Reception

"Did they stop chasing?"

Qin Jianghe lay on Shen Yi's back, his voice weak. In less than three days, he had experienced life and death several times.

Now he was on the verge of death again.

But Shen Yi didn't stop healing him.

All around was a flat, unobstructed plain.

If he stopped to heal Qin Jianghe, it would only be a matter of minutes before the pursuers caught up.

"Not yet."

Shen Yi circulated his inner energy to his feet.

He used the Grass-Treading Skill to its limit.

Although carrying Qin Jianghe prevented him from flying across the grass, he was still moving swiftly.

Each step covered a distance of several yards.

Suddenly.

Shen Yi stopped, standing firmly on the mountain path:

"Someone is blocking the road ahead."

"I'm starting to think this deal wasn't worth it for me."

Qin Jianghe lifted his heavy eyelids.

At the end of the mountain road, a group of figures wearing sea-blue robes hurried towards them.

Qin Jianghe smiled:

"No."

"Little brother, it's still worth it for you."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The group of figures in front suddenly stopped, halting ten steps in front of Shen Yi, and then lined up in two well-trained rows.

Two tall figures rushed out from the middle of the divided ranks.

"Big Brother!"

"We've finally found you!"

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, understanding dawning in his mind.

So, these were people from the Raging Tide Gang and the Broken Blade Hall.

He muttered to Qin Jianghe in a low voice:

"Tsk, they really came at the perfect time."

However, Qin Jianghe couldn't hear him anymore.

He had barely held on until the Broken Blade Hall reinforcements arrived, completely exhausted, and finally fell into a deep sleep on Shen Yi's shoulder.

The two men from the Broken Blade Hall ran up to Shen Yi.

One of them couldn't wait to reach out towards Qin Jianghe on his back, but Shen Yi raised his short blade, stopping him with the edge of the blade.

The burly, bearded man glared:

"What are you trying to do, kid?"

"That's my Big Brother!"

Shen Yi smiled slightly and shook his head:

"Whether he's your big brother isn't up to you or me, it's up to him."

Shen Yi gestured with his mouth towards Qin Jianghe on his back.

Unfortunately, Qin Jianghe was unconscious.

He couldn't speak at all.

The other man, dressed in Confucian robes and sporting a scholar's beard, raised his hand to stop the burly brute:

"Qiushan, this young hero must be the benefactor who saved Hall Master's life, how can you be so rude! Apologize immediately!"

Immediately, the man bowed to Shen Yi.

Performing a Confucian greeting:

"This brother, I am Ji Chengkong, humbly serving as the Deputy Hall Master of the Broken Blade Hall, this is Zhao Qiushan, the Law Enforcement Elder of the Broken Blade Hall."

"Behind us are all disciples of the Broken Blade Hall."

"We heard that Hall Master was attacked at Clear River the day before yesterday and immediately sent people to search everywhere, but unfortunately, we found no clues for two consecutive days."

"Not long ago, we received information that there was unusual activity at Source River, so we mobilized our forces to rush here, and we didn't expect it to really be Hall Master."

"Little brother, our hall master appears to be seriously injured. Could you entrust him to me so I can quickly treat him?"

Ji Chengkong's words were logical and well-reasoned.

This instantly increased their credibility by several points.

Zhao Qiushan, reminded by him, also realized the impropriety of his previous behavior.

He immediately bowed respectfully to Shen Yi, his voice booming, "I was wrong to clash with you earlier, young hero."

"Please let me quickly see how my big brother is!"

Shen Yi glanced at the two.

Ji Chengkong was sophisticated and worldly-wise.

Zhao Qiushan was straightforward and impulsive, but judging from his knotted muscles, his combat strength was likely not weak.

"Help me find a safe place."

"Prepare your best internal and external injury medicines."

"I will help Qin Jianghe heal his wounds."

Zhao Qiushan was shocked and blurted out instinctively:

"How can that be?"

Ji Chengkong also hesitated. After all, from their perspective, Shen Yi was an unknown stranger.

How could they entrust Qin Jianghe's life to him?

Shen Yi smiled faintly:

"Don't worry."

