The Lord God is kneeling on the washboard again

Chapter 108 The Trouble Returning to Beijing

The bustling streets were filled with the clamor of vendors. "Freshly baked buns, thin skin, generous fillings, one bite leaves a lingering fragrance!" the vendor shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice a magical charm, drawing passersby to stop and watch. Not far away, the owner of a fruit stall, not to be outdone, shouted, "Sweet and juicy fruit! Come and try some!" As he called, he expertly arranged the fruits in neat rows, the colorful hues gleaming enticingly in the sunlight. A few steps further, an elderly man selling candied haws (tanghulu) slowly pushed his cart, muttering, "Tanghulu, sweet and sour tanghulu..." The crystal-clear, sugar-coated hawthorns were enough to make one's mouth water. In addition, there are the clear and pleasant cries of the little girl selling flowers, the loud voice of the uncle selling groceries, and the bursts of fragrance and noise coming from various snack stalls, all intertwined together, forming a lively scene full of life.

Qiluo City is different from other towns. It is isolated from the world.

This place seems to be a corner forgotten by time, free from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Surrounded by high mountains, it forms a natural barrier that cuts it off from the outside world.

The people in the city live a self-sufficient life, preserving ancient and unique customs and culture. Time flows slowly and peacefully here, and everything seems so different.

After exchanging a few words with several stall owners, Xing Xuanli said goodbye and headed to the next location.

She smiled and waved to the stall owners, then turned and left with Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) and the children. The sunlight shone on their backs, casting long shadows, full of warmth and harmony.

Not long after, Xing Xuanli appeared at the beggars' gathering place. She walked in with familiarity and called out, "Grandpa Gu, are you there?"

At this moment, a cough was heard from the corner, and an old man with gray hair but neat and clean clothes slowly walked out, "Girl, I'm here."

Xing Xuanli: "Grandpa Gu, we're going back to Kyoto soon. Would you mind going with us?"

A hint of hesitation flashed across Old Man Gu's cloudy eyes. "Girl, I won't cause you any more trouble with my old bones."

Yun Mohan: "Grandpa Gu, it's your birthday in a few days."

Mr. Gu knew that Mr. Nangong’s birthday was coming up in a few days.

Mr. Gu knew that Mr. Nangong’s birthday would be in a few days.

He sighed and said, "Tell Yun Mohan (Nangong Han), 'Your grandfather has lived an upright life. This birthday celebration must be well organized.'"

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han): "If Grandpa Gu came back with us, he might be even happier to see you."

Mr. Gu hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded, "Okay, then. I'll go with you on this trip."

After the two's persuasion, Mr. Gu finally agreed to go back to Beijing together.

Xing Xuanli and Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) smiled at each other, their eyes full of joy.

Xing Xuanli said goodbye to the people of Qiluo City one by one.

She stood at the city gate, eyes full of reluctance to leave. The people gathered around her, offering blessings and advice.

"Miss Xing, take care on your journey!"

“Be sure to come back and visit when you have time!”

Xing Xuanli smiled and waved to everyone, her voice slightly choked with sobs: "Thank you everyone, I will miss you!"

After Xing Xuanli said goodbye to the people of Qiluo City, she took Old Man Gu on a carriage that An San had already prepared.

The interior of the carriage was comfortably and warmly decorated. Xing Xuanli and Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) invited Mr. Gu to sit down, and then the carriage slowly started off, heading towards Kyoto.

The carriage sped along the official road, its wheels churning and kicking up a cloud of dust. Inside, Xing Xuanli, Yun Mohan (Nangong Han), and Old Man Gu occasionally exchanged a few words, but more often they were lost in their own thoughts. Outside, guards rode closely behind, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

On their way to the capital, they encountered a sudden rainstorm. Raindrops as big as beans hit the roof of the carriage, making a crackling sound.

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) looked at Xing Xuanli worriedly, "Li'er, are you okay?"

Xing Xuanli shook her head gently, "I'm fine, it's just that the rain came too quickly."

Old Man Gu also frowned. "I don't know how long this rain will last. I hope it won't delay our trip."

Outside the carriage, An San struggled to control the horses, forcing them to move forward in the rain. The rain soaked his clothes, but he didn't dare slack off.

After an unknown amount of time, the rain gradually stopped and the sky began to clear. The carriage continued to move forward, but the road had become extremely muddy after the rain, and the speed of travel was much slower.

Arriving at a tea stall, everyone decided to take a short break. Xing Xuanli dismounted from the carriage and stretched her stiff body. Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) instructed An San to check the condition of the carriage and horses.

At this moment, a group of masked men suddenly rushed out from the roadside and surrounded them.

The masked man in the lead said, "The Regent has offered a large sum of money for your head." Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) snorted coldly, "You dare to show off in front of me? You must be tired of living."

A chill flashed in Yun Mohan's (Nangong Han's) eyes, causing the masked man in front of him to unconsciously take a few steps back. Xing Xuanli frowned slightly and looked at Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) with concern.

The masked man feigned composure and shouted, "Brothers, charge!" A group of bandits rushed over, brandishing weapons. An San flashed in front of the bandits, and with a few strikes, several of the masked men fell to the ground.

An San pointed his sword at the masked leader and asked, "Who sent you here?"

The masked man's eyes were evasive, and he stammered, "I don't know, we are just following orders."

An San shouted angrily, "If you don't tell the truth, today will be the day you die!"

The masked man trembled with fear. "No, no, no, I said, it's Master Li from the capital."

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) in the carriage's face darkened. "Clenched my fists. It turned out to be him."

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) lifted the carriage curtain and ordered, "Kill them all. Leave no one alive. Humph, I'm not a kind man!"

An San and An Jiu received the order and swung their swords, instantly knocking the masked leader to the ground. The other bandits, terrified, fled in all directions. But how could they outmaneuver An San and An Jiu, both at the Jindan level?

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) looked stern and said, "Let's continue on our way." The group set out on their journey again, but the atmosphere became a little solemn.

Inside the carriage, Old Master Gu noticed that Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) was worried, so he asked, "Young Master Han, is there something on your mind?"

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) was slightly startled, and said with a wry smile: "Grandpa Gu, you are still so sharp."

Old Master Gu snorted lightly, "You kid, everything is written on your face. Tell grandpa, what's wrong?"

Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) pondered for a moment and slowly said, "I don't know what kind of open and secret attacks I will face when I return to the capital this time. Although I am not afraid, I am afraid of implicating the people around me."

Old Master Gu patted him on the shoulder and said, "Han boy, now that you have decided to move forward, don't hesitate. With Grandpa here, I will definitely not let you be alone."