From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 219 The Old Man
After leaving the garden, I saw the happy little Taoist boy again.

I saw her sitting on the threshold, leaning against the door, with her whisk placed aside, and dozing off with her eyes wide open.

Meng Yuan now has more experience and knows that some Taoist masters like to let some Taoist children look after their gates and take on the responsibility of passing messages and guiding people.

Generally speaking, those who can have such a job are mostly people with some connections. Moreover, since they are young, their clear mind is not stained by dust, their innocence is not lost, and they can be less likely to engage in petty pursuits.

When the little Taoist boy heard Meng Yuan cough, he quickly opened his eyes, grabbed his whisk and was about to stand up, but when he saw that Meng Yuan was the only one there, he stood up calmly.

"Have you received your instruction?" The little Taoist boy raised his head happily and patted his butt with his whisk.

"I have got the truth." Meng Yuan said with a smile.

Huanxi nodded and made way for the door, "Please come in, fellow Taoist."

Her voice is crisp and a bit childish.

Meng Yuan said goodbye to Huanxi and left the Imperial Master's Mansion.

Seeing that it was already halfway through the afternoon and there was a banquet in the evening, Meng Yuan was afraid that the little girl would worry, so he hurried back to the mansion.

Meng Yuan was also unwilling to let Lin Yan accompany him all the time. Although they were fellow apprentices and they had indeed been able to chat with each other over the past few days, he was, after all, a sixth-rank warrior.

"I'm just sitting around doing nothing." Lin Yan was really free.

"Didn't the governor plan to send you to the north?" Meng Yuan asked curiously, "I heard there are barbarians in the north. Are you going to work in the army?"

Lin Yan nodded and whispered, "Probably. If I can accomplish another feat, I can marry Yao Niang."

"Did sister-in-law really agree to you?" Meng Yuan always felt that Yuan Yaoniang didn't quite recognize Lin Yan.

"Of course I agree!" Lin Yan said seriously, "I never force anyone to do anything! She is just being locked up for a while, and she is not happy!"

Lin Yan's answer made sense. "A rabbit demon is wild, you know!"

Meng Yuan had nothing else to say and could only listen.

The two arrived at Ying Mansion and asked Hu Qian to go to the backyard to invite Jiang Tang.

After talking about visiting Mingyue tomorrow, Meng Yuan said that he would not go back tonight and would go visit Nie Yannian's old colleagues.

"Then I'll wait for you tomorrow morning." Jiang Tang was very well behaved, but still reminded: "Remember to drink less, don't miss the meeting with Miss Mingyue tomorrow morning."

After chatting with Jiang Tang for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Meng Yuan followed Lin Yan to the reception building.

The guests had not arrived yet, so Nie Yannian asked Meng Yuan and Lin Yan who they had met today.

"In the Demon Suppression Division, it's easy or hard to get by." Nie Yannian couldn't help but remind him, "The key is to be able to fight! Just this one thing is enough! Wang Er is not a scheming person, nor is she a clique-building person. As long as you are capable and can make achievements, she will definitely be willing to promote you!"

"That's right!" Lin Yan agreed, but then changed the subject, "But Junior Brother is Miss Ying's man, and the word Ying is engraved on his body."

"As long as you learn more skills and reach a higher level, does it matter what words you carve?" Nie Yannian had long since let it go. "If someone stops you, there will be someone to help you."

The three masters and apprentices chatted for a while, and then Nie Yannian's old acquaintances came over.

There were eight people in total. Four of them were the same age as Nie Yannian, and Meng Yuan called them uncles. There were also four young people, the youngest was about the same age as Meng Yuan, and the oldest was over 30 years old, all of whom were of the same generation as Meng Yuan.

Obviously, Nie Yannian invited all his former companions and their descendants.

These people obviously knew Lin Yan, so they looked at Meng Yuan as soon as they came in.

Seeing that Meng Yuan was not very old, they started talking in a low voice again, as if they were saying that young girls were also eating young grass.

After everyone was seated, Nie Yannian introduced them to Meng Yuan one by one.

The four elders were named Zhao Wannian, Qi Yongnian, Tian Chengnong, and Liu Chengji. The other four young people were their juniors.

Among the four elders, Zhao Wannian was the oldest. He asked Meng Yuan about his age with a smile, and the others also came to inquire in detail.

"You are five or six years younger than Qingqing, but that's nothing for us warriors." Zhao Wannian was very warm. "You dare to marry Qingqing, you must be brave!" Tian Chengnong was humorous and asked with a smile: "Where are you working now?"

"I was a captain in the Songhe Prefecture Guard Station of the Demon Suppression Bureau and now I am a deputy." Meng Yuan said honestly.

The most important thing about being a centurion is to reach the seventh level of martial arts.

"Captain?" Everyone was knowledgeable and couldn't help but look at Meng Yuan, and finally looked at Nie Yannian.

Nie Yannian poured the wine by himself without saying a word.

Lin Yan yawned, as if he had known this would happen. He just focused on eating the food and didn't get involved.

"Brother, are you now at the seventh level in martial arts?" Zhao Wannian's eldest son asked curiously.

"It's only been a while since I broke through." Meng Yuan was very humble.

"Qingqing got a bargain!" Tian Chengnong suddenly sighed and grabbed Nie Yannian's arm, "You taught a little Linzi, and now you are going to teach a middle-grade one!"

"Alas, I didn't contribute much!" Nie Yannian waved his hand, as if it was not worth mentioning, "I just saw that he had some talent, so I gave him some pointers!"

Zhao Wannian and the others opened their mouths, not knowing what to say. Instead, the four young men raised their glasses to toast Meng Yuan.

"Are you here to marry Qingqing this time?" Zhao Wannian was obviously the boss, and he asked with concern.

"There's no rush to get married." Nie Yannian smacked his lips.

"Qingqing will become an old maid if she doesn't get married!" Zhao Wannian said anxiously, "Hurry up and get it done. It's time to make it a done deal!"

"If we delay, something unexpected will happen!" said Liu Chengji.

"My apprentice has a child bride," Nie Yannian said without looking anxious.

"So Qingqing is the servant!" Tian Chengnong laughed, and the others also laughed.

Nie Yannian immediately became anxious and angrily said, "Who said she was a minor? They will be the same age by then! There will be no distinction between the main wife and the concubine! Besides, do you know the background of that child bride?"

A group of people looked at Nie Yannian curiously. Tian Chengnong said with a smile, "Could it be that she is from a royal family? But it is not reasonable for a royal family to have a child bride."

"Haha." Nie Yannian sneered and whispered, "He is the Third Miss's apprentice, her personal disciple, her only disciple."

When everyone heard this, their mouths opened wide.

The origins of these people are the same as Nie Yannian. They were all disciples of the Ying family in the past. Although they are now scattered like stars in the sky, they are ultimately different from the Ying family.

"What do you do as the third young lady's disciple, my dear nephew?" Zhao Wannian asked.

"He served as a guard and later went to work in the garrison." Meng Yuan said.

"This time you come to Beijing, are you also here for the old lady of the Ying Mansion's birthday?" Qi Yongnian asked.

"That's right." Meng Yuan replied.

"Is the third young lady okay?" Liu Chengji suddenly asked.

No one in the room spoke, and everyone looked at Meng Yuan, showing their great concern.

"Miss Third is fine." Meng Yuan said.

"Miss Third, do you have any instructions for us?" Zhao Wannian asked again.

Meng Yuan did not receive any advice from the Third Miss, so he shook his head.

For a moment, no one spoke in the group, and there was silence, as if they were recalling the past.

(End of this chapter)