The Road Ahead

"Have you entered Lan Blood, little brother?" Beneath the tree where Yang Yi had hidden earlier, Qiao Wuwang leaned against the trunk and asked casually.

"What?" Yang Yi frowned at him.

Seeing his bewildered expression, Qiao Wuwang could not help sitting up straighter. "Who is your master?"

"My master lives in seclusion amid the mountains and wilds. It is not convenient to say." Yang Yi answered without hesitation.

Qiao Wuwang looked him over from head to toe. "May I ask how old you are this year?"

Yang Yi was tall and powerfully built, and Qiao Wuwang had initially assumed they were about the same age. Yet upon getting closer, he discovered that Yang Yi's face was actually somewhat youthful.

Yang Yi did not know why the subject had changed so quickly, but it was not something inconvenient to discuss. "Sixteen!"

Qiao Wuwang's mouth hung open, his expression suddenly becoming extraordinarily complicated—astonishment mixed with admiration.

"Ah!" Qiao Wuwang raised a hand and patted Yang Yi's shoulder, his tone filled with boundless regret.

Yang Yi glanced sideways at him. What was with that enormous sigh for no reason?

"What do you plan to do after tonight, little brother?" Qiao Wuwang changed the subject again.

Yang Yi had been considering that very question.

Although Iron Eagle and his group were all dead, the incident had happened in Yang Family Hollow, and one of them had even died outside his eldest uncle's door.

Black Wind Stronghold certainly would not let the matter rest.

Though Qiao Wuwang would take the blame afterward, Black Wind Stronghold would not care about reason. If they came seeking vengeance in their resentment, trouble would be unavoidable.

The only thing Yang Yi could think of was hiding in the mountains.

If he were alone, it would be easy enough. He could hide deep in the mountains and wait until the day his divine arts reached great completion. Once he emerged, who would dare provoke him?

But taking his eldest uncle's family along was another matter. Leaving aside the many fierce beasts in the depths of Crouching Ox Mountain, even their food and lodging would be impossible to settle.

His eldest uncle and aunt were not in good health, and Yang Ya was still young.

"If you have no good plan, little brother, would you hear me out?" Qiao Wuwang saw his difficulty.

"Hm? Go ahead." Yang Yi nodded.

"First, let me introduce myself." Qiao Wuwang broke into a grin, patted his chest, and declared with great pride, "Qiao Wuwang, third young master of Qiao Family Fort, and the future head of Qiao Family Fort!"

Yang Yi nodded. "I guessed."

Qiao Family Fort was renowned far and wide—how could he not have heard of it? Unlike Black Wind Stronghold's vile reputation, Qiao Family Fort enjoyed an excellent name. He simply had not expected the man before him to be its third young master.

"What is your name, little brother?"

"Yang Yi!"

"Yang Yi, I came to Yang Family Hollow tonight because I was tracking Iron Eagle and his men." Qiao Wuwang spoke slowly. "I did not expect to overestimate my own strength. If not for you, things would have been difficult today."

In the end, he had only acted that way because he could not stand seeing mountain bandits bully the weak. That was why he had voluntarily exposed himself and drawn their hatred.

"You saved my life. If you trust me, how about I recommend you to join Qiao Family Fort?"

"Join Qiao Family Fort?" Yang Yi raised his brow.

"With your strength, once you enter the fort, you will surely be given an important position. You can bring your family with you as well, and their safety will be protected."

Yang Yi fell silent in thought.

To be honest, Qiao Wuwang's proposal was very good.

From what he had learned, Qiao Family Fort truly had a good reputation. If he brought his eldest uncle's family there, their safety would certainly be assured. They would no longer need to fear Black Wind Stronghold seeking revenge. Safety was what he needed to prioritize now.

Qiao Wuwang's character was beyond reproach as well. Just now, merely seeing Yang Ya, a girl he had never met before, in trouble, he had not hesitated to expose himself and step forward. Such virtue was exceedingly rare.

Yet there were many things in this world where one knew a person's face but not their heart. More often than not, imagination and reality were two entirely different things.

