Chapter 448: There Are Good Men Even in a Broken Nation

Liao Daqiu looked at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi with intense emotion.

"Sirs, are your predictions accurate? I mean, are you saying it's true? Xiaobao, is he, is he still alive?"

Usually, when fortune tellers gave readings, the Liao family would listen, and while their emotions might fluctuate, they wouldn't react so dramatically.

Yet, for some reason, the words of these two masters were remarkably convincing, as if everything they said was simply the truth.

So Liao Daqiu's emotions instantly surged. Not only him, but the woman sitting on the kitchen threshold felt the same way. It was as if they hadn't just had their fortune told, but rather that officials had brought news that their eldest son was still alive.

The Liao family's youngest child, sitting on the threshold, looked at his parents, somewhat bewildered, and tugged at his mother's sleeve.

"Mother..."

Only then did Mother Liao come back to her senses. She gently stroked her youngest son's face, but her attention remained fixed on Old Liao and the two masters.

Ji Yuan and Chang Yi naturally understood the elderly couple's excitement. Ji Yuan nodded gravely again and replied,

"Indeed, your eldest son, Liao Zhengbao, is still alive. We can help you inquire within the army; it's possible we can find your son."

Hearing this, Liao Daqiu abruptly stood up, almost dropping the bowl of precious white porridge, which spilled onto the ground—a significant loss for a farming family.

After scalding his hand on the hot porridge, Liao Daqiu quickly placed the bowl on a stool, then knelt down with a thud before Ji Yuan and Chang Yi.

"If you two sirs can help us find Xiaobao, this kindness will never be forgotten, never be forgotten in this lifetime!"

The woman on the kitchen threshold also put down her porridge bowl and rushed to kneel beside Liao Daqiu.

"We beg you two sirs, please help us find Xiaobao! We implore you!"

The couple even tried to kowtow, but Ji Yuan and Chang Yi each reached out, one on each side, to support them. They accepted the couple's bow without avoiding or blocking it, but kowtowing was unnecessary.

"Please, both of you, rise quickly. We will naturally do our utmost to help; there's no need for such a grand gesture."

Old Liao looked up at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi.

"But how can we repay you two? We have no wealth, no influence; how can we possibly repay you?"

Even farmers like the Liao couple knew that finding someone in various parts of the army and getting them released would undoubtedly cost a lot of money. They had heard that a lawsuit in the county would require significant funds for various arrangements, and even half a year ago, two families from a neighboring village had gone to court over a dispute about a horse, only for both the loser and the winner to end up without the horse, as it had been forfeited to the authorities.

The Liao couple clearly understood they couldn't afford anything. But could they really ask the two masters to bear the cost? Even if Ji Yuan and Chang Yi were willing, the Liao couple's conscience would trouble them. Yet, how could they give up the chance to save their son?

Ji Yuan seemed to read the couple's thoughts. After a moment's consideration, he pointed to the dark jade hairpin in his small bun and said,

"Mr. Chang and I are not short on money, nor do we lack connections. Besides, helping you is well worth it."

Looking at Ji Yuan's dark jade hairpin, even if the couple weren't connoisseurs of jade, they knew it was certainly very valuable. If this assistance truly was a simple matter for Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, they would feel much more at ease.

"Hmm, if you truly wish to repay us, just serve me another bowl of porridge."

"Hahaha, yes, I, Chang, would also like another bowl. Please add more salted vegetables; they have a wonderful savory flavor, very delicious!"

A look of pleasant surprise appeared on the faces of the Liao couple.

"Good, good, good! I'll serve you both, I'll serve you two sirs!"

The couple quickly stood up, not even bothering to brush off their trousers, took the empty bowls from Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, and hurried to the kitchen to serve the porridge, all the while talking about their homemade salted vegetables.

"These salted vegetables, they're made from our own pickled cabbage. We just opened the jar, so they're perfectly fresh and delicious right now. They're also great for making soup!"

The woman served the porridge, while Old Liao added vegetables to both bowls. Their faces were full of joy, yet tears streamed down uncontrollably. Their hands, however, continued to move, only able to wipe away the tears with their sleeves.

By the time they emerged from the kitchen, their faces were dry, and they steadily carried two bowls of porridge, generously topped with salted vegetables, carefully presenting them to Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, as if the bowls were incredibly heavy and scalding hot.

Ji Yuan and Chang Yi exchanged a look. The former gave the latter a slight nod, and from the former's profound eyes, the latter seemed to see the reflections of life's warmth and harshness.

The two had only eaten breakfast at Liao Daqiu's home before they left Maotan Village early, under the expectant and anxious gaze of the couple. This meant that the old village chief, who later came specifically to find Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, found no one.

When Ji Yuan and Chang Yi departed, they declined Liao Daqiu's kind offer of an ox cart ride, choosing to walk instead. After a short distance from the village, they ascended into the sky and flew away. With Liao Zhengbao's information and a small wooden sword he played with as a child, which they took from the Liao family, finding Liao Zhengbao would not be difficult for Ji Yuan and Chang Yi.

With a clear destination, the two flew southeast towards Yuanzhao State. As they surveyed the land, they noticed many farmlands had been abandoned, and some villages and even towns were deserted.

