73: Chapter 73: The Legend of Xiaocang Mountain_1
73 -73: The Legend of Xiaocang Mountain_1
Although the fieldwork was finished at this time, the vegetable garden still needed tending, and firewood needed to be stocked up.
In addition to wheat straws and corn stalks, the villagers’ firewood mainly consisted of pine needles and dry branches from the mountain.
Naturally, it fell onto the children of the Yang Family’s main branch to handle these chores.
However, Yang Ruxin didn’t mind this because it was only when she left the house that she had the chance to go to the town.
“Big sister, can you manage to gather firewood by yourself?
Or should we go with you?” Erni expressed her dissatisfaction with Yang Ruxin’s decision to have them stay at home while she went out alone.
“With more people, we can gather it faster…”
“It’s just two bundles of firewood a day, right?
You don’t need to come.” Yang Ruxin shook her head.
“I can handle it by myself.
You just help Mother wash clothes and stuff at home, and keep an eye out to make sure no one bullies our family.” How could she go to the town with someone following her?
“Big sister, do you want to go to the town?” Sanni stealthily pulled Yang Ruxin aside and asked in a low voice.
“Only you would figure it out.” Yang Ruxin smiled.
“But if you go to the town, how will you gather firewood?” Sanni’s eyes widened.
“I’ll go with you and cover for you…”
Yang Ruxin’s eyebrows twitched slightly, then she nodded: “Alright.”
And so, Yang Ruxin went out with Sanni, taking along a sickle and some rope.
“If you don’t gather enough for two bundles of firewood, don’t come back for dinner…” Yang Anshi’s words trailed off behind them.
Xiaocang Mountain, despite its diminutive name, was anything but small—it was said to stretch for hundreds of miles.
There was a legend related to the origin of this mountain.
It was said that a divine dragon called Cangming, after practicing for ten thousand years, finally transformed into a human and fell in love with a mortal woman.
However, a local tyrant desired the woman and forcibly took her away.
Cangming wasn’t human, and if he used his powers while on Earth, he would face punishment.
But watching his beloved suffer, he couldn’t stand idly by.
The woman knew Cangming was a deity but also knew that if he used his powers to punish the wicked man, she would face heavenly retribution and her soul would scatter.
To prevent Cangming from getting into trouble, she took her own life by running headlong into death…
Seeing his beloved woman die for him, Cangming was enraged and caused a flood to submerge the area.
He then took his true form and encircled the woman’s body with his own.
Eventually, he turned into a mountain range…
Some people called the mountain “Cangming Mountain” or simply “Cang Mountain,” but for some reason, people ended up preferring the name “Xiaocang Mountain.” The river at the base of the mountain was thus named Xiaocang River.
The mountain near Budong Village was said to be the transformed head of the dragon.
The mountain was filled with towering ancient trees and roamed by wild beasts; one peak was connected to another.
The closest peak was called Dragon Nose Peak, which was relatively lower and more gentle.
Beyond that was Dragon Eye Peak—steeper by comparison— then deeper in, there was Dragon Horn Peak.
There were two Dragon Horn Peaks, side by side: Left Dragon Horn Peak and Right Dragon Horn Peak, both soaring into the clouds.
Beyond the Dragon Horn Peaks lay the heartland of Cang Mountain.
Within, the ancient trees stood even taller, fierce beasts roamed, and it was said that ghosts occasionally drifted about.
Some believed it was the transformation of that woman, especially unwilling to be disturbed.
Therefore, many who dared to venture inside seldom returned…
As a result, for many years, ordinary people generally stayed at the base of Dragon Nose Peak, while even experienced hunters only ventured near Dragon Eye Peak.