Meeting Zhufu Yan Again

"One kilometer!"

Zhang Xuezhou wasn't sure who was seeing him through the Technique Method mark, but he clearly didn't want to experience the feeling of being killed.

Whether it's Curse through marking or sniping from a distance, as long as the distance is maintained far enough, the opponent has no room to maneuver.

Zhang Xuezhou was unaware of which powerful figures in Shanggu County were skilled in Incantation Technique, but among archers, Prefect Li Guang was undoubtedly the strongest.

This meant that Zhang Xuezhou had to maintain a distance of at least one kilometer from his opponent.

His body flew through the air at high speed, and the thorny feeling in his back only subsided after he soared over a low hill.

"Quickly find Master Dong to remove this Technique Method mark!"

Ning Cheng's Law Power is deep blue, which is the ultimate manifestation of Law Power in the Divine Ability Realm. If he were to step further into the Sole Self Realm, his Law Power would be light purple, like Dong Zhongshu's.

After resting for most of the night, Zhang Xuezhou's Demon Power was barely enough to sustain him for flying dozens of miles.

He ran along the road leading to Fuping County until he felt his Demon Power waning, at which point he hurriedly landed.

The landing point was not too far from Fuping County, only about ten miles away.

Although traveling to Fuping County on foot would inevitably involve a roundabout route, Zhang Xuezhou did some calculations and figured that as long as there were no skilled flyers in Shanggu County, he would be able to reach Fuping County faster than the pursuers.

While jogging along, Zhang Xuezhou also grabbed some mud and smeared it on his hands and face.

"Hey bro, whack-a-mole catching? Can you sell me two?"

As Zhang Xuezhou passed a cornfield, he also saw people lying on the ground digging in search of food.

Seeing the dozen or so ground squirrels hanging from the other man's waist, Zhang Xuezhou recalled what the patrolling soldiers had said when he left the city, which made him decide to buy two ground squirrels as a makeshift symbol.

Certificates such as "festival" are checked upon entry into the city, which makes it easier to leave the city than to enter it.

However, as long as the patrolling soldiers are given a better impression, passing through the checkpoints will be much easier.

Zhang Xuezhou beckoned, which made the person who had been digging on the ground look up.

"How many do you want? What's your price?"

A face covered in black mud lifted up, and the gopher belt around its waist tightened again.

He looked Zhang Xuezhou up and down, seemingly trying to figure out Zhang Xuezhou's net worth and how much money he could afford.

They were so hungry they were eating gophers, so their families must have very little food left. Not only did they lack ingredients, but they also lacked money.

While looking around, Zhang Xuezhou also touched the pouch at his waist and took out two and a half taels of coins.

One and a half taels of silver could buy a pound of pork, and with prices soaring, buying a groundhog shouldn't be a problem.

He waved the half-ounce coin in his hand, indicating to the other person that he wanted two coins.

"Keep the groundhog safe; it's not easy to find something to eat in this freezing weather!"

"That's right!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded, and as he took the groundhog, he also handed over half a tael of money.

"Judging from the way you're pulling out your money, you're not poor, so why... you rich people have such strange taste!"

Zhang Xuezhou paid the money readily and at a very good price. He also walked with a steady and powerful gait, showing that he had plenty to eat and drink.

This makes one wonder about the peculiar tastes of the wealthy, who are actually willing to leave the city to buy gophers for a treat.

There aren't many people who are foolishly rich like this. Looking at Zhang Xuezhou again, a familiar memory was stirred up once more.

"You're that rich young master. Are you guys going to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains again recently?"

When his gaze lingered on the two short swords strapped to his calves, Zhufu Yan finally remembered the wealthy young master he had met once before.

As with their previous bizarre behavior, the other party's current actions remain strange.

But in the past, when he followed the enemy, Zhufu Yan gained was truly a stroke of luck.

Even the slightest bit of profit shown in the other party's hands was enough to fill him up completely.

However, driven by greed, he took the sword and fled, and Zhufu Yan returned to his former impoverished state.

He had often wondered if, had he not taken those two swords and instead continued to follow Zhang Xuezhou and the others, he would have obtained more pills and his cultivation would have progressed faster.

One is the immediate, tangible benefit, and the other is the long-term plan for the future.

Two contrasts kept swirling in Zhufu Yan's mind.

But these thoughts remained just that—thoughts. He lingered on the border between the Northern Frontier Legion and the Xiong State Army for over a year, never seeing Zhang Xuezhou and the others again.

Zhufu Yan never expected that when he was down on his luck digging for dirt, he would see the other person again.

Even though the other person's face was covered in mud, Zhufu Yan felt that it couldn't hide the alluring look of wealth and resources gleaming on their face.

Even if Zhang Xuezhou were reduced to ashes, Zhufu Yan would still be able to recognize him.

He looked delighted and even reached out to hand over the gopher hanging from his waist.

"Young master, would you like more groundhogs? Plenty to go with!"

Zhufu Yan slapped the pile of frozen ground squirrels with great gusto.

It's fine if someone is poor but generous; even if they're incredibly generous, they'll just lose their mole.

But as long as someone like Zhang Xuezhou is generous to him, Zhufu Yan feels that this is an achievement he has struggled to attain for years.

"You are that..."

"Young Master Zhang, it's me, the Little Zhufu!"

Zhufu Yan happily reintroduced himself, which finally reminded Zhang Xuezhou of this person.

The opponent is agile and skilled in extremely fast assassinations.

But Zhang Xuezhou never expected that after a few years, Zhufu Yan would still be in such a sorry state.

"With your skills, it wouldn't be difficult for you to join the army and make a living, or even become a guest advisor in various places. So why did you end up eating ground squirrels?" Zhang Xuezhou asked curiously.

"Serving in the army is boring; you'll get bullied by veterans," Zhufu Yan waved his hand and said, "Besides, once your name is registered, it's not so easy to leave. Being a guest minister... Hmph!"

Zhang Xuezhou's words clearly stirred up less-than-pleasant memories for Zhufu Yan.

Without the ability to stand out from the crowd, it won't be easy in any profession, and you'll inevitably be bullied.

Some forms of bullying involve only punches and kicks, but some can easily lead to death.

Zhufu Yan was clearly not content with risking his life merely to solve the problem of food and clothing.

Even if he spent all his time digging for moles, he wouldn't do such a lazy, unproductive thing.

"It's been so long since we last met, let's go, let's go to Fuping County for a meal!"

Seeing that Zhufu Yan's body was becoming increasingly robust, Zhang Xuezhou immediately had an idea and greeted him with great enthusiasm.

"You guys are really something," Zhufu Yan said happily. "Are your two godfathers also in Fuping County?"

"I can't take my godfather with me every day when I go out, but I have a few good friends in Fuping County. They are not only very capable, but also quite wealthy," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"That's wonderful!"

Zhufu Yan's face lit up with joy, realizing that he had once again stumbled upon a great bargain.

If these people liked him and gave him some financial assistance, he could avoid many detours.

This made him quickly pat the black mud off his old clothes, wipe his hands on the ground squirrel's fur, and then jog over to Zhang Xuezhou.

I'm here to tell you this!

He pulled the groundhog into his hand, but Zhang Xuezhou couldn't catch it yet.

Zhang Xuezhou didn't mind if the other party carried the groundhog first; having one more person to catch the groundhog would make his journey into Fuping County much easier.