As Liang Xiao and his companions disembarked from the carriage, hundreds of villagers, half of them young men and women, gathered around.
"Unauthorized personnel, keep your distance!" Ding Wuyi immediately ordered his guards to block the villagers.
"What's going on? How did they know Liang Xiao was coming?" Luo Qingxue asked, confused.
Ding Wuyi approached and whispered, "Young Master Liang, this is rather peculiar."
"Could it be people from noble families or barbarians spies? A test?" Liang Xiao smiled, his vigilance heightened.
Ding Wuyi's actions were correct; no one was allowed to approach to prevent assassins from infiltrating. After all, there had been an incident in the capital where barbarian assassins had attacked the Temple of the Heavenly General.
The best assassins often show no discernible flaws before their operation.
Liang Xiao himself had once undertaken critical missions disguised as a teacher or merchant, even going undercover, and had always succeeded. Before they were apprehended, the enemy never suspected him.
Liang Xiao did not underestimate the people of this world; it was merely his ingrained caution, being extremely careful to protect Yue Lian and Luo Qingxue from harm.
Ding Wuyi nodded, "It's possible! There could also be members of the Revitalization Cult, or even... remnants of the former dynasty!"
Liang Xiao's expression changed. He exchanged a look with Ding Wuyi, who understood and said no more. He couldn't let the young ladies feel frightened.
"So inhospitable..." The villagers, seeing Liang Xiao merely smile and wave without approaching, felt disappointed.
Liang Xiao and Ding Wuyi observed for a while, concluding that the crowd's reaction seemed normal. Even if assassins were present, they were not making themselves obvious.
Luo Qingxue quickly bowed to the villagers, "I'm sorry, my... he has urgent matters to attend to and cannot receive guests!"
Liang Xiao smiled and pulled Luo Qingxue back, his voice filled with concern, "You don't need to inconvenience yourself for me."
"It's just a small gesture. I don't want anyone to misunderstand you again..." Luo Qingxue said, her face full of guilt.
Liang Xiao's heart ached. He embraced Luo Qingxue, reminding her to be careful.
Listening to the envious screams from the girls in the distance, Luo Qingxue blushed and obediently agreed.
The guards dispersed the villagers, and Liang Xiao's convoy was finally able to proceed, arriving at the entrance to Mount Tian.
As Ding Wuyi was about to announce their arrival, dozens of swordsmen emerged from various parts of the mountain, their gazes sharp.
Liang Xiao felt puzzled. He looked up into the distance and noticed several sentry posts at the mountain pass.
"Mount Tian is a treasure trove, bestowed by the late emperor upon the Three Sages of Great Qian as a sacred ground. Ordinary people are not allowed to trespass without permission," Luo Qingxue explained to Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao nodded slightly, becoming even more curious about the only remaining Sage residing on Mount Tian, the Sage of Medicine.
Why did the disciples of the Sage of Sword, Jian Nanfeng, still protect and manage Mount Tian, given that the Sage of Medicine, Mu Xueqin, had fallen out with Jian Nanfeng?
Liang Xiao's gossip-loving soul was unexpectedly ignited.
The young swordsman at the forefront, with a square face, a full beard, and a stern expression, cupped his hands in greeting towards Liang Xiao and his party.
"Are you perhaps from the capital?"
Ding Wuyi returned the greeting, "Indeed! I am Ding Wuyi, under imperial decree, escorting the Grand Master of the Court of Benevolence, Vice Minister of Works, and Marquis of Anguo, Liang Xiao, to Mount Tian for medical treatment. May I ask if Shao Ling is within the mountain?"
The young swordsman smiled, "My senior brother left a few days ago, and his return date is uncertain. I am Du Pingling, tenth in my master's lineage. Greetings, Elder Ding! Senior brother instructed that if Liang Xiao were to come to the mountain, he must be well received..."
The swordsmen, led by Du Pingling, looked at Liang Xiao with suspicion.
Was this the Liang Xiao who had recently gone from being infamous to renowned?
