Chapter Twenty-Nine Arrival

"That's how it happened. As for why Xie Fei attacked me, I'm not too sure either," Chen Feng told Zhang Biao Tou everything he knew.

Chen Feng spread his hands.

He indicated that he didn't know Xie Fei before, let alone have any grudges.

He himself leaned towards Xie Fei being instigated by someone.

The crowd exchanged glances.

But after careful consideration, they could roughly deduce what had happened--

Xie Fei had mixed sleeping powder into the caravan's food to assassinate Chen Feng.

He had also given Zhang Biao Tou, a Bone Forging Realm expert, "special attention," dosing him with several times the normal amount.

As for Chen Feng and the Martial Artists from the Cheng Family, they ate their own prepared rations.

They hadn't entrusted them to Xie Fei's care.

Therefore, they hadn't fallen victim to the drug.

Chen Feng was glad for his own caution. Otherwise, if Xie Fei's blade had landed, he would have been skinned alive even if he didn't die.

A careless mistake.

Could result in a scar as big as a bowl.

"..."

The crowd fell silent for a long time.

Xie Fei was now unconscious.

The reason why he attacked his companion would only be known after he woke up.

However...

Looking at his condition, it was really uncertain if he would wake up.

A bodyguard was treating Xie Fei, but his movements were far from gentle.

The bandaging was also done perfunctorily.

It was clear he held considerable resentment towards Xie Fei.

In such a desolate wilderness.

To drug the entire caravan.

If wild beasts or bandits suddenly appeared, someone would surely be killed by Xie Fei's actions.

No one wanted to die in a daze.

They only felt disgust for this kind of behavior that put the entire team's lives on the edge of a cliff.

"Where are the night guards?"

Zhang Biao Tou's voice was grim.

He had clearly arranged for two people to be on duty, yet there wasn't a sound.

Two guards walked out from behind, lowering their heads, not daring to make eye contact. One of them said in a low voice:

"Xie Fei wanted to take my shift, so I agreed. Who would have thought..."

The other one had fallen asleep from the beginning and didn't wait to be called to change shifts.

Zhang Biao Tou's face was unsightly.

With something like this happening, he, as the caravan leader, had to bear the main responsibility.

"I will use my entire reward as compensation, and you two night guards will also contribute a portion."

"...Yes." ×2

The two could consider this trip a complete waste of time, and their resentment towards Xie Fei deepened.

"Chen Feng, when Xie Fei wakes up, I will give you a satisfactory explanation," Zhang Biao Tou said.

Chen Feng nodded slightly.

Dragging an unconscious injured person.

The caravan's progress slowed down considerably.

They were supposed to reach Nanxun Town before noon, but it wasn't until evening that they barely arrived.

Fortunately, they didn't encounter any danger along the way.

Seeing the increasing number of ox carts and horses on the road, everyone's mood eased considerably.

This escort mission was generally smooth. The goods had no problems, and they could receive the full payment from the Cheng Family.

Nanxun Town was considerably larger than Pingcheng.

The white walls were mottled, the dark tiles scattered, and weeping willows swayed by the lake. Occasionally, a black-awning boat would pass by, creating ripples on the water's surface.

Everywhere exuded the elegance of a Jiangnan water town.

Both the scenery and the spirit of the people by the roadside were much better than in Pingcheng.

It was the great rivers and streams that bestowed such prosperity upon Nanxun Town.

Beside Nanxun Town was the Xun River.

The Xun River was an important route for canal boat transport. White, gleaming silver flowed in and out of the docks of Nanxun Town with the river's currents.

After delivering the goods to the Xu Family.

Zhang Biao Tou granted everyone permission to rest here for two days before returning.

During this time, Xie Fei woke up.

After learning the news.

Chen Feng followed Zhang Jinsong to the inn.

At this moment, Xie Fei lay on the bed, his eyes vacant, as if he had lost the will to live.

Seeing the two enter the room, Xie Fei remained silent, opened his mouth, and then slowly closed it again.

