The First Sage of Military Strategists

Chapter 98 The Grand Gift and the Journey to the North
"Han Qing, after our exchange just now, I have even more confidence in you. If you were to go all out now, unleashing the full power of your magic and physical abilities, I don't think even an ordinary martial arts grandmaster would be a match for you." Qi Yan tossed his sword to a guard beside him and turned to sit on a large rock next to him.

“In terms of physical strength alone, there is still a big gap between you and me,” Han Qing pondered.

A martial arts grandmaster is someone who has undergone six transformations, whose power can leave the body and spread to their weapon, making them very strong in combat. Looking across the world, the founders of some second- or third-rate sects have only this level of strength. Even in a thousand-year-old family like the Luo family, martial artists who have undergone six transformations receive excellent treatment and can be considered the backbone of the family.

If you join the army, even without any connections, you can be appointed as a centurion or even a chiliarch.

The military system of the Great Yu Dynasty, from top to bottom, consisted of generals, commanders, centurions, and 100-man commanders.

"Sister, I am considered a master among the Grandmasters. The worst martial arts I have learned are second-rate. I am also born with strong bones and my combat power far exceeds that of other martial artists of the same level. My judgment is correct."

Even if you encounter some powerful martial arts grandmasters, even if you are no match for them and are determined to leave, they cannot stop you.

"However, you must be careful when you encounter a Martial Saint. Even if you reach the Integration Realm, you are still very likely to die at the hands of a Martial Saint," Qi Yan analyzed.

She wanted Han Qing to have a clear understanding of the situation, so that he wouldn't be too afraid of martial artists, but also wouldn't become too arrogant and lose his reverence for the Martial Saint.

"The Martial Saint has undergone seven transformations, his strength has flowed into his blood, and he has awakened his martial will. Every punch and kick can damage the soul and spiritual power." Han Qing recalled Kong Xiu's evaluation of the Martial Saint in his notes and slowly repeated it.

"That's right. Seven transformations are the threshold for becoming a Martial Saint, but the path of martial arts is theoretically endless. As long as you can keep opening new acupoints, your physique will continue to transform."

Legend has it that in ancient times, powerful human beings could undergo eight or nine transformations, making their bodies indestructible and their fists capable of shaking mountains.

In today's world, General Meng Chong, who guards the western border, is recognized as the number one martial artist in the world. It is unknown whether he has undergone the legendary eight or nine transformations.

However, my father said that in this era, the path to becoming a Martial Saint has been cut off, and it is impossible for anyone to undergo more than seven transformations. I don't know which statement is more accurate.

"In short, even though they are both Martial Saints, their combat power can be worlds apart. You must have a sense of awe. Even if a Martial Saint hasn't condensed their magical powers, you shouldn't underestimate them," Qi Yan said earnestly.

Han Qing listened attentively, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.

Qi Yan, this carefree girl, is rude and domineering towards outsiders and acts decisively, but she is meticulous and considerate towards herself. The reason she is nagging like this is because she is afraid that he might make a bad judgment when he encounters a strong enemy while traveling, and suffer a great loss or even lose his life.

"Don't worry, Sister Qi, I've kept everything you said in mind. If we encounter a Martial Saint, we'll avoid them if we can, but I don't think there are many Martial Saints in the world," Han Qing pondered.

The path to sainthood through the Dharma is much more difficult than the path of martial arts, but undergoing seven transformations is equally challenging.

“That’s right, I was talking about an extreme case. Normally, a martial artist at the fourth level of the Body Dao realm wouldn’t even get a second glance from a Martial Saint.” Qi Yan nodded seriously.

Han Qing had no worries. He pondered Qi Yan's words and recalled Kong Xiu's similar explanation of martial arts, which explained why martial artists today lose their path after seven transformations.

The reason is that in ancient times there was a Heavenly Pillar that supported the heavens and the earth. Martial artists could dig out something called Heavenly Pillar Stone from the Heavenly Pillar to seal the acupoints, which could develop the power in the acupoints to the extreme, and make the body transform again.

In this era, the Heavenly Pillar is no longer there, and the Heavenly Pillar Stone is also unobtainable; the seven or more transformations have become legends.

However, the words in Kong Xiu's notes sounded too fantastical, and he didn't know whether they were true or false.

"These things are still too far away from me. I'll worry about them when I've truly undergone seven transformations," Han Qingxin thought to himself.

