Fu Congzhao stared at the fish in his bowl, filled with regret. He had even deliberately chosen a large one.
Suddenly someone outside shouted, "An eagle... I saw an eagle!"
Where? Where??
"Wow... it really is an eagle! How could there be an eagle here..."
Upon hearing this, Fu Congzhao put down her chopsticks and quickly stood up. "Grandma, I'm going outside to take a look," she said, and before Jin Shanyao reply, she hurriedly ran out.
He looked up at the sky and was shocked; it wasn't the eagle that had been following them all the way.
The soldiers exclaimed excitedly, "The young general shot it down..."
"Yes, shoot it down..."
"I'll go find the bow and arrow right away!" The soldier ran quickly into Fu Congzhao's room, hurriedly carrying the bow and arrow out. The bow and arrow were about half a person's height, the bowstring was taut, and the arrows were shockingly bright, clearly soaked in blood.
Fu Congzhao smacked the soldier on the head. "It was flying peacefully in the sky, why did you shoot it? Take the bow and arrows back to me."
The soldier gave an "oh," covered his head, and reluctantly turned to leave.
Hearing the young general's words, no one dared to say they had shot it down... They all craned their necks to watch it circle in the air, and after a short while, the eagle landed on a large tree in the courtyard.
As Jin Shanyao, she saw a group of soldiers standing under the tree roots, looking up at the eagle. She walked over and asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"
Everyone turned to look at Jin Shanyao, the one closest to her blushing and grinning sheepishly, "Training the eagle... I heard that if you wear it down, the eagle will recognize you as its master."
Jin Shanyao her head and said, "You can continue..."
After saying that, he started wandering around. Fu Congzhao didn't go back after he left, and the fish in his bowl remained untouched. I wonder if the child is hungry!
As she walked, she saw a soldier squatting on the ground, looking dejected. Jin Shanyao curiously, "What's wrong?"
The soldier looked dejected. "I told him I wasn't sick, but the army doctor insisted I was."
Jin Shanyao down and felt his pulse. It was weak and unstable, indicating that his heart and spirit were severely damaged and his courage was weak. It was an old ailment left over from the great shock.
She looked at the soldier and said, "It's very simple to find out if you're sick."
The soldier looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Jin Shanyao, a smirk playing on her lips. "I'll say a sentence, you repeat it... Whether you're sick or not, you'll know after a test."
The soldier nodded. "Go ahead, I'm ready."
The Jin Shanyao its head and said, "Red."
The soldier repeated, "Red."
"Yellow"
"Yellow"
"Green"
"Green"
What color is the grass?
"Green..."
Jin Shanyao patted his shoulder gently, "Take the medicine as prescribed by the army doctor, and you'll get better soon."
At this moment, drums suddenly sounded in the camp, and the soldiers instantly assembled in formation, carrying broadswords. They were all dressed in cloth, except for Fu Congzhao was wearing leather armor.
Jin Shanyao curiously retreated to the soldier's side, "Is this going to be a fight?"
The soldier, still wondering what color the grass was, looked up at the ranks upon hearing this, "No... the young general is going on night patrol..."
"Don't they wear armor?"
The soldier scratched his head, his cheeks flushed, and said shyly, "If you fall into the water while wearing armor, you'll die. But if you fall into the water while wearing cloth, we can still use our daggers to pierce the bottom of the enemy's ship."
Jin Shanyao her head and gave an "oh," her gaze following Fu Congzhao's. Several small boats happened to be docked at the shore, and a few soldiers disembarked and whispered a few words to him. Fu Congzhao immediately led his men onto the boats and rowed out onto the dark sea.
The disembarking people scattered, and one of them, a man in leather armor, walked towards her.
The man's skin was dark, almost blending into the night. " Master Jin, you must be tired from your journey." The man was Fu Congzhao, Fu Zhenkou's father.
Jin Shanyao looked at him uncertainly and asked, "Commander Fu, have we been at sea all day?"
Fu Zhenkou laughed loudly and waved his hand, "I only boarded the ship at noon. I need to patrol several hidden passes every day, so I'm a little late getting back."
He looked at Jin Shanyao a puzzled expression and asked, "It's so late, Master Jin, why haven't you rested yet?"
"I want to wander around and see how many souls need to be helped to pass on their lives..."
"Alright... just tell me if you need anything, I'm going to grab a bite to eat..." Fu Zhenkou looked at the soldier beside him and instructed, " Gaya, you'll stay with Master Jin and be ready to serve at any time."
"Yes, Captain..." Gaya answered with a firm and resolute voice, a stark contrast to his earlier dejection. After Fu Zhenkou left, Gaya looked at Jin Shanyao hesitantly and asked, " Master Jin... can you perform the ritual for the deceased?"
Jin Shanyao her head. "I've come here to help the souls of the dead find peace."
As soon as she finished speaking, Gaya looked at her pleadingly, "Master... I... I want to ask you for a favor, could you... help me pray for the souls of my deceased relatives?"
Eight years ago, Japanese pirates launched a surprise attack and slaughtered half of our village. I was only seven years old then. Those beasts burned, killed, and looted after entering the village. My mother hid me in the cellar. My sister and sister-in-law were both raped by them. Their blood dripped onto my face from the cracks in the cellar; it was warm.
As he spoke, his eyes began to redden, and then his body trembled uncontrollably, his mouth uttering broken words, "Kill... kill... kill them..."
" Gaya, Gaya, wake up..." Jin Shanyao patted his shoulder, trying to wake him up.
Suddenly, Gaya drew a dagger from his waist and lunged at Jin Shanyao. But the next moment, Jin Shanyao Jin Shanyao him to the ground, his head buzzing. Gaya sat on the ground, his eyes glazed over, a blank stare on his face.
Jin Shanyao and held out his hand to Gaya, saying calmly, "Two coins."
Gaya, feeling dizzy, pulled out two coins and placed them in her hand, staring blankly at her.
Jin Shanyao put away the copper coins, took out a pill from her satchel, and handed it to him. "Take this."
Gaya glanced at her furtively, thinking, "What is this? You're letting me eat it?" But he still popped it into his mouth. He didn't believe Jin Shanyao; he believed General Fu.
After Jin Shanyao saw him swallow, she said in a deep voice, "One penny for treatment, one penny for the afterlife... What's the name of your village?"
Fu'an Village
"I understand... If you wish to offer sacrifices, please bring some paper money and incense when I perform the ritual for the deceased."
Gaya nodded blankly, and even after the Jin Shanyao walked far away Gaya still hadn't come to his senses.
Nothing more was said that night.
The next day, as soon as Jin Shanyao stepped out of the house, she saw a group of soldiers blocking the doorway. While she was still confused, an old soldier came out, holding a coin.
He pleaded, "Master... I want to perform a ritual for my son. He fell into the sea three years ago while fighting against Japanese pirates and has never come back to life."
As soon as he finished speaking, another person stepped forward, also holding a coin. "Master, I want to perform a ritual for my sister's soul, she..." The man trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
Immediately, someone chimed in, "Master, I'm performing a ritual for my brother... He gave me my life. If he hadn't taken a blow for me in battle, I wouldn't have died from an infected wound."
"Master, I need to perform a ritual for my father and uncle... I'm the only male left in my family, and I don't know how much longer I have to live. I might as well do my filial duty now..."
Immediately, two or three of them rushed forward, holding up a coin and begging Jin Shanyao to lend a hand.