From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 339 Encounter
Meng Yuan and Mingyue left Ping'an Prefecture and headed south.

As spring draws to a close, everything is lush and green, and flowers, trees, and birds can be seen along the way, which makes me feel much better.

The two did not travel very fast, and it took them five days to finally leave the territory of Ping'an Prefecture.

Over the past five days, Meng Yuan noticed that although he was with Mingyue every day, the girl was not very close to him.

Unless Meng Yuan initiates a conversation, Mingyue will never speak. Even when he tries to coax her into talking, she remains somewhat indifferent, acting more like someone who has no choice but to live together out of necessity than a companion.

Meng Yuan knew Mingyue's temperament; this girl was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and she had a strong sense of justice, but she could be quite stubborn at times.

Since Meng Yuan met Mingyue, the two have often joined forces and helped each other, but such carefree and leisurely companionship is extremely rare.

But now, with his beloved by his side, he should be feeling refreshed and enjoying a leisurely stroll together. However, Mingyue doesn't say much, leaving Meng Yuan at a loss for what to do.

The two left the territory of Ping'an Prefecture that day. Meng Yuan was not in a hurry to move forward. Instead, he rode his little red horse slowly.

It wasn't to appease Mingyue, but rather because in the past few months, first there was the upheaval in Songhe Prefecture, then he rushed to Lanruo Temple, and then went through a series of battles; Meng Yuan hadn't had a moment's rest at all.

While seeking out the celestial creations is important, one should not be so focused on the pursuit that it may easily lead to anxiety.

Therefore, Meng Yuan was not in a hurry to travel. Instead, he relaxed and put aside his anxiety. Whenever he saw a high mountain or a large lake, he would take the moon and go for a stroll.

Mingyue didn't say she was unwilling. She would do whatever Meng Yuan asked her to do, but it would be extremely difficult for her to say a few words or offer any critique.

It's like they've entered the room and sat on the fragrant bed, and even though they've performed the yin-yang ritual, one is filled with joy while the other doesn't even want to change their position.

They arrived at the outskirts of a town. It was getting hot. The two saw a flag in the distance, so they went up to ask for tea and had someone feed and water the horses.

After drinking tea, Meng Yuan pondered taking Mingyue to visit the towns and markets ahead, to let her see the beauty of the world.

"Meng Feiyuan, we should hurry up." Mingyue, though of noble birth, did not mind the coarse tea by the roadside. She sipped it slowly and said, "At this slow pace, who knows when we will arrive."

“The journey is too long, but it will eventually come to an end. Who knows where we will be separated then?” Meng Yuan shamelessly said, “Time cannot be slowed down, but the journey can be longer. I just want to spend more time with you.”

As Meng Yuan spoke, he looked intently at Mingyue.

Mingyue had been wearing a cold expression every day for the past few days, but she noticed that Meng Yuan was always careful with his words and teasing her. She was actually very well-mannered and had long felt that he had gone too far, but she just couldn't figure it out.

Seeing Meng Yuan's genuine emotions and his particularly alluring and affectionate words, she softened in the end, but then she remembered Meng Yuan meditating in Dugu Ying's room, and how he was naked.

“Now that you’ve parted ways with me, go find my sister,” Mingyue said.

It really is because of Yingmei!

Meng Yuan sighed and said, "There's really nothing between me and Miss Ying. Actually, she asked me to do something for her, and later I asked her for a small favor in return. Other than that, it's truly a petty friendship!"

"You do her dirty work, and she does your dirty work. What a treacherous friendship you two have!" Mingyue smiled and asked, "So, you and I are now friends of gentlemen?"

"A gentleman's friendship is as light as water." Meng Yuan put down his teacup, snatched Mingyue's hand without a second thought, and held it tightly, not allowing her to break free. He said, "Between you and me, I would never want things to be as light as water. I only want to see your face every day, that is enough."

