CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 165: FLOOD DISASTER

"Do you have to copy a lot every month?" Zhu Yu asked.

"Basically, if this boy really copied meticulously, he wouldn’t have time to do anything else." Yan Daoxin gestured with his hand, "Every month he has to copy a stack this thick."

"Then I know why the Duke Yan doesn’t look favorably upon you now," Zhu Yu said with a smile to Lu Qing beside him.

Saying it’s to dissolve the ominous energy is obviously an excuse. The Duke Yan hopes to trap Lu Qing in that isolated Shanqing Temple, copying scriptures day and night, over and over, spending all his time on it. In this way, by the time he’s in his teens or twenties, aside from being able to recite those scriptures backward, he’d essentially be a useless person.

He’d have neither broad knowledge nor a strong foundation, no family influence to protect him, and no mastery of civil or military skills.

Such a person could only be a fish on the chopping board, a piece of meat in the pot, at the mercy of others, without any ability to resist.

Zhu Yu grew more puzzled in his heart.

If Zhao Bi now disliked the Situ family, intent on tripping them up, that’d be understandable. After all, Zhao Bi had once supported Emperor Jin, fought through bloody battles, and finally elevated him to the supreme throne of Sovereign of the World.

So he had every reason to dislike the Situ family, who always remained neutral and didn’t pay such a heavy price, yet became prominent ministers in the court like him.

But Lu Qing’s ancestors were clearly in the same camp as the Duke Yan, and the entire family only had Lu Qing as the sole survivor.

The Duke Yan couldn’t possibly be so cautious as to scheme against Lu Qing for fear that his growing up might threaten his grandson Zhao Bocai’s future, could he?

Yan Daoxin wasn’t as deep as Lu Qing, but he wasn’t without intelligence. From what Zhu Yu said to Lu Qing, he instantly gleaned something, realizing that Lu Qing hadn’t shared much with his new wife.

He recalled the conversation between the two that day and also gave Lu Qing a deep look.

Lu Qing glanced at him and said to Zhu Yu, "The intricacies of it can’t be explained in a few words. When convenient, I will tell the lady in detail."

Zhu Yu was taken aback, having thought that, based on previous reactions, Lu Qing would surely avoid the topic he just raised. Unexpectedly, he seemed willing to open up.

How did he suddenly become so forthright? Did Situ Jing’s sword, though not hitting a vital point, accidentally open his mind?

"Since everything is ready, we’ll set off at first light tomorrow, head to Huazhou, and then from Huazhou to Shuo Country," Lu Qing said, not continuing the previous topic. After all, the many connections between him and the Duke Yan faction couldn’t be explained in a few words. There were things even he had doubts about, let alone being able to make it clear to Zhu Yu immediately.

For now, the most important matter was getting to Shuo Country.

Zhu Yu put away his ordination document, took a Taoist robe suitable for his physique from the Fu Lu, and didn’t linger longer, going back to sleep early.

The next morning, before dawn, Rune came to knock on the door. Zhu Yu woke up immediately upon hearing the knock, quickly got up, dressed in the Taoist robe, and skillfully tied a Taoist’s hairstyle on himself.

These days, the muscle memory of waking up and acting promptly at any sudden situation persisted, and now even the actions of dressing like a man and tying a man’s hairstyle had become brisker.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she packed her belongings, left the room, and joined the others, appearing like a clear-eyed young Daoist.

The group donned travelling hats and set off. By the time daylight fully broke, they were already over a hundred li away from the post station and Situ Jing’s camp in Li State. After a brief rest, they continued on their journey, reaching near the border of Huazhou before nightfall to rest at an inn.

The inn’s young attendant, seeing them all in Taoist robes and travel-worn, couldn’t help but grow curious and asked while serving them food, "Are you heading towards Huazhou?"

"You have quite sharp eyes; how did you figure we were headed there?" Yan Daoxin didn’t mind the inquiry, nodded, "We are indeed heading to Huazhou."

The young attendant grinned, "It’s not hard to guess! This year, for some reason, most of Huazhou seems like someone poked a hole in the sky.

My dad says, in his entire life, he’s only ever heard of Huazhou having droughts occasionally, never of it raining so hard as to cause floods!

Before you, we’ve already seen several groups of monks and Daoists in this inn!

Not just monks and Daoists, but also shamans!

So, without asking, I know you must be invited by the government to perform rituals, hoping to dispel clouds and let the sun shine!"

Yan Daoxin nodded repeatedly in agreement to the young attendant’s words. Seeing his guess confirmed, the young attendant sighed, "I just hope some of you have genuine skills and can stop the flooding in Huazhou.

If not, at this rate, after Huazhou is submerged, it won’t be long before the floodwaters reach our Li State!"

Zhu Yu felt a bit taken aback.

Logically, Li State being upstream from Huazhou shouldn’t be particularly worried about increased rainfall downstream.

Now seeing the young attendant, so deeply concerned despite his youth, it’s clear how severe the flood situation in Huazhou had become.

Yan Daoxin glanced at Lu Qing and Zhu Yu, secretly surprised that the young attendant had inadvertently guessed their destination due to such a reason.

Healing a disease, detoxification, these things Yan Daoxin could handle.

Even concocting some strange poison pill wasn’t out of the question.

But whether it’s rained to come or rained to stop, he had no skill in it.

However, with the thick skin honed through years of traveling, he put on a confident facade, almost claiming to mobilize the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, leaving the young attendant starstruck. As he left their table, his eyes were full of admiration. Had he had any money on him, he might not have resisted donating some incense and oil to Yan Daoxin and the group!