Song Jiyun seemed to have resolved all his worries behind him and his face showed joy.
The old woman, of course, was also very pleased.
She said to Song Jiyun with a smile, "Miss Li, you’ll know once you and Young Master Li are here, there’s no better job than the one we offer here. I don’t think you’re used to doing household chores, so you can learn along with us to manage a household."
Song Jiyun nodded with a smile, playing his part completely, and left a note for the old woman: "My aunt lives here, and if I haven’t returned in five or six days, it’s probably because my aunt wants us to stay a few more days. You can send someone to deliver a message then."
The old woman received the note with a beaming smile.
Zhao Qi’s Wife happily brought out breakfast and even added an extra egg pancake.
It wasn’t until Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong had eaten their breakfast and were escorted by the old woman and others to the village entrance, and took the dirt road pointed out by Zhao Qi, continuing until the old woman and her companions were out of sight, that they finally stopped.
Song Jiyun hadn’t planned to trek over mountains and hills, so she surveyed the surrounding terrain.
Yuan Yunzhong directly asked Song Jiyun, "Which way do we go?"
Song Jiyun pursed her lips and smiled.
Clearing his throat, Yuan Yunzhong looked around and said nonchalantly, "You can come with me if you want!"
Song Jiyun’s smile deepened and she pointed to the woods on the right, "We can pass through here and reach the hillside from last night."
She explained, "We disappeared near the post road, Zheng Quan and his men will definitely start their search from there. The road that Zhao Qi pointed out is too far and in the wrong direction. I’m afraid of missing them by a hair’s breadth."
Yuan Yunzhong grunted and took the lead towards the woods. After a few steps, he turned back and urged her, "Hurry up!"
Song Jiyun’s lips curled, and she jogged to catch up with Yuan Yunzhong.
The two made their way through the forest.
Amidst the harmless dangers, the temporarily freed Song Jiyun was in good spirits and teased Yuan Yunzhong, "Whether it’s the master of Shaping Clay Bodies or the Glazing master in the Kiln Factory, as long as one is willing to learn and the Owner gives the chance, it’s easy to succeed. But being a painter is different, it requires talent, something that is hard to come by. All the kiln factories are short of good painters. If you ever find yourself short of silver, I can help you make the connections. If you can create a popular design, you could support a small kiln factory."
Yuan Yunzhong glanced at her sideways and said, "Don’t I still have 100,000 silver taels?"
Song Jiyun burst into laughter and said, "When do you plan to take it?"
Yuan Yunzhong smiled without answering, lightly leaping onto a large bluestone that blocked their path, and reached out his hand to her, cautioning, "Watch out!"
Song Jiyun looked up.
The orange glow of the dawn sky shone on his face, casting his features in a layer of soft light, adding a touch of moisture to his brow that softened its fierce look, and imbuing it with the youthful spirit of his age.
Song Jiyun tightly gripped his hand, jumped onto the large bluestone, and then realized they were at the foot of the hill.
"Let’s go!" Yuan Yunzhong said, pulling her as they began to climb the slope.
The view was completely different in the daytime compared to the night.
Last night they had no idea where they were, but now Song Jiyun was certain that once they climbed the slope, they would eventually reach the post road.
Thinking of Yuan Yunzhong’s behavior over the past day and night, Song Jiyun said to him, "How about I send you another estate by the lake? Pick a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters. It could be Suzhou, Yangzhou, or Hangzhou. What style do you like?"
She wanted to thank Yuan Yunzhong.
"Oh!" Yuan Yunzhong paused, raising his eyebrows and looked her up and down as he said, "Send me an estate? What are you trying to do? Keep me in the house?"
"Hey!" Song Jiyun couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
Suddenly, a fierce shout came from behind them: "They’re here!"
Song Jiyun and Yuan Yunzhong turned around.
Behind them appeared two burly men dressed in short brown tunics, wielding wooden clubs.
It was one of the men who had pursued them the day before!
A shock ran through Song Jiyun and her face darkened.
She hadn’t expected still to be tracked down!
Yuan Yunzhong moved to protect Song Jiyun behind him.
The sound of cracking twigs echoed as five or six more men dressed the same as the first two stepped out.
Song Jiyun’s legs felt weak.
Her voice tense, she asked Yuan Yunzhong, "How many people can you fight?"
Yuan Yunzhong looked at the fan-shaped group of men closing in on them step by step and said unhurriedly, "Why do you ask that?"
Of course, it was in the hope of saving whoever they could!
Song Jiyun said, "If it really comes to it, you run first! Then find a way to come back and save me!"
"That won’t do!" Yuan Yunzhong still spoke leisurely, "If I lose the creditor, who am I going to ask for the 100,000 silver taels and the lakeside mansion?"
Listenting to him, Song Jiyun felt a tinge of sorrow in her heart.
At crucial moments, he’d never abandoned her.
She hoped they could also turn danger into safety this time.
But she still said with a smile, "So if you see the situation turning sour, you’d better run quickly, or what am I to do? I’m counting on you to come rescue me!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than one of the men surrounding her grew impatient, swinging a wooden club at Yuan Yunzhong.
"Be careful!" she yelled at the top of her voice, but Yuan Yunzhong had already kicked the man in the chest.
Gasping in pain, the man staggered back several steps and sat down on the ground with a thud, clutching his chest, unable to get up for a long while.
Song Jiyun winced just looking at him.
Perhaps that kick had intimidated the others because they halted, and one of them pointed at her and said to Yuan Yunzhong, "I have no past grudges nor recent hatred with you. Hand over the woman behind you, and I’ll let you go."
Song Jiyun’s lips tightened, but she felt a strong sense of security within.
For some reason, she was absolutely certain that these words could not move Yuan Yunzhong.
And sure enough, Yuan Yunzhong only gave them a sidelong glance and scoffed disdainfully.
That man then looked sinisterly at the others and gestured with his eyes.
The group, with malicious expressions, drew closer and closer.
Song Jiyun became frantic, pulling hard on Yuan Yunzhong’s sleeve: "If we can escape, even just one of us is something!"
But Yuan Yunzhong remained unmoved.
Those men probably thought to pick on the weaker one, concentrating their attack on Song Jiyun.
Three or four wooden sticks swung towards Song Jiyun simultaneously.
Song Jiyun broke out in a cold sweat, retreating again and again.
But who could have known that, while protecting her, Yuan Yunzhong turned sharply, dodging the sticks aimed at her and shouted in a low voice, "Come out!"
Suddenly, rustling sounds came from the woods.
Seven or eight men in black tight-fitting clothes with swords appeared from the dense forest.
Others dressed the same were holding crossbows, surrounding them completely.
Song Jiyun’s heart shook violently.
Crossbows were regulated weapons.
And each of these men had an unusual appearance, their expressions stern with a touch of pride.
They could not possibly be from an idle gang or rangers.
Rather, they resembled soldiers from the military.
Where had this group of men come from?
Why were they here?
Song Jiyun was panic-stricken and couldn’t help but look towards Yuan Yunzhong.
Yuan Yunzhong’s face was impassive. He pressed down on her shoulder and made a gesture toward those men.
The men drew their swords and started to slash at their pursuers.
Song Jiyun’s mouth fell open in shock.
The men chasing them fell like straw men, and within a few moments of engagement, all were subdued by the men in black.
"Master!" One of the men knelt on one knee before Yuan Yunzhong, bowing with a fist and said, "We’ve also captured the other eight men."
Yuan Yunzhong nodded coldly.
Song Jiyun looked around bewildered.
Just what kind of person had she provoked?
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