Chapter Thirty-Nine: People on a Journey

  "I'll take them on a trip to the Northeast, and if that disciple of mine who went abroad to eat ramen returns, please inform her for me. Also, no matter what means are used, I want this girl to stay in Wudang. As for her parents, I will explain it to them later." There is an irreconcilable hatred between China and Japan, whether it's the human world or the ghost world, it's all the same.

  Now that the whereabouts of Xiao Riben have been discovered in the domestic hinterland, it is necessary to raise vigilance. At present, going to South Korea to bring back Shifu's beloved disciple from the ramen shop is obviously unrealistic. The top priority can only be to go to Northeast China first, find Zhuque Mei Jiuniang and her disciples, and then everyone will discuss long-term plans together.

  "Northeast? You're going to the Northeast this season. What if you encounter a big snowstorm, not to mention finding someone, can you withstand the cold?" The coldness of the Northeast is well-known to everyone in the country. Every year from October, the Northeast starts to cool down. Temperatures below minus tens of degrees will continue until March of the following year.

  It can be said that for half of the year, the northeastern region is in a state of severe cold. Now it's already late November, which marks the beginning of the coldest period in Northeast China all year round. So when Yudao Ming heard that Shifu and Shishu wanted to go to Northeast with us, he immediately expressed his concern.

  "Things have to be done by people, and there are many things I can't tell you clearly. But Northeast, we must go. Daoming, don't you know my skills? Don't worry." Master Shiyin knew that You Daoming was concerned about her, and she also knew the feelings he had for her over the years. However, the responsibilities and karma on her shoulders were too heavy, so heavy that she didn't dare to accept anyone's emotions.

  "Since it's unavoidable, I won't stop you either. Just... take this with you. When going out, it's always good to bring some extra money." Yu Dao Ming took out a deposit slip from the cabinet and stuffed it into Shifu Ying's hand, which was his life savings. It wasn't much, but the thought behind it made Shifu Ying feel heavy-hearted.

  "You're not getting any younger, it's better to keep this money for yourself as a precaution. In case of illness or disaster, it'll come in handy. Besides, those two rascals have plenty of money on them. If I don't take advantage of them this time, I'll always feel like I've let myself down!" Master Shi put the note back into You Dao Ming's hand and smiled at him.

  "Alright! I know your temper, you're a man of your word. Be careful on the road, and when you come back, leave a mark at our old meeting spot so I can rest assured!" Yu Dao Ming didn't decline Shi Ying's offer, he knew him too well. As for the "old meeting spot" he mentioned, I reckon it was that cliff where they first met.

  "Why does he get more and more nagging as the years go by?" Shi Ying's uncle glared at Du Dao Ming, seemingly quite unaccustomed to this display of sentimentality.

  "What's the point of still lingering here? Who are you waiting for? Don't hurry down the mountain to buy train tickets? Oh, don't forget to bring back a few down jackets. That one, I want it in pink!" Leng Cao and I didn't dare disobey this demon girl, so we hastily turned around and left hand in hand. After walking out of more than 100 meters, we heard the demon girl shouting about the color of the down jacket being pink.

  The train tickets were quickly purchased at the designated sales point, and the soft sleeper was basically unavailable. In the end, only a few soft seats were available. After preparing a bunch of miscellaneous items, the tour guide sent us to Xiangyang Train Station in a minibus from Wudang Mountain Scenic Area. The bus was a Zhongbao, and those packages were mostly prepared for Shifu's shadow and uncle. There were snacks, clothes, medicines... and even sanitary napkins!

  I'm really puzzled, how can this old Taoist be so meticulous that he even prepares sanitary napkins for Shifu and Shu Shu? This kind of person, instead of being a husband to women, has become a Taoist priest, which is indeed a great loss for all the women.

  "The terminal is Heilongjiang, and we're taking the express air-conditioned train. It'll take about 30 hours to arrive." I said to my master, who was following behind me with a relaxed expression, after finding my seat on the train. Since it wasn't during the Spring Festival travel season, the carriage wasn't fully packed, let alone so crowded that you'd have to push through several people just to make space to fart.

  "Alright, alright. You're so young, why are you nagging? Just take care of it yourself, and don't forget to call me when we arrive. Come on, I want the window seat." Soon, my kind intentions were treated like a joke by this demon girl. Moreover, she even snatched the window seat from me.

  "Is anyone here?" The train started moving, and soon a group of men came over to flirt with the beautiful woman. As for me and Deng Cao, they completely ignored us!

  "Honey, help me get an apple!" I would have never thought that the demon girl's "honey" was referring to me. It wasn't until she grabbed my arm and secretly gave it a tight squeeze that I realized.

  "Ah? Ah!" I gritted my teeth in pain and pulled out an apple from my bag, handing it to the female demon. I knew she was using me as a human shield, but did she have to twist my arm so hard?

