Chapter Twenty-Five: A Journey of Three
Lingshan County lies on the shore of Qinzhou Bay in Guangnan West Circuit, situated in the upper reaches of the Qin River. In the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui dynasty, Nanbin County was first established. In the tenth year of the Zhenyuan era of the Tang dynasty, it was renamed Lingshan County, taking its name from the Western Ling Mountain near the county seat.
In the fifth year of the Kaibao era of the Song dynasty, the counties of Zunhua, Qinjiang, and Neiting were abolished, their lands incorporated into Lingshan. Lingshan County remained under the jurisdiction of Qinzhou in Guangnan West Circuit.
The county seat rests beneath the stony Six Peaks. Lingshan boasts clear mountains and waters, with a population of over ten thousand households, several tens of thousands of people, making it one of the larger county towns in Qinzhou and even in Guangnan West Circuit.
“Hanyan, once we cross this creek, we’ll be within the borders of Lingshan County. I have accompanied you for a thousand miles, but all journeys must end. I shall take my leave here. Take care, my brother,” said Yao Yu, standing before a babbling brook south of Lingshan’s city walls, cupping his hands to Li Sanjian.
Yao Yu had learned that Li Sanjian was a disciple of Su Shi, yet Li Sanjian was oblivious that Su Zhe—the man destined to be Yao Yu’s teacher—was Su Shi’s own brother. The two men were soon to become fellow disciples, but Li Sanjian knew nothing of this. After parting ways, Yao Yu, unable to trust the silly, soon-to-be junior brother Li Sanjian to travel alone to Lingshan, secretly followed to watch over him.
When Li Sanjian nearly suffered losses at the Bo Yi Market, Yao Yu stepped forward. The authorities, seeing the commotion escalating, intervened and settled the deal at a fair price. Thus, Li Sanjian purchased a robust man, a little girl, and more than ten servants for two gold leaves and four taels of gold, received written contracts, and officially became their master at the government office. However, this also brought him countless troubles: his wealth was now exposed, and he was accompanied by over ten followers—an imposing figure, a veritable magnate.
“Brother Shuxing, are you leaving already?” Li Sanjian’s eyes were wet as he looked at Yao Yu, the reluctance plain on his face.
With Yao Yu acting as “bodyguard,” Li Sanjian had arrived safely in Lingshan County, Qinzhou, and with Yao Yu’s presence, he had avoided many troubles, making him genuinely loath to see him depart.
“Haha, all feasts must end,” Yao Yu replied with a smile. “There will surely be a day when we brothers meet again.”
Along the way, the two had spoken of everything, becoming close friends. Yao Yu believed Li Sanjian’s reluctance stemmed from deep brotherly affection. If he had known that Li Sanjian only wished for a permanent “bodyguard,” perhaps he would have cut ties immediately.
“In that case, thank you, Brother Shuxing, for all your care,” Li Sanjian said helplessly, seeing Yao Yu’s resolve to depart.
“He... perhaps you should take him with you,” Li Sanjian said, glancing at the robust man clinging to his side.
“Master...” The robust man, bowing his strong frame, murmured in grievance.
“Brother Master, are you sending me away too? Please don’t drive me off—I can do many things!” the little girl beside him said, aggrieved.
Li Sanjian had purchased a dozen servants, including the robust man and the little girl, but he later returned their contracts, granting them freedom.
He had no choice: he was heading to Lingshan to study—what sense was there in bringing a troop of servants? Besides, he couldn’t afford so many mouths.
Most of the servants left joyfully after thanking him, and Li Sanjian gave them some money for their journey.
He had already exchanged all his gold for copper coins at the government office, making it easier to use. During the exchange, officials delayed and deducted, causing him some losses; but Li Sanjian did not mind—had he not planned a long period of study, he would have given away all his wealth.
Nearly all the servants departed, but the robust man stubbornly refused to leave, determined to follow Li Sanjian wherever he went, leaving him utterly helpless.
The little girl was also difficult to settle. She had been tricked by agents, knew nothing of her hometown, and wasn’t even certain she was a Song subject. Li Sanjian couldn’t bear to send her away, so he kept her by his side, planning to entrust her to his mother, Lady Fu, when he returned to Qiongtai.
Li Sanjian was at his wit's end regarding the robust man, so he begged Yao Yu to take him along, trusting Yao Yu could find a proper arrangement.
Yao Yu glanced at the robust man and shook his head, saying, “Hanyan, you may not know, but there are people in this world who, once you show them the slightest kindness, will remember it forever and follow you for life. He is such a person. He’s decided to follow you—you could kill him, and he still wouldn’t leave.”
