Chapter 4: A Traveler
"Your interest in Qingluan Academy has grown, has it? … Were you not previously captivated by this sacred land of the empire?"
The elder stared blankly at the young boy for quite some time, reflecting on how the seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth seemed worlds apart from his own age. Many of the thoughts swirling in his mind were beyond his comprehension, so ultimately, he chose not to say much, simply closing his eyes to rest.
...
The spring rain fell in a tender embrace as the carriage trudged northward through the mud for over ten miles. It wasn't until Lin Xi peered through the lifted curtain of the carriage that he beheld the sudden emergence of a chain of towering mountains, still shrouded in the gentle drizzle.
The peaks loomed high, their summits crowned with a mantle of pristine white snow, while sunlight reflected off the cliffs above the rain clouds, casting a clear brilliance upon the mountainside.
"That is the main range of the Shanhai Mountains."
Hearing the commotion from within the carriage, the elder, clad in a raincoat and seated at the front, did not turn around but spoke, "Beginning at Dongmiao Sea, it winds along the coast and ultimately reaches the Northern Ice Sea; this is one of the two major mountain ranges of our Yunqin Empire. Once we traverse this range, we will be quite near Qingluan Academy."
"Is Qingluan Academy located just beyond this mountain range?"
Lin Xi gazed at the distant mountains, where the rain, snow, and the verdant flora mirrored the sunlight filtering through the cliffs, creating a scene of exceptional purity. The muddy path beside the carriage was adorned with a variety of blooming wildflowers, stretching all the way to the base of the mountains. He found this pristine tranquility immensely appealing.
At the foot of the mountains lay a village, with wooden houses scattered across the gentle slopes, surrounded by valleys and hills, all adorned with vibrant apricot blossoms in full bloom, resembling clusters of colorful clouds.
"Uncle Liu, shall we pass through there?" Lin Xi's attention was entirely captivated by the serene beauty of the village, prompting him to inquire of the elder at the front of the carriage.
The elder paused momentarily, then nodded, "That is Apricot Blossom Village. Beyond it lies the gorge we must take."
"Apricot Blossom Village?" A smile crept onto Lin Xi's lips. "Does Apricot Blossom Village have any wine?"
The elder turned in surprise to regard Lin Xi, his brow furrowing slightly. "If that little shop at the village entrance is still there, they should have some wine for sale, though it is rather mediocre. However, if we stop here, we would be delayed by an entire day..."
"No, I merely recalled a line of poetry and thought to ask," Lin Xi chuckled, his eyes crinkling with mirth, knowing the elder would not grasp the meaning behind his words.
The elder nodded, clearly uninterested in poetry, and chose not to elaborate further.
As they approached the village hidden among the apricot blossoms, Lin Xi was taken aback.
On a distant hillside grazed a few cows, one of which bore a young shepherd clad in a raincoat upon its back.
"Where might I find a tavern?" The shepherd pointed toward Apricot Blossom Village, and although the village lacked wine, the scene before them was remarkably fitting.
"Uncle Liu, could we pause for a moment?" Lin Xi suddenly addressed the elder driving the carriage.
The elder hesitated briefly before bringing the carriage to a halt.
Lin Xi unfurled a yellow bamboo oil-paper umbrella and stepped out of the carriage, much to the elder's astonishment.
To the left of the carriage lay a meadow ablaze with purple flowers, and the petals of an apricot tree fluttered gently in the breeze. Lin Xi wandered into the meadow, his gaze drawn to a wooden house near the edge of the village.
A small stream meandered past the house, spanned by a wooden bridge.
A woman, carrying a basket and similarly sheltered by an oil-paper umbrella, crossed the bridge. Her appearance and attire were ordinary, yet her authenticity, innocence, and purity were qualities that girls from his previous world could never replicate. In that moment, the shepherd in the distance, the woman on the bridge, and the village of Apricot Blossom coalesced into the most exquisite tableau in his eyes.
"What could be so captivating about an ordinary country girl?" The elder, observing Lin Xi's prolonged gaze at the woman upon returning to the carriage, furrowed his brow.
Lin Xi removed his slightly damp shoes and reclined comfortably in the carriage before uttering a phrase he deemed profound, "Uncle Liu, I am not gazing at the girl; I am contemplating loneliness."
"Ahem... ahem..." The elder seemed to choke on his own saliva, breaking into a fit of coughs.
"We're nearing Qingluan Academy, Uncle Liu. According to your words, many individuals from across the Yunqin Empire gather there, most of whom hold esteemed positions. Words can lead to trouble; I shall refrain from any more idle chatter once we cross this mountain," Lin Xi remarked, observing the elder's trembling form with a smile, growing serious. "However, before we traverse this mountain, I shall indulge in my musings to my heart's content, lest I find myself unable to contain them later… I am fortunate to have the best parents and a little sister in the world, yet at times, I still feel a tinge of loneliness."
