From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 377 Old Turtle Pit

The moonlight is like silver.

In the distance, the sounds of the river and the wind could be heard, along with the chirping of cicadas, which made the Taoist temple in the mountains even more tranquil.

Upon hearing Ying Rushi's words, Meng Yuan felt momentarily dazed. Recalling how Ying Rushi had unintentionally rescued him when he fled to Songhe Prefecture, Meng Yuan had always been very interested in the princess he had never met.

Later, as he entered the world of martial arts and received guidance from Nie Yannian, Meng Yuan saw Ying Rushi's true face and felt that Ying Rushi was extraordinary. As he became more familiar with her, he inevitably harbored thoughts of coveting her.

They might even think that if they become powerful in the future, the wicked servant might be able to deceive his master.

At this moment, Meng Yuan saw that Ying Rushi was clearly willing to sacrifice himself. Of course, this was based on their past friendship and mutual understanding. Ying Rushi knew that he was no longer an ordinary martial artist, and that he would have to fight desperately to go to the capital to compete for the third rank of martial arts. This was also a way of reassuring Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan felt that since the Third Miss made him feel at ease, he should also make her feel at ease.

Seeing that Ying Rushi had already entered the room, Meng Yuan, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, immediately stepped inside.

The house was simple and rustic, with an old couch, a table and chairs, and a dim lamp on the table, which was not as bright as the moonlight outside the window.

"Third Miss..." Although Meng Yuan already had a family, he didn't actually have much experience. His deceased master's daughter, Nie Qingqing, was his formally wedded wife, while Mingyue was someone he met by chance.

"If you have too much to say, then leave." Ying Rushi waved his sleeve, and the candles on the table were immediately extinguished, the windows were closed, and the moonlight was blocked.

Although the room was dimly lit, both of them were cultivators and were not afraid of the darkness.

Ying Rushi saw that Meng Yuan not only remained silent, but also put away his weapons and began to take off his clothes.

"Close the door." Ying Rushi was always composed and dignified, with occasional slyness in her voice, but her beauty remained undiminished. However, she now showed a hint of shyness.

Meng Yuan realized what was happening and quickly closed the door before reaching out to touch Ying Rushi.

"You are not allowed to divulge anything about this matter outside," Ying Rushi laid down three rules. "If you return safely, then naturally it will be as you wish. If you fail—"

Ying Rushi showed no tension, but rather a hint of pride, "Then the offspring can only bear the surname Ying, and will be descendants of the Ying family."

She calmly looked at Meng Yuan and said, "You have long harbored ill intentions towards me, how could I not know? Today I have given you what you wanted, so you dare not come again?"

Needless to say, Meng Yuan immediately stepped forward and said, "I would like to receive further guidance from Miss San!"

The house was originally a place for Taoist practitioners to cultivate themselves, simple and rustic, with cicadas chirping and birds singing outside, and the sound of waves on the Canglang River faintly heard.

Meng Yuan was a seasoned veteran, so he remained calm and composed. He first stirred Ying Rushi's emotions, and only when he saw Ying Rushi's body tremble slightly like snow did he exert his strength.

As for what he had said earlier about asking the Third Miss for guidance, Meng Yuan found that the Third Miss did indeed know a lot, but she was probably well-read. However, when it came to real swords and spears, she was lacking in many areas. Clearly, she was just like Mingyue and Nie Qingqing, who were new to the sound of swords.

As the night deepened, the roles of master and servant were reversed, and Yingru was no longer high above, nor did Meng Yuan bow down.

Before long, a soft, slow moan could be heard. Ying Rushi's body stiffened, and then she seemed to have no strength left. She could no longer give any guidance to her former guard and could only let him do as he pleased.

After several ups and downs, the night had ended and dawn was breaking.

Meng Yuan refused to get up, but Ying Rushi kicked him out.

Stepping out of the house, one sees birds chirping in the paulownia trees, with sparse sunlight filtering through, creating a unique scene.

Working through the night, I didn't feel tired at all; instead, I felt a sense of reluctance to leave.

I once saw the beauty of jade feet in the quiet garden, and now I can hold them in my hands and even delve deeper into their beauty.

Upon opening the courtyard gate, two people were seen guarding the outer room: Hu Qian and Fu Cui. The two women had seen Meng Yuan stay inside all night, yet now their faces were radiant and their eyes were clearly much more determined. It was evident that they had received meticulous guidance from the Third Miss, and now they not only knew the way they had come, but also where they were going.

