Chapter Twenty-One: Saving Lives Is Like Fighting a Fire

Where in life do we not cross paths again? Since I arrived at Song Mountain, I’ve met you only twice, and not once has it brought me any good fortune!

Liu Ximing’s teeth ached with resentment. He repeatedly admonished himself to remain composed and dignified, not to disgrace the bearing of a noble-born youth, and only then managed to force a faint smile. “So it’s Du Nineteen—what a coincidence.”

Yet he wished desperately that after this greeting, they would immediately part ways. But just then, an ill-timed voice rang out beside him: “Du Nineteen, you actually know this woodcutter? You really do lower yourself to make friends with all sorts!”

Compared to Du Shiyi’s casual remark about life’s inevitable encounters, this comment was like a knife, stabbing deep into Liu Ximing’s already fragile heart and leaving it bleeding. He shot a vicious glare at the man beside Du Shiyi, and saw a youth of fifteen or sixteen, fair-faced as if powdered, lips as if painted, dressed in splendid robes—handsome and refined. He knew such a person must be either wealthy or noble, but his anger still smoldered. He snorted coldly and refused even to look at the boy again. The next moment, he heard Du Shiyi cough softly.

“Brother Eleven, you’re mistaken. This is Liu Ximing from the Liu clan of Jingzhao, not a Song Mountain woodcutter.”

Liu Ximing’s expression eased slightly, but he could not swallow the indignation. He spoke coldly, “Du Nineteen, though our acquaintance is shallow, I must remind you: those who judge others by their attire are short-sighted; you’d do well to keep your distance.”

Cui Jianxuan had always been outspoken since childhood, often offending kin and friends with his words. Only his elders and brothers could tolerate him. In his days with Du Shiyi, Du never took offense, so unconsciously, Jianxuan treated him like one of his own. Though his temperament was eccentric, his family had been high officials for three generations, and he knew the workings of the court well. Hearing Du Shiyi mention the Liu clan in Jingzhao, he pondered who from that clan served in the court. But when Liu Ximing’s words hinted at insult, anger flared in him.

“Who are you calling short-sighted?”

“I speak of those who are short-sighted; why take it so personally?”

“Hmph! You, in your tattered clothes, tumbling down from the mountain, I called you a woodcutter only for Du Nineteen’s sake. Otherwise, I’d think you were just some beggar!”

“You—”

“You what? What’s so great about the Liu clan of Jingzhao that you dare disregard my Cui clan of Qinghe?”

Du Shiyi had previously witnessed Liu Ximing’s indirect attacks and Cui Jianxuan’s biting sarcasm. Now, seeing the two glare at each other, he knew mediation was useless and chose instead to change the subject. “Enough, Brother Eleven and Brother Liu, let’s set aside our anger for now—there’s urgent business at hand. Brother Liu, what happened in the forest earlier? When we heard the commotion, Brother Eleven and I each sent a servant to investigate.”

At this, Liu Ximing suddenly remembered the most critical matter, and his face changed drastically. He took a deep breath and tried to appear calm. “Just now, Xue Six and I were gathering firewood in the woods, when suddenly a snake darted out. I rushed down to seek help…”

He hadn’t finished when Cui Jianxuan sneered, “Yet you spent your time reminiscing with Du Nineteen and warning him against bad friends—never mentioned saving anyone! Seeking help? I think you abandoned Xue Six and ran for your own life!”

This time, Liu Ximing’s face turned ashen, but Cui Jianxuan’s words were sharp and precise—he had indeed fled alone in panic, and could find no retort. He wished he could faint on the spot to escape this humiliation, but just then, a cry came from the mountain woods where he’d escaped. The Cui servant acting as guide emerged, followed shortly by Tian Mo, carrying someone on his back. Du Shiyi, disregarding Liu Ximing, hurried forward with Cui Jianxuan.

“How is he now?”

