“Almost there, almost there.” Blind Preacher's voice grew much softer.

“The golden core should be forming by now, right?”

Blind Preacher fell completely silent. After a long pause, he gave an awkward laugh and said, “Let’s talk about the paper crane message from earlier. Speaking of the paper crane message, there’s actually a trick to it. Although this technique is called the paper crane message, in reality, you can use paper, or a leaf, it doesn’t have to be paper. Hmm, you’re quite perceptive about this, disciple—you knew to pick a leaf. But here’s the problem: what if you have neither paper nor a leaf on you? How would you perform the technique then…”

Ryan Thompson looked at him with a strange expression.

Because it was getting late, he didn’t return to Guobei County, but chose instead to rest another night in the small mountain’s Daoist hall.

Once the sun sets in ancient times, it’s pitch dark, and there’s still quite a bit of road between Guobei County and Xiahe Village. With no vehicles for transport, everything depends on walking, so people here always make sure to set out several hours in advance if they have business. If it’s already afternoon, they have to wait until the next day. That’s why there’s the saying: rise with the sun, rest with the sunset.

Going to bed as soon as the sun sets—imagine how early that is.

Just as Ryan Thompson was heading back to the Daoist hall, several women from the same village had gathered in a house in Xiahe Village.

After helping Widow Brooks home, Aunt Harris didn’t leave right away. She helped her apply medicinal wine for bruises, massaged her wounds, and worked out the clotted blood.

“Tsk tsk, I have to say, sis, your skin is really fair—your face is fair, your body is fair, even your legs are fair. No wonder the young master couldn’t bear to let you walk and carried you all the way back.” Aunt Harris massaged Widow Brooks’s injured leg, giggling as she spoke.

Widow Brooks blushed slightly. “I hurt my leg and couldn’t walk. The young master had no choice but to carry me back. It’s not what you all think.”

“Come on, Du, that’s not right. The way you came back, your whole body was leaning on the young master, you couldn’t bear to leave him—we all saw it.”

“That’s right, and you were even wrapped in the young master’s coat when you came back. Look at this fabric, top-quality silk, so smooth to the touch. I think the young master not only killed that mountain fiend for you, but probably also turned you inside out, eh?”

“Don’t talk nonsense! The young master and I are perfectly proper—nothing happened.”

Widow Brooks blushed deeper, a little annoyed. “How can you slander my reputation like that? If word of this reaches the young master, and he raises your taxes or takes your land, don’t blame it on me.”

Aunt Harris also kicked that woman and glared at her. “If you can’t say anything decent, then stop gossiping here. Can’t go three sentences without something dirty.”

That woman gave an embarrassed laugh and fell silent.

Aunt Harris continued, “Sis, you’ve been married into Xiahe Village for five years now, right?”

“Five and a half years,” Widow Brooks replied.

Aunt Harris sighed and said, “You really are a hard-luck woman. As soon as you married in, your parents-in-law passed away one after another. Your husband was called out by his good-for-nothing friends on your wedding night, saying they were going to make a fortune and build a new house. But he never came back. Not even a month later, the constables brought news of his death. They say you got married and became a widow, but in reality, it’s as if you never married at all.”

“But then again, you don’t have elders to serve or children to raise, so you’re free in a way. Still, you can’t just keep guarding this little plot of Du family land forever. You’re still young, with a long life ahead—you have to plan for the future. Auntie won’t beat around the bush today. I can see the young master has feelings for you. I think you should just be with the young master and enjoy a few good years.”

Widow Brooks blushed even more and didn’t dare say a word.

Chapter 7: Night Shines on the Jade Lion

Seeing Widow Brooks like this, Aunt Harris, being experienced, understood her thoughts. The young master was the son of the richest family in Guobei County, young and handsome—what woman wouldn’t be moved by him?

She smiled again and said, “You’re a woman who’s been widowed for years, can’t farm, can’t find work. If it weren’t for the young master looking after you, letting you wash clothes for him and the old Daoist every month to make a living, how could you stay so fair and delicate? Today, when you were taken by that mountain fiend, it was the young master who went up the mountain alone, killed the fiend, and carried you back. You could say your life now is all thanks to the young master. What will you do without him? The young master can’t stay here training with the old Daoist forever—sooner or later, he’ll have to return to Guobei County to inherit the family business. When he leaves, you’ll be left here staring at the walls.”

Widow Brooks grew anxious at these words, forgetting her embarrassment and quickly asked, “Then Aunt Harris, what do you think I should do?”

“What do you mean, what should you do? Don’t think just because the young master has been training with the old Daoist all these years that he’s alone. There are plenty of young, pretty maids and servant girls at his house, just waiting for the old Daoist’s ban to be lifted, and then he’ll have wives and concubines galore. Why would the young master look at a country woman like you? Widow Brooks, you’d better give up on that idea. Don’t blame me for being blunt—you’re not a match for the young master,” said another woman nearby.