Descending the Mountain

The sky was faintly bright as Zhang Su opened his eyes.

He had been meditating for the entire night.

He had spent the whole night circulating his blood qi and refining Blood Replenishing Pills.

Although a martial artist in the Blood Qi Realm was still a mortal of flesh and blood, if one cultivated martial arts to a profound level, they could replace sleep by entering a state of deep meditation through their practice.

For instance, Zhang Su used the Heaven-Swallowing Blood-Nurturing Technique to enter this state, replacing his nightly sleep.

In fact, the results were even better than sleeping.

After a night of meditation, he had fully recovered his energy and was now brimming with vitality.

Moreover, as he circulated his blood qi slightly, a smile appeared on his face.

One hundred and sixty wisps of blood qi.

That was an increase of eight wisps from the previous one hundred and fifty-two.

This was the effect of practicing the Heaven-Swallowing Blood-Nurturing Technique for one night.

The Heaven-Swallowing Blood-Nurturing Technique at perfection truly had terrifying efficiency.

Of course, the consumption of Blood Replenishing Pills was also significant, totaling four whole pills.

However, he had finally returned to the "familiar" rhythm he was used to.

The cultivation speed he had experienced previously without the blood qi pills had been far too slow.

It was so slow that Zhang Su found it unbearable.

Now that this familiar feeling had returned, he felt an immense sense of peace and comfort in his heart.

"Senior Brother, you are awake. Here is your hot water and breakfast."

Zhao Feng respectfully brought over the hot water and breakfast.

These three men handled all the trivial matters for Zhang Su every day.

Zhang Su did not need to do anything; he only needed to focus on his cultivation.

After Zhang Su finished his breakfast and washed up, he felt refreshed and invigorated.

He did not delay any longer and immediately stood up to walk out of the courtyard.

"I am heading down the mountain."

"Farewell, Senior Brother!"

The three of them watched Zhang Su as he gradually moved away, their faces showing a hint of melancholy.

"Senior Brother has gone down the mountain and will only be gone for a few days, so we must properly complete the tasks he assigned us!"

Chu Dachuan said.

"Alright, then let's split up. We will each keep an eye on three of the top ten Outer Sect disciples..."

The three of them quickly divided the tasks.

They were full of motivation now.

They were just waiting for Zhang Su to return and challenge the top ten Outer Sect disciples.

When that moment truly arrived, they would share in the glory!

"Giddyap."

On the wide official road, a Little Red Horse galloped away.

Zhang Su was currently riding on the Little Red Horse.

This was a horse he had rented from the sect.

Do not let its relatively small stature fool you; it was a genuine steed capable of traveling a thousand miles.

Zhang Su had also changed his attire.

Within the sect, he wore the uniform of an Outer Sect disciple.

But down the mountain, that outfit would be far too eye-catching.

Inside the sect, an Outer Sect disciple was nothing at all, at most considered a consumable resource.

But down the mountain, even an Outer Sect disciple of the Guiyuan Sect was a renowned disciple of a major sect.

No one dared to ignore a disciple from a major sect.

Therefore, to avoid trouble, Zhang Su had changed into casual clothes.

Zhang Su rode the Little Red Horse, galloping for the entire morning.

By noon, he arrived at a small town.

He prepared to take a break.

The small town was not prosperous, and people were few and far between.

Zhang Su arrived at an inn.

This was the only large inn in the small town.

"Guest, are you stopping for a meal or staying the night?"

"A meal."

Zhang Su pointed toward the Little Red Horse.

"Take good care of the horse."

"Understood, guest."

Following that, the waiter shouted loudly into the inn, "One for a meal!"

Zhang Su noticed many carriages in the open space outside the inn.

Escort guards were standing watch around the carriages.

Clearly, this was an escort agency transporting goods, likely stopping at the inn to rest.

This was quite common.

The world was not peaceful.

There were many bandits along the roads.

For valuable goods, one had to hire an escort agency to ensure they arrived safely at their destination.

This was also Zhang Su's first time seeing people from an escort agency on a mission.

Therefore, he took a few extra looks.

But it was these few extra looks that made some of the escort guards wary.

These guards were all seasoned veterans of the martial world.

Their eyes were sharp and discerning.

Although Zhang Su was dressed in casual clothes, the aura of a "martial artist" could not be hidden.

As Zhang Su walked into the inn, one of the guards immediately hurried inside and reported to the head escort in the corner.

"Chief, keep an eye on this person..."

The chief listened to the report, his eyes narrowing slightly as he carefully sized up Zhang Su.

He paid particular attention to the sword in Zhang Su's hand.

"There is no bandit aura about him, and his temperament is quite gentle; he doesn't look like a martial artist, but rather a young master out for a stroll. Perhaps he is just curious, no need to be too nervous."

The chief, Li He, said.

Li He was the chief of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency, known in the martial world as the "Ghost Head Blade." His blade technique was fierce and unpredictable, making him extremely difficult to deal with.

In his youth, Li He had roamed the martial world and made a name for himself.

As he grew older, he founded the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.

