"Sir, please stay!"
Suddenly, a voice was heard in the woods. The old man carrying firewood on his back shook his body violently, and without stopping, he ran forward directly, leaving Lu Liangsheng and his group who had just arrived somewhat puzzled.
Fortunately, the old man couldn't run fast with the firewood on his back, so it was very easy for Lu Liangsheng to catch up with him. He grabbed the old man's firewood from behind and said, "Old man, stop!"
Whoosh~~ Whoosh~~
The old man was dragged to a stop, gasping for breath. He turned around and saw a handsome scholar in a green shirt and white robe. He breathed a sigh of relief, put down the firewood, sat down on the ground, waved his hands, and spoke a few words in the local dialect, which Lu Liangsheng could not understand at all.
He quietly made a spell from his sleeve, and stretched a line of magic into the old man's head. After a moment, he used the other party's words, "Old man, I was passing by here with my companions. I am sorry for disturbing you. I apologize to you."
"Hey, you can speak the local dialect?"
The old man wiped the sweat off his face, and after hearing the kind words, he finally let go of the worry in his heart.
"You young men are really scary. I thought you had run into a man-eating mandrill. What are you running around for in this deep forest?"
"I'm sorry."
He probably knew why the old man was so scared that he wanted to run away. There were so many people suddenly coming out from the deep mountains and dense forests. If they were not monsters, they would be regarded as strong men in the mountains. Lu Liangsheng apologized again and then started to ask what he wanted to ask.
"I don't know, old man, can you tell me where this place is?"
The old man looked at the scholar in front of him, then turned his head to look at the four people following behind him, as well as an old donkey and the beautiful girl sitting on the donkey's back. He glared at them with some annoyance, stood up, lifted the firewood onto his back with his backhand, pushed it up with his buttocks, and put it on his back again. He waved to Lu Liangsheng and his group, turned around and talked as he walked.
"You are so brave, running around in the deep mountains and forests, and taking a girl with you, you are not afraid of hurting her. You are also lucky that you didn't run into any wolves, tigers or leopards. Come on, follow Xiao Lao Er."
The old man wore straw sandals and walked on the rugged mountain roads all year round. Every step he took was very steady. He first complained about a few people and then thought about this place. Most mountain people and farmers seldom left their small piece of land in their lives. Most scholars heard about the outside world from the traveling merchants. The old man did not speak eloquently, but he could still give a general idea of this place.
"This used to be Ningzhou... I don't know where Ningzhou is. Later, I heard that there was chaos and wars everywhere outside, and then Ningzhou disappeared. I haven't seen anyone from the government for a long time. There are many people from other tribes here now. Don't run around if you have nothing to do... Go this way!"
Lu Liangsheng nodded and followed the old man. He listened to what he said, frowned and thought about where Ningzhou was. Wang Feng, who was following behind him, suddenly whispered, "Master, Ningzhou is the area of Nanzhong, Yongchang County and Yunnan County."
After hearing this, the scholar remembered that since the chaos in the Central Plains, it seemed that they had completely abandoned this place. No wonder he couldn't remember where Ningzhou was for a while. However, Lu Liangsheng remembered that there should be Xiezhou here.
"National Master, there is one in Xiezhou, but it is still in the north, far away from here."
"You four are familiar with the states and counties."
Lu Liangsheng could not help laughing and turned his gaze to the four people walking on both sides of Lao Lu. Seeing the National Master looking at them, Wang Feng, Ma Liu, Zhang Ti and Zhao Tang immediately grinned.
"Master, please watch what we are doing. I have traveled a lot and I naturally look at the map a lot, so I wrote it down..."
At this moment, the old man leading the way in front suddenly spoke.
"Everyone, we are out of the forest. The village is in front of us. Let's go over and have some food..."
The old man turned around and talked and laughed. Suddenly, a strong wind blew across his face, making dimples on his skin. When the wind stopped and he opened his eyes, there were only a few leaves floating across his field of vision. There was no trace of the scholar or the donkey.
"Ouch, I met a monster!!"
The old man was startled, his legs going weak with fear. Then he recalled the scholar he met in the woods. His clothes were clean as new, and he didn't look like a lost man at all. He pinched his thigh to sober himself up, and clasped his fists and bowed towards the empty woods.
