Chapter 113: Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land

Chapter 113: Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land

Seeing that his daughter-in-law had finally stopped her fussing, Lü Zhuangyuan turned his head to look at his youngest son, who was trailing behind the carriage, looking utterly distraught and pale as a ghost.

"Little one, what's the matter? You aren't scared, are you?"

A forced smile appeared on Lü Xiucai's face, his head bobbing limply like a hen stricken with a grave illness.

"Don't be afraid. What's so scary about those stinking soldiers? They're nothing but paper tigers. If they really had any skill, why wouldn't they go to the front lines to slay the enemy?"

Despite Lü Zhuangyuan's dry words of comfort, Lü Xiucai's complexion did not improve in the slightest.

The marauding soldiers seemed to be right before his eyes, their blades pressed against his own neck.

"Father... Father, why are we leaving the pass? Aren't we supposed to go home first?"

Lü Zhuangyuan lit his long-stemmed pipe and took a few puffs, the white smoke obscuring his eyes.

"I've been thinking, this isn't an ordinary military disaster. The world is about to descend into chaos, so our family needs to go out and hide for a while."

"Father, our emperor lost the war. Does that mean we're going to become slaves to a fallen nation?"

A sharp rap from the pipe stem struck Lü Xiucai's head, making stars burst in his eyes. "What does it matter to us who sits on the throne? Is that something you should be worrying about?"

Watching his youngest son cover his head in grievance, Lü Zhuangyuan sighed softly and patiently began to instruct him.

"With so many defeated soldiers fleeing, it's highly likely the dynasty is about to change. After the military disaster comes even greater turmoil, so it's better for us to lay low elsewhere."

"It doesn't matter if the money is robbed, as long as we're safe. As long as we're alive, we can go anywhere."

"But... but I've never been to Siqi, Father... I'm a little afraid..."

Seeing his youngest son in such a wretched state, Lü Zhuangyuan felt a surge of anger.

"What are you afraid of? Are the people in Siqi not born with two eyes and a nose just like us? Could they possibly grow a few extra? Compared to our homeland, Siqi just has a few more rivers and lakes, that's all."

At this moment, Lü Juren, who had been listening quietly nearby, asked, "Father, we aren't familiar with this region either... I actually think it would be better to stay in our hometown. Maybe it's not as ominous as you say."

"You think a military disaster is just a game! It's not that ominous, you say? Your father has eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. Could I be wrong?"

Saying this, he quickly explained to his son, "Rest assured, your father has thought it all through. When the little Daoist was looking at the map earlier, I stole a few glances. They are heading to the State of Liang. It's a long journey, but as long as we follow him, we'll be perfectly safe by his side."

"Wherever he goes, we go. He travels his road, and we perform our plays. No one gets in anyone's way."

"Once the emperor is replaced and the military and locust disasters are over, we can come back. Doesn't that sound peaceful and comfortable?"

"Will he let us follow? We aren't related to him," Lü Juren said, a hint of difficulty showing on his face.

"Ah, look, isn't that exactly why that jar of salted duck eggs was useful?"

Saying this, a trace of smugness appeared on Lü Zhuangyuan's face. "Remember what the little Daoist said when we left the pass? 'Until we meet again, if fate allows!'"

"Whether it was just polite talk or not, since he said it, as long as we keep a low profile when the time comes, and you boys put on a pitiful act, coupled with the goodwill from that jar of duck eggs, could he bear to chase us away?"

Seeing the realization dawn on his son's face, Lü Zhuangyuan's expression brimmed with pride. "Heh heh, ginger is spicier when it's old. You boys still have a lot to learn."

"You're right, Father. We're an opera troupe; we can perform anywhere. Who knows, people in other regions might even enjoy our plays more, and we could make even more money."

As Lü Zhuangyuan laid everything out clearly, the atmosphere in the Lü Family Troupe improved slightly, with everyone eagerly envisioning their bright prospects.

As the carriages rolled along, they suddenly spotted several dark spheres rolling on the road ahead.

As they drew closer, Lü Zhuangyuan realized they were over a dozen plump nuns following the carriages.

There were six carriages, their wheel tracks pressed deep into the earth, as if they were carrying something exceedingly heavy.

"These nuns stink so badly. Father, let's hurry up," Luo Juanhua said, her brows furrowed as she pulled out a handkerchief to cover her daughter's nose.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Can't you see all these Siqi people following the nuns? If they follow, we follow," Lü Zhuangyuan said, gazing at the other travelers beside the plump nuns.

His rich experience told Lü Zhuangyuan that since the people of Siqi could endure the foul stench and still follow the nuns on their journey, there must be a reason.

"But... it really stinks too much..." Luo Juanhua muttered softly, her brows slightly knitted.

Following the nuns all the way forward, after walking for less than an hour, Lü Zhuangyuan saw the nuns stop and begin devouring their dry rations in large mouthfuls.

Seeing others eat, Lü Zhuangyuan and the rest ate as well; in truth, after staying with these nuns for a while, it wasn't that hard to accept.

While eating, Lü Zhuangyuan suddenly stood up and walked towards the group of travelers with a hint of excitement.

A man wearing a black-veiled bamboo hat, who seemed to have some difficulty walking, was leaning against an old horse while eating.

When Lü Zhuangyuan walked over, the man clearly noticed him and said, "Master Lü, what are you doing here?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Lü Zhuangyuan's eyes immediately lit up. "Ah, it's you! You're the little Daoist's..."

Before he could finish, the man took off his black-veiled bamboo hat, revealing Zhao Wu's utterly unremarkable face.

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land; encountering an unexpected acquaintance in such a place made both parties feel exceptionally close.

After exchanging a few words, when Lü Zhuangyuan learned that the other was going to find Li Huowang, his face instantly bloomed with smiles.

"With your bad leg, it's too dangerous to travel alone. I'll take you to find him; it's right on my way."

As long as he delivered this man, the little Daoist would owe him a favor. If he truly wanted to refuse him, he certainly wouldn't be able to bring himself to do it.

Moreover, this man was the little Daoist's junior martial brother; he might possess some supernatural abilities too, giving them a new escort on the road.

Lü Zhuangyuan enthusiastically supported Zhao Wu over to the Lü Family Troupe to introduce him, even shooing his daughter-in-law off the carriage to help him sit inside.

Just as they were chatting warmly, a voice from the side interrupted this harmonious scene.

"Zhao Wulang, didn't I hear you went home before? Why are you out again?"

Lü Xiucai's single sentence made the smile on Zhao Wu's face gradually vanish.

It seemed as though some intense emotion was about to surge across his face, but in front of outsiders, he ultimately managed to suppress it. "It's nothing... something happened at home."

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Lü Zhuangyuan immediately raised the pipe stem in his hand and struck his youngest son on the head.

"I told you to keep your mouth shut! All these years of teaching, did it all go to the dogs? Calling him Zhao Wulang? Is that what you should call him? No respect for your elders, call him Young Master Zhao!"

Seeing Lü Xiucai with tears welling up in his eyes from the strike, Zhao Wu quickly and awkwardly tried to mediate. "Master Lü, there's really no need for that. Zhao Wulang is fine."

Just as he reached out to stop him, a gust of wind blew over, blinding everyone's eyes.

When they finally opened their eyes, everyone was stunned. The curtain of the plump nuns' carriage had been blown open, revealing a dazzling expanse of gleaming white inside.

Lü Zhuangyuan's eyes went straight. "Heavens! So much silver!"

(End of Chapter)