Hu Qian assumed that Meng Yuan had been given instructions in person, so she didn't ask any more questions. She only said, "Senior brother, I can't go to Laobie Pit with you today. Sister Xunmei asked me to stay here and keep watch. Fu Cui and Tie Niu will be following Mr. Chen Shouzhou from now on."

As she spoke, Hu Qian sighed with regret. "There will be another chance next time," Meng Yuan comforted her with a smile.

As they exited Chongxu Temple, they saw Xiangling and Yuan Jingfeng discussing Taoism in front of the main gate.

Xiangling wore a cloth flower in her hair and carried a bulging little floral bundle on her back, indicating that she had prepared a lot of good things for the poetry club's restart.

From afar, one could hear the two of them lecturing each other. Yuan Jingfeng spoke of profound truths like "clouds in the blue sky and water flowing downhill," while Xiangling was not to be outdone, spouting phrases like "rice seedlings need to be in the ground, and rice needs to be in the bowl."

"Little gelding!" Xiangling waved vigorously when she saw Meng Yuan come out, no longer in the mood to argue with Yuan Jingfeng.

Yuan Jingfeng chuckled and stepped forward, "I heard from Fellow Daoist Xiang that Brother Meng is going to the mountains to discuss poetry, so I specially brought two melons that have been tempered with well water, hoping to inspire Brother Meng's poetry."

He actually pulled out two melons, and Meng Yuan had no choice but to accept them.

"Little castrator, Hu Sheyou can't go, let's go together!" Xiangling jumped onto Meng Yuan's shoulder, and the small bundle she was carrying immediately started jingling, indicating that there were indeed many good things inside.

Once outside the mountain gate, Meng Yuan mounted his little red horse, with Xiang Ling nestled inside his clothes, and the two headed west together.

The former ranch was burned down by fire, but it has now been reclaimed into fertile fields and planted with grain.

Meng Yuan and Xiang Ling stood there for a long time, looking at the once bustling manor that had been transformed. Neither of them spoke.

Once they entered the mountains, Xiangling, who had a poor memory, became quite talkative upon seeing the familiar path. She would say things like how the tree had grown taller and how the bird's nest over there was gone.

The two soon came to a bare mountain peak, which was Datou Mountain.

"Dugu Kang!" Xiangling stood on Meng Yuan's head and saw Dugu Kang talking to a big black dog from afar.

That big black dog was the same black female dog who had sought refuge with Xiangling and Aunt Pig. Now she was raising her puppies and listening to Dugu Kang's teachings.

He untied his pheasant and sat by the pond in the old turtle pit, his hair growing longer and longer.

"Benefactor Meng has a ruddy complexion and an aura of extraordinary grace." He untied the screen, sat cross-legged, and scrutinized Meng Yuan, frowning as he asked, "Brother Meng, what great fortune have you encountered? Has Benefactor Ying returned? You and Benefactor Mingyue have just ended things, and now you're with someone else's sister..."

Jie Kaiping looked disdainful, and Dugu Kang also showed disgust.

Xiangling ignored the three people's chatter and immediately ran to the big black dog and started talking to it.

When the big black dog saw Xiangling, it barked a few times, and then a rumbling sound was heard in the distance, and many small black pigs came running.

Xiangling asked everyone's names before untying her small bundle and taking out a handful of pine nut candies.

“You are all Aunt Pig’s children, and also my nephews and nieces, but in the end, I am your teacher!” Xiangling stood on a round stone by the pond, touching a piece of pine nut candy. “Come on, whoever’s name is called can eat it. Students whose names are not called should not move.”

She held out a pine nut candy. "Beans."

A little piglet stepped forward and put the pine nut candy in its mouth.

"Good piggy." Xiangling praised, then picked up another pine nut candy, "Biaozi."

Another little black pig stepped forward.

"Good piggy." Xiangling was very satisfied and called out to the next one, "Tiedan, oh my, good piggy."

As they were distributing the candy, a little piglet squeezed forward and insisted on eating it first.

Xiangling had no choice but to give the little piglet that cut in line a piece of candy and say, "Cauliflower, you naughty pig!"

After distributing the pine nut candies, Xiangling took out a handful of copper coins and distributed them to everyone, completely forgetting about the poetry gathering organized by the old turtle.

(End of this chapter)