Chapter 26: The Fragrance of Horse Hooves in Seclusion

The carriage traveled onward, leaving the capital region, passing through Jingxi Nanlu, passing through Jinghu Beilu, passing through Kuizhou Lu, arriving straight at Zizhou Lu.

Then it came to the banks of the Yangshan River.

The Yangshan River was the border of Song Li. When the Great Song army reached here back then, they reported to the Founding Emperor. The Founding Emperor used a jade axe to point at the river and draw a line on the map, saying that what lay beyond the river was not his to possess, and thus the border territory was fixed at this place.

When the Great Song broke Later Shu, Dali sent congratulations and tribute, and afterward entered tribute many more times. In recent years it had continually expressed a wish to become a vassal state, but the Great Song, mindful of the old affair of Nanzhao's rebellion against the Tang, had never given a response.

Zhao Ti left the capital this time with only two people: Zhou Dong and Su Da.

Zhou Dong need not be mentioned. Although Su Da looked simple and straightforward, he was actually rough with a streak of fineness. He came from a military household of the Tokyo Imperial Guards and had been the earliest to follow him.

After leaving the carriage at a farmer's house, they planned to cross the river. This sort of thing was familiar ground for Zhou Dong. His jianghu experience was rich, and in only half an hour he found a boat and smuggled them across to the other side.

Once across the Yangshan River, the scenery suddenly changed, presenting quite a different view.

The three found walking inconvenient, so they first went to Jianchang Prefecture to buy horses. The place was bustling; although the Great Song had never opened a trading post, after all this location was quite close to the border, all manner of people were present—Tibetans, Tanguts alike—and it was exceedingly noisy and lively.

Although customs differed, Dali admired the Song, and within the city one could still see many Song-style buildings, and the script used was also Chinese characters.

They first had a quick bite in the city, then prepared clear water and dry rations, and went to the market to buy horses.

Dali produced horses. Although they were not tall, they were sturdy and patient, ran with power, and could serve as warhorses, but such horses would not flow into the hands of commoners. The three all bought nags.

Once mounted and out of the city, Zhou Dong inquired: "Young Master, shall we first go to Weichu Prefecture to seek out my friend Ma Wude, or…"

Zhao Ti deliberated for a few breaths: "First to Wuliang Mountain."

Weichu Prefecture was Pu'er, called Weichu in Song times, and was extremely close to Wuliang Mountain.

He did not know the specific time the Shennong Gang would besiege Jianhu Palace. Arriving early went without saying; arriving late would leave nothing to be said. What he feared was arriving precisely at that moment, when Ma Wude had already taken his close companions along with Duan Yu to Wuliang Mountain—that would be a wasted trip, and he would also miss the martial arts competition between the East and West Sects of Wuliang Mountain, after which Lingbo Weibu and Beiming Divine Art would be taken by Duan Yu.

The three rode forward, passing through another Huichuan Prefecture. Watching the setting sun sink westward, a small town happened to stand ahead, so they entered intending to lodge for the night.

The small town was called Danhua Town. It was not very large, with only one bluestone-paved street, and likewise only one inn, called Yuelai Inn.

Zhao Ti saw the inn's signboard and could not help pointing: "Why does it look familiar?"

Su Da rubbed his face: "Young Master, there are no fewer than ten inns with this name in Tokyo City."

Zhou Dong shook his head: "This subordinate has traveled north and south, and has also seen many."

"It seems all under heaven are the same." Zhao Ti nodded.

At this moment the inn's waiter came out to greet them. Seeing the three dressed in no ordinary fashion and leading horses, his eyes immediately lit up.

Although the town was small, it was an important thoroughfare in eastern Dali, so business was never short on ordinary days. The waiter also had some eye for quality: "Three honored guests, your gracious presence makes our humble shop radiant. May I ask whether the three of you wish to dine or to lodge?"

Su Da said: "What's the difference?"

The waiter bowed: "If you are only stopping for a quick bite, the horses will be tethered by the door, and I will watch them for the honored guests. If lodging, I will lead them to the stable in the courtyard and prepare fine feed to nourish them well."

Su Da said: "Enough chatter. The sun in the west has already half set—surely we're not going to sleep out in the wilds!"

The waiter wore a smile: "The honored guest speaks truly, speaks truly. Honored guests, please…"

The three were about to enter the inn, and the waiter was leading the horses through the side door to tend them in the courtyard. At that very moment, a sudden, urgent "clop-clop-clop" sound came from afar.

