Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 175 Never Met
The lively atmosphere was not interrupted; someone sang a desert ballad, and everyone joined in the dancing again. The people of the Western Frontier are naturally good at dancing, and their emotions are more outwardly expressed than those of the Great Xuan people; they never deliberately hide their feelings.

Tan Huaike walked over here.

For a moment, both of them felt inexplicably tense. Shen Tu Heng gripped the hujia (a type of reed pipe) stiffly with his knuckles, while Shen Tu Zhuo wanted to drink some water to moisten his throat, but he choked and could only cough while hunched over.

Seeing his disheveled state, Tan Huaike gently patted his back and teased him with a smile: "You only sang one song and then stopped. Shen Tu Lezheng hasn't sung in a long time, so you're quite rusty."

Shentu Zhuo waved his hand to indicate that he was fine, but he was still coughing so hard that he couldn't speak.

Tan Huaike then looked at Shen Tuheng: "Lord Yansha is also in high spirits. I didn't know you could play the reed pipe. You caught up with us in Wuwei last night, didn't you?"

Shen Tu Heng nodded modestly: "In music, I am really not as good as Lord Shen Tu. I only learned the Hu Jia by chance when I was traveling in the western region. Last night, I saw that the lights of the post station were still on, so I borrowed Lord Shen Tu's tune to present to you."

At this moment, Shentu Zhuo finally stopped coughing, straightened up, and said in a deliberately romantic manner, "With her in front of me and a melody to accompany her, this is the perfect time to compose a poem on the spot."

Tan Huaike looked at him, then at Shen Tuzhuo, and felt that there was something very strange between the two.

Shen Tu Zhuo wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Tan Huai Ke.

She said to Shentu Heng, "Lord Yansha, may I speak with you in private?"

The latter naturally agreed.

Watching the two leave the circle illuminated by the campfire and go to a secluded tent to talk, Shen Tu Zhuo secretly regretted why he had drunk that water earlier, thus missing the opportunity to chat with her.

The Khotan merchant was equally disappointed. He wasn't fluent in the Da Xuan language, but just by observing how the three of them were getting along, he realized he was too late. He could only silently put away the wolf-tooth white jade and return to his seat to drink.

Shen Tu Heng unconsciously fiddled with the huqin in his hand and asked, "What is it, Madam Shen Tu?"

Tan Huaike said, "Lord Yansha, could you please remove your mask so I can get a better look?"

Shen Tu Heng paused for a moment, tucked the hujia behind his waist, obediently took off the half of the mask, and lowered his head to let her do as she pleased.

In the flickering light, Tan Huaike carefully examined the appearance of Lord Yansha before him.

The first time she saw him remove his Nuo mask, she felt a sense of familiarity. But it was just a vague feeling; she couldn't recall when or where they had met before. Now, in the firelight, that feeling inexplicably became clearer, as if trying to awaken memories buried by shifting sands…

So engrossed was Tan Huaike that he lost himself in thought and reached out to touch the burn scars on his face, remaining silent for a long time.

Her fingertips were slightly cool, like a drop of clear, cold water slowly rolling over, moistening those jagged crevices, and seeping into the heart river that had long been scorched and parched.

Fearing he might do something inappropriate, Shen Tu Heng broke the silence: "Shen Tu's wife?"

Tan Huaike then came to his senses and explained to him, "I'm sorry, I don't know why, but I always feel that Lord Yansha is someone I've only glimpsed in a fleeting moment."

"A fleeting glimpse?" Shen Tu Heng chuckled.

"Hmm." Tan Huaike said seriously, "It's like a hero I've seen in my dreams. Perhaps it's because you saved me so many times that I'm so impressed."

"Does a dream count if I've seen it?" Shentu Heng asked. "What kind of dream?"

“Everywhere are the dreams of the dead, the sand is stained red with blood, and the flames engulf everything.” Tan Huaike seemed to be immersed in his memories. “In the dream, a hero descended from the sky. He was wearing armor and holding a halberd. He was invincible… However, I only had a fleeting glimpse of him and never knew him.”

