Finest Servant-Chapter 642

Chapter 642 Deceived a Naive Person

In the heavens, rain fell silently,

Ah Mei had words she dared not speak.

The charming Ah Ge, lethal to many,

Come, listen to the secrets of my heart...

Amidst a half-awake, half-asleep daze, a melodious love song wafted from the mountains. From the window, the bright moon reigned supreme, with stars scattered across the sky. Before the fourth watch (After midnight), the Miao village was already bustling. Lights twinkled in every home, and plumes of cooking smoke curled from the stilted houses, signaling the onset of a busy day.

Remembering his promise to learn folk songs from Yilian, Lin Wanrong hurriedly dressed and leaped from the stilted house onto the hillside.

Yilian, standing atop the hill, glanced at him and then looked away, her voice tinged with mock annoyance, "Hmph, you're late!"

Lin Wanrong, scratching his head in embarrassment, responded, "You're quite early! It's my fault too. It's my first night in the Miao village. Excitement kept me awake, and that's why I rose late."

"Thinking about the Holy Maiden, weren't you?" Yilian asked with a teasing smile.

His silence was an admission, and he responded with a laugh, skillfully deflecting the question.

Yilian then explained, "Ah Lin Ge, our Miao folk songs are simple and direct. Any words you dare to sing, there will be ears willing to listen. The tunes are similar and not hard to learn. I'll teach you as we travel."

She continued, "The challenge lies in the lyrics. These songs are ancestral, passed down through generations. My mother knows a thousand, but I only know over six hundred. I'll teach you all I know, so do remember them well!"

Overwhelmed by the thought of memorizing six hundred songs, Lin Wanrong's expression revealed his astonishment. Yilian's laughter echoed, "Just remember as many as you can. I don't expect you to become an expert singer!"

Her teasing was gentle, and Lin Wanrong smiled, admiring her. Seeing her eyes, wide and bloodshot, he exclaimed with concern, "Yilian, you didn't rest last night?"

Embarrassed, she shook her head. "Mother was busy preparing and packing. She stayed awake all night. How could I sleep? Everyone in the village preparing for the Flower Mountain Festival is in the same situation."

Understanding her early rise, Lin Wanrong insisted, "Let's skip the lessons today. You need to sleep. Yilian, you must take care of yourself. No one's kind words matter more than your own health. Do you understand?"

With a sweet smile, Yilian nodded in agreement. "I'll listen to you, Ah Lin Ge!"

Upon their return to the house, Yilian discreetly retreated to her room. The Buyi couple, already up, admired Lin Wanrong's Miao attire. Yilian's mother complimented him, and her father translated, "Yilian's mother says you look quite handsome in Miao attire, a sight in the region!"

Pleased, Lin Wanrong bowed in gratitude, "Auntie is too kind. But no matter how handsome I look, I can't compare to your husband in his younger days!"

With a smile, Auntie glanced affectionately at her husband.

Uncle Buyi, wearing a mix of amusement and concern, tightly clasped Lin Wanrong's hand. "On your journey, please take good care of Yilian and Kunshan," he implored earnestly.

"Wherever we are, we will take care of each other!" the guest boasted unabashedly, speaking in an official tone.

The old man shook his head, "You're too polite, guest! Kunshan and Yilian are still children! But you're different. When you beat that man surnamed Wu, I could tell. Your hands aren't pampered; they've wielded a blade!"

Lin Wanrong was inwardly shocked at this revelation. The Miao region truly housed many capable people. This unassuming old man, with his keen observations, was no wonder the leader of the Red Miao. His presence was a boon for the governance of the Miao region.

"Don't worry, Uncle," Lin Wanrong replied, now more respectful, "I, Lin San, am not a saint, but I am certainly not a menace to good people! I won't let Kunshan and Yilian be bullied!"

As they spoke, the soft clinking of silverware echoed, and a young girl emerged slowly from the inner room. Lin Wanrong caught sight of her and was instantly taken aback.

The girl, Yilian, wore a brand-new Miao outfit, her delicate features exuding beauty. Fresh from a bath, her wet hair was bound in a luminous circle of bright silver ornaments. Silver adorned her head, neck, chest, and wrists, casting a faint glow that made her skin gleam like jade. Around her waist was a white jade belt, unadorned with silver but embroidered with a pair of lively, red butterflies.