This scene greatly resembled what Ji Yuan had witnessed when he traveled to Zuyue State. While Zuyue State's internal situation was dire, it still possessed some inherent strength as a nation that had contended with Dazhen for so many years, and its territory was vast. However, Yuanzhao State was much smaller and already plagued by internal and external troubles. With this plague now affecting a third of its land, it truly seemed that its time was running out.

After about an hour and a half, Ji Yuan and Chang Yi arrived at a desolate area in the southeastern part of Yuanzhao State. This was already considered a border outpost of Yuanzhao State. However, the border city appeared somewhat dilapidated, and there were no civilian settlements in the surrounding rear areas. Although there were some farmlands, they were cultivated by the soldiers themselves to partially alleviate military food shortages.

Ji Yuan and Chang Yi naturally did not land directly on the city wall. Instead, they descended in the desolate outskirts outside the city, then gradually approached the city along the farmlands behind it.

"Mr. Ji, Liao Zhengbao should be inside the city. How should we take him away? Perhaps we could make him fall asleep and then fly him back to Maotan Village?"

As Chang Yi walked alongside Ji Yuan and asked his question, Ji Yuan was observing the border city. With his special spiritual vision, he saw a dense aura of military might on the city walls. Furthermore, a subtle and unique energy was congealed within the city, an atmospheric phenomenon somewhat unlike what a "decrepit nation" like Yuanzhao State should possess. After pondering this, he looked at Chang Yi.

"That will depend on what Liao Zhengbao wishes."

Chang Yi frowned and also looked towards the city, somewhat unclear about Ji Yuan's meaning, but he didn't ask further.

As the two got closer to the city, they were soon spotted by some sentries. While still walking on a small path flanked by fields, a loud "Halt!" was shouted, and five soldiers darted out from the bushes by the field.

"Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!" "Clang!"

All five drew their swords and pointed them at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, watching the two with extreme vigilance. The leading soldier scrutinized Ji Yuan and Chang Yi, then asked,

"Who are you? What is your purpose in coming to this critical border area? Speak quickly, and hide nothing!"

The other soldiers nearby echoed him with a shout.

"Speak quickly, and hide nothing!"

Ji Yuan and Chang Yi showed no signs of panic. Ji Yuan, due to his particular vision, perceived the soldiers' abundant fighting spirit. Chang Yi, on the other hand, saw that the soldiers' armor was old and worn, with many visible repairs made with makeshift ropes. Even their weapons had nicks, but apart from the large irreparable ones, the blades were polished brightly and clearly very sharp.

"My name is Ji Yuan, and this is Mr. Chang Yi. We have been entrusted by someone to deliver a message to a soldier in this city. We hope you gentlemen of the army will grant us passage."

"Deliver a message?"

The leading soldier paused in surprise, and the other soldiers nearby exchanged glances.

"To whom is the message? Do you have official documents or tokens?"

Ji Yuan thought for a moment, then made a gesture with his left hand as if taking something from his right sleeve, while promptly answering,

"Official documents? Yes, yes, we do. Please wait a moment, gentlemen."

Chang Yi looked at Mr. Ji beside him with curiosity, wondering when Mr. Ji had acquired official documents. To his surprise, Ji Yuan pulled out a blank sheet of Xuan paper from his sleeve and handed it directly to the leading soldier.

The leading soldier took the "official document" from Ji Yuan's hand and examined it closely. Two other soldiers leaned in to look as well.

They scrutinized it up and down many times before finally nodding and returning it to Ji Yuan.

"You do indeed have an official document, though I can't say if it's authentic. Hold onto it for now. You can show it to the military commander later. For now, come with us!"

"Very well, thank you gentlemen for leading the way!"

Ji Yuan gave Chang Yi a slight nod and tucked the Xuan paper back into his sleeve. Chang Yi immediately understood that this was merely a minor application of an illusionary trick; the "official document" these soldiers saw was simply what they expected to see.

As they approached the city, even the rear gate was only partially open, and roadblocks had been set up outside. After at least two inspections, Ji Yuan and Chang Yi finally met the military commander in charge of the North Gate.

Inside a room near the city gate, the military commander also carefully examined the "official document." He even took out several old official documents to compare, and after confirming its validity, he did not return it to Ji Yuan, but placed it with other official documents in a wooden box.

"You've come to deliver a message? That's strange. The good-for-nothing officials up top can't even fully pay the soldiers' salaries, yet they'd approve official papers for delivering a message..."

The military commander merely mumbled this to himself, then, full of expectation, he asked Ji Yuan and Chang Yi again,

"How many messages are there? Is there one for me? My name is Li Qiuyang, from Neihe County. Is there one?"

Hearing this, some of the soldiers in the room also looked at Ji Yuan and Chang Yi with anticipation, clearly eager to have a message of their own.

But Ji Yuan could only shake his head helplessly.

"There are no other messages, only an oral message and a family token for Liao Zhengbao."

The military commander sighed, nodded, and said to a soldier next to him,

"Take these two gentlemen to see Quartermaster Liao."

"Yes, sir!"

Ji Yuan and Chang Yi followed the soldier through the city, encountering many other soldiers. Some were wounded, others were drilling, and all, without exception, wore worn and tattered armor.

"What do you make of this, Mr. Chang?"

Hearing Ji Yuan's words, Chang Yi shook his head and remarked with a sigh,

"These are battle-hardened, iron-blooded soldiers—true heroes. What a pity!"