The Witch Nichang- Chapter 96.1 Watershed

The Witch Nichang– Chapter 96.1

Watershed

The following days were spent on the long journey back, passing through Khocho, then Hami, traveling along the northern route of the ancient Silk Roads. Though we were traversing the desolate, uninhabited desert most of the time, we were still able to get some supplies along the way. At times, we journeyed along merchant caravans and could even rest and refresh ourselves in the few towns we passed. It was exhausting, but it was nothing compared to our journey here. Thanks to this route, all the discomforts I had because of the harsh environment never happened again. But my body might be unscathed; it didn’t mean my heart came out unscarred. 

The main reason our conversation that night in the abandoned city had gone nowhere was that, just as we reached that point, Old Tie returned in excitement and interrupted us. We were surprised by his early return. With another person present, we couldn’t continue the conversation anymore, so I changed the subject and started talking to Old Tie. Lian’er didn’t say anything at that time; she even joined in the conversation, as if we shared a tacit understanding, but I had the feeling that she must have been relieved. It was obvious that, even if Old Tie hadn’t returned, she didn’t seem like she wanted to continue the conversation. I didn’t know what to feel about it. Only, it was no longer the matter of controlling my emotions. 

In the first few days of our journey, the atmosphere within the group felt strange. The old man rode ahead on horseback, while Lian’er and I shared a camel like before. Even though our bodies were close, our hearts felt distant. Or perhaps it was only me who felt that. It didn’t feel good. I tried to keep the feeling in check, but it still affected me, slipping out in some moments. It felt almost like a sulk—only, it had been her sulking at me not long ago, and now, it was me sulking at her. Even when we sulked, we expressed it differently. I wasn’t immature enough to give anyone silent treatment. I would still look after her and remind her when needed. I thought I was acting like I usually did, except joking and laughing less with her. But Lian’er, sharp as she was, still noticed a difference; even Old Tie seemed to pick up on it. 

Even though they noticed, neither of them pointed it out. Old Tie was a seasoned man. He probably thought we had a quarrel and he best stayed out of it. He would drop some lighthearted advice between the lines, hinting that so long as there was no bad blood between us. Lian’er more or less understood him and didn’t press on. She stopped saying I was mean to her, but grievance and confusion often flickered across her eyes. It didn’t feel great to see someone so proud and carefree, someone who never hesitated, showed such expressions, let alone it was someone for whom I had the softest spot. If I were to ask myself honestly whether I had any right to be angry with her, the answer would be no. She had tried her best. I had no right to ask for more. To ask for so much itself would be too… greedy. Or this might not be anger; I was just a little… discouraged. 

Regardless of how I felt, I had to get myself together for the rest of the journey. If I couldn’t sort out my feelings, then I had to bury them, the deeper the better. With some effort, I at least managed to clear away the strange atmosphere caused by me. Everything seemed to be back on the right track, or rather, return to normal. The normal conversation, the normal jesting, the normal caring, the normal snuggling. 

The old man aside, I didn’t know what Lian’er thought about this normalcy, but she never did show any affection again. It could be a way of avoidance or a sign of resignation—I couldn’t tell, nor did I want to guess. 

Burying my feelings and maintaining this semblance of normalcy, we traveled for half a month on a detour. I was glad that our return route was different from the one we took before, sparing me the sight of things that reminded me of the past. We entered the Jiayu Pass without a hitch via the northern route. Once we crossed into the Hexi Corridor, we returned to the way we came. 

Though we had different things on our mind, we were equally eager to get back. That old bandit Jin’s nephew had left half a month before us, supposedly heading to the capital to meet up with his uncle. But who knew how long they would stay or if they would stay at all once they reunited. Too many things could change as the time passed. That’s why we barely stopped in Suzhou and set out immediately after a brief respite, traveling along the borders of three commanderies, passing through Jiuquan, Zhangye, and Liangzhou. In less than ten days, we arrived at Anyuan Station. This station is situated at the northern foothill of the great mountain. Beyond it stretched the final and largest barrier between Hexi and the Central Plain—the towering Hongchi Ridge. 

The locals called it Hongchi Ridge. Old Tie and the traveling merchants called it the Watershed. Whatever the name, they all referred to the same mountain range. It was a lofty range, said to have snow capping its peaks all year round. The weather around here was fickle; it could snow even in midsummer. Last time, we had passed through during a favorable season and took the winding path in the valleys, so the journey hadn’t seemed too difficult even though the mountains had seemed barren, covered with ashen black rocks, and the temperature shifts were stark. It was already fall this time around, and the mountain’s harsh cold revealed its presence. After a night’s rest, we left the station and set out on the path upward. The air grew colder, dark clouds gathering, snow dotting the air, and mist forming between breaths. These were no signs of fall; they unmistakably signaled the onset of winter. Fortunately, we had come prepared. We had switched to studier mounts, draped in furs, and carrying wine. At the break of dawn, we set out, braving the wind and snow without stopping, hoping to cross the ridge before nightfall. Heaven didn’t disappoint; though the cold pierced to the bone, the journey went smoothly. By noon, we had crossed over the peak through a narrow trail. The wind and snow dwindled as we descended from the northern slope to the southern side. 

