Chapter 646

Chapter 646: The Abundant Dream

Traveling through Min Ze, the tall and short reeds were scattered among the shallow waters and marshes, some stretching out endlessly towards the distant horizon.

Lolan Hill, sitting in the carriage, looked at the water by the roadside, where unknown insects floated on the surface, some walking on the water like spiders. Occasionally, strange fish would spurt fine water columns, striking insects off the reeds and then swallowing them.

The wheels of the carriage rolled over the grass-covered road, sometimes encountering one or two snakes, which were driven away by the merchants ahead and pushed to the side of the road, not killed. These snakes would quickly slither into the grass and disappear.

As night approached, the clouds in the sky pressed down heavily, making people feel stiflingly hot and restless. Some dragonflies flew low, skimming over the reed beds and the water, searching for food.

At this moment, the girl finally understood why everyone said Min Ze was difficult to traverse and full of poisonous insects. The path they were now on had been developed and maintained over many years by the residents and merchants of the mountains. If they had wandered around aimlessly, they might have accidentally stepped into a marsh and sunk into the mud, unable to climb out.

Just as she was thinking about this, a familiar voice came from behind her.

“This part of the road is indeed hard to travel, but once we get through, everything will be better.” Yu Baichou rode an old horse to catch up with the girl’s carriage. Behind him, a small donkey was quickening its pace, carrying Lolan Hill’s box on its back.

“Mm, Uncle Yu, how did you come in back then? Was it with the merchants too?”

“Not exactly. I relied on an old friend to take me in on a Panbird.”

“I didn’t expect this brother would dare ride a Panbird; he must be very brave,” said a merchant who was traveling with the convoy, looking at Yu Baichou with admiration.

“What’s wrong with the Panbird?” asked the curious girl.

“The Panbird is a kind of exotic beast, about three meters long, capable of carrying one or two people when fully grown, and preferring to fly at night,” explained a man in his twenties wearing a dark gray coat, who was driving the horses ahead.

“It doesn’t sound particularly special. Why is it considered so brave?” Lolan Hill continued asking.

“Panbirds can be ridden, but they are rare and hard to raise. Most troubling is that their cries are terrifying and can easily disturb others, causing trouble. Additionally, they carry a foul odor that most people find unbearable, and it takes several weeks to dissipate.”

The merchant went on to explain various details about exotic beasts used for transportation. As a seasoned merchant, he naturally knew much about different creatures.

“That elder is right. Panbirds aren’t popular, but sometimes when money is tight, one has to make do,” he laughed.

“This brother seems quite free-spirited. Indeed, we travelers just want to stay safe, and that’s more important than anything else.”

“Although Panbirds aren’t liked, they have their advantages. Because they prefer to fly at night and can see well in the dark, they avoid many flying beasts. Their frightening calls scare away weaker spirits, and their stench deters even powerful beasts, keeping them at bay.”

“In that case, riding a Panbird could be a safer choice, depending on whether you can tolerate it.”

“So that’s how it is,” Lolan Hill nodded.

“Are the beasts in the mountains very powerful now? Did they not feel the changes in the world?”

“They were affected, but less so than humans. They recovered relatively quickly.”

“The methods these beasts use to manipulate the natural energy are primitive. While crude and wasteful to humans, this crudeness makes them less susceptible to external influences. Coupled with their strong bodies and scales, they have thrived in recent years, causing havoc wherever they go.”

“But Miss, you don’t need to worry too much. Major factions and military officials within dynasties are gradually recovering and starting to suppress them. In a few years, things should return to stability.”

After traveling for two days with the convoy, Lolan Hill became more familiar with the merchants, occasionally listening to their stories and broadening her horizons.

As the sky darkened, the group arrived at their campsite for the night. It was a clearing next to a large boulder, about five to six meters high. There were still black ashes and broken stones on the ground, remnants left by previous travelers.

“Here we are,” shouted a big man nearby, and the convoy slowly stopped, beginning to set up camp.

That night, a group gathered around the fire, warming up their food. Lolan Hill took out a wrapped flatbread and placed it on a stone next to the fire, letting it slowly heat up.

