Chapter 4: Battle! Thrilling!

Down the mountain! Down the mountain!

Gu Qing rode a donkey, a sharp sword at his waist, a cloth wrapped around his head, wearing a round-collared short tunic and narrow trousers, concealing his identity as a Quanzhen disciple, utterly resembling a wandering martial artist; after descending the mountain, Gu Qing’s heart surged with excitement. After glancing left and right, he patted the donkey and headed south along the main road.

Before descending the mountain, Gu Qing had paid a visit to the Ancient Tomb.

In the original story of The Return of the Condor Heroes, Xiaolongnu was defiled by Zhen Zhibing, mistakenly believing it was Yang Guo who did it, and proposed they marry; Yang Guo treated it as ordinary, causing Xiaolongnu to fly into a rage, speak harsh words to him, then retreat into the Ancient Tomb, remaining hidden for a long time before finally leaving to search for Yang Guo.

With Zhen Zhibing now absent and Yang Guo eager to descend the mountain, after yesterday’s incident, Xiaolongnu should have descended alongside Yang Guo; there was no sign of her in the Ancient Tomb. The plot had shifted—whether he could find Xiaolongnu again to coordinate their stories depended on fate.

Now, as Gu Qing patted the donkey, he headed toward the direction where Quanzhen’s intelligence placed Li Mochou.

After riding the donkey for half a day, Gu Qing arrived at a marketplace, situated along the imperial road, bustling with travelers.

“One bowl of noodles, with some beef.”

After sitting down, Gu Qing instructed the shopkeeper to also feed the donkey.

The shopkeeper, seemingly in his forties, moved swiftly, adding meat and noodles, and soon placed a steaming bowl before Gu Qing, then went to prepare feed for the donkey.

As Gu Qing lifted his chopsticks and had just eaten two bites, a girl, leading a child, knelt before him, bowing repeatedly and pleading: “Esteemed warrior, you earn gold by the bushel, rich and noble…”

Gu Qing immediately set down his chopsticks, helped the girl and child to their feet. She was young, her clothes neat, yet her skin dull, her face haggard; the child seemed lost, clinging to her side. He asked what trouble they had encountered.

“It’s those Mongol devils bullying people.”

At that moment, the shopkeeper brought two bowls of hot soup and placed them before the girl and child. “They’re from Jingzhao Prefecture. The girl’s father ran a credit business, collecting debts near the year’s end. Usually, they stayed here at Jing’an Market while waiting for him to return, spending the New Year together before heading back to Jingzhao. This year, after arriving, the girl’s mother fell ill. Last night, Old Wen returned from collecting debts and encountered two Mongols. Hearing his footsteps clatter, they knew he carried silver. They didn’t even say ‘pay up or die’—they drew their blades and killed him outright, stealing the silver.”

Since the Jin dynasty fell, the lands north of the Huai River have been under Mongol control, and Mongol troops are notoriously brutal, recognizing no justice.

“We only seek a little silver to treat my mother’s illness and bring my father home for burial.”

Wen Shan said, her voice hollow, the young boy beside her her younger brother.

Gu Qing looked at the girl, then at the child.

Dead father, gravely ill mother, young brother, dutiful sister…

Who else would help her if not me?

Gu Qing reached into his robe, pulled out the gold ingot and scattered silver he’d brought down the mountain, paid for the noodles, then handed the remainder to the girl.

【Fulfilled Wen Shan’s wish to obtain silver to save her mother: Virtue +1】

【Fulfilled Wen Hui’s wish to obtain silver to save his mother: Virtue +1】

Wen Shan took the gold and silver, knelt again before Gu Qing, weeping: “Esteemed warrior, may you earn gold by the bushel, have a hundred sons and a thousand grandchildren…”

She had approached him today because she saw him riding a donkey, appearing somewhat wealthy—but she never expected him to truly open his purse.

“A hundred sons and a thousand grandchildren? No need. Go get a physician for your mother.”

Gu Qing said calmly.

Gu Qing carried a Virtue System, but after joining Quanzhen, he’d actively helped its disciples, who treated him like a fool, offering few sincere thanks—so he learned to exploit glitches, learning in the Chongyang Palace to proactively create needs for others.

This was one of the rare positive Virtue gains he’d received, making him feel profoundly different.

Wen Shan looked at Gu Qing, thanked him endlessly, then left with her brother.

Gu Qing lowered his head, finished the noodles, slapped the silver onto the table, and mounted the donkey to leave.

“Sir, take your money back.”

The noodle shopkeeper ran out with the silver on the table and handed it to Gu Qing. “Let this be my small contribution to their cause.”

Gu Qing smiled, slipped the silver back into his robe, nodded to the shopkeeper, and rode the donkey out of Jing’an Market.

The noodle shopkeeper watched Gu Qing, silently noting him—rarely in this world had he met such a good man; his afternoon mood improved. But as evening fell and crimson clouds filled the sky, Gu Qing returned, two bundles hanging from the donkey.

“Where did the Wen family rent their lodging?”

Gu Qing asked.

The shopkeeper was astonished. The road was nearly empty. He sealed the stove and led Gu Qing to find the Wen family.

The Wen family rented a small house in Jing’an Market. Before entering, the strong smell of medicine reached them. The shopkeeper brought Gu Qing there; Wen Shan was startled, quickly ushering him inside and offering hot tea.

Gu Qing placed the bundles on the table, opened them himself, and asked Wen Shan: “Take a look—were these two Mongols responsible for your father’s death?”

As the bundles opened, the shopkeeper gasped in shock—he never expected two human heads inside.

Wen Shan saw the heads, clapped her hand over her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably. She nodded frantically at Gu Qing—these were the two Mongols who killed her father.

“Good.”

Gu Qing said: “I followed the direction you described, rode back and forth over two hundred li, killed seventy-four Mongols. These two matched your description best.”

After learning of the incident at noon, Gu Qing immediately rode after the Mongols. They moved slowly, stopping often—bad luck gave him time to catch up. As he spoke, he pulled out another bag of silver and handed it to Wen Shan: “This was taken from the two Mongols—it should be your father’s collected debts. With this, you can afford to carry his coffin home.”

Wen Shan took the bag of silver, sobbing uncontrollably, and moved to kneel again—but Gu Qing raised his hand and stopped her.

【Fulfilled Wen Shan’s wish to avenge her father and carry his coffin home: Virtue +2】

【Fulfilled Wen Hui…】

【Fulfilled Wen Shi…】

This act of chivalry earned Gu Qing a total of ten Virtue points. He did not use them immediately but kept them stored—able to expend them later to cure injuries or illness.

The famed Zhongshentong Wang Chongyang died of an epidemic.

After giving the silver to Wen Shan, Gu Qing caused them no further trouble, took the two Mongol heads into the hills, dug a pit, and buried them.

Back in Jing’an Market, the noodle shopkeeper insisted on treating Gu Qing to wine. The wine was thin, but the shopkeeper’s heart was warm—Gu Qing drank two cups.

“Sir, you rode back and forth over two hundred li on that donkey? Can a donkey move that fast?”

The shopkeeper was astonished.

“When you mention donkey speed, I must tell you about Emperor Taizong of Song and his donkey cart.”

Gu Qing recounted Emperor Taizong’s donkey cart drift: “My speed is far inferior to his.”

The shopkeeper, awed by tales of Emperor Taizong’s exploits, after three rounds of wine, said: “Sir, your kindness to Shan Shan is immense. She wishes to repay you with her body—please stay the night.”

Gu Qing immediately waved him off, firmly refusing: “I don’t like beautiful women. I love battle! It’s thrilling!”

(End of Chapter)