After chatting for a while, Han Qing's body had recovered from its fatigue, so he got up to practice martial arts again.

He absorbed another soul light point from the Seven Heroes of the Golden Knife, from which he chose to inherit a cultivation method of the Three Realms of Body and Dao and a knife technique.

The sword technique is called Jiuli, and its proficiency has reached perfection. It sounds very powerful, but in reality, it is mediocre. Even when it is perfected, it is not as good as the Hundred-Crack Blade.

The lower the quality of the martial arts skill, the lower the conversion rate. He estimated that even if all the proficiency was converted, the proficiency of the Phantom Thousandfold Blade would increase very little.

However, something is better than nothing. With the blessing of the Seven Killings Stele, he began a new round of swordsmanship practice.

As time passed and dusk fell, a convoy suddenly arrived outside Songyang Village, escorted by soldiers from the city.

Upon hearing the commotion, Han Qingqi, Yan, and the others immediately went to the manor gate to investigate.

"Miss, this is a guest whom General Qi instructed us to escort here."

The leading black-armored soldier dismounted, knelt before Qi Yan, and reported loudly.

"I understand, please come in!" Qi Yan replied.

Her voice suddenly echoed in Han Qing's mind again.

"Han Qing, this is a gift from Liu Yue. Please accept it. I heard he also sent some martial artists to serve you."

"Okay." Han Qing understood that this was a telepathic communication. His heart remained calm, and he immediately summoned his own telepathic communication to communicate with Qi Yan remotely, keeping it extremely discreet.

Thus, a total of three carriages, along with more than twenty burly and strong martial artists, arrived at an open space in the very center of the manor. Several large wooden boxes on the carriages were unloaded and placed aside.

Han Qing didn't rush to check the contents of the box; his gaze was first drawn to a middle-aged man in a blue robe.

This middle-aged man had nine fingers. He stood quietly to one side, his gaze sweeping back and forth between himself and Qi Yan. He stood upright like a pine tree, full of energy and spirit. There was a fierce aura between his eyes, and his strength was obviously extraordinary.

Qi Yan also noticed this person, stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder, but to her surprise, the person was incredibly strong and didn't move at all.

"Hey, not bad, you're the martial arts grandmaster Lin Yueqiu that my father mentioned in his letter?"

"It is indeed I. You must be General Qi Yan. You are indeed a tall and strong woman, a true heroine," Lin Yueqiu said in a deep voice.

"Hmph! I call this voluptuous!" Qi Yan rolled her eyes. She hated it when people said she was burly, even though she was indeed very burly.

Lin Yueqiu chuckled, his expression quickly returning to normal. He had long heard that Qi Yan was a passionate and impulsive person, and seeing her today confirmed it.

"Lin Yueqiu, Han Qing, you two come with me." Qi Yan called out and led the two towards a house on the side.

Han Qing was about to follow when he suddenly saw Lin Yueqiu casting a burning gaze at him, with a hint of excitement in his eyes. This made him feel strange. Could it be that this person knew him?

As the two followed Qi Yan into the house, Qi Yan sat down in a chair and said loudly, "Han Qing, Lin Yueqiu is Liu Yue's subordinate. He comes from Lishan Academy and was also a martial artist from Yuelu Academy. Although he has not opened the Path of Dharma Mind, my father said that his strength is extraordinary. He also received your mother's favor back then. From now on, he will be your subordinate. He will protect you throughout this trip to the North."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yueqiu suddenly knelt down on one knee in front of Han Qing and said loudly, "Lin Yueqiu greets Young Master. From now on, my life belongs to you. During our journey to the North, anyone who dares to harm you will have to step over my dead body!"

His words were passionate and resounding, which greatly surprised Han Qing. He didn't think it was acting. It was only their first meeting, but Lin Yueqiu was so excited, as if he wanted to entrust his life to him. If he wasn't frivolous, then something must have happened to him in the capital back then, and he wondered what favors his mother had done for him that made him remember it for so many years.

While he was pondering this, Qi Yan, who was standing nearby, offered an explanation.

"Lin Yueqiu used to be a boxing instructor at a martial arts school in the capital. His wife was quite beautiful, but she was unfortunately taken a liking to Han Yi's youngest son, Han Zhuang. He plotted to frame Lin Yueqiu and imprison him, and forced his wife to submit. It was your mother who saved them."

