Early in the morning, the courtyard was already a hive of activity. A large group of workers, along with Wang Changming and the housekeeper Mu He, stood ready with supplies, all just waiting for Mu Jiao Long.
The air was crisp and cool, carrying the damp, earthy scent of the waking day. On the horizon, the sun began to peak, sending first light spilling across the distant mountain ridges. The initial rays were a soft, hazy gold, promising warmth but not yet delivering heat.
Just as the sun crested the mountains, Mu Jiao Long finally walked out to greet the waiting workers and Mu He, completely oblivious to the delay he had caused.
Mu Jiao Long walked straight to Wang Changming and Wang Bo. He sneered. "Xiao mao, what is he doing here?" he asked, looking at Wang Bo.
Wang Changming explained, "He wants to go too."
Mu Jiao Long was firm. "Lao Wang, you stay."
Wang Bo insisted, "I was instructed to go wherever my gongzi goes."
Mu Jiao Long scoffed. "A worker goes to work and has his own servant to serve him... it's a joke."
"Can you let him go with us?" Wang Changming pleaded.
Mu Jiao Long looked at Wang Changming, scratching his head. "Wang gongzi, where we are going is a land with hills." He sighed. "Okay... well, you both stay."
Wang Changming instantly accused him. "You can't break your promise!"
Mu Jiao Long was already walking away. "Wang gongzi, I would rather break my promise than you break your legs. I can't be responsible for you two. It's best for you two to stay at home." He looked at the other workers. "Lao He, let's go."
Mu He looked at the workers. "Let's go."
The group of workers, now joined by Mu Jiao Long and Wang Changming, moved with practiced efficiency. Each man carried a small, tightly rolled bedroll and a canvas sack containing his few personal belongings—a spare tunic, a few tools, and whatever dried rations he could afford.
The bulk of the load was quickly secured to the backs of a dozen sturdy donkeys. The workers used thick, braided ropes to carefully tie down large bundles of food, sacks of coarse rice, and heavy canvas-wrapped supplies needed for the mountain mill. They worked quickly, ensuring the weight was evenly distributed and the knots were tight enough to withstand the steep, winding mountain paths ahead.
With the donkeys loaded and the men shouldering their lighter packs, the entire procession turned as one and disappeared around the corner of the street, beginning their journey toward the distant hills.
Wang Changming snatched his bag from Wang Bo and said quickly, "Lao Wang, you stay here and wait for me. Don't follow me."
Wang Bo shouted behind the running figure, "But gongzi…"
"Stay!" Wang Changming shouted back.
It was already noon when Mu Jiao Long and his party stopped to rest and eat. After having enough rest, they continued to move forward, and Mu Jiao Long soon saw Wang Changming approaching them in the distance.
Mu Jiao Long shouted, "Everyone get ready to go!"
Mu He looked confused. "Da gongzi, should we wait for Wang gongzi?"
Mu Jiao Long was unsympathetic. "No. If he can't catch up, he will eventually leave."
The workers pulled the donkeys back to the food carts, and the twelve of them began to pull away.
As soon as Mu Jiao Long turned around, he saw Wang Changming chasing the last cart. Mu Jiao Long closed his eyes and sighed heavily. He started to slow down the donkey and let another worker pass by him, subtly allowing Wang Changming to catch up.
When Wang Changming finally caught up with him, Mu Jiao Long pulled the reins slightly. "Wang gongzi, why torture yourself? You should go back and rest comfortably in the Mu Manor."
"I have a strong will, and physical exhaustion will not affect my morality," Wang Changming insisted, panting heavily.
Mu Jiao Long looked at the younger man's struggling form. "Looking at you, it seems that you're going to faint at any time. There is still a long way to go." He pointed to the mountain in front of them. "When we reach the foot of that mountain, it will be dark. There are no comfortable beds, no warm blankets—only thin quilts and straw beds. Do you think you can do it?"
Wang Changming gasped heavily. "Hmph..." He swallowed hard. "If you can do it, I can do it too."
Mu Jiao Long challenged him. "How can you compare with me?" He looked at Wang Changming's tired, drawn face. "Go back."
Wang Changming replied stubbornly, "No." He stared at Mu Jiao Long's provocative eyes, and in his distraction, tripped over a loose stone. He tried to get up but couldn't move.
Mu Jiao Long stopped the donkey and walked back to Wang Changming. He looked down at the man sitting on the ground. "Go back."
Wang Changming felt humiliation mixed with anger. "Mu Jiao Long, don't look down on me."
"Me? Look down on you?" Mu Jiao Long repeated, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
Mu Jiao Long looked at Wang Changming, who was silent but glaring angrily. He took in Wang Changming's beautiful phoenix eyes with long eyelashes and his fair, delicate face. He scratched his head and frowned. "Ahhh... I gave up." He bent down, scooped up Wang Changming, and started walking back to the donkey and the cart.
Wang Changming struggled fiercely. "Mu gongzi, what are you doing... Mu Jiao Long... let me down! Let me down!"
Mu Jiao Long sighed. "Xiao mao, don't struggle to grab others' eyes, or I will kiss you to shut you up."
Mu Jiao Long deposited Wang Changming onto the cart platform. He grabbed a white bag and the leather water bag, throwing them to Wang Changming. He grabbed the reins and followed the other workers up the mountain.
When the group reached the foot of the mountain, it was already dark. Many simple shacks were built in a small area for the workers to rest at night. The shacks were open structures, with only a piece of cloth covering the entrance.
