113 Wife-to-be (1/2)

The lady who adored Zhong Yue paid him a visit, and upon being notified of his absence, she handed an embroidered pouch to Meng Fuyao with tears in her eyes. There was an amulet in it, and she explained that she had gotten it from Wuji border, Qingzhou Dade Temple, and the monk who blessed it was an efficacious one. She pled for Meng Fuyao to pass it to him, and while the latter was determined to decline, she couldn't stand the sight of the lady's tears and kept it eventually.

On an ordinary evening during dinner time, Meng Fuyao mentioned that she would teach Zhan Beiye soccer the next day, and take a stroll in the market with Ya Lanzhu after. Then, on the same, moonless night she had suggested it, she carried a cloth bundle, stuffed a fruit into Lord Yuan Bao's mouth to prevent him from reporting to Zhan Beiye, and executed a diversionary tactic on Zhangsun Wuji's secret guard before jumping out of the window and dashing to Huazhou. When she passed Yaocheng, Tie Cheng, along with a team of guards, joined in on the journey toward Wuji border.

Going at full speed, the group arrived in Qingzhou in a night's time, and when they passed a folded, jade-green mountain, Meng Fuyao recalled Zong Yue's admirer saying that Dade Temple was just on top. Out of curiosity, she brought Tie Cheng to climb it.

Halfway through, they heard a sudden swoop of a sword, together with the alarmed cry of a woman.

Meng Fuyao frowned. 'To get involved or not? Nothing good comes out of meddling in others' affairs…' After some thought, she extended both hands and murmured, ”Guessing game, I'll go check it out if I win…”

Before she could attempt to cheat, Tie Cheng had already rushed up. He made a shout, and the guards raised their arms.

Meng Fuyao followed in resignation, spotting a group of people trapped in a corner, the carriage in the middle already half toppled. There were a few men dressed in guard uniforms, battling against men in torn clothes, the majority of them already injured. Before the half toppled carriage stood a few cowering servant girls.

It seemed that those guards had gone up to pray but had met with a group of bandits.

After observing the overall situation, Meng Fuyao's eyes fell upon the toppled carriage.

It was already ruined, it's door fallen out, and she could vaguely see a girl sitting inside. She held an elegant posture, face unmoving, and her moon-white dress draped over the floor, creating a ripple-like effect. From afar, she appeared like a statue of a goddess.

What kind of woman must she be to remain so calm, waiting in a toppled carriage before the unfolding of bloodshed?

Meng Fuyao was curious now. Striding forward, she shouted, ”Stop, everyone!”

Naturally, no one listened to this skinny youth, except Tie Cheng, who then almost got attacked by an incoming chop. Luckily, he blocked it in time.

”How dare you attack my people?”

Meng Fuyao lifted her long robe a little and dashed forward. Without any fancy moves, she simply reached for another sword from Tie Cheng's waist area before slicing it forward.

Three arms flew into the air as blood splattered everywhere. Even a section of the grass patch was sliced off.

An arm smashed into the carriage body, rolling toward the girl who was meditating. Throwing her glance over, Meng Fuyao noticed the lady raising her head, taking the broken arm and placing it on the grass before her. She then shut her eyes and started mumbling, as if chanting.

This got Meng Fuyao even more curious. What a strong character she was! Men were fighting over her, and there she was making prayers for a broken arm? Was she a nun?

While keeping an eye on the lady, Meng Fuyao conveniently landed a chop on a sneak attacker, successfully knocking him unconscious. She then approached the lady, but not before kicking seven, eight other men away.

With a pool of bandits rolling about in pain, it was clear that they weren't her match. They let out a cry and scattered in all directions. Without even looking at them Meng Fuyao squatted and even knocked on the collapsed door. ”Sorry to disturb, lady.”

The lady in the carriage looked up.

Meng Fuyao was stunned.

She locked gaze with a set of peaceful yet deep and clear eyes. They weren't pure black but carried a slight brownish tinge, and it seemed as though they were set far onto a shoreline, or onto a flash of starlight that rose from behind the mountain some thousand miles away.

They were a very special pair of eyes, so much so that Meng Fuyao actually found them rather familiar. It was as though a certain image had superimposed itself onto what she was seeing, and it was a perfect match.

'This pair of eyes… but whose?'

Meng Fuyao's head started to hurt as if someone had axed it open, exposing her blood and brain. Somewhat lost in thoughts she reached for the door while keeping her eyes on that lady.

The lady made a small bow.

”Thank you, Sir, for saving my life.'

Eyes like crescent moon and demeanor so refined and poised she sat, as her moon-white dress continued to create ripples on the ground. There were Buddhism lotuses embroidered on it, and they swayed a little with the breeze, amid her friendly and calm gaze. She looked nothing like a mere mortal.

She reminded Meng Fuyao a little of Zong Yue, especially the cleanliness that she exuded. It was similar yet very different. Zong Yue was distant and cold while she was warm and meticulous, sincere and welcoming.

Meng Fuyao looked at the blood and dust on her body, suddenly feeling like a contaminated person before a lady like that. She stepped back and tried as best as she could to angle herself in the most flattering way, smiling, ”Welcome, welcome. Excuse me.”