Chapter 34

This southern goods store was one of the contact points and safe houses I had chosen before heading north. As for the contact person left here, he is also an old acquaintance who has shared hardships with me.

His surname is Su, and his given name is Jingxian. It is said that he comes from the fallen noble family of the Zhao Commandery Su clan from the previous dynasty, whose ancestor was the poet and chancellor Su Weidao of the Shenlong era.

His childhood name, Changsheng, is derived from the Tang Dynasty Li Bai's "After the Turmoil and Exile to Yelang, Recalling Old Friends and Writing to Jiangxia Prefect Wei Liangzai," which reads: "In the celestial city of white jade, there are twelve towers and five cities. The immortal patted my head, and I received the gift of eternal life at the age of coming of age."

By the time of his father, Su Fang, he was merely a minor official at the National University. As the saying goes, in times of chaos, one serves in the military, and in times of peace, one serves in the government. He was unwilling to simply inherit the family business, a hereditary position that did not even qualify him to attend grand imperial ceremonies and sometimes did not even receive his salary on time.

He decided to follow the example of Ban Chao, who abandoned his pen for the military, and enrolled in one of the two schools and three affiliated institutions, the Military Academy, choosing the lower threshold Ziwu Department to fulfill his desire to serve in the military.

Surprisingly, he was promoted to the Military University due to his excellent performance, and then studied the Department of Strategy and Tactics. By chance, he joined a secret brotherhood advocating the expulsion of barbarians, becoming one of the young, passionate revolutionaries who quietly pushed and coerced from behind during the Lu Capital Incident.

However, Su Jingxian's position in the organization was not very important, even somewhat marginalized, but he was still inevitably implicated. Like many others in the Lu Capital Incident, he lost his family and livelihood overnight, becoming a rebel and traitor with an uncertain future.

When their final efforts and hopes were dashed, many of the surviving core members and survivors were disheartened and almost resigned to their fate, either standing helplessly or being captured and taken to Senkoji Temple to await death.

When I encountered this group of life's underdogs at the Royal Grand Library, they were in a state of deep despair, with no idea where their future lay. Various signs of internal strife and division had already begun to brew and escalate as they gave up hope.

But how could I, who was determined to escape the Lu Capital, easily let go of such a useful group of cannon fodder and shields?

After a barrage of words from me, I rekindled their fighting spirit. They collectively swore to preserve their lives for the sake of ending the chaotic era and restoring peace to the world, vowing to sacrifice themselves if necessary.

When assisting the companions in escaping from Senkoji Temple, the older students shouted slogans like "Establishing the mind of heaven and earth, securing the destiny of the people, continuing the lost learning of the sages, and bringing peace to the world" as they bravely diverted the pursuers, a scene that still lingers in my mind.

Although I had misled them, I also took on the burden of the hopes of the dead and the living, as well as the responsibility and reason not to let them down, because I had my first followers.

Due to our shared hardships, after the harrowing escape from the Lu Capital, they became two of my most loyal and trusted students, almost ready to follow me to the ends of the earth.

However, after more than half a year and so many events, I was unsure how much obedience and respect they still had for me. After all, I had only instructed them to disperse and use the convenience of land and water routes to meet here.

Therefore, the one who voluntarily stayed behind to wait for my news was this unremarkable Su Jingxian. He was still immersed in the excitement of our reunion and continued to speak.

"After you disappeared, they lost their leader and split into several small groups... They argued many times."

"After reaching Bianzhou... everyone simply divided the supplies on the boat and went their separate ways."

"Just as you said, the city was then sealed off..."

"Liu Zhiguang and others had ulterior motives, and as a result, they were trapped in the city and lost contact..."

At this point, I felt a pang of regret and sadness. It seemed that all my efforts in Luoyang to bring them out had resulted in them going their separate ways.

"Kong Bugeng and others went west to Shanzhou..."

"Yang Liu's group went to Shangzhou..."

"Li Beiyu led the group to Jingnan..."

"Only the Fifth Brother and a few others decided to continue according to the agreement..."

"They have already headed south..."

Hearing this, I felt a mix of sorrow and relief.

I had spent a great deal of effort convincing them that the south offered more opportunities and prospects, hoping to lure these young, educated, and well-connected individuals to Lingnan. Whether as the foundation for inheriting my territory or as the basis for expanding my influence, it was a good choice.

However, after I went missing, they still went their separate ways, with only a few willing to go south. This was a fortunate turn of events, at least someone was still keeping the promise.

"The Fifth Brother said that even if you met with misfortune, they would bring the news back to your hometown... and make plans."

"Now that you have returned safely, that's the best outcome..."

"So, I volunteered to stay behind and wait for your news."

He continued, "Now, I finally waited for you..."

"You've really gone through a lot..."

I sighed. Most of these young people came from good backgrounds and had experienced the dramatic changes in the country. It was not easy for them to reach this point.

"What are you saying, Senior?"

He said nonchalantly, "Since we left the Lu Capital, we all swore to dedicate our lives to you..."

"In the future, whether as subordinates or disciples, we will rely on you..."

I nodded, thinking that true character is revealed over time, and this was no exception.

Although, apart from the Fifth Brother, the remaining few were not my top choices and were only average among the two students, it was still comforting to have the first batch of people willing to follow me.

I bought many cooked foods to serve as side dishes and got a corner of old wine from the neighboring shop. Drinking it could relieve fatigue and warm the body, so I pinched the nose of the head-hugging squat and made him drink a small cup, causing him to choke and cry in my malicious laughter.

After bringing the head-hugging squat and the red tiger back, we all squeezed into the cramped back yard, which was separated from the front shop by a small courtyard.

There was only a storage room for miscellaneous items and a dusty half-story attic. The red tiger was left in the courtyard, but even so, through the small half-window, the smell of the animal could still be detected.

