Chapter 16: Carrying the Old Ginseng King, Risking Life to Rush Into the Dark Night!

The setting sun sank westward.

The golden-red afterglow coated the snow-white mountains with a warm hue.

Yet the temperature suddenly dropped.

The sky quickly grew dim.

The mountain wind began to howl, lifting the snow from the ground, and from the forest came a chilling wail like ghosts crying and wolves howling.

Lu Qingshan raised his head to look at the rapidly darkening sky, then did not linger.

He did not choose to go home.

The village was crowded and full of prying eyes; carrying such a precious treasure, if word got out, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He determined the direction and, before night fully covered the land, strode swiftly toward Wan Gou Zhen, several dozen li away.

These treasures cannot see the light.

Only the town's secret channels, such as the Black Market, could quickly turn them into cash.

Converted into solid money, it would not attract attention.

The road to Wan Gou Zhen was mostly rugged mountain paths, especially in this ice-sealed, snow-covered winter night where one could not see five fingers ahead.

The cold wind cut the face like a knife.

Deep in the snow lay hidden ice pits and snow-covered ditches; a moment's carelessness could break a leg.

He pulled his worn dog-skin cap lower, covering most of his face.

He avoided the relatively flat but more-trafficked main road, choosing instead the hidden mountain trails used only by hunters and herb gatherers.

The warning ability of Mountain Wild Heart had become his best talisman at this moment.

He focused entirely, sensing any slightest movement in the surroundings.

Upon reaching a narrow gorge with steep cliffs on both sides, his heart leapt!

A bone-chilling, sharp sense of danger, like being stared at by a venomous snake, exploded instantly!

In the snow not far ahead lurked a strong malice and fresh scent of blood!

Not just one!

Their aura was ferocious!

He almost reflexively halted his steps, his breath instantly held.

He dove behind a nearby boulder as tall as a person.

He pressed his body tightly against the cold stone wall, his heart pounding so hard it nearly shattered his ribs.

In the night wind came a few muffled, breathy growls.

There was also a faint metallic 'ka-cha' sound.

Using the faint starlight above, he narrowed his eyes and cautiously peered out a grain-of-s sized gap from the edge of the rock.

He saw that about twenty to thirty meters ahead on the snow, three blurry black silhouettes lay.

They were violently rummaging through something near a prone, motionless shadow on the ground.

A rich smell of blood drifted on the wind, making one tremble.

"Damn it! What a poor bastard! Searching his whole body turned up only a few coins, not even enough for us brothers to buy a drink of water!"

A hoarse voice cursed bitterly, as if spitting on the ground.

"Pah! Bad luck! Wasted my effort! I thought I could scrounge some New Year's money!"

Another shrill voice chimed in, full of resentment and irritability.

"If I'd known, I'd have just slit his throat and saved the trouble!"

"Don't dawdle!" the last voice sounded urgent and wary, "Hurry up and leave! This creepy place is eerie; at night, gloomy winds blow, so don't run into any tough obstacles or the mountain patrol militia!"

They were bandits!

And they had just beaten someone to the ground, not knowing if they were alive or dead!

Lu Qingshan's heart instantly sank to an ice cellar.

A chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head.

He instinctively clutched the bundle at his chest tightly.

What lay inside was the hope for his and his wife and daughter's future!

If he had reacted half a second slower, or if Mountain Wild Heart's warning had come a moment later, and he had rashly charged forward……

He dared not think of the consequences!

Both person and wealth lost, death without a whole corpse!

What about Yue E and Xiao Xue?

That thought instantly drenched his back in cold sweat, and his teeth clenched unconsciously.

Just then, one of the bandits, feeling unsatisfied, lifted his foot and kicked the corpse on the ground hard.

He muttered curses while walking a few steps toward where Lu Qingshan was hiding, seemingly looking for a place to urinate.

Lu Qingshan's heartbeat almost stopped!

