NOVEL NEXT Chapter 43: Heading to Stone Town
Chapter 43: Heading to Stone Town
The next day.
Early morning.
After breakfast, Xu Lian packed his things, taking his purple jade token, blue jade token, a dagger, and some dried meat with him before leaving.
He rode his horse and left the city in the direction of Stone Town.
Since no one had been to other cities and there were no maps, he had no idea of the exact route. He could only go in a general direction.
When Han Du was about ten years old, he had gone to Stone Town with the mayor once, but that was a long time ago, and it was impossible to remember the mountain road that was over a hundred miles long. Xu Lian could only rely on himself.
“As long as I stay in this direction and don’t stray too far, I’ll definitely make it.”
Xu Lian wasn’t good with directions, but he had his own little tricks.
For example, if he took a mountain road that veered slightly to the left, he would change to a road that veered slightly to the right at the next intersection.
If the deviation to the left was too great, he would take two turns to the right in a row to “correct the direction” or “compensate” for the deviation.
This way he could always stay on the center axis of the correct path.
Even if there were small deviations, they wouldn’t be too extreme.
…
In the forest.
The white cat avatar, which had been curled up in a tree hollow to rest, suddenly opened its eyes and began to move.
First, it went to the tree where the Pingyang County Inspector’s token was buried. Using his little paws, he dug up the token tied with a string, hung it around his neck, and then followed Xu Lian’s direction from a distance.
This was just a precaution.
In case Xu Lian was caught stealing stone marrow by the Stone Town Quarry Patrol Inspector, the White Cat Avatar could use the authority of the Pingyang County Inspector to protect him.
The Pingyang County Inspector had great authority-within Pingyang County, he could intervene in any matter and even report to the higher-ups to send reinforcements. It would be enough to scare the Quarry Patrol Inspector in Stone Town, and the White Cat Avatar could easily intervene to protect someone who was caught stealing stone marrow. This was a favor that would definitely be granted.
Of course, the white cat avatar would prefer not to be used, as doing so would risk revealing his true identity.
Therefore, the white cat avatar was simply a backup.
…
Xu Lian rode his horse along the mountain path, passing many tenant farmers bending down to work in the fields, while a few overseers walked back and forth along the dikes, whipping those who worked slowly.
All the land in Green Bamboo Town was controlled by the three major households. It was clear that these overseers were sent by them.
“The grain from the three major households is mostly delivered to the Yi Sect’s large granary. Basically, the Three Main Households are just agents of the Yi Sect, managing all the land in Green Bamboo Town.”
Now that he was a disciple of Yi Sect, Xu Lian had a broader perspective and saw things differently.
As he left the 30-40 miles of Green Bamboo Town’s territory, the land gradually became desolate, with grass and weeds growing wildly. The path became rough, almost non-existent.
Xu Lian had no choice but to dismount and lead his horse on foot.
“This is supposed to be the no-man’s land to keep people from leaving the city.”
“People are trapped here for life, like oxen and horses, working day in and day out, having to offer blood to the Night Patrol just to survive.”
This showed how dark the Yi Sect was, treating people like animals with no regard for their humanity.
There were no bandits or mountain thieves in the no man’s land because there was nothing for them to rob. Besides, there was the danger of running into the night patrol at night. Even if someone built a wooden hut and placed a bowl of blood at the door, it would be useless. The Night Patrol in the no man’s land wouldn’t be limited by the blood sacrifice and would simply drain the person.
Xu Lian found it easier – he didn’t have to worry about bandits or thieves. He had to deal with several waves of them along the way, but now that he was in the no-man’s-land, it was peaceful.
By midday, he was getting closer to his destination.
He picked up some dry twigs, started a fire and roasted the dried meat until it sizzled and oozed oil before eating it.
After lunch, he continued on his way toward Stone Town.
The vines tangled and the grass grew wild. Leading the horse was very difficult, so he decided to tie it to a tree, planning to ride it back when he returned. Of course, that depended on the horse not being eaten by some wild animal.
After traveling over thirty miles, it was already dark.
Xu Lian shot a wild chicken and roasted it for dinner.
He cut some dry grass and spread it out under an old tree to sleep.
But despite his efforts, he still tossed and turned and couldn’t fall asleep.
He understood why.
It was because he had gotten used to having a woman by his side every night. Sleeping alone now was simply too difficult.
“If only Pei Zhaoxi, that spicy little pepper, were here…”
Xu Lian got up, splashed water on his face, and decided to travel through the night. Lying down and letting his mind wander was just too torturous.
Anyway, his eyesight was sharp and he could see well in the dark.
Besides, with his Bone Refining stage power, he wasn’t afraid of wild beasts.
Suddenly, a cold gust of wind swept through the forest and headed straight for Xu Lian. His purple jade token glowed with a faint purple light.
The cold wind immediately stopped, then turned around and headed in the opposite direction.
Although the distance was still far, Xu Lian’s sharp eyes could make out the shape of a black mist that seemed to form the face of a girl. A long, blood red tongue hung down from its mouth, an eerie sight.
“So this is what the Night Patrol looks like.”
Xu Lian wasn’t the least bit alarmed – perhaps this was the confidence that came with his power and status.
He continued to walk through the pitch-black forest, feeling the night close in around him.
By midnight, he was starting to feel tired, so he found a spot, lay down, and tried to sleep.
Just as he drifted into a drowsy state, he faintly sensed the purple jade token glowing in his arms, as though something unclean was approaching.
Soon, the token turned dark. Clearly, the impure presence had been repelled by the high-level identity token.
The Next Day.
Xu Lian woke up, ate some more dried meat, and continued on his way to Stone Town.
After another 30 to 40 miles through the no man’s land, he finally saw a road and, more importantly, people!
Tenant farmers working in the fields, and overseers walking along the levees, holding whips and patrolling.
This place looked no different from Green Bamboo Town. The land here was probably controlled by the same large households.
“Hey, brother, would you sell your donkey for fifteen taels of silver?”
Xu Lian stopped a man leading a donkey cart and casually offered fifteen taels of silver.
In Green Bamboo Town, the usual price for a donkey was around twenty-three taels, so fifteen taels was definitely a high offer. He wasn’t sure about the prices here, but it should be roughly the same.
“Really?”
The man was happy to get a few taels of silver out of nowhere. He quickly took the silver and handed over the donkey cart.
Xu Lian untied the donkey cart, mounted the donkey, and started to leave. “I don’t need the cart. You can take it back.”
After a few steps, Xu Lian suddenly turned around and asked, “I’m from a village and came to the city to find work. How far is it from here to Stone Town?”
The man pointed in one direction. “About thirty miles.”
It seemed that he was indeed heading in the right direction… Xu Lian nudged the donkey and trotted off.
The man watched the “young man on a donkey” disappear into the distance and muttered to himself, “Looking for work, huh? He didn’t even blink when he bought a donkey for fifteen taels. He’s lost at least three and a half taels and doesn’t even know it. Probably some fool who stole money from his family and ran away”.