Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 114
>Chapter Title: Encountering Old Acquaintances in a Foreign Land
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Seeing his daughter-in-law finally calm down, Lv Zhuangyuan turned his head to look at his youngest son, who was trailing behind the carriage, looking dazed and pale-faced.
“Little one, what’s wrong? You’re not scared, are you?”
Lv Xiucai forced a smile onto his face, his head bobbing like a sick hen’s.
“Don’t be afraid. What are those stinking soldiers anyway? They’re just paper tigers. If they had any real guts, why aren’t they out there fighting the enemy?”
Though Lv Zhuangyuan’s consolation was dry as dust, it didn’t improve Lv Xiucai’s complexion one bit.
Those robbing soldiers seemed to be right there in front of him, their knives pressed against his neck.
“Dad, why did we even leave the pass? Weren’t we supposed to go home first?”
Lv Zhuangyuan lit his pipe and puffed away at it. White smoke veiled his eyes.
“I figure this isn’t your ordinary soldier unrest. The world’s about to descend into chaos, so our family needs to get out and lie low for a while.”
“Dad, if our emperor’s losing the war, does that mean we’re going to become slaves to a fallen kingdom?”
Lv Zhuangyuan smacked him across the head with his pipe, sparks flying from Lv Xiucai’s skull.
“What does it matter to us who’s emperor? Is that any of your business to worry about?”
Seeing Lv Xiucai pitifully clutching his head, Lv Zhuangyuan let out a soft sigh and patiently began to instruct him.
“With so many defeated soldiers around, nine times out of ten this means a change of dynasty. There’ll be even greater chaos after the soldiers pass. Better for us to get out and avoid the storm.”
“The money’s gone? No big deal. As long as we’re alive, that’s what matters. We can go anywhere.”
“But... I’ve never been to Siqi before, Dad. I’m a little scared...”
Seeing his youngest son acting so spineless, Lv Zhuangyuan’s temper flared.
“Scared of what? People in Siqi don’t have two eyeballs and one nose? They don’t grow extra ones, do they? Siqi’s no different from home—maybe just a few more rivers and lakes.”
At that moment, Lv Juren, who had been quietly listening nearby, spoke up. “Dad, we don’t know this area either. Honestly, I think staying home might be better. Maybe it’s not as bad as you say.”
“You think soldier unrest is a game? ‘Not as bad’? I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve had rice. You think I could be wrong?”
With that, he turned back to his sons and explained further. “Don’t worry. Your dad’s got it all figured out. Earlier, when that young Daoist was looking at the map, I sneaked a few peeks. They’re heading to Liang. It’s a long way, so we just follow them. Sticking by him guarantees our safety.”
“Where he goes, we go. He travels his road, we put on our shows. Nobody gets in anyone’s way.”
“Once the emperor’s changed and the soldiers and locusts are gone, we come back. See? Nice and easy.”
“But will he let us tag along? We’re not family or anything.” Lv Juren’s face showed a hint of reluctance.
“Hey~ See? That jar of salted duck eggs comes in handy now, doesn’t it?”
A smug look crossed Lv Zhuangyuan’s face. “Remember what the young Daoist said when we left the pass? ‘We’ll meet again. Fate will bring us together!’”
“Whether he meant it or not, he said it. As long as we humble ourselves, put on a pitiful show, and remind him of that jar of eggs, can he really bring himself to kick us out?”
Seeing the realization dawn on his sons’ faces, Lv Zhuangyuan beamed with pride. “Heh heh, the old ginger’s still the spiciest. You lot, take notes.”
“Dad’s right. We’re opera performers anyway—doesn’t matter where we go, we perform. Who knows, folks in other places might love our shows even more. Could make us extra silver.”
With Lv Zhuangyuan laying it all out, the mood in the Lv Family Troupe lightened a bit. Everyone started dreaming about their bright futures.
As the carriage rolled along, they suddenly spotted several black balls rolling down the road ahead.
Drawing closer, Lv Zhuangyuan realized they were a dozen fat nuns following alongside some wagons.
There were six wagons, their wheels sinking deep into the ruts. They seemed to be hauling something heavy.
“These nuns stink something awful, Dad. Let’s hurry past them.” Luo Jinhua wrinkled her brow, pulling out a handkerchief to cover her daughter’s nose.
“What nonsense. Can’t you see all these Siqi folks are following the nuns too? Just like they’re following us.” Lv Zhuangyuan glanced at the other travelers beside the fat nuns.
His vast experience told Lv Zhuangyuan that if the people of Siqi could stomach the stench and keep pace with these nuns, there had to be a good reason.
“But... it’s way too stinky...” Luo Jinhua muttered under her breath, brow furrowed.
They kept following the nuns onward. Less than an hour later, Lv Zhuangyuan saw the nuns stop and start wolfing down their dry rations.
Seeing others eat made the Lv troupe hungry too. Truth be told, after a while around the nuns, the smell wasn’t so bad.
As they ate, Lv Zhuangyuan suddenly stood up and walked excitedly toward the group of travelers.
There was a man in a veiled bamboo hat, his legs seeming unsteady as he leaned on an old horse while eating.
When Lv Zhuangyuan approached, the man clearly recognized him. “Troupe Leader Lv, what are you doing here?”
Hearing that familiar voice, Lv Zhuangyuan’s eyes lit up. “Oh! It’s you! You’re that young Daoist’s...”
Before he could finish, the man removed his veiled hat, revealing Zhao Wu’s utterly ordinary face.
Encountering an old acquaintance in a foreign land—meeting an unexpected familiar face here made both sides feel exceptionally warm.
After exchanging greetings, Lv Zhuangyuan’s face broke into a huge grin upon learning the man was heading to find Li Huowang.
“With legs like yours, traveling alone is dangerous. I’ll take you to him. It’s right on our way.”
Delivering this man would mean the young Daoist owed him a favor. He couldn’t very well refuse then.
Plus, this was the young Daoist’s junior brother—maybe he had some special abilities too. Another bodyguard for the road.
Lv Zhuangyuan warmly helped Zhao Wu over to the Lv Family Troupe, introducing him to everyone. He even shooed his daughter-in-law off the cart to make room and helped him sit.
As they chatted enthusiastically, a voice from the side interrupted the harmonious scene.
“Zhao Wu-lang, didn’t I hear you went home? What brings you back out?”
Lv Xiucai’s words made the smile fade from Zhao Wu’s face.
A strong emotion seemed about to surface, but in front of strangers, he held it back. “Nothing. Just... some trouble at home.”
Sensing the awkward shift, Lv Zhuangyuan immediately raised his pipe and smashed it down on his youngest son’s head.
“Shut your trap! All these years of teaching down the drain? Who told you to call him Zhao Wu-lang? Mind your manners! Call him Young Master Zhao!”
Seeing Lv Xiucai’s eyes well up from the blow, Zhao Wu hurriedly tried to intervene, embarrassed. “Troupe Leader Lv, no need for that. Zhao Wu-lang’s fine.”
As he reached out to stop it, a gust of wind blew through, stinging everyone’s eyes.
When they blinked them open, everyone froze. The curtains on the fat nuns’ wagons had been whipped up by the wind, revealing a dazzling expanse of white inside.
Lv Zhuangyuan’s eyes bulged. “My heavens! So much silver!”
(End of chapter)