Qingshui County was located in a remote part of Cangshui County.

Even riding a swift horse and sleeping in the open, the journey would still take half a month.

Han Yuan spurred his horse on, hoping to reach Cangshui County Town as soon as possible.

「Five days later.」

The dim sun had mostly set, and darkness was about to fall.

Han Yuan led his horse by the reins, frowning slightly as he gazed at the mountain range ahead.

After nightfall, the mountains were teeming with ferocious beasts and even plagued by Evil Spirits, making them exceptionally dangerous.

He decided to find a village at the foot of the mountains to rest for the night and wash up.

After several days of braving the elements, he was starting to smell a bit.

Han Yuan scanned the vicinity and soon spotted cooking smoke rising in the distance. He immediately led his horse toward it.

When he arrived at the village entrance, he saw many villagers gathered under an old locust tree, though he couldn’t tell what they were doing.

Hearing the sound of hooves, the villagers turned their heads one by one.

Their gazes immediately turned wary when they saw the tall Han Yuan with a long saber at his waist.

In these troubled times, with roving bandits and mountain marauders running rampant, villagers were extremely sensitive to outsiders.

At that moment, Han Yuan finally saw why the villagers were crowded around the old locust tree.

Under the tree, a young Daoist in a gray Daoist Robe was diagnosing the villagers by taking their pulses.

The young Daoist noticed the commotion among the villagers, stood up, and happened to meet Han Yuan’s gaze, offering a kind smile.

Han Yuan nodded, then addressed the villagers. "My name is Han Yuan. I was hoping to find lodging in the village for one night. Would that be possible?"

He didn’t reveal his official position.

These days, the Government Office’s reputation was in tatters. They were despised by everyone and seen as no different from bandits.

If he announced he was the Chief Constable of Qingshui County, he feared the villagers would probably try to beat him with their hoes.

Hearing Han Yuan’s request, the villagers were unsure how to respond and all looked toward an old man whose face was covered in dry, cracked wrinkles.

Han Yuan guessed the old man must be the village chief.

The village chief sized Han Yuan up for a moment before turning to the young Daoist. "Daoist, what do you think?"

The young Daoist was handsome, with a gentle and serene disposition.

He said softly, "This brother doesn’t seem like a bad person."

"Since the Daoist has said so,"

"Then he’s definitely not a bad person."

the village chief said cheerfully.

Even the other villagers relaxed their guard around Han Yuan.

Evidently, the villagers placed great trust in the young Daoist.

"Young man, my name is Zheng He, and I am the chief of this Zheng Family Village."

"I happen to have a spare room. How about you make do there for the night?"

Zheng He had become much more enthusiastic.

"Then I thank you, Village Chief," Han Yuan said, cupping his fist.

After he spoke, Zheng He led Han Yuan into the village.

"Village Chief, is that Daoist from a nearby Daoist Temple?" Han Yuan asked, slightly curious.

"No... a rural place like ours could never afford to support a Daoist Temple."

"That Daoist’s surname is Zhang, and his given name is Cang. He’s a Wandering Daoist."

"He came to our countryside area a few days ago and has been treating illnesses and diagnosing people, but he hasn’t charged a single coin."

"Now that’s a true man of the Dao," Zheng He said with a sigh of admiration.

Han Yuan was a little surprised to hear this.

But then he reconsidered.

There would always be good people and bad people, no matter the era. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

It was only ever a matter of how many of each there were.

Besides, his own impression of Zhang Cang had been quite good.

The two chatted for a bit more before arriving at a spare room in Zheng He’s house.

Although the room wasn’t large, it was clean and tidy. Zheng He must have cleaned it often.

Han Yuan took out a piece of broken silver. "Village Chief, please take this silver as payment for the room tonight."

Zheng He waved his hand. "All who come here are guests. You’re being too formal."

But Han Yuan insisted, "Village Chief, my horse also needs some fodder. Please take this as payment for that."

Only then did Zheng He accept it. "Alright, then. I’ll go prepare something to eat. You go ahead and wash up."

Han Yuan gave an embarrassed smile.

After Zheng He left, he hurried to the well in the courtyard to draw water, washed himself from head to toe, and also laundered his clothes, hanging them up in the yard.

Just then, the young Daoist also walked into the courtyard.

"Greetings, Brother Han," Zhang Cang said with a gentle smile.

"Daoist Zhang, are you staying here as well?" Han Yuan asked, surprised.

"Yes... Like you, I am also borrowing a room from the Village Chief for the night."

Zhang Cang nodded lightly.

"I see."

Han Yuan smiled.

The two weren’t very familiar with each other, so after exchanging greetings, they went about their own business.

When the sky turned pitch-black, Zheng He called Zhang Cang and Han Yuan into the main hall for dinner.

Stir-fried pork with green peppers, cured meat with cabbage, a roasted chicken, and green vegetables were on the table.

It was clear that Zheng He had put some special effort into the meal.

The three of them got along harmoniously, eating and sharing amusing stories about their travels.

The old village chief, who hadn’t seemed this happy in a long time, brought out a jug of yellow wine and had a few small cups.

As he drank, he grew drowsy and eventually fell asleep right there.

In the end, it was Han Yuan who carried him back to his room.

"When I was treating patients in the next village, I heard a story."

"The old village chief used to have a son. A few years ago, his son even married a wife and had a baby boy."

"Unfortunately, a year ago, on their way back to the village, the family of three ran into a group of bandits, and none of them survived."

"He must be so happy tonight because it’s been a long time since his home was this lively."

Zhang Cang said, watching the sleeping old man and shaking his head slightly.

Han Yuan said softly, "In these chaotic times, human life is as worthless as weeds..."

The two fell into silence for a while.

Afterward, Han Yuan washed the dishes and then began practicing the Seven Stars Step in the courtyard.

Zhang Cang didn’t go to sleep either. He stayed in the courtyard, studying a Daoist Scripture by the light of the moon.

.....

「In the great mountains.」

A dozen or so ferocious-looking mountain bandits were descending the mountain under the cover of night.

"Third Chieftain, I’ve gotten the information," a shifty-eyed bandit reported urgently. "The girl you saw the day before yesterday belongs to the Zheng Family."

The bandit in the lead grunted in acknowledgment.

In the slivers of scattered moonlight, his ugly and sinister face was faintly visible.

"The First Chieftain has several wives."

"Even the Second Chieftain has found two for himself."

"But I, the dignified Third Chieftain of Black Wind Stronghold, don’t even have one. It’s just not right."

"Tonight, I’ll snatch that little lady and take her up the mountain to be my wife," the ugly brute cackled.

The crowd of bandits behind him naturally let out all sorts of jeers and whoops.

"Third Chieftain, are we going to slaughter the whole village or just have them hand her over?" a bandit asked.

"We’ll have Zheng Family Village hand her over, of course," the Third Chieftain chuckled. "If I slaughter them all, I’d be sleeping next to someone who harbors a blood debt against me. Who could sleep soundly then?"

The bandits all cheered, praising their chieftain’s wisdom.

Soon, they appeared brazenly in Zheng Family Village.

When the villagers saw that the Black Wind Mountain Bandits had come down from the mountain, they immediately panicked.

Amid a flurry of shouts, a dozen or so able-bodied villagers armed with choppers and hoes blocked the village entrance.

Many more villagers stood behind them, holding torches and watching.

Even the sleeping Zheng He was startled awake and rushed out to see what was happening.

Han Yuan and Zhang Cang followed him out as well.