Divergence

"Why had the Cheng Family sent only one Bone Forging Martial Artist? Why had the Xu Family sent so few people, too?"

Chen Feng found it hard to ignore the question.

He wondered if it meant that both families had already abandoned Cheng Li Xue, tacitly agreeing to send her to Lu Hong.

As a gift to curry favor with the Canal Gang.

Thinking of it that way, Chen Feng couldn't help feeling a little pity as he looked at the carriage.

And then there was her behavior—

She had a noble status, yet she'd apologized in person just to keep a few Martial Artists as extra help.

Like a bird in a cage.

Struggling desperately to break free and take control of her own fate.

As for how things would ultimately turn out—

Chen Feng wasn't optimistic.

Because if his guess was right, even if Cheng Tingxue made it back to Pingcheng, sooner or later they would send her out again.

"Ah... what a poor soul."

Chen Feng couldn't help sighing.

A woman who had to use even her own beauty as a weapon in her schemes—was she tragic, or pitiful?

Perhaps the only comfort she had now was that maid, another woman like herself.

That was probably why she kept putting up with her, again and again.

"Hyah!"

Chen Feng brought his whip down.

He stopped thinking about it.

Everyone was powerless to escape their circumstances, and he was no different. There was no need to worry about someone else's troubles.

At noon, the sun hung high overhead.

No one knew how far they'd traveled. They only knew that the horses were exhausted, their pace having slowed considerably.

The road made a sharp bend here.

Chen Feng recalled that this area was just within the territory of a band of mountain bandits.

Zhang Biao Tou had mentioned it in passing. Though they hadn't seen any bandits, Chen Feng had kept it in mind.

"This blasted place."

Among the Xu Family's Martial Artists, the one with the squarer face spat and kept complaining about how difficult the road was.

Up one hill, down another.

It was enough to make anyone irritable.

Even Wang Huan and the others, professional Escort Guards, couldn't help feeling a little on edge.

They hadn't slept a wink all day.

After learning that their enemies were the Canal Gang, the tension in their hearts hadn't let up for a moment.

Chen Feng said nothing.

His attention was fixed on a ridge two li ahead. It stretched across their path like a giant beast lying in wait.

Green leaves fluttered in the wind, and the few crooked old trees on its crest had been bent in the same direction by years of wind.

Chen Feng remembered.

When they'd passed through here the day before yesterday, Zhang Biao Tou had stopped the convoy first and sent someone to scout ahead.

Watching the carriages and horses draw closer to the ridge, Chen Feng spoke up:

"Should we send someone to take a look at that ridge up ahead?"

Cheng Li, driving the carriage, turned his head to glance at Chen Feng and was about to speak.

But the Square-faced Martial Artist from the Xu Family spoke first:

"Why are you making such a fuss? There are people chasing us from behind, and you're still dawdling here."

Chen Feng didn't want to deal with the man.

He simply looked at Cheng Li.

Cheng Li was the only Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist present. He was the strongest, and his status was neutral.

They needed to wait for him to speak.

"Second Uncle, do as he says."

Cheng Tingxue's calm voice drifted from inside the carriage. It was clear and gentle, yet tinged with weariness.

Cheng Li nodded, then turned to look at everyone, seemingly deciding whom to send.

The Square-faced Martial Artist immediately grew agitated.

"If someone has to go, let him go himself! Whoever wants to go can go. I'm not going."

The other Xu Family Martial Artist chimed in, too:

"He's got no skill, but he sure loves making trouble. If we lose time because of him, it'll be his fault."

The two of them took turns mocking Chen Feng for acting on his own authority.

Chen Feng paid no attention to their words.

He found it exhausting even to look at people like them. Arguing with them would only waste his energy.

So he pointed at one of them without a second thought.

"You. You're going!"

The Square-faced Martial Artist was stunned.

Then he snapped, "Why me?"

Chen Feng spoke slowly, not answering the Xu Family Martial Artist, but addressing the carriage instead:

"Madam, you agreed to my conditions."

