Chapter 115: Xiao Zongting

Duan Rong entered Xiao Zongting's courtyard and found no one in the front yard. He walked to the kitchen doorway, poked his head in to look, but did not see Zhu Xiaoqi's figure either.

Duan Rong walked to the moon gate leading to the back courtyard and took a look, finding Xiao Zongting sitting in the yard, eyes half-closed, smoking a sullen pipe...

Duan Rong lifted his feet and walked in; the old hen he was holding in his hand let out a few clucks!

Xiao Zongting exhaled a smoke ring, lifted his eyelids, and glanced at Duan Rong!

Duan Rong walked over and said with a smile, "Where are Miss Yu and Xiao Qi? Why don't I see them?"

Xiao Zongting sat up a bit straighter and said, "Tonight is the seventh day since that child Baijiao passed! The two of them said they were going to the street to buy some more offerings..."

Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat, and he let out an "oh," only then remembering that Xiao Baijiao had been gone for seven days already!

Duan Rong tied the two plump old hens he was holding to the trunk of a persimmon tree in the yard, then turned around and handed the wild ginseng, wrapped in straw paper, to Xiao Zongting!

Xiao Zongting glanced at it and said, "What is that?"

"Two old wild ginsengs."

"Why spend money on that?!" Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong.

Ever since his martial arts were completely crippled, Xiao Zongting had almost never taken medicine; his body had always been quite good, and although his martial arts were crippled, the foundation left from his training remained.

It was just these past few days, with Baijiao suddenly passing away, that he had been somewhat absent-minded and indeed a bit deficient in Qi.

Xiao Zongting took the wild ginseng and said, "How is the Internal Breath Third Layer Secret Manual coming along?"

"It's just about there," Duan Rong answered with a guilty conscience; he hadn't even looked at the Third Layer Secret Manual at all.

Xiao Zongting, however, nodded and said, "Let's go, let's go inside! I'll write the prescription for you!"

As he spoke, Xiao Zongting tucked his pipe into his waistband and walked toward the main room with a limp!

Duan Rong followed behind Xiao Zongting, and they entered the main room together!

The two sat down, and Xiao Zongting wrote the prescription and handed it to Duan Rong. Duan Rong took it, read it once, folded it up, and put it into the inner pocket of his robe.

"You came at just the right time; there is actually a matter I need to discuss with you!" Xiao Zongting sat on the grand master's chair, looking at Duan Rong as he spoke.

Duan Rong's heart stirred; Xiao Lao never engaged in idle chatter. Whenever he spoke of a matter, it was truly a matter!

"You have already achieved the Inner Breath Realm Second Layer! Mr. Luan's intention is... the Escort Team is short on manpower, so he wants you to enter the Escort Team early for an internship!"

"Ah! An early internship? Didn't the contract say six months as an Apprentice?" As soon as Duan Rong heard this, he felt it wasn't a good thing!

"For an average person, it is naturally six months! By common logic, achieving the Internal Breath First Layer in six months is considered quite good! However, your situation is special. From the perspective of the Escort Agency, leaving you unused is indeed a waste of talent!"

Duan Rong pondered; actually, entering the Escort Team early to go on an escort mission wasn't a big deal, he was just a bit worried that that fellow Luan Jingfu didn't have good intentions!

"The Manager has already nodded on this matter!" Xiao Zongting suddenly said.

Duan Rong frowned; that meant there was no room for negotiation!

Xiao Zongting seemed to see Duan Rong's misgivings and said, "Rest assured! I have already arranged it for you. When the time comes, you will join the Second Escort Team! Escort Head Sun of the Second Escort Team is my old subordinate, a steady and humble person! Moreover, Xiao Yu is also in the Second Escort Team! You will just follow her for your internship and let her be your master!"

"That girl has a nickname in the Escort Team called Rouge Tiger; with her as your master, no one in the Second Escort Team will dare to make things difficult for you!"

Hearing how thoughtfully Xiao Zongting had arranged things for him, Duan Rong was filled with gratitude, and his eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red.

In his previous life, Duan Rong's parents died early, and after transmigrating here, the original owner was even more miserable than him—not only did his whole family die, but he himself had also kicked the bucket.

But after these two months of getting along, Duan Rong had gradually felt a warmth like family from the members of the Xiaojia.

Xiao Zongting treated Duan Rong this way not only because he felt Duan Rong was a good seedling worth cultivating and wanted to groom him into the next himself, but also because of everything that had happened over the past two months; he could no longer treat Duan Rong as a mere ordinary Apprentice!

Just on the day of Xiao Baijiao's funeral, in front of the West City Gate, Xiao Yu stood alone before the coffin, and seeing that Xie Daohan was about to strike, not a single person stood out to help her!

