Mr. Li, of All People

Mr. Li returned to the living quarters and asked Xu Feng to take some tea and steamed buns donated by worshippers to the driver waiting outside.

Mr. Li said, "We may be talking until late. Let him know so he doesn't get tired of waiting."

Xu Feng didn't know whether Mr. Li had guessed from their clothes that a driver had brought them,

or whether he had "seen" it himself.

It didn't matter.

Xu Feng took the food and drink outside.

The driver wasn't asleep. He sat alone on the carriage.

He looked relaxed,

but he was alert.

When Xu Feng came out, the driver looked his way. Seeing Xu Feng was alone, he settled down again.

His back, which had started to straighten, slumped once more.

Xu Feng walked over and said, "Uncle Ma, I brought you something to eat and drink. Have a little to tide you over.

Would you like to come inside and rest?"

Sure enough,

the driver refused.

Unless he was at an inn he knew, he couldn't let the carriage out of his sight.

He took the tea and bun. "I'll stay here. We're in no hurry to leave.

You take care of your business.

But if we're still here after noon, we'll have to leave tomorrow morning.

Missing a place to stay while you're out in the wild is no joke."

Xu Feng agreed.

When he went back inside, he sensed that the mood had changed.

He looked at Master.

Master looked sorrowful.

Only Mr. Li's expression was unchanged.

Fortunately, Xu Feng's return broke the heavy silence.

Mr. Li turned to him and began again. "That ability of yours is terribly unorthodox.

Luckily, this old man knows a few tricks outside my family's teachings.

You can read, can't you?"

Xu Feng replied, "A