Chapter 61 The Trouble-Making Duo

Chapter 61 The Trouble-Making Duo

"Grandpa!" Wang Sumo jumped off the hammock with a whoosh.

The old man turned to look at her too, "Girl."

"Neither of them have returned?" Wang Sumo asked gravely.

In fact, just from the old man's furrowed brow and thoughtful expression, it was clear that Bai Cen and Zhao Tong hadn't shown up, nor had any other news come back. Six hours, from dusk till dawn, was indeed quite a long time…

"It's been all night, and we haven't heard a sound." The old man added, "It shouldn't be like this. Bai Cen is clever and can handle anything that happens. Shanhe Town is not small, and there are plenty of places to hide."

The old man must have been thinking about it all night. "If we add Zhao Tong to the mix, even if we clash with the garrison, it won't be difficult for Zhao Tong to escape capture. Besides, even if he's afraid of attracting people here, this place is only eight miles away from Shanhe Town. If there's any commotion, they would have already searched here."

"It doesn't look like it to me..." So the old man was worried, but not in a hurry.

But after all, they were eight miles apart, and there was a city wall between them, so they didn't know what had happened.

Bai Cen and Zhao Tong were not simpletons; they wouldn't just sit idly by if something really happened.

They were probably trapped by something, but there didn't seem to be any great danger, so they were just waiting for time to pass.

"If only Old He were here right now," the old man muttered as he turned off the engine.

Wang Sumo knew that he missed Master He. In times like these, people always think of the most trusted person, the one they can entrust their back to.

"Girl, pack your things first, and wait and see. If there's still no movement from the town after another hour, I'll take a stroll around Shanhe Town. You drive the Bazhen Tower back towards Huzhen." Old Master Qu instructed.

"Okay." Wang Sumo didn't want to cause any trouble.

The fire died down, and a wisp of smoke rose from it.

Then it gradually dissipates.

The first hint of dawn on the horizon gradually turned into a full moon, which continued to rise from the mountaintop.

While packing, Wang Sumo also took stock of the supplies.

They weren't open for business, but the food on the carriage was enough for the group to eat for two or three days, plus some hay for the horses, enough to last them another two or three days. They took the opportunity to replenish their water at the stream for the journey, giving them enough time to recover.

The Eight Treasures Pavilion can't enter the small village, but people can go in to resupply; they're far from being completely out of resources...

There's no need to worry too much.

But it was something that Master He mentioned to her privately before he left.

There are advantages to having more people, but it takes time to get along with them. She and Grandpa Qu had been getting along for several years and knew each other's style of doing things. No matter what the other did or how he did it, she knew exactly what to do.

However, Bai Cen and Zhao Tong had only been at Bazhenlou for a few days.

Before coming to Bazhenlou, they each had their own style of doing things and principles of handling affairs, and they were already used to them, so it was impossible for them to change overnight.

Therefore, don't underestimate the risks involved in a team's integration and adaptation process; the journey is unlikely to be smooth sailing...

Wang Sumo sighed softly, realizing that what Master He had predicted was indeed true.

When she was with the old man, it was fine; there were only two of them, and they could explain things clearly with just one person's voice.

Imagine there are four people here, and imagine the eight horses pulling the Eight Treasures Pavilion. If four of the eight horses are new and haven't been broken in, they'd probably start fighting after just a few steps. Even worse, if the four horses go in four different directions, it would be a miracle if the entire Eight Treasures Pavilion didn't fall apart.

Bai Cen and Zhao Tong were certainly not horses pulling the cart; in fact, they were even more resourceful than horses!

Thinking of this, Wang Sumo sighed softly.

These are things that Master He must have encountered when he established Qingyun Manor, which is why he spoke of them so casually.

The old man was right; Bai Cen and Zhao Tong were no pushovers, and it was harder for outsiders to uncover them than to fail to do so. Besides, the people Shanhe Town was looking for weren't originally those two...

After Wang Sumo finished tidying up, she turned around and saw that the old man had already started "fishing" by the stream.

We don't know what the situation will be like as we go on, but we can leave more fish in case we need them.

The old man is a long-time resident of Bazhenlou, and he always has the habit of thinking ahead before taking any steps.

While raising pigs and sheep is not feasible at Bazhenlou, and raising chickens and ducks is also unlikely, raising fish is still somewhat possible.

