The Young Master of White Horse Pharmacy

Everyone set out at once.

Wang Chong led the way in front, his footsteps pressed very light, yet his pace extremely fast. Chen Jing carried the White-Shaft Spear and followed behind.

The unconscious escort had been tied to Chen Jing's back with vines. After all, Wang Chong was injured, and Steward Bai had too little strength, so Chen Jing could only carry him; that way, they would not be slowed down.

The three of them traveled through the night for roughly half an hour.

From deep in the mountain forest, a long wolf howl suddenly sounded. Immediately after, a second, then a third wolf howl rang out from different directions, rising and falling one after another.

Wang Chong's expression changed slightly. He said in a low voice, "We can't keep going. The wolf pack is hunting at night. If we keep walking, we might just crash right into their encirclement."

He looked around and soon found a wind-sheltered stone wall. Beneath the wall was a shallow inward hollow, enclosed on three sides by jumbled rocks, leaving only a narrow opening.

The terrain was not as hidden as that mountain crevice from before, but it was more than enough for fending off wild beasts.

The three squeezed into the stone hollow. Chen Jing laid the escort flat on the ground. Wang Chong felt his pulse; it was still fairly steady.

Chen Jing picked up a few broken stones and blocked the opening, then sat there holding the White-Shaft Spear to keep watch through the night.

The wolf howls rang out all night, now far, now near, but in the end no wolves appeared or drew close. By the time the horizon showed the pale white of a fish's belly, the wolf howls gradually faded into the distance.

After daybreak, the three continued on their way.

The escort woke once in the middle of the night, drank a little water, then sank back into a heavy sleep. But his complexion was much better than last night, and his breathing had grown far steadier.

Wang Chong's breastbone was injured; when he walked too fast, pain made him bare his teeth and grimace, coughing again and again, but his steps did not slow in the slightest.

Steward Bai had no martial strength and was already utterly exhausted, holding himself up entirely by sheer spirit.

The three climbed over mountains and crossed ridges all the way.

This detour lasted a full day.

Fortunately, they seemed to have broken out of Clear Wind Stronghold's encirclement.

Along the way, they did not encounter any more bandits searching the mountains.

Wang Chong guessed that the people of Clear Wind Stronghold had likely chased in the wrong direction, or after searching for a day and a night, knew when to stop and withdrew back to their stronghold.

After all, however rampant Clear Wind Stronghold was, they did not dare openly scatter their men right under Green Mountain City's nose.

The city-defense troops and the people of Six Gates were not there just to eat free meals either.

By evening, Chen Jing saw the outline of Green Mountain City from afar.

It was a towering, enormous city.

No one knew how many times larger it was than Shuang'an Town.

The blue-gray city walls gave off an ancient hue beneath the setting sun. Banners snapped on the walls, and behind the battlements, the figures of patrolling soldiers could be faintly seen.

The city gate tower was majestic and lofty, with flying eaves and upturned corners.

The city walls stretched out to both sides, with no end in sight at a glance, wrapping the entire city tightly in their embrace.

Chen Jing's steps unconsciously slowed.

Before transmigrating, he had seen countless ancient cities on television, but when he saw with his own eyes this great city standing tall in the dusk, he was still truly shaken.

This was Green Mountain City.

The place where he would stay from now on.

The three entered the city through the southern gate.

When the gate-guarding soldiers saw Chen Jing carrying a person covered in blood on his back, they immediately came forward to question them.

Steward Bai stepped out, said that they had encountered bandits on the road, and also revealed White Horse Pharmacy's identity.

The soldiers then checked Wang Chong's and Chen Jing's household registration and travel passes, then waved their hands and let them through.

Chen Jing's household registration and travel pass had been obtained for him by Butcher Zhang.

In these times, displaced people were everywhere; getting a replacement household registration and travel pass was not something difficult.

As soon as they entered the city, what met them head-on was a broad bluestone-paved avenue. Shops lined both sides, and wine-shop streamers and tea banners swayed in the evening wind.

Though it was already evening, people were still coming and going on the street.

