Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

This tiny piece weighs as much as a ten-tael gold ingot; if anyone else ate it, it would immediately tear a hole in their stomach.

Su Yuchen glanced at the scholar beside him, gestured, and the steward nodded, then wrapped up some beef and got up to deliver it to him.

"This...this is too much to ask. I cannot accept such a reward without having done anything right." The scholar, surprised, hurriedly stood up and refused.

Butler Su repeatedly invited him, but the other party refused to accept the offer. Su Yuchen smiled and said, "Since that's the case, why don't you come and sit with me? The journey has been quite boring; why don't we chat?"

The scholar hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "I'm sorry to bother you like this."

………………

"My name is Su Yuchen. May I ask your honorable surname, sir?" Su Yuchen asked.

The scholar replied, "I am not talented, and I am given the name 'Ouyang,' but my given name is simply Ting."

Su Yuchen nodded and said, "So it's Brother Ouyang. May I ask where you're headed and why you're traveling alone?"

Ouyang Ting looked surprised for a moment, then said, "My ancestral home is Daming Prefecture. With the prefectural examination approaching, I must return to my ancestral home to prepare. Brother Su, are you not planning to prepare for the examination this year?"

Su Yuchen shook his head and said, "I have other matters to attend to and need to travel south to Lin'an Prefecture."

"Brother Su, you have an extraordinary temperament; you are clearly no ordinary person. As the saying goes, 'Environment shapes temperament, and upbringing shapes physique.' Brother Su's temperament cannot be cultivated by those from humble backgrounds."

"If we miss this year, we won't be able to take the exam again for another three years. Wouldn't that be a pity?"

Ouyang Ting said regretfully.

Su Yuchen shook his head and said, "My father passed away in Lin'an..."

Ouyang Ting was taken aback, and couldn't help but sigh, "Brother Su, please accept my condolences! The moon has its phases of waxing and waning, and people have their joys and sorrows, partings and reunions. Nothing in this world is ever perfect."

Su Yuchen didn't explain that his father had passed away many years ago, but instead asked about other things. Only then did he learn that the scholar hadn't settled down elsewhere, but had been traveling around studying and visiting friends, only returning home after the weather improved in the spring.

“Brother Ouyang is quite bold, daring to travel alone. These days are not peaceful,” Su Yuchen said with a smile.

Ouyang Ting, however, was quite nonchalant, saying:

"I have nothing of value on me except an old book box. I suppose those bandits wouldn't stoop to robbing someone like me."

"Moreover, I am also somewhat skilled in martial arts, and I can handle one or two petty thieves."

Su Yuchen smiled and said, "Brother Ouyang is not just a novice in martial arts. I see that your eyes are bright and your hands are long and slender. I'm afraid you are proficient in internal martial arts."

………………

"Oh?"

Ouyang Ting looked at Su Yuchen with surprise, but couldn't see anything different about him. After a moment's thought, he assumed it was the servant next to him who had given him the hint.

He didn't mind at all; instead, he told a funny story, saying:

"When I was studying in Hejian Prefecture, I happened to save a beggar on a snowy night. Two days later, the beggar brought an old beggar and insisted on teaching me a set of boxing techniques and breathing exercises to strengthen my body."

"It was fate, really. During my travels thereafter, I managed to fend off several bandits. That's how I made it back home safely."

Su Yuchen nodded and said, "Many extraordinary people live in the mountains and fields. Brother Ouyang is indeed righteous and chivalrous, and he deserves this blessing. It will be a beautiful story to see him benefit the common people in the future."

Ouyang Ting said happily, "Then I will take your good wishes, Brother Su. I only hope that I can pass the imperial examination with flying colors and give back to my hometown."

Su Yuchen nodded and said, "I see that Brother Ouyang is beaming with joy. He will surely achieve his goal in this exam."

As they parted, Su Yuchen handed over a wooden box from the carriage, saying, "I have nothing else to offer while traveling. There is an ancient book in this box; please don't be shy, Brother Ouyang."

Before he could refuse, Su Yuchen threw the wooden box over. By the time he caught it in a flurry, the carriage was already far away.

Chapter 473 Lodging by the River

Ouyang Ting was stunned for a moment, and only after the carriage had gone far away did he notice the faint movements around him.

Everyone had witnessed the pomp and circumstance of Su Yuchen and his servant. Naturally, some people were curious about the gifts he gave, while others were tempted by them.

Seeing the curious gazes of the crowd, Ouyang Ting smiled disdainfully and immediately opened the wooden box in front of everyone, taking out an old book. Looking at the subtle disappointment in the eyes of those around him, Ouyang Ting couldn't help but sigh at the decline of morality.

Once he sat back down, he finally had the mood to peruse the ancient book. When he saw the four large characters 'Lingyun Sword Technique' on the cover, he was slightly taken aback, not expecting it to be a sword technique manual.

However, now that he had it, he immediately put aside his worries and started reading. He became more and more engrossed in reading it, and occasionally he would frown and think for a while.

Passersby looked at him and some shook their heads, sighing that he was a bookworm.

