Return Journey

The mountain's morning mist had yet to dissipate.

The escort team had already traveled ten miles.

Their speed was astonishing, far surpassing their journey here.

The carriage wheels rolled over the gravel on the official road, emitting dull, continuous sounds.

Since this was not official business for the Changwei Escort Agency, no escort flags were displayed on the carriages.

Chen Feng walked in the middle of the team.

Cheng Li was beside him.

The two followed behind a certain box-shaped carriage.

Three Bone Forging Realm Martial Artists were positioned at the front, middle, and rear of the team, respectively.

The remaining Blood Refining Realm Martial Artists were distributed throughout the team, responsible for watching the roadside bushes.

This kept the entire team tightly protected.

"Madam... cough... too hateful..."

The maid's complaining voice continuously came from inside the carriage, though the responses were occasional.

It wasn't that Chen Feng intentionally eavesdropped.

However, his senses were sharp, and even with wooden boards separating them, he could faintly hear.

"This maid must be a chatterbox."

Chen Feng thought to himself.

Her complaints hadn't stopped for the past hour.

It made one wonder if she was the maid or the young lady.

If she were a maid, she chattered incessantly, unafraid of annoying her master; if she were a young lady, her constant mumbling didn't seem very dignified.

Chen Feng took a coarse biscuit from his embrace, took a bite, then wrapped it up and put it back.

He always felt like chewing on something when bored on the road.

He occasionally listened to the sounds from the carriage beside him.

His nose could also catch a faint, hidden fragrance.

Day one, until the sun set, they encountered no danger.

Chen Feng began to doubt.

Was it really as terrifying outside the city as everyone said?

Why, for several consecutive days, hadn't they even seen a shadow of a bandit?

It couldn't be that his luck was truly that good, that escorting goods was just picking up money for free, right?

"Halt!"

"Stop and rest!"

Zhang Biao Tou, leading the way, raised his hand and commanded loudly.

At this time, the caravan had reached a village.

Indeed, it was like a swift horse and a fast carriage; this efficiency was equivalent to a day and a half of travel time on the way here.

Hearing Zhang Biao Tou's order.

Everyone dismounted and entered the inn at the village entrance.

And the person inside the carriage.

At this moment, revealed her beauty for the first time.

Chen Feng was nearby. With just a glance, his heart couldn't help but tighten--

Her hair was elegantly tied up, she wore a light yellow gauze skirt, and her waist was tied with white soft smoke silk into a pattern resembling a begonia.

As she stepped out of the carriage, her long legs were exposed, making them appear even more slender against the backdrop of the skirt. Her skin was as fair as snow, with a radiant glow.

Her brows and eyes were charming, her gaze rippled like water, her breath was as fragrant as orchids, and her red lips were moist and lustrous.

What was most astonishing was the curve of her chest, which was indescribable.

"Femme Fatale..."

A thought flashed through Chen Feng's mind.

As if sensing Chen Feng's gaze.

The woman raised her eyes to look over, her gaze meeting Chen Feng's.

She smiled sweetly and nodded slightly at Chen Feng.

"Hey! What are you looking at!"

The maid jumped out of the carriage with her hands on her hips, pointing at Chen Feng with dissatisfaction.

Chen Feng only then realized that he had been a bit impolite and quickly turned his head away awkwardly.

He cupped his fists and apologized.

The two women got out of the carriage and entered the inn. The other escorts couldn't help but turn their heads to look at them more.

Their eyes were glued.

The escort agency was basically full of rough men, where had they ever seen such beauties.

Chen Feng tied up the horse and entered a moment later.

While eating.

The Xu family members intentionally or unintentionally showed exclusion towards Chen Feng's group.

Everyone was a Martial Artist.

They were all arrogant individuals.

Naturally, they disdained to put on a warm face only to be met with a cold rear end. So, Chen Feng and the others sat together, far away from the Xu family members.

"Do you know who was in that carriage?"

Chen Feng asked.

"You don't know?" The other three looked shocked.

"Should I know?"

Chen Feng was very puzzled.

"Such a face, impossibly beautiful, it can only be the young lady of the Cheng family, Cheng Tingxue."

