I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

The bandits lay dead, and the aftermath was cleaned up. The镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) silently collected the bodies of their fallen comrades, wrapped them in white cloth, and placed them on the mule cart. The wounded received basic treatment, with ointments applied and wounds bandaged. An atmosphere of mourning and grim determination filled the air.

Lu Zhao also went to fetch Master Zhao and the others. The refugees, seeing the devastation and the dead and wounded镖师 (bodyguards/escorts), were too frightened to speak and silently huddled together. However, seeing Lu Zhao chatting amiably with the镖师's leader, they felt somewhat relieved. Master Zhao stepped forward and, with the courtesy due to a scholar, thanked Li Gang for taking them in. Li Gang, in turn, was quite polite to this eloquent old scholar.

The group resumed their journey. The镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) led the way, the mule carts followed in the middle, and Lu Zhao and the refugees trailed behind. Although the group had grown larger, the atmosphere was more silent than before. The bandit attack and the deaths of their companions cast a lingering shadow over the group.

"Young friend Lu, what just happened was truly a close call." Master Zhao walked to Lu Zhao's side and sighed softly, his eyes filled with lingering fear and relief as he looked at Lu Zhao. "If it weren't for your bravery, young friend, we and everyone from the escort agency would likely have perished. But, young friend, you..."

"Master, there's no need to worry," Lu Zhao calmly interrupted him, and said in a low voice, "Li the镖头 and others have been kind to us, so it's only right that we lend a helping hand. Besides, in this world, it's always better to have more friends than more enemies."

Master Zhao nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this, and asked no further questions. He knew that the young man before him was no longer the frail and helpless refugee he once was.

As night fell, the group set up camp in a sheltered woodland and lit several campfires. With the addition of the bodyguards, the night watch and vigilance became much tighter, and the refugees were finally able to rest in peace, munching on the dry rations they had brought with them.

Li Gang invited Lu Zhao to the campfire where the bodyguards were sitting. The gazes of the bodyguards towards him had changed from initial surprise and scrutiny to approval and curiosity. A boy who looked no more than fifteen or sixteen years old could brazenly kill a level 8 bandit leader, and seemed to have fought with evil spirits and demons. To them, this was simply unbelievable.

"Brother Lu, come, come, sit down!" Li Gang invited Lu Zhao to sit down, handed him a pot of water, and then a piece of roasted dried meat that was sizzling with oil. "Try this, it's better than your dried rations."

"Thank you, Chief Escort Li." Lu Zhao didn't stand on ceremony, took the meat and took a bite. The dried meat was salty and fragrant, obviously a high-quality product used in the army or on the road, much better than the wild game he had eaten before.

"Brother Lu," Li Gang pondered for a moment, then asked, "I heard you say you met Liu Qingqing once?"

Lu Zhao nodded and selectively recounted how he encountered the evil sorcerer in the abandoned border town (he concealed the existence of the Qingyun Sect disciples), how he dealt with him, and how he was later attacked by the sorcerer's "accomplices" in the "Wang Anju" valley at night, ultimately killing the sorcerer's apprentice. He emphasized the sorcerer's evil magic and the walking corpses he commanded, while downplaying how he killed the sorcerer. He only said that he succeeded by taking advantage of the terrain and his courage, and that he received guidance from Liu Qingqing to purify the evil spirits before deciding to head south to seek refuge.

"I see!" Li Gang and the other bodyguards looked on with understanding and admiration after hearing this. "No wonder Brother Lu is so skilled; he's actually fought those monsters in real combat! Those demons who control walking corpses are indeed insidious and impossible to guard against!"

"Have you heard of that Black Fiend Master, Chief Escort Li?" Lu Zhao asked the question he was most concerned about.

Li Gang shook his head gravely. "I've never heard of their name. But lately, demons and monsters have been appearing frequently in the north, and there's probably more than just this group. The chief镖头 (head镖师, the chief镖师) sent us north to investigate because Qingmu Town has also received some news, and even merchants and refugees from the south have disappeared near the north. It seems the world is becoming increasingly turbulent." He sighed and looked at Lu Zhao. "By the way, you said you killed a heretical sorcerer's apprentice and got something from him?"

