Chapter 107: You Must Have Direction When Roaming (I)

Tao Ming turned around and saw a man a few meters away pulling a wooden cart. On the cart lay a person, obscured by a cloth so it was impossible to see clearly.

The man appeared to be in his forties, his expression weary. His hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, strands loose and messy. Sweat beaded at his forehead and temples, soaking his azure long robe until it clung grimy with dust.

Su Pei pointed toward the imperial city and said, “Just go straight along this road.”

The man murmured his thanks and pulled the cart onward.

As they drew nearer, the group saw an old woman reclining on the cart, her hair white as snow, eyes tightly closed, covered by a thin sheet.

Su Fen could not help exclaiming, “Brother, as the light fades and dusk nears, pressing on like this means you will not reach the imperial city before nightfall.”

Tao Ming glanced at the sky and added, “We also journey to the imperial city at first light tomorrow. Why not travel together?”

The man continued forward, replying, “Thank you for your kindness. We can rest by the roadside when darkness falls.”

Feng Ying suddenly spoke up. “Young Master, I will escort them into the city.”

Tao Ming stared at Feng Ying in surprise. This was the first time she had heard him utter so many words in succession.

Su Nanxing patted Feng Ying’s shoulder and said, “Let us first inquire what has happened.”

Feng Ying caught up to the man in a few strides, blocking his path and asking, “Brother, why are you in such haste to reach the city?”

The man, facing the obstacle of Feng Ying’s gaze, spoke courteously, “My mother is gravely ill; I hasten to the imperial city for her sake.”

Feng Ying released the carriage and declared, “Since that is the case, I will escort you into the city.”

The man hesitated briefly before replying, “No need to trouble you.”

Feng Ying insisted, “The sooner we reach the city, the sooner we can obtain treatment.”

The man turned to glance at the old woman on the cart, sighed deeply, and said, “Then I shall impose upon you.”

Feng Ying helped lift the old woman into the carriage and asked, “May I know which quarter of the imperial city you seek?”

A flicker of confusion crossed the man’s eyes. “I heard that the Su family in the imperial city possesses a medicine capable of restoring life to the dead. I wish to seek it there.”

Tao Ming mused, Does the Su family have such a treasure?

Indeed, the Su family’s arts could hasten the growth of plants, and medicinal herbs were plants themselves. She had never heard Su Nanxing speak of it.

Tao Ming eyed Su Nanxing with suspicion, wondering what secrets he was keeping from her.

Su Nanxing noticed her doubting gaze and recalled that the Su family’s secret medicine had once been used to soothe the swelling on Soft Soft’s delicate face. Yet it was best not to mention it again. He explained, “I know nothing of plants, only the medical arts I learned from my father.”

A doubt sparked in Feng Ying’s heart upon hearing the man’s words. This coincidence was too striking. Could this man harbor ill intentions?

He extended a hand to grasp the man’s wrist, circulated his cultivation around the body in a full circle, and found only an ordinary person. The doubts vanished. He withdrew his finger, pointed toward the group, and said, “Over there stand the three young masters of the Su family. Perhaps you require medicine.”

The man, whose wrist had been pinched, trembled with caution. Fortunately, Feng Ying released his grip swiftly.

Hearing Feng Ying’s words, he looked in the indicated direction, tensed at once. He smoothed his hair with his free hand and dusted off his clothes, then approached the group and bowed in a peer’s manner, his voice quavering, “May I inquire which of you is a young master of the Su family?”

Su Fen pointed to Su Nanxing and Su Pei in turn, answering, “We are all three.”

The man surveyed the three faces once more and said, “My name is Wen Youfang, from Heyang City in Hezhou. My mother is gravely ill, and no physician in Hezhou can treat her. I heard that the Su family in the imperial city has a medicine to restore life to the dead. May I ask if this is true?”

Tao Ming, hearing his name “Wen Youfang,” recalled the phrase from the Analects, “While your parents are alive, you should not travel far; if you do, you must have a purpose.” Could this man’s name be inspired by that?

