The Road Ahead

"Have you already 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 in the mountains and wilderness, so it would be inconvenient to reveal it." 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 assumed they were about the same age. But upon closer inspection, he discovered that Yang Yi's face was actually somewhat youthful.

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

Qiao Wuwang's mouth fell open, and his expression instantly became extraordinarily complicated, filled with both astonishment and admiration.

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

Yang Yi shot him a sidelong glance. Why was he heaving such a huge sigh out of nowhere?

"What are your plans after tonight, little brother?" Qiao Wuwang changed the subject again.

Yang Yi had been considering that very question as well.

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

Black Wind Stronghold would definitely not let the matter rest.

Though Qiao Wuwang would take the blame afterward, Black Wind Stronghold was not one to reason things out. If they came seeking revenge out of resentment, trouble would be unavoidable.

The only thing he could think of was taking refuge in the mountains.

If it were only himself, it would be easy enough. He could hide in the mountains, and when his divine arts were perfected one day and he emerged from them, who would dare provoke him?

But bringing his uncle's family along would not work. Leaving aside the many fierce beasts deep within Crouching Ox Mountain, there would be no way to provide his uncle's family with food and shelter.

His uncle and aunt were not in the best health, and Yang Ya was still young.

"If you have no good plan, little brother, how about hearing me out?" Qiao Wuwang saw his dilemma.

"Hm? Go ahead." Yang Yi nodded.

"First, let me introduce myself." Qiao Wuwang broke into a grin, thumping his chest with a face full of pride. "Qiao Wuwang, third young master of Qiao Family Fort, and the future master 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 foul reputation, Qiao Family Fort had 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 pursuing Iron Eagle and his men." Qiao Wuwang spoke slowly. "I did not expect to overestimate my own strength. If not for you, today would likely have been difficult."

In the end, he had acted as he did because he could not stand seeing mountain bandits bully the weak. That was why he had 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 brows.

"With your strength, once you enter the fort, you will surely be entrusted with important duties. You can bring your family along as well, and that will protect your relatives."

Yang Yi pondered in silence.

Honestly, Qiao Wuwang's proposal was excellent.

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

There was also nothing to fault in Qiao Wuwang's character. Just now, seeing Yang Ya, a complete stranger, in danger, he had not hesitated to expose himself and step forward. Such virtue was exceedingly rare.

But in this world, there were many cases of knowing a face but not a heart. Many times, imagination and reality were two entirely different things.

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

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

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

Hearing this, Yang Yi simply stopped agonizing over it. He cupped his fists and said, "I am honored by Third Young Master's regard. Then from now on, I will have to trouble Third Young Master to look after us."

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

Qiao Wuwang was overjoyed. He 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. Sorry for the trouble, Third Young Master, but please wait here a moment. I will bring my family over to meet you."

Before he had made up his mind, that was one thing. But now that he had decided, he was not someone who dragged his feet.

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

"That works!" Yang Yi nodded.

As he traveled, he did not head straight home. Instead, he first went up the mountain.

Since they were leaving, he naturally had to take 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 before turning back toward Yang Family Hollow.

His uncle's house was pitch-black inside, and the smell of blood still lingered at the entrance.

He stepped forward and knocked on the door.

His uncle's trembling voice came from within. "Who's there?"

"Uncle, it's me."

The door opened. Yang Yi swept his gaze over the room and saw that his uncle, aunt, Yang Yong, and Yang Ya were all there. The upheaval earlier 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?

There was no time to comfort them, so he told them that he intended to take them to Qiao Family Fort.

This was not a discussion, but a decision.

His uncle and aunt naturally had no objections. They had already feared Black Wind Stronghold's revenge afterward, and now that they had somewhere good to go, they were naturally delighted.

As for Yang Yong and Yang Ya, there was even less need to mention them.

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

Poor families had few possessions. 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 edge the entire way, but fortunately, nothing happened along the road.

By the time they reached Willow Creek Town, dawn had just broken.

A carriage stood parked at the town entrance. Yang Yi had barely glanced at it when he saw someone leap down from the driver's seat and call out warmly, "Yang Yi!"

Yang Yi followed the voice over. "Third Young Master!"

Qiao Wuwang smiled as he greeted Yang Yi's uncle and aunt. His manner was so cordial that they were flattered beyond measure. When had they ever met a young master from a wealthy household dressed so finely?

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

Mainly because walking 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, and he considered things thoroughly.

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

After his uncle's family climbed 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. "We are a poor family. We cannot afford horses, much less a carriage."

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

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