In the morning light, a group of carriages and horses drove out of Maoyuan Inn.
This is the sixth day that Shopkeeper Kuang and his family arrived in Cao Herb Town, and it is also the day they set off again.
After treatment, Pan Yuan's leg injury was 70% to 80% healed. Shopkeeper Kuang bought him a horse as a reward for his meritorious service in killing the thief. Now he could ride his horse and lead the way again, and he was as fierce and fierce as ever.
Yu Ye still followed behind on horseback, like a superfluous person. When he left Maoyuan Inn, he bought a bunch of meat-filled pancakes from a food shop on the street.
It is said that the journey is hundreds of miles away and there are few people around. It is inevitable to sleep in the wild on the way, so it is better to take dry food with you to be prepared.
When he left Caoba Town, Xu was too early and did not encounter any interrogation from people in the world.
The sky was fine, the road was flat, the horses' hooves were brisk, and the group headed straight to the southwest. After taking a short break at noon, everyone continued on their way.
In the evening, the carriages and horses were parked on the grass beside the road. There are woods nearby, rivers flowing, and the lights of the village can be seen in the distance. Shopkeeper Kuang wanted to stay in a village, but Pan Yuan refused, saying that the village was a dirty place and not as ventilated and cool as the outdoors. Shopkeeper Kuang obeyed and ordered Ji Yan to set up a tent, light a bonfire, and prepare food so that everyone could rest on the spot.
After Yu Ye settled the horse, he slipped aside alone, spread a raincloth on the ground, ate his cooking cakes with meat, drank some water, and lay down to rest with his sword in his arms.
Without the spirit stone, there is no need to rush to practice. Take advantage of this free time to read classics, understand the exercises, and ponder some small methods to make up for the lack of understanding, which is also helpful for practice.
It is estimated that we can reach Queling Mountain in three days. When the time came to find out the way, we went straight to Luming Mountain. I hope this freeloading job can always be easy.
After Pan Yuan and Yuan Jiu had eaten and drank, they took turns checking around, performing their duties faithfully...
Nothing happened all night.
Overnight at Xiaoxing.
In the morning light, the carriages and horses continued their journey.
After more than ten miles, the road became narrower. Lush forest replaced the empty mountain fields, and the towering mountains even covered half of the sky. It seemed that we had gone astray and fell into a dead end, and then the road turned to twists and turns and the prospect was in sight.
Three people, three horses and two carriages were walking through the mountains and jungles.
At noon, the mountain road was still rugged and narrow, and the rolling wheels occasionally splashed gravel flying down the hillside, making the journey even more difficult and dangerous.
Pan Yuan did not dare to stop and rest, and ordered everyone to continue on their way. As for lunch, we can only make do with each other.
Yu Ye followed at a distance on horseback, fearing that the splashed gravel would injure his mount. Looking at the rugged mountain road, he was also a little worried. If the heavily loaded carriage rolled down a steep slope, no one could save it. Fortunately, Ji Yan and Mo Can were very good at driving the car, so there were no accidents along the way.
Before you know it, dusk is approaching.
"Damn it, I can't walk anymore, stay here for one night——"
Following Pan Yuan's shouts, the carriage and horses came to a hillside.
But I saw the red sun setting in the west, the sunset filling the sky, the mountains darkening, and the tired birds returning to their nests. The whole day was spent walking through mountains and ridges. The open space here affords a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery in all directions, and the cool wind blowing in the face suddenly makes people feel relaxed and happy and lingering.
"Well, we are tired and exhausted, so let's rest for the night!"
Shopkeeper Kuang, his wife, and Cai'er stepped out of the carriage, while Mo Can and Ji Yan were busy settling in.
There is a broken stone house on the hillside.
Yu Ye jumped off his horse and walked closer to check.
Half of a stone house collapsed. There is a stone pillar in front of the door with the words "Taipingguan" on it.
Taoist temple?
Yu Ye has a certain understanding of Taoism. The so-called Taoist temple is the place where Taoists practice.
Well, a room is also a dojo.
It’s just that the Taoist is gone, leaving only an abandoned Taiping Temple.
When Yu Ye saw Mrs. Kuang and Cai'er approaching, he wisely turned around and hid, took the luggage on the horse and found a place to rest.
Night falls, and a waning moon climbs into the sky.
A tent was set up in front of the Taiping Temple, lanterns were hung, and a bonfire was lit. Shopkeeper Kuang accompanied Pan Yuan and Yuan Jiu to drink, while Madam, Cai'er and Ji Yan sat aside and ate pastries. The laughter that sounded from time to time dispelled the fatigue of everyone on the road and made the night on the way seem peaceful and peaceful.
