Chapter 117: Dare Not Move In (Second Update)

The convoy had traveled for an hour when the official road ahead suddenly lay in chaos.

More than ten large carts lay scattered, some blocking the center of the road, others overturned into the wild grass by the roadside.

The cargo on the carts was strewn messily across the ground.

Blood splattered everywhere—on the carts, on the road, and in the wild grass on both sides!

Lu Zhengyan at the very front suddenly raised his hand, and the convoy stopped immediately. Two Captains rode forward to investigate, returning moments later.

One of the Captains, his face full of anger, said, "It was a merchant caravan that set out from the town. This morning, when we borrowed their carts, we even exchanged a few words with them!"

Xu Yuan followed them forward, inspected the scene, and let out a long sigh. "Attacked by a large horde of evil spirits. The people and horses were dragged into the mountains... It's too late."

This was the current state of the Great Ming.

Those who ran businesses not only had to bear various high costs and endure exploitation at every checkpoint, but if unlucky enough to encounter evil spirits, they might even lose their lives!

Yet at the same time, the Great Ming was immensely powerful. Its territory far surpassed that of the previous dynasty, the Grand Canal connected all directions, its military might was widely projected, its soldiers were proud and its generals brave, and it seemed on the verge of conquering the entire Southern Seas.

"Move the carts to the side of the road; we will pass first," Yan Lao arranged. "Search the carriages. Bring any documents that can prove their identities. Report them to the county yamen upon reaching the county town and try to notify their families—if the yamen has been rebuilt."

There was truly little that could be done. It was impossible to leave a few Captains here to guard the cargo and the like; what would happen when night fell?

With the large carts moved aside, the convoy continued toward the county town. Fu Jingyu remained silent throughout the journey. Having spent these years by his teacher's side, seeing so many things on this trip had a great spiritual impact on him, a young master of a great family.

Ten li outside the county town, Yan Lao sent one person ahead on a fast horse to report.

Thus, when they arrived at the city gate, Song Lu was already standing there. Seeing the convoy from afar, she waved her arms excitedly. "Senior Brother!"

Her limbs had grown back; she ran over quickly, her eyes seeing no one else, heading straight for the carriage.

Xu Yuan, being sensible, quickly jumped down from the cart.

Song Lu climbed onto the carriage and yanked the door open. "Senior Brother..."

A robust Fu Dagong pecked its way out of the carriage, its golden eyes glaring, causing Song Lu to scream "Ah!" and fall off the cart.

Ying Tai Po hurriedly embraced Ah Hua. Fu Jingyu, amused yet helpless, followed out and helped Song Lu up. "Did you get hurt falling, Junior Sister?"

Song Lu, who had been wearing a bitter expression, immediately smiled happily. "It's nothing."

The two quickly realized that Yan Lao and the others were watching from the side. Their faces flushed slightly, and they stepped back a bit.

"Your teacher is here. Hurry and enter the city."

The county yamen had naturally not yet been rebuilt, and not even the new county magistrate had arrived.

On the day Xu Yuan and Fu Jingyu departed for Qihe Tai Town, Ma Tianshou's memorial to the court reporting the massacre at Shanhe County had only just been sent.

The Provincial Administrator of Southern Jiaozhi was probably having a headache these days. Such a huge matter—how to report it to the Northern Capital while minimizing his own responsibility.

With ample staff around Ma Tianshou, he simply rented out the entire inn where he had originally stayed, sent the Shopkeeper and all the attendants home, and placed the inn completely under the control of the Purification Bureau.

Xu Yuan said to Fu Jingyu, "I will first go home to report that I am safe, then go to see the Old Lord."

"Good. Do it as soon as possible."

Xu Yuan was about to leave when Ah Hua bit his pant leg.

Seeing Xu Yuan about to leave, Ying Tai Po immediately said, "Is no one going to take care of this old woman anymore?"

"Tai Po, Young Master Fu will send someone to find you a place to stay..."

"I came out with you, so I will follow you. My old eyes are dim; I cannot recognize anyone else."

