"All my belongings are in the bag, let's go once you're ready," Hu Tu said.
"I can't stand up. Can you help me?" Yuan Ming asked.
"Put these on first," Hu Tu whispered, tossing his own set of clothes and shoes to Yuan Ming.
After Yuan Ming managed to dress while prostrate, Hu Tu moved a bundle to his chest and hoisted Yuan Ming on his back, sprinting towards the back hill.
It didn't take long before the two left the cemetery and entered a large pine forest at the foot of the mountain.
Hu Tu set Yuan Ming against a tree and lay down to rest himself. "Yuan Ming, this time I've bet all I have on you," Hu Tu thought silently.
"What is the Black Fire Sect? Why am I dead if they come?" Yuan Ming asked weakly.
"I'll tell you when you remember who you are. What's the use of knowing now?" Hu Tu didn't want to explain.
"I wish I could remember, but something hit my head, and I've been feeling dizzy..." After a brief exchange, Yuan Ming, who had escaped danger, couldn't hold on any longer, and his body suddenly went limp, fainting once again.
"Ah, he fainted again, he better not die here, what a fool I am, such a fool..." Amidst a string of self-reproaches, Hu Tu once more brought out the bottle to feed Yuan Ming.
Several days later, by a mountain stream.
Yuan Ming sat on a round stone by the bank, his feet soaking comfortably in the water, with fish swimming and frolicking around his feet, occasionally nipping playfully, causing a tingling, tickling sensation that he found quite pleasant.
On the other side, Hu Tu sat cross-legged in a cool spot and asked, "How is your injury?"
"After applying the herbs you picked, I can almost walk by myself now; the medicine is really effective," Yuan Ming said with a smile, gratefully.
"Strange, I never noticed before that the powdered Chicken Blood Grass could be so effective. But after all, it's a good thing. Your injury is healing, and that allows me to leave with peace of mind," Hu Tu said.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming was taken aback and immediately said, "You're leaving? Why is that?"
"Foolish, aren't you? You are from the Central Plains, and I'm a Southern Border person. It's already fate that we met and journeyed this far together; there's no reason not to part ways," Hu Tu said with a smile.
"But if we part ways, I have no idea where to go," Yuan Ming said, spreading his hands.
"Naturally, you should go back to the Central Plains. You've been lost here who knows how long; your family must be worried sick. You should obviously return home as soon as possible," Hu Tu said.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming replied with a bitter face:
"Hu Tu, have you lost your memory too? Have you forgotten that I can't remember a thing now, how I ended up in the Southern Border, or even where my home is, let alone how to get back?"
"Have you truly not recovered any memories these past few days?" Hu Tu asked, surprised.
"It's... not that I haven't remembered anything. I can recall a bustling street, with tall buildings closely stacked on each side, wine shop's flags fluttering in the wind, noise and excitement abound. I just don't know if it's a scene from my hometown," Yuan Ming said hesitantly, uncertain.
On hearing this, Hu Tu's eyes brightened slightly as he said, "Being able to remember something is a good sign. Maybe in no time, once your head injury is better, you'll fully recover your memory, and I can rest assured."
"Hu Tu, if one day I remember my identity, remember how to go back, would you be willing to come with me to the Central Plains?" Yuan Ming looked at him and asked.
"Of course, I've heard that Da Jin Country is prosperous and strong, with gold everywhere, even the houses are built with precious jade. There, everyone has enough to eat and nice clothes to wear; just thinking about it fills me with envy," Hu Tu said with a look of yearning.
"Brother Hu, if one day I truly can return to the Central Plains, I will certainly repay you," Yuan Ming looked at Hu Tu and said.
"Alright, it's a deal," Hu Tu said, happy.
Another day passed, and it was early morning.
"Yuan Ming, we've been here for a few days, haven't you remembered anything more?" Hu Tu frowned with concern and couldn't help but speak up.
"No, I'm so weak that I get dizzy recalling the past. What on earth are those pounded cakes you've been feeding me these last days? They leave a strange aftertaste in my mouth," Yuan Ming said while stroking his chin.
"We're fleeing for our lives here, be grateful there's even food to eat, people from the Central Plains are always so delicately raised," Hu Tu said with an annoyed tone.
He had noticed that after a couple of days' rest, Yuan Ming's spirits had improved, and he seemed to slowly return to his usual temperament.
"Isn't there anything else to eat?" Yuan Ming asked.
"Only pounded cakes," Hu Tu answered dismissively.
"Really nothing else?" Yuan Ming raised an eyebrow and asked.
"Just pounded cakes."
Hu Tu couldn't be bothered with him and stood up to cross the stream, heading towards the woods on the opposite bank.
"Hey, wait for me," Yuan Ming hurried to his feet, limping behind.
When he too entered the woods, he saw Hu Tu squatting under a chubby and round tree, fiddling with something on the ground with a tree branch in his hand.
"What are you doing?"
Yuan Ming leaned in for a closer look and found Hu Tu was using the tree branch to fish out white grubs that looked like silkworms from a hole at the base of the tree.
The grubs were plump and shiny, squirming back and forth on the ground, somewhat endearing to watch.
"What's the point of messing with these things?" Yuan Ming asked, puzzled.
"You think I'm doing this for fun? Our provisions are almost gone, if we don't stock up now, we'll be gnawing on tree bark in a couple of days," Hu Tu said without even lifting his head.
"You mean these white grubs are what you're planning for us to eat? That's disgusting! You eat them if you like, but I'd rather die than eat those," Yuan Ming said, feeling his stomach churn as he looked at the grubs again.
Seeing his reaction, Hu Tu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Didn't you just ask me what those pounded cakes were made of?" Broughttoyoubythefolksat*.
"Don't tell me they're made from these things?" Yuan Ming felt nauseated at the thought.
"These are Earth Mother Worms. I dug up a lot while you were unconscious, dried them, ground them into a fine powder, and mixed them with the bran I brought to make those pounded cakes. They're truly delicious," Hu Tu explained with glee.
On the side, Yuan Ming already clung to a tree, retching.
About an hour later, by the side of the stream, a small campfire was lit with a smooth oval rock perched atop, blazing hot.
"Eating Earth Mother Worms as pounded cakes is a custom of most people from the Southern Border. Our tribe usually prefers to eat them fried with oil, crunchy and delicious," Hu Tu said as he poured oil onto the rock that he had brought with him.
Yuan Ming sat far away, not even looking at them, and declared, "I'd rather die than eat any."
On the rock, the aroma wafted around, and Yuan Ming couldn't help but turn his head to sneak a peek. He saw Hu Tu tossing about ten cleaned white grubs onto the rock.
There was a sizzling sound.
The white grubs struggled and writhed on the rock, but couldn't escape their fate of being fried by the hot oil.