From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 372 The Third Miss

Hearing Lin Yan's words, Meng Yuan was filled with emotion.

Back in Ping'an Prefecture, Meng Yuan and Dugu Ying had twice colluded in evil deeds. At that time, Meng Yuan felt that Dugu Ying was somewhat unconventional. He never expected that Dugu Ying, as a descendant of the imperial family, would actually become a rebel.

Jie Kaiping hadn't expected that the short woman who loved wearing red cloaks, despite her exceptional skills and ambiguous relationship with Meng Yuan, would actually rebel.

Immediately, Jie Kaiping felt that this might be related to Meng Yuan, or even something that the two of them had planned long ago.

According to Jie Kaiping, during the two assassination attempts in Ping'an Prefecture, Dugu Ying showed great care for Meng Yuan. Her eyes did not reveal any camaraderie or treacherous intentions, but rather a lot of expectation and even indescribable feelings.

"This person has dealings with Taoist priests and nuns, but what exactly is the relationship between Benefactor Dugu Ying and Benefactor Mingyue..." Jie Kaiping didn't know how far Meng Yuan and Dugu Ying had gone, and he didn't dare to say anything. He just secretly glanced at Meng Yuan and then at Mingyue, unable to guess whether Mingyue knew about the relationship between Dugu Ying and Meng Yuan.

"Dugu Ying became a traitor?" Dugu Kang finally realized what was happening, scratching his short hair with disbelief. "Really?"

Back in Songhe Prefecture, Dugu Ying stayed at Jingyuan, and Dugu Kang had met her there. However, Dugu Kang was always a coward and didn't dare to talk to her much.

"I heard from the Grand Eunuch that she colluded with the rebel leaders and handed over all the details of the troops stationed in various places." Lin Yan was clearly also somewhat moved. He sighed, "After the incident, she fled and disappeared without a trace."

"The so-called righteous army is probably made up of 40% poor people who can't survive, 40% opportunists, and the rest are people with ulterior motives and other schemes." Jie Kaiping looked like he knew a lot. "It's been 800 years, it's time for a sage to emerge. In fact, after everyone has been fighting for several years or decades, the one who survives to the end will be the sage."

"You know a lot about rebellion?" Yuan Yaoniang asked, frowning.

"I studied it back then." Seeing the inquisitive looks on everyone's faces, Jie Kaiping smiled awkwardly and said, "My master didn't make me study it, but since I was working for my master, I unknowingly started reading history books and pondering them, and gradually I gained some insights."

Meng Yuan naturally trusted Jie Kaiping, knowing that this guy knew everything and was good at everything.

"Which rebel army did Dugu Ying collude with?" Jie Kaiping asked curiously.

"This..." Lin Yan smiled, then looked at Meng Yuan meaningfully and said, "It seems that the banner they are raising is to clear Old Master Ying's name."

"The Ying family had the hopes of the world, but they were harmed by the Dugu family. This excuse is not bad. At least it can win the hearts of scholars." Jie Kaiping stroked his chin, but then shook his head. "However, the rebel army is still an army. It needs to win a few major battles to give people hope before people will follow."

Jie Kaiping was very knowledgeable. "I know a master from Chongxu Temple. He is the junior brother of Li Weizhen, a third-rank martial artist. He loves to study rebellion and is a rare talent in this chaotic world."

Thinking of the appearance of the four disciples of Chongxu Temple, Meng Yuan decided to give up.

"How is the Third Miss now?" Upon hearing that someone was using the Ying family's name to raise a banner, Meng Yuan quickly came to inquire about Ying Rushi's whereabouts.

"The Third Miss has left the capital and returned to Songhe Prefecture." As a former member of the Ying family, Lin Yan also held Ying Rushi in high esteem. "Originally, the King did not want the Third Miss to return, but after Li Weizhen's long sword killed the Arhat Wusheng, no one dared to stop the Third Miss."

