"Golden Wing Tower?"
Zhang Rongfang frowned, wanting to ask more.
Xu Miaotong had already walked closer and brushed past him.
"Remember, you must return within five days, or it will be too late."
Furthermore, once you use the Feather Token, you will automatically become one of us. At that time, whether you like it or not, you must report to Tanyang Thousand Guest Tower.
Otherwise"
Before she could finish speaking, she quickly left.
Zhang Rongfang turned around and called out several times, but the man did not stop.
Soon, all that could be seen was the other person's back disappearing at the end of the street.
A long silence followed.
After Xu Miaotong left, Zhang Rongfang returned to the courtyard and stood under the only Old Locust Tree in the courtyard, remaining motionless for a long time.
He was pondering the meaning behind Xu Miaotong's words.
He originally thought only his master, senior brother, and sister-in-law knew his true identity. Now, the Golden Wing Tower has also come into the picture.
This organization appears to be dedicated to intelligence gathering and handling shady and illegal activities.
So why are they contacting me now?
Not only did they notify him, but they also gave him some kind of Feather Token, saying it could save his life? Zhang Rongfang took out the Feather Token again and examined it carefully. It was just an ordinary object, and he couldn't see anything special about it.
He guessed that this was probably used as a token to ask for help from that Cloud and Mist Residence.
' Golden Wing Tower warned me that Sea Dragon and Red Dog King went to Huaxin County to investigate and might discover something about me. So what might they have discovered about me?'
"Then she said my identity wouldn't be exposed. If my true identity as Zhang Ying won't be exposed, then what will be exposed? What aspect of Zhang Rongfang's identity will be exposed?"
'With my identity Zhang Rongfang, what secrets do I have to worry about Sea Dragon and that Red Dog King discovering?'
Zhang Rongfang analyzed the situation in his mind and quickly came to an answer.
Regarding Zhang Rongfang's secret, there are only two things to worry about.
First, there's his exaggerated progress in martial arts skill level. In just two years, he went from an ordinary person who had just started learning martial arts to reaching the Third Grade.
This speed wouldn't be anything special for Zhang Ying, who is 25 years old.
But for Zhang Rongfang, who is only eighteen years old, that would be too exaggerated.
The second secret, that's the most deadly.
That was Zhang Xuan's identity. In fact, considering that his master and senior brother had asked him to escort his sister-in-law to Tanyang, Zhang Rongfang had a vague idea of what was going on.
Later, he was chased by Qi Shan from Qinghe Temple, who wanted to capture his sister-in-law, but Qishan killed him instead.
Then the uprisings in Seven Counties came together, one event after another.
If Zhang Rongfang still can't guess that his master is connected to the Righteous Army, then he's truly a fool.
'Furthermore, this Golden Wing Tower gave me Feather Token for no reason.'
'Perhaps there's another possibility.'
Zhang Rongfang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"This Golden Wing Tower knows my identity and deliberately passed on bad news about my master to me, saying it in an ambiguous way, just to make me rush back."
Then, when I encountered difficulties back home and had nowhere to turn for help, I had no choice but to take the Feather Token to them for assistance. Thus, I was forced to join this so-called Golden Wing Tower.
After all, he didn't believe that Golden Wing Tower was so powerful that he could even discover his true hidden strength.
Perhaps they guessed that Lin Qixiao had crippled himself, but so what?
At that time, Lin Qixiao had no weapon, had a broken wrist, and was only Third Grade official.
With his sudden attack, even crippling the opponent with his apparent strength wouldn't be a big deal.
As long as his assassination attempt on Basali remains unexposed, everything will be fine.
This last possibility seemed increasingly plausible to Zhang Rongfang.
Because if he were the manager of the Golden Wing Tower, he would try every means to keep the extraordinary martial arts genius on his side.
Especially when this genius had the fatal weakness of having two identities, he sighed softly.
Zhang Rongfang knew in his heart that something had most likely really happened at Qinghe Temple.
Golden Wing Tower wouldn't lie to him with false information; otherwise, he would have found out when he got back and checked.
This is not in line with their purpose.
"In other words, this is a calculated move. If I were loyal and righteous, I would inevitably go back. But with my current strength of only Third Grade, there's very little I can do. If I encounter a desperate situation, I'll have no choice but to ask the Golden Wing Tower for help. At that point, they'll have a legitimate reason to recruit me."
"Hiss." After realizing this, Zhang Rongfang gasped.
There's scheming everywhere. It's so hard to live an easy life in this world.
'If I don't go back, then I'll be heartless and ungrateful. At that time, since the Golden Wing Tower knows my secret identity, they can easily use it to threaten me.'
I still have to join them.
However, being loyal and compassionate might be treated differently from being heartless and ruthless within this organization.
After completing the analysis, Zhang Rongfang felt a heavy weight in his heart, as if a fire was burning within him.
For the first time, he experienced the frustration of being controlled by others.
For the first time, he understood that only by mastering his own true power and various channels could he avoid being used against by others.
If he had the ability to obtain various new identities, how could he have ended up in this situation?
Once his identity is revealed, everything he currently possesses will vanish like a mirage.
