Chapter 83

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“The scholar over there must be a high-level expert…”

“So, the one who wants to kill Jing’er… is the Venerable Master?”

“Shh, don’t say it out loud.”

Listening to the whispered conversation between the coachman and the burly man, the woman holding the child couldn’t help but glance to the other side. A scholar, playing chess with a Daoist, caught her eye. She gently stroked her son’s head and held him closer to her chest.

“Mother… when can I see Father…”

The child, leaning sleepily on his mother’s shoulder, mumbled as a thin string of drool slipped from the corner of his mouth. The woman gently patted the thin back of her son, leaning her face against his and softly nuzzling him.

“Soon, we’ll reach the capital soon. Jing’er will see Father very soon.”

Before long, the cave fell into silence. Outside, the faint whistling of the wind and the soft rustling of the forest leaves could be heard. As the firelight flickered, the burly man keeping watch suddenly turned his head and saw the scholar approaching.

The scholar, glancing at the woman sleeping with her child in her arms, handed his blanket to the man.

“I won’t go over there. Take this and cover the child and the woman with it.”

The burly man looked at the scholar, then at the mother and child. After hesitating for a moment, he accepted the blanket. Seeing the scholar turn and leave, he quickly stood up and clasped his hands in gratitude.

“Cao Shouren thanks you, sir.”

“People keep addressing me as ‘sir.’ Do I really look that old?” Lu Liangsheng waved his sleeve at him. “Hurry and cover the mother and child. Then go get some rest. Nothing else will come during the night.”

Believing that the scholar must have cast some protective spell outside, Cao Shouren took two hurried steps forward and bowed deeply again.

“Shouren is grateful for your assistance tonight. If there’s ever anything you need, I will repay this kindness.”

Nearby, Sun Yingxian shook out his blanket, wrapped himself up, and chuckled as he lay down.

“Repay? You just mentioned your name and haven’t even explained why someone is hunting you down. What kind of sincerity is that? Talking about repayment without even sharing your story—how amusing.”

Earlier, during their conversation, he had already understood the whole situation. Sun Yingxian had even complained that Lu Liangsheng hadn’t invited him to join in on such an amusing matter.

Cao Shouren lowered his hands, turning his face to gaze at the flickering flames. With a sigh, he reflected on the surreal encounter. Meeting a legendary expert skilled in immortal arts and Daoist techniques felt like a dream.

“Sir, and that Daoist as well, I truly cannot reveal the truth. You only need to know that we are not evildoers, and not everyone in the court is virtuous.”

People have both good and evil in them, and the court was a big dye vat—Lu Liangsheng had heard his mentor speak of it before. Otherwise, Min Changwen would not have been mockingly demoted to the position of a mere county magistrate.

Cao Shouren clenched his teeth, taking a deep breath.

“Sir, in truth, this matter began—”

Before he could continue, Lu Liangsheng packed away the chessboard and waved him off.

“Rest. If you don’t wish to say more, then keep it a well-guarded secret.”

Cao Shouren: “…”

Some matters, when others are unwilling to share, are best left unpursued. After speaking, Lu Liangsheng brushed aside a spot on the ground with his robe sleeve and lay down casually, his clothes still on. The Toad Daoist crept over to him.

“You’re such a pushover, giving your blanket to someone else. Where am I supposed to sleep?”

Lu Liangsheng extended his arm lazily.

“Master, you’ll have to make do. I’ll use my sleeve as a blanket for you.”

“At least you’re a decent disciple.”

Their subtle master-disciple banter gradually faded. Soon after, the Daoist’s snores echoed through the cave.

The warm, golden light of the fire illuminated the chance meeting of these strangers, casting their figures in quiet stillness.

The night gradually gave way to dawn.

As the morning sun rose, the mountain mist dispersed. Inside the cave, the campfire had long since gone out, leaving only faint wisps of smoke. Lu Liangsheng, having woken early, rekindled the fire and began cooking breakfast. The Daoist helped load the bookshelf back onto the old donkey’s back.

The movement startled the two men and the woman awake. The child in the woman’s arms, catching the aroma of rice porridge, licked his lips.

“Mother… Jing’er is hungry.”

