Chapter 136: Prefecture City

"We went out, and not long after we walked past the street corner here, we suddenly encountered a monk! That monk stopped Escort Liu Ao, and the two of them seemed to know each other; they chatted for a few sentences."

"Escort Liu Ao then told me that he had some private business to attend to and wanted me to go deliver the Human Escort by myself."

"After Escort Liu Ao finished speaking, he left with that monk!"

"Afterward, I went to deliver the Human Escort by myself! It's just that I wasn't familiar with the area, so I had to ask for directions while searching, and I ended up going to the wrong place in the middle, which delayed my time."

Duan Rong spoke in an even tone, his expression calm as he recounted the matter.

"This Liu Ao is truly unreliable. He said he would take you to deliver the Human Escort, but he ended up running off halfway!" Xiao Yu sat there, speaking in a reproachful tone.

"This kid has always been headstrong and doesn't like to be managed. Let him be with these trivial matters, as long as it doesn't delay the escorting." Sun Huang said to Xiao Yu, then turned his head and patted Duan Rong on the shoulder, saying: "You've worked hard, go get some rest early. We have to get up early to hit the road tomorrow!"

Duan Rong nodded, walked to Xiao Yu's table, poured himself a cup of tea, and then asked how Xiao Yu's leg injury was recovering. Xiao Yu said it didn't hurt as much anymore. Duan Rong finished the tea and went back to his own room to rest.

After Duan Rong left, Xiao Yu also returned to his room.

The next day, at the hour of Mao, the sky was still pitch black, but torches were already lit at the entrance of the inn. Escort Runners Tang Dejin and Ren Tiewa had already led the Escort Carts out!

However, there was surprisingly no sign of Liu Ao.

Sun Huang turned his head to look at Yao Liangrong and asked: "Liu Ao, where is he?"

When staying at an inn, Liu Ao almost always shared a room with Yao Liangrong. The two had been together since they were Miscellaneous Disciples and had always had a good relationship.

Yao Liangrong said: "I don't know. I haven't seen him return all night!"

Sun Huang's eyelids twitched. Although this kid was a bit of a troublemaker, he never dared to be this out of line when it came to important matters!

Sun Huang's eyes flashed. He turned his head to look at Duan Rong and asked: "You said a monk stopped him yesterday! What did they talk about?"

Duan Rong said: "They spoke in low voices, and the street was noisy, so I didn't hear exactly what was said."

Sun Huang pondered for a moment and asked: "What did that monk look like?"

Duan Rong said: "Very thin, just skin and bones, with a string of greasy prayer beads hanging around his neck. He actually looked quite kind."

Duan Rong answered fluently. The monk he described was the very Wu Hui he had seen.

Sun Huang nodded, looked at Yao Liangrong, and said in a deep voice: "Yao Liangrong, you stay behind! Scout for information here, and look for clues based on the monk Duan Rong described. Two hours later, regardless of the result, ride fast to catch up with the Escort Team! The escorting cannot be delayed!"

"Yes, Escort Head!" Yao Liangrong said, cupping his hands.

"Everyone else, form up! Let's go!" Sun Huang said. His expression was grave, and he felt a faint sense of unease in his heart; this escort mission seemed quite ill-fated.

In the silence, the Escort Team left Wancheng County and traveled along the Official Road. About two hours later, the sky was already bright, and Yao Liangrong rode over from behind to report to Sun Huang that he had not found any clues regarding Liu Ao.

"Return to the team!" Sun Huang said.

Xiao Yu's leg injury had not yet healed, and Liu Ao had disappeared and left the team for no reason. This was undoubtedly the moment when the Second Escort Team was at its weakest, and there was also a hidden danger like Li Yuliang in the team. Who knew what else they might encounter along the way!

Thinking this, Sun Huang felt as if a giant rock were pressing down on his shoulders, heavy and burdensome...

"This kid, what kind of trouble is he stirring up again!"

But things went much more smoothly than Sun Huang had expected. Although Liu Ao never appeared, Xiao Yu's leg injury healed after two days!

Afterward, the Escort Team had a smooth journey and arrived safely at the Prefecture City of Ruyang Prefecture!

"It really is the Prefecture City; it's truly prosperous..." Upon entering the Prefecture City, the hearts of everyone in the Escort Team felt a bit more at ease.

Although the Prefecture City was far more prosperous than the county town, to Duan Rong, who had seen the neon-bright, star-like sleepless cities of his past life, this was just a place with more people and wider streets.

It was the street performers, the sugar figurine sellers, and the Ice Sugar Gourd sellers that Duan Rong found somewhat novel!

