Be a proper Taoist priest in The Condor Heroes

The next day, as they set off, the morning light was just right, and the trees on both sides of the official road were lush with leaves, casting dappled shadows.

When the caravan reached the outskirts of a bustling town, the once quiet road gradually became lively, with more pedestrians coming and going, and many vendors setting up stalls along the roadside to sell their wares, revealing a rare touch of everyday life amidst the chaos of the world.

Su Yan reined in his horse and slowed down, his gaze sweeping across the streets and alleys of the town, keeping a close watch on things.

Not far from Xiangyang, the bustling town reflects Xiangyang's importance as a border town, while the caution on the faces of passersby reveals the tension of the border situation.

Su Ye, standing beside him, remained calm, gripping her sword hilt and watching her surroundings warily. Years of experience had instilled in her a habit of constant vigilance, and she subconsciously took a half-step closer to Su Yan's side.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from behind, growing closer and closer, accompanied by the stern shouts of the courier.

"Get out of the way immediately! An emergency!"

Pedestrians scattered in panic, some even falling to the ground. Amidst the rising dust, four riders dressed as couriers galloped past, their gold badges hanging from their waists gleaming in the sunlight. The sound of their horses pounding the ground was deafening.

Order gradually returned outside the town only after their figures disappeared at the intersection ahead.

"Alas, it seems we've suffered another defeat at the front, and we'll have to negotiate peace and cede territory again!"

An elderly man leaned against his knocked-over stall, his voice filled with helplessness and indignation.

"When will this ever end?!"

"Who can argue with that? The Mongol soldiers are incredibly fierce, and the imperial court is weak. We ordinary people can only resign ourselves to fate!"

The vendors nearby echoed his sentiments, their faces full of sorrow.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tai turned to Su Yan and shook his head.

"Young hero, you may not know this, but it may not necessarily be a sign of defeat."

He reined in his horse and waited for the caravan to catch up before slowly explaining.

"The Mongol Eastern Route Army was extremely powerful some time ago, capturing Guangzhou, Qizhou, and Shuzhou, and marching south to besiege Huangzhou, directly threatening Lin'an. At that time, the people in Lin'an were in a state of panic. It was only thanks to General Meng Gong leading his troops to the rescue that the Mongol army was defeated in the Battle of Huangzhou, thus stabilizing the Jianghuai defense line. This gold plaque may well be a message of victory, relieving the crisis in Lin'an."

"So what if we report good news?"

Before Su Yan could reply, the young bodyguard Li Tiezhu couldn't help but speak up, his tone filled with resentment.

"Even if General Meng wins the battle, those officials in the court will only embezzle military pay and line their own pockets! Last time we were escorting goods through the vicinity of Huangzhou, we saw with our own eyes that the soldiers couldn't even get enough to eat, and their weapons were dilapidated. On the other hand, the officials in the city were still indulging in a life of luxury!"

Old Chen also sighed and chimed in.

"Tiezhu is right. A few days ago in the market town, I heard that the government had increased taxes again, saying it was to support the front lines. But who knows where that money ended up? We've seen it all, traveling all over the country. It's always the ordinary people and the soldiers fighting on the front lines who suffer."

Zhang Cheng's expression also turned somewhat serious.

"The border is already turbulent. Mongol soldiers raid villages from time to time, but the government only sends the old, weak, sick, and disabled to guard it. They run away at the mere sight of the Mongol soldiers, and it is we, the people who make our living on the road, who suffer the most. If it weren't for loyal ministers like General Meng holding things together, we probably would have lost half of this country long ago."

Zhou Tai patted Zhang Cheng on the shoulder, his tone heavy.

"That's how the world is. All we can do is do our own job well, protect the goods, take care of our families, and try to avoid trouble."

Su Yan listened quietly, her fingertips stroking the reins as she pondered to herself.

Qiu Chuji had previously stated that there were many factions within Mongolia, with the Ögedei faction having numerous conflicts with the Tolui and Jochi factions. The defeat of the Mongol Eastern Route Army this time was probably also related to poor internal coordination.

