"Do you think these people are foolish? In such cold weather, they don’t even know to make a fire for warmth. They deserve to be refugees."
Amidst the sarcastic remarks, Zhao Ya slightly furrowed his eyebrows.
Sometimes you don’t need to have much compassion, but at least don’t deliberately smack your lips when others are starving.
And now, the actions of these guards were even more vile.
As Zhao Ya was growing more impatient, a strong yet simple carriage in the middle of the convoy suddenly stopped, and a cold voice came from inside.
"Xiaoman, go distribute the prepared clothes and porridge!"
"Yes, Miss!"
A round-faced young maid jumped off the carriage, calling back to the people behind to start distributing clothes and food.
This action attracted many refugees.
At first, these people couldn’t believe it was true, but when they really received the clothes and food, they were all stunned, and then they began to kowtow frantically to the carriage.
This scene left the previously mocking guards speechless, closing their mouths in frustration, not daring to speak nonsense anymore.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Ya couldn’t help but feel some admiration.
No matter what, this was a great deed.
It also made Zhao Ya quite curious about Miss Song from the Song Family, whom he had never met.
The convoy continued and reached the Great Buddha Temple, thirty li away from the city, after over an hour.
This temple was built on a mountain, grand in scale, with a main hall featuring a statue of a Buddha over ten meters tall, hence the name.
However, after staying in Wuxiang City for over two years, it was Zhao Ya’s first visit to this Great Buddha Temple.
He heard that the temple used to be very prosperous, even attracting nobility from the Commandery to offer incense.
But now, with the world in chaos and roads blocked, the incense offerings at the temple have dwindled.
This time, with the Song Family’s eldest daughter personally coming to offer incense, the Great Buddha Temple naturally had to sweep the steps to welcome her.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, a guest-receiving monk was already waiting, and everyone else alighted from their vehicles, except the carriage in the center which slowly made its way up the mountain path.
Upon arriving at the mountain gate halfway up, including the abbot of the Great Buddha Temple, all the monks were there to welcome her.
When the carriage came to a stop, the abbot, Zen Master Baojing, quickly walked a few steps forward, pressing his palms together.
"Amitabha Buddha, Donor Song, you have had a long journey!"
"Master, you are too kind!"
As the voice spoke, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Miss Song from the Song Family stepped out of the carriage.
Zhao Ya, who was on guard duty from afar, saw Miss Song Peiwan draped in white gauze, with a graceful figure. Although her face was unclear, it was assumed her beauty was extraordinary.
However, Zhao Ya was not thinking about this.
He watched as Song Peiwan, surrounded by everyone, was escorted through the mountain gate, with only one thought in his mind.
"Wearing something so thin, isn’t she cold?
Or is it that Miss Song, the Patriarch’s own sister, also possesses deep Martial Dao skills, so she is unafraid of the cold?"
However, Zhao Ya quickly dismissed these thoughts, following everyone to escort her into the Great Buddha Temple.
Song Peiwan first came to the main hall to offer incense.
She respectfully lit three sticks of incense, inserted them into a huge incense burner, and then knelt on a prayer mat, silently praying.
For a moment, the main hall was exceptionally quiet, with only Zen Master Baojing reciting sutras with his eyes closed.
After a long time, Song Peiwan solemnly kowtowed three times, then got up and said to Zen Master Baojing,
"Master, I have been reciting sutras and worshiping Buddha every day for three years. Now that the three-year period is over, can my mother be liberated?"
Zen Master Baojing, with palms pressed together, praised, "Donor Song’s filial devotion can move the heavens. With the power of these merits, your mother has already been liberated from hell and ascended to heaven!"
Upon hearing this, Song Peiwan’s eyes filled with tears, "If so, that is truly wonderful!"
The round-faced young maid then stepped forward, handing a stack of silver notes to Zen Master Baojing.
"This is a little incense money."
After receiving the thick stack of silver notes, Zen Master Baojing couldn’t help but be respectful, once again pressing his palms together in praise.
"Amitabha Buddha, the poor monk, on behalf of the temple monks, thanks Donor Song! I have also prepared a vegetarian meal; please move this way."
But Song Peiwan shook her head, "There’s no need. Before leaving, my brother said we must return to the city by tonight, so we won’t impose!"
They had left in the morning and, after much travel and delays at the Great Buddha Temple, it was now afternoon.
If they dined, it would be dark by the time they returned to Wuxiang City.
So Song Peiwan decided not to eat and to return directly.
Zen Master Baojing couldn’t insist, so he had to lead all the monks in sending them off.
But before they could leave the courtyard, a Little Monk rushed in in a panic, shouting with a face full of fear.
"Not... not good!"
Zen Master Baojing frowned, "What is it that frightens you so?"
"Down... down the mountain, a group of bandits suddenly came, claiming they are coming up the mountain. We couldn’t stop them, and several brothers were killed. I only escaped because I foresaw it early!"
Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.
Zen Master Baojing looked ashen, "How... how could this be, where did such bold bandits come from?"
Zhao Ya immediately rushed out. Upon reaching the front of the temple, he saw that, indeed, from a distance, the faint shouts and clamors of fighting came from the mountain path.
Zhao Ya’s heart sank.
They had also placed guards at the mountain base, but none of these guards had returned to send news, indicating that something bad had happened.
No doubt, this group of bandits came for Song Peiwan specifically.
With a quick mind, Zhao Ya asked, "Is this the only road to the temple?"
Zen Master Baojing quickly nodded, "Yes, the temple is built between two mountains, with a deep valley behind; there’s no road, only this one path to the mountain."
As Zhao Ya asked, a group of bandits armed with swords and spears appeared on the mountain path, charging aggressively.
Even at a distance, Zhao Ya’s keen eye caught sight of the leader.
That person, holding a long spear, was Ma Ling, the Sixth Village Chief under Cyan Bamboo Ridge.
Upon seeing the people from Cyan Bamboo Ridge, Zhao Ya understood instantly.
This was clearly orchestrated by the Hong Family in the shadows.
However, for the Hong Family to dare target the Song Family’s eldest daughter, weren’t they afraid of inciting conflict?
Or had they already prepared?
However, seeing the people from Cyan Bamboo Ridge, with old foes meeting, particularly now that Zhao Ya had become a third-realm Martial Artist, he naturally had to settle the score.
At this time, the people from Cyan Bamboo Ridge approached not far from the mountain gate. Ma Ling spotted Song Peiwan surrounded by the crowd, grinning viciously.
"Lads, today you get to savor what a young lady from a prestigious family tastes like!"
"Alright!"
His subordinates roared in agreement and then charged forward like wolves and tigers.
"All guards, form into three teams, support each other, use the mountain gate as a defense, and keep the enemy outside!" At this moment, Song Peiwan suddenly spoke, calmly instructing.