The old man indulged her.

She said the few crucian carp currently kept at Bazhenlou were pet fish and ornamental fish, while the old man went fishing for fish nearby.

The rest of the time was spent waiting for Bai Cen and Zhao Tong.

Wang Sumo also took out "The Record of Delicacies" and started flipping through it. After turning just two pages, he suddenly remembered that he had gone to Qingyun Manor last time and picked up a bottle of medicinal herbs with the character "Ren" written on it. Later, he was delayed by a bunch of other things and didn't have time to study it properly.

She put all the bottles into her treasure box.

Having some free time, Wang Sumo opened the "treasure chest" and found the bottle.

She remembered opening the medicine box in the medicine room and smelling it, but before she knew it, the pungent smell made her cough a few times.

But it must be said that after the pungent taste, there seems to be a special woody aroma and a sweet aftertaste.

It's somewhat similar to camphor, but without the jarring smell of camphor.

It's very special.

Materials with a special aroma can be used as a base material, and there are several ways to deal with a pungent smell.

First, reduce the amount of any single spice used. This applies to many common ingredients and seasonings. Take the most common salt, for example: one spoonful is just right. If you put a whole bowl of it in, it will be too salty and unpalatable. A moderate amount of evodia can add spiciness and make food more flavorful, but too much evodia in the pot can cause both you and the pot to catch fire.

Secondly, methods such as rinsing and sun-drying can also be used. Some spices can be diluted with water, wind, and sunlight, and then exposed to the sun to gradually remove their strong flavors, reducing their stimulation to the sense of smell and taste. Many medicinal herbs are processed in this way. The goal is to remove the dross and retain the essence.

Furthermore, other spices can be used in combination. Many spices are unremarkable on their own, or even have a strange taste, but when combined with the right spices, their aftertaste and aroma can be fully brought out and utilized.

These things need to be tried gradually, and it takes time...

When the old man drove the Eight Treasures Pavilion on the road, she spent most of her time fussing over her spices.

She understood Lu Wenqu's initial "delight." The woody aroma and lingering sweetness of this "medicinal herb" could, if used properly, create a seasoning with rich layers of flavor.

While the old man was fishing, Wang Sumo was there, sniffing, tasting, fiddling with, and playing with the fish, occasionally glancing over to bask in his "majesty."

An hour passed quickly in the midst of the hustle and bustle...

The old man glanced at the small sundial he had taken from the carriage, then looked up at the sky before deftly putting away his fishing rod. "Girl, it's time."

Wang Sumo also stopped, glanced at the sundial, hesitated for a moment, but then quickly packed up the treasure chest and put it back in the carriage.

Old Qu also finished inspecting the carriage.

After all, Lao Qu was somewhat worried about letting his daughter travel alone.

But Lao Qu also knew that the girl wasn't a child anymore...

"Go on, see you in Huihu Town." The old man waved his hand.

Wang Sumo, who was quite skilled at driving a carriage by himself, reminded him, "Grandpa, please be careful. I'll wait for you in Huzhen."

The old man nodded.

Eight horses pulling a carriage isn't easy to turn around, but Wang Sumo knew the way well. Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, the old man slowly withdrew his gaze, his brows gradually furrowing. Those two good-for-nothings!

He wanted to see just what kind of monsters and demons were lurking in Shanhe Town!

Not far away, the old man displayed his light-footed skills.

In the martial arts world, top-tier lightness skills can cover dozens of miles a day, with the Yufeng Sect's ability to cover a hundred miles a day being among the best.

Although the old man's light work was not as fast as "traveling a hundred miles a day", he could still reach the eight-mile distance quickly.

Although Shanhe Town has the word "town" in its name, it is larger than an ordinary city, with many merchants, pedestrians, and garrison troops.

Whether it's martial arts sects or local thugs, strictly speaking, none of them want to cause trouble in this territory.

The old man glanced at it from afar outside the city gate.

At the city gate, soldiers were checking pedestrians entering and leaving, just as Bai Cen, Zhao Tong, and the maid had discussed yesterday. Young and middle-aged men were not checked much, and among women and children, children and old ladies were not checked much either...

Looking at it from the opposite perspective with a degree of speculation, it becomes crystal clear.