As the temperature dropped, everyone got up and continued on their way. By the time Ouyang Ting came to his senses, there were only a few people left. Ouyang Ting didn't mind, smiled, got up, picked up his book bag, and continued on his way.

………………

On the carriage.

As they hurried along, Butler Su asked curiously, "Does the young master think highly of this person?"

Su Yuchen chuckled softly and replied, "This man has quite a bit of luck; he could at least become a county magistrate. Moreover, he's quite chivalrous and a good official. Helping him would save countless lives; such an act would naturally be of immeasurable merit, so why not do it?"

Butler Su nodded and focused on driving. The most important thing now was to get to Lin'an as soon as possible, find out the cause of Su's father's death, and bring back his remains.

Although there were occasional mishaps along the way, with Steward Su clearing the path, those unscrupulous thieves were no longer a concern. Inadvertently, they cleared the road, making it safer for later merchants and travelers.

On this day, as the sun sets over the Yangtze River, facing the vast expanse of sea and sky and the endless waves, one cannot help but feel a sense of expansiveness and pride.

Butler Su gazed at the mighty river flowing eastward, its waves surging, lost in thought, his mind drifting back to the past…

"I never imagined that after so many years, I would return to Lin'an. Now I am old and frail, and I don't know how many of my old friends are still alive or how many have passed away."

Su Yuchen patted him on the shoulder and said, "This trip will take some time. If you're interested, Uncle Su, you might as well go to Lin'an and see if you can find a few old friends there."

Steward Su shook his head and sighed, "I wonder if my old friends would still be happy to see me, a traitor. If General Yue knew this in the afterlife, I'm afraid he wouldn't forgive me."

Su Yuchen let out a long howl, the sound like rolling thunder, shaking the surrounding area for dozens of miles. He then sang...

The Yangtze River rolls eastward, and its waves wash away all heroes.

Success or failure is all in vain.

Aoyama is still there, How Many Suns.

The white-haired fisherman and woodcutter on the river bank are accustomed to seeing the autumn moon and spring breeze.

A pot of wine to celebrate our reunion.

So many things in the past and present are just a joke.

A song resounded throughout the north and south of the country, and countless passengers on the passenger ships leaned out to listen quietly to the meaning of the song, while many others wept silently in solitude.

As the music faded, Su Yuchen felt a momentary dip in his mood. With a thought, his primordial spirit spontaneously sensed and connected with his inner self, causing a sudden gust of wind to rise from the previously clear river surface.

A flash of azure sword light appeared on Su Yuchen's primordial spirit, severing all distracting thoughts. Looking at the slightly changing sky, he couldn't help but sigh and returned to the cabin.

………………

After the ship docked, the previously clear sky suddenly changed, with dark clouds sweeping in from all directions. In a short while, large raindrops began to fall from the sky, causing the merchants to curse.

However, the rain shower came and went quickly, and the wind and rain stopped in no time.

Steward Su drove the carriage off the boat, looked at the sky, and said, "Young master, I'm afraid it will rain again later. We might as well find a place to stay for the night."

Upon hearing this, the boatman said, "If you would like to stay the night, sir, you may come to my house."

Then he added, “Young master, you were singing on the river just now. Although I am not knowledgeable in poetry, I can tell from the reactions of the passing merchant ships that you are exceptionally talented and of noble character. If my grandson could inherit even a fraction of your talent, it would be a great blessing for my family.”

Su Yuchen smiled and immediately nodded in agreement. The boatman beamed with joy, quickly moored the boat to the shore, offered the guests a river fish, and led the two hurriedly towards his home.

Sure enough, the boatman lived not far from the riverbank, with three thatched huts side by side. There were many other thatched huts scattered around in the distance, and when the river breeze blew, the thatched roofs swayed in the wind, as if they might be blown away at any moment.

Hearing footsteps, an old woman opened the door and was slightly surprised to see the old man. After hearing what the old man had to say, she immediately asked the two of them to come inside quickly.

Inside the small thatched hut, a dim oil lamp, no bigger than a bean, shone brightly. A seven or eight-year-old child stood under the lamp, curiously watching Su Yuchen and his companion.

Perhaps guests had arrived, for the old woman hurriedly adjusted the oil lamp to make it a little brighter, illuminating the dim thatched hut. The old man invited the two to sit down, while the old woman busied herself taking two rough porcelain bowls, carefully wiping them, and pouring two bowls of hot water.

"My home is simple and I have neglected my distinguished guest."

Su Yuchen shook his head and said with a smile, "The night is cold and the dew is deep; a bowl of hot water is enough. Where are the old man's children?"

The old woman smiled, picked up the fish, and took the child outside to prepare it; the old man was silent for a moment, picked up his pipe but put it down again, and forced a smile:

“There are two in the family. The eldest is an apprentice in the city, just trying to make a living. The second son took his elder brother’s place in the army back then. These past few years, alas, we’ve never seen him alive or dead. We don’t even know if he’s still alive.”

“We currently have one grandson. In a few years, when we are better off, we will have another child, so that the second child will have a descendant and someone will burn paper money for him during festivals.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yuchen fell silent. The world was difficult, and life was even more difficult for ordinary people. The scene before him was the scene of countless ordinary families.

