Chapter 30: CH 25

Not long after He Xi returned to Liuli Palace, Na Xin arrived. She was teary, most likely because she was still sad about parting with Jiang Ling. 

“Lady Saintess, Jiang Ling has left the city with the trade caravan.”

“Mm. Go notify A Na and Ye Qi and have them prepare men and supplies. We will head to the Shahai Village[1] tomorrow.”

Shahai Village was originally a normal hamlet of Xiyu. Many passing caravans would stop here to rest, and gradually, Shahai Village became more and more prosperous, even opening a market. Some caravans would head directly to Shahai Village to acquire precious stones, and in no time, Shahai Village transformed into a famous trader’s market of Xiyu. However, with the febrile disease spreading, Shahai Village, which had been so lively, had now become somewhere people did not dare travel to. One after the other, people there fell ill. At the outset, the number of patients was small, so it could be managed. As more and more people caught the disease, though, the medicine within the village sold out and became a precious commodity. 

Passing caravans also fell ill within Shahai Village, sometimes on their return journeys. They would become muddled with fever, and with timely treatment, would recover within seven days. Without that treatment, those of strong body would develop a cough and usually recover after about half a month. A small number of people who were not of firm physical health and did not see any improvements in half a month would be sent elsewhere by the villagers to let the disease run its course. 

There were some trade caravans unafraid of the disease because death was unlikely to occur. They could purchase medicine in the central plains and sell them in the affected villages for a much higher price. Even if they did get sick, it would still count as a ready profit. 

…

Jiang Ling left the city with the Xiyu caravan and once again entered that vast, sandy hell. Jiang Ling had barely escaped from this hell with her life, and now, it was difficult to not to think back on that life-or-death situation. 

The caravan was composed entirely of Xiyu people. Because they all thought that she was a central plains person with some connection to the Manichaens, they did not make things difficult for her. Some could speak the language of the central plains, but when they spoke with each other, they always spoke in the language of Xiyu. Jiang Ling could not understand their words, so there was a distance between her and the others. 

“Are you from the central plains?” A youth, about thirteen or fourteen years of age, drew his camel close to Jiang Ling. The youth’s hair was slightly curly, tumbling to his shoulders. His dark green irises were clear and artless. He wore a sleeveless robe and cape, with two silver bracelets on his wrist. He used Han to ask Jiang Ling. 

Jiang Ling nodded. The two of them fell back to the rear of the caravan. 

“Really? I knew from the beginning that you were different from us. You’re the first central plains person I’ve seen.” The youth was a bit excited. 

Jiang Ling saw that the youth was likewise different from the other people in the caravan, as he did not carry any goods on his camel. He must have run away from home. 

“My name is Zhuo Zhuo. You?” The youth spoke familiarly. 

“Jiang Liu.” Jiang Ling answered with a random name, “You speak Han quite well.”

With the approval of someone from the central plains, Zhuo Zhuo was exceedingly happy. He tightened his fists, “Truly? I learned it on the sly. If you say it’s good, that’s great.”

“Right, can I call you Jiang-dage[2]?” Jiang Ling did not expect him to ask this; she really could not accept this kind of address. 

“Jiang Liu is fine.” Jiang Ling rejected this ‘Jiang-dage’. 

“Don’t you central plains people like addressing older brothers this way?”

“…” Jiang Ling was speechless, “I don’t. Call me Jiang Liu.”

This Zhuo Zhuo seemed to love the central plains and knew quite a bit about it. 

Jiang Ling was pestered by Zhuo Zhuo and asked all kinds of questions. At the same time, she also found out that Zhuo Zhuo had an older brother who was involved in trade. He would often travel between Xiyu and the central plains and told her many interesting anecdotes about the place. Zhuo Zhuo always dreamed of going there and begged his family to let him travel with his brother. Because the family already had one son in business, and because trade caravans often encountered dangers on their travels, Zhuo Zhuo’s parents did not agree to his request and did not allow him to go to the central plains with his brother. He asked his brother to secretly teach him Han, telling him that it was just a hobby when it was actually to make communication easy once he ran away to the central plains. Then, he made his preparations, stealing a bolt of high-quality silk and giving it to the leader of the caravan, requesting that they bring him along. 

The sky was growing dark, so the group set up their tents one after another and lit a fire to pass the night. With the way her right hand was, it was not easy for Jiang Ling to set up her tent. She planned to roll up into her woolen blanket and sit beside the fire. She had made it through two nights without a fire before, so this was already better than what she had to deal with previously. 

“Jiang Liu, do you have a tent?” Zhuo Zhuo watched as she remained standing. 

“I do, but I can’t set it up.” Na Xin had indeed packed a simple tent for her, enough for only two people to fit inside, but because she could not use her right hand, she could not set it up. 

“That’s great, I can do it.” Zhuo Zhuo immediately ran over to Jiang Ling, “Thanks to you, I have a place to sleep tonight.”

With Jiang Ling’s permission, Zhuo Zhuo nimbly removed the tent from the camel’s back and set it up in no time. 

“Go to sleep. I’ll be outside.” Jiang Ling had Zhuo Zhuo go inside to sleep. 

“It’s so cold outside, you should come inside. It’s your tent.” Zhuo Zhuo did not understand. They were both much smaller in build than the others, and the tent was quite spacious. Furthermore, he felt awkward taking Jiang Ling’s tent. 

“I didn’t use the tent before.”

“Everyone uses a tent at night in the desert. If you don’t go in, I won’t go in.” Zhuo Zhuo was a bit angry. Jiang Ling was a little older than him, but still looked skinny, especially when compared to the stalwart men of Xiyu. If she spent the night outside, she would freeze half to death. 

