At noon, after the wealthy merchant treated Su Xian and the others to a meal,
five horse-drawn carriages left through Blackwater County's southern gate.
Instructor Yang was assigned to guard the first carriage,
while Su Xian was assigned to the last carriage.
As for the carriage in the very middle, it was loaded with numerous chests. No one knew what was inside.
Deng Lin had also been assigned to the last carriage, where he rode with Su Xian.
"Big Brother Su, do you know what they're escorting to Lingyun County?"
Deng Lin gave Su Xian a mysterious smile.
"Nothing more than some furs and medicinal herbs, I suppose."
Su Xian glanced at the chests and said blandly.
He knew a little about this wealthy merchant.
Back then, he had sold the furs of his demon beasts to shops owned by this merchant.
Since Blackwater County was closest to Green Dragon Mountain, and Green Dragon Mountain's medicinal herbs and furs were the finest,
shipping them to other counties could bring in a handsome profit.
The only trouble was that powerful bandits occasionally appeared along the road. But this merchant was an old hand,
and naturally had connections with those bandits. Paying a little silver would let them leave safely.
"Mm! It's just as Big Brother Su said." Deng Lin nodded, then shook his head. "Actually, I heard that this wealthy merchant can't stay in Blackwater County any longer. This time, he plans to move part of his fortune to Lingyun County!"
"Most of the chests in these carriages are probably filled with gold and silver!"
Deng Lin spoke to Su Xian in a low voice.
"What? Have you gotten greedy?"
Su Xian's expression remained calm as he glanced at Deng Lin beside him.
He couldn't be bothered to care what was in the chests.
All he needed now was to reach Lingyun County and obtain that fourth-grade Body Tempering Martial Skill.
Deng Lin shook his head and gave an awkward laugh.
"How would I dare? Instructor Yang Wu's strength is no ordinary matter! Other than Big Brother Su, everyone else here wouldn't survive a single move from him!"
"What I'm worried about is that since even I was able to learn this news,"
"then the interested parties in Blackwater County must have channels to learn it as well! I'm afraid this journey will be dangerous!"
Deng Lin spoke with worry written across his face.
Su Xian nodded slightly. It was indeed as Deng Lin had said.
Since even he had managed to hear this bit of inside information, naturally, anyone who cared to investigate could find it out as well.
It seemed this journey truly would not be peaceful.
"Just stay by my side when the time comes."
Su Xian looked at Deng Lin beside him and spoke softly.
Su Xian did not feel much dislike toward Deng Lin.
If something truly happened, he would protect him if he could. If he couldn't, then all they could do was flee far away.
"Thank you, Big Brother Su!" Deng Lin was overjoyed. He hurriedly clasped his hands and bowed in thanks.
Su Xian sat in the last carriage, watching the scenery on both sides rush backward. He could not help shaking his head.
Although Lingyun County was quite far from Blackwater County, the horses pulling these carriages were no ordinary steeds.
They were exotic beasts known as Flying Cloud Horses. Though they were not of the Demon Race, they possessed the strength of the Skin Grinding Realm.
These horses had powerful physiques and tremendous speed. Pulling carriages, traveling a thousand li in a day was no problem!
At this speed, they should reach the outskirts of Lingyun County in roughly three hours.
An hour passed, and Su Xian's group encountered no obstacles. Deng Lin's expression gradually relaxed.
Half an hour later, Su Xian's group encountered a band of people blocking the road.
Each was mounted on a horse and carried a saber, their blood qi soaring into the heavens.
Deng Lin instantly grew tense. He quietly explained to Su Xian:
"This is a band of bandits entrenched between Blackwater County and Lingyun County. Their leader is a mid-stage Tendon Refining Realm martial artist! His strength is formidable!"
"If a fight breaks out, Big Brother Su, please be careful of him!"
Hearing this, Su Xian gripped the saber at his side and watched the bandit leader, ready to strike at any moment.
