Fu Tingyun remained composed, keeping her head down as she sewed: “Perhaps he met an old acquaintance?”

Zheng Sanniang put down her work: “Then I’ll go serve tea to the guest.”

“No need,” Fu Tingyun smiled. “Ah Sen is there!” Then she started a casual conversation with Zheng Sanniang about Zheng San: “…From your tone, it seems he has been to many places?”

“Yes!” When Zheng Sanniang spoke of her husband, a hint of a smile would appear in her eyes. “That’s how it is for caravan guards.” She continued, “The escort agency he used to work for was very large, with headquarters in the capital. Everyone was assigned by the headquarters. Sometimes they would deliver a shipload of goods to Jiangnan, and then be assigned to transport goods from Jiangnan to western Sichuan. Coming and going like that, they could hardly return home once a year.”

Fu Tingyun nodded: “Traveling by boat and horse carries its risks; it’s better to have returned!” Then she mentioned their encounter with Master Feng Four on the road. “It’s rare for me to leave home in my entire life, yet I meet such an ominous character. Master Nine’s injuries came from this. If we hadn’t met Master Mo’s employer, we wouldn’t have survived.”

Zheng Sanniang quickly consoled Fu Tingyun: “Surviving a great calamity brings good fortune afterward.”

“That may be so, but I don’t know what background this Feng family has, or whether they’ll hold a grudge against us in the future,” Fu Tingyun said. “Could you ask if Zheng San has heard of this family?”

She didn’t mention Zhao Ling’s killing.

Zheng Sanniang agreed. After preparing lunch, waiting for Yang Yu Cheng to finish his meal and leave, and cleaning up the kitchen, she came to report back to Fu Tingyun.

“My husband says if you’ve truly offended this family, it’s best to advise Master Nine—if he has relatives in another province, he should seek refuge with them.” Her face was full of concern.

Fu Tingyun was greatly startled.

She had seen that Feng Four was rather wary of Zhao Ling, and that Zhao Ling had dealt with Feng Four quite easily. How had it come to the point of having to flee one’s homeland to avoid disaster?

“Tell me quickly,” she leaned forward anxiously. “What exactly is the situation?”

“My husband says the Feng family is one of the wealthiest in Shaanxi and throughout the Northwest. Originally from Gaoling, they started by smuggling salt in Lintong, then connected with an official in the imperial court and switched to legitimate salt trade. However, they still control the salt smugglers in Shaanxi and wield immense power. The Feng family has more than twenty brothers, and the family head is Feng Four. He’s insidious, ruthless, violent, ostentatious, and vain. Those who disagree with him often meet with fatal disaster. All escort agencies passing through Shaanxi pay their respects to him. Master Nine escaped from his clutches, which must have made him lose face, and he will certainly seek revenge one way or another. You must advise Master Nine to make preparations early.”

Fu Tingyun responded with an “Mm,” and began to think seriously.

Zheng Sanniang didn’t dare disturb her.

By afternoon, Fu Tingyun calculated that Zhao Ling should be waking from his midday rest, and went to his wing room.

Ah Sen poured tea for her, giving her meaningful looks and whispering to her: “I haven’t told Master Nine!” He had a very secretive manner.

Fu Tingyun couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhao Ling also smiled, lightly, like the faint moonlight: “What mischief are you two up to now?” His brow showed pleasure.

“I won’t tell you yet,” Fu Tingyun also smiled, though her smile had a touch of melancholy. “Master Nine will know when the time comes.”

A hint of suspicion flashed in Zhao Ling’s eyes.

From outside came Yang Yu Cheng’s hearty laugh: “Master Nine, look who I’ve brought!”

Fu Tingyun quickly stood up: “Since Master Nine has guests, I’ll speak with you later.”

Zhao Ling had Ah Sen escort Fu Tingyun out. At the door, she met Yang Yu Cheng, who was eagerly heading their way.

Yang Yu Cheng was momentarily stunned, until Fu Tingyun smiled and nodded at him, which brought him back to his senses.

He grabbed Ah Sen’s collar and whispered: “Wasn’t it agreed that you only needed to escort her to Weinan? Why is she still with Master Nine? Tell me honestly, is there something we don’t know?”

