When they were in the city, Feng Ru Nan couldn't find that old man with the white beard. Even if she had, what of it? There was nothing she could do anyway.
She understood clearly that even though she had been humiliated, it was a matter between husband and wife. There was nothing she could do. They would simply tell her she was in the wrong. Her parents had stopped her, telling her not to cause trouble. But here, everything was different. Here, she was her own mistress. Here, she held the power. And she would decide how and what to do!
They hadn't found the man in the park, yet she remained silent, not wanting to startle him. He might have hidden then. But now, as they were leaving, he ought to show himself.
Weng Ling and Weng Xing walked nearby, searching for the man.
Niu You Dao noticed this and occasionally glanced at them. Then he turned and asked Yuan Gang:
— Where did the Bear go?
Yuan Gang: — At the back, in the second row, the one with the blackened face.
Niu You Dao turned and looked at the black-faced bodyguard. If Yuan Gang hadn't told him, he wouldn't have recognized Yuan Fang.
He immediately asked: — What's with his face?
Yuan Gang: — He says I beat him up, and that's why he's trying to heal himself with medicine... In truth, he took some sauce from the kitchen and smeared it on his face.—
Niu You Dao smiled: — This bear is quite cunning after all.
Yuan Gang said nothing. He too understood and admitted that this simple-minded bear was not so simple after all, but rather very crafty. Realizing the danger, he shaved his beard, something monks aren't fond of. He also borrowed clothes from the bodyguards and smeared his face, using Yuan Gang as an excuse, which helped him avoid Feng Ru Nan's vengeance. If not for Lord Dao, who said he wouldn't escape without his monks, Yuan Gang would have constantly guarded him.
As for his craftiness, Yuan Gang had given him an opportunity to escape. Yet he left behind 20 monks. Yuan Fang went into the city to buy provisions and, to Yuan Gang's surprise, returned. He hadn't abandoned his monks, and this earned Yuan Gang's admiration. Now, he no longer thought of him as a cunning scoundrel. Otherwise, he would have abandoned his 20 brethren.
Afterward, Yuan Gang certainly understood that Yuan Fang was not exactly a good person. However, he could still be reformed. Facing many dangers on the road, with swords and spears, was precisely how people grew close. In such situations, people began to trust each other.
And as Lord Dao had said, this bear simply had a narrow worldview and skewed values. Otherwise, he could be turned into a good person.
Chao Zong and the others also noticed that Feng Ru Nan remained restless, constantly scanning for someone.
— Boom!— a clap of thunder resounded.
Clouds suddenly appeared in the blue sky. Even though they hadn't ridden half a day from the city yet, large drops of rain began to fall from the sky.
The riders quickened their pace to reach the post station sooner. Because they hadn't brought a supply train, they had no tents to shelter from the rain. Yuan Fang could shield himself from the rain for a while, but not for long. Thus, he could only cling to his horse and pray to the heavens.
The post stations were already visible, but the clouds quickly enveloped the sky, and the rain grew heavier. However, as they approached the post station, the rain ceased.
Clinging to his horse, Yuan Fang raised his head. He looked at the blue sky and muttered: — Great Buddha!
All post stations in Kuangai County were already being used by Feng Lin Bo and were not designated for the imperial house. Therefore, the post station already knew Feng Ru Nan would arrive. Due to the rain, they would likely not proceed further and would probably stay at the station, so the post staff began setting up tents. They managed to set up several tents just as the weather cleared.
However, the tents wouldn't be enough for 1000 people. Feng Ru Nan and the other main figures would enter, but the remaining common soldiers wouldn't be so fortunate.
Knowing that Feng Ru Nan was coming, everyone moved quickly. The head of the post station ordered his subordinates to boil soup. Although it was a spring rain, it was still cool. Especially for riders galloping against the biting wind.
Indeed, not much time passed before the approaching thunder of hooves resounded.
