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Song Gen lowered his eyes and continued to sip his tea. "My martial arts skills are lacking, and I have never dared to leave my senior brother's side."

Aside from swordsmanship, these two are far superior to Ren Qi. Yuwen Luo made up his mind and said no more. In any case, Ming Er and Lan Qi were already on the same side, and this was his ultimate goal.

"Junior Brother, I'm not worried about you traveling with the Second Young Master and the Seventh Young Master. Just take good care of yourself and don't cause them any trouble," Ren Qi carefully instructed his junior brother. He actually wanted his junior brother to come with him, as he would feel more at ease under his protection. But... looking at Lan Qi, he was afraid that if he opened his mouth, who knew what terrifying things the Seventh Young Master Lan might do next. He decided against it and would wait until they found the Holy Decree before taking his junior brother to their uncle and aunt to ask what was going on with this marriage agreement.

"Yes." Ning Lang nodded. "Senior Brother, you should also be careful."

Ren Qi smiled and affectionately patted his junior brother's head. "When I come back, I'll teach you the 'Broken Flute and Cloud Song' move from the 'Azure Mountain Sword'."

"Okay." Ning Lang grinned, clearly delighted, his eyes bright and his smile pure.

Lan Qi stared, momentarily lost in thought, then lowered her eyes and smiled. In a few days, that smile wouldn't be there anymore, would it?

Just then, the food and wine were ready, and the waiter brought them over one dish after another, so the group stopped talking.

After the meal, they bid farewell and went their separate ways. Feng Yi went back to find Kong, while Ren Qi and the other two went to meet Qiu Changtian, Nan Wofeng, and others to prepare for sailing. Ming Er, Lan Qi, and the other three headed to Huazhou.

"Seventh Young Master, who is the old friend you are going to visit?" Yuwen Luo couldn't help but ask curiously before setting off.

"My master," Lan Qi replied casually.

"What?!" The fifth young master of the Yuwen family shouted in disbelief on the main street of Xicheng. No wonder he reacted this way; no one in the entire martial world knew or had ever seen the master of the Seventh Young Master Lan!

It was the same carriage, but this time there were fewer people and the seating arrangements had changed. On the long couches facing each other, Lan Qi and Ming Er were lying down and sitting, respectively, while Ning Lang and Yuwen Luo were sitting on the long couches further inside.

"Seventh Young Master, who is your master? What is his name? What is his reputation in the martial arts world? Where in Huazhou does he live?"

Throughout the journey, Yuwen Luoqi relentlessly questioned Lan Qi, but Lan Qi always smiled mysteriously and uttered two words, "Secret."

But Yuwen Luo wasn't one to give up so easily, so he tried again, "Seventh Young Master, you promised to take us with you, so you can't go back on your word. Besides, once we've all met your master, it won't be a secret anymore; the whole martial arts world will know who your master is." At least I'll definitely help you spread the word.

“Hehe…” Lan Qi chuckled nonchalantly, a strange glint in her emerald eyes. “Even if you see it, it will still remain a secret.”

"Huh?" Yuwen Luo was puzzled by Lan Qi's certainty.

"What's the rush? Anyway, I've already promised to take you to see him. You'll find out when the time comes." Lan Qi's gaze flowed over them like water, finally settling on Ming Er, who returned him with a gentle and appropriate smile.

"Seventh Young Master, when did you become an apprentice, and when did you graduate?" Yuwen Luo, wanting to be a great historian of the martial arts world, naturally wanted to know everything, especially about his key figures, Lan Qi and Ming Er. Moreover, Lan Qi seemed quite approachable at the moment, so he seized the opportunity to ask clearly, as such opportunities are fleeting. "What is Seventh Young Master's most proficient martial art? What is Seventh Young Master's most powerful martial art? Seventh Young Master's martial arts are extremely complex, but besides his master in Huazhou, do you have any others? Rumor has it that Seventh Young Master never uses the Lan family's traditional martial arts. Why is that? Does Seventh Young Master really not know the Lan family's unique martial arts?" As he asked, he took out paper and pen from his pocket, looking at Lan Qi with expectant eyes.

