Arriving in Clear Water County for the First Time, Third Master Shen (Please Read On, Please Vote)

"That old woman was waiting for me on the main road!"

Shen Yichen's expression changed drastically. Seeing the old woman strike at him with her palm, he hurriedly raised the long sword in his hand to block it.

He had thought all three of them had entered the forest. Even if the old woman had guessed he would take the main road, she would have gone into the mountains first to kill Shen Qingxue and the fisherman's son.

He had never expected her to be sitting cross-legged right in the middle of the main road, as though she had anticipated this all along.

"Could she be an expert who's spent years roaming between the two counties? Otherwise, how would she know that taking the mountain path would mean certain death... No, I can't die here!"

Shen Yichen gritted his teeth, pulled a Blood Coagulation Pill from his pocket, and swallowed it. His blood and qi surged at once.

The moment his long sword touched the force around the old woman's palm, it bent at an astonishing angle.

"Die!"

Shen Yichen's face flushed red. He hurled his bent sword at the old woman, putting on a show of staking his life in a desperate fight.

"Foolish."

The old woman smiled scornfully and knocked the sword aside with the force of her palm. But when she turned, she saw Shen Yichen sprinting away.

It seemed he had poured all his blood and qi into his legs from the start. His speed now was scarcely slower than that of an expert at the peak of Bright Force.

"Cunning brat!"

The old woman ground her teeth, her feet moving no slower as she shot after Shen Yichen.

Meanwhile, in the thicket.

Shen Qingxue no longer indulged in wishful thinking. Instead, she turned to Zhou Yun and said, "Junior Brother Zhou."

Zhou Yun nodded. He, too, understood that if they didn't leave now, when would they?

Shen Yichen had taken a Blood Coagulation Pill and forcibly boosted the blood and qi in his legs. He wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.

At most, his legs would die from the burst blood vessels within a quarter of an hour. By then, it would be too late to leave.

"Let's go!"

Judging that the Dark Force Old Woman had chased far enough away, Zhou Yun immediately darted out of the thicket and sprinted toward the main road to Clear Water County.

The road from here to Clear Water County wasn't long. If two Bright Force experts traveled without stopping, they could get there in roughly two or three hours.

All along the way, Zhou Yun kept turning over one question in his mind: why hadn't that Dark Force expert pursued Shen Qingxue, choosing instead to kill her nephew?

Not only that, the old woman had been the only one to ambush them on the road, and she hadn't even bothered with the several carts of precious goods. Clearly, her target had been a person.

It seemed Shen Qingxue's information had been wrong. A little deduction made it obvious that something must have gone wrong with her source.

"Senior Sister Shen, who told you that only Bright Force experts would be sent after us?"

Zhou Yun asked as they hurried along.

"It was my Second Uncle. He's the head of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall, and he raised me from childhood."

Shen Qingxue understood what Zhou Yun meant almost immediately, but quickly added:

"Junior Brother Zhou, I know I was wrong to put you in danger this time, but there's no way my Second Uncle planned this. He's treated me like his own daughter since I was little."

Zhou Yun fell silent. At this point, there was nothing else to say.

As soon as she'd spoken, Shen Qingxue realized her attitude had been wrong. She remained rather quiet for the rest of the journey.

Thinking back to the Second Uncle she remembered, he had taken her out to play when she was little and even taught her martial arts. How could he want her dead?

Besides, he was already the head of the Sky Sea Martial Arts Hall. The position of Chief Escort Leader held little appeal for him.

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

No, that first needle had clearly been enough to kill her. Could it be...

"Senior Sister, we're here."

Zhou Yun stopped. The two of them had reached the gates of Clear Water County.

A long line stretched before the city gate. Many in it were refugees who had fled south from the north because of the war.

Seeing how Zhou Yun and Shen Qingxue were dressed, some of the refugees grew bold. They hurried over, half-walking and half-crawling, and begged them desperately.

"Please, sir, take my family into the city! We haven't eaten a single grain of rice in three days..."

"Sir, just take my child inside. You can even sell her to a brothel, as long as she gets one full meal..."

A woman in ragged hemp clothing held a gaunt, yellow-skinned girl of about six in her arms. The child was curled up tightly.

Zhou Yun glanced at the girl and saw no flow of blood and qi in her body. She was probably already dead.

"Move along! Don't block the people behind you!"

A city guard shouted as he strode over. Seeing that Zhou Yun and Shen Qingxue were well dressed, he moderated his manner and asked, "Where have you come from? Do you have a pass?"

"We came from Black Stone County. This is the Sky Sea Escort Agency's Shen Family pass."

Shen Qingxue had felt some sympathy for the begging refugees, but as soon as she saw the city guard, she handed over her token.

"Oh? You're with the Shen Family?"

The city guard narrowed his eyes slightly and exchanged a glance with his colleague. Then he smiled obsequiously and said:

"So you're escorts from the Sky Sea Escort Agency! Please, come right in. Master Shen told us in advance to give you a warm welcome."

As he spoke, he even made a point of walking ahead of them.

But the city guard made a secret hand signal, which Zhou Yun quietly noticed.

"Something's off."

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

They entered the county seat, where Shen Qingxue spotted someone she knew and let out a breath of relief. "Third Uncle!"

The newcomer was a refined-looking middle-aged man. Seeing Shen Qingxue, he smiled faintly and said, "Qingxue, why did you arrive so much earlier than expected? What happened to those carts of medicinal herbs?"

"Third Uncle, all the carts of medicinal herbs were lost. More than a dozen guards were killed along the way."

Before Third Master Shen could speak, Shen Qingxue continued solemnly:

"On the way here, we were ambushed by a Dark Force expert."

The Sky Sea Escort Agency's branch, inside the main hall.

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

Third Master Shen's brows drew together in anger. The teacup in his hand shattered, and he spoke slowly:

"Don't worry, Qingxue. Our branch will work with your father to investigate the culprit thoroughly and give the Shen Family brothers who died an answer!"

Shen Qingxue nodded firmly. The county magistrate's son had died on the road, and Second Uncle Shen's only son, Shen Yichen, was likely in grave danger as well.

The situation had already spiraled beyond her control. The Shen Family needed to take charge quickly; otherwise, the situation in Black Stone County would become extremely unfavorable for them.

"You've had a fright on the road. I've arranged a place for you to stay. Go rest first."

Third Master Shen beckoned to several maids to show her the way, then turned to Zhou Yun. "For someone so young, you've already knocked on the gates of Bright Force. A young hero indeed."

"Thanks to you, Qingxue was safe along the way. Why don't I host a feast tonight, and we can drink together to wash away the fatigue of your journey?"

Shen Qingxue glanced at Zhou Yun. Whether in the forest or when they later encountered the old woman, her junior brother had remained remarkably calm. He must have been exhausted in both body and mind.

"Junior Brother Zhou, you must be tired after this journey. If you want to rest, you needn't worry about me."

She had grown up in the small circle of Black Stone County's elite. She was familiar with the men's banquets and drinking, and had no particular objection to them.

"I appreciate your kindness, Third Master, but I plan to rest tonight and set off for Black Stone County tomorrow."

Zhou Yun cupped his hands in thanks and declined. He rose and said to the maid beside him, "Sorry for the trouble. Please show me the way."

The maid glanced at Third Master Shen. Only after seeing him nod silently did she lead the way.