Mo Sang – CH 184

Chapter 184. Welcoming

Li Sangrou returned all of Lin Sa’s belongings—horse, sword, bow and arrows—to her.

Lin Sa hung her bow and arrows on her horse, her face long, and rode at the head of the caravan.

Hei Ma drove the carriage behind Lin Sa. When she was fast, Hei Ma would whip the two mules a few more times to make them run; when she was slow, Hei Ma would pull on the reins. He followed at a moderate distance.

Lin Sa urged her horse to gallop, and Hei Ma made the carriage rattle and sway rapidly.

Li Sangrou sat comfortably in front of the carriage, while Cheng Shan and the other two were jostled about.

Zheng County and Fang County were both small counties. As dusk approached, the town of Fang County could already be seen ahead.

On the post road, a middle-aged man dressed as a shopkeeper, leading a mule, moved from the roadside to the middle of the road.

Lin Sa reined in her horse and frowned at the middle-aged man.

Hei Ma neighed and reined in the two mules. Li Sangrou jumped off the cart, walked past Lin Sa, and approached the middle-aged man.

“By order of the Grand Master, I have come to greet the Boss.” Before Li Sangrou could even stand properly, the middle-aged man, with a respectful smile, bowed deeply to her.

“I dare not accept such praise, sir.” Li Sangrou quickly returned the bow.

“My surname is Zhao. I am merely the manager of a foot inn. I dare not accept the title ‘sir.’

My foot inn is just ahead. Knowing the Boss was coming, I cleaned it thoroughly.”

Innkeeper Zhao, his demeanor brimming with respect and tinged with trepidation, bowed again, displaying the most quintessential appearance of a foot innkeeper.

“Thank you for your trouble, Innkeeper Zhao.” Li Sangrou politely thanked him with a smile and gestured for Innkeeper Zhao to lead the way.

Innkeeper Zhao bowed halfway to Li Sangrou again, then slightly to Hei Ma and Lin Sa, took two steps back, and finally mounted the mule, urging it forward.

Li Sangrou sat back down in the cart, looking at Song Qiming, who was peering out, and asked, “Is this your uncle or senior brother?”

“I don’t know him, I’ve never seen him before,” Song Qiming shook his head.

“Then look carefully now; remember, this is either your uncle or your senior brother,” Li Sangrou said, watching Innkeeper Zhao’s retreating figure.

Innkeeper Zhao’s inn wasn’t far from the county town: a row of houses enclosed in a large courtyard.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, two shop assistants came running to greet them.

“These are distinguished guests from the top tier. Lead the mules inside, find a sheltered spot, and treat them well. Wash them thoroughly and use plenty of fine feed,” Innkeeper Zhao instructed, bowing and smiling as he led Li Sangrou and the others to a small courtyard nearby.

Li Sangrou walked in, observing the inn.

Lanterns hung everywhere in the courtyard. The warehouse next door was filled with over a dozen carts piled high with goods. In the mule shed on the other side, several workers were busy, while the mules and horses grazed contentedly.

In the main hall, the lights were bright, shadows danced, and laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Judging by this, this must be the most successful inn outside Fang County.

Li Sangrou and the others entered the courtyard. Innkeeper Zhao exchanged a few polite words and then withdrew.

The waiters brought in a large table laden with food, carrying boxes and pots, and also brought in buckets of hot water.

The next morning, hearing movement in the courtyard, the waiters hurried in with steaming hot breakfast.

As Lin Sa led her horse, Hei Ma drove the cart out of the courtyard gate; he saw Innkeeper Zhao again, standing by the gate with a smile, bowing repeatedly, politely, and respectfully seeing everyone off at the inn.

Lin Sa’s mood was even worse than the day before. She rode on horseback, head down, keeping her distance.

Around noon, the group entered Nanzhao County.

Just inside Nanzhao, they saw Blind Mi, looking timid, squatting on a large rock by the roadside. Beside him, a donkey swished its tail, nibbling at the dry grass on the ground.

Lin Sa saw Blind Mi, jumped off her horse, and charged straight at him, whip in hand.

Li Sangrou patted Hei Ma. “Quick, come closer! Go take a look!”

Hei Ma didn’t need Li Sangrou to urge him; he had already whipped the two mules, making them trot and catch up.

“What are you doing here? How dare you show your face?” Lin Sa rushed up to Blind Mi, her whip pointing at him, her voice trembling with anger.

“I…”

“You told me she was a ruthless female demon! You said she killed without blinking an eye, that she was a vicious demon, a demon! Is this a demon? Is this a demon?

Look, look! Is there such a demon? Is there such a vicious demon?

You even lied to me?” Lin Sa pointed her whip at Blind Mi’s nose.

“She really is…”

“You said she looked like a monster, but look closely with your blind eyes. Is this what you call a monster?