Although the Southern Song Dynasty had generals like Meng Gong, it could not withstand the corruption of the court and the heavy taxes. Its foundation had long been shaken. In the midst of chaos, with such internal and external troubles, the people's lives were ultimately difficult to be stable.

He looked at everyone, said nothing, and simply nodded slightly, which was considered as his agreement with Zhou Tai's statement.

At noon, the caravan rested under the shade of a tree outside the town. A-Wu's injuries had improved considerably, and he was able to get up with difficulty. Instead of lying down to rest, he struggled to walk to an open space, picked up a wooden stick, and clumsily began practicing the basic sword techniques taught by the caravan company.

His movements were still clumsy, his breathing was unsteady, and each swing of the stick was sluggish. Fine beads of sweat quickly appeared on his forehead, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered.

Having died once, he knew better what it meant to be weak, and all he wanted was to become stronger quickly so that he could truly protect the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency) as his home.

Su Ye was sitting under the shade of a tree, wiping her longsword, when she inadvertently caught a glimpse of this scene. Her gaze lingered on A Wu's movements for a moment, and seeing that he was only using his arm to generate power when swinging the sword, and his steps were unsteady, she spoke softly.

"Lower your stance and fall from your horse; power comes from your waist. Your footwork must be steady for your sword strikes to be powerful."

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached A-Wu's ears clearly.

He froze, turning to look at Su Ye, who was still wiping her longsword with her head down. It seemed like she had just said it casually, but he quickly adjusted his posture according to her instructions. After falling from his horse, he indeed felt much more stable in his lower body, and the power of his staff swings became much smoother. His previously sluggish movements even became more fluid.

"Thank you, Miss Su Ye!"

A-Wu quickly bowed and thanked him, his face full of gratitude.

Su Ye did not respond, but simply sheathed the longsword she had wiped clean. Her gaze unconsciously fell on Su Yan, who was leaning against a tree trunk with his eyes closed, looking calm. Su Ye's eyes softened instantly. She got up and walked to Su Yan's side, handing him her water pouch. The movements were natural and tacit.

As A-Wu watched this scene, a sense of melancholy suddenly arose in his heart.

He recalled the attack a few days prior, when he was struck by an arrow and fell to the ground. In his hazy consciousness, he saw Su Ye dart into the bandit group like a goddess descending to earth, her long sword flashing coldly, each move deadly. Especially the scene where she toyed with that third-rate bandit, her movements as nimble as a goose, her eyes as cold as frost, and the decisiveness with which she sealed his throat with the final blow—all of this was deeply imprinted in his mind.

Such a powerful and dazzling woman, yet her heart was only with Young Hero Su Yan. Indeed, besides Young Hero Su, there was probably no other man in the world worthy of her.

A-Wu looked down at the wooden stick in his hand, and then thought of his clumsy swordsmanship, feeling a little inferior. He knew that there was a world of difference between him and Miss Su Ye and Young Hero Su Yan, and that budding youthful admiration could only be kept hidden in his heart.

During the rest period that followed, A-Wu stopped practicing his swordplay. He simply sat beside the stretcher, occasionally looking up at the sky with a somewhat lost yet determined gaze. He thought about Su Ye's guidance, the way she fought enemies, and his own determination to become stronger. Before he knew it, he had fallen into a daze.

Zhou Tai and the others saw this but assumed he was still recovering from his injuries and was upset, so they didn't ask any further questions. Only Su Yan noticed A Wu's unusual behavior. After glancing at him for a moment, he understood immediately.

Although he had never experienced the stirrings and melancholy in the young man's heart, he could guess some of it. However, in this chaotic world, romantic love must ultimately give way to survival and responsibility. Only by becoming stronger can one have the right to choose.

After resting, the caravan set off again. A-Wu lay on the cargo cart, his gaze occasionally falling on Su Ye's back before quickly looking away, his fists clenched.

Su Ye stayed by Su Yan's side the whole time, occasionally exchanging a few words with him in a low voice. The conversation was mostly about the situation in Xiangyang and the subsequent itinerary. She was completely unaware of A Wu's gaze. Even if she did notice it, she would just take it as a young man's admiration for the strong and never pay it any mind. In her world, there was only Su Yan. Everyone else was just scenery along the way.