The wilderness was no more. Even though it was winter in the Central Plains and elsewhere, the weather in Shenshanchuan was merely cool, and even a bit humid. The yellow grass and dust seen during the past few days of crossing the wilderness from Yanhucheng had vanished, replaced by lush greenery, trees, small streams, and rivers, leaving no trace behind.
The blue sky, the fluffy clouds, the bright sunshine, and the salty breeze that brushed past his nose made it feel as though the coast was still far away, yet the scent of the sea could already be detected.
And there was a city.
From the tall buildings made of northern hardwoods along the coastline to the small shacks hastily built with old planks in the corners, the buildings had been constructed over the past hundred years by people seeking new lives, land, gold, or simply a place to run to. The city, a mix of disorder and prosperity, was bustling with as many people as there were buildings. There were Central Plainers in fine silk, natives in old burlap carrying loads, and even the opposite of these. Street vendors selling food and merchants loading carts with goods were also present.
Jin Xiahua, who had been excitedly watching them, suddenly hid in the carriage, frightened by a black man who was taller and bulkier than the others and had dark skin.
Jin said, looking at the girl's frightened face and the black man's size, "Where could he have come from? He doesn't seem to be a slave, given the longsword on his back..."
"Why, are you afraid of him too?"
Jin, who was driving the carriage, turned to look at the questioner.
"It's just that he's interesting. I heard that to come from the west to the Central Plains, one must travel as far as from the Central Plains to the New Continent. To have taken one more step to reach this land, isn't that impressive?"
Zhang Jian smiled slightly, noticing Jin's slight irritation at the suggestion that he was afraid. This woman, despite her appearance, had a strong sense of pride.
"…Why are you smiling?"
"Because I think you're right."
Zhang Jian gave a casual answer and urged his horse, Zhaozhuo, to move a bit ahead. Jin watched his back with a sullen expression, muttering to herself, "I'm not afraid, that's why..."
However, as she looked around again, her eyes met those of the black warrior. Facing his large brown eyes, she stiffened and quickly turned her head, urging the carriage forward. The black warrior, watching the carriage move away, sniffed and then got back to bargaining with the merchant.
* * *
The group found a ship to the Central Plains. During this time, Jin Jian discovered a human transport ship packed with hundreds of people and was scolded by Xue Miaojin. Jin Jian laughed and scratched his head.
"I wasn't going alone. I was shortsighted."
In truth, he felt burdened by owing Xue Miaojin more, but he changed his mind for Jin Xiahua. The journey was already long and perilous, and taking such a transport ship could make the child sick. He had managed to come through unscathed thanks to his martial arts training.
Xue Miaojin found a more expensive and comfortable ship and even paid extra to secure a spot. Of course, there were no seats for her and Jin. They were heading to Hawaii, not the Central Plains.
She handed the ticket to Jin Jian and said, "You're lucky. There's a ship leaving tomorrow."
"Really? I don't know how to repay you, Xue Miaojin. Thank you so much."
Xue Miaojin shook her head, a faint smile on her face.
"Is this something to be thanked for? Take care of Xiahua."
Jin Jian was momentarily speechless at her words, taken aback by the sudden farewell. But he quickly composed himself.
After coming this far together, he had perhaps naturally assumed she would return to the Central Plains with them or see them off. But she had come to the New Continent for her own reasons, and parting was inevitable.
"…Our paths coincide only up to here. I owe you a lot over the past few days. If you ever visit our Shaolin Temple, please do so, Xue Miaojin."
Sitting on Zhaozhuo's saddle, swinging his legs, and watching the people at the dock, Xiahua's eyes widened at his words. The girl looked at the adults with slightly trembling eyes, seeing Jin Jian bow to Xue Miaojin.
Xiahua quickly tapped Zhang Jian's shoulder. Zhang Jian, who had been watching Jin Jian, understood and lifted her off the saddle and onto the ground. Xiahua then ran and threw herself into Xue Miaojin's arms.
"Ah, Xiahua?"