"Indeed, Han Zhuang was extremely vicious. He forced my wife to become a slave and even wanted to cut me into a thousand pieces. If it weren't for Saint Su's help, I would have been a corpse long ago."

"You are the child of Saint Su, so this favor has been transferred to you. On this trip to the North, I, Lin Yueqiu, will do my utmost to protect you, young master!" Lin Yueqiu took a deep breath and said loudly.

Seeing this scene, Han Qing once again deeply realized how terrifying his mother's influence was. No wonder the court united with many forces and even resorted to conspiracies and tricks to kill her. If his mother were still alive, she could raise her arm and countless experts would follow her. The country would be in turmoil and the country might be overthrown.

He wasn't worried that Lin Yueqiu was lying. Since this person was able to see him and know his true identity, he must have passed the double test of Qi Wufeng and Liu Yue. These two people were meticulous in their work, so he didn't need to question them. Therefore, he decisively stepped forward and helped Lin Yueqiu up.

“Mr. Lin, there’s no need for that. I see you as a man of great loyalty and righteousness, and I admire you greatly. If we encounter a strong enemy on this trip to the north, we will have to rely on your help.”

Lin Yueqiu cupped his hands and said, "Young master, rest assured, I will do my best."

His goodwill towards Han Qing also increased. If Han Qing were an arrogant person, he might still protect him with his life out of gratitude to Su Jin, but he would never truly approve of him.

At this moment, Han Qing displayed a gentle and polite demeanor, which unconsciously reminded him of Su Jin.

Su Jin was the same kind of person back then. Despite holding a high position, she did not have the slightest bit of arrogance.

Qi Yan then got up and walked outside: "What's in the box?"

Han Qing also got up and walked out, while Lin Yueqiu followed behind him, saying loudly, "Lord Liu said that there are some armor, bows and swords in here. When you go to the north, young master will be leading troops, and these are things that you are in dire need of right now."

"Open the box!" Han Qing ordered.

Beside the carriage stood more than twenty burly men dressed in black, all of whom were warriors sent by Liu Yue.

Upon hearing Han Qing's words, these people quickly opened the wooden crates.

The first box immediately caught Han Qing's eye; it was filled with gleaming gold, its golden luster shimmering in the sunlight.

“This is three thousand taels of gold!” Lin Yueqiu said. “When you go to the North, you will need to spend money everywhere. The army is a money pit. With this three thousand taels, you can quickly gain a foothold and do things without being restricted.”

“That’s right, Han Qing. If you just want to coast along when you go to the Northern Camp, then you won’t need to spend much money. But if you want to achieve something, you must arm a fierce and brave army, which will require a lot of money. The money issued by the court alone is not enough,” Qi Yan said.

"I understand." Han Qing thought about it and realized it was true.

His gaze swept across the room and landed on the second wooden box, which contained ten bows, all grayish-white in color, with bowstrings as thick as an index finger, clearly unusual.

Han Qing took out a bow, reached out and pulled it. With a creaking sound, the bowstring was slowly pulled to a full moon shape.

"Such powerful bow strokes! I reckon only a martial artist who has undergone at least three transformations could wield such a bow." Han Qing slowly released the bowstring, unable to help but exclaim in admiration.

"This is a specially made longbow that only the guards of the barbarian king in the deep mountains can wield. It is called the Rhinoceros Horn Black Gold Bow. It is a rare divine bow that cannot be mass-produced. Its range can reach four to six hundred paces. It is indeed only usable by martial artists of the third realm or above," Lin Yueqiu explained.

Qi Yan's eyes lit up, and she picked up a bow from one of the boxes and took out an arrow from another wooden box next to it.

"There are two hundred arrows in this box, which were also captured from a large tribe of barbarians deep in the mountains. They are called python poison arrows. It is said that the arrows are infused with the deadly venom of a black python. When they are shot into a person's body, the poison spreads and the internal organs will turn into a pool of blood in an instant," Lin Yueqiu continued to introduce.

Qi Yan drew her bow and pulled back the arrow, the bowstring taut as a full moon. She aimed at an old locust tree not far away, then suddenly released it. The bowstring vibrated, and with a whoosh, the arrow transformed into a streak of light, precisely piercing through the locust tree trunk.

"What a fine bow! What a fine arrow!" Qi Yan exclaimed. The locust tree was 350 paces away from her, yet the arrows hit their targets with great force, and there was no obvious sign of the arrows falling. This showed that Lin Yueqiu was not lying; the arrows were extremely lethal within at least 350 paces.

