ATPnovel Chapter 244 Swift Escort
Chapter 244 Swift Escort
Yang Silang, thanks to the fate he shared with the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) Tian Zhenfeng during a night of meditation under the Jinghe Mausoleum Shadow Stone, won Tian's favor with the saying "He who travels a hundred miles is only halfway there at ninety," and was given a waist token.
His route home was blocked, and he didn't go out often and wasn't good at planning routes. He was afraid that if he looked for a car or boat, he would be taken to a ditch.
Yang Silang had a sudden inspiration, so he went to Yuanwei Escort Agency. Since they were escorting goods anyway, it wouldn't be a problem to take a few people with them.
really.
Tian Zhenfeng was in seclusion and had not yet emerged. His eldest disciple, Chang Yuan, received him. Upon hearing about this trivial matter, Chang Yuan laughed heartily and said, "You've found the right person. This matter is easy."
It's so efficient to have professionals handle things.
He ordered his men to investigate, and a head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) immediately replied that a shipment would be sent to Nanling Province in a few days.
Another batch of goods needs to be delivered to Jiangdong Province in the middle.
They planned to first travel west, then south, and finally east to reach Jiangdong Province, before heading south directly to their destination.
It means drawing a semicircle on the map around the Jiangbei Province.
This itinerary perfectly suited Yang Silang's desire to return home.
So Yang Silang joined the team, and Chang Yuan, out of respect for his master, resolutely refused to accept his escort silver.
The chief镖头's eldest disciple was also very particular about his speech.
"Brother Yang, you are a martial arts scholar with superb skills. Your help in keeping an eye on our group along the way is more useful than any amount of money."
Yang Silang had no choice but to agree.
He also asked Chang Yuan how Master Tian Zhenfeng's seclusion was going.
Chang Yuan shook his head sadly, looking dejected.
He said that after his master returned from viewing the shadow stone that day, he went into seclusion. His face was excited at the time, as if he had realized something.
A few days ago.
Suddenly, a pillar of qi and blood condensed on the top of the stone chamber where he was in seclusion, rising like billowing smoke. In addition, raging flames burned the nascent form of the Martial Saint's divine will, and a scorching wind swept through the Far-Reaching Escort Agency.
At that time, the hundreds of horses kept by the security escort agency were so frightened that they collapsed to the ground.
"Master Tian has successfully broken through?" Yang Silang was overjoyed.
Tian Zhenfeng's ten years of accumulation were not in vain. After freeing himself from the shackles and burdens in his heart, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and instantly integrated all his life's learning. He was about to break through the barrier and transform into a dragon.
Only one in ten Grandmasters of the Golden Marrow Sect can break through to the Martial Saint realm. No matter how abundant the resources or how profound the accumulation, there is no guarantee of success.
Many grandmasters spend decades in arduous practice, hoping to find the opportunity to break through their limitations.
If Tian Zhenfeng succeeds, it will be a very rare opportunity.
Chang Yuan shook his head and said bitterly.
"Then that night, the earth suddenly turned upside down."
"I watched with my own eyes as the pillar of vital energy above the stone chamber snapped, and the blazing divine will of the Martial Saint, which had reached its peak, vanished into thin air."
"Master... is injured."
After hearing this, Yang Silang was filled with emotion and really wanted to say, "It's all about timing and fate."
Tian Zhenfeng spent ten years honing his skills, but he couldn't see any path ahead. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he realized that his ten years of accumulation would soon lead to his triumph.
Suddenly, the earth dragon turned over.
It is important to know that, whether practicing martial arts or cultivating Taoist arts, the most taboo thing when breaking through to a higher realm is a sudden change in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which can be fatal to them.
Because when breaking through the major barrier, every martial artist and cultivator poured their entire essence, energy, and spirit into it, squeezing out every bit of their potential, leaving them with almost no strength left to resist the changes in the external world's energy.
Tian Zhenfeng had a chance to break through to Martial Saint, but he was hit hard and brought back to his original form, and he must have suffered a serious injury.
What could be more despairing than this?
If I wait until my body is fully recovered before attempting the breakthrough, who knows when that will take? Besides, I might not be able to grasp that moment of sudden enlightenment before the breakthrough.
