Episode 165

  On the big ship at sea.

  Not enough for two people already here. In the cabin, the black-faced captain looked at the two who were drinking water and said:

  "Who are you people? How did you come to drift in the sea?"

  "Alas! A sight that's hard to bear."

  Afraid that Zhu would expose his true identity, he hastily added:

  "We were originally small merchants, encountered pirates, the boat was damaged, and we narrowly escaped with our lives, landing on a deserted island. The island had many trees, which were very good. Later, the two of us cut down trees to build a raft, drifting at sea for half a year! Now, fortunately, we have been rescued by you, sir, and can escape. We will definitely repay your kindness when we reach the shore."

  "You are lucky to have met me! Otherwise, if you continue north without knowing the situation, you will definitely enter the treacherous terrain of the North Sea."

  "North Sea Cliff?"

  "Haven't you heard of the North Sea's extremity?"

  "May I ask the captain, we people from the south have never heard of the northern sea being a forbidden land."

  "The North Sea is a treacherous place on the edge of the ancient continent! It is the dark and gloomy place in the hearts of sailors. Entering this treacherous land means certain death, with no chance of survival! The color drains from the faces of northern sea travelers when they hear of it. From ancient times to the present, countless travelers and fishermen have entered but never returned, meeting their deaths here."

  "Oh dear! How precarious it is! Even if our raft is sturdy, without encountering a large ship to rescue us, entering this desolate place would be hopeless. Thank you, Captain! Thank you, sailors on the boat!"

  Less than two people sincerely thanked.

  So, the insufficient and the vermilion are following this boat while it is sailing.

  However, after more than a month, the large ship called "Hai Long Hao" docked at a port called "Wu Ji Kou". Most of the sailors on board disembarked and entered the coastal city. In twos or threes, they strolled around in pairs. Some went to restaurants to drink, some entered casinos to gamble, some went to brothels, and some went to markets to sell goods. Insufficient and Zhu Xie thanked the captain and the sailors who had saved them on board, also disembarked from the boat. The two of them walked into a small tavern. Insufficient carefully took out a few silver coins from his pocket, ordered two plates of braised beef, two cups of hot wine, and sat down by the window to quietly enjoy their meal. It was almost two years since they had such a good time.

  "Zhu Yun, this time when you get off the boat, you can probably return to your home in Fangcheng. My family is poor and has nothing to give as a gift, but here are over ten taels of silver thread to help you on your way back."

  Insufficient money was thrown into a small leather pouch for Zhu Yun.

  "Brother Jin, what's going on? Don't you want to return to Fangcheng?"

  "A certain family is alone, with the four seas as their home. Having arrived at this place, how can there be a reason not to roam? Let's part ways for now, and it's likely we won't meet again."

  "Big brother, little brother......"

  Zhu Yun suddenly shed tears.

  "Big brother, if it weren't for your care along the way, I would have already died in the belly of a fish! My heart is filled with gratitude, how could I dare to accept more money from you?"

  "One person in a certain household has a strong physique. Working odd jobs wherever they go, they can afford food and drink. Younger brother, don't decline again!"

  "Big brother! Little brother...... I......"

  "Zhu Yun, farewell!"

  It's pointless to say more, so I paid for the wine and left without looking back.

  Zhu Yu stared blankly, his eyes welling up with tears. He thought of the past two years they had been through thick and thin together, the countless times he had saved him from the jaws of death, and couldn't help but burst into tears.

  He then put on a long blue gown and from that time on, he wandered along the seashore, heading towards where the sun set.

  One year later.

  Zhu Yun's family was at home. Zhu Yun said to his mother:

  "It was this person who, despite being ugly and incomparable, saved the child from a desperate situation. This allowed the child to return home and fulfill their filial duties, taking care of their mother."

  "Good man! You saved my son! From now on, I will recite scriptures every day and ask the Bodhisattva to bless the benefactor with a long life of one hundred years!"