"Besides, I see that you seem only half-informed about cultivation. If you truly enter the fort, we brothers can discuss such matters often and spur each other onward." Qiao Wuwang struck while the iron was hot. He truly wanted to win Yang Yi over.

Hearing this, Yang Yi knew that Qiao Wuwang had noticed something in their earlier conversation.

"Of course, if you are unwilling, I will not force you. I can arrange for people to escort your entire family away from here, to live elsewhere." Qiao Wuwang added.

Hearing him say so, Yang Yi simply stopped agonizing over it. He cupped his fists and said, "I am honored by Third Young Master's regard. Then I shall have to trouble Third Young Master to look after us in the future!"

He could certainly follow Qiao Wuwang's suggestion and take his eldest uncle's family far away, but where in this world was life not hard? If they went elsewhere, his eldest uncle's family would have no means to make a living.

Qiao Wuwang was overjoyed upon hearing this and grabbed Yang Yi's hand. "Why be so polite? You saved my life. On that merit alone, once you enter the fort, everyone in Qiao Family Fort will have to serve you the finest food and drink."

Yang Yi rose to his feet. "Time waits for no one. Please wait here for a while, Third Young Master. I will fetch my family and meet you."

It would have been one thing if he had not made a decision, but now that he had, he was not someone who dawdled.

"Go to Willow Creek Town. I will wait for you there before dawn!" Qiao Wuwang said.

"That works!" Yang Yi nodded.

As he made his way along, he did not return home directly. Instead, he first went up the mountain.

Since he was leaving, he naturally had to bring the old mountain ginseng with him. It concerned his future cultivation.

Following the familiar route, he retrieved the old mountain ginseng and the marten pelt, then turned back toward Yang Family Hollow.

His eldest uncle's house was pitch-black, and the scent of blood still lingered outside the door.

He stepped forward and knocked.

His eldest uncle's trembling voice came from within. "Who is it?"

"Uncle, it's me."

The door opened. Yang Yi swept his gaze across the room and saw that his eldest uncle, aunt, Yang Yong, and Yang Ya were all there. The earlier upheaval had left the family unable to sleep, and every one of them was frightened and uneasy.

Yang Yi sighed at the sight. How could an ordinary household withstand such a calamity?

Without stopping to comfort them, he told them that he would be taking them to Qiao Family Fort.

This was not a discussion. It was a decision.

His eldest uncle and aunt naturally had no objections. They had already feared that Black Wind Stronghold would come seeking revenge, and now that they had somewhere good to go, they were delighted.

There was even less need to mention Yang Yong and Yang Ya.

The family swiftly packed their belongings, while Yang Yi went next door to retrieve the cloth sack he had hidden.

Poor families had few possessions worth taking. In only a short while, the family was carrying several bundles as they hurried toward Willow Creek Town under Yang Yi's lead.

They remained on tenterhooks the entire way, but fortunately, nothing happened along the road.

By the time they arrived at Willow Creek Town, the sky had only just begun to brighten.

A carriage was parked at the town entrance. Yang Yi had barely glanced at it when he saw someone jump down from the driver's seat and greet him warmly, "Yang Yi!"

Yang Yi walked over at the sound. "Third Young Master!"

Qiao Wuwang smiled and greeted Uncle Yang and Aunt Yang. His manner was warm and amiable, leaving them flattered and overwhelmed. When had they ever met a young master from a wealthy household dressed so finely?

"Afraid it would be inconvenient for you to travel, I came ahead and found a carriage." Qiao Wuwang explained.

Mainly because walking alone would be too slow, and exhausting as well.

"Thank you, Third Young Master." Yang Yi felt warmth rise in his heart. This third young master was truly a good man, considerate in every detail.

"Then get in. We should reach Qiao Family Fort by tonight." Qiao Wuwang called out.

After Uncle Yang's family got into the carriage, Yang Yi and Qiao Wuwang sat on the driver's seat, staring at each other.

Qiao Wuwang's face darkened. "Don't tell me you can't drive a carriage."

Yang Yi's voice was muffled. "Poor families cannot afford horses, much less a carriage."

Qiao Wuwang laughed. "Fine. Today, this third young master will be your driver for once!"

The facts proved that when people were speechless, they really did laugh.