Six days later, a sprawling city finally appeared at the end of their vision. Its blue-gray walls gleamed with a weighty sheen beneath the sunlight. They had reached Anzhou.
Ji Nian reined in his horse and looked at the familiar city gate, letting out a long breath. The taut nerves of the past several days finally relaxed. "We've finally arrived! The heart I've kept hanging all the way here can finally be set down."
He turned to Wang Yue and Zheng Gaocè, smiling as he cupped his hands. "You two young masters are presumably heading toward Dingsin Prefecture. Let us part ways here."
As he spoke, he took out two heavy bags of silver from his robes and handed them over, his face carrying a trace of apology. "It isn't much silver, but it is a token of my regard. Please accept it, you two young heroes.
"If you ever pass through Yunxi City in the future, be sure to visit our Ji Family Escort Agency!"
Wang Yue accepted the silver, feeling somewhat embarrassed. He had traveled with the escort convoy for seven or eight days, relying entirely on the Ji family for food and lodging. Now he was even being paid—it truly left him feeling undeserving.
Zheng Gaocè, however, accepted the silver openly and tucked it into his robes. "Uncle Ji, you're too courteous. If fate allows it, we'll meet again!"
Watching the Ji Family escort convoy slowly merge into the stream of people entering the city, Zheng Gaocè turned to Wang Yue with a smile in his eyes. "Brother Zhou, if you have nowhere to go for now, why not travel with me first?"
"Once we reach Dingsin Prefecture, or wherever you wish to stay and gain experience, we can part ways then."
"Then I'll trouble you, Brother