"Alright, once I find something good, they won't be left out." Fu Xin Ci agreed casually, but she kept the kind offer in mind.
After she finished speaking, she leaned closer, picked up a stick from the ground, and weighed it. While it lacked killing power for her to use, it was good enough to intimidate people.
On the other side, Meng Qi Shan and the others had also finished dividing their spoils. Each of the young boys held a long staff, and their demeanor immediately changed.
The dark-faced man was pleased with their spirit and generously declared, "I'll show you a few moves. If you can remember one or two, that's your skill."
With that, the man grabbed a large club from a roller and performed a series of powerful, vigorous moves.
The boys watched intently. Even Qi Ren and Yu'er stopped playing with their grasshoppers and drew closer.
Fu Xin Ci thought, This is a golden opportunity, and I must seize it.
When the dark-faced man finished his staff routine, he put down the large club without a hint of breathlessness, standing proudly and looking at the boys, asking, "How was it? How many moves did you remember?"
"Me, me, me, Uncle Zhu Zi, I remembered, but I don't know how many moves." Qi He, dropping his usual playful expression, took the staff in his hand and stood in the clearing where the dark-faced man had performed. Then, following the moves he remembered, he began to practice with proper form.
"Good boy." Amateurs watched the spectacle, while connoisseurs saw the skill. Though Qi He's movements were clumsy and he paused often, his memory was undeniably good; he had managed to recall most of the routine.
"Let me try too, please give me some pointers, officer." Among these boys, Meng Qi Shan was the oldest and the most steady. Though his movements were somewhat hesitant, he performed them creditably.
"Heh heh, not bad." The dark-faced man was appreciative of talent. "You're a bit older, young man. If you had started practicing martial arts from a young age, you would have a bright future."
"Officer, is it still too late for me to start practicing now?" Meng Qi Shan was excited.
"It's not too late, but you've missed some crucial years. However, diligence can make up for lack of talent."
"Thank you for your kind assessment, officer. I will work twice as hard."
Ever since their noble estate was confiscated and they were exiled, Meng Qi Shan had thought their lives were over.
Hearing the dark-faced man's words, a flicker of hope ignited within him.
"I, I, I also want to try." Meng Yu Tang was still not entirely accustomed to referring to himself this way, but he didn't want his future to be bleak. He wanted to stand tall under the sun, even if he were just an ordinary commoner.
The dark-faced man was surprised by this boy's transformation. The one who used to throw tantrums and roll around like a spoiled child now seemed to understand propriety and reason. How was this possible? Had the sun risen from the north?
Jiang Tou'er also found it hard to believe that this pampered, spoiled brat could learn anything good by staying with the second brother Meng. He gave the dark-faced man a look.
The dark-faced man, understanding the unspoken message, nodded and then casually agreed, "You can, come and try then."
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity, officer." Meng Yu Tang said, picked up his staff, and walked to the clearing.
As he took his stance, the dark-faced man's expression subtly changed. He exchanged a glance with Jiang Tou'er, then his gaze intently followed Meng Yu Tang's movements.
Everyone present was astonished by Meng Yu Tang's performance. No one had expected that this little troublemaker, known only for his indulgence in pleasure and his tantrums, would know martial arts.
Despite the many flourishes, it had to be said that this boy had indeed exceeded everyone's expectations.
When Meng Yu Tang finished his routine and stood still, the dark-faced man looked at him with an expression that said, "You've got skills."
Seeing that the surprise on everyone's faces had not yet subsided, Meng Yu Tang thought they were mistaken. He mumbled a story: "When I was five, I was naughty and went to play by the pond in the back garden. Unwittingly, I fell in. I thought I would drown, but someone rescued me."
Meng Yu Tang continued as if recalling the past, "The person was a guard by my grandfather's side. He happened to be taking a shortcut that day and unexpectedly saved my life. I felt he was a real hero for pulling me out of the water. So, I pestered him to teach me martial arts."
"He refused at first, so I reported it to my grandfather and begged him to agree. My grandfather agreed, and so did he. But he made a very special request: he asked that no one else know I was learning from him, and that I not call him master in public."
"From then on, I went to see him whenever I had free time. I was very enthusiastic back then, going almost every day. But as I grew older, there were more interesting things to do, and I found myself going to see him less and less. This year, we've only met once."
"For you to achieve this level of skill with your sporadic training, your master must have been quite capable."
"Yes. My grandfather said he was the most skilled among his guards."
"Where is he now?" With the Meng noble estate in ruins, the dark-faced man was concerned about this person's fate.
"Before the incident at the noble estate, he had already left. He came to my courtyard to bid farewell before he left, saying, 'May you conduct yourself well.'"
"Oh, did he say where he was going?"
"I asked, but he only said he wanted to travel and see the world. He might return, or he might not."
Meng Yu Tang hadn't understood why his "cheap master" had left the noble estate then. But now he understood; his master likely no longer approved of the actions of those in the noble estate and had left when he could no longer tolerate it.
What Meng Yu Tang could infer, Jiang Tou'er and the dark-faced man also realized.
Meng Guo Gong had committed many wicked deeds. No matter how much money he had, people were unwilling to stay.
"What a pity," the dark-faced man lamented about the itinerant master.
"I actually think he did the right thing by leaving."
"Oh?" Jiang Tou'er was surprised that this scoundrel could say such a thing. "It seems you're not entirely beyond redemption."
"Thank you for your praise, officer."
Jiang Tou'er: ...
Fu Xin Ci thought, I also wanted to take this opportunity to show off a little, but these people have strayed from the topic. I wonder if they'll get back on track this year. As a young girl, I can't control the conversation, and it's such a worry.
As Fu Xin Ci was lamenting her fate and trying to find a way to interject, Jiang Tou'er spoke. "Alright, everyone, pull yourselves together. We need to continue our journey."
It was a rare moment of harmony on their journey, and Jiang Tou'er cherished it.
Fu Xin Ci felt as if all her enthusiasm had been doused with cold water, no, ice water.