Chapter 152: Escorting a Hundred-Mile Journey

Although the night was already deep, the entire encampment of the Baili Escort Agency was brightly lit, and the bronze oil lamps inside the large tent remained burning.

The escort who had gone out to gather information had already been in the tent for ten full minutes, concisely reporting the frontline battle situation. Chang Tianfan's expression was initially very casual, but his brows soon knitted together.

Nangong Qing's expression did not look relaxed either: "I actually underestimated those two little lasses. They are actually fourth-turn cultivators and have even mastered Mount Shu's *Divine Sword Technique*. There are indeed still a few capable individuals under the Seven Saints."

Chang Tianfan said, "Yet that is precisely where the problem lies."

Nangong Qing asked, "Oh?"

Chang Tianfan said, "The *Divine Sword Technique* can practically be considered an advanced martial art of Mount Shu. Generally, only outstanding disciples within Mount Shu are permitted to practice it, typically requiring at least the fifth turn. Yet that Miss Hua mastered it by the fourth turn and even used it to instantly kill an opponent. The disciples accepted by the Seven Saints of Mount Shu are truly extraordinary."

He had a deep impression of Hua Feihong, so naturally, the words coming from his mouth were favorable.

Nangong Qing let out a cold snort: "So what?"

Chang Tianfan said, "Judging by her tone, the companion traveling with her, Miss Ma, is also a disciple under Fairy Lingyin of the Yaoguang Palace of Mount Shu. No matter how frail Miss Ma might be, her foundational strength is unlikely to be lower than the fourth turn. However, Miss Ma's weapon was knocked flying by someone using just a short wooden stick. Tell me, is this problem big or not?"

In a rare occurrence, Nangong Qing did not reply immediately, but her expression grew even uglier.

As an expert, she naturally understood that even she herself would find it difficult to shatter or knock away the weapon in the hands of a fourth-turn disciple under the Seven Saints of Mount Shu using a mere wooden stick. No matter how vast the gap between the fourth turn and the sixth turn might be, it could not possibly be that immense.

Of course, one could not rule out the possibility that the person possessed a fortuitous encounter or peerless martial arts that caused their attributes to skyrocket wildly.

In fact, the concept of peerless martial arts seemed quite laughable in the eyes of people like them. Because their seniority in *Dynasty* was deep enough, they had always known that martial arts they once considered formidable would, with the passage of time and the growth of their own strength, appear quite mediocre in retrospect.

As a true expert, one should understand that there are no genuine peerless martial arts; there are only progressively stronger, better, and more practical martial arts.

Therefore, Nangong Qing was puzzled: "There are only a handful of people in the pugilistic world who have reached the seventh turn—you can count them on one's fingers. Moreover, those people have always disliked wandering the pugilistic world; they are all cultivation maniacs. Why would one appear here?"

"That is not necessarily the case," Chang Tianfan said in a deep voice.

"Oh?" Nangong Qing was surprised. "Could it be that they have also come to meddle in this affair?"

Chang Tianfan shook his head and said, "I am not referring to them, but rather to other experts—the kind who have always disliked courting publicity and exposure."

This was something not just Nangong Qing understood, but the majority of *Dynasty* players as well.

The pugilistic world has forever been a place where dragons hide and tigers crouch. Just how many powerful dragons and fierce tigers were concealed within this deep pool was something no one dared to guarantee they knew entirely, not even the Dynasty's Omniscient Scholar, Afanti.

As is well known, the person currently recognized by consensus as having the highest promotion level on the Central Plains continent is Hai Feiyu, an elder of the Beggar Sect, who is at the seventh turn, level 140.

Recognition is recognition, but who could guarantee that there were no civilian experts at the eighth turn? *Dynasty* was constantly developing, and players were always progressing. Furthermore, that was merely the recognized highest promotion level; it did not mean that Hai Feiyu was the undisputed number one person in *Dynasty*.

In the past three years of *Dynasty*, there had only been a single person who truly possessed such an honorific title, or rather, who had won the recognition of nearly 80 percent of the players: the once fierce, illustrious, and soul-stirring Who Says the Monarch Shall Not Return.

