Chapter 20 - The Cannon Fodder Little Fulang [Quick Transmigration]

Translator's Note:

Hello, I hope you've all been doing well.

Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

And, as I said before, if you wish to read ahead, you can head over to my Patreon to get early access to all the translated chapters.

Meanwhile, after a month of grueling travel, Wu Bai and his party were nearing the capital.

 

They had faithfully followed the plan discussed with Father Wu, traveling only along official roads and sending letters home from each rest station they passed.

 

During the journey, a joyous surprise occurred—Wu Bai's sister-in-law discovered he was pregnant.

 

By then, they were already halfway to the capital, and turning back wasn't an option. So, they could only continue onward, adjusting their pace to ensure his well-being. Slowing down added to the length of their journey, but with mutual care and patience, they pressed on together.

 

...

 

On this day, they had just left the prefecture closest to the capital when, feeling the heat of the day intensifying, they stopped by a small river to rest and quench their thirst. Dismounting, they planned to drink from the river and cool off under a tree before resuming their journey.

 

Realizing his water bag was empty, Wu Bai wandered upstream a bit to refill it. As he collected water, he noticed the water reddening and, glancing upstream, he spotted a person lying in the river, bloodied and still. Startled, he let out a shout.

 

Wu Kang'an hurried over and, seeing the figure, approached cautiously to check for their breath. Discovering the stranger was still alive, he called out, "He's breathing. Come help me lift him."

 

As a simple country man, Wu Kang'an couldn't abandon someone in such dire straits.

 

Seeing his brother's intent, Wu Bai agreed without hesitation and moved to assist. The man's clothes were soaked, making him especially heavy as they lifted him.

 

After much effort, they managed to get the man onto their carriage. Wu Kang'an pulled out a set of clean clothes from his bag, dressed the stranger, and applied medicine to his wounds.

 

Before their departure, the Wu family had stocked up on various medicinal supplies for safety, which now proved useful.

 

Once Wu Kang'an finished tending to the stranger, he prepared to wash and dry the man's wet clothes by spreading them on the cart's roof, reasoning that the blazing sun would dry them quickly.

 

Wu Bai quickly stopped him, saying, "Brother, this man's identity doesn't seem ordinary. He's injured and unconscious; saving him may attract the attention of his enemies. We should avoid letting him be seen by others, so it's best not to keep his clothes. Let them drift down the river."

 

"But these are fine clothes. Won't it be hard to explain if he wakes up and finds we've thrown them away?" Wu Kang'an hesitated.

 

"Brother, which is more important, his clothes or our safety? We're already taking a risk by saving him; his clothes are the least of our concerns. If he's truly wealthy, he won't mind a missing set of clothes. Once he's awake, we'll learn his story, help him find his way home, and I doubt he'll be lacking for clothes when he gets there," Wu Bai reasoned.

 

"Alright, we'll do as you say." Wu Kang'an nodded.

 

"Oh, and Second Brother, it might be wise to keep any belongings he has on him, like what's in his pockets or sewn into his clothes. These might be important to him," Wu Bai added.

 

Following Wu Bai's advice, Wu Kang'an searched through the clothes, gathering any items he found and storing them carefully in a corner of the carriage.

 

Wu Bai then took the clothing back to the river. Finding a fast-moving section, he tossed the garments into the water, watching them float away before returning upstream to refill his water bag.

 

Once everything was in order, Wu Bai's sister-in-law had also finished resting, and they all boarded the carriage, leaving the riverside and continuing toward the capital.

 

Unbeknownst to them, not long after they left, a group of black-clad men arrived at the same spot, having followed the river instead of the main road, which kept them from crossing paths.

 

The men searched along the bank until one of them found a scrap of cloth in the water. Hoarsely, he called out, "Found it!"

 

Their leader took the cloth, examining it closely. "He must have floated down here. Continue the search downstream," he ordered.

 

With that, they continued their pursuit along the river.

 

Meanwhile, on the carriage, Wu Bai rummaged through their travel bag, pulling out a box of rouge they had purchased from a previous town. Taking a clean brush, he dabbed it lightly in the vibrant red and carefully placed a crimson dot on the unconscious man's brow—a mark that only ger possessed.

 

"Bai, what are you doing?" his sister-in-law asked, puzzled.

 

"Sister, you didn't notice earlier, but I saw it clearly when we lifted him onto the cart. This man has several deadly wounds—likely inflicted by some enemies. For our own safety, it's best we disguise him. When we reach our next stop, if anyone asks about his identity, you and Second Brother should say he's our little brother, Li ger, who's fallen ill from the journey," Wu Bai instructed.

