Finest Servant

Chapter 377

Chapter 377 Farewell to Luo Ning

Jining was situated exactly between Jinling and the capital, a distance that could neither be considered near nor far. Miss Xu's temperament seemed even more impatient than Lin Wanrong's. She had ridden her horse for three continuous hours, taking the lead without uttering a single word. The famed blood-sweat treasure horse truly lived up to its reputation, demonstrating strong and swift movement. It ran three to four hundred li without showing a hint of fatigue. No wonder the Turkic cavalry was so formidable.

"Hey, Miss Xu, let's find a place to rest up ahead. We don't want to exhaust this precious horse; it's worth a thousand pieces of gold after all!" Lin Wanrong rode up, barely catching up with Xu Zhiqing, and called out with a laugh.

Miss Xu gradually slowed her horse, gave him a sidelong glance, and snorted, "If you can't keep up, just say so. Don't make excuses. This blood-sweat treasure horse can travel a thousand li a day. Even if you fall down, it can still carry you to Jining."

Observing Miss Xu's calm and composed demeanor, showing no sign of fatigue, Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Look at what you're saying. How could I mistreat such a horse? I'm just worried about you, Miss Xu. What if you catch a cold or something during this long journey? I wouldn't know how to explain to your father."

"Thank you for your kindness, Master Lin." Xu Zhiqing shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her face. "This mere eight hundred li journey is nothing compared to fighting fierce nomads cavalry. I'm more worried about you, Master Lin. With your frail body, I don't know if you can endure the journey!"

‘Frail body? This girl is calling me weak? Did she observe it or touch me to confirm?’ Lin Wanrong grinned, "Miss Xu, you're very observant, even noticing that I'm frail. Perhaps I have been overworking myself lately. I can only manage seven or eight times a night, only half as much as before. I guess I need to rejuvenate. Just don't peek!" As he spoke, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small box, opened the lid, and inhaled deeply, looking blissful.

Xu Zhiqing caught a faint fragrance and glanced curiously at the item. Recognizing what it was, she blushed furiously, shouting, "You, you, shameless!"

"Shameless?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed in surprise. "I just warned you not to peek. Sigh, I'm merely taking medicine to rejuvenate myself, and you call that shameless? Is there no justice left in the world?"

"You dare to say that? These obscene things are your rejuvenating medicine?" Miss Xu snorted angrily, urging her horse to move on.

Master Lin shook his head and sighed, "People see objects differently, and their hearts are revealed by what they see. The same thing can appear differently to different people. For example, in my eyes, this is an excellent medicine, a life-saving grace. But to Miss Xu, it becomes an obscene object. How can there be such a great difference between people?"

Miss Xu, well-versed in astronomy, geography, agriculture, and medicine, hesitated at his words, "You... you say this is really medicine?"

"Miss Xu is well-versed in the medical arts of Great Hua, so you should understand that in Great Hua medical theory there's a concept called 'shape supplementation,' what we usually refer to as consuming something for the specific part of the body it resembles. Just like how the shape of broad beans resembles kidneys, and thus they are believed to nourish the yin and kidneys. What I have here in my hand is called 'Yangshen,' born beneath the eternal snow of Mount Changbai. As for its medicinal properties, according to shape supplementation theory, haha, I won't say; you're so clever, Miss, you'll surely figure it out!" Lin Wanrong boasted with pride, flaunting the Great Hua medical theory he'd learned from Seo Jang Geum, his heart filled with joy.

"This is the legendary 'Yangshen' from Goryeo?" Xu Zhiqing had clearly heard of it before and said with astonishment, her face flushed with a wave of crimson. She probably never dreamt that the "Yangshen" recorded in the medical books would look so "lewd," just like Lin San.

"Yes, yes, this is Yangshen. Miss Xu, take a look at it," Lin Wanrong said, laughing as he tried to hand it over to her. She shrieked and pulled her hand back, causing Master Lin to burst into laughter, angering her so much that she gritted her teeth: "Despicable, vulgar!"

After their playful exchange, Xu Zhiqing, her face still flushed with embarrassment, no longer insisted on hurrying. She dismounted to rest under a large tree but kept her distance from Lin Wanrong, as if he were a ferocious beast.

"A healer must have a parent's heart. Miss Xu still has much to learn from the great healer Jang Geum about being open-minded," Lin Wanrong said, putting away the frightening little box and lewdly smiling as he walked toward Miss Xu.

Xu Zhiqing was resting under the tree, keeping a close watch on his every move. Seeing him approaching, she immediately tensed up, revealing a delicate repeating crossbow aimed at him: "What, what are you going to do?"

This scene was strikingly similar to when they'd teased each other while taking shelter from the rain at the Jade Buddha Temple. "Slow down, slow down, be careful not to misfire," Lin Wanrong chuckled, tossing her a small bag: "Here, this is for you."

