Chapter 362: The Return Journey

The group walked out of the valley from where the smoke of wolf-dung fires was rising.

As soon as they exited the valley, several people from the Inner History Department were waiting there.

Once those people from the Inner History Department saw that they had all obtained the Taiyi Order, they led them into one of the thatched huts in a row nearby.

Right there in that thatched hut, they were immediately announced as having advanced to Outer Sect Disciples. Then, a middle-aged man with a square face and sparse beard walked out and began to read the rules for Outer Sect Disciples to them in a passionate and stirring manner. When he spoke of loyalty to the Sect and such, his spit was flying everywhere.

Duan Rong and the others were all left stunned.

Advancing to an Outer Sect Disciple was considered a rather glorious and major event; they had not expected to be dismissed in such a crude thatched hut.

They had originally thought there would be some kind of ceremony or something.

After that man finished his rant, several old Attendants in the room had already skillfully handed them their new Sect Cloud Tokens.

Along with the Sect Cloud Token, they were also handed an envelope.

Once they left this thatched hut, they could leave the Sect from that day forward. Moreover, they had a three-month family visitation leave.

After three months, they would have to report to the Office of Transmission in their respective places of origin, and from that moment on, the Sect would assign them various tasks based on the actual situation.

The Offices of Transmission in various places were not public Ya Men. The secret strongholds for contacting Outer Sect Disciples were even more hidden.

The envelope handed to them along with the Sect Cloud Token just now contained the location of the secret contact stronghold of the Office of Transmission in their place of origin.

After all the procedures were completed, they were ushered out of the thatched hut, still feeling a bit dazed.

Standing not far from the thatched hut, they saw scattered people continuously walking out of the valley... and those fellow disciples, as soon as they exited the valley, were enthusiastically intercepted by the people from the Inner History Department waiting there...

Could this Sect really be so perfunctory!?

By this time, the sky was already getting dark. After a brief discussion, Duan Rong and the others decided to go back to pack their things, then gather at Duan Rong's place, and after resting for one night, set out from the mountains early tomorrow morning!

Speaking of going home, they were all excited, their eyes shining.

For these three years, they had stayed in this Changliu Mountain like exiled forced laborers. Having endured until today, like prisoners released after serving their sentences, how could they not be happy?

Because Liu Shushan had become familiar with Duan Rong and the others, and his old home was in Ruyang Prefecture, he decided to return with Duan Rong and the others.

After the group finished their discussion, they dispersed.

Duan Rong, however, pulled Xiao Yu aside and whispered a few words to her.

After these words were spoken, a flush of peach-blossom pink flew onto Xiao Yu's face, her heart filled with joy and sweetness.

Duan Rong told Xiao Yu that as soon as they returned to Xiangu County, he would propose marriage to the old man Xiao Zongting, and then pick an auspicious day to marry Xiao Yu during the three-month visitation leave.

Xiao Yu only lowered her head, silent. Duan Rong knew that at this moment, Xiao Yu's silence meant consent.

Afterwards, the two parted ways. Xiao Yu still had to return to the Stone Workshop to pack her things, then hurry to Duan Rong's place to meet up with everyone.

Duan Rong also had to return to his hilltop to take inventory of his things, deciding what to take and what to destroy.

After they had each finished packing, it was already night by the time they arrived at Duan Rong's hilltop.

Then they hurriedly prepared dinner and dry rations, and did not go to sleep until the second half of the night.

Early the next morning, they washed up, took their luggage and dry rations, and walked out of the Sect gate!

There were quite a lot of people leaving the Sect gate that day, a grand procession, and the guards checking their Sect Cloud Tokens were almost too busy to keep up.

These past few days, the thick fog within Changliu Mountain had not yet risen, and in some mountain hollows, there was still unmelted snow.

Taking advantage of the clear air, they used their movement techniques to hurry along, and in less than two days, they were out of these Endless Great Mountains.

After Duan Rong and his group left Changliu Mountain, they found a few thin horses in a nearby small town. They rode the horses, and in just one day, they entered Shenyun Prefecture.

Shenyun Prefecture was the capital of Qingzhou, the most affluent and prosperous place.

Last time, due to various reasons, Duan Rong and the others had their journey repeatedly delayed, and upon reaching this Shenyun Prefecture, they were even detained by the Dali Temple for three days.

Because they were in a hurry to report to the Sect and feared missing the deadline, they hadn't had time to properly enjoy themselves in this Shenyun Prefecture.

This time, upon entering Shenyun Prefecture, they first found a place to have a good meal.

Eating that worldly, delicious food with its perfect color, aroma, and taste, Ximen Kankan was almost moved to tears. He suggested that the group stay in Shenyun Prefecture for a few days to have a good time before continuing their journey.

But this suggestion from Ximen Kankan was only seconded by Shen Mizhi.

Liu Shushan had already spent two days playing in this Shenyun Prefecture last time; although it was indeed affluent and prosperous, it was just a bit livelier, and with his heart set on returning home, he was not willing to linger.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu, still worried about their marriage, naturally had no intention of staying here either.

