The Unruly Immortals

Listening to the old man's boasting, Li Huowang gradually learned about the life of the gong-striking young man.

It was quite inspirational to talk about it. The Hou Family wasn't always this rich, once they were so poor it was heartbreaking.

The few acres of low-yielding fields at home simply couldn't sustain a large family, so he had no choice but to go out and beg for food.

However, as for the so-called general he mentioned, Li Huowang still had some doubts because, in the other's words, anyone who held an office in the camp was a general.

"Hey, there was no such good times back in the day. We had nothing to eat or drink at home, and only one pair of trousers to wear whoever had to go out got to wear them."

Hearing the other party's sighs, Li Huowang casually chimed in.

After some idle chit-chat, the old man, whose pride had been greatly satisfied, walked away with his hands behind his back and his back bent toward the distance, toward the yard with two stone lions.

Watching his retreating figure, Li Huowang let out a sigh of relief and turned to leave.

Having learned so much, Li Huowang's wariness towards the gong-striking second brother Hou had greatly diminished.

It wasn't because of his identity, but because he had truly left, and whatever other thoughts he might have had about Li Huowang no longer mattered.

Just then, Li Huowang happened to see the lad who had gone to buy grain had returned, and he went up to meet him.

"Brother Li! Look what I've got! A map made of leather!"

That night nothing happened, and after sleeping until dawn, they set off again, refreshed.

As the carriage wheels slowly rolled on the ground, the surrounding Gobi gradually disappeared, and the ground began to undulate, gradually being replaced by strange rock formations and rugged stone mountains.

The only silver lining was that, thanks to the shelter of the stone mountains, there was no longer the strong wind and sand found in the Gobi, and some brown low grass appeared on the roadside.

"Go this... keep going this..." Li Huowang's finger traced on the aged leather, and finally stopped on a city wall icon.

"If we haven't gone wrong, this should be Ji City. As long as we get here, not only can we deliver the darts, but we will also have covered half of the journey through Huo Shu. It seems that this place is smaller than the previous two countries; it's a small kingdom."

As Li Huowang contemplated these things, he felt someone tugging at his sleeve. "Brother Li, look, there are people up ahead."

As soon as he looked up, he saw figures walking along the road in the distance.

Upon getting closer, he realized that the other party was an old scholar-like figure, leaning on a bamboo pole.

Despite his old age, he was very agile, with a square bamboo basket on his back, showing no signs of fatigue.

The sound of horse hooves made Jin Shanzhao turn his head. When he saw the group of people wearing black veiled conical hats behind him, he quickly shifted his legs to the side, making room for them to pass.

"Why are these people dressed like this? Especially that young Taoist in a red Taoist robe, covering his mouth and chin with a copper coin, he looks troublesome; I better keep my distance," Jin Shanzhao thought to himself.

He was thinking of slowing down and letting these people pass first when the young Taoist unexpectedly started a conversation with him.

"Old man, may I take a look at your map? I'd like to see if my map is accurate."

After a careful consideration, Jin Shanzhao reached into the bamboo basket behind him and took out a paper map.

"This map is drawn by myself. I have traveled far and wide for many years, and not to brag, but the depiction on this map is quite accurate. The real person is welcome to compare it."

"Thank you, but there's no need. I just want to verify the map. I'll return it to you immediately afterward."

Seeing the young Taoist's amiable tone and easy-going nature, Jin Shanzhao felt a bit more at ease.

"Where is the master going? Oh, just asking out of curiosity, perhaps we are headed the same way," said the old man casually.

"Escorting a shipment, to Ji City," he replied.

Upon hearing this answer, Jin Shanzhao didn't believe it at all. Which bodyguard isn't familiar with the escort route? It was obviously a made-up story.

"Oh? The master is also escorting a shipment? This is quite worldly of you."

"Even a master needs to eat, one must find a way to earn travel funds. These desolate hills and wild ridges are no place to be alone, old man. Where are you going?"

Jin Shanzhao, upon hearing the other's probing, chuckled. Just as he was contemplating a lie to deflect the question, a huge boulder began rolling down from the mountain nearby, crashing down onto the middle of the road with a thunderous noise.

Almost immediately, the sound of horse hooves erupted from behind them.

Turning around and seeing those masked horsemen, Jin Shanzhao's heart skipped a beat. "Damn, trapped by bandits like turtles in a jar!"

Instinctively, he glanced at the young Taoist standing beside the carriage, only to find that the man appeared entirely unruffled, standing quietly by the carriage.

"This person's confidence suggests he must have a plan," he thought.

After contemplating for a moment, and while the bandits were still approaching, Jin Shanzhao subtly shifted closer to the young Taoist.

The clatter of hooves and cloud of dust signaled the approach of the imposing bandits, looking down on them from their vantage point.

"Comrade, I am not an outsider. Is the spring code open?" he said.

"Hmm?" Jin Shanzhao, caught off guard, looked toward the true man who had spoken. This person knew the secret code of the Jianghu, his origins were surely not simple.

Just when Jin Shanzhao thought the bandits were about to respond, the leader, a one-eyed bandit, suddenly brandished his sword. "Charge! Brothers, stab them!!"

Horse hooves thundered immediately, catching everyone by surprise as the horses charged at Li Huowang and the others.

Jin Shanzhao didn't bother to figure out what was happening and scrambled toward the huge boulder behind him, attempting to escape while they were fighting.

After a tough climb, just when he finally reached the top of the boulder, the sounds of horse hooves and combat seemed to die down behind him.

When he looked back, he was stunned to see the bandits in retreat!

Lying scattered on the ground were many bodies of bandits and their horses, while the young Taoist's side had not a single person injured, aside from the somewhat deflated carriage.

"What? What did I just miss?"

Li Huowang, at this moment, did not pay attention to what the coincidental traveler behind him thought. He placed the bloody longsword against the neck of a bandit with a severed arm.

"Are the bandits here so ill-mannered? Can't even get the code right?"

However, facing Li Huowang's threat, the bandit had an irrepressibly tough attitude and even dared to threaten Li Huowang.

"Bull-nosed fool! You dare kill my brothers, I tell you, you're finished!"

With a "swoosh," one of the bandit's ears was sliced off.

This scene made Jin Shanzhao twitch involuntarily.

"To think his life was in danger, his previous amiable demeanor was just an act. This Taoist is also a ruthless killer!"