Yet it came from the Analects, Li Ren. Could there be similar works along the Wei River?

Su Nanxing frowned slightly and watched Wen Youfang quietly. After a long moment, he asked, “How did you come to know of this?”

Wen Youfang, under Su Nanxing’s scrutiny, maintained a composed posture despite slight tension. He replied, “I was once the head steward of Ning Feng Tower in Heyang City, Hezhou. When my mother fell gravely ill, I resigned my post to return home and attend to her. Alas, I searched Hezhou from end to end for renowned doctors, yet none could cure my mother. In my desperation, the proprietor of Ning Feng Tower told me that he had once heard of the Su family in the imperial city possessing a medicine to restore life to the dead.”

Su Nanxing heard the name “Ning Feng Tower” and felt a vague familiarity. After pondering, he could not recall it, so he shot Feng Ying a glance.

Feng Ying understood the signal and thought, You forgot Ning Feng Tower?

Every time you went to Heyang City, you’d sit by the window of Ning Feng Tower on the main street, watching the girls!

Thus, Feng Ying spoke up, “It is the most suitable spot in Heyang City to watch girls.”

Su Nanxing recalled at once. The women of Hezhou were renowned for their beauty, and their customs were relatively open.

Beautiful women frequented the streets of Heyang City. Whenever he and his boon companions arrived in Heyang City, they would settle somewhere and pass judgment.

Yet times had changed. Tao Ming stood nearby, so Feng Ying’s remark risked bringing trouble upon himself?

Su Nanxing quickly glanced at Tao Ming, ready to explain, but Tao Ming’s gaze was fixed on Wen Youfang as she scrutinized him from head to toe.

Wen Youfang, still under Su Nanxing’s stare, remained steady, but Tao Ming’s inspection made his heart race. His face flushed, he lowered his head and turned aside, avoiding her eyes.

Tao Ming noticed his evasion and realized it was improper to gaze at a man thus along the Wei River, yet her curiosity prevailed. She said, “Hello, I have a question I hope you can answer.”

Wen Youfang, hearing “hello,” was startled and asked sideways, “May I know who you are?”

Su Nanxing replied, “My wife, the young madam of the Su family.”

Wen Youfang answered, “I wonder what question Su young madam has?”

Tao Ming considered her words, then asked, “You said you were formerly a steward. Why can you not afford a carriage and must pull it yourself?”

Wen Youfang’s eyes reddened, his voice choked with emotion, “I took my mother seeking physicians everywhere. Over the years, I have sold all my family wealth. When I departed from Hezhou, I still had some savings and purchased a carriage. Who knew bandits would waylay us? Saving our two lives was already a blessing.”

“This cart was given to me by a kind soul who pitied me.”

Tao Ming was taken aback by Wen Youfang’s misfortune and replied, “I am sorry.”

Wen Youfang quickly waved her off, saying, “Young madam Su overestimates me.”

Tao Ming felt a pang of guilt, turned to Su Nanxing, and asked, “Husband, do we have such medicine?”

Su Nanxing remembered that Ning Feng Tower was substantial, and a steward there must possess skill. Intending to secure Wen Youfang for Tao Ming, he said deliberately, “The medicine to restore life to the dead does not exist, but the Su family does possess some excellent medicines. Yet why bestow them upon him?”

Softly whispered, “But this uncle looks so pitiful.”

Su Nanxing stroked Soft Soft’s head and said, “Pitiable souls are everywhere. We cannot assist every one of them.”

Wen Youfang hesitated, then prepared to kneel, but was stopped by Su Nanxing gripping his arm. Hearing Su Nanxing’s words, “Our Su family does not practice this custom.”

Wen Youfang straightened himself, speaking with utmost sincerity, “If I can cure my mother, I shall serve the Su family as a beast of burden for the rest of my days.”

Su Nanxing shook his head. “The Su family has no shortage of beasts of burden.”