The other two people seemed to have nothing to do with this night.
Mo Can was still guarding his carriage.
Yu Ye sat on the grass more than ten feet away. No one invited him to enjoy a meal, and he did not want to be humiliated. Feeling hungry, he took out his cooking pancake and stuffed it with meat. He took a bite and spit it out again.
"Pooh--"
The pancakes I bought yesterday morning were filled with meat. Although the pancakes were dry and hard, I could still chew them. However, at this time, the braised pork turned smelly and was inedible.
Yu Ye had no choice but to take out all the braised pork sandwiched in the cooking cakes and throw them away, but he was reluctant to throw away the cakes. He stood up and walked toward the bonfire.
Just bake some pancakes over the fire to fill your stomach.
Yu Ye walked to the fire and piled two pancakes next to the ashes. As he squatted down and waited, he listened to Pan Yuan talking to shopkeeper Kuang——
"Shopkeeper, tell me... Do you think I, Pan Yuan, am honest?"
"Brother Pan, for the sake of the safety of my family, outnumbered the enemy and killed several people. He was hit by an arrow in the leg. Such a righteous act is obvious to all. Come, come, come, Kuang will give you a glass of water and wine to express his gratitude!"
Pan Yuan seemed to have drunk too much, and there was a hint of drunkenness in his words. Shopkeeper Kuang tried his best to cater to her and patiently comforted her.
"Shopkeeper...Brother, is my life worth only a glass of wine?"
"Brother Pan, don't worry. In addition to the reward, Kuang also has a big thank you!"
"The shopkeeper has made it clear. How about... how do you express your gratitude? How about thanking me with... the jewelry on your car..."
"Haha, Ji Yan, brother Pan Yuan is drunk, help him to rest..."
"Damn it, I didn't drink too much..."
"thump--"
Yu Ye fiddled with the pancakes in the ashes and looked back.
In the tent a few feet away, Pan Yuan fell to the ground, as if he was drunk. Yuan Jiu sat aside, gloomy and silent. Shopkeeper Kuang looked at Pan Yuan on the ground, looking very surprised. Mrs. Kuang and Cai'er leaned against each other, with frightened faces on their faces. Ji Yan looked around, looking a little flustered.
At this moment, the sound of horse hooves suddenly sounded from the distant hillside.
Within a moment, four strong horses broke through the night and headed straight for the bright spot on the hillside. Immediately there were four strong men holding swords. One of them pointed the sword at Shopkeeper Kuang——
"Shopkeeper Kuang, if you want to survive, leave your jewelry and money, otherwise I will kill you and leave your mother-in-law and daughter to your brothers' disposal!"
The other three people were arrogant and shouted——
"Why bother nagging him? Just kill him!"
"That woman is still pretty, I like her!"
"The little girl is so tender, she belongs to me, haha..."
This is a group of desperadoes, a group of bandits who kill without blinking an eye!
Mrs. Kuang and Cai'er were already pale and trembling with fear.
Shopkeeper Kuang was even more frightened. He stood up tremblingly and said, "Fellow knights, if you have something to say, if you have something to say..." As he held up his hands and begged for mercy, he couldn't help but call in a low voice: "Brother Pan Yuan, Brother Pan Yuan... "
His brother Pan Yuan was still lying on the ground drunk, and it seemed that there was no hope for him. He looked at Yuan Jiu again and begged -
"Brother Yuan Jiu, Kuang's wealth and life depend on you..."
Yuan Jiu seemed not to have heard, still sitting upright as before, reaching out to pick up the wine bowl, and took a sip of wine.
This person had been besieged by more than 20 people from all walks of life, but he still sacrificed his life, was extremely fierce, and finally defeated the powerful enemy. He was deeply grateful and respected by Shopkeeper Kuang. Unexpectedly, he only met four bandits tonight, and he was uncharacteristically uncharacteristic. Not only did he sit still, he was still drinking. This means standing idly by and no longer caring about the life and death of others.
Shopkeeper Kuang couldn't beg, so he looked up to the sky and sighed: "Brother Yuan Jiu, Kuang treats you two so well, how can you not save me from death..."
Ji Yan suddenly stood up quietly and urged in a low voice: "Madam, Miss, come with me -"
Behind the tent is next to Taiping Temple. Although the Taoist temple only had a damaged stone house, it became the last refuge for Mrs. Kuang and Cai'er.
Unexpectedly, changes occurred again.
