From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 375 Deceiving the Master
The courtyard was quiet, and everyone sat together in a circle.

She appears unadorned, yet having cultivated the Tao for many years, she possesses a breathtaking beauty within her tranquility, seemingly unburdened by worldly affairs, yet also harboring a thousand worries.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, revealing her radiant skin. For a moment, Meng Yuan felt as if he were seeing a holy Buddhist nun.

“I thought you would linger abroad for a few years, but I didn’t expect you to have already achieved success.” Ying Rushi tilted her head slightly, looked at Mingyue, and asked, “How was your trip to Xiangji Kingdom? I’ve always been curious.”

Seeing that Ying Rushi did not first talk about domestic affairs, but instead cared about the turmoil abroad, Mingyue did not urge him to ask. Instead, she told him everything that had happened with Meng Yuan abroad.

The trip to Xiangji Kingdom was not dangerous. The Gan brothers were good at using poison, but they were not good at fighting in a direct confrontation, far inferior to Dugu Sheng.

Upon hearing that Meng Yuan had killed Dugu Sheng with his sword and transformed into a spark, thus entering the fourth rank of martial arts, everyone couldn't help but feel that his progress was too fast.

Having only entered the martial arts world last year, and in less than two years, he has already reached the fourth rank. He is just waiting for the opportunity to break through and transform into a true dragon like Li Weizhen, whose fame will resound throughout the world.

“Dugu Sheng was fierce in appearance but cowardly in reality. His current situation is not surprising.” Ying Ru did not care much about Dugu Sheng’s death. Instead, she got to the important matter, “I know you are concerned about the changes in the country. In fact, Qing Kingdom has been unstable for many years, and there have been chaotic situations in various places. This is also the reason why my father traveled all over the country and established the Ying family’s school.”

Ying Rushi looked at Lin Yan and asked, "You traveled north from the southwest. How was your journey?"

“Third Miss, in the past, trouble always came from the north and west. This time, on our return to Songhe Prefecture, we saw that there were also occasional mutinous soldiers in many places in the south. We arrested some people to question them, and most of them were spies from the north, but there were also locals.” Although Lin Yan was a reckless man, he was a capable one. “In my opinion, the king is a devout Buddhist and is trying to use external forces to stabilize the world. But history books have long recorded that there was a paradise country in the past that revered Buddhism and ruled the world with Buddhism, but it could not last long.”

"Throughout history, there have been instances of governing a country through religion, but being bound by religious rules inevitably has great drawbacks." Ying Rushi gently took over the conversation and solemnly said, "Now, war is raging throughout the country, and Qing Guangzi has arrived in the capital to join forces with the monarch."

"Brother, have you been bewitched by Qing Guangzi?" Mingyue asked.

The current ruler of Qing Kingdom is named Dugu Shang, the second son of the late emperor and Mingyue's elder brother.

"Being caught up in the situation, there's no point in being confused," Ying Rushi said with a faint smile. "Qing Guangzi sought an opportunity to prove his Dao, while Dugu Shang sought an everlasting foundation. The two hit it off immediately, so there's no need to say more."

"Where is the Imperial Preceptor?" This was the question Mingyue was most concerned about.

“I heard from Wang Er that the Buddha of Freedom is no longer meditating in seclusion. He is the one who invited the National Preceptor.” Ying Rushi looked at Mingyue and said, “Now there are no great masters in the country to guard it. The three major Daoist sects are unwilling to contribute their efforts and only send some of their younger disciples to the capital.”

“It’s no wonder that the Confucian and Taoist schools are happy that the ruler is a devout Buddhist.” Lin Yan chuckled. “I wonder if the ruler was a devout Buddhist first, or if the Confucian and Taoist schools were divided first.”

“There’s no particular order to it,” Xunmei said suddenly, watching from the side. “After Old Master Ying passed away, it was only a matter of time before the Dugu family became disloyal.”

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, even Mingyue nodded blankly, but then let out another sigh.

"Third Miss, what should we do then?" Lin Yan poured tea for Yuan Yaoniang attentively, but did not forget to ask about the important matter.

“Naturally, we should follow the trend.” Ying Rushi looked at Lin Yan and Yuan Yaoniang and asked, “What do you think?”