“A crossbow with a range of two hundred paces is considered extremely good, young master. With these ten rhinoceros horn black gold bows, we can firmly take the initiative on the battlefield.” When Lin Yueqiu spoke, he had already placed himself and Han Qing on the same side.

Han Qing also took out a rhinoceros horn bow. He drew the bow, nocked an arrow, and secretly channeled his magical energy into his eyes to enhance his five senses. He then focused on a white-feathered bird dozing on the eaves five hundred paces away.

"I'll test whether this bow can reach a range of six hundred paces."

A thought flashed through Han Qing's mind, and he suddenly drew his bow and shot an arrow. With a whoosh, the arrow flew across the sky like a meteor, accurately piercing the body of the white-feathered bird. The bird let out a strange cry and fell to the ground from the eaves.

"What a fine bow! Its range is a good six hundred paces."

"Excellent archery! Hitting the target from 600 paces away in one shot—that's something only a few can do." Lin Yueqiu's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Before he arrived, he had heard that Han Qing had exceptional martial arts talent, but now he truly witnessed Han Qing's abilities; at the very least, his archery skills were remarkable.

Han Qing put the rhinoceros horn black gold bow back into the wooden box in front of him, and then turned his gaze to the last box, which contained five sets of black scale leather armor.

This time, without Lin Yueqiu's introduction, Qi Yan spoke first: "This is the finest leather armor from Shu, python scale armor. It is made from the skin of a black python and is forged through dozens of complex processes. It has extremely strong defensive capabilities while also being exceptionally lightweight. Without connections, it would cost a fortune to buy."

"General Qi Yan is indeed very knowledgeable; this is indeed the finest leather armor from Shu," Lin Yueqiu said.

"When I dealt with barbarians before, there was a barbarian general who wore python scale armor. He was indeed impervious to swords and spears. Even when I hit him with my spiked club, the smooth scales on the outside would dissipate the force, greatly reducing its lethality."

"Han Qing, it's clear that Mr. Liu Yue values ​​you highly. These are extremely scarce military supplies. With these, you can easily arm a strong personal guard squad in the North," Qi Yan said with a smile.

"I will always remember how Lord Liu Yue has treated me, and I will prove in the future that his judgment was correct," Han Qing said in a deep voice.

"Young master, you have great ambition. I believe you will become a renowned figure in the future!" Lin Yueqiu praised, his opinion of Han Qing rising even higher.

"Oh, right, my father said that you'll be leaving for the North in three days, and he'll personally see you off and give you a gift," Qi Yan suddenly said.

"What gift?" Han Qing asked curiously.

"You'll find out when the time comes," Qi Yan said, keeping everyone in suspense.

Han Qing didn't press the matter, because three days would pass in the blink of an eye. That morning...

Qi Wufeng, dressed in a wide, light blue robe, led a group of men to the outside of Songyang Manor, followed by hundreds of soldiers.

Han Qing immediately led his men out to greet them. Qi Wufeng rode a magnificent, jet-black horse with horns on its head and black scales on its body, making it quite extraordinary.

Han Qing understood that this was no ordinary horse, but a strange beast, a specialty of Sichuan, called the Black Dragon Heavenly Horse.

Qi Wufeng noticed Han Qing's gaze and said calmly, "Han Qing, these five black dragon celestial horses behind me are a gift from me. These horses have great endurance and can travel two thousand miles a day without any problem. When they run together, their speed is more than twice that of ordinary horses. Most importantly, they are very brave and are not afraid of lions or tigers."

"Thank you, Uncle Qi!" Han Qing said hurriedly.

"Don't rush, I'll show you another treasure." Qi Wufeng suddenly took out a grayish-white animal bone flute from his bosom, put it to his lips, and suddenly blew it. The sound was muffled and had a unique, mournful quality.

Suddenly, Han Qing heard a loud eagle cry from above. He looked up and saw a tall, black shadow descend from the sky, creating a gust of wind as it landed in front of Qi Wufeng. It was a large golden eagle, as tall as a man, with white feathers on its head and blood-red claws.

