Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 174 A Song in the Fire

Tan Huaike couldn't sleep at night. The closer it got to Yangguan, the more restless she felt. Admittedly, there were many things to worry about regarding the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce and her own shops, but her restlessness didn't stem from those.

It's like the trepidation of returning home after traversing countless mountains and rivers, or the bewilderment of turning around to face one's former self.

It was a restless energy mixed with tension and excitement.

She truly felt that the vows she had made—whether it was to avenge her father and brothers who had died tragically in the valley, or to carve out a place for herself in the trade between Da Xuan and the Western Regions—were about to be fulfilled.

The moon hung in the sky, not yet full, but it still gave her hope.

Tan Huaike leaned against the window, his hands pressed together, his index finger bent and his thumb pinched, and he closed his eyes to pray to the God of Monroe, wishing that the people he cared about would be healthy, safe and sound, and free from disasters and difficulties.

It seems that the King of Qin's journey has been relatively smooth, but one wonders if he encountered any dangers behind the scenes, and whether the elusive and untraceable Lord Yansha is doing well...

Tan Huaike always felt a strange sense of familiarity with him, but as if they had known each other for a long time, there was also a strange sense of estrangement.

Just as they were worrying about his whereabouts, a melodious sound of a huqin (a type of reed pipe instrument) suddenly came from afar.

It was a somewhat familiar melody, its notes scattered and broken by the night wind of Hexi, as if the final notes had been ground down by sand. Its low notes were filled with sighs and lamentations, conveying the desolation of a life's ups and downs, while its high notes were like an ardent outpouring, as if one had countless thoughts to share with someone they longed for, yet was unable to speak them due to helplessness.

Tan Huaike lay back on the couch and listened quietly to the musician's playing.

The melody was like a gentle soothing balm, finally calming her suppressed pain and confusion, and accompanying her to a peaceful sleep.

The next day they set off again, and Tan Huaike couldn't help but ask, "Did you hear the sound of the Huqin last night?"

Fu Feng was bewildered: "Hujia? Who would play the hujia so late at night? I always sleep soundly, I didn't hear it... Oh dear, could it be that there's a tavern nearby? I should have wandered around more, maybe even gotten a drink."

Tan Huaike then looked at Shen Tu Zhuo.

This person is skilled in music and very quick-witted; surely he couldn't have missed it?

Unexpectedly, Shentu Zhuo avoided her gaze and casually said, "Perhaps some drunkard went crazy in the middle of the night and played it for fun. The tune is not bad, it uses the melody of one of my Xianghe songs, which shows that my music is highly respected in the four prefectures."

No wonder it sounded familiar; it turns out to be an old tune composed by Shen Tu Zhuo.

"Look how pleased you are with yourself." Tan Huai Ke curled his lips and mocked, "I almost forgot, our Lord Shen Tu is a notorious playboy in the village, a frequent visitor to brothels."

“…Let’s not talk about that,” Shen Tu Zhuo said awkwardly.
-
The towns in Hexi were far apart, so they had to stay in the wilderness tonight. They happened to run into a caravan heading to the Central Plains. After testing each other and finding nothing suspicious, they gathered together and set up camp.

When there are many people, things get lively. Everyone lights a big bonfire, exchanges a few words, and shares some dried beef and mutton. That's how they become friends who met by chance.

The caravan included people from the Western Frontier and people from the Great Xuan Kingdom; their different languages ​​mingled, and they chatted quite happily.

Shentu Zhuo asked them a few questions about the current trade routes. The merchants didn't mince words; one of them scoffed, "Trade routes? Can those even be considered routes? There's a folk song in the Western Regions these days; haven't you all heard it?"

"What folk song?" Shen Tu Zhuo asked with great interest.

"A song passed down in the caravans." The man from the western border raised his wine flask, took a sip, stood up, whistled, and began to sing loudly in the Khotanese with messy dance steps.

Fu Feng listened and applauded him, also translating for him.

Ten cartloads of goods came from the west.

The two vehicles were given to the cavalry in exchange for their heads.