Seeing the sky cleared and time still ample, Old Tie slowed down. He tipped his head back and took a long swig of aged wine atop his horse, then let out a deep sigh, and his expression turned resolute. And Lian’er had never been nervous. Seeing Old Tie like that, she couldn’t help herself from teasing him. Compared to these two, I couldn’t rest easy despite having a smile on my face. 

Once we passed the southern foothill and traveled a few dozen more miles to Jincheng, Lanzhou, we had officially set foot on the ground of the Central Plain. So many people, so many things were waiting there, as if you could already see them. If I had felt like a bird soaring beneath the vast sky when we had first started out, now, I felt like a bird returning to its cage, walking willingly into the snare. What’s worse was that, after all this time spent on the road, I hadn’t managed to take the weight off my chest. On the contrary, the road ahead felt more uncertain than ever. 

Gazing at the distant folds of mountains, shaded in dark green and black, a sudden thought arose—was it time to let go? If Lian’er had fallen for a man who wasn’t in her childhood, she would have been spared all these worries. Between a man and a woman, everything followed a familiar pattern, like water flowing along its course. There would be no questioning of what love was, no fear of what the future might bring. And someone like Zhuo Yihang—blessed with a wife such as her—would surely not be plagued with worry like I was now, nor would he ask so much of her, making a carefree person like her hesitate.

The thought came unbidden, but affected by the emotions over the past few days, the more I dwelled on it, the more sense it made. As I was spiraling, suddenly, I felt a series of light taps on my head, as if someone knocked on my head with their knuckles. Those taps had snapped me out of my thoughts. Bewildered, I held my head and looked up. Before I could see what happened, I took a few more hits in the face. They didn’t hurt, but they were icy to the bone. When I looked at my hand after brushing them off, I saw tiny shards of ice. 

“Ice pellets! Ice pellets are falling from the sky! The weather on the ridge surely is unpredictable!” Up ahead, I saw Old Tie reined in his horse and shouted to the back, his voice laced with urgency though not quite panic. As soon as he shouted, the hail grew denser, clattering as they hit the ground. Fortunately, the hailstones were no larger than grains of sand. It stung when they hit, but they posed no danger. Yet the worry on Old Tie’s face didn’t ease. “This isn’t good!” He circled his horse around and, before even getting close, he said, “I’ve heard from the locals that it’s nothing unusual to see snow in summer, but when ice starts falling from the sky, hail is sure to follow! Don’t be fooled by how small they are now. They’ll grow big enough to knock us down. We have to find shelter fast!”

That being said, this stretch of land was nothing but bare plain, with sparse vegetation, and low, jagged rocks. Not even a single hollow in sight. Where could we find shelter here? Just as Old Tie and I were anxiously looking around, Lian’er, without a word, leapt from her horse and onto the tallest spruce nearby. She peered into the distance for a moment before jumping back down. Whether it was intentional or by accident, she didn’t land on her own horse but mine. She said, pointing, “I couldn’t see any good place nearby, but beyond the foothill, there seem to be a few houses. Look like mountain folks’ houses. The two of us will head there first. Godfather, you take the horses around and meet us there!” As soon as she finished, I felt a tightness around my waist, then before I knew, I was pulled into her arms, and before I could say anything, Old Tie burst into laughter, stroking his short beard, and ribbed, “You little rascal! That’s quick. You’d leave this old man behind to bring up the rear on his own at times like this? What an ungrateful daughter!” Though he scolded her, his words held no sign of anger. Undaunted, Lian’er said with a grin, “Don’t blame me, Godfather. I was just weighing the pros and cons. With your powerful neigong and sturdy body, even the fiercest hailstones couldn’t hurt you; you can take it, but someone here can’t. Are you going to find me another if anything happens to her?” Before Old Tie could utter another word, I heard a soft chuckle, and the next moment, I was several yards above ground. 

Suspended in midair, the biting wind slashed across my face like a blade. The hailstones had grown to the size of rice grains, and each one now hurt far more than before. Lian’er, rushing ahead at full speed, couldn’t pay it any mind. I knew she was doing it for me; I didn’t want to add this to her worries. After a moment’s thought, I took off my robe, spread it open with both hands, and held it over our heads—a small effort to shield some of the trouble for her.

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