"Yilian, you look beautiful!" Lin Wanrong expressed his admiration genuinely.

The girl, now fully dressed, blushed and hurriedly hid behind her mother.

"Of course!" Uncle Buyi nodded, pride evident on his face, "Our Yilian is renowned for her beauty in the region! She must dress beautifully for the Flower Mountain Festival. It's one of the most important events in their lives!"

"Matchmaking is indeed important," Lin Wanrong mused with a curious tone. "But, Uncle, wearing so much silver on the journey, isn't it a bit too ostentatious?"

The father laughed heartily, "Guest, you don't understand our Miao customs! We Miao people love silver, as it's as pure as the moon. From a daughter's birth, we save to accumulate silver for her. On major festivals and her wedding day, she must wear all the silver we've saved over the years. The more she wears, the more honor it brings. It's the custom! Unfortunately, our Yilian has had a hard life. We've only been able to add one silver bracelet over the years. The rest are heirlooms from her mother's ancestors, not many, and quite modest."

Indeed, upon closer observation, the silver ornaments Yilian wore showed signs of wear, indicative of their age. Seeing her parents' eyes well up with sadness, Yilian quickly said, "Father, Mother, I don't need silver bracelets or rings. I just wish for your health and longevity, for us to be together forever."

Lin Wanrong eagerly agreed, "Uncle, Auntie, Yilian is right. Silver can be earned again, but happiness and health are priceless. Believe me, better days will come to the Miao region! Perhaps by the time Yilian marries, your family will have so much silver you won't be able to carry it all!"

"Ah Lin Ge—" Yilian, flushed with embarrassment, stamped her foot. Mr. and Mrs. Buyi, comforted by his words, were filled with joy.

As time advanced, around twenty or thirty young men and women of Yingyue Hamlet gathered together. Each was adorned with silver ornaments, their faces flushed with excitement and shyness, radiating beauty and charm. All the onlookers couldn't help but gaze unblinkingly. The gentle jingling of silver ornaments mingled with the earnest advice and hopes of their parents as the group set off along the mountain path.

Yingyue Hamlet, located on the outskirts of Xuzhou Prefecture, was quite a distance from Yunlian County and Wulian Peak. Yilian and her companions chose a shortcut through the mountains. Although rugged and challenging, it was nothing significant to these Miao youths. However, it proved a considerable challenge for Lin Wanrong and Si De, accustomed as they were to easier paths.

In this group, Yilian, though a delicate girl, became the undisputed leader due to her bold and resolute nature. Everyone, including the mischievous Kunshan, listened to her.

Lin San and Si De, posing as fake Miao people, blended well with the lively young crowd, quickly becoming familiar with each other.

Lin Wanrong, a man of composure and rich experience, was eloquent and witty. His jokes were double the fun, and his stories, filled with romantic encounters and thrilling adventures, were unique and unheard of by the Miao people. The youths, captivated by his tales, eagerly gathered around him, longing to converse with him.

When they learned he wanted to learn mountain songs, not only did Yilian teach him diligently, but others also shared their skills. Unfortunately, Lin Wanrong's talents in this area were limited. He often forgot what he learned, amusing everyone with his mistakes.

The Miao girls, valuing cleanliness, would find a mountain spring each evening to play, wash their clothes, and clean their silver ornaments. The other young Miao men could only stand guard with their hatchets.

Listening to the girls' laughter, most of the young men felt restless, but Lin Wanrong remained calm. He was accustomed to seeing much in his life, and this peaceful existence felt like a true luxury. As he listened to the Miao girls singing and frolicking in the water, he reflected on his past journeys through perilous lands and endless expeditions. Such tranquility was a stark contrast to those days, leaving him with no room for discontent.

Lin Wanrong's experiences, which brought him great joy and sorrow, contributed to his extraordinary composure and equanimity, traits that greatly appealed to the young Miao men and women. Every night, they eagerly gathered around the campfire, engrossed in his tales, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Yilian particularly cherished these moments. Sitting beside him at night, listening to his stories filled with laughter and anger, she felt as if these tales were his personal experiences. Whether they were true or not, she always wanted to find out but lacked the courage to ask.

