Chapter 31: The Trail of Yao Wang

  As expected, Da Chu's chrysanthemum has been blown up. Fellow citizens, give me some strength! When reading books, log in to your account and don't be stingy with votes. Let's blow up Da Chu's chrysanthemum together!

  －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

  Fang Yiai rode his horse slowly, and for several days he had been speaking very little. He couldn't forget the more than 700 people who died in vain at Niujiacun village, nor could he forget that infant still in diapers; whenever Fang Yiai thought of it, his heart would bleed. Linglong rode her horse alongside Fang Yiai, looking at his worried face, but she had no way to help him. She understood that there was a knot in Fang Yiai's heart, and she knew she wasn't the one who could untie it.

  "Young master, it's just ahead to Songzhou." Qin Hu rode up on his horse and asked. Fang Yiai looked up at the not-too-distant city of Songzhou, nodded and said: "Uncle Hu, let everyone make an effort, we will spend tonight in Songzhou City."

  "It's okay, but there are some things I need to tell you, young master. Actually, you don't have to blame yourself too much for what happened at Tongfeng Valley. Some things can't be stopped by human power." Qin Hu said with a furrowed brow. Along the way these past few days, Qin Hu could feel the change in Fang Yilai. The original Fang Yilai was open and cheerful, but now he rarely spoke, quietly like a mute. Perhaps after what happened at Tongfeng Valley, Fang Yilai had matured, but unfortunately, he had also become somewhat cold and detached.

  "Uncle Hu, I understand what you said, but unfortunately, the matter of Niujiacun could have been avoided. Those people all died because of me. If we hadn't found the Monkey Spirit, my heart would never be at peace. Do you know? Every night, I have nightmares. I dream of those babies covered in blood crying towards me. How can I not think about it? How can I not blame myself?" Fang Yiai hung his head in despair. He hated himself, but even more so, he hated the cruelty of the Monkey Spirit. What could those babies do? Apart from crying, what threat could they pose? Why did they have to kill those babies too? Is taking lives something to be proud of?

  Qin Hu sighed helplessly. He only now realized that being too rational wasn't always a good thing. Sometimes, being a bit muddled wasn't so bad after all.

  A group of people rushed to Songzhou and found an inn. Fang Yiai lay in the room, still thinking about the Cow Village case. Fang Yiai felt that Houleng was really cautious when doing things, leaving no clues behind, except for the scattered horseshoe prints.

  Linglong sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching Fang Yiai with a tightly furrowed brow. "Second Master, some things can't be rushed. I think as long as Houleng still has desires, he will definitely reveal his true nature in the future. You don't know anything now and are just guessing, so you won't be able to figure out what's going on."

  "Linglong, it's precisely because I don't know that I want to think about it. Do you know what the over 1 million wolf-tooth arrows that were transported mean? That represents the lives of a hundred thousand troops!" Fang Yiai felt a headache coming on. What did Houleng want so many wolf-tooth arrows for? Could it be for a rebellion? Fang Yiai thought about it and immediately dismissed this possibility, because he couldn't think of anyone who could swallow up over 1 million wolf-tooth arrows in one go. In the early Tang dynasty, there were only sixteen guards, and to swallow up this batch of wolf-tooth arrows would require at least four guards, nearly a hundred thousand troops. Therefore, Fang Yiai thought that the possibility of rebellion was extremely small. Then, where these wolf-tooth arrows went became something worth thinking about. Houleng spent so much effort making these wolf-tooth arrows, they must have had their own ideas.

  Linglong smiled wryly and shook her head. She didn't understand these things at all, nor did she want to. All she wanted was to be a pampered little woman loved by others.

  The next morning, Fang Yiai walked out of the inn and strolled along the small streets of Songzhou, feeling the simple folk customs of this place. Fang Yiai and his group soon left the city of Songzhou and arrived at a small village outside the city. Fang Yiai held onto an old man and asked with a smile: "Sir, we'd like to ask you something, is that okay?"

  "Haha, this young master is polite. Ask away, and as long as this old man knows it, I'll definitely tell you." The old man stroked his beard and put down the hoe in his hand by the side of the road.

  "Old gentleman, I'd like to ask you something. Do you know Sun Simiao, also known as Sun the Daoist?" Fang Yiai asked with a bow and a smile.

  "Sun Simiao Sun Daozhang?" The old man muttered to himself, thinking for a while before raising his head and asking: "Young master, this Sun Simiao Sun Daozhang is really unheard of by this old man. I wonder if the young master can tell me in detail what this Sun Daozhang does?"

  "Of course, this Sun Simiao Taoist priest is highly skilled in medicine, and generally, no illness can stump him. Unfortunately, this Taoist priest has always been elusive, and just a few days ago, I heard that he appeared in the Emei Mountain area, so I rushed over." said Fang Yiai in detail.