At his absolute peak, even the peak of Ghost Shadow Changkong was difficult to match.

The lamplight flickered, and Chang Tianfan's expression drifted unpredictably. After a long while, his voice lowered significantly: "Do you know of an organization in the pugilistic world called the Dark Blue Mansion?"

Given Nangong Qing's strength, status, and standing, even if she did not know, she had at least heard of it. She could not help but exclaim in shock: "Could it be that they have also set their sights on this batch of crimson cargo?"

Chang Tianfan replied with a dark expression, "Whether they have set their sights on it or not, I am not clear. I am only clear on one point: the time has come to pack our things and set out."

Two hundred miles away, inside the dark faction's large tent, the expression of Lingguang Jing was equally grim. The recent skirmish had cost Life and Death Judgment two fine hands, yet the four lackeys of the Golden Palace Estate had fled back, leaving him utterly incensed.

Hanxiao Banbudian was equally displeased. He had no idea how his three subordinates had died; according to Xiao Si's instructions, they had gone ahead to the bamboo grove to set up traps, only to be struck by acupoint-sealing techniques halfway there and stabbed in the back. When they regained consciousness, they were already beside the Three-Life Stone at the entrance of Fengling Ferry. It was only after a carrier pigeon delivered the letter that Hanxiao Banbudian learned of these developments.

Xiao Si did not dare to speak much more, because Miss Lin's expression had also grown considerably dim. In truth, everyone present knew that the Four Great Families' first move tonight against the Baili Escort Agency had ended in total failure.

For an individual player, an occasional failure was really nothing. Without failure, where would one gain experience and lessons? Without experience and lessons, how could one grow and become strong in the future?

However, a chess match of such vital importance was entirely different. Not a single step could be wrong, and the slightest failure was absolutely impermissible. The cost of failure was something the losing side could not bear, and one careless move could lead to the loss of the entire game. Often, the failure of the very first move doomed the entire match; no matter how gorgeous and stunning your subsequent moves might be, it was difficult to reverse the overall declining trend.

When experts clash, it is all about settling the outcome with a single decisive blow. So, did this mean the Baili Escort Agency now held victory firmly in their grasp?

"Obviously not." The first to raise an objection was naturally Lin Ruoli. She certainly had to defend herself now; she was the one who proposed the interception plan, and her subordinate was the sole survivor who had witnessed the entire event. Therefore, everyone was looking at her, and she had to come up with an explanation.

Lin Ruoli said with absolute certainty, "That nameless masked person is definitely not our ally, because if he were reinforcement, Baigan and Goudan would not have kicked the bucket."

Everyone clearly agreed with this point.

"Nor is he the enemy's reinforcement, because his final target of attack was those two female disciples of the Mount Shu Sword Sect." Lin Ruoli's second viewpoint was also acceptable; after all, Ma Junmei's weapon had indeed been knocked flying by that person.

Hanxiao Banbudian could not help but sneer: "Then what was this masked person here for? Was he here to show off some peerless martial arts for everyone to admire, or just to watch the show and slip away?"

"If I guess correctly, this person probably also has his eyes on the crimson cargo escorted by the Baili Escort Agency." The person speaking this time was Zhang He.
"Oh?" Hanxiao Banbudian asked, somewhat surprised. "Why?"

Zhang He said in a deep voice, "According to Brother Xiao Si's description, the masked person knocked away the Mount Shu disciple's Exorcism Sword, yet when the two Emei disciples rushed forward to fight to the death, why did he turn around and use lightness techniques to leave?"

Lingguang Jing hesitated and said, "Perhaps he was just putting up a front out of fear?"

Zhang He also sneered: "Baigan and Goudan were the battalion leader's capable subordinates; not only did they possess third-turn strength, but they also had veteran coordination, yet they were wiped out by the Mount Shu disciples. However, those Mount Shu disciples had their weapons knocked out within a single move by the masked person using merely a short wooden stick. What reason would he have to fear two Emei disciples? If Nangong Qing were present instead, I imagine he would still have no reason to fear. When he chose to use his lightness technique to slip away, did those four female disciples dare to chase him? Just who was the one feeling afraid?"

