Entering Clear Water County, the Shen Family's Third Master (Seeking Follow-ups, Seeking Recommendation Tickets)

"That old hag, she's actually waiting for me on the main road!"

Shen Yichen's expression changed drastically. Seeing the old woman's palm strike incoming, he hurriedly used the longsword in his hand to parry.

He had assumed that since all three of them had entered the mountain forest, even if the old woman guessed he would take the main road, she would have gone into the mountains first to hunt down Shen Qingxue and that fisherman's son.

Never had he imagined that this old woman would be sitting cross-legged in the middle of the main road, as if she had anticipated this move all along.

"Could she be an expert who wanders between the two counties? Otherwise, how would she know that taking the mountain forest is a dead end... No, I cannot die here!"

Shen Yichen gritted his teeth, pulled a Blood Coagulation Pill from his pocket, and swallowed it, causing his blood and qi to surge violently.

The moment his longsword touched the force of the old woman's palm, it bent into an astonishing curve.

"Die for me!"

Shen Yichen's face flushed red. He hurled the bent longsword at the old woman, putting on a show of fighting for his life.

"Foolish."

The old woman smiled with disdain, flicking the longsword away with the force of her palm, only to turn and see Shen Yichen turning tail and running.

He seemed to have poured all his blood and qi into his legs from the very start; his speed now was not much slower than some experts who had mastered the Bright Force.

"Cunning brat!"

The old woman gnashed her teeth, her own speed not lagging in the slightest as she lunged in pursuit of Shen Yichen.

Meanwhile, in the bushes.

Shen Qingxue stopped indulging in self-pity and turned to Zhou Yun. "Junior Brother Zhou."

Zhou Yun nodded; he understood that if they didn't leave now, when would they?

Shen Yichen had consumed a Blood Coagulation Pill and forcibly boosted his blood and qi into his legs; he wouldn't be able to sustain that for long.

In a quarter of an hour at most, his legs would suffer necrosis from the blood surge, and by then, it would be too late to escape.

"Let's go!"

Judging that the old woman of the Dark Force had chased far enough, Zhou Yun immediately scrambled out of the bushes and sprinted toward the main road to Clear Water County.

The distance from here to Clear Water County was no longer great; if two experts of the Bright Force traveled without stopping, they could arrive in about two or three hours.

Throughout the journey, Zhou Yun kept pondering one thing: why did that Dark Force expert not hunt down Shen Qingxue, but chose to kill her cousin instead?

Furthermore, the old woman had intercepted them alone, not even bothering with the carts of precious cargo; she was clearly targeting people.

Looking at it this way, the intelligence Shen Qingxue provided was flawed. A little deduction made it clear that the source of her information must have been compromised.

"Senior Sister Shen, who was the person who told you there would only be Bright Force attackers?"

Zhou Yun asked while hurrying along.

"It was my Second Uncle. He is the Hall Master of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall and raised me since I was a child."

Shen Qingxue understood Zhou Yun's implication almost immediately, but quickly added:

"Junior Brother Zhou, I know it was wrong of me to put you in danger this time, but this matter could never have been plotted by my Second Uncle. He has always treated me like his own daughter."

Zhou Yun remained silent; things had reached this point, and there was little else to say.

Once she finished speaking, Shen Qingxue also realized her attitude had been off, and she remained somewhat silent for the rest of the journey.

Recalling the Second Uncle in her memories—the one who took her out to play and even taught her martial arts—how could he want her dead?

Moreover, he was already the Hall Master of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall; the position of Chief Escort of the Escort Agency held little appeal for him.

Unless this ambush wasn't meant to take her life in the first place.

No, that needle at the very beginning could have easily taken her life. Could it be...

"Senior Sister, we're here."

Zhou Yun stopped in his tracks. The two of them had arrived at the gates of Clear Water County.

A long line waited at the city gate, many of them refugees from the north fleeing the war.

