Chapter 279

"Uncle Li, Aunt Zheng, Brother Cao, just ahead is Yongfeng County!"

Gao Anyu put the sedan chair pole on his shoulder, pointed at the city whose outline was faintly visible ahead, and turned back to smile.

Behind him, Cao Hanyan lowered his head to avoid the gazes of passersby and replied in a low voice: "Yes, yes, I know, Brother Gao, just keep your voice down."

Zheng Yi had already walked far ahead, keeping her distance from them.

She couldn't afford to lose face like this.

It was the time when the city gates were opening in the morning; the official road was bustling with people, and those entering and leaving the city were crowded on the road, yet all of them cast surprised gazes in this direction.

Because these three, Li Miao and his group, were simply too conspicuous.

Two big young men, both wearing blades and swords, looking heroic and spirited, clearly people who had achieved success in martial arts, yet they were carrying a "mountain sedan" on their shoulders. The sedan was covered in lush green branches and leaves, clearly made just after cutting down a tree.

Li Miao sat on that sedan, a blanket draped over his legs, a wooden tray placed on the blanket, and dried fruits in the tray. He was cracking melon seeds, eyes closed like a master.

Hanging on the side of the sedan was a huge cloth bag, bulging with the shape of a person; it was Shu Qingyi, who had finally woken up that morning, only to be slapped unconscious again by Gao Anyu.

The sedan creaked and groaned as the three of them moved forward unsteadily.

Gao Anyu just found it fun; while walking forward, he was playing tricks, sometimes switching hands to carry the sedan, sometimes balancing the sedan with one finger while using the other hand to nudge passersby.

He was not only a "good madman," but also an honest madman.

After agreeing last night, he really did treat Li Miao as his own uncle.

Li Miao teased him by saying his health was poor and he couldn't walk, and he stood up with a start, ran out of the temple, and before long, ran back carrying this mountain sedan, insisting on carrying Li Miao to wander the Jianghu together with Cao Hanyan.

Cao Hanyan had bitterness he couldn't speak of.

This was his first time wandering the Jianghu, and this was his debut. Jianghu people already liked to mock others; his future nickname would definitely contain the word "sedan."

Thinking that his future nickname might be something like "Iron-Blooded Sedan Bearer" or "Heartless Sedan Bearer," Cao Hanyan felt all hope was lost, and he could only keep his head down, trying his best not to let others see his face.

Before long, the three of them arrived outside the city gate.

Zheng Yi sighed, walked over, threw some broken silver to the city guards, and entered the city with the three of them.

"Uncle Li, should we find a place to eat first, stay at an inn, or go deliver the person first?"

Gao Anyu patted the bag hanging on the side of the sedan and turned back to smile.

"Deliver the person first."

Li Miao said.

"Alright, I remember it was around here."

Gao Anyu smiled.

"When I passed through this Yongfeng County before, I happened to hear that a wealthy family here had posted a reward; as long as one could bring back Shu Qingyi's head to pay respects to their daughter's spirit in heaven, they would give five hundred taels of silver."

"Although this can't be exchanged for secret manuals, the silver given is more than what the Embroidered Uniform Guard gives. I started from here and chased the people from the Kongming Sect to find Shu Qingyi."

Gao Anyu said while walking.

"After getting this silver, I will treat Uncle Li and Aunt Zheng to a table at the best restaurant in this Yongfeng County to make up for last night's apology!"

"It just so happens I can also get a blanket for Uncle Li, change Aunt Zheng into a new set of clothes, and use the rest to buy a set of black martial outfits for me and Brother Cao!"

Gao Anyu tugged at his collar.

"This set of clothes was stripped from a mountain bandit before; it's stained with quite a bit of blood and can no longer be worn. Black clothes don't show bloodstains, which is just right for me and Brother Cao to kill people and make a name for ourselves!"

He didn't lower his volume at all when saying this; half the street could hear him, and the crowd parted with a swish, clearing the space around the four of them.

