The next morning.
Jiang Dalong gathered the entire household, young and old. More than a hundred people packed the front courtyard, all looking reluctantly at Jiang Dao.
Especially his younger sisters.
Nearly every one of them had reddened eyes and tear-filled gazes as they looked at Jiang Dao.
Even Jiang Dao felt a little embarrassed by this.
Unfortunately, he had been in this world for less than a month. He had spent every day in a state of tension and truly lacked any emotional bond with so many sisters. He could not even name them all.
The only one he felt any attachment to was probably his youngest sister, Jiang Ruyan.
"Father, nothing will happen."
Jiang Dao put away the letter of introduction and spoke.
"Dao'er, Qianyuan City is not like our home. The situation there is complicated. As the saying goes, a mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake. Once you get there, do not stir up trouble."
Jiang Dalong could not help but say.
"Mm, I will."
Jiang Dao nodded.
"Dao'er, your mother was gone when you were little. Second Consort watched you grow up. All these years, I never properly took care of you. Second Consort bought you a set of clothes, though I do not know whether they fit."
Second Consort Liu Hongyan wiped away her tears. Holding a white sable-fur coat, she draped it over Jiang Dao's shoulders and said, "I heard that Qianyuan City has a different climate. It is colder there than it is here. With this on, you should not be too cold."
"Thank you, Second Consort."
Jiang Dao said.
After Liu Hongyan tied the fastenings for Jiang Dao, she slowly stepped back.
Next came Third Consort, Fourth Consort, Fifth Consort... all the way to Ninth Consort. They each came forward to bid him farewell.
Jiang Dao was momentarily speechless.
His father truly was impressively capable...
"Father, ladies, there is no need for this. I will return."
Jiang Dao spoke, then looked toward Pang Lin, Fang Biao, Wang Xing, and the others. Cupping his hands, he said, "Masters, I leave the household in your care. If anything happens, send me a carrier pigeon at once!"
"Rest assured, Young Master. We will!"
Their eyes reddened as they solemnly cupped their hands.
Jiang Dao nodded lightly, picked up his long saber, and stepped directly into the carriage.
Inside, the maids had already carefully prepared all kinds of necessities.
The carriage floor was covered in blankets. Dry rations, water, and assorted snacks were piled along one side.
There was also a jar of sandalwood incense, giving off a faint fragrance.
The carriage would be traveling north with a caravan from the city, so the journey would not be overly lonely.
"Hyah!"
The driver shouted, cracked his whip, and set off into the distance.
Jiang Dalong let out a heavy sigh. His old eyes were moist as he instinctively rubbed them.
"When one gets old, sand always finds its way into one's eyes..."
Outside Fengzhou City stretched an endless expanse, with a winding official road running long into the distance.
Travelers from all places passed along it: merchants, porters, and occasionally one or two martial wanderers carrying sabers or swords. All hurried along, raising clouds of dusty haze.
A caravan of several dozen people traveled down the official road.
The horse bells clinked and rang.
All along the way, Jiang Dao had nothing to do. He sat steadily in the carriage, circulating the Life Nurturing Art again and again.
Several days passed, and the wound on his abdomen had almost completely healed.
It looked as though it had been healing for months. Aside from several deep scars, there was no discomfort at all.
"I wonder whether the Blazing Flame Sect has any other inner cultivation arts. I hope they do not disappoint me..."
Jiang Dao muttered to himself.
Three days passed.
The caravan crossed a succession of fertile plains and finally entered a region of rolling terrain.
White mist hung hazily all around.
Though it was only early autumn, much of the vegetation here had already withered yellow.
As the caravan traveled onward, a scream suddenly rang out without warning.
"Ah!"
The sound was piercing.
The caravan's guards all changed expression and immediately drew their long sabers.
"Bandits!"
"Defend yourselves!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of sabers being drawn rang out in succession, and the crowd descended into chaos.
All the merchants traveling with the caravan trembled and hurried to find somewhere to hide.
Jiang Dao frowned and casually reached out.
Pfft!
A poisoned arrow shot through the carriage curtain, only to be caught in his hand.
With a crack, he casually crushed the arrow.
"Bandits again..."
He casually lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out, his broad, powerful body emerging from within.
Figures flickered in every direction. Large numbers of people rapidly gathered, each holding steel sabers or spears. Cold light flashed from their weapons, and murderous intent pressed down on the caravan.