“I will naturally obey the Third Miss’s orders.” Lin Yan said without thinking. “Not only in the capital, but also in various places, there are old members of the Ying family like me, and everyone is willing to serve the Third Miss as their master.”

At this point, Lin Yan looked at Ying Rushi, sighed, and said, "There's just one thing..."

Ying Rushi seemed to have seen through Lin Yan's thoughts long ago, and she said directly, "Don't act like that, just say it."

"Third Miss, we are all willing to follow you, even risking our lives. But if you really gain power, we will be wholeheartedly devoted, but Third Miss will be all alone..." Lin Yan hesitated, too embarrassed to continue.

"I understand what you mean, and I am prepared." Ying Rushi understood Lin Yan's concerns and immediately made a promise, "Let's get things done first, and you'll be at ease."

Ying Rushi stopped talking about this matter and looked at Meng Yuan, asking, "You honed your skills on your journey beyond the borders, and now that you've returned, you haven't changed, have you?" "Meng Yuan is willing to serve the Third Miss!" Meng Yuan said solemnly, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Ying Rushi nodded slightly, and seeing that it was already evening, she said, "You've just gotten back, so get some rest for the night, see your old friends, and come see me again tomorrow."

Meng Yuan agreed, and everyone got up to take their leave. Jiang Tang and Hu Qian happily followed them out.

Ying Rushi watched everyone leave, and seeing that Mingyue had not left, she asked, "Are you going back to the capital, or staying here?"

Meng Yuan left the courtyard and walked with Jiang Tang, with Tie Niu and Hu Qian following on either side, the group chattering away.

"Brother, let's go find Sister Qingqing!" Jiang Tang was dressed in a Taoist robe, but she didn't look much like a Taoist. Instead, her eyes were fixed on Meng Yuan.

"Sister Qingqing is in the city. She said it was a pity that Zuiyue Tower was burned down, so she cleaned it up again." Hu Qian spoke the most.

"Let's go together!" With that, Meng Yuan picked up Jiang Tang and put her on his shoulder.

Jiang Tang wanted to say something, but blushed and couldn't speak.

Hu Qian followed closely behind, grabbed Meng Yuan's sleeve, and tried to say something, but only smacked her lips.

Tie Niu followed with a grin, and even called his fiancée, Fu Cui, along.

"Wow, it's so high!" Xiangling exclaimed, standing on Jiang Tang's head and shading her eyes with her little paws. "I can see where my hometown is!"

After leaving Chongxu Temple, Meng Yuan and Jiang Tang rode their little red horses together and headed into the city.

The city of Songhe Prefecture was less lively, and there weren't many people coming and going. Zuiyue Tower was still as bustling as ever, but there were definitely fewer people than last year.

"Sister-in-law!" Hu Qian shouted in front of Zuiyue Tower, and a woman walked out of Zuiyue Tower.

The woman was dressed in a light blue dress, holding a feather fan, with a charming face and a prominent chest.

Nie Qingqing was older after all. When she saw Meng Yuan, she smiled sweetly and wanted to say something, but Meng Yuan pulled her close and took her hand.

When everyone met, they had so much to say. Nie Qingqing closed the shop immediately, leaving Tie Niu and Hu Qian to have a simple meal before heading home.

Having not seen each other for a long time, Jiang Tang was still young, but Nie Qingqing knew the taste of life, and the two of them did not sleep all night.

The next day, Meng Yuan invited his old friends Zhang Lingfeng and Gong Zihua, as well as Zhang Jiao and others, with Lin Yan and Tie Niu accompanying them. The group had a good time getting drunk.

Another day passed, and Meng Yuan and Nie Qingqing stayed indoors all day. After dark, Hu Qian came to find them, saying that the Third Miss had invited them.

"Senior brother, the important matter is not yet accomplished, how can you linger in bed?" Hu Qian said righteously. Seeing Xiang Ling following, she flicked Xiang Ling's little bundle, "President, aren't you going to try to persuade her?"

"My godmother says that once you're married, you have to sleep together!" Xiangling also has a point. "You're not getting any younger, I'll find you a sweetheart when I have time!"

Hu Qian and Xiang Ling bickered as they arrived at Chongxu Temple together.

Suddenly, with the moon shining brightly in the sky and the stars hidden in the thick clouds, Meng Yuan felt that he had something important to do that night.

(End of this chapter)