After the mantis warrior's defeat, even Wang San's Southern Fist was beaten, leaving the escort guards amazed and the youths cheering loudly.
Fang Lin's eyes flickered with a strange light.
Outsiders watched for entertainment, but experts watched for skill. Li Pingfu handled it effortlessly, clearly holding back his full strength.
This cautious approach was no different from that of seasoned veterans.
He praised, “When I was your age, my master was still pulling my ear to scold me. You’ve already mastered your skills completely. Truly a young martial talent.”
“Uncle Fang, you flatter me. The senior escort brothers were just being polite. I’m still young, so if I offended anyone, please forgive me.”
Li Pingfu bowed humbly and stepped back from the crowd, not continuing to spar.
He stopped at two moves, both sides understood the limits. This also prevented some escorts from looking down on the younger brothers and causing trouble.
In this world, whoever had the stronger fist held the power to speak.
Next, Li Yuan, Zhang Hua, and others took the stage to spar, keeping the atmosphere lively.Li Yuan, previously in a gloomy mood, fought fiercely to vent his frustrations. Although he lost, his spirit improved greatly.
Zhang Hua was the fourth brother, with half his face covered by a black birthmark, earning the neighborhood nickname “Ghost-Faced Kid.” He used to gather herbs with his master for a living. Nimble on his feet, he knew some medical arts.
His martial arts were not refined, but with the help of a pill, he managed a small victory in a move.
Li Pingcan watched while nudging his elder brother with his shoulder, grinning, “You looked so cool when you went out just now, winning so decisively. When we get to Dragon Spring Town, you have to treat me to a big meal.”
Li Pingfu’s lips curled slightly. Even Fang Lin’s praise didn’t compare to his little brother’s simple “looking cool.” He glanced at his younger brother, “Shouldn’t you be treating me to dinner?”
“Who are we kidding? You’re the big brother; you don’t treat, and you want your young, weak little brother to pay?”
Young and weak...
Young was true, but weak was questionable.
Li Pingfu twitched his mouth, recalling their recent sparring. Those long nails dripping with green-yellow acid made even him avoid them, and he couldn’t help but click his tongue.
“Let’s hear your nice cries then.”
“Alright, big brother! Dear brother! Handsome number one in the world!”
“Fine, Dragon Spring Town’s mutton spine hotpot is the best. When the time comes, you eat as much as you want!”
……
This escort mission passed without incident and smoothly arrived at Dragon Spring Town.
After all, Yunshui County’s territory didn’t have that many unpredictable dangers. Smooth sailing was the norm. The Weiyuan Escort Agency’s regular expenditures on connections weren’t wasted; they had ties in both the legal and underground worlds.
“During the half-day period after handing over the cargo at the escort agency, you can stroll around Dragon Spring Town. Right now, it’s the most famous ‘White Lady’ worship month here, bustling with excitement. All sorts of people from the martial world gather.”
Fang Lin spoke to the youths with a serious tone, “There will be many people and disorder, so don’t cause trouble. But if trouble finds you, don’t be afraid. Just mention our escort agency’s name and don’t start fights lightly.”
Youngsters’ tempers could lead to some curses, but fighting often ended in disaster.
“Uncle Fang, don’t worry. I’ll be careful.”
After the warning, Fang Lin relaxed his face, smiling gently, “Go have fun. This is the busiest time of the year in Dragon Spring Town. Merchants from all over gather here.” Otherwise, they wouldn’t have had this escort mission.
The two groups dispersed for the time being.
Li Pingfu fulfilled his promise and came to “Ji’s Mutton Spine,” treating Li Pingcan and of course the good brothers.
The milky white mutton soup, the crispy mutton offal, and the steaming hot mutton spine on the table immediately caught everyone’s attention.
Escort missions were hard work. To save time on the road, they usually ate dry noodles. In Li Yuan’s words, it was so bad he couldn’t even dig out his own droppings.
“Wait, let me test for poison first.” The Ghost-Faced Kid Zhang Hua calmly took a meaty mutton spine, bit into it, gave a thumbs up, and loudly said, “This flavor is amazing!”
