Chapter 832

When Hu Xiaotian saw him, that person also noticed Hu Xiaotian and them, and spurred his horse to ride over toward them.

Ho Shengnan secretly grew wary in her heart and quietly took down her longbow, in case the other party would act against them.

That person first spread his arms, indicating he meant no harm, then clasped his fists on horseback and shouted: "Sirs, I have lost my way in this Peak Forest Gully; I hope you can point me to the right path."

Hu Xiaotian found his voice somewhat familiar; upon closer look at the fellow's facial features, he realized this was the red-haired man he had met on the merchant ship—he never expected to run into him here. Because the red-haired man was covered in loess, Hu Xiaotian initially failed to recognize him, and the red-haired man also didn't recognize Hu Xiaotian and company. One reason Hu Xiaotian and Ho Shengnan were also covered in loess is that they were wearing masks.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "We're also feeling our way."

The red-haired man rode up, dismounted, glanced at Hu Xiaotian's waterskin and said: "Sir, could you spare some water?" Without waiting for Hu Xiaotian's reply, he pulled out a gold ingot and tossed it over.

Hu Xiaotian had intended to give him some for free, but he didn't expect this fellow to be so generous; he reached out and took it—the gold ingot weighed a full five taels.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Thanks!" and tossed his waterskin over.

The red-haired man took the waterskin, gulped down several large mouthfuls, then took a copper basin from his pack, poured the remaining water into it, placed it before his mount for it to drink. After doing all that, he came before Hu Xiaotian and said: "Sirs, would you be willing to let me join you on the road?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Sure, but we're not locals either; we're not familiar with the terrain here, so if we lose our way, big brother, please don't blame us."

The red-haired man laughed: "I would be grateful for your help; how could I blame you? I am Jin Yulin. May I ask your esteemed names, sirs?"

Hu Xiaotian clasped his fists: "I am called Huo Yuanjia; he is my senior brother Huang Feihong, who is mute."

Ho Shengnan startled at the words; Hu Xiaotian obviously feared that speaking would give them away and expose her female identity. Yet this fellow's talent for lying is truly impressive—he makes things up on the spot. Even the names he invents sound completely natural.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Let's keep moving! Let's try to leave Peak Forest Gully before nightfall!"

Jin Yulin nodded: "Brother Huo is absolutely right; I entered this loess forest yesterday morning, wandered around, and still haven't found an exit."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've heard there are bandits active in Peak Forest Gully; we'd better avoid spending the night here."

Jin Yulin said: "Brother Huo, are you referring to the Hunshui Gang?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Exactly the Hunshui Gang!"

Jin Yulin said: "I've also heard of this bandit gang, which has long held sway in Peak Forest Gully; I hope we never run into them." He then added with a laugh: "If I hadn't met you, I'd rather be robbed by bandits. Running into them might still offer a slim chance, but facing this maze-like loess forest leaves me with no recourse."

Ho Shengnan's keen sense of smell detected a whiff of blood; she looked up and saw some bloodstains on Jin Yulin's saddle, though covered with loess they were still plainly visible. Having endured countless battles, Ho Shengnan could tell from the stains alone that they were not old; if she wasn't mistaken, Jin Yulin must have recently undergone a fight, so this fellow is likely not telling the truth.

The three remounted. Ho Shengnan, taking advantage of Jin Yulin's inattention, gave Hu Xiaotian a look and pointed to the fresh bloodstains on his saddle.

Hu Xiaotian had indeed noticed as well, but simply stayed silent. He rode alongside Jin Yulin, while Ho Shengnan followed behind, guarding against any tricks he might pull.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Brother Jin, where do you come from, and where are you headed?"

Jin Yulin replied: "I am from Shaoyuan in Da Yong. I'm heading to Tianbo City to visit a friend. Brother Huo, where are you going?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "We're merchants; I don't know if Brother Jin has heard of Baofeng Hall."

Jin Yulin laughed: "I know nothing about business affairs; please forgive my ignorance."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "We two are clerks at Baofeng Hall, acting on the boss's orders to do business in Yongdu; this time we're returning home from last night's business in Yongdu! Brother Jin, we've traveled this road before on our way here."

Jin Yulin burst out laughing: "Looks like I've really run into a benefactor! Brother Huo, this business trip of yours must be going very smoothly, right?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Not bad!"

At that moment, Jin Yulin suddenly raised his head, gazing up at a hawk circling overhead; his expression seemed to shift. He quickly drew his longbow from behind, nocked an arrow, and aimed at the bird. His longbow was somewhat worn, its decoration very crude, with many strips of red-and-blue tattered cloth wound around the bow stave, most of which had faded over the years. Although Ho Shengnan couldn't tell the bow's material, she could see at a glance that its bowstring was made of buffalo sinew, fine steel wire, and some unknown animal hair mixed together—its tension must be enormous.

Jin Yulin's bow was drawn like a full moon; the feathered arrow hissed—it shot toward the hawk in the sky. Though this arrow's force and speed had reached their peak, its aim was off by a hair, missing by a mile; it whizzed past the hawk's right side. Startled, the hawk soared higher, leaving Jin Yulin's range.