Ding Wuyi breathed a sigh of relief. After he and Du Pingling exchanged tokens, he felt reassured and introduced Liang Xiao to Du Pingling.
Du Pingling praised, "Indeed, beauty has always favored youth. The two ladies accompanying Marquis Anguo are as fair as our junior sister."
Hearing this, Luo Qingxue and Yue Lian shyly hid behind Liang Xiao.
Yue Lian stammered, "I am merely the young master's..."
Liang Xiao quickly turned and stared at Yue Lian, his gaze seeming to warn, "Are you going to claim you're just a maid again?"
Remembering Liang Xiao's previous "threat," Yue Lian blushed even more deeply and dared not speak.
Du Pingling observed this and laughed heartily, "Youth is wonderful! It's cold outside, let's head into the mountain."
Ding Wuyi escorted Liang Xiao, conversing with Du Pingling along the way.
"My mistress has also heard of Marquis Anguo's deeds recently, but she still resolutely refuses to treat him. Alas!" Du Pingling said, growing increasingly awkward.
Ding Wuyi sighed, "We will personally call upon the Sage of Medicine with Young Master Liang."
Du Pingling chuckled dryly, "Perhaps we should visit our junior sister first. Mistress now despises nobles and officials the most, and you two are precisely that..."
Ding Wuyi asked, "Has Qin Wan always been the one helping to mediate?"
Du Pingling nodded, "Only our junior sister can speak with Mistress. The rest of us are usually driven away within three sentences."
Ding Wuyi was bewildered. He excused himself, then ran back to remind Liang Xiao.
"Young Master Liang, Jian Qin Wan, a highly gifted disciple of the Sage of Qin, the Immortal of Qin, has been quite instrumental in your plea for treatment. However, she is extremely particular about cleanliness. I hope you will be understanding when the time comes."
"How serious is it?" Liang Xiao asked, utterly confused.
"Inconceivable, indescribable. I've heard she bathes three times a day just for hygiene..." Ding Wuyi said with a dry laugh.
Liang Xiao and the other two were taken aback and nodded, assuring him they would be mindful.
Ding Wuyi then rejoined the group at the front, continuing his conversation with Du Pingling.
"Elder Ding, isn't he Marquis Anguo, Vice Minister of Works, and Grand Master of the Court of Benevolence? Why do you address him as Young Master Liang?" Du Pingling could not help but ask.
"In my eyes, that is my term of respect for him," Ding Wuyi replied frankly.
When his master was Princess Ning Shuang, she had addressed Liang Xiao this way, so he naturally followed suit!
"I see! Elder Ding, regardless of what my fellow disciples may say later, I hope this Marquis Anguo will not take it to heart..." Du Pingling cautiously advised.
"Why?" Ding Wuyi was momentarily taken aback, then seemed to understand, "Oh! I get it! Don't worry, Young Master Liang is very magnanimous."
"You know the atmosphere here," Du Pingling sighed.
Spring had arrived, painting the mountains and rivers with beauty. Birds sang and flowers bloomed. Mount Tian was truly a paradise.
The convoy soon arrived outside a large courtyard within the mountain. Another hundred swordsmen emerged from within.
After Du Pingling introduced Liang Xiao, these swordsmen remained calm, offering polite greetings to Liang Xiao and Ding Wuyi. A few of them showed signs of displeasure.
Liang Xiao and Luo Qingxue observed this, their minds already made up.
Du Pingling asked Liang Xiao to wait inside the courtyard while he took his men to inform Jian Qin Wan.
Liang Xiao, with his acute hearing, overheard the swordsmen whispering amongst themselves as he walked midway.
"I heard the person protected by the Heavenly General is him? Scholars look down on us martial artists, so why would the Heavenly General manifest to protect a scholar like him? And he disrespected the Heavenly General during the state funeral in Yan Prefecture! I heard several guards from the Divine Might Prefecture were killed then, and he was lucky to survive..."
"He must have some learning, but the people of the capital calling him and the Heavenly General 'Imperial Twin Pearls' is, frankly speaking, an exaggeration. He truly doesn't deserve to be on par with the Heavenly General..."