Xiahua slowly lifted her face to look at Xue Miaojin. The child didn't cry or sob but looked at her with clear, naturally tearful eyes.
Xue Miaojin's eyes quickly turned red.
"Ah, well, it's a bit sudden, isn't it? But it's time to part, Xiahua. You have to go to the Central Plains, and I, well, I have places to go too."
Xue Miaojin forced a smile and wiped Xiahua's eyes. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she continued.
"Don't be too sad, Xiahua. It's not a permanent goodbye. If you're at Shaolin Temple, I'll definitely come to see you with Jin. Understand? If you listen to Master Jin Jian at Shaolin Temple, I'll bring a gift. What gift would you like? Silk clothes? A sachet? I'll bring really pretty silk clothes..."
At that moment, Xiahua's mouth opened.
"When?"
In the midst of the many people bustling around the dock, it seemed as though only the air around them was filled with something soft and calm. Despite the noisy place with shouts from sailors and merchants, the group was separated from the chaos as they heard Xiahua's voice.
Xue Miaojin, who had been surprised, burst into a wide smile with tears in her eyes.
"…When? Well, have you heard that the autumn leaves in Songshan, where Shaolin Temple is located, are really beautiful? I've never been there, only heard about it. So I'll come this autumn. Since it's not long after the New Year, it will probably be about half a year. Can you wait that long, Xiahua?"
Xiahua looked at her face, fidgeted her lips for a moment, and then nodded. She opened her mouth again.
"Promise to meet."
Xue Miaojin hugged Xiahua tightly.
"Sure. We'll definitely meet again."
She then pulled in Jin, who was biting her lip, and hugged them both. Jin, feeling the warmth of Xiahua in her arms, finally sniffled and shed tears.
Xue Miaojin, after a bout of tears, wiped her eyes and stood up, looking at Zhang Jian. She approached and made a fist salute.
"Although we haven't been together long, thanks to you, I've learned a lot about the martial arts world in the New Continent. If my book is ever published, the main character will probably be Warrior Zhang."
Zhang Jian replied, "Really? Will you share some of the book sales with me?"
"Of course. Come and collect it later."
He shook his head and chuckled, then looked at Xiahua and Jin, who were still hugging and sniffing.
"Do you have something urgent? Let's have dinner together tonight."
"…I don't think that's possible. Our ship leaves a bit later."
-If we're too late, someone might really lose their head.
Zhang Jian nodded, hearing the underlying tone in her words. Indeed, if it was a princess running away, it wouldn't be strange for an imperial edict to be issued. He could imagine how difficult it must have been for the Hawaiian officials to cover up and resolve the issue.
He made a fist salute to Xue Miaojin.
"Safe travels."
After exchanging greetings with Jin Jian again, Xue Miaojin led the still sniffing Jin away, gradually disappearing. Xiahua wiped away her tears and watched them without a frown. Her face seemed both mature for her age and calm, perhaps because she believed she would see them again.
The remaining three stood for a while, watching the people at the dock where the two women had disappeared.
* * *
Xue Miaojin and Yu Xue subtly observed Jin. She had been red-eyed and sniffing since parting with Zhang Jian's group, unable to stop crying.
But it was understandable. Jin had pretended not to, but she had taken the most care of Xiahua, perhaps seeing her as a new youngest sister due to their similar names.
"Stop crying. You'll see her again at Shaolin Temple."
Yu Xue said this, feeling the passersby glancing at them. But Jin looked at her with red, puffy eyes.
"This autumn? Is that even possible? If we return to Chang'an immediately, we'll be lucky to avoid punishment."
"…Well, if we handle it well with the governor, maybe it can be resolved without your father knowing?"
"Don't say things you don't believe."
Yu Xue, taken aback by her sharp tone, laughed awkwardly and said, "Look, Jin. Don't worry too much. When we return, I'll ask my father for a favor."
"…Ask for a favor after running away? Are you serious?"
"Why not? It's better than my brothers and sisters. They claim the successor position without practicing martial arts and do all sorts of nonsense. Isn't this a much lighter offense?"
