"What is coming?" Pei Ying asked in surprise.
She focused her attention, listening intently. Amidst the lingering echoes of blades and stalactites, Pei Ying heard another sound—a whirring noise, not like the wind, but more like the sound of some creature flapping its wings.
Flapping wings?
Birds?
No, such dense flapping didn't sound like birds, it was more like...
Monkey-like cries came from deep within the cave. Sha Ying raised his voice, "A swarm of bats is coming. Madam, Young Lady, don't be afraid. Bats generally don't bite people."
Pei Ying looked up at the cave ceiling. The further they went into this limestone cave, the higher the ceiling became. Now, standing where they were, the top was roughly three meters above them.
"Whoosh, whoosh." The flapping ahead grew louder.
At the boundary between light and darkness, a massive dark mass surged out—a vast, dense swarm, coalescing like thick, heavy black clouds.
The torchlight from ahead illuminated the black cloud, faintly revealing many bats showing glimpses of their small, sharp, white teeth.
Pei Ying's expression changed. It was true that bats generally didn't bite people, but if startled, that was another matter entirely.
Especially since bats were essentially mobile reservoirs of poison; being scratched or bitten could lead to infection. Contracting a virus under the medical conditions of ancient times was akin to having one foot in the coffin.
"Everyone crouch down, then hold your torches up high," Pei Ying shouted.
Amidst the current panic, her voice didn't carry far, quickly drowned out by the flapping sounds and the surging, wave-like monkey cries.
Sha Ying heard her and hurriedly relayed the order in a booming voice.
The black-armored cavalry, winding through the cave like a long dragon, immediately crouched down in unison, raising their torches high.
Meng Ling'er didn't understand why, but she crouched down as well. She had never seen bats before; having just glimpsed them, she only felt that the creatures had wings and resembled rats, swarming together, truly frightening.
Simply crouching wasn't enough for Meng Ling'er; she buried her face in her knees. Today, her hair was styled in a flat bun. With this movement, a section of her fair, slender neck was exposed.
Chen Yuan glanced at it, then quickly averted his gaze. Unlike the others who bent at the waist to crouch, his back remained straight. While holding a torch in one hand, he spread the palm of his other hand, hovering protectively over that delicate, exposed neck.
With a loud "fluttering" noise, it took a full ten seconds or more for the "dark cloud" above to completely pass.
Pei Ying straightened up, her heart still pounding.
Forget such a large swarm of bats; even on normal days, she rarely caught a glimpse of a single bat.
Pei Ying turned to look at her daughter, intending to offer a few words of comfort, but saw that the young girl's cheeks were actually somewhat flushed, far from the pale face she had imagined.
Pei Ying instinctively glanced at Chen Yuan. He stood beside the young girl, holding a torch with an expressionless face, seemingly no different from before.
But where her daughter was concerned, Pei Ying was naturally more observant than usual. She scrutinized Chen Yuan from head to toe and noticed that the hand not holding the torch was clenched tightly into a fist, with such force that several blue veins stood out on the back of his hand.
Pei Ying felt suspicious.
What had just happened?
Meng Ling'er was completely unaware of her mother's gaze. She was looking sideways at the adjacent rock wall.
Though it was still covered in terrifying, twisted patterns, they no longer seemed as sinister as before.
Or perhaps it was that her attention could hardly remain on the rock wall.
Meng Ling'er couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened.
After the whirring of wings above had passed and she was about to stand up, the back of her neck had bumped against the palm of the person beside her.
It felt somewhat rough, and excessively warm.
Sha Ying noticed nothing amiss. He asked curiously, "Madam, can bats actually bite people?"
"They certainly can," Pei Ying said, phrasing it differently. "Bats carry toxins. If bitten, whether you recover or not depends entirely on Heaven's mood."
Sha Ying recalled several previous times when he had served as a scout traveling at night, with bats flying past his side, even by his face. A shiver of fear ran through him.
Pei Ying said, "We need two more portions of stone like the broken pieces from before. Once collected, transport them out first."
Seeing that Pei Ying seemed intent on going further in, Sha Ying asked curiously, "Madam, what are you looking for?"
This cave was not only cold and damp, but also pitch-black, and furthermore housed creatures like bats—hardly a place for amusement. Therefore, Sha Ying had concluded from the start that Pei Ying was here to find something.
