Временные трудности / Temporary hardships: Глава 18

Chapter 18, in which the hero discovers new culinary horizons that turn out to be very old ones in reality

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:43

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Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:43

Han Nao, then Feng, then Xing Duo, had once liked mustaches and beards. Of course, not scruffy and dirty beards like those of savages, but neat and well-groomed beards that showed the owner to be an enlightened, manly, or skillful person. All or almost all of the teachers in the crystals wore long snow-white beards. Father Guang Nao had a beautiful beard, and Mentor Buntao looked just fine. Even in his previous life, when the time came, Han had followed his father and brother's example, and Mother Lihua had claimed that his beard emphasized his masculinity!

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:44

Now, Xing considered his beard and mustache to be the test of the demons of the underworld, the wretched lot of those who had not learned the best invention of civilized mankind in the world - the sharp razor.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:45

The problem was that he had to wear them now, and they stung his lips, itched incessantly, and felt like one of the Torture Department's elaborate contraptions on his face. And, alas, there was no getting rid of the beard. Not now, not when he'd worked so hard to get it.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:48

After that epic battle, during which he had sat in a tree, heartily wishing victory for both sides of the battle, and after settling matters with the official Fu and the underlings of the despicable Gao, Xing faced a great challenge. He had a herd of nearly two dozen fine horses, a mountain of beasts, and enough weapons, armor, and equipment to arm a small band of mercenaries. In fact, Xing didn't need any of these things.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:49

The rich and noble Han Nao would probably just wave his hand and go about his scholarly business. But Xing, who had experienced hunger, poverty, and hardship, could not allow so much fine food to go to waste. And as a former apprentice blacksmith, the master blacksmith himself was not capable of leaving a weapon, though not outstanding, but still not bad, to rust and deteriorate. And the horses... The horses were just pitiful.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:51

So, even though he should have gotten out of there as soon as possible, he decided to take a gamble. He dragged all the beasts that had died near the oak tree and were resting on the spreading branches to the familiar clearing where he had heard the details of the conspiracy, cursing and cursing Gao. The assumption that his sharp, threatening qi would only keep the blood-scented beasts away for a short while proved to be true. In the end, he even had to fight a huge lizard, whose carcass soon joined its equally unlucky brethren. After the beasts, it was time for the horses: he moved them in pairs to a favorite clearing, tying them on the opposite side of the pile of furry, feathery, and scaly bodies.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:52

Even though the qi he covered the beasts with to stop decomposition completely blocked the odors, the horses were nervous and roared hysterically. Fortunately, they were warhorses trained in the blood of battle, so the only serious problem was Official Fu's harness horse, which could only be calmed down by being put to sleep with the help of healing qi.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:54

Xing then dragged all the decent equipment of the enemies who had been stripped naked beforehand and also dug out the money that had been hidden for over two years. Xing realized that now that he had obtained the treasury of Gao's squad and the bribe money of the corrupt official Fu, this amount, once so huge, looked insignificant. But the peasant's prudence did not allow him to leave even a bent coin.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:55

He didn't know why he had thought it such a great idea to use the Purple Oak log, but he cursed the moment it had occurred to him. He'd worked on the branch until almost sundown. And then, as he tossed the log with the papers attached and enjoyed the look on his mentor's face, he couldn't help thinking that any other wood would have worked just as well.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:53

What could have gone wrong with his plan? Absolutely, absolutely everything! Fortunately, the gods of luck were still looking in his direction, so no one had passed along the road that ran along the edge of the Forest of a Dozen Steps, as usual.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 19:56

Xing went to bed very tired. Not in body, for his qi was still buzzing as usual, but in spirit, which had been exhausted by the day's dragging of dead beasts and people and the painful cutting of the stupid branch. And the anxiety of waiting for trouble did not allow, despite the vast experience of sleeping in all suitable and inappropriate places, to sleep properly.

Camrad_RIP 19.01.24 в 20:03

Early in the morning, as soon as the sun shone its first rays on the earth, Xing set out for Zhumen, leading a caravan of horses tied together by a long rope. Official Fu's horse, which now did not have to pull a heavy lacquered wagon or be in a clearing with such horrible and ferocious dead monsters, was quite cheerful. The other horses, who were used to obeying only their masters, bucked and resisted, so they had to be urged on again by the intimidating and overwhelming qi.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 17:32

Fortunately, Zhumen's marketplace was outside the city walls. Xing was not afraid of being seen by the city guards, but he didn't want to take any unnecessary risks. He passed several horse dealers until he chose one whose qi he liked better than the others. He stood and watched him look into the horses' teeth and examine their hooves.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 17:39

Xing had never been good at acting. He simply had no need to learn the art of theater. But now, dressed in the hated Gao clan colors and scratching the beard he had cut from the previous wearer, he was the epitome of arrogant irritation.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 17:40

"Well, merchant!" he bellowed in all sincerity. "Do you take it or not?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:05

"I can't," the merchant said. "How do I know these horses aren't stolen?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:06

"So you, you despicable soul, are accusing me, Han Gao, of stealing horses?" Xing asked menacingly with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I think your tongue is too agile and needs to be shortened."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:06

"I am a subject of the Emperor!" shouted the merchant.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:07