After a moment, he turned around and ran towards the village with the firewood on his back. What he didn't realize was that carrying the firewood just now was a little tiring, but now he was running without getting red in the face or out of breath, and his whole body was full of endless energy.
When he returned to the village, he told the people in the village about the strange things that happened while chopping wood, but no one believed him...
…
"Liangsheng, why didn't you go to the village just now? Maybe you could get a meal. I haven't had rice for a long time."
The rosy glow from the western hills shone onto the dirt road on the hillside. Birds flapped their wings and flew over the heads of the group, then landed on the treetops, chirping crisply.
Walking under the treetops that extended to the mountain road, Lu Liangsheng listened to the birds singing in the forest, turned around and smiled at the Toad Taoist who was sitting on the donkey's head with his webbed feet, a little angry, "Master, the mountain is poor, there are many of us, and we have no money. We can't let others down. Besides, we have come here, are you still afraid of not having enough to eat?"
The Toad Taoist was stunned for a moment, snorted, turned his head away and changed direction.
"I just said a few words, do you think I'm old and confused?"
The four people behind him didn't care about one or two meals. At least they were back in the territory of the Sui Dynasty. They were very excited and couldn't wait to return to Chang'an. They could bring along people they knew and talk for three days and three nights about the Western countries they had visited in the past six months and the strange things that happened to them. What's more, they were with the imperial teacher. The relationship between them was very special. By then, they might be able to enter the court, marry a beautiful wife and concubines, and reach the peak that ordinary people could hardly reach in their lifetime.
The sky gradually darkened. Lu Liangsheng and his party inquired about nearby cities along the way, and finally found a town by groping their way at night. They had a meal there and continued on their journey at daybreak. However, this time Lu Liangsheng deliberately slowed down his pace. Since he was back in the Sui Dynasty, he could appreciate the scenery and see the mountains and rivers, especially the bitter local tea. People who were used to drinking light tea immediately sprayed out the tea in their mouths. Afterwards, they went to a big lake called Erhai Lake. The four scholars stood on a big rock and recited poems and composed essays, while Lu Liangsheng set up an easel and took advantage of the rising sun to paint a picture of Erhai Lake with ink.
When you are thirsty, you can bend down and scoop up some lake water to take a sip. When you are hungry, you can catch fish or pick fruits. You can stroll along the way in Xinting, feeling free and easy.
The summer heat gradually fades away, and the green mountains are covered with a hint of autumn yellow.
After visiting Yunnan County, which once belonged to various dynasties in the Central Plains, I found that the government office was in a dilapidated state, and the city was mostly inhabited by southern barbarians and Han people, and the local chiefs were responsible for maintaining public order.
"It seems that Sui'an's friend's wish to establish a country here is not without reason."
Looking at the relatively orderly street, Lu Liangsheng was about to leave with his old donkey, but suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at the teahouse on the street, and vaguely heard some words that made him frown slightly.
"I heard that Shelong has returned and is lobbying people of all tribes everywhere."
"Is he still thinking about establishing a country?"
"The Wuman Meng clan is very powerful in this area, and there are no Han officials here, so why don't they dare?"
"But I heard that he was gathering people everywhere. It didn't seem like he wanted to establish a country, but rather to start a war..."
"Don't tell me, I'll tell you. I know the whole story! I heard that one of his friends was trapped in the Canglan River, and he came back to ask for help..."
Shelong
Doesn’t he always follow An
Could it be that the one to be saved is Sui An...
Lu Liangsheng quickly loosened the reins and strode into the teahouse. The tea drinker who was talking felt his vision darken, and when he raised his head, he saw a scholar standing in front of him.
"Sir, what are you going to do?"
"Please tell me where Shelong is now!"
Not long after.
Lu Liangsheng came out and led the old donkey to the outside of the city, in the opposite direction of Xiezhou where he was originally going. After leaving the city gate, Toad Taoist climbed onto the donkey's back and looked around, looking at the disciple in front of him.
"Liangsheng, I remember the direction seems to be wrong, right? Xiezhou is in the north, this is to the east."
"It's okay Master, it's not a big problem."
Lu Liangsheng smiled, turned his head back, and his smile gradually cooled.
Catch my disciples...
Canglan Sword Sect.
With a flick of his sleeves, a strong wind blew, rustling... The branches and leaves swayed wildly, and in the blink of an eye, he took a step forward, and everyone's figures disappeared on the road.