We crossed the line between life and death, traversed thousands of mountains and rivers, yet we never truly met.

Shen Tu Heng's heart stirred slightly, but he remained expressionless: "Since it was a nightmare, why dwell on it?"

Tan Huaike turned his head to look at the blazing fire, lowered his eyes and smiled: "It's just a pity that some people can only be met once in a lifetime, and some favors can never be repaid."
-
Seeing that the other person was taking off their mask, touching their scars, and saying so much nonsense, Shentu Zhuo felt annoyed and picked up the wine flask to gulp down several mouthfuls.

The Khotanese merchant recovered from his dejection and went back to singing and dancing, but he was still burning with jealousy.

Finally, Tan Huaike returned. Shen Tu Zhuo said irritably, "Oh, you still remember me? Why don't you chat with your Lord Yan Sha a little longer?"

Tan Huaike said, "He doesn't like such noisy occasions, so he went to rest in his tent first."

"If he doesn't like this kind of occasion, why is he here? To show off that he can play the huqin?" Shen Tu Zhuo continued sarcastically, "I saw that your eyes were practically glued to him, I thought you were going to follow him to his tent."

"If I go, what will you do?" Tan Huaike teased him deliberately.

"Ha, go ahead and go. If you go, I'll... I'll..." Shen Tu Zhuo gritted his teeth, "I'll bring you all some good wine and meat, and the three of us will drink until we're completely drunk!"

Tan Huaike chuckled.

She called out gently, "Shen Tu Zhuo."

The raging anger dissipated abruptly at that call, and Shentu Zhuo asked in a daze, "What?"

"What was the meaning of that song just now?" she asked, humming along. "The colorful phoenix, adorned in brocade, fiercely flies westward. The new reed pipe echoes in the azure sky, the old friend has forgotten the words... Who is the new reed pipe, and who is the old friend?"

"You know who I am... um..."

Tan Huaike silenced his words with a light kiss.

Then she pulled him up and stepped onto the leaping firelight: "Come dance! Do you know our Mohe dance?" She laughed happily, "If your Daxuan has too many rules, why don't you marry into our Mohe!"

Inspired by her, Shentu Zhuo couldn't help but chuckle and chimed in amidst the noise, "That's a great idea!"

Only when the moon was high in the sky did everyone finally rest.

The large campfire was divided into several smaller fires and placed near each tent. Yan Sha's tent was the furthest away, but it was still given a small fire.

After seeing Shen Tu Zhuo build a fire for Yan Sha, Tan Huai Ke entered his tent with a wine bag and dried meat.

She didn't disturb them and went to sleep fully clothed.

The shadows of the two brothers were reflected in the small tent.

Shen Tu Heng said, "Although she is my nominal bride, I do not want to use this to bind her, nor do I want her to feel guilty and pity towards me after learning about my past."

Shen Tu Zhuo choked up: "Brother..."

"Once the great revenge is avenged and everything settles down, if I can still return home as Shen Tu Heng to fulfill my filial duties, I will release my wife and grant her freedom, thus freeing you from the shackles that bind you. If I unfortunately die, you no longer need to regard her as your sister-in-law..."

"Brother, don't say such discouraging things! I know what I'm doing with my sister-in-law. You survived this ordeal, it must be a blessing from heaven. I will never let you be in danger again!"

Shen Tu Heng smiled and waved his hand: "Let's not talk about those things. I just want you to live more freely, just like before."

Shen Tu Zhuo raised his wine bag: "I also hope that my brother can soon be relieved of his heavy responsibilities and retire successfully."

After he finished drinking, Shen Tu Heng took the wine bag and took a sip himself, saying, "After returning to Zhangye, it will be inconvenient for me to see my mother. I need to go to Zhenxi Army to take care of some things for the Crown Prince."

"What to do?"

"Don't worry about that," Shen Tu Heng instructed. "You've been recommended for an official position, but I'm afraid your mother won't let it go easily. You... you'd better take care of yourself."

"Yes, I know..." Actually, he was still a little flustered.

"Also, protect her more. Mother is alright, but the Tan family is no good."
-
Next chapter: Family discipline will be applied.