15. This Is Mountview Village (Typo Fix)

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The mountains surrounding Shanxiu Village rise and fall in majestic undulations, tall and imposing—no wonder the village earned its name. The villagers, who have lived here for generations, firmly believe in the presence of a mountain spirit. Every year during the spring equinox and the summer solstice, they light incense and candles, offering fruits in reverence.

Ordinary folk lack the skill to venture deep into the mountains; they usually gather firewood or dig for wild vegetables on the lower hills nearby. Beyond that, the path becomes treacherous, and one risks losing their way.

Only seasoned hunters and herbalists, who have spent years traversing these woods, dare to go further. Without Lin Jiangshan leading the way, even Ye Xi would never dare venture deeper.

The farther into the mountains they went, the narrower the path became, rarely trodden and overgrown with taller grass than elsewhere. Vines and thorns frequently blocked their way.

Lin Jiangshan led ahead, using his curved knife to cut through obstacles, carving a clear path for Ye Xi to follow.

“Are there wolves in these mountains?” Ye Xi quietly asked, following behind.

Lin Jiangshan grunted and chopped off a branch. “I’ve heard wolves howling. The mountains are full of wild beasts; sometimes you’ll even step on a long snake. But if you’re nimble enough to climb a tree or get out before darkness falls, there’s not much to worry about.”

Goosebumps rose on Ye Xi’s neck at the thought. “You’re so brave. I’ve been afraid of those slippery creatures since I was a child.”

Lin Jiangshan glanced back with a smile. “Don’t worry. I’m watching out for you.”

Ye Xi pressed his lips together, watching Lin Jiangshan’s broad, sturdy back, feeling a comforting warmth settle deep inside. He nodded. “I trust you.”

The mountains were rich with herbs, but Lin Jiangshan couldn’t identify them, so Ye Xi had to recognize them himself.

Ye Xi was somewhat of a novice herbalist, having studied a medicine book with illustrations under a doctor’s guidance, barely remembering the basics.

The two wandered through the woods for hours, growing hot and thirsty.

They found a large tree and sat on its wide roots. Ye Xi wiped his sweat with his sleeve and unfastened the water pouch at his waist. “Have some water. Thank you for sticking with me all this time.”

Lin Jiangshan took the pouch without hesitation, folded some leaves into a small cup, poured water in, and drained it in one gulp. Water dripped from the corner of his mouth, tracing his firm jaw down to his prominent Adam’s apple—wild and unrestrained.

Watching the movement of his throat, Ye Xi felt a flush creep over his cheeks. Hastily, he looked down at the wild grass at his feet, avoiding Lin Jiangshan’s gaze.

After finishing the water, Lin Jiangshan returned the pouch and scanned the forest around them, his voice low. “Let’s keep looking. It’s still early.”

Ye Xi nodded. Birds took flight from the treetops, their wings fluttering in the tranquil, shadowy woods.

“Want some fruit?” Lin Jiangshan asked softly.

Ye Xi looked up. “Where are the fruits?”

Without a word, Lin Jiangshan stepped forward, swiftly climbing a fallen tree trunk with both feet, then expertly slicing down a branch with his curved knife, returning with a cluster of wild pears.

“The skin’s astringent, but the flesh inside is sweet.”

He sat down beside Ye Xi, legs stretched casually, back slightly hunched, eyes lowered as he carefully peeled the rough skin from the wild pears with his sharp knife.

Ye Xi quietly studied him. His nose was strikingly high, with prominent brow bones and sharp arches, and deep-set eyes.

His gaze slowly drifted to Lin Jiangshan’s thin lips—well-shaped but, according to village elders, thin lips often meant a fickle heart, hardly a good man.

Yet this man didn’t seem like a villain; no villain would have such a kind heart.

Lost in thought, Ye Xi was startled when a peeled, snow-white pear was handed to him.

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Holding the pear, which was already half-eaten, Lin Jiangshan said gruffly, “I’m a rough man; I hardly ever peel fruit. I just bite into it with the skin. My knife skills aren’t great, so you’ll have to bear with me.”

Though he didn’t peel his own fruit, Ye Xi was a fair-skinned, delicate young man and deserved better. He bit his lip and reached for the pear. “It’s good enough that you peeled it for me.”

Wild pears weren’t as fragrant or sweet as the cultivated ones but still offered a refreshing sweetness, especially when thirsty.

Lin Jiangshan wiped the juice off the pear skins on his clothes after finishing two pears, then looked back at Ye Xi, who was delicately biting small pieces, his tender lips moist and plump.

Lin Jiangshan’s gaze darkened, silently scolding himself for his crude eating. Watching Ye Xi eat so gracefully made him feel like a pig rooting through food.

After Ye Xi finished the fruit, they continued patrolling the forest ahead.

After over half an hour, Ye Xi’s eyes brightened as he spotted several wild plants with umbrella-shaped red berries growing near some stones. He smiled.

“Looks like we really found it today!”

