Chapter 36: So, It Was Him

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Xiao Duo Hong held the map that Tian Quan had just handed her, her finger repeatedly tracing several spots closest to Millstone Town. It was only upon receiving the travel permit made by Brother Dong that she learned this country was called Fengliang, with Millstone Town situated on its eastern edge. Just a few more towns beyond lay Dawuguan, the provincial capital. Beyond that was the border near a neighboring nation.

Brother Dong had told her that although the border was currently peaceful, it was far from a safe place and warned her sternly not to venture that way.

The old man at the Science Museum, before decrypting the primitive data’s code, had no idea why he sent her here, nor could he say when he might unlock it. The old man couldn’t provide a definite timeframe.

Yet one thing was certain to Xiao Duo Hong: no matter what, if she failed to accomplish the purpose of this journey, the old man would never call her back first.

It wasn’t that she was carefree, able to pick things up and put them down easily, nor that she was resigned to fate. It was simply that she could not accept the reality—what choice did she have?

In this state, aimless and without clear purpose, there was one pressing matter she had to attend to: to travel with these seven children, hoping to quickly find a solution for their placement.

Brother Dong, whom she had just met in Millstone Town, was straightforward and trustworthy and financially capable of supporting the seven children. Yet upon hearing her wish to properly place them, he only offered analysis.

Before leaving, he sent someone with silver coins. On the carriage, she opened the embroidered pouch to find fifty taels of silver, a gold ingot, several gold leaves, and a handful of golden beans.

Brother Dong had helped with the travel permit and given so much money, but he showed no eagerness or intention to take in the children. That indicated it was inconvenient for him to do so.

This made Xiao Duo Hong even clearer about the grim prospects of finding a proper place for the children.

But so what? All she could do was try her best.

One advantage of having no clear purpose here was freedom from time and route constraints—she could go wherever she pleased.

The seven children she cared for were very young, with no fixed home, and winter was approaching. She did not want them to suffer, so she planned to head south.

If she found a suitable place, settling down there for a while was also on her mind.

“Mother, should we change our destination?” Tian Shu came over and asked, seeing Xiao Duo Hong studying the map.

She did not look up. “No change. So far, this route suits us best. First, it’s a government road, relatively safer. Second, the intervals between villages, towns, and cities along this path allow us to avoid spending nights outdoors.”

“Mother, they’re coming,” Tian Shu suddenly lowered his voice and whispered.

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Xiao Duo Hong nodded and turned toward the approaching direction. Huh? Was she seeing things? She blinked and looked again.

“No need to be afraid. They’re not villains,” she said in relief after recognizing one of the six riders.

Ah? Hearing this, Tian Shu looked at the approaching horsemen one by one and immediately understood why Xiao Duo Hong was so certain.

Wasn’t that one a friend of Yue Fan’s uncle? Mother had even invited him for meat buns and wontons before.

Only, this man was not as easygoing as Yue Fan’s uncle. Mother kindly offered him meat buns, but suddenly he turned sour and left in anger.

Yue Fan’s uncle had laughed heartily, clutching his belly on the ground for a long time.

No wonder Tian Shu and the others, sitting so close to this man then, didn’t know the story—because it was their first time sitting at a bun shop table, openly eating hot, fragrant meat buns fresh from the steamer.

No fear of being chased away, their minds fully absorbed in enjoying the buns, they had no attention left for anything else.

After recognizing the rider, Xiao Duo Hong lowered her head and returned to studying the map. Such a vain person—if she looked too long, she might be misunderstood.

By now, the six horsemen were close. Five followers watched the young woman sitting by the roadside. She was indeed quite attractive—could their master be fond of such a type?

But the young woman had no interest in the master at all. She glanced once and looked down again.

They observed carefully. Her lowered head was not from shyness; her pale face showed no blush at all.

Oh dear, a woman unmoved by their master, who resembled the handsome Pan An? Truly rare, truly rare!

In contrast, their master’s handsome face was as gloomy as the bottom of a pot.

Startled, they immediately turned their faces away, putting aside their curiosity. They sat upright on their horses, eyes fixed ahead.

How could Mu Zi Tao be in a good mood? The young hero was the object of admiration for many women in the capital. Yet to this young woman, he was...

No matter how annoyed, was he to stop and question her? Blind, perhaps? Why no reaction upon seeing him?

Regardless of his mood, the horses below carried them forward with steady hoofbeats.

Suddenly, a child by the roadside spoke a sentence that almost made Mu Zi Tao fall from his horse.

“Eh, isn’t that the town’s sickly one? Not coughing anymore? He’s healed?” Yao Guang saw one of the tall riders’ faces and blurted out.

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Her voice wasn’t loud—actually, she spoke softly to her sister, Yu Heng.

But Mu Zi Tao’s hearing was exceptional. He heard it clearly! He longed to abandon his status as young general and shout at the child: “I am not sick! Don’t talk nonsense!”

The irritation that had been simmering inside surged up. He squeezed his legs against the horse’s sides and spurred it forward.

His five followers hurried to keep pace, some still unwilling to look back despite the growing distance.

Everyone thought the same: whose young lady was this? She had the rare talent to make their usually composed master so angry!

Had something happened between their master and this young lady? Was there a grudge?

During their days in Millstone Town, the master had ordered them to keep their distance and forbade them from following when he went out.

The five men felt frustrated. Why be so stubborn? If the master forbade them to follow, they obeyed, but sneaking behind to protect him wouldn’t hurt. That way, they wouldn’t be so clueless now, knowing there was something going on but remaining ignorant!

They were desperate to know, painfully anxious.

As the hoofbeats faded, Xiao Duo Hong had the children board the carriage and resumed their journey.

They had to hurry; according to the map, they wouldn’t reach the next town before dark otherwise.

In the afternoon, after passing through a forest, Mu Zi Tao’s group slowed down.

“Master, something’s off in this forest.”

“Bandits making a living by robbing travelers? So many? At least they had the sense not to target us. But that young lady and her group, they’re coming this way too, right? No detours along the way.”

“Master, should we deal with them?”

The followers babbled eagerly, itching for action whenever they met such situations.

The master’s hand must be itching too because after scowling all morning, a smile appeared on his face—though somehow, it looked a little sinister...