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However, things did not develop as they had expected.
The wealthy merchant was very experienced. After taking out some silver and handing it to these men,
the men burst into laughter and swaggered away.
"Whew! That was close! You nearly scared me to death!"
Deng Lin let out a great sigh of relief and wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead.
If these bandits had truly decided to attack, his small amount of cultivation would not have been enough to withstand a single slash from their leader.
At this moment, a Muscle Forging Realm martial artist from the fourth carriage came to the side of Su Xian's carriage and looked at the two of them with a smile.
"You two don't need to be so nervous. The boss is an old acquaintance of this road. He sent over a formal greeting long ago. As long as we hand over some silver, we can pass safely."
"There won't be much danger on this journey."
He wore a smile and spoke in a relaxed tone.
He had traveled this road with the boss more than a hundred times. By now, he knew it like the back of his hand.
"Really? That's wonderful!" Deng Lin smiled and thoroughly relaxed.
"Mm, got it." Su Xian nodded indifferently.
The martial artist then returned to the fourth carriage, and everyone continued on their way.
They encountered another group of mounted bandits blocking the road along the way, but they passed through just as easily.
Deng Lin relaxed even further.
Su Xian, however, remained calm as ever, keeping one hand on the hilt of his saber the entire time!
Before long, another half hour passed.
"Big Brother Su, as far as I know, there should only be one more bandit group along the remaining stretch of road!"
"I heard that the leader of that group is at the mid-stage of the Tendon Refining Realm, with terrifying strength."
"But according to the rumors, he doesn't usually act personally. Normally, you can pass after paying."
Deng Lin told Su Xian some of the information he had learned.
"Mm, got it!"
Su Xian nodded, but he did not completely relax inwardly.
After all, he did not care that much about these bandits. What concerned him more was the possibility of encountering a demon.
Although the odds of a demon appearing on the main road were very low, it was not impossible.
Before long, Su Xian's group was stopped once more. This time, it was a band of mountain bandits.
The two men at the front were both bald, and each had a saber scar across his face.
They looked fierce and malevolent, clearly not people to be trifled with!
Once the numerous martial artists in Su Xian's convoy got a clear look at the two leaders, they immediately grew tense.
The atmosphere became unusual.
The martial artists hired as guards also sensed that something was wrong and grew vigilant one after another!
Deng Lin wore a bitter smile, his body trembling faintly. "Big Brother Su, we're finished this time!"
"These are the famed Scarred Twin Heroes! Both of them are late-stage Tendon Refining Realm martial artists!"
"Rumor has it that the two of them once joined forces and escaped from a Bone Tempering Realm expert!"
"They're terrifyingly strong! And they kill people at the drop of a hat! I'm afraid we're in trouble this time!"
Deng Lin whispered his explanation to Su Xian.
After hearing him, Su Xian looked toward the two leaders, without the slightest fear in his heart.
After all, he was now an early-stage Bone Tempering Realm martial artist, and he also possessed a fourth-grade Flowing Fire Burning Wind Seven Slashes Technique.
Dealing with two men who had only escaped from an early-stage Bone Tempering Realm expert by joining forces should not require too much effort.
The wealthy merchant and Instructor Yang's expressions also changed when they saw the two men.
The wealthy merchant and Instructor Yang exchanged a glance, both faintly uneasy.
This should have been Lin Da's territory. Why had the Scarred Twin Heroes appeared here?
"Honored heroes, this is our offering. Please allow us to pass!"
Instructor Yang stepped forward and presented the offering. Then he glanced at the people behind the Scarred Twin Heroes, his expression turning grave.
He recognized those people. They were all former subordinates of Lin Da in this area!
Could Lin Da have been killed by them? Did the Scarred Twin Heroes take over his forces?
Instructor Yang secretly speculated.
"Of course, of course!"
The elder brother of the Scarred Twin Heroes accepted the offering and tossed it lightly in his hand, a smile appearing on his face.
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