Chapter Seven, Night Drinking, Dreamed of a Sea.

Returning to his own tent, Ning Que looked at Sang Sang, who was packing her luggage, and said: "Send them onto this straight road, and we will withdraw immediately"

Unfortunately, along this journey, he never found the opportunity to speak with the elderly man who was under tight protection. However, during meal times at the camp, he occasionally caught a fleeting glance with the old man. In that moment, it seemed to him that he saw warmth, kindness, and even encouragement in the old man's eyes, which left him feeling somewhat perplexed.

Due to her extremely cold and deficient constitution, Sang Sang rarely sweats, and the waste toxins produced daily cannot be eliminated. Over time, this has led to a deterioration in her health. Therefore, Ning Que, following the doctor's advice, ensures that she engages in high-intensity exercise every day to slightly improve the cold and deficient environment within her body. This is also the true reason why, in the eyes of outsiders, he always treats this thin and dark little maid as if she were a beast of burden.

The young maid Sang Sang endured great suffering in her childhood, having been enveloped by the stench of decay from a pile of corpses by the roadside for several days. After being discovered by him, she fell seriously ill and did not recover for several months.

The military doctor from Weicheng examined her, and he even took her to the distant Kaiping Prefecture for further consultation. All the physicians shared the same opinion: congenital deficiency and a constitution that is weak and cold

Ning Que replied at www.hetushucom.com: "Because I believe that anyone bold enough to assassinate the Fourth Princess of the Tang Dynasty would definitely not be as foolish as that woman, lacking several contingency plans"

However, these were not the matters he truly cared about. For several days, he remained focused on the elderly man in the old robe within the carriage. If his guess was correct, that gentle-looking elder should be the esteemed figure from the South Gate of Haotian mentioned by General Ma.

Sang Sang hesitated and reminded, "You should speak to her more politely."

Ning Que got up, rubbed his nearly frozen belly, fished out a leather wine pouch from the corner, woke Sang Sang, and then brought the wine pouch to her lips

The warm ocean is probably just an illusion in a dream, as the little feet wrapped in thick cotton socks in my arms gradually grew warm, yet this is also a wonderfully beautiful illusion

On the morning of the second day, Ning Que woke up feeling quite well-rested, yet his expression conveyed an intense desire to sleep for another three days and nights, filled with astonishment and dissatisfaction

This wondrous sensation is not unfamiliar to Ning Que. Many years ago, after he first watched the "Taishang Ganying Pian," he often found himself sensing it before falling asleep. However, he is acutely aware of a sad truth: this is not the genuine perception of mhetushu.com after meditation, but merely a dream.

In deep thought and analysis, unable to find a solution, I decided to refocus my attention, only to realize that the small feet in my arms had remained uncomfortably cold, like ice lumps, leaving my own chest and abdomen feeling equally frigid, which caused me to furrow my brows in concern

Ning Que believes that she is a very good actress... Because whether in Weicheng or on the journey, whether it is the attitude of those prairie men and their subordinates, or the temperament and expression she herself reveals, it is difficult to discern... She is not a maid

The petite maid held a large wine pouch and drank deeply; she managed to down nearly half a bag of strong liquor, enough to knock over a burly man with just two bowls. Her abdomen slightly bulged as a result, making the scene difficult to describe as bold; it was more aptly characterized as somewhat bizarre

She wiped her lips, and her willow-leaf-like eyes became even brighter in the darkness, showing no signs of having consumed alcohol. She smiled at Ning Que and then lay down again to continue sleeping

I am the guide, and you are completely unfamiliar with the Min Mountains. " Ning Que looked at the maid and, after a moment of silence, said: "I understand your concerns about ambushes. I can assure you that as long as you follow my lead, no one will be able to stop you.

Even though it is hard work every day at m.hetushu.com, it does not necessarily mean that each time it can warm up Sang Sang's constitution, just like the wool blanket at this very moment feels like an ice cellar

Why is there a need to change the route temporarily

Including the maid, none of the people in the tent responded to his inquiries

It is precisely this that makes him feel somewhat strange; he has always believed that the true nobles of the upper class in the Tang Empire should not have too much leisure to sympathize with Sang Sang.

Looking at the top of the tent, Ning Que's mind was filled with the traces of memories after leaving Weicheng

"You should persuade them," Sang Sang said, looking up.

For some unknown reason, that maid enjoys calling Sang Sang over to chat

The maid glanced at him as if looking at a stone, her meaning was quite clear, essentially questioning what qualifications he had to demand an explanation from her

Sang Sang groggily opened her eyes, naturally took the wine pouch, skillfully twisted off the cork, and tilted her neck to pour it into her mouth. Not a single drop spilled, yet the tent was still filled with the pungent aroma of the liquor, which seemed to be the strong alcohol from the grasslands.

Throughout the journey, the luxurious carriage remained tightly closed. Apart from the occasional descent of a small boy, clearly of barbarian descent, to play, there was no opportunity to see any princess. Only that delicate and proud maidservant, along with the *illustrated* book, would occasionally issue commands.

He took out the hand-drawn simple map from back then and pointed to a location, saying: "At most, we can only follow to this place. If we go any further, the other side only needs to send a few cavalry units over to wipe out this entire force."

From a very young age, Ning Que was determined to enter that mysterious world, yet he was long unable to find the way in. His willingness to return to the capital with this group was precisely because there was a true cultivator among them.

Wrapping himself tightly in the wool blanket, Ning Que slowly closed his eyes. Not far from his face lay the already tattered "Taishang Ganying Pian," which he would read a few pages of every night before sleeping. Even if he did not read it, he would silently recite it in his heart, a habit cultivated over many years

He looked at the indifferent maid in front of him, suppressing his emotions, and said as gently as possible: "Crossing the Min Mountains directly to Huaxi Road, the route I have chosen will not have any issues"

I know her true identity. Ning Que raised his eyebrows slightly and said mockingly, "So what if she is a princess? I already said in Weicheng that she is just a foolish princess."

The room was filled with the strong aroma of liquor, and the cold little feet in his arms gradually warmed up. Ning Que looked at the few beads of sweat that had formed on her nose, and finally felt relieved, wiping the sweat from his own forehead

I estimate that there are troops there to support the princess, so they will not listen to me. Ning Que replied, "I am not good at persuading a group of partners who are like pigs."

May all sentient beings attain freedom from aging and illness, may they perpetually abide in the essence of life, and may they courageously and diligently enter the path of wisdom

Still, for some reason, that maid did not hide her disdain for him

In a light sleep, his mind began to operate slowly, following the words on the pages, along with those seemingly simple yet actually ambiguous and difficult to comprehend methods of perception.

May all sentient beings possess the practice that leads to liberation from aging and death, free from all calamities and poisons, and may their lives be unharmed

... ...

Gradually, the woolen blanket that enveloped him and Sang Sang disappeared, the humble tent vanished, the grass outside the tent faded away, and the small stream transformed into a wisp of white mist before becoming formless. The entire world turned into a realm where you exist within me, and I exist within you. In this realm, one can faintly sense a certain breath moving with a mysterious rhythm, as the breath between heaven and earth gradually swells into a sea, warm and gentle.

In this way of self-comforting, Ning Que entered a deep sleep, experiencing a night of sweet dreams without any disturbances

I have a problem with my intuition

... ...

Sang Sang did not speak, but inquired with her eyes, asking why, since there were people to provide support at that location, you still appeared so worried, even preparing to slip away halfway