"You're disgusting!" Mingyue seemed to remember something, but even though she said that, a smile appeared on her lips, clearly indicating that she had been coaxed.

"I offered my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the gutter." Meng Yuan sighed, "These past few days you have been indifferent to me, and I feel very uncomfortable."

Mingyue broke free of his grasp, hugged the sword to her chest, revealing its considerable size. She turned her head slightly to look at Meng Yuan, and finally laughed out loud, "Is this how you won my sister over?"

“I’ve never said anything like that to her.” Meng Yuan sighed helplessly, then stopped drinking tea, untied the wine gourd from his waist, and started drinking wine instead.

"Really?" Mingyue frowned, seemingly disbelieving.

“Really,” Meng Yuan said.

Mingyue didn't pursue the matter further, but instead stretched out her hand, saying, "Let me try it."

Meng Yuan handed over the wine gourd, which Mingyue took, drank a sip, and then tossed it back, saying, "It doesn't taste like much."

She reached out and wiped the wine stains from her lips, looked at Meng Yuan, her expression no longer cold, and couldn't help but smile again.

The moon is usually aloof and rarely smiles. But to see it smile now is truly breathtaking, making even the vibrant colors of late spring pale in comparison.

After they finished their tea, they continued on their way together.

From then on, Mingyue no longer had a cold face. Without Meng Yuan coaxing her to speak, she would take the initiative to pull him along, her smiles bright and cheerful, clearly showing some of her girlish nature.

With their reservations gone, Mingyue stopped putting on airs. She rarely saw the everyday life of people, so whenever they passed through a new place, she would pull Mengyuan to stroll through the market.

He would buy anything new and interesting he saw. Some were for Xiangling, some for Jiangtang, and some for Huanxi. In just a few days, he had a whole bunch, which he put on Meng Yuan's horse.

But having lived in this world, the bright moon inevitably witnessed countless scenes of sorrow and suffering, and thus came to understand the truth that all beings suffer.

Unlike Meng Yuan, Mingyue was not as composed; she simply grabbed her sword and began to do chivalrous deeds.

Wherever she went, if she encountered any injustice, Mingyue would always step in to help. Regardless of whether the perpetrator was an official or a bandit, she would judge the case herself, acting as a righteous and just lady.

Moreover, no matter how much Meng Yuan tried to persuade her to sleep at night, she would refuse to go to bed. Instead, she would take off her night clothes and go out to do some kind of Robin Hood-like business.

She left her name afterward, but she didn't use her real name; instead, she used Meng Feiyuan's name.

Meng Yuan could only let her do as she pleased, as long as she was happy.

They traveled over a thousand li, which took almost two months. Mingyue often acted chivalrously and rarely encountered a worthy opponent. With Meng Yuan backing him up, he truly enjoyed his journey.

Meng Yuan was a studious man, and before he left, Xiang Ling had entrusted him with a task, so he recorded everything he saw and heard on paper.

Moreover, Meng Yuan was also quite talented in poetry, and he wrote down all his occasional masterpieces.

However, as they traveled further and further, Mingyue's enthusiasm waned. This was because wherever there was well water, though there were many beautiful things in the world, evil deeds and wicked people were also everywhere.

Meng Yuan, being of humble origin, had seen many of the ways people behaved in the mire, so he didn't find it particularly remarkable. However, Mingyue felt increasingly helpless.

"Let's go quickly."

As they traveled further south that morning, the weather grew increasingly hot, and the bright moon seemed somewhat listless. "In this world, no one, not even a sword, can stop the decline," it thought. "I used to think that Buddhism's talk of emptiness was too ethereal and absurd. But now, having witnessed so much suffering, I feel that entering a monastery is a way out."

"Having witnessed so much suffering, you turn to monastic life. Isn't that also a form of escapism?" Seeing that her fighting spirit had diminished considerably, Meng Yuan quickly grasped her hand and earnestly advised her, "A true hero, a true champion, is one who has witnessed the storms of the world, understood all the truths, and knows the cruelty of the world, yet still remains undaunted and fearless, forging ahead with determination. Even if they are shattered to pieces, even if they turn to dust, they will still retain their true nature."