Zhou Dong's ears pricked up, and he said in surprise: "What a swift speed, and how even. From such a sound, it must truly be a fine horse."

The sound was made by a galloping horse. Their three nags could neither run at such a speed nor make such a sound.

Su Da said, puzzled: "What kind of fine horse would there be in a small country town? Could it be a military dispatch rider?"

Zhao Ti narrowed his eyes and looked toward the direction from which the sound came. At this moment the setting sun was sinking in the west, rouge-colored, red and yellow, a stretch of rosy radiance spilling down, and the beautiful scene was right before them.

He saw a mount enter from the town's entrance, gleaming under the evening glow, its black coat as graceful as satin, and when it raised its head, it looked extraordinary and spirited.

Truly a fine horse, he could not help nodding. When he saw the rider on the horse, he could not help a slight start.

Seated on the horse was a young woman in black, her figure exceedingly slender. Her hair was bound in a maiden's style, yet her cheeks were covered with a light veil, revealing only finely drawn brows like distant mountains touched with dark, a pair of eyes bright as lacquer, and skin white as jade.

The horse charged close, and the girl reined it in sharply. Her gaze swept over the few of them, then she leapt down and said to the waiter: "Lead the horse away and feed it well with fine feed."

The waiter took the reins: "Miss, are you lodging or dining?"

The girl said: "Only stopping for a quick bite. I'll leave once I'm done."

Zhao Ti heard her voice, soft and pleasing, and could not help stealing a few extra glances. The girl sensed it, her gaze swept over, and she glared at him.

Zhao Ti was not afraid, and gave a slight smile.

The girl raised her brows and walked straight into the inn.

As she passed, a faint, subtle fragrance drifted over. Though not very strong, it was remarkably refreshing.

"Young Master, this woman's martial arts are not bad…" Zhou Dong said in a lowered voice.

"Oh?" Zhao Ti said: "How so?"

Zhou Dong said: "In the jianghu one generally distinguishes by grades—roughly unranked, third-rate, second-rate, first-rate. This subordinate observes that this girl's movements are keen and her breathing is steady; her martial arts should be ranked, though I cannot tell whether third-rate or second-rate."

"Ranked?" Zhao Ti thought for a moment. So there was actually such a grading system. He did not know what grade he himself would count as after learning Phantom Yin Finger. He said: "What grade is Master Zhou?"

Zhou Dong said, embarrassed: "I won't hide it from you, Young Master. This subordinate is stuck between second-rate and first-rate—considered the peak of second-rate. Just a little further and it would be first-rate."

Zhao Ti asked curiously: "Is it hard to advance, or is there some other explanation? Why are you stalled here?"

Zhou Dong said: "There are bottlenecks in the improvement of martial arts. The bottleneck from second-rate to first-rate is rather difficult; it requires diligent polishing and refinement."

Zhao Ti nodded. He still had doubts in his heart, but outside the door was not the place to talk, so he turned and went into the inn.

The inn's entrance led into a great hall with seven or eight tables set out. The young woman in black from before was sitting at a table by the window, clearly having already ordered, her eyes cool and clear, waiting quietly.

The serving waiter came over and attentively invited the three to sit, then said: "What might the three honored guests eat? Although our humble shop is simple, food and drink are fully provided—we have mutton, goose breast, smoked chicken, and all manner of seasonal fruits and vegetables, plus aged wine, which needs no straining and can be drunk directly."

Zhao Ti told Zhou Dong and the other to order whatever they liked, and also asked for a jar of wine, then they began to eat and drink.

After a moment, the young woman in black by the window rose, went to the counter and packed some steamed buns and dried meat and the like, then went out the door and left. Zhao Ti watched her graceful retreating figure, and had a vague suspicion in his heart, yet felt it probably wouldn't be such a coincidence.

He turned his head back to look at Zhou Dong: "Guangzu, just now you mentioned the bottleneck in martial arts practice. I thought of something and have some doubts I want to ask you."

Zhou Dong said: "Whatever this subordinate knows, I will tell without reserve."

Zhao Ti said: "The internal cultivation I am currently learning is divided into six layers. A few days ago when I first began practicing, I directly completed the first layer. Then I felt unsatisfied and continued cultivating, and without any effort at all reached the second layer. Were it not for insufficient accumulation of internal force, I fear I would already be at the third layer. Is this normal?"

Zhou Dong heard this and was stunned for a moment: "Young Master, you say the cultivation technique you practice is divided into six layers, and you directly completed the first layer, then as if water flowed into a channel you also completed the second layer?"