But what was she looking for?
This trip was for gathering herbs. Could it be that some rare, heaven-and-earth-nurtured spiritual herb grew within this large cave?
"To find a type of very clear, transparent crystal," Pei Ying said with a smile.
Sha Ying grew even more puzzled. "Madam, what use does this clear crystal have? Could it perhaps replace iron arrowheads?"
Pei Ying shook her head. "No, it's much more brittle than iron."
Sha Ying felt a bit disappointed in his heart. If it couldn't be eaten or drunk, and wasn't as hard as iron, then what was the point?
Could it be for jewelry?
Sha Ying pondered.
That would make sense. Clear, sparkling gemstones had always been beloved by countless young ladies. It was normal for the Madam to like them too.
Just now, the Madam had averted such a great disaster for Youzhou, indirectly saving his life as well. Now, if the Madam wanted some gemstones...
Easy! Such a small matter, he was duty-bound to help.
Sha Ying rubbed his hands together, ready to strike wherever she pointed. But the next moment, he heard Pei Ying say, "You've probably heard of that crystal. It's called 'water jade,' extremely rare and favored by princes and nobles. If we can successfully find water jade that meets the standard, we can finish making the telescope sooner."
Sha Ying froze in place, his pupils trembling slightly.
Huo Zhizhang had mentioned the telescope in front of them, the military officers. Although he himself had never obtained one, or even seen it, that didn't stop Huo Zhizhang from describing it vividly.
Seeing clearly from hundreds of zhang away, comparable to the eyes of an eagle or hawk, and so on.
Sha Ying hadn't believed it at first. How could human eyes compare to those of an eagle?
However, Huo Zhizhang had concluded by saying one thing: it wasn't an exaggeration; everything he said was what his mother had told him. The telescope was currently in the planning stages and would be unveiled once completed.
With just that one sentence, Sha Ying had been captivated for a full quarter of an hour.
He believed it. He also wanted a telescope, to experience the vision of an eagle's eye!
Sha Ying rubbed his hands together, striving to make his tone gentle and sincere. "Madam, once that telescope is made, could you give... no, lend it to me for a use?"
This brawny man, usually so at ease among flowers, was uncharacteristically shy.
"Alright," Pei Ying said.
A mere telescope—they might treasure it like a precious gem, but in her view, it was just the combination of two lenses.
Sha Ying was overjoyed.
However, Pei Ying had more to say. "But let me be clear first, I don't know if there is suitable water jade here. Keep this matter confidential for now; don't tell Huo Tingshan."
Sha Ying agreed immediately.
Pei Ying thought for a moment, then added, "Even if we find water jade, don't tell him right away either."
Sha Ying understood perfectly. Was the Madam planning to give the General a surprise?
"I swear not to leak a single word," Sha Ying promised. Not content with just his own promise, he turned and also instructed the surrounding black-armored cavalry not to breathe a word.
Pei Ying curved the corners of her mouth into a slight smile.
When she first heard about the limestone cave, her immediate thought wasn't of limestone or quartz sand—the raw materials for making glass. Instead, she skipped the raw materials and thought of another finished product:
crystal.
The main component of crystal is also silicon dioxide, identical to quartz sand, and both are found in limestone caves.
Pure crystal can rival glass. A telescope only requires a few small lenses, unlike windows which need large, intact panes.
Domestic white quartz generally has higher purity than crystals of other hues, which happens to be just fine. Having conventionally white, transparent lenses for the telescope is perfectly acceptable.
The group continued forward.
However, after walking for a while, Pei Ying suddenly stopped and looked back the way they had come.
The Black Armor Cavalry was arranged in a long column, with her and her daughter positioned at the center. Not only were there guards ahead, but also behind. Torches burned quietly in the darkness. Pei Ying's gaze passed through the firelight, finally blocked by the cave walls.
"Madam?" Sha Ying was puzzled.
Pei Ying said, "This cave is quite large. We've already traveled some distance since entering. Have we marked the path we've taken? Otherwise, we might not find our way out later."
Such dark caves aren't only favored by bats; snakes also happily make their homes here.
Chen Yuan: "Rough markings have been made."