Lingguang Jing fell silent once more. He seemed to feel that his presence in this large tent was superfluous, as every question he raised was both redundant and idiotic.

Hanxiao Banbudian asked, "Then how do you explain him slipping away?"

Zhang He replied, "The only reasonable explanation is this: he appeared to investigate and verify whether the crimson cargo was truly on those four female disciples. Why did he not show up earlier or later, but chose to emerge precisely when Brother Xiao Si was fleeing? Because if he had appeared while both sides were locked in fierce combat, those twelve people in total would likely have immediately scattered in fear. If the crimson cargo happened to be with them, he would have missed his chance. Yet by waiting until the last two escorts and Brothers Baigan and Goudan had fallen, when the outcome of victory and defeat was already clear and the situation was entirely under his control, he finally stepped out to inspect. With his immense strength, he naturally possessed sharp discernment. With that discernment, he could tell at a glance whether the crimson cargo was on those four female disciples or not. In the end, he did not get the answer he wanted, so remaining any longer was meaningless—hence, he slipped away."

Everyone inside the large tent, including the two Dharma Protectors of the Sun Moon Cult, nodded in praise. Only Zhang He's deduction made sense both reasonably and logically.

Lin Ruoli cupped her fists and said, "Brother Wu's mind is exceptionally agile; this little sister truly admires you."

Zhang He smiled modestly: "You flatter me. I am merely analyzing; I don't hold absolute certainty either."

Lin Ruoli smiled brightly: "Yet it comes infinitely close to the truth of the matter."

At this moment, the male Dharma Protector on the high platform mused aloud: "At the front, we have formidable enemies in the Baili Escort Agency and Emei; at the rear, we have a large multitude of running dogs and lackeys from the Six Fan Doors. Now, an extraordinarily skilled mysterious person has also popped up, and our first move has already failed..."

He did not finish his sentence, but everyone understood. The current situation was indeed unfavorable for the Four Great Families; the previously promising situation had been reversed because of this minor incident. This was not only subtle, but deeply worrisome.

At that moment, a black-clad player from Life and Death Judgment strode swiftly into the tent, cupped his fists, and reported: "Frontline intelligence reports that the Baili Escort Agency has dismantled their camp, packed their luggage, prepared horses and escort carts, and already set out from Gaoshen Peak, heading precisely in our direction..."

As his voice fell, everyone in the room was moved. The enemy was finally beginning their escort run.

The female Dharma Protector sighed: "What a Chang Tianfan, what a Baili Escort Agency. They truly know how to pick the right moment to strike, and they certainly have some tricks up their sleeves."

The male Dharma Protector immediately issued a solemn command: "Everyone, according to our original plan, we will split up and act. Does anyone have any objections?"

To everyone's surprise, Lin Ruoli cupped her fists and said, "I have a favor to ask."

The male Dharma Protector said, "Please speak, Miss Lin."

Lin Ruoli said, "I wish to make another trip to the Quiet Melody Trail. I leave everything here in everyone's hands."

At such a moment, right before a major battle was about to erupt, she actually proposed distancing herself from the primary battlefield. What on earth was she thinking?

The female Dharma Protector pondered for a long time before slowly nodding: "Miss Lin, please exercise extreme caution along the way. These are extraordinary times, and we can no longer afford any losses among our people. As an emissary of the Golden Palace, Miss Lin must be doubly careful."

Lin Ruoli cupped her fists: "Thank you both Dharma Protectors for your concern."

With that, she led her followers, including Invincible Xiao Si and Qiaoqiao, out of the large tent without ever looking back.

"Like master, like servant. Just like Xiao Si, cowardly and afraid of death, dropping the ball at the critical moment..." Hanxiao Banbudian and Lingguang Jing felt a surge of disdain in their hearts, their expressions full of contempt. Only Zhang He gazed at Lin Ruoli's retreating figure, his own expression deep in thought.