Chapter 005: The Road to Chang'an is Far, a Lifetime Unattained.

"I am Mo Chou, the swordswoman who travels the world to carry out acts of chivalry and eliminate those who deserve to die," the white-clothed girl introduced herself with excitement. She summoned the sword that would fly around on its own behind her and twirled it in the air, creating a sword dance that filled the room with silver light.

However, in an instant, her expression became confused as she straightened her neck and looked at the moon outside. "How did I end up here? Why are you two dressed so strangely, and why is this room so peculiar, protected by invisible restrictions?"

"Could it be that you two are the legendary foreigners? What brings you to the magnificent Tang Dynasty? Mo Chou may be able to be of assistance. Under the heavens, Mo Chou has traveled far and wide," the girl named Mo Chou said with clear and transparent eyes, without any signs of pretending to be clueless. "Although the young hero appears weak, the young lady is skilled in hidden weapons, no less formidable than the masters of the Tang family in Shu. I presume the young hero is also a master of hidden weapons."

Mo Chou continued without giving Li Guo a chance to interject. He initially thought she would be like those ethereal and pure celestial maidens, such as Ximen Chuuxue, but he didn't expect her to be so familiar and gossip-prone. If he let her keep talking, she would probably start talking about the petals that fell when Yang Guifei bathed.

"Do you know where this is? Do you know where you are going?" The little fairy continued to prattle with great enthusiasm. Finally, during a brief pause, Li Guo managed to squeeze in a word.

"This place should be a wealthy household near Chang'an. Mo Chou often gets lost and feels ashamed. Mo Chou is heading to Chang'an to meet the young master of the Li family..." As Mo Chou said this, her expression completely transformed into a shy and coy young girl, quickly changing her tone. "If any items were damaged, Mo Chou will compensate."

In fact, Li Guo suddenly felt sympathetic towards this girl. Judging from her words, she was probably planning to meet or marry someone with the surname Li in Chang'an city, judging from the joy on her face. It was unlikely she realized that she had been traveling for over a thousand years. Even if she wanted to go back, she couldn't.

Suddenly, Li Guo thought of something. Enduring the pain from his wounds, he quickly turned on the light and opened the box containing the ancient paintings. He spread out the long scroll on the bed.

"This object is truly extraordinary, so bright!" Mo Chou's eyes fixated on the energy-saving lamp above her head as she exclaimed in amazement. "Even the barbarians from beyond the borders possess unique skills."

Xiao Luoli muttered on the side, "Country bumpkin."

But Li Guo was thunderstruck, staring blankly at the unfolded painting on the bed.

The painting depicted distant mountains, bamboo trees nearby, clear streams rushing, and reflections on both sides. However, there was a section left blank in the middle, which happened to be the shape of a person.

Li Guo lifted the scroll and compared it to Mo Chou, gesturing beside her. Everything, from the hairstyle to the conspicuous box, closely matched the empty outline on the painting, except that Mo Chou was a real person, with even better and larger 3D effects.

"Young hero, what is the matter?" Mo Chou looked at Li Guo with a puzzled expression. "Mo Chou has seen this scroll, and it is quite lifelike. It's a pity that it is missing a section; otherwise, it would be a priceless masterpiece."

Li Guo didn't answer her question; he just slapped his forehead and sat dejectedly on the bed. Now he understood why his grandfather had set a specific date for him to come here. One day earlier or later, and he would never know what kind of trouble this girl, who could draw her sword and kill people at will, would cause.

In the lower right corner of the painting, the words "Yongtai 2nd Year" and "Qinglian Jushi" were written. Li Guo knew about Qinglian Jushi; it was his ancestor Li Bai's pseudonym. But what year exactly was the "Yongtai 2nd Year"?

Under Mo Chou's curious gaze, Li Guo reached for his makeshift mobile phone from beside the pillow and fiddled with it for a while before accessing Google. He searched directly for "Yongtai 2nd Year," and the result showed that the Yongtai 2nd Year was in 766 AD. In other words, this ancient painting was signed by Li Bai in 766.

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No! Li Guo clearly remembered that historical records and information stated that Li Bai died in 762! Yet this painting was created four years after Li Bai's death.

There were only two possibilities. One was that the painting was a fake, and the other was that Li Bai faked his death.

Li Guo dismissed the first possibility. If a fake painting could bring forth a living person, what would become of those genuine works? So the only possibility left was that Li Bai faked his death.

"Who is the young master you mentioned?" Li Guo's face turned grim. He was feeling a bit overwhelmed now. If he told Mo Chou that it was the 61st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and not some Yuan Festival in the Tianbao era, he had no idea what the little sword fairy might do.