"A despicable commoner who insulted a member of the Gao clan!" Xing corrected him. "Don't worry, my clan will compensate your widow."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:07

"No, no, Mr. Gao!" the merchant immediately backtracked. "I don't doubt your words in the slightest. But you do realize."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:08

"Do you find me suspicious?" Xing asked curtly.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:08

"Of course not! There is no doubt about the reputation of Gao and all the members of your great family! But still, you will agree, I will have to give an explanation when someone asks where this worthy young man got so many horses and why I bought them."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:09

Xing hesitated for the sake of order, staring intently at the merchant. The direct stare made him squirm and stumble, his qi expressing complete panic. Finally, Xing replied as if reluctant.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:09

"Did you see my squad?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:09

"Yes, of course! You left the South Gate yesterday morning! Along with the esteemed assistant to the Second Jasper Judge."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:10

"Well, that'll save us a lot of unnecessary explanations. Do you know who lives in that direction?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:11

"The Forest of a Dozen Steps! Only an idiot would settle... You mean the venerable blacksmith, Master Gong Buntao?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:11

"You're smarter than you look," Xing nodded condescendingly, and the fear in the merchant's qi was replaced by anger and resentment. "What do you know about the First Heir of the Gao Clan?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:12

"Nothing, my lord. The affairs of your great clan are far above this unworthy merchant."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:29

"Unworthy? Well said! Well, well, don't make that face. It's not about you. You're no worse or better than any of your vile peddling tribe."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 19:18

Xing felt that all apprehension in the merchant's qi had faded into the background, replaced by a burning hatred.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 19:20

"Well, the heir to the Gao clan has awakened qi! And since he wasn't born in a filthy stable like you and the people of this shithole, he deserves the best weapons! Do you understand?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 19:21

"Not really, Mr. Gao."

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 19:21

"No wonder! It's not like cheating honest people. Weapons! The finest weapons! And for some reason, a decent blacksmith has settled in this godforsaken city!"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 19:21

"I still can't figure out what this has to do with horses," the merchant muttered, eyes downcast and hatred in his qi.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:29

"The clan heir's weapon is the guan dao!" Xing said slowly, as if speaking to a retarded person. "And if a good metal can be taken care of by a blacksmith, then for the Purple Oak, whose wood is the only worthy of the heir, he wanted to charge... that is, he has no Purple Oak at all! And only we, the great warriors of the Gao clan, can get it!"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:28

The merchant nodded subserviently, but a flash of fierce burning gloating showed that he understood perfectly well what his interlocutor was getting at.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:28

"As one of the best warriors in the squad, I have been assigned a very important mission!" Xing stuck out his chin. "To guard the horses from the sneaky and jealous enemies! If I were to go to the forest, we would definitely return with Purple Oak!"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:25

"And the official Fu?" The merchant almost interrupted. His face was deferential and obsequious, but his qi showed he was laughing.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:25

"He went with the squad, of course!" Xing confirmed merchant's guess. "After all, the safest place in the Empire is near the Gao warriors! But they did not return, apparently, the squad was ambushed by the enemies! Could not be the cause of death of some miserable beast?"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:26

"And you want to sell the horses?" the merchant steered the conversation in a businesslike direction.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:24

"Of course! You're a fool if you think someone can lead two dozen horses to Gao Manor alone! It was dangerous to stay... for the horses, yes, not for me, just for the horses! I, ha ha, could easily slay all the beasts, but the horses would suffer in the process. Besides, I've got to get home as soon as possible to deliver the news!"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:23

The merchant bowed again, and the hue of his qi changed once more. Laughter and gloating were joined by a strong contempt for that cowardly good-for-nothing "Han Gao" who had fled, heels blazing, as soon as the squad was lost in the Forest. And Xing would not be Xing unless the whole of Zhumen, and the whole province the day after that, were talking about the shameful deaths of Gao's warriors and official Fu!

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:22

"Hey, are you deaf? I said "soon"! That means you have to move your lazy ass! Gao family members don't bargain, so if you don't give me a fair price, I'll chop off your legs!"

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:21

Xing was sure that he would be ripped off to the last zheng, but he didn't expect to get a good price for the horses. However, whether it was the threat or the horses were much better than he thought, the merchant gave him a good price.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:20

With a careless gesture, showing that a member of the Gao clan was not supposed to care about this despicable money, he stuffed the coins into his shoulder bag and headed away. When he reached the large wooden building of the common latrine, Xing went inside, made sure there was no one around, and quickly changed his clothes. The hateful beard and mustache he had kept on his face with his inner energy all this time went to the hole in the floor, the place where all Gao were supposed to stay forever. His clothes also went there, bursting into flames from the fire qi and instantly turning to ash.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:19

Xing Duo, a disciple of the great master Gong Buntao, who was known throughout Zhumen, came out. He calmly walked through the market and bought a large cart for carrying heavy construction materials, pulled by four oxen, at almost double the price. They were calm, unhurried animals that even a child could handle, unlike horses.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:18

Xing loaded the weapons and supplies onto the cart, piled the carcasses of the beasts on top, and finally covered it with the Purple Oak branches left over from the preparation of the message to the Master.

Camrad_RIP 20.01.24 в 18:18