Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Askers of the Way
The journey was silent.
Half an hour later, Li Lu, the driver, saw a road marker engraved with the words "Golden Bridge Village" and turned the carriage toward the village entrance.
From there, Chen Qin gave directions.
Golden Bridge Village, east side, inside the Cheng Family house.
Cheng Zongyang untied the sweatband from his forehead, wrung out a considerable amount of sweat, then tied it back on to absorb more.
Looking at the nearly empty house, Cheng Zongyang couldn’t help but sigh.
He hadn’t realized just how much stuff his family owned until he started packing for the move. During the process, he had even dismantled so wooden planks from a neighbor’s house to build crates for storing it all.
After a busy morning, Cheng Zongyang had managed to move everything that could be moved or used from his entire ho into the Wilderness World.
’It’s almost noon. We still need to eat back in the mountains. I’ll head back first, then return to the village later to check Jin Fumin’s house and the others for anything useful.’
He wasn’t picky about using second-hand things. With three families living in the mountains, they needed a lot. Buying new things in the County Town would be expensive, so nothing could go to waste.
He unlatched the door, pulled it open, and walked out. He turned and closed it behind him.
’Huh? Soone’s here.’
Just then, two disheveled-looking middle-aged n who were passing by his house were drawn over.
Cheng Zongyang’s guard went up, and he stood motionless in the doorway.
As the two n approached, Cheng Zongyang felt an inexplicable, surging aura emanating from them!
Martial Artists!
Eighth Grade Martial Artists, at least!
And there were two of them!
Cheng Zongyang was startled.
’Why would Martial Artists be here? And dressed like this?’
"Excuse , young man." One of the n said with a smile, seeing Cheng Zongyang’s tense expression. "We’re new to this area and wanted to ask for directions, but the village is completely empty. Has everyone gone to the county, or have they fled?"
Cheng Zongyang had a sweatband tied around his forehead, so they probably didn’t notice that he was a Martial Artist as well.
"A bit of both," Cheng Zongyang said, feigning a frightened expression. "Are you... are you heading to the county?"
"Yes." Although the middle-aged man in the lead was scruffy, it couldn’t hide a certain quality about him—an indescribable air.
"Go out through the west entrance of the village and head north. That will take you to the County Town."
"Thank you, young man." The middle-aged man clasped his fist in thanks, then turned to leave, seemingly oblivious to the aura of the farm boy before him.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
The sound of horse hooves and a jumble of other noises ca from the direction of the village’s west entrance.
With the village deserted, any sound, no matter how slight, was exceptionally clear.
Cheng Zongyang’s expression hardened. ’The officials are here?’
He figured the n for the conscription draft must have arrived. If not now, then it would have been this afternoon.
He didn’t try to hide. ’There’s not another soul around. If they try anything funny, I’ll just kill them and dump the bodies in the mountains. Who would ever know?’
Just then, the carriage passed by the two beggar-like, middle-aged n. Li Lu rely glanced at them before looking away, paying them no mind.
A mont later, Cheng Zongyang saw a carriage heading toward his house.
The driver was indeed one of the officials.
But beside the driver, he saw his second aunt.
At this, Cheng Zongyang’s brow furrowed.
’Sothing’s happened!’
Involuntarily, he pulled off his sweatband and clenched his fists.
"Whoa!" Li Lu pulled on the reins, bringing the horse to a halt.
The carriage stopped steadily in front of Cheng Zongyang.
"Yang’Er!"
Seeing her nephew, Cheng Zongyang, a look of delight crossed Chen Qin’s face. She quickly climbed down from the carriage, then called her three children down and brought their bundles with them.
Li Lu also dismounted and sized up Cheng Zongyang.
Average height, slightly dark-skinned, with a handso yet youthful face. But his physique was powerful, a saber hung at his waist, and he exuded a faint, grim aura.
Li Lu’s expression turned serious.
’This one is not simple!’
Then, when he saw the bulging at Cheng Zongyang’s temples, his expression froze!
