Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 189
>Chapter Title: Soldier
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Chapter 189: Soldier
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> The village had a well, and the earthen building even had a stove. They could set a pot on it and finally enjoy some hot, hearty meals.
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> After sipping some wild vegetable soup and taking a bite of the multigrain steamed bun, Li Huowang felt utterly content, as if even the blisters at the corners of his mouth had shrunk a bit.
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> Swallowing the food in his mouth, Li Huowang looked up at Gao Zhijian, who had kept watch last night.
“Was there anyone probing around last night?”
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> “N-No... n-nobody... n-not a single... s-soul.”
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> Glancing once more at Mantou, who was squatting normally under the table with no abnormalities, Li Huowang recalled that odd wedding banquet from the night before.
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> Even if nothing unusual had happened yet, he still sensed something off in that man’s gaze. Somehow, he had started to discern the meanings hidden in others’ eyes.
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> That man’s look hadn’t been friendly curiosity—it was wariness laced with taboo.
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> “We’ll rest here today and set out again tomorrow morning. Gouwa, go around the village this afternoon and stock up on some dry rations. We’re running low on staples in the carts. Gao Zhijian and Chun Xiaoman, come with him. Stay sharp.”
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> “Got it. Leave these little chores to me, Cao Cao.”
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> With another glance at Bai Lingmiao whispering with Chun Xiaoman, Li Huowang said no more and dug into his food.
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> That afternoon, with some rare free time, Li Huowang pulled out the *True Scripture of the Fire Robes* to practice again.
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> But he still had no good method for gathering compassion in his heart.
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> Just as he barely managed to condense that white wax into a lump, he keenly sensed someone outside staring at where he was staying.
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> Li Huowang swiftly stowed the *True Scripture of the Fire Robes*, threw open the window, and saw the village watchman from last night standing there with his clear runny nose, grinning amiably.
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> “It’s him? Maybe I can pry something out of his mouth.”
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> Inspired, Li Huowang hurried downstairs, grabbed a few multigrain steamed buns meant for dinner from the kitchen, and approached the watchman.
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> Li Huowang dangled a bun in front of him. The man’s eyes locked onto it unblinkingly.
“I’ll ask you something. Answer right, and the bun’s yours. Deal?”
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> “Good~!!” The dim-witted watchman nodded eagerly.
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> “What’s your name?”
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> “Dunno. Ma said I’m surnamed Hua.”
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> “Good enough. Here’s your bun.”
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> Seeing that talking really got him buns, the watchman surnamed Hua bubbled with snot-flecked joy.
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> “Want another question? Last night at the feast, that gong-beating man—who is he? What does he do?”
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> “Monkey Er. He’s a soldier. Monkey Big got hitched, so he rushed back.”
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> “A soldier?! That kid’s with the Later Shu army?” That would make him an official, then?
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> In all his time in this world, aside from the border garrison troops, Li Huowang had never crossed paths with any officials.
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> This left him somewhat puzzled. In a mad world like this, filled with inexplicable evils, how did the authorities maintain order and handle troubles?
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> Faced with this, Hua the fool fell silent, staring longingly at the bun in Li Huowang’s hand.
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> The moment he clutched the bun, his mouth opened again.
“Dunno what kinda soldier. Just knows he’s a soldier. Got a huge iron gun. I couldn’t lift it—heavy as hell.”
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> Frowning slightly, Li Huowang’s gaze followed the path toward the stone lions at the Hou family gate far off in the distance.
“Where is he now?”
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> “Gone. Monkey Big’s wedded, so he left.”
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> Hearing the man had gone, Li Huowang’s heart eased a bit. Whatever his background, as long as he wasn’t one of those bizarre evils, it was fine.
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> Besides, he likely wouldn’t cross paths with him again. If Li Huowang guessed right, the current rulers were probably tearing their hair out over the vanishing rot.
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> Just then, Li Huowang shifted aside slightly as an elderly voice came from behind.
“Dummy, snacking on other folks’ buns, eh?”
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> Li Huowang recognized the man—the bridegroom’s father from last night. He still wore his watermelon hat and silk robes.
“Greetings, sir.”
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> “Oh dear, you all came to my home for the feast. Daoist, no need to stand on ceremony—it makes things awkward.”
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> As the two chatted, the watchman beside them, seeing no more buns, shuffled off on his pigeon-toed feet.
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> Watching his filthy retreating back, Li Huowang turned to the old man.
“Sir, this watchman says he wards off disasters—is that true? Has he ever actually protected you all?”
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> Though Gao Zhijian had only mentioned it in passing, in this world, anything was possible.
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> “Pah, disasters my foot. If disaster really struck, what could a fool like him do? Couple years back, drought hit—he ate plenty.”
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> “It’s just village talk, to keep a rootless idiot from starving. Any sensible person can see that.”
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> “You’re a kind man, sir.”
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> “Kind? It’s just ancestral custom. A village can only feed one fool—any more, and there ain’t enough grain. Speaking of, Daoist, your escort route—does it pass through Ji City?”
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> Surprised by the sudden shift, Li Huowang realized this wasn’t a chance encounter—the old man had sought him out deliberately.
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> “My eldest daughter lives there. Could you carry a message? Nothin’ big—just tell her her big brother’s wed, and the family’s about to add another mouth. How much silver?”
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> “No need to be so formal, sir. We ate at your home, so we’re your guests. Carrying a word for the host? No silver required.”
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> Hearing this, the old man didn’t refuse and gave him his daughter’s address.
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> After noting it down, Li Huowang suddenly recalled something.
“Didn’t your second son just happen to leave? Why not have him deliver it? He’s on horseback—faster than our wagons.”
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> “Second’s reporting back to camp. Can’t detour to his sister’s. Begged hard for these two days’ leave. Sigh, wonder if war’s brewing again.”
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> “Sir, what’s your son’s rank? Some high official, right?”
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> Li Huowang had hit the man’s soft spot. His voice rose with pride as he boasted.
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> “He’s no small fry—in camp, he’s short soldier.”
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> “Short soldier? What’s that?”
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> “Hah! You wouldn’t know~ I didn’t either at first. Second told me: short soldier’s the guard right by the grand general.”
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> “Y’know that ‘short-soldier clash’ the bookworms talk about? Means the generals themselves collide.”
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> “Tell me, the man at the grand general’s side—how could that post be minor?”
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> “Look at our big house, my ox-cart, them stone lions at the gate—all courtesy of my boy.”
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>(End of chapter)