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墨書 Inktalez
"Miss, do we really have to ride over there? I've heard that Feng Province is already under Japanese control. Isn't going there like sending sheep into a tiger's mouth? Besides, we don't even know where the Young Commander is right now; rushing over might not help us find him."
Cheng Mosu nodded. She had considered what Feng Yin said, but her feelings could no longer be constrained by reason. All she wanted was to see him immediately, regardless of the cost.
"Miss Cheng." She turned around to see Mr. Chen also receiving a pass and walking out of the guardhouse with a smile on his face. She quickly nodded in greeting, and Mr. Chen bowed with a smile, "Miss hasn't left yet; I suppose you're also worried about how to return to Feng Province?"
"That's right. I must hurry back."
"Feng Province is currently occupied by the Japanese. Shangguan Shaoying should be within the borders these days; Miss Cheng can inquire about the situation in New North. I was planning to borrow a car to go to New North first and then head to Feng Province. If it's convenient for Miss Cheng, we can travel together; it would be good for both of us to look out for each other."
Cheng Mosu pondered for a moment and agreed that this method was feasible, while Feng Yin nodded in strong agreement. She slowly spoke with a gentle smile, "Then I will trouble Mr. Chen, but where can we borrow a car in such a time of war?"
"The Mountain Man has his own clever plans." Mr. Chen adjusted his glasses and pointed behind him, indicating for Cheng Mosu to wait a moment. Sure enough, not long after, a black vehicle arrived and stopped in front of Mr. Chen. The driver got out to help Mr. Chen with his luggage and gestured for him to enter.
Before they could react, several people had already gotten into the car.
"Miss, who is this Mr. Chen? Why does he seem so important that he has a car come to pick him up?" Feng Yin whispered. Cheng Mosu felt puzzled as well; it seemed that Mr. Chen's identity was more than just that of a university teacher. She smiled lightly and said in a clear and gentle voice, "Mr. Chen, I truly appreciate your help along with your friend this time."
"No problem; it's on the way anyway," Mr. Chen replied with a smile. The driver chimed in, "Mr. Chen is known for being helpful; Miss need not worry too much about it. I have also received many favors from Mr. Chen in the past, and when I heard he was in trouble this time, I rushed over without hesitation."
"That’s hardly any favor; Mr. Yan is exaggerating."
"How can it not be considered a favor? My wife greatly admires your calligraphy works; it is already my great honor that you could gift one to me."
Cheng Mosu was slightly taken aback, her beautiful brows filled with excitement, and her clear eyes rippled with emotion. "I have heard that the calligraphy master Mr. Chen Mu Yin teaches at a university in Feng Province. Could it be you?"
"Chen Xi is my name, but I am not a master; that is an overestimation by the world," he quickly waved his hand.
"How can that be an overestimation? Mr. Chen, you truly deserve the title of 'master.' I have always admired your works. I remember on my fifteenth birthday, you even wrote me a congratulatory message. I have long wanted to meet and converse with you but lacked the opportunity. Meeting under these circumstances is quite interesting," she said, her water-like eyes clear and her words elegant.
"Miss Cheng, you flatter me."
The next moments passed in silence as she quietly gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting somewhere unknown. The sky was beginning to show a deep blue, tinged with a bit of heavy gray, hovering above her head. The pedestrians around were hurriedly passing by, most of them in tattered clothes, their faces pale and thin.
"This area has been severely affected by disasters; years of war have made it impossible for the people here to farm and live well," Mr. Chen sighed helplessly.
Cheng Mosu remained silent for a while; it was her first time witnessing such devastation. The car jolted through the crowd, and occasionally she could see the expressions in people's eyes—some were confused and unwilling, while others were numb and resigned. She closed her eyes, unable to bear looking at the starving corpses scattered on the ground and the bones piled up on the muddy roads, ignored by everyone. The car stirred up a cloud of dust as the somber-faced people moved slowly, completely unaware of why life had turned out this way.
She slowly opened her eyes, her rose-colored lips trembling slightly. "The bones lie exposed in the wild, with no rooster crowing for miles. A hundred people are lost among the living; thinking of this breaks one's heart."
"The Song of the Artemisia," Mr. Chen continued, "has always been the common people who suffer from wars throughout history!"
As they spoke, the car stopped beside a small loft.
"We have now entered New North. This inn is called Fengqing Inn; the owner is my friend. We will settle here for now. You can inquire about Mr. Shangguan's whereabouts while I prepare how to return to Feng Province," Mr. Chen politely opened the car door for Cheng Mosu and then turned to thank the driver.
Cheng Mosu also offered a slight thank you before turning to enter the inn. She barely had time to frown when Feng Yin exclaimed beside her, "Isn't this place a bit too shabby? How can our young lady stay here?"
The wall had shed a layer of skin, gray and mottled, making the entire room appear crooked, like a child's haphazardly built block structure. The shopkeeper glanced at them with a hint of dissatisfaction on his face but did not voice it. Cheng Mosu quickly stopped the complaining Feng Yin, "Don't say anything more. This is an emergency. There are corpses everywhere along the way, and homeless people can be seen everywhere. It’s already difficult for us to find a place to stay."
"Girl, learn from your young lady," the shopkeeper said, raising his eyes to look at Mr. Chen, who was slowly entering behind them. "Mr. Chen has arrived; it has been years since we last met. Are you well?"
"Thank you for your concern. These two young ladies are friends I just met; they will be staying here for a few nights. Additionally, I have another matter I would like your help with," Mr. Chen said.
The shopkeeper looked at Feng Yin for a moment, shaking his head with a slow frequency. "I don't think this young lady looks like someone here to stay; she seems more like someone here for leisure. If you want to have fun, you should go elsewhere; this place is probably not suitable for that. Besides, as a Mountain Man, I have no news to inquire about."
"Feng Yin, apologize to the shopkeeper," Water Eyes said with a serene gaze that brooked no argument.
Feng Yin frowned slightly and had no choice but to bow her head and say, "I'm sorry for my thoughtless words that offended you; please do not take it out on my young lady."
The shopkeeper snorted but did not continue to press the issue, his gaze fixed on Cheng Mosu. "Alright then, what do you want to inquire about, miss?"
"Shopkeeper, may I ask if you've heard any news about Shangguan Shaoying in New Beicheng these past few days?"
A glimmer of clarity appeared in the shopkeeper's murky eyes as he spoke in a deep and powerful voice, "Why do you want to know about him?"
Her gaze was resolute; her fair face shone under the sunlight with brilliance. "He is very important to me. If you have any news about him, please let me know. If he is gone, I won't be able to live on my own..."
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