novel-bin Chapter 102, In the Jianghu
Chapter 102, In the Jianghu
Chapter 103, In the Jianghu
Ren Yaowu rode his horse swiftly out of the city, his heart filled with eager anticipation.
He rode tirelessly along the official road, chasing after the Lan family's carriage.
At noon the next day, we finally saw it on the official road.
A thin ox pulled a cart carrying medicinal herbs, which was covered with dry grass. Lan Shaoyao, dressed in coarse cloth, sat in the haystack with her face covered. Her pretty face was rosy from the sun, and her eyes were swollen like peaches. The driver was an old man's servant.
Ren Yaowu saw her.
Hearing the sound of horses' hooves, she looked up, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly, a mixture of resentment, regret, and tenderness.
"Brother Wu!"
Ren Yaowu immediately dismounted, took the reins, returned to the oxcart, and looked at the old driver with an unfriendly gaze.
The old man flashed a fawning smile and immediately asked, "Are you the young master of the Ren family?"
I had been given instructions before I left.
Ren Yaowu nodded: "Yes, that's me."
"The master instructed that if the young master comes after you, he will give you the oxcart, and I will leave now—please don't blame me."
The old man muttered something, handed him the reins, grabbed his bundle, and hurried away.
Ren Yaowu then looked at the woman he loved in the haystack, hurried over, and the two embraced tightly.
They exchanged a few words of comfort. Worried about the baby's health, Ren Yaowu still let her ride in the oxcart while he led the horse and drove the ox, braving the scorching sun.
From then on, though they were separated by vast distances, the lovers were finally united!
After walking a short distance, Ren Yaowu made some witty remarks to amuse her, and although her heart was still heavy, a smile appeared on her face.
However, Ren Yaowu gradually became uneasy—this road was dangerous.
The bandits of the nineteenth road east of the prefectural city are elusive and unpredictable. When they gather, they are like a raging fire; when they disperse, they are like stars scattered across the sky. They have been difficult to eradicate for many years.
In the past, when escorting goods, he always followed merchant caravans. With many people and the security of paying for safety, there was nothing to fear. But now, worried about his beloved wife, he rushed over in anger, only to find himself alone.
Would the Lan family bribe bandits to ambush and kill us on the road?
The thought crossed his mind, and he became even more vigilant, looking around as if the wind and trees around him were filled with menacing threats.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats in the distance. Although the distance was still far, Ren Yaowu immediately made a decision, abandoned the oxen and horses, picked up Lan Shaoyao, and disappeared into the forest on both sides of the official road.
Hiding behind a tree, I watched cautiously.
Several government officials arrived on horseback. Upon seeing the cattle and horses by the roadside, they reined in their horses, shouted twice, and loudly inquired where the people had gone.
Ren Yaowu clenched his fists, hiding in the mountains and forests, but did not respond.
Lan Shaoyao tried to speak, but he covered her mouth.
Seeing that the property was unclaimed, the constables laughed and said a few words. They then drew their knives, slaughtered the ox with one stroke, cut it into more than a dozen pieces of lean meat, took the ox's head and legs, led the horse, and rode away.
The cow walks slowly, which delays the journey, so slaughtering it and dividing the meat ensures nothing is wasted.
Ren Yaowu's gaze was low and deeply hidden.
Lan Shaoyao had never seen such a scene before. Staring at the half-dead, blood-soaked cow carcass, she was stunned and dared not move.
Is this what the martial arts world is like?
It's really not what I expected.
Ren Yaowu noticed her panic and regret, and gently comforted her, saying that there was still silver, and they could hire a luxury carriage when they arrived at the town ahead.
The two walked carefully along the official road, and if they heard any human or horse sounds, they would go into the woods. They walked and stopped frequently until dawn, when they finally reached the town and stayed at an inn that night.
After traveling for two days, Ren Yaowu was exhausted. He locked the door, propped it open with a chair, and let her sleep inside. He lay down fully clothed, tied the silver tightly with cloth, and hid it in his bosom.
late at night.
