Section 03: The Human World

The confused master brought along a confused apprentice, who didn't even know that His Majesty ascended the throne last year. Remember, it is now the second year of the Zhenguan era. As for where the grain is to be transported, that is a military matter. The robust man was filled with disdain for Yun Ye's question, as if everyone in the world should already know that his great Emperor Li Er ascended the throne last year

I have lived in the deep mountains with my esteemed teacher since childhood. Not long ago, my master passed away. After three months of mourning for my late teacher, the place where I resided was washed away by a flash flood. With no choice but to descend the mountain, I unexpectedly encountered a pack of wolves at the foot of the mountain. Fortunately, I managed to escape, which has led to my current state. I have decided to head to Chang'an and would appreciate it if you could inform me how far it is to Lanzhou.

Yun Ye looked at this group of ancient people with great interest. Their blue robes reached the knees, paired with trousers made of hemp, and they wore cowhide sandals on their feet. Their hair was styled in a high bun, secured with a wooden stick. Is this the attire of commoners? A few others were dressed in leather armor, with swords slung at their waists, exuding an imposing presence. The leader, a robust man with a full beard, noticed Yun Ye peering from the side and strode over to him, gripping his sword firmly.

Sweat dripped down from my chin. Wangcai leaned over and licked my sweat with his tongue, as if to comfort himself

The man from the Han dynasty sheathed his sword, staring intently at Yun Ye from top to bottom. He even approached to sniff, saying, "There is no smell of sheep, he is from Guanzhong. What is this little brat running around for!"

Then you can cry a little more, and by the way, help your master cry a bit too

After crossing a meadow, the sounds of people became audible. Following the sound, I saw a dozen or so ox carts parked in a circle by the roadside, each displaying a flag with a large character "Tang" fluttering in the wind. Yun Ye's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, having returned to the Tang Dynasty, he was unaware of who the emperor was.

Then why are you crying

What to do when encountering a wolf

The Han man did not let go of the knife in his hand, pausing in mid-air, his eyes filled with suspicion: "Eh, the lad from Guanzhong, how did you end up in Longyou? Where is your master?"

Great, the familiar dialect of Guanzhong. Yun Ye quickly stepped back, waving his hands in confusion, and spoke in Shaanxi dialect: "This brave man, who is a Qiang person? You must have mistaken the person."

For some reason, the little horse struggled to stand up, glanced at the direction where the herd had departed, and slowly made its way towards Yun Ye. Yun Ye heard the sound of the little horse's footsteps but did not turn around; he merely slowed his pace. When Yun Ye stopped, the little horse stopped; when Yun Ye walked, the little horse walked. They moved forward and paused intermittently, a person and a horse, walking with deep sentiment by the riverside.

The riverbank was strewn with rocks, and Yun Ye walked steadily. Just last night, he vowed to no longer be weak. His wife and children were held close in his heart, filling his chest with warmth. He intended to venture into this unknown world with his family, believing that as long as they were not in a savage land, it would not be difficult to establish a home here with his skillful hands. He no longer feared any ferocious beasts; no matter how dire the situation, it could not be worse than this. Leaving the herd of horses behind, he faced survival alone in this wilderness, considering it the first step towards living here. He intended to venture into this unknown world with his family, believing that as long as they were not in a savage land, it would not be difficult to establish a home here with his skillful hands. He no longer feared any ferocious beasts; no matter how dire the situation, it could not be worse than this. Leaving the herd of horses behind, he faced survival alone in this wilderness, considering it the first step towards living here.

This name is too flashy; one without a certain level of cultivation cannot come up with such a name

The heavens silently cast me onto the wilderness to fend for myself, and I have come to terms with it. Let us live splendidly in this world, and in the future, enjoy the good life together, with you also sharing in the blessings.

A sudden clatter of hooves startled Yun Ye awake. He quickly sat up and looked in surprise towards the dense forest on his right, from where the sound was coming. Wang Cai also stood up, obediently staying beside him, wagging his tail without barking or moving.

Gentlemen, to where is the grain being transported? What year is it now? In the mountains, one loses track of time; I kindly ask for your guidance.

Wang Cai was held tightly by the strong man and refused to let go, immediately biting down. As the strong man relaxed his grip, he raised his left hand to dodge, while his right hand swiftly grabbed Wang Cai's chin. Wang Cai cried out in pain, and the strong man laughed heartily, releasing his hold. He then pressed down on Wang Cai's back and exclaimed, "Good horse!"

This is a trace of human civilization, winding its way into the distance, running parallel to the Yellow River. Yun Ye concluded that this is the main road connecting to Lanzhou, which may now be called the expressway. Just moments ago, two ancient figures rode past on horseback, and Yun Ye felt it was strange. Although he had seen many ancient people, they were merely mummies and dried corpses; the beauty of Xin Zhui from Mawangdui was no different!

Standing by the river, carefully washing away the filth from the body with the river water, the clothes are in tatters, barely covering the body after nearly a month of struggles. After cleaning them thoroughly, they are tied back on. Fortunately, the backpack is made of soft cowhide and shows no signs of damage. Seeing Wangcai covered in mud, I take the opportunity to wash him as well; the icy river water splashes onto him, and Wangcai happily barks "heihei".