“Master...” The robust man, clearly not Han, could only repeat these two words.
His thick eyebrows drooped in distress, as if he were about to cry, but it looked more like he was winking at Li Sanjian—utterly comical.
“This...” Li Sanjian looked at the robust man, then the little girl, then at Yao Yu, torn and indecisive.
“Haha!” Yao Yu patted Li Sanjian’s shoulder and laughed, “Hanyan, let me tell you, this man is gifted with extraordinary strength. If properly instructed in martial arts, he’ll surely be able to protect you.”
Li Sanjian spread his hands, “Brother Shuxing, I am weak as a chicken—what can I do?”
Yao Yu rolled his eyes—not expecting this bookish youth to teach martial arts himself.
He then took a book from his bosom and handed it to Li Sanjian, saying, “Hanyan, let him start with this to strengthen his body. Later, you can find him a good teacher.”
“Oh, thank you, Brother Shuxing,” said Li Sanjian, tucking the book away without even checking the title.
He wondered if the robust man could read—was he supposed to teach him to write as well? Li Sanjian mused silently.
“Well, it’s getting late. I must take my leave now. Hanyan, you should enter the city soon.” Yao Yu cupped his hands in farewell.
“Take care, Brother. Until we meet again,” Li Sanjian said, bowing respectfully.
After their parting, Li Sanjian looked at his two odd companions—one big, one small—and could only smile wryly.
“Master...” called the robust man.
The little girl, seeing Li Sanjian’s melancholy, tugged his hand and asked in a childish voice, “Brother Master, are you... angry?”
Li Sanjian sighed deeply and waved, “Let’s go.”
The robust man, delighted, hoisted Li Sanjian’s book chest and a bundle of copper coins, standing behind him. Though he couldn’t speak the language, he understood well enough.
Li Sanjian bent to lift the little girl, preparing to set off.
The robust man gestured behind him with his hands.
“Hold tight, don’t fall,” Li Sanjian said, placing the girl atop the book chest.
“Riding a big horse, riding a big horse!” The little girl, astride the chest, laughed joyfully. The robust man grinned, and the three set off briskly toward Lingshan.
Had the robust man not deliberately slowed, he would have left Li Sanjian far behind.
“Do you have a name?” Li Sanjian asked as they walked.
The robust man shook his large head, “Master...”
“No need to call me that,” said Li Sanjian. “Just call me Li Sheng.”
Being called “Master” at every turn made Li Sanjian uncomfortable and unaccustomed.
“Master...”
“I told you not to call me that...”
“Master...”
“All right, all right, call me whatever you please,” Li Sanjian said helplessly.
“Since you can’t remember your name, let me name you. You are strong as an ox, tall as a mountain—how about Mountain Chief?”
The robust man nodded enthusiastically.
“Mountain Chief, Mountain Chief Brother, what a nice name,” clapped the little girl. “Brother Master, I want a nice name too!”
Li Sanjian rose on his tiptoes and pinched the girl’s apple-red cheeks, smiling, “You, you’ll be called Sprout.”
“Brother Master, why Sprout? But it sounds nice,” she asked, tilting her head in thought.
“Because you look like a little bean sprout,” Li Sanjian replied gently.
“Brother Master...”
“Stop calling me that—just call me Brother,” Li Sanjian said.
Born to a poor family, Li Sanjian already had someone calling him “Master” and refusing to change, and now another—he was about to lose his mind.
“Yes...” Sprout thought Li Sanjian was angry, so she looked at him timidly and answered.
Li Sanjian sighed inwardly—Sprout, so young, had already learned to read faces; she should be cuddling in her mother’s arms, yet she had grown meek and cautious.
He could only imagine the suffering Sprout had endured. Feeling pity, he tugged Mountain Chief’s ragged sleeve; Mountain Chief crouched, and Li Sanjian gently whispered in Sprout’s ear, “Brother likes being called Brother; ‘Master’ doesn’t sound good at all...”
“Brother, Brother...” Sprout murmured, falling asleep in Li Sanjian’s arms.
He took a piece of cotton and draped it over her, her small form curled up in his embrace, sleeping sweetly.
As the sun set, outside Lingshan’s city walls, three figures appeared—an odd trio: one strong as an ox and tall as a mountain, one a scholar who was neither truly scholarly nor fully a foreigner, and one a clever, adorable girl of five or six. Passersby stared in wonder at the sight.