“Master, Young Master Du,” the Cui servant said, bowing hastily. “When we found him, he was already unconscious. Tian took him down right away—it looks like a snake bite!”

Hearing this, Zhuying, supporting Du Thirteen Lady, shuddered, and saw his mistress was equally terrified. Cui Jianxuan gasped, then decisively ordered, “Quick, open his clothes and find the wound. I remember Fourth Uncle saying snake bites can’t be delayed—saving a life is paramount… And you, did any of you bring snake medicine?”

The Cui servants hurriedly laid the man down and fumbled to open his clothes. Du Shiyi dismounted and examined him closely, finally finding a small wound on the calf. He studied it thoughtfully, checked the eyes and pulse, and as Cui Jianxuan anxiously pressed for snake medicine, the servants stammered that they had only repellents, not antidotes. Du Shiyi calculated the time from the scream to finding the man, then stood and said, “No need to panic if you can’t find any—it should be a non-venomous snake.”

Cui Jianxuan hurried over, squatting, “Non-venomous? He’s unconscious—how can it be non-venomous?”

“From the moment we heard the scream to now, at least a quarter-hour has passed. If it were venomous, there’d be symptoms by now. The wound isn’t swollen or purple, the shallow bite marks lack the two sharp fangs of a venomous snake, and the bleeding has stopped by itself. By all reasonable judgment, it’s not poisonous. I checked his pulse and eyes—nothing abnormal or weak.” Du Shiyi looked up. “Still, just to be safe, let’s take him to the Lu’s Herb Cottage right away.”

“Agreed!”

Though they had horses, the mountain path was rough, so Tian Mo volunteered to carry the injured man. The group hurried on. After a few steps, Cui Jianxuan remembered something and looked around, frowning, “Where’s Liu Ximing?”

Du Shiyi realized the linen-clad Liu Ximing was gone. But he had no time to worry about that selfish fellow, and said, “Forget him—let’s get this man to the Lu’s Herb Cottage first.”

They followed the mountain path for about another quarter-hour when a rumbling sound suddenly reached their ears, as if thunder was rolling. Cui Jianxuan, unfamiliar with the route, frowned, “Is it going to rain? This path is already treacherous; if it rains, it’ll be impassable.”

“It’s not thunder—it’s the waterfall! Master, you’ll see soon. The waterfall at Xuanlian Peak is most spectacular in the summer and autumn rains, and in winter when the cold freezes everything, you see snowy icicles everywhere—a sight found nowhere else!”

Du Shiyi had suspected the sound was a waterfall, and hearing the servant explain, his curiosity grew. Sure enough, rounding a bend, they saw a waterfall like a white silk ribbon cascading from a high cliff. Though today was sunny, recent rains had swollen the flow, and the torrent thundered into a pool at the base, echoing like a drum. Sunlight refracted through the water, painting it with dazzling colors like a curtain of jewels. The mountain breeze carried cool mist, washing away the sweat of their hurried journey.

Yet most striking was the cluster of grass-roofed huts beside the waterfall. At first glance, the seven or eight huts seemed similar in size, but the roofs showed varying ages, clearly built at different times. In front of the nearest hut, seven or eight young men stood talking, among them Liu Ximing, still agitated but rooted to the spot. Watching the familiar group approach, he immediately turned and rushed over, ignoring Du Shiyi and Cui Jianxuan, heading straight for Tian Mo, who carried the injured man. Without a word, he laid the man flat, uncorked a porcelain bottle, and tried to pour its contents into Xue Six’s mouth.

“Hey, what are you doing!” Cui Jianxuan grabbed his wrist, and Liu Ximing snapped, “Even if I offended you earlier, Master Cui, saving a life is urgent!”

“Saving a life? When you abandoned him and fled, did you think about saving anyone?”

“Don’t slander me—I went back to the cottage for snake medicine!”

“Enough!” A commanding voice interrupted. Liu Ximing and Cui Jianxuan turned to see it