His whole body's muscles instantly tensed to the limit; he didn't dare blink an eyelid, pressed hard against the rock, wishing he could embed himself into it.

The bandit's footsteps drew nearer, accompanied by the distinctive 'creak' of snow.

Each step felt like a heavy hammer striking his heart.

Closer, even closer!

Lu Qingshan could even smell the foul mix of low-quality tobacco and blood on the other's body!

If the other took just two more steps forward, or inadvertently glanced behind the rock……

Suddenly, a piercing owl cry rang out from afar, tearing through the silent night sky.

"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up!" a companion at the other end of the valley urged impatiently.

The approaching bandit seemed startled, his movement halted.

He cursed, "Damn! They're hurrying death!" and finally stopped moving forward, turning around and swearing as he chased after his companion.

The three dark silhouettes quickly vanished at the far end of the valley, and the night wind completely scattered their voices.

Lu Qingshan leaned against the cold rock, as if fainted, and slowly slid down to sit.

He gasped in large breaths, his chest heaving violently.

At that moment, he truly thought he was about to be exposed!

Only after confirming that no dangerous aura remained within Mountain Wild Heart's perception range did he feel his limbs stiff and sore from excessive tension.

His palms were drenched in cold sweat.

This life was rescued by Mountain Wild Heart!

Moreover, for Yue E and Xiao Xue, it must never be lost!

In these times and this region, it truly is not a peaceful place.

Especially at the edge of the darkened forest, it is exceedingly wild.

Lu Qingshan did not move immediately.

He clung to the cold rock wall like a stone, ears perked, catching every slightest sound in the wind.

His heartbeat still thudded at his throat; just now, his soul had nearly been frightened away.

The heavy bundle on his chest was scorching, its weight pressing so hard he could barely breathe.

If those damned ones had taken a step later…

If their gaze had been a bit sharper…

Thinking of that, another layer of cold sweat rose on his back.

The night wind grew colder, whistling through the valley.

He held his breath and steadied his mind, waiting for a long while.

After confirming that, aside from the sound of pine waves, there were no other noises in the wind, he slipped out from the rock like a startled raccoon, silent.

His movements were extremely light, his eyes scanning every inch of shadow warily.

He turned the bundle behind him and straightened it.

Then, he hurried over to the motionless figure lying in the snow.

Not rushing to touch, he first crouched, observing by the faint daylight.

He then reached out, probing the other's neck with lightning speed.

There was still breath.

From the mouth and nose, a small wisp of faint white vapor exhaled, quickly blown away by the cold wind.

Still alive.

Yet lying there in snow at minus several tens of degrees, it wasn't far from turning into an ice stick.

Lu Qingshan knit his brows.

Trouble.

He now just wanted to leave this damned place quickly; the thing in his arms was too hot to hold.

One extra trouble is worse than none.

Yet seeing the person on the ground motionless, curled up there, the something in his heart flared again.

Damn it, it's still a human life after all.

Moreover, if this person truly froze to death here, discovered tomorrow, it might attract the police station, making things even more troublesome.

He quickly scanned the surroundings, hoping to see if those bandits had left any clues.

Apart from scattered footprints, the snow ground was empty.

His gaze paused.

Not far from the outstretched hand, half‑buried in the snow mound, was an object.

It looked like a book.

He took a few steps, bent down, picked it up, and brushed off the snow.

With a hardcover, he barely identified it by starlight—How the Steel Was Tempered.

Opening the frozen, slightly stiff cover, the flyleaf bore a line in pen: "Gift to Comrade Zhang Guosheng, a bright future awaits."

Below was a signature and date by Wu Qihua.

Zhang Guosheng?

That name… seems familiar somewhere?

His heart stirred; he crouched, using the dim light, and lifted the dead man's face a bit.

A face frozen blue, a glasses lens shattered, with a scholarly air between the brows.

Suddenly, he remembered!

