Chapter 36: Little Beggar, Pretty Huang Rong (Part 2)

  Huang Rong's eyes couldn't help but well up with tears: "Ling Gege, we just met by chance, why are you so good to me?"

  "It's probably fate." Looking at Huang Rong's tearful appearance, Ling Muyun's heart softened and he smiled slightly.

  If it's said that at the beginning, Ling Muyun was indeed making friends with Huang Rong out of his understanding of the original work, after this meal and chat, he had really started to like Huang Rong, this clever and mischievous little girl. Of course, this liking is a very pure one without any male-female desire, after all, Huang Rong was only 15 or 16 years old at that time, just a child who hadn't grown up yet for Ling Muyun who had memories of his past life, although his physical age wasn't much older than hers.

  Huang Rong said: "No matter what, thank you, Brother Ling."

  "Today's encounter is a coincidence, and I feel like I've known you for a long time, saying thank you would be out of place. But even now, I still don't know your name, brother, and it will be difficult to find you in the future." Ling Mu Yun said, although he knew Huang Rong's name, but to avoid arousing suspicion, he couldn't say it out loud, so he asked openly this time, and it would be convenient to address him later.

  "Huang Rong smiled slightly and said: 'My surname is Huang, with a single given name of Rong. Brother Ling, you must remember this.'"

  At this time, Guo Jing also came up and said: "Huang brother, I'm Guo Jing, you remember that too. From now on, we're all friends. If there's anything, just come find me and Ling brother."

  Huang Rong smiled and said: "I know."

  Ling Muyun said: "Huang Xiongdi, I don't know where you're going. If it's on the way, why don't we travel together?"

  Guo Jing stepped forward and said: "Right, Brother Huang, where is your home? Why don't you go back?"

  Huang Rong's eyes reddened as she said, "Father doesn't want me anymore."

  "Guo Jing asked in surprise: 'What's going on? How could your father possibly not want you?'"

  "My father locked up a man and wouldn't let him out. I saw that the man was pitiful, alone and depressed, so I took some good wine and food to eat with him, and chatted with him. My father found out and was very angry, scolding me. So I secretly escaped at night." Huang Rong said, clearly recalling a painful memory, her voice trembling slightly.

  Coincidentally, Guo Jing asked another question: "Your father is probably thinking of you now, what about your mother?"

  Huang Rong felt even more heartbroken: "I've been dead since I was young, I never had a mother."

  Seeing Huang Rong's distress, Ling Yun stepped forward and patted her shoulder, saying: "Huang, you've run away from home like this, your father will definitely be worried. You'd better hurry back home."

  "Father doesn't want me anymore."

  "It won't be like that, your father wouldn't abandon you."

  "Huang Rong cried and said: 'Then why didn't he come find me?'"

  Ling Yun couldn't help but smile a little, thinking that Huang Rong, such an intelligent girl, would also make mistakes due to her small temper. So he patiently explained: "How do you know your father didn't look for you? Children are the treasures of their parents, and you ran away from home, how could he not be anxious to find you? However, this world is so big, and your father isn't a god, how would he know you came here? Is it that easy to find?"

  Huang Rong burst out laughing and said: "Brother Ling, what you said is also true. I'll go back after I've had enough fun outside."

  "That's settled then." Ling Mu Yun smiled with relief, and then said: "If you don't have a specific destination in mind, why not travel with us? We can keep each other company. It's not very reassuring to let you go on the road alone."

  Guo Jing also came forward and advised: "Right, we still have a companion when we walk together."

  "No need, thank you for your kind intentions, Brother Ling. I can take care of myself, as you can see, I've come all the way from Jiangnan by myself, and nothing's happened to me!" Huang Rong said with a smile, declining his offer.

  Ling Moyun knew that Huang Rong was clever and quick-witted, but not the kind of little girl who would be easily deceived. Although they didn't have any ill intentions, it was hard to guarantee that Huang Rong wouldn't be wary of them in her heart. Moreover, with Huang Rong's clever mind, even if she encountered some trouble, it was likely that others would suffer instead. Therefore, he no longer insisted and said: "In that case, I won't force the issue either. Let's just wish Brother Huang a smooth journey."

  At this point, Ling Yun seemed to suddenly remember something, turned around and walked to the horse post, leading his blue horse and a large white camel together, handing the reins of the blue horse to Huang Rong, saying: "Huang Xiongdi, when going out, not having a mount is inconvenient, so I'll give you this horse."

  Huang Rong, however, did not go to receive the reins, but instead stretched out her hand and pointed at the double-humped white camel, saying to Ling Miao Yun: "Ling big brother, if you really want to give me a mount, why don't you just give me this white camel? I've never ridden a camel before in my life."

  "This——" Ling Mu Yun hesitated slightly.

  "Huang Rong smiled and asked: 'What's wrong, Big Brother can't bear to part with it?'"

  "Huang Xian-di, you've misunderstood. What's there to be reluctant about with just a mount? It's just that this camel's origin is somewhat problematic, I'm afraid it'll bring trouble for Huang Xian-di."

