Chapter 28: Traveling Far Away 【Please Add to Bookshelf】

Liang Jingtang watched as the disciples knelt on one knee, blaming and begging for forgiveness, and let out a long sigh to the heavens; after a long while, he helped each one to their feet.

“Get up! The situation in Licheng has grown complicated—chaos could erupt at any moment. If you can prepare, prepare now.”

“Xingyi, your family is large and your wealth substantial, with many children and disciples—you must plan ahead, think of escape routes before disaster strikes. Don’t wait until chaos breaks out to try moving your whole household—that’ll be too late.”

“And Yongbao, Yunfeng—you run a tavern and a brothel respectively; the people coming and going are a mix of good and bad, the most complex of all. Avoid conflict at all costs.”

“If things turn truly dire, sell your tavern and brothel early, retreat to some quiet countryside village, and live as a wealthy couple in peace.”

“And Daoming, you’re the least rooted among your peers and have the lowest cultivation base. Shi Yingdeng and Xu Shisen were humiliated today—if they refuse to let it go, they may take it out on you.”

“You’ve decided to take a long journey soon—perfect timing to avoid the storm. But times are turbulent now; while traveling, stay low-key. Better to swallow your pride, take losses, than get into disputes.”

Liang Jingtang finally helped Xia Daoming to his feet, giving him a solemn warning.

“Master, rest assured—I’ll be cautious. Please take care of your health,” Xia Daoming said.

“I’m an old man now—I don’t care anymore,” Liang Jingtang patted Xia Daoming’s shoulder, then scanned the group. “The situation is still unclear. Besides being careful and avoiding conflict, you must also avoid getting too close to the Ding family.”

“Master’s meaning is…” Zhuo Xingyi’s heart skipped a beat as he asked.

His escort agency had many business dealings with the Ding family.

“The Ding family is powerful and allied with the Lin family and the Mighty Saber Sect. The Xu family’s ancestral elder is ancient, and no new Grand Master has emerged—they won’t easily engage in open conflict with the Dings.”

“So groups like our Qianjiao Martial Hall or Wu Family Fortress become the perfect targets for the Xus to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys. Poor Gu Ren—he was just…” Liang Jingtang trailed off, letting out a heavy sigh.

“So you mean Wu Yue li was done by the Xus?” Yu Chi Xiao and the others drew in sharp breaths.

The Qianjiao Martial Hall’s strength and intelligence network couldn’t compare to the Ji family’s.

Not even Yu Chi Xiao and the others, nor even Liang Jingtang himself, knew as much as Ji Wenyue.

Liang Jingtang didn’t answer them, only swept his gaze over them again. “In short, let them fight among themselves—we live our own lives. Stay as far away as possible. That’s all. I’m leaving.”

With that, Liang Jingtang walked out of Yao Hua Tower.

In the lamplight, his tall, imposing figure bent slightly, fading slowly into the street.

The third day after the Yao Hua Tower incident.

Early that morning, Xia Daoming brought Xia He and the other four maids to the Qianjiao Martial Hall.

Today, he planned to travel far with Liu Qiaolian.

Leaving Xia He and the others at home to guard the estate would have been ideal.

But the incident at Yao Hua Tower three days ago made Xia Daoming fear Shi Yingdeng might go mad and come after the maids if he couldn’t find him—so he brought them here instead.

He had them help with chores at the hall, while continuing their martial training.

The four maids were young—the youngest only sixteen, the oldest barely eighteen.

Though starting martial training at this age was late, it wasn’t too late.

With the world in chaos now, learning even a little martial skill was better than none.

Besides, Xia Daoming now had no shortage of silver or elixirs; since Liu Qiaolian bought them from the slave trader, she’d taught them martial arts in her spare time.

They now had a basic foundation.

Leaving them at the Qianjiao Martial Hall for now would keep their skills from growing rusty.

Watching the four clever, lovely girls standing gracefully behind Xia Daoming, Liang Jingtang felt initial disappointment—then seemed to understand something, and pointed at Xia Daoming with a smile. “You Xiaozi , you understand comfort better than your old master! But it’s good you’ve come to terms with it—better than ending up with nothing but regrets.”

“Cough, cough, Master, it’s not what you think…”

“Enough. I never had high hopes for you anyway. Life is short—if you can reach the fifth rank, fine. If not, enjoy yourself while you’re young.”

“As for them, don’t worry. As long as they don’t leave the Qianjiao Martial Hall, Shi Yingdeng wouldn’t dare lay a finger on them—even with ten times his courage!” Liang Jingtang waved him off.

Xia Daoming changed his words: “Then I’ll take Xia He and the others to Brother Yu Chi and have him arrange things. I won’t disturb you further.”

“Go, go!” Liang Jingtang waved his hand.

Xia Daoming returned with Xia He and the others to the outer courtyard.

“Heh heh, appearances are deceiving! Back at Yao Hua Tower you looked so serious—I thought you were devoted to martial arts, resolute, untouched by women. I admired you.”

“Turns out you’ve got four concubines hidden away!” Yu Chi Xiao glanced at Xia He and the others, draped an arm over Xia Daoming’s shoulder, and grinned with knowing amusement.