In the end, the minority naturally yielded to the majority. They only rested in Shenyun Prefecture for one night, and the next day at the horse market, they specifically paid a high price to pick out a few sturdy horses, then set off from Shenyun Prefecture to continue their journey home.

The journey was dusty and arduous, but the group barely stopped. They also changed horses two or three times.

This day, they finally arrived at the Prefecture City of Yuanyang Prefecture!

Once at the Prefecture City of Yuanyang Prefecture, they were not far from Xiangu County.

But here, the group parted ways!

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu, naturally, were going back to Xiangu County.

Shen Mizhi's father was currently serving as the Surveillance Commissioner in Ruyang Prefecture, so she was no longer going to Xiangu County and prepared to head to Ruyang Prefecture from here.

In this way, Shen Mizhi was going the same way as Liu Shushan.

And Ximen Kankan was not returning to Xiangu County either.

Over these three years, Ximen Yong had shifted the focus of his business to this Prefecture City. His shops and residence had also been moved here to Yuanyang Prefecture.

It was just that Ximen Kankan had not yet returned to this new home in Yuanyang Prefecture.

The group bid a reluctant farewell at the city gate of Yuanyang Prefecture.

Shen Mizhi and Liu Shushan rode their horses toward the west, while Duan Rong and Xiao Yu intended to head east.

Ximen Kankan warmly invited Duan Rong and Xiao Yu to stay at his home for a night before leaving, and he held onto the reins of Duan Rong's horse, refusing to let go.

But Xiao Yu was anxious to return home; having not seen Xiao Zongting and Zhu Xiaoqi for three years, and seeing that Xiangu County was not far off, how could she stay?

Duan Rong had to persuade him repeatedly before Ximen Kankan finally let go.

The two rode their horses toward the east, and Ximen Kankan watched them walk away at the city gate before entering the city.

Having been together almost every day for three years, in Ximen Kankan's heart, they were the same as his own family.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu galloped along the Official Road, their horse whips leaving bloody welts on the horses' rumps.

That day, by the Shen hour of the afternoon, the two finally reined in their horses amidst a cloud of dust.

They had arrived at the east gate of Xiangu County.

Looking at the familiar city gate, a surge of warmth and shame welled up in Xiao Yu's heart. Xiao Zongting was advanced in years, yet she had not served by his side for three years, nor had she even visited her old father during festivals or holidays.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu jumped off their horses and led them into the city gate.

Both horses were foaming at the mouth from the run, and Duan Rong and Xiao Yu were also covered in the dust of travel. Moreover, they had returned from the Sect, and both were wearing Daoist robes.

Walking along West Street, even if there were acquaintances, they would not dare to recognize them immediately.

The two led their horses and headed straight for the Yuanshun Escort Agency.

Looking at the familiar storefronts on West Street, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu both felt as if a lifetime had passed.

The two arrived at the entrance of the Yuanshun Escort Agency, only to pause slightly; they saw that the main gate and the plaque of the Yuanshun Escort Agency had both been replaced with new ones.

However, they did not pay it much mind; having been away from Xiangu County for three years, some changes were to be expected.

Hadn't Ximen Yong's family moved to Yuanyang Prefecture? Three years was not a short time!

The two stepped up the stone stairs and went straight through the main gate!

The Yuanshun Escort Agency was, after all, an Escort Agency that welcomed guests from all directions; usually, as long as it was not yet night, the main gate was never closed.

Just as the two walked through the gate, the gatekeeper Ma Wentao flashed out, eyeing them with suspicion, and said, "Are you here to commission an escort?"

Duan Rong patted Ma Wentao on the shoulder and said, "Uncle Ma, it's me, Duan Rong! What, you don't recognize me?"

Duan Rong was only sixteen or seventeen; in these three years, he had grown taller, and his physique had changed, appearing more well-proportioned.

Ma Wentao truly did not recognize them for a moment, and since the two had been gone for three years, he never expected them to return so suddenly.

"Duan... Duan Rong..." Ma Wentao stammered.

When he saw Xiao Yu to Duan Rong's right—though Xiao Yu's face was covered in dust, her height and build had not changed much—Ma Wentao saw clearly in an instant, his expression changing drastically as if he had seen a ghost. "You! You... how did you come back?"

"If we didn't come back, were we supposed to sleep on the street?"

Duan Rong patted Ma Wentao on the shoulder and walked into the Escort Agency with Xiao Yu, smiling.

They did not pay much attention to Ma Wentao's astonished expression; after all, they had been gone for three years, and their sudden return made Ma Wentao's shock inevitable. Not to mention Ma Wentao, they themselves felt a bit of "near-home trepidation" at this moment.

The two walked along the familiar path, encountering many people wearing Escort uniforms along the way, yet they were all unfamiliar faces.

Duan Rong frowned slightly, a sense of vigilance rising in his heart.

It had been three years; it was normal for the Escort Agency to take on new people. But having walked this far and seeing only new faces, it was a bit strange.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu exchanged a glance, a sense of doubt rising in both their hearts.

Xiao Yu said, "Has the agency really taken on so many new people in just three years? Does our Escort Agency train Escorts that quickly?"

