Chapter 120: From now on, the Life Preservation Style will follow him!
A Qing had always been indecisive. She was naturally aloof and disliked worldly possessions, going with the flow. Now, facing a decision she couldn’t make, she habitually turned to A Man. However, A Man remained silent for a moment, her Dou Dou eyebrows furrowed as she sat cross-legged in thought, her expression deeply conflicted.
On one side was Yuan Ye, who treated her with sincerity, and on the other was her grandfather, who had raised her. Being forced to choose one was indeed difficult.
She pondered for a while, a fierce glint slowly appearing in her eyes. She almost regretted not tying A Qian and A Yu to stones and throwing them into the sea the moment she saw them, which would have spared her these troubles. But she quickly realized that wouldn’t solve the fundamental problem, and the fierce glint in her eyes gradually subsided.
After a long pause, she let out a long sigh, her face filled with dejection. “I think… we should go back. We can’t disobey the Old Man’s words; without him, we wouldn’t have survived until today…”
A Qing lowered her eyelids, her long lashes fluttering slightly. She said nothing.
Her silence was her agreement. She didn’t bother to find excuses like “my head’s already gone, I can’t leave” to stay. After all, given their shared life-and-death experiences with Yuan Ye, such a bet was meaningless. To bring it up again would be an insult to their bond.
A Man’s decision made her feel even more displeased. Even though she couldn’t pinpoint the reason, she was extremely unhappy, especially since she genuinely didn’t understand Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
According to this theory, human needs are divided into five levels, like a ladder, from low to high: physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs.
She could have all five of these needs met by Yuan Ye:
Her food, shelter, and daily life were excellent; she had rarely gone hungry. In an Era where Samurai sometimes ate black bean rice, this was rare.
Her personal safety and property were guaranteed. Yuan Ye’s strength was growing, far surpassing their small group of Life Preservation Style practitioners. Moreover, Yuan Ye provided them with various equipment, fearing they might be shot and killed by accident.
Her social needs were also met. Not to mention their shared life-and-death experiences, but after living together for so long, it was impossible for them not to have developed feelings. Even if they weren’t family yet, they were at least very close friends.
Even the more challenging esteem and self-actualization needs were not an issue. Yuan Ye consistently appreciated and praised her abilities, allowing her to fulfill her esteem needs. By staying by Yuan Ye’s side and witnessing his growing strength, she could far better realize her potential than by being a “Ninja” begging for information everywhere, accomplishing much more.
Now, all of this was ruined, completely destroyed by… by those two little beasts, A Qian and A Yu!
Even if she couldn’t immediately articulate what she had truly lost, she felt that leaving now was a huge loss. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She couldn’t do anything about her Old Man, but she wasn’t afraid of A Qian and A Yu, those two little brats she’d won back gambling. She directly told A Qing, “Go, drag those two little beasts back here. We must beat them soundly to vent our anger!”
A Qing didn’t move, just stared blankly at the floor. Perhaps she was thinking about the chicks she’d recently raised and the two-year-old donkey and the three-flower mare she usually played with, regretting that she would soon only have Monkey as her friend again.
A Man looked at her, sighed, and didn’t ask her to go again. She sat back down, her face etched with worry, unsure how to say goodbye to Yuan Ye.
…
She delayed her visit to Yuan Ye until the next night. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, experiencing insomnia at such a young age. When Yuan Ye saw her arrive with dark circles under her eyes and a dejected expression, he also sighed deeply.
This was his home, after all. A Man’s capture and confinement of the two children had immediately come to his attention. He had also learned their identities and purpose. He had spent the entire night preparing himself mentally.
Of course, he didn’t want A Man and A Qing to leave. They were the only two people he could trust in this unfortunate Era. Such a bond, tested by life and death, was hard to find again. However, A Man and A Qing needed to go home; their grandfather, who had raised them and taught them their skills, needed them back. After much thought, he couldn’t find any reason to stop them.
After all, when Xu Shu wanted to leave Liu Bei for Cao Cao, Liu Bei, despite his reluctance to lose talent, didn’t force Xu Shu to abandon his mother and stay to help him. He couldn’t be worse than an ancient figure, telling A Man to disregard her grandfather and stay here to enjoy a comfortable life.
If A Man were to do that, he would be frightened.
So, when fate brings people together, cherish it; when it separates them, let it be.
Even parents, siblings, and friends eventually part ways. He had always accepted this. Seeing A Man’s silence, he proactively comforted her, “Your family is calling you, so you should go back and see them. There’s no need to be dejected. Come back whenever you have time, or just stop by if you’re passing through. It’s not a big deal.”
