Days turned into weeks, and the temperature began to warm up. Yang Ruoning's hope of escaping with Handan Chun was slowly fading. When she found herself often holding martial arts manuals and debating with Handan Chun about the exact nature of the techniques, she knew they were doomed.
"Handan Chun, as a friend, I feel I need to tell you something," Yang Ruoning said sternly to Handan Chun.
"What is it?" Handan Chun stopped, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.
You are working very hard, but you lack talent, Yang Ruoning told him. However, Handan Chun's innocent and kind expression softened her heart a little.
She said, "I think this martial arts manual must be fake. You should ask A Da to buy you another one."
"Really? You think so too? I was thinking the same thing. With my exceptional intelligence, why have I been unable to grasp this book? It must be the book that's problematic!" Hearing this, he immediately threw his spear aside and lay down on the verdant grass in a starfish pose.
"Ah, spring is truly beautiful. Such a lovely day should be spent sleeping soundly."
"Handan Chun, has there been any interesting news from Bianliang recently?"
"No," Handan Chun yawned, "Na Mu asked the Han people who came from the south, and they didn't say anything."
"Oh, really?" No news is the best news, Yang Ruoning thought. "What are those Han people here for?"
Handan Chun suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice mysteriously, "It is said they are General Luo's people."
"Luo Yuan?"
"No, General Luo, Luo Yuan's adoptive father."
"Oh. What are they here to do?"
"I don't know. They've been coming and going for a while. Oh, right, are you free tomorrow afternoon? I know a particularly beautiful place. If you have time, we can ride horses there."
"I can't ride a horse."
"Ha, you can't ride a horse?" Handan Chun scrambled to his feet.
"Working in the stable doesn't mean I can ride a horse."
"They say that wild horse only listens to you," Handan Chun said, looking at Blake, who was grazing nearby.
"Perhaps it's because I'm the only one who doesn't want to ride it."
Handan Chun continued to talk about something, but Yang Ruoning only half-heartedly agreed, her mind entirely focused on the wild rabbit roasting over the fire, its fat sizzling and dripping. This rabbit was caught by Handan Chun. After a spring, the rabbit was plump, showing a beautiful color under the heat of the bonfire.
Yang Ruoning's mouth was watering, but the rabbit needed a little more time to cook through. Unable to bear it any longer, she picked up some tribute fruit from under the tree to appease her hunger.
Meanwhile, Handan Chun was still chattering away. Yang Ruoning thought, God, why is he so talkative today? As she flipped over the glowing red charcoal beneath. This rare source of fresh protein, she didn't want it to burn.
"Yang Ruoning!" Handan Chun suddenly poked her hard. Yang Ruoning was a little angry. Just as she was about to lose her temper, she turned and saw Handan Chun kneeling on the ground, and before him, a stern-faced Shaman elder.
We're doomed! Yang Ruoning quietly hid the hand holding the fruit behind her. She looked at the Shaman elder with a hint of panic, wondering if she should also kneel and confess.
Handan Chun spoke in his native tongue, sounding like he was pleading, while the Shaman elder stood silently.
Yang Ruoning saw a layer of white mist in her eyes, making her normally dark pupils an eerie gray-white.
She seemed unable to see.
Perhaps sensing Yang Ruoning's gaze, the Shaman's gray-white eyes turned towards her, finally fixing on her.
Yang Ruoning jumped. She knew the consequences of stealing tribute items. The heads hanging from high wooden poles on the west served as a constant reminder to everyone to be cautious and never anger the masters.
Her heart pounded wildly, and a fine sheen of sweat broke out on her forehead. Her mind raced, desperately seeking a sliver of hope in this life-or-death emergency.
"The gods sent me here," Yang Ruoning said boldly, unable to come up with any other excuse.
Receiving no reaction, Yang Ruoning pressed on, "The gods told me in a dream to come here and said I could eat the food here." Yang Ruoning pointed to the sacred tree. "The deity in this tree is an... old man... yes, he has white hair, a long white beard, and he carries a cane. He said, 'Child, there is more than enough food here. If you are hungry, come and eat anytime.'" Yang Ruoning spoke with absolute certainty. The basic elements of a convincing lie are detailed particulars and the liar's own unwavering conviction.
Handan Chun chimed in at this moment, "Yes, yes, Elder, Miss Yang also told me that the gods sent her here."
However, there was a terrifying silence. Although it was late spring and the weather was mild, Yang Ruoning was trembling slightly.
After a long pause, Yang Ruoning heard an old voice ask, "Who... are you?"
A baffling question.
Yang Ruoning furrowed her brow and glanced at Handan Chun, as if asking him, Didn't you tell her who I am?
Handan Chun winked at her, indicating that she should just tell the truth.
"I work in the stables."
"Where are you from?"
"Da Song, Bianliang."
"No, you are not from Da Song."
Huh? What did that mean?
"Miss Yang is a Han slave from Bianliang, Elder," Handan Chun explained.
"No... you are not from this world."
Yang Ruoning was stunned again. What did this mean now? I'm not from this world? Did she mean I'm not from Da Song?
"You have traversed the darkness and come from another world."
"Ah... yes, I am not a native of Bianliang... yes, my hometown is very, very far away."
"The world of gods, a divine realm beyond our reach."
What did you say?!
Yang Ruoning was greatly shocked. She was an atheist and knew the typical tactics of psychics and diviners. How did this Shaman elder, whom she had met for the first time today, know that she had come through a black hole? No, it must be her accent, or some behavior of hers that aroused suspicion. This was surely just a coincidence.
She didn't want to be worshipped as a deity, and worse, what if... they did something absurd to test if she was truly divine? Then she would be finished. So she hastily explained, "No, no, I am not a god. I am just a mortal. I get hungry, I get hurt, and I can die!"
Handan Chun looked at her with a questioning gaze, and Yang Ruoning quickly waved her hand at him.
"I..."
Before Yang Ruoning could utter another word, the Shaman elder interrupted her, "Help us."
Yang Ruoning froze again. She realized that their conversation seemed to be on different wavelengths.
Help us? What did that mean? Who was "us"? Help with what?
"Elder, what do you want Yang Ruoning to help us with?" Handan Chun asked immediately.
To her surprise, the Shaman elder, leaning on her cane, knelt down tremblingly. Yang Ruoning was startled and rushed forward to help her up. "Elder, I will help with anything I can."
"If Miss Yang does not agree, this old woman will kneel here and not rise today."
"No, Elder, you must first tell me what it is so I can know if I can help."
"Help him attain the throne," the Shaman elder said, pointing at Handan Chun, enunciating each word.