The Three Spirit Stones

After the first month of the lunar year, Cheng Yu prepared to go to the south. He first went to Linping in Hangzhou because he remembered hearing the name Linping Sugarcane before.

Linping is located in the Hangjiahu Plain, with the Grand Canal and Shangtang River flowing along its border. It is the first stop for Hangzhou waterways heading north.

He planned to take most of the sweet potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes there to plant, and plant the corn in Bianjing.

Because corn is suitable for the climate here, another farm of our family has already had a good harvest. At the planting promotion point of the Beijing Agricultural Promotion Bureau, there are corn promotional materials and corn seeds for sale.

After nearly half a year of publicity and promotion by the Agricultural Persuasion Bureau, many farmers in towns and villages around the capital have purchased these two crops and are preparing to plant them in March and April.

……

Inside the brothel, in an inconspicuous two-story building, Guan Da, the head of the family, was discussing work matters with several shopkeepers. His subordinates came to report that the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery had arrived!

Guan's face changed drastically, he swallowed his water, and hurriedly said, "Please come in."

The shopkeepers were a little surprised!

Their boss has seen all kinds of storms and waves. He has private business dealings with countless royal relatives and high-ranking officials, but he has never been seen to be afraid of anyone.

This Loyal and Brave Marquis is just a newly promoted marquis, serving as a deputy envoy in the Ministry of Agriculture. Why does his own boss seem so scared?

The servant brought Cheng Yu in. He greeted the shopkeepers who were leaving one by one with a humble and gentle attitude.

After they all left, Guan Dangjia closed the door, bowed and invited Cheng Yu to sit on his armchair. Cheng Yu didn't hesitate and sat down without hesitation.

"You said your people were lost? Tell me, what happened?"

Cheng Yu's tone was slightly reproachful.

"My Lord, this Taoist priest is very difficult to follow!"

"My people show up, but before I can say a word to them, they disappear. I've already experienced this several times!"

Guan Dangjia said with a bitter face,

Cheng Yu was a little annoyed. This Taoist priest was Ah Cai's only hope, and yet he had lost him several times?

He waved his hand, and Guan Dadang was lifted up into the air and hit against the wall, and then his fat body fell heavily to the ground.

He said angrily, "Humph! You useless thing, you can't even do such a simple thing, what's the point of keeping you?"

Guan Da, the head of the family, was groaning in pain. When he heard his words, he jumped up and knelt on the ground in fear, saying, "My Lord, please spare my life. My Lord, please spare my life. I have already hired a famous tracking expert in the martial arts world to work for me. Please give me a few more days. This person will definitely find the Taoist priest for me."

"…Tracking an expert? How do you do that?"

As he spoke, he played with the inkstone on the table.

"This expert's surname is Cai, and his name is Cai Kun. People in the martial arts world call him a wisp of smoke, which means that his lightness skill is like a wisp of tobacco, floating and erratic, appearing and disappearing. Once he sets his sights on you, don't even think about getting rid of him."

"This expert had to use a lot of connections to find this."

"My Lord, I have been working hard for you. Please have mercy on me and spare me. I still want to continue to serve you! My Lord..."

At the end of the story, the head of the Guan family almost burst into tears!

"I'm going to Linping, Hangzhou next month. Please ask Yiluyan to come and find me. If you can find me, I'll continue to use you. If you can't..."

He said coldly, and the inkstone in his hand suddenly floated in the air.

With a "bang",

It fell apart, turned into powder, and fell to the ground with a crash.

"Just like this inkstone,...disappear!"

After saying that, he stood up and left.

Guan Dadang collapsed on the ground, staring blankly at the pile of mud in front of him.

He knew very well that this evil star had already made up his mind to kill him. He could not accomplish his task and was useless to him. Moreover, he knew his secret, so anyone would kill him to silence him.

After a long while, he finally cried out.

Why do I have such a miserable life?

How could I have gotten involved with such an evil star?

……

"Why am I so miserable?"

"I'm going to be separated from my husband for such a long time right after we got married. You went to Hangzhou without me. Isn't it said that there is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below?"

"You don't want to take me to such a fun place?"

Ah Cai held Cheng Fugui in her arms and sat on the Luohan bed, looking at Cheng Yu sadly and said,

"…Newlyweds?" Cheng Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Is this what we call newlyweds?"

She nodded vigorously and said, "We have only been together officially for a little over a year, and this is a newlywed."

"Okay! If you say so, then so be it," Cheng Yu held her in his arms and said, "Caibao! Why would I want to be separated from you? Once I leave you, I feel very irritated and empty in my heart,"

"But I'm here to do something, not to have fun. There are many uncertainties, and I don't know what will happen."

"It's safest for you to stay at home. I can rest assured that Yuechan will take care of you."

"There is heaven above and Suzhou and Hangzhou below, which is a saying from the past. Linping, Hangzhou, has only been a town for about ten years. It is sparsely populated. If you go there, you will just see mud. What's the fun in it?"

Then, he took out a piece of jade Guanyin and said to her, "Look, there is a small mechanism here. I put some Yuanling Zhenqi in it. With the nourishment of Zhenqi, even if I leave for a while, it will not be affected."

"If you are in danger and Yuechan can't save you, just press here with your fingernails, and the Yuanling Qi will return to its place instantly. I will sense where you are at the first time and come to save you as soon as possible!"

After saying this, he hung the Jade Guanyin around her neck.

"But I can't bear to leave you,"

Ah Cai threw the cat away and hugged his waist.

Cheng Yu's heart felt as sweet as honey, and his breathing gradually became heavier.

"Well, I can't bear to leave you either...well,"

He held her face and kissed her little mouth with his hot lips, and they spent another night together!

……

……

On the twenty-eighth day of the first lunar month, Cheng Yu took nearly a hundred people on a boat southward along the Grand Canal. Thirty of these people were selected for him by Cao Wei, all of whom were martial arts experts selected from thousands of miles away.

What happened four years ago still haunts him.

Before his nephew left Beijing, he said to these people, "If anything happens to the Marquis, you should bring your head to me."

Although Cheng Yu did not need bodyguards, he had to bring these people with him to reassure his uncle. He selected his own men from the Agricultural Promotion Bureau, the shop owners of various shops and his own retainers, a total of more than sixty people.

Cheng Wei and A Dong stayed in Cheng Mansion to protect A Cai, and also left more than 30 good fighters for them to use.

Similarly, before leaving Beijing, he said to these people, if anything happens to the young lady, you guys will be beheaded!

It is about 1,200 kilometers from Bianliang to Hangzhou by water, and the main way to travel is by sailboat. When there is no wind or the current is against the current, towing is required. The entire journey takes more than a month at the fastest.

Cheng Yu sat on the boat, looking at the scenery along the coast boredly. He missed A Cai very much, but it was a pity that she was not around, otherwise he would not be so bored!

After leaving Bianjing, there are low houses on both sides of the river. In some places, there is no one in sight for a long distance. In the upstream river, the canal transport agent will come and ask if you need to pull the boat. If you need to, you can ask the boatman to come.

Looking at the group of half-naked trackers pulling the oars with their heads down, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart!

Human life is really worthless in this era. Most people will feel happy as long as they have something to eat!