Mo Chou's cheeks turned rosy, and she fidgeted with her dress using her delicate, fair hands. "He is my master's eldest son, the young master. I have never met him."

Li Guo laughed dumbly and absentmindedly patted Mo Chou's shoulder. "Let me tell you something. You have to promise me that you'll remain calm and not draw your sword."

"Okay, Mo Chou promises not to get angry." The little sword fairy stared with wide eyes, sparkling with anticipation, waiting for his answer. "What does the young hero want to tell Mo Chou?"

Li Guo took a deep breath, suppressing the pain on his back and the pressure in his heart. "Chang'an is long gone. The mighty Tang Dynasty is also long gone. Qinglian Jushi is gone, his son is gone, Yang Guifei is gone, Gao Lishi is gone, and now they charge an admission fee at Huaqing Pool."

After he finished speaking, ignoring the pain in his body, Li Guo picked up the little girl who was enjoying the spectacle and sat her on the bed. He quietly waited for what would happen next.

Mo Chou's face gradually turned from rosy to a ghastly pale. Finally, her entire pretty face appeared a shade of livid green, and the sword that had already been sheathed started making rattling noises in its scabbard.

"Do not deceive Mo Chou. If you jest about my master's life, Mo Chou will not spare you," the little sword fairy's words carried a hint of murderous intent. "Let me investigate, then make a decision! Swinging my sword, I depart! Swords clashing, horses neighing! Draw!"

This time, as she left, she finally remembered her lessons. She signaled for Li Guo to open the window before flying out.

As soon as she left, Li Guo collapsed onto the bed. The little girl looked at the fierce sword wounds on his back with a face full of compassion and gently touched them with her small hands. "Daddy, don't cry. When Xin Xin grows up, she'll help you defeat that bad woman!"

"Xin Xin, don't tell anyone about what happened today! Otherwise, we'll definitely be in trouble." Li Guo tenderly tidied the little girl's hair and carefully instructed her, "We'll leave as soon as it's light tomorrow!"

Xin Xin, clearly well-acquainted with her peculiar mother, nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Dad. Xin Xin will protect you!" Saying that, she pulled a bullet from the pocket of her down jacket and skillfully loaded it into her little pistol.

Within five minutes, the female heroine Mo Chou flew in on her flying sword, swaying unsteadily, and as soon as she landed, she burst into tears. Her crying was even more intense than when Xin Xin cried, and the heartbreaking sound reverberated harshly in the room.

"Don't cry... Things will gradually be resolved," Li Guo couldn't bear to see the pure and innocent girl crying so sorrowfully. He approached her with trepidation and comforted her softly, "It seems like we won't be able to go back anytime soon. You should try to adapt."

However, to Li Guo's surprise, his words only made the little sword fairy cry even more fiercely. Eventually, she threw herself onto Li Guo's shoulder and continued sobbing.

Li Guo once again became flustered, not knowing where to put his hands. The fragrance emanating from the sword fairy was wafting intermittently, tickling Li Guo's nose.

"People say that the Tang Dynasty was open-minded. I thought it was nonsense, but it turns out it's true..." Li Guo helplessly trembled in his heart. He didn't dare to move. If he angered this little sword fairy now, it would definitely be a matter of life and death.

"I..." The little sword fairy, perhaps exhausted from crying, slid from Li Guo's shoulder and sat on the bed. She was sobbing so much that she couldn't even utter a complete sentence. "I... I..."

"Speak," Li Guo quickly tried to coax her, "If there's something, go ahead and tell me. As long as I can do it."

The little sword fairy lifted her head, her face still fair and unblemished, without the messy makeup and teary eyes. Sniffling and blushing, she looked at Li Guo. "Mo Chou is hungry..."

At this point, the little girl's expression also turned unpleasant, muttering under her breath, "Fox spirit!"

Li Guo smiled bitterly, patted the little girl's head, and said to Mo Chou, "Wait a moment, I'll get you something to eat."

Hurriedly changing out of his worn-out pajamas, every touch on his back wound felt like a sharp pain. Li Guo put on a loose cotton shirt and hastily opened the door.

However, the moment he opened the door, he nearly had a heart attack.

"Young master, are you unharmed?" The blind-eyed eccentric man, Zhonglou, happened to be in line with Li Guo's line of sight. "I have been waiting here since early morning."

Li Guo turned his head to both sides and found the corridor filled with elderly men over the age of sixty-five. Unlike Zhonglou, these old men were all kneeling in neat rows on both sides, not daring to make a sound.

"What... What is this?" Li Guo's mind was already a mess, and now seeing this group in such a state, his anger flared up. "Get up, all of you, get up!"