“If we’re not here and you die?” A Man was still very upset and sighed. “Even if you don’t die, and we come back to eat your leftovers, that would be too inconsiderate.”
Before, Yuan Ye was a stranger, a fool and a big spender in her eyes. She had eaten without restraint, feeling it was a loss if she ate even a bite less. But after living together for over a year, their relationship had evolved into that of close friends. Leaving when a friend was struggling to establish themselves and returning when they were prosperous and enjoying their success made her feel ashamed and reluctant to return.
Yuan Ye fell silent for a moment. Even as these wild children were about to leave, they still couldn’t utter a single pleasant word. However, her words, though harsh, held truth. In this unfortunate Era, people died inexplicably, and separation often meant eternal parting.
He sighed, looked up, and asked, “Where is A Qing?”
A Man also sighed, her Dou Dou eyebrows furrowed. “She doesn’t want to come. She went to feed the chickens.” She paused, then sighed again. “You don’t need to see us off later; it’s useless and just makes things harder.”
Yuan Ye nodded silently, turned, and placed a leather pouch in front of her. He sighed, “Take this money back with you. And the horses, armor, and everything else you’re currently using, take it all. Don’t be polite; you know I make money easily. I can replace it in ten days or so. These things are nothing.”
He paused, then said earnestly, “Live well, and live until we meet again!”
A Man’s eyes immediately welled up. She quickly tilted her head back to compose herself, then indeed didn’t stand on ceremony. She picked up the pouch and stood, saying, “You must live well too!”
“Don’t worry, no matter what, I’ll do my best to survive.”
“That’s good!”
A Man somewhat understood why A Qing didn’t want to come. Saying goodbye was truly difficult. She wanted to say more, but found herself speechless. She opened her mouth, then closed it, and turned to leave with the pouch.
She went to fetch A Qing and packed their belongings onto the horses. She had shed blood and fought for Yuan Ye, so she felt no shame in taking these things. Furthermore, after being missing for over a year, they had to give their grandfather an explanation. They would say these weapons and armor were their reward. She figured her grandfather, even if angry, wouldn’t be able to make much of a fuss.
Once everything was ready, she released A Qian and A Yu, kicking their behinds to drive them out.
A Qian was defiant and felt deeply insulted. “What do you want, you old beast! If you treat us like this, we’ll tell the Old Man when we get back, and he won’t let you off!”
“Do whatever you want!” A Man was in a terrible mood and kicked her again. “Hurry up! Go find the Old Man now. I’ll watch you complain, and then I’ll deal with you!”
A Qian stumbled from the kick. As she regained her balance, she paused, looking surprised and uncertain. “You’re willing to go back?”
Last night, A Yu had confidently analyzed that with such good conditions here, A Man and A Qing would definitely not return to be part of the Kōka Group and would stay to enjoy themselves. A Yu had even suggested during the “interrogation” to say a few soft words, temporarily yield, and stay to enjoy themselves too, perhaps even tricking them out of some equipment. After all, if A Man, that old beast, could be tricked, they should be able to do it more easily. It was a freebie, so why not? Yet, this morning, A Man had actually agreed to go back?
Actually, the Old Man wasn’t that important. Returning a few months late wouldn’t be a big deal…
She couldn’t help but try to persuade A Man to delay their departure. If necessary, they could blame it on themselves, saying they couldn’t find the people and that’s why they were late. But A Man had no time for her nonsense now. She kicked her again, her face dark. “I’ll do what I want. I don’t need your nonsense. Get going!”
Afterward, she didn’t forget A Yu and went over to kick her in the backside as well, telling her to hurry up.
She didn’t reason with them at all, treating them as if they weren’t human, kicking them all the way to the entrance. A Qing was holding a horse, lost in thought, waiting for them. Hearing A Man’s call, she hesitated for a moment before taking her bronze-banded staff and sticking it into the ground by the entrance.
This was her most cherished weapon, one she had used since childhood. It was a memento for Yuan Ye.
After planting the staff, she took another look at the still rudimentary dwelling before turning to lead the horse away. A Man cut the ropes binding A Qian and A Yu, then mounted her horse. “Run behind the horses, and run fast. Don’t dawdle, or you’ll regret it!”
With that, she galloped out of Wanjin Village. But as she rode, she looked back and saw that A Qian and A Yu weren’t following. They were talking to each other and heading into the wilderness. She quickly pulled on the reins and circled back, flicking her whip at them. “Where are you two going? Aren’t you returning to Mino?”
