Descending the Mountain

The sky had only just begun to brighten when Zhang Su opened his eyes.

He had meditated all night.

The entire night had been spent circulating his Blood Qi and refining Blood Replenishing Pills.

Although Blood Qi Realm martial artists were still made of flesh and blood, if they cultivated their martial arts to a profound level, they could enter meditation through cultivation in place of sleep.

For instance, Zhang Su used the Heaven-Swallowing Blood-Nurturing Technique to enter meditation instead of sleeping at night.

In fact, its effects were even better than sleep.

After a night of meditation, he had completely recovered his energy and looked utterly refreshed.

Moreover, after slightly circulating his Blood Qi, a smile appeared on his face.

One hundred and sixty strands of Blood Qi.

That was eight strands more than his previous one hundred and fifty-two strands.

This was the result of cultivating the Heaven-Swallowing Blood-Nurturing Technique for one night.

With the Heaven-Swallowing Blood-Nurturing Technique at mastery, its efficiency truly was terrifying.

Of course, it had also consumed quite a few Blood Replenishing Pills—four whole pills.

Still, he had finally returned to that familiar rhythm from before.

His cultivation speed without Blood Qi Pills had previously been far too slow.

So slow that Zhang Su could hardly bear it.

Now that familiar feeling had returned, and his heart was filled with incomparable peace and comfort.

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

Zhao Feng respectfully brought over hot water and breakfast.

The three of them handled Zhang Su's daily trifles very well every day.

Zhang Su did not need to do anything at all; he only needed to cultivate.

After Zhang Su had breakfast and washed up, he felt clear-headed and invigorated.

He did not delay any longer and immediately rose to leave the courtyard.

"I'm heading down the mountain."

"Farewell, Senior Brother!"

As the three watched Zhang Su gradually disappear into the distance, wistfulness appeared on all their faces.

"Senior Brother is only going down the mountain for a few days. We must make sure to complete the tasks he assigned us!"

Chu Dachuan said.

"Fine. Then we'll split up. Among the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples, each of us will keep an eye on three of them..."

Chu Dachuan and the other two swiftly divided up their tasks.

They were now brimming with motivation.

They were only waiting for Zhang Su's return, when he would challenge the Top Ten Outer Sect Disciples.

When that moment came, they would share in his glory as well!

"Hyah!"

On the broad official road, a Little Red Horse galloped past.

Zhang Su was riding the Little Red Horse at that moment.

It was a horse he had rented from the sect.

Though it looked somewhat small, it was truly a fine steed capable of traveling a thousand li.

Zhang Su had also changed his attire.

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

But down the mountain, those robes would be far too conspicuous.

Within the sect, Outer Sect disciples were nothing at all, at most consumable resources.

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

No one dared disregard a disciple of a great sect.

Thus, to avoid trouble, Zhang Su changed into casual clothes.

Riding the Little Red Horse, Zhang Su galloped for an entire morning.

By noon, he arrived at a small town.

He intended to rest his feet for a while.

The town was not prosperous, and there were comparatively few people.

Zhang Su came to an inn.

It was the only large inn in the town.

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

"A meal."

Zhang Su casually pointed at the Little Red Horse.

"Take good care of the horse."

"Yes, esteemed guest."

Then the waiter shouted loudly into the inn, "One guest for a meal!"

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

Escort guards stood watch around the carriages.

Clearly, an escort agency was transporting a shipment and had likely stopped at the inn to rest as well.

This was quite common.

These were unsettled times.

Bandits were everywhere along the roads.

Valuable goods needed to be escorted by an escort agency in order to safely reach their destination.

It was also Zhang Su's first time seeing people from an escort agency transporting a shipment.

So he looked a few more times.

But those few extra glances made some of the escort guards wary.

These escort guards were all seasoned veterans of the martial world.

Their eyes were sharp and vicious.

Although Zhang Su wore casual clothes, the aura of a martial artist about him could not be concealed.

Once Zhang Su entered the inn, one escort guard immediately hurried inside as well and reported to the chief escort in a corner of the inn.

"Chief Escort, keep an eye on that man..."

After hearing the report, the chief escort narrowed his eyes slightly and carefully scrutinized Zhang Su.

He especially looked several times at the sword in Zhang Su's hand.

"He has no bandit air about him, and his bearing is gentle. He does not seem like a man of the martial world, but rather like a young master traveling for pleasure. He may simply be curious. There is no need to be too nervous."

Chief Escort Li He said.

Li He was the chief escort of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. In the martial world, he was known as the Ghost Head Blade. His blade techniques were fierce and strange, making him exceptionally difficult to deal with.

When he was young, Li He had roamed the martial world and made something of a name for himself.

