Setting Out

"Brother Ziwen, you truly have an enviable life!"

Before Zhang Qian's mission even left the Chang'an City, Wu Chao had already made perfect arrangements for Zhang Qian's future life.

With plenty to eat and drink, and the opportunity to marry and live a simple life on the spot, Wu Chao's arrangements for Zhang Qian were clearly designed with long-term planning in mind.

If Wu Chao to give an accurate description of how long this period would take, Wu Chao wouldn't be able to say for sure, as his affairs were somewhat complicated and numerous, making it difficult to accomplish in a short time.

Once he had established himself in the Western Sect and had taken care of Zhang Xuezhou's affairs, Wu Chao felt that he could once again act as a guide to help Zhang Qian leave the Xiong State.

"Don't think of Zhang Qian as a hindrance, Senior Brother," Zhang Xuezhou said. "It would be great if you could handle things well, but if there's a mistake, Zhang Qian could very well be your patron. You should try to be on good terms with him!"

Expelled from the Yedie River Holy Land, the royal family is unable to return openly and legitimately. Furthermore, they are involved with the Western Sect. Wu Chao is in a situation where it is isolated and helpless, and can only rely on its own strength to turn things around.

If the turnaround is successful, everything will be fine, but if the turnaround fails, Wu Chao will inevitably have to find a way out.

Normally, a high-level cultivator has a 90% chance of dying in a battle, but Wu Chao, who possesses the Following Like a Shadow Technique, has a high chance of survival, so there is a need to have a backup plan.

There are not many large forces that can rival the Yedie River Holy Land, the royal family of the Xiong State, and the Western Sect, and the Great Han Dynasty is clearly one of them.

If we can help Zhang Qian achieve great things, Wu Chao will not be without a place to go in the future.

"Looks like we really have to let him get the better of us!"

Wu Chao originally planned to send Zhang Qian to the Xiong State to live out his days, and if he finished his business, he would send Zhang Qian back to the Great Han Dynasty.

His approach was excellent. After all, a reckless mission like Zhang Qian's might have gotten Xiong State, suffered food shortages during the long journey leading to group problems, or been discovered by the Xiong State and ultimately been killed on the grasslands.

Of the many possibilities, the last one has the highest probability.

He felt that what he had done was fair enough to Zhang Qian, and that he hadn't put Zhang Xuezhou in a difficult position.

But after Zhang Xuezhou explained his reasons, Wu Chao finally felt that leaving himself a way out was perfectly acceptable.

The Great Han Dynasty could not help him join the Western Sect, nor could it allow him to gain a foothold in the Xiong State, but after his downfall, this was a place where he could find refuge.

As long as he maintained a good relationship with Zhang Qian and achieved good results, he was essentially affiliated with the high-ranking officials of the Great Han Dynasty, wielding considerable influence.

"Thank goodness you reminded me, junior brother, otherwise I might have really cut off my own escape route," Wu Chao said gratefully.

"Senior brother, you don't need to be so polite!"

Zhang Xuezhou blinked.

His relationship with Wu Chao is currently more cooperative than competitive, so he naturally hopes that Wu Chao will do better.

More importantly, Wu Chao can use the Star-Fixing Technique to find people, so how could he possibly have the ability to find Wu Chao?

If Wu Chao does not escort Zhang Qian back to Chang'an City in the future, even if Wu Chao obtains many benefits, it will be difficult to deliver them to him.

Thinking about Wu Chao's Star-Fixing Technique, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but ponder his own Person-Fixing Technique and Acupoint-Fixing Technique.

After settling their plans regarding Zhang Qian, the two also discussed other related matters.

However, as they talked more about non-essential matters, Zhang Xuezhou became keenly aware of Wu Chao's wary attitude.

Thinking of Ren Yisheng's judgment, Zhang Xuezhou couldn't help but sigh that he had over-calculated. When Wu Chao felt ashamed of his lack of consideration, other thoughts inevitably arose.

However, it would be difficult for Zhang Xuezhou to act absurdly with Wu Chao at this moment. After all, he and Wu Chao Zhang Xuezhou do serious business and rarely engage in idle chatter or unrealistic boasting.

