178: Chapter 58 Encountering Hong Qi

The next morning.

After Meng Li got up and finished washing, he noticed Mu Nianci looked a bit haggard and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Didn't sleep well last night?"

Mu Nianci gave him a reproachful look but didn't respond.

Meng Li understood immediately, realizing it was likely caused by the excitement his actions yesterday had brought her. He couldn't help but smile and said, "Then have some breakfast and sleep a bit more. Once you've had enough rest, we'll go for a stroll around Hangzhou together."

Mu Nianci nodded in agreement.

After breakfast, seeing no sign of Zhao Guicheng, Mu Nianci couldn't help but ask, "Why don't I see your elder brother?"

Meng Li replied, "He holds an official post. Although it's a leisure position, he still has to Clock in and handle some affairs. He left early this morning for work."

"Yesterday happened to be a Day off, so he was at the manor."

"He probably won't be back until tonight."

Mu Nianci finally understood and didn't say anything more.

After breakfast, Mu Nianci went back to her room for a nap. She woke up mid-morning and then went out with Meng Li to wander around Hangzhou.

It continued like this for several days.

Besides wandering, there was also eating—simply put, "strolling and snacking."

Mu Nianci was originally frugal, always calculating her spending carefully. However, influenced by Meng Li and knowing they weren't short on money, she gradually let loose a bit.

Correspondingly, her defenses against Meng Li also softened.

At night, inside Mu Nianci's room.

"You only know how to bully me."

After a bout of lingering kisses, Mu Nianci gently slapped away Meng Li's hand that was misbehaving near her chest, her voice carrying a hint of playful reproach. She felt she was being led astray by Meng Li, but thinking that she had already identified him as the one, she didn't feel truly angry.

"Mm," Meng Li responded softly, lowering his head to nibble on her earlobe. "I want to bully you for a lifetime."

Then, he added, "How about it's your turn to bully me next?"

Mu Nianci's face instantly turned as red as blood.

"Wife~"

Meng Li called out softly, breathing hot air into her ear.

Mu Nianci immediately lost all resistance, allowing him to do as he pleased, finally leaning down to join him in a daze.

Afterward, the two fell asleep in each other's arms.

The next day, Meng Li and Mu Nianci prepared to continue their strolling and snacking. Unexpectedly, not long after leaving the Prince's manor, they heard someone calling them.

"Sister Mu, Elder Brother Meng."

The two looked over and saw it was Huang Rong, but Guo Jing was nowhere to be seen.

"Sister Ronger."

Mu Nianci replied in pleasant surprise, then asked in confusion, "Why are you here? Where is Brother Jing?"

Huang Rong replied, "I came into the city to buy groceries. Brother Jing is practicing his Martial Arts."

Immediately, she glanced at the nearby Yiwang Manor and asked in surprise, "How did you two come out of the Prince's manor?"

Mu Nianci didn't answer, looking instead at Meng Li.

Meng Li spoke plainly, "It's a long story that can't be explained in a moment. Let's talk about you and Guo Jing first."

Huang Rong thought for a moment and didn't hide anything, briefly recounting her and Guo Jing's experiences over the past few days.

After staying in Niu Family Village for two days, she and Guo Jing planned to head north to find Duan Tiande. While passing through Hangzhou, they encountered Northern Beggar Hong Qi, just as in the original story. Subsequently, events unfolded as expected; Huang Rong put in some effort and successfully got Hong Qi to agree to teach Guo Jing the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

Now Guo Jing was learning Martial Arts from Hong Qi, while she had come out to buy groceries to prepare delicious food.

After finishing her story, Huang Rong said, "I've finished talking about me and Brother Jing. Now it's time to talk about your business."

Meng Li smiled and said, "Let's talk about it once we see Guo Jing."

"Alright," Huang Rong agreed, then said, "Wait until I finish buying groceries, and I'll take you to see Brother Jing."

About an hour later, Meng Li and Mu Nianci arrived at the place where Guo Jing was practicing.

Before they even got close, Huang Rong called out with a smile, "Brother Jing, look who's here!"