Relying on the reputation he had built in the martial world, business for the Zhenyuan Escort Agency had flourished.

However, as Li He grew older, he gradually handed the business over to his son.

This time, because the cargo was extremely valuable, he had come to oversee it himself.

"Father, this person looks soft and delicate; he doesn't look like he has any martial arts. However, that sword is quite nice, what a pity..."

Beside Li He, a woman disguised as a man whispered.

This was Li He's daughter, Li Xiaoman.

This time, she had pestered Li He to let her come along on the escort mission to gain some experience.

Li He's expression turned stern. He tapped his daughter's hand with his chopsticks and said in a low voice, "Do not gossip about others behind their backs; that is the rule of the martial world! Some experts have keen senses and can hear sounds that ordinary people cannot, even from a great distance."

"Besides, you are mistaken this time. This young master likely comes from a prestigious family, perhaps even a disciple of a major sect. He practices superior martial arts, so why would he be like us martial artists of the world, needing to grind away at his strength every day and ending up covered in injuries?"

After Li He finished speaking, he immediately raised his wine cup, bowed toward Zhang Su, and said loudly, "Noble guest, please forgive us. My daughter is ill-mannered. If she has offended you, this old man offers his apologies!"

With that, he tilted his head back and drank a cup.

The others were still confused.

Why was the chief apologizing to that young man who looked like a pampered master?

The next moment, Zhang Su looked up, sweeping a gaze over Li Xiaoman and Li He with a faint smile.

"Chief, you are too kind. It is a small matter, no need to worry about it."

After saying this, Zhang Su also drank a cup.

Hearing this, everyone was shocked.

So that young master really was an "expert"!

From such a distance, he had been able to hear them talking.

For a moment, everyone felt even more admiration for the head escort.

He was truly a veteran of the pugilistic world; his judgment was sharp and ruthless.

"Dad, did I cause trouble..."

Li Xiaoman tugged on Li He's sleeve.

Her face was flushed red.

"Know fear now, do you? Talented people emerge in the martial arts world constantly; you must not gossip behind people's backs in the future."

Li He lectured her.

"Yes, Dad."

Li Xiaoman lowered her head, not daring to speak carelessly again.

"Little sister, coming out this time is just to broaden your horizons, don't worry."

At this moment, Li Xiaoman's older brother, Li Wushi, walked over and patted his sister's head to comfort her.

"Dad, stop scaring her."

Li Wushi said with a smile.

"It's because you all spoil her like this that she doesn't know how high the sky is or how deep the earth is..."

Pausing, Li He's expression darkened, and he asked in a low voice, "How is it? Is everything fine in the surroundings?"

Li Wushi had gone out to scout.

This escort mission was no small matter, and Li He was cautious with every step, not daring to be the least bit negligent.

"Dad, we've been to this small town many times, there's no problem. I also asked around, and there haven't been any outsiders in town lately."

"Good, this trip is too important; perhaps I'm just being overly suspicious..."

Li He breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter."

Suddenly, a violent sound of horse hooves rang out from outside.

Li He and Li Wushi stood up abruptly.

"It's a cavalry troop, and at least thirty riders!"

Li He's expression changed.

Immediately, the escorts of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency became tense.

Soon, a group of people on horseback arrived outside the inn.

They were dressed in various styles.

But they all held weapons in their hands, and every one of them wore an unruly and defiant expression.

They even exuded a thick, murderous aura.

Li He was a veteran of the pugilistic world.

He recognized the identity of this group at a glance.

"Is that Chief He of Feitian Ridge?"

Li He shouted loudly.

At this moment, a burly man with a full beard in the crowd sneered, "That's right, it's me. Head Escort Li, I have also heard of your reputation. Therefore, I have come today only to rob the shipment, not to kill!"

"I hope Head Escort Li will make things easy and not make a mistake!"

Li He's heart sank.

He naturally knew He Xiongfei of Feitian Ridge.

He was a notoriously fierce bandit.

However, He Xiongfei usually stayed at Feitian Ridge and rarely came down the mountain.

Moreover, although He Xiongfei was a fierce bandit, Li He had almost never heard of him robbing an escort.

Why would he mobilize such a large force this time, personally leading dozens of riders down the mountain just to rob this shipment?

However, matters had reached this point; why He Xiongfei had mobilized such a force to rob the shipment was no longer important.

What was important was that Li He had to protect this shipment.

This shipment was too valuable.

If he couldn't protect it, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency would be finished.

But the opponent had dozens of riders, all of them ruthless bandits who wouldn't blink at killing.

If they really fought regardless of the cost, everyone in the Zhenyuan Escort Agency would likely die.

After weighing the situation for a moment, Li He took a deep breath and shouted, "Chief He, I am the head of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency, and this shipment cannot be lost. But since Chief He has come, you cannot return empty-handed."

"How about this: I will personally test Chief He's skills. If you are defeated, please take your men and leave. If I am defeated, then I will accept the loss of this shipment."

"What does Chief He think?"

For a moment, everyone's eyes turned toward He Xiongfei.