Northward All the Way

The caravan survivors treated the wounded and organized the goods while anxiously waiting.

Then they saw two figures slowly walking towards them from not far away, one in green and one in gray, one in front of the other.

The wealthy merchant snapped out of his daze, rushed over, and knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face, repeatedly kowtowing.

"My benefactor! My benefactor's kindness is immeasurable, I will never forget it! If it weren't for your help, my whole family and this entire cart of goods would have been destroyed by these damned thieves today!"

He crawled forward on his knees, tears streaming down his face, and cried, "I am Wang Shoucai, a merchant who went to Liaodong to trade furs. I never expected to suffer such a calamity on the way. My benefactor has truly saved me, and my family will never forget him."

Seeing that the senior expert simply watched Jingjing without doing anything, Ximen Changhai could only step forward, reach out and help Wang Shoucai up, saying calmly, "It was just a small act of kindness; no need for thanks."

Wang Shoucai wiped away his tears, stood up, and bowed repeatedly.

"Please announce your name, so that I may remember it in my heart and be grateful for this life-saving grace every day."

"Ximen Changhai."

When Ximen Changhai spoke, he displayed the unrestrained and heroic spirit of a man of the Jianghu.

Upon hearing this, Wang Shoucai's face showed shock:

"You are the renowned Master Ximen, the number one swordsman in the Wulin world, and the number one expert in the Jianghu."

Having spent half his life in business, he possessed incredibly sharp eyes; from afar, he had already discerned the true nature of this benefactor.

This gray-clad swordsman possessed superb swordsmanship and ruthless attacks; he was Jianghu a renowned Wulin master.

But he never expected that the other party would be none other than the world-renowned swordsman Ximen Daxia, who was known as a master swordsman.

"It's just an empty title; there's no need for that."

Ximen Changhai waved his hand.

That being said, Wang Shoucai's attitude was noticeably more respectful.

Who is this?

Then he looked at Gao Yunyi, who was standing to the side.

He only saw that his family had been saved by the chivalrous Ximen, so he became curious about this young man who suddenly appeared.

But judging from how Master Ximen treated the other party, this young man was clearly no ordinary person either.

They either have an extraordinary background or a very prestigious position.

"Gao Yi."

Gao Yunyi spoke calmly.

"So it's Young Master Gao, I've heard so much about you."

Wang Shoucai immediately cupped his hands in greeting, speaking with great enthusiasm.

Have you heard my story?

Gao Yunyi asked.

Wang Shoucai: "..."

Seeing the atmosphere become awkward, Ximen Changhai spoke up, "Senior, stop teasing him, we still have a long way to go."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shoucai, looking embarrassed, glanced at the two men a few times before tentatively asking, "May I ask where you two benefactors are headed? If it's on the same route, you could ride with me, so I can rely on you."

Ximen Changhai, Sword Dao, "I was just about to head north to Liaodong."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shoucai's eyes lit up, his face filled with gratitude and eagerness. He stepped forward and said, "This is truly a stroke of luck! I am on my way here to escort these goods to the Liaodong Horse Market to exchange them for furs."

"The road ahead is long and arduous, and the banditry is still rampant. If we encounter such robbers again, we'll likely be left with nothing but bones. If you two benefactors would do me the honor of traveling with my caravan, I will cover all your food, lodging, and expenses along the way! When we reach Liaodong, I will repay you handsomely!"

He spoke with True Intention, his eyes full of pleading, as if afraid the two would refuse.

Ximen Changhai did not answer, but instead looked at Gao Yunyi, as if he was the one to make the decision.

Gao Yunyi was heading to Liaodong anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to travel together along the same route.

He nodded slightly. "Since we're going the same way, let's travel together."

Wang Shoucai was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude profusely. He immediately ordered his men to prepare the cleanest and most spacious carriage, and personally led the way, respectfully inviting the two of them to get in.

As Gao Yunyi boarded the carriage, the curtain was slightly lifted, revealing a beautiful face behind it.

That was Wang Shoucai's only daughter, named Wang Zhirou.

She was peeking through the curtain at her two saviors when her gaze fell on Gao Yunyi's handsome face, and she felt as if something had gently bumped into her heart.

She had never seen such a handsome man before.

Although Gao Yunyi was dressed simply in a blue robe and cloth shoes, his features were refined and his demeanor extraordinary. He possessed an otherworldly air about him and a gentle, scholarly air.

He was completely different from those rough and boorish warriors and mercenary merchants.

A blush crept onto Wang Zhirou's cheeks, and her heart pounded like a rabbit's.

She quickly averted her gaze, lowered her head, and unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingertips, but she couldn't help but glance at the figure in the blue robe out of the corner of her eye.

As for the true hero Ximen who saved her entire family, she had subconsciously overlooked him.

Wang Shoucai saw all this and his mind immediately began to stir.

Seeing his daughter's state, he knew she was clearly in love.

Looking at Gao Yunyi, he is young, handsome, and has a mysterious and extraordinary identity. If his daughter could marry him, it would definitely be a good match.

So for the rest of the journey, Wang Shoucai became very talkative, trying every possible way to strike up a conversation with Gao Yunyi and subtly trying to find out more about him.

"Where are you from, Young Master Gao's family?"

"Does Young Master Gao still have parents or siblings? Are you currently married?"

"Young Master Gao, what are your plans for the future?"

He asked questions enthusiastically, his words revealing an intention to win him over and become close.

Gao Yunyi simply leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to rest, and ignored Wang Shoucai's solicitousness and probing.

Finally, Ximen Changhai couldn't take it anymore and couldn't help but speak up:

"Master Wang, the senior has always preferred quiet and disliked idle chatter. Your persistent questioning is rather abrupt."

One sentence made the smile on Wang Shoucai's face freeze slightly.

He then realized that he had indeed overstepped his bounds by constantly prying into other people's private affairs.

So he awkwardly stroked his beard and chuckled dryly.

"Oh dear, I was careless! I was just admiring Young Master Gao's extraordinary bearing and spoke without thinking. I hope Young Master Gao will not take offense."

Gao Yunyi didn't even lift his eyelids, and said calmly, "It's alright."

Wang Shoucai was rebuffed and didn't want to press the matter further, but the thought in his mind didn't disappear.

He thought to himself, "Good things come to those who wait. It's not convenient to ask today. I'll wait until we set up camp tonight and find a suitable opportunity to discuss it."

The carriage fell silent for a moment, with only the rumbling of the wheels over the gravel road and the slight swaying of the carriage.

Ximen Changhai sat at the other end of the carriage, holding a long sword on his lap, gazing at the mountains and plains receding into the distance outside the carriage.

He had met countless people from the Jianghu —the greedy, the fame-seeking, the lustful, and all sorts of others.

But someone like this senior, so young, handsome, and with unfathomable cultivation, yet so indifferent to all worldly riches and human relationships, is truly unheard of.

As for Wang Shoucai's scheming, he saw through it at a glance, but it was inconvenient for him to say more.