Chapter 492: Setting Off

Cheng Feng naturally maintained contact with the side of Qingxi County.

But Cheng Feng himself was also busy, so he decided to take out a portion of his funds to exchange for goods, storing them up first.

Heimu Prefecture City had waterways and developed commerce.

Two hundred thousand taels of silver were quickly exchanged entirely for physical goods through the channels of the Eight Hundred and the Hong Sect of Heimu Prefecture—medicinal herbs, grain, silk and cloth, salt, and also a batch of ironware and trauma medicine.

It filled nearly a hundred large carts, which were transported into the mountains in multiple trips by the disciples of the Eight Hundred and the Hong Sect, and then delivered to the villages in the mountains.

This counted as a retreat for the Hong Sect disciples led by Wei Zhuang.

If the Red Lotus Sect were to invade on a large scale again, they could just run if they couldn't hold them off.

Along the way, he could also train the Hong Sect's troops.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the evening of the second day, Cheng Feng returned from joint training at Zhou Fu, and just as he changed out of his sweat-soaked clothes, the steward delivered an urgent letter from Qingxi County.

The letter was written in Wei Zhuang's own hand; the strokes were like swords, the force piercing through the paper. The letter stated that the storehouses in the village were already completely full, and the Hong Sect disciples were standing guard in shifts day and night, with no mishaps for the time being.

After reading the letter, Cheng Feng burned it with the oil lamp; the ashes fell into the copper basin and were quickly scattered by the wind.

Actually, Cheng Feng very much wanted to bring Wei Zhuang along to participate in this Martial Arts Tournament.

Wei Zhuang's aptitude certainly went without saying; he was strong and reliable...

But there was truly no one else who could be spared!

If someone else came to take control of the Hong Sect for Cheng Feng, Cheng Feng would not be at ease.

Cheng Feng stood before the window, gazing at the courtyard in the night for a while, lost in thought.

Regarding Qingxi County and Wei Zhuang, this was all he could do for the time being.

The silver was scattered, the supplies were stockpiled; if the Red Lotus Sect really attacked again, at least the people of the Hong Sect would have a path to retreat. As for the rest, they could only rely on Wei Zhuang to hold on himself.

As for the troops, Wei Zhuang only mentioned one sentence in the letter: "The Hong Sect disciples are training without pause, and they are starting to look like something." Although the tone was calm, it was not easy for Wei Zhuang to say those four words, "starting to look like something."

Cheng Feng did not write back, only letting the messenger take a message back: "Staying alive is the most important thing."

Before dawn the next day, Cheng Feng rose.

Today was the day to set off for the capital of Dazhou Guo. The Martial Arts Tournament was still a month away, and the journey from Qingxi County to the capital was not short; even starting from the ferry at Heimu Prefecture, it would take more than half a month by water.

Cheng Feng did not prepare much luggage: a small parcel, a few changes of clothes, a few bottles of trauma medicine he had refined himself, plus some silver notes and loose silver, all stuffed into a worn cowhide bag, and with a swing onto his shoulder, he was ready.

Most of the remaining supplies were already in Cheng Feng's Storage Ring.

And Senior Sister Zhao Wei, Cai'er, Meiniang, Cuier, Chen Min, Xiao Qing, Zheng Ya, Xiaohua, Lian Niang, Yu Niang, Chunyu, Xiahe, Qiu Yue, Dongmei, Huakai, Shang Yan, Huaxie, Hong Niang,

the 18 women he had acquired along his journey, as well as the 6 sons and 9 daughters born to them,

a large group of women holding their children had long since directed the servants to prepare a meal.

Cheng Feng walked through the corridor to the main hall, and before he even entered, he heard the hushed voices and the laughter of children inside.

The main room was packed full.

Cheng Fu and Cheng Mu sat upright in the seats of honor. Cheng Fu held a teacup, and the motion of his lid brushing the tea leaves had not changed since Cheng Feng entered the door.

Cheng Mu's eyes were red, and she forced a smile, not letting her tears fall.

Senior Sister Zhao Wei stood to one side with a few of the older children. Her waist and back were straight, her lips pressed into a line, but her eyes followed Cheng Feng the whole time, never moving even half an inch.

The women stood in half the room, dressed in red and green, with light makeup; each held a swaddled infant in her arms or used a free hand to lead a toddler learning to walk.

There were fifteen children; the older ones could already pounce toward Cheng Feng's legs, while the younger ones were still wrapped in swaddling clothes, revealing only a chubby little face.

The room full of people said nothing, but all eyes were fixed on him.

Cheng Feng paused outside the threshold, but eventually walked in.

"Eat first." His voice was not loud, and his tone was no different from usual, as if he were just going out for a stroll and would be right back.

After they finished breakfast,

Cheng Fu raised his eyes to look at him, opened his mouth, and finally said only two words: "Go."

Cheng Mu could not hold back, and tears streamed down, but fearing her son would see, she turned her head and wiped them away quickly with a handkerchief.