Seeing the prosperity of the streets, everyone couldn't help but let their minds wander, and the craving for alcohol that had been suppressed the whole way surged out. However, they still had to endure it before handing over the escort.

They had endured for over a month, so they weren't in a rush for a few hours!

The Escort Team first handed the eight large boxes of Goods Escort to the client. The other party checked the iron locks and seals on the boxes and then issued a receipt!

Sun Huang took the receipt, and the Escort Team pulled the empty carts onto the street!

Once the Escort Carts were empty, the hearts of the Escorts seemed to lighten along with them!

Sun Huang stood at the street corner and said: "Lu Feng, Tang Dejin, Ren Tiewa, you three take the Escort Carts and horses to Yueshun Inn to settle in first. We will go deliver the Human Escort and will follow shortly!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng, Tang Dejin, and Ren Tiewa led the horses and left from the east end of the street.

Sun Huang led the Escorts, escorting Li Yuliang toward the Li Mansion on Fuchun Street.

Everyone abandoned their horses and switched to walking, because the streets of the Prefecture City were truly too crowded; riding a horse was actually not as fast as walking.

This Li Mansion on Fuchun Street was the home of Li Yuliang's aunt.

Li Yuliang's aunt, Li Yuru, was married to a distant cousin of the same clan, Li Shicheng. Although Li Shicheng's martial arts were mediocre, he was quite skilled at business and had made a thriving trade in furs.

Sun Huang led the Escorts, surrounding Li Yuliang, with Xiao Yu standing right by his side.

Everyone passed through the busy streets and finally brought Li Yuliang into the Li Mansion!

The steward of the Li Mansion, Wang Tong, had already received instructions from the mistress, Li Yuru. As soon as he saw Li Yuliang, he welcomed him inside, preparing to personally send him over to see Li Yuru.

Seeing that the Human Escort had finally been handed over, the stone in Sun Huang's heart finally fell completely to the ground. He led the Escorts of the Second Escort Team out of the main gate of the Li Mansion, and just as they stepped onto the stone stairs, they heard a series of exclamations behind them!

Wang Tong had just taken Li Yuliang a few steps when a small, thin Miscellaneous Servant suddenly lunged over from the side veranda. His figure swept up like a large bird, a cold light flashed in his hand, and a dagger, like a passing flash of light, nimbly slit Li Yuliang's throat...

This turn of events was truly too abrupt...

The skin and flesh at Li Yuliang's throat flipped open, and blood spurted out, splashing red dots all over Wang Tong, who was standing to the side.

And that Miscellaneous Servant who assassinated Li Yuliang flashed past and rushed out of the Li Mansion's main gate. When the gatekeeper saw that scene, how could he dare to stop him? He immediately dodged.

Although the Miscellaneous Servant's face only flashed by, Wang Tong recognized at a glance that the person was a Miscellaneous Servant newly recruited to the front courtyard kitchen half a month ago.

The Miscellaneous Servant who assassinated Li Yuliang rushed into the main gate, his feet hitting the stone steps, and brushed past the members of the Second Escort Team.

As soon as Duan Rong saw the side of that person's face, he recognized him; it was the assassin who had pretended to be a refugee in the ruined temple.

"Don't move! The Human Escort has already been handed over! The matter has nothing to do with us anymore!" Sun Huang saw the person rushing over and immediately instructed. The person brushed past the Escorts, turned around the stone lion at the entrance, and disappeared without a trace...

Inside the Li Mansion, Wang Tong was shouting and yelling, figures were flashing everywhere, and many guards had already rushed over...

But by this time, Sun Huang had already led the Escorts of the Second Escort Team away from the Li Mansion and headed toward the Yueshun Inn where they were staying...

Duan Rong sighed inwardly; Sun Huang was indeed clear-headed. The person had already been handed over, and the matter no longer had anything to do with the Yuanshun Escort Agency!

If they had acted out of righteousness at that time to stop the assassin, even if they could have truly detained the assassin, they might have ended up inviting trouble upon themselves instead!

The world of martial arts is full of lessons everywhere!

Inside the Li Mansion courtyard, Li Yuliang lay in a pool of blood; his lips were trembling, and his pupils had already begun to dilate. In his blurred vision, the guards were already rushing toward this side. At the corner of the veranda, a graceful and luxurious woman also pushed aside a maid and ran toward this side; the golden hairpins on her head flashed with dazzling golden light under the sun...

Li Yuliang could no longer see the woman's face clearly, but he knew his aunt had come. A miserable smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and his consciousness faded away completely...

(End of this chapter)