Seeing the elderly man and woman who were being detained at the city gate, they all stayed behind almost without saying a word.

Some people were arguing at the city gate, and then they were all taken away.

The old man frowned slightly.

That means the checks were even stricter than the day before.

The inspection Zhao Tong mentioned the day before yesterday was still somewhat secretive, like a routine procedure, but it was already lenient in entry and strict in exit; now, however, it's no longer secretive, with inspections both upon entry and upon exit, and the inspections are even more blatant.

Moreover, people were detained without any explanation, including some who were dressed in fine clothes and were dragged off their carriages.

That means the person they're looking to arrest is someone with considerable influence and connections, so they've become much more ruthless and brutal in their actions.

He could no longer rashly enter the city to look for Bai Cen and Zhao Tong.

If he is also forcibly detained, the girl will be worried about being left alone in the lake town.

The old man continued to observe the second floor of the city gate from afar.

Besides the soldiers on duty, there were quite a few others on the second floor of the city gate...

The old man thought he was seeing things, but after examining it more closely, he realized it was indeed a dog!

Each person was accompanied by a dog. There were at least a dozen or twenty such groups on the city gate. They were not dressed in the uniforms of the imperial court or government offices, and they looked rather lazy and casual.

The old man's brow furrowed slightly.

I recall there was a sect in the martial arts world called Eagle Gate.

Originally, it was famous for training eagles.

But besides eagles, there are also domesticated animals such as dogs.

They relied on domesticating animals to grow their sect and gained a place in the martial arts world. They were once very prosperous, but later they gradually declined. However, the Eagle Sect still exists, but it is rarely seen that the Eagle Sect members come out to play.

He had seen Eagle Gate disciples go out a long time ago, and they were wearing similar clothes.

But what he saw then were tiger tamers.

Tigers mostly live in the mountains, and people are terrified when they see them.

To make tigers obey, you need not only the right methods, but also to start raising them from a young age.

The Eagle Clan is viewed with mixed opinions in the martial arts world. Like the Heavenly Fragrance Clan before it, such sects are more likely to rise suddenly and become extremely powerful. These unorthodox sects can also instill fear in people in the martial arts world.

It has been many years since the people of Yingmen have been seen active outside, and they are even with the people of the imperial court.

The old man's gaze gradually dimmed.

For some reason, I feel that there are more and more unusual things happening in the martial arts world lately.

Hopefully it's just his imagination...

Dogs have an exceptionally keen sense of smell. If the people from Eagle Gate brought well-trained dogs, it means that the person they are looking for is almost certainly in the city.

Strangely, yesterday they were lenient in allowing entry but strict in allowing exit, but today they're not even bothering to conceal it anymore; moreover, if they wanted to search the city, they could have simply sent the Eagle Gate men in with their dogs, but instead they had the Eagle Gate men stationed on the second floor of the city gate—

The old man's gaze sharpened slightly.

It was intentionally shown to make people lose their composure and panic.

Those inside the city are like turtles in a jar, while those outside are invited to come of their own accord.

The old man's gaze grew increasingly impatient, but at this crucial moment, Bai Cen and Zhao Tong had somehow disappeared to join in the commotion.

Even if Bai Cen entered the city first, Zhao Tong should still be outside the city.

There's not a soul in sight right now; I have no idea what happened.

Although there were herbal tea shops outside the city, the old man knew that these shops were probably run by people from the imperial court and the Eagle Gate. If he went to inquire about them at this time, he would only get himself into trouble.

I can't go forward to ask for directions, and if I enter the city alone, I'll definitely be detained when I try to leave...

As the old man pondered what to do, a slow, ingratiating voice came from behind him: "I can find out people and things, and I can even find out what's going on in Shanhe Town!"

The old man ignored him and didn't even turn his head.

While cracking sunflower seeds, the other person leaned closer to the old man, speaking slowly from a distance, "Grandpa, I've seen you watching from here for quite a while now. Have you noticed anything?"

The old man then turned around and glanced at the other person.

He was about the same age as Zhao Tong, but he was as thin as a stick, like a firewood pole.

He wasn't exactly sharp-tongued, but his appearance wasn't exactly handsome either.

Coupled with his ambiguous smile, he looks like a shifty-eyed scoundrel.

