The small cart bumped along as they left the village.

Fu Tingyun followed behind Master Zhao Jiu with tightly pressed lips.

Asen remained unconscious, and despite Master Zhao Jiu’s objections, she had given the small cart to Asen.

“If you can’t walk anymore, just say so.” Master Zhao Jiu walked ahead with an upright posture, not looking back, and said indifferently, “If your feet get blisters, I’ll have to take care of you too.”

Fu Tingyun remained silent.

Ever since she had been unable to hold back her tears in front of him earlier, she had resolved never to speak to Master Zhao Jiu again.

After all, he always treated her like a pampered young lady, so why should she bother saying anything?

Besides, since he had promised to take her to Xi’an Prefecture, he would certainly do so. She had nothing to worry about.

As her eyes inadvertently glanced toward the dead old locust tree at the village entrance, she saw the dark-faced man who had followed them into the village yesterday, now hiding behind the tree and spying on them.

Fu Tingyun was surprised and slowed her pace.

With all the commotion yesterday, logically, anyone would have hidden and then fled quickly before they departed—so many people had attacked them without success, wasn’t he afraid of being silenced?

Or perhaps he wasn’t an ordinary person either!

As Fu Tingyun was pondering how to subtly alert Master Zhao Jiu to the dark-faced man’s presence, Master Zhao Jiu suddenly turned back: “What’s wrong?”

It was as if he had eyes in the back of his head!

Fu Tingyun grumbled inwardly as she pointed toward the locust tree.

The man realized Fu Tingyun was pointing at him and frantically grabbed a child before running away!

Unfortunately, it was a year of famine, and with not a blade of grass growing in the fields, he had nowhere to hide. A thrown empty water skin from Master Zhao Jiu hit the back of his knee, causing him to fall to the ground with a “thud.”

The child fell as well and began crying with a loud “wah.”

The man got up only to kneel before Master Zhao Jiu, who was striding toward him: “Spare me… spare me… Master, please spare my life…”

Since he was begging for mercy as soon as he saw them, it was clear without asking that Old Four Feng’s affair was related to this couple!

A cold light flashed in Master Zhao Jiu’s eyes as he clenched his fist, causing a strong gust of wind to whip around them.

The man instinctively sensed danger and pulled the child into his arms: “Master, Master, I meant no harm… I only saw that Master’s martial skills were extraordinary, able to defeat seven or eight men single-handedly, and I wanted to follow behind Master to gain some protection!” He knelt there weeping bitterly, knocking his head on the ground with “thud, thud, thud” sounds. “I never expected to encounter those murderous stars… we truly had no ill intentions…”

Master Zhao Jiu withdrew his fist but kicked toward the man’s shoulder: “There aren’t many in this world who can deceive me!”

Fu Tingyun was quite surprised and couldn’t help but let out a low exclamation.

The man was already lying on his back on the ground.

The child was so frightened that he froze in place.

“Spare me, great hero, spare me…” The man’s face was filled with fear as he got up and knelt again before Master Zhao Jiu. “Everything I said is true… I’m from the Wang Family Village in Weinan. I was traveling with several clan brothers to my uncle’s place in Xi’an Prefecture when we were robbed by vagrants at night. I got separated from my clan brothers, and our food was stolen. With no choice, I followed behind you, hoping to beg some food from this young lady… that’s why I’ve been following you…” As he spoke, he glanced nervously at Fu Tingyun.

“So when you encountered a group of bandit-like fellows, you thought they were after food, and fearing they would kill you upon discovering you had none,” Master Zhao Jiu sneered with some mockery on his face, “you told those men that others were staying in this village, and that they had plenty of food…”

The man’s face turned deathly pale, and beads of sweat fell from his forehead: “Spare me, great hero, spare me…” His voice was as thin as a thread.

Fu Tingyun finally understood.

So Old Four Feng could track them down all because of this man.

To think that this man wanted to ask her for food… Did she look that easy to deceive?

Fu Tingyun was so angry that veins bulged on her forehead.

“Master Jiu, let’s hurry on our way!” She completely forgot her earlier resolution. “We need to find a place to look after Asen!”

Master Zhao Jiu raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Alright!” He turned and left.

Fu Tingyun followed with hurried steps.

After walking some distance, she suddenly exclaimed, “Oh no! Master Jiu, could that man be deceiving us? Otherwise, why wouldn’t he run away?”

“He won’t!” Master Zhao Jiu’s voice was unhurried, sounding steady and reassuring, quite pleasant to hear. “He’s probably thinking about the dead horses at the compound entrance that could serve as food, and perhaps valuable items that might be found among the dead…” At this point, his tone paused, “Even if he is deceiving us… I carefully observed the boy’s face, which bears a six or seven-tenths resemblance to the man… His mother is already gone, and if his father dies too, this child will be all alone. Who would he rely on? He would probably have only one path—death.” As he spoke, he suddenly laughed lightly, “You don’t expect me to adopt this child, do you? I am the mortal enemy who killed his parents—I don’t have the magnanimity to raise a child who would grow to hate me to the core!”

“Stop the cart!” Fu Tingyun said with a stern face, grabbing the small cart. “My feet hurt, I want to ride.”

Master Zhao Jiu was stunned.

Fu Tingyun felt greatly pleased as she smiled and sat on the small cart, adjusting her headscarf.

Master Zhao Jiu resignedly began pushing the cart.

They first took the dirt road outside the village, then turned onto another dirt road, walked a short distance, and turned onto yet another dirt road. With so many left and right turns, Fu Tingyun quickly lost her sense of direction.

The small cart stopped in front of a modest City God Temple.