"This is the Bloodclaw Golden Eagle I seized from the barbarian priests. Take it with you when you go to the North. This beast is spiritual and only recognizes the one who holds the bone flute as their master. You can communicate with it directly using your magic. Its combat power is extraordinary; it can tear tigers and leopards apart. Ordinary fourth-realm martial artists are no match for it. More importantly, its eyes can identify illusory things such as divine souls and Yin soldiers. This ability is very important. No matter where you go in the future, with this beast scouting, the probability of you being ambushed will be greatly reduced," Qi Wufeng said.

"Good!" Han Qing nodded slightly, feeling very happy. With the help of this spiritual beast, the journey to the North would be much safer.

The group arrived at a house in the center of the manor. Qi Wufeng, Qi Yan, and Han Qing took their seats one after another, while Lin Yueqiu and the others stood guard outside the door. A maid came forward and served the three of them a cup of hot tea.

Qi Wufeng sat upright in the chair, his posture still exuding a sharp aura.

"Han Qing, I have a personal letter here. When you go to the Northern Camp, give this letter to Cao Zhen, the commander of the Fourth Battalion. He will arrange a position for you as a battalion commander."

My Qi family is very powerful in the north. Cao Zhen was able to become a general without the support of my Qi family. He is a trustworthy person and he does not know your identity. You can do whatever you want.

However, you still need to be careful of the Luo family. Even if they don't know your true identity, they will understand that you are someone I am grooming, and they will definitely try to assassinate you. The feud between my Qi family and the Luo family has a long history and is difficult to resolve.

With Emperor Yu above them, they dare not openly sever ties, but the struggle continues beneath the surface. Remember this.

"Uncle Qi, don't worry. Unless a Martial Saint intervenes, ordinary martial artists can't do anything to me. I'll be careful every step of the way," Han Qing said.

"You can rest assured that the Luo family does not have a Martial Saint in this generation, but they do have a high-level Spirit Refiner. However, it is unlikely that they will be mobilized to assassinate you." Qi Wufeng tapped his fingers lightly on the table as he pondered.

"Han Qing, you'll be safe once you get to the Northern Camp. What you really need to be careful about is the journey there," Qi Yan said.

“That’s right, you don’t need to worry about that. Liu Yue and I have already arranged for experts to meet us on the way. You’ll understand when the time comes.” Qi Wufeng nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Uncle Qi." Han Qing cupped his hands in thanks.

He was very calm. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. He chose to join Liu Yue and Qi Wufeng, and thus obtained rare and exotic beasts, armor, bows and swords, and three thousand taels of gold. He also had to bear the corresponding risks.

"If the Luo family wants to ambush and kill me, then let them come at me," Han Qingxin said.

Every ambush on this journey to the Northland will be a covert power struggle between several major forces. Han Qing believes in his own strength, as well as the abilities of Qi Wufeng and Liu Yue.

"Han Qing, I am very pleased with your courage. Strong people grow step by step through the tempering of blood and fire. I believe that this trip to the North will allow your strength to improve by leaps and bounds and bring about a deeper transformation!" Qi Wufeng praised.

The power struggles between major forces are so intense that one naturally gets used to them after experiencing them many times; only those who survive become the strong.

"Uncle Qi, don't worry, I will definitely not let you down." Han Qing nodded solemnly.

"Alright, I've finished explaining everything. Cao Zhen's Fourth Army in the North is responsible for guarding Yinshan. This is detailed intelligence about Yinshan. You must read it several times and memorize it." Qi Wufeng took out a piece of cloth from his sleeve and placed it on the table in front of Han Qing.

Han Qing took the cloth and quickly glanced at it. The information was extremely detailed, including a topographical map of Yinshan, the number of forces in Yinshan, and their strength.

At this point, all the necessary preparations for this trip to the North have been completed.

"Once the affairs of the manor are settled, you may depart at any time." Qi Wufeng did not stay any longer, leaving behind these words before getting up and leaving the manor. The five black dragon horses and the blood-clawed golden eagle remained behind.

Han Qing then went out and gathered everyone in the manor.

"Li Tai, after I leave, the manor will need someone to look after it. I'm entrusting it to you. The several thousand taels of silver in the treasury, as well as all the people in the manor, are at your disposal."

He knew Li Tai's character well and believed that he was a completely trustworthy person.

Li Tai could also sense Han Qing's trust in him, and said solemnly, "Young Master, rest assured, I will do my best to manage Songyang Manor well. When you return next time, I will definitely show you a brand new and prosperous manor."

