Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 319 Testing
Whether from anger or hunger, the envoy felt his vision blurring.

With a thud, he fell headfirst onto the cart.

Yan Ciwan went over to take a look and saw that he was pale and motionless, looking weak and as if he might die at any moment.

She reached out and checked the envoy's breath. Although it was weak, he was still breathing and didn't seem to be going to die anytime soon.

So she felt relieved and continued walking along the river.

After walking for about an hour, Yan Ciwan finally saw the fields. Since there were people farming here, there must be people living nearby.

She walked another two miles and finally saw the houses.

It was noon, and smoke was rising from the chimneys above the houses. Yan Ciwan was driving her donkey cart toward the village when she saw a young woman carrying a hoe ahead. She immediately quickened her pace to catch up.

"Hello, is this Xiao'an Village?"

The young woman turned around. She looked very young, thin and small, with her cheeks flushed red from the sun, and wearing coarse cloth clothes covered in pudding.

She was visibly startled when she saw Yan Ciwan, and then asked warily, "Who are you?"

Yan Ciwan brought out the explanation she had prepared long ago.

“My mother fell seriously ill and we consulted many doctors but they couldn’t cure her. Later, I heard that the village chief of Xiao’an Village was very capable and could cure any difficult disease, so I brought my mother here to ask the village chief for help.”

The young woman looked at the donkey cart behind her. There seemed to be someone lying on the cart, but she couldn't see the person's face clearly because of the angle.

"Who told you that our village chief can cure diseases?"

Yan Ciwan said, "I don't know that person either. He said that a relative of his married into Xiao'an Village, so he knows some things about Xiao'an Village. He saw that I was desperate and felt sorry for me, so he asked me to ask the village chief of Xiao'an Village for help."

"That person is definitely trying to fool you. Our village chief doesn't treat people at all."

Yan Ciwan clasped her hands together and pleaded, "I finally found this place. No matter what, I want to beg the village chief to try. My mother doesn't have much time left. This is her last chance to live. Please, I beg you."

The young woman walked to the donkey cart and saw a middle-aged woman lying unconscious on it. She noticed that the woman had a broken arm and guessed that they must have suffered a lot on their journey.

The young woman softened a bit and said, "I can take you to see the village chief, but let me tell you first, our village doesn't like to have contact with outsiders. When you enter the village, don't look around or run around. Just follow me obediently."

Yan Ciwan hurriedly replied, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say!"

"You come with me."

The young woman turned and left.

Yan Ciwan followed in the donkey cart and asked, "My surname is Xiao, and my mother's surname is Ning. I don't know your name yet?"

"My name is Aying."

The young woman named Aying had a cold expression and seemed unwilling to talk to anyone.

Yan Ciwan, seemingly oblivious to the other's coldness, continued to ask, "How old are you this year?"

"fourteen."

Yan Ciwan praised, "Wow, you're so young and you can already work in the fields, that's amazing!"

Ah Ying didn't reply; her still-childish face remained expressionless.

Yan Ciwan persisted in trying to elicit information.

"I'm older than you, but far less capable than you. I'm truly ashamed of myself. What do you grow in your fields? Is it wheat?"

"No."

"Could it be millet? Or beans?"

"neither."

Yan Ciwan was genuinely curious. These were the staple foods that ordinary people ate these days, and the grain tax collected by the imperial court each year mainly consisted of these kinds of grains. Almost every farming household with land would grow some grain to pay the tax. But it was very strange that Aying's family didn't grow any grain at all.

No matter how much Yan Ciwan asked, Aying stopped responding.

After entering Xiao'an Village, they encountered many villagers along the way. When the villagers saw the strangers, they all stopped and looked Yan Ciwan up and down with a wary gaze.

An older woman stopped Aying, gestured towards Yan Ciwan with her chin, and asked, "Who is this person?"

Ah Ying said succinctly, "She came to see the village chief."

"But the village chief doesn't like meeting outsiders."

Ah Ying paused for a moment before saying, "Since the person has already found her here, I'll tell the village chief first. If he refuses to see her, I can send her away later."

"Ok."

Yan Ciwan drove the donkey cart behind Aying. After walking a distance, Yan Ciwan looked back and saw that the villagers were still standing there staring at her with strange looks, which made her feel very uncomfortable.

Aying stopped in front of a courtyard and said, "This is the village chief's house. I'll go in first and say hello to him, and see if he's willing to see you."

"Okay, I'll wait for you here."

The courtyard gate was ajar. Aying pushed it open gently and walked into the courtyard, while Yan Ciwan and the donkey cart remained where they were.

Aying first called out to the village chief, and only after receiving permission did she enter the house.

A moment later, Aying returned, followed by an elderly man with gray hair.

The old man was leaning on a cane and seemed to have some difficulty walking.

With Aying's help, he stepped over the threshold and asked Yan Ciwan.

"Where is your mother?"

Yan Ciwan pointed to the cart.

The old man immediately walked to the cart and saw the middle-aged woman lying on it. He bent down slightly and stared at the woman's face carefully.

He looked up at Yan Ciwan again and asked, "Your mother's surname is Ning?"

Yan Ciwan nodded and said yes.

"Which Ning is it?"

Yan Ciwan's heart stirred slightly. She had only casually made up an identity for the envoy, but she hadn't expected the village chief to care so much about the surname Ning.

This immediately sparked a lot of speculation in her mind.

She originally thought that the sorcerer's persistent focus on her might be related to her background. Perhaps the sorcerer wanted to manipulate her to plot against the King of Xizhou or the Emperor, in order to disrupt the world and restore the old dynasty.

But now it seems she may have only guessed half right.

The sorcerer didn't really care who her father was; what he truly cared about was her mother.

Before her death, her mother left her two things: the Longevity Manual and the Ning Blade.

Does the sorcerer want the secret to immortality? Or Ning Dao? Or perhaps he has some other purpose?
Yan Ciwan's mind raced, but her expression remained unchanged. She said, "Ning, meaning peaceful and serene."

The old man stared into her eyes and continued to press, "Where is your mother's ancestral home?"

To verify her guess, Yan Ciwan decided to test the other party. She recounted her mother's life story with slight modifications.

“My mother’s ancestors lived in Cangzhou. Later, due to some troubles in the clan, my mother left her hometown with her parents. After her parents passed away, she was remarried and moved to Xizhou.”

Upon hearing the words "Xizhou," a glint of light appeared in the old man's eyes.