There were at least a hundred of them.
Some of the bandits drew their bows to the full and swiftly aimed poisoned arrows at the people in the caravan.
The caravan leader looked terrified. Cowering inside his carriage, he cried out, "Heroes, let us talk this over! Do not kill anyone!"
"Hahaha..."
A booming laugh rang out. The leader was a rough-looking man in a black robe, his face covered in thick, curling whiskers. Holding a massive nine-ring broadsword, he shouted, "Since that is the case, I will not waste words. My brothers have suffered hunger and hardship year-round, with no fixed place to live. Now that autumn and winter are approaching, we are borrowing one hundred thousand taels of silver to spend. Hand over the cash, and we will leave at once. Otherwise, we will slaughter every last one of you!"
"Awooo! Awooo!"
The bandits in every direction waved their steel sabers and shouted.
What arrogant words!
He opened his mouth and demanded to borrow one hundred thousand taels!
Jiang Dao narrowed his eyes, cold light flickering within them.
One hundred thousand taels could equip an army of two thousand men and keep them supplied with food for three months.
"One hundred thousand taels?"
The caravan leader's face twisted as he wailed, "Honored heroes, please show mercy! This lowly one... this lowly one cannot produce one hundred thousand taels!"
"If you cannot produce it, kill every man and carry the women back for our enjoyment!"
The whiskered man shouted fiercely.
"No, do not kill anyone! We have one hundred thousand taels. We can gather it together. Everyone, pool your money!"
Suddenly, a young scholar in the caravan cried out in terror.
He was merely heading to Qianyuan City to study. No matter what, he did not dare gamble with his life.
As for silver, his family had given him several thousand taels for his studies before he left.
If he gritted his teeth and handed over most of it, then pooled money with the others, they should be able to gather enough.
"I will give you the time it takes to burn half an incense stick. If you cannot gather the silver, we act immediately!"
The whiskered man shouted.
The caravan leader was beside himself with terror. He hurriedly turned around inside the carriage and shouted toward the rear, "Young masters, sirs, whoever has money on them, do not hide it at a time like this. Staying alive is what matters!"
The others were panic-stricken and trembling.
The money they carried was essentially their entire fortune. How could they be willing to hand it over? Once they did, even if the bandits did not kill them, they would no longer be able to survive.
Jiang Dao shook his head lightly.
Enough.
Better settle this early and get back on the road!
What a mess!
He suddenly leaped down from the carriage and walked toward the whiskered man.
"Boss, look!"
A pale-faced scholar beside the whiskered man suddenly noticed Jiang Dao and said, "Someone is coming over. He seems to know martial arts!"
The burly man narrowed his eyes, murderous intent appearing within them. "A fool who does not know his own limits. Loose the arrows!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The bandits beside him immediately drew their bows and fired at Jiang Dao.
Jiang Dao's expression remained indifferent. He strolled forward at an unhurried pace and lightly reached out.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Every arrow shot at him was caught precisely in his hand.
Not a single arrow could land on him.
Everyone in the caravan behind him noticed the scene, their eyes widening.
"Hero, save us!"
The caravan leader hurriedly cried out.
Jiang Dao caught and crushed every incoming arrow as though it took no effort at all, striding toward the whiskered man and his group.
When the whiskered man and the others saw Jiang Dao catching poisoned arrows barehanded, their expressions immediately changed.
"Kid, who are you?"
He cried out in alarm.
He had never seen such strength before!
He had never seen anyone catch flying arrows with their bare hands like this.
"Oh no, he is coming over."
The pale-faced scholar beside him shouted in alarm.
Jiang Dao suddenly left behind an afterimage, tearing through the gale as he charged wildly toward the whiskered man in an instant.
The whiskered man's scalp went numb. He hurriedly roared, "Attack together! Chop him to pieces!"
The other bandits beside him immediately raised their sabers and spears, rushing straight at Jiang Dao.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Jiang Dao's Eagle Claw Art struck rapidly, mercilessly.
Steel sabers and spears were all crushed on the spot by his hands.
His five fingers were like iron hooks as they tore across the necks of one bandit after another—fast, precise, ruthless. The wind howled around his strikes, viciously sharp, and every blow was fatal.
Screams rang out as blood splashed.
At last, Jiang Dao charged through them and rushed swiftly toward the whiskered man.
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