The distance of more than ten miles was not far for Shang Xia, but he finally decided to enter Changfeng City early the next morning.
The winter night came quickly. Shang Xia lit a fire in a leeward col at the foot of the mountain and roasted a pheasant for dinner.
The waning moon was in the sky, and Shang Xia felt sleepy due to the warmth of the fire in front of him, so he wrapped a bear skin tightly and prepared to have a good sleep.
I don’t know how long it took, but the waning moon in the sky was obscured by dark clouds, and in the distance there was a rapid sound of horse hooves approaching from far away.
Shang Xia's eyelids twitched, and then he wrapped the bear skin tighter.
"Drive! Drive!"
The sound of horse hooves passed outside the entrance of the mountain pass, and the faint voice of the rider urging his mount could be vaguely heard.
However, just a moment later, a scream sounded, a scream came from the rider on the horse, and there was also the faint cry of a frightened child.
But then all the sounds suddenly stopped, and the cool wild wind was vaguely mixed with the sound of clothes ripping through the air, getting farther and farther away.
At this time, there was another noisy sound of horse hooves. Seven or eight strong horses rushed through the mountain pass, and the conversation of the people on the horses could still be vaguely heard.
"The hoof prints just left in the snow, that person is not far from us."
"Look, this is the red-scaled horse that the man was riding, and it's already dead!"
"The body of the red-scaled horse is still warm, and all the soft parts are still there. The man still had the child with him. He must not have gone far. Give chase!"
"This is not far from Changfeng City. We must intercept that person before he enters the city!"
"Hurry up!"
…………
Early on the next morning, Shang Xia tore a tattered shirt into rags, carefully wrapped the arm of the iron bow around his shoulders, then changed into thick coarse cloth clothes, and picked it up with a wooden stick. After leaving the mountain col with a few grouse and the folded bearskin, they walked all the way towards Changmaple City.
Although Shang Xia didn't know how long he had been in the mountains, he touched the slightly soft beard on his chin, coupled with his slightly rough face blown by the wind and snow in the mountains, and his tall figure, at first glance At first glance, he looks like a young mountain hunter.
The journey of more than ten miles did not take long even if Shang Xia traveled by ordinary people's feet.
When he arrived in front of the city gate, the sunlight in the eastern sky had just emerged, and it happened that the city gate opened.
The business travelers who had been waiting outside the city began to enter the city one after another after a rough search by the city gate guards.
"Why is it that not only the gates of Changfeng City are now closed, but even entry and exit are inspected by the gate guards?"
At this moment, a voice suddenly came from behind Shang Xia.
When Shang Xia heard this, he glanced and saw a middle-aged man who looked like a caravan manager, asking a local villager next to him in some surprise.
The villager was carrying a load of vegetables. It seemed that he wanted to sell them at a good price early in the morning while they were fresh. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Who says it's not true? Just over a month ago, there was news that big thieves from Jizhou were heading north. , a leader was captured by the city lord. It is said that the thieves’ associates and subordinates will come to rescue him. In order to prevent criminals from sneaking into the city, the city lord ordered to strengthen the security at the city gate. "
"Oh, I see!"
The person in charge of the caravan was stunned at first, and then asked curiously: "This is strange, what are the big thieves from Jizhou doing to come to Youzhou for nothing? Youzhou is just a small place, what kind of profit can be squeezed out? "
At this time, a young man dressed as a warrior sneered and interjected: "You don't understand this. Although Youzhou is small and looks barren, it is precisely because of this that it is a favored place for bandits of all kinds."
The caravan steward became even more interested when he heard this. He saw that the young warrior was surrounded by several companions of similar age. He also saw that several people's clothing styles were roughly the same. When his eyes moved, he didn't know what he thought of, and his expressions changed. Showing some respect, he said: "I would like to hear the details!"
The young warrior seemed to feel the respect in the middle-aged man's words. He glanced at him and explained: "Without him, this Changmaple City is the place where bandits of all kinds use to sell stolen goods. As for the buyer, hey, it's natural whoever needs it." Who will buy it?"
As soon as the young warrior finished speaking, he heard someone from the gate guard at the city gate in front yelling at him: "What are you talking about in the back? Don't you want to enter the city?"
The middle-aged caravan manager bowed his hand to the young warrior and returned to his own caravan.
The young warrior chuckled, with a hint of disdain evident in his voice.
Shang Xia stood in the front and could hear the accents of the caravan steward and the young warrior. They were all from Jizhou