When those refugees saw the attire of Zhou Yun and Shen Qingxue, the bold ones crawled or stumbled over, begging bitterly.

"Have mercy, my lords, take our family into the city. We haven't eaten a grain of rice in three days..."

"My lord, just take my child in. Sell her to a brothel if you must, just let her have a full meal..."

A woman dressed in tattered, coarse hemp clothes, her hands thin and sallow, clutched a curled-up girl of about six years old to her chest.

Zhou Yun glanced at the girl and realized there was no flow of blood or qi in her body; she had likely passed away long ago.

"Move aside! Don't block the people behind you from queuing!"

The city guard shouted as he approached. Seeing that Zhou Yun and his companion were dressed impressively, he softened his posture. "Where are you two from? Do you have travel permits?"

"We are from Black Stone County. This is my Sky Sea Escort Agency Shen Family travel token."

Shen Qingxue had felt a pang of pity for the begging refugees, but upon seeing the guard, she immediately handed over her waist plaque.

"Oh? The Shen family?"

The city gate guard narrowed his eyes slightly, exchanged a glance with his colleague, and then offered a fawning smile.

"So it is the esteemed escorts of the Sky Sea Escort Agency. Please, enter the city quickly; Master Shen already notified us to treat you well."

As he spoke, he went out of his way to walk ahead of the two.

However, the guard secretly made a hand gesture, which Zhou Yun caught sight of.

Something is wrong.

Zhou Yun immediately cast aside his momentary relief and followed silently behind the guard.

Upon entering the county seat, Shen Qingxue spotted a familiar face and let out a sigh of relief. "Third Uncle!"

The man who approached was a middle-aged man with a scholarly appearance. Seeing Shen Qingxue, he smiled faintly. "Qingxue, why are you so much earlier than expected? And what of those carts of medicinal herbs?"

"Third Uncle, those carts of herbs were all lost, and over a dozen guards were killed on the road."

Before Third Uncle Shen could speak, Shen Qingxue continued with a solemn expression:

"On our way here, we encountered an ambush by a master of Dark Force."

Inside the main hall of the Sky Sea branch agency.

"Preposterous! Who would dare lay a hand on our Shen Family!"

Third Uncle Shen's brows furrowed in anger, and the teacup in his hand shattered. He spoke slowly:

"Rest assured, Qingxue. Our branch agency will certainly join forces with your father to thoroughly investigate the culprits and provide justice for our fallen Shen brothers!"

Shen Qingxue nodded heavily. Now that the county magistrate's son had died on the road, and Second Uncle Shen's only heir, Shen Yichen, was also in grave danger, the situation had spiraled beyond her control.

The matter required the Shen Family to take immediate charge, or the situation in Black Stone County would turn highly unfavorable for them.

"You have been through a lot on this journey. I have arranged quarters for you; go and rest first."

Third Uncle Shen raised a hand to summon several maidservants to lead the way, then turned to Zhou Yun. "For Brother Zhou to have reached the threshold of Bright Force at such an age, you are truly a hero among youths."

"I am grateful for your protection of Qingxue along the way. Why don't I host a banquet tonight so we can drink to our hearts' content and wash away the fatigue of your journey?"

Shen Qingxue glanced at Zhou Yun. Throughout the trip, whether in the mountain forests or during the later encounter with that old woman, this Junior Brother Zhou had remained exceptionally calm. He must be physically and mentally exhausted.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you must be tired from the journey. If you wish to rest, you need not worry about me."

Having grown up in the small circles of Black Stone County, she was well-acquainted with the drinking culture of men and felt no particular aversion to it.

"I appreciate your kindness, Third Master, but I intend to rest for the night and depart for Black Stone County tomorrow."

Zhou Yun cupped his hands in refusal, then stood up and said to the maidservant, "Please, lead the way."

The maidservant glanced at Third Uncle Shen's expression, and seeing him nod silently, she walked ahead to guide him.