Thus, they traveled through the treacherous mountains for five days, resting by night and moving by day, enduring blisters on their feet without sighting a single town. While the Miao youths remained calm, Lin Wanrong grew anxious. Seizing a moment of rest, he pulled Yilian aside, "Yilian, when will we reach Yunlian County?"

"Almost there!" Yilian replied with a gentle smile, pulling out some dried food from her bundle and handing the largest piece to him. "Ah Lin Ge, eat this!"

The snacks Lin Wanrong had brought were already distributed among the Miao villagers, and now they relied on the wild vegetable pancakes Yilian and her mother had prepared overnight. Lin Wanrong, accustomed to a rough lifestyle and having experienced various hardships, found the food perfectly palatable.

Seeing him enjoy the food brought joy to Yilian, who quickly handed him a bamboo tube filled with clear water. "Ah Lin Ge, I want to ask you something."

"Hmm?"

"What did you do before, and how do you know so much?"

"Well," he said, wiping the water from his mouth and smiling proudly, "I used to be a servant, skilled in deceiving and seducing young ladies!"

"Stop lying, I don't believe you!" Yilian chuckled.

‘Oh heavens, oh earth, why does no one ever believe me when I tell the truth? But when I lie, everyone follows and believes? Am I really that bad?’ He wondered sorrowfully.

Yilian's eyes widened as she looked at him intently, murmuring, "Ah Lin Ge, it would be great if you could stay in the Miao village forever."

Lin Wanrong's pupils dilated in shock, staring behind her, his mouth twitching, legs trembling. "Yilian, don't move!"

"What's wrong?" the girl asked, puzzled.

"Shh," Lin Wanrong grimaced, standing up shakily. Suddenly, he pulled Yilian behind him. "Quick, let's go!"

A bright red tongue flicked out from behind Yilian, revealing a triangular head, the body black with specks of stars – a six or seven-foot-long snake, coiled on a bush, slowly extending its head.

Seeing him tremble, Yilian blinked. "Ah Lin Ge, are you afraid of snakes?"

"No, no, no, not at all!"

Yilian suppressed a laugh and swiftly reached out, accurately grasping the snake seven inches from its head.

The snake hissed, extending its tongue even further. Lin Wanrong yelled in terror, covering his head, his face pale with fear.

Yilian giggled, pulling the coiled snake off the tree and holding it out to him. "Ah Lin Ge, it's a venomous green viper! Don't be afraid. Touch it; it's quite tame!"

A venomous green viper? Seeing Yilian handle the snake as if it were nothing, Lin Wanrong's heart pounded. He dared not touch it. It wasn't that he was cowardly – he had faced thousands of blades on the battlefield without flinching. Everyone has their fears, and for some Hua people, fearing snakes was not a matter of shame.

"Coward!" Kunshan, seeing Yilian's unusual kindness towards this Hua man and already disliking him, scoffed disdainfully. "There's not a single good person in the Hua people! Yilian, leave him be!"

Lin Wanrong frowned. "Brother Kunshan, why do you say there's not a single good person in the Hua people?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Kunshan replied angrily. "Didn't you see what happened in the village that day? The Hua people commit all sorts of atrocities, exploiting and terrorizing the locals. When have they ever been good people?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head, "It's true that some Hua people are bad, but can the actions of one person represent the entire Hua people? The ones who bullied people in the village that day included not only the officials but also the Black Miao, who are part of the Miao people themselves! According to your logic, does that make all Miao people bad? Is Yilian bad? Is Elder Buyi bad? Are all of us here bad?"

Kunshan, confronted with Lin Wanrong's rhetorical questions, was left speechless, unable to respond. The surrounding Miao men and women, having gathered around during the argument, pondered deeply upon hearing his questions.

"Good and bad people cannot be distinguished based on ethnicity! Every ethnic group has its good people and its scoundrels. It's human nature. The Hua and Miao people are not enemies. Since our ancestors, we have been like brothers and sisters, depending on the same green mountains and waters, thriving together. Our glory and loss are shared. Only through mutual love and support can we build a better home and ensure good lives for all our kin."