A Qian was now free and in the wilderness, where escape was easier. Her courage returned, and she shouted, “The Old Man only told you to go back, not us. We have our own mission. You go ahead!”
“You have a mission?”
“Yes, we were specifically told to check the situation in Owari, and we haven’t finished yet. We can’t go back now!”
“Then you don’t need to wander around aimlessly. I know the situation in Owari very well. You can just go back!”
A Qian was momentarily stunned. A Yu, standing beside her, immediately said, “Sister A Man knows, but Grandpa specifically told us to go and check Shirakawa Entrance again. So… we’ll go there and then return to Mino.”
A Man tapped her hand with her whip, staring at them for a moment. She asked slowly, “Are you two little beasts trying to wait until we leave, then use our connection with him to come back and freeload?”
A Qian quickly denied it. “No, we’re not thinking that. We’re not as shameless as you!”
“If you said you had some shame, I might believe you. But this little troublemaker is even more shameless than I am!” A Man knew A Qian and A Yu very well, especially A Yu, who was a natural little rascal. She was just young, and with A Qian shielding her, most people wouldn’t notice.
A Qing returned at this moment and asked calmly, “Sister, what’s wrong?”
“These two little beasts are up to their old tricks again, wanting to take our spot after we leave.” A Man pointed at A Qian and shouted, “Is that true?!”
“So what if it is?” A Qian was no longer afraid of her. The matchlock guns weren’t loaded, and the wilderness wasn’t suitable for a fast gallop. She was confident she could escape. Even if she couldn’t, A Man wouldn’t kill her; at most, she’d get another beating. She didn’t care and admitted it directly. “You’ve enjoyed yourselves for so long, can’t we have a couple of days too? The Old Man didn’t say we had to go back immediately. That thankless job seems to be yours!”
“Sister?” A Qing’s expression grew colder. She gestured to A Man, indicating whether she should grab them again and drag them behind the horses.
A Man was momentarily taken aback, only stroking her chin in thought. After a moment, she jumped off the horse and said to A Qian and A Yu, “You’re right. I was wrong before! Now, get out immediately, go back to Mino, and bring the Old Man here!”
A Qian was stunned for a moment, asking strangely, “The Old Man told you to go back, so why are you calling him here? Aren’t you listening to the Old Man’s words anymore?”
“No, I’m not! I’ve figured it out. We’re not leaving!” A Man changed her mind, her eyes flashing fiercely. She charged at them with her whip, “Now, get back to Mino immediately and bring the Old Man here. Tell him I said the Life Preservation Style is settling down here!”
A Qian and A Yu were very agile, dodging A Man’s whip. As A Qian dodged, she angrily shouted, “A Man, you can’t just change your mind! Are you rebelling? The Old Man won’t forgive you!”
“I’m not rebelling, I’m taking over!” A Man continued to chase and whip them, her attacks fierce and her words relentless. “The Old Man is old. His ways are outdated and will eventually lead us all to ruin. It’s time for me to lead the Life Preservation Style! Have him come quickly. He raised me before; now I’ll support him. It’s time for him to enjoy his retirement!”
“The Old Man won’t agree!” A Qian found it increasingly difficult to dodge. After all, she didn’t dare fight back. A Qing was watching coldly with her hand on her sword hilt. If she retaliated, A Qing would immediately intervene, making their situation even worse. So, she could only shout desperately.
“Whether he agrees or not is not up to you. Have him come, and I’ll talk to him!” A Man was merciless, her whip striking harder and harder until A Qian and A Yu couldn’t take it anymore, cursing her as an old beast, and fled in disarray.
A Qing watched A Qian and A Yu escape into the distance before asking A Man worriedly, “Sister, are we really not going back? What about Grandpa…”
A Man shook her head, her expression unusually serious. She said softly, “We’re not going back. I’ve thought it through. Going back means contributing to the Saito Family, so why not stay here and contribute to him? At least there’s comfort here! So, we can’t listen to the Old Man’s misguided orders. He doesn’t know the situation here at all; he’s just giving blind commands.
Moreover, the world is becoming increasingly chaotic. The Old Man has always wanted to earn enough money to return to Kōka and establish a Village Head. It will surely end badly, and he might even drag us all down with him. It’s better to retire early and let us support him!”
Having said that, she didn’t care whether A Qing agreed or not and said to her again, “Let’s go. We’ll find him. From now on, the Life Preservation Style will follow him. He’ll definitely take us in.”
