Obscuris Labyrinth

Before long, they passed through the green forest and returned to the cloud - path. Lin Yaxuan seemed to suddenly realize something and quickly let go of Zhao Yuxuan's arm she was supporting. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she said, "Brother Zhao, I can't support you any more. If others see this, it won't be good. Look, Tianwang Fort is right in front. If you really can't walk any further, I'll go and get someone to carry you."

The journey had been quite long. Zhao Yuxuan had actually noticed that the muscle in his right thigh was strained a long time ago. However, he tried to move it a little and felt that he could still walk with some difficulty. Hearing Lin Yaxuan's words, he quickly waved his hand. In his heart, he thought that as a man, how could he trouble others just because of such a little pain. So he replied, "Forget it. There's no need to trouble others. I can walk by myself. As a man, if I can't bear this little pain, that won't do."

As he spoke, he gritted his teeth and tried to take a step forward. But with each step, the injured leg muscle felt as if it was stabbed hard by countless needles. The intense pain made his steps limping and he looked very clumsy. Lin Yaxuan saw all this. Her heart was full of pity, deep apology showed in her eyes, and her face was also full of worried expressions.

After walking with great difficulty for about another half an hour, a stockade finally came into view.

At the foot of a towering and steep mountain, there was an extremely wide and flat piece of land, on which Tianwang Fort was located. At this moment, hundreds of wooden buildings came into sight. They stood densely, almost all two - storey high, but they differed in size. Countless wisps of cooking smoke rose like light veils from those houses. At the same time, there were also the long mooing of cows, the grunting of pigs, and the noisy voices of people. Judging from this lively scene, it seemed that at least a thousand people lived in this stockade. It was indeed a large stockade of considerable size. Twilight was gradually falling like a huge grey curtain, and dots of light were lit in those wooden buildings. It seemed that this remote Tianwang Fort was also electrified.

In front of the stockade, many men and women were squatting and chatting while holding bowls of food under a huge tree. The tree was amazingly large, so large that seven or eight people couldn't encircle it with their arms. Their cheerful voices came over from time to time, and the scene looked very pleasant. When they saw Zhao Yuxuan, who had a bruised face and looked a bit clumsy, following Lin Yaxuan towards the stockade, all of them couldn't help showing a surprised look on their faces. Then, someone was heard shouting something loudly towards this side. The voice was particularly loud in this quiet evening. Hearing this, Lin Yaxuan also raised her voice and shouted back loudly.

Zhao Yuxuan stood aside, looking bewildered. He couldn't understand Miao language, and felt like a person lost in the fog, completely at a loss. However, he always heard these people keep saying "A Ben, A Ben", and he couldn't help being full of curiosity. So he asked, "Little girl, why do those people keep saying 'A Ben' or something? They can't be talking about me, right?"

Lin Yaxuan's face suddenly turned slightly red, like a blooming peach blossom stained with a blush. She shook her head gently and said, "They're not talking about you. A Ben is my Miao name in the stockade."

Zhao Yuxuan couldn't associate the fresh and refined Lin Yaxuan, who looked like a little fairy, with such a name as "A Ben" which sounded a bit clumsy no matter what. He thought to himself, how could such a lively and beautiful girl have such a name? Immediately, he couldn't help saying, "A Ben, this name doesn't seem very nice."

Lin Yaxuan quickly explained, "No, no. Miao names are very different from Han names. The Miao people have lived in the mountains and forests for generations and lead a quiet life of men farming and women weaving. So most of their names are related to the surrounding scenery and daily labor. For example, some men in the stockade are named A Liang. 'Liang' means field, which means they should plow the fields diligently; those named A Nan, 'Nan' is a hatchet, which means they should be diligent in chopping firewood; and those named A Ling, 'Ling' is a sickle, which means they should often cut grass. There are also other names. For example, A Ye means stone, representing being as hard as a stone; A Zhang means fir tree, with the implication of being upright; A Man means maple tree, indicating being as burly as a maple tree."

Hearing Lin Yaxuan's patient and detailed explanation, Zhao Yuxuan finally understood some of the meanings of Miao names. So he asked again, "What about women? What does A Ben mean?"