He was the one who led the pursuit of the enemy into the cave. After entering, the Black Armor Cavalry extended outwards like tentacles, and during this process, some markings were left behind.
"Father, that Governor Li was rather peculiar today."
Huo Zhizhang rode alongside Huo Tingshan, frowning as he spoke. "We executed all his men right in front of him, and even invited him afterwards to help deal with those 'Jingzhou soldiers.' Despite all that, Governor Li's expression didn't change. I even saw him smiling once or twice. It's truly bizarre. Is he brewing some malicious scheme?"
Having his own soldiers singled out and beheaded before his eyes, not only could he not acknowledge them, but he also had to applaud the act.
If it were him, Huo Zhizhang felt he'd be so frustrated he could vomit blood.
"Indeed, it's unusual." Huo Tingshan's gaze was heavy. "When things go against expectation, there must be trickery afoot. Li Xiaotian is certainly plotting something else. But we'll meet soldiers with soldiers, and water with earth. We'll act according to circumstances when the time comes."
They had led the troops out in the morning and now returned close to the end of the noon hour.
Guo Dajiang saw Huo Tingshan return and hurried forward to report. "General, this morning, while Madam and the young lady were out gathering herbs, they encountered four villains attempting to poison the river upstream from our army. Fortunately, Madam was sharp-eyed and saw through their scheme. Madam, concerned that the four might be carrying something unusual, had them temporarily detained outside the camp..."
Hearing "poison," Huo Tingshan wasn't surprised. Li Xiaotian had been very odd today; there was definitely a follow-up plan.
Hah, here it comes.
But poisoning the water source?
How effective could that small amount of poison be after being diluted by the flowing water?
"Where is my wife now?" Huo Tingshan dismounted.
Guo Dajiang had been about to report the matter of the epidemic, but was interrupted by Huo Tingshan. He could only answer first: "Commandant Chen, while pursuing the enemy, accidentally discovered a very large underground cavern. Madam was extremely interested in it and has taken the young lady inside."
Huo Tingshan's steps halted abruptly. "When did my wife leave camp? How long has she been gone? Who is guarding her?"
Seeing his furrowed brows, Guo Dajiang immediately explained, "Platoon Leader Sha and Commandant Chen are escorting her with a unit of fifty Black Armor Cavalry. Another hundred were sent afterwards."
"Where is this cave? Take me there immediately." Huo Tingshan remounted his horse.
Guo Dajiang acknowledged the order.
Huo Zhizhang, full of enthusiasm, said, "Father, I'll go with you."
Huo Tingshan glanced at him but said nothing.
Youzhou is located in the north, where limestone caves are rare. Sha Ying, Chen Yuan, and the Black Armor Cavalry had never seen such a vast, labyrinthine cavern.
There were no stone steps; the ground was slippery and wet, as if water flowed everywhere. The terrain often rose and fell sharply, and a slight misstep could lead to a sliding fall.
"Drip, drip."
After walking further, the sound of water grew louder.
Stalactite columns hung inverted from the ceiling, suspended just thirty centimeters above the water's surface.
The lower ends of the columns were worn smooth and rounded by flowing water. Transparent streams, like slender snakes, meandered down the columns, dripping rhythmically into the water below.
As their party moved, the shadows cast by the torches shifted.
The shadows of the upright and inverted stalactites, elongated by the firelight, fell upon the cave walls like rows of black thorns or serpents arching their necks, silently watching these unfamiliar visitors with flickering tongues.
"Splash—"
The Black Armor Cavalryman at the front accidentally stepped into a water hole. The water here was so clear it was hard to judge its depth.
It looked like a shallow puddle, but with one step he stumbled, the water immediately soaking up to his knee.
Soon, word came from the front. "There's a stream ahead, knee-deep."
Sha Ying was troubled. "Madam, the path ahead is difficult and hazardous. Perhaps you should wait here? Describe in detail the appearance of the crystal that suits your fancy, and I will go find it for you."
"Platoon Leader Sha, it's not that I don't trust you, but my requirements for the clarity of the crystal are quite high and difficult to describe." Pei Ying sighed.
There's a saying, "Jade must be cut and polished to become a vessel." Here, "polished" doesn't just mean carving; it includes the process of "polishing" to a shine.
