Chapter 6: Being Her Guard

“Miss, while it’s true that if you’re going to save someone, you should see it through to the end, like helping a Buddha reach the Western Paradise...”

Mo Zheng looked at Yang Luo, his expression helpless.

“But you can’t just keep adding more Buddhas to the journey. First it was Baima Town, and in the blink of an eye, it’s the capital. I’m just a small-time hunter; I don’t have that kind of ability.”

“I’ve already saved your life. I really can’t manage anything else. I need to go back to hunting.”

With that, he turned and strode toward the city gate.

Yang Luo hurriedly chased after him.

“I know my request is too much,” she said. “You saved me, and I haven’t even repaid your great kindness, yet I keep troubling you again and again—”

Her tears fell in droplets. She knew her request was unreasonable and couldn't continue, so she simply followed Mo Zheng.

However, this was not a desolate mountain forest. On the bustling street, a young man walked in front with a sullen face, followed by a smaller youth crying behind him, drawing many gazes. Some even laughed, “Did you get a beating?”

They couldn't afford to attract too much attention right now. Mo Zheng stopped and pulled Yang Luo to the corner of a wall.

“Miss, you are really being unreasonable now,” he said in a low voice. “You said it yourself, the government will notify the Ding’an Duke’s Mansion, and people from the mansion should be coming. Can’t you just wait for them here?”

Yang Luo shook her head, tears streaming down. “Even if people from the Ding’an Duke’s Mansion come, the moment I appear and those people realize I’m not dead, they will intercept and kill me on the road. Those people are in league with the officials; they’ll just frame it on mountain bandits later.”

Mo Zheng felt a bit helpless. “Is this another one of your premonitions?”

Yang Luo choked out, “I know you don’t believe me, but everything I’ve said is true.”

Mo Zheng sighed. “How did saving someone turn into being extorted? If you keep this up, I won’t dare to save anyone casually next time. You’re trying to force a good person like me to become a bad one.”

Whether it was a rejection or something else, hearing this made Yang Luo’s tears fall even faster. Her gaze toward Mo Zheng became complex once again. She clenched her hands, seemingly having made a decision. “If you escort me to the capital, it will be to your benefit as well.”

Mo Zheng laughed in spite of himself, raising an eyebrow. “Are you saying the Ding’an Duke’s Mansion will give me a lot of money? Miss, do you know how far the capital is? By the time I reach that money in the sky, I’ll have lost my life…”

“But if you stay here, you will die too,” Yang Luo interrupted, sobbing.

Mo Zheng’s expression turned strange. “I will die?”

To tell someone they will die for no reason—the other party would either not believe it or get angry, thinking it’s a curse. Especially now, when she was asking for his help; saying he would die because he refused was even more like a threat. Yang Luo looked at Mo Zheng, tears sliding down her face.

“I know, I sound like a madwoman, being unreasonable, returning evil for good…” She cursed herself while crying.

Mo Zheng gave a bitter smile. “Fine, you’ve already finished cursing yourself, what else can I say?” He paused. “Will I die? Is that also from your premonition?”

Yang Luo raised her hand to wipe her tears, avoiding his gaze. “In short, it might be because you’re implicated by me. My fate is bad, I have a calamity, and since you saved me, your fate has become bad too, and you have a calamity…”

She was either spouting nonsense or didn't want to tell him the truth. Mo Zheng smiled and pondered for a moment. “Let me say this first: I am just a hunter. I have never traveled such a long road…”

Before he could finish, Yang Luo let out a cry of joy, hugged him, and sobbed aloud.

Mo Zheng was caught off guard and stumbled back a step. He hurriedly reached out to grab Yang Luo’s collar and pulled her away.

“Hey, men and women should keep their distance,” he said.

Yang Luo said “Oh,” and wiped her tears while catching her breath. “I’m your younger brother now, aren’t I?”

However, she didn't throw herself at him again, instead bowing solemnly.

