Chapter 36: Xia Xianze

"Outside Hangzhou City in the Great Ming Dynasty."

"There was some kind of gas in the carriage, so I was hallucinating?"

"Brother, your mind really goes places."

"Then what exactly is going on!?"

"You've arrived in the Great Ming Dynasty. That's right, the very Great Ming Dynasty you know of."

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Ah, I knew you wouldn't believe it. How about this: see that ladder against the wall over there? Go up to the wall top first and take a look at the ancient city. Here, take these binoculars. No rush, look slowly, and come down once you've seen clearly. We'll talk then."

Watching Xia Beggar climb the ladder, turning back at every step, Cao Chuan shook his head with a smile and began moving cardboard boxes out of the "Space Station."

The backyard at this moment was very strange: the beggar on the wall top looked around through binoculars, while Cao Chuan, sleeves rolled up, was working. Neither spoke; both were very focused.

Only after Cao Chuan had moved all the boxes into the old house, then brought out two chairs from inside, sat down, and waited for a long time did the beggar, appearing outwardly calm, climb down from the ladder step by step.

In the weed-choked back garden, two men sat on chairs, eyes meeting, silent and wordless.

"Speak. What's the story?"

"That's a bit of a long story." Cao Chuan sighed and slowly extended his left hand, opening his palm: "See this ring?"

An hour later, Cao Chuan had finally recounted everything that had happened since he obtained the ring in full detail. After speaking, he felt his heart and mind greatly relieved — at last, someone to share the secret with! It hadn't been easy!

Xia Beggar had remained completely silent the entire time. Only after hearing him out did he keep blinking his eyes. A long while passed before he digested this unbelievable information. Then he stared straight at Cao Chuan: "I want to go take a look inside this Hangzhou City you speak of."

Cao Chuan was stunned: "So you still don't believe it, old sir? Fine, fine, fine. Let's set out right now. But before we go, we need to change your look. Going out in a Western suit will draw a crowd. I also need to make up a background story for you on the spot. Don't say anything for now; just follow my lead."

The beggar nodded: "I won't speak. Just make the arrangements."

Hearing this, Cao Chuan stood up. Right in front of the beggar, he waved his hand and stored the "Space Station" into the ring, casting a provocative glance at him. Under the latter's suddenly widening gaze, he led him into the side room.

"Change clothes first. Good thing I bought a few extra sets this time. And your hair, neither long nor short — needs a hat to go with it." Cao Chuan said as he rummaged through the boxes he had brought.

The back garden gate of Tangzhuang, shut for many days, slowly opened with a creaking sound. Daoist Cao, swaying with every step, walked out of the back residence together with Xia Beggar.

Next came a loud, drawn-out shout: "Any living souls around!"

The next moment, seven or eight people came swarming out of the nearby courtyards, some still putting on clothes as they ran. Chu Jianli, however, was fully dressed and greeted them from afar: "Sir, you've finally come out of seclusion! Brothers... hm? And this is?" He had reached them before finishing his sentence. Seeing Xia Beggar in a green robe and soft cap, he couldn't help but stop talking and looked toward Cao Chuan.

Cao Chuan laughed heartily: "This is Mr. Xia, also from West Kunlun. He came down the mountain recently for leisure and, learning I was training here, came specially to catch up. Mr. Xia is a close friend of mine. None of you must slight him in the future."

The group from Pingfeng Stronghold was somewhat dumbfounded upon hearing this: This immortal has only just descended to the mortal world, and already relatives and friends are seeking him out?

Without giving them time to ponder further, Cao Chuan quickly waved a hand: "Is the boat the Liu Family sent still here? Third Lord, accompany me on a trip into the city first. We'll discuss other matters on the way."

Hearing this, Chu Jianli hastily ordered two men to row the boat. The group went out and boarded the black-canopied boat moored in the river fork. Oars and sweeps were set into motion, and they traveled upstream, slowly heading toward Hangzhou City.

Xia Beggar simply sat looking out the window the entire journey. In his ears were the fantastical conversations between Cao Chuan and Chu San; before his eyes was the ancient city of Hangzhou drawing ever closer. Only when the black-canopied boat entered Qingchun Water Gate, winding and twisting its way into the East Canal, and the group moored and disembarked at Taiping Bridge — only when the beggar saw the dense mass of waiting grain barges beneath the bridge did his expression finally become animated.

After going ashore, the group walked just a few steps through a narrow alley and turned onto Imperial Street. It was the bustling late-morning market time, with an endless stream of merchants and commoners of all kinds.

The group slowly made their way along the Qinghe, Taiping, and Xiuyi wards. Along the way, buildings stood row upon row. Tea houses, wine shops, meat shops, and street peddlers hawked their wares loudly. Cloth shops were piled high with silks and satins. Curio shops were filled with jewels and spices. Medical clinics, cartage firms, temples, physiognomists and fortune-tellers, face-shaving and ear-picking — all manner of trades gathered here, a scene of a prosperous capital in a golden age.

Xia Beggar accompanied Chu San and the others as they bought vegetables by the basketful and pigs by the head. He also accompanied Cao Chuan as he flaunted his wealth in a secondhand goods shop — from the sleeve of a certain Daoist's robe, silver ingots came rolling out. He opened his mouth and immediately ordered three sets of redwood furniture, insisting even the nightstool be made of huanghuali wood. The secondhand shop's shopkeeper was momentarily awestruck, hastily ordering his assistants to go hire a boat while he personally served tea to the guests.

By afternoon, after the group had eaten a banquet of eight cold and eight hot dishes at a restaurant and emerged, Xia Beggar's expression had settled considerably. He seemed to have thought things through, no longer wearing that ghastly look of utter despair from before. Not long after, when he stood at the head of Mayi Bridge and gazed for a moment at the several skeletal, starved corpses beneath the bridge, he finally spoke his first words to Cao Chuan since they had set out: "Let's go back."

Early the next morning, when Cao Chuan came out of the main house yawning, he was surprised to find that the beggar brother, who had ducked into the side room the previous day upon returning and declared he needed to be alone to calm down, was now sitting at the doorway in a Western suit and leather shoes, full of vigor.

Seeing him come out, the brother stepped forward, elegantly extended his hand, and gave a slight bow: "A first acquaintance. I am Xia Xianze. I look forward to your kind guidance in the future, Cao Zong."

Cao Chuan instinctively shook his hand. For an instant, he felt as if he were at a clinking, bustling business gathering. Unfortunately, the two of them were merely standing in a desolate courtyard at this moment — no banquet, just a pair of table and chairs before the door.

"Heh heh, a change of style, eh? Brother, you've figured things out?" After a moment's pause, Cao Chuan caught on.

"I've more or less grasped the general situation. Unbelievable, simply unbelievable!" Xia Xianze sighed as he gestured, guiding Cao Chuan toward the table and chairs at the doorway. Unconsciously, the bearing of a mature businessman revealed itself.

After the two sat down, Xia Xianze cleared his throat: "Hmm, all in all, if one sets aside the clause about my involuntary participation, the rest of it still has considerable potential."

Cao Chuan rolled his eyes after hearing this: "Brother, it's just the two of us here. Is there any need to talk in such roundabout ways?"

"I must express my indignation appropriately."

"That's no use. I told you yesterday, in the Old World, anyone who knows this secret is not allowed to exist. Of course, in this New World before us, we are comrades-in-arms and can share any secret."

"So, it's impossible for me to go back?"

"Go back for what? To keep begging?"

Hearing this, Xia Xianze shook his head and sighed: "I knew it would be like this. Forget it. Since that's the case, I have a question to ask you first."