Miss Xu took the small bag, finding inside a water bottle and some delicate pastries, their light fragrance wafting over. She hesitated for a moment, then softly asked, "Is this... for me?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head and sighed: "It wasn't originally for you, but since you're a lone woman and I'm a lone man, if I let you starve, you would probably ruin my reputation, so it's better to take care of you first."

Miss Xu held back a smile, put away her little crossbow, and tossed him a small bag: "This is the dry food I prepared last night. Make do with it."

Lin Wanrong opened the bag and saw several fine snacks, comparable to Qiaoqiao's cooking and certainly more than Miss Xu could eat alone.

‘Even my dry food was prepared; this girl is quite considerate,’ Lin Wanrong thought, popping a pastry into his mouth and laughing: "This is what we call mutual aid. Thank you, Miss Xu."

The two rested under the tree for a while, and Lin Wanrong stared at the fine horse, lost in thought, before suddenly asking: "Miss Xu, have you really fought against the nomads on the front line?"

Xu Zhiqing took a sip of water and nodded lightly: "I have been to the front line three times."

"Did you win or lose?" Lin Wanrong asked with a smile.

"There was no victory or defeat, only endless yellow sand, blood, and severed limbs." Xu Zhiqing's eyes were slightly moist as she tenderly brushed her hair beside her ear.

Lin Wanrong patted her shoulder, sighing softly, "Generals die in countless battles; brave men return after a decade. Green mountains cover the loyal bones; everywhere there are heroic figures! My condolences, my condolences!"

Miss Xu glanced at him and snorted, "Master Lin, can you please remove your dirty hand?"

"Oh, really? My goodness, what's happening here?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, awkwardly chuckling twice before pulling his hand away from Miss Xu's slender waist. "I apologize, I apologize; it was a habitual move, I'll be more careful next time."

Xu Zhiqing coldly laughed, "Before you act out of habit next time, please make sure to choose the right target. I'm not as easily bullied as Ning'er and Qiaoqiao!"

"I know, you're armed with arrows!" Lin Wanrong laughed, glancing at the two horses that were nuzzling together. Suddenly he exclaimed, "Oh my, they are lovers! Fortunately, Miss Xu, you're here; otherwise, I might have separated this pair of lovers without knowing. A grave sin, indeed."

Xu Zhiqing looked up and saw the two beautiful horses indeed nuzzling each other affectionately. She disdainfully spat, feigning indifference, "Animals know no reason; how could humans learn from them?"

This girl's sharp tongue always seemed to have a hidden agenda. Master Lin could gain no advantage, so he merely laughed and checked the time, "It's getting late, Miss Xu; we should continue our journey."

A faint smile appeared on Xu Zhiqing's lips, and she nodded, "Very well, I was thinking the same." She took two steps, reached for the saddle, and was about to mount, when she suddenly turned to Lin Wanrong, "Lin San, do you remember the words you spoke when we first met?"

Lin Wanrong was surprised, wondering if she was settling old scores. Before he could speak, Miss Xu continued, "I bring this up not for any other reason, but to hope that someone might reflect. If you think that your wish can truly be fulfilled, that would be as likely as the sun rising in the west. Drive--"

With a sharp cry, the steed sprinted away, kicking up a cloud of dust, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye. Master Lin stood there for a moment, then burst out laughing. Old Xu's daughter was indeed interesting!

On the way to Jinan, the two riders and their horses kept a considerable distance, never speaking a word. By the time night fell, the panting horses were weakened, their hooves gradually softened, their tails constantly flicking. Even such excellent horses couldn't endure the journey of eight hundred li in a day. Lin Wanrong's face and body were covered in dust. Looking up, he saw a towering city wall standing before them, the walls strong, the guards strict, and the opening left by the bombardment of the White Lotus Sect still not completely sealed.

"We've arrived at Jinan!" Lin Wanrong pulled the horse's reins, and the steed's front hooves soared into the air, letting out a long neigh followed by an excited shout.

Xu Zhiqing stood in front of the city gate, quietly gazing at the tall city wall, sighing softly, "So this is Jinan? Indeed, with such high walls and thick defenses, it's easy to defend and hard to attack. No wonder the White Lotus Sect could remain unbeaten here for so many years. It must have taken you quite some effort when you attacked this place in the past."

Lin Wanrong laughed and said, "I gained my advantages without much fighting."

Xu Zhiqing glared at him and snorted, "Gained advantages? You speak lightly of it. Without the blood of the soldiers, where would you gain any advantage?"

‘Fine, I said nothing; this young lady is utterly upright.’ Lin Wanrong wore a bitter smile across his face, while Miss Xu sighed softly, "We're here, but we don't know if we can actually help Ning'er."

