Chapter 008: Entering Yuzhou

Su Xuan headed straight to the dock upon entering the city, his plans well thought out, yet the timing proved to be unfavorable

The woman cast a disdainful glance and said in a harsh tone, "You have already squandered all the money at home, where would the funds come from?"

The young man flipped his wrist to reveal a knife, the sharp thin blade grazed across Li Kun's face, "There are always those who do not take my words seriously, let’s send another one to feed the fish."

"Li Kun, how did I end up marrying such a scoundrel like you!" The woman, truly unable to endure any longer, angrily threw down the wooden pestle and pulled out about 100 coins from her clothing, tossing them at his face

The woman completely ignored him, "It's impossible to support myself, the shopkeeper is very strict, I can only work here for a day to earn a meal."

Amidst the dense foliage, beams of sunlight filter through, occasionally interrupted by drooping low branches that swiftly recede with his steps. She leans against his back, gazing upward, when suddenly he leaps up, plucking a branch from between the trees and handing it to her. The green leaves contrast with the coral-like red fruits, exuding a beauty that is almost dripping with vibrancy, reminiscent of the jade and stone bonsai on her father's desk

Qian, of course, Li Kun did not have it, and he also knew that his wife could not squeeze out much money, so he had already started to entertain other ulterior motives

She only had a young boy accompanying her? Li Kun stretched his neck, wishing he could press it against the window

Yuzhou is the land of Bachu. During the Qin dynasty, the world was divided into thirty-six commanderies, and this area is known as the Ba Commandery. The terrain within the city is undulating and rugged, with the vast and flowing Yushui River and the Yangtze River winding around the city, providing exceptionally convenient waterways

After a moment, the door behind me made a soft sound and quietly closed a moment later

The previous day felt like being in hell, and this moment is filled with discomfort and awkwardness, along with a bewildered curiosity

The middle-aged man, with a fawning expression, said, "You ask the shopkeeper for a few coins to use for now; once I have some work, I will naturally repay you."

Li Kun swore with a gesture towards the heavens and the earth. "Give me one more hour, and I will go to my wife to discuss it. Even if I have to sell my son or daughter, I will repay the money."

The young man's face showed disdain, until he pleaded repeatedly, his face smeared with tears and mucus, before he slowly said, "What happened to the last person who deceived my grandfather?"

Being with a stranger feels completely different

The two had hidden in the inn for several days, and everything was peaceful. Su Xuan also felt relieved, just waiting for the lifting of the ban on the river.

Please lend me some money, I have an urgent need

Seeing him about to leave, the girl wanted to speak but could not find the words. Her delicate fingers anxiously twisted the hem of her clothes, filled with both urgency and fear

Li Kun, disregarding the pain in his face, hurriedly bent down to pick up the money. As he straightened up, he caught sight of a young girl in front of the window of the second-floor guest room. He was instantly taken aback, and it took him a while to regain his composure. "Where did this beauty come from? She looks just like a young lady from a wealthy family. How could she be staying in this shabby place? Could it be that she has been abducted?"

"Sir! Please take it easy!" Li Kun pleaded with a grimace, "I will definitely repay the money in a few days!"

The young man remained utterly unmoved, "I see that you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Where's the money?"

She has many questions she wants to ask, but she cannot make a sound. She does not know the name of this young man, nor does she understand why he would save her, even though she is aware that her family is in Jingzhou

The woman spat on the ground with resentment. "Look at your filthy appearance. Although she cannot speak, those around her are very attentive. Before leaving, she even entrusted me to take care of you. If you dare to come closer, be careful of my slap across your face."

Upon seeing Li Kun, he immediately felt weak in the knees. He forced a smile on his face, but before he could say anything, he was knocked down by a rough-faced man standing next to the young man.

He was somewhat afraid that she would feel uneasy, so whenever they came across unique wildflowers or wild fruits on the road, he would always pick one for her. Such rustic charm was quite novel to her, and gradually she relaxed, watching him traverse mountains and valleys, until they unknowingly arrived in Yuzhou

After two incense sticks, the door moved again

The young girl looked at him timidly, wanting to speak but hesitating.

On that afternoon, a middle-aged man, hunched over, sneaked into the inn's backyard along the wall and found a laundry maid in the water room

The middle-aged man was unwilling to let it go, "Then you find someone else to do the work, and when I become wealthy, I will repay you a hundredfold."

The young girl struggled desperately in the bag, but could not withstand the strength of an adult man. Li Kun seized the opportunity and quickly ran out of the inn through the back door, heading towards the largest brothel in Yuzhou City along the narrow alley.

The young man placed one foot on his shoulder, gradually applying pressure, a carefree and unruly smile playing on his lips, "Is your grandfather dead? Do you still dare to hide from me? Do you believe that today I will cripple this hand of yours!"