Zhuo Zhuo walked over and sat down next to Jiang Ling, “I won’t sleep if you don’t, either!” The fire’s light shone on the youth’s furious face. 

Jiang Ling did not accept his sentiments and just let him sit beside her. 

Soon, Zhuo Zhuo was shivering with cold, shaking like a leaf and even letting out a few sneezes. Jiang Ling sighed, “Let’s go inside the tent.”

Zhuo Zhuo heard what she said, stood up, and slipped into the tent like a fish, squirming his way into the blanket. 

“Wuuu—it’s too cold.”

“Go to sleep.” Jiang Ling sat to one side, practicing her heart-calming exercises. 

“What are you doing, are you not going to sleep?”

“Treating an illness.”

“What illness?” Zhuo Zhuo thought she looked quite healthy. 

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“A mental illness.”

“What’s wrong?” Zhuo Zhuo loved getting to the bottom of things. 

“I’m messing with you. I’m just circulating my qi.” Jiang Ling wanted to end this conversation topic quickly. 

“You’re a martial artist?” Zhuo Zhuo was even more enthusiastic now and sat straight up, “Can you be my shifu?”

“Leave if you aren’t sleeping.” Jiang Ling felt like beating him up. 

“…” Zhuo Zhuo shut his mouth, afraid of making his future shifu mad. 

The youth’s breathing soon evened out, and Jiang Ling could at last settle down. After her fight with Na Cuo, that stifling feeling from three years ago had returned. Her heart was agitated. Jiang Ling herself did not know what was wrong with her, so she could only circulate her qi each day and slowly rectify her own condition.

At dawn the next day, Zhuo Zhuo eagerly helped Jiang Ling arrange her supplies. He stared at Jiang Ling with avid interest, “Shifu, please accept me as a disciple[3].”

“…” Jiang Ling turned around. 

“Please, I’m begging you[4].” Zhuo Zhuo circled around to Jiang Ling’s front again. 

“No.” Jiang Ling refused. 

“Why?” Zhuo Zhuo was not willing to give up. 

“Because I don’t have any strength in my right hand. I can’t use a sword.” Jiang Ling was worried that Zhuo Zhuo would pester her with questions endlessly, so she spoke honestly. 

“…” This time, Zhuo Zhuo was speechless from surprise. 

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up matters that are painful for you.” Zhuo Zhuo apologized, “Don’t worry, I’ll still treat you with the same respect as I would if you were my shifu. I’ll protect you.”

Jiang Ling laughed as she poked Zhuo Zhuo’s forehead and pushed him away, “What kind of disciple protects their shifu?”

…

“Set off!” The caravan’s leader shouted. The caravan’s members headed back out into the windy desert to continue their journey. After traveling for half a day, they came upon an oasis. Even though the oasis was the largest village Jiang Ling had been to since leaving the Manichaens, the caravan did not seem to have the intention of stopping. 

“What are they saying?” Jiang Ling heard the Xiyu people in front discussing something solemnly and wanted to know what they were saying. 

“They said that Shahai Village has many cases of the febrile disease. We won’t go over there, but will rest under the trees at the outskirts of the oasis. We will restock at the next place, Yongquan VIllage[5].”

“The febrile disease is so severe, yet people still live there?” Jiang Ling looked into the distance. It was not as desolate as she thought. 

“I heard that once people get it, they cannot get sick again. So, the people who have recovered stayed there to take care of the sick people. Regardless, they don’t want to leave their homes and way of life.”

The caravan entered the oasis and searched for a shaded place to rest. Jiang Ling and Zhuo Zhuo followed them to rest, as well. The caravan members were afraid of being infected, so each person wore a cloth over their faces and sat down without wandering around recklessly. 

Jiang Ling likewise pulled up her scarf to cover her nose and mouth. Zhuo Zhuo pulled out his canteen, wanting to drink some water, “I’m out of water.” Zhuo Zhuo tipped his canteen over, and sure enough, there was not even a single drop of water inside. 

“I’ll go draw some water.” Zhuo Zhuo pulled up his face covering and went to find a well. 

Jiang Ling stopped him, “Don’t go. Drink mine.”

“It’s fine. I’ll find a well without anyone around. If I encounter anyone, I’ll stay away from them. Don’t waste your water.” After he finished speaking, he ran off. 

Zhuo Zhuo did not spend too much time getting water, and as the rest of the caravan had already rested enough, they set out for Yongquan Village. 

“Don’t worry, I stayed more than ten zhang away from the others.” Zhuo Zhuo shook his canteen and took a big drink from it. 

The two of them went to follow the caravan. 

Yongquan Village was half a day’s journey from Shahai Village. By the time they settled down in Yongquan Village, the day was already over. 

Yongquan Village was small, but after all the trade caravans started detouring around Shahai Village, Yongquan Village now had quite a few inns. They found an inn to stay at, and Jiang Ling helped Zhuo Zhuo pay for a room. 

Zhuo Zhuo was moved to tears, “Jiang Liu treats me so well! Wait until I make my fortune and I’ll invite you to the biggest inn in town!”

“No need.” Jiang Liang sent away Zhuo Zhuo to rest, and finally, she could have some peace and quiet. 

The next day, when the caravan wanted to continue moving forward, Jiang Ling discovered that Zhuo Zhuo had not come out yet and went to knock on his door. 

“Don’t…don’t come in…” Zhuo Zhuo’s voice called out weakly from inside. 

“Zhuo Zhuo, what’s wrong?” Jiang Ling leaned against the doorway and asked.  

“I…I seem to have a fever.”

“…” Jiang Ling stood in place, dumbfounded.

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