Ying Rushi was also a disciple of Chongxu Temple, and was of the same generation as Xuanjizi. Li Weizhen was Ying Rushi's junior disciple in terms of seniority.

Moreover, Li Weizhen did indeed address Ying Rushi as his senior uncle, something that both Meng Yuan and Dugu Kang had witnessed.

"Your two sisters-in-law also returned to Songhe Prefecture with Miss Ying." Seeing Meng Yuan deep in thought, Yuan Yaoniang said, "When Lin Yan and I came here, we made a special trip to Songhe Prefecture to pay our respects to Miss Ying. Your two sisters-in-law were also there." After saying this, Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang, both bald, looked at Meng Yuan, and Lin Yan and Yuan Yaoniang also looked at Meng Yuan.

Everyone here is a fool, and they have all been through a lot of trials and tribulations. They know that Miss Ying's return to Songhe Prefecture is not because she is engrossed in her studies, but because she must have other plans.

While Meng Yuan's success today is undoubtedly due to his exceptional talent and extraordinary opportunities, the origin of these opportunities can still be traced back to the Third Miss.

Furthermore, everyone knows that Meng Yuan is sentimental and has a connection with his deceased mentor, so he is bound to join forces with Miss Ying.

At that time, the Third Miss herself is a Taoist, and she also carries the hopes of the Ying family, having a good relationship with both Confucianism and Taoism. She also has a junior apprentice who is a third-rank martial artist, and another martial artist who is expected to reach the third rank. She can be said to be invincible.

Everyone looked at Meng Yuan and knew that his return would surely mean he would draw his sword for the Third Miss.

"Amitabha." Jie Kaiping clasped his hands together, his face showing a somewhat detached expression. "Only a few days have passed in the mountains, yet a thousand years have gone by outside. Countless white bones lie scattered about; I wonder how many will have their names recorded?"

Dugu Kang also put his palms together and sighed, "It's just one cycle after another, like the Canglang River, where there are too few who can be content with just a sip."

“Junior brother.” Lin Yan tugged at Meng Yuan and pointed to the two short-haired monks. “They’re so eloquent and compassionate, why don’t we just take them to the Third Miss and use them as a sacrifice?”

Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang, unaware of Lin Yan's reckless nature, both paled and stood behind Meng Yuan in fright.

"The Grand Eunuch sent you to find me because of the matter of the wicked Buddhist monks in the capital." Meng Yuan ignored the two monks and asked earnestly, "What else did the Grand Eunuch say?"

"The fact that the Supervisor allowed me and the medicine girl to come out suggests that he knows my temperament and wants me to return to the Third Miss's command." Lin Yan had been in the capital for many years and was quite knowledgeable. "As for sending me to find you again, I'm afraid he doesn't have much hope for your return to the capital."

“I must return to the capital. As long as Qing Guangzi is here, I will definitely go to find him. As long as the man in black is here, I will definitely go to find him too.” Meng Yuan gripped the hilt of his sword. “But right now, I need to go and meet up with the Third Miss first.”

“That’s exactly right,” Lin Yan clapped his hands in agreement.

At this moment, the monk Jiujie, who had been keeping his eyes closed and silent, opened his eyes and said, "Master Li of Chongxu Temple is still in the Demon Kingdom. Elder Hua and Elder Miaoyin would also like to invite Benefactor Meng to go to the Demon Kingdom."

"There are priorities and urgency in everything," Meng Yuan said.

Upon hearing this, the monk Jiujie stopped trying to persuade him and simply nodded, saying, "Master Li agrees."

Having finalized their itinerary, the group decided not to linger any longer and immediately set off for Songhe Prefecture.

Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang originally intended to travel around, but now that they know Meng Yuan is determined to kill the rats and prove his Dao, they both have the desire to see the world and naturally want to follow him.

Mingyue didn't say much, but simply held Xiangling in her arms and rode off alone.

(End of this chapter)