The woman placed her hands on her hips and scoffed, "How dare you speak of others? So what if she eloped? The young man with her is far superior to you, this worthless thing."

Li Kun was skilled at playing the abacus and enjoyed good fortune. The inn was at its quietest time of the day, with the servants and cooks taking a break, leaving only a few patrons inside. He easily made his way to the second floor, knocked on the door while pretending to be a woman, and used the pretext of delivering tea. The light beauty indeed opened the door, but upon realizing something was amiss, her small face turned pale. He quickly covered her with a burlap sack and carried her away on his shoulder.

The woman seemed oblivious, burying her head as she pounded the clothes, the sound of her thumping causing water to splash out of the wooden basin.

He is very familiar with the terrain of the inn. As long as he can secretly abduct the light beauty and sell her to a brothel, even if she is not a courtesan, her appearance would still fetch a considerable sum of money. Moreover, she is a mute who has eloped with someone, unable to defend herself. What will happen when the young man returns and finds her missing? After all, it is merely the abduction of a respectable woman; would he dare to report it to the authorities?

Half an hour later, inside a noisy gambling house, the money he had just won was completely lost by Li Kun. With a dejected expression, he attempted to leave but was blocked by three individuals. The leader was a young man in his twenties, with thick eyebrows raised, boldly draped in an outer garment that exposed his strong shoulders, and his arms were covered in tattoos of a green dragon swirling in waves.

The delicate and radiant beauty was actually a mute. Li Kun, captivated by her charm, pondered endlessly until the young girl left the window, at which point he couldn't help but smacked his lips in regret. The woman had already lifted the wooden basin and turned to work elsewhere, and he no longer sought to make himself uncomfortable, pocketing his money and slipping out of the inn

The excruciating pain caused Li Kun to scream in agony, losing his voice in pleading, "Grandfather! Grandfather—please spare my life! I will return it right away, I will return it right away!"

Su Xuan knew that she had been overly frightened before, so she stopped to explain, "There is no need to be afraid, I am right outside the door, you will see me as soon as you open it"

Half an hour later, the door creaked once more, and then there was no further sound

Su Xuan knew that she could finally relax, and only then did she close her eyes, focusing her energy and calming her mind to cultivate her skills

The girl is exceptionally beautiful, and after being groomed, her skin resembles snow and jade, delicate and precious. Even though her clothing is simple, it is evident that she does not come from an ordinary family, and she must attract special attention when she is out.

Once in the city, it was impossible to sleep outdoors again. As the sky gradually darkened, Su Xuan sought out a somewhat secluded inn. He entrusted the inn's maid to take the girl for a bath while he carried the medicine bag to the kitchen. As he raised his arm, his wrist was exposed, and he suddenly remembered that the girl's clothing had been seen by the villain, making it inappropriate for her to wear. After placing the medicine in the boiling pot, he went to buy two sets of clothing and had someone deliver them to the bathing room. Once all the trivial matters were handled, he was drenched in sweat, his clothes stained repeatedly. He casually ate some food, took the prepared medicine and the meal tray back to the guest room, and upon raising his eyes, he immediately sensed something was amiss.

The man, with a playful smile, said, "A day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection. Can you bear to see me die from being forced to pay back the loan? Those people are ruthless; if I don't manage to gather some money to ease the situation, I won't be able to keep my arms and legs. At that point, those wolves and tigers might even drag you along to settle the debt."

In recent years, water theft has been rampant, with numerous acts of plunder affecting the passage of merchant ships. The officials of Yuzhou City, in order to eradicate this menace, issued an order to close the river for fifteen days, during which all boats, large and small, were prohibited from passing. Su Xuan inquired with seven or eight boatmen, and none of them shook their heads in disagreement. The order had just been issued, and there were still more than ten days left before the ban would be lifted; how could the boatmen dare to take the risk of defying it

Su Xuan placed the tray on the table, "This is medicine and food. After a day of running around, you must be tired. Have your meal and then sleep. This room is very safe."

Li Kun was utterly terrified, screaming as if he were slaughtering a pig, swearing repeatedly to guarantee his safety. Finally, when his opponent loosened their grip, he turned over, got up, and ran away

The fierce-looking man with a scarred face was saying, "I am still tying stones, feeding the fish in the Yujang River."

Now Su Xuan was in a dilemma, so she had no choice but to find a medical clinic and seek an old doctor to examine the girl's pulse. Indeed, the medicine used by Hua Jian Tao was a common sedative. According to the doctor, taking the prescribed medicine for ten days would suffice for recovery

He spoke to her gently, with a sword tied at his waist. His figure was slender, far less robust than the guards at home, yet he exuded a calm composure, unhurried and unflustered, even when mentioning the assailants, instilling an inexplicable sense of trust.

Su Xuan saw that she no longer obstructed her, stepped out and closed the door, then sat cross-legged in the corridor, placing the sword beside her leg as she meditated