You’re pretending to be blind, not really blind!” Lin Sa angrily lashed out at Blind Mi with her whip.

“She’s no good! She…”

“You dare talk nonsense! Are you blind, or am I blind?!”

“You dare talk nonsense!

You said Hei Ma is as black as the bottom of a pot. Where’s he black? Huh? Where’s he black?” Lin Sa lashed Blind Mi with her whip again.

Hei Ma chuckled.

“That’s right, I’m not black at all!”

“Sister Lin is so kind!”

“Then Da Chang, you must have recognized Da Chang, he’s so big.” Blind Mi covered his head, circling around the rock to avoid it.

“Uncle Blind, Da Chang was in the cart at the time; Sister Lin didn’t see him,” Hei Ma shouted.

“You’re talking nonsense to me, too! Tell me! What’s a demon? What’s a vicious monster! Tell me!” Lin Sa was even angrier at Hei Ma’s shout.

“You’re perfectly fine…” Blind Mi, arms over his head, ran from the rock to his donkey, circling it and dodging left and right.

“Hey, your Aunt Lin, is she and Uncle Mi a couple?” Li Sangrou pointed behind her and nudged Song Qiming, who was craning her neck to watch the spectacle.

“They’re not a couple, but I heard my master say that Aunt Lin likes Uncle Mi, and Uncle Mi likes Aunt Lin. Also, my master said that Uncle Mi was picked up by Aunt Lin and brought up the mountain.” Song Qiming watched the spectacle with great interest.

“She likes him, and he likes her, so why didn’t they get married?” Li Sangrou took out some melon seeds, cracking them open as she asked.

“I don’t know; Master didn’t say.” Song Qiming craned her neck further. “Aunt Lin wouldn’t dare hit Uncle Mi. Aunt Lin is incredibly powerful; if she wanted to, she would have beaten Uncle Mi to a pulp long ago.

You might not even be able to beat Aunt Lin.”

“I definitely can’t beat her, but if she were to fight me, she wouldn’t even have a chance to make a move,” Li Sangrou said casually, cracking sunflower seeds.

“Why?” Song Qiming thought for a moment, not understanding.

“I’d kill her in one move; why would she need to make a move?” Li Sangrou said bluntly.

Song Qiming glanced at Li Sangrou, completely unconvinced.

Li Sangrou watched the spectacle, cracking sunflower seeds, ignoring Song Qiming’s glance.

Lin Sa patted Blind Mi seventeen or eighteen times, venting some of her anger, then turned back to her horse and vigorously adjusted the saddle.

Hei Ma hurriedly jumped out of the carriage, rushed to the back, poured a cup of tea, and presented it to Lin Sa with both hands.

“Sister Lin, please have some tea to soothe your throat. Don’t take it to heart because of Uncle Blind’s fault, and don’t get upset.”

She said he wasn’t dark-skinned at all; her insightful observation was truly rare!

This was practically a kindred spirit!

Li Sangrou sat in front of the cart, watching as Blind Mi glanced at Lin Sa every now and then. After patting, pulling, and tugging at the donkey for a while, he finally led the donkey, circling around Lin Sa and heading towards the cart.

“Did you sneak out, or were you acting on your Grand Master’s orders?” Li Sangrou put away her melon seeds, looked at Blind Mi, and asked with a smile.

“On orders.” Blind Mi glanced at Lin Sa again and sighed.

“So, your Grand Master knows about our good relationship?” Li Sangrou followed Blind Mi’s gaze and looked at Lin Sa.

“As soon as she left, Grand Master summoned me.

Grand Master is a shrewd man; he probably guessed it beforehand.” Blind Mi’s eyes had been constantly on Lin Sa, watching her finally get ready and mount her horse, and then he rode off on his donkey.

“Let’s go. Nanzhao County isn’t far ahead. Where do you plan to stay? There’s a post station outside Nanzhao City that’s run by Shunfeng.”

“Didn’t your Grand Master arrange accommodations for me?” Li Sangrou asked with a smile, looking at Blind Mi.

“Grand Master just said I was here to welcome you and show you hospitality, nothing else.” Blind Mi sighed again.

“Then find an inn in town. It’ll be comfortable and convenient for food and drinks,” Li Sangrou said without ceremony.

“Alright.” Blind Mi glanced back at the cart.

Beside Li Sangrou, Song Qiming craned her neck, looking at him with great curiosity.

“Why did you come all this way?” Blind Mi asked vaguely.

“They came from Jiangling City with me.” Li Sangrou patted Song Qiming with the back of her hand.

“The Northern Qi has captured Ezhou and Suizhou; Jingzhou is within their grasp. Once they take Jingzhou, they’ll surely set their sights on Xiangyang.

In the Battle of Hefei, the Southern Liang’s light cavalry was almost completely wiped out. The Northern Qi has hundreds of thousands of light cavalry stationed along the river, and the Southern Liang’s several raids have all failed.