Cheng Feng walked up to his parents and bowed: "Father, Mother, do not worry. Your son will just take a trip and return."

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping over the room full of women and children.

Senior Sister Zhao Wei met his gaze, her throat moved, and she finally said in a hoarse voice: "We have things at home, you just go. I will look after Father, Mother, and the children."

Cheng Feng nodded and looked at Shang Yan, Huakai, and Huaxie. The three stood by the window; Shang Yan's hand was still resting on her slightly protruding abdomen. Seeing Cheng Feng look over, she did not speak, only smiled at him gently. That smile contained a thousand words, and Cheng Feng understood.

He walked up to his eldest son and reached out to ruffle the boy's hair. This child looked like him, and there was already a stubborn streak between his brows. Cheng Feng squatted down and looked at him: "You are the big brother. When Father is not at home, you must listen to your mothers and look after your younger brothers and sisters."

The child nodded heavily, his little chest puffed out high.

Cheng Feng smiled, stood up, looked around the room once more, said nothing else, and turned to stride out of the main hall.

Behind him, the sound of a child crying rose faintly; it was unknown which little one had realized their father was leaving.

He did not look back.

The carriage was already waiting outside the manor gate. The coachman was dozing on the shaft and jumped down to lift the curtain upon hearing footsteps.

Cheng Feng threw his bundle into the carriage and stepped up himself. The moment before the curtain fell, he glanced toward the manor gate—the gate was wide open,

the women inside were crowded at the entrance looking out, none of them crossing the threshold by even a step, as if afraid that if they crossed it, they would not be able to keep him.

The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage rumbled away.

Cheng Feng pulled the curtain tight, leaned back in the carriage, and closed his eyes to rest.

His fingers gently rubbed the Storage Ring on his finger; it was stuffed with supplies, and having those things in the ring felt more secure than any luggage.

When they reached the ferry at Heimu Prefecture, the sky was just beginning to brighten. The hull of the *Sun* was dyed a deep brown, and the sails had been changed to a blue-gray; it sat by the shore like a giant beast crouching on the water.

Cheng Feng arrived quite early, and before long, others arrived one after another. Wang Ji, with her retinue and honor guard, was the last to arrive.

After boarding the ship, he scanned the area.

"Everyone is here," Wang Ji said, her voice crisp.

"We must reach the capital twenty days before the Martial Dao tournament. We will first stay at the Wangji Mansion's villa in the East City; it is not far from the tournament grounds, which will make it convenient for you to familiarize yourselves with the venue. During these next ten to twenty days on the road, Liu Yu will continue to lead your training without pause."

Upon hearing this, Huo Luan's face turned green: "Ah, we have to train on the boat too?"

Wang Ji glanced at him: "If we don't train on the boat, it will be too late by the time we reach the capital."

Cheng Feng did not ask further.

Gu Niangzi's signature black lacquered wooden chest was carefully carried onto the boat by several sturdy servants and bound with several layers of thick hemp rope.

She sat by the edge of the carriage shaft herself, clutching a small clay pot in her hand, stuffing something into it while muttering to herself.

Huo Luan could not keep his mouth shut; while watching the scenery outside the window, he rambled: "The capital... the last time I went was three years ago, following the army's commander-in-chief to the Ministry of War to report on duties. I stayed for less than five days before returning, and I didn't even manage to go to the Zuixian Tower in West City. This time, I must go and sit there no matter what."

Gu Niangzi turned her head and leaned half her body inside, interjecting with a smile: "Officer Huo, Wang Ji will surely keep us confined before the Martial Dao tournament; you still want to go out and play? Be careful that Officer Liu finds out and uses you to practice his blade."

Huo Luan stiffened his neck and said: "That is a proper place to eat! The wine and food are peerless, especially that honey-glazed roasted lamb leg—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with juices overflowing..."

The more she spoke, the more spirited she became, making herself hungry in the process, and a burst of laughter erupted in the carriage.

Liu Yu leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, not uttering a sound from beginning to end, but the corners of his mouth were not as tightly pursed as before.

Cheng Feng leaned against the other side, listening to Huo Luan straining her voice to boast about the food in the capital, and felt a rare sense of relaxation in his heart.

The large boat sailed downstream. The scenery on both banks slowly receded, first low houses and stretches of farmland, then gradually turning into desolate wilderness and rolling hills.

The river breeze, carrying moisture, blew against their faces—cool but not cold—making one feel invigorated.

Wang Ji truly did as she said.

After the boat had traveled for more than an hour, she had Liu Yu clear a space on the deck and began leading the three of them in basic formation and positioning practice.

The deck was not like the Martial Arts Arena; the space was cramped, and the boat swayed slightly with the water waves, so the three of them stumbled inevitably as they moved.

Liu Yu, however, seemed completely unaffected; his soles seemed to have nails in them, and every step he took was steady and precise, carrying a kind of desperate ease.