He took another step forward, and the old man's gaze suddenly sharpened, making him shudder. He had only thought the other man was an old man, but seeing such a piercing gaze, he realized that the old man was not someone to be trifled with.

Just as he was about to turn and run away, someone grabbed him by the collar from behind. The other person was so frightened that his face changed color. "Senior! Elder! I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness. I was blind. Please forgive me, senior. I was a petty person."

The other party rattled off a whole bunch of things, making the old man frown.

Sure enough, amidst the crackling sounds, someone suddenly turned around, reached out, and threw a hidden weapon.

In that instant, before he could even stop the crackling sounds, the old man grabbed his other hand that was holding the hidden weapon and pushed it back to its own direction.

The other party was horrified.

If the old man had used just a fraction more force, the needle would have pierced the man's stomach.

The other person's lips immediately turned pale with fright.

Beside him, the old man slowly said, "I used this trick of yours decades ago, and I used it better than you."

other side:"……"

The old man glanced at him, gave a soft snort, and then suddenly let go.

With a "thud," the other person landed, followed by a "crack" sound as their elbow hit the ground, indicating it was dislocated.

The other person immediately winced in pain, and cold sweat broke out on their forehead, but their mind remained clear. "Thank you, thank you so much, senior!"

If your mind isn't clear at a time like this, it might not just be a dislocated shoulder...

If this old man wanted to crush him, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.

Seeing that the deterrent effect had been achieved, the old man stepped forward and squatted down, saying in a deep voice, "When did your Burning Lamp Sect become such despicable people?"

Perhaps the old man's label of "the Burning Lamp Sect" and "a petty scoundrel" was too shocking, for the other party was clearly not expected and was completely stunned, "You, how could you..."

Although there was no sound after that, it's not hard to guess that the unspoken words were "How did you know?"

Moreover, besides surprise and astonishment, there was also shame in his tone, because he had associated the Burning Lamp Sect with the words "petty villains"...

Just moments ago he was begging for mercy and pulling off a series of tricks, but now he suddenly seems lifeless, hanging his head dejectedly. He remains silent and doesn't even look at the old man.

After a long while, he lowered his head, struggled to get up from the ground with his dislocated arm, and said in a deep voice, "I am not a disciple of the Burning Lamp Sect. You have mistaken me for someone else."

The old man glanced at him but did not stop him.

Seeing the other person stagger away, the old man thought of Li Qiuran, the former leader of the Burning Lamp Sect.

After the other person stumbled away, the old man noticed a token on the ground. He wanted to call out to him, but the other person had already reached the direction of the city gate.

The old man picked it up; it was a jade disc from the Burning Lamp Sect engraved with his name.

— Li Min.

It should be his name.

No one in the martial arts world knows who Li Qiuran's partner is.

But Li Qiuran has a son who takes her surname.

He vaguely remembered that Li Qiuran's only son was named Li Min.

Several years ago, he had attended Li Min's first birthday celebration, and Li Min picked up a pen...

The scene from that time is no longer so clear in my memory, but it's hard to put that adorable little child from before together with the person I just met.

People's circumstances are different.

Li Qiuran has passed away. If he really is Li Min, he must have gone through a long and dark period...

It took the old man a long time to come to his senses, by which time the other person had already gone far away.

If this jade disc is left here, it may not be found when we return.

Whether it was just a momentary stubbornness or a refusal to admit that he was a member of the Burning Lamp Sect, the fact that he carried this jade disc with him at least had extraordinary significance.

The old man sighed softly, then put the jade disc back into his sleeve. If the other party cared about this jade disc, they would definitely find a way to come to him.

After thinking for a moment, the old man picked up a branch from the ground and wrote the words "Bazhenlou" clearly on the open ground to the side.

"Grandpa? Grandpa!" A familiar yet delighted voice came from not far away. Grandpa turned his head and, sure enough, saw Bai Cen and Zhao Tong together.

That slightly surprised voice just now was from Bai Cen.

The old man felt a slight sense of relief.

Regardless of what happened before, the most important thing right now is that everyone is safe.

The old man's eyes softened for a moment, then he opened them again, his expression changing from relief to a change of expression. He hadn't even thrown away the branch he had just written the words "Eight Treasures Pavilion" on, and he was about to whip Bai Cen, who was running over.