Since Tian Zhenfeng is in seclusion to heal his injuries, we won't be able to see him. Yang Silang left behind some nourishing medicine, which can only be used as a token of his goodwill.
The team is now setting off.
Yang Silang led Daqing, while Wang Daniu led the chestnut horse at the back of the procession.
"Master, can't you really wait for me?" Fu Hongying stood to the side, biting her lip, looking very aggrieved. "I want to go with you too..."
"You've all left, leaving me all alone in the capital. It's so boring."
"No one is teaching me the Washing Stream Hand technique anymore, so I'll get rusty with it."
She always had a heroic and spirited demeanor, so her sudden plea to her youngest daughter was quite charming.
Yang Silang helplessly shrugged.
"Hongying, stop fooling around. His Majesty has strictly ordered that young women in the capital are not allowed to leave the city."
"You can't leave the capital at all."
"Wait a moment. Once this period of turmoil has passed and the roads are safe, you can come to Yidu Prefecture in Jiangdong Province to find me."
A few days.
The entire population of Shuntian Prefecture, including young and old women, was thoroughly investigated, but no results were found.
His Majesty's decree could not be changed, so officials added layers of restrictions, allowing young women, whether from out of town or local, to enter but not leave.
Yang Silang estimated that this investigation would likely yield no results in the end.
Mo Xinlian and those White Lotus bandits were not on the same side at all, and the investigation was wrong from the start; in addition, Mo Xinlian had expelled the Martial Saint Earth Attribute True Qi and Divine Intent from her body, and the investigation starting from the injuries was like trying to catch the moon's reflection in the water, with no hope at all.
In the end, a scapegoat will inevitably have to be brought out to close the case and end this absurd investigation.
Fu Hongying pursed her lips and said nothing more.
Even with cracks appearing in the capital's defenses, Emperor Yongchang remained the supreme ruler of this land, and no one dared to defy his imperial edict.
"Alright... Master, once the martial law in the capital is lifted, I'll head south to find you." Fu Hongying had no choice but to compromise.
Yang Silang looked back at the rows of rooms in the capital.
He had a very fulfilling few months, broadening his horizons, but no matter how prosperous the capital was, it was irrelevant to him.
Cultivating here is much slower than normal, which alone makes it impossible for him to stay in the capital for long.
"What a pity, we didn't get to see Instructor Long..." Wang Daniu chimed in from the side.
The guards protecting the tombs were innocent and had done nothing wrong, but these past few days had been a period of non-stop work.
After all, Jinghe Mausoleum was so badly damaged, and a large number of the guards were killed. Just imagine how busy Long Yiyan, the current commander, must be.
Yang Silang and Da Niu went to say goodbye to the instructor. Only Xiao Taohong was at home. She said that Long Yiyan had not returned home for many days and had only sent someone to collect clothes and money once.
The two could only leave behind a piece of silver and a letter before taking their leave.
Also.
The two then went to the Prince Consort's residence and met Zhou Mingxuan; the process went quite smoothly.
Seeing that Zhou Mingxuan's complexion was rosy and there was no sign of depression on his face, Yang Silang knew that the boy was doing well.
Four maids stood behind him, each looking at the prince consort with shyness and timidity. Their eyes were full of spring-like joy, just as Da Niu had said, this young man was indeed eating well.
Princess Le'an was truly plump and easygoing; she didn't mind at all that her man slept with several maids.
Because there were outsiders present, Yang Silang and Zhou Mingxuan kept their conversation brief and to the point.
Prince Consort Zhou wrote a letter to his family, asking Yang Silang to take it back to Yidu Prefecture. The letter contained a thick wad of silver notes.
Yang Silang nodded and readily agreed.
The two chatted for a few more minutes before Yang Silang took his leave.
in this way.
Yang Silang had no old friends or acquaintances left in the city.
As usual, he couldn't contact Mo Xinlian, so he could only remind her to contact him by vibrating the black ring, and left the jade box containing the substitute doll with Fu Hongying.
Well, I also bought a pair of mandarin duck-patterned bellybands and a box of face powder, and put a hairpin inside.
The jade box is actually not very big.
