Heroes of the Fantasy World

Chapter 626: The Wild Pursuit

(4)

"The Zhao family sacrificed everything they had, including their supreme reputation and noble status, in their quest for supremacy in the Central Plains. Now, they have become ordinary merchants, and the once powerful Zhao Kuo has completely disappeared from the eyes of the world for five years."

Zhao Xiaomei has always kept the habit of recording everything, every day, every year, no matter how big or small. However, most of these records are straightforward, lacking suspense and interest. Although the content is detailed enough, not everyone can read it with relish.

  Not knowing where to start, Zhao Xiaomei suddenly had an idea in her mind - why not use those detailed records to write a few fables?

"Why should I write?" Zhao Xiaomei stopped writing and hesitated.

A breeze pushed open the window beside the desk, bringing in a withered leaf.

"Another year is about to pass." All that could be heard was the rustling sound of the wind as it blew the pages of the book, finally leaving the paper on the title page.

The title page reads: The Wildly Pursued Thing, which should be the name of this fable.

"Something I'm chasing after." Zhao Xiaomei had just finished speaking when she pondered in her heart, "Everyone has something in their heart that they can't reach, or it would be more appropriate to call it a dream. The Zhao family, under the leadership of two generations of father and son Zhao Wei and Zhao Kuo, constantly pursued the dream of 'returning to the Central Plains'."

Gain a lot, lose even more.

Zhao Xiaomei opened the book and found a blank space, then wrote this sentence as the ending of the story: "They are undoubtedly powerful people, but they all failed without exception, just because they forgot themselves in the process of pursuing their dreams and completely became the playthings of their 'dreams'. Isn't returning to the Central Plains to make the lives of their family and friends better? In this case, why not stay in Beizhen..."

After writing, Zhao Xiaomei handed the manuscript to Zichai and said, "I would like to ask you to help me copy this story again this time. Your calligraphy is becoming more and more pleasing to the eye!"

"No, no, it's all thanks to the teacher!" Zichai now tied up her delicate white hair, always smiling. Even though she had a few more wrinkles and her palms were much rougher, her brows were still very young: "By the way, Miss Zhao, are you really not going to visit Mr. Zhao? You haven't seen each other for half a year..."

"No need to visit. I am relieved that my sister-in-law and Sister Caiwei are taking care of them. Haven't you seen that the goods have been particularly bright these days? If the flower grower is in a bad mood, the flowers he grows will definitely be sickly and wilted." Zhao Xiaomei and Zichai walked to the door together and said goodbye: "There is one more thing. The Zhao family is gone, and you and I are no longer master and servant. As long as we are in Yuyi Academy, we are brothers from the same school. How will outsiders view Yuyi Academy if you address me as Miss is older and Mr is younger, like Sister Zichai?"

Yuyi Academy.

Zhao Xiaomei repeated in her mind: Ever since their rule was overthrown by the people of Yuyi Town five years ago and their noble titles were later stripped by the imperial court, Zhao Kuo, Zhao Xiaomei, and Du Juan's family have been living here ever since.

Seeing that Yuyi Academy was renovated and opened, many former students of the academy were willing to come back, either to continue their studies or to help with chores. Zhao Xiaomei knew that this was definitely not because of herself and the Zhao family, but because of the words "Yuyi Academy", as well as Bai Feng and Murong Yan.

"Bai Feng and Murong Yan..."

"Are they still alive?"

Zi Chai saw that Zhao Xiaomei was wandering off again, so she mustered up the courage to ask, "Um... Xiaomei! Who are you talking about?"

"It's okay, but some old things have come to my mind again." Zhao Xiaomei said, "If there is nothing else important to tell you, sister Zichai, can you go back and copy this manuscript for me first?"

Zichai agreed and said goodbye immediately.

Not long after, the sound of a man and a woman arguing outside the house was heard. Zhao Xiaomei took the initiative to answer the door, but saw Yue Qingling and Jing Ji standing at the door, arguing about something.

