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The next day.

"The convoy to Heping Town is about to depart! Only three spots left, so hurry if you want one!"

"One Da Dou Shi and five Dou Masters escorting the group! Anyone heading to Jia Nan Academy for the entrance examination is welcome!"

"..."

Following the information provided by the receptionist, Hun Cang arrived at a corner of the city and was momentarily stunned by the bustling scene before him.

Dozens of groups were loudly calling for passengers. Behind them stood rows of carriages, along with crowds waiting to depart.

Most of the crowd consisted of middle-aged adults and children, carrying or holding luggage, their faces filled with nervousness and anticipation.

Had he not known in advance, Hun Cang might have thought he had stumbled into another world's holiday travel rush.

"Still taking people?" Hun Cang asked as he approached the largest group. Heping Town was dozens of li from the city. Walking alone was not impossible, but he would stand out too much.

He had come to Jia Nan Academy this time for the Heavenly Flame, Falling Heart Flame. He did not want Soul Hall to notice him.

There was no helping it. Tou She Ancient God's Cave Mansion was beneath it, after all.

"Yes, we happen to be short one person. Are you going, young man?" The leader of the group was a middle-aged man, who answered readily.

Hun Cang nodded and paid the stated price.

Before long, the massive convoy set off, and Hun Cang took a seat in one of the carriages at the rear.

The carriage was pulled by two magical beasts resembling horses. Its frame was spacious, fitted with five rows of seats, each row holding four people.

"An otherworldly bus?" Seated inside, Hun Cang swayed with the carriage as its wheels rattled across the uneven road, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings in surprise.

Beside him sat a middle-aged couple. Smiles lined their weathered faces as they continuously gave advice to the slightly chubby youth seated between them, most of it concerning Jia Nan Academy's entrance assessments.

Once they left the city, mounted figures began patrolling back and forth alongside the carriages.

The passengers' conversations also quieted considerably, and their expressions became tinged with vigilance and worry. Hun Cang, however, remained calm as he quietly admired the scenery around him.

Every year, when Jia Nan Academy opened enrollment, many parents from the Black Corner Region chose to send their children there to take the entrance examination, hoping they could gain admission.

After all, Jia Nan Academy was safer than the Black Corner Region. If their children stayed there, it would ease many of their worries.

Naturally, some people also set their sights on this stretch of road.

That was how these convoys came to be. They transported people to Heping Town in exchange for money.

The convoy had departed in the morning, and near noon, they reached the middle of a mountain.

"Everyone, take a rest here for a while..." The leader called for everyone to get down. When he turned around and saw Hun Cang standing on the carriage frame, he walked over.

In the distance, two majestic mountains stood like horns, and between them, a small town could be vaguely seen.

"That is Heping Town, where we are headed." The leader stood beside Hun Cang and spoke.

Hun Cang gave a soft acknowledgment but said nothing.

"Young man, you look so young. You're also going to take Jia Nan Academy's entrance examination, right? Why are you alone? Where are your parents? Aren't they worried?" The leader was rather talkative.

Looking across the entire convoy, every child with an immature appearance was accompanied by at least one middle-aged or strong adult.

"No, he's our neighbor. We're together." Just as Hun Cang was considering his response, a burly middle-aged man suddenly approached and stared sternly at the leader.

He then blocked the leader's line of sight and gave Hun Cang a meaningful look.

Hun Cang did not actually know him, but he did not want to be bothered either, so he nodded.

Seeing this, the leader gave an awkward smile and turned to leave.

The burly man looked around cautiously before lowering his voice. "Little brother, I've heard that some convoys steal from the people they escort and target those traveling alone. If you have no companions, sit with us."

As he spoke, he glanced a few steps away, where a woman and a youth were seated. When they saw his gaze sweep over them, they smiled and waved.

"No need." Hun Cang glanced over the three of them, narrowed his eyes slightly, and shook his head in refusal.

Before his words had even faded, the burly man grabbed his arm and dragged Hun Cang toward the mother and son without allowing him to refuse. "Don't move around. The leader is still watching this area."

Hun Cang glanced over from the corner of his eye and discovered that the burly man had not lied.

After joining the family of three, they appeared extremely warm and welcoming, perhaps because Hun Cang was alone. They even shared a portion of their dried provisions with him.

"No, thank you." Looking at the steamed buns and the fragrant piece of meat, Hun Cang smiled and refused.

The burly man leaned closer, his eyes glancing toward the distance. "Little brother, you should eat a little. Otherwise, I'm afraid the leader won't believe us and will come looking for you again later."

"That's right, little brother. There's less than half the journey left before we reach Heping Town. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble," the woman also urged.

"Big brother, my mother made these steamed buns and meat herself. They're delicious. Give them a try." The youth's mouth was greasy from eating as he smiled innocently.

Faced with the expectant gazes of the three, Hun Cang sighed helplessly inwardly and could only take the food and slowly begin eating.

Some other children nearby looked over, but their parents sternly scolded them back.

After Hun Cang ate their food, the leader seemed to finally believe that they were neighbors, and his gaze no longer drifted in their direction.

The family of three was warm and generous, sharing everything they knew about Jia Nan Academy's assessments with Hun Cang.

Not long afterward, the convoy resumed its journey. The three even took the initiative to switch seats and sit in the same row as Hun Cang. Whenever the leader's gaze swept over, the burly man would glare back at him without the slightest courtesy.

As evening slowly approached, the faintly visible town became clear, and the conversations within the convoy gradually resumed.

Hun Cang had kept his eyes closed, his brows slightly furrowed, looking as though he were half-asleep.

Just then, the youth beside him saw a butterfly fly past and excitedly reached out to catch it. As a result, he fell out of the carriage.

At the critical moment, he grabbed Hun Cang's clothes, dragging him out with him.

The commotion caused a stir among the passengers behind them.

"You all go on to Heping Town first. I'll catch up shortly." The leader had the convoy continue onward while he himself rode toward the rear.

A flash of helplessness crossed Hun Cang's face. He steadied the youth and landed safely on the ground, while the middle-aged couple leaped from the carriage with worried expressions.

The burly man snapped angrily, "You brat, what are you doing?"

The woman's face darkened. "Apologize to this young man, now! We're almost there, and you're still causing trouble!"

The youth lowered his head, tears filling his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"No need. Save those words for the people you killed." Hun Cang looked at the three with a faint, ambiguous smile, then at the convoy gradually moving away and the leader rapidly approaching on horseback.

"You noticed?" The family of three's expressions changed drastically before turning vicious.

Tears still remained in the youth's eyes as he pulled a dagger from behind his back. "Attack!"

Armor appeared over the three of them. The leader noticed as well, leaping from his horse and rushing over. All four pounced on Hun Cang together.

A few breaths later, Hun Cang mounted a horse and headed toward Heping Town, while the scorching heat in the air behind him was swept away and dispersed by the wind.