So the bellyband I bought was a bit see-through and revealing, and the craftsmanship was top-notch, but it just looked a bit improper.
Yang Silang also sealed the jade box to prevent Fu Hongying from accidentally opening it and finding out what happened would be truly embarrassing.
Hopefully, Mo Xinlian will be smart enough to go and retrieve it when the time comes.
"Master, I have never seen your wife. You only told me that she looks like a fairy, but how can I be sure if it is her?" Fu Hongying immediately realized the problem.
"Easy," Yang Silang said, rolling his eyes. "Ask him which mountain the Great Sage is imprisoned under?"
"Is it Wuzhi Mountain, Wuzhi Mountain, or Wuzhi Mountain?" He used his hand as a pen to write the words on his palm.
If her answer is Wuzhishan, then she is correct.
"Huh???" Fu Hongying didn't understand at all.
Everything has been explained clearly.
As the head镖师 (chief escort) shouted "Yuanwei" (meaning "majestic power"), the accompanying镖师 (armchair guards) responded with "Weiyuan" (meaning "majestic power"), and the flag bearer waved the large flag in his hand.
The coachmen cracked their whips, and the bodyguards rode back and forth on horseback, inspecting the procession.
The long procession, now filled with many voices, began to move and headed straight for the city gate.
"Take care, Master..." Fu Hongying said, feeling aggrieved.
Yang Silang patted her on the shoulder.
"Okay, see you in a few months..."
He flipped himself onto the donkey and hit the stirrups. Daqing, who had been waiting impatiently, lifted its hoof and started to walk away.
Fu Hongying stood there, watching the long line snake out of the city gate until she could no longer see her master, before turning back.
She returned to the inn alone and practiced the Washing Stream Hand technique diligently every day. Her days were fulfilling and carefree, but the courtyard was quite lonely.
Zhou Mingxuan, that pig-headed sparring partner, has become the prince consort—he can neither fight nor hit anyone.
Master, Uncle Da Niu, Uncle Da Qing, Aunt She, and my great-aunt's whole family are gone, and my father is busy with the inn business every day.
Since the incident at the Martial Arts Gathering, the girls have seen each other less often, and she can only practice the Washing Stream Hand and the Soft Red Rope diligently.
After the iron puppet was melted down that day, only a small piece of black iron remained. Fu Hongying asked the swordsmith to add that piece of iron into his soft red rope, making it feel much heavier than before.
This day.
She had just finished a few rounds of boxing and was covered in sweat. She went back to her room to wash up.
To her surprise, she looked up and saw a woman in white sitting on a chair. Just one glance was enough to melt her heart; even as a woman, her heart was pounding.
She is like a fairy who stepped out of a painting.
Fu Hongying immediately kowtowed.
"Greetings, Master's wife..."
"My master left something for you... but I need to verify your identity first."
"My master asked me to ask you, which mountain is the Great Sage imprisoned under?"
"Is it Wuzhi Mountain, Wuzhi Mountain, or Wuzhi Mountain?" She dipped her finger in water and wrote the words on the bluestone ground.
The woman opposite him remained silent for a few moments before speaking softly.
"It's Wuzhi Mountain..."
-
They left the capital.
Because of Emperor Yongchang's bizarre decree that forbade women from leaving the city.
The entire group consisted of men, so they moved extremely fast. Despite driving so many carts, they managed to reach the border between Shuntian Prefecture and Jing'an Prefecture in just one day.
This place was originally a large town where many merchant caravans would rest, and it was also a familiar spot for security escort agencies, with inns and restaurants that they regularly worked with.
We haven't arrived at our destination yet.
Several scouting party members, their faces grim, hurriedly returned to report the news to the head镖师 (chief镖师, a high-ranking镖师).
Soon a message spread through the ranks.
There is an evil spirit in the town ahead. Last night, it drained the blood of everyone in the inn. The worst part is that there were several newly appointed scholars who had stayed there and were preparing to return home.
One of them was a distant relative of a prominent family who had passed the imperial examinations, yet he still couldn't escape it.
It is said that the corpses of those who have been sucked are extremely gruesome, with all their bones, internal organs, brain marrow, muscles, and blood sucked away, leaving only an empty human skin.