This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 15 The Real Ancient Times

If too few people go, it won't be enough; if too many people go, it won't be appropriate either. The few people who shouted in that short moment were the ones chosen by Zhuang Lin.

No one dared to pursue the challenge without preparation, but because of the urgency, there was not much time for them to prepare.

In the tense and hurried situation, the people in the valley worked together. Some helped to lift the bamboo raft, some immediately went home to get dry food, and Grandpa Mu went to get the prepared medicinal herbs and pills, and of course, some valuables.
In less than a quarter of an hour, two bamboo rafts had been carried by a group of people through the narrow gorge and arrived at the peach forest outside.

There must have been hundreds of people who came out together, and they walked hurriedly all the way to the end of the peach forest.

No one was in the mood to appreciate the falling peach blossoms in the peach forest.

Originally, the water flow over there should have been just a mountain stream, but now it is obviously a small waterway that can be used for boats. Further ahead, there is a thin fog, making the mountain scenery look hazy.

"Okay, I'll just drop you off here. I don't know if staying here will have any impact, so please go back!"

Zhuang Lin has now become the absolute backbone. Whatever he says goes. While he was speaking, he and several men put the bamboo raft into the water.

The waves caused by the raft falling into the water were just like the uneasy hearts of everyone at the moment, but Zhuang Lin still had to pretend to be calm.

After taking a look at the waterway in the thin mist in the distance, Zhuang Lin looked at the people around him. Each of them was carrying a package and their own belongings.

"Get on the bamboo raft!"

The hunter brothers Li Cai and Li Dong are both middle-aged men with frosted faces. Fu Zeyang, who has been practicing martial arts since childhood, is tall and strong. There is also the old Chinese medicine practitioner Mu Chen, the private school teacher Zhuang Lin, and a bachelor Tang Bin.

There were six people in the group, each in a group of three boarded two bamboo rafts.

Old Master Mu looked at the people on the shore and nodded to a man in front of him.

"Yanjun, please take good care of Xiaowen for me!"

All the children in the valley were sent away. Some of them knew something had happened, but they didn't know what it was.

The man on the shore said with a little excitement.

"Master, I'll go for you. You're old."

"Don't talk nonsense! This matter is caused by me, I must go!"

Zhuang Lin glanced at the old man on the same bamboo raft, nodded towards the shore, and then used a pole to push the raft away from the shore.

The direction of the water flow was clearly outward, and the boatman didn't have to exert much effort as the bamboo raft quickly rushed out of the peach forest.

The people on the shore followed closely, and like the people in the water, they were all silent, filled with tension and anxiety, until the raft was about to sail into the fog.

"Master Zhuang, when can you come back?"

Someone asked a question in the silence. Zhuang Lin and the others turned around and, through the mist, vaguely saw a group of people standing over there looking at them.

"We haven't returned in three days. Try to find the monitoring station again. If you can't find it, keep waiting. But if you find it and we haven't returned yet, don't nag—"

Zhuang Lin shouted, but he didn't know whether the people over there heard him or not. Anyway, the people on the bamboo raft didn't hear any more movement from over there.

There was only silence all around, and the sound of water flowing under the bamboo raft intensified this feeling.

Everyone was in a depressed mood. Zhuang Lin saw the hunters on the raft all clutching their bows tightly.

This is not good. You need to maintain a good attitude. Zhuang Lin tried to relax as much as possible.

A breeze blew across my face, and the fog around me seemed to have thinned a lot, but the waterway ahead seemed to have become more complicated.

Fortunately, one of the hunter brothers quickly discovered the mark left by Tao Yuanming. Following this mark, the two bamboo rafts did not lose their direction.

I don’t know how long it took, maybe half an hour, maybe an hour or even longer. God knows why the fog was so widespread at this time.

But finally, the bamboo raft left the foggy area, and the bright sunshine shone on the six people.

"The mark is still there, we didn't lose it!"

The hunter shouted, and everyone felt much more relaxed, but they remained silent.

Zhuang Lin accidentally looked at the water and then laughed.

"Don't be depressed, everyone. Peach blossoms will accompany us on our journey. There will also be peach blossoms on the way back. We will definitely be able to bring Master Liu back!"

Several people subconsciously looked towards the water, and saw many peach blossom petals floating along the waterway, all the way in front, behind, and into the distance.

It seemed that Zhuang Lin's words boosted their confidence, and everyone's expressions finally looked better.

"Yes!" "Yes, Master Zhuang is right!"

"The waterway is smoother now, let's speed up!"

As the bamboo raft continued to move forward, the surrounding sounds became more numerous. In addition to the sound of flowing water, there were also the singing of birds in the mountains, the howling of monkeys along the shore, and the sounds of various animals.

It was as if the mountains and forests had come alive.
Even though they have lived in the reserve for such a long time, they have rarely felt such a strong sense of vitality.

Several people knew in their hearts that this had already happened in ancient times!

"It seems that the marks of Tao Gong and the others are no longer visible?"

"We should just follow this waterway and keep going!"

Zhuang Lin said this, but he had other concerns in his mind, because Tao Yuanming might know the way to some of the waterways later, but they were completely in the dark and could only rely on guessing.

Everyone was anxious, so they paddled the raft quickly. When they reached a place where the water was too deep, they paddled the boat forward.

The sun was at its zenith, and it was obviously noon. Although the few of them had no appetite, they still forced themselves to eat some of the dry food they brought with them. The more it was at this time, the more important it was to maintain physical strength.

The waterway meandered forward, and everyone followed the main road, not daring to turn into other tributaries.

Gradually the waters became wider and even other ships could be seen occasionally.

The six people on the bamboo raft looked at those boats, both to determine whether there was the person they were looking for on them and to face reality.