Wang Changming was awakened by a loud noise. When he stood up, he was still on the wooden cart and found that Mu Jiao Long's robe was covering him. He quickly got up and walked toward the gathering crowd. He saw Mu Jiao Long arguing fiercely with another man. Mu He and another elder stood between the two, desperately trying to break up the fight.
Mu Tao shouted at Mu Jiao Long, "It's wrong for you to bring wine!"
Mu Jiao Long shouted back, "What's wrong with giving the workers wine to appreciate their hard work? I want to be nice to the workers. Mu Tao... no wonder you don't get a smile from the workers... everyone hates you!"
Mu Tao retaliated with venom. "Mu Jiao Long, speaking of hatred, I think you are hated more than anyone in the Mu family. I don't know how Uncle Jian blindly raised someone like you."
Mu Jiao Long clenched his fists, his teeth gritted. "Mu Tao, shut up... If you talk badly about my father, I will knock you down to the ground."
"Father? Are you sure he is your father?" Mu Tao taunted. He turned his back to Mu Jiao Long. "A true gentleman never raises his fists. Only uneducated poor filth uses their fists to solve problems."
Mu He pleaded, "Gongzi, please be respectful."
Mu Tao sneered. "For him, why should I?"
Mu Jiao Long launched forward and punched Mu Tao directly in the face. Mu Tao fell to the ground, wiping the blood from his nose and spitting out a tooth.
Mu Jiao Long sneered, "I told you that if you talk too much, I will knock you to the ground." He rushed over, grabbed Mu Tao by the collar, and prepared to punch him again.
Wang Changming rushed over from behind Mu Jiao Long, grabbing his right hand. "Jiao Long, stop..." He pulled Mu Jiao Long away from Mu Tao. "Jiao Long, you still remember what your uncles said: control your temperament."
Mu Tao scrambled up and punched Wang Changming in the back. Wang Changming staggered, falling into Mu Jiao Long's arms.
Mu Jiao Long roared frantically, "I'm going to kill you!" He kicked Mu Tao savagely in the abdomen, sending him sprawling to the ground again. Mu Jiao Long shoved Wang Changming toward Mu He and walked menacingly back to Mu Tao, cracking his knuckles. "I will show you what this filth can do."
Everyone standing there knew that once Mu Jiao Long got angry, not many people could stop him. Mu He pulled a worker aside. "Go get Master De. Hurry up!" He looked desperately around. "Stop da gongzi!"
A worker shook his head. "Lao He, it's not that we don't want to stop da gongzi, but you know, once he gets angry, no one can stop him."
Another worker agreed. "Yes... yes... he has great strength like an ox."
Mu He panicked. "What should we do? If this goes on, da gongzi will hurt Tao gongzi!"
Wang Changming, ignoring the pain in his back, rushed forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Mu Jiao Long's waist. Mu Jiao Long spun around, ready to punch, but when he recognized Wang Changming, his trembling fist stopped an inch away from his face. The surrounding people gasped in terror.
Mu Jiao Long gritted his teeth. "Let go of me!"
Wang Changming tightened his grasp. "No... this problem won't be solved by hitting him. Don't let the misunderstanding become something you regret later."
Mu Jiao Long was mad with rage. "I don't care if he hits me or not, he can hit me however he wants, but I won't allow him to hurt my person."
Wang Changming grimaced, still struggling to pull him back. "I am not your... person."
Mu Jiao Long pulled Wang Changming away. "Let go of me."
Wang Changming grunted in pain. "Jiao Long... apologize to him."
Mu Jiao Long snarled. "I am not wrong; I will never apologize."
Wang Changming grunted again, struggling to separate them. "The moment you hit him, you were wrong."
Mu Jiao Long yanked Wang Changming's hands from his waist and pushed him away, rage blazing in his eyes. "Wang Changming! You are not his friend, why do you want to protect him? If you want me to apologize to him, then we won't be friends anymore."
Wang Changming shouted, his face contorted with fury. "Mu Jiao Long!" He drew back his hand and slapped Mu Jiao Long's face. "Wake up!"
The workers and the Mu family stared in horror. No one had ever seen anyone dare to hit Mu Jiao Long besides Mu De. Everyone knew that; besides Mu Tao, Mu Jiao Long was also Mu De's favorite great-grandson, and only Mu De had the right to hit or scold them.
Mu Jiao Long looked at Wang Changming, the slap stinging. "You slap me in the face because of him?" His eyes were lit with a terrifying anger.
Wang Changming held his ground. "I will not only slap you but also beat you to wake you up from your stupidity."
Mu Jiao Long turned frantically back to Mu Tao. "You have the guts to tear up our friendship; I will kill you!"
Mu De slowly approached the crowd with Mu Shi. "You dare?"
Mu Jiao Long instantly turned around. "Great-Grandfather De..."
Mu De's voice was firm and cold. "On your knees." He walked to Mu Jiao Long and hit the back of his knees with his walking stick. "You ungrateful thing, kneel down." He struck the back of Mu Jiao Long's knees twice more, forcing Mu Jiao Long to his knees. "Shi'er, punish him according to the family rules."
Mu Shi bowed. "Yes, father."
Mu Tao cried out, standing by Mu De. "Great-grandfather, he broke one of my teeth!"
Mu De commanded, "Hit him five times."
Mu Shi addressed his kneeling nephew with pity. "Jiao Long, hang in there."
Mu Jiao Long simply gnashed his teeth. "Grand-Uncle Shi, go ahead and hit me."