Journey Through the Great Desert

Li Mochou followed the map provided by Wang Ming and asked for directions, eventually finding Li Ping's home.

"Auntie, I am a disciple of Wang Ming. My master sent me out to travel and told me to visit you when I passed by," Li Mochou said.

Once she confirmed Li Ping's identity, Li Mochou began to build rapport and chatted with her.

Li Ping replied, "Mr. Wang is very thoughtful. Mochou, since you've come all this way, you must stay for a while before returning."

"Of course, Auntie," Li Mochou responded.

Li Mochou's arrival initially drew some attention, but once people learned she was a disciple of the Mr. Wang who used to live there, they paid her no mind.

That night, Li Ping was busy preparing dinner to entertain her guest, Li Mochou, even slaughtering a sheep specifically for the occasion.

As dinner was nearing completion, Guo Jing, who worked under Temujin, also returned.

Upon learning that there was a guest at home, and that she was his fellow disciple, he greeted her warmly and joined the meal.

A lavish spread of food filled the table.

Guo Jing and Li Ping sat down at the table, ready to begin eating.

However, Li Mochou suddenly stood up, suspiciously surveyed the perimeter of the tent, and then returned to her seat.

Facing the mother and son, who looked at her with confusion, Li Mochou didn't say much. Instead, she recited a passage from the "Illusion Sword" incantation.

Wang Ming had intentionally taught her this passage before she left, promising to teach her the complete version if she succeeded in her task.

Li Mochou stated, "This is the incantation for the Illusion Sword. It should prove my identity, shouldn't it?"

Guo Jing replied, "Naturally. This is the Master's unique martial art."

Li Mochou continued, "My master said that you mother and son saved him when he was stranded in the desert. A person cannot repay a kindness."

Li Ping said emotionally, "Mr. Wang has taught Jing'er so much over the years. What was owed has long been repaid; there's no need to dwell on it."

Li Mochou responded, "Master anticipated you would say this. He said his life is not worth a few classical texts and martial arts manuals; it's not that cheap."

Without waiting for Guo Jing and his mother to speak further, She stood up again and went out to look around. This was Wang Ming's instruction, to be cautious of eavesdroppers.

She returned to her seat once more.

Leaning slightly towards Guo Jing and his mother, she lowered her voice and said, "Master asked me to tell you that after Temujin conquers the Jin Dynasty, he will surely attack the Great Song. What will you choose then?"

Li Mochou paused, giving Guo Jing a complex look, and then continued, "You are currently the Golden Saber驸马 (fù mǎ - imperial son-in-law). If you obey Temujin's orders to attack the Great Song, you will likely be granted a khanate in the future."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing immediately explained, "Junior Sister, you misunderstand. After Rong'er died, I vowed never to marry again. So, this Golden Saber 驸马 business has nothing to do with me. However, I should indeed inform the Princess about this matter soon so as not to delay her. As for wealth and status, I care nothing for them. Moreover, attacking the Great Song is something Guo Jing would absolutely never do."

Guo Jing believed Huang Rong was dead, which is why he vowed not to remarry.

Li Ping suddenly added, "In the past few days, the Great Khan has shown us mother and son extraordinary favor, bestowing countless gold and silver treasures. While this is supposedly a reward for your western campaign, I've known the Great Khan's temperament for twenty years in the desert. It seems there's another reason behind this, likely related to this matter."

Guo Jing took a brocade pouch sealed with wax from his bosom:

"Oh, right. When the Great Khan gave me this pouch today, his expression was quite peculiar. I suspect it might be related to this."

Li Ping took the pouch and examined it for a while, saying, "Open it."

"No, breaking the golden seal on the wax is a capital offense," Guo Jing quickly stopped her.

Li Ping smiled, "The brocade weaving technique from Lin'an Prefecture is renowned throughout the land. Your mother is from Lin'an and learned this method from childhood. Why bother breaking the wax seal? Just carefully pick open the pouch. Afterwards, you can weave it back, and there will be no trace of tampering."

Guo Jing was overjoyed upon hearing this. Li Ping took a fine needle and gently picked at the threads of the brocade.

Li Mochou quietly watched Guo Jing and his mother open the pouch. She found such a devoted man, who cared nothing for wealth and status and was willing to remain unmarried for his deceased love, to be truly rare, which significantly increased Guo Jing's standing in her heart.

At the same time, she was filled with dread. Her master, who had forcibly taken her as a disciple before her departure, had predicted everything about the mother and son before her, including this act of opening the pouch, without the slightest error. How could she not be alarmed?

However, she still held onto a sliver of hope, looking at the pouch in Li Ping's hand, waiting...

