Inspection (Please Follow)

Early in the morning, roll call was held in the rear courtyard.

Lu Chen was kept behind alone by Zhao Yiting.

Lu Chen asked, "Leader Zhao, what are your orders?"

Zhao Yiting stood beneath the corridor, a thick cloth outer robe draped over him. He gave Lu Chen a look, his gaze more serious than usual. "Today, Master Ge is going to Gaolin County for the medicine fair to purchase autumn-harvested medicinal herbs. You will accompany him."

"Gaolin County?"

Lu Chen was slightly taken aback.

He had heard of the place.

Gaolin County was wealthier than Scarlet Cloud County. Its surrounding fields were fertile, and it had quite a few medicinal gardens, making it a well-known distribution center for medicinal herbs in the area.

Yet Lu Chen asked, "Leader Zhao, doesn't our Yam Herb Shop have medicinal gardens? Do we still need to purchase herbs from another county?"

Zhao Yiting explained, "Winter is coming soon."

"Once winter arrives and heavy snow seals the mountains, it will become difficult to transport the herbs from Scarlet Cloud Mountain's medicinal gardens."

"That is why we need to purchase a batch of herbs from another county to supply winter pill refining."

"If we do not stockpile more herbs before winter sets in, the pill room may have to shut down once the twelfth lunar month arrives."

The moment Lu Chen heard the words "shut down," he understood the gravity of the matter.

If the pill room stopped operating, supplies of Blood-Qi Powder and other pills would be cut off, and the Yam Herb Shop would lose a huge source of income.

The Yam Herb Shop supported so many martial artists and servants. Without pill revenue, it would be difficult to maintain normal operations.

Zhao Yiting said gravely, "Once the pill room shuts down, customers will turn around and buy medicine from the Huang Family. The market and connections our Yam Herb Shop has worked so hard to maintain will inevitably shrink, and it will become even harder to compete with the Huang Family in the future."

Lu Chen nodded. "I understand, Leader Zhao."

Zhao Yiting continued, "Gaolin County is wealthier than our Scarlet Cloud County. It has many medicinal fields and gardens, and it is also the hub of the surrounding medicinal herb trade. Every year after the autumn harvest, it holds a medicine fair."

"By then, herb shops from the surrounding region, traveling herb merchants, and alchemists will all go."

"Large quantities of autumn-harvested herbs will be sold together. The herb farmers are eager to exchange them for silver to get through the winter, so prices are much lower than usual. For herb shops like ours, it is also the best time of year to stock up in bulk."

"I see," Lu Chen said.

It was practically a year-end clearance sale for wholesale medicinal herbs.

Zhao Yiting added, "The various herb shops also take the opportunity to exchange information and establish trade routes. Some herbs are abundant on Scarlet Cloud Mountain but scarce in Gaolin County, while some are plentiful in Gaolin County but rare here. Herb shops can trade what they have for what they lack, making it easier to move goods."

"There will also be pill formula auctions and gatherings for alchemists."

"Our Master Ge also wants to join in the excitement and exchange more with his peers."

At this point, Zhao Yiting's expression grew slightly solemn.

He looked at Lu Chen and said, "Your main task on this trip is to protect Master Ge."

"Stay at Master Ge's side and protect him closely."

"His safety concerns the livelihood of our Yam Herb Shop!"

Lu Chen cupped his fists. "Understood. Please rest assured, Leader Zhao. Leave Master Ge's safety to me!"

In a stern tone, Zhao Yiting added, "Although you are now the best among the guards of our Yam Herb Shop, Gaolin County is a place where dragons and fish mingle, and experts are as numerous as clouds. Be careful in everything once you get there."

"I will be careful."

Lu Chen nodded at those words, understanding Zhao Yiting's intentions in making this arrangement.

Over this period, he had won consecutive victories over many people at the Yam Herb Shop and had even defeated Li Qing, faintly becoming the foremost among the guard martial artists.

It was inevitable that his confidence would swell and he might grow arrogant.

Zhao Yiting was sending him out not only to escort Master Ge, but also to give him a warning—to keep him from letting this tiny patch of sky at the Yam Herb Shop limit his horizons.

After all, beyond mountains were more mountains, and beyond men were greater men.

After returning to pack his things, Lu Chen headed out.

The carriage and horses had already been prepared in the front courtyard of the Yam Herb Shop.

The carriage was not particularly luxurious. Its cabin was covered in a layer of dark oilcloth, while two blue-maned horses snorted and pawed restlessly at the ground.