Jin sighed. Perhaps she was right. Yu Xue, despite causing a ruckus by being obsessed with cheap novels, was not as bad as her siblings, who didn't hesitate to kill rivals for power.
"…What favor?"
"Um, to get a suitable official position and return to the New Continent. If I say I'll work instead of loafing around, my father might approve."
Jin was speechless, her mouth agape. But Yu Xue, seeing her face, smiled naturally.
* * *
After the two women left, the group found an inn. Since the ship was leaving the next morning, they needed a place to stay for the night. The useless carriage was sold by Zhang Jian for a reasonable price. It was a gift from Xue Miaojin, and it would have been nice to take it to the Central Plains, but it was too expensive to do so.
With five people eating now reduced to three, the table became very quiet. Without the warm presence of Xue Miaojin, Jin Jian was silent, and Zhang Jian didn't talk much during the meal. Xiahua, who hadn't spoken a word until the afternoon, naturally contributed to the silence. They didn't have much conversation until after the meal, when Xiahua was taken to her room to sleep.
Afterward, Zhang Jian stayed on the first floor to smoke the last of his tobacco. Before he could light it, Jin Jian came down.
"Smoking tobacco again?"
Zhang Jian, holding the unlit tobacco, replied, "This is the last one."
Jin Jian laughed and called a waiter to order wine. Zhang Jian, surprised, asked, "Monks aren't supposed to drink."
"Wine? What are you talking about? I ordered a herbal tea, herbal tea."
Zhang Jian chuckled at Jin Jian's shameless expression and answer. Indeed, Jin Jian was much softer and a bit shameless than his first impression, but he was a good person, like his master.
When the wine arrived, Jin Jian filled both their cups and raised his glass.
"To the safety of Warrior Zhang."
Zhang Jian smiled and responded, "For a smooth voyage."
They smiled at each other and drank. However, while Zhang Jian drank smoothly, Jin Jian quickly turned red and coughed. Zhang Jian, finding it amusing, laughed, and Jin Jian also laughed, choking.
"This, this is really terrible. What do people find in this taste?"
"Who knows. I don't understand elegance either."
Zhang Jian, answering this way, filled his cup again. He offered it to Jin Jian, who shook his head and covered his cup. It seemed he found it much worse than expected.
After that, they sat at the table in silence, as they had during the meal. In the late evening, various people were seen in the inn: some drinking quietly, some laughing loudly, and some just passing time.
At that moment, Zhang Jian looked up at the inn's stairs. Xiahua was looking down at him with a sullen face. Zhang Jian mouthed, "Why?"
Xiahua fidgeted her lips and mouthed back, "Tired."
After a moment of thought, Zhang Jian realized she wanted him to stay with her until she fell asleep, as in the inn where they were attacked. He sighed and stood up. Looking at Jin Jian, he said, "I'll be off then."
Jin Jian, seeing Xiahua come down, nodded and smiled. Zhang Jian, taking the stairs two or three at a time, picked up Xiahua and carried her to the room. Once in bed, Xiahua, determined to stay with Zhang Jian all night, kept her eyes wide open. However, she soon became drowsy, blinked, and fell asleep.
The next morning, she clung to Zhang Jian's clothes during breakfast. Eventually, she refused to let go, so he had to carry her to the dock. Seeing the large ship they would board, Zhang Jian said, "We're here."
But Xiahua kept her eyes tightly shut, as if she hadn't heard. Of course, since Zhang Jian slowly put her down, she couldn't pretend to sleep forever. In the end, she had to face Zhang Jian with the ship behind her.
Zhang Jian, seeing her sullen face looking at the ground, smiled and knelt in front of her.
"It's time to say goodbye."
At this, Xiahua suddenly lifted her head. Zhang Jian poked her nose and continued, "There's no need to be too sad. We might meet again someday."
"…See you again?"
Zhang Jian nodded.
"Sure."
Though it wasn't a definite promise, Xiahua's expression brightened, as if it was enough. She didn't cry as she parted with Zhang Jian and boarded the ship. Even as she looked at