Lan Qi waved her jade fan and called out softly, "Yuwen Luo."

"Yes," Yuwen Luo replied immediately.

"Let me see your tongue." Lan Qi glanced at him sideways with her emerald eyes.

"What?" Yuwen Luo immediately covered his mouth with his hand, looking at Lan Qi warily.

"See if it's particularly long." Lan Qi's lips curled into a wicked smile.

Yuwen Luo covered his mouth with his hand and shook his head.

"Aren't you going to let me take a look?" Lan Qi blinked her blue eyes. "If it's particularly long, I can help trim it."

Yuwen Luo just kept shaking his head, not daring to utter another sound.

“Speaking of which…” Ming Er suddenly spoke up, and everyone turned to look at him. “The Seventh Young Master’s teacher has always been a mystery. It is truly unexpected that he would take us to visit him this time.”

"That's because I get along well with you all," Lan Qi said with a smile.

"Is that so?" Ming Er raised his long eyebrows slightly.

"Of course." Lan Qi smiled with three parts sincerity and seven parts wickedness. "Besides, I am fortunate to have met the Second Young Master on this trip. I consider him a kindred spirit, so I would like to spend more time with him to soothe the loneliness and bitterness of the past twenty years."

"It is truly an honor for me." Ming Er's smile was seven parts sincerity and three parts ethereal grace, his eyes looking at Lan Qi with a distant yet profound gaze. "This time, I have the pleasure of meeting the number one martial artist in the world, Senior Kong, as well as talents like Brother Feng Yi. I originally thought that I would benefit from spending more time with them, but being able to visit Master Qi now is an even greater gain."

"Oh?" Lan Qi raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Ming Er.

"Seventh Young Master and Brother Fengyi are brothers, and they have been separated for many years. Why not invite him to travel together to rekindle their brotherly bond?" Ming Er asked with slight doubt.

"There's plenty of time ahead, why rush things?" Lan Qi said calmly. "Besides, the Fengwu Sect is the number one sect in the martial arts world, and its leader bears heavy responsibilities. Brother, you may need to lend a hand. I'm just going to see my master, why should I drag him along and interfere with his business?"

"So that's how it is." Ming Eryi smiled politely.

"It seems that the Second Young Master and the Brother hit it off immediately." Lan Qi's lips curled up slightly.

“Exactly.” Ming Er nodded with a smile.

Their eyes met; one's emerald eyes were deep and unfathomable, the other's were shrouded in a thin mist, distant and ethereal. The meaning between them was ambiguous, known only to themselves and to the other.

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace, and the passengers sat or lay down, and several days passed in the blink of an eye.

That evening, the group reached the border of Qizhou. After another half an hour's walk, they would enter the territory of Huazhou.

It had just rained, and the ground was wet, but the temperature was exceptionally cool and refreshing. Everyone opened the windows, and the carriage moved slowly along. In the reddish sunset, the trees and wild grass on both sides of the road cast long shadows, slowly passing by. A cool breeze swept over them, making them feel refreshed.

As they approached a fork in the road, Ning Lang suddenly shouted, "Stop the car!"

But the coachman seemed not to hear him, and the carriage continued to move leisurely. Ning Lang couldn't help but shout anxiously, "Stop the carriage! I heard someone shouting! Stop the carriage!"

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Luo listened intently and then said, "It's true, someone is calling for help."

Lan Qi glanced at Ning Lang, whose face was filled with anxiety, and smiled, "Stop the car."

The carriage stopped, and Ning Lang immediately leaped out and flew towards the left fork in the road.

Yuwen Luo had already reached the car door when he suddenly turned back and looked at Lan and Ming, who were leisurely sipping tea inside the car. "Aren't you... going?"

Lan Qi tapped his jade fan and said, "It's Ning Lang who should be doing the right thing, not me. Why should I go?"

