Chapter 92: You really did have a point, young lady.

“China? Did the lady come from beyond the northern border?”

The old man had already come into the pavilion. Hearing her words, he assumed she had come from the war-torn northern realm.

He studied her carefully. Lately, that region had been in turmoil, and because it lay between two great powers, not every refugee from there had the chance to reach the Southern Dynasty and seek shelter.

“North and south are one family. We share the same ancestors and the same blood. Wherever one comes from, it is all the same.”

Zhang Xiaolan had not thought much of it. In the past, when the First Emperor united the land, there had indeed been a time when north and south were one, so what she said was not unreasonable.

Of course, by Zhang Xiaolan’s understanding and a modern person’s way of thinking, there was no such thing as north and south now; even east and west were all one family.

“Haha! Well said. Insightful indeed.”

The old man did not argue. Such history could not be erased. Though this place now belonged to the Southern Dynasty, he was not so rigid and narrow-minded, for he too had once come here from another country.

“Hehe, sir, you don’t seem to be a pilgrim here to offer incense. Is there anything interesting to see around here?”

Zhang Xiaolan observed him a little more, wanting to talk with the old man longer, and found another topic to keep the conversation going.

Seeing that the old man was easy to talk to, she had already intended to learn more about the customs and atmosphere of this place. Whenever she met someone, she wanted to chat and hear a little history or some worldly insight.

That was really thanks to her education and her habits from work. Even if she could never return to the modern world, it did not stop her thirst for knowledge.

“Oh? How does the lady know I am not a pilgrim?”

He glanced at her, interested in talking. Most of the people who came here today were pilgrims, so how had she known he was not one of them?

Though the old man’s basket was covered with cloth so its contents could not be seen, and his clothes looked ordinary enough, how had she known he had not come to offer incense? Seeing that Zhang Xiaolan spoke with such ease and wit, he also wanted to exchange a few more words with her.

“The hems of your clothes and your shoes are covered in dry mud, and your face looks travel-worn. Besides, you do not smell like the rest of us, who have just come out of the temple and are carrying the strong scent of incense.”

Zhang Xiaolan smiled at him, understanding that he wanted to know how she had figured it out, so she did not keep him in suspense. Instead, she explained it plainly.

She analyzed what she had observed. After hearing her out, the old man laughed heartily and admitted that her reasoning was correct.

“Haha! The lady’s observations are very keen. You really did see through me.” Smiling, the old man stroked his beard as he answered her.

After he confirmed it, Hai Zi, who had been sitting idly nearby and admiring the scenery, also turned his gaze toward them and took a closer look at the old man.

Xiao Lian, on the other hand, was delighted. Her face showed proud delight on Zhang Xiaolan’s behalf, her smile impossible to hide. She thought Zhang Xiaolan was very clever.

Ling Xiao remained calm, for he had already guessed as much. For someone trained since childhood, that degree of discernment was nothing unusual.

“Master, please sit for a while. I’ll go fetch some water.”

The old man had come with a young apprentice, who had been standing quietly to one side. Hearing the pause in their conversation, he told the old man he would go draw water.

Originally, he had meant to wait until his master had settled in the pavilion and rested before going. But after hearing Zhang Xiaolan speaking with them, he lingered a while to watch. Only after confirming that they were merely passing pilgrims did he feel at ease and go look for water to bring back so the elderly master could quench his thirst.