A Way Out

Song Lingxue's eyes flew wide open. Her breathing grew ever smoother, and she could feel that, in that brief instant, more than half of her Internal Injury had eased.

The strange thought that had just risen in her heart vanished without a trace, and she could not help asking:

"What a miraculous method. Which medical book did you learn this from?"

"The Pediatric Massage Heart Method." Chu Zheng answered casually.

He had not used much force just now. It was merely the ordinary pressure used to loosen a child's Tendons and Bones; the force was too light to have much effect on an adult.

The Pediatric Massage Heart Method...

Song Lingxue silently memorized the somewhat strange name, intending to have someone look into it later.

This was her first time seeing massage that could even treat Internal Injury. Whenever she had suffered such injuries in the past, she could only grit her teeth and endure them herself. The agony was beyond words.

To avoid progressing too quickly, Chu Zheng slowed down.

After three rounds of massage, nearly half a shichen had passed. Song Lingxue's Tendons and Bones felt entirely at ease, and even the wounds on her body no longer hurt.

"All right, Eldest Young Lady. Get out of bed and take a few steps."

Chu Zheng withdrew his hands and turned to open the door.

Song Yun sat on the steps outside, head lowered, his body shrouded in a heavy, somber air.

Chu Zheng glanced at the Panel's two remaining repair opportunities, then beckoned Song Yun over.

"Song Yun, come in."

Early the next morning, before Song Manor.

Three groups were checking their carts and horses, preparing to set off.

Although the Song Family already showed signs of decline, Song Tonghai's many years of connections had made gathering three teams an easy matter.

Amid the preparations, Song Lingxue carried a bundle over and placed it in Chu Zheng's hands.

Her complexion had visibly improved. Dressed in fitted martial attire, she strode with the wind at her heels, and the confidence she once possessed had returned to her brow.

"What is this?"

Chu Zheng looked puzzled. The bundle felt quite heavy in his hands.

"Some dried rations and travel money I prepared for you. Keep them safe, don't lose them. You'll need them on the road."

Song Lingxue did not say much. After a few reminders, she hurried away.

After another two repairs, Song Yun's injuries had mostly healed and no longer hindered his work. This was not his first time Caravan Guarding, and he was thoroughly familiar with carts and horses. He handled everything in perfect order, leaving Chu Zheng no need to worry.

Half a shichen later.

The three groups departed Song Manor in batches, slowly heading in three different directions.

As they passed through the city gate, Chu Zheng clearly noticed Song Yun's breathing pause for an instant. He was plainly still taut with anxiety.

Their last attempt to leave the city had ended in danger, and it had clearly left a psychological shadow over him.

But this time, all was calm.

After leaving Luofeng City with Song Yun, Chu Zheng headed south without stopping. They traveled day and night, and only slowed after racing onward for two days.

By then, they were already several hundred li from Luofeng City and had even left the bounds of Wuyang Commandery.

Chu Zheng slowed their pace and stopped to rest for a while.

He opened the bundle Song Lingxue had given him. There were many things inside: besides dried rations, there was a stack of Silver notes, nearly a hundred Gold Leaves, some loose silver, and a map.

The Silver notes were not from Great Zhou Bank, but could be exchanged at equal value in the surrounding kingdoms. The map covered the rough locations of Great Zhou and more than ten neighboring countries.

Aside from these items, there was also a letter from Song Lingxue.

Chu Zheng opened the letter and read it back and forth twice before letting out a long sigh.

The letter's contents were simple. Song Lingxue predicted that, on this Caravan Guarding trip, Chu Zheng's group would most likely be the only one able to escape safely.

After all, no blood relative of Song Lingqing was among his party, so they naturally were not among those being obstructed.

Song Lingxue had already planned a way out for Chu Zheng. She had marked the route to Giant Marsh Country and indicated that he should head there.

It was a land of chaos. For someone with strength like Chu Zheng, there might be greater room to rise there.

She had even arranged matters for Song Yun. If Chu Zheng was unwilling to take him along, then after reaching Giant Marsh, he could go seek out her eldest uncle, Song Tongxuan, on his own.

Chu Zheng casually tossed the letter to Song Yun and rubbed his brow. He had not been in this world for long, yet difficult choices were everywhere.

Now, two paths lay before him: return, or follow the original route to Giant Marsh Country.

Luofeng City had already become a dragon's pool and tiger's den. If he escaped now, it would be a dragon returning to the sea. Once his cultivation was complete, the whole world could be his for the taking.

The Qi Refining Lineage spoke of single-minded pursuit of the Dao. One needed a tranquil heart, and those with a child's pure heart could cultivate twice as effectively with half the effort. Chu Zheng could not claim such a heart, but he did distinguish clearly between gratitude and grievance.

From the standpoint of his own interests, no one could fault him for not returning. He could seek fortune and avoid disaster, then avenge Song Lingxue once his cultivation had succeeded.

But... from then on, his heart would find it difficult to remain calm.

After pondering for a long while, Chu Zheng took out his journal, found his brush and ink, and wrote in a swift hand:

On the eleventh day of the second month of the New Calendar, I escaped Luofeng City. Though I have temporarily left the quagmire, after learning the truth behind the Caravan Guarding mission, my mind remains unsettled. After weighing it for a long time... I have decided to turn back.

To look ahead and behind in hesitation is not the way of a true man. I came alone, and when I leave, I will take not even a blade of grass. At worst, I die.

Looking at that final word, death, Chu Zheng drew a cross through it. Going back did not necessarily mean certain death.

"Chu Zheng, I..."

Song Yun's eyes reddened. He clenched the letter in his hands, but before he could finish, Chu Zheng cut him off.

"You stay behind and continue to Giant Marsh. I'll return alone."

Without waiting for Song Yun to speak, he continued:

"There's no use in you going. It would only mean one more person dying. Someone has to remain alive to pass on the word. When the Second Young Lady returns in the future, she won't be left with nothing but corpses. The dead cannot speak."

"Chu Zheng."

Song Yun took a deep breath, said no more, and knelt to kowtow.

"I beg you, make certain you bring the Eldest Young Lady back safely. If I ever have the chance in the future, I will repay your great kindness, even if I must knot grass and carry a ring in my beak."

"Then try to live a little longer."

After thinking for a moment, Chu Zheng took the Martial Dao Primer from his robes and placed it in Song Yun's hands.

"If you get the chance, return this to Li Mingzhou for me."

With that, he swung onto his horse and rode straight toward Luofeng City.

Luofeng City, Song Manor.

In the rear courtyard, Song Tonghai and Song Lingxue sat facing one another, burning incense and brewing tea. The father and daughter wore identical expressions, both calm and composed.

Unlike Chu Zheng, they had been stopped only thirty li outside the city. The people blocking their way did not attack; they merely forced them to return to the city.

This was not the slightest bit different from Song Tonghai's original prediction. Neither father nor daughter resisted much, and they returned to Song Manor as instructed.

As several days passed without any sign of Chu Zheng, they gradually set their minds at ease.

Clearly, Chu Zheng had most likely escaped.

Next, they only needed to quietly wait for the situation to change.

Suddenly, a maid hurried in and reported:

"Master, someone has arrived outside the manor and says he wishes to see you."

"Who is he?" Song Tonghai asked, somewhat puzzled.

"This servant cannot tell, but he claims to be someone from the Phantom Spirit Sect."