Lu Zhao was wary, but his face remained impassive. He nodded and said, "I did get some odds and ends, including a strange booklet and a few stones. I disposed of them all according to the method Liu the镖师 (bodyguard) instructed. Oh, and I also got this. I don't know what it is. Please have Chief镖师 Li take a look." As he spoke, he took out the [Broken Yin Soul Bone Shield] from his pocket (actually his inventory). This thing looked like a magic artifact, but it was broken, and most of its Yin energy had been purified. It was good to take it out and test the waters.

Li Gang took the bone shield and examined it carefully by the firelight. It was icy cold to the touch, and the surface was engraved with twisted runes, but the spiritual light was dim, and it was riddled with cracks, clearly nearing the end of its life. He frowned slightly: "This thing... seems to be a magical artifact crafted by a heretical sorcerer. Judging from the runes, it was probably used to control or protect against evil spirits. However, it's severely damaged, completely devoid of its spiritual essence, and not very useful. I might give it to the weapon-refining apprentice in town to see if I can extract any materials from it."

"I see." Lu Zhao nodded, seemingly somewhat disappointed, then inquired, "Chief Escort Li, to be honest, I was fortunate enough to be taught a few basic talisman techniques by Escort Master Liu. I was hoping to learn more skills to protect myself in this world. I wonder if your escort agency, or Qingmu Town, has any place where I can buy talisman techniques, pill formulas, or learn cultivation methods?"

That's what he really wanted to ask. Cultivation techniques, elixirs, and knowledge—these are what he needs most right now.

Upon hearing this, Li Gang gave Lu Zhao a deep look, seemingly understanding his true purpose for heading south to Qingmu Town. He didn't reveal it, but said in a deep voice, "Brother Lu, it's good that you have this ambition. Although Qingmu Town is small, it has some tricks of the trade. There are a few shops in the town that buy mountain goods and furs, and also sell some low-grade pills, talismans, and weapons. However, they are all second-rate items, expensive and not necessarily suitable."

He paused, then said in a low voice, "True cultivation methods are treasured by all sects, clans, and powerful families, and are never passed on to outsiders. Several of the head镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) of my Changfeng Escort Agency, including the chief镖师, each have their own lineages, but these are the foundation of their livelihood and cannot be easily passed on to outsiders. However..." He changed the subject, "If you truly want to learn skills, there is a way. The garrison headquarters, various families, and even my Changfeng Escort Agency, sometimes issue 'bounty missions' to deal with nearby monsters and evil spirits, or to explore certain dangerous places. If you are strong enough, completing the mission will not only reward you with bounty money, but you can sometimes also exchange it for fragments of cultivation techniques, elixirs, or even be recruited by certain forces."

"Bounty missions?" Lu Zhao's heart skipped a beat. How similar this was to the "mission system" in games!

"That's right." Li Gang nodded, "But this line of work is extremely risky, with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death. Without real skills, going there is just suicide. Brother Lu, I see that you have extraordinary courage and skills. If you have time in the future, you might as well come to the escort agency to find me. I'll see if there are any suitable short-distance escort or reconnaissance missions for you to test the waters and familiarize yourself with the situation in town."

"Thank you for your guidance, Chief Escort Li!" Lu Zhaocheng sincerely expressed his gratitude. Li Gang's words had pointed him in the right direction. Qingmu Town was no longer just a refuge, but a platform where he could acquire resources and come into contact with extraordinary powers.

The two chatted for a few more minutes, and Lu Zhao gained a preliminary understanding of the power distribution, local customs, and potential dangers in Qingmu Town. As night deepened, Lu Zhao returned to Liu Min's place to rest.

Lying by the campfire, gazing at the starry sky, Lu Zhao's heart was filled with emotion. The kindness of Changfeng Escort Agency, the "mission system" of Qingmu Town, and that potential threat, "Black Fiend Master"... the road ahead was still shrouded in mist, but he was no longer that bewildered and helpless refugee boy.

He clenched his fist, feeling the power growing within him. Aoki Town, here I come.