Upon arriving at Wang Zhuhe's home, Mother You explained her purpose, and Wang Zhuhe appeared troubled.
"This… Mother You, to tell you the truth, it's said there are tigers on Junwu Mountain. Just a few days ago, some young men from the neighboring village went there and claimed they encountered one. They were so terrified they almost lost their souls. Everyone has been too scared to go near Junwu Mountain lately."
Mother You's face turned ashen. "What… what did you say? Brother Wang, what did you just say? There are tigers on Junwu Mountain? Then You Rong, he… he wouldn't be…"
"Don't rush, Mother You. You Rong is skilled. Perhaps… he'll be alright."
Lin Qinghe supported Mother You, gently stroking her back. "Mother, please don't worry. This is just what we've heard. We don't know the actual situation yet."
"But, but…" Mother You's eyes welled up with tears. She clutched Wang Zhuhe's hand and pleaded, "Brother Wang, when my husband was alive, he was sworn brothers with you. He helped your family a lot. I'm begging you, please think of a way, help You Rong…"
Wang Zhuhe frowned. "But everyone is afraid right now. They all have wives and children to think of. No one is willing to take the risk. Sigh… It's not that I don't want to look for You Rong, I really can't do anything!"
Wang Zhuhe's wife, Madam Zhang, overheard and sharply retorted, "Exactly! Your You Rong is your son, you care about him. But is my Wang's life not life? If something happens to him, my son and daughters and I will be a widowed family. How are we supposed to live!"
Wang Zhuhe reprimanded, "Xu Niang, be quiet!"
"Me be quiet? Am I wrong? Are you willing to risk your life for an outsider? Abandoning us, your mother and son? Waaaa… My life is so bitter. Marrying you, I've suffered most of my life without enjoying any happiness, and now you treat me like this…"
"Enough, stop making a scene. I never said I was going…"
Mother You's gaze slowly dimmed, tears falling one after another. She was almost inconsolable.
Lin Qinghe knitted her brows, held Mother You's hand, and said with a determined expression on her delicate face, "Mother! Don't cry. I'll go find You Rong!"
As soon as she spoke, everyone in the room was stunned.
Junwu Mountain was so dangerous that even strong adult men dared not venture in rashly. How could she, a weak woman, claim to go? It was astonishing!
Mother You stopped crying and grabbed Lin Qinghe's hand, objecting, "No! I won't allow it. How can a weak woman like you, without the strength to even hold a chicken, enter a mountain with fierce beasts? No! You cannot go!"
"Mother, it's okay. I believe You Rong will be fine, and I will definitely bring him back!"
"But…"
"Mother, trust me. You Rong and I will return safely. You just wait for us at home!"
Looking at Lin Qinghe's resolute expression, Mother You's anxiety was inexplicably soothed. At this point, she knew she shouldn't let Lin Qinghe take such a risk, but she was too worried about You Rong. She could only nod in agreement.
"Go and see if you can find him around the outskirts of Junwu Mountain. If you don't… don't… don't find You Rong, then come back."
Lin Qinghe smiled slightly. "Yes, don't worry, I will."
Wang Zhuhe looked worried. "You Rong's wife, going into the mountain is no joke, especially for a woman like yourself. This… you must think clearly!"
"Uncle Wang, I've thought it through. Please tell me the way to Junwu Mountain, and also…" Lin Qinghe looked at Mother You. "I'll be away for a couple of days. Please trouble yourself to check on my mother. She's not in good health, and I'm worried about her being alone when You Rong and I are both away."
Wang Zhuhe said, "Don't worry, I will. As for the way to Junwu Mountain, it's easy to find. Leave Xinghua Village and head east. After crossing a small stream, walk for about half an hour. You'll see a large round stone at the foot of the mountain. That's Junwu Mountain."
Lin Qinghe nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Uncle Wang. I'll take my mother home now."
Back home, Lin Qinghe packed dry rations, water, a fire starter, rope, and a curved saber for self-defense. By the time she was ready, it was already noon.
Mother You held Lin Qinghe's hand, her eyes red. "Qinghe, be careful. Don't push yourself. If you can't find You Rong, you should return…"
Lin Qinghe interrupted, "Mother, I will find You Rong and we'll come back together!"
Mother You suppressed her sobs and patted Lin Qinghe's hand. "I'll wait for you and You Rong to come back together."
Lin Qinghe slung her backpack over her shoulders and strode forward, her figure soon disappearing from Mother You's sight. Only then did Mother You turn back into the house to cry in secret.
Following Wang Zhuhe's directions, Lin Qinghe walked out of Xinghua Village and kept going. After crossing the small stream, she walked for another half an hour and saw the large round stone Wang Zhuhe had mentioned.
Lin Qinghe stopped to rest for a moment, drank some water. It was now late afternoon. She took a deep breath and, without looking back, entered the densely wooded Junwu Mountain.
Before it got dark, she had to search as quickly as possible to see if she could find any traces of You Rong's passage.
The mountain forest was overgrown with weeds and thorny bushes. After walking a short distance, Lin Qinghe's arms, legs, and even her face were scratched to varying degrees.
Lin Qinghe endured the pain and walked step by step deeper into the mountain. After walking a considerable distance, she tried shouting loudly, "You Rong… You Rong, are you there? You Rong, can you hear me?"
In the mountain forest, besides the chirping of insects and the rustling of the wind, only her own voice echoed. Lin Qinghe heard no response, nor did she spot any signs related to You Rong. She had no choice but to keep moving forward.
Fearing she might get lost, she took out the curved saber she had brought. Every so often, she carved a mark on the trunk of a large tree to prevent herself from getting lost in the deep mountains.
As dusk began to settle, Lin Qinghe became anxious. If she couldn't find the person, she would need to find a place to spend the night.
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In Xinghua Village, at You Rong's home, Mother You was overcome with grief and had no appetite for dinner. She sat in the front room, wiping away tears intermittently.
As she lowered her head to wipe her tears, the door to the front room was pushed open.
"Mother, who brought back the corn from the fields? Didn't I say I'd bring it back when I returned? Is it Qinghe…"
Upon seeing Mother You's swollen eyes, You Rong was startled. He dropped the things he was carrying and hurried over, asking anxiously, "Mother, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you unwell? I'll go find a doctor for you…"
Before he could finish, Mother You burst into tears. "You… you're back! It's good that you're back. Didn't you say you'd be back in three days? Why are you only returning on the fifth day? Your Uncle Wang said there were tigers on Junwu Mountain, and you didn't come back. Mother was worried sick about you…"
You Rong quickly soothed her. "Mother, I hunted a lot this time. I went back and forth between the town and the mountains twice to sell my game, which delayed me by a day. I could have returned this morning, but the merchant who bought the game offered me more money if I helped him clean a Sika deer. After I finished, I went to fetch your medicine, and that's why I came back late."
"You… it's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright…"
The crying Mother You suddenly came to her senses and asked urgently, "Where is Qinghe? Did you see Qinghe?"
You Rong frowned. "Qinghe? I haven't seen Qinghe. Isn't she home?"
Mother You's face changed drastically. "Oh no! This morning, Qinghe and I went to your Uncle Wang's house. We intended to ask your Uncle Wang to find some people to search the mountain for you, fearing you might be in trouble. But when they heard there were wild beasts in the mountain, no one was willing to go. So Qinghe took some dry rations and a curved saber and went to Junwu Mountain alone to find you!"