(5)
The young swordsman returned to the hotel to rest for the night. The next day, Zhao Kuo sent his teacher and staff member Fan Liwu to visit him in person to express his gratitude for the white phoenix.
After Fan Liwu arrived at the inn, he happened to meet the doctor who had set Shen Qiongzhi's bones and treated her injuries yesterday and came for a follow-up consultation. Therefore, he was stopped outside the door and waited for a long time.
This Confucian scholar has always respected etiquette and despised people in the market. He stubbornly believed that everyone should restrain themselves and follow etiquette and should not overstep their duties. However, Bai Feng actually asked an unknown boy to come to greet him today, which prompted Fan Li The prejudice in Wu's heart doubled, and his complexion became darker.
After a while, the doctor came out of the house. Seeing him walking away, Jingjia invited him: "Mr. Fan, you have been waiting for a long time. Please come in."
Fan Liwu was followed by a total of eight people, each of whom had a valuable gift in his hand. They did not follow Fan Liwu into the house, but waited in place as ordered.
"Mr. Fan, I haven't seen you for a long time. How are you doing?" Bai Feng knew that he had been neglectful, so he immediately stepped forward to greet him and said, "I don't know why you came here this time."
Fan Liwu pointed to the eight attendants behind him and replied: "Master Zhao, thinking of your tiring journey, specially ordered me to send you fine wine, meat, fine clothes and silk as a reward."
After saying that, two young men came in and presented them with wine and meat, and a strong aroma of food immediately filled the whole room.
"This...why bother spending money on a villain? Didn't I tell Mr. Zhao that I just want some soldiers and horses, enough to escort me back to Yuyi Town..."
Fan Liwu pretended not to hear, and continued to summon all the remaining servants to come forward to present gifts, saying: "Master Bai, please accept this piece of cloth, a hundred taels of gold, and several boxes of jewelry made by top craftsmen." .”
"Wow, so much silver!" Ji Ji, who was standing in front of the door, couldn't help shouting out his heart when he saw this.
"Mr. Bai, the young master has told me, please accept it, otherwise it will be difficult for me to explain when I go back." Fan Liwu snickered and said with extreme contempt: "Even if you don't think about yourself, you must still think about Yuyi Academy. Dear disciples and students, think about it, is this large amount of money enough for you to develop your ambitions?"
"I don't dare, I'm just trying my best." Bai Feng then bowed his hands and pretended to accept the reward, then asked: "I dare to ask Mr. Fan, are you willing to condescend to visit today? I'm afraid there are other important matters. Let’s talk?”
"Hahaha, Mr. Bai is indeed a smart man. In fact, what is the important matter?" Fan Liwu waved his hand to all the servants to leave the house and close the door, and continued: "I think Mr. Bai is probably aware of the current war situation. I The army seems to have been passively defending, but in fact it has always been aware of the enemy's whereabouts. Unfortunately, although the current town general is a member of the Zhao family, he is not talented enough. It is okay to let him solve the fights in the villages and alleys. Once he arrives, On the real battlefield, his mediocrity is hard to ignore.”
Bai Feng finally saw the clues at this time and asked: "According to Mr. Fan's wishes, do you want me to replace him?"
"You have little military success now, and it is difficult to convince the public. Therefore, Mr. Zhao plans to let you lead the troops to fight as many victorious battles as possible. In time, based on your prestige in the army and the Zhao family's support behind the scenes, you will be the leader. What's wrong with this general?" Fan Liwu's arrogance made him think that such an offer could not be refused. He stood there and looked at each other with Bai Feng in a very arrogant manner, as if he was waiting for the other party to nod in agreement at any time.
"I forgive you for obeying your orders." Bai Feng said: "I made it very clear to Brother Zhao yesterday that this is not my ambition, and I have no intention of coveting fame and wealth. I am satisfied with being rewarded by the Zhao family."
"Is that true?" Fan Liwu asked, "Are you really willing to be just a retainer forever?"
Bai Feng nodded and said, "Yes."
Fan Liwu's long-awaited answer turned out to be this. He sneered helplessly for a moment, turned around and pushed the door open. All the gifts were placed on the ground.
Shen Qiongzhi lay on the couch and rested for a long time. After confirming that Fan Liwu had left correctly, he immediately stood up and asked Murong Yan beside him: "Yan'er, what is the general?"
"That's General."
"Is he a high official? Why doesn't Brother Feng do it?"
"Because I'm going to fight...if I go, I might not be able to come back."
The young swordsman seemed to have heard the whispers of the two little girls, so he sulked and cursed: "How can I protect you in this fight with such trouble?"
Shen Qiongzhi said: "If you don't want to do it, there's no need to curse with these words!"
"Miss Shen, this old man Fan Liwu has always been very hostile to me. This time he is willing to promote me. He must be wishing that I would die early?" Bai Feng picked up a box of gifts on the ground and sent it to Shen Qiongzhi, and continued. : "When you meet Fan Liwu outside in the future, remember to be more cautious."
Shen Qiongzhi took the gift and kept mumbling: "When you become a high official, won't we all be able to live a better life? This will also increase the number of pilgrims in the Holy Land..."
"I'm afraid that if my master is too great, my bow will be exhausted... Yan'er, can you understand what I'm doing?" Before Bai Feng finished speaking, Jingjia immediately replied: "Senior brother, I support you!"
Murong Yan naturally responded and said, "Ajingdu is like this, how can I not understand?"
"Okay, I finally understand. You are taking advantage of me and bullying me!" Shen Qiongzhi pouted and opened the gift handed by Bai Feng. She was immediately attracted by the various gems shining beautifully in the box: "Look, This blue gemstone; look, this pair of gilt earrings; and, this pair of dragon and phoenix bracelets... Yan'er, put them on for me and see if they look good.
Bai Feng saw that Shen Qiongzhi was coaxed to be happy so easily, which further confirmed that she had never really hated him.
"Maybe it's really just a different stance." He thought.
After that, Bai Feng and his party rested for a few days to accommodate Shen Qiongzhi's injury. During this period, Shen Qiongzhi took a medicinal diet made of precious ingredients every day, bathed in fragrant soup every day, and her clothes and accessories also looked brand new.
The face of the poor monk in the past is no longer the same. Now Shen Qiongzhi has gradually become plump, with red lips and white teeth. She is like a sister to Murong Yan. They sit on the same bed, stand side by side, eat from the same utensils, and dress up a little. Fan, the beauty is even better than that. At this time, Baifeng was often ashamed to take the initiative to talk to Murong Yan, because he was taboo about meeting such a beautiful Shen Qiongzhi, which would remind him of what happened that day in the hot springs of the Holy Land.
It wasn't until Shen Qiongzhi was able to walk on his own that they decided to set off. No matter how Zhao Kuo and Fan Liwu tried to persuade him, Bai Feng resolutely decided to return to Yuyi without any delay.
So the four of them led a hundred troops the next day, pretending to be merchants and travelers, and headed for Yuyi Town.