“Let’s first check Asen’s wounds here,” Master Zhao Jiu said as he carried Asen into the temple.

He must be very familiar with Lintong; otherwise, how would he know there was a City God Temple here?

Fu Tingyun mumbled to herself as she followed him into the temple.

The curtains, incense burners, and other temple furnishings were all gone, and the floor was covered with filth, emitting a foul stench. It was evident that people had lived here for some time.

Master Zhao Jiu placed Asen on the altar, and Fu Tingyun retrieved the water skin filled with light salt water and handed it to Master Zhao Jiu, who began cleaning Asen’s body.

Regardless, Asen was still a male.

Fu Tingyun stepped outside.

Not far from the City God Temple was a dried-up small river. On the opposite bank was a village with densely packed houses, yet it was completely silent.

She stood on the steps at the temple door, sighing.

She thought of her deceased uncle and aunt.

Her mother probably didn’t know the news yet… When the news reached Huayin, her mother would surely be heartbroken.

She also had an aunt who had married into the Hu County, but she had passed away long ago.

Her mother no longer had any direct siblings in this world.

And now she had encountered such circumstances…

Fu Tingyun’s mood became extremely low.

She stood alone for a long time, gradually composing herself.

Well, it was better not to think about these things… Being alive was already fortunate.

She stood up and took a long breath, but then saw a group of mounted men passing by from the direction of the village.

In a year of famine, when people didn’t even have food to eat, who could afford to keep horses…

“Master Jiu, Master Jiu,” Fu Tingyun called out somewhat frantically, “please come out and look!”

Before her words had fallen, Master Zhao Jiu had already appeared by her side.

With just one glance, his expression became solemn.

“Could it be Feng family people?” In a flash of intuition, Fu Tingyun had a sudden insight.

Master Zhao Jiu made an “mm” sound and said: “Stay here with Asen and don’t move. I’ll go check it out first!”

To have received the news so quickly, the Feng family must be quite extraordinary.

“It’s too dangerous!” Fu Tingyun grabbed the corner of his clothes. “Shouldn’t we avoid them?” She wanted to say “flee,” but feared hurting Master Zhao Jiu’s pride.

Master Zhao Jiu’s gaze fell on the hands holding the corner of his clothes.

White, delicate, rounded, like carved white jade, the posture of her holding his clothes corner was like holding onto a kite that was about to fly away with the wind.

Fu Tingyun noticed him looking at her hands and suddenly realized her presumption. She quickly withdrew her hands as if they had been scalded.

Master Zhao Jiu looked at the swaying corner of his clothes and suddenly felt a sense of loss in his heart.

He sharpened his focus and quickly collected his thoughts.

“There’s not even a blade of grass here, where could we hide?” Master Zhao Jiu said. “Rather than hiding here and there being pursued, it’s better to confront them and strike hard. Sometimes, you need to hit them a few times for them to learn a lesson.”

“You want to fight with the Feng family people?” The shocking decision made Fu Tingyun forget her earlier embarrassment. Her mind raced quickly, “Didn’t you say Old Four Feng and Third Master Feng didn’t get along? If Third Master Feng learns of Old Four Feng’s death, any retaliation would just be a formality, right? Why not try to talk with Third Master Feng properly, and everyone can just put on a show for others to see!”

A hint of surprise flashed in Master Zhao Jiu’s eyes as he pondered: “I was indeed going to meet with Third Master Feng. It’s also good to untie this knot once and for all.” He then added, “Wait here and don’t move. I’ll be back soon.”

“Rest assured, Master Jiu,” Fu Tingyun said hurriedly, “I’ll stay right here. Don’t worry about me, just focus on what you need to do.”

Master Zhao Jiu felt these words were very appropriate. After thinking for a moment, he retrieved a shark-scabbarded dagger from the small cart: “Keep this for self-defense.” Then he left without looking back.

She hadn’t expected him to have this.

The dagger felt heavy in her hand as Fu Tingyun held it to her chest, feeling somewhat afraid.

Since leaving Huayin, she had always had either Asen or Master Zhao Jiu by her side.

It wasn’t about fearing everything, but rather the unexpected. What if someone broke in? What would she do?

With this thought, her gaze fell on the dagger.

The handle of the dagger was wrapped with a dark-colored cloth band that had faded somewhat, giving it an aged appearance.

Could it be Master Zhao Jiu’s item?

She wanted to see if the dagger was very sharp.

To her surprise, the dagger seemed to be stuck in its scabbard and couldn’t be drawn out no matter how she tried.

Could it be fake? Had Master Zhao Jiu merely given it to her for courage?

Surely not?

If someone broke in, wouldn’t she be like meat on a chopping block?

Perhaps her strength was simply too little.

She tried various methods.

The dagger still wouldn’t come out.

Fu Tingyun dejectedly stuffed the dagger back into the small cart.

To avoid giving any intruders the misconception that she had defensive capabilities, she decided it was better to just be the frail woman she was.

She went into the temple to check on Asen.

Asen was sleeping deeply, and his forehead wasn’t very hot.

Fu Tingyun felt relieved.

She leaned against the temple door, waiting for Master Zhao Jiu.

It wasn’t until dusk that Master Zhao Jiu’s figure appeared at the City God Temple.

“Master Jiu,” she went forward to meet him, “how did it go?”

Master Zhao Jiu was covered in sweat, his lips slightly pale, as if he had been running for a long time and was exhausted.

“We’ll leave Lintong from the postal road tonight,” he smiled slightly, his demeanor gentle. “Third Master Feng will gather the family elders tonight to discuss Old Four Feng’s matter, which provides a perfect excuse to recall all the Feng family members to the old residence.”