"It's you?" Murong Huiying, furious, burst into the inn and was surprised to see Hong Wuji.
"It is indeed I!" Hong Wuji, about Murong Huiying's height and lean, puffed out his chest, stood tall, and even stood on his tiptoes slightly before saying, "When I was in distress, the Princess saved me. Your kindness was as immense as a mountain, and I have been longing for a way to repay your grace!"
"Hong Wuji, do not speak of grace. We have no ties whatsoever!" Murong Huiying said coldly, looking at Hong Wuji.
"The Princess may not remember, but I will never forget it in this lifetime," Hong Wuji tried to appear dashing, smiling with gratitude.
"Back then, I merely saved a dog. I never expected this dog to be biting people madly everywhere today," Murong Huiying said coldly.
Hong Wuji's physique and appearance had barely changed over the years, and with Murong Huiying's good memory, she recognized him at a glance.
Murong Huiying had expected her words to enrage Hong Wuji, but to her surprise, Hong Wuji showed no reaction, maintaining his composure and saying, "It seems the Princess resents me. Your Highness Princess Ziyue, I resorted to this desperate measure simply to see the Princess and express my gratitude."
Murong Huiying was as cold as ice, keeping him at arm's length. Yet, to Hong Wuji, every inch of Murong Huiying was exquisitely beautiful, from her hair to her fingertips.
Hong Wuji had been captivated by Murong Huiying's beauty back then, and it had not changed.
"Hmph, resent you? You overestimate yourself," Murong Huiying snorted and said, "In this world, I have only ever resented one person. I resent him to the very core of my being."
At this point, Murong Huiying couldn't help but think of the man she both resented and loved, the man etched into her memory. If he had proposed to her earlier, if he had taken her away, how could this have happened today?
Murong Huiying would rather die than be subjected to another man, let alone become his concubine or mistress.
I wonder how he is now? It has been so long, and that man who made me love and resent him so deeply hasn't even sent a letter. Murong Huiying couldn't help but worry about Zhou Fugui in her heart.
Although Murong Huiying was snorting and grinding her teeth, a hint of sweetness involuntarily appeared on her jade-like beautiful face, filling Hong Wuji with both jealousy and hatred.
Murong Huiying could have beaten him, cursed him, or even chopped him with a saber, and Hong Wuji would have accepted it willingly. But Murong Huiying's coldness and disregard for him caused him immense pain. Thus, he asked sullenly, "Who is he?"
"Who is he? Does it have anything to do with you?" Murong Huiying said coldly.
"Haha, it's Zhou Fugui, isn't it?" Hong Wuji suddenly burst into loud laughter, tears almost welling up. After a hearty laugh, he said, "He's nothing but a lowly convict!"
"You Southern dog thief! If you dare insult him again, don't blame me for being merciless with my saber!" Murong Huiying was utterly enraged. She pointed her curved saber at Hong Wuji and shouted, "Do you think I won't dare kill you just because you are a Southern envoy? People of the grasslands always repay their debts, regardless of the enemy's status!"
...
"Hiss!" With a sound, as Murong Huiying led her people away from the inn, she suddenly turned back and shot an arrow, knocking off Hong Wuji's tall hat. Everyone let out a gasp of alarm, and Hong Wuji broke out in a cold sweat, his spirit shattered.
"If you want me to become yours, I would rather die. And before I die, many will be buried with me," Murong Huiying then said disdainfully to Hong Wuji.
A creature worse than a pig or dog, so far from comparing to Brother Zhou, Murong Huiying thought to herself.
The faces of the Fire Leopard Camp warriors also showed expressions of pride and disdain, their faces conveying six words: How could pigs and dogs be worthy of a celestial being!
The faces of the Xia envoys and their retinue showed schadenfreude.
...
"Zhou Fugui, you unfaithful wretch, are you dead? If you're not dead, why haven't you sent me a letter?" Murong Huiying walked out of the inn, looking up at the blue sky and thinking to herself. You took advantage of me, you can't die. What will I do if you die?
Thinking of this painful juncture, Murong Huiying couldn't help but burst into tears.
The stark contrast between Murong Huiying inside and outside the inn left the Tiger Leopard Camp warriors bewildered.
...
About fifty li from Xue Lin City
"Achoo! Who's cursing me?" Zhou Fugui sneezed and looked at the unconscious Xue Wentai. "Master Ge, are you alright? Can your darned pill revive him?"
The group, including Deputy General Ji Duo'er, Xu Mancang, Suo Dacheng, Pan Jingui, Li Qing, and Yi Jisheng, all watched Xue Wentai with concern or curiosity.
"If you can do better, go ahead!" Ge Rufeng glared at Zhou Fugui and said.
"Continue, I didn't say anything," Zhou Fugui quickly said with a smile.
After escaping Feilong Mountain, Zhou Fugui and Ge Rufeng were fortunate enough to find horses left behind by some unknown party. They then identified their direction and pursued Ji Duo'er and his group. Zhou Fugui was an expert in tracking and wilderness survival, comparable to an experienced hunter. Thus, Zhou Fugui and Ge Rufeng caught up with Ji Duo'er and his group about fifty li from Xue Lin City.
