Entering the Spirit Void 146. Temporary Respite

Along the mountain trail, several people proceeded slowly. The person on the horse conversed and laughed merrily, while Yin Tianlan let out a succession of charming giggles, pulling slightly on the reins to ride past Miss Xiaomei, the "Moon-Soul Soul-Chase."

How could this female master of the horse ranch, who yielded nothing to any man, know that the dashing figure on the iron-shod steed was none other than Feng Feihuang in disguise? Urging her spirited horse forward, she cast a sidelong glance at the handsome, distinguished guest and put on an inviting expression.

Xiaomei, feigning the virtue of Liu Xiahui with a heart as unyielding as iron, remained entirely unresponsive to feminine charms. She tightened her grip on the reins with a subtle exertion of strength in her delicate wrist, causing her mount to lag further behind.

Yin Tianlan was so exasperated that she turned her head, pouted petulantly, and snapped, "At this rate, when on earth will we ever arrive?"
Xiaomei replied unhurriedly, "We are bound to get closer with every step, aren't we? It's not as though we won't reach our destination. What does the distance of the next station have to do with our speed?"

Yin Tianlan snorted and said, "My dear young master, why don't you look up at the sky and see what time it is? There are still thirty miles left to the next station. How can we manage if we don't hurry? If we don't reach the station early, do you intend to sleep under the open sky tonight?"

Xiaomei uttered an "oh" and said, "I thought it was something major. What of it? Besides, with the sky for a blanket and the earth for a pillow, to lie down with one's arm as a headrest, listen to the sound of the wind and waves, and count the stars in the open sky—isn't that a most elegant pastime?"

Yin Tianlan burst out laughing and retorted, "Indeed! And if there happens to be a heavy snowfall to cover you up snugly, that would mean the sky for a blanket, the earth for a pillow, and a snowdrift for a tomb. You could even dispense with a coffin—wouldn't that be just wonderful?"

Annoyed by Yin Tianlan's mention of a "snow tomb" and a "coffin," Xiaomei countered, "Wonderful though it may be, it is still not the best. The best would be the sky for a blanket, the earth for a pillow, and a snowdrift for a tomb, burying two kindred souls together!"

The phrase "two kindred souls" was spoken by the speaker in mockery and banter, but received by the listener with a deeper, unintended meaning. Consequently, Yin Tianlan's face flushed crimson, and she lowered her head.

The mountain wilderness was deserted, and their conversational tones were not low, almost infuriating the person who was lurking in the shadows to keep them under surveillance. This person was hiding in the branches of an ancient pine tree, beneath which was tethered a prized jade-dragon steed.

The sun was already nearing the horizon, and night falls early in the mountainous regions. If they continued to ride and stroll as leisurely as Xiaomei was doing, there would be no hope of reaching the major station of "Rugged Stone Ridge" before dark.

Banks of clouds spread horizontally and gradually lowered. It seemed a heavy snowfall would descend before midnight. As Xiaomei and Yin Tianlan passed around the mountain bend, the watcher in the ancient pine leaped down onto his horse, shook the reins violently, and galloped away.

Having rounded the mountain bend, Xiaomei pulled sharply on her iron-shod steed. The horse sprang forward like a joyful dragon, overtaking Yin Tianlan and darting ahead along the mountain path like a streak of lightning. Yin Tianlan smiled, let out a clear whistle, urged her horse in pursuit, and vanished into the distance in an instant.

Not to mention how the two others followed closely behind, the party arrived at the Rugged Stone Ridge station just before nightfall. Rugged Stone Ridge was a barren peak. Not only was there not a single tree to be seen, but even thorns and brambles were scarce. Everywhere lay piles of stones and massive boulders of a stark, white, and chaotic appearance, which was how the place got its name.

The Rugged Stone Ridge station was quite large, though it was neither a town nor a regular post, but rather a way station built exclusively by the Yin family to facilitate transportation and rest.

When Yin Tianlan and her companions spurred their horses through the outer gateway of the station, they caught sight of the jade-dragon steed standing beside the main post. Yin Tianlan's slender eyebrows suddenly arched, and a look of displeasure appeared on her face.

Station attendants hurried forward. Yin Tianlan leaped down from her saddle, and her first question was direct: "Is the ranch master here?"
The attendant, having received prior instructions, replied, "He is. The ranch master has just arrived."

Yin Tianlan let out a cold hoot. Xiaomei remarked teasingly, "How considerate."
Yin Tianlan cast a sidelong glance at Xiaomei as if she had heard nothing, and said, "Young master, please!"
Xiaomei smiled with easy grace and walked ahead toward the row of buildings constructed from massive timbers.

Yin Tianlan reached out to block her path and asked the attendant, "Have you received the message sent ahead from the previous station?"
Knowing what Yin Tianlan was asking, the attendant answered, "The ranch master's small pavilion has already been tidied up."