Yet Duan Rong was able to step forward at the critical moment and block in front of Xiao Yu!

This had prompted a group of Escorts to also stand out, surrounding the Constables in return and relieving the siege for Xiao Yu!

For this point alone, Xiao Zongting, who had always been clear about his grievances and debts throughout his life, could not help but repay him!

"Also, it hasn't been peaceful outside lately! I heard from Manager Zhao, who manages the dormitories in the Middle Courtyard, that Kong Bin and Zhang Zheng have gone missing!"

Hearing this, Duan Rong's heart stirred, and he observed the change in Xiao Zongting's expression.

Xiao Zongting only said with a somewhat heavy expression, "During this recent period, don't run around outside when you have nothing to do! Practice your martial arts in the Escort Agency with peace of mind! Wait about ten days or so, and when the Escort Team sets out, just follow along..."

Hearing this, Duan Rong nodded and said, "This disciple understands!"

After Xiao Zongting finished speaking, his face already showed a trace of fatigue, and he seemed unable to muster any energy!

Although he was getting on in years, he had never been like this; it was only after Xiao Baijiao passed away that this condition appeared in the last few days. Xiao Zongting sighed inwardly: I really am old!

Sensing Xiao Zongting's fatigue, Duan Rong stood up and said, "Xiao Lao, you must take good care of yourself. One must always keep an open mind to cultivate one's spirit!"

Hearing this, Xiao Zongting nodded slightly; Duan Rong was comforting him! Perhaps Duan Rong was right; he had indeed been too distressed over Xiao Baijiao's passing...

As he spoke, Duan Rong took the painting that had been placed on the side table earlier and said, "Xiao Lao, please trouble yourself to give this painting to Miss Yu later!"

Xiao Zongting took the painting and casually placed it on the tea table beside him! He had the same temperament as Zhu Xiaoqi; he had absolutely no interest in things like calligraphy and painting!

After Duan Rong bowed to Xiao Zongting to take his leave, he exited the courtyard, passed through the Martial Arts Arena, and returned to his dormitory.

After Duan Rong left, Xiao Zongting rubbed his temples. Although he was tired, he didn't want to sleep at all. Recently, when he slept, he always dreamed of his late wife and would often wake up in a cold sweat!

Xiao Zongting paced back into the yard again, sat on a stone stool, and continued to smoke his sullen pipe...

Xiao Zongting had only taken a few puffs when Xiao Yu and Zhu Xiaoqi walked in from outside, carrying baskets and chatting!

In the wicker baskets they carried in their hands were some incense, candles, and offerings...

Xiao Yu walked to the Inner Courtyard and saw Xiao Zongting smoking his pipe. Her eyebrows immediately stood up, her beautiful eyes widened, and she strode over, snatched the pipe from Xiao Zongting's mouth, and said, "I told you, you're getting on in years, smoke less! Look at yourself! This whole floor is covered in ash!"

As Xiao Yu spoke, her finger pointed at the ash by Xiao Zongting's feet!

Xiao Zongting sat up a bit straighter, like a child who had done something wrong, looked at the ash by his feet, and said, "I was feeling unhappy, couldn't help myself, and smoked too much! Daughter, I'll be careful next time!"

Xiao Yu's expression immediately withered; she naturally knew how great a blow Xiao Baijiao's passing had been to Xiao Zongting. It had only been a few days, yet he seemed to have aged significantly!

Zhu Xiaoqi hid behind Xiao Yu, covering her mouth and giggling! She knew that Old Master Xiao didn't fear anyone, but he feared Miss Yu!

Just as Zhu Xiaoqi was laughing, she suddenly saw the two plump old hens tied to the tree by the wall, and her eyes immediately lit up, saying, "Where did these old hens come from? They're so plump!"

Xiao Zongting glanced at them and said, "Duan Rong just brought them over!"

Zhu Xiaoqi turned her head and said, "That simpleton was just here?"

"Don't go around giving people nicknames behind their backs! It's impolite!" Xiao Yu turned her head and chided.

Zhu Xiaoqi stuck out her tongue, looked at the hen, and said, "We'll have chicken soup tonight!"

"There are also two stalks of wild ginseng on the table in the main room!" Xiao Zongting instructed.

"They must have been brought by that silly lad too, right? He's quite thoughtful!"

Xiao Yu felt a bit angry hearing Zhu Xiaoqi still calling Duan Rong a silly lad, but she realized that scolding Zhu Xiaoqi again for this would be losing her sense of propriety, so she suppressed it.

"Also, Duan Rong brought a painting, saying it was for you! I put it on the coffee table in the main room!" Xiao Zongting suddenly remembered and looked at Xiao Baijiao.

Xiao Yu was slightly startled and said, "A painting? For me?"

(End of this chapter)