  "What's wrong with your journey? What's the problem? Brother Ling, tell me quickly..." Huang Rong heard and became interested, asking Ling Mochou repeatedly.

  "It's like this, the red horse that Brother Guo rides is a precious steed that can run a thousand miles in a day. When we came, there were four white-clothed women disguised as men riding white camels who saw Brother Guo's horse and wanted to rob it...". Ling Mu Yun then told the story of how they encountered four white-clothed women on the way who tried to steal Guo Jing's little red horse, but ended up being taught a lesson by themselves and even had one of their twin-humped white camels stolen.

  Ling Mu Yun continued, "A mere mount is nothing to speak of, but the White Camel Mountain doesn't seem like an easy opponent. The power behind them may not be small. If Huang Xian takes this camel and rides it out, once the people from White Camel Mountain see him, they might stir up trouble for you. Wouldn't that put Huang Xian in harm's way?"

  "The world is so big, how could I be so lucky to run into someone from White Camel Mountain? I really like this big white camel, Brother Ling, you can give it to me." Who would have thought that after hearing Ling Miao Yun's words, Huang Rong not only didn't back down, but instead showed even more interest, and later even grabbed onto Ling Miao Yun's arm, speaking softly and begging him.

  Ling Yun saw that Huang Rong was genuinely interested, and thought that if the original plot developed as usual, Huang Rong would inevitably be bothered by Ou Yang Kun too. He didn't mind this white camel either, so he nodded in agreement.

  Having received the gift from Ling Zhuo Yun, Huang Rong couldn't help but smile brightly as she carefully examined the double-humped white camel. After bidding farewell to Ling Zhuo Yun and Guo Jing, she mounted the camel and galloped away into the distance.

  As Huang Rong went far away, her figure was no longer visible. Ling Yun and Guo Jing then turned back. Seeing that the sky was already late, the two of them found a relatively upscale inn on the street, opened two adjacent upper rooms to stay in, and prepared to rest for the night before rushing on their journey early the next morning. Just as the time was getting late, Ling Yun was about to extinguish the lamp and sleep when he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door of Guo Jing's room next door, shouting: "Little boy, open the door! We've come to give you a challenge letter!"

  Ling Yun's heart skipped a beat, he got up quietly and opened the door to take a look. Through the faint candlelight leaking from the room, he saw four people standing vaguely outside Guo Jing's room. The four men were armed with knives, guns, whips, and axes, each with a ferocious expression on their faces, looking like they weren't good people at all.

  Just then, the door next to it opened and Guo Jing walked out from inside. Seeing the appearance of these four people, Guo Jing immediately became vigilant and asked loudly: "Huanghe Four Devils, what are you doing here? Do you want to fight again?"

  "The eldest of the four ghosts of the Yellow River, Shen Qing, said with a broken soul knife: 'Young man, we brothers didn't come this time to fight with you, but were ordered by our master's uncle to deliver a challenge letter to you. Our master's uncle said that tomorrow at noon, go to the Black Pine Forest ten miles west of the city and let him see what skills you have, dare to provoke the Yellow River gang. Do you dare to accept the challenge?'"

  Guo Jing, since childhood, had followed the teachings of the Six Freaks of Jiangnan, and his reputation for keeping promises was well-known. As soon as he heard Shen Qingqiu's provocative words, without thinking twice, he replied: "What is there to be afraid of? When the time comes, I will definitely keep my appointment."

  At this time, Wu Qinglie, the second of the four ghosts of the Yellow River, threatened: "You'd better keep your word and go to the appointment. My brothers are watching you, and even if you want to escape, you can't."

  Ling Muyun suddenly flung open the door and walked out, saying to Huanghe Four Ghosts: "Are you little ghosts done talking? If you're done, then scram! Don't disturb our brothers' rest. Scram back and tell that whatever Shifu of yours to wash his neck clean and wait, tomorrow noon my brothers will go and behead him on time."

  "What are you, daring to speak to us like that!" The four ghosts of the Yellow River heard Ling Mu Yun's words and suddenly became furious, rushing to draw their swords and ready to fight.

  Ling Muyun let out a cold snort, and his figure suddenly darted forward. Before the four ghosts of the Yellow River could react, he had already reached their side. "Slap slap slap slap" - a series of crisp sounds rang out as he gave each of them two loud slaps on the ears. He then retreated back to his original position, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, and said in a cold voice: "A group of dog things dare to make a ruckus in front of me? This time is just a lesson for you. If you do it again, I'll take your little lives! Get out of my sight!"

  The Yellow River Four Ghosts only felt a flash in front of their eyes, and then they were slapped with two loud slaps, instantly stunned. When they came to their senses again, Ling Mu Yun was like a ghost, his speed was so shocking that if he wanted to kill them, it would be as easy as pinching an ant to death? For a moment, fear filled their hearts, and how dare they slow down for Ling Mu Yun's words? Hurriedly covering their swollen cheeks, they fled in disarray.