Master Ge, dressed in a gray robe, stood beside the carriage. At his side was a young medicine apprentice named Sun Shun, around seventeen or eighteen years old, helping Master Ge carry luggage and move things.

Wang Qinian, the accounting steward, was over forty, fair-skinned and slightly plump. He climbed into the carriage ahead of the others.

The five guard martial artists also arrived one after another.

Besides Lu Chen, there were Qian Ming, Zhou Li, and two other veteran guards.

Qian Ming still wore that lazy look, a stalk of grass hanging from his mouth. Zhou Li, on the other hand, was full of energy, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist. From time to time, he rubbed the gourd with his hand, wanting to lift it for a drink, yet afraid of finishing it and having nothing to drink on the road. His craving for wine was unbearable.

When Qian Ming saw Lu Chen arrive, he smiled. "Lu Chen, first time going to Gaolin County?"

Lu Chen nodded. "First time."

Since crossing over into this world, Lu Chen had never left Scarlet Cloud County.

He had only heard others mention Gaolin County. As for what it truly looked like, he was rather curious himself.

Zhou Li immediately chimed in, "Gaolin County's Autumn Blade Liquor is absolutely unrivaled. Once we get there, I'll take you all to try it!"

Qian Ming shot Zhou Li a glance. "Old Zhou, can you think of anything besides wine?"

Zhou Li gave a heh-heh laugh, revealing a mouthful of wine-stained teeth. "And the girls at Moon-Filled Pavilion!"

The group soon set off.

Master Ge and Wang Qinian sat inside the carriage, while the medicine apprentice Sun Shun drove. The five guards took up positions around them: one scouted ahead, two guarded the left and right, Qian Ming occasionally wandered beside the carriage, and Lu Chen followed at the rear.

After they passed through the city gates, the clamor gradually faded away.

The official road stretched eastward, its surface far smoother than the mountain road leading to Scarlet Cloud Mountain. The fields on both sides had already been harvested, with patches of withered yellow rice stubble spread out everywhere. The autumn wind blew past, carrying a faint dry fragrance of grass and wood.

Lu Chen turned back for one last look at Scarlet Cloud County.

The county town's outline gradually blurred in the morning light.

On the afternoon of the second day, they finally reached Gaolin County.

From afar, Gaolin County's walls stood tall, their blue bricks neatly laid, while carriages and horses formed a long line outside the city gates. With the medicine fair approaching, herb merchants from all over were hurrying into the city.

Yet the atmosphere at the city gates today was deeply strange.

Two squads of guards blocked the entrance, hands resting on their sword hilts as they inspected every person entering the city. Men in particular—whether herb merchants, shop hands, or martial artist guards—were all called aside and made to raise their heads for their faces to be checked.

Several portraits had been posted beside the city wall.

The people in the portraits all looked different.

One was a fair-faced scholar, one a middle-aged merchant, one a burly man with a full beard, and one even depicted a kind-faced old servant.

Yet beneath every portrait was the same name.

Thousand-Faced Gentleman.

Zhou Li craned his neck for a look and could not help muttering, "Strange. All these portraits are of the same person?"

Qian Ming looked toward the notice by the city gate and said, "Thousand-Faced Gentleman, a flower-plucking thief of the martial world. He is skilled in disguise and best at changing his face to infiltrate wealthy households."

"The daughters of several prominent families have been violated by him. Several county lords were enraged and posted a heavy reward for his capture."

Lu Chen frowned slightly. "A flower-plucking thief?"

Qian Ming's brows were also tightly furrowed. "The medicine fair is almost here, and something like this happened too. Gaolin County is likely to be far from peaceful these next few days."

Soon, it was Wang's Ginseng Shop's turn.

The lead guard stopped the carriage, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Where are you from? Why are you entering the city?"

Wang Qinian stepped down from the carriage and hurriedly handed over a name card and travel permit. "Wang's Ginseng Shop of Scarlet Cloud County. We have come to attend Gaolin County's medicine fair and purchase autumn-harvested medicinal herbs."

The guard accepted the name card and travel permit. His expression eased somewhat, but he did not let them pass at once.

"By order of the county commandant, everyone entering or leaving the city must be inspected."

As he spoke, he pointed toward a wooden shed nearby.

"Go over there and have your faces checked."

"The flower-plucking fiend Thousand-Faced Gentleman is most skilled at disguise. Everyone must be inspected before entering the city!"

With nothing to hide, the group cooperated with the inspection.

After confirming that none of them showed traces of disguise on their faces, the guards let them enter the city.