Chapter - 388 Both Sabre And Sword Became Missing And the Person Turned Fugitive (6) (1/2)

Zhou Zhiruo laughed, ”I was only joking,” she said, ”Later on I will always be together with you; your martial art skill, my martial art skill, what difference does it make? I am too lazy, your Jiu Yang Shen Gong is very difficult to train, even if you force me to practice, I am afraid it will be too difficult for me.” Hearing her saying this, Zhang Wuji felt sweetness in his heart.

With love and happiness in their hearts, time was passing swiftly. Several months had passed in a flash. Zhou Zhiruo's internal energy had been completely recovered; she did not feel anything unusual, hence she believed the poison had been completely expelled from her system.

One particular day, they saw the peach blossom trees on the eastern side of the island were blooming beautifully. Zhang Wuji picked several branches of the peach blossom and planted them in front of Yin Li's grave. He saw the piece of wood he carved with the characters 'The Tomb of my Beloved Wife, Zhu'Er Yin Li' was laying flat on the ground; perhaps it was knocked down by some wild animals. He picked it up and re-inserted it deeply to the ground. He remembered how his cousin lived a miserable life; perhaps she did not even have a single day of happiness.

While he was still reveling in sadness, suddenly he heard the clamoring noise of seagulls on the sea. Lifting his head up, he saw a ship in the distant sailing toward the island. He was overjoyed at this unexpected scene and loudly shouted, ”Yifu, Zhiruo, there's a ship coming in, there's a ship coming in!”

Xie Xun and Zhou Zhiruo heard his shout and they rushed together to the shore. In a trembling voice Zhou Zhiruo said, ”How can there be a ship coming to this desolate island?”

”It's strange indeed,” Zhang Wuji said, ”Could it be that they are pirates?”

In less than an hour that ship had dropped its anchor offshore, and sent a small boat to the island. Zhang Wuji, three people, waiting for them on the beach. They saw the sailors on that small boat wear Mongolian naval military uniforms. Zhang Wuji's heart was stirred, ”Could it be that Miss Zhao was pricked by her conscience and returned to this island?” Casting a sidelong glance toward Zhou Zhiruo, he saw that her beautiful eyebrows were slightly wrinkled, while her chest was heaving up and down; apparently she was very much concerned.

A short moment later the small boat landed. Five sailors stepped on to the beach. Their leader, a naval officer, bowed respectfully toward Zhang Wuji and said, ”Are you Zhang Wuji, Zhang Gongzi [honorable master Zhang]?”

”I am,” Zhang Wuji replied, ”Who are you, Officer?”

As that officer heard Zhang Wuji answering in affirmative, he looked delighted and relieved. ”Xiao Ren's [lit. little/lowly person, a subordinate addressing him/herself] humble name is Pastai. I truly am fortunate to be able to find Gongzi today. I have received order to find Zhang Gongzi and Xie Daxia and take you back to the Central Earth.” He did mention Zhang and Xie, two people's names, but did not mention Zhou Zhiruo.

”Officer has toiled to come from afar, I wonder who has sent you?” Zhang Wuji asked.

Pastai replied, ”Xiao Ren is a subordinate of Tawa-chelu, the local naval commander in charge of Fujian defense. We have received order from General Pordu to set sail and meet you. Altogether General Pordu dispatches eight ships to search for Zhang Gongzi and Xie Daxia on the water around Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong, three provinces. I can't believe in the end Xiao Ren is the one who render this great merit.” His meaning was obvious; apparently his superior had promised promotion and great reward to whoever succeeded in finding Zhang Wuji.

Hearing that unfamiliar Mongolian general's name, Zhang Wuji thought the general must have received Zhao Min's order to find him at any cost. ”How did your honorable superior find out about me?” he asked.

”According to General Pordu's instructions,” Pastai replied, ”Zhang Gongzi is a noblemanof high status, also a great hero of the present age. Xiao Ren was ordered that after we find you, we must serve Gongzi attentively. As for why we must find Gongzi, Xiao Ren's rank is too low for the Mongolian General to explain the reason.”

”Is this Shaomin Junzhu's idea?” Zhou Zhiruo interrupted.

Pastai was startled, ”Shaomin Junzhu?” he asked, ”Xiao Ren has not had any good fortune to see her.”