A Cart, A Horse, and Returning Home

Chapter 24: A Carriage, a Horse, and the Return Home

"But Fifth Uncle is still waiting for news, and your aunt is all alone at home..." Zi Jian hesitated.

"Didn't the old master provide carrier pigeons? I'll just send one back to pass the message in a moment."

"There is no need for that," Luo Qianshan said. "I will select a sturdy soldier from the camp to ride with all haste and deliver your letter back. If there is anything else you need to convey, you may tell me as well."

Luo Qianshan knew that his current mission was to ensure Zi Bofeng had no worries behind him so he could focus on his work; letting him be a bit arrogant was of no consequence. Keeping Zi Jian firmly in his grasp and drawing their relationship a little closer would be beneficial for controlling Zi Bofeng. This fellow was incredibly cunning, but his father was an honest man.

"In that case, many thanks to the General." Zi Jian hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

After picking up Little Stone, who had returned clutching his stomach with a frown, Luo Qianshan arranged lodgings for Zi Jian and the others. These quarters were a property under the Prefect's name, usually occupied by Luo Qianshan himself. Aside from a personal guard, there was no one else there. There were three empty rooms; Zi Bofeng, Zi Jian, Little Stone, and Zhuzi's Mother each took one.

After handling the trivial matters, and under Luo Qianshan's constant urging, Zi Bofeng went to work that afternoon. Little Stone, exhausted from playing, fell into a deep sleep.

Zhuzi arranged for his mother to be cared for, then sought out Zi Jian and burst into tears.

"Big Brother, the doctor says my mother won't live past this summer..."

"Zhuzi... Zhuzi..." Zi Jian wanted to comfort him, but he didn't know what to say.

In this world, how could the myriad sufferings of life ever be shifted by human effort? If not for Zi Bofeng's persistent arguments to spare Lower Yan Village from a catastrophe, would Zhuzi's Mother be the only one who wouldn't live past this summer?

"Good people have their own heavenly protection. Zhuzi, there will always be a way..." Zi Jian felt his own comfort was pale and powerless, yet he had to say it.

Zhuzi still took his mother home. They had stayed in the city for many days; the illness wasn't cured, but almost all their money had been spent. Zhuzi's Mother refused to receive any more treatment, declaring that if they didn't go home, she would die right there in front of him.

Zi Bofeng finally completed his great task. Although a large number of accountants had been mobilized to assist him, his eyes were still worn red like a rabbit's.

On the day Zi Bofeng left, the Prefect came personally to see him off. A government carriage stood to the side. The Prefect took Zi Bofeng's hand and said, "Bofeng, why not stay at the prefecture? With you and Qianshan—one handling the pen and the other the sword—as my arms, I would have no more worries."

The Prefect truly appreciated Zi Bofeng. Not only was he capable, but he was also modest. The accounts he produced were so meticulous that even the several accountants who helped him couldn't find a single flaw.

Luo Qianshan? Zi Bofeng tilted his head slightly and looked behind the Prefect. That guy was taking out his knife to threaten him again.

"I'd better go back and be my village head. The heavens are high and the Emperor is far away; I'm happy to be carefree." Zi Bofeng smiled and said, "If the Prefect feels bad about it, just give me some travel money. Life has been quite bitter lately..."

The Prefect was speechless, shaking his head. "Sigh, you, this Zi Bofeng, sigh..."

In fact, Zi Bofeng discovered that the reputation of "only telling the truth" was actually quite useful. Being blunt in daily speech didn't offend anyone; after all, everyone knew that was just his nature.

"Look behind you." While the Prefect held Zi Bofeng's hand and spoke, no one dared to approach except for Luo Qianshan, who stood by. Zi Bofeng looked back and saw a bailiff handing a bundle to Zi Jian. Zi Jian took it, his hands sank under the weight, and his expression changed instantly.

"I will head to Quzhou Prefecture with the accounts the day after tomorrow. This trip will take at least ten days. Qianshan will not be accompanying me. If you need help with anything, send someone to find Qianshan. He has extensive connections, and he can handle most matters for you."

Zi Bofeng glanced toward Luo Qianshan again. He was still playing with his knife. Zi Bofeng felt the message was clear: "Don't bother me when there's nothing to do, and don't bother me when there is."

Zi Bofeng decided it was better to bother him as little as possible.

Zi Bofeng boarded the carriage and looked around, noticing Little Stone was missing. He looked up and saw Little Stone sprinting out from the city gate. Without a doubt, the boy had just gone to say goodbye to Qiu'er. The little guy's face was covered in what might have been tears or sweat; he was as dirty as a tabby cat, and in his hand, he held a wooden doll. Looking closely, it was one of the two dolls Zi Bofeng had carved—not the one for Little Stone, but the one for Qiu'er.

"Then Bofeng wishes the Prefect a successful journey." Zi Bofeng cupped his hands in a salute. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the teacher also in the crowd seeing them off. Zi Bofeng had been too busy these past few days to visit him more than once, but the teacher had offered him great encouragement.

He turned and returned to the carriage. His father, Zi Jian, was holding the bundle, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, looking quite stiff.

Zi Bofeng accepted this reward with a clear conscience. Here, he was at least a senior accountant, right? By rights, he should have charged a percentage; this amount was actually quite small.

The carriage wheels rumbled forward. Before long, the sound of hoofbeats came from behind. Zi Bofeng poked his head out of the window and saw Luo Qianshan riding a horse to catch up.