Ming Er looked at Yuwen Luo and smiled slightly, saying, "Those people aren't very skilled in martial arts; Ning Lang can handle them."

"Oh." Yuwen Luo was taken aback when he heard their words. These two were far more skilled than him, and with their hearing, they must have already discerned the difference in the skill levels of those people. No wonder they weren't worried at all.

“Ning Lang is indeed a kind and chivalrous man; he has done a great deal of good deeds and acts of kindness along the way,” Ming Er added.

Yuwen Luo sighed and felt a headache as he recalled Ning Lang's actions along the way. It was true that Ning Lang would intervene in any injustice he saw, no matter how trivial the matter was.

"At his rate, he'll work himself to death sooner or later." Lan Qi raised an eyebrow and scoffed.

Not long after, Ning Lang returned, followed by two people with their heads down, their faces obscured.

"Lan... um..." Ning Lang still doesn't know what to call Lan Qi, and always just mumbles the rest of his words after he starts speaking.

Lan Qi glanced at him upon hearing the sound.

Ning Lang looked at the people behind him, scratched his head and said, "This uncle is a little injured. They are going to Huazhou City, which is on the same route as us, so how about we let them ride in the carriage together?" As he spoke, he looked at Lan Qi expectantly.

Lan Qi stared at him for a while, then responded faintly, "Hmm." She closed her eyes, sat cross-legged on the couch, clearly unwilling to be disturbed any longer.

"Uncle, Miss Wei, let's get in the carriage." Ning Lang immediately beckoned the two people behind him to get in the carriage after Lan Qi nodded in agreement.

"Wow, this carriage is so big and comfortable!" came a voice full of envy.

Lan Qi kept her eyes closed, while Ming Er and Yuwen Luo looked towards the car door.

Standing next to Ning Lang was an old man with a thin body and a pair of yellowish, turbid triangular eyes on his sallow face. Behind him was a girl, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a slender figure and slightly dark skin, but with regular and attractive features.

The old man reached out and touched the carriage door. "This is made of oak." He then touched the cushion on the couch. "So soft and smooth, it must be made of fine silk, right? What a waste. This mat on top is so cool, it must be made of bamboo from the Cangmang Mountains, right? That's very expensive." He glanced at the tea and snacks on the small table and exclaimed, "Is this teapot made of jade? And why is that plate so white, like snow? What's in that plate?"

"Father..." The girl tugged at him from behind, looking around the carriage with some apprehension. The wealth and the people in the carriage made her feel very nervous.

Yuwen Luo stared wide-eyed at the old man groping around.

Ming Er smiled slightly, stood up and said, "Uncle, please sit here."

The old man then looked up at the person, and upon seeing Ming Er's appearance, he was stunned. He hesitated, unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.

"Uncle, please sit down." Ning Lang helped the old man sit down on the couch, then turned to the young woman and said, "Miss Wei, please sit down too."

The old man and the young woman sat down side by side on the couch. Ning Lang then realized that the couch belonged to Ming Er. He looked at Ming Er with some shame. Ming Er shook his head and smiled, indicating that there was no need to worry. He turned around and sat down next to Lan Qi. Ning Lang then sat down next to Yuwen Luo, and the carriage slowly started moving again.

Yuwen Luo asked Ning Lang about what had just happened and learned that they were a father and daughter who were escorting goods. The old man was named Wei Xilai and the girl was named Wei Shan'er. They had taken on a shipment to deliver goods to Huazhou City, but they encountered a group of bandits who were numerous, powerful, and highly skilled. The father and daughter were outnumbered and in danger when Ning Lang came to their rescue.

"Thank you so much, Young Hero Ning, for today." Wei Xilai hugged the small box to his chest and thanked Ning Lang. "This old man used to be a hero who could take on a hundred men, but now... alas, I'm old and useless. I can't even take down a few bandits. Alas!"

"Don't say that, Uncle." Ning Lang smiled sheepishly.

