Seventy-Two Paths of the Green Lotus Sword, a speck crossing a thousand miles on a brisk wind

Early the next morning.

Li Ping'an planned to take Zhou Youcai to the Zhou Family's branch in Cloud Province first.

Although it was out of his way, he could hardly abandon Zhou Youcai to fend for himself.

"Brother Li, you're so good to me!"

Zhou Youcai was utterly moved.

"Brother Li, don't worry. I'll definitely repay you once I get home."

"You've already paid," Li Ping'an said mildly.

"Huh? When?"

"That bag of Spirit Stones."

Li Ping'an had not forgotten the bag of Spirit Stones Zhou Youcai had given him at the very beginning.

"Huh?"

Zhou Youcai scratched his head. He had forgotten all about that little matter himself.

"Hey, Brother Li, wait for me!"

"Brother Li, why aren't we taking the main road?"

"Our travel papers were swallowed by the sea. Aren't you afraid of getting arrested?"

The two men and one ox left the city and followed a path through the woods.

They had just asked around and learned that the Zhou Family had a branch in Yu City.

It was a little over ten days' walk from here.

A light rain began to drizzle from the distant sky, yet there was not the slightest mountain breeze in the woods. Not even a leaf stirred.

There was a tea stall ahead, just the place for some tea and shelter from the rain.

"Waiter, three bowls of tea!"

The waiter bowed in acknowledgment and walked over carrying the tea.

"Where have you two come from?"

Before he finished speaking, the hand carrying the tea shifted slightly.

A glint of cold light shot straight at Zhou Youcai.

Li Ping'an caught a chopstick just over an inch long between two fingers, then flicked his middle finger.

With a crack, it struck the waiter's waist.

The waiter shuddered all over and collapsed.