Chapter 145: Unwilling to Wake

After the traveling merchant brought Jiang Wanzhou back to Great Qian, he never dared to approach the borders of the Great Wu dynasty again, fearing that assassins sent by the old emperor of Great Wu might kill him as well.

From then on, Jiang Wanzhou stayed with the traveling merchant, “nurturing his blade” and waiting for the day he could return to Great Wu for revenge.

“Mr. Gu, to speak selfishly, if it were me, I certainly wouldn’t involve myself in the affairs of this fishing village if I could protect myself.

“A blade nurtured for thirty years, all for the sake of avenging a sea of blood, and now… it’s gone.

“People only live so many thirty years in a lifetime…

“To put it bluntly, at Hero Jiang’s age, I fear he won’t live to see another thirty years…”

With that, the traveling merchant heaved a long sigh and lowered his head, falling silent.

The campfire crackled and popped as its orange-yellow light flickered, illuminating the side of the one-armed swordsman’s face. The grotesque scar of the branded “prisoner” word on his forehead looked all the more horrifying in the flickering light.

Gu Ning’an gazed at the one-armed swordsman for a long while before finally speaking. “Hero Jiang has suffered greatly, yet he was willing to sacrifice his chance for revenge to save the people of another land. He truly deserves to be called a hero.”

The traveling merchant gave a bitter laugh. “Look at him now. He may be a hero, but what good has it brought him?”

Gu Ning’an paused before saying, “Fate is unpredictable. He simply made his own choice.”

“Fate is unpredictable…” The traveling merchant lay back on the ground, covering his eyes with one hand as he sighed wistfully. “The old saying is true: good people die young, while calamity lingers for a thousand years.”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an said nothing more, instead silently calculating something with his fingers…

…

“Beyond the forest ahead lies the town of Jiuxian. We can rest there and find a doctor to take a look at Hero Jiang.”

“It’s been two days, yet he still shows no sign of waking.”

The traveling merchant spoke as he strained to pull the donkey cart forward.

At that moment, Jiang Wanzhou lay on the cart, his breathing steady and seemingly normal. Yet for the past two days, the traveling merchant had repeatedly checked on him, calling out and testing his breath.

He was alive, but no matter how much he was called, he wouldn’t wake.

Walking alongside him, Gu Ning’an said calmly, “His body is fine. He should’ve woken long ago… If he hasn’t woken yet, it’s simply because he doesn’t want to wake.”

“Doesn’t want to wake?” The traveling merchant fell silent for a moment before realizing, “Mr. Gu, are you saying that Hero Jiang refuses to wake because he’s afraid to face reality? Afraid that his great revenge may never be achieved?”

“But Hero Jiang isn’t a cowardly person… Otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived all those hardships and still clung to life…”

Gu Ning’an replied, “Sometimes, no matter how strong someone is, they can’t face everything. Perhaps his refusal to wake is a subconscious act of self-preservation.”

Self-preservation?

Wouldn’t staying unconscious eventually lead to starvation? How could that be self-preservation?

The traveling merchant’s face showed a trace of doubt, but he said nothing.

After all, in his eyes, Gu Ning’an was on an entirely different level from him. What right did a mere mortal have to question someone who might well be an immortal?

Even if he voiced his doubts, it would only risk offending this extraordinary figure.

“Don’t worry. If he can’t figure it out himself, I’ll persuade him.”

Gu Ning’an’s words only deepened the traveling merchant’s confusion.

Jiang Wanzhou was unconscious—how could he be persuaded? Could Gu Ning’an possibly enter his dreams?

At this thought, the traveling merchant’s face changed. Glancing at Gu Ning’an, whose expression remained calm, he suddenly felt that this man might indeed have the ability to enter someone else’s dreams.

Fireflies danced along the narrow forest path. The bright moon hung in the sky, mingling with the starlight to illuminate the road ahead.

Emerging from the forest path, the shimmering surface of a lake came into view. Along the shore, a few wooden boats rested quietly, while a faint firelight flickered from one boat in the center.

An elderly man, small and thin, sat cross-legged at the bow of that boat, leaning his head on his hand as he dozed.

The well-traveled traveling merchant, who was like a living “map,” pointed toward the distant lake and began introducing the place to everyone.

The lake was called “Nu Mountain Lake.”¹ Its depths were unfathomable, and it was said that an immortal’s cave lay at its bottom, serving as the secluded retreat of a divine being.

Legend had it that one day, a shepherd arrived at the lakeshore, intending to shear his sheep. With a large flock and no assistance, the sheep crowded together and bleated incessantly while he worked.

The loud bleating disturbed the immortal’s peace.

In response, the immortal blew a breath from the lake’s depths, causing the sheep’s wool to fall off naturally, drifting into the lake.

The terrified shepherd quickly herded his flock away, bowed to the lake three times, and then fled in haste.

As for the wool that fell into Nu Mountain Lake, it didn’t sink or get wet; instead, it transformed into slender, silvery fish.

These fish, long and fine-bodied with tender, boneless flesh, were named “silverfish,” though the locals called them “wool fish.”

Over time, the silverfish multiplied, becoming an essential source of income for the fishermen in Old Mountain Town.

“Years ago, Nu Mountain Lake attracted countless seekers of immortality from all around, all hoping to find that immortal cave beneath the lake,” the traveling merchant explained.

“But no matter how skilled they were at diving, they could never reach the bottom of the lake.

“After repeated failures, fewer people came to Nu Mountain Lake in recent years. These days, most visitors come just to enjoy the scenery and taste the immortal’s silverfish.”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an gave the traveling merchant a thumbs-up. “No matter the trade, mastery leads to excellence. The fact that you know so much about local lore is definitely a rare skill.”

The traveling merchant, momentarily stunned by the praise, chuckled awkwardly. “That’s hardly a skill. In this line of work, if you don’t know the local features, how can you make a living?”

Seeing the traveling merchant’s modesty, Gu Ning’an didn’t press further.

At that moment, as they passed the lakeshore, the dozing old boatman stirred, his head slumping forward as he awoke.

Seeing travelers at such a late hour, he quickly stood and greeted them with a smile. “Folks, would you like a boat ride?

“The night view of Nu Mountain Lake is stunning! You wouldn’t want to miss it.

“A private boat tour is only fifty copper coins!”

Looking at the tranquil lake, Gu Ning’an was somewhat tempted.

However, the traveling merchant and Han Yong showed no interest. To them, sightseeing was a pointless waste of energy.

Besides, fifty copper wasn’t a small sum—it was still money, after all! Spending it on scenery felt far too extravagant for them.

“No need. We’re in a hurry to reach town for some rest.

“We’ll take your boat another day if there’s a chance,” the traveling merchant and Han Yong said, clasping their hands in refusal.

The old boatman sighed and, looking disappointed, was about to sit back down when Gu Ning’an stepped onto the wooden boat and smiled. “Boatman, I’d like to take a tour of the lake.”

In the distance, the traveling merchant, seeing Gu Ning’an’s interest in the lake tour, lightly smacked his lips before laughing. “Mr. Gu, if you’d like to enjoy the view, we’ll join you…”