines and cypresses abounded, dotting the bluish-yellow mountainside; an unfrozen stream wound its way through, murmuring softly.

Even by the water's edge grew several clumps of dark‑red berries that defied the cold, glittering like gemstones in the sunset.

Tuan Tuan poked her little head out from Xiao Ningxun's embrace, looked around, and said, "Grandpa was trying to scare us! This place is clearly beautiful!"

Xiao Ran gazed at the lovely view and smiled: "Exactly—though it's just wilderness, it's truly not bad."

This tranquil, harmonious valley eased the tense expressions of Xiao Er and Lu Qi considerably.

"Don't be careless." Xiao Ningxun glanced at the sky and said, "It's getting late; we should first find a safe place to rest."

They followed the stream upstream; the mountain wind rose, blowing through the pines and emitting a wailing sound that added a chill.

They dared not linger, quickened their pace, and before darkness fell completely, they found a natural rock cavern beneath a cliff.

The cavern's mouth was small, but inside it was quite spacious, with large swaths of dead vines hanging down at the entrance, forming a natural screen.

Lu Qi and Xiao Er swiftly inspected the cavern inside and out, confirming there were no signs of beasts dwelling there.

They led the horses to a sheltered spot and tied them up.

Soon, the last sliver of the sunset's afterglow sank into the mountain ridge, and night spread like ink dropped in water, quickly engulfing everything.

Xiao Er gathered some dry pine branches and lit a bonfire deep inside the cavern.

The leaping firelight dispelled the darkness and chill, and the crude cavern quickly gained a hint of homely comfort.

They ate some dry rations with plain water, and the fatigue of a day's travel soon overtook them.

Xiao Ningxun wrapped Tuan Tuan snugly and let her lean against his chest.

Tuan Tuan's little head nodded, and she soon fell into a deep sleep in her brother's warm embrace.

Xiao Ran huddled close to them for warmth, and before long he too could not stay awake and fell asleep.

Xiao Er and Lu Qi took turns keeping watch.

The moon rose high in the sky.

"Owoo—!"

One after another, shrill, long wails suddenly echoed from deep within the hollow!