"Don't fight against the boat's roll; follow its rhythm," Liu Yu said while moving across the deck. "When we reach the capital, although the ground of the tournament arena will be solid, the shouting of the audience, the vibration of war drums, and the pressure of the opponent's aura will all affect your center of gravity. What you are practicing now is maintaining your formation in an unstable environment."

Cheng Feng silently contemplated this and found that what Liu Yu said was indeed reasonable.

Although the swaying of the boat was an external disturbance, as long as he eased the force on his heels and let his ankles sway slightly with the boat,

and then used his waist to stabilize his upper body, he could maintain a considerable degree of stability on the deck. He tried a few times and gradually found the trick.

Gu Niangzi, however, was having a hard time. Her physique could not compare to Cheng Feng's or Huo Luan's, her sense of balance was not strong to begin with, and coupled with the need to coordinate her movements with the Black Jade Snake under her feet, she almost fell several times.

Liu Yu did not reprimand her, only letting her step aside to practice standing steady while holding onto the ship's rail.

Gu Niangzi bit her lip, her expression a mix of shame and annoyance, but she did not act tough, struggling there alone while holding the rail.

Huo Luan adapted the fastest. She was naturally steady on her feet, and her body possessed the suppleness of a young woman.

Having come from the military, there was no terrain she hadn't stepped on; this bit of swaying on the deck was no different from flat ground to her, and she could even pull out a water skin to take a few sips while moving in formation.

After a day of sailing, the three of them were exhausted from training on the deck.

By evening, the sun sank into the river, and the sunset glow on the horizon looked like silk scorched through by fire, so gorgeous that one could not look away.

Cheng Feng leaned against the ship's rail, staring blankly at the sunset glow.

Wang Ji walked to his side at some point, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him without speaking, just quietly watching the distance.

"There are many strong competitors at the capital's Martial Dao tournament," Wang Ji suddenly spoke, her voice somewhat scattered by the river breeze. "Are you afraid?"

Cheng Feng did not turn his head to look at her, his gaze still fixed on the distant sunset: "If being afraid were useful, I would have been scared to death long ago."

Wang Ji was silent for a moment, then gave a light laugh, her voice very low, almost swallowed by the wind: "You are indeed an interesting person."

She did not say anything more and turned to leave.

Cheng Feng turned his head to glance at her back; the setting sun stretched her shadow thin and long, casting it onto the deck like a sword that had already been unsheathed.

After night fell, the fleet found a shallow bay to drop anchor. Everyone finished dinner and returned to their cabins to rest.

Cheng Feng sat cross-legged in the narrow cabin, closing his eyes to circulate the internal cultivation method of the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations.

The boat swayed gently with the water waves, and that subtle, rhythmic rising and falling actually allowed him to enter a deeper state of meditation than usual.

The Blood Qi within his body flowed slowly along his meridians, warm and long-lasting, like a snake waking from hibernation wandering through his bones and muscles, carrying a lazy sense of comfort.

He pulled up the Panmian to take a look; the number for the first transformation of the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations (50/800) lay there quietly without change, but the Flood Dragon Body under the physique column had risen from 0.3% to 0.4%.

Although the deck training today was arduous, it had brought a subtle improvement to his body's affinity for his bloodline.

Cheng Feng opened his eyes and saw the starry sky outside through the circular porthole. The river surface was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the galaxy in the sky; the boat sat in the middle of this starlight, as if suspended in the void.

He suddenly thought of that mountain village in Qingxi County, thought of Wei Zhuang and those Hong Sect disciples, and thought of Shang Yan and the courtyard where the flowers bloomed and withered with the lights still on. These people and these matters were all tied to him alone.

Cheng Feng closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

"I must become stronger quickly," he said to himself in his heart.

After the fleet set sail again, the days passed one by one in the sweat on the deck and the meditation at night.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye; the scenery on both banks had changed from the southern hills to the plains of the Central Plains. The river grew wider and wider, and the passing boats became more numerous, with merchant ships and official vessels flying various flags coming and going.

It was so prosperous that one forgot about the rebellion in the eastern borderlands.

Occasionally, one could see boats flying the Martial Dao tournament flag passing by, with tough Martial Artists standing on the decks, their auras released without any concealment.

The closer they got to the capital, the more intense the atmosphere of an impending great battle became.

Cheng Feng stood at the bow, looking far into the distance. On the horizon, the outline of a towering, massive city had already faintly emerged.

The dark blue city walls lay like a giant dragon across the heavens and earth, stretching beyond sight.

That was the capital of Dazhou Guo—the majestic city where the Martial Artists of the Great Zhou world vied for supremacy.

Huo Luan walked to his side, looking at the city in the distance, and took a deep breath, her voice filled with irrepressible excitement: "We've arrived. Martial Dao tournament, here I come.

Last time I stood like a lackey, this time I shall surely make a name for myself."

Cheng Feng did not respond, only squinting his eyes as he gazed at the city drawing ever closer.

The city towers soared into the clouds, and the banners fluttered in the wind.