Lin Yaxuan continued, "The names of Miao women also have similar meanings. For example, A Nai means millet, meaning they should be diligent in planting millet; A Ya means rice seedlings, meaning they should be diligent in transplanting rice seedlings; A Wo means vegetables, meaning they should plant vegetables attentively; A Ou means water, meaning they should often carry water; A Nuo means birds, representing the spirits in the mountains; A Lie means Miao cloth, implying brightness."

Zhao Yuxuan nodded thoughtfully as he listened to her explanation and said, "Among these names, I think A Nuo is a bit nicer. By the way, your name A Ben, you haven't said what it means yet."

Lin Yaxuan lowered her head a little shyly, with a hint of shyness in her eyes, and said, "A Ben means flower, representing beautiful appearance."

Zhao Yuxuan sighed softly, thinking that although the meaning of this name was good, it always sounded a bit awkward and not very pleasant to the ear. He then asked, "By the way, what were those people just saying to you?"

Lin Yaxuan replied, "They were asking me who you are. Looking at you now, you seem like a bad person."

Zhao Yuxuan was not a peerless handsome man who would make people astonished at first sight, but his facial features were also regular and handsome. Since kindergarten, there had been many pretty little girls who liked to play with him. Now hearing such words, he was very depressed in his heart and couldn't help complaining in his heart that how could these people judge people by their appearance like this? So he couldn't help saying, "The people in your stockade are still not very civilized. They don't even understand the principle of not judging people by their appearance."

Hearing his words, Lin Yaxuan said, "Judging people by their appearance is indeed wrong. In the Spring and Autumn Period in Qi State, there were two people with rough appearances. The man was Zhao Qixuan, a high - ranking official. He was short and ugly, but he had extraordinary talent. He assisted Su Jinghui to show his might among the states and was as famous as another wise prime minister, Ye Junhao. There was also Lin Wanqing. She was not good - looking either, but she relied on her wisdom to help Qi State defeat the powerful Zhao State and was finally made queen. Alas, I understand all these principles, but when I saw you by the stream, I don't know why I suddenly had a strange feeling in my heart and hit you with a stone without even asking. It seems that I still don't have enough knowledge and can't apply what I've learned to practice."

Zhao Yuxuan's father, Sun Qiming, liked to collect antiques. Influenced by his father, Zhao Yuxuan also knew a little about history. But he could never do what Lin Yaxuan did, being able to clearly tell these historical stories without hesitation. He admired this Miao girl who was more proficient in history than himself in his heart, but he didn't want to show it in front of her. So he said instead, "It's good that you know you don't have enough knowledge. However, you have some basic knowledge. If you study hard for another ten years or so, maybe you can catch up with me."

He was bragging here without shame, but Lin Yaxuan was very modest. She said, "That won't do. I'm making progress, and you are also making progress, Brother Zhao. It seems that you know everything. If you have time, you must teach me more."

Hearing her words, Zhao Yuxuan felt very ashamed in his heart. He knew that he had just been bragging, but he was too embarrassed to admit it. So he coughed dryly twice and pretended to be calm as he said, "We'll see. It depends on whether I have time or not."

While talking, the two walked into the stockade. The stockade was full of flat stone paths. These stone paths extended in all directions like a huge spider web, reaching every corner of the stockade.

Lin Yaxuan led Zhao Yuxuan through the wooden houses one by one. Soon, they walked into a large house. This was a rather spacious circular courtyard. All kinds of flowers and plants were planted around the courtyard. There were delicate and charming flowers swaying gently in the breeze, and green grass like a soft carpet laid on the ground. It seemed that her family could be considered a large family in Tianwang Fort.

As soon as Lin Yaxuan entered, she called out in her delicate voice, "Grandpa, grandpa, there is a guest. Come out quickly."

As Lin Yaxuan called out, Zhao Yuxuan's face gradually became cold and gloomy. A hint of vigilance flashed in his eyes. He quietly took out the dagger he bought in the town from his travel bag, carefully inserted it into his waist, and then covered it carefully with his clothes, as if guarding against some unknown danger.