Chapter 4, Encounters

With just a glance, Lu Ziyou understood that everything she had done before was indeed premeditated

Before long, the donkey cart came to a stop. As Ji Si walked towards the group of nobles, Sun Fu and others began to unload the camping supplies and rice from the cart.

This young sister-in-law surprisingly anticipated the arrival of the flood early on and took corresponding precautionary measures.

The knight curiously asked, "My lord, could it be that Lu Ziyou has said something interesting?"

In a short while, eight carriages, all drawn by magnificent steeds, appeared before Ji Si and the others

The people have not yet arrived, but the smoke and dust have already begun to rise, and the sound of hooves is thundering closer.

After just a glance, he raised his eyebrows slightly and chuckled, saying, "Interesting"

The convoy is getting closer and closer

As Ke Jisi barely caught sight of it, she felt her feet grow a little heavier. The moment she raised her eyes, she was stung by the dazzling light before her, and it took a great deal of effort for her not to timidly lower her head.

As soon as she finished speaking, Uncle Li happily said, "It is indeed as it should be. The one hundred acres of fertile land in Qingshan County were the dowry left by the mistress for the young lady back in the day. Now, the young lady is expected to exchange her own dowry, which is essential for her livelihood, for silver to support his studies abroad, which is truly inappropriate. Moreover, ... that person with the surname Zhuang does not necessarily have much affection for our young lady either ...

At that moment, the villagers' cheers resounded, "My lord! My lord, look quickly!"

... ...

Lu Ziyou was also beaming with joy; he was unafraid of death, yet he had never faced it so closely before. At this moment, an indescribable joy and the happiness of rebirth surged in his heart. Raising his head, Lu Ziyou saw several strong men rushing towards him from the small town, and he couldn't help but laugh heartily while stroking his beard

Amidst the crowd, in the fervor and joy, Lu Ziyou temporarily forgot the existence of Ji Si. By the time he finally remembered Ji Si, two hours had already passed, after the flood had receded.

It is ! ''

Eight carriages, each drawn by four tall horses, and these horses move in perfect unison, advancing and retreating as one. Although there are clearly only eight carriages, their imposing presence causes Sun Fu and others to swallow repeatedly.

On this day, the sky was clear, and a gentle southern breeze blew, bringing an indescribable sense of tranquility and joy.

Not long after Ji Si left, a knight strode up to the side of the young man in white, Xie Lang.

The team did not advance for long before they stopped half a mile ahead

As soon as Sun Fu spoke these words, not only he but also Ji Si and the others were all smiles. With nightfall approaching, the prospect of spending the night with a team possessing formidable martial strength would undoubtedly provide much greater safety

Ji Si stood on the official road, gazing at the setting sun in the west, watching the rosy glow that painted half the sky, momentarily feeling as if she were an immortal.

The implication of Uncle Li's words was understood by several people, and Sun Fu and others lowered their heads. In the past, whenever this topic was brought up, their own young lady would be both angry and scolding, as she absolutely could not tolerate anyone saying that her beloved was not worthy. A month and a half ago, due to the surname Zhuang, the young lady fell seriously ill and nearly did not survive.

Ji Si was gazing at the distant green mountains, and upon hearing the words, she softly said: "No, I do not intend to sell it."

Clearly, behind him are green mountains, and above his head are white clouds. This vast land is incomparable to a mundane soul in its nobility and expansiveness. Yet at this moment, Ji Si still feels that her attire is too ordinary, her still undeveloped features are too youthful, and her demeanor lacks elegance

Sun Fu and others responded in unison

The focus is on the young man in white sitting under the camphor tree, gently playing the zither

Having remained by her side, Uncle Li, who had been listening to Ji Si's words, sighed and said: "It seems that we have no choice but to sleep outdoors."

In a place that is neither close to a village nor a shop, camping out not only attracts wild beasts and supernatural beings, but also poses the risk of attracting robbers. Unless absolutely necessary, no one would choose to camp out.

Lu Ziyou quickly turned his head to look.

As Ji Si took a step forward, a melody from the noble entourage floated through the air

Xie Lang turned his head and asked, "Whose is it?"

"It is likely that this comes from Lu Ziyou in Qingshan County."

She paused for a moment and then continued to walk forward

Indeed, the flood surged forth with a devastating force, and as it collided with the dam, most of it flowed towards the low-lying area where the land temple was located. In an instant, the flood rushed into the mountain gorge; in an instant, it swept over the land temple; in an instant, all the torrents that crashed against the dam, seemingly on the verge of breaching and pouring into Luoshui Village, were diverted by the mountain gorge and the vast sandy area behind the land temple, gradually becoming shallower and slower. In an instant, the flood rushed into the mountain gorge; in an instant, it swept over the land temple; in an instant, all the torrents that crashed against the dam, seemingly on the verge of breaching and pouring into Luoshui Village, were diverted by the mountain gorge and the vast sandy area behind the land temple, gradually becoming shallower and slower

Xie Lang smiled, "Yes. Lu Ziyou said that there was a young woman who predicted that there would be a flood in Luoshui Village. By using the words of a shaman, she took two actions that saved her life and the lives of over a thousand villagers. He said that this woman is exceptionally talented, and he regretted that he left too early and did not have the opportunity to meet such a person."

