Luo Family Fort, Rescue A-Ning

Seeing Chen Mu press closer step by step, Hou San knew that if he did not let something slip, he would never send this plague god away.

For now, he had to get him out of here first.

If anything truly happened to the caravan, he could notify Commander Zhao afterward and settle accounts with this brat.

With that in mind, he tremblingly drew a neatly folded sheet of rough paper from his robes and stuffed it into Chen Mu's hand.

"Ninth Master... this is the route map for the residence's caravan. One look and Ninth Master will understand."

"These places are all routes the residence frequently travels. This old man will not hide it from you... sigh."

The bastard let out a deep sigh, still reluctant to hand it over.

How could Chen Mu be bothered with that? He snatched it from his hand and looked it over on the spot.

It really was a route map. He did not have time to forge one anyway.

Chen Mu immediately tucked the map into his clothes and called to Liu Meng.

"Let's go back."

He turned and left, and Liu Meng immediately followed.

Behind them, Hou San repeatedly wiped the sweat from his forehead. Only after Chen Mu had gone far away did a cold, sinister look surface in his eyes.

"You brat who doesn't know life from death."

"You had better truly dare to go looking. When the time comes, I'll make sure you go and never return."

Meanwhile.

Chen Mu did not know that someone had already set their sights on scheming against him.

He returned to the martial arts hall, shut his door, and immediately spread the sheet of rough paper across the table.

The Li Family Caravan's northbound route had three stops. The first was clearly marked:

Luo Family Fort.

Chen Mu stared at those three words and asked Liu Meng, "What is the background of this Luo Family Fort?"

Liu Meng leaned over for a look. He first shook his head, then suddenly smacked his forehead.

"Luo Family Fort! I remember now!"

"The Red Whale Gang seems to have a hall master from Luo Family Fort, specifically managing the water transport business outside the city!"

Chen Mu's eyelid twitched. Turning his head, he asked, "You mean Luo Dalong?"

Liu Meng froze, then hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes, yes! Luo Dalong! Senior Brother, you've heard of him too? That bastard is from Luo Family Fort..."

Chen Mu did not respond after hearing that. Was this not too much of a coincidence?

He stared at the words "Luo Family Fort" on the map, his gaze gradually turning cold.

Granny Li had taken A-Ning north, and their first stop was the hometown of a Red Whale Gang hall master.

That was probably not something coincidence alone could explain.

Chen Mu did not understand, but Liu Meng reminded him from the side.

"Senior Brother, Luo Family Fort is not easy to break into."

"These fortified strongholds in the north are little different from bandit dens."

"High walls and deep moats. The people inside farm during the busy season, then come out to rob the roads when farming is slack. If Sister-in-law truly ended up in a place like that, then with just the two of us..."

Chen Mu knew Liu Meng was right.

He had found it strange when Luo Dalong ambushed him with a crossbow bolt before. How could that bastard be carrying a crossbow on him?

Now everything fit together!

At the border, these fortified strongholds were private troop bases for local tyrants. When government troops came, they shut their gates and refused to emerge; once the troops left, they went right back to looting homes and plundering families.

Many of them hid powerful bows and heavy crossbows, and there was no shortage of those who secretly forged weapons and armor.

Many of the northern horse bandits came from these fortified strongholds. When they pillaged, they were even more vicious than the barbarian tribes.

If A-Ning had truly fallen into Luo Family Fort's hands, then by himself, Chen Mu probably would not even be able to call open the mountain gate before being shot dead by a hail of arrows.

"Looks like this is the only way..."

After putting away the route map, Chen Mu did not hesitate. He went straight to find Qin Tieya.

Only a fool would refuse to use connections. Now that he had the martial arts hall as backing, he naturally had to make use of it.

When they met, he did not beat around the bush. In a few words, he explained what had happened.

After hearing him out, Qin Tieya's lazy expression gradually disappeared.

"Luo Family Fort... that place truly isn't very clean."

Chen Mu sharply sensed that there was more behind his words. "Senior Brother, do you know something?"