Yin Tianlan nodded. "After you've tethered the horses, bring over some food. Give strict orders that no matter who it is, without my command or personal invitation, no one is allowed to go near the small pavilion. Do you understand?"

***

The attendant acknowledged the order with a respectful assent, and then added, "The ranch master said—"
Yin Tianlan waved her hand, interrupting him. "Do not forget that this is my transfer station. Aside from me, absolutely no one has the right to issue orders or throw their weight around in my domain!"

Xiaomei responded with a gentle smile, "Ranch master, it is more than enough for me to be given a quiet single room to rest my feet."
Yin Tianlan interjected, "Conditions in the mountains are crude. Only that small pavilion of mine is barely fit to receive guests, and it can be considered relatively quiet. The few of you will see once you take a look. Come, please follow me."

Mo Dao and the others followed Yin Tianlan as she turned toward the back of that row of wooden buildings. About seven or eight zhang behind the main building stood a small, exquisite wooden pavilion that could truly be described as magnificent, adorned with carved eaves, perforated rafters, painted beams, and jade corridors—a sight rarely seen even in Jinzhou.

Being a woman, Xiaomei could not help praising it with unfeigned admiration, "How beautiful!"
Hearing this, Yin Tianlan felt a sense of gratification and smiled, "At least it does not entirely humiliate the young master."

Xiaomei merely smiled and shook her head without making a retort. As she walked forward, a sudden sense of alertness arose in her heart. Suppressing a quiet smile, she acted as though she had just remembered something and asked casually, "Is the ranch master upstairs?"

Yin Tianlan stopped slightly ahead and to the side of Xiaomei, turning her head to reply. But to her surprise, her expression changed abruptly. She raised her voice and demanded of someone not far behind Xiaomei, "What are you here for?"

Xiaomei feigned incomprehension and looked back. Two zhang behind her, Ma Fengyang had followed them closely. The anger in Ma Fengyang's heart could not be concealed on his face. Without answering, he strode forward aggressively.

Xiaomei and the others stopped to wait, but Ma Fengyang paid attention to no one. Striding past Xiaomei and Yin Tianlan as if no one else existed, he walked straight toward the small pavilion.

Ordinarily, Ma Fengyang would not have acted thus. Even if he occasionally displayed such inexplicable behavior, Yin Tianlan would at most emit a cold snort, ignore him, and walk away in another direction.

Today was different. With Xiaomei present, Yin Tianlan could not afford to lose face. A sudden surge of anger flared within her, and following a cold snort, she barked, "Ma Fengyang, where do you think you are going?!"

Ma Fengyang had already lifted his foot to ascend the stairs when he heard Yin Tianlan's angry reprimand. His two sword-like eyebrows arched sharply, and he whirled around to retort, "Upstairs!"

After her angry shout, Yin Tianlan had already stepped quickly to the jade-railed staircase outside the small pavilion. Hearing Ma Fengyang's reply of "Upstairs," she grew even more infuriated.

First emitting a cold laugh, she demanded, "Upstairs? Which pavilion?"
Ma Fengyang swept his gaze toward Xiaomei, who was standing a few zhang away with a pleasant smile on her face. A surge of bitter resentment welled up inside him.

Therefore, he too let out a cold snort and said, "Strange, which other pavilion is there to go up to here?"
Yin Tianlan bit her lower lip slightly and said, "You'll have to answer that yourself!"
The riddle could no longer be kept opaque. He said indifferently, "I am going up this very pavilion."

Yin Tianlan's tone was dry and frosty as she said, "I'm sorry, you cannot go up!"
When Yin Tianlan had shouted her angry question, Ma Fengyang had already anticipated such a turn of events. Hearing this, he assumed a look of feigned panic and bewilderment, asking, "Why is that?"

By this time, Xiaomei had leisurely strolled over to the two of them. Pretending to be unaware that they had been quarreling, she smiled and cupped her fists toward Ma Fengyang, saying, "Greetings, Ranch Master Ma."

Consumed by frustration and anger, Ma Fengyang glared fiercely at Xiaomei and ignored her entirely. Instead, he turned to Yin Tianlan and said in an icy, ruthless tone, "Is it your intention to have me leave?!"

Yin Tianlan raised her slender eyebrows and said, "It would be best if you could show some self-respect!"
Ma Fengyang's hands trembled, and his complexion turned ashen like that of a corpse. He looked at Xiaomei, then glanced at Yin Tianlan, and suddenly broke into a grim, sinister laugh!

The anger in Yin Tianlan's heart burned to her very core, and she said in a deep voice, "What are you laughing at?!"
Ma Fengyang abruptly withdrew his hand from the jade railing, spun around, strode past Yin Tianlan and Xiaomei, and walked back the way he had come! Before he had gone even a zhang, he suddenly turned around and said to Xiaomei, "Ma has something to say to you. What do you say?"