Lin Wanrong's eloquence was undeniable. Though the younger generation of the Miao village harbored deep prejudices against the Hua people, the prospect of better days appealed to them, and they were swayed by his words. A young Miao person timidly asked, "But what about the Hua people who bully us? Ah Lin Ge, what about them?"

Lin Wanrong nodded with a smile, "Just wait and see. Those who exploit others, whether they are Hua or Miao, will be dealt with. Soon, everyone will don their silver ornaments and celebrate again. Keep your silver safe!"

The youngsters laughed together, their respect for Lin Wanrong, built over the past few days, making them believe in his words.

Yilian, standing close to Lin Wanrong, gazed at him, lost for words, her eyes misty. She had forgotten about the green viper in her hand.

"Hey, hey—" Lin Wanrong jumped back a few steps in fright, pointing at the snake in her hand, "Yilian, could you put that away first? I... I get a bit dizzy around snakes! Don't play with it, be careful of getting bitten!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Lin Wanrong's fearful demeanor, so different from his earlier eloquence, was endearing. This was the real Ah Lin Ge, whom everyone loved.

The Miao people, accustomed to living in the mountains, were adept at handling snakes and scorpions. Yilian, the village's healer and an expert in this field, laughed so hard she couldn't straighten up. "So, Ah Lin Ge is afraid of snakes. I understand now! If you dare to bully me in the future, I'll get some banded kraits to bite you!"

"What's a banded krait? Is it poisonous?" Lin Wanrong asked, visibly alarmed.

"Poisonous, very poisonous!" a few youngsters winked and laughed, "Even more poisonous than our Yilian!"

"Naughty girl!" Yilian blushed and scolded, as the girls erupted into playful chaos.

Silent for a while, Lin Wanrong eventually tugged at Yilian's sleeve and whispered, "Yilian, I want to ask you something."

"Okay!" Seeing the seriousness on his face, the young girl stopped joking and nodded earnestly.

"Do you have a poison in your village that can make a person fatally ill after five or six months without any initial harm?" Lin Wanrong asked anxiously.

"Yes, of course. With different combinations of herbs, there are at least a hundred types of the poison you mentioned. Ah Lin Ge, why do you ask about this?" Yilian inquired.

Lin Wanrong grasped her hand tightly, his voice urgent, "Is there a quick way to cure such poisoning? I have a very, very important person who has been poisoned and is in grave danger!"

Yilian looked at him and shook her head gently, "It depends on the specific poison used. Different poisons require different antidotes, some common, some unique."

The poisoner is Vixen An, so only she can cure it? He sighed silently, remaining speechless.

"Ah Lin Ge, this important person, is a girl?" Yilian asked cautiously.

"Yes!"

"Is she pretty?"

"Beautiful! She's a smart yet somewhat naive younger sister."

After a moment of silence, Yilian said softly, "Ah Lin Ge, I'm sorry!"

"Sorry? For what?" Lin Wanrong asked, puzzled.

"Because," the girl lowered her head, speaking softly, "I lied to you."

"Lied to me? About what? I have neither wealth nor beauty!" Lin Wanrong blinked in surprise.

Yilian chuckled, slightly embarrassed, "Actually, we are already in the territory of Yunlian County. Just down the mountain is the market. I... I deliberately led you on a longer route in the mountains for one more day!"

"Why?!" Lin Wanrong was so shocked he could hardly speak.

Yilian giggled, "Because I made a bet with my mother. She said you were cunning and couldn't be fooled by anyone. I didn't believe her, so I wanted to try – and now, she has nothing to say. Ah Lin Ge, you really are a good and honest person!"

Lin Wanrong's mouth fell open in astonishment, at a loss for words. Even Yilian, the little sister, had tricked him. It seemed being too honest really was a disadvantage!

"Ah Lin Ge, are you mad at me?" Yilian asked, her eyes wide with fear when he didn't speak for a while.

Lin Wanrong burst into laughter, "Mad? Mad that you thought of me as an honest person!"

Yilian laughed in relief, holding his hand, "Let's go down the mountain! Once we reach Yunlian, Wulian Peak will be right before us. Ah Lin Ge, your long-cherished wish is about to be fulfilled!"

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