"Just say you don't understand at all!"

"I'm not as clear as you, but how many days have you been with Senior Brother Bai?"

"Su Qing and I have been friends since we were little. Su Qing is Bai Feng's good brother!" Zhao Xiaomei didn't want the dispute to escalate, so she tried to persuade him kindly, "What's going on? Why is there such a big fuss?"

"Two people came outside the academy!" Yue Qingling said.

"Our friends." Thorn echoed.

"Who are their friends? I don't know them!"

"Little sister, the one who came is Yu Wenxuan, the prince of Zhou who helped Bai Feng and Murong Yan escape from trouble five years ago. The other one is Senior Brother Bai's adopted sister, Yu Ke."

Yue Qingling didn't wait for Jingzhi to finish his words, and immediately attacked: "Look at their ragged clothes, maybe they are being hunted by their enemies and are in trouble here, we must not give them money!"

"Qingling, you are going too far in assuming the faults of others! The two of them were just eager to find Senior Brother Bai, so they had no choice but to come here." Jing Ji looked at Zhao Xiaomei sadly: "Xiaomei, Bai Feng and Murong Yan... were ambushed by the Taiping Dao on the way, and their lives are unknown. Yu Wenxuan and Yu Ke just wanted to try their luck in Yuyi Town. They thought that if Senior Brother Bai escaped, he would come back here."

Zhao Xiaomei was in a trance and fell into confusion: "Brother Feng, Sister Murong, are you still alive?"

Yue Qingling added, "But Bai Feng didn't come at all! Little sister, you thought about him day and night and waited for five whole years! He just didn't come, and he will definitely never come again... So, I just thought that the two people outside the academy were making up stories."

"Qingling, they are all our friends!" Jingzhi inherited Bai Feng's chivalrous spirit and did not add insult to injury to those in trouble.

After hearing this, Zhao Xiaomei suddenly came to her senses and replied, "I want to meet them."

The whole meeting was very brief. Yuwen Xuan and Yu Ke told Zhao Xiaomei how they were plotted and ambushed by the Thousand-Faced Fox. Then, at Murong Yan's request, they went to the town to find a doctor. Since then, there has been no news of Bai Feng and Murong Yan.

After Zhao Xiaomei found out, she was both excited and disappointed. She first took the two guests to stay temporarily in Yuyi Academy, and then she gathered several disciples of the academy and began to secretly search for the whereabouts of Bai Mu and the other person.

Who would have thought that within half a month, the person I was looking for didn't show up, but an unexpected person took the initiative to come to me.

Su Qing's face was full of regret when he returned to Yuyi Academy. He sat in front of Yu Wenxuan and Yu Ke and confessed, reflecting on why he had left his friends alone.

Zhao Xiaomei had no intention of blaming anyone. In fact, she was quite happy to see Su Qing return. Of course, Yue Qingling cared about Su Qing more than she did. Yue Qingling missed and hated her elder brother who chose to leave without any warning five years ago.

The time spent reminiscing about the past was neither long nor short. Zhao Xiaomei didn't get to see the person she really cared about, so naturally she didn't feel very upset.

She dealt with the affairs of the academy as usual and ran a flower business, mainly making a living by selling the famous flower "Golden Eyes" in Beizhen.

Fan Liwu, the only teacher in the academy, would occasionally come to assist Zhao Xiaomei.

One day, Fan Liwu suddenly walked to the window of Zhao Xiaomei's study and chanted a poem: "There is a true meaning in this, but I have forgotten the words to explain it."

"Sir, what does this mean?" asked Zhao Xiaomei.

Fan Liwu said: "Ms. Zhao, you know it in your heart, but you can't say it."

These words seemed to have untied a knot in Zhao Xiaomei's heart.

"Ms. Zhao, Miss Lou from Qunma Town will come to our town to purchase goods in a dozen days. This is the last business in late autumn, so don't forget to treat it well."