Xiaomei feigned confusion and said, "If Ranch Master Ma has any instruction, please speak freely!"
Ma Fengyang said, "Could you accompany Ma to a place right now to have a talk?"
Xiaomei intentionally furrowed her brow and said, "Can it not be spoken of here?"
Ma Fengyang let out a hum and said, "Could it be that the illustrious 'Moon-Soul Soul-Chase' is such a coward?!"
Xiaomei had long wanted to test the depth of Ma Fengyang's martial prowess and skills, but had lacked the opportunity.

Hearing this, she felt a mixture of annoyance and amusement. With a derisive laugh, she said, "Ranch Master Ma, isn't your remark excessively and inexplicably absurd? Being a guest at the ranch master's estate, every action of mine must uphold the proprieties of a guest. I cannot let myself be ridiculed as an unreasonable and reckless person!"

***

Ma Fengyang was just about to speak when Yin Tianlan, her pretty face frosty, turned to him and said, "I am truly dying of embarrassment because of you. Surely you cannot fail to understand Young Master Gongsun's words? I shall tell you once more: please show some self-respect, stop losing face for me, and take your leave!"

Ma Fengyang glared furiously at Yin Tianlan and said through gritted teeth, "You! Very well!"
Yin Tianlan let out a cold laugh and said, "If you could leave right now, I would feel even better!"
Ma Fengyang stamped his foot heavily and said, "Tianlan, it seems you have no intention of returning to the Ma family's mine, is that it?!"

Naturally, Yin Tianlan understood the implication behind Ma Fengyang's words. Feeling a mixture of shame, vexation, and rising anger, she arched her slender eyebrows and said loudly, "What does it matter if I don't go?"
Ma Fengyang angrily retorted, "You keep preaching to me about self-respect, but shouldn't you show some self-respect as well? Think carefully: who is he, and who are you?!"

Yin Tianlan gave a brilliant retort: "I require no thoughtful reminders; I understand."
Ma Fengyang said, "If you understand, then please do not be willful and put me in an awkward position. After you have settled the guest properly, come to the inner chamber of the wooden house so we can have a proper talk. I hope you will think thrice."

Yin Tianlan smiled and said, "There is no need to think thrice. The problem is not that complicated."
Ma Fengyang stared in bewilderment and said, "What do you mean by that?"
Yin Tianlan snorted and said, "Young Master Gongsun was originally a total stranger to both you and me. He came because of rumors, suspecting that my mine was plotting to seize the accumulated wealth of laborers and taking their lives."

Xiaomei hastily interjected, "Ranch Master Yin, those words are too grave."
Yin Tianlan swept a glance at Xiaomei and said, "Young master, although you did not point the finger directly at this matter, your words nonetheless harbor doubts. For the sake of the hundreds of missing laborers and the reputation of my old Yin brand, I cannot afford not to clear this matter up!"

Mo Dao praised, "The ranch master's breadth of mind is enough to put any man to shame!"
Yin Tianlan smiled and said, "This is something I ought to do!"
Pausing for a moment, she turned back to Ma Fengyang and said, "It is precisely for this reason that I secretly made up my mind. As the ancients said: A gentleman guards against trouble before it arises and avoids situations that invite suspicion; one does not adjust one's shoes in a melon patch, nor straighten one's cap under a plum tree. Therefore, ever since our departure, I have not acted alone!"

Xiaomei gave a soft exclamation and said, "To conduct oneself thus shows a truly bright and unblemished character!"
Ma Fengyang could not help blurting out, "There are guest rooms in the small pavilion, and your approach is naturally fine. But since I have arrived, am I not supposed to accompany you in the capacity of a half-host?!"

Yin Tianlan snorted and said, "The time and place are both inappropriate. Whether your status as a half-host is suitable to be trotted out remains to be seen. Remember, this is not home!"

Knowing full well that Ma Fengyang already harbored resentment toward her, Yin Tianlan suppressed her anger and accepted the step-down she was offered—solely because Xiaomei was present—to bring the dispute to an end. "Now do you understand?" she asked.

Ma Fengyang forced a smile and said, "Very well, I shall go rest in the wooden house. We can set off together after daybreak."
With that, he gave a stiff nod to Xiaomei and strode away.

Watching Ma Fengyang round the corner of the wooden house, Yin Tianlan finally replaced her expression with a smile. She made a courteous gesture, inviting Xiaomei and Mo Dao to ascend the pavilion, and led them up to the reception hall on the upper floor.

Upon stepping onto the top of the stairs, one entered a corridor flanked by a row of three doorways. Yin Tianlan pointed to the first one and said, "This is the guest room. The middle door leads into the reception hall, and the room inside is my bedchamber. Both the guest room and my bedchamber connect to the reception hall through inner doors. There are only three rooms upstairs, all of the same size."

As she spoke, Yin Tianlan pushed open the door to the reception hall and said, "Please come in."
Xiaomei smiled and stepped openly into the reception hall, which covered an area of about twenty-five or twenty-six paces and formed a perfect square.