A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 169 Arrival in Shuiyun City

The large ship sailed all night, and the next morning there was a knock on the door of Xianghe's house.

"Girl, we've reached the shore."

Xiang He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright. The black crow also swayed its body and flew out of the window.

Xiang He quickly tidied up and went out. Zhu Nan prepared some food, and the two ate a simple meal before setting off.

The horse had already been taken away. After being inspected by the soldiers, the two were finally allowed to mount their horses and head towards Shuiyun City.

They never stopped except to let the horses rest, traveling day and night.

Before they could even wipe the dust off their faces, people gradually appeared on both sides of the road, supporting each other, carrying a few bags on their backs, sitting by the roadside, each with a sorrowful expression.

Xiang He tightened the reins, slowing the horse's pace. She dismounted, took out meat buns from the bag on the horse, and handed them to the children.

"We're still a long way from the next town, let's eat."

The children were too shy to reach out, so Xiang He directly stuffed the money into the hand of one of the older men, saying, "Uncle, could you tell me why so many people are in such a hurry?"

The steamed buns in his hand were not yet hot, which made his mouth water. So the uncle shared the buns with several children.

"Sigh... The enemy is attacking! They've breached Houde Pass and then Jiayang Pass... They're almost at Shuiyun City. We'd better run..."

Xiang He, who was half-bent over, stiffened, his worried expression never fading. "Our army has been broken through all the way?"

"Yes!" an old woman sobbed. "We're from a town in front of Shuiyun City. Our own soldiers have been retreating again and again. If we don't run, we'll really be dead..."

Xiang He immediately mounted his horse, "Let's go..."

Along the way, many people were walking or stopping, but the two dared not slow down and continued riding, but they couldn't see any familiar faces...

Zhu Nan was not far behind her, able to see her serious profile. "Miss, perhaps they are just walking slowly..."

"Hmm, we'll be there in half a day. Let's hurry."

The two horses got plenty of rest last night and are now heading towards Shuiyun City at full speed.

Marching forward in the setting sun, the horses kicked up clouds of dust beneath their hooves.

The blinding sunlight made it hard for Xiang He to open her eyes. She raised her hand to shield her forehead, where several figures were clearly visible.

"Shut up!"

The horse was stopped, and the people walking over quickly raised their hands to shield their eyes from the dust.

Xiang He dismounted and walked towards the group of people. "Grandpa? Fourth Uncle?"

As the smoke and dust gradually dissipated, the other party was able to see Xiang He clearly.

When Fourth Aunt saw Xiang He's face, she excitedly stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders, "Why are you back? The enemy has already attacked, what are you doing back!"

Xiang He grabbed her wrist and peered back several times. Most of the people there were from Xiangjia Village, but not all of them.

Even Xiang Lao Si's family was there, only the original owner's family was missing...

Where are my mother and the others...?

Fourth Aunt's eyes immediately welled up with tears, "Your, your Xiaoyang was forced into conscription... Aci and the others didn't want to leave Xiaoyang alone in the city, so they all stayed to keep him company..."

His breathing suddenly became heavy. He put down his fourth aunt's hand, took out a hundred-tael silver note, and stuffed it into her hand.

A hoarse voice came from his throat, "You, you all go to the capital, to the He residence in Zhaoxiang, Yongpingfang. Remember that! Seventh Sister and the others are there; they will meet you."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going back to find them."

Fourth Aunt reached out and grabbed it, "That's too dangerous!"

“But my parents are still there, I can’t just worry about my own safety.” Xiang He smiled reassuringly at her, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of myself, you two hurry on your way.”

Xiang He mounted his horse and continued towards Shuiyun City with Zhu Nan.

Not far behind Fourth Aunt, Li was staring intently at the silver notes in her hand. Zhao Laosi, noticing something amiss, reached out and patted her on the back, saying, "Don't get any ideas!"