After listening to these words, Mingyue pondered for a long time before finally nodding. "Meng Feiyuan, no wonder the Third Miss said you are well-versed in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. It's true!" A flame ignited in her eyes again as she stared intently at Meng Yuan. "My previous foolishness was like children playing house. To truly vanquish demons, one must ascend to a higher level!"

Seeing that she understood, Meng Yuan was also very happy. "Come on, let's talk as we walk."

As they spoke, Meng Yuan simply helped her onto the horse, then sat behind her and took the reins. The little red horse carried the two of them without seeming to struggle; on the contrary, it galloped even faster.

Mingyue thought Meng Yuan was going to take advantage of the situation to do something, but to her surprise, Meng Yuan was very honest and kept spouting inspiring platitudes.

However, with someone constantly speaking in her ear, Mingyue's mind was inevitably a little confused, and her cheeks flushed.

After the grand principles were explained, Mingyue shifted uncomfortably, trying to break free. But Meng Yuan then brought up the story of the great battle at Wenchantai, speaking eloquently as if he were a righteous gentleman imparting the truth.

“I still have a lot to say, let’s take a stroll by candlelight tonight.” When evening came, the two found an inn, had dinner, and Meng Yuan pressed on while the iron was hot.

Mingyue was clever and did not fall for Meng Yuan's tricks at all. She said, "You must agree to three things before you can enter my room."

She held up three fingers and said, "No getting close, no talking nonsense, and no overstepping the rules."

What's the point then? Meng Yuan had spent a whole day working hard, and seeing this, he didn't want to serve him anymore, so he said, "Since you don't trust me, let's talk about it another day. I'll take this opportunity to revise the Records of Southern Customs tonight. The president specifically asked me to write it well, so I can't neglect it."

Mingyue knew that Meng Yuan was wicked and that this was a tactic of feigning indifference to lure her in. She was at a loss and said, "I'll watch you write."

The two entered Meng Yuan's room and spent half the night there. One of them actually ground ink and trimmed the lamp wick, while the other wrote a book. There was not a trace of romance between them.

The next day, Meng Yuan used the same trick again, inviting Mingyue to ride with him. Mingyue neither agreed nor refused, and was pulled onto the horse by Meng Yuan.

The further south you go, the hotter it gets, and the more mountains and rivers there are.

After passing Xingyu Prefecture, large cities become rare.

After traveling south for three more days, they arrived at Yongshui Prefecture City. Further ahead, they would be leaving the territory of the Qing Kingdom.

The two rested there for two days and toured the city. Afterwards, they went to the local garrison, retrieved the commander's token, and inquired about matters beyond the border.

This area is adjacent to the border, and more than a hundred miles to the south lies unclaimed land, inhabited by many barbarian tribes, as well as many demons.

Therefore, this garrison is a thousand-household garrison, guarded by several sixth-rank military officers.

"After passing Yongshui City, you'll reach Elai Town. Further south, you'll cross the border; that's the territory of the barbarians. Often, a mountain is a gathering place for barbarians, and they're divided into many factions, making it very chaotic. Some are no different from us, and they've all studied the classics; but some of the barbarians deeper in the region are simply savage and drink blood, and they mingle with the demon race."

Zhu, the commander of the Demon Suppression Division of Yongshui City, was very polite to Meng Yuan and did not hide anything. As the local, he immediately began to explain, "After traveling another three hundred miles or so south into the mountains, there are no more barbarians there; it is all inhabited by demons. However, it is said that the terrain there is extremely treacherous, filled with miasma and countless poisonous insects and ants. Not to mention humans, even demons are extremely rare."

Zhu Qianhu took out a map with a simple drawing of the southern terrain and gave it to Meng Yuan.