—When qi and blood are abundant, the temples bulge. This is the mark of an Entry Grade Martial Artist!
’This kid is a Martial Artist!’
Li Lu was astonished.
’He looks like a teenager, doesn’t he?’
’Could he be a disciple from one of the Martial Arts Halls in the county?’ Li Lu guessed to himself. ’But his clothes and appearance don’t fit!’
Cheng Zongyang sized up Li Lu in return. Seeing he wasn’t a Martial Artist, he paid him no further mind and turned his attention to his aunt and cousins.
"Second Aunt, what happened?" Cheng Zongyang walked over.
"Let’s go inside first. Are your parents here?" Chen Qin said imdiately.
However, Cheng Zongyang simply pushed the door open, revealing the empty house behind it. "We’ve moved," he said.
Chen Qin froze, shocked. "So suddenly?"
Cheng Zongyang just shook his head slightly, his gaze falling on Li Lu, who stood behind his aunt.
Seeing this, Chen Qin understood at once and quickly explained:
"His na is Li Lu. He’s one of the governnt officials from the County Town. I asked for his help to get us out of the city. If it weren’t for him, my children and I wouldn’t have been able to make it to the village."
With that, she turned to Li Lu apologetically. "Brother Li, would you mind if we had a word in private?"
Li Lu smiled and nodded. "Of course. I’ll wait outside. Just co out when you’re done."
"Thank you, Uncle Li," Cheng Zongyang said with a smile.
Li Lu nodded, climbed back onto the carriage, and turned it around to head for the village entrance.
"Yang’Er, what on earth is going on?" Chen Qin asked.
But Cheng Zongyang’s expression was grave. "We can talk about that in a mont. What happened in the county? Where’s Second Uncle?"
Chen Qin then explained the whole story from beginning to end.
Finally, she said, "So, I decided to bring your cousins here to stay for a while, to keep them from catching the plague. This also makes it easier to deal with your second uncle’s situation.
"As for Li Lu, he’s afraid of catching the plague and having no one to help him. It’s just a matter of mutual assistance."
When Li Lu refused paynt but still diligently helped her, Chen Qin had understood his motive.
She didn’t mind; otherwise, there would have been no reason for him to bother with her family at all.
After hearing his aunt’s story, Cheng Zongyang finally understood.
’The thing I was worried about has happened after all!’
A plague!
His mind couldn’t help but recall seeing people vomiting and suffering from diarrhea outside the County Town.
’So the Governnt Office has been suppressing the news, keeping it quiet.’
Next, Cheng Zongyang briefly explained what had happened here, then said:
"So, if you’re going to stay, it’ll have to be in the mountains. It’s very secluded. You don’t have to worry about safety."
"However, we need to deal with Second Uncle’s situation as soon as possible. How about this: Second Aunt, you go back to the city with Li Lu first. Pack up your belongings and prepare to leave the County Town. I’ll head into the city this afternoon."
Chen Qin quickly agreed. "I have no problem leaving the County Town, but what about your second uncle? Li Lu said he can’t even get close to him; he’s being watched by the higher-ups."
Cheng Zongyang thought for a mont, then said:
"We’ll have to take it one step at a ti. I’ll get in touch with Li Lu later. I’ll handle Second Uncle’s situation."
"Okay." Chen Qin didn’t say more. At a ti like this, she was helpless.
Ever since he was a child, her nephew had shown an Ability and a way of doing things that were no different from an adult’s. She could trust him to handle it.
Next, Cheng Zongyang had his aunt return to the city first, while he took his cousins back into the mountains.
Along the way, the three siblings remained silent.
They didn’t understand why their uncle’s family had moved into the mountains, but their mother had told them to stay at their uncle’s place for the ti being, so they could only follow.
Even Cheng Zongyan knew sothing was wrong, and she lay quietly on her older cousin’s back.
When they arrived, they found a scene bustling with activity. Everyone was clearing the area and processing timber.
Everyone was surprised when Cheng Zongyang returned, especially when they saw he had brought three children with him.
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