Chapter 46: Nanshan

After arriving at Nanshan, Chu Danqing sent the coachman back.

There was no point staying here; Nanshan was not small, and he had already gathered the relevant information.

Nanshan was purely an undeveloped deep mountain; aside from a temple atop the peak named Nanshan Temple, only hunters and herbalists ever came up the mountain.

Thus, tigers, leopards, jackals, wolves, venomous snakes, and other ferocious beasts were abundant; apart from the path leading to Nanshan Temple, few people walked elsewhere.

Chu Danqing did not know when he would descend, so he told the coachman not to wait—he wasn’t without legs and could make his way back just fine.

His Body Quality 6 made climbing the mountain effortless; he even had the leisure to admire the scenery.

In ancient times, not everything was inferior to the modern age—environment, air quality, and so on were indeed far better than the steel metropolis where Chu Danqing lived.

“Person.” After climbing for about an hour, Da Bao suddenly pointed at a pile of snow ahead.

“Ambush?” Chu Danqing immediately went on alert—who would hide under snow unless they meant to rob passersby?

But Da Bao shook his head: “Passed out. Drag him out?”

“Drag.” Chu Danqing heard this and realized something might truly be wrong.

He was not the type to ignore someone in distress.

Da Bao quickly dragged out a man—a youth around twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in thick, expensive clothing.

Otherwise, he would have frozen to death on the roadside in this bitter winter.

He gave a quick check and found no obvious injuries, then poured a little hot water into the man’s mouth.

Chu Danqing was not a medical professional and had very limited first-aid skills.

As for using recovery consumables, the man didn’t look like he was dying—no need to be so extravagant yet.

After drinking half a bowl of hot water, the man slowly came to.

“Thank you, sir, for your help,” the man said upon waking.

“No need for thanks,” Chu Danqing helped him sit up. “How did you end up unconscious in the snow?”

“It’s a long story,” the man replied, offering a bitter smile. “My name is Guo Ming. I came to Yangxian County on business.”

“I heard Nanshan Temple is highly efficacious, so I brought my servant up to pay a visit. But a sudden cold wind blew, and I slipped and fell.”

“I passed out rolling down the cliff, and my servant vanished somewhere.”

Guo Ming tightened his clothes, trying to warm himself.

“Ah, this…” Chu Danqing examined Guo Ming’s clothing—clearly signs of a tumble, with multiple injuries.

“What now? What are you planning to do?” Chu Danqing asked.

He could carry him down the mountain, but the base of Nanshan was still far from Yangxian County—he wouldn’t truly escort him back to town for treatment.

Chu Danqing still had to eliminate the Zhuanji Tiger.

“Nanshan Temple is not far from here. Please, sir, escort me there for treatment.”

“The monks there surely have medicated pills, ointments, and wine for bruises and trauma,” Guo Ming knew well—the path to Nanshan Temple was shorter than the route into Yangxian County.

Chu Danqing agreed, but then remembered a question: “Where is your servant?”

“Even if you rolled down the mountain, your servant should have chased after you.”

At these words, Guo Ming also realized it, looking around: “I truly didn’t know—maybe they didn’t see me?”

At this, Guo Ming realized the inconsistency and looked around: “I truly don’t know—perhaps he didn’t see me?”

“Impossible,” Chu Danqing dismissed this outright. “With injuries like yours, you couldn’t have rolled far.”

He studied him closely: “Otherwise, you’d already be dead.”

As he spoke, he cast a Scan Technique.

The man’s words contained contradictions.

Data appeared—mere ordinary human stats.

Chu Danqing relaxed; he had feared the Zhuanji Tiger had disguised itself.

“My servant is a household-born slave, raised in my home since childhood, utterly loyal.”

Chu Danqing did not argue further, but said: “Then let’s head up the mountain first—how could such a large living person just vanish?”

“Besides, he knows no one here—where could he possibly run?” Guo Ming explained earnestly; he still trusted his servant.

Chu Danqing did not argue further. “Then let’s go up the mountain. A grown man can’t just vanish.”

Guo Ming wanted to search, but his injuries left him too weak.

He could only say: “As you wish, sir.”

With that, Da Bao supported Guo Ming, and the three began ascending together.

Along the way, Chu Danqing and Guo Ming chatted casually, each probing the other’s purpose.

“You’re a retainer of the Lu family? Truly impressive,” Guo Ming said upon learning Chu Danqing’s identity, his tone turning solemnly respectful.

“You know the Lu family?” Chu Danqing was slightly surprised—he’d assumed the Lu family was only known in Yangxian.

“How could I not? Though the Lu family now dwells in obscurity, their ancestors were…” Guo Ming recited the Lu family’s former glory with ease.

“So the Lu family has such a distinguished past,” Chu Danqing followed up, then asked casually: “What brings you to Yangxian County?”

He wasn’t prying deliberately—he simply had nothing else to talk about.

“To be honest, I’ve been here before,” Guo Ming smiled. “I’m visiting an old friend.”

“Years ago, I wandered here and accidentally met a hunter named Liu Wu.”

“I meant to visit Liu Wu, but I grew restless and decided to see the snow scenery at Nanshan Temple first.”

“Forgive my partial truth, sir,” Guo Ming bowed slightly.

Chu Danqing didn’t mind; the explanation made sense.

“Your tastes are unusual—climbing a mountain in winter,” Chu Danqing said dryly. If he were just an ordinary man, not a Dimensional Adept, he’d be snug in bed on a day like this.

Snow had become a disaster—only those of high status could afford such leisure.

“The snowstorm’s getting worse,” Da Bao suddenly said.

Chu Danqing halted his steps; Da Bao’s remark made him notice the snowstorm was far heavier than when he’d been at the mountain’s base.

It had increased gradually, so subtly he’d missed it—especially while chatting with Guo Ming.

He wasn’t cold—the white wool robe and silver-scaled cloud-silk winter coat kept him perfectly warm.

Guo Ming’s clothes were thick too, but his injuries slowed his climbing.

“About two or three li north of here is a small hut built by Liu Wu—we can take shelter there,” Guo Ming suggested.

People who foraged in the mountains often built small huts for supplies and refuge; Liu Wu, as a hunter, had more than one.

[68] Guo Ming had stayed in one before and knew its approximate location.

[69] (End of Chapter)