"Third-in-command, it's said that even a thousand-mile escort must end somewhere. We've reached the foot of the mountain, so how about parting ways here?" Jax stopped and looked back at the group of men behind him as he spoke again.
Rhett looked downcast, nothing like his elegant self when they first met. Kane's eyes were red, with tears welling up. The rest of the men from Phoenix Mountain also looked miserable, all gazing longingly at Minnie beside Jax.
Anyone who didn't know the situation would think Phoenix Mountain's men were coming down to rob people, only they all looked like they'd lost something dear.
"Minnie."
"Ah?" Minnie looked at Rhett.
"Boss Hayes agreed you can come and go freely from Phoenix Mountain. You must come visit often in the future," Rhett said with a forced smile.
"I will." Minnie nodded.
"Minnie." Rhett stepped forward a few paces and stood in front of her. He lowered his voice and asked, "Can I give you a hug?" Minnie was stunned. He had already pulled her into his arms and whispered into her ear, "I'll always remember you."
"Third-in-command, it's better if you forget me."
When Rhett let go of Minnie, he heard her say that. He looked at her and saw she was serious. Even though the words were cruel, he couldn't bring himself to be angry.
He gave a bitter smile and said, "Even if I'm not good enough for you, can't I at least keep a little memory of you?"
"That's not it." Minnie shook her head. "Forget me, and go find someone you like. That way, you'll be happy."
She paused and added, "I hope you'll be happy." She looked up at Kane and the others. "You all should be happy too."
"Minnie-jie." Kane couldn't hold back anymore and rushed over, snot and tears running together, looking pitiful. "Minnie-jie, take these shoes... take them, please…"
Minnie took them and saw they were embroidered shoes, with a butterfly and flower design on the front. She reached out to touch Kane's head and smiled. "Kane, thank you. Stop doing so much embroidery in the future. Don't ruin your eyes."
Kane hugged Minnie and cried loudly.
Sanruwi had already lost patience. Seeing this made her even more annoyed. She said coldly, "If you're not leaving, then just stay here!"
Rhett came over and pulled Kane away. Jax cupped his hands toward the group and said, "Green mountains don't change, rivers keep flowing, we'll meet again someday!"
After finally shaking off the Phoenix Mountain group, Jax let out a breath of relief. Holding his white horse's reins, he asked Minnie who was walking beside him, "Minnie, I don't get it. Why did you ask Boss Hayes to let you come and go freely from Phoenix Mountain? Do you really plan to keep going back?"
Minnie sighed. "I'd rather not come." She kept thinking, does it really have to be that exact day? What if she went to the same place at the same time a year later, could she go back then?
Because of that, she refused the thank-you money from Boss Hayes and made that request instead.
Boss Hayes had thought it over for a long time before agreeing. But he made it clear it only applied to Minnie. If she brought someone with her, they'd follow Phoenix Mountain's rules.
After passing a section of mountain path, they saw the wide and neat official road ahead. Shuran was already waiting at the intersection and ran over as soon as he saw them.
"Young master, I've been waiting here ever since I got the letter." As he spoke, he took Sanruwi's medicine box from Minnie's hand. "The carriage is just up ahead."
"Huh? Isn't that Uncle Zhao's carriage?" Jax looked at the carriage, which was much more spacious than a regular one.
"No, this was a gift from the old man to the young master when he finished his training. It was made to the exact specs of Uncle Zhao's carriage." Shuran explained.
Jax clicked his tongue. "Uncle Zhao sure is generous. When I finished training, I didn't get anything."
Sanruwi couldn't be bothered with Jax's teasing and got straight into the carriage after lifting her robe.
Shuran spoke seriously. "Young Master Jax has strong martial arts. A bit of travel is nothing. But my young master doesn't know martial arts. The old man had this carriage made to protect him on the road."
"Alright, alright, Uncle Zhao really loves his disciple." Jax took a package off the horse and handed it to Shuran. "Here. This is your young master's consultation fee."
Shuran took the wooden box and immediately felt the weight. "These mountain bandits really are generous."
"It's because your young master has face!" Jax laughed. Sanruwi had really made a fortune this time. As the one who introduced her to Phoenix Mountain, Jax also got a reward, but it couldn't compare to Sanruwi's. Minnie's thank-you gift had been generous too, but she refused it and instead exchanged it for the right to go up the mountain freely.
In the end, she only took a small symbolic amount.
Shuran put away the silver and took a letter out from his chest. "Young Master Jax, a letter for you."
"A letter for me?" Jax was surprised. How did his family's letter end up with Shuran? He looked at the handwriting on the envelope and immediately recognized it as from Roxanna, the current head of the Bai family. He opened it and read quickly.