Ah Sen kept his voice down but howled: “I don’t know, I don’t know anything. If you’ve got the courage, go ask Master Nine yourself.”

The young man who came with Yang Yu Cheng smiled as he watched them, his lips slightly parted. From a distance, it seemed as if he was enjoying the spectacle, but he was making quick, soft sounds: “Stop fooling around, that Xiao Wu is glaring at us from a distance!”

Yang Yu Cheng awkwardly released Ah Sen and said, “So what if he sees? Master Nine and I have been friends since childhood. Can’t I joke around with Master Nine’s servant?”

This was the answer he had given when Mo Yi asked about his relationship with Master Nine during lunch.

The young man shook his head, looking somewhat helpless.

The three of them entered the wing room together.

Fu Tingyun wondered who the one speaking with Ah Sen was. She knew one was Yu Cheng, but who was the other?

Though ordinary in appearance, he had a pair of gentle eyes that made him look especially kind.

Could he be the one called Yuan Bao?

She would have to ask Ah Sen later!

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Xiao Wu standing at the door, who joyfully went out to welcome someone. After just a moment, he returned, delighted to be accompanying a stranger.

The man appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with rough, dark skin and a simple face. He wore a bright blue coarse cloth garment. At first glance, he looked like someone who had worked in fields all his life, but his jet-black eyes were as cold as autumn waters, with a murderous aura emanating from his brow, and an unyielding firmness that commanded respect.

Fu Tingyun was alarmed, suddenly feeling a sense of momentous events converging.

The man abruptly looked up, his gaze sweeping over Fu Tingyun’s back as he quickly entered Mo Yi’s wing room.

“Tao Mu, you’ve finally come!” Mo Yi revealed a relieved smile, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. “These past few days I’ve been at my wits’ end, just waiting for you to come and give me some advice!”

“Brother Mo!” The man called Tao Mu smiled and bowed to him. The coldness in his brow diminished somewhat, but Mo Yi grabbed him and said, “Don’t stand on ceremony with me, I’m in a desperate situation!” Then he called Xiao Wu to pour tea and dragged Tao Mu to sit in the armchair nearby. “Did you receive all the messages I sent with Chen Liu?” Mo Yi’s expression became serious. “Do you have any ideas?”

“I received all the messages,” Tao Mu smiled. “Brother Mo is alone, with only Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu to help, so it’s inevitable to have some oversights…”

“Enough, no need to flatter me.” Mo Yi made a “say no more” gesture, interrupting Tao Mu. “This time, to find Master Sixteen, we brought elite troops from the army. Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu are even more noteworthy, personally trained by you. Yet even so, the three of us haven’t found any clues to this day…”

As they spoke, Xiao Wu served the tea, then gently closed the door and stood guard outside.

“I had originally planned to probe their true intentions, which is why I agreed to let Chen Liu take Ah Sen to the clothing shops in Xi’an Prefecture… The clothing shop was chosen by Chen Liu, and the snack vendor we met on the road. Not a single extra word was spoken, let alone leaving Chen Liu’s sight. But not long after we returned to Linchun Town, people from Jiuli Ravine started arriving in Linchun Town, forcing us to enter the city. Staying at Xisheng Inn was my last-minute decision. They hadn’t even spoken to the innkeeper, yet after a few days, they somehow met their former fellow villager, Yang Yu Cheng. Then this Yang Yu Cheng brought someone named Jin Yuan Bao, claiming he was an old acquaintance who was stranded in Xi’an Prefecture due to the disaster. When they met Yang Yu Cheng and learned that Zhao Ling was also in Xi’an Prefecture, Jin Yuan Bao insisted on coming to see him…” He found it extremely vexing. “There are no obvious flaws, yet I feel something is wrong, but I can’t find any evidence.”

