A Peach (Bonus Chapter Thanks to "State Your Name!" for the Tip)

Old Daoist turned around and saw Sun Chengying jogging over, the swaddled bundle still in his arms.

Lu Huan followed behind, holding a peach with two bites taken out of it, while Shen Hui strolled along unhurriedly at the very back.

"Master!"

Sun Chengying ran up to him and looked up, his eyes rimmed red.

"Master, don't be angry anymore..."

Looking at his disciple's still-childish face, Mo Yunsong suddenly felt a sting in his nose.

He reached out and took the swaddled bundle from his disciple's arms. Looking down at the infant sleeping soundly within, he let out a long sigh.

"So many people outside the city..."

He shook his head, his voice hoarse.

"I won't even mention the old and sick ones. But those little children, Chengying... those little children are as young as you were back then. They're so thin their skin clings to their bones, and even their eyes no longer move..."

Sun Chengying pressed his lips together. His eyes reddened further, but he could not say a word.

Shen Hui stepped forward and patted Old Daoist's shoulder.

"Don't worry. The prefect has already sent people to borrow and purchase grain from several neighboring counties. He wrote the official documents right in front of me, stamped them with the prefect's seal, and sent three groups of fast riders out of the city in different directions. There should be news within two or three days at the latest."

Mo Yunsong froze at his words, then shook his head with a bitter smile.

The meaning of that bitter smile was plain: yesterday's oath had already proved unreliable, so how many taels of silver could today's official document possibly be worth?

Shen Hui understood at a glance and smiled.

"Rest assured. He wouldn't dare go back on his word."

Lu