Ming Er glanced at Wei Xilai and said, "Uncle, you've suffered a minor injury. I have some medicine here; it should help after you apply it." He then took out a bottle of medicine from his sleeve and handed it over.

"Thank you, young master." Wei Xilai quickly accepted the gift, then cautiously glanced at Ming Er. "This young master is truly... truly a divine being. This old man is truly blessed."

"Uncle, you flatter me." Ming Er smiled faintly.

"Uncle, let me help you apply the medicine," Ning Lang said kindly, stepping forward again.

"Thank you, Young Hero Ning." Wei Xilai hurriedly thanked him and was about to hand him the medicine bottle when Wei Shan'er took it from the side. "Father, let me do it." After saying that, he looked at Ning Lang with some shyness in his eyes, "Young Hero Ning, don't dirty your hands."

"It's nothing." Ning Lang withdrew his hand and hurriedly scratched his head.

After applying the medicine, Wei Xilai stretched his limbs, let out a comfortable sigh, and squinted his eyes, saying, "This carriage is so comfortable; I've never ridden in one before." As he spoke, he touched the mat and straw mat on the couch with his left hand and the cups and snacks on the small table with his right, looking quite pleased with himself.

“Father.” Wei Shan’er tugged at her father’s sleeve.

"It's nothing, I was just looking." Wei Xilai glanced at Lan Qi and Ming Er on the opposite couch. Seeing that they didn't react, he picked up the pastries on the porcelain plate and put them in his mouth. "Mmm, delicious, delicious. Shan'er, you should have some too." He pushed the pastries towards his daughter.

"Father!" Wei Shan'er frowned. "These are other people's things. How could you touch and eat them like that!"

"What's wrong with that? It's just for people to eat," Wei Xilai said nonchalantly.

“It’s alright to eat,” Ning Lang said. “Are you hungry? There’s more here if you’re not full.” He then handed over some snacks from his table.

Wei Xilai accepted it without ceremony, saying, "Okay, okay." He kept stuffing snacks into his mouth, his cheeks bulging, chewing, swallowing, and gulping. Yuwen Luo, watching from the side, was worried he might choke. Chapter 42, Part 14: A Startling Dream (Part 2)

Updated: [2008-11-28 14:07:16.0]

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Unable to stop her father, Wei Shan'er could only look at Yuwen Luo and Ning Lang with embarrassment and smile. As for the two people on the opposite couch, for some reason, she didn't even dare to look at them.

Just then, the faint sound of drums and music came from ahead, growing louder and louder as they approached. The group couldn't help but peek out the window and saw a bright red procession approaching under the crimson sunset. There were horses, carriages, and sedan chairs, with musicians playing and carrying, creating a lively and joyous celebration.

"Oh, we've run into a wedding procession! It's such a lucky thing to encounter such a joyous occasion on the road," Wei Xilai said happily.

"Why are they having a wedding at this hour?" Yuwen Luo asked, puzzled. It was almost dark.

“Young man, don’t you know that the wedding procession always has to choose an auspicious time?” Wei Xilai glanced at Yuwen Luo. “I suppose today’s time is the most auspicious. You’ve chosen well. Now, after you go back, you can complete the wedding ceremony and drink the wine, which will be the best time for you to enter the bridal chamber.” He chuckled as he spoke.

"There are so many people," Ning Lang remarked, marveling at the length of the line.

"It's clear the bride's family has a large dowry and a lot of relatives accompanying her," Wei Xilai said with the air of someone who'd been there before. "Back in the day, when Shan'er's mother married that old man, she only brought a cotton quilt and an old trunk. Sigh, people are just like that..."

“Father!” Wei Shan’er’s delicate eyebrows furrowed.

"Alright, that's enough, that's enough." Wei Xilai quickly stopped her when he saw that his daughter was really angry. Looking at the approaching procession, he suddenly remembered something and said, "According to etiquette, we should give way. The wedding procession cannot be blocked, otherwise it will be bad luck."

"Hmm?" Yuwen Luo blinked and looked at Wei Xilai.