"Big brother, Big brother, is that you?" A cry of surprise came from ahead, and hundreds of people were holding torches, seeming to search for something. A nimble figure in the crowd threw away his torch and shouted excitedly before rushing towards them.

"Little Luo—" Lin Wanrong shouted, dismounting his horse, looking at the approaching Luo Yuan, his heart filled with emotion.

"Big brother, I've missed you so much!" Luo Yuan ran to him, grabbing his arm, shouting excitedly, tears glistening in his eyes.

Months had passed since they last saw each other, and Luo Yuan had grown taller, darker, and thinner. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked fatigued, but his face was full of excitement and agitation.

"Big brother, Big brother, I'm glad you've come." Like a wronged child, Luo Yuan, who had been strong and hard in front of others, could no longer restrain the tears in his eyes at the sight of Lin Wanrong. They flowed freely, and he embraced him, sobbing loudly.

Luo Yuan had matured a lot in these months, but he was still only seventeen or eighteen years old. The sudden crisis he faced was a tremendous blow, and the fact that he held on this long was miraculous. Lin Wanrong's heart grew heavy as he patted his shoulder, saying, "Little Luo, well done. You were not defeated; you are my good brother."

"Big brother, if you hadn't come, I fear we couldn't have held on. Father, Father—"

"What happened to Lord Luo?" Lin Wanrong anxiously asked, grabbing Luo Yuan. Lord Luo Min had treated him with kindness and protection.

"The night before last, the military funds were robbed, and Father spat out three mouthfuls of blood and fainted. He hasn't woken up yet," Luo Yuan cried inconsolably. In front of his big brother, he was just a child.

The military funds had been stolen, Lord Luo was unconscious, and the entire Jining and Shandong were in chaos. The situation was even worse than he had imagined.

He mustn't panic; he mustn't panic. Lin Wanrong steadied himself, bit his tongue to keep himself alert, and turned to Xu Zhiqing, saying, "Miss Xu, I heard you are skilled in the art of healing. Can you take a look at Lord Luo? Little Luo, you don't know her, do you? This is the daughter of Master Xu Wei and a close friend of your sister, Miss Xu Zhiqing!"

Luo Yuan, startled and then delighted, quickly bowed, "You are Sister Zhiqing? Little brother Luo Yuan pays his respects!"

Miss Xu hurriedly helped Luo Yuan up, "Little brother Luo, please do not be so formal. I came in a hurry and am not sure if I can be of help."

"Having the intention is enough," Lin Wanrong said calmly, then turned to Luo Yuan, "Little Luo, where were the military funds robbed, and what is the current situation in Jining? Tell me about it."

Luo Yuan, seeing his big brother's inquiry, seemed to find a pillar of strength and wiped away his tears, saying, "The batch of military pay was transported from Hangzhou through Chuzhou to Jining the night before last. Originally, it should have been released with the proper clearance documents. However, the carts and horses carrying the silver arrived at Jining late, and the commanding officer in charge of the escort was worried about something happening on the road, so he requested my father to station them outside Jining City for the night. Who knew that something would go wrong that night? Around midnight, my father was uneasy and went to inspect the camp himself. Arriving there, he found it completely empty. Not only had the 350,000 taels of silver vanished, but even the 5,000 elite soldiers, along with their horses and weapons, had disappeared without a trace."

"Where were these 5,000 elite soldiers and 350,000 taels of silver stationed, outside which city gate?" Lin Wanrong asked, furrowing his brow.

"They came from Chuzhou and were stationed outside the South Gate of Jining City," Luo Yuan answered.

The South Gate? That was where Lin Wanrong had initially breached Jining City. He hadn't expected that after all this going back and forth, he would have to return there. He sighed and continued, "When these 5,000 elite soldiers withdrew, taking the 350,000 taels of silver with them, did they not leave any clues behind?"

"Those bastards must have plotted this in advance. When they withdrew, they left the camp clean and tidy, not leaving a thing behind. Later, my father ordered a lockdown of the entire area around Jining City, and we found a few witnesses. They said they saw about 3,000 soldiers on both the east and west sides, each pulling large carts that night without displaying any banners, in a hurried manner. They must have been those scoundrels."

3,000 soldiers each to the east and west, retreating simultaneously? Lin Wanrong and Xu Zhiqing looked at each other in surprise. 350,000 taels of silver was no small amount, requiring dozens of carts. Even if they wanted to split the troops for smuggling, they shouldn't have divided them into two paths; such targets were too big.

"Did anyone see these large carts later?" Xu Zhiqing asked.

"No. Later, the entire Jining and Shandong areas were sealed off, but those 5,000 men and large carts seemed to have evaporated, disappearing without a trace."

Xu Zhiqing's brow furrowed, apparently puzzled by the situation. Lin Wanrong sighed, "They have all been poisoned. Of course, you wouldn't find them."