Qin Tieya pondered for a moment, then said seriously, "Master had just returned from Zhao Dong's place and brought back news from the military camp."

"Luo Family Fort has been making quite a few moves lately. It is probably connected to several villages and towns nearby that were raided."

"Master is arranging for people to investigate, to see whether Northern Barbarian scouts are hiding inside."

Chen Mu's heart tightened.

He had heard before about several villages and towns being massacred.

If Luo Family Fort truly had ties to the Northern Barbarians, then A-Ning going there was not merely a matter of falling into bandits' hands.

But what did Zhao Dong mean by this?

The Li Family people under his command smuggled and sold salt, and their biggest buyers were these fortified strongholds and mountain strongholds outside the city.

Yet now he was leaking this information to the martial arts hall. There was something deeply suspicious about it.

Chen Mu could not make sense of it for the moment, nor did he have the mind to dig deeper.

"Senior Brother, then what are we waiting for? Why not leave now and investigate the fort? I am willing to go with you."

"Heh..." Qin Tieya laughed.

He glanced at Chen Mu and saw how desperately he wanted to find someone.

But rather than setting out at once, he advised, "Junior Brother, don't rush."

"If they truly have Northern Barbarian scouts, us going over rashly will only alert the snake in the grass."

"Besides, Master returned in a hurry. Today, he still has to arrange Junior Brother Liu Qi's funeral."

"Wait quietly for one night and see what news comes back from below. Tomorrow, I will personally lead a team in disguise and take you to Luo Family Fort to uncover the truth."

Hearing his arrangement, Chen Mu's anxious heart settled somewhat.

Qin Tieya was right. He knew nothing right now; charging in rashly would only alert the snake in the grass.

If they truly were colluding with the Northern Barbarians, it certainly had not begun only a day or two ago.

"I understand. Is there anything I can help with regarding Seventh Senior Brother?"

Suppressing the impatience in his heart, Chen Mu asked sincerely.

He thought of Liu Qi.

That Seventh Senior Brother he had never met, who had died in the icy river water with his face skinned off.

As fellow direct disciples, it was only natural that Qin Tieya had to handle his funeral arrangements.

Chen Mu had no reason to urge him. He should even do his part to help.

"We martial artists leave life and death to fate. Dead is dead; there's no need to make a great fuss."

Qin Tieya waved his hand. "Master will personally see him off tonight, and he will be buried early tomorrow morning. Go handle your own affairs first."

Hearing how open-minded he was, Chen Mu did not stand on ceremony any longer. He clasped his fists and left Qin Tieya's room.

Walking out beneath the corridor, he stood in the courtyard and raised his head to look at the gray, gloomy sky.

The snow had stopped for two days, yet dark clouds still hung overhead. There would most likely be another heavy snowfall.

Chen Mu let out a long breath and slowly clenched his fists in the cold wind.

He was still too weak!

He clearly knew where A-Ning had gone, yet he could not go find her because his strength was insufficient.

Beyond the frustration in Chen Mu's heart, it made him hunger even more for power.

If he were as strong as Liu Qingcang, what would Luo Family Fort, Li Residence, or the Red Whale Gang even amount to?

Why should he have to watch others' expressions in everything and be restrained at every turn?

"Perfect. I'll use this half day to improve my cultivation."

Suppressing the distractions in his mind, he turned and returned to his room without another word, heavily shutting the door and locking it.

These were troubled times. Every bit more strength was another bit of strength.

Chen Mu sat before the table and laid out the items on his person one by one.

After the battle at Rubble Ward, he had obtained two more new martial arts manuals.

"Coiling Dragon Staff Technique," Yellow Grade Low-Tier.

"Ghost-Shadow Step," Yellow Grade Mid-Tier.

Along with the "Iron Cloth Shirt," a Yellow Grade Mid-Tier external technique, that he had received as a previous settlement reward.

Chen Mu summoned the panel for a look. His Karmic Slaughter had accumulated to 128 points again, while his qi and blood had reached the threshold for a breakthrough.

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