The escort named Wang Huan said.

After speaking, he added, "Aren't you a Personal Disciple of the Dragon Walk Martial Arts School? Why don't you recognize her?"

Chen Feng was even more confused. What did him being a Personal Disciple have to do with this?

Wang Huan continued, "She has a very good relationship with Su Wanqing. Before, the two of them were almost inseparable."

"Under their influence, the relationship between the Su and Cheng families has also improved a lot."

Chen Feng was stunned.

Fifth Senior Sister?

"Yeah, I didn't expect it to be her in the carriage either," Zhang Jiu chimed in.

Seeing Chen Feng still looked confused.

The others quickly explained in detail:

"To be precise, she's no longer part of the Cheng Family. She just married into the Xu Family in Nanxun Town a few days ago."

"Her husband, before he died, was the Young Master of the Xu Family, the designated heir by the family head..."

"Before he died?" Chen Feng asked.

"Yes, it's a shame, bad luck. Died young."

"Died? When did he die?" Old Li asked in surprise, clearly unaware of this.

Wang Huan cautiously looked around.

Confirming that the Xu Family group wasn't nearby, he slowly said in a low voice:

"It happened last month. He died right after getting married."

"That miserable?" Old Li was stunned for a moment, then instinctively said, "What a bitter fate."

"Who's to say otherwise? He was about to become the family head, he had just won the beauty's heart, why did he have to die so early?"

Everyone sighed.

"Sigh... After I finish this trip, I'm going to spend all my money and have a good time at Zuìchūn Tower. Otherwise, when you're dead, it'll all be for nothing."

Wang Huan said with emotion.

"Old Li, life is short, you should enjoy yourself too. What's the use of always saving money? It won't lay eggs."

Chen Feng nodded. Although "Zuìchūn Tower" didn't sound like a good place, Wang Huan had a point.

When you're dead, it's truly all for nothing.

So he decided, as soon as he got back, he would exchange all his silver for cultivation resources, striving to die later.

"Wait, no, I remember you're married. Why would you go to Zuìchūn Tower?"

Zhang Jiu raised an objection to Wang Huan's words.

Everyone's eyes changed.

"Invite me, or I'll tell your wife," Zhang Jiu said sternly.

Chen Feng's mouth twitched. So you guys are this kind of people.

After the few people ate and drank tea.

They prepared to return to their rooms to rest.

The four of them shared one room, and next door were the two from the Xu Family. As for the three in the Bone Forging Realm, they each had their own room.

Like the two women, they were all upstairs.

Just as Chen Feng was about to return to his room, he saw the two Martial Artists from the Xu Family coming down from upstairs. One of them was muttering curses.

"Old, useless things. You'll only ever be Bone Forging trash in this life. What are you pretending for..."

Chen Feng couldn't quite hear what he was saying.

But just by looking at his lips.

He knew it wasn't anything good.

"Bang!"

A loud noise.

Like the sound of a wooden door exploding.

Chen Feng jolted.

He turned his head to look at the entrance--

A Strongman with bulging muscles, carrying a Black Iron Great Saber, his face full of coarse flesh, a ferocious smile on his lips, stood at the door.

His massive body completely blocked the entrance of the inn.

And the inn's door was smashed to pieces.

Wood chips flew everywhere.

It was obvious at a glance that it had been smashed with that saber.

Bang!

The Strongman took a step forward.

He didn't step over the threshold, but directly crushed it.

Chen Feng's eyelids twitched.

So strong?

The escorts heard the commotion and rushed out of their rooms, weapons in hand.

Chen Feng also put on his fingerless gloves.

His eyes were fixed on the strongman, wary of his every move.

The strongman paid no attention to the escorts before him, merely extending the cleaver in his hand:

"Which one of you women is Cheng Tingxue? Come with me!"

The iron blade glinted with a chilling aura.

The pitch-black blade was incredibly domineering.

If one were to be struck by it, their bones might very well split in two.

The strongman's arrogant declaration made it clear to everyone that he was an enemy, not a friend.

Chen Feng heard it clearly.

Beside him, someone unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.