Despite this, that night, although I was sleeping in a dusty and moldy old goods store with active rats, I slept more soundly and comfortably than ever, having been accustomed to dealing with various people and threats.

I started dreaming again. The green embankment with swaying willows and the shimmering golden waves of the famous Qinghua and Fan Pools in the capital, the dreamland of many talented scholars and beauties, the source of many romantic stories, filled the air with the scent of warm spring sunshine.

Among the fluttering colorful skirts and cloud-like hair, a woman with a green oil-paper umbrella smiled at me with a charming and gentle smile, but no matter how hard I tried to open my eyes, I couldn't see her true face.

My heart beat rapidly as I reached out to touch and comfort her, then the scene turned into a city engulfed in flames, with panicked women running towards me. Just as I was about to call out, I covered her mouth and pressed her into the shadows of a wall corner, where she struggled and kicked.

"Save me, I'll do anything for you..."

"Help my sister, I'll repay you well..."

"Whatever you want, I'll do it..."

With her urgent sincerity and determination, her white shoulders and the undulating mountains of her body were gradually revealed as she loosened her silk robe, like a heavenly melody.

Then the ice cellar suddenly collapsed, and a giant Cupid with golden-ringed ears struggled to squeeze in, speaking in a sweet voice, "Sign the contract, become my meat vessel, and I can fulfill any wish."

"Go to hell, you're in the wrong place."

Then the space collapsed, burying me in darkness and suffocation.

I suddenly opened my eyes in the dim room, confirming that I was still in the small attic and not in some bizarre world of tentacles and magical girls.

However, at some point, the bedding had risen, and the head-hugging squat, wearing only a small garment, had climbed onto me, snoring like a kitten nestled against my chest, becoming the source of my nightmare.

Alright, I adjusted my position, shifting the weight of the head-hugging squat to the side, using her thighs to hold my stiff member, enjoying the soft and comfortable sensation, and hugging her warm little body, I fell back into a deep sleep.

I slept until the sun was high in the sky, feeling relaxed and refreshed. The head-hugging squat had woken up early, staring at me with wide eyes, propping her chin on her hand, and quietly observing me. When I caught her gaze, she turned her head away with a hint of pride and brought me my clothes from my bag.

In the warm morning sunlight,

I yawned contentedly, stretched, and began my warm-up exercises, using two blue bricks as props, pulling and bending, short bursts of strength, until my joints felt tight and my back was slightly drenched in sweat.

Then I went to wash up, using cold water to wipe my body in the courtyard. The cold shock and the contraction of my skin and muscles eliminated the last bit of fatigue and soreness.

There were a few noises from the front.

Su Jingxian, who had gone out to gather information, returned and was staring at the head-hugging squat, who was holding a weapon made from a stool leg, with a wary expression, while he rubbed his thigh, grimacing.

It seemed that the Luo-style self-defense techniques I had taught the head-hugging squat had come in handy.

"This..."

He glanced at the head-hugging squat, looking somewhat surprised.

"She's just an extra..."

I said nonchalantly, "I picked her up on the way and plan to raise her for future use..."

"Really can't tell..."

He chuckled, trying to suppress a bitter laugh.

"Senior, you really have a way with little girls..."

"Is that so..."

I thought of the little girl entrusted to me by my senior, who had been taken away by one of the women, a fact unknown to Su Jingxian.

"How is the situation?"

He put down the paper-wrapped hot cakes, poured the millet porridge from the earthen jar into three portions, sprinkled some gray salt, and that was breakfast.

"There hasn't been much activity in the city, and the various government offices are still calm, but they have strengthened the defenses to the north,"

He continued, slurping his porridge, "The patrols and inspections on land and water have become stricter, and many people and goods have been detained."

"If I want to travel south along the canal, would it be convenient?"

I had chosen this place as one of the secret contact points and safe houses because of its convenient water and land transportation and the political stability of the local authorities.

"You would need the help of the local boatmen, who have some ways to avoid official inspections and can carry people and goods,"

"How much do you have now?"

I looked at him, finding it hard to imagine the once stuttering Su Changsheng, who had matured quickly due to his painful experiences and life in hiding.

"The Fifth Brother left me more than six strings of coins, and I still have more than half left,"

"However, if I have more time, I can sell the old stock in the store and probably raise another ten strings or so,"

"Money is not a problem, I still have some,"

I nodded.

"First, gather information on their travel arrangements, then we'll make plans."

"By the way, can you get two travel permits? We'll need them on the way."

"Yes, there's a lame Zhang at the west gate who makes good travel permits, is tight-lipped, and trustworthy. If you pay more, he can even get you real official seals and signatures."

"Good, don't use your funds, take this money for now,"

I counted out six silver coins and gave them to him as expenses, and also instructed him to buy some other necessary items.

After he left, I changed into different clothes and climbed out of the back yard, following him discreetly until he entered a private residence, where he was greeted by a burly, limping man.

After observing for a while, I found no one else entering or leaving, and no suspicious people lingering nearby, just ordinary neighbors and trivial matters. This was just a precaution.

Su Changsheng had waited here for so long and showed no doubt or questions upon seeing me, only a willingness to obey and do his best, which made me somewhat uneasy.

I slowly walked back, taking a detour to survey the surrounding streets and remember a few key points, naturally forming a backup escape route in my mind.

The devil is in the details. Then, I used the bought items to mix a less irritating skin paint in the courtyard.

A completely different face mask is just a fantasy, but by altering and emphasizing certain features, I could mislead others, though it would require regular touch-ups.

At this moment, I heard a sound, and a visitor appeared in the cold shop. After a careful look, he finally spoke.

"Luosheng, how have you been?"

My mood became complex and chaotic.

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