When they saw that the fishermen and ferry passengers on the passing boats were all wearing ancient costumes, the six people's hearts finally died.

But half a day passed and Tao Yuanming and Liu Hongyu were still not found. The anxiety in their hearts could not be let go.

"There's no suitable place to dock nearby. Let's go where there are many boats. We can ask someone and maybe we can find out something." "Yes!"

The six people remained cautious enough. As the number of boats around them increased, the two bamboo rafts that were very close to each other also attracted the attention of people on some boats. Fortunately, the others just looked at most.

"There's a port ahead!" "I saw it too!"

The Li brothers were sharp-eyed and saw from afar a port where many ships gathered ahead. Everyone's heart skipped a beat and they knew to go there without saying anything.

"It's best for everyone not to say anything for a while, let Master Zhuang speak!" "Okay!"

Zhuang Lin felt quite stressed, but he knew that in terms of adaptability, he was indeed the most suitable.

As the bamboo raft approached the harbor, Zhuang Lin suddenly noticed that there were people who looked like officials at some of the docks.

Some people moored their boats and went ashore. When they arrived at the dock, officials would approach them. Some of them seemed to say a few words to the officials and then leave, while others needed to show something to the officials.

Zhuang Lin was puzzled for a moment, then suddenly realized.

"Oh no, we can't go near that. They might be checking for passes!"

Done!

Everyone was shocked. Of course, those of them who had studied it knew what a pass was.

"Don't go ashore, keep going!" "Yes, yes, if we get caught, we're done for!"

"Just find a suitable shore ahead to dock. We can't go by the dock!"

"Yes, go ashore somewhere else. It's best to ask a local outside the city and think of a solution!"

If you are caught doing this kind of thing, you will definitely not be sentenced to death without any investigation, but with the administrative efficiency in ancient times, it goes without saying that it will take a long time and there is an 80% chance that you will not be able to go back!

A group of people paddled the bamboo raft slowly through the dock area, and each of them was sweating. Although they had not done anything, they were as nervous as thieves.

Fortunately, the officials above did not seem interested in taking another look at the boat still sailing in the water.

The two bamboo rafts sailed through the busy area one after the other, and gradually headed towards a quieter waterway, recording their direction with the naked eye and the position of the sun.

However, even if several people stared at the port closely during this process, it was still impossible to see every corner clearly.

As the bamboo raft passed through the harbor, Tao Yuanming and Liu Hongyu's boat also docked at a pier.
Tao Yuanming did not expect that a considerable part of the water journey on his way back would be smooth and easy, and very relaxing and comfortable.
-
In Wuling County, in front of a courtyard in the north of the city, a man in a Confucian robe was sighing.

"Ugh"

My friend has been gone for many days and has not returned. There are people watching him at the dock every day, but he has never returned by boat. It is hard not to be suspicious.

Bandits on the roads, ferocious beasts in the mountains, poisonous fog and miasma, and even stories of evil spirits and ghosts often make people afraid.

"Mr. Zhao, Mr. Zhao, look who's back?"

There was a sound coming from outside the courtyard, and the people inside hurriedly opened the door and went out. They saw two people walking on the road over there following an official, one of whom was Tao Yuanming.

"Ah, Yuanliang, you're finally back!"

The man became excited, grabbed the hem of his robe and trotted towards the few people.

"How come you've been gone for so many days? Why did you just come back? You were driving me crazy!"

"Hahahahahahaha Brother Qiming, I'm back!"

"Is there anyone like you? You've been gone for so many days without any news. Didn't you say we were drinking together that night? It's been several days now."

The man walked up to Tao Yuanming, excitedly grabbed his arm and looked him up and down. It was obvious that the other party did not look like he had encountered an accident.

Tao Yuanming was laughing the whole time.

"Hahahaha. This unexpected situation is not worth telling to outsiders. You won't believe it if I tell you. I can be said to have caught a glimpse of the legacy of the pre-Qin period."

"Hmm? What do you mean? And who is this?"

Liu Hongyu has been very reserved since arriving at the Wuling County Wharf, and at this moment he hurriedly bowed and saluted.

"I, Liu Hongyu, have met Mr. Zhao and will be temporarily following Mr. Yuan Liang."

"Oh yes, this Mr. Liu will be traveling with me for the time being!"

"Oh, it's Master Liu!"

Zhao Chenyu nodded at Liu Hongyu, who was dressed simply and wearing a turban, and said he was Young Master Liu, but he looked more like a servant of Brother Tao, and his accent was unfamiliar, so he must be from another place.

"Since the person has been found, I won't stay any longer!"

When the officer next to him said this, Zhao Chenyu hurriedly bowed to express his gratitude.

"Thank you, thank you very much, officer!"

Tao Yuanming also hurried to express his gratitude, and Liu Hongyu followed suit.

"Thank you for your attention!"

"You're welcome. I'll take my leave now!"

The officer saluted and left.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the officials will help everyone who needs help. It's just because Mr. Zhao is the nephew of the county magistrate, and when the county magistrate gives the order, the officials naturally have to help.

As soon as the official left, Tao Yuanming couldn't help but speak.

"Brother Qiming, this situation is so wonderful that even if I tell you about it, you might not believe it. It is truly mysterious."

"Oh, what on earth has Brother Yuanliang been away for several days? Oh, and there's no wine at home. Let's go to the tavern and have some good food and wine before we talk!"

"Hahaha, it's Brother Qiming who understands me! Then Young Master Liu and I won't refuse."

While Tao Yuanming and Zhao Chenyu were chatting and laughing, they took Liu Hongyu to a tavern in the city.
-
PS: Thanks to the book friend "The young man who prefers night reading" for the reward, thank you very much!
(End of this chapter)