The two chatted for nearly half an hour. When Zhang Xuezhou realized that he didn't have many topics left to discuss, Wu Chao seemed to sense this as well, and got up to take his leave with a fist and a fist salute.

"I'll be staying at the guesthouse most of the next ten days or so. Please feel free to visit whenever you have time, senior brother!"

Zhang Xuezhou gave a greeting, but Wu Chao didn't take it seriously.

He smoothed his long, gray hair and then walked downstairs step by step.

"If my junior brother is so thoughtful towards me, how could he not be thoughtful towards himself?"

Once they left the inn, Wu Chao's expression changed slightly.

The fact that Zhang Qian was considered a backup plan, a lifeline for Wu Chao in the worst-case scenario, suggests that Wu Chao believed Zhang Xuezhou had done much more for him, possibly exceeding his expectations.

Such people are excellent friends, but if a conflict arises between them, they become the most troublesome adversaries.

Wu Chao felt a sudden surge of urgency and pressure, and couldn't help but scrutinize the Realm Technique and the Following Like a Shadow Technique repeatedly.

"If I fail to accomplish this for my junior brother, and struggle to obtain the One Hundred and Eight Thousand Acupoints Techniques, the White Lotus Method, and the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, what means will he use to retaliate...? He's so cautious; he shouldn't be gambling with my conscience regarding how I repay his kindness!"

Wu Chao pondered this further and felt that Zhang Xuezhou must have left some kind of backup plan, and he was not afraid that Zhang Xuezhou would be unable to do things in the future.

"Yes, the Yin-Yang Curse that the nine people rejoiced about only involves the Divine Ability Realm. There are still cultivation methods for the Sole Self Realm later on. If my cultivation goes smoothly, I can enter the Divine Ability Realm. In the future, I will definitely need higher- Realm Technique. But at that time, I would ask Jin Chang for help, so it's unlikely that I would ask my junior brother for help. This..."

Wu Chao ultimately failed to grasp the possible contingency plan Zhang Xuezhou might have devised.

Without freedom and without the means to cultivate, he naturally pleaded and sought every possible means to help him, but once these were achieved, it was easy for his mindset to change slightly.

This isn't a problem with Wu Chao; it's a problem with human nature.

It's common to see people who are willing to show off when asking for money, but once they have the money, they have a completely different attitude, and when asked to repay the loan, they show a completely different attitude.

Even Wu Chao is no exception.

He pondered for a long time and wandered aimlessly along the streets of Chang'an City for a long time before finally making his way to his temporary lodging.

"Lord Gongsun, it's time for you to set off!"

Only when he heard the cold, urging voice did Wu Chao shudder and come back to his senses.

The mission to the Xiong State was clearly not limited to Zhang Qian's group, but also involved several other groups.

The time had come for the court to urge these people to depart. Looking at the gaunt figure sitting upright in the carriage not far away, and then at the old man at the door who was cursing angrily with a cloth bag on his back, Wu Chao couldn't help but sigh that disputes existed everywhere.

Clearly, very few envoys set off as Gaogao as Zhang Qian.

At least this official, Lord Gongsun, was very unhappy.

"Lock the door and wait until Lord Gongsun returns from his mission to the Xiong State before opening it!"

The person in the carriage gave an order, and the two scholars immediately and quickly hung the lock on the gate, then stamped it with fire mud to prevent pushing, dismantling, or damaging the lock.

Once everything was finished, the carriage gradually disappeared into the distance amidst the occasional crack of the whip.

"You seem to be the guide from the Xiong State that Lord Zhang Qian found!"

Wu Chao glanced at these people and then looked away, treating it as nothing more than watching a spectacle.

But when Gongsun Hong saw him, he became extremely interested, and his previous cursing and swearing disappeared; instead, he appeared unusually calm.

"Do you really know the safe passage to the Xiong State?"

Gongsun Hong asked another question, but Wu Chao ignored him.

But when the other party spoke for the third time, Wu Chao suddenly turned his gaze back to Gongsun Hong.

"You are cursed by a top-tier cultivator!"

"Um?"

"Do you really know the safe passage to the Xiong State?"

Gongsun Hong asked again, which made Wu Chao stare at him for a few seconds before nodding.