Tao Mu smiled: “We’re all just strangers who happened to meet, and Master Sixteen has safely returned to his residence. Brother Mo needn’t worry too much. When I was coming, I received a letter from Master Five, telling us to return soon if nothing else needed attention…”

“You don’t understand what I mean.” Mo Yi didn’t feel relieved by Tao Mu’s words; instead, his brow furrowed tighter. “You don’t know that when I first saw Zhao Ling fighting those bandits at the City God Temple, apart from the strike that hit the bandit leader, everything else seemed quite ordinary. Later, looking at his internal injuries, his vital energy was stagnant, like years of sediment in a river difficult to dredge. I assumed he was injured by Feng Four, and considering he managed to escape from Feng Four with a child and a woman, I thought he was quite a man, and it wouldn’t be beneath me to accompany him. Since there was no news from Master Sixteen’s side, I couldn’t let him go. I respected his true abilities and didn’t want to sour the relationship, so I only gave him common medicines like Attack Fortitude Powder. Though these wouldn’t bring quick recovery, with persistent use, he could recover in two or three months. Who would have thought that in just ten days or so, he would already be able to walk? And then there’s his servant called Ah Sen, who appears to be only eight or nine years old, yet when performing an ordinary level-brow staff technique, it shows a perfect balance of orthodox and unorthodox, with strict discipline, truly capturing the essence of martial arts… According to Ah Sen, he learned his martial skills from Zhao Ling. You and I both come from military families—laymen see the spectacle, experts see the technique. This level of skill, I’m afraid, even the head instructors of our two families couldn’t achieve!”

Tao Mu listened thoughtfully: “I received some news. Feng Four has been killed, along with the twenty-some people traveling with him. Now Feng Three is the head of the Feng family.”

“What?” Mo Yi stood up abruptly.

Tao Mu looked at him, his expression calm: “Feng Four’s last known location was near a village called Dong’an, close to Weinan County. From Dong’an Village to Xialu Ravine in Lantian is only about fifty li. Even a woman could walk that distance in one night. From Xialu Ravine to Xi’an Prefecture, one must pass through Linchun Town!”

“Damn it!” Mo Yi clenched his fists with an audible crunch. “The hunter becomes the hunted. No wonder this Zhao Ling recovered after just a few days of rest. It turns out I’ve encountered a supreme master!” His tone was bitter.

“It’s likely as Brother Mo suspects,” Tao Mu said. “With such a major incident, given the Feng family’s former connections, they would have moved heaven and earth to find the killer of Feng Four. Yet this time, the Feng family remains completely silent about Feng Four’s death, and his funeral was hastily arranged.” As he spoke, his expression gradually became more serious. “A young master of such caliber in the Northwest, and I didn’t know… I suspect he’s a ‘dragon crossing the river.'”

Mo Yi was taken aback: “You suspect he’s from the Tengji Guard?”

Ever since Shi Wenbin became the Commander of the Tengji Guard, he had recruited many renowned young martial arts experts from the jianghu.

Tao Mu nodded.

“That’s unlikely!” Mo Yi spoke with both firmness and confidence. “His fiancée’s behavior exudes the dignity and pride of a noble young lady from her very core. How could those unrestrained, rough women of the jianghu pretend to be like that? If he were from the Tengji Guard, where would he find such a woman? Don’t forget, this woman at the City God Temple had a dagger at her throat. If Master Sixteen’s signal had been a moment later, she would have perished!” As he spoke, he sighed: “To be able to kill Feng Four and eliminate all his men… such a young martial arts expert, unfathomable and unclear… If he were to present Master Sixteen’s card to Master Five, that would be fine, but if he were to be noticed by the Tengji Guard…” Before he could finish, Mo Yi’s expression tightened as he looked toward Tao Mu.

Tao Mu was also looking at him.

Years of life-and-death camaraderie allowed the two to quickly understand each other’s thoughts.

Zhao Ling had Master Sixteen’s card, which didn’t contain specific content. Besides using it as an introduction to open the doors of the Shaanxi Military Commissioner’s office, it could also be used to visit Master Sixteen. If he were just a frail scholar with no martial skills, that would be fine, but Zhao Ling was a supreme master… The story of Jing Ke’s assassination attempt on the King of Qin has been told for millennia… Moreover, Zhao Ling had two companions who were not ordinary…

For Master Sixteen’s safety, it would be better to kill an innocent than to let a guilty one escape!

“If that’s the case, we must act without delay,” Tao Mu decisively stood up. “I’ll request instructions from Master Five immediately. We might need to mobilize the Shennu Battalion!”

A hint of ferocity flashed across Mo Yi’s face: “Then wait for my news.”