Cangqing Mountain Range

Early morning.

Qingshan Town, Stone Gate Tower.

Cheng Buzheng had arrived early and was waiting for the convoy. Though it was still well before the appointed time, he couldn't afford to let his guard down for even a moment.

Half an hour later.

A convoy of carriages slowly rolled out of town. A black flag emblazoned with a large white "Qian" was planted on the lead carriage. It was the Qian Family's convoy insignia.

The streets were nearly empty. Seeing the great flag fluttering in the wind, passersby hurried to one side. Even the town's ruffians wouldn't dare cause trouble for the convoy. They knew it belonged to the Qian Family, one of the town's most powerful lineages.

Suddenly.

"Stop!"

A clear voice rang out from the most luxurious carriage in the middle of the convoy.

The convoy came to a slow, steady halt. The coachmen were all experienced hands; otherwise, a sudden stop might have sent the whole convoy into a panic.

Just then, the curtain over one of the middle carriage's windows was lifted, revealing the handsome face of a young man who looked about sixteen or seventeen.

It was none other than Qian Zhe, the Qian Family's young master, who had arranged to meet Cheng Buzheng.

"Buzheng! Hurry up and get in!" Qian Zhe called to Cheng Buzheng from beneath the Stone Gate Tower.

"Thank you, Big Brother Qian!" Cheng Buzheng clasped his hands and bowed to Qian Zhe inside the carriage.

Under the envious eyes of the passersby, Cheng Buzheng climbed into the luxurious carriage.

At once.

The convoy set off again, slowly gathering speed as it traveled farther and farther away. Once it had vanished from sight, the onlookers dispersed and went back to their own busy lives.

After leaving town, the convoy picked up speed once more. Cheng Buzheng could feel the difference clearly from inside the carriage.

Qian Zhe and Cheng Buzheng shared a carriage. One sat in the very middle, enjoying the delicacies on a small table and occasionally taking a sip of fine wine. The other sat cross-legged at one side, lifting the curtain and staring outside in wide-eyed wonder.

"Big Brother Qian, is that the Cangqing Mountain Range?" Cheng Buzheng pointed out the window and asked.

At this.

Qian Zhe glanced outside, looking rather pleased with himself. "Yes, that's the Cangqing Mountain Range. Only the Cangqing Mountain Range is so treacherous! It's infested with bandits from all sorts of factions. Ordinary convoys have to pay the full toll, or else they have to hand over some of their goods.

"Of course, they wouldn't dare charge the Qian Family's convoy a toll. If they did, they'd be alive to collect it, but dead before they could spend it!"

Cheng Buzheng was quite surprised. He hadn't expected the Qian Family to be so powerful. He wondered what they had to rely on to think so little of all those bandits.

"Young Master." The old Qian Family servant driving the carriage outside couldn't help but remind him.

At that, Qian Zhe stopped boasting. He glanced nonchalantly at the old servant outside the carriage, a flicker of resentment passing through his eyes before vanishing.

Cheng Buzheng was perceptive enough to stop asking about this sensitive subject.

"Big Brother Qian, how long will it take to reach Yaoshan Town after we cross the Cangqing Mountain Range?"

Qian Zhe calculated briefly. "Hmm, about an hour more, I'd say."

"By then, it'll be nearly dark. If you're not in a hurry, Big Brother, why not wait until tomorrow to go to the county seat? It won't be easy to travel once it gets dark." Cheng Buzheng spoke as if he were concerned for his dear big brother's safety.

Qian Zhe didn't seem to mind. "Once we reach Yaoshan Town, it'll only take another half an hour to get to the county seat. We'll arrive before nightfall, so don't worry, my dear younger brother!"

Cheng Buzheng felt reassured. He now had a rough idea of how far the county seat was from Yaoshan Town, and no longer had to worry about running out of time.

Before long.

The convoy gradually slowed and began moving into the canyon pass. This was the only route through the Cangqing Mountain Range, and it was also where the bandits were based.

Suddenly, the convoy stopped.

Cheng Buzheng lifted the curtain and leaned out to look. Up ahead, a small convoy of just three carriages had been stopped by bandits.

"Young Master, the convoy ahead hasn't paid enough for the toll and is offering up some of its goods instead. Please wait a moment," the old Qian Family servant driving outside said.

"Mm," Qian Zhe murmured, then smiled at Cheng Buzheng. "Looks like some greenhorns just got into the business and don't know the rules. Their convoy will be lucky to break even this time!"

"Every trade has its rules. Big Brother Qian, you really know a lot!"

Cheng Buzheng flattered him smoothly.

"Of course." Qian Zhe looked pleased, his voice brimming with smugness.

It wasn't long before the convoy started moving again. Just as expected, no bandits stopped them. It seemed they knew who owned the convoy.

On a mountainside not far away, a newcomer who had just joined the bandits saw the convoy with its fluttering Qian banner pass through the canyon unhindered. Curious, he turned to the burly man beside him, whose face was covered in a thick beard.

"Big Brother, that huge convoy looks like it's carrying plenty of loot. Why'd you let it pass?"

The burly, bearded man smacked the newcomer hard on the back of the head and snarled, "That's the Household's convoy! Are you tired of living and eager to go have a drink with Yama? Go ahead, then. I won't stop you."

The newcomer glanced at the convoy below and muttered, "As if I'd dare! Even if I had the guts of a bear and a leopard, I still wouldn't dare!

"I just didn't know, that's all!"

After crossing the Cangqing Mountain Range, they encountered fewer and fewer wild beasts. The beasts that tried to approach the convoy didn't even make it within ten zhang before the mounted outriders on either flank hunted them down.

Cheng Buzheng saw the ferocious beasts with his own eyes: wild boars, tigers, and leopards. He felt quite lucky to have hitched a ride with the Qian Family's convoy.

Otherwise, he might not even have made it through the Cangqing Mountain Range. He could have ended up as nothing but bones.

An hour later.

Inside the carriage, Qian Zhe instructed the old servant driving outside, "Master Liu, stop the convoy!"

The old servant driving the carriage replied, "Yes, Young Master!"

"Young Master has ordered the convoy to stop immediately!" The old servant's loud voice carried across the empty wilderness.

The convoy soon came to a halt.

After saying his farewells to Qian Zhe, Cheng Buzheng climbed down from the carriage and headed toward Herb Town, following the map he had committed to memory.

Inside the carriage, Qian Zhe lifted the curtain and watched Cheng Buzheng walk away. In a cool voice, he spoke to the old servant outside.

"Master Liu, call Qian Qi over!"

A short while later.

A burly man dressed in black rode up on a tall horse and stopped beside the luxurious carriage. Qian Zhe lifted the curtain and spoke to Qian Qi outside, his expressionless.

"Follow the boy who just got off. If he isn't going to Yaoshan Town and changes course for the county seat, kill him on the spot. If he is going to Yaoshan Town, come back at once and don't make any trouble. Understand?"

The burly man in black sat astride his tall horse, his expression blank as he clasped his hands respectfully. "Yes, Young Master!"

Before long.

As Cheng Buzheng walked toward Yaoshan Town, he passed a bend and suddenly dropped to the ground, pressing his ear to it. He heard the rumble of approaching hooves. A cold glint flashed in his eyes and vanished; then he got up and continued toward Yaoshan Town without a word.

"Just as I thought. Good thing I stayed on my guard, or I'd have been as good as dead today!

"Qian Zhe, I'll remember this great 'kindness' of yours!"