"Because no one understands." Lin Xi lifted the carriage curtain once more, gazing outside as he continued, "In truth, I hail from another world, a place filled with towering skyscrapers, airplanes, and trains. There, I was an ordinary university student nearing graduation when a car accident thrust me into this world, transforming me into Lin Xi. To be honest, I have grown fond of this world; it is so clean. My parents in that world barely paid me any mind; they probably wouldn't even know if I had an accident. I have read many books about this world, initially believing that the Yunqin Empire was akin to the Qin Dynasty of our history—just another ordinary cold weapon dynasty. However, I never anticipated encountering that girl who incessantly questioned me or discovering Qingluan Academy. I had little interest in Qingluan Academy, as being a carefree second-generation rich kid in Lulin Town seemed quite appealing. Yet, that day, the adult who accompanied you mentioned a command from Lingdu, akin to a mayor in our world, and I had no choice but to comply. But I never imagined that Qingluan Academy would be such a place; is it a sect for cultivation or a magic academy? Am I not somewhat akin to Harry Potter...?"
"You wonder why I seem so engrossed in everything along the way, observing so intently, including that girl just now." After a brief pause, Lin Xi added, "In this world, I am, in essence, a traveler."
"Your tale is indeed filled with nonsense." The elder's brow furrowed more tightly than ever as he looked at Lin Xi, "Such absurdities must not be spoken of once we enter."
Lin Xi nodded, chuckling at the elder's serious demeanor. "I have finished my story, Uncle Liu. Now, what of yours? I have yet to hear your tale."
The elder's body stiffened slightly as he turned away, inhaling deeply before exhaling slowly. "I have no remarkable story; I simply served in the border troops for several years."
...
The carriage traversed a deep and elongated gorge, passing through Apricot Blossom Village, and as it entered the expansive valley that enveloped Lin Xi in a sense of cinematic wonder, it was still morning. However, upon emerging from the gorge, evening had already descended.
Behind the gorge, the spring rain had ceased, and the scenery began to resemble that outside, with vast stretches of highland plains adorned with exuberant apricot blossoms and a riot of wildflowers.
No towns were visible along the way, yet the elder did not stop to set up camp as he usually would; instead, he urged the carriage onward, heading north.
Lin Xi was astonished to discover that the warmth in the air was intensifying, as if transitioning from spring to summer, with the landscape gradually transforming into something distinctly different.
"This is the Four Seasons Plain, a basin nestled between the main mountain range of the Shanhai and the Teng Tian Mountains. We will journey through the essence of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. You may wish to shed some clothing, as the heat will continue to rise, but do not be too careless; the academy's people will come to guide us." As dusk approached, a thin mist began to rise in the mountains, shrouding everything in a veil of ambiguity. The elder continued to drive the carriage while imparting this information to Lin Xi.
"Will we meet the people of Qingluan Academy today?" Lin Xi had just rolled up the curtains of the carriage when he heard the elder's words, and he was immediately taken aback.
"Tomorrow marks the entrance examination for Qingluan Academy. I had intended to arrive two days early to give you ample opportunity to familiarize yourself with the academy, but this year's excessive rainfall has made the roads treacherous. If we were to push forward, these two horses would falter, ultimately slowing us down." The elder turned his head to look at Lin Xi and added, "You will have to take advantage of tonight to gather more information about tomorrow's examination."
Lin Xi was momentarily stunned, finally comprehending why the elder was so determined to traverse the mountain range today.
Suddenly, the carriage came to an abrupt halt.
Lin Xi's gaze shifted beyond the still figure of the elder seated in front, and he caught sight of a faint light emerging unexpectedly from the mist ahead.
A young man holding a lantern stepped forth from the fog.
Clad in a pure black robe trimmed with golden edges, the young man appeared to be a few years older than Lin Xi. He possessed striking features, with eyebrows like swords, a friendly smile, a broad forehead, and his hair neatly tied back with a blue cloth ribbon.
"My name is Xia Yanbing, and I am from the academy. Are you here for the entrance examination? Here is your recommendation token." The youth greeted the elder and Lin Xi with a respectful nod, his words simple yet imbued with a sense of warmth and pride.
"Yes," the elder replied, nodding in return as he reached into his sleeve to retrieve an object.
Lin Xi watched with curiosity, having no prior knowledge of what a recommendation token entailed. He observed as the young man accepted a square, golden medallion that appeared quite weighty.
"Please follow me," the young man said, offering a gentle smile before turning to lead the way.
As the terrain rose, the two aging horses struggled more than ever, prompting both the elder and Lin Xi to disembark from the carriage. The surrounding mist gradually dissipated, revealing a climate and scenery that had transformed into the sweltering heat of summer.
Upon ascending a hillside, Lin Xi gazed into the distance, momentarily rendered speechless.
Below the slope lay a vast plain, within which a crystalline blue alpine lake glistened, bordered by towering green willows.
Countless fireflies flitted about the plain, while near the lakeshore, a multitude of tents were pitched, and bonfires crackled merrily. The scene was reminiscent of the Quidditch World Cup from the Harry Potter films Lin Xi had watched in his previous life.
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