“Cough, cough, Brother…”

“Enough, I understand. Go in peace!”

Xia Daoming stared at Liang Jingtang’s expression—“I get it, I’m a man too”—and fell silent.

Understand what?

My goal is Grand Master—how could I sink into lust?

Cough, cough… but occasionally playing cards with Liu Qiaolian shouldn’t count as indulgence, right?

Xia Daoming soon left the Qianjiao Martial Hall and returned to the Xia estate.

Liu Qiaolian had already packed everything and was waiting.

After a quarter-hour.

A man and woman, each wearing a veiled conical hat that concealed their entire faces, rode swiftly out the eastern city gate, heading southeast along the main road.

The man and woman were naturally Xia Daoming and Liu Qiaolian.

The coldest region of Mangzhou lies north of Cangmang Mountain.

There lies an endless desert—scorching in summer, freezing in winter, sparsely populated. Beyond that lies the Tianhe Grassland and the Tianhe people who live upon it.

The Tianhe are nomads, fiercely warlike, frequently raiding Mangzhou’s northern lands, sometimes even crossing the narrow passes of Cangmang Mountain to plunder the southern regions.

But thanks to Cangmang Mountain’s natural barrier, southern lands face little threat from the Tianhe. The real dangers come from the mountain’s beasts, sweltering heat, hurricanes, torrential rains, miasma, swarms of insects and snakes, and a terrain of mountains with little flat land.

The farther southeast you go in Mangzhou, the less you’re affected by these harsh natural conditions.

That’s why most of Mangzhou’s larger cities lie in the southeast, including the provincial capital.

Xia Daoming’s plan was to travel southeast from city to city, checking local apothecaries for pills or herbs that could effectively strengthen his meridians.

Southern Mangzhou is mountainous, with complex terrain and winding roads.

Along the way, venomous insects and beasts abound; low-rank beasts occasionally appear, and bandits frequently ambush travelers.

For ordinary people, traveling from one city to another meant arduous mountain and river crossings—and extreme danger.

So most people never leave their home region in their entire lives.

The cost of transporting goods between cities is high, so trade is limited.

Outside the city gates, within ten miles of the road, the path is wide and smooth, with frequent travelers and farmland and villages on both sides.

But beyond ten miles from Licheng, the road narrows and becomes bumpy, overgrown with weeds.

Hills rise one after another; flat land is rare.

Occasional fields at the mountain’s foot are mostly abandoned, untended.

Only areas with fortified villages show cultivated land and signs of life.

After leaving the city by more than ten miles, refugees become more common, and highway bandits increase in number.

Xia Daoming refused to bother—just unleashed the qi and blood energy of a fifth-rank Grand Martial Master; the bandits immediately fled, daring not to intercept.

Today marked the fifth day since their departure from Licheng.

“Master, another twenty miles ahead is Tie Shi Town. It’s just a market town—basic lodging. But after Tie Shi, you’ll need to ride two hours through the night to reach Lv Bai City,” Liu Qiaolian said, glancing at the setting sun.

“Haste makes waste. The mountain paths are treacherous—traveling at night only leads to wrong turns. We’ll stay in Tie Shi tonight,” Xia Daoming said.

Liu Qiaolian lifted her black veil, smiled sweetly at Xia Daoming, her bright eyes sparkling—her allure undimmed by the wilderness.

“Tired, Lian’er? Want to rest on my lap?” Xia Daoming looked at her radiant face, his heart stirring.

Liu Qiaolian glanced around, blushed, and nodded meekly.

Xia Daoming’s desire flared—he spurred his horse closer, reached out, and swept her into his arms, placing her before him on the saddle.

One hand held the reins, the other wrapped around her soft, plump waist; he inhaled her faint fragrance, and all fatigue vanished.

His hands soon wandered freely; Liu Qiaolian nestled against him, obedient, letting him indulge, letting the horse run.

“This is what true joy feels like—wind in the face, hooves flying!” Xia Daoming felt a surge of pride.

“Wind in the face, hooves flying?” Liu Qiaolian paused, then her eyes sparkled with delight, her cheeks reddening even more.

On the empty mountain path, in the wilderness.

A young couple rode together, lost in affection, when the sound of wheels and hooves came from behind.

Hearing the noise, Xia Daoming grew alert and loosened his grip on Liu Qiaolian’s waist.

She pressed her hand against the saddle and leapt lightly back onto her own horse.

The cart was descending a slope, moving fast.

Since they planned to stay in Tie Shi tonight, there was no rush—they moved aside.

After the cart passed, they resumed their intimate ride.

The cart swiftly passed them.

It was drawn by two horses, its carriage adorned with gold and silver, carved with exquisite patterns—elegant and luxurious.

On the driver’s seat sat a coachman, his qi and blood surging—he was a fourth-rank Martial Master.

As the cart passed, the curtain was lifted slightly, revealing a young man with a large black mole on his right chin.

Opposite him, on a silk seat, sat an old man in gray robes.

PS: If you enjoy this novel, please add it to your bookshelf for easy access. Second update today at noon.