The next morning, Ying woke up naturally without an alarm. Though the room had bamboo blinds, they weren't as effective at blocking light as modern curtains, and sunlight easily streamed in. At that moment, Professor Timing sent a message: “Good morning. This time, I have a special warning: under no circumstances should anyone discover your modern items. Remember to keep them well hidden, especially when someone is cleaning. Tell them which items not to touch. The turbulence situation remains temporarily uncontrollable. If I'm unavailable, Saikou will respond to you.” Ying found a wooden chest with a lock and key, perfect for hiding her modern belongings from prying eyes. She resolved to wash at a time when no one would see her. After all, items like toothbrushes and toothpaste simply shouldn't be seen by anyone in this era.
To avoid detection, Ying chose a secluded spot for her ablutions. Fortunately, it was relatively close to the General's residence, though certain things truly ought to remain unseen. A nearby river provided clean water for washing. After finally finishing her ablutions, Ying changed her clothes first, then tended to her hair. Since she truly had no other hair accessories, she used the ribbon in her hand to tie her waist-length hair into a low ponytail. Once everything was ready, she could set out into the outside world.
When Ying stepped out of her room, the General's residence was very quiet, as if the master had already gone out. Ying thought to herself, “For now, I'll explore the outside world. I reckon it'll take at least a month to adjust to this place.” Just as she was about to step through the main gate, she felt an overwhelming sense of lightness. Compared to Hong Kong, Xinye felt more free and unspoiled. Though they lived in turbulent times, the residents of Xinyi still wore smiles. Their philosophy was: “No matter what hardships you face, meet them with a smile.” “ The weight of their burdens likely went unseen by most. Just then, a younger voice called out loudly, ”Hey, you up ahead!"
The man wore shoulder-length hair, a small braid tied on the left side. He was dressed in beige traditional attire, a dark blue coat, gray trousers, and black boots. His eyes shone like emeralds. Stepping before Ying, he introduced himself: “I am Fan Rong, courtesy name Rongguang. I believe you must be Liu Ying (Ancient times people cannot pronounce Hong Kong style names)—Chengyan mentioned you last night!” Though unsure how to respond, Ying obediently introduced herself.
Rong then proposed exploring the town together. Though its appearance was rather simple, one could see everyone struggling to survive. They soon came upon a house that seemed utterly out of place. Not only was it isolated, but reaching it on foot from town would take at least twenty minutes. Its entire layout gave off an eerie feeling—for this house was actually a thatched hut. Who lived there? It was impossible to know, as townspeople rarely saw anyone coming or going, let alone recognize the occupants' appearance. Fortunately, it wasn't a haunted house. Fan Rong mentioned having peeked inside the hut before, finding it completely empty—likely an abandoned dwelling best ignored.
The most peculiar thing was this tiny house. Though its exterior resembled typical buildings of that era, it served as an art studio. Its owner was a Xianbei man from the north named Murong Hong. Unfortunately, the studio's business was struggling. People generally believed art couldn't sustain a livelihood, and parents rarely spent money on art lessons for their children. After all, mastering the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting required considerable wealth in those times.
Ying entered the studio out of curiosity and witnessed a horrifying scene: the room had been splattered with red liquid. Wait—this stench wasn't animal blood. That foul, rusty odor was human blood. A painter, his face deathly pale, trembled as he shouted toward the inner room: "Master Hu, please control your emotions! This... this scene... How can we clean this up!“ Spotting Fan Rong, the painter clung to him like a lifeline, urgently pulling him aside to whisper, ”Brother Rongguang, your arrival is timely! This matter must not be publicized. Please help persuade Young Master Hu to leave this place first..."
Ying was left behind on the street. With nowhere specific to go, she decided to explore the area. She spotted a man dressed plainly, his long hair tied back in a bun. He wore a goatee, his eyes showing signs of weariness, as if he'd just finished work and wanted to rest. As Ying wandered aimlessly, she completely failed to notice someone pushing a heavily laden handcart toward her. Absorbed in her own thoughts, she didn't see him coming. The man cried out in alarm, “Watch out!” He immediately ran forward, grabbed Ying's hand, and pulled her back onto the sidewalk. He asked if she was hurt. Ying replied that she wasn't. The man said earnestly, “The area's been unsafe lately. Be careful when you're out here. I'm about to embark on a long journey myself and just witnessed such a dangerous scene. Be more careful next time. I don't have the time to keep looking out for you.” With that, the man picked up his belongings and left. Ying thought to herself, “That jerk. I don't have time for your explanations. What a cheapskate.”
Just as she decided to head back to the General's residence, she stumbled upon a small alleyway. Curiosity got the better of her, and she wandered inside. This alley unexpectedly led to a mountain path. Just as Fan Rong had described, it was indeed troublesome. It truly required over twenty minutes of walking to reach the destination. At that moment, she spotted a tall man. Viewed from the side, however, his ears were twice as large as normal, and his arms were slightly longer than average. Two other tall, muscular men stood beside him. The big-eared man sighed in disappointment: “How is this possible? This is the second time, and still no meeting. Walking back from Longzhong alone takes so much time and energy. Why won't that Mr. Wolong see me?” This scene felt familiar yet strangely unfamiliar. Could it be that the famous moment was about to unfold?
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