Polished crystal has a vitreous luster, gentle yet strong, a world apart from the dull, dusty ore freshly dug from the ground.
Sha Ying immediately felt a headache coming on. If Madam went herself, not only her shoes and socks, but most of her hem would be soaked through.
He wouldn't mind carrying her, but that didn't seem quite appropriate...
"It's fine. I can change my shoes and socks when we return." Pei Ying didn't see it as a big problem. It was only knee-deep, not over her head.
She intended to cross but told her daughter to stop. "Nannan, you and Chen Yuan wait here..."
She paused mid-sentence, glancing at Chen Yuan. He stood to the side like a young poplar tree—not particularly showy or dazzling, but giving off a sense of steadiness.
Pei Ying pressed her lips together and finally said, "You two needn't follow me. I'll be back shortly."
Meng Ling'er was unwilling. "Mother, I want to go too..."
"Be a good girl and stay here." Having said this to her daughter, Pei Ying looked at Chen Yuan, leaving the matter for him to handle. "Commandant Chen, don't let her follow me."
After instructing Chen Yuan, Pei Ying continued forward under Sha Ying's worried gaze. She chose a spot, tested by the Black Armor Cavalry, where the descent into the water was most gradual.
Deep inside the cave, untouched by sunlight, the water was bone-chillingly cold. Pei Ying couldn't help but shiver.
Sha Ying watched on tenterhooks, afraid she might slip and fall into the water. Fortunately, the stream wasn't wide, and Pei Ying soon reached the opposite bank.
The Black Armor Cavalry split into two groups, one remaining in place, the other continuing forward with Pei Ying.
Turning left and right, Pei Ying wove her way through the cave.
In later generations, when karst caves were developed into scenic spots, various lighting installations would be placed inside. Under the glow of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet lights, the caves became a kaleidoscope of dreamlike colors.
But now, there was only firelight.
Everything was in its pristine, natural state—even small creatures might be hiding in some nook or cranny.
"Madam, we've found something! So, so many crystals!" An excited voice suddenly rang out from ahead.
Pei Ying's spirits lifted, and she quickened her pace. After rounding a twisted stalactite column that resembled a beast's claw closing in, she was met with a sight that left her breathless.
Under the flickering firelight, a vast expanse of white, tinged with the hues of flame, flooded her vision. These crystalline formations came in all shapes and sizes—some long, some short, some unfurling like lotus petals, others standing straight and proud like swords.
They seemed to have transformed into creeping vines or perhaps hoarfrost clinging to the stalactites, elegantly displaying to the world the beauty forged by the passage of time.
Sha Ying was momentarily lost in wonder. "To think such a miraculous place exists in this world."
Pei Ying smiled. "The craftsmanship of nature is divine and unfathomable; nothing is impossible."
This small section of the cavern was densely packed with crystals. Those on the ceiling were out of reach, so Pei Ying started with the ones at the bottom.
She examined each cluster of crystal flowers one by one.
Sha Ying looked up at the higher formations, already contemplating how to retrieve them if Pei Ying didn't find any to her liking below.
Perhaps they could bring in a ladder?
While Sha Ying was deep in thought, Pei Ying had already gotten to work. She had a small hemp bag for herb gathering, which now came in handy.
Like a housewife picking cabbages at the market, the elegant lady carefully selected her finds. Those that pleased her went into the bag; the others were left behind.
She moved from spot to spot. Time slipped by unnoticed, and before long, the bag in Pei Ying's hand grew heavy, filled to the brim.
"Madam, let me carry that." Sha Ying took the small hemp bag and handed her a new cloth pouch. This pouch was also quite small, at most large enough to hold a person's head.
Pei Ying walked along all the accessible areas, picking out every piece of white crystal she deemed acceptable. Finally, looking back, she realized she had only filled three small bags in total.
"The rest aren't suitable." Pei Ying rose from the ground. "Let's go take a look next door."
Sha Ying naturally complied.
But as soon as they turned into the adjacent passage, they were met with a broad, dark river. A black-armored cavalryman waded in first, only to discover, to his surprise, that the water here was unusually deep—reaching chest-high for a man.
"Madam, this path is blocked. We should turn back," Sha Ying said seriously.
Pei Ying felt rather regretful, but there was nothing to be done.