"The Prefect asked me to escort you for a stretch." Luo Qianshan sat on his horse, dressed in military uniform with a steel saber at his waist. His upper body was held straight, looking full of heroic spirit.

Sitting in the carriage, Zi Bofeng soon grew drowsy. In his haze, he heard a shout from Luo Qianshan, and the carriage seemed to stop. Zi Bofeng lifted the curtain and asked the driver, "What happened?"

Beside them, a black rock shaped like a galloping horse stood nearby; they had reached the vicinity of Galloping Horse Stone.

"The Scholar is awake? A few petty thieves tried to rob us just now, but the military officer has chased them off."

From Meng City to Lower Yan Village, once off the main road, it was all desolate mountains and wild ridges where bandits often lurked. Previously, Zi Bofeng and his group had nothing of value, so no one bothered them. But this time, traveling by carriage, they looked like they had plenty of wealth, so the bandits appeared. This was why Luo Qianshan had personally protected them; otherwise, the gold and silver gifted by the Prefect might have been stolen before they even reached home.

Zi Bofeng looked up and saw Luo Qianshan, alone on horseback, chasing four or five men. As he closed the distance, he raised his hand and brought his blade down; the man running at the back was cut down to the ground, while the others let out a cry, scattered in all directions, and fled into the woods by the road.

When Luo Qianshan returned, his steel saber was already sheathed. There wasn't even a trace of blood on him, as if he had done something utterly trivial. Yet, the Sha Qi radiating from him was oppressive, and a scent of blood wafted toward them, making Zi Bofeng's heart skip a beat.

Seeing Zi Bofeng's pale face, Luo Qianshan muttered something, seemingly in disdain, and said to the driver, "Let's go. I doubt those thieves will dare to come back."

Luo Qianshan's reputation in Meng City was extremely loud. In Zi Bofeng's words, this guy's combat power was incredibly high; he didn't even put a few petty thieves in his eyes.

It was just that Zi Bofeng hadn't had much interaction with him before, so he hadn't fully understood it.

The rest of the journey was indeed peaceful. By the time they reached the village entrance, Luo Qianshan stopped. It wasn't that he refused to enter the village, but because the entrance was already packed with a dense crowd of villagers.

There were no slogans, no organization; the villagers were just pushing and shoving to get a look. Zi Bofeng felt a sudden touch of emotion.

The last time he returned, every door was shut tight. Aside from Yan Wu Shi, there hadn't been a single person to speak to him.

But this time, the villagers had come to welcome him of their own accord.

They knew what he had done for them, and they understood. Although they didn't say it out loud, they all kept it in their hearts.

"What are you looking at? Disperse, all of you, disperse!" Yan Lao Wu emerged from the crowd, waving his hands to make everyone leave. The crowd scattered with a rush, and in an instant, only Yan Lao Wu and a few of the village elders remained.

Zi Bofeng rolled his eyes. This old guy was trying to assert his authority over him again.

"Hard work for the officer, hard work for the driver! Come in and have a drink of water! Let the horses rest too!" Yan Lao Wu greeted them with the air of a host.

Luo Qianshan cupped his hands from his horse. "I am in armor, so it is not appropriate to dismount. I am on official business, so I cannot stay long. I shall take my leave here. Take care, Brother Zi."

He was stiff and formal, acting as if he and Zi Bofeng were complete strangers.

"Take care, Brother Luo." Zi Bofeng also cupped his hands in a salute. "I am grateful for your kindness in escorting me."

After the two of them finished exchanging formal pleasantries, Luo Qianshan turned his horse and rode away. The carriage driver hurriedly urged the horses to follow; he had been longing for a drink of water, but alas, he had no say in the matter.

Watching Luo Qianshan and his party disappear into the distance, Zi Bofeng turned his head to look at Lower Yan Village behind him.

It remained dilapidated and wretched, still a place of poor mountains and treacherous waters, yet it felt far more comfortable than it had in the past.

At the very least, standing here, he no longer felt any malice. He had finally been accepted by this village, becoming a part of it.

Zi Bofeng looked up toward the mountainside, where the towering bluestone reflected the sunlight, exhaling and inhaling spiritual energy. In the air, that energy coalesced into two characters.

Safe and sound.

"Mm, safe and sound." Zi Bofeng nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Then, that smile blossomed into a hearty laugh.

Zi Bofeng laughed loudly toward the great mountains, the echoes reflecting back from the distant peaks. Then, the sky laughed, the earth laughed, and the entire world laughed along with him.

Beneath the earth, something seemed to be rumbling and churning. Even Yan Lao Wu's face turned pale, and he gestured wildly, trying to stop Zi Bofeng. "Don't... don't laugh anymore..."

He looked at Zi Bofeng with a face full of astonishment, truly unable to fathom how this youth's voice could be so incredibly loud.

"I know, this is science," Little Stone hopped out and said.

"That's right, this is science." Zi Bofeng pinched Little Stone's cheek.

"Mother! Mother!" Little Stone suddenly dashed off as if he had gone wild with joy.

The Zi father and son looked up to see Yan Wu Shi hiding behind a tree, covering half her face, pursing her lips as she watched them with a smile.

There had been too many people earlier, so she had been too shy to come over.

"Father, what are you still looking at? Let's hurry home."

"Right, let's go home."

Record of Raising Monsters