Chapter Eighteen: High Clouds

“Zhao Liu!”

Wu Xiu suddenly stepped forward, naturally drawing the gatekeeper’s attention.

After being rescued by Cui Xiu, Wu Xiu had regained much of his spirit; though he still looked disheveled, acquaintances would still recognize him.

“Aren’t you... Wu Xiu, Young Master Wu’s page?”

The gatekeeping soldier clearly recognized Wu Xiu.

This was hardly surprising. The Wu family, to which Wu Yu belonged, was a dominant force in Anyuan, and Wu Yu himself was renowned as a prodigy. When not studying, he enjoyed outings with friends, so it was only natural that the gatekeeper would recognize Wu Xiu, his page.

“I have urgent business in the city and cannot afford delay. This is Young Master Cui, a friend of my master. We’ve encountered some trouble on the way—please don’t waste our time.”

Wu Xiu spoke decisively, with no trace of unnecessary words.

Seeing this, Cui Xiu understood Wu Xiu had already decided how to report the matter concerning Liu Family Village, so he remained silent and let Wu Xiu take the lead.

Cui Xiu had travel documents, but even without them, with Wu Xiu stepping forward, the gatekeeper dared not obstruct them.

As a mere gatekeeping soldier, he could not afford to offend the Wu family.

“Of course, of course...”

Zhao Liu quickly stepped aside to let them pass.

...

“I won’t go to the Wu residence. I only hope your young master is safe.”

Once inside the city, Cui Xiu bid Wu Xiu farewell. The matter concerning Wu Yu was troublesome, and he had no desire to get involved.

Wu Xiu, having received Cui Xiu’s advice, understood his thinking and, after thanking him again, hurried off.

After Wu Xiu departed, Cui Xiu looked around at the county town and finally felt he could truly relax.

Had he not met Wu Xiu, upon reaching Anyuan County he would have had to report to the magistrate. Now, with Wu Xiu’s help, much trouble had been spared. Still, his appearance was bedraggled, and he wasn’t in a rush to return home.

If his parents saw him like this, they would surely worry. Although the parents of this body felt somewhat unfamiliar, he had used their son’s body and possessed many of the original owner’s memories, so he could not deny them as his own family.

The Cui family was not impoverished, but neither were they wealthy. When he went to the prefecture for the provincial exam, he hadn’t much money for the journey.

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Later, he fell ill, and now had only about three qian of silver left.

This was not all bad, for having little money, he kept it close; thus, when his bundle was lost, he was not left penniless.

Three qian silver was not much—equivalent to about two hundred coins in his previous life—but prices in this world were low, enough for a night’s lodging in Anyuan with plenty to spare.

Naturally, he had no intention of saving it; his clothes needed changing.

What would happen to Wu Xiu upon returning to the Wu family was not his concern for now, nor did he intend to meddle. So, he found an inn in the county town to settle down.

Just lodging cost him nearly one qian; after paying the inn’s attendant to buy him a set of clothes, only fifteen coins remained.

There was no helping it. The fabric was not of the finest quality, but still not cheap. Now that he was in Anyuan, returning home would take but half a day’s journey; there was no need to reserve funds.

The inn provided simple fare. Cui Xiu, having hurried along the road and not rested properly for two days, devoured his meal, leaving the plates spotless.

With his stomach full, he did not wish to dwell on anything further, only wanting to rest well. He kept his short stick close by and, lying down, soon fell asleep.

...

The next morning.

Cui Xiu left the inn, carrying the bundle the attendant had prepared. Inside were a bamboo flask of water, several biscuits, and his discarded coat.

His old coat was a bit tattered and he had cut off a section himself, but it could be repurposed; he did not wish to waste it.

Before reaching the city gate, he sensed the atmosphere in the county town was very different from the previous day—more subdued and tense.

He made some inquiries and learned that the county inspector had led troops out of the city. He asked no further; it was easy to guess what was happening.

Yesterday, Wu Xiu had returned; today, troops were dispatched from the county. What else could it be but the matter of Liu Family Village?

Cui Xiu felt a touch of emotion. Had it not been Wu Yu—who came from the Wu clan and was himself a prodigy who had passed the imperial exam—the authorities might not have responded so swiftly.

He could only sigh; for now, these matters did not concern him. He might one day seek his livelihood in the county, but for now, his priority was to return home.

So he did not linger. No one stopped him as he left the city, and he easily set out on the road home.

What he did not know was that the matter of Liu Family Village was not yet done with him.

...

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In this world, there was no administrative level of ‘township’; villages were largely self-governed by clans, with perhaps a few officials like headmen or captains acting as liaisons with the authorities.

Most of these positions were held by clan elders, so real power lay with the clans.

The Cui clan of Gaoyun was the clan to which Cui Xiu’s current body belonged.

Gaoyun Hamlet, or rather Gaoyun Mountain Hamlet, was named after the nearby Gaoyun Mountain. Most residents bore the surname Cui, and nearly all were clan members.

Cui Xiu, covered in dust from the journey, found his new clothes already soiled.

But he paid little attention to this; he was nearing Gaoyun Hamlet.

Others might feel anxious approaching home, but he was filled with hesitation, worried his new family might notice something amiss—he had taken over someone else’s body, after all, and felt little confidence.

Yet, whatever the case, this encounter could not be avoided. He was not one to vacillate, and finally steeled himself.

He possessed the original owner’s memories, so he did not fear making any grave mistakes. As for changes in personality...

He could easily blame them on failing the provincial exam.

Gaoyun Hamlet had barely a hundred households, but for this world, that was considerable.

With most residents belonging to the Cui clan, their cohesion was strong, making them prominent among neighboring villages.

Thus, outsiders rarely dared provoke Gaoyun Hamlet, and its people lived relatively well, thanks to the clan’s strength.

With so many people, word of Cui Xiu’s return spread quickly. As he reached the village entrance, sharp-eyed neighbors spotted him.

“Aunt Six...”

“Uncle Seven...”

Back in the hamlet, nearly everyone was familiar, and most were related by blood. Whenever they met, greetings were warm and enthusiastic.

Thus, having neighbors who were all members of the clan was not always a blessing.

After encountering several relatives along the road, Cui Xiu finally arrived at the gate of his family’s courtyard.

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