This was, of course, inseparable from Ji Duo'er's group leaving markers and intentionally waiting for Zhou Fugui.
Ji Duo'er's anticipation for Zhou Fugui was filled with anxiety, much like his mixed feelings when he let Zhou Fugui go. He feared that Zhou Fugui would disappear like a yellow crane, never to return, leaving only the vast expanse of the sky and clouds. Zhou Fugui's return brought Ji Duo'er immense joy, and he praised him repeatedly, calling him the most trustworthy person in the world.
"What are you all crowding around for? Hurry up and move aside, don't disturb this Taoist Master's ritual!" After feeding Xue Wentai another pill, Ge Rufeng yelled at the crowd.
"Little Taoist brat..." Xu Mancang, displeased with Ge Rufeng's arrogant commands, said loudly to him, "If you can't save him, Grandpa Xu will make you pay!"
Ge Rufeng glanced at the brute, said nothing, pinched a talisman between his fingers, and flicked it on his sword. A burning talisman shot towards Xu Mancang, landing at his feet with a "poof" and burning a small pit.
"Ouch, you pretend to be a god with your tricks, but you actually have some skill!" Xu Mancang, startled, quickly jumped away.
Zhou Fugui glared at Xu Mancang and gestured for everyone to step back.
Little White Bear clutched Zhou Fugui's leg tightly, hiding behind him, tilting its fluffy head to look at Ge Rufeng.
In this world, Little White Bear probably considered Zhou Fugui the most trustworthy and safest person to be around. That's why, during their escape, Little White Bear had tracked them down, insisting on staying with Zhou Fugui.
Zhou Fugui reluctantly accepted it and planned to raise it until it was grown, then release it back into the wilderness.
During the long days of being conscripted, having this adorable Little White Bear for company brought Zhou Fugui much amusement. He even gave the Little White Bear a formidable name: "Chi You."
"Supreme Venerable Lord, haste as the law commands! Evil spirits retreat, begone!" Ge Rufeng formed a hand seal, stepped in a ritualistic pattern, and performed his Taoist magic.
Half an hour later, Xue Wentai's face turned from pale to red, then from red to green. Subsequently, a stream of green energy rose from his body and flew into the air, hovering above everyone's heads for a while before seeming to fly away reluctantly into the distance.
Seeing this, everyone's mouths fell open in astonishment. Xu Mancang's mouth was wider than anyone else's. They were all dumbfounded and dared not utter a sound, including Zhou Fugui.
The young Taoist Ge Rufeng was apparently not a mere pretender; he truly possessed some ability. Everyone thought this in unison.
After a long while, Ge Rufeng finished his ritual. Seemingly exhausted, he clasped his hands in a seal and sat cross-legged in the snow, his eyes slightly closed. Zhou Fugui and the others then gathered to check on Xue Wentai.
Everyone saw that Xue Wentai's face was as pale as gold paper and his breathing was weak. They all shook their heads, but suddenly Xue Wentai leaped up and roared, "You murderers, you almost suffocated me!"
The crowd was first startled, then overjoyed. This indicated that Ge Rufeng had indeed pulled Xue Wentai back from the brink of death. The men from Guanzhong even hugged Xue Wentai and wept uncontrollably.
"General Zhou!" Xue Wentai then pushed aside the men from Guanzhong, knelt on one knee before Zhou Fugui, clasped his fists, and bowed. "Whentai thanks General Zhou for risking his life to save me. I have no way to repay such great kindness, but I will follow you through fire and water from now on!"
Xue Wentai had only helped Zhou Fugui shout a few words, and had even clashed with Zhou Fugui and his group earlier. Yet, Zhou Fugui had single-handedly ventured into Xiong Ling to save Xue Wentai's life, risking his own. Such magnanimity, such courage, and such loyalty deserved Xue Wentai and others' lifelong devotion.
Although Xue Wentai was critically ill, he was perfectly clear about this matter. However, Xue Wentai and the others had no idea that Zhou Fugui had almost brought back a wife on this trip.
"Thank you, General Zhou. We are willing to follow General Zhou, through fire and water, and spare no effort!" The men from Guanzhong also knelt on one knee before Zhou Fugui and said in unison with clasped fists.
"Great Monk, please rise quickly. Everyone, please rise!" Zhou Fugui hurriedly helped Xue Wentai up. "You should not thank me, but rather thank young Taoist Ge and Deputy General Ji Duo'er!"
That's more like it! the young Taoist Ge Rufeng squinted and thought to himself. Earlier, Xue Wentai and the others had thanked only Zhou Fugui and not him first. He had really wished he could stuff that stream of green energy back into Xue Wentai's body.
"Thank you, young Taoist Ge. Thank you, Deputy General Ji Duo'er! Thank you, my brothers!" Xue Wentai and the men from Guanzhong then turned to thank Ge Rufeng and Ji Duo'er and the others.
"Heh heh, no need for such formalities," Ji Duo'er stroked his beard and smiled. "Since the Great Monk has escaped death, let us be on our way. Someone, prepare a carriage so the Great Monk can rest inside."