The two carts were given to the bandits to clear the road.
Don't forget to throw a cartload of food to the hungry wolves and jackals.
A cartload of jewels should be buried in the sand.
Send two more carts to smash that Yangguan Pass.
The remaining two trucks were taken into the city to sell.

How much you earn depends entirely on guessing.

Ten cartloads of goods came from the west.

Let's see if I'll still be around next time.

The man sang and danced, seemingly finding joy in hardship, which left Shen Tu Zhuo with mixed feelings. It seemed the merchants from the Western Kingdoms and the Great Xuan had long suffered along this shabby trade route. Threatened and intimidated by cavalry and roaming with bandits, they were merely trying to make a living, yet constantly had to risk their lives, hampered by various obstacles—truly a hardship for them. His journey was arduous and long; if he could establish a new trade route, it would not only benefit the present but also future generations.

Tan Huaike personally experienced the hardships of the old trade routes, but he never expected that his story would be turned into a folk song. It seems that the situation in the western region was becoming increasingly chaotic, and business was becoming more and more difficult.

To ease the somber atmosphere, Tan Huaike and his caravan engaged in some small business, the simplest being barter. Later, as the head of the Guangli Chamber of Commerce, he forged a good relationship with them.

Fu Feng nudged her secretly and said, "You're quite good at winning people over."

Tan Huaike whispered, "The fact that these merchants can still do business between the two sides under such harsh conditions shows that they are all very wealthy. It is precisely when they have concerns and difficulties that we should befriend them so that we can benefit each other in the future."

After eating and drinking for a while, everyone started singing and dancing around the campfire.

Tan Huaike was also pulled up, and the Khotanese singer from earlier even offered her a wolf fang ornament as a gift. Tan Huaike hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand and refused.

Seeing this, Shentu Zhuo turned to Fufeng and asked, "Wasn't she trying to make friends? Why didn't she accept the other party's gift?"

Fu Feng had just finished eating a roasted lamb leg and was sucking on his fingers when he said, "I'll pass on any other gifts, but wolf fangs paired with white jade—that's the Khotanese courting us. How could I dare accept such a gift so casually?"

Shentu Zhuo couldn't sit still any longer: "Huh? Why are you suddenly proposing? You people from the Western Border are too absurd!"

He hurriedly followed, grabbed Tan Huaike's hand, and glared fiercely at the Khotan merchant.

The Khotanese merchants were still not satisfied and asked in broken Mandarin, "Who...who are you to her?"

Shen Tu Zhuo angrily said, "Me? I am her...it's her..."

Just as he was speechless, a clear and melodious sound of a huqin (a type of Chinese reed pipe) suddenly rang out. Everyone looked over in unison and saw a person wearing a half-mask slowly walking towards them.

His sudden arrival immediately alerted the group of merchants.

Tan Huaike happily went to greet him: "Lord Yansha, it's you!" She recognized the tune he was playing; it was the same one that had been played last night. "You're willing to travel with us?"

Seeing that they were companions, the caravan relaxed.

Shen Tu Heng looked down at her, a smile in his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the wolf-tooth white jade in the hands of the Khotan merchant, and continued playing his music.

Upon learning that he was safe and sound, Tan Huaike was overjoyed and began to dance to the music.

Shen Tu Zhuo glanced at his elder brother and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Yes, who is he to Tan Huaike? What right does he have to stop someone else from expressing their feelings to her? But how could he accept defeat? Even if he is his own brother, her nominal husband, he can't just steal her away.

Besides, this was a piece he composed.

A piece of music composed specifically for her.

So he joined in, singing along to the song—

A woman, as beautiful as a pearl, dances amidst the crimson flames.

A bright moon rises from the ashes, its fiery light illuminating the sleepless.

A colorful phoenix, adorned in brocade, bravely heads westward.

The new reed pipe echoes in the azure sky, while the old friend suddenly forgets his words.

After the dance ended, Tan Huaike stopped.

She was still catching her breath as she looked at the two of them through the roaring campfire.

Next chapter: A person who seems to have been glimpsed only briefly.