But her body betrayed her, and she instinctively moved to go outside and scout again. She remembered that someone was supposed to eavesdrop this time.

As a result, the moment she slightly lifted the tent flap, she saw a young woman clearly heading towards them, and she was instantly startled.

She immediately turned back to stop Guo Jing and his mother, urging them to return to the table and engage in polite conversation.

Sure enough, a moment later, the woman entered the Mongolian tent, looking for Guo Jing.

It turned out this woman was Princess Huazheng. Guo Jing, not wanting to offend her, took Huazheng outside the tent to talk, creating an opportunity for his mother.

But now, Li Mochou, sitting upright at the table, had beads of sweat forming on her clean, white forehead.

My master once said that if you couldn't prevent eavesdropping on this trip, Guo Jing wouldn't die, but you and Li Ping certainly would.

A wave of relief washed over her; thankfully, she had taken her master's words to heart.

Now, she didn't even dare to call Wang Ming her cheap master in her mind, fearing he might sense it.

Guo Jing casually made up an excuse to send Princess Huazheng away and returned to his tent.

He saw his mother had already opened the brocade pouch and taken out a piece of paper from a seam.

Guo Jing walked over and looked at it with his mother. They exchanged glances, and a chill ran down their spines.

It turned out the paper contained a secret order from Genghis Khan, commanding Ögedai, Tolui, and Guo Jing's armies to move south immediately after breaking Jin, to swiftly attack Lin'an and destroy the Song Dynasty, thus unifying the world under the Mongols. The secret order further stated that if Guo Jing achieved this great feat, he would be granted land and crowned king, with no shortage of rewards. However, if he harbored any disloyalty, Ögedai and Tolui had received imperial orders to execute him immediately, and his mother would also be subjected to a slow and agonizing death.

Guo Jing was stunned for a long time before saying, "Mother, if you hadn't opened the pouch to see this secret order, my life and yours would be forfeit. I am a man of the Great Song, how could I sell my country for glory?"

Li Ping asked, "What should we do now?"

Guo Jing replied, "Mother, you'll have to endure some hardship. We'll flee back south tonight."

Li Ping said, "Exactly. Hurry and pack, and be careful not to reveal our tracks."

While Guo Jing and his mother were discussing, Li Mochou went and retrieved the secret order. Logically, Guo Jing shouldn't have given it to her, but he didn't care anymore.

Upon receiving the secret order, Li Mochou was equally shocked.

The contents were very similar to what Wang Ming had said.

At that moment, the last shred of her wishful thinking completely died.

Now, in Li Mochou's heart, Wang Ming was no longer human; he was a monster.

"Stop packing, run immediately," Li Mochou said, feeling very anxious.

"Junior Sister, we still have plenty of time. I'll go get a few more horses to prevent the Khan from sending troops to chase us," Guo Jing said.

"Foolish. The entire tribe is Temujin's informant. If you go get more horses, such a commotion will make even an idiot suspicious," Li Mochou said, now overly cautious.

"That's true. Miss Mochou is right. I'll go get two horses, and we'll leave immediately."

Then, the three of them, taking only essential provisions and horses, escaped the camp under the cover of night and headed south.

Li Mochou couldn't ride a horse herself, but Wang Ming felt that a tool person who couldn't ride a horse wouldn't be useful and would delay things!

Thus, he became a strict teacher, supervising her learning to ride.

Thinking of this, Li Mochou felt a surge of grievance. She was already an adult, yet she was still whipped by Wang Ming with a rattan cane, and he seemed to derive great pleasure from it.

She couldn't defeat him in a fight, so what else could she do?

The baby felt bitter, but the baby wouldn't say it.

As they neared the border of the Great Song, pursuers finally arrived. Fortunately, they had set off early, and with Guo Jing leading them on detours, they narrowly managed to enter the city ahead of the pursuers.

At that time, Li Ping's and Li Mochou's horses collapsed, foaming at the mouth. Guo Jing's horse was a Ferghana horse, incomparable to their ordinary mounts.

The final sprint had squeezed out their last reserves of strength.

Once Guo Jing entered the city, he immediately relaxed. Li Ping did too.

"We've entered Great Song territory. Mongolian troops can't come in. Shall we find a place to rest?" Guo Jing suggested.

"Keep running, don't stop. Let's get out of this city first. Master said the Song's spine is broken; they'll sell us out like Duan Tiande if threatened or bribed," Li Mochou now treated Wang Ming's words as absolute truth and resolutely followed them.

Upon hearing this, Li Ping also suggested continuing their journey.

They only began to rest after leaving the border town.