Without light cavalry, they’re like being unarmed.

The Grand Master seems to want to slow down,” the Blind Mi said, then sighed.

“Slow down so that the Southern Liang can recruit more soldiers and rebuild their light cavalry, allowing the Southern Liang and Northern Qi to regain a balance of power. Is that right?

Only when the Southern Liang and Northern Qi are evenly matched can you, caught between them, play both sides and live a carefree life.

You already knew about your sect’s plans, didn’t you?” Li Sangrou’s words were extremely blunt.

“I know a little,” Blind Mi sighed. “The Grand Master hopes that Southern Liang and Northern Qi will be ruled across the river, not for the sake of our sect’s interests, but for the good of the world.

The Grand Master isn’t as bad as you say, and our sect isn’t so selfish.”

“You’ve spent many years in Jiangdu City, Yangzhou, Hangzhou, and Jianle City. Tell me, how is ruling across the river, with small battles every now and then, and a major war every few years or decades, good for the world?” Li Sangrou asked, looking at Blind Mi.

“What I see is only a local and temporary view.

I was bad at studying and bad at any skill since childhood. I even learned to swindle people by fortune-telling, and I only scratched the surface. If it weren’t for these eyes, I wouldn’t even be able to deceive people.

Even if I see and think about it, it’s all just superficial.

The Grand Master has great wisdom,” Blind Mi said, lowering his eyes.

“You know perfectly well that your Grand Master’s thinking is foolish, delusional, and wishful thinking. You said it yourself, and more than once,” Li Sangrou glanced sideways at Blind Mi.

“Nonsense! I definitely didn’t say that!” Blind Mi denied vehemently.

“What’s your Grand Master’s purpose in sending you on this trip? To persuade me? To lay the groundwork?” Li Sangrou asked, still glancing at Blind Mi.

“Probably, sigh.” Blind Mi sighed again. “What’s your purpose in coming here?”

“To persuade your Grand Master. If I can, great; if not, I’ll slaughter your entire sect,” Li Sangrou said calmly.

Blind Mi glanced sideways at Li Sangrou. Song Qiming grunted and shrank back into the carriage.

Although she didn’t believe this leader could actually kill anyone, for some reason, she felt that what she said was true.

“Our sect has endured for nearly a thousand years…”

“Nothing lasts forever,” Li Sangrou interrupted Blind Mi.

“I mean, our sect has endured for nearly a thousand years. If we can’t adapt to changing times, we probably won’t have lasted that long,” Blind Mi continued.

“If all else fails, how about changing the Grand Master?” Li Sangrou glanced at Blind Mi.

“Major matters of our sect aren’t decided by the Grand Master alone. It requires discussion and agreement from everyone—front mountain, back mountain, various departments, and families,” Blind Mi sighed as he spoke.

He was genuinely troubled and worried. He knew that once this war started, there would be no peace!

“That’s quite democratic,” Li Sangrou chuckled.

“I think the democracy you mentioned is a good thing.”

“Not necessarily.” Li Sangrou paused for a while, then sighed. “I don’t know, it’s too difficult.”

“It’s just too difficult. Nothing seems right. Ah, peace and tranquility would be so much better; why fight wars!” This time, Blind Mi didn’t sigh; he spat on the ground.

The two fell silent.

Nanzhao County was indeed very close; they could already see it ahead.

Nanzhao County wasn’t large, nestled against mountains and facing a river, a picturesque landscape.

Passing through the somewhat dilapidated city gate, Li Sangrou looked around and asked, “Which is the best inn in town? Is it one of your sect’s?”

“Xianghe Inn is the best. Really? Every time we go down the mountain, we stay at Cui Family Inn.” Once inside the town, Song Qiming peeked out again, answering casually when Li Sangrou asked.

“Yes. Nearly half of Nanzhao County’s property belongs to our sect,” Blind Mi replied.

“Uh!” Song Qiming’s eyes widened.

Nearly half of the businesses in Nanzhao City belonged to their sect! She hadn’t known!

“Let’s stay at the Xianghe Inn,” Li Sangrou gestured to Hei Ma.

“Alright! Uncle Blind, give me directions,” Hei Ma readily agreed.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Xianghe Inn, Blind Mi said goodbye to Li Sangrou. “I’m leaving now, going back to deliver a message.”

“Take them with you,” Li Sangrou gestured to Lin Sa and Cheng Shan.

“Aren’t you going to keep them?” Blind Mi didn’t dare look at Lin Sa, only gesturing to Cheng Shan and the other two.

“Why keep them? I don’t intend to do anything to them; you can take them.” Li Sangrou waved to Blind Mi and entered the inn’s courtyard.

“Let’s go.” Blind Mi still didn’t dare look at Lin Sa, only gesturing to Cheng Shan and the other two.