Lu Liangsheng scooped a bowl of thin porridge and handed it over. The child, clearly famished, quickly stretched out his small hands to grasp the bowl. The woman hurriedly expressed her thanks and took a few sips herself. The warmth of the porridge flowed through her mouth and into her stomach, spreading a soothing heat throughout her body. Even the soreness in her legs seemed to dissipate.

This was no ordinary porridge. Lu Liangsheng had added medicinal herbs he had bought in the city earlier and imbued it with a bit of Daoist spells to maximize its efficacy.

Of course, he also served a bowl to Cao Shouren and the coachman.

“Meeting like this is a kind of fate. But after this, we’ll go our separate ways.”

Cao Shouren lowered his bowl from his lips, unable to resist asking: “May I ask where you’re heading, sir?”

“The capital.”

Upon hearing this, the two men and the woman exchanged glances, a flicker of joy passing through their eyes. Yet, they said nothing and quietly watched as the scholar and Daoist finished packing and led the old donkey away.

Only when the duo was some distance ahead did the three, clutching the child, hurriedly follow after them.

Birds flitted joyfully through the forest, grooming their feathers.

On the narrow path below, two figures strolled leisurely, leading a donkey. The Daoist, a stalk of dry grass clamped between his lips, occasionally glanced back.

“They’re still following us.”

Up ahead, the scholar walked with one hand holding the donkey’s reins and the other holding an open book. He read as he walked, his steps deftly avoiding the uneven terrain as though his feet had eyes. His gaze never left the lines of text.

“They’re seeking some protection, I suppose. The fact they didn’t leave last night shows their intent. No need to drive them away. If we can help, we should. Better that than watching them march to their deaths.”

“In the Jianghu, there are more villains than good people. Can you save them all?”

Sun Yingxian thought this scholar was excellent in many ways, but his overly compassionate heart was his biggest flaw—something he found particularly frustrating.

“Sooner or later, you’ll suffer for it. Only then will you learn.”

The scholar closed his book without responding. Instead, he pulled out a map from the bookshelf to examine. The next destination appeared to be Muyuan County. After passing through, they could continue along the main road.

As they turned down a fork in the path, Cai Shouren’s voice called out from behind, distant but clear.

“Sir! Daoist! You’ve taken the wrong road. The path to the capital is the one on the right!”

The wrong road?

Lu Liangsheng, though not unfamiliar with traveling, was using a map for the first time. His sense of direction wasn’t the best. If he had used a spell to dash ahead wildly, it was possible he might have already crossed the border of the Southern Chen Kingdom.

Chuckling at himself, he folded the map and turned back. Behind him, Cao Shouren, holding the child, had already caught up with the coachman and the woman in tow. Gasping for breath, he said:

“Sir, why don’t we lead the way for you both? The four of us happen to be heading the same way.”

Glancing at the two men and the woman, who anxiously scanned their surroundings as if fearing their pursuers from the night before were still lurking, he pondered.

Same way?

The Daoist crossed his arms and scoffed, about to say: “Afraid you just want us to escort you—”

A soft breeze swept by, lifting the woman’s hair and revealing her delicate profile. Noticing eyes on her, she quickly brushed her messy hair back over her face and turned away.

The Daoist’s tone abruptly shifted. Turning to Lu Liangsheng, he said;

“I think it’s fine! Having someone lead the way isn’t a bad idea, haha. Don’t you agree?”

“That works.”

Lu Liangsheng recalled his impression of the Cao surnamed man from their brief exchanges the previous night. His demeanor and actions—protecting the woman and child even while being hunted—showed he was a stand-up guy. Letting him die would be a pity.

Since the Daoist also suggested it, there was no reason to refuse.

“Very well. Let’s travel together.”

The trio visibly exhaled in relief and stuck close behind the old donkey. The coachman even ran ahead to carry some items, claiming it was to prevent overburdening the donkey. Not to be outdone, Cao Shouren grabbed the reins, guiding the group and helping with the donkey.

With nothing else to do, Lu Liangsheng took the child and placed him on the donkey’s back.

Meanwhile, the Daoist walked beside the woman, constantly pulling odd items from his pockets—yellow talismans, demon-subduing mirrors, frogs…and showing them to her.

The group headed northward.

The journey was lighthearted, filled with chatter and laughter, as harmony settled over the little band.