After the argument was over, the commander wouldn't let Meng Yuan leave. Instead, he prepared a banquet and inquired about Lanruo Temple.

Meng Yuan was an honest man, so he gave a brief account of Li Weizhen's prestige, which left everyone in the local garrison completely astonished.

After the banquet ended, they even prepared someone to warm the bed. The southwest region is mostly mountainous with little water and few plains, and the women there have a unique charm, as Meng Yuan had witnessed when he traveled south. However, since he had beautiful women in his arms every day, he didn't pursue them.

After politely declining, Meng Yuan returned to his residence, where he and Mingyue purchased supplies. Once everything was ready, the two left the city together.

Zhu Qianhu led a large group of people to see them off, and also sent two guides, both of whom were naturalized barbarians from the deep mountains.

Upon arriving in Elai Town, they enjoyed a local meal, left their horses behind, and wrote a letter to their colleagues at the garrison to return them.

After resting for a night, the two followed the path into the mountains.

According to Zhu Qianhu, although there are many barbarian tribes in the mountains, these people are divided into familiar barbarians and unfamiliar barbarians. Most of them can still understand the language and know etiquette.

Moreover, some of these barbarians practice martial arts, but most of them are not highly skilled; those at the seventh rank are considered powerful.

According to Commander Zhu, if there were any talented martial artists among the barbarians, they would simply be recruited and taught not only martial arts but also reading and writing. However, if they did not wish to enter the city, then someone would be sent to secretly take their lives.

Mingyue was very curious about these barbarians, so Mengyuan followed her and simply had a guide lead the way to several places where barbarians gathered. They even participated in the local gatherings and witnessed the local barbarian chieftain's sacrificial ceremony.

After staying for three days, they continued south into the deep mountains.

There were many barbarians along the way, but the two avoided provoking them and lived peacefully. Even when they were discovered, they simply avoided them and did not confront them.

They traveled more than a hundred miles into the deep mountains, and it became increasingly difficult to find any human traces; even the barbarians no longer lived there.

The mountains grew ever steeper, and the trees ever taller. The deep mountains were silent, the tree canopies were so broad that sunlight could barely reach the ground, the ground was covered with a thick layer of dead leaves, and thick yellow fog could be seen from time to time, along with the howls of unknown wild beasts.

The mountains are covered with dense forests, sometimes cool and sometimes sweltering. Rain comes and goes without warning.

The two guides dared not lead the way any further, and Meng Yuan did not force them. He gave them some money and let them leave.

Meng Yuan and Ming Yue were highly skilled and daring, yet they were not afraid and simply moved forward.

After traveling for another five or six days, the two crossed mountains and ridges, occasionally encountering demons, which they captured and questioned. The demons outside Songhe Prefecture were country bumpkins, but the demons here were completely ignorant, most of them having never even seen a human before, only heard about them from their elders.

Moreover, perhaps because he doesn't interact with many people, he is clever and cunning, but not very good at outwitting people face-to-face.

"If Xiangling had come here to run a school, she would have made a fortune long ago!" Meng Yuan exclaimed.

The two chatted and laughed, but knowing that this was demon territory, they dared not be careless.

After traveling for three more days, they suddenly heard shouts ahead, as if someone was crying for help.

The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it.

"You stay behind, I'll go take a look." Meng Yuan pressed his hand on the knife and immediately stepped forward.

After passing through a thick grove of trees, they saw a person lying on the ground in a sorry state. Although she was covered in blood, she was clearly wearing a nun's robe. Her monk's hat was missing, revealing her bald head. She was a nun.

He stepped forward and helped the nun up. He noticed that the nun was not very old. After wiping the blood off her face, Meng Yuan realized that he had seen this nun before at Yunshan Temple. She was Su Xin, a young nun of the same generation as Su Wen and the others.

"Is Suwen here?" Meng Yuan asked, frowning.

Su Xin's face was ashen, but she couldn't speak, only murmuring the words "help".

(End of this chapter)