TGCFNM -Chapter 296 Walking Together

Fuxiang’s Father saw that everyone’s resolve was firm and had no choice but to nod in agreement.

The group ate a simple meal and then sat chatting for a while, until night fell. They decided to rest for one night before setting off.

In the past, Fuxiang’s Father would have insisted on traveling through the darkness. Though dangerous at night, it would have been beneficial for them in some ways.

But this time, they were accompanying Chu Ling. Since Chu Ling was the county magistrate, he could protect them from interrogations, so there was no need to travel under the cover of darkness.

At night.

Chu Ling sat alone by the campfire, stirring the flames with a stick, staring blankly at the burning fire.

Ghost Scholar sat beside her and reminded, “Master, you cannot investigate the case of the rebel soldiers unjustly executed in Yuanzhou.”

Chu Ling tilted her head to look at him.

Ghost Scholar spoke bluntly, “You have no backing to cover for you. This is not something that can be investigated by mere authority. And you’re not alone—Master Wan, Su He, Uncle Wu, and the others are all following you. If anything happens to you, they will certainly be implicated.”

Chu Ling lowered her eyes and smiled, “Tutor, I am not someone who acts without clarity.”

Ghost Scholar sighed, “I worry for you, Master. Seeing the families of the rebel soldiers must have stirred your heart.”

Bai Su, sitting a little distance away, spoke softly, “It’s fortunate… I thought they would be utterly exterminated. I didn’t expect that they spared the families, only demoting them to commoner status.”

Ghost Scholar sneered, “That is the way some people operate: to appear merciful while ensuring debts are repaid and justice is served. They did not fully annihilate them. Master, isn’t it ridiculous?”

Chu Ling looked up at the sky, “Truly ridiculous.”

“The wicked should be eradicated completely,” Ghost Scholar suddenly said sternly. “But the innocent who are caught in the crossfire, dying unjustly—that is the crime they commit!”

Chu Ling noticed the fan tightly clenched in Ghost Scholar’s hand and softly asked, “Master… have you ever considered sending me to the capital?”

Ghost Scholar tilted his head toward her, nodded heavily, and said in a slightly somber tone, “I have considered it. To use your hand, a living person, to set up a chessboard, pulling everyone down to accompany the fall.”

“Then why have you never said it outright, nor guided me toward going to the capital?” Chu Ling asked.

Ghost Scholar closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. “Because I feel I am too selfish. That’s why I’ve been urging you all along—to let you live well in Sishui County, away from danger.”

Chu Ling tugged on Ghost Scholar’s sleeve and smiled, “Master, I value my life.”

Ghost Scholar smiled lightly, “I hope you value your life. I hope you live well.”

Chu Ling stretched her legs and tossed the stick she held into the fire. “So, Master… your obsession is revenge?”

Ghost Scholar shook his head. “I want to see a brand-new Dazhou, a well-ordered Dazhou, where the people live in peace and prosperity, and every corner flourishes. I want every household to keep their doors open, children to study and play, criminals to be punished, the powerful no longer pointing fingers at the heavens… Everything I’ve learned in my life, all of it, has been for this ideal.”

But the ideal was destroyed, and people died.

Now, in this decaying Dazhou, sometimes he wished it would be completely destroyed. But seeing the people struggle and strive, he wanted to see if perhaps someone could save Dazhou.

“It will happen,” Chu Ling said earnestly. “In a distant future, there will be such a place. No emperor, no nobles, where men and women can study, each performs their duties, works diligently, and lives for themselves.”

Ghost Scholar sighed with longing, “I truly hope to see it with my own eyes.”

Chu Ling suddenly said, “Master, here’s what we can do: I’ll write a few more letters to Prince Rui, give him some advice. If he listens, then at the very least, the people’s lives will improve a little.”

Ghost Scholar fell into thought. “Prince Rui… he is someone who acts decisively. Perhaps it could work.”

Chu Ling slapped her thigh. “Then it’s settled. Once we get to Yuanzhou, we’ll contact Tianxia Zhi through the Fulai Inn. We’ll have Qinglong deliver the message. He owes me anyway—if he doesn’t send it, I’ll make him pay interest.”

Ghost Scholar laughed heartily. “This generation of Qinglong really is hopeless.”

Bai Su couldn’t help but laugh as well.

—

The next day.

After a quick wash in the river and breakfast, everyone set off to climb the mountain.

Since they were leading the horses, Fuxiang’s father initially worried that Zhuifeng and the little black horse would struggle on the mountain paths. But when Xiao Hua easily pulled two horse carts with Zhang Dong leading the horses ahead, it genuinely shocked everyone.

Fuxiang’s father sighed, “Miss Xiao Hua, what a natural strength you have.”

Xiao Hua nodded happily. “I ate well this morning, thanks to Uncle Liu sharing with me. Once we reach Yuanzhou, I’ll treat you to a meal at the Fulai Inn—no charge.”

Wan Sanjin also said, “Yeah, come stay at the Fulai Inn with us. My family—no charge.”

Fuxiang’s father shook his head bashfully, about to refuse, but before he could speak, Su He looked at them and said, “Stay. After all, you are our lifesavers.”

Fuxiang’s father laughed helplessly. “We only guided you along the way. How can that count as saving your lives?”

“Plus you gave us food,” Chu Ling reminded him.

Uncle Wu took Fuxiang’s father aside and said earnestly, “You don’t know how hard it’s been for us. We didn’t know the way, kept getting lost… if we hadn’t met you, we’d really have been done for.”

Fuxiang’s father: “……”

How did this group dare to drive horse carts out so casually?

At this point, Fuxiang had changed into ordinary clothes and walked alongside Chu Ling and the others, curiously asking how they had come out of Sishui County.

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin immediately flanked her, one on each side, boasting about the hardships and experiences of their journey, recounting the cases they had encountered—each thrilling and gripping—making Fuxiang exclaim in surprise again and again. Soon, everyone with Fuxiang’s father was drawn over as well.

Fuxiang’s father watched with a faint smile, feeling a bit wistful. “These children are smart, but unfortunately… I could only quietly teach them a few characters, never dared let them study properly.”

Uncle Wu suddenly suggested, “You could come to Tianjian City. I remember the Tianjian Sect is planning to expand and incorporate a remote area into the city. That place is quite desolate and needs people to reclaim the land—it’s just the right time.”

“Can we go?” Fuxiang’s father asked, shocked.

“There aren’t that many rigid rules in the Jianghu, and they look down on the court anyway. Going there can serve as a sort of protection. Here’s the deal—I’ll send them to Ningzhou, then follow you. You come with me to Tianjian City; I’ll do business there,” Uncle Wu said with a smile.

Fuxiang’s father trembled, nervously gripping Uncle Wu’s arm. “We… we really can go?”

“Yes, you can. I promise,” Uncle Wu said, patting his chest.

Fuxiang’s father suddenly teared up and cried outright. “If… if we can be under the protection of Tianjian City… then… then I won’t have to worry about Fuxiang and the others anymore.”

Uncle Wu patted Fuxiang’s father on the shoulder. “After all these years, you’ve worked hard too.”

Fuxiang’s father rubbed his eyes and smiled broadly. “Not hard, not hard at all. Meeting you and sir… it’s truly, truly the blessing of eight lifetimes.”

Uncle Wu patted his back, gesturing for him to watch the younger generation walking happily ahead and not embarrass himself in front of them.

Fuxiang’s father wiped his eyes sheepishly, calmed himself as best he could, and happily walked forward.