 

His sister-in-law glanced at the man, noting how the red mark on his brow added a striking allure to his face. The man's beauty was breathtaking, almost dangerously so. Good thing he knew the man was indeed a man—if he were truly an alluring young ger, he'd worry his own husband might be enchanted.

 

Understanding Wu Bai's precaution, he nodded in agreement.

 

Up front, Wu Kang'an overheard bits of their conversation but was perplexed. Wasn't this person a man? How had he suddenly become "Li ger"?

 

Still, with these questions swirling in his mind, they arrived at an inn just as the sun was beginning to set.

 

Wu Kang'an lifted the carriage's curtain and was briefly stunned by the man's astonishing beauty. Then, recalling the conversation he'd overheard, he understood what Wu Bai and his fulang had meant.

 

"There's an inn here. Let's rest for the night and continue in the morning," Wu Kang'an suggested.

 

"Good idea. Second brother, go ahead and book the rooms, then come back for us," Wu Bai replied.

 

"Got it." Wu Kang'an nodded and went to arrange their lodgings.

 

Inside the carriage, Wu Bai couldn't help but feel that a simple red mark on the man's brow wasn't enough. The man's beauty was still too eye-catching, and though he and his sister-in-law were not swayed, they didn't want any undue attention. They needed to stay inconspicuous.

 

Wu Bai rummaged through his bag once more, pulling out a veil. Draping it over the man's face, he noted how it softened the man's appearance, making him look more like a modest young ger, rather than someone of provocative beauty. Satisfied, Wu Bai finally relaxed.

 

Of course, to complete the disguise, Wu Bai retrieved another set of clothes from his bag.

 

By the time Wu Kang'an returned with the room keys, Wu Bai had already helped his sister-in-law down from the carriage. Turning to Wu Kang'an, he said, "Second brother, can you dress him in these clothes? They'll suit him better. I've left them here for you."

 

When Wu Kang'an lifted the man from the cart after he finished dressing him, he noticed that Wu Bai's clothes fit him perfectly, as he was quite young.

 

They left the carriage in the inn's stable with an attendant to keep watch and carried the man inside.

 

Seeing them carrying a young ger who wore a veil, the innkeeper hesitated, worried he might have some contagious illness. "What's wrong with him?" he asked.

 

Wu Bai answered as they had planned, "This is our younger brother, Li ger. It's his first time traveling, and he's unwell from the journey. He's also developed a rash, so we've covered his face to avoid alarming anyone."

 

The innkeeper, relieved to hear it was just travel sickness, allowed them upstairs.

 

Wu Kang'an booked two rooms as usual. Though he had his own fulang, they usually arranged it this way for Bai's safety; Bai and his sister-in-law would share one room, and Wu Kang'an, being a man, would take the other.

 

Now, however, with an extra man who was ill and unable to care for himself, Wu Kang'an decided the injured man could stay with him. After all, they were both men, so there was nothing to fuss over.

 

The next morning, they fetched breakfast, returned to their rooms to eat, and carefully fed the man some porridge. After reapplying the medicine, they set out again.

 

Yet, just as they left the inn, a group arrived to question the innkeeper.

 

"An injured man? No, I haven't seen any injured men lately," the innkeeper replied, shaking his head.

 

The group searched the inn thoroughly but found no trace of the man they sought, so they rode off.

 

Only after they left did the innkeeper recall the veiled young ger who had been unwell. But, realizing they had been looking for a man, not a young ger, he dismissed the thought.

 

...

 

At the city gates of the capital

 

Wu Bai and his group had been waiting in line since morning, and as the sun started to set, they were finally close to the front, hopeful to enter before nightfall.

 

But just then, a few luxurious carriages approached from behind, surrounded by numerous attendants. Ignoring the line, they went straight to the gate. One of the attendants flashed a badge to the guards, and the entire party was promptly allowed through.

 

After they passed, Wu Bai counted. Just seven or eight groups remained ahead of them, and he thought they might still make it before sundown. But no sooner had the first group entered than another procession appeared—another group of high-status individuals arriving in grand style.

 

Sure enough, the guards allowed them through after presenting another badge.

 

As if a floodgate had opened, more and more carriages followed, each skipping the line, while the guards let them pass without question.

 

Frustration spread through the crowd as people began muttering in complaint.

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