Duan Rong said, "I fear there is something strange going on. Let's go, let's go see Xiao Lao first."

The two followed the small path, bypassed the Martial Arts Arena in the Middle Courtyard, and arrived in front of the Xiaojia courtyard.

The moment Xiao Yu saw the courtyard gate, her heart skipped a beat, and the joy of reuniting with her family instantly vanished.

She saw that the two wooden doors had been smashed to pieces and were hanging crookedly on their hinges.

"Father! Xiao Qi!"

As soon as Xiao Yu saw this, she knew something had happened. She and Duan Rong moved almost simultaneously, as fast as ghosts, and darted into the courtyard.

The two quickly searched the inside and outside of the Xiaojia courtyard.

Every room was in a state of disarray, but there was no sign of Xiao Zongting or Zhu Xiaoqi.

Xiao Yu's face showed anxiety; due to worry and tension, the veins on her temples were slightly bulging.

Duan Rong touched the dust on the table in the main hall and found it to be only a very thin layer. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "It must have happened not long ago. At least half a month ago, someone should have still been wiping this table."

Xiao Yu naturally knew that as long as Zhu Xiaoqi was home, the table in the main hall was definitely wiped every day.

"Duan Rong. My father and Xiao Qi, they must have met with trouble!?"

"Not necessarily, perhaps they just moved?" Seeing Xiao Yu so anxious and worried, Duan Rong offered some comfort, though he also felt a faint sense of unease in his heart. "Let's go, let's find someone to ask. See what exactly happened."

Duan Rong's comfort clearly did not have much effect on Xiao Yu. Because the trunks and valuables were all still in the room, how could this be moving?

The two arrived at the Martial Arts Arena; it was the Shen hour of the afternoon, and many people were practicing there.

As soon as they emerged from the alley, they saw someone practicing Standing Stake. Duan Rong immediately walked over and asked the man, "Brother, sorry to bother you. Does the Chief Instructor, Elder Xiao, have something going on at his place recently?"

Upon hearing this, the man looked Duan Rong up and down, then waved his hand and walked away.

"Don't know."

Duan Rong turned his head, his gaze sweeping across, and saw Zhang Xinping, an Escort from the former Fifth Escort Team, practicing under a large elm tree several yards away.

When Duan Rong looked over, Zhang Xinping happened to see him. Their eyes met, and Zhang Xinping immediately turned and walked away, his figure flashing into a nearby alley.

At this moment, it was visible that many figures on the Martial Arts Arena were slipping away.

When Duan Rong and Xiao Yu looked again, they saw that only unfamiliar faces remained on the Martial Arts Arena.

Xiao Yu's hands and feet went cold, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Duan Rong, my father and the others definitely met with trouble. Otherwise, those people wouldn't be avoiding us. Let's go! We'll go find Ruan Fengshan."

Duan Rong was now almost certain that something must have happened to Xiao Zongting. He only hoped that it was not a matter of life and death. As long as it was anything else, there was room for maneuver, but the dead could not return to life.

Duan Rong and Xiao Yu went straight from the Martial Arts Arena toward the Back Courtyard.

But they were stopped by the Guards standing watch at the entrance between the Middle Courtyard and the Back Courtyard.

The Guard told them that Ruan Fengshan was not there.

Duan Rong stood there, his mind stirring, and he suddenly unleashed his Divine Sense; his Divine Sense instantly passed through walls and courtyards.

Three years ago, when Duan Rong was in Xiangu County, he could only probe as far as the entrance of the Gathering Justice Hall when he unleashed his Divine Sense here.

But now, he had already achieved the eleventh level of the Womb Treasury Sutra; how powerful his Divine Soul had become!

At this moment, under the Envelopment of his Divine Sense, the entire Back Courtyard of the Escort Agency was revealed in minute detail, all within his sight.

Ruan Fengshan was indeed not there!

Duan Rong saw that Ruan Fengshan was indeed not in the Back Courtyard, so he withdrew his Divine Sense.

At this moment, Xiao Yu had already flipped her hand, preparing to reveal her Taiyi Order.

This time, Duan Rong and Xiao Yu had returned to this Xiangu County, but their identities were already different.

Now, they were Outer Sect Disciples of the Sect, holding the Taiyi Order, possessing the authority to kill on the spot.

Not to mention entering the Back Courtyard, even if they were to tie up Ruan Fengshan and interrogate him under torture, it would still be within the law.

But just as Xiao Yu wanted to reveal the Taiyi Order, Duan Rong grabbed her hand.

Xiao Yu frowned and looked at Duan Rong in confusion.

Duan Rong said, "Since Ruan Fengshan is not here, we might as well go find a few Escorts we are familiar with. I remember that Zhao Mu's house is nearby."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's heart stirred. Her father had served as the Chief Instructor in the Escort Agency for many years, and many Escorts had been personally trained by her father. The words of these people were indeed more trustworthy than Ruan Fengshan's words.

Xiao Yu immediately changed her mind, left the Escort Agency with Duan Rong, and walked toward Zhao Mu's house.

(End of this chapter)