"Alright, Li Tai, I look forward to that day." Han Qing nodded slightly, then glanced around and looked at the others beside him.

"Mu Dachun, you stay at the manor to assist Li Tai. Liu Xiaofeng, you come with me to the north."

Mu Dachun's comprehension is not very high, and his staff skills are not yet perfect, so it is not advisable for him to leave the mountain. Besides, Li Tai also needs a trustworthy person by his side.

As for Liu Xiaofeng, this young man is stubborn and inflexible. To persuade him, you have to gain his approval. Li Tai's strength is not enough to keep him in check, so it might be better to keep him by your side.

Liu Xiaofeng is quite strong; he fights like a mad dog and can provide a lot of assistance.

Qi Yan yawned and interjected, "Han Qing, I'll take care of Songyang Manor, there won't be any problems. You can go to the North with peace of mind."

"Alright, with Sister Qi's words, I feel much more at ease. Without further ado, let's set off now. Someone, prepare the horses!"

"Yes!"

Da da da!
on the official road.

A caravan was moving at high speed, consisting of more than ten riders and two carriages, totaling more than twenty people.

The horses' hooves pounded the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

Han Qing rode at the forefront, with Liu Xiaofeng on his left and Lin Yueqiu on his right; all three were riding Wulong Tianma horses.

The entourage also included twenty strong warriors, some on horseback and others driving the carriages. The carriages were loaded with several large wooden boxes containing gold, dry rations, arrows, and various other items.

High above everyone's heads, a golden eagle with blood claws was circling and flying. Han Qing only needed to blow the bone flute, and the golden eagle would immediately land and tear apart the enemy.

At this moment, the group had just traveled two hundred miles out of Hengshan City and were still within Qi Wufeng's control. Everyone was quite relaxed.

Once he leaves Hengshan City, Qi Wufeng's influence will decline rapidly, at which point he will need to be extremely careful.

Besides being wary of the Luo family, we also need to be wary of mountain bandits.

However, the world is not very peaceful today, and the terrain of Sichuan is complex, with many places being high mountains and dense forests, making banditry extremely common.

At this moment, as Han Qing walked forward, he recalled the information about Yinshan that Qi Wufeng had given him on the cloth.

"Yinshan is a large mountain in the north with complex terrain, covering an area of ​​tens of thousands of miles. Many forces are hidden in the mountains and oppose the imperial court."

"Decades ago, the Great Yu swept through the Central Plains and established its rule over the world! After the fall of their countries, some powerful figures refused to bow to the court, so they led their people into the Yin Mountains to quietly accumulate strength, hoping that one day the situation in the world would change, and they would lead their troops out of the mountains to restore their former countries."

"As for why Yinshan was chosen as a hiding place, it was mainly because the situation there was complex."

"South of Yinshan is Youzhou of Dayu, a vast and sparsely populated area. The imperial court has very little control over this place, especially with the presence of the Black Sparrow Alliance, which has many assassins who are all daring and fearless madmen who are not afraid of death. Assassinating kings and killing generals is also very common."

Officials from the imperial court who came to this place to serve tended to turn a blind eye to the chaos, fearing that going too far would bring about their own demise.

"North of Yinshan Mountain lies a vast ice plain, covered with snow all year round, with glaciers standing tall. It is extremely cold and difficult for humans to live there for long. Only the demon race can survive there for a long time."

"In short, the situation in Yinshan is complex, with various forces intertwined, making it the most chaotic place in the world. This is actually a good thing for me!"

Han Qing was planning in his mind that he would go to the northern lands to hunt down more powerful people and plunder their martial arts skills.

Time passed slowly, and three days went by in the blink of an eye.

Under the shade of trees on a hillside, the group, exhausted from their long journey, ordered Han Qing to rest for a while.

"Young master, we have already traveled eight hundred li from Hengshan City. We must be more careful from now on."

Lin Yueqiu leaned against a poplar tree, first tearing off a piece of cornbread, then gulping down several mouthfuls of water, chewing it heartily.

"Yes, we'll meet force with force and water with earth. These are just ordinary bandits robbing the road, nothing to fear. With our strength, no matter how many come, they'll all die." Han Qing squinted and gazed into the distance, where he saw layers of mountains, some tall and some short, some near and some far, hiding countless bandits within them.

The road ahead narrowed rapidly from a flat official road, gradually turning into a winding mountain path or a narrow trail through the forest. Such places were most vulnerable to being robbed by mountain bandits.