  "Oh? Is the Sun Daochang you're looking for the legendary Dr. Sun?" The old man chuckled and asked, "A while ago, I heard that a Dr. Sun who could cure illnesses had appeared in the Songzhou area. I think the person you're looking for should be him, but Dr. Sun left Songzhou some time ago."

  "What? Left Songzhou? Does the old man know where Dr. Sun has gone?" Fang Yiai was anxious now, having finally arrived in Songzhou only to be told that Sun Simiao had left Songzhou, which was a great blow to her.

  "Young master, you overestimate me. How would I know where that divine doctor Sun went? However, young master doesn't need to worry, you can go to the Jizheng Hall pharmacy in town and ask the owner there. I heard Doctor Sun stayed at Jizheng Hall for a few days."

  "Thank you, old sir. I'll go to the Jimin Hall pharmacy now." Fang Yiai thought for a moment and bowed again to the old man, saying, "Old sir, I was a bit too hasty just now. There are still people at home waiting for Dr. Sun's treatment, so I hope you won't mind!"

  "Haha, young master is joking, just by looking at you I can tell you're a noble young man, being able to chat with an old man like me for so long is already giving me a lot of face. Besides, this old man has lived for many years, would he still care about such trivial matters?" The old man waved his hand and smiled warmly at Fang Yu Ai, then picked up the hoe on the ground and walked towards the fields. Fang Yu Ai looked at the old man's slightly stooped back and a long-forgotten smile appeared on her face.

  "Go, go to Jizhentang!"

  Fang Yi Ai and his group quickly returned to Songzhou City, inquired about it, and found the Jí Mín Táng pharmacy. After entering the pharmacy, Fang Yi Ai said to the shop assistant: "Shop assistant, may I ask if Dr. Sun has been staying here for a few days?"

  "Is this young master asking about Sun the medicine master?" The shop assistant looked at these people and found that they were not here to buy medicine, but he didn't get angry, instead he just smiled and asked.

  "Heh heh, right, we're looking for Sun Daochang. Do you know where he is now?"

  "Sir, Sun Daochang indeed stayed here for a few days, but as to where he went, I don't know. However, I think the boss should know. Just wait a moment, I'll go to the back and call the boss." The shop assistant put down the scale in his hand and was about to head to the back room.

  At this time, Fang Yai Ai gave Ling Long a wink, and Ling Long smiled and took out some silver coins to put in the shop assistant's hand, saying "Thank you, big brother!"

  "Ah, young master, this is really not right, it's not a big deal, I really can't accept this silver!" The shop assistant said as he tried to return the silver.

  Fang Yi smiled warmly and said, "Old brother, just take it. It's a small matter for you, but not for me."

  The fellow looked at Fang Yi's resolute attitude and could only smile wryly, "Then I'll just thank the young master!"

  After the fellow left, Qin Huo moved a chair for Fang Yiai and said with some emotion: "Young master, I really didn't expect that the people of Songzhou City would be so simple-minded. If this were in Chang'an City, I'm afraid no one would deliver your message without spending some money!"

  "Heh heh, Uncle Hu, we can't control everything else, as long as the Fang and Qin estates don't have those greedy servants who only care about money, that's all that matters." Fang Yiai smiled thoughtfully.

  "Young master, you're right," Qin Hu and others laughed and nodded in agreement.

  The summer days in Songzhou were particularly hot, and before long, Fang Yilai's sweat had already started to flow. Linglong took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from Fang Yilai's forehead. As he caught the subtle fragrance on Linglong's body, Fang Yilai almost lost himself.

  Just as Fang Yiai was a little distracted, the partner finally came back, followed by an old man with white hair and beard. Seeing that the boss was actually an elderly gentleman, Fang Yiai quickly stood up and saluted, "Elderly sir, sorry to disturb you!"

  "Haha, this young master is indeed polite. I am Old Man Ma Wen, what brings you to find Sun Daozhang?" The old man couldn't help but praise Housekeeper Yi's politeness in his heart.

  "Master Ma, it's like this. I have a family member who has fallen ill with a strange disease and many doctors have been invited to treat them but to no avail. That's why I was thinking of inviting Master Sun Daochang to go with me on a visit to see if he might have a solution," said Fang Yiai seriously.

  "Ah, I see, young master. It seems you'll have to put in some extra effort this time. Sun Daozhang has gone to Emei Mountain, and with its vast size, finding him won't be an easy task." Ma Wen stroked his beard and sighed bitterly.

  "Sun Daochang actually went to Mount Emei? It seems that this time I really need to put in some effort. Since that's the case, we won't disturb you anymore, Old Man Ma, thank you!" Fang Yiai bowed her hands in gratitude towards Ma. Although Mount Emei was a bit big, at least she now knew where Sun Simiao was.

  "Young master, why make such a fuss? It's just a small matter. I hope you can find Master Sun soon!"

  Walking on the small road in Songzhou City, accompanied by the scorching sun, step by step forward.