Lin Jiangshan used a bamboo spade he had brought to dig up the root of the plant, uncovering a tuber at the base.

“This looks like a few years old. It’ll surely help your big brother recover quickly.”

Ye Xi beamed, his gentle brows curving like a crescent moon, his eyes shining dark and bright. Lin Jiangshan smiled along, heart warmed.

The harvested tubers were carefully placed in a cloth bag. Ye Xi carried the heavy sack, his steps lighter on the descent.

“I dug quite a few this time. My brother probably won’t need them all. If there are leftovers, I’ll grind them into powder and make some wound medicine to bring to you.”

Lin Jiangshan asked, “What would I do with that? It’s a good thing; keep it for yourself.”

Ye Xi’s gaze lingered on the scarred muscles of Lin Jiangshan’s forearm. “You come and go through the forest often. If you accidentally get cut or injured, it would be good to have some emergency medicine. I mostly stay at home and probably wouldn’t have much use for it.”

Lin Jiangshan looked long and hard at this delicate young man before him, a warm feeling rising in his chest. After years in the army and drifting about, and since the death of his parents, this was the first time someone truly cared for him, worrying about his safety. His throat moved as he rasped hoarsely, “Thank you.”

Ye Xi smiled softly. “We keep thanking each other like this—I don’t even know who owes whom.”

The path downhill was easier than the ascent. Soon, they emerged from the woods. As they walked back, Lin Jiangshan suddenly stopped, staring into the grass.

“Wait.”

Ye Xi immediately fell silent, not daring to move forward. “What’s wrong?”

Lin Jiangshan whispered, “There should be a long-tailed pheasant in the grass ahead. Stay here. I’ll see if I can catch it for you to take home.”

Ye Xi nodded and watched as Lin Jiangshan stealthily approached.

The long-tailed pheasant was the most common wild bird in the mountains, with two long tail feathers. It could fly and was quick and elusive—no one in the village had ever caught one. Hunters in town sold them for fifty coins each, bought only by wealthy patrons, who said the meat was fresh, firm, and nourishing.

This was Ye Xi’s first time seeing Lin Jiangshan pursue a wild pheasant. He crouched behind a tree, watching quietly. The pheasant pecked leisurely at insects on the ground, unaware.

Lin Jiangshan squatted, picked up a stone, and held his breath.

Ye Xi craned his neck to watch. Suddenly, there was the sound of wings flapping, the grass rustled, and the pheasant emitted sharp cries.

Anxiously, Ye Xi called out, “Did you catch it?”

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Lin Jiangshan did not answer. Growing worried, Ye Xi stepped into the grass, pushing aside the tall stalks as he called, “Brother Lin?”

His foot suddenly touched something soft and unfamiliar. He froze, parted the grass, and looked down to see a thick, black-scaled snake coiled beneath his foot.

He had just stepped on it!

Ye Xi’s face turned pale. His lips trembled as he stumbled back out of the grass, goosebumps rising on his neck, the terrifying feeling lingering on his toes.

Lin Jiangshan, holding the captured pheasant by its claws, emerged from the woods just in time to see Ye Xi running out, pale and panicked.

“Xi, are you all right?” he called out.

Ye Xi ignored him, running forward. Lin Jiangshan hurried after him.

Before Lin Jiangshan could catch up, Ye Xi tripped on a stone, his body tipping forward, tumbling down the slope.

Alarmed, Lin Jiangshan dropped the pheasant and leapt down the hill after him.

Ye Xi didn’t know how many times he rolled, only that twigs and leaves scraped painfully against him. Fortunately, a tree stopped his fall.

Lin Jiangshan quickly reached him, grabbing Ye Xi’s arm and pulling him up.

But as he turned Ye Xi over, he paused.

The veil had slipped off.

Ye Xi’s face was laid bare before him. The right side was smooth and delicate, with refined features, but the left side was covered in uneven, reddened scars.

A stark contrast.

Lin Jiangshan frowned instinctively, his gaze fixed on the scarred half of Ye Xi’s face.

Ye Xi was dazed from the fall and didn’t realize the veil had fallen until he met Lin Jiangshan’s dark, intense eyes burning into his face. Then he suddenly snapped awake.

He raised a trembling hand to cover the disfigured scars, trying to hide his flaw.

“Is it... very ugly?” Ye Xi’s voice cracked, fingertips shaking. Though he had long accepted his left side, suddenly exposed before Lin Jiangshan, his shame and insecurity overwhelmed him. He couldn’t face him calmly.

Lin Jiangshan’s brow remained tightly furrowed, silent.

Ye Xi couldn’t bear it. Tears welled in his eyes. He pushed Lin Jiangshan hard and turned to run down the mountain.

What did this mean? Was he disgusted? Or repulsed?

Did Lin Jiangshan see the hideous burn scars and not want to be near him anymore? Or regret helping him so much?

A flood of emotions overwhelmed Ye Xi’s mind, making him ache with pain and sorrow as if torn apart. Hot tears spilled freely from his eyes.