Chapter 184 The Grand Occasion (1/2)
When Li Ye opened the curtain, he first saw the Junior Priestess riding a horse next to the carriage. He poked his head out to look back and saw Song Jiao talking happily with Su Emei and Wei Xiaozhuang at the back of the long line of refugees. It made him frown slightly.
After the battle of Qingshui Villa, Song Jiao didn't get along with them for a long time, but she seemed to be very close to them after meeting them. Li Ye knew about Song Jiao's temperament. Although she always ogled at him and gave him the glad eye in front of him, she was, in fact, very proud and arrogant and she was even unwilling to admit Nangong Diyi's success.
”Why would Song Jiao treat Su Emei and Wei Xiaozhuang differently? Su Emei and Wei Xiaozhuang won't tell others about the reincarnation thing casually. And they didn't reach their cultivation realm because of hard work, so Song Jiao has no reason to admire them.”
”The world knows nothing about the White Deer Sect and has no idea where these masters come from.”
”Among the current disciples of the White Deer Sect, Song Jiao admires nobody but Li Xian who is the most outstanding.”
Li Ye couldn't figure it out, so he put this thought aside for the time being. Sitting upright, he began to close his eyes to rest, but he couldn't help thinking about certain things.
”It's said that, apart from Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Militarism, the White Deer Sect is the most magical sect in a thousand years. Its disciples are all capable ministers who can govern the country and heroes in troubled times. Especially during times of chaos, its disciples will conform to the trend, go out into the world, make achievements, and carry forward the reputation of their own sect.”
”But now, all discerning people know the world is going to be in chaos, Li Ye has seen Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Militarism, but he has not seen or even heard of any of the disciples of the White Deer Sect, except Song Jiao who came to his side for some reason.”
”This is not normal, and it doesn't conform to the White Deer Sect's way of doing things.”
...
On the way, Li Ye met a lot of Jianghu cultivators who rushed to Qing Prefecture. Consciously or unconsciously, they all grouped together and walked behind his convoy.
Li Ye's group was too long. Not counting the thousands of refugees Cui Keli kept taking in along the way, just the eight hundred elite cavalries who served as Li Ye's guards were enough to attract people's attention.
Of late, under Song Jiao's arrangement, the Black Office spread news of the battle's situation at Qingshui Villa. Now, seeing Li Ye's convoy, discerning people would guess this was the new commissioner's convoy. At present, the Jianghu cultivators in Pinglu all knew the Penglai Taoist sect had become a thing of the past and was not worth mentioning and that the Black Office of the commissioner was the leader in Jianghu, so when they had the chance to meet them, whether they could make a connection or not, they had to follow behind.
If the commissioner could see them, that was a chance to gain a high position or great wealth. It was worth the effort to even just get familiar with the Black Office. Even if these were extravagant hopes, the opportunity to walk with the commissioner and the Black Office would be an honor to boast about later on.
Hence, the group behind Li Ye got longer and longer.
An interesting thing happened in the end.
Because the line was so eye-catching and too many refugees were following them, other refugees kept joining them along the way. Within two days, hundreds had joined. It was a mess because of the influx of people. Cui Keli stopped reading in the carriage and went out among the refugees to talk with them and maintain order. What Li Ye noticed most was Cui Keli carrying an unknown child and running everywhere to help people who fell or who lagged behind—there was not enough food for this many people, so the refugees were hungry and had little energy.
When Cui Keli went among the refugees, Li Ye was deep in thought and he no longer rode the big horse. He ordered the eight hundred guards to help support the refugees, and at the same time, he went among the refugees to chat with them. When he saw a child who didn't have the strength to walk, he would pick him up. When he saw a shambling old man, he would support him.
Emotions were contagious, and behavior had a group effect. Su Emei, Wei Xiaozhuang and the others soon got along with the refugees. Later on, no one needed to be helped and people didn't have to carry a person on the back, so they were more about talking and chatting together.
The dreary and sorrowful atmosphere of the refugees now became active and warm. There was a great deal of laughter, and now and then someone made everyone laugh. With his extraordinary medical skills, Wei Xiaozhuang took the initiative to treat patients. All the men of the Black Office ran errands for Wei Xiaozhuang. They got his prescription and went to the nearby markets, towns and counties to buy medicine. Some of them rode on horses and some flew directly. It gradually became a wonder.
The Junior Priestess followed Li Ye, carrying a child in each arm. She was determined to follow Li Ye closely everywhere, and she was popular with the children because of her temperament and looks. So she had a group of kids following her too.
The Junior Priestess had no particular reaction, but she had softened a great deal more. She no longer had the murderous look when she faced Li Ye. During breaks and meals, she would bring the children to the table one by one and serve them food personally. Even though she never spoke, more and more children followed her.