"If I had malicious intentions, he would already be dead."

"Why would I bother protecting him all the way through the Whale Gang's encirclement to come before you?"

Hearing Shen Yi's words.

Ji Chengkong felt that this was indeed the case.

He reached out and held down the agitated Zhao Qiushan, then immediately gestured, "Little brother, please come with me quickly."

Shen Yi gripped his short blade tightly in one hand.

He didn't move while carrying Qin Jianghe.

Zhao Qiushan's eyes widened.

He didn't know what Shen Yi was up to.

Ji Chengkong pursed his lips and gave a hearty smile:

"Little brother is cautious."

"As it should be."

He pulled the disgruntled Zhao Qiushan and took the lead in turning back. Shen Yi narrowed his eyes.

This Ji Chengkong was quick-witted.

He was not to be underestimated.

But he didn't have any other thoughts. These people were undoubtedly from the Broken Blade Hall, and it was certainly safer to stick with them for now.

At least he wouldn't have to worry about the Whale Gang's Yaksha Faction coming to kill them again, unless they were truly strong enough to crush the Broken Blade Hall.

But if they were really that strong.

Why would they meticulously plan and scheme against Qin Jianghe?

The Broken Blade Hall surrounded and protected Shen Yi and Qin Jianghe as they moved quickly. They did not return directly to the Broken Blade Hall.

Instead, they went to the closer Clear River Town first.

Clear River Town was not a town established by the Great Xia Dynasty. Instead, it was a gathering place formed by fishermen and commoners in the Clear River area under the organization of the Raging Tide Gang.

There was no government office or Pacification Office here.

The Broken Blade Hall and its affiliated local gangs maintained order, so it was safe to enter the town.

In fact, similar to Clear River Town.

The establishment of towns and even cities by jianghu people had become increasingly common recently.

Initially, the court viewed this behavior as a forbidden act.

It had sent the Pacification Office and the Eastern Depot to suppress it jointly.

Unfortunately, it had repeatedly failed to do so.

Moreover, with the court becoming increasingly muddle-headed and declining in recent years, more and more jianghu forces were challenging the court's bottom line and openly building cities.

Among them, the White Emperor City of the Long River, the Martial Emperor City of the Eastern Sea, the North-Repelling City of the Northern Border, the West Mausoleum Market of the Northwest, and the Villains' Valley of Lingnan.

The reputations of these five cities resound throughout the Nine Provinces, becoming holy lands of pilgrimage in the hearts of jianghu travelers everywhere.

Speaking of Clear River Town.

The town isn't particularly large.

But it has a large flow of people.

With complete provisions for clothing, food, housing, and transportation.

It is purely and simply Broken Blade Hall's territory.

Under Ji Chengkong's arrangement, Shen Yi and Qin Jianghe moved into a detached courtyard as soon as they entered the town.

Then, they brought in the best wound medicine from the town's pharmacies and even found three doctors specializing in treating internal and external injuries.

Shen Yi first used his internal energy to stabilize Qin Jianghe's injuries.

Then he supervised the three doctors as they took turns examining him.

Taking Qin Jianghe's pulse and prescribing medicine.

Shen Yi took the prescriptions written by the three doctors and gave them to the other two for independent verification.

Only after confirming that the prescriptions were non-toxic and effective did he dare to arrange for Qin Jianghe to use them externally and internally.

No wonder Shen Yi was cautious.

After all, he still didn't know who the mole in Broken Blade Hall was, and if someone wanted to harm the unconscious Qin Jianghe, it would be all too easy.

Of course, it wasn't that Shen Yi had developed such deep feelings for Qin Jianghe.

Rather, Qin Jianghe's promise to teach him a set of saber techniques had not yet been fulfilled. He was only one step away from completing his long journey.

If something were to happen to Qin Jianghe at this time.

Then Shen Yi would really be beyond tears.

It was around dusk.

Qin Jianghe, who had been unconscious for nearly a day, finally woke up slowly from the bed.

"Brother Chen Yu."

Qin Jianghe immediately called out Shen Yi's alias.

Shen Yi, who was dozing off by the bedside, immediately opened his eyes and responded:

"Yes."