Chapter 85

On the winding mountain path of Erlong Mountain.

Fang Yongyuan's roar as he left echoed through the valley.

Qin Shuo abruptly turned, the black iron halberd in his hand pointing diagonally at the ground, his expressionless face toward Song Tianlin standing ahead of the convoy as he said:

"Your turn!"

"Hah! You're really confident!"

Song Tianlin narrowed his eyes slightly, "With your current state, I could kill you as easily as turning my hand over."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Qin Shuo curled the corner of his mouth into an arc, "Then go ahead and try."

Faced with Qin Shuo's undisguised provocation, Song Tianlin's eyes flashed with killing intent, yet he did not act rashly.

Because he knew that although Fang Yongyuan had left, he certainly had not gone far.

Perhaps he was hiding in some corner at this very moment, waiting for Qin Shuo and Fang Yongyuan to both lose, then reap the benefits like a fisherman.

He wanted to kill both Qin Shuo and Fang Yongyuan in one stroke, and the other party likely thought the same.

From the fight between Qin Shuo and Fang Yongyuan just now.

The current Qin Shuo is no longer the inner strength martial artist who could be kneaded at will when he first entered the Song Mansion.

After breaking through to the Tongmai Realm, his strength has become terrifying.

Especially that body of horizontal training monstrous strength, which even the Violent Demon Ape Fang Yongyuan could not withstand.

This forced Song Tianlin to seriously reassess this long-distance assassination attempt.

He does intend to kill Qin Shuo.

But if he were to suffer serious injury, or even lose his life here, it would not be worth the loss.

After all, his strength is still slightly inferior to Fang Yongyuan's.

Since Fang Yongyuan couldn't kill Qin Shuo, he likely finds it difficult to instantly kill his opponent in a short time.

The two faced each other from a distance.

The escorts of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall dared not breathe, fearing to anger this Tongmai Realm master and bring destruction upon themselves.

Only Lin Feng was gathering strength in secret, ready at any moment to guide Qin Shuo.

Although he had only achieved Inner Strength Great Success, he would absolutely not abandon his junior brother and flee alone.

The mountain breeze gently brushed, and the mountain path fell into a brief silence.

Finally, Song Tianlin said nothing, turned his horse's head, and galloped away along the path he came.

"What a coward! No wonder he's been crushed by Song Tianhao—he doesn't even have the guts to make a move."

In the dense forest, Fang Yongyuan hid in the lush canopy of a tree, looking down from above, observing everything happening on the mountain path.

He never expected Song Tianlin to be so decisive, turning around and leaving directly.

Even if you fought that Qin brat for a round, it would be good.

That way, I could seize the opportunity to strike and reclaim my Iron Halberd.

He lingered in the treetop for a while, confirming Song Tianlin had not turned back, then left in indignant frustration.

This ambush really cost me dearly.

Not only did I lose my Iron Halberd, but that brat also broke my arm.

If the Tongmai Realm masters in the prefectural city found out, I don't know how they'd gossip about me behind my back.

"You Qin brat, wait for me—I'll go back and enter seclusion. Once I break through to the Tongmai Peak, I'll take your head to avenge today's humiliation."

Fang Yongyuan gritted his teeth and ultimately left filled with resentment.

On the mountain path.

Qin Shuo stood holding the iron halberd until he could no longer hear Song Tianlin's horse hooves, then his expression relaxed and he slumped completely.

After the battle with Fang Yongyuan, his inner qi was consumed too heavily.

If it weren't for his tyrannical physique and abundant blood and qi, he would probably already be paralyzed on the ground, unable to move.

Seeing Qin Shuo show signs of fatigue, Lin Feng rushed forward to support him, concerned: "Junior Brother Qin, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just excessive blood and qi consumption—I'll be fine after two days of rest." Qin Shuo shook his head.

Lin Feng helped him onto the carriage to rest, then had Wang Guanshi organize the medicine team to clear the road.

Finally, the convoy set out again.

Qin Shuo sat cross-legged on the carriage roof, took a Blood Qi Pill, and silently nurtured his injuries.

"Junior Brother Qin, those two were……"

Lin Feng guarded beside him, his eyes full of worry.

Those two just now were both Tongmai Realm masters; even if he wanted to help, his strength simply wasn't enough.

He worried someone else might come, so he could only stay glued to Qin Shuo's side.

At least, before Qin Shuo regains his strength, he can protect him completely.

"Second Senior Brother, don't worry—they are people from the Song and Fang families of the prefectural city, mutually wary of each other, so they won't move against me again in the short term." Qin Shuo smiled.

Even he himself hadn't expected things to develop to this extent.

The Song and Fang families both sent people to kill him, but due to mutual distrust and fear of the fisherman's gain, they both retreated.

If Song Tianlin hadn't arrived in time, even if he escaped today, he would likely have to pay a heavy price.