[Zhang Quan, the second son of the Zhang family, was rendered impotent after being wounded on the battlefield. He later changed his name to Zhang Sanbao and sold himself into servitude in the palace, where he suffered immense humiliation. However, he endured what others could not, and eventually his time came to be.]

Sending ten taels of silver within fifteen days will help them seize opportunities and meet a benefactor sooner.

Upon seeing the narration, Su Yuchen was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected the old man's second son to have such an opportunity; he was quite ruthless.

"Is the old man's surname Zhang?"

The old man was slightly taken aback, and couldn't help but ask, "My surname is indeed Zhang. How did you know that, young master?"

Su Yuchen smiled and said, "It's fate that we're staying here today. I'll give you another piece of fate tomorrow."

The old man looked completely bewildered. If they hadn't come back together along the way, he probably would have thought he had encountered a fortune teller.

Soon the old woman brought out a large bowl of fish soup and wild vegetables. Su Yuchen didn't stand on ceremony, and the group shared the food before going to bed.

Chapter 474 Reasoning

The next morning, while Su Yuchen and his servant were still meditating in their room, they heard a loud female voice coming from a thatched hut not far away:

"Which despicable bastard, the one who wears a hat and smokes cigarettes, and fathers a son... stole my egg-laying hen!!!"

"Egg King! My Egg King! I'm counting on you to pay for my grandson's tuition! My money! Why am I so unlucky!"

The voice was a mix of crying and laughing, filled with unspeakable grievances and indescribable bitterness.

Su Yuchen and his companion got up and went outside. They saw an old woman sitting on the ground not far away, crying and making a scene. She was holding two chicken feathers in her hand, and it was obvious that her chickens had been stolen.

At this moment, the neighbors all got up and went out. Looking at the noisy woman, they all sighed but did not complain. After all, life is not easy. A chicken may not mean much to ordinary people, but to them, it may be half of the family's income.

Behind them, Old Man Zhang and his wife also got up and came out. When they saw the woman, they couldn't help but sigh. Then they forced a smile and said, "Please forgive our rudeness, but Sister-in-law Wu is not an unreasonable person."

Su Yuchen nodded to indicate that he understood. The old woman made a fuss for a while, then sat on the ground in a daze, clearly knowing that the chicken was not coming back.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong took a night cruise on the Yangtze River and camped nearby. This morning, Huang Rong, wanting to show off her skills, stole a chicken from the Wu family.

Because the Wu family couldn't make up for the tuition fees in time, the eldest grandson of the Wu family missed two years of his studies. Although he studied diligently afterward, he ultimately failed to become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations).

Upon hearing the narration, Su Yuchen fell silent. Even Guo Jing probably hadn't anticipated the impact this event would have on ordinary people. At the same time, he also had some doubts. Guo Jing could be a great hero who served his country and its people, but could he, now and in the future, truly shoulder the responsibility of governing the world before witnessing the suffering of the common people?

In a flash, Su Yuchen realized that his previous thoughts had been somewhat presumptuous. Guo Jing was more suited to the role of a chivalrous hero; at least for now, he didn't yet have a concept of serving his country and its people.

"Forget it! Why should I worry about these things? What does it matter to me how things turn out? If possible, let the will of Heaven take care of it."

As soon as the thought arose, a sword light flashed on his primordial spirit, severing all distracting thoughts.

………………

A moment later, an honest-looking man came out of the house with a little boy. He first apologized to the neighbors, then scolded them, "You've already lost it, aren't you ashamed enough? Go back to my house right now."

The old woman wiped away her tears, clearly realizing that her outburst was somewhat unreasonable. She immediately got up with a 'glug,' turned around, took a torn fishing net from the corner of the wall, and went out.

The man sighed, turned and went back into the house. Only when he turned around did we notice that he was limping, which explained why it took him so long to come out of the house.

Su Yuchen shook his head. Are there few people like this in the world? He can save one now, but can he save thousands? Besides, if he interferes casually, he might just dampen their fighting spirit and unwillingness to admit defeat.

………………

After washing up, Su Yuchen declined the old man and woman's offer to stay. He gestured to the steward, who, as instructed, took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his pocket and a tael of loose silver.

"This...this...this is not allowed, young master, please take it back quickly, this is not allowed." Upon seeing this, the old man immediately waved his hand and refused.

The old woman held her grandson in her arms, her face full of longing, but then her eyes darkened, and she shook her head.

Su Yuchen nodded. An elderly couple like that couldn't raise a bad child.

He waved his hand and said:

"Please let me finish speaking, sir."

“I ate a meal from you last night, so today I will give you a gift of good fortune. This is something I promised last night.”

“Your youngest son is not dead yet. He should be working as a eunuch in the Lin'an Imperial Palace now, under the name Zhang Sanbao. Call your eldest son back and give him this ten taels of silver within fifteen days. He will have a great opportunity, and your family will benefit immensely from it in the future.”

"When you become successful in the future, I hope that you will still keep your original intentions and not forget the hardships of the past because of wealth and honor. You should teach your grandson well."

Having said that, Su Yuchen ignored his hesitant and timid demeanor, his face showing both confusion and delight, and got up to leave.