Guo Jing turned his head and saw Meng Li and Mu Nianci, overjoyed. "Elder Brother Meng, Sister Nianci, why are you here?"

Hong Qi also saw the two of them, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

He felt the two looked somewhat familiar, but having seen too many people, he couldn't recall them for a moment.

Meng Li and Mu Nianci greeted Guo Jing and briefly explained that they had come after running into Huang Rong by chance.

Then, Mu Nianci cupped her hands to Hong Qi in a respectful salute. "Senior, we meet again."

Hong Qi now recognized Mu Nianci through the memory of her "large feet" and nodded with a smile.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were greatly surprised by this.

Huang Rong asked, "Sister Mu, Seventh Master, you two know each other?"

Hong Qi nodded and explained, "This girl is kind-hearted and once saved a Disciple of the Beggars Sect. This old beggar happened to see it and gave her three days of Martial Arts instruction."

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were struck with realization.

Immediately, Huang Rong said to Mu Nianci, "Sister Mu, why didn't you ever tell me about this?"

Hong Qi said, "I told her not to mention it."

Mu Nianci's eyes flickered slightly because she had told Meng Li about it.

At this moment, Hong Qi looked at Meng Li. "This old beggar thinks you look a bit familiar. Is your surname Zhao?"

Guo Jing immediately wanted to deny it upon hearing this.

But Meng Li spoke first, "Correct. This Junior's surname is indeed Zhao."

Guo Jing was stunned, then asked in surprise, "Elder Brother Meng, isn't your name 'Meng Li'?"

Meng Li confessed, "Meng Li is my courtesy name, and also the pseudonym I use while traveling. My real name is 'Zhao Yu Rui'."

"The 'Zhao' of the Song Dynasty imperial family?" Huang Rong asked suspiciously.

Meng Li nodded. "Correct."

Guo Jing's astonishment grew even more. "Then Meng—Brother Zhao, aren't you a Prince?"

Meng Li shook his head. "You should still call me 'Elder Brother Meng'."

"Although I am a descendant of the Song Dynasty imperial clan, I belong to a distant branch and cannot be considered a Prince. However, my elder brother is a Prince."

Then, he briefly explained his and Zhao Guicheng's situation.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong finally understood.

Then, Meng Li looked at Hong Qi. "Senior recognized me because of my elder brother, right?"

Hong Qi nodded. "Exactly."

Guo Jing was suddenly curious. "What do you mean by that?"

Meng Li said with a smile, "Since you are now learning from Senior, you are technically fellow Disciples with my elder brother."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Qi waved his hand. "Don't!"

"Your elder brother's Martial Arts are not inferior to mine; he just lacks experience and his practical combat ability is a bit weak. My teaching him Martial Arts was merely a transaction; I can't be considered his teacher."

Hearing this, both Guo Jing and Huang Rong were shocked.

They knew Hong Qi's title and level of Martial Arts; he was one of the contemporary Four Masters.

Yet he said Meng Li's elder brother's Martial Arts were not inferior to his own, which meant the other man was capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the Four Masters.

This...

"How old is your elder brother?" Huang Rong asked.

Meng Li replied, "Twenty-one."

Huang Rong: "..."

To be able to stand with the Four Masters at twenty-one—even she didn't know what to say.

Hong Qi also couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "The waves of the Yangtze River behind push those in front; each wave is stronger than the last."

Guo Jing said, "Elder Brother Meng, your brother is truly amazing. He's only three years older than me, yet he can stand alongside Seventh Master."

The corner of Hong Qi's mouth twitched.

These words were the truth, and he felt the same way, but hearing Guo Jing say it like that felt a bit unpleasant.

So, he put on a stern face and said, "Enough small talk. Get back to practicing!"

"Oh," Guo Jing agreed, turning to head into the woods to practice.

Hong Qi glanced sideways at Meng Li. "Kid, your Martial Arts don't look bad. How about a spar with this old beggar?"

Meng Li readily agreed, "It is exactly what I wish for, though I didn't dare ask."

...