If I had known that we would be separated, why would we have met?

The fleeting light and shadows passed by Yangzhou, and the curtain hooks were hung under the misty rain. I saw the flowers in the grand court and banquets were full of thinness, but there was no tenderness or romance.

In summer, Yangzhou was originally a place of romance and tenderness, but now it is like an isolated iron-clad city surrounded by dark clouds. There were few people on the street, and the few pedestrians walked nervously and spoke carefully. They didn't even dare to walk in the middle of the road, and walked on the side. Walking through the streets were teams of iron-clad patrols, with solemn faces and murderous aura.

Overnight, the garrisons of the three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River moved out in full force. The first 5,000 cavalry battalions to arrive directly entered Yangzhou City and took over the Yangzhou patrol camp to be in charge of the public security of Yangzhou City. At the same time, notices to eliminate the remnants of the White Clothes Sect were posted all over the ten counties of Yangzhou. The largest-scale anti-bandit operation since the founding of the Hua Dynasty officially began, and it was like a tsunami sweeping the land. Whether they were members of the White Clothes Sect or not, they were all trembling with fear, and everyone in Yangzhou City was in danger.

The news of the emperor's incognito visit has been circulated on the trail. When combined with Liu Zhuangsheng's story and the actions taken by the court, the truth is about to come out.

The emperor was assassinated!

No one knows the emperor's news, but the news that the emperor was seriously injured and dying in Shu not long ago is well known. Now he is assassinated again, and the court has taken such a big action again, could it be?

There is a guard every five steps and a sentry every ten steps in the city, and outside the city there are even more soldiers and armors, and horses are everywhere.

Another evening, the two people who went to Yangzhou to ask for ransom have not returned to the village, and another scout went out to inquire.

Less than two hours after leaving the village, they came back and only said that the officers and soldiers were rampant outside, and everyone was in danger. I don't know what happened to the two brothers. They may have been caught by the officers and soldiers, or they may not be able to get out after entering the city.

The wind and rain outside are raging, and the Kuangfeng Village has to put this matter aside. No one is allowed to leave the village. After the wind and rain have passed, they will talk about inquiring about the whereabouts of the brothers.

For Xia Shang and the other two, this was not a bad thing. They could use these days to recuperate and at least heal Yue Haitang's injury.

The only thing he was worried about was that his wife at home didn't know where he was. I'm afraid she would worry for a while.

Today, Xia Shang went to the mountains to collect herbs for Yue Haitang's recovery, accompanied by two bandits.

Mr. Zhuo had told him about the medicines he needed in advance, and Xia Shang had read relevant herbal medicine books and was not unfamiliar with them.

In one day, Xia Shang and the two bandits brought back many medicinal herbs.

The forests here are dense, and few people come to the hinterland of Xiaoqing Mountain, so there are many herbs. There are also rare treasures such as ginseng and cordyceps hidden in the dangerous places. It is a natural treasure house.

It's funny to say that this Kuangfeng Village guards a treasure house without knowing it. There are many medicinal herbs available in this valley. These medicinal herbs hidden in the deep mountains and old forests are extremely precious. Many medicine shops can't collect them even if they want to. It can be said that there are real gold and silver next to the pillow. But this group of wild men still wanted to do those robberies.

The bandits here were not bad people, especially the big boss, who was rude, but also righteous and principled.

So Xia Shang told them that they could tell the big boss about the repayment of the herbs, and persuade him not to kill and rob again in the future. Reselling herbs was enough for them to have enough food and clothing.

As for Yue Haitang, after a day of taking medicine, her complexion had improved significantly, but she sat in the room with her eyes closed all day, only cooperating slightly when taking medicine, and she would ignore anything she talked to or asked at other times.

Until late at night, when everyone had gone to bed, Xia Shang saw that she was still in a meditation posture and had no intention of sleeping, so he was worried, so he went to a distance and asked: "You are like this after talking to that man this morning, what are you planning in your mind?"

There was no response, only the sound of the wind outside the house.

Xia Shang frowned and walked closer: "Or did you sacrifice yourself to save us and don't want to play this drama? If so, just tell me and I'll think of another way. Although I, Xia Shang, am not a good man, I won't take advantage of you. If we can leave this place safely, I, Xia Shang, promise not to mention the fake marriage."

"Do you dare to swear?" Yue Haitang suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Xia Shang calmly.

"Swear? Why swear?"

"I dare not swear, then you want to entangle me in the future!"

He came to care with good intentions, but was treated like this. Xia Shang felt resentful and his tone became heavy: "Nervous! A real man will do what he said, believe it or not!"

After that, Xia Shang ignored him and went back to bed to sleep.

Yue Haitang's expression remained unchanged. She looked towards Xia Shang and one of her eyes fell on the crescent moon hanging on the window: "If I had known it would be so heart-wrenching, why didn't we meet in the first place! This time, it depends on God's will. If God wants me to return to an ordinary life, I, Fairy Shuiyue, will accept my fate."

After thinking about it, Yue Haitang closed her eyes.

For two consecutive days, Yue Haitang meditated every day, and no one knew what she was doing.

Xia Shang honestly collected herbs, taking a little for Yue Haitang every day, and giving the rest to Kuangfeng Village for storage.

Life in the mountains is peaceful and comfortable. You can't feel the passage of time, only the difference between sunrise and sunset.

At noon on the third day, a mountain bandit sneaked up to the boss and whispered, "Boss, there's something wrong with the woman we captured."

Zhang Tieniu was drinking and eating meat in the big tent, but he didn't care: "Woman? What's wrong with that?"

"It's the one called Yue Haitang. Aren't we preparing for her wedding with that boy?"

"So what?"

"Boss, have you noticed? The young lady has been meditating in the room all day these days, and her health is getting better day by day."

"She was injured, and her health is getting better day by day, isn't it just right?"

"No! Boss, I suspect that the young lady's identity is questionable. I'm afraid she is a martial arts master."

At this point, Zhang Tieniu realized something. Others didn't know, but he heard that there was another broken sword used by a woman in the cave where the three people were found. If the woman was a martial arts master, it would make sense. If it's true, she is healing at the moment. If she recovers from her injuries and resumes her martial arts...

Zhang Tieniu stood up from his seat suddenly and asked in a low voice: "Why do you think so?"

"Boss, you don't know, today I passed by the thatched cottage and happened to see the young lady inside from the window with her eyes closed, sitting cross-legged on the bed, with white mist coming out of her back, looking very strange."

"Are you serious?"

"It's true, otherwise she wouldn't have come to tell the boss with such a smile!"

Zhang Tieniu's scalp was numb, thinking that the damn bitch was hiding her true power!

Zhang Tieniu also knows martial arts, but he knows what kind of skills he has. How powerful is a person who can emit white mist from his back while meditating? Any little finger can crush him to death!

"Damn it! Bring me my knife! Go and kill that little bitch!"