Chance Encounter

Five days later.

Qin Yang and the others arrived at a town to rest.

This town was called Qingshi Town. It wasn't large, but it had many stone sculptures, giving it a unique character.

These past days, Li Baling seemed to have been spurred on, training in martial arts every day.

Qin Yang recuperated from his injuries in the inn room, occasionally guiding Li Baling.

Qian Hai and Xiao Huan went to town to buy some supplies and medicine, returning only at noon.

After eating in the inn's main hall, Qin Yang and Qian Hai went to the room to discuss matters.

"Uncle Qian, I've decided to take a detour. We'll go around to Nanxing City, then head to the prefecture city."

Qin Yang spread out the map of Shanhe Commandery and gestured.

"Young Master wants to look for the Family Head?" Qian Hai understood Qin Yang's intention.

"Right. We've hired many wandering swordsmen to investigate before."

"Father must have left Nanxing City, but he disappeared on the way back."

"According to what the wandering swordsmen found out back then, Father should have taken this route out of Nanxing City to return to Linjiang City."

"We'll walk that path and see if we find anything."

Qin Yang had planned it all out long ago.

Qin Dongsheng's disappearance needed some kind of resolution.

"Mm, it won't take more than a few days to detour to Nanxing City anyway."

"It'd be best if we can find news of the Family Head."

Qian Hai also fully agreed with Qin Yang's idea.

The route was settled.

Li Baling and Xiao Huan naturally had no objections.

Wherever Qin Yang wanted to go, they could only follow.

After that, they rested and healed in Qingshi Town.

During his recovery, Qin Yang discovered that while in the Turtle-Snake Stillness state, his wounds healed faster.

With Rushing Rivers Return to the Sea constantly circulating, the Turtle-Snake Qi continuously nourished his physical body, expelling blood stasis from inside and allowing damaged flesh to regrow steadily.

Coupled with a steady supply of blood-replenishing herbs, Qin Yang only stayed in the inn for about two days before his wounds were mostly healed. All that remained was rest.

Not lingering any longer, Qin Yang chose to set off on the third day, heading toward Nanxing City.

Another three days passed.

Qian Hai, who was driving the carriage, suddenly pulled the horses to a stop.

Li Baling poked his head out: "Uncle Qian, what happened now?"

"A few beggars are blocking the road ahead."

Qian Hai said flatly.

Li Baling looked up and indeed saw several beggars with disheveled hair and emaciated frames sitting on the official road ahead.

Seeing Qian Hai's carriage stop, they eagerly tried to walk over.

"I'll go down and give them some money, that should be enough."

Li Baling said casually.

"Young Master Li, when you run into beggars like this on the road, you must never show your wealth."

"They look like beggars, but they're also bandits."

Uncle Qian said, flicking his right hand.

Shwoosh!

A cold light flew out, stabbing deep into the dirt.

It was a dagger.

The beggars all jumped in fright.

They dared not approach any closer.

Clearly, Qian Hai was warning them.

"Hmph!"

"A Condensing Force Martial Artist dares to act arrogant?!"

Suddenly.

From the woods on both sides of the official road, over a dozen fierce-looking men wielding steel sabers jumped out.

Only then did Li Baling realize that these beggars were nothing but bandits blocking the way to rob.

"Leave quickly, or it'll be too late."

Qian Hai frowned.

"Stop pretending. Leave the silver and the carriage, and I'll let you live."

A scar-faced man said coldly.

He was also a Condensing Force Martial Artist. Seeing how old Qian Hai was, and relying on his numerical advantage, he felt no fear.

"Why bother?"

Qian Hai shook his head slightly.

Before the man could react, a blur flashed out from the carriage.

The next moment.

He felt as if his chest had been struck by a hundred-thousand-jin heavy hammer.

Boom!!!

The bandit leader flew out violently, a large hole punched through his chest, a bloody mess.

The remaining bandits' mouths opened wide, their minds blank.

"What, want to try my fist too?"

Qin Yang gazed at the frozen bandits, frowning slightly.

His words sent them into a terrified panic. None dared to linger; they fled in madness.

A few were so scared they stumbled and fell, scrambling away on all fours, a comical sight.

"Bold enough to rob people in broad daylight on the main road?"

Qin Yang frowned.

This was under the bright sun, with no scruples at all.

It only meant the local authorities had long lost control of this place.

"Who can say clearly in this world?"

Qian Hai sighed softly.

Li Baling was also feeling the harshness of the outside world for the first time.

It was a world he had never encountered before, yet one far more real.

A world drenched in blood.

"Let's go."

Qin Yang said indifferently.

He couldn't manage such matters anyway.

The group boarded the carriage and continued toward Nanxing City.

The road ahead was not peaceful. They were attacked by bandits many times.

But with Qin Yang around, it was the bandits who ended up unlucky.

If Qin Yang was in a good mood, he only killed the bandit leader.

If not, he went on a killing spree, leaving none alive.

Another five days passed.

That night, they arrived at a desolate dense forest on the outskirts.

"We'll make do here for tonight."

"There are no villages nearby."

Qin Yang said softly.

Qian Hai nodded slightly, driving the carriage along a small path into the forest, looking for an open space to camp.

Suddenly.

Qian Hai's gaze sharpened.

A campfire flickered into his eyes.

Not far ahead, three figures sat around a fire.

They all carried blades and swords. From their attire, they seemed to be wandering swordsmen of the Jianghu. They clearly noticed the noise of the carriage and tensed up warily.

"Just passing through."

Qian Hai said indifferently.

The wandering swordsmen made no sound, silently watching as Qian Hai drove the carriage away.

The two sides passed by without disturbing each other.

Qian Hai found another open space not far off.

The three people inside the carriage got out, lit a campfire, and roasted some dried meat to eat.

When deep night fell, Xiao Huan went into the carriage to rest, while Qin Yang and the others leaned against a big tree to sleep.

Qin Yang sat cross-legged, circulating the Turtle-Snake Art.

The Turtle-Snake Qi inside his body flowed continuously, forming a tremendous pressure that squeezed and tempered his flesh, blood, and internal organs.

Li Baling was sleeping like a pig, soundly asleep.

Qian Hai, being older and with limited energy, was also deeply asleep.

Just then.

Qin Yang heard a faint sound of footsteps.

He stood up, looked toward the source of the footsteps, and said calmly, "Who is it?"

Two wandering swordsmen carrying long knives came out from the grass.

"Gentlemen, have you seen one of our companions?"

A wandering swordsman with a bamboo hat and an unkempt beard cupped his fist and asked.

"No."

"Did one of your people go missing?"

Qin Yang asked softly.

"Yeah, one of our companions went to relieve himself, but then he vanished."

The wandering swordsman nodded.

"I'm sorry, but I really didn't see anything."

Qin Yang shook his head.

The wandering swordsman glanced at Qin Yang, felt that his demeanor didn't seem like that of a strong person or anything of the sort, briefly cupped his fist, and took his leave.