Mrs. Kuang and Cai'er had just stood up when suddenly the bowstring sounded, the sword flashed, and Ji Yan screamed and fell out.
There was an arrow stuck in the grass behind Yuan Jiu. He himself held a long knife on Shopkeeper Kuang's neck and said coldly: "No one can leave -"
Ji Yan fell two feet away, and a bloody gash opened on his arm. He couldn't struggle for a while and looked in agony. He left with his wife and young lady as an excuse, and took the opportunity to take out a crossbow and shoot at Yuan Jiu. Who would have thought that the other party had already seen through his intention and slashed him with a knife. If he hadn't avoided it in time, his arm would have been gone.
Mrs. Kuang and Cai'er froze in place, not daring to move even half a step.
Shopkeeper Kuang was stunned and said: "Brother Yuan Jiu, you...you are in the same group as those four people..."
Yuan Jiu held a murderous long knife in one hand and drank slowly from a cup. He ignored Shopkeeper Kuang's question, as if he was looking at a dead person with disdain.
"Haha, I am also in the same group——"
Following the arrogant and unbridled laughter, Pan Yuan, who was lying on the ground, actually sat up. He no longer looked drunk, but instead looked elated and elated.
"Brother Pan..."
Shopkeeper Kuang was like thunder hitting his head, and said nonchalantly: "Brother Pan... why are you hurting me like this?"
It is easy to see that, in the name of escort, Pan Yuan and Yuan Jiu colluded with their accomplices to set up a trap, which will inevitably lead to the death of shopkeeper Kuang and his family. This is a long-planned plan, a trap that started at the Heji Inn in Lishui Town.
"Ha ha!"
Pan Yuan grabbed the wine bottle and took a sip of wine, and said with a proud smile: "Everywhere I go, I like to visit the local wealthy families. It was a coincidence that I passed by the Heji Inn in Lishui Town and heard that there was a jewelry dealer. Shopkeeper Kuang was recruiting customers, and he heard about the good things planned by a group of fellow gangsters. Since a good thing happened to me, I will do my duty, even if I am hit by an arrow in the leg, I will complete this big deal. Haha, come here, brothers. ——”
The four men also laughed, jumped off their horses, raised their long swords, and surrounded the tent aggressively.
In the eyes of this group of people, Shopkeeper Kuang's family of three were just a piece of fat in their mouths, left to their own devices.
Cai'er nestled tightly in Mrs. Kuang's arms, with a look of despair and grief on her little face. She couldn't understand that these people in the world were talking about chivalry and morality, but they were committing treacherous acts. Especially when they were paid generously, they betrayed their masters against their conscience.
Hey, there is another person who doesn't get paid. He didn't run away. Will he stand up in times of crisis?
Cai'er cast her eyes on the figure beside the bonfire and couldn't help but look forward to it.
That was Yu Ye. When the thieves were attacking, Yuan Jiu fell out, Ji Yan was injured, the Kuang family was in trouble and Pan Yuan was laughing, he was still baking his pancakes. When the four men with knives came over, he concentrated on picking up the pancake, blowing on the ashes, and carefully took a bite. It was so hot that he blew air in his mouth, but he pretended to look calmly into the distance, and then walked slowly Go away. The four men ignored him, or in other words, did not take him seriously.
Cai'er was disappointed, tears welling up in her eyes.
Huh, that person was still scared away. And what can be expected from a freeloader?
"Shopkeeper Kuang, sit down!"
Pan Yuan shouted loudly, and said with a bright face: "Madam, Miss, come here and serve me!"
"presumptuous!"
Shopkeeper Kuang couldn't bear it anymore and shouted angrily: "Pan Yuan, how dare you insult my family?"
"Haha, are you trying to scare me?"
Pan Yuan laughed evilly and said: "Madam, Miss, if you don't come over to serve me, I will cut off shopkeeper Kuang's arm. Yuan Jiu——"
Yuan Jiu turned the long knife in his hand, intending to chop shopkeeper Kuang's arm.
"ah--"
Mrs. Kuang and Cai'er exclaimed in surprise.
"Ha ha--"
Pan Yuan became more and more proud and laughed loudly. He is like the master of this place and can do whatever he wants.
"Snapped--"
At this moment, a whip sound suddenly exploded in the night sky.
The long knife in Yuan Jiu's hand flew out with the sound of the whip. He, Pan Yuan, and the four men who had not yet reached the tent were all startled.
The long knife that flew out fell in the air and was caught in someone's hand.
The man who takes the sword has one eye and one arm...
