Chapter 470

Hu Jing was sweeping the courtyard with a limp.

After finishing the courtyard, he opened the gate to sweep the ground in front, head still bowed, eyes nonetheless shifting left and right.

He saw several unfamiliar people, their mannerisms clearly those of martial artists.

He wasn't overly worried, but when his gaze landed on the two men sitting at the nearby stall, his heart jolted; he lowered his eyes, continued sweeping with slow, unhurried motions, yet cursed inwardly.

【What a bunch of fools—they don't even realize they're being watched by the Brocade Guard.】

Just as he grew angrier in his silent rage, a small yellow dog darted to his feet, sniffed, then circled him.

Hu Jing's pupils shrank; he instantly recognized the dog, snatched it in a flash, moving with blinding speed—one hand gripping its scruff, the other clamping its throat to stifle its yelp.

He turned to head back into the courtyard when someone bumped into him; the person instantly seized his elbow…

"It's me, Wang Cong!" Wang Cong gripped Hu Jing's elbow and pulled him through the gate into the yard, his voice calm: "Is your master at home?"

Hu Jing replied: "He is."

He walked in obediently with Wang Cong, hooked his foot, kicked the gate shut.

Wang Cong snatched the small yellow dog from his hand and soothed it softly: "Don't bark, don't bark, Xiao Huang—you're so smart, you must've noticed all the bad people outside, right?"

Xiao Huang, feeling wronged, let out a few muffled whimpers and quietly leaned against Wang Cong's chest, not biting Hu Jing.

Hu Jing glanced out through the gate crack, then pulled Wang Cong aside and whispered: "What's going on?"

Wang Cong: "I was going to ask you the same—why are there so many Wu Lin Alliance members and Brocade Guards outside?"

Hu Jing: "I don't know where they got wind of it, but I'd already decided to leave."

"Since you're leaving anyway, come with me," Wang Cong said. "My junior uncle has left Jingcheng—come with us."

Hu Jing frowned: "Where is she going? Long Hushan? The Celestial Master's Mansion is cooperating with the Wu Lin Alliance to hunt for the treasure map—I'm not going."

Wang Cong: "We're going to Yunnan."

"Why Yunnan?" Hu Jing's interest stirred; he hesitated: "Isn't Pan Yun supposed to be going to Long Hushan to train?"

Wang Cong evaded: "We've time to stop in Yunnan—just tell me, are you coming or not?"

Hu Jing pondered: Yunnan was different from other places—few martial artists lived there, virtually no Wu Lin Alliance presence;

Even the Celestial Master's Mansion had almost no presence there.

Only the imperial court held some control, but as long as you didn't provoke the Mu family, it wasn't a problem.

Truth be told, it was truly ideal—perfect for him, now surrounded on all sides.

Hu Jing nodded: "Fine, I'll go."

Wang Cong: "Then I'll wait for you—go pack your things."

Hu Jing tossed the broom aside: "I have no luggage. Let's go."

Someone inside the house, likely hearing the broom hit the ground, shouted loudly: "Lao Jing, after you finish sweeping, wash the clothes and feed the chickens and ducks…"

Hu Jing looked up and answered casually, then pulled Wang Cong to the back wall and muttered: "I've only eaten two meals here, and they treat me like a beast of burden—Zhou Bapi wasn't this unbearable…"

He removed his beard, turned his clothes inside out, rearranged his hair, straightened his back—and looked like an entirely different person.

Wang Cong stared, dumbfounded, unconsciously touching his own face.

His makeup had taken nearly half an hour to apply.

Hu Jing leapt onto the wall, jumped lightly down into the alley: "Hurry."

Wang Cong snapped back to himself, immediately scooped up Xiao Huang and leaped up, landing in the alley. Hu Jing: "This looks like a dead end, but there's a narrow path inside—it leads to another street. All the watchers are focused on the courtyard; no one's paying attention here."

Wang Cong followed him, asking: "They've spotted you—why aren't they moving? Why just watch?"

"They're not sure it's me," Hu Jing said. "As for why they haven't acted—how should I know? You should go ask them up front."

Why hadn't Qu Le and the others moved?

Because they'd learned from experience.

After Hu Jing fled, the Wu Lin Alliance became a prime target for the Brocade Guard's surveillance.

Recently, the Southern and Shuntian Bureaus had arrested many of them on absurd pretexts.

For example, Zhang San spat on the street—it was environmental pollution, so they arrested him;

For example, Li Si kicked a stone that hit a neighbor's wall—suspected property damage, so they arrested him;

Of course, none were held long—released in two or three days—but it disrupted everything.

So now Qu Le and his men were far more cautious.

They'd staked out this place yesterday, but since they weren't certain the man was Hu Jing, they'd hesitated to act.

!. Read.

Qu Le gathered his men: "We have only one chance—if we move, we'll draw the Brocade Guard and Shuntian Bureau. So we must be certain it's Hu Jing.

Once we capture him, we leave the city immediately—head straight for Quanzhou!"

Everyone responded in unison!

The scout who'd been sent out sprinted up the stairs and whispered: "Young Master Qu, confirmed—the man called Lao Jing is a beggar. He was taken in by this household's master seven days ago to work. They say his pancakes are as thin as cicada wings—Shandong style!

The master himself is from Shandong—that's why he brought a beggar home to work."

Qu Le immediately ordered: "Move!"

No one expected he'd eat one setback and then eat another—too slow. Hu Jing had already vanished.

Hu Jing and Wang Cong slipped out of Jingcheng; as soon as they passed the city gate, they activated their lightness arts and raced southward.

An hour later, they spotted a caravan ahead; Hu Jing abruptly halted, frozen in place.

Wang Cong dashed forward, then rushed back, panting as he held Xiao Huang: "Master Hu, why stop?"

Hu Jing: "There are soldiers ahead—look at the banners. They're from the Northern Brocade Guard."

The Northern Brocade Guard was even more formidable than the Southern one; their eyes were sharp—he dared not approach.

Hu Jing said: "Let's take a side path—go around them."

Saying this, he turned to head into the forest, but Wang Cong grabbed him back.

Facing Hu Jing's gaze, Wang Cong cleared his throat and said, "Master Hu, my junior uncle is inside."

Hu Jing: …

During this time, he had focused on avoiding people, hiding among the common folk, deliberately staying far from Yin Zhai, avoiding any inquiry into their affairs, fearing someone might trace back from Yin Zhai to him.

And yet…

"Has Pan Yun finally bewitched the emperor and become a high official?"

Wang Cong: "... My junior uncle was ordered by imperial decree to go to Yunnan to treat the Second Elder of the Mu family, Mu Xi."

Hu Jing turned to leave, but Wang Cong held him tightly. "Master Hu, Master Hu, please listen to my explanation."

He hurriedly said, "We've arranged with the captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard escorting us—you're an extraordinary person who can help my junior uncle treat Mu Xi. Rest assured, follow us, there's no problem."

Hu Jing: "You're certain?"

(End of Chapter)