Chapter 582: Chapter 582: Please Don’t Be Unreasonable

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Yesterday’s clear sky did not extend to today. We thought the snow would stop, but unexpectedly, as dawn broke, it began to drizzle.

The winter rain turned into ice upon reaching the ground, making the roads even more slippery and difficult to traverse.

Liu Ji, who had risen early to study, looked at the freezing rain outside the window with mixed feelings.

With bad weather, might the teacher delay the departure?

Yet as soon as this thought circled in his mind, Liu Ji sighed.

With the teacher’s temperament, even if it rained knives, when he said they’d leave today, today would be the day.

Helplessly, he got up, changed into thick clothing, and headed to the front hall with an umbrella.

The children were gathered around the stove in the main room, having breakfast. Qin Yao stood inside, hastily finishing the two buns in her hand, then signaled Liu Ji, and the couple left together.

"Mother!" Da Lang ran out from inside, handing Qin Yao a small scrapbook he had prepared overnight. "Could you give this memory book to the Immortal Official for me?"

Qin Yao motioned for Liu Ji to take it and nodded to the child, "I will deliver it. Go back inside; it’s cold outside."

Da Lang obediently retreated to under the eaves but didn’t enter the house. He watched his parents lead the horses down the slope, and after a long time, heard the quarrel and noise from his younger siblings inside, finally going back in.

Second Lang was teasing Sanlang again, and the easily-teased Sanlang would get puffed up every time.

However, the quarrel between the two brothers stopped instantly when their older brother entered. Both sat on opposite sides, snorted, and ignored each other.

Si Niang rested her chin in her hands, gazing at the gray light cast onto the window pane from the sky, praying that the freezing rain would stop soon and not delay those about to embark on their journey.

Perhaps the little girl’s sincerity moved the heavens. As everyone in the Lotus Courtyard finished packing and was about to depart, warmth arrived, the clouds parted, and a dazzling ray of sunlight spilled from the sky.

"The sky has cleared up!" Shi Tou and the other guards cheered.

But Liu Ji, sitting inside the carriage with his teacher and senior brother, felt his spirits instantly drop, having no reason left to convince the teacher to stay two more days.

This feeling of reluctance was rare for someone as carefree as Liu Ji.

Yet, this year he found himself reluctant several times already.

In the past, he came and went without any attachments.

Now, he had more and more ties and couldn’t act as freely as before, finding himself with more concerns.

Looking at the full sun in the sky, Liu Ji nodded slightly to his wife riding by the side, and lowered the carriage curtain.

"Let’s set off." Qin Yao smiled to Shi Tou and the others, "We’ll escort the teacher to Lower River Village and then return."

The guards nodded happily. Shi Tou urged his horse forward, and the whole team began to move.

Upon reaching the village entrance, the Black Cavalry, who had retrieved their weapons, armor, and horses, awaited them.

Qin Yao glanced from afar at Bai He, who led them.

This person wrapped himself entirely in cold armor and a conical hat, revealing only a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes, exuding a powerful aura.

Unfortunately, she was confident in her own strength, knowing that Bai He’s injuries were certainly not healed and was simply putting up a front.

Qin Yao swiftly exchanged a few glances with the Qi Family guards, who shifted from a leading formation to guarding the front and rear of the main carriage.

Zhen Yubai came to the convoy’s front; the stalemate needed breaking, and he had no choice but to step forward as the scapegoat.

The Black Cavalry’s apprehension and fear of Qin Yao were evident in the hundred-meter distance they maintained from the convoy today.

However, as soon as Zhen Yubai spoke, Liu Ji poked half his body out from the carriage, replicating the teacher’s response precisely.

His eyes arrogantly narrowed, nostrils flared, with a mocking curve to his lips, he lightly muttered, "Scram!"

Zhen Yubai: "..."

He awkwardly smiled, bowed again, wisely retreated to the side, and glanced sympathetically at Bai He, indicating he tried to mediate, but the other party didn’t care.

Thus, the Qi Family convoy proceeded ahead, with Bai He leading a dozen Black Cavalry maintaining a hundred-meter distance, trailing behind.

Although resentful, upon a glance of Qin Yao’s proud silhouette on horseback, they shivered, afraid to speak.

Qin Yao and Liu Ji had said they’d return after escorting the teacher to Lower River Village.

But upon reaching Lower River Village, Liu Ji poked his head out to ask, "Wife, since we’re already here, why not go a bit further and return from the town along Shangguan Road?"

Qin Yao nodded, "Alright."

Bai He, trailing behind, noticed the couple had no intention of turning back and felt a faint pain in his chest, his internal injuries suddenly worsening.

An hour later, they reached Jinshi Town.

Bai He’s eyes, hidden under the hat, immediately lifted, anticipating a sentimental farewell between the Qi Family and the Liu Family.

There was none, surprisingly none!

This time Qin Yao took the initiative to speak, "Since we’re here, let’s escort them a bit further until we reach the county, then we’ll return."

Witnessing the whole scene, Bai He felt a sweetness at the throat, clenched his teeth, and forcibly swallowed the blood in his mouth.

Half an hour later, the gates of Kaiyang County appeared ahead, prompting them to consider heading to the Prefecture.

Qi Xian hastily ordered a stop, pushing Liu Ji out of the carriage, "Junior, we’ll stop here."

Afraid that saying more would undo his carefully built resolve, Qi Xian immediately closed the carriage door, commanding the guards to continue onward.

Qin Yao reined her horse to the roadside as Liu Ji leaned against the horse’s belly, and the couple waved as they watched the convoy gradually disappear.

"Goodbye, Senior Brother! Goodbye, Teacher!" Liu Ji waved with increasing vigor, his arm moving widely and inadvertently blocking the path of the approaching Bai He.

Feeling a chill on his back belatedly, Liu Ji turned to see and quickly retracted his arm in fright.

Still, assured by his wife’s presence behind him, he mockingly hissed at Bai He and the Black Cavalry.

Seeing Bai He’s face darken to a soot-like black, Qin Yao finally spoke serenely, "Husband, you mustn’t be disrespectful to Lord He."

Liu Ji looked at her in surprise, not because she called him husband but because she addressed that Black Crow as Lord.

Qin Yao gestured for Liu Ji to stay aside, turned the horse to face Bai He, courteously clasping her fists in salute.

"We entrust the safety of the teacher and young master to Lord He’s care."

Saying this, she retrieved two pouches from her bag, containing medicine for internal injuries rushed by Ah Wang overnight, handing them over with both hands. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"The stakes prompted unintended harm, but these are two bottles of medicine for internal injuries, three doses a day, one large sip each time, lasting six days, by which Lord He should be healed."

Though it’s so cold, surely the medicine won’t spoil in six days, right?

Never mind, no point in overthinking; the sincerity is substantial enough, Qin Yao confidently thought to herself.

Bai He’s heart quaked at the offered pouch, eyes filled with suspicion, hesitating whether to accept it.

Turning enemies into friends would be nice, but this village woman... is she worth it?

Qin Yao slightly smiled, extended the pouch further, looking directly into Bai He’s eyes with a hint of impatience: Please don’t be ungrateful!

You’re quite the ’polite’ one. Bai He curled his lips, reluctantly extended his hand to accept the two pouches of medicine.