One Hundred and Seven: Refugees

What was different on this journey was that several more people had joined them: the matron, the young commander, Tung Fei, and a few attendants from the Yan household. After all, the matron still needed care. Though she had refused at first, she could not withstand the household master Yan's insistence in the end. If she would not travel with attendants, then she would not be allowed out at all. Under that pressure, they discussed it and finally brought them along. This, however, had no real effect on Zhang Xuan and the others. The greatest change for them was that, instead of following the original plan of holding lessons at the hour of the snake, the schedule was now reduced to a half hour of self-study, along with gathering ingredients and cooking. Along the way, watching the matron eat with such relish, Zhang Xuan sometimes even wondered whether she had come merely to enjoy a few more meals of his cooking. Of course, that thought could only stay in his head. Old Man Tung was not to be trifled with.

Along the road, Zhang Xuan and the others often saw refugees begging by the roadside. They also saw people selling themselves to bury their fathers and mothers, or selling their children, and so on. Zhang Xuan had never witnessed such scenes before; if he had, it had only been on television. Now that he was seeing it with his own eyes, he wanted to do something for them, yet he also felt powerless.

One time, while Zhang Xuan and the others were resting on the ground, he asked, "Old Man Tung, let me ask you something. Back at the sect, how are food and shelter usually handled?" Seeing the beggars along the way had stirred his thoughts.

"Little Xuan, I know you have plenty of strange ideas in that head of yours, but I still have to advise you not to think you can solve the livelihoods of so many people by yourself. That simply isn't realistic. The farther north we go, the more people like this there will be. We really are somewhat powerless in this matter. As for lodging, we do have a place. Food has always been self-sufficient." Old Man Tung could more or less guess why Zhang Xuan had asked.

"Old Man Tung, don't you know me by now? I'm not some saint, and I don't have such lofty ideals. But if I can help a few people, I still want to help a few. If anything's to blame, it's just that I'm too soft-hearted. And don't worry, I still know my own limits," Zhang Xuan said.

"Fair enough. You wouldn't do anything without some confidence. Do as you please, then. Bring however many you want. But the people you bring, you take care of their food and shelter yourself. I can't offer any extra help. Some things, truly, I can't do anything about either." After saying that, Old Man Tung stood up and left, letting Zhang Xuan make trouble on his own.

"Little Xuan, are you really going to take these people with us to the sect?" Yang Zaixing had clearly overheard the conversation between Zhang Xuan and Old Man Tung. Though he, too, wanted to do something for these people, after thinking it over, he realized there really was little he could do. Now that he heard Zhang Xuan had a way, and since Zhang Xuan was famous for his clever tricks, he was more than willing to lend a hand.

"Let's bring them along and see. Help me call Uncle Yang and Old Man Tung over. That Old Man Tung—how can he just turn around and leave like that? I still have something I want to ask him!" Yang Zaixing hurried off to fetch Uncle Yang and Old Man Tung.

"Little Xuan, what do you need us for?" Uncle Yang asked in confusion, and Old Man Tung looked just as puzzled.

"Old Man Tung, Uncle Yang, you've both seen all sorts of people in your lives. When we meet people along the way, could you help us look for those with real talent for martial training? Such people, along with their families and friends, should be our first choice to bring with us. I have to trouble the two of you to identify them, because our own judgment is too shallow for this. Among us, only you two have that kind of eye. And when you're judging them, don't be afraid of being wrong. Be afraid of missing them. Keep that in mind. Do you understand?" Zhang Xuan said the last sentence rather timidly, since he was the one asking for favors now.

"So we prioritize that kind of person. What about everyone else?"

"The rest can only depend on fate. Our ability is limited. It's impossible for us to bring everyone, and we all understand that clearly. So, Old Man Tung, Uncle Yang, you two will play a very important role in choosing who comes along. After all, the number of people who can ride on this 'ark' of ours is limited." Zhang Xuan thought for a moment and continued, "And if someone truly doesn't want to come, then we shouldn't force them. Following me may well mean a harder life. That's very possible, because maybe my boat is just a broken one."

"What kind of boat is this ark of yours, Little Xuan?" Yang Zaixing tugged at Zhang Xuan's sleeve and asked.

"That thing is hard to explain. It's just a metaphor. To put it simply, someone built a great ship according to a divine command, and that ship was called the ark. One day, a flood came, and the earth and all living things were submerged. But those on the ark survived. So the ark was a place of refuge. In our current situation, it means the people who travel with us may be able to live a better life in the future. Does that make sense? If not, forget it. I'm just talking nonsense anyway."

"Little Xuan, give it to me straight. How are you planning to settle them later? If it's feasible, I'd like to help you with this too." Old Man Tung also wanted to do something for these people. But if bringing them along only meant leaving them to fend for themselves, then it would be better not to bring them at all.

"I only have a rough idea right now. Whether it will work or not, I'm still thinking it over. I'll say it in a bit, and then you can help me discuss it."