Chapter Twelve: Hunchback Ridge

Two days swiftly passed. In the early hours of this day, a thick fog settled over Gao City. Through the hazy veil, only a few hurried passersby moved briskly, coming and going in a blur.

An ancient verse came to mind: “Rising at dawn, the traveler stirs the bell; a guest mourns his distant home. Cock’s crow at the thatched inn under the moon, footsteps on the frost-covered plank bridge.”

At this moment, Ma Yuan felt the deepest resonance with the imagery of the poem.

The mist clung to his clothes, scattering crystalline droplets that glistened and moistened his garments.

By the time Ma Yuan arrived at the southern gate, Wang Xian, Hou Xinjie, and a host of the Wang family had already gathered. Leading them was a middle-aged man clad in a long black robe.

Ma Yuan immediately guessed that this must be Wang Xian’s second uncle.

“Ma Yuan, Xinjie, I must emphasize once again: this journey to Tuoziling beyond the city is perilous—life-threatening even. You must follow my uncle’s instructions in every matter,” Wang Xian said, lowering his voice beneath the brim of his straw hat.

“Right, this is my second uncle, Wang Qing. You can call him Uncle Qing or Second Uncle, just like I do,” Wang Xian introduced the man beside him.

Ma Yuan and Hou Xinjie immediately greeted in unison, “Greetings, Second Uncle!”

Wang Qing nodded silently. He had been uneasy about sending Wang Xian on this mission from the start. When Wang Xian insisted on bringing Ma Yuan and Hou Xinjie along, Wang Qing’s resistance grew stronger. Yet, unable to dissuade his nephew, he reluctantly consented after repeated warnings, and so their party set off.

“Wang Xian, you and your two friends sit safely in the middle of the formation. Gao City lies about eighty li from Tuoziling, likely two days’ travel. We will have to pass through the White Birch Forest along the way, so be vigilant about your safety,” Wang Qing reminded Wang Xian before departure.

...

Tuoziling was their destination, roughly eighty li from Gao City, although the winding roads would make the journey longer.

Geographically, Tuoziling was nothing special, but it sat beside the vital trade route known as Jiuzhou Dragon Path, which connected surrounding towns to Jiuzhou City. Any merchant caravan or vendor heading to Jiuzhou had to pass this way, making Tuoziling a strategic choke point along the Dragon Path.

...

For years, bandits had taken root in Tuoziling. Among them, three clans dominated: the Ma Gangzi, the Luo Old Eagle, and the Hu Madman.

One might ask: didn’t the government intervene? Not that they didn’t try, but they couldn’t control it. Several official expeditions had been dispatched to eradicate the bandits, but all ended in failure.

Some said the bandits were just too fierce to overcome; others whispered of collusion—officials accepting bribes yet fearing public outrage, performing only token raids before abandoning the effort.

This time, the Wang family was headed to negotiate with one of the three bandit leaders, the infamous Luo Old Eagle. No one knew his true name; only that he had piercing hawk-like eyes, cold and merciless.

Luo Old Eagle had only been active for a few years, making him the youngest and smallest of the three bandit chiefs. The other two had over a decade of experience each.

Tuoziling itself was cloaked in dense forests and thick mists, with poisonous gases seeping through. Ordinary folk dared not venture there. Protected by this natural fortress, the bandits lived freely and recklessly.

Besides the dangers of Tuoziling, a few li away stood another perilous place—the White Birch Forest.

It wasn’t bandits that made the forest dangerous, but its ancient trees, some centuries old, sheltering many wild beasts notorious for preying on humans. Over time, no solitary traveler dared cross it alone.

Compared to Tuoziling, the White Birch Forest’s dangers were somewhat manageable with numbers. But Tuoziling was a different matter—those bandits killed without hesitation.

Ma Yuan and his companions traveled by carriage for a day before night fell, when they found a nearby spot to camp and rest.

The next morning, they departed early again. From the outset, Ma Yuan sensed a heavier, more solemn atmosphere than the day before.

“Ma Yuan, Xinjie, come here,” Wang Xian beckoned them over amid the tense mood.

When they approached, Wang Xian said, “We should reach the White Birch Forest in about half a day. It’s another treacherous place—deep woods teeming with ferocious beasts. People seldom traverse it alone; usually, they travel in groups.”

He caught his breath, the heavy air around them nearly suffocating.

He continued, “Though we have a sizable party, Uncle said the three of us should stay in the middle, and the Wang family guards will handle the outer defenses.”

Ma Yuan and Hou Xinjie nodded; the Wang family’s arrangements were thorough and secure.

After some time, the party caught sight of an endless stretch of forest ahead. As the wind rose, clouds gathered ominously, as if a calamity were descending.

“That’s the White Birch Forest ahead. Stay sharp. This mission to Tuoziling is a crucial turning point for the Wang family. If we fail to bring back this batch of arms, the family may be erased from Gao City. Success will buy us room to maneuver,” Wang Qing said gravely. The stakes were truly foundational for the Wang family.

Before long, they entered the White Birch Forest. From outside, Ma Yuan hadn’t grasped the density of the woods, but inside, the towering trees blocked nearly all light, creating an impenetrable canopy.

What struck him most was the stark contrast: outside, slivers of sunlight pierced the mist; inside, only faint glimmers remained, and darkness settled swiftly.

Aside from the wind outside and the crunch of footsteps on fallen leaves, the forest was utterly silent.

After about ten minutes of cautious progress, Wang Qing raised his hand, signaling the rear to halt.

“Stop,” his gesture commanded immediate obedience. The guards immediately formed a tight circle around Wang Xian and the two friends, spears at the ready, faces tense with vigilance.

“What’s wrong, Wang Xian? Is there trouble?” Ma Yuan whispered, puzzled by the sudden standoff.

Wang Xian’s eyes narrowed. Having often traveled with his family, especially in places like this, he understood his uncle’s intention.

“Ma Yuan, Xinjie, we have a problem. Uncle must have heard something, which is why he wants us to stay put. But don’t worry—we often encounter situations like this. I trust Uncle can handle it.”

As his words faded, a tiger suddenly leapt from the underbrush ahead. Its forehead bore a large white patch shaped like the character “Wang.” Its fur was striped black and yellow, claws sharp and flexing, its thick tail swaying like a steel whip. It fixed the group with a fierce, unblinking gaze.

Ma Yuan was genuinely startled—he had never seen such a formidable tiger before. Back in his hometown, even a stray wild dog would send him fleeing through the village. Now, confronted with this mighty beast, his heart pounded with fear and awe.