  "Husband, I want you to help me peel it!" The seductress hugged my arm even tighter and leaned her head on my shoulder, coquettishly acting spoiled. A warm and soft mass was pressing against my clothes, challenging my self-control.

  "Has the beauty gotten married?" The gloomy man's expression was clearly very disappointed. He took a glance at the handsome poor Dao, then glanced at the charming and lovely demon girl, and asked with some regret.

  "It doesn't matter, we can be friends!" That guy must have been completely enchanted by the demon girl's beauty and still didn't give up on hitting on her. Although I was innocent with the demon girl, being ignored like this, provoking a man's dignity right to his face, even I couldn't tolerate it!

  "Get out!" The poor Taoist directly said this simple and clear word to that thing!

  "Hey, comrade, how can you be so lacking in quality? I just wanted to make friends with this beauty, what's it got to do with you? Country bumpkin, no quality at all! Alas!" That guy started a fight thread, and I had no choice but to follow him into battle.

  "Get out, you're looking for my wife to be friends? Do you think I'm dead?!" The poor monk has always been disdainful of arguing with people, a slap in the face and it's swollen! Then took a deep breath under the gaze of the smiling fox spirit, and said this.

  "Haha! Look, this trip wasn't a waste after all. I saw a 2B (a derogatory term for someone who is stupid or annoying) hitting on someone else's wife right in front of her husband. Isn't this the rhythm of seeking death? Brother, go ahead and hit him harder, we've got your back!" Meanwhile, a few men with Northeastern accents were cheering me on loudly from the side."

  "Oh my! You don't know the rule of law, do you? Don't you know that a gentleman uses his mouth but not his fists?! I'm going to go find the police to report this situation. In broad daylight, they dare to be so savage, truly a rustic and uncivilized person." That guy touched the palm print on his face and scolded indignantly.

  "What's going on? Everyone has a seat, and you're all sitting comfortably watching the scenery, why are you arguing?" A middle-aged conductor in his 50s walked over after hearing the commotion, joking with the people in the carriage as he came. After he said this, most of the passengers started laughing. Yes, what he said was right. During Spring Festival travel season, even the toilets were packed with people, who had time to watch others' commotion? Now it's great, everyone has a seat, but instead you're not at peace.

  "Comrade traffic police officer......" The sulky man saw the traffic police coming and hurried over to prepare to speak first.

  "This kid was making fun of the silver master's wife in front of him, and the silver master couldn't bear it anymore and slapped this kid. That's what happened, big brother!" Before that guy could even open his mouth, those Northeastern old folks next to him rushed to finish telling the story!

  "If this were in our village, we'd cut him down to size, that scrawny little runt!" And with that, the man added one more sentence!

  "Alright, alright, you can stop arguing now. Is that what happened? Let's discuss it!" The old policeman indeed had a way of working. On one hand, he was comforting the few Northeasterners who were filled with righteous indignation, while on the other hand, he turned his head to ask the other passengers in the car! It was just like chatting about everyday things, no one felt that this old comrade was from a privileged department, everyone treated him like an old neighbor!

  "Indeed, indeed it is so!" A somewhat stuttering young man stood up and said to the old comrade.

  "That's right, no mistake. That rascal was slapped by someone's husband and still dared to be the first to report wrongdoing, we all saw it with our own eyes!" A 50-year-old aunt stood up and said indignantly.

  "You've really made everyone angry. Why are you still standing there? Let me change your train car for you? And apologize to the other person." The old conductor waved his hand at the red-faced cargo handler. As expected, an old ginger is still spicy! Look at how he resolved the situation in just a moment, without causing dissatisfaction from either party involved.

  "Sorry about that!" The other person lowered their head, so I didn't make a big deal out of it. Although the apology was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz!

  "Everyone please take a seat, the scenery along the way is still worth taking a look at. Especially the process of those views being gradually covered by heavy snow, which is something you can't see every day at home! If there's anything, you can find me in the front car, if not, let's all be considerate of each other. When going out, it's not as casual as being at home, and there will inevitably be some bumps along the way, right? As they say, with over a billion people in China, for everyone to fit into one train car is also a kind of fate. Let's all arrive at our destination safely and smoothly, isn't that what everyone, and their families, are hoping for?"

  The old conductor did some ideological work on the people in the carriage before leaving, and with his eloquence, he was really convinced!

  "Hubby~" After the police took away the luggage, the seductress deliberately shouted at me loudly. Then she cut a piece of apple that she had peeled while watching the commotion and stuffed it into my mouth with her small knife. Dazed, I felt that continuing like this wouldn't be bad either! At this moment, I was completely immersed in the charm emitted by the seductress, as for her real age, who cares!