Chapter 778: Weird Carriage!
Weird Carriage! . . .
"Let's eat!" Xiao Mufei inhaled deeply, closed his eyes, and then suddenly bellowed the command.
Without hesitation, the others picked up their chopsticks, ready to partake in the meal that awaited them. However, as they lowered their heads to their bowls, many found their tears falling silently into the food and liquor. They continued to pour libations and collect their tears in a shared solemn ritual before consuming the offerings.
None of them dared to raise their heads, for they wished to conceal the grief that welled within them. Their eyes remained downcast, hidden from the scrutiny of their companions, for no one wanted to be discovered shedding tears. The silence that enveloped them was only disrupted by the sound of chewing.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts, another carriage slowly approached, its wheels appearing worn and jerky in their rotation. The carriage's curtains seemed to have been hacked at with sharp weapons, displaying signs of violence. Bloodstains marred the fabric, evidence of a grisly encounter.
It was clear that this carriage had endured a harrowing experience.
The vehicle came to a halt not far from Cha Eun Xiao and his group. Suddenly, the horse knelt to the ground, and the carriage toppled over, leading to an exclamation from within.
An elderly man emerged, his face pallid, his chest stained with crimson. He coughed up a mouthful of blood before collapsing, trembling, on the ground.
A young girl also emerged from the carriage, rushing to the old man's side. Panic was etched across her face as she frantically called out, "Uncle Gao! Uncle Gao..."
Seeing the grievous wound, the girl was at a loss, her hands clamped over the wound, yet blood continued to seep through her fingers. She struggled to stanch the flow, desperation welling up within her.
"Someone, please! We need help! Someone, please come and assist us..." She wailed, her voice quaking with sorrow. Tears streamed down her cheeks, a cascade of despair.
Spectators couldn't help but sympathize. The world appeared to be a place of suffering, and this family embodied its pitiable aspect.
Xiao Mufei regarded the scene with a certain detachment before returning to his meal, as if it were merely a fleeting disruption.
"Rongrong... Don't cry," the injured man implored as blood continued to ooze from his wound. He reached out a trembling hand to console the girl. "I'm afraid I won't make it. Rongrong, you... you must take care..."
"No! No, no, no! You'll be fine, Uncle Gao..." the girl sobbed while embracing the injured man.
"No..." Uncle Gao sighed, his voice strained. "Rongrong... I'm worried... You'll be alone..."
The girl wept.
"Listen. No matter what happens, you must remember this. This is the last thing I'll say to you..." Uncle Gao wheezed. "Rongrong... Remember... No matter what, you must not... not... beg!"
With tears streaming down her face and her body trembling, the girl nodded and sobbed, clinging to the man's fading lifeforce.
The image before them was poignant—a dilapidated carriage, a dying man, and a solitary girl. It stirred memories of their fallen brothers, reigniting the disciples' grief.
Suddenly, Xiao Mufei was overcome by a sense of disorientation. The words echoed in his mind: "You must not beg."
As if struck by lightning, a realization jolted him.
"Rongrong..." Xiao Mufei uttered, his voice heavy with emotion.
He strode toward the girl, who lay moaning. She turned her tear-stained face in response to his words. As Xiao Mufei gazed upon her profile, he was seized by a profound shock, as if a revelation had just washed over him.
In a low voice, he addressed the girl, "Is your name Rongrong?"
Xiao Mufei's inquiry perplexed Cha Eun Xiao. He cast a confused glance at Xiao Mufei, well aware that the latter wasn't known for his altruistic inclinations. Xiao Mufei maintained his characteristic air of indifference, leaving Cha Eun Xiao wondering what could have prompted this unexpected display of compassion.
The arrival of the girl and the old man at this particular juncture had an uncanny quality, almost as if they were enacting a contrived performance. But Xiao Mufei seemed to harbor no suspicions about the matter, further deepening Cha Eun Xiao's confusion.
The girl remained in tears, her head lowered in a manner that suggested apprehension in the face of an unfamiliar questioner. She didn't immediately respond, and her fear was palpable, which only intensified her pitiable appearance.
Xiao Mufei heaved a sigh and gently reiterated his question, "Your name is Rongrong, right?"
This time, his tone carried a touch of compassion, eliciting surprise from his disciples.
"Xiao Mufei?" they whispered among themselves. "Why is he suddenly so kind to someone other than us? Even when he appears caring to us, there's always an ulterior motive. Why is he being so genuinely gentle with this girl? What's going on?"
The old man's eyes, however, sparkled with hope and gratitude. He tried to convey his thoughts to the girl, saying, "Rongrong. Rongrong... You must... Please... Say thank you to this noble man... He... He can..."
But as he spoke, he was wracked by another bout of coughing, with blood spilling from his mouth. His efforts to speak only intensified his suffering, and he couldn't catch his breath. After a series of agonizing coughs, he fell unconscious, his eyes rolling upward.
"Uncle Gao..." the girl cried out, clutching the old man in her arms. "Uncle Gao... Don't leave me alone... I'm so scared..."
"Uncle Gao... I have no one in the world... Oh, please don't leave me... I promise I'll follow every word you've said... I won't beg..."
Overwhelmed by grief, the girl's words quivered, and she nearly lost consciousness.
Xiao Mufei, upon hearing her heartbreaking plea, underwent a transformation. His countenance contorted with a mix of sorrow and inner conflict, revealing a side that his disciples had never witnessed before.
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