Chapter 50 — The Talisman Painter Who Guards the Village

Return In The Mist

Nine days on the road took the group across lands that changed from dry sand to sparse grasslands, then to scattered low forests before they reached the boundary of Lam Thủy Town—a journey long enough for Diệp Sương to feel that her body had grown more accustomed to the saddle than it had been on the day she first left the sect for Tiêu Sa Pass nearly half a year earlier.

Sầm Nguyên Trạch's escort group of soldiers separated from the group at a guard post half a day's journey from Lam Thủy Town, as planned, leaving only a few people to accompany them into the town. The captain, before turning around, firmly held Diệp Sương's hand.

"The general said, once you reach a safe place, send the news immediately," he said. "We will feel more secure knowing that you have passed this stage." Diệp Sương nodded, gratefully watching the group of soldiers turn their horses back toward Tiêu Sa Pass, road dust swirling behind their horses' hooves until they disappeared behind a bend. During the past nine days, she had gotten used to the quiet but steady presence of those soldiers, and now, when they left, a new feeling of loneliness crept into her heart, even though she knew there were still a few trusted companions ahead.

Along the way, the whole group passed through many small villages, rice fields in harvest time, children herding buffaloes waving to strangers passing by - simple images that made Diệp Sương remember Tùng Lĩnh Village, the afternoons of traveling with Mộc and Mận many years ago, a period of life that seemed very far away but was always present somewhere in her mind, like a small light that had never gone out.

*

Lam Thủy Town came into view on a foggy afternoon, completely different from the bustling image Diệp Sương remembered from previous visits. The atmosphere was somewhat quieter, the stalls closed early, and Diệp Sương briefly noticed a few figures wearing dark blue silver-trimmed official uniforms - Khâm Vân Ti uniforms - standing guard at a newly erected checkpoint near the town gate, something that had never happened in her memory.

"Since when did Khâm Vân Ti set up a checkpoint right at the town gate?" she asked softly, reining her horse closer to Thanh Việt.

"I don't know," he replied, his eyes fixed on the new guard post, his expression alert. "Perhaps it was recently built, after Lỗ Khắc Viên's survey."

The two exchanged glances, sharing the same uneasy premonition, but did not stop to ask further questions, just quietly let their horses pass through the checkpoint, bowing in response when the guard glanced at their travel documents with an unusual meticulousness compared to previous times.

*

Âu Bội Nhi was waiting right in front of a familiar inn near the town center, according to the appointment scheduled in the short letter Diệp Sương sent earlier. As soon as she saw the silhouette of two people from afar, she rushed forward and hugged Diệp Sương without holding back her tears.

"Finally, we meet again," Âu Bội Nhi said, her voice choked, holding her friend tightly as if afraid that if she let go, she would lose her again. "I've been worried like crazy ever since I received your strange letter."

"Sorry for making you worry," Diệp Sương replied, also hugging her friend tightly, a familiar warm feeling creeping into her heart after many stressful days on the road. "There are many things to tell you, but not here." Âu Bội Nhi nodded immediately, understanding, leading them both into a private room booked in advance in the inn, closing the door tightly, carefully drawing the window curtains before turning around, her previously cheerful face had turned into an unusually serious one.

*

"Tell me," she said, sitting down opposite, "what happened to make you write such a strange letter of advice?"

Diệp Sương and Thanh Việt took turns recounting everything that had happened over the past weeks — Lỗ Khắc Viên's survey team, the old stakes bearing the Special Coordination Line mark, the documents Chúc Nghi Lam risked her life to present, the midnight break-in, and even the hunch about the seal in the style of a sectarian text.

Âu Bội Nhi heard everything, her face gradually turned white from surprise and fear. "Oh my god," she exclaimed when they were both finished. "So what I heard about Elder Húc and the secret meetings, is not a coincidence."

"Maybe not," Diệp Sương replied, her voice low. "But we still don't have enough evidence to confirm anything for sure. That's why we need to meet with Elder Tạ Vân Khê first and explain everything carefully."