Feng Ru Nan was not wearing armor this time, but simple women's clothing. Because her clothes were soaked and clung to her body, even though she had a healthy build, her prominent charms, outlined by the wet fabric, greatly attracted male attention. Weng Xing was trembling all over, yet quickly draped a cloak over her mistress.
However, Feng Ru Nan was not in a hurry to enter the tent. First, like a proper military leader, she surveyed everything. She observed the effects of the rain on the troops and then prepared to return. It was then that she caught a terrible stench.
The wind carried a peculiar, thick odor that drew the attention of quite a few people. Many turned their heads and looked at Yuan Fang.
Yuan Fang wept bitterly to himself. He noticed that the rain had caused all the sauce on his face to drip down his neck onto his clothes. A strong stench emanated from him, and he himself was of a healthy build. Among everyone, he stood out like a crane among chickens.
Even without the sauce, it would have been hard to miss him.
Although he could hide for a while, he couldn't hide forever. Therefore, sooner or later, he would have been discovered. However, Yuan Fang still wanted to delay the matter. Who knew, maybe he would get a chance to take his monks and escape.
Originally, he hadn't thought the matter would be dangerous. But when he heard Feng Ru Nan beating up the prince that night, that's when he realized what he had gotten himself into.
In truth, he wasn't to blame. He had been brought from the temple and knew nothing of the situation.
Feng Ru Nan looked at him and, turning her head, asked:
— Is that him?
Weng Xing and Weng Li scrutinized him, but couldn't recognize him. It wasn't just the missing beard; when they had seen him before, he was completely bruised. And after that incident, Yuan Fang had constantly rubbed his face to help the blood dissipate. Therefore, after that incident, he truly had a different face.
— The eyes look similar...— Weng Xing and Weng Li stood there, unable to positively identify him.
Chao Zong and the others also noticed something strange. They looked at Yuan Fang and wondered why he was being harassed so. However, they also found it odd that Yuan Fang had shaved his beard.
Only Yuan Gang, who knew the truth, stood with a stone-like expression, while Niu You Dao smiled and deliberately asked loudly:
— Bear, what happened to your gray beard? Did you shave it off? And why did you smear your face?
As soon as he uttered this, a cold smile appeared on Feng Ru Nan's face.
Yuan Fang nearly fainted. He cried bitterly to himself: — Lord Dao, what are you doing?!
Yuan Gang even twisted his mouth. He perfectly understood what Yuan Fang was feeling right now.
Feng Ru Nan did nothing. She had recognized him, and that was enough.
Several tents had been set up, and in one unfinished tent,
soup was being boiled. Feng Ru Nan understood that now was not the time for revenge, especially not far from the city. And along the way, she had noticed that the head of the post station had done a good job.
So, looking at the head, she calmly said:
— Let it be reported to the county that this man is to be appointed as a post station official!
The man understood that these words had changed his life. The head of a post station was not a particularly high rank, but a post station official was a more significant position.
Therefore, as soon as he heard this, he was instantly overjoyed.
And Feng Ru Nan strode inside.
First, the women went in to change, and then the others followed.
Niu You Dao noticed that although there had been a good rain and everyone was almost thoroughly drenched, Bai Yao and the other cultivators were completely dry, as if the rain had bypassed them entirely. Meanwhile, Niu You Dao himself was soaked.
— Lord Dao!— Yuan Fang stood aside and asked Niu You Dao to step out.
Niu You Dao, shielding himself from the smell with a fan and furrowing his brows, asked, feigning ignorance:
— What is that smell coming from you?
Yuan Fang, cupping his hands, began to plead:
— Lord Dao, I beg you, let me and my monks go. If I don't leave, I fear I won't live!
Niu You Dao feigned surprise: — Why do you say that?
Yuan Fang, pointing at Yuan Gang, whispered what Yuan Gang had asked of him, and finally muttered:
— If I don't leave, the princess will kill me!
Niu You Dao calmly replied:
— Is that all? I actually told Yuan Gang about this matter, so he could instruct you to do it.