Peddlers carrying shoulder poles, small vendors setting up stalls, women holding vegetable baskets—the crowd bustled and clamored, so lively that Chen Jing felt a little dazed. It had been a very long time since he had seen this many people.

Before they had taken more than a few steps, a group of people hurriedly came up to meet them.

The ones who came were seven or eight clerks wearing short jackets and plain clothes, with the pattern of a white horse printed on their lapels.

At their head was an old man with grizzled hair. The moment he saw the ragged Steward Bai, the old man's face went white with a swish.

He rushed forward in a few strides.

"Young Master! Are you all right?"

Young Master? Chen Jing and Wang Chong turned their heads at the same time to look at Steward Bai.

Steward Bai gave the two of them an embarrassed smile, then waved to the old steward.

"I'm fine. This brave man from the Wei Yuan Escort Agency is badly wounded. Hurry and carry him back to the pharmacy, and invite the best physician over."

The old man quickly called the shop assistants over to take the escort guard.

Then he had someone summon a carriage.

Immediately after, Steward Bai turned around and gave Wang Chong and Chen Jing a solemn bow. "Instructor Wang, Brother Chen."

"Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you any longer."

"I am Bai Zhixing, the young master of White Horse Pharmacy."

"For this trip, I was afraid of attracting unwanted attention, so I borrowed the name of a steward. I never imagined we would truly run into bandits."

"If not for you two generously lending your aid, Bai would already be a corpse in some mountain ditch by now."

He straightened, his expression ashamed yet sincere.

"The medicinal materials we were transporting this time were seized, and the escort guards of the Wei Yuan Escort Agency were nearly wiped out to the last man."

"I must return home at once to handle the aftermath, and also report this matter to the county yamen, requesting that they send troops to wipe out the bandits."

"The situation is urgent, so please allow me to take my leave first."

He asked again, "May I ask whether you two came to Green Mountain City in passing, or intend to stay long? Once I have settled the aftermath, I will certainly thank you properly for saving my life."

Wang Chong did not conceal anything and said directly, "I will return to Shuang'an Town afterward. Chen Jing will stay in the county city to study martial arts."

Bai Zhixing was slightly startled. Then he looked at Chen Jing, a few traces of pleasant surprise entering his gaze.

"Brother Chen is so young, yet already has such skill. It's clear you have extraordinary talent. I wonder which martial arts hall is fortunate enough to take in a fine disciple like Brother Chen?"

"We're going to Lianshan Martial Arts Hall."

Bai Zhixing came to a realization. "So that's how it is."

"Master Cheng of Lianshan Martial Arts Hall is highly respected and venerable. He repeatedly rendered meritorious service in the border army, and is one of the leading martial arts hall masters in our Green Mountain City."

"Brother Chen has found a good master. Then I wish Brother Chen a smooth apprenticeship. In the future, I shall come pay a visit."

The two sides said their farewells.

Bai Zhixing had the pharmacy assistants carefully lift the unconscious escort guard aboard, and left Wang Chong and Chen Jing an address for White Horse Pharmacy, saying that if they needed anything, they could come find him at any time.

Then he hurriedly boarded the carriage and headed toward the eastern part of the city.

Wang Chong watched the carriage recede into the distance, then turned to Chen Jing and said, "Little Jing, White Horse Pharmacy is one of the top pharmacies in Green Mountain City. Its branches are spread throughout North Chuan, and its family fortune is ample."

"If you and Bai Zhixing become friends, it will do you no harm when you establish yourself in Green Mountain City in the future."

Chen Jing nodded. "Many thanks for the advice, Uncle Wang."

"Let's go too. It's getting late. We'll rest for the night and pay a visit tomorrow morning."

Wang Chong coughed twice, his face somewhat pale.

"Uncle Wang, your injuries..." Chen Jing frowned.

Wang Chong waved a hand and grinned.

"I've taken a Blood-Qi Pill. It's nothing serious. These old bones of mine are tough as can be. Compared to the wounds I suffered back in the border army, this little injury isn't worth mentioning at all."

Chen Jing only felt that Wang Chong was bragging, but it would not be good to expose him.

He immediately helped Wang Chong find a cheap posthouse to rest in.