“Young Master is right. The only thing we need to be careful of is the Luo family. Although we left Hengshan City under the cover of night, the Luo family has been operating in Shu for decades. They have a complex network of connections and are well-informed. No matter how well we conceal our whereabouts, there is still a risk of being exposed,” Lin Yueqiu analyzed.

He has a habit of thinking about the worst-case scenario, so that even if such a thing actually happens, he won't panic too much.

"Your idea of ​​being prepared for a rainy day and thinking about danger in times of peace is correct. We should try to travel through the hidden mountains and forests and avoid contact with people along the way. That way, even if the Luo family wants to ambush me, it will be extremely difficult for them to determine my route." Han Qing nodded slightly.

While chatting, Han Qing stuffed the last piece of rice cake in his hand into his mouth, chewed it quickly, and swallowed it.

He rose and mounted his horse, shouting loudly, "Let's go!"

...

into the night.

The Luo family mansion in Sichuan.

in the lobby.

Luo Heng sat upright in his chair, toying with a bright red venomous snake in his left hand, while his right hand rested lightly on the table, his fingertips pressing on a secret letter that had just been delivered by express courier from the Luo family in the capital.

He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his head lowered, his eyes sinister, seemingly deep in thought.

"Father, you called me!"

A young man in black rushed into the hall. He was Luo Heng's eldest son, Luo Lie. He was burly and had a twisted, hideous scar on his face, which looked like a bright red centipede crawling on his face.

"A secret letter just delivered by our main family in the capital contains a memorial from Qi Wufeng to the Ministry of War. He recommends several young men to join the army in the northern camp. These are all martial arts geniuses that Qi Wufeng highly values. Our main family's intention is for us to intercept and kill them, and to try to kill all of these young men."

"Father, leave this to me. A few days ago, seven or eight of our estates in Shu were looted. Many people died, and the estates were reduced to ashes."

Qi Wufeng kept saying that it was Liu Yue's rebel army that did it. What a load of rubbish! He's the one retaliating against us. I can't swallow this insult." Luo Lie's face was contorted with rage.

“We must kill them. For every person we kill, our family promises us tremendous benefits. Especially this Han Qing, whose martial arts talent is exceptional. Our family values ​​him highly. If we can capture him alive, they will bestow upon me a supreme cultivation technique of the Legalist school. I certainly cannot let him go,” Luo Heng said unhurriedly.

"Supreme Divine Cultivation Technique? Could it be that our family suspects that Han Qing is Su Jin's child? If you ask me, that child fell into the deep valley back then and died long ago. How could he possibly be alive now?" Luo Lie complained.

“This is not something you should be concerned about. We only need to carry out our family’s orders. There are only two main roads leading out of the mountains in Shu. I sent people to keep an eye on the major passes a few days ago, but I haven’t received any relevant information yet. This means that this kid is not taking the official road, but the mountain road to leave Shu. It’s clear that he has been on guard against us for a long time,” Luo Heng analyzed.

“Father, the mountain roads in Shu are intricate and complex. It will be very difficult to determine his whereabouts. If we delay for a few more days, he may have already left Shu.” Luo Lie frowned.

"Although the mountain paths are chaotic, there are three or five that are essential routes. You should quickly notify the major forces in Sichuan that have submitted to the Luo family, and have them check all the mountain paths. If they find any trace of Han Qing or the other genius youths, they should immediately intercept and kill them. As for whether they can be stopped, do your best and leave the rest to fate!" Luo Heng said in a deep voice.

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away." Luo Lie nodded and was about to leave.

"Wait a minute, there's one more thing. In a few days, Luo Ding, a young martial arts prodigy from the Luo family in the capital, will be staying here for a few days. Go to the city and select thirty skilled martial artists to stay in the manor and await orders." Luo Heng suddenly called out to him again.

"Luo Ding? That martial arts fanatic?" Luo Lie raised an eyebrow.

"That's him. Some time ago, he went deep into the mountains of Shu to find exotic beasts and barbarians to hone his combat skills. He should have killed enough now. He sent me a message yesterday that he will be returning soon. This man is brave and fierce, and loves fighting like his life. These thirty people are the sparring partners I prepared for him!" Luo Heng said leisurely.

"Okay, I'll go find someone right away." Luo Lie nodded.

(End of this chapter)