Li cried out, then limped forward, "What can I possibly do when they're in their hands!"

She walked away cursing, staring intently at the silver notes in her aunt's hand as she passed her, saying, "She must have done something filthy in the capital!"

Upon hearing this, Fourth Aunt immediately put the silver notes away carefully, helped Third Grandmother up, and glared at her, saying, "You talk as if everyone is as shameless as your Lotus."

A verbal battle was about to break out when the village chief, who was leading the way, tapped his cane on the ground and said, "Stop arguing and hurry up, or we won't reach the next town before dark."

The two had no choice but to shut up, and Fourth Aunt was too lazy to pay any more attention to her.

As Xiang He and his companion, who had already left, looked at the people hurrying along the road on both sides despite the dust and grime, a feeling of sadness welled up in their hearts.

The war broke out suddenly; many people in Xiangjia Village probably didn't escape it...

Xiangyang was forced into military service. Remembering that he had said before that he wanted to join the army, it shouldn't be because he was forced, but because he was very eager to do so...

This really worried everyone. Xiang He pulled up her veil and tied it on, letting the night wind blow her hair.

If we just hold on for a few more hours, we'll reach Shuiyun City soon.

-

After traveling at breakneck speed until late at night, a city could finally be seen in the distance.

The horse suddenly stopped, and Xiang He dismounted, touching the horse's face as she gazed intently at Shuiyun City.

In the pitch-black night, only a little moonlight shone through, and the moonlight intertwined with the mist in the night sky, creating an illusory scene.

It seemed as if layers of clouds and mist shrouded Shuiyun City, making it appear and disappear intermittently.

Xiang He took out the amulet, threaded it through the red rope, and hung it around the horse's neck.

The two led the horse over, Xiang He's eyes not daring to miss anything.

"Young lady, what's wrong?"

“I have a feeling something’s not right in the city,” Xiang He said, reaching out his hand. “Give me your sword.”

Zhu Nan immediately took off her sword and handed it over, asking, "Could it be some kind of ghostly thing again?"

"I don't know."

Xiang He drew his longsword and cut his middle finger, writing talismans on the blade: "To subdue enemies on one hand, and slay ghosts on the other."

After Xiang He sheathed her longsword, she turned the umbrella handle in her hand and said, "The Four Ghosts, go and investigate the truth."

Four ghostly spirits flew out, and after a fleeting, illusory response, drifted towards Water Cloud City.

She raised her hand again, “Crow, come back.”

A dark shadow landed on her wrist. "Young lady, be extremely careful..."

"What do you see."

The two men led their horses closer quickly. Black Crow's eyes darted around a few times. "Ominous, ominous..."

Xiang He looked puzzled. "You can't see inside?"

“There’s nothing in the city, but it’s not good…” His little paws began to move to Xiang He’s shoulder, “It’s not good…”

As the two men and two horses drew closer to Shuiyun City, the city became clearer and its towering gates were tightly shut.

Xiang He looked up and saw a silver flash appear. "Who goes there!"

Looking at the lifeless Shuiyun City from afar, a voice finally came through the firelight.

Xiang He immediately waved to him, "We're back to pick up our relatives! Please let us through!"

"Who knows if you're enemy troops taking a detour! Leave immediately!"

The sound was loud, and suddenly a series of footsteps arose. Many soldiers stood on the city wall, all aiming their bows and arrows at the two men.

The two men did not panic even when the soldiers' arrows were aimed at them.

"Is Magistrate Zeng here? He knows me. My name is Xiang He. This is my bodyguard, Zhu Nan. Please go and inform him that I am very worried about my family."

But the soldiers wouldn't budge, repeatedly shouting, "Leave now!"

"Etc., etc!"

Suddenly someone called out from inside. The soldier turned around, and the person who had hurriedly climbed onto the city gate looked down, but his face was not visible in the pitch-black night.

"Miss Xiang is back! Please open the city gates and let them in, sir!"