A hole in the window was quietly damp, and wisps of smoke drifted in.
A moment later, the door was gently pushed open.
A masked figure quietly entered, looked at the two people on the bed, confirmed their identities, and immediately took out a dagger. With clean and swift movements, the figure slit the throats of the two unconscious people.
Blood gushed out, yet not a single sound was uttered.
He then searched the two men, found their silver and valuables, stabbed each of them three more times in the heart, and left silently.
In the afternoon.
The outskirts of the prefectural city.
In the woods by the river, a gentle breeze blows, the trees are lush and green, and cicadas sing merrily.
Since he began cultivating the Nine Revolutions Overlord Body, Ren Qingshan has been going out more often.
They especially love going on outings.
He would frequently go to the outskirts of the city to inspect the land—or so it appeared to outsiders.
The real purpose is to transform the soil's resources.
With 13,000 earth energy reserves, Ren Qingshan transformed 10,800 of them, and just completed the "Nine Revolutions Overlord Body" to its peak, thus achieving the Overlord Body.
This adds another layer to the enemy's defenses.
Even a master with innate strength can increase their combat power by at least 30% by cultivating this top-tier external martial art.
Moreover, this skill seems to have no end, and it can continue to transform qi and blood.
This aroused Ren Qingshan's great curiosity: what else is there on the Overlord Body level?
Could it be possible to break through to the Innate Realm again through external martial arts?
If that's the case, then they're truly formidable.
Ren Qingshan then added the remaining two thousand-plus earth energy points to his comprehension, elevating it from "sudden enlightenment" to "wise insight."
After reflecting on this improvement, Ren Qingshan understood its effects.
The "keen insight" level of comprehension has two main effects:
First, it can see through the flaws in moves and even optimize existing moves.
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Secondly, when deducing moves, one can develop an almost instinctive intuition to discover the optimal path.
This is a talent that only top-tier martial arts geniuses can possess.
Whether it's fighting or creating your own martial arts, it's all very beneficial.
Through extensive learning, practice, reflection, and enlightenment, martial artists may also reach this level and be considered "Grandmasters," possessing the ability to establish their own schools.
Grandmaster!
Riverside.
The firewood crackled and burned.
Three-month-old skinned lambs are strung together on the shelf.
A blanket was laid on the floor, and Ren Qingshan lay on his back with his hands behind his head, basking in the sun contentedly.
Beside her, Lu Qingyi wore a pale yellow dress and had her hair styled in a double-looped bun, a common hairstyle for unmarried women. When the bun was undone, it would become a lively and charming double ponytail, but with a touch more refinement.
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Sprinkle the spices evenly over the roasted, browned lamb, releasing an enticing aroma.
Life in the city is so pleasant and wonderful, just like a vacation.
Ren Qingshan was well aware of this—it was because he was far removed from the core of power.
Although Fang Yanping has not yet taken back the position of chief constable, he is now "recovering from his injuries" and is free from worldly troubles.
We'll just have to wait until next year's martial arts examination.
"Ah—open your mouth."
A sharp knife cut off a piece of juicy, tender mutton, and Lu Qingyi, holding it up with a handkerchief, fed it to him with a radiant smile.
Ren Qingshan ate with relish.
Ren Yaohui, who was not far away, was given a leg of lamb and was happily munching on it, finding it delicious.
There were also four guards from the Lu family watching over the area.
The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar, heading straight this way; it was a young servant of the Lu family.
He quickly dismounted, trotted over, and said breathlessly, "Master Ren, the yamen just sent someone to deliver a message!"
'
"Tell me—tell me that in Dongshan Town, at the Yunlai Inn, Ren Yaowu and Lan Shaoyao were drugged in their sleep one night, their throats were slit, and their hearts were stabbed. They both died!"
clack.
Upon hearing this...
The lamb leg in Ren Yaohui's hand fell to the ground, covered in dust.