After growing somewhat older, he founded the Zhenyuan Escort Agency.

Relying on the prestige he had built in the martial world, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency's business had flourished day by day.

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

This time, because the goods were extremely valuable, he had personally come to oversee the shipment.

"Father, he looks so fair and delicate. He doesn't seem like someone who knows martial arts. Still, that sword is quite good. What a pity..."

At Li He's side, a woman disguised as a man spoke softly.

She was Li He's daughter, Li Xiaoman.

This time, she had also pestered Li He into bringing her along to escort the shipment so that she could broaden her horizons.

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

"Besides, you were wrong this time. This young master likely comes from a prominent clan, perhaps even a great sect. He cultivates superior martial arts. Why would he be like martial artists of the martial world such as us, who must temper our strength day after day until our bodies are covered in injuries?"

After speaking, Li He immediately raised his wine cup, bowed in Zhang Su's direction, and called out loudly, "Please forgive us, honored guest. My daughter was ill-mannered. If she has offended you, this old man offers his apologies!"

With that, he tipped back his head and drained the cup.

Everyone else was still baffled.

Why had the chief escort apologized to that young man who looked like a pampered young master?

The next moment, Zhang Su raised his head and swept a faintly smiling gaze over Li Xiaoman and Li He.

"Chief Escort, you are too courteous. It is a small matter, not worth minding."

After speaking, Zhang Su also drank a cup.

Only then did everyone realize.

So that young master really was an expert!

From such a distance, he could hear their conversation.

For a moment, everyone admired the chief escort even more.

As expected of an old hand of the martial world—his eye was truly sharp and vicious.

"Father, did I cause trouble..."

Li Xiaoman tugged on Li He's sleeve.

Her face was flushed bright red.

"Now you know fear? The martial world is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. In the future, you must not wag your tongue behind people's backs."

Li He reprimanded her.

"Yes, Father."

Li Xiaoman lowered her head and no longer dared comment carelessly.

"Little Sister, this trip is meant to broaden your horizons. Don't worry."

At that moment, Li Xiaoman's elder brother, Li Wushi, walked over and patted her head in comfort.

"Father, stop frightening Little Sister."

Li Wushi said with a smile.

"You all spoiled her into becoming so ignorant of the height of heaven and the depth of earth..."

After a pause, Li He's expression darkened as he asked in a low voice, "How is it? There are no problems around here, right?"

Li Wushi had gone out to scout the area.

This shipment was no trifling matter. Li He had been cautious at every step and did not dare relax in the slightest.

"Father, we've passed through this town many times. There is nothing wrong with it. I also asked around; there have not been any outsiders in town recently."

"Good. This shipment is too important. Perhaps I am simply being overly suspicious..."

Li He relaxed slightly.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Suddenly, the sound of violent hoofbeats rang out from outside.

Li He and Li Wushi sprang to their feet.

"A mounted force, and at least thirty riders!"

Li He's expression changed.

At once, the escort guards of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency became tense.

Soon, a group of riders arrived outside the inn.

They were dressed in all manner of attire.

But they all carried weapons, and every one of them wore an arrogant, unruly expression.

There was even a dense aura of ferocity and Baleful Intent around them.

Li He was an old hand of the martial world.

At a glance, he recognized their identities.

"Could this be Chief He of Feitian Ridge?"

Li He shouted loudly.

At that moment, a burly, bearded man among the crowd sneered. "That's right, it's me. Chief Escort Li, I have heard something of your reputation as well. Therefore, I am only here to seize the shipment today, not to kill anyone!"

"I hope Chief Escort Li will make this easy for us and not bring ruin upon yourself!"

Li He's heart sank.

Naturally, he knew of He Xiongfei of Feitian Ridge.

He was a notorious and vicious bandit.

Yet He Xiongfei generally stayed on 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 escort shipments.

Why had he made such a grand show this time, personally leading dozens of riders down the mountain solely to rob a shipment?

But matters had already reached this point. Why He Xiongfei had gone to such lengths to rob the shipment was no longer important.

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

This shipment was far too valuable.

If he could not protect it, the Zhenyuan Escort Agency would be finished.

But the other side had dozens of riders, each a vicious bandit who killed without blinking.

If they truly charged in without regard for anything, everyone from the Zhenyuan Escort Agency would likely die.

After weighing the matter for a moment, Li He took a deep breath and shouted, "Chief He, I am the chief escort of the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. This shipment cannot be lost. But since Chief He has come, you cannot leave empty-handed either."

"How about this? I will experience Chief He's methods. If Chief He loses, please take your men and leave. If I lose, then we will accept the loss of this shipment."

"What does Chief He think?"

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