Xu Zhiqing was startled by his words and was about to ask when Lin Wanrong waved his hand to stop her, "Little Luo, have you searched the area around Jining?"

"Since the incident that night, we have turned Jining upside down. Not only the four gates to the east, south, west, and north, but also the area for dozens of miles around has been dug three feet deep." Luo Yuan shook his head, fatigue in his face, and the result was clear without asking.

Seeing Luo Yuan's haggard appearance, Lin Wanrong couldn't bear to inquire further, saying to Xu Zhiqing, "Miss Xu, please come with us to see Lord Luo first."

Luo Min's condition was of utmost urgency and couldn't be delayed. Xu Zhiqing nodded, and the two followed Luo Yuan in a hurry toward the government building.

Jining was originally a bustling town, but after years of influence by the White Lotus Sect and the bombardment during the city's attack, it was left in ruins. Luo Min's government building was located in a broken mansion in the city. Although it was neat and clean, it was worlds apart from the grandeur of the Jiangsu Governor's Mansion of that day.

Guiding the two of them into a room, Lin Wanrong looked on in astonishment. The man lying on the bed, his face as pale as wax and his features thin and haggard, was this really the once portly Luo Min? How had he aged so drastically in just a few months?

Xu Zhiqing extended her delicate fingers, lightly touching Luo Min's pulse, pondering for a long time before finally speaking, “A disorder of the spleen and stomach, suppressed emotions causing blockages, chronic ailments within the body, and the cold invading the abdomen—”

‘I asked you to diagnose him, not recite idioms.’ Lin Wanrong interrupted impatiently, “Miss Xu, can you just tell me directly what's going on with Lord Luo?”

Xu Zhiqing sighed, “Uncle Luo's condition is due to suppressed emotions attacking the heart, along with longstanding chronic diseases, which have caused him to fall into a coma. Proper care and nourishment are needed, and he will need at least a year to recover.”

As long as it was not life-threatening, Lin Wanrong let out a long sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Seeing Xu Zhiqing writing a prescription, the names of herbs like Bellflower and Shell mother from Sichuan making no sense to him, he pulled Luo Yuan aside, “Little Luo, where's your sister? Why isn't she at home?”

Luo Yuan shook his head, his eyes moist, “My sister has been searching outside the southern gate with her men. She hasn't slept for two days and two nights. Big brother, you should go see her.”

‘This silly girl, she's truly risking her life.’ A pang of pain in his heart, Lin Wanrong hurriedly left, heading straight towards the southern gate.

Jining's southern gate faced Weishan Lake, and aside from an east-west official road, there were no other routes to take. When Lin Wanrong captured Jining, his ten thousand troops had captured Lu Kanli here. Later, he spent time with Sister An and Xian'er amidst thousands of cannons, then enjoyed tender moments on Weishan Lake. Scenes flashed before his eyes like a film, filled with bittersweet memories that he would never forget. Now, revisiting this place and recalling the moments with Sister An and Xian'er, he was filled with nostalgia and emotion, his heart heavy with sighs.

Arriving outside the southern gate, he found a bustling scene with people digging and excavating, the clamor of tools unceasing, the area abuzz. Torches and lanterns burned brightly around the city gate, illuminating the dark night as if it were daytime. Countless soldiers were strenuously digging with picks and shovels amidst the flying dust and noisy crowd. Where could he find Luo Ning's shadow?

“They really are digging three feet into the ground,” Lin Wanrong said with a bitter smile. Although this seemed like a clumsy method, it was the most effective under the current circumstances. The silver must be hidden within several hundred li around Jining; it was just a matter of when they would find it.

Thousands of soldiers, all clad in armor and helmets, searched throughout the night, but they found no trace of the silver. Lin Wanrong pulled aside a few of the warriors and questioned them, but very few recognized Miss Luo from the Luo family.

As Lin Wanrong continued his search, he ventured further and further, the lights growing dimmer, until he could no longer discern faces. Ahead, a few scattered soldiers were thinly spread, their shadows looking lonely and forlorn.

Lin Wanrong scanned the surroundings, his eyes falling on the emaciated and solitary figure in the distance. She was dressed in heavy armor, her delicate frame enveloped within, hiding her exquisite figure. Holding a small pickaxe in her hands, she swung it desperately, the pounding sound landing in Lin Wanrong's heart, one beat after another.

"Ning'er—!" Lin Wanrong's voice rasped as he yelled.

The figure paused for a moment, then began to tremble lightly, the pickaxe in her hand clattering to the ground.

"Ning'er—!" Lin Wanrong ran madly toward that frail figure.

Slowly, the figure turned around, a soft, beautiful, and pale face illuminated in the cold moonlight, crystalline tears shimmering with a chilly brilliance in the night. Her chapped cherry lips parted slightly, and she murmured, "Big brother," as if it drained the last bit of strength from her body. Slowly, she fell backward...

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