For this assassination attempt, he actually had some anticipation in his heart.

He only guessed the Song family would come, but didn't expect the Fang family to come as well.

"When I return to Heishui City, I'll go to Mingwang Temple. Once I cultivate the Martial Saint Divine Ability, I'll settle scores with you all one by one."

Qin Shuo's eyes flashed with a fierce light.

If anyone dares to ambush and kill him halfway, whether it is the Fang family or a branch of the Song family, they must pay the price.

He lowered his head to look at the black iron halberd lying across his legs, and the corner of his mouth suddenly curled into a smile.

His bout with Fang Yongyuan was not in vain; this halberd, weighing about one hundred and eighty catties of solid iron, is very suitable for his current use.

If combined with his White Ape Splits the Mountain, condensing force into a blade, its power might even increase further.

"Huu~"

Suddenly, Wang Guanshi, who was leading the way, reined in his horse and came to an abrupt halt, raising his hand to signal the convoy behind to stop advancing.

"What happened?"

Lin Feng and Qin Shuo both stood up from the carriage and looked ahead.

Only to see that on the mountain path ahead, a large tree as thick as a water barrel had been felled, lying across the road and blocking everyone's way.

"There are mountain bandits, everyone be careful!"

Wang Guanshi, who had traveled this road for many years and was long familiar with the bandits' usual tactics for robbing convoys, immediately shouted a warning.

The other escorts responsible for guarding the medicinal herbs, upon hearing this, all drew their weapons from the carts and looked around warily.

"May I ask which friend of the road is here? Could you come out for a meeting? I am Wang Fugui of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall, and I hope you will grant me some face."

Wang Guanshi's voice echoed in the narrow valley.

Soon, several big men with head wrappings emerged from a mountain gully to the front right.

"Are you Wang Fugui of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall?"

The speaker was a middle-aged man with an honest and simple appearance.

As he spoke, he stretched his neck to look toward the convoy.

Upon seeing more than ten carriages fully loaded with medicinal herbs, his eyes immediately lit up:

"My goodness, so many carriages, all packed to the brim, big brother, we've struck it rich this time."

"You good-for-nothing, since following the big chief, have we lacked fat sheep to plunder?"

The dark-faced man beside him also wore a look of joy, already fantasizing about finding a few girls to enjoy after looting these medicinal herbs and entering the city.

"Indeed."

Seeing that the other party had heard of his name, Wang Guanshi felt relieved in his heart.

When escorting and transporting goods, the thing most feared is encountering a stubborn bandit stronghold.

They not only disregard the rules, but also, in order to gain a fierce reputation, will kill people indiscriminately.

Since this group of bandits has heard of his name, they must understand the rules.

Thus, Wang Guanshi plucked up his courage and stepped forward to say:

"Good heroes, your hard work is appreciated; this is a small token of goodwill from my Liuhe Martial Arts Hall. I trouble the chiefs to help the brothers have some tea."

According to the rules of the road, as long as the convoy is willing to offer tribute, the bandits generally will not make things too difficult.

After all, they occupy the mountain as kings, yet also value a long-term, sustainable approach.

Otherwise, if they raid one wave after another, even if Erlong Mountain is vast, there would be no place for them to stay.

Wang Fugui, having wandered south and north for so many years, has encountered no fewer than eighty or a hundred bandits.

Besides the Yuan Clan Brothers he met last time, he has basically settled everything with money.

If money can be used, convoys generally do not wish to resort to force.

For once force is used, unless the enemy can be completely wiped out, it is easy to leave behind future troubles.

As the saying goes, only a fool would think one can guard against thieves for a thousand days when thieves only work for a thousand days.

To avoid mishaps, convoys generally are willing to spend money to dispel disasters.

Moreover, if a convoy can wipe out one band of bandits, could it possibly wipe out all bandits?

Once a convoy gains a reputation among these greenwood heroes for being stingy with tribute, it is easy to become a target.

For everyone knows you are unwilling to offer tribute, so when the opportunity arises, they will give you a thorough beating, greeting you right away with rolling stones and falling logs—who could endure that?

It should be known that the vast majority of carters and laborers involved in escorting are ordinary people, and few of the escorts know martial arts.

If every escort mission resulted in deaths, over time, no one would dare to escort for the convoy.

Therefore, the medicinal herb gathering teams of the Liuhe Martial Arts Hall generally use money to clear the way.

This money, prepared before departure, ranges from thirty to one hundred taels, used to offer tribute to bandits of different strengths.

Unless encountering unreasonable bandits or those who make exorbitant demands, the escorts of the convoy will not step forward.

However, Wang Fugui this time misjudged the bandits opposite.

When he rode his horse, smiling broadly, approached several bandits, and offered a fifty-tael silver note.

The pock-faced man opposite, who had not spoken a word from beginning to end, suddenly drew his sword, moved with ghostly speed, and severed Wang Fugui's head in one stroke.