Several strong men rushed towards Lu Ziyou, "Lord Lu is still alive, we finally have the face to meet Lord Xie!" "Just now, it was a hair-raising moment, truly terrifying!" "Lord Lu is safe, this is indeed a joy for Jingzhou!"

In the blink of an eye, the convoy arrived before Ji Si and the others. Like their steeds, the knights mounted on the horses were all tall and imposing, exuding an extraordinary presence. Just a glance was enough to make Sun Fu and the others feel small and unable to lift their heads.

By the campfire, there sat two guards and two maidservants. The guards were exceptionally imposing, each possessing the demeanor of nobility. The maidservants were even more stunning, each with bright eyes and white teeth, their beauty unparalleled.

At this moment, the magistrate of Qingshan County also arrived, and all the notable figures with literary and virtuous reputations from Qingshan County had gathered. After socializing with them, Lu Ziyou learned that Ji Si and a few others had already left Qingshan County, which left him feeling somewhat dejected

Naturally, the sight of Ji Si and the four people in a donkey cart did not warrant the attention of the other party. The two knights glanced at them casually before withdrawing their gaze.

However, none of these are the main points

Xie Lang gently tapped his fair and slender knuckles on the envelope before opening it

The young woman lay on the couch for a full ten days. Just as she began to recover a little, she hurried to Qingshan County, preparing to sell her dowry to raise funds for his studies abroad. However, she herself was still suffering from the lingering effects of that serious illness, occasionally plagued by a persistent headache.

The remaining five or six individuals gathered around the newly lit bonfire

Ji Si and her companions traveled light. After leaving Qingshan County, they headed straight back to Jingzhou. Along the way, they passed countless villages and numerous counties. Some counties boasted magnificent scenery, some had stunning peaks, and others were known for their illustrious figures. However, unlike those renowned scholars, Ji Si and her companions did not pause for these attractions. After half a month, they had only covered half the distance to Jingzhou.

This is the cry of survival after a disaster, this is the joy of escaping death

This is a very common image

After the initial ecstasy, when the flood finally receded by half a meter, waves of crying arose one after another

Ji Si and the others quickly moved to the side of the road

Ji Si made a sound of acknowledgment, signaling Uncle Li to move the donkey cart, and said: "Within a radius of twenty miles, this place is the most suitable for setting up camp; anyone who is not a fool would choose to camp here." In an instant, she sternly instructed: "When you go over later, you must not lose your manners just because the other party is of noble status"

The sound of the zither has ceased

Watching those people busily preparing to set up camp for the night, Sun Fu let out his first breath and said softly, "My lady, they also intend to camp here."

The concerns of the many servants were unknown to Ji Si, as she continued to gaze at the distant scenery, contemplating the impending flood. Although the previous three visions had been validated, it was only when this flood was confirmed that she fully believed she could indeed see things that others could not.

At that moment, another series of "da da da" sounds of donkey hooves approached, and it was Sun Fu coming from another direction. Upon seeing the three people looking towards him from a distance, he joyfully exclaimed: "Ladies, ladies, a troop has arrived behind us. I just climbed a tree to take a look, and that troop is quite impressive. All those people are riding horses, and at first glance, they are clearly formidable in strength."

Originally, the flood had reached the top of the embankment, causing it to sway precariously. Once the water level receded, even the most ignorant villagers understood that the crisis had diminished

Just as the master and a few servants were chatting and laughing, the team that Sun Fu mentioned arrived.

When Lu Ziyou looked at Ji Si, she was scanning her surroundings. Compared to the villagers around her who were frantically crying out in panic and the soft, crumpled noble families, her expression was remarkably calm. The pair of eyes that were fixed intently on the flood was even brighter, almost wise!

Gazing at the increasingly distant Qingshan County, Sun Fu and the others looked at Ji Si with a mix of reverence and confusion. After walking for a while, Xuan Chen could not help but ask, "Miss, weren't we supposed to deal with those one hundred acres of fertile land? Why have we left?"

This is a shock and humility that cannot be described in words, akin to a mortal facing the perilous spiritual mountain made of white jade

This was the first time Ji Si had heard such a sound from the qin, which was both harmonious and melodious, incredibly enchanting. Just the opening notes were enough to uplift one's spirits and evoke a sense of longing.

The sound of hooves echoed as Xu Chen ran over, calling out to Ji Si: "My lady, there are no villages or inns ahead, nor any temples where we can rest."

Ji Si ultimately lacked the courage to step forward again. After a moment of daze, she lowered her head and slowly retreated. At this moment, even though her will had been taken away, the several nurturing experiences from her soul over the past month still allowed her to exit with a sense of composure, even in retreat.

The team was sitting around the campfire, while seven or eight tall guards were setting up the camp, and two maidservants were busily preparing dinner

Xie Lang methodically put away the letter, casting a glance at Ji Si and the others, and said: "Go tell that young lady, just say that staying in the wilderness can easily lead to unforeseen events, so they should pitch their tents a bit closer, and I can take care of one or two matters."