They retraced their steps.
After leaving the crystal cavern and walking a short distance, Sha Ying suddenly halted, his expression turning odd.
He heard footsteps, and more than one set at that.
The large cave system had been cleared earlier, so whoever was inside must be their own people. Could it be that Chen Yuan had disobeyed orders and was wandering around with the young lady?
Surely not. The Chen Yuan he knew didn't seem the type to be insubordinate.
Unable to figure it out, Sha Ying simply raised his voice. "Whoever is disregarding military discipline by wandering around here, identify yourself at once."
"Your superior." A leisurely male voice came from the other side.
Sha Ying stumbled, nearly slipping on the damp ground.
Hearing the familiar voice, Pei Ying was momentarily taken aback.
What was Huo Tingshan doing here?
Their party stood still. Soon, the glow of a torch appeared from around the corner ahead.
She spotted him immediately.
Unlike her position in the center of her own group, a burly figure strode at the very front of the other party. The man held a torch, his dark shadow cast on the rock wall like the menacing outline of a tiger.
The two groups were about seven or eight meters apart.
Pei Ying glanced sideways at Sha Ying, who happened to meet her gaze. He somehow understood her unspoken instruction: Keep those bags of crystals safe.
"Don't worry," Sha Ying whispered.
Huo Tingshan was tall and took long strides, quickly closing the distance to stand before Pei Ying.
Pei Ying was wearing black riding attire today, so the dampness wasn't very noticeable. But as the man approached and his eyes swept over her, his brows immediately furrowed. "Why are you soaked?"
Then he shot a glance at Sha Ying.
Sha Ying stared fixedly ahead, avoiding eye contact, inwardly lamenting his predicament. Whichever side he chose would be wrong.
Pei Ying looked down at herself, not thinking the wet lower part of her legs was particularly noteworthy.
As if reading her mind, Huo Tingshan called her out. "Madam was standing in a puddle, practically on the verge of sprouting roots to draw up the moisture."
"It can't be that bad." Pei Ying took a step forward. As her foot lifted and then landed, the edge of her boot let out a soft squelch, squeezing out a little water.
Pei Ying: "..."
"What is Madam doing in this cave?" Huo Tingshan's gaze swept over the surroundings—jagged rocks and natural barriers rising from the ground.
It was a perfect place for an ambush.
"Looking for some materials," Pei Ying replied.
"Those large broken stones outside?" Huo Tingshan had seen the severed stalactites on his way in.
Pei Ying nodded. "They're needed for making glass."
Huo Tingshan just wanted to get her out. "Since you've found the stones, let's head back. It's not good to linger long in such a cold, damp place."
"I was already planning to leave," Pei Ying said softly.
Huo Tingshan suddenly reached for her hand.
Indeed, her hand was cold. How long had she been in this cave? She was practically turning into an icicle.
There were many people around, each holding a torch, making everything perfectly visible. Pei Ying instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but failed to free it.
Not only did Huo Tingshan continue holding her hand as they walked forward, he didn't bother lowering his voice at all. "Madam is still rather easily embarrassed."
They happened to be in a narrow passageway, so his words echoed, heard by those both in front and behind.
Pei Ying's ears flushed red from his teasing.
Soon, they returned to the side of the small stream. As Huo Tingshan turned slightly towards her, Pei Ying somehow knew what he intended to do and hurriedly said, "I can cross by myself."
Since her shoes and socks were already wet, it didn't matter if she got them wetter.
Huo Tingshan clicked his tongue lightly, his masculine pride surfacing. "Madam, where does that leave my dignity?"
"...I'll walk myself," Pei Ying insisted.
Huo Tingshan turned around. "My back, then. Will that do? If not, I'll just choose the method most convenient for me."
Pei Ying was silent for a couple of breaths before finally climbing onto his broad back. As her arms looped around his neck, he suddenly stood up straight. Startled, Pei Ying instinctively tightened her grip.
Her wrist accidentally pressed against his Adam's apple. Huo Tingshan grunted. "If Madam has so many grievances against me, you can detail them to me later. Must you resort to murdering your own husband?"
The blush spread from Pei Ying's ears to her cheeks. "Huo Tingshan!"
Could this man's mouth ever give it a rest?