His eyes, looking at Chen Feng, were filled with fear, anger... and a trace of regret.

Under Zhang Biao Tou's questioning.

He finally confessed everything honestly:

Before the escort mission set off, the Lin Family had approached him, offering a hefty reward for Chen Feng's head.

And they promised.

They would provide Xie Fei with protection afterward.

Facing the immense temptation of a life without worries about food and drink for the rest of his days, Xie Fei couldn't resist and accepted the job.

The result...

He tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice.

Instead, his martial arts were crippled by Chen Feng.

After clarifying the reason, the two closed the door and left the room.

As for whether Xie Fei hated Chen Feng.

He must have hated it.

But one thing was certain, he must regret it now.

From a high-and-mighty Blood Refining Realm Martial Artist, to this state.

It could be considered self-inflicted.

When Chen Feng learned that Xie Fei was acting under someone's orders, he said no more. Xie Fei had already received his due punishment.

As for the Lin Family...

Chen Feng's mind was already brewing a revenge plan. Lin Jingshu was staying with the Li Family, so he couldn't do anything to her for now.

But this Lin Family, which kept causing trouble.

Chen Feng didn't have that good of a temper.

"I didn't go looking for you, yet you keep popping up in front of me, again and again..."

First the Black Tiger Gang, then Xie Fei.

It was truly infuriating.

"Chen Feng, this was my mistake. I apologize." Zhang Jinsong cupped his fists.

At the same time, he took out a money pouch.

And handed it to Chen Feng.

"This is compensation for you."

Chen Feng took it and weighed it in his hand. It was heavy.

"Then I'll accept it."

Chen Feng said thank you and put the money pouch into his embrace. If he hadn't been careful this time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

This money was rightfully his.

Seeing that Chen Feng accepted, Zhang Biao Tou breathed a sigh of relief and then said:

"There's one more thing. When we return, the Xu Family wants to entrust us with delivering some items back to Pingcheng. The reward is very generous."

"The escort team will split up then. Those willing to take the job will come with me. Those who aren't, I will give them travel expenses, and they can leave with other escort teams."

"A Blood Refining Realm expert with a clean record won't have trouble finding an escort team."

Hearing this.

Chen Feng had a vague feeling that something was wrong.

But he didn't say anything, just listened quietly.

"Do you remember that Bone Forging Realm expert from the Cheng Family? He wants you to join them."

Chen Feng was stunned.

"I'll tell everyone the specific details at the inn tonight. I'm mentioning it now so you can consider it carefully."

"The reward will be no less than what you got for this trip."

After speaking, Zhang Jinsong left.

"The return trip... something's not right."

Chen Feng muttered.

The tributaries of the Xun River were extensive, naturally including waterways that connected to Pingcheng.

Chen Feng had worked as a Porter at the docks before.

He was very familiar with this.

So when Zhang Biao Tou said that the Xu Family had goods to entrust to the escort agency to be delivered to Pingcheng, Chen Feng felt something was off.

Because, in this situation, they could completely use the canal transport.

If it was from Pingcheng to Nanxun Town, it was upstream, and coupled with the transit fees that had to be paid to the Canal Gang, canal transport was more expensive, which is why they chose land escort.

That would still make sense.

But now, returning from Nanxun Town to Pingcheng.

No matter how you looked at it, using a Canal Boat would be much more convenient.

Not only was it faster, taking only two or three days to arrive, but the price was definitely cheaper than an Escort Mission.

The dangers on the water were also definitely fewer than in the deep mountains.

Although there were River Bandits, they couldn't be too rampant with the Canal Gang keeping them in check.

"There must be another hidden reason."

Chen Feng guessed that the return journey might be fraught with danger.

This trip to Nanxun Town, they hadn't even encountered a single bandit, which was incredibly good luck. But no one could be lucky all the time.

Including Chen Feng.

So he decided to listen to what was said tonight.

And then make his decision.