After a moment of silence, he slowly began to practice the Talisman Art, trying to calm his mind.
First came the Mixed Origin Talisman.
Unfortunately, his state of mind seemed to be completely out of sync with the requirements of the Mixed Origin Talisman. Not only did he fail to make any progress, but he also became somewhat chaotic and impatient.
After that, he changed his method and switched to the Flame Emperor Talisman.
Strangely, the Flame Emperor Talisman, which had been progressing very slowly, suddenly seemed to have a breakthrough. Many things that were previously incomprehensible and felt awkward suddenly became clear, as if a flood had broken through all the barriers.
After more than ten minutes, Zhang Rongfang slowly slowed down.
Finally, he stood still, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing.
At this moment, all of Flame Emperor Talisman's insights and experiences converged and became integrated.
"I see. The Flame Emperor Talisman is the only Talisman Art in the entire Great Dao Sect with the strongest offensive power. It is equivalent to an enhanced version of the Yue Type Talisman."
At this moment, the skill name related to the Flame Emperor Talisman finally began to slowly appear on his Attribute Panel.
'Flame Emperor Talisman (Beginner)'
"Finally done. But unfortunately, I'm still a bit short on points."
Zhang Rongfang glanced at his current Attribute Points.
It's only two o'clock.
If you want to Breaking Limits of the Flame Emperor Talisman in one go, you will have to wait at least twenty days.
"Unfortunately, time waits for no one, but there are still benefits to getting started."
He increasingly felt that the Returning Spring Purifying Time Talisman Classic, a martial art, had unique effects for each of its Talisman Art.
For example, the Flame Emperor Talisman enhances the burst attack power of the Breaking Limit Skill: Heavy Mountain.
After Breaking Limits, he had a premonition that Heavy Mountain might transform into another form.
The fact that the talismanic arts of the Great Dao Sect Faneng be listed as Superior Martial Arts means that they must have some merit.
Calming down and using the Flame Emperor Talisman helped Zhang Rongfang stabilize his emotions considerably.
He went inside to pack his things, then quickly left home to go to places like wineries, teahouses, or Escort Agency to gather information.
After all, he couldn't possibly believe only Golden Wing Tower's side of the story.
Along the way, he first went to the winery.
Once people drink alcohol, they tend to blurt out all sorts of things.
People who are usually quiet become talkative after drinking. People who usually boast are more likely to have their emotions and courage amplified after drinking, and they will dare to say anything.
Soon, Zhang Rongfang emerged from the distillery, his expression slightly grim.
Then came inquiries at teahouses and restaurants. After making these inquiries, he had basically confirmed that the road between Huaxin County and Tanyang had been blocked.
Within Huaxin County, nothing can be found about Qinghe Temple.
Now that the Official Road and several main routes in both places are blocked, the only way back is to find a back road.
Now all the major Escort Agency have been ordered not to escort goods to the Seven Counties.
No caravans went to the Seven Counties to sell or purchase goods.
Zhang Rongfang has now decided to go back and take a look.
Regardless, his current movement technique is barely enough to protect him.
At this moment, he was even more grateful that he had chosen to prioritize speed and movement. Otherwise, if he were surrounded by a large group of robbers on the road, he would definitely be doomed.
Even if he is Seventh Grade general, he would still be no match for dozens of fearless bandits who would surround and kill him with weapons.
Even if he could kill someone in a second.
If two people were to attack him with knives in that single second, he would be injured.
Even if he's fast enough to parry a second person, what about a third, a fourth, or even a fifth sword?
Dealing with multiple attackers simultaneously requires far more mental and physical exertion than fighting one person alone.
What if the bandits had poisoned their weapons? Thinking of this, Zhang Rongfang knew that the best way for him to get back was to hide his identity and return secretly.
In addition, since the Official Road was impassable and he didn't know the way, he had to find someone to guide him!
Within Tanyang City, there is only one type of place where you can find someone willing to lead the way under these circumstances.
***Next to Tanyang Station, there is a Great Way space without a sign or plaque.
The area was surrounded by a rough white wall, and there was a guard at the entrance collecting tickets, ten coins per person.
The people around here call this place Road Market.
The so-called roadside is the place where bodyguards from escort agencies, caravan clerks, waiters in restaurants, etc. often look for jobs after leaving their jobs.
This Road Market not only attracts people looking for work, but also a lot of other miscellaneous tasks.
For example, some families are struggling to make ends meet and are selling their children. Because they dislike the low prices offered by the other side of the market, they come here to sell their children.
For example, there are acrobatic troupes and opera troupes that set up their stalls here year-round to take on gigs.
Some people even find 'treasure' in the countryside or mountains outside the city, and then pretend to be honest people, hawking their wares here.
"This is money."
At this moment, several people dressed in gray clothes and wearing bamboo hats paid money and entered the gate of the Road Market.
Following behind them was a tall, burly man.
The man had a somber expression and wore a very common blue-black cloth outfit. He carried a round object wrapped in cloth on his back and a large bundle in his hand, the contents of which were unknown.
After paying the money and entering the Road Market, the man looked around.