Chapter 48: A Single Spark
The river began to curve. The girl, with her back to him, restyled her hair, changing her double-bun hairstyle into a single-bun “fallen horse” style, the two braids now a single ponytail hanging over her right shoulder.
She continued sitting there, pulling the ponytail forward and carefully combing it before braiding it.
Shi Hao found it strangely enjoyable watching her style her hair as he poled the raft.
The raft rounded a towering mountain, and they saw the men who had been heading upstream earlier returning, their expressions frustrated.
As they passed each other, the men stared at the girl combing her hair, captivated by her beauty.
The raft continued downstream, reaching a fork in the river. One path led towards a stone town, the other curved around the mountain.
Shi Hao asked, “Do you have anywhere you need to go, Miss Xiao Yan?”
Xu Xiao Yan said, “Not really.”
Shi Hao smiled, “Then shall we go to that town?”
Xu Xiao Yan said, “As you wish, sir.” She placed a hairpin in her hair, stood up, turned to Shi Hao, and asked, “How do I look?”
Shi Hao saw her standing gracefully, like a lotus flower on the water.
Her hairstyle was simple but elegant. The wooden hairpin, although not made of any precious material, complemented her hair perfectly.
The braid hanging over her shoulder swayed gently as she played with it.
Shi Hao smiled, “You look lovely.”
Xu Xiao Yan swung her braid, her hair swaying in the wind.
She smiled, her voice sweet and melodious, “That’s good!”
Shi Hao poled the raft to the stone town and docked it at the pier. They went ashore and, instead of a restaurant, found a simple eatery, ordering a few dishes and two bowls of noodle soup.
After their meal, they left the eatery. Xu Xiao Yan said, “It was nice meeting you, sir, but I’ll be on my way now.”
Shi Hao said, “Wait! You seem to have some free time, and I also happen to be free. Why don’t we travel together?”
Xu Xiao Yan tilted her head, “Why should I travel with you?”
Shi Hao smiled, “Because you know my name and my background. But I don’t trust you yet, so I want to give you more opportunities to earn my trust.”
Xu Xiao Yan said, “If you never trust me, will you kill me to silence me?”
Shi Hao said, “No.”
Xu Xiao Yan said, “Then will you let me go?”
Shi Hao said, “No.”
Xu Xiao Yan asked, puzzled, “Then what do you intend to do?”
Shi Hao smiled, “I’ll follow you until you earn my trust.”
Xu Xiao Yan said, “You might as well just kill me.”
Shi Hao chuckled, walked to the pier, looked at the river, and then fell silent.
Xu Xiao Yan floated over, “What’s wrong?”
Shi Hao said, deadpan, “Someone stole our raft.”
Deep in the mountains, a secluded village.
On the surface, it was just a bandit stronghold. Such strongholds were common, even during peaceful times, let alone in this era.
The barbarian court wasn’t particularly motivated to eliminate them. Even if they wiped out one group, another would quickly emerge. Besides, if there were no bandits, how would merchants and commoners appreciate the importance of the government?
However, this village was different. Its gates were closed, and an eerie silence hung in the air.
The “bandits” within were disciplined and organized, unlike the usual rabble who would carouse and squander their loot, living for the moment.
In a large hall within the village, a stone structure larger than a millstone sat on the floor. Two men stood beside it: Zhao Leitong, the leader of Dark Thunder’s Kan Shui Branch, and Fu Shiyuan, the leader of the Li Huo Branch.
Before them stood an old man in simple brown clothes, a common iron sword at his waist.
A young man, also dressed simply, stood silently behind the old man, like his shadow.
“Grand Leader!” Zhao Leitong said, “This is the God-Sealing Stone. Due to the urgency of the situation, we acted before you arrived. Please forgive our transgression.”
The old man shook his head, “You did well. Although I’m the Grand Leader, we’re all united by our opposition to the barbarians. The matter of the God-Sealing Stones is of utmost importance. Your decisive action in such a critical moment was the right call.”
He coughed violently. Fu Shiyuan said, “Grand Leader, your injury…”
The old man said, “It’s nothing serious.”
Zhao Leitong said, “Unfortunately, we only managed to retrieve one of the three God-Sealing Stones. Wu Liang said they were pursued by Li Ximing, the ‘Three Extremes Ghost Butcher.’ He’s a fifth-rank expert. Even I wouldn’t stand a chance against him.”
“The situation was critical, so Brother Hao Xinghua had them jump from the carriage with one of the stones, while he led Li Ximing away with the other two. His fate is currently unknown. Alas, I hope he survived.”