Isn't this the educated youth from the Lv Jia Village brigade who ran literacy classes in Shanwan Village two years ago, Zhang Guosheng?

In his recollection, he also hailed from Beijing, and hadn't returned to the city yet.

He seemed quite refined and gentle, but so unlucky.

"Hey! Wake up!" Lu Qingshan gave him a push.

No response.

He added more force, shaking him: "Zhang Guosheng! Wake up! You're frozen to death!"

The person on the ground let out a whimper, his eyelids lifting with effort.

His gaze was first vacant, then slowly focused on Lu Qingshan's face, flashing a hint of terror and bewilderment.

"…Who are you?" Zhang Guosheng's throat was as dry as sandpaper, "I… where is this?"

He tried to sit up, a pain shot through his head, and he fell back down.

"I am Lu Qingshan, a sent‑down youth from Shanwan Village. You came to our village to give a literacy class," Lu Qingshan said concisely, "You've run into bad guys, just leave."

He pointed at the vague footprints in the distant snow.

"Lucky you, they didn't kill you outright."

Zhang Guosheng only then came to his senses, instinctively touching the back of his head; his blood had already frozen into ice shards, and his hand winced with a sharp, cold gasp.

Then he frantically felt the pocket in his chest, only to find it empty.

His complexion turned as pale as paper in an instant, his eyes desperate: "Money… my money… the money to return to the city…"

He muttered, then looked at Lu Qingshan, his gaze both complicated and grateful: "Thank you… Comrade, thank you…"

"I was just passing by, came back late from hunting," Lu Qingshan interrupted him, his tone flat, standing up and brushing the snow off himself.

"Can you still walk? Hurry back to the village, or you'll truly freeze to death."

Zhang Guosheng struggled, leaning against the nearby stone wall to barely stand, his legs wobbling.

He gasped heavily, looking at Lu Qingshan: "I can walk, I can walk… thank you, thank you Comrade…"

His face was full of bitterness and lingering fear.

"Great kindness need not be thanked…" he solemnly tried to bow.

"Alright, let's go quickly," Lu Qingshan waved impatiently, not waiting for him to finish bowing.

Lu Qingshan turned and walked back the way he came.

After a few steps, he scaled a steep slope beside him, moving swiftly into a darker, denser forest.

His figure vanished quickly.

The night grew deeper.

The bundle in his chest seemed heavier, and hotter to the touch.

Lu Qingshan quickened his pace, with only one thought in his mind.

Hurry to the town!

Exchange this deadly treasure for money!

This cursed place, even staying a second longer feels nauseatingly unsettling.

This Black Market trip is far more perilous than he imagined!

On the road ahead, he became even more vigilant.

Mountain Wild Heart stayed in high operation, like the most sensitive radar.

It preemptively sensed and avoided several areas where large beasts might roam, as well as one or two other potential threats exuding ill intent.

Finally, when the darkest part of the second half of the night passed and a faint, barely perceptible fish‑belly white appeared on the horizon.

Wan Gou Zhen's sparse, ghost‑flame‑like flickering lights finally appeared on the distant horizon.

He exhaled a long breath of murky air tinged with white frost, his nerves, taut all night, finally relaxed a bit.

Weariness surged like a tide.

Yet a flame of hope burned in his eyes.

He did not go straight into the town.

At the town's entrance, militia or joint‑defense members might be on guard at night.

Instead, he stopped in a desolate fringe of the town, a small grove piled with junk and rotten wood.

He leaned against a dead tree, gulped a few harsh breaths, calming his heart that had been racing from the long trek and narrow escape.

He tidied his wind‑wet, slightly disheveled coat and hat. After double‑checking that the medicinal bundle in his chest was tightly sealed, he took a deep breath.

He suppressed the anxiety, excitement, and lingering fear in his heart.

He identified the direction and slipped toward the hidden Black Market entrance that, in his memory, only existed at dawn.

Success or failure, it hinges on this move!