“Thank you, thank you.”

Mo Zheng shook his arms. “Don’t be in such a hurry to thank me. I can’t guarantee I can safely escort you to…”

Yang Luo interrupted him again. “You can. You definitely can. A-Sheng is very capable.”

Mo Zheng looked at her. “If I were so capable, would I die?”

Yang Luo seemed choked by the question. She looked at him, her eyes complex. “Perhaps it’s precisely because you are too capable.”

Mo Zheng let out a “Ha.” “Then that’s still not capable enough.”

He looked toward the street. Two beggars ran past. Having spent two days among the beggars, everyone knew each other.

“A-Sheng, the government is recruiting laborers to clean up Baima Town. They provide meals, come quickly!”

They greeted him enthusiastically.

Because Baima Town was mentioned, Mo Zheng called them over to ask what was going on.

It turned out that Baima Town had been almost completely wiped out. The officials and soldiers didn't want to do the work of cleaning up and burying the victims, so the government was recruiting laborers.

In the city, the only ones willing to do such labor were beggars and refugees.

As long as there was a bite to eat, it was enough.

After saying this, the two beggars hurried off, fearing they would miss the job if they were late.

Eating was a major matter.

Mo Zheng rubbed his stomach and looked at Yang Luo.

“But even if I agree, it doesn’t mean we can actually make the trip. Going to the capital is no simple matter. What about food, clothing, and shelter?”

In Lu County, the two of them were still relying on the beggars to survive. Were they supposed to beg all the way to the capital?

“Can you walk that far? What about food and drink? Although I have hunting skills, there aren't big mountains for me to hunt in along the entire way.”

A look of confusion appeared on Yang Luo’s face. She was a pampered young lady; she had faced life-and-death crises, but she had never faced the problems of food, clothing, and shelter.

Mo Zheng muttered, “We can’t just go around robbing and stealing…”

As soon as he said it, Yang Luo grabbed him urgently. “No, no, you must not do those things, absolutely not!”

Seeing her reaction, it was as if he had already gone to steal or rob. Mo Zheng was stunned.

“I said we *can’t* do it, why?” His voice slowed, and he squinted slightly, looking at the terror in the girl’s eyes. “…Did you foresee that I would die because of stealing or robbing?”

This young hunter had never left the mountains; he was simple and kind, but sometimes he was so clever it was overwhelming. Yang Luo’s expression was a bit awkward. “My divination isn’t that accurate. I can only know there is a crisis; I don’t know how it starts.”

Fortunately, the boy seemed to have asked it casually. Hearing her say this, he curled his lips and didn't press further.

To prevent him from letting his imagination run wild, Yang Luo quickly said, “I’ve thought of a way. Those murderers were only pretending to be mountain bandits; they wouldn't really loot the place. Although my home was burned, my mother hid money underground. Surely no one has found it yet…”

Mo Zheng looked at her. “So we…”

Yang Luo shook her head with fear again. “You go get it. I’ll tell you where it is. Those people might still be watching. If I go and get recognized, it will be a disaster.”

This young lady was truly terrified. Mo Zheng didn't say anything more and turned to walk toward the county office.

Yang Luo didn't react for a moment. She followed him, still trying to persuade him. “A-Sheng, I know the crime scene is hard to enter. You have good skills, at night…”

Mo Zheng looked back at her. “You said it yourself, the crime scene is hard to enter. The government soldiers must have surrounded it. No matter how good my skills are, I can’t get in at night. It’s too dangerous.”

That was true. She was afraid of danger herself and wouldn't go, so how could she let Mo Zheng take the risk? Yang Luo’s face turned red with shame…

Mo Zheng smiled and gently bumped her arm.

“So, we go in openly.”

He pointed toward the direction of the government office.

Yang Luo’s eyes lit up. She remembered that the beggars had just said the government office was recruiting laborers to clean up Baima Town.

(End of chapter)