457 Parting (1/2)
”That's alright.” Yun Yang said with a wan smile. ”Don't worry, old one. In all honesty, my injuries are fine now and I have medicine with me. With my current state, I need at least half a month to arrive at the battlefield. This period of time will be sufficient for me to recuperate.”
The old man sighed.
It was no mean feat to travel and recuperate at the same time.
If one were to rush during his journey, it would be difficult to avoid aggravating his injuries, but to recuperate while traveling? It was absurd and self-deceiving. Still, it looked like there was no other way about this.
Seeing that Yun Yang was insistent and there was no point in trying to stop him, the old physician said softly, ”Perhaps you can choose to take a detour and go around the mountain from the back. You'll be able to see grasslands, and as long as you don't go too deep into the forest, you won't encounter any dangerous mystical beasts.”
”I beg your pardon?” Yun Yang asked in bewilderment.
Why did the elder suddenly bring this up?
Time was already ticking away, but he was still being asked to take a detour? Even if it was less dangerous, it was still a ridiculous choice. Could there be some ulterior motive behind the seemingly innocent request?
”In the borderless grasslands roam hordes of wild horses…” The old man said, ”At least a hundred thousand of them, maybe even more. Since you have remarkable a cultivation base, it shouldn't be too hard for you to capture a wild horse. With a horse as your transportation, I believe your traveling time will be greatly reduced.”
”At the very least, it can save you energy to recuperate.”
Realization struck Yun Yang the moment he heard the old man's explanation, and he recalled at once that almost every home had horses when he had first seen this small village and handsome ones at that. When the twelve teenagers had left, the warhorses they took with them were the of best stock as well. He understood now that this was probably the source of the magnificent creatures.
”I'll go have a look.”
Yun Yang was deeply intrigued.
With how his leg being as injured as it was, it would be very efficient to have a great horse.
Late at night, Yun Yang left quietly; he did not inform anyone in the village except the old man who was sending him off. Unexpectedly, when the old man had sent Yun Yang out of the door, half the village had appeared.
They stood quietly in the nightfall, sending Yun Yang off with their gazes. A few elders moved forward shakily; behind them, a gaggle of women clustered together.
The old man received two parcels from the women's hands and said sincerely, ”Warrior, your departure to the battlefield is to fight for our Yutang. Do be careful. Aged and weak as we are, we can no longer step foot into war… The women at home had made ten pairs of canvas shoes through the night, twenty catties of biscuits and a saddle… Please accept these insignificant gifts of ours to cheer you on your journey, great warrior.”
Yun Yang looked around and could see a few women among the crowd who paid more attention to him; there were smaller packages in each of their hands. These women were the mothers of the twelve teenagers who had left earlier.
Yun Yang felt a warm feeling surge in his heart, a blanket of genuine comfort and envy wrapped around him.
What Yun Yang had yearned for the most in his life was the care of a family. It was unknown if destiny had played a trick on him; he had lost his parents since he was young while each family whom Yun Yang acknowledged had gone through a rough patch like the Nine Supremes, Yun Zuiyue, and Old Dugu who had passed on, as well as Ji Lingxi and Yue Rulan who had inexplicably attracted the attention of an almighty presence, Lei Dongtian, and could not recover their true faces for years. It just proved that whoever was close to Yun Yang was no exception to grief, desolation, bad luck, and death!
In spite of this, Yun Yang envied the people who had the care of their families even more and especially treasured the love that was being showered upon him.
”Thank you!”
Yun Yang accepted the packages graciously and carried them on his back. He bowed deeply, ”Thank you! Take care, elders. If I survive this war, I will come back to all of you again.”
”Warrior, you're no ordinary person. You'll surely be meritorious in this trip and be titled marquis or general in the future and your generations to come! God bless Yutang for such a warrior to fight in the war!” A few elders looked at him solemnly while they spoke with sincerity as if they were making a vow.
Then, the mothers of the teenagers stepped out in unison.
”Warrior, you were a teacher to our children. The children's mothers know that you're leaving and wanted to show their gratitude to you. However, you only have two hands and you carry injuries, unable to bring along too much. This old and useless one has made the decision for them to sew two pairs of canvas shoes each. Please accept them!”
Yun Yang swallowed, at a loss for words.
Twenty-four pairs of canvas crepe shoes were neatly placed in front of him.
Each pair was sewn with the most secure twine, complete with intricate stitches. The soles of the shoes were creped from homemade pulp while the upper layers were made from hard Wired Snake leather. The insides of the shoes were made of the most ordinary soft fabric but with a thin layer of cotton that was sewn within. They were not beautiful, but they were absolutely secure, comfortable and long-lasting.
This was the most practical and basically the best parting gift! It was also the most touching gift Yun Yang had ever received in his life. He felt especially beholden to these good-hearted people.
”Thank you!” Yun Yang bowed and said, ”If I can meet the children on this trip, I will take care of them as best as I can, with hopes that all twelve of them will return!”
The twelve women returned the bow, gratitude brimming in their eyes. ”Thank you for your care, teacher!”
They were confident as if the promise from this person that stood before them could guarantee the safety of their sons among the hundreds and thousands of men from the opposing army.