“Do you want some water? Eating dry food is hard,” Yu Baichou said, sitting cross-legged with a wine jug.

“Mm, almost forgot.” Lolan Hill turned back and walked to her little donkey, opened the box on its back, and took out a jug of water, which Bai Zao had prepared for her.

Seeing her approaching, the gray donkey neighed, turning its head slightly to look at the girl, breathing out warm air through its nostrils as if sniffing something.

“Good, Xiao Hui.”

The girl squatted beside it, stroking the young donkey that hadn’t fully matured yet. Her small hands brushed over the rough but smooth fur, which was clean and slightly fluffy.

Sleeping with the box on her back must be tiring, the girl thought. She unfastened the straps on the donkey’s back, taking off the box and placing it aside.

Once freed from the weight, the donkey happily whinnied, turning its head to rub against Lolan Hill’s sleeve, then licked her hand with its warm, wet tongue.

“All right, stop licking. It has no salt,” the girl stood up, petting the donkey’s head, and then returned to the fire with the water jug and a porcelain cup.

People around the fire were already eating in small groups.

Some cooked porridge and smoked meat in small iron pots, while others buried sweet potatoes in the fire to bake. To Lolan Hill’s surprise, there was also a skewer of insects roasting by the fire.

Looking at the insects, they seemed like grasshoppers or cicadas, peculiar in appearance, gradually turning golden brown under the flames, with a faint sheen of oil.

“Would you like to try one, Miss?” asked a bearded man, noticing the girl’s curiosity.

“No, no, I’ll stick to my own food,” the girl quickly declined.

Indeed, she didn’t want to eat insects, despite their high protein content.

“Haha, you need to try more things. Having insects to eat in the wilderness is actually a blessing,” he laughed, sitting down and taking a bite of the roasted insect.

Others joined in the laughter, sharing stories of their travels. Most were middle-aged men around thirty to forty, with a few older ones in their fifties or sixties, likely in charge of accounting and inventory.

Their clothes were mostly dark gray, practical and durable. Some had their hair tied up with hairpins, while others let it hang loosely over their shoulders, secured only by simple hairbands.

They claimed their origins were diverse, with many having worked in the merchant caravans for nearly a decade. Some entire families were involved, men driving carts and women selling goods and counting inventory, traveling far and wide.

“Though it’s hard work, it’s still a decent living. When we’re too old to run the caravans, we’ll probably retire back home, build a house, and enjoy our grandchildren,” said one woman.

Lolan Hill hugged her knees, sitting by the fire, pouring water into a porcelain cup, covering it, and placing it by the fire to heat up. She watched the occasional exchanges between people, hearing the distant calls of Qiu Niu and horses in the wild.

After the flatbread warmed up, she wrapped it in lotus leaves and ate it slowly, occasionally drinking water to prevent choking.

The flatbread contained salty minced meat, which tasted especially delicious after a day of hunger. The saltiness made the meat particularly appetizing, and the oily bits mixed with the soft flatbread provided a satisfying and refreshing taste.

Unconsciously, the girl finished one flatbread. Looking at her empty palm, feeling the joy in her stomach, she decided to roast another.

—

After dinner, the team circled around the caravans, continuing to chat by the fire, while some went to sleep early, planning to take the second half of the night shift.

A dozen people sat around the fire, talking about recent news.

“According to the city’s official reports, several months ago, the elite forces of the Six Dragons were dispatched to all regions to gather local factions and suppress evil. This should make our travels safer.”

“But with 134 provinces, even if the Six Dragons are elite, their numbers are limited. Local major factions still need to cooperate.”

“Among the seven states of Ji Lei, the major factions often conflict. Getting them to work together is challenging.”

“Oh, what are the major factions in the seven states?” Yu Baichou asked curiously, wanting to help Lolan Hill strategize.

“These are well-known locally. The largest are the Crimson Immortal Sect, the Black Robe Palace, and the Silver Seed Village. Smaller but notable ones include Bamboo Mountain Academy, Lake Rice Gang, Barbarian Mountain Caves, and Yellow Wine Temple.”