  Afterwards, Zhu Yun's actions were no longer afraid of danger. At the age of 50, he became a famous general in the mortal world, and his name was recorded in history. People called him the invincible great general.

  There is a historian who wrote his biography and asked Zhu Yun about it.

  "What I have achieved is due to the kindness of extraordinary people!"

  The ancient eastern coastal small country of Bo, is a city-state. A large city named Bo, surrounded by three smaller cities, with an area of less than 600 miles. The name of the city is Bo, and so is the name of the country.

  The streets outside the city's central avenue were crowded with people. On both sides of the street, shopkeepers and peddlers shouted loudly to attract customers. Street vendors cleverly touted their wares, enticing passersby to stop and linger. One stall had a sign that read "Nine Palaces Seeking Opportunity, Eight Trigrams Solving Difficulties." Next to the stall's long table, a tall man leaned against the counter with his eyes closed, dozing off. Behind him, from within a dilapidated old medicine shop, came several coarse and rough shouts.

  "Get out! Scram! With such an appearance, you're coming to bother people in a messy way! Don't mention that the pharmacy doesn't need apprentices, even if it did, it's not someone with your kind of face who can be used."

  "Don't judge a person by appearance. This family has some expertise in medicine, and their salary is only about 30-50% of an ordinary clerk's. If you hire them, sir, you won't be at a loss!"

  "Hum! Although the salary is low, but customers come to see your appearance, how dare they still come here to buy medicine?"

  "Shopkeeper, this is a pharmacy, and it's not about clothes or hats, someone..."

  "Shut up! Get out! Don't delay my business!"

  That man in a thin blue robe with an ugly face and a hideous appearance let out a sigh and slowly backed away.

  "Alas! This is already the tenth or so time I've been rejected today, I've lost count! The importance of appearance to people in this world is indeed unparalleled."

  "I said, Hanzi, you came to this pharmacy to recommend yourself but were rejected, right?"

  The old man at the stall narrowed his eyes and gazed coldly at the ugly man who had just walked out, saying.

  "Yes, what instructions does the elderly gentleman have?"

  "How dare you! If you want to know your fate, why don't you come here and let me calculate it for you?"

  "Haha! Thank you for your kind intentions, sir. Our family is penniless, where would we have the money to have our fortune told?"

  "Haha! Never mind! As long as you've got a job, a place to eat and sleep, and earn some money. Just come back and return it to me then."

  "Please instruct me, sir!"

  "Just toss this turtle shell onto the table at will."

  "Good!"

  That man in green picked up a few pieces of tortoiseshell, gently tossed them, and the tortoiseshell fell on the table, rolling around. When it stopped, the old gentleman carefully examined it for a while, then said softly:

  "Good fellow, your physiognomy shows signs of a sword and blood. You should go to the martial arts hall or the constabulary to try it out."

  "Thank you, old sir. If I can get a job, our family will definitely come back to repay the silver."

  The old man waved his hand and said nothing more.

  He went straight ahead, inquiring about a place called Tie Gun's Escort Bureau that was recruiting people. He won three battles and got a job as an escort guard.

  "From now on, you will be a member of our Iron Gun Escort Bureau. Escorting goods is a matter of life and death, where one's life can be lost at any moment. Since you have joined us, you must sign the contract that binds us together in life and death."

  "What thrift!"

  After signing the contract, the head of the escort agency paid the first month's salary. The head then arranged for a place to stay and gave some instructions before leaving.

  "I've finally gotten this job! It's really not easy! I'll have to pay that fortune-telling master first before it's good."

  This man is naturally the one who is not worthy of history. He has been drifting in the mortal world for more than ten years, and at first, he was not enough to part with Zhu Yun, so he left directly.

  Three months later, passing by the small town of Mingjia, because I walked too far, I actually missed my lodging for the night! By evening, suddenly dark clouds rolled in and a gust of cool wind hit me. Before I could even lift my head, I gazed at the clouds and sighed:

  "The meaning of wind and rain is getting thicker, it's not just a matter of time before they gather together!"