From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 373 Blade

Little red horse's hooves clatter.

After a long separation, the little red horse was well cared for. When it saw its former master Meng Yuan, it showed no signs of being unfamiliar with him. On the contrary, it kept snorting and acting very affectionate.

Riding forward, even in the sweltering heat, the little red horse galloped on and on, as if trying to make up for all the energy it had gained when it was separated from its steed.

After traveling for half a day, as evening approached, they saw the bright moon stop and wait ahead.

"Little castrator, come quick!" Xiangling stood on Mingyue's shoulder and waved vigorously at Meng Yuan.

Upon getting closer, Xiangling made a very good point: "It's very hot, you need to wear something to shield yourself from the sun!"

There was a market by the roadside, where bamboo hats were sold. Xiangling crawled into Meng Yuan's clothes and asked him to ask the price.

After agreeing on the price, Xiangling took out some money from her small bundle. "I have money! I earned so much from massaging Third Grandma's feet, I can't spend it all!"

She picked and chose two straw hats, counted the coins several times, and then gave the money to the person.

Xiangling received two bamboo hats and gave one to Meng Yuan and the other to Mingyue. Seeing that they had both put them on, she smiled happily.

Just as they were about to leave, Xiangling saw Dugu Kang and the others following them, so she counted out a few more copper coins and had Meng Yuan buy another one. "Dugu Kang's big bald head isn't afraid of the rain, but it's afraid of the sun!"

"The president is so kind." Dugu Kang was deeply moved. "No one has ever been this good to me before."

When he untied the screen and saw that it wasn't his, he didn't say anything and just kept staring at Xiangling.

Xiangling was shy, and when Jie Kaiping saw her, she couldn't help but reach into the small bundle with her paw, then shook her head and muttered something like, "Is it too much?"

Lin Yan was generous enough to buy Jie Kaiping a bamboo hat, which prevented Xiangling from losing all her family fortune.

The group traveled under the cover of night. Xiangling followed Mingyue for a day, but grew impatient and abandoned Mingyue to travel with Mengyuan instead.

"Little gelding, you sleep so well in my arms!" Xiangling was as lively as ever, occasionally spouting the profound wisdom taught by her godmother.

Xiangling didn't notice much of the changes in the world or the passage of time. She couldn't bear to think about it. She just felt happy riding horses with Meng Yuan and enjoying the breeze.

Xiangling hid in Meng Yuan's clothes, peeking out her head. Even as the horse galloped wildly, she continued to chatter, starting from when they parted at Lanruo Temple. She talked about the affairs of the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion, her medicinal herb business with Yuan Yaoniang, and the affairs of her two wives.

They talked on and on, but she didn't think it was just idle chatter; she was talking about serious matters, and her face was very serious.

Xiangling also asked Meng Yuan what he had done in Xiangji Kingdom, but Meng Yuan didn't go into details, only mentioning some minor incidents.

"Huanxi has also been to Xiangji Kingdom. I should have asked her to put in a good word!" Xiangling said earnestly, clearly having been fooled by Huanxi.

All of them were practitioners, traveling day and night without much rest, except for Xiangling, who would occasionally doze off in Meng Yuan's arms.

In just seven days, they reached the Canglang River. Meng Yuan and Mingyue hired a ferry and sailed southeast.

Dugu Kang and Jie Kaiping didn't follow and fell behind, leaving only Lin Yan and his wife behind.

All four of them were worldly-wise and didn't think much of it, except for Xiangling, who was a country bumpkin. She started talking about how fast and stable the boats were on the Canglang River, which was far superior to the Qinglong River outside Lanruo Temple.

The Canglang River flowed slowly, and the four travelers, including Meng Yuan, were not in a hurry to continue their journey. However, they noticed a great many boats on the river, mostly merchant and passenger vessels. When they asked their fellow travelers, they learned that people were having breakfast in various places, that county government offices had been burned down in different locations, and that business was difficult that day.

As you travel on the river, you can see people in tattered clothes gathering on both banks from time to time. Some even steal small boats and try to cross the river to escape to the south.

When they rested at the ferry, Meng Yuan disembarked and asked around. He heard many people who had fled due to the chaos say that they were going to Songhe Prefecture to seek refuge with the Ying family.

When asked why, he couldn't explain it, only saying that Old Ying's daughter was in Songhe Prefecture, and going to seek refuge with her would be a good idea.

Moreover, many merchant ships on the river also said they were going to Songhe Prefecture, and that they were mostly transporting grain and daily necessities.

“Once you have a reputation, even if you’re extraordinary, people will help you rebel.” Lin Yan had no aversion to rebellion; on the contrary, he spoke as if it were a common occurrence.

He makes perfect sense. "The Third Miss is in high esteem, well-versed in the classics, and surrounded by countless wise men! It's just a pity about one thing!"

Yuan Yaoniang had recently been associating with some wise people and had gained some understanding of the big picture, so she asked, "What is it?"

"What else could it be?" Lin Yan said, counting on his fingers, "When the Third Miss raises the flag, people from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism will surely rush to follow. But these people are good at chanting scriptures, but who will do the actual work? Besides, raising a flag is something that requires knives and warriors!"

Lin Yan looked as if he had already seen through the future. "Where do martial artists come from? Do they come from those aristocratic families? When Old Master Ying was alive, he said that it was not possible. They will come from the mud pits below. When the Third Miss becomes more and more powerful, the peasants below will naturally want to advance further."

At this point, Lin Yan looked at Meng Yuan, then at Mingyue.

“The Third Miss is a woman.” Seeing Yuan Yaoniang deep in thought, Lin Yan explained directly, “Humans are not plants or trees; they all strive for a better future. The Third Miss has no children and is a woman, so how can everyone be expected to follow her wholeheartedly?”

Lin Yan patted his chest, "Of course, we are old members of the Ying family. It is only right that we should risk our lives for the Third Miss. But how many old members of the Ying family are left?"

"After all that talk, you still just want to find a husband for Miss Ying!" Yuan Yaoniang sneered, disdainfully saying, "So what if she's a woman? Wang Er of the Demon Suppression Division is a woman too!"

"I can't explain it to you." Lin Yan has become increasingly capable and now dares to refute Yuan Yaoniang's words.

"Senior Brother, you're absolutely right!" Xiangling listened attentively for a while, and then she patted her chest earnestly, "Leave the matter of finding a husband for Third Grandmother to me!"

Since leaving the mountain, Xiangling has learned and mastered everything, from needlework and handicrafts to matchmaking and housekeeping. As long as it can make money, she will do it.

The people spoke without restraint, and five days later they saw the city of Songhe Prefecture.

More than half a year has passed since the chaos in Songhe Prefecture. Now the city is alive again, but after the massacre, there is still a deathly aura lingering.

The area outside the city was bustling with activity, with people coming and going at the docks. If the docked boats could be chained together, they could almost cross the river on foot.

After disembarking, I found that someone was already waiting for me.

"Brother Meng." Zhao Jingsheng stepped forward, bowed, and said with a smile, "My martial uncle consulted the oracle and said that an old friend is returning, so he asked me to come here to welcome him."

"Brother Zhao, you're too kind." Meng Yuan smiled and asked, "How are you, Daoist Xuanji? How is the Third Miss?"

"My master is traveling, and my uncle is currently staying at Chongxu Temple. Everything is fine." Zhao Jingsheng wasn't wearing a Taoist robe either. He looked Meng Yuan up and down and asked, "Brother Meng, is the blade finished?"

Meng Yuan nodded and said, "All that's left is to sharpen the knife."

(End of this chapter)