Seeing Jin Yulin miss his mark, Hu Xiaotian deliberately said: "Is that a hawk?"

Jin Yulin replied: "A hawk—such birds are often used to scout intelligence and detect enemy movements. Brother Huo, you just said bandits often appear here; I worry this might be their trained hawk. We'd better leave quickly."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, but he knew deep down that the Hunshui Gang wouldn't need to go to such trouble using a hawk as a scout—they know this terrain like the back of their hand, and their strength lies underground, not in the air. Jin Yulin must be lying to them; from his demeanor, he seems to be fleeing an enemy. Hu Xiaotian began to regret traveling with this fellow, not knowing what kind of foe he had provoked; choosing to journey with him seemed to be inviting trouble for no reason. Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian deliberately said: "Oh! My stomach hurts a little, Brother Jin, sorry sorry, I need to step aside for a moment."

Jin Yulin said: "Brother Huo, please go ahead." He was clearly uneasy, frequently glancing up at the sky. Hu Xiaotian asked Ho Shengnan: "Senior brother, do you need to go as well?"

Ho Shengnan glared at him; this fellow was becoming more shameless by the minute, even nodding in front of Jin Yulin. The two spurred their horses and went around behind a loess pillar to the side.

At that moment, Jin Yulin suddenly, from behind, took down his longbow, drew it, and aimed an arrow at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian turned to face him and asked: "Brother Jin, what do you mean by this?"

Jin Yulin gave a vicious grin: "What is your purpose in leading me here?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Jin, it was clearly you who wanted to join us; I never forced you to come along."

Jin Yulin snorted coldly: "The Luoying Palace really went all out for a lecher—too bad they sent only a bunch of useless good-for-nothings. Prepare to die!" He shot an arrow straight at Hu Xiaotian's chest.

Ho Shengnan, already poised nearby, though her draw speed was slower than Jin Yulin's, executed the nock-and-release in one fluid motion; her arrow swooped toward that blade of light in the air. With a clang, the tips of the two arrows struck together, sending out sparks; Ho Shengnan's arrow successfully intercepted Jin Yulin's shot.

Hu Xiaotian had already, in the first moment, urged Little Gray on; man and horse became one, a gray lightning bolt charged toward Jin Yulin; midway he drew his great sword Hidden Edge from his shoulder with a backhand motion, unleashing a thunderous roar like a clap of thunder, and slashed a sword at Jin Yulin.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's fierce advance, Jin Yulin did not dare delay; he slapped his waist, his goose-feather saber flew from its sheath, his right hand grabbed the scabbard, he clamped his legs against the horse's belly, the black steed beneath him neighed, kicked off with its hind legs, and leapt up from the spot.

The blade and sword collided heavily in midair with a clang! that rang sharply, numbing both men's eardrums; the horses crossed, the two riders swapped positions, and Jin Yulin's arm went slightly numb from Hu Xiaotian's blow—he never expected this young man's strength to surpass his own.

Hu Xiaotian wheeled his horse around, coldly stared at Jin Yulin, and said: "Scoundrel, I helped you in good faith, and you repay kindness with betrayal!"

Jin Yulin held his goose-feather saber at a forty-five-degree angle pointing to the right ground, pulled the reins with his left hand, and the black steed surged forward again toward Hu Xiaotian. When strength is inferior to the opponent's, one must rely on the horse's momentum; in battle, the decisive factor for victory is not merely strength—technique and experience in grappling also carry great weight.

Hu Xiaotian's experience in mounted combat is indeed limited; although Little Gray is divine, he lacks training in this kind of horseback stabbing duel, and there is no necessary rapport between rider and mount. Hu Xiaotian flourished his sword with a flourish, but did not urge the horse forward; instead he swung the blade into empty air, producing a whooshing sword wind—unfortunately, he failed to manifest the ideal outward projection of sword qi.

Ho Shengnan watched Hu Xiaotian swing his sword; she had also held hope, but seeing him fire a blank shot, she felt both amused and exasperated. She drew her longbow again, and three arrows whistled—consecutive shots: one struck the horse's leg, one aimed at the horse's belly, and one targeted the black steed's eye. As the saying goes, capture the bandit by first taking its leader; to strike a person, first strike the horse. When facing an enemy, Ho Shengnan never hesitates.

Jin Yulin had already prepared to attack, but because of Ho Shengnan's three successive arrows he was forced to change his plan; he repeatedly swung his goose-feather saber, knocking all three arrows out of the air.

Ho Shengnan's three arrows were truly meant to distract Jin Yulin, making him abandon his attack on Hu Xiaotian; while he was busy deflecting the arrows with his saber, her most powerful fourth arrow had already been loosed. Aimed at Jin Yulin's throat, the arrow streaked like a meteor, tearing through the air; amidst the pervasive loess, the arrow's wind cleanly ripped open a straight, transparent trajectory.

I have to work in the morning and only have time to type in the afternoon; first I send this First Update as a baseline—hope brothers and sisters will vote plenty! (To be continued~^~)