Do you know, I followed a leader with no future, and we agreed that once you follow me, you must not have any regrets

Yun Ye found the presence of people, and at this moment when he was about to return to the crowd, he appeared hesitant. Heaven or hell? Should he take this step? In this world, he is a non-existent person, like a pool of still water; if a stone is thrown in, will the ripples drown him? The unknown is terrifying, and for someone who knows nothing about this world, he is filled with immense fear.

The afternoon sunlight cast a serene and desolate glow on the deserted ancient path, which for Yun Ye represented a journey into the unknown, a step towards paradise and a step towards hell

Yun Ye cleaned its wound and applied precious white medicine to it, believing that in just a few days, the wound would heal. Yun Ye regarded this as a final act of gratitude towards the herd of horses. Then, he waved goodbye to it and set off on the path to find the crowd

The other burly men laughed heartily upon seeing Yun Ye and Wang Cai in such a predicament. Wang Cai, afraid of encountering strangers, hid behind Yun Ye and secretly observed these individuals. The leading strong man was also looking at Yun Ye. Noticing that Yun Ye's clothes were torn by branches and thorns, resembling tattered rags, he saw that although they were damaged, they were exquisitely crafted, with an unusual style, and the fabric seemed like hemp but was definitely not ordinary. Furthermore, seeing Yun Ye's delicate features, tender skin, and slender hands, it was evident that he was not a child of an ordinary family. He wore a pair of leather boots that looked peculiar yet fit well. Unable to help but feel a bit regretful for his earlier rudeness, he softened his tone and asked, "Where does the young master wish to go?"

"Do you not like it? Is it not a great thing for Your Majesty to ascend the throne?" The strong man, seeing Yun Ye's pale face and unsteady demeanor, glared at him with a fierce look, as if to say that if Yun Ye uttered even a half-hearted refusal, that sword would surely strike at his neck.

The hoofprints were deeply imprinted in the yellow sand, and behind them, a small horse limped closely in pursuit. This was an injured horse abandoned by the herd, its hind leg's skin torn by wolves, quickly rotting under the scorching sun. In the early morning, the herd went to graze on the prairie, leaving it alone by the river to await its fate

By the time Yun Ye, panting, chopped down the last bush, the sound of hooves had gradually faded away. Watching the dust on the yellow earth road settle, Yun Ye burst into laughter. With tears and snot smeared all over his face, he paid no mind and threw himself onto the yellow soil, crying out loud.

Overwhelmed with joy and moved to tears

Yun Ye set down his backpack and examined its wound. Fortunately, the wound had not torn open. It was unclear whether it was the miraculous effect of the medicine or the pony's good constitution, but the wound had surprisingly formed a layer of membrane. No wonder it had been able to follow for so long. Yun Ye rested his head on the backpack, chewing on the remaining wolf meat. There was not much food left, so he decided to conserve it. The pony lay beside Yun Ye, intermittently chewing on the grass that Yun Ye had cut for it.

Yun Ye chattered on and on, while Wang Cai listened with his eyes closed. Before long, Yun Ye's voice grew softer and softer, until it became inaudible...

Yun Ye sat heavily on the protruding tree root, unfastened his clothing, and took a large, satisfying sip of water, feeling the heat dissipate. Just as he was about to take a short rest, a pony approached, gently nudging him with its head, seemingly wanting to drink water. Yun Ye took out a flat-bottomed pot, filled it with water, and the pony, not being polite, lowered its head and began to drink heartily.

Lanzhou is less than sixty miles from here; with your physique and a wounded horse, it will take you two days

Yun Ye felt as if his head had been struck heavily by a giant hammer. In the second year of the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin, the Prince of Qin, had ultimately fallen victim to the dark schemes of a wormhole, having been thrown back to thirteen hundred years ago. Thinking of his wife and children, who were now completely out of reach, filled him with deep sorrow. He murmured to himself, "How can I possibly live for so long?"

There are two horses, their hooves striking the ground rapidly and rhythmically; this is not the galloping of wild horses. Yun Ye felt a rush of blood to his head as he grabbed the entrenching tool and dashed towards the woods like the wind, cutting through the weeds and cleaving the bushes, startling countless birds into flight. Wang Cai kept his distance, unable to comprehend why his master and elder brother was acting so frantically.

Are you just going to follow me like this? I don't even know where I'm going, you deserve your misfortune

Do not spit, anyway I really like this name, look at you, covered in mud spots, it would be a loss not to call you by this name

Striding along the yellow earth road, it no longer matters where I am headed, as this broad path always leads to signs of human habitation. The footprints, hoofprints, and wheel tracks on the road are becoming increasingly dense, and I believe I am getting closer to the village and the city. The panic in my heart has long since dissipated; when faced with the situation, one must be bold.

How could one not like it? Your Majesty's ascension to the throne should be a cause for universal celebration

The midday sun became intense, and sweat soaked through the clothes. Yun Ye found a patch of shade, which was provided by a massive locust tree. Its twisted branches covered a full half acre, and beneath the tree, there was only a short stretch of grass, making it an excellent place to rest

There are no adults, the master has passed away, and I came out of the mountain alone, just me.

From now on, you shall be called Wangcai, bringing us abundant wealth. How does that sound

The young Qiang man, daring to rob the grain cart, truly has great audacity!" After saying this, the gleaming broadsword was drawn, ready to strike down.