Only then did everyone realize this wasn’t “testing for poison” at all; the fourth brother was just using the excuse to eye that mutton spine!
“You shameless brat!”
“Hey, don’t snatch! Fifth brother, I called dibs on this one first!”
“Save me a mutton leg!” Li Yuan joined the fray.
Li Pingfu swiftly grabbed a mutton spine and placed it in Li Pingcan’s bowl, “Eat up.”
It was great having a big brother to cover you.
Li Pingcan happily dipped the stewed tender mutton into sauce and took a bite. The rich flavors burst in his mouth, bursting with freshness and savoriness.
He drank some mutton soup; the gamey smell was handled perfectly, the meat fragrant and rich, piping hot and comforting. His whole body warmed, and his limbs felt unblocked and free.
There was also the oily, smooth mutton bone marrow...
In short, everyone unanimously praised it and ate to their hearts’ content.
Li Yuan munched on mutton spine and suddenly asked curiously, “I was going to ask earlier, what is the White Lady worship month?”
“It’s said that long ago, Dragon Spring Lake rose from heavy rains, threatening to flood vast farmlands, bringing suffering to all living beings. A white snake spirit appeared, coiling its body to form a dam, stopping the flood and saving the people. Because of this, the residents of Dragon Spring Town honor it as the ‘White Lady.’”
Li Pingcan had learned about these stories two years ago and explained smoothly, “Every four years in February, when the lake water recedes, the shrine of the Lady appears on an island in the center of the lake. The townsfolk row boats to worship there.”
He planned to visit the lake’s island himself.
“To be able to block floods and protect the people, that power must be no different from an immortal’s, right?”
Li Yuan couldn’t help but think of Li Qian, his mood dipping slightly. He munched on two more mutton spines, and his spirits lifted again.
After lunch came digestion time.
Along the road by Dragon Spring Lake, vendors lined the shore, and boatmen offered rides on the water—this was the local specialty.
Li Pingcan took the chance to say, “Brothers, I want to see the White Lady.”
Li Yuan agreed, “I want to see the spiritual snake lady comparable to an immortal.”
“There’s nothing much to do shopping anyway.”
“Then let’s go together.”
Being unfamiliar with the place, no one wanted to split up. Li Pingcan was clever and obedient, regarded as their “little brother.” They’d satisfy the little brother’s wish.
They paid and boarded the boat.
The boatman looked around forty years old, his arms bare and tanned from the sun, a bit talkative. “You’re from out of town, right? I’ll tell you, the White Lady is very powerful, can bring good fortune and avoid disaster, and is kindhearted. If you have anything you want to ask, you can ask the Lady.”
“How do we ask?” Li Pingcan asked curiously.
“See this half-moon?” The boatman held up a shell shaped like a crescent moon, its two tips slightly curved upward in an arch.
“‘Concave’ means yes; ‘convex’ means no. Think silently about your question, toss it up, and let it fall. Then you’ll get an answer.”
In a past life, Li Pingcan had scoffed at this. This life, he studied it seriously. There really was a mysterious metaphysical power in this world.
Seeing the guests interested, the boatman flashed yellowed teeth and said, “Fifty copper coins each. Everyone can only use their own ‘Divining Moon.’”
“That expensive?”
Rowing someone across usually cost ten copper coins per person. The Divining Moon was just a polished shell, not worth much.
Could he be getting ripped off by locals?
Li Pingcan thought about it but still bought one, treating it as a scenic ticket.
At that moment, Li Yuan said, “Get me one too.”
Some heavy matters weighed in his heart. He also wanted to ask the White Lady and make a wish.
……
The oars parted the water, rippling the surface.
As the boat glided forward, the island at the lake’s heart drew nearer, revealing a jagged, rocky, fierce appearance, like the gaping mouth of a beast ready to devour.
The so-called island was actually a large karst cave!
Amid the rippling lake, Li Pingcan heard faint, hazy sighs.
They were almost imperceptible, sorrowful and bitter.