Chapter 30: A Beauty In The Desolate Mountain Cottage

The old temple keeper explained the assignment from his superiors and arranged the plan. Three people would be dispatched this time: the old temple keeper, Li Chaosheng, and Young Master Zhou Bo.

With the mission set, the three packed their gear and prepared to enter the mountain to exterminate the demon. First came provisions. Wolf-Head Mountain was not small. It was full of deep, dense woods with few people. Once they entered the mountain they would go hungry at times. If they did not prepare dried food, they would be left to starve.

So dried food, water flasks, tinder, and ropes all needed to be prepared. The mountain was steep, so a rope could be very useful. Some places were impassable and detouring would take a lot of effort. With a rope they could build a makeshift bridge and traverse the air.

With everything ready, each of the three carried a small pack, a coil of rope around their necks. Each holding their weapon, they set off straight for Wolf-Head Mountain.

Wolf-Head Mountain had steep terrain and dense forests, and few people came there. In the past some people had entered the mountain, but then rumors spread that the mountain held ghosts. Many hunters who went up died mysterious deaths, and people stopped going up. The mountain gradually became desolate. Over the years poisonous insects and ferocious beasts increased, and people went up even less.

At most, villagers living near the forest would cut some trees at the edge or set traps for a rabbit or two.

The three advanced through the woods with their weapons. The old temple keeper walked in front, holding his soft sword that could seemingly slice iron like mud, cutting away protruding branches. Zhou Bo took the left path, Li Chaosheng took the right. Each guarded against poisonous insects and beasts suddenly emerging from the trees.

“Stop!”

After an hour, the old temple keeper held out his hand to halt the two for a moment. He then inspected the surrounding grass and plucked several thick gray-black hairs from a golden thorngrass.

“These are wolf hairs. Wolves should be active nearby.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bo and Li Chaosheng both looked wary, but the old temple keeper waved his hand and said, “Don’t be nervous. Hungry wolves in the forest prefer to appear at night. It’s high noon now, so they won’t come out.”

After saying this, the old temple keeper waved and said, “Everyone step back. Don’t damage the surrounding vegetation. Wolves usually travel along old paths they have developed. Hunters call these wolf trails. Experienced hunters often set traps there and often get results.”

“But wolves are very cunning, and their noses are sharp. If they find the vegetation disturbed or detect a human scent, they will change routes. Trying to catch them after that will be troublesome.”

The old temple keeper stepped off the wolf trail and said to the two, “Tonight we will post someone nearby. If we spot wolves, we follow them. Wolves are pack animals, so finding one usually means we’d find their den. Wolf-Head Mountain is not large enough for two packs. If there is a wolf demon here, there’s a 90 percent chance it’s hiding among the only pack that lives here. So find the pack and you’ll find the wolf demon.”

Hearing this, Zhou Bo and Li Chaosheng both nodded. The old temple keeper’s strength was average, but he was old and experienced. Following him could teach them much practical knowledge.

Li Chaosheng looked at the old temple keeper and asked, “So what now? Go back down the mountain?”

The old temple keeper shook his hand at the question and said, “We came up with difficulty. Going back down now would be foolish. Come, I’ll take you to find a place to shelter.”

The old temple keeper led Li Chaosheng and Zhou Bo toward the eastern ridge. The two followed and asked, “Where are we going?”

The old temple keeper said, “To find the old mute.”

“The old mute?”

The two looked puzzled. The old temple keeper explained, “Oh, a local healer who picks herbs. Thirty years ago, when I had just become a Nightwatcher, he practiced medicine in Yanggu County. Later the county magistrate’s young daughter fell ill and sent for him. His medical skills were decent, but his mouth was loose. He felt the pulse and said the girl was pregnant, and he hurried to congratulate the magistrate.”

“The magistrate’s face changed. His daughter was only eighteen, not yet married and pregnant before marriage. If that got out it would be a disgrace. It might reach higher authorities, and they could accuse him of poor family discipline and moral failure, giving political enemies ammunition. The official might even lose his position.”

“So the magistrate was furious. He berated the man, called him a quack doctor and had the old mute taken away. The old mute protested and demanded another doctor. He said if he was wrong about his diagnosis he would present his head. The magistrate flew into a rage. The fewer people who knew about this the better. Why would he call someone else to come and verify this? He wasn’t insane!”

“But the quack’s mouth was too loose. If the rumor spread, what then? The magistrate glared at the quack and had his tongue cut out. He then threw him into a jail cell and planned to find a pretext to kill him to prevent future trouble.“

“At the time I had just joined the Nightwardens and lived next to the old mute. When I heard of this I rescued him. After that the old mute was disheartened and found an excuse to retreat into the mountains. I visited him on the mountain some years back. He lived well and even adopted a son. That lad should be about 21 or 22 now.”

The old temple keeper led the two to the eastern slope. On the slope was a flat area with an earthen house. The fields around it had been tilled and planted with seasonal vegetables. The yard was fenced with branches and a few fruit trees stood around the perimeter.

“That’s the place.”

The old temple keeper pointed at the small house. Li Chaosheng and Zhou Bo exchanged a glance. A cottage like that in this desolate mountain felt somewhat strange.

They walked to the gate. The yard gate was fixed with planks. The old temple keeper pushed it open and saw a flock of chickens and, beside the coop, a wooden rack hung with fox pelts. There were dozens of them.

“Anyone home?” the old temple keeper called out.

From inside came a clear, pleasant voice, “Who is it?”

The cottage door opened and a woman in coarse cloth peered out, yet her beauty could not be concealed. Her hair piled like dark clouds, her face was apricot-shaped with rosy cheeks, a delicate willow waist. From afar she seemed like a beguiling crabapple blossom under the moon, up close like pear blossoms with tears. Her coquettish eyes rippled like waves, and one look could make one swoon. Who would have thought such a peerless beauty lived in these remote mountains!

“Oh, sorry to bother you. May I ask if Du Dangui is here?”

Du Dangui was the old mute’s real name. The woman paused and said, “You are—”

Before she finished, a burly young man suddenly appeared behind Li Chaosheng and the others. He carried an iron fork over his shoulder and a bloodied large fox in his hand. He stood at the cottage gate, blocking the three’s retreat, and scowled, “Who are you? What do you want at my house?”

“Oh, my husband, they have come looking for Father-in-law.”

“Looking for my father?”

The burly young man paused and frowned. The old temple keeper turned and sized him up, saying, “You’re Ah Yi, right? I’m Zhu Pingfeng.”

“Zhu Pingfeng? Ah! Uncle Zhu, it’s you! Ha ha ha… long time no see.”

The burly young man heard this and immediately smiled and came forward. Li Chaosheng and Zhou Bo exchanged a look and relaxed. They had been afraid that a fight was about to break out!