Then he looked at Minnie and smiled. "Minnie, it's still twenty li to the town. Why don't you ride with Sanruwi in the carriage?"
"Is that alright?" Minnie asked hesitantly.
"Sanruwi isn't that stingy." Although sometimes when she is, it's really extreme. Jax knew this too well. He lifted the curtain and called, "Sanruwi, let Minnie ride with you. There's still a long way to go."
Sanruwi was holding a letter, his expression changing. When Jax peeked in, he neither opposed nor nodded, so it was considered agreed. Jax noticed Roxanna's handwriting faintly on the letter and wondered if it was the same as the one in her own letter.
Minnie sat upright in the carriage, staring straight ahead. Jax rode beside on horseback while Shuran drove the carriage.
Actually, Shuran was quite skilled at driving. He had practiced for years, but the road quality was poor. Overall it looked smooth, but small bumps were unavoidable. Although the carriage did not shake much and the cushions were thick, Minnie still felt uncomfortable. Her butt hurt badly, her waist was sore, and she was extremely bored.
Since Minnie came in, Sanruwi had been lost in thought. She did not dare disturb him and quietly pretended not to exist.
Sanruwi's thoughts were simple. His sister, now the head of the Bai family, knew about his situation in Phoenix Mountain and how Minnie helped him a lot. She suggested inviting Minnie to stay at their house for a few days to show gratitude. The letter also said this year their father would turn forty-nine, and according to tradition, they would celebrate his fiftieth birthday early. Because of this, Sanruwi had to return home. Before, Sanruwi used studying as an excuse to stay home little and come and go quickly, often spending more time at Jax's house. But now he had finished his studies, so the excuse no longer worked. Saying he wanted to travel would not work either. This year was his father's big birthday; if he did not go back, it would be unfilial.
Returning home? Sanruwi hesitated, tapping the carriage wall with his fingers.
Shuran stopped the carriage. "Young master, do you have any instructions?"
Sanruwi came back to himself. "Nothing."
"That's right, I forgot." Shuran bent and entered the carriage. Not knowing how to act, he pulled out a tea table and a set of tea utensils.
Shuran poured tea. "Young master, please have some tea. Miss Minnie, please drink tea." He also asked Jax outside, "Young master Jax, would you like tea?"
"Sure!" Jax replied quickly.
Shuran then searched the carriage wall and took out snacks, placing them on the tea table. Minnie looked closely and finally noticed the secret. The carriage wall had many small compartments painted dark green, hard to see without careful attention. There were many clever designs, including the tea table that folded down from the wall.
Shuran produced a chessboard and two jars of pieces. "Miss Minnie, if you are bored, why not play a game with our young master?" Seeing Minnie stare blankly, Shuran explained, "These chessboard and pieces are made of special metal, so they won't move even if the carriage shakes. Miss Minnie can rest assured."
"No, no." Minnie shyly explained, "I don't know how to play Go."
This surprised Shuran. Usually girls brought up well would learn music, chess, and painting to pass time. He wanted to match his young master with Minnie, so he said cleverly, "You can learn. Miss Minnie, our young master can teach you." Shuran also pulled in Jax and asked, "Young master Jax, what do you say?"
"Absolutely, absolutely. Minnie, you should play with Sanruwi. He has been stuck in Phoenix Mountain for over two months. He must be restless." Jax smiled.
"Nonsense." Sanruwi finally spoke.
They drank tea, ate snacks, and continued their journey. Minnie couldn't help but rub her waist. When Sanruwi looked over, she quickly stopped moving.
Sanruwi opened a jar, took out a white piece, and placed it down. Then he looked at Minnie.
This is... Minnie moved closer to the chessboard and sat down, taking a black piece. Though she knew nothing about Go, she understood pieces had to be placed on intersections, so she did not make the mistake of placing pieces in empty spaces. She looked around and placed her black piece in the farthest corner from Sanruwi's white piece.
Sanruwi immediately saw Minnie was telling the truth about not knowing the game. Without changing expression, he placed the second white piece right next to her black one. Minnie moved hers far away again.
Sanruwi found it amusing. How would she capture pieces like that?
Sure enough, when Sanruwi surrounded and captured a black piece, Minnie cried out and looked at him blankly.
"You captured it." Sanruwi said simply.
"Oh." Minnie was puzzled, "Is that how you capture?"
Minnie knew nothing about Go. Sanruwi had played with his master for over ten years. Since he did not explain the rules, the game was one-sided. Seeing Minnie more confused made Sanruwi feel very pleased. The unpleasant news from the family letter was temporarily forgotten.