*

"She has already arranged a meeting place," Âu Bội Nhi said, lowering her voice to a whisper even though there were only three people in the room. "I was asked to deliver the message - a small house behind the medicinal herb garden, where few people pass by, as soon as you guys reach the foot of the mountain. She told me to go at dusk, to avoid crowded hours." Diệp Sương nodded, remembering every detail. "Thank you for helping so much, even though I don't understand everything."

"You are my friend," Âu Bội Nhi replied, holding her hand tightly, her eyes steady. "No matter what happens, I will always be on your side. You don't have to understand every detail to believe."

That simple sentence made Diệp Sương's heart feel strangely warm, a solid fulcrum amidst all the insecurity surrounding her these past few days.

"What about Senior Sister Chung?" Diệp Sương asked, suddenly remembering the senior sister who had always protected her from the first days of her initiation. "Have you said anything to your sister?"

"No," Âu Bội Nhi replied, shaking her head. "I followed your instructions exactly and didn't tell anyone, not even senior sister, although to be honest, keeping a secret from senior sister Chung Nhã Trúc was not easy at all - she is very observant, she must have realized that I have been hiding something for a few days now."

"Sorry for putting you in an awkward situation," Diệp Sương said, feeling guilty rising.

"Don't apologize," Âu Bội Nhi waved her hand. "I understand, this is something to be careful with. When you feel the time is right, I will help you talk to senior sister. She is the most trustworthy person I know, after yourself."

*

That night, when Âu Bội Nhi went out to prepare dinner, Diệp Sương stood alone at the window of the motel room, looking down at the lights on the main street of Lam Thủy Town. Far away, she saw a figure standing quietly on the corner of the street, whose appearance was nothing special, but whose eyes, even at a distance, seemed to be pointing straight towards the window of the motel room where she stood.

She blinked, and when she looked back, the figure had disappeared, blending into the stream of people passing by as if it had never existed.

"What's up?" Thanh Việt asked, noticing her stunned look.

"Nothing," she replied, even though she didn't completely believe what she had just said. "It's just… I have a feeling I'm being watched. Maybe it's just my imagination."

Thanh Việt didn't say anything more, just walked over and stood next to her, looking out at the scene of the street gradually sinking into the evening mist, the lanterns hanging in front of the stalls casting faint pale yellow halos of light, as if this familiar town of Lam Thủy was also wearing a new layer of mystery, different from the peaceful bustle he once knew.

*

The next morning, before continuing the final journey to Vân Tiêu Peak, all three people - Diệp Sương, Thanh Việt and Âu Bội Nhi - sat down to breakfast in silence, each pursuing their own thoughts.

"Only one more day of travel," Âu Bội Nhi said, trying to break the heavy atmosphere. "Then everything will be cleared up, I believe." Diệp Sương nodded, but in her heart, a vague premonition kept rising, not exactly fear, but more like a mental preparation for something big that was waiting ahead, even though she could not clearly imagine the shape of that thing.

She looked out the inn's window at Vân Tiêu Peak hidden behind the morning mist. The mountain that had been her second home for so many years now had an indescribable strangeness, like a door leading to a new chapter in her life - a chapter that she, no matter how carefully she had prepared, still could not predict whether it would be written with glory or tears.

"Let's go," she said, standing up, her voice more certain than she expected. "We can't delay any longer."

Âu Bội Nhi stood up and followed, putting her arm around her friend's shoulder naturally like every other time, trying to dispel the heavy atmosphere with a forced smile. "No matter what happens," she said, "you still have me, Thanh Việt, sister Chung, and Elder Tạ Vân Khê. You are not alone in this." Diệp Sương nodded, squeezing her friend's hand one last time before the three packed their luggage, led their horses out of the inn, and headed straight toward the trail leading to Vân Tiêu Peak—a path she had traveled countless times during her years as a disciple. This time, however, each step carried a different weight, as if that familiar mountain itself were quietly watching, waiting to see what it would bring back and what price it would pay for what it was about to expose.