The old man said, “Have our men keep an eye out for him. The other two stones aren’t important. I hope such a righteous man is safe.”
Fu Shiyuan, the “Heroic Iron Eagle,” said, “This Brother Hao is courageous and resourceful. I heard he was the one who initially obtained the information about the God-Sealing Stones. Someone like him should be able to make the right decision, abandon the stones, and escape. I’m not too worried about him.”
The old man nodded, “That’s good.”
He looked at the God-Sealing Stone and, after a moment of thought, said, “Although we have one stone, the other two are likely in the hands of the demonic sects. And the barbarian court and the Chongxian Sect also possess this knowledge. We must also begin our own research. But that’s not our priority right now.”
He looked up at Fu Shiyuan, “How are the preparations on your end?”
Fu Shiyuan said, “We’re still short on supplies and weapons.”
The old man sighed, “We’re out of time. It’s time to rise up!”
Zhao Leitong and Fu Shiyuan exchanged glances. Zhao Leitong asked, “Grand Leader, isn’t it too early?”
The old man said, “The incident at Civilian Martial Ridge has exposed our organization. We’ll face intense pressure from the barbarian court. You’re relatively unknown in the martial world, but Shiyuan is a renowned hero. Someone in the barbarian army must have recognized him.”
“We don’t have time for further preparations. Shiyuan, with your reputation and the widespread resentment towards the barbarian court, our uprising will ignite a wildfire of rebellion. But a dying beast is still dangerous. As the first to rise up, we’ll face the full force of the barbarian court’s wrath. It’s a life-or-death situation…”
Fu Shiyuan said solemnly, “There’s no need for further words, Grand Leader. I, Fu Shiyuan, will stand tall. Even if I don’t live to see a new China, I will be the first to raise the banner of rebellion, letting future generations know that I, Fu Shiyuan, was the one who ignited the spark.”
Mountain winds howled, the sky darkened, and lightning flashed amidst the gathering storm clouds—
After a few days of traveling with Xu Xiao Yan through the Ba Mountains, Shi Hao entered the central plains.
The central plains referred to the vast area surrounding the capital. After establishing their rule, the barbarian court divided their territory into the central plains and eight provinces.
Entering the central plains, Shi Hao realized the situation here was far worse than in the West Shu Province.
Refugees were everywhere. Imperial soldiers were conscripting laborers from every household. Some villages were deserted, the fields abandoned. And along the roads where men were being forced into service, corpses littered the fields.
If the people of West Shu Province were suffering under heavy taxes and levies, the people of the central plains were barely surviving.
They entered White Crane City, where a large number of troops were stationed.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiao Yan noticed people whispering among themselves.
A sense of oppression hung over the city, yet beneath it, a strange excitement simmered.
The constant movement of troops, like a dark cloud blocking out the sun, brought a sense of despair.
But beneath the surface, a powerful current surged through the frozen land.
“What’s going on?” Shi Hao whispered, “Something feels wrong.”
Xu Xiao Yan pulled him towards a teahouse, “Let’s sit down and have some tea.”
They entered the teahouse. Several people were inside, but they fell silent when Shi Hao and Xu Xiao Yan entered.
They found an empty table and ordered tea. After a while, the quiet teahouse came alive with whispers.
Finally, Shi Hao and Xu Xiao Yan understood what was happening… Rebellion!
Fu Shiyuan, the “Heroic Iron Eagle,” had led a group of martial artists in capturing Tiger Subduing Pass, freeing thousands of forced laborers, and openly rebelling against the barbarian court.
Within days, heroes from all over had joined him, along with refugees fleeing their homes. Tens of thousands had gathered, raising the banner of rebellion, shaking the land.
The barbarian court was mobilizing troops to suppress the uprising.
Everyone was whispering about it, their voices low, afraid of being overheard by patrolling soldiers or Six Gates constables.
Whenever soldiers or constables passed by, they would fall silent.
But in the shadows, beyond the reach of the barbarian court and the Six Gates, news of the rebellion spread like wildfire, unstoppable.
Silence, whispers, hushed conversations, excitement… Some wept, then wiped away their tears and set out for Tiger Subduing Pass.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiao Yan left the teahouse and walked through the city, its atmosphere transformed.
Xu Xiao Yan whispered, “Hero Fu’s rebellion has little chance of success… The barbarian army is too strong.”
“Hmm,” Shi Hao also fell silent, then said slowly, “But a single spark can start a prairie fire!”
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