"Hey! Grandpa! Grandpa!!" Luckily, Bai Cen was quick-witted and nimble. Just as he reached the old man, he suddenly saw the old man pointing a tree branch at him and about to strike him in annoyance. Bai Cen slipped behind Zhao Tong with a "whoosh".

Zhao Tong was taken aback at first, then frowned in annoyance.

"Get out," Zhao Tong reminded him.

Bai Cencai no!

The old man is furious right now! Wouldn't this branch sting him badly?

Zhao Tong finally turned to look at him. Bai Cen: ? ? ?

In that instant, Zhao Tong suddenly reached out and pulled him in front of him. Bai Cen: !!

Bai Cen was thrown directly by Zhao Tong, flying right into the old man's tree branch. With a "smack," it hit him exactly.

"Grandpa! Why are you hitting me?!" Bai Cen protested!

The old man was furious. "What have you been wandering around Shanhe Town for so long? You spent the whole night digging irrigation ditches!"

After saying that, he got angrier and angrier, and grabbed another tree branch.

"Hey! Control yourself! Control yourself!" Bai Cen dodged quickly this time, having learned his lesson, and stopped hiding behind Zhao Tong.

Watching the old man chase Bai Cen with a tree branch, and Bai Cen leading the old man in circles around him, Zhao Tong seemed to be getting used to this daily morning chaos: the old man chasing Bai Cen and beating him up; Bai Cen leading the old man in a run.

Zhao Tong calmly sat down on the rock, then calmly took out the white steamed bun he had just bought in town and calmly took a bite.

The old man even chased Bai Cen around in circles with jellyfish branches, and Zhao Tong grew increasingly used to it.

Compared to the nagging Deyuan, the old man Qu and Bai Cen weren't actually that noisy with him. Once you got to know them, they had an indescribable "living" quality.

He didn't like it, but he was used to it.

The noisy old man and Bai Cen are perfect background figures for watching while eating.

Soon, Zhao Tong finished a white steamed bun and then took out a twisted roll.

After finishing the steamed bun, the old man and Bai Cen were both exhausted from running, bending over and panting heavily.

Zhao Tong calmly unscrewed the water pouch, then listened to their conversation while drinking the warm water from it, feeling quite satisfied...

Meanwhile, Bai Cen finally gave in, "No, no, stop chasing me, Grandpa! I've been running all night, I really can't run anymore."

The old man wasn't much better off, "You brat! I knew it was you!"

The old man didn't even need to think about it. Although Zhao Tong was aloof and taciturn, he would never change his mind once he made a promise, unless he realized that Bai Cen was in danger and would then risk entering the city.

The problem isn't with Zhao Tong, it's with Bai Cen.

Furthermore, Bai Cen's "enthusiastic" greeting to him made him seem much more "guilty" and "protesting too much" compared to Zhao Tong's utterly hopeless demeanor.

Sure enough, he pulled it out with a branch.

The three men, one after the other, had different expressions on their way back from Shanhe Town to Huzhen. The old man had his arms crossed and looked displeased.

Zhao Tong was still somewhat disappointed that the old man hadn't broken Bai Cen's legs. He listened quietly the whole time, and didn't speak unless someone asked him a question.

When the old man asked, he would simply answer the question truthfully.

When faced with an awkward situation, look at Bai Cen, and then Bai Cen will speak for himself.

Finally, the three of them walked side by side on the main road to Lake Town. There were still tire tracks left by the carriage of the Eight Treasures Pavilion on the ground. The old man, having heard half of this, finally lost his temper and roared, "What did you do? You went and stole the Night Armor of the Eagle Gate Master!!"

Bai Cen: "..."

The old man finally understood!

So he was the real culprit!! The dogs on the second floor of the Shanhe Town city gate were actually there to sniff out his scent!!

You bastard!

The old man grabbed the tree branch and continued to try to whip the tree.

"Hey, hey, old man, listen to me! Ouch, ouch, ouch, it hurts!"

Even the widest road wouldn't be enough for the two of them to cause trouble.

Zhao Tong calmly took out an apple and then calmly took a bite.

Finally, Bai Cen wailed from the side, "Then you should ask Zhao Tong! He killed someone's eagle!"

Take the old man: ? ? ?

The old man suddenly became very unwell.

[Author's Note]

I almost missed today, HOHO