“The three larger ones have branches across Ji Lei, controlling some blessed lands and holding valuable materials.”

“The Crimson Immortal Sect and Silver Seed Village are known, but the Black Robe Palace is less famous.”

“The Black Robe Palace originated from the ancient Xin Country. The king sent the chief of the Spring Office to ascend Mount Huanghai, worship the Five Virtues Temple, and pay homage to the Seven Phoenix True Flame Lord, eventually summoning the divine bird Xuan Niao.”

“As the embodiment of the Black Virtue Phoenix, Xuan Niao mobilized the mountain and river energy, eliminating toxic insects and swamps in Ji Lei, transforming the land into fertile and habitable areas. Xin Country flourished, with the whole nation venerating Xuan Niao. The Black Robe Palace is descended from the priests and shamans who served Xuan Niao.”

“They excel in manipulating feng shui and dragon veins, mastering legal codes with strict methods. Many disciples serve as autumn officials in the court, overseeing law enforcement.”

“In the civilian world, the Crimson Immortal Sect and Silver Seed Village are well-known, but in the court, the Black Robe Palace is prominent. Without them, Ji Lei would be seen as desolate, filled with toxic insects, swamps, and isolation.”

The group continued discussing other topics like recent price fluctuations and climate changes. Lolan Hill became somewhat interested in the Black Robe Palace.

From their discussion, the Black Robe Palace seemed to be one of the Five Virtues, a direct lineage of Xuan Niao. Unlike the other four virtues, Xuan Niao’s line didn’t flourish widely, with only the Black Robe Palace barely surviving.

She recalled that during her travels with Yu Baichou and Bai Zao, the other four virtues’ branches were flourishing, occupying most of the Thirty-Six Upper Doors. The Black Robe Palace, not even part of the Thirty-Six Upper Doors, could only survive by relying on the Plantagenet Dynasty.

“Miss Lan, have you decided where to go?” Yu Baichou turned to ask the girl, seeing her lost in thought.

“Not yet.”

She was afraid of insects and didn’t want to join the Crimson Immortal Sect. The Silver Seed Village was rather closed off, generally accepting only family members. The Black Robe Palace seemed oppressive, and she didn’t want to become a judge or detective.

Indeed, she needed to find a more relaxed sect, preferably one focused on farming and cultivation, where she could just relax. For some reason, this thought came to her mind.

“Quite ambitious, as expected of a daughter from a distinguished family,” Yu Baichou thought differently.

In his view, this young lady wouldn’t bother with the small Black Robe Palace and would aim for the prestigious Thirty-Six Upper Doors in immortal paradises.

It seemed his perspective was narrow, always focusing on Ji Lei. Considering her talent, she could be a core disciple anywhere and might become a leader of a sect in a few years, shocking the world.

Six years had passed since the great upheaval. Currently, according to the rumors, the top-tier experts in the world were only starting to reach the seventh level of the Heavenly Ladder, with no more than ten individuals.

This number sounded impressive, but considering the Plantagenet Dynasty had nearly a billion citizens, spanning over a hundred provinces from the northern icy shores to the southern White Ice Sea, before the upheaval, there were about fifty immortals on the ninth level of the Heavenly Ladder.

With such a vast base, it took the wealth and resources of major sects to produce these few individuals, pushing the limits. The competition was still ongoing as the dust settled.

Night deepened, and the caravans’ members gradually returned to their tents to sleep. Lolan Hill lay in a small tent, sleeping on a soft light gray blanket, slowly drifting into dreamland.

Time passed silently. In the middle of the night, a faint glow appeared in the dark tent. On the girl’s forehead, the patterns of the sun and moon flickered, alternating. Her hair changed color, shimmering like flowing light.

This hidden struggle continued until the early hours of the morning. With its end, her hair returned to black.

At the same time, in her dreams, she experienced a long, endless journey. In her dream, the girl wore a long red dress, walking through the wilderness, occasionally looking back with a serene smile.

In her hand, she held a string of ripe berries, with fields of golden wheat stretching endlessly behind her.

(End of Chapter)