So This Is the Merchant Caravan You Were Talking About?

After they finished packing, they soon arrived at the south side of the city.

Zhu Zhuqing stood by the roadside in shock, staring at the impoverished merchant caravan before her.

The corner of her mouth twitched.

Seriously? There were only three carriages in total?

And they did not even have a proper banner.

"Lin Ye."

"Yeah?"

"This is the merchant caravan you were talking about?"

"Yep." Lin Ye nodded righteously.

"You made it sound so impressive before—something about 'making reasonable use of resources' and 'a large merchant caravan transporting goods across nations.'"

Zhu Zhuqing pointed at the ragged convoy before them, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.

"And this is what it turned out to be?"

Lin Ye calmly rubbed his nose.

"Big Cat, you don't understand. This is called the elite route. Troops aren't valued by their numbers, but by their quality."

"Lin Ye, stop trying to fool me."

"I'm not fooling you."

Lin Ye raised a hand and pointed at the burly middle-aged man inspecting the goods at the front of the convoy.

"See that? The captain of the guards up front is called Li Feng. Bear-type Martial Soul, a Six-Ring Soul Emperor."

"His Soul Power is Level 63."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze shifted slightly.

A Six-Ring Soul Emperor? Level 63?

"And aside from him, there are another six Four-Ring Soul Ancestors in this guard unit."

Lin Ye counted on his fingers as he spoke seriously.

"Seven Soul Masters above Level 30 escorting three carriages—this lineup would be top-tier in any merchant caravan."

"Then why is it so small?"

"Obviously because the cargo is valuable."

Lin Ye lowered his voice.

"The more valuable something is, the less likely it is to be transported with great fanfare. Pulling a hundred carriages through the streets and shouting about it is just asking everyone to know you're rich."

"Truly smart people keep quiet and make their fortunes."

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing more, but most of the doubt in her eyes had faded.

She had to admit that although this bastard had a sharp tongue, his brain worked well enough.

"Come on. I'll take you to meet someone first."

Lin Ye then walked toward the front of the convoy and waved at the burly middle-aged man from afar.

"Brother Li!"

Li Feng, who had been checking the rope fastenings, abruptly raised his head when he saw Lin Ye.

A smile immediately spread across his weathered square face.

"Oh, Brother Lin! You came at just the right time. I thought you might have changed your mind at the last minute and decided not to come!"

Li Feng strode over and lightly patted Lin Ye on the shoulder.

"You're joking, Brother Li."

"Once I've given my word, how could I go back on it?"

A few days ago, when Lin Ye had been looking for healing-type Soul Masters in Soto City,

he had happened to learn that this merchant caravan would be departing for the Heaven Dou Empire today.

So he had sought out Li Feng in advance and arranged to travel with them.

Li Feng laughed heartily upon hearing that.

However, just as Li Feng was about to say something else, his gaze suddenly fell on Zhu Zhuqing behind Lin Ye.

"Brother, this lady behind you is...?"

"She's my friend." Lin Ye answered concisely.

Li Feng then looked Zhu Zhuqing over from head to toe. There was not the slightest hint of impropriety in his gaze, only pure surprise.

"What a beautiful young lady."

Li Feng sighed in admiration.

"I've traveled north and south for so many years, but I could count the number of girls with a face as lovely as yours on one hand."

Being praised so directly by an elder made the tips of Zhu Zhuqing's ears turn slightly red.

"...Thank you."

"Oh, what are you thanking me for? I'm only telling the truth."

Li Feng smiled and scratched his head.

"But there's something I need to tell you. The seats in the carriages ahead are all taken, so you two can only ride in the last one."

"The last one?"

Lin Ye was somewhat puzzled.

"Hey, don't dislike it. The last carriage is spacious and has barely any cargo. With just the two of you in there, it'll be quiet and roomy."

Li Feng grinned.

"Young people should have a chance to talk."

After saying that, he winked at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye: "???"

Lin Ye was instantly dumbfounded. Wait, had Brother Li misunderstood something?

Whatever.

Lin Ye could not be bothered to explain. He simply led Zhu Zhuqing toward the last carriage at the rear of the convoy.

When he lifted the curtain, the inside was indeed spacious.

Several wooden crates were stacked against the walls, while the remaining space was covered with hay and coarse cloth, barely making it suitable for sitting or lying down.

Lin Ye casually plopped down, leaned against a wooden crate, and stretched his limbs.

After Zhu Zhuqing lifted the curtain and entered, she glanced around the carriage before silently walking to the farthest corner and sitting down.

Lin Ye looked at her and asked,

"Big Cat, why are you sitting so far away? It's not like I bite."

"I'm used to it."

Zhu Zhuqing replied coldly.

Lin Ye did not ask further and slowly closed his eyes.

Not long afterward, the carriage set off, swaying along the road.

The wheels rolled over the stony path, producing a steady creaking sound.

About half an hour passed.

"Lin Ye."

"Yeah?"

"What opportunity does the Heaven Dou Empire have, exactly?"

Zhu Zhuqing stared at him with a serious expression.

"Guess."

"..."

Zhu Zhuqing was instantly speechless.

"Can't guess? Then don't ask. You'll find out when we get there."

"Hmph."

Zhu Zhuqing snorted coldly, turned her head away, and refused to look at him again.

Yet inside, she was screaming madly.

Damn bad Lin Ye! He really is a terrible bastard!

Time passed bit by bit.

By evening, the merchant caravan had entered a road through a canyon wedged between two mountains.

The cliffs on both sides were steep and jagged with rocks. The official road wound along the valley floor, and above them remained only a dim sliver of sky.

Li Feng ordered them to make camp on the spot for the night.

The guards moved skillfully and quickly set up several bonfires.

The firelight flickered across the mountain walls.

After nightfall, the surroundings became completely dark. Only the chirping of insects and the sound of wind echoed through the canyon.

Inside the carriage, Zhu Zhuqing was curled up in the corner, breathing steadily as she slept.

Meanwhile, Lin Ye leaned against the carriage wall, his eyelids heavy as he prepared to close his eyes.

However, at that very moment.

Suddenly!

"Awooo—"

A long wolf howl came from a distant mountaintop.

Lin Ye's drowsiness vanished in an instant.

He abruptly opened his eyes, spreading the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's senses to their fullest.

A wolf howl?

Something was wrong.

This was not the cry of an ordinary wild wolf.

The pitch was too rhythmic, like some kind of signal.

What made him even more alert was that the howls came from three different directions.

Sensing that something was wrong, Lin Ye immediately bent down, gently placed a hand on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, and whispered,

"Wake up, Big Cat."

Zhu Zhuqing was a light sleeper. The instant her shoulder was touched, she opened her eyes, her catlike pupils faintly glowing in the darkness.

"Mmm... what is it?"

"Something's happening."

Lin Ye kept his voice low.

"Something's wrong outside. Get ready to fight."

Zhu Zhuqing did not ask any questions. She immediately sat upright as Soul Power began circulating through her body.

Just then,

"Rumble—!!"

A violent tremor suddenly came from the mountain walls above!

A pile of broken rocks poured down from the mountaintop, crashing into the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.

"Not good! Enemy attack!!"

Li Feng's furious roar came from the front outside.

Lin Ye quickly lifted the carriage curtain and poked his head out, his pupils shrinking sharply.

Dozens of massive boulders the size of millstones were rolling down from both mountain walls, crashing toward the merchant caravan like a tidal wave!

"Big Cat, get out!"

Lin Ye grabbed Zhu Zhuqing and leaped from the carriage. His right hand curled into a claw as Soul Power surged forth.

"First Spirit Skill, Evil God Thirteen Slashes!"