Helpless, Xu Yuan said to Fu Jingyu, "Advance me some silver first. I will rent a house near Henggong Lane to settle Tai Po down. You can reimburse me later."

Fu Jingyu readily gave the money.

Xu Yuan drove the cart while several Captains helped lead the horses, and the procession returned to Henggong Lane in grand style.

On the way, Ying Tai Po asked, "Ah Yuan, how many people are in your family?"

"Is your house big?"

"Is the courtyard big enough for Hua to play in?"

Xu Yuan could only extend an invitation. "How about you just stay at my house?"

Ying Tai Po exclaimed, "Oh my, how could I be so presumptuous? Won't it be troublesome?"

"No trouble at all."

The Captains around them covered their mouths to stifle laughter, though secretly they were envious. Whether this Tai Po possessed any ability was unknown, but that Fu Dagong clearly looked extraordinary; it must be capable of protecting the home and warding off evil spirits, so ordinary evil spirits would not dare approach.

If this old woman were willing to bring that Fu Dagong to live in my house, I would even call her Great-Grandmother!

The convoy turned onto the stone-paved street and quickly reached the entrance of Henggong Lane. However, Ying Tai Po suddenly pulled on the carriage reins. Her "dim old eyes" stared at the alley, looking inside and out again and again.

Xu Yuan asked, "Tai Po, what's wrong? My home is right inside."

Ying Tai Po pursed her wrinkled lips, then suddenly changed her mind. "This old woman has thought it over. It would be too abrupt to move in like this and disturb your family."

"It's no problem..."

"No, no," Ying Tai Po insisted. "Find me a house nearby."

Xu Yuan had no choice. Fortunately, there were many vacant rooms near the alley. He quickly found a small courtyard for rent, located a broker everyone on the stone-paved street knew, signed a contract, paid the money, and rented it.

Eager to return home, Xu Yuan instructed the Captains to help settle Tai Po down and went home himself first.

Pushing open the small courtyard gate, Xu Yuan shouted loudly into the kitchen, "Lin Wanmo, I'm back!"

The stepmother came out of the main hall, grabbed Xu Yuan's sleeve, and examined him from head to toe. She let out a long sigh of relief. "It's good that you returned safely."

When Xu Yuan was not home, Lin Wanmo did not cook; she would just make do with something simple.

Lin Wanmo went back into the main hall to offer incense to Xu Yuan's father, murmuring something softly, as if Xu Yuan's safe return was due to his father's blessing.

After offering the incense, Lin Wanmo sat down by the table. "Tell me quickly what happened. Was it dangerous this time..." Suddenly, she saw a silly-looking big white goose poking its head out from behind Xu Yuan. Her eyes lit up. "Is this the goose you bought? It's very fat. We'll roast it for dinner!"

Dafu had already been in the courtyard, patrolling around with a clatter of his large webbed feet, and was somewhat dissatisfied with his future "territory."

There was no river at all; outside the door, there was only a well.

It seemed some renovations would need to be made here in the future.

Just as Dafu finished his patrol and entered the door, he heard that this woman wanted to eat him. He leaped into the air, rushing to peck her.

Xu Yuan grabbed her by the neck: "That is your grandmother; do not offend her."

Dafu kicked and slapped again. "Even if she's grandmother, she's going to eat me!"

Xu Yuan told Lin Wanmo about Dafu's origins. Lin Wanmo's eyes lit up: "So Teacher Wang is the Auntie Wang from back then? Tell me all about it..."

Seeing her skittish, squirrel-like look, Xu Yuan couldn't help but say: "We'll discuss that later—go find the letters Second Uncle has written over the past few years."

Lin Wanmo looked confused: "How would I know where Master put them?"

Xu Yuan:?

"I'll look."

Mother and son moved all of Xu Huanyang's belongings out, and finally, from a pile of letters, they dug up five letters from Second Uncle.

Xu Chuanyang had been away for twenty years, yet he had written only these five letters back.

Xu Yuan returned to his room, took out the letter Zheng Rongkui had given him, compared the two, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief: "A forgery."

(End of this chapter)