Cao Hanyan couldn't stop him in time and could only sigh again.

While speaking, the three of them arrived outside a residence.

Gao Anyu carefully placed the mountain sedan on the ground, helped Li Miao up, and then turned to run over and pound on the door.

"Hey! I've caught the murderer who raped and killed your daughter and brought him back for you!"

Bang, bang, bang.

"Hurry up and open the door and bring out the silver; I still have to go eat!"

Bang, bang, bang.

Once these words were out, the onlookers knew that this person was either looking for trouble or was a lunatic.

Who shouts "the murderer who raped and killed your daughter" in the middle of the street? Isn't that stabbing a knife into someone's heart? Even if everyone knew what happened, no one would shout it like that in public!

But hearing the mad energy with which Gao Anyu had just been talking about "killing people to make a name for himself," no one dared to step forward to offer advice.

Cao Hanyan had just thought about stepping forward to replace him when he heard a sharp shout from inside the door.

"Where did this animal come from!"

"To humiliate the deceased like this, do you have no shame!"

A loud bang was heard as the door was kicked open violently, and a thin, elderly man walked out, a long sword at his waist, his eyes squinting as he swept them over Gao Anyu.

"Hey! You old man!"

Gao Anyu dodged the door panel that had been smashed toward him and reached out to point at the old man.

"How did I humiliate the deceased? Isn't everything I said the truth? I went to the trouble of catching the murderer for your family, and you don't even say thank you, but instead you scold me?"

"You are the animal! An old animal!"

The old man had lived a life of luxury; where had he ever been pointed at and scolded like this in all these years? His eyebrows immediately stood up, and he reached out to draw his sword.

Li Miao didn't mind the spectacle, naturally standing to the side cracking melon seeds. Zheng Yi was also too lazy to deal with these matters, holding her arms and watching coldly from the sidelines.

It was Cao Hanyan who stepped forward and offered a salute.

"This old gentleman, my friend has little experience in the world, and his words were not very appropriate; I apologize, I apologize."

He reached out to take down the package containing Shu Qingyi, lifted it with one hand, and signaled.

"But we have indeed caught the murderer for you, which can be considered as having avenged the deceased. Please do not take offense at the slight verbal impropriety."

The old man's expression finally softened. He squinted his eyes and swept them over Cao Hanyan, then carefully examined the package, but let out a cold snort.

"Hmph! You are probably highway bandits who grabbed someone at random and want to claim the reward!"

"This morning, the talented disciples of the Kongming Sect already brought the murderer's head."

"Who is it that you have packed in this bundle!"

Once these words were out, both Cao Hanyan and Gao Anyu were stunned.

Cao Hanyan pursed his lips, turned his head to look at Gao Anyu, and said in a low voice: "Brother Gao, are you sure this person is Shu Qingyi?"

Gao Anyu's face flushed red.

"It must be! I have seen his portrait!"

"And last night the people from the Kongming Sect were fighting me for him; Brother Cao saw it too. If he wasn't Shu Qingyi, what were they fighting for?"

Cao Hanyan nodded, first looked at the old man, then clenched his fists and walked to Li Miao's side.

Li Miao's smile didn't change, but when he walked close, he felt a chill all over, and couldn't help but shudder involuntarily.

He used his Qi to focus his voice and said to Li Miao in a low voice.

"My lord, this..."

Li Miao said with a smile.

"Hmm, there would be a scene like this sooner or later. At the time, I said the Embroidered Uniform Guard would verify the identity of the head, but the imperial court can't manage many of the private rewards."

"Those scum from the so-called Kongming Sect last night, it seems they saw they couldn't take Shu Qingyi's head to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to claim the reward, so they had other ideas."

"I don't know whose head they cut off and brought here to exchange for silver."

Li Miao said with a smile.

"Good, good, good, there was bound to be such a time—this Kongming Sect, their courage is not small at all."