"But from what I can see, these two men from your Xu Family don't seem inclined to obey..."

Silence fell inside the carriage for a moment. Then the clear, melodious voice sounded again. "Do as he says."

The Square-faced Martial Artist's expression changed drastically.

He looked as miserable as if he'd swallowed a fly.

Chen Feng had originally planned to go and check for himself. But since someone had jumped out to annoy him, he didn't mind returning the favor.

You didn't want to go, huh?

Then you were going, whether you liked it or not.

"But..."

The Square-faced Martial Artist was about to say more, but his companion tugged at him.

"Enough. The young madam has already spoken, and you're still arguing?"

A flash of resentment passed through the Square-faced Martial Artist's eyes. He glanced at the carriage, but didn't dare let his gaze linger on Cheng Li.

"Damn it, fine! I'll go!"

The Square-faced Martial Artist swung down from his horse and headed toward the ridge, his face dark.

As he left, he muttered a stream of curses.

"Bitch... damn... what a... honestly..."

Chen Feng ignored him. He took a coarse-grain flatbread from his pocket, broke off a small piece, and swallowed it with a mouthful of water.

Just enough to settle his stomach.

He watched silently as the Square-faced Martial Artist disappeared around the bend in the road.

"That woman's a jinx who killed her husband. Pah! Just let me get the chance, and I'll... heh heh."

A lascivious grin spread across the Square-faced Martial Artist's face.

"Pity the young master doesn't have that kind of luck. Tsk, that little waist, that ass, those big breasts. I'd love to have a good feel."

After rounding the ridge, the Square-faced Martial Artist looked left and right.

Behind the ridge, there were trees upon trees, but not a single person in sight.

"See? There's nothing wrong here. That brat hasn't even got his adult teeth, and he's already making trouble."

As for up above...

The Square-faced Martial Artist squinted at the crest.

"That's a bit high... Forget it. I can't be bothered to climb. It should be fine."

After thinking it over, he turned around and headed back without hesitation.

Chen Feng hadn't finished swallowing his flatbread when the Square-faced Martial Artist reappeared in his field of vision. His brow immediately furrowed.

That fast?

The Square-faced Martial Artist hurried over, shouting as he came:

"Come on, come on! Let's get moving! There's nothing wrong. I didn't even see a bird."

Suspicion filled Chen Feng's eyes. "Did you check behind the ridge and up on top?"

The Square-faced Martial Artist impatiently replied, "I checked, I checked. You're such a pain in the ass, always looking for trouble. There's nothing there."

"Really? Then how'd you get back so fast?"

The Square-faced Martial Artist felt a pang of guilt, but on the surface he still put on a show of indignation.

"What's it to you? Can't I run?"

The Square-faced Martial Artist shot back, then climbed onto his horse and said, "Believe it or not."

Cheng Li hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

"All right. Let's go."

With that, he urged the carriage forward first.

"Tch."

The Square-faced Martial Artist rolled his eyes.

Then he rode after them.

Wang Huan guided his horse alongside Chen Feng and said, "I don't believe he really checked."

Chen Feng fell silent.

He didn't believe it either.

But Cheng Li was already driving the carriage forward. There was no way to make him wait and send someone to check again.

After all, Cheng Li was a Bone Forging Realm Martial Artist.

Chen Feng couldn't very well order him around.

Zhang Jiu and Old Li rode up from behind and drew level with them. "Brother Chen, let's go."

Chen Feng nodded.

Then he lightly squeezed the horse's flanks with his legs and loosened the reins.

The horse gave a low whinny, scraped the ground with a forehoof, and headed toward the carriage up ahead.

They rounded the bend and passed the ridge.

There was no open ground behind it, but a hollow, like a giant spoon wedged between two hills.

If enemies were lying in ambush on the hills at that moment,

they could easily surround everyone.

A winding road ran through the hollow, flanked by trees thick with lush green leaves. The wind stirred them with a rustle.

As everyone entered the hollow,

Chen Feng's pupils abruptly contracted.

[Surrounded...]

[Experience +2000]