That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

"This is what they call destiny."

Jiang Jingming laughed, took her hands in his own and placed them on his heart.

"Aqing is my little green fish, she'll be with me for life."

"Ah."

Aqing lowered her eyes and slowly thought to herself that she had always lived for this matter.

Since leaving Mangya, the young master has always had to repeatedly confirm with her... perhaps because the outside world is just too awful.

Perhaps she is not strong enough, not strong enough to protect the young master, so that he doesn't have to hide his identity and can go wherever he wants.

......

"Is there anywhere else you'd like to take me?"

Jiang Jingming took her hand and helped her up from the steps.

Even now, Jiang Jingming didn't ask about her family. Since he already knew the ending would be the destruction of her family, he didn't want Aqing to recall those painful memories.

Moreover, even knowing that he was not Jiang Wuwang's biological son, Aqing never asked him about his past.

The trust and reliance between the two came out of nowhere; it seemed that a single glance at their first meeting was enough for them to exchange their true feelings.

No matter what happened in the past, no matter where you came from, we are all on the same path.

"I do not know."

Ah Qing thought for a moment, then shook her head:

“I haven’t been to many good places. The inner and outer cities of Fengling City are strictly separated, and I rarely had the opportunity to enter the inner city when I was a child.”

"I didn't say we were going to any nice places."

Jiang Jingming smiled casually:

"I just want to see the place where Ah Qing spent her childhood."

"Um......"

Hearing him say that, Aqing fell into deep thought, seemingly struggling with whether or not to take him along.

After a long while, she finally made up her mind and led Jiang Jingming along the ferry bank in the other direction they had come from.

......

The further you go, the more dilapidated the surroundings become.

Beyond the towering, continuous blue-brick city walls of Fengling City, there was a large area of ​​dilapidated tents made of hemp cloth and bamboo poles. Many people were lying haphazardly in each tent, and a stench emanated from the crowd, with swarms of flies buzzing around.

Jiang Jingming watched all this and sighed softly.

If the difference between the inner and outer cities of Fengling City is already significant, then the area outside the city is like another world altogether.

The people here were not affected by the post-festival atmosphere of the Joyful Rain Festival, and probably didn't have the energy to appreciate what was happening in the city. Everyone's face was filled with a sense of dejection.

It's like waiting to die.

A thought popped into Jiang Jingming's mind, and he suddenly understood why walking on this road made people feel so uncomfortable.

Because there is only a gloomy, deathly atmosphere here.

"Most of them are refugees who fled from other places. They are not allowed to enter Fengling City, so they have no choice but to set up camp in this area."

Aqing walked beside him and explained:

"I had heard occasionally when I was in the city that after Chief Secretary Wen took office ten years ago, he would send people here to distribute porridge every three days. Although this move caused dissatisfaction among many officials in the city, it gave these refugees a glimmer of hope."

"I see."

Jiang Jingming nodded. This was probably the best relief that Master Wen could secure for them.

"But that happened after I left."

As Aqing spoke, she paused, her gaze lowered.

The refugee camp wasn't large; the two had walked to the end while they were talking.

The makeshift thatched shed used for distributing porridge is still there, with several children gathered around, seemingly hoping that white porridge will magically appear in the pot.

“When I was homeless, this was the only place that was willing to take me in. They themselves were starving, but they would always share some food with me because they felt sorry for me.”

Ah Qing gazed at the overlapping mountains in the distance, her voice very soft.

“Actually, when I came to Zhongzhou to carry out missions, I would occasionally come here to take a look. But this time when I came back, all the people I remembered were dead.”

"..."

Jiang Jingming listened silently, recalling what Shen Zhuo had once said: when they went on missions, A Qing would occasionally ask him for some free time.

At the time, I thought it was because she was young and inevitably had playful moments, but I never expected it to be for this reason.

“A blind old woman once cooked me a bowl of wontons. I still remember the taste of the wontons. But it was she who led me to that human trafficker.”

By the time Aqing finished speaking, the two had already walked to the other side of the riverbank.

Further from the city wall, the river water was clearer than before, reflecting their shadows clearly. Willow branches were blown by the wind and brushed against the riverbank.

“Actually, I don’t blame her. She probably genuinely thought it was a good place. It didn’t matter where she was sold, at least she would have food to eat and wouldn’t starve.”

At this point, Aqing turned around and stared at him intently:

"Moreover, it is precisely because of this that I met the young master."

Jiang Jingming looked into her clear eyes and could see his own reflection in them.

In that instant, he suddenly had a lot to say to Aqing.

I really want to say that I wasn't doing well before I met you. My parents sound impressive, but neither of them is reliable.

My father is a gentle and refined sword immortal in public, but he always looks down on me and only knows how to look down on people.

My mother is the legendary master of both the qin and xiao, but she only sees me once every three months, and even then, it's just a perfunctory greeting through a screen.

The Wash Spring Sword Sect is such a large sect, yet I live alone on the top of the back mountain. In winter, the whole house is like an ice cellar, and even with a fire burning, it's still cold.

In my solitude, I can hear the sound of snow falling on the eaves, and sometimes I feel as if I am the only person left in the world.

