Chapter 11: Broken (2)

In the end, the imperial government thought that the diligent Master Song was needed for someplace else, so he was sent back to the imperial city to write a decree. They gave him a good evaluation.

Before returning back to the capital, Master Song spent all his wealth to build a bridge for Muddy Bottle Lane. When it was later discovered that Master Song did not bring any children with him when he left with the caravan, the wealthy family in town came to their own conclusions and sudden realization.

It could be said that Master Song had acc.u.mulated quite a bit of pa.s.sion from this town and gave great instructions to the next overseer. It was why the young Song Jixin lived a carefree lived in this town over the past few years.

There were many opinions on the origins of Song Jixin's servant girl. The locals said that it was once on a snowy winter day that the girl begged on her knees door to door for food until she pa.s.sed out in the front courtyard of Master Song's house. The locals swore to this truth, if not, may King Yama drag them. It was then Master Song decided to give the servant girl to Song Jixin to accompany him as he grows up to fill the loneliness he would soon have. This was the best Master Song could do to make up for the debt he would owe to his son for his absence.

After the servant girl was given the name Zhi Gui, the father-son relations.h.i.+p between Song Jixin and Master Song was confirmed. This was because the town's n.o.blemen and gentry cla.s.s knew Master Song loved the inkstone rock the most and had the word "Zhi Gui" engraved on it.

"I don't know why, but I think of that shameless four-legged snake the most. Zhi Gui, think about it. I threw it into Chen Ping's yard, but it still wants to enter our house. You know how broken Chen Ping's house is. Surely it would attract all kinds of animals to rest in because it has the environmental conditions they like, so how come that not even a snake wants to enter?"

The servant girl thought for a moment, then replied, "There are some things that have to do with fate, right?"

"That's exactly my theory! Chen Ping is someone who has good fortune, and he's lucky to be able to survive this far without any help!" Song Jixin gave thumbs up and said happily.

Zhi Gui did not speak.

"After we leave town, we'll leave the things in Chen Ping's house to look after. He's not a thief, right?" Song Jixin muttered softly.

"Young Master, that can't be, right?" Zhi Gui asked softly.

Song Jixin smiled and said, "Oh, so you also know the meaning of keeping watch and steal?

Zhi Gui blinked her limpid eyes. "Don't tell me it's not a literal meaning?"

Song Jixin smiled. He looked to the south with a hint of yearning in his heart. "I hear that there are more books in the capital than there are flowers, plants, and trees in our town!"

At this moment, the old man continued: "Although there are no longer real dragons in this world, the subordinates of the dragons are still real and live in the human world. Who knows, maybe…"

The old man deliberately tried to keep them in suspense but seeing the audience was indifferent, he sighed and said, "Maybe they are hiding by our side. The Daoist Sect's Daoist Immortals calls them Hidden Dragons!"

Song Jixin yawned.

A locust leaf suddenly fell from the top of a youth's forehead, slowly landing on his forehead like a drop of water.

He reached out and grabbed hold of the leaf, twisting its handle between his fingers.

When he approached the locust tree, he saw the locust leaves falling from the sky. He quickened his pace and reached out to catch them.

There was only a gust of wind; the leaves slid past his hands.

The youth's nimble body was agile as he quickly stepped to the side, wanting to block the leaves.

The leaves spun in the air.

The youth refused to believe what was happening as he tried to get away. In the end, he was unable to catch a single locust leaf.

The youth, Chen Ping, was helpless.

A child dressed in green who had skipped school brushed past Chen Ping.

The child himself did not know that a locust leaf landed on his shoulder.

Chen Ping continued on his way towards the east gate.

Faraway, on the fortune-telling stall, the young Daoist closed his eyes and softly said, "Who said that the cycle of heaven's luck isn't thick?"