Six years of this boring life passed, and then, lo and behold, the devil came knocking on our door with his men.

So my arrogant father led his disciples into battle, leaving only an old servant to take me and run away.

Before I could run two steps, the old servant abandoned me and ran away, and someone else kicked me so hard I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, I was surrounded by corpses.

At the edge of my vision, a demon with wildly flowing hair was approaching me with a knife in hand, while I was so weak that I couldn't even hold the sword properly.

However, the devil suddenly took pity on me and picked me up. We traveled around and enjoyed the scenery. I kept looking for missing person notices along the way, but not only did I not find him, I also heard my own obituary from passersby.

As I boarded the boat to cross the river, I thought that even after leaving that snow-covered house, I was still all alone in the world.

That's when you appeared.

Jiang Jingming lowered his eyes, feeling that this was truly a fateful encounter. Perhaps heaven sensed his loneliness and sent another lonely child to his side.

These words were on the tip of my tongue, but I ultimately didn't say them.

It's not the right time yet.

The situation in Zhongzhou is currently chaotic, and the enemy is still lurking in the shadows. If his true identity is exposed, it will bring nothing but harm.

If Aqing knew less, perhaps there would be less danger.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jingming simply raised his hand and pinched her cheek.

Aqing's face was thin and bony, with a delicate, jade-like texture when pinched.

However, Aqing is very obedient. No matter what he does, she will just stand there obediently, which makes people want to tease her a little.

Jiang Jingming looked at the faint red mark on her face and smiled nonchalantly.

"We're going to see that person in three days, Aqing, aren't you scared?"

"Not afraid."

Aqing subconsciously shook her head, but after a long while, she frowned almost imperceptibly:

"Young Master, if things go wrong, please stand behind me."

"You really think of yourself as my personal bodyguard?"

Jiang Jingming put his arms in his pockets and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Aqing looked at him, seemingly not understanding why he would ask that question, and shook her head:

“Ah Qing was originally meant to protect the young master to the death, so calling her a guard wouldn’t be wrong.”

"No guard is meant to stay with his master for life."

Jiang Jingming leaned closer, bent his knuckles, and flicked her forehead hard.

Aqing covered her forehead, blinked her beautiful eyes, and still didn't seem to understand what he meant.

Jiang Jingming was both annoyed and amused, so he simply stopped talking to her and turned to continue walking forward.

Aqing followed in his footsteps, keeping her head down and remaining silent.

I don't know if it's because I was slow to realize it, but I feel a bit down and embarrassed right now.

The two chatted casually, enjoying the pleasant breeze from the riverbank and the warm sunshine.

Jiang Jingming suddenly felt that spring should be like this: sunshine and a gentle breeze, leisurely strolling along the riverbank with your beautiful girl by the hand.

Forget about all the old troubles, and forget about the dangers and threats right in front of you.

This departure from the Moon Crossing Sect is like a journey. Once this matter is settled, you can take her back to your own little world and continue your peaceful life.

Continue to watch the moon rise and the sun set, the grass grow and the birds fly.

......

Only when the sun had completely sunk into the water and the moon hung on the willow branches from the other side of the sky did the two sit down by the river again.

There was a stall selling wontons on the road earlier. Jiang Jingming and A Qing each ate a bowl. The wontons were actually vegetarian, but the broth made from the bones was very flavorful.

Aqing plucked a few blades of grass from the lawn, deftly twisted them with her fingers, and miraculously tethered a small boat out.

Jiang Jingming found it intriguing and tried to imitate her movements, but he couldn't quite get the hang of it, and ended up pulling up a patch of grass around him.

Aqing added a short blade of grass to each side of the little grass boat, making it look like it had oars.

Jiang Jingming hurriedly got up, went back to the wonton shop vendor, broke off a small piece of candle, and carefully placed it on the bow of the boat.

Aqing put the small grass boat down, and it floated lightly on the water.

"Young Master, I am very happy today."

She suddenly whispered.

How happy were you?

Jiang Jingming squatted down beside her, looking into her eyes, which were warmed by the firelight.

"I'm so happy, so very happy, the happiest of all."

Aqing answered, enunciating each word clearly.

Jiang Jingming was amused by her earnestness and nodded:

"Since Aqing is happy, then I am happy too."

Aqing carefully stirred the water, worried that the small straw boat would capsize immediately.

The young master was unaware that the customs of Fengling City, such as paper boats and floating lanterns, were all acts of praying for blessings and making wishes.

She released a floating lantern once, but never a paper boat. Now, although there is no paper, only grass can be used instead, but the meaning is the same.

Thinking this, Aqing closed her eyes slightly and silently made a wish in her heart:

"Whether Ah Qing's life is full of ups and downs or she falls into the deepest hell after death, as long as it can bring peace and happiness to the young master, Ah Qing has no other wish and no complaints."

She let go, and the little straw boat, carrying the candlelight, slowly drifted downstream, floating further and further away in the moonlight.

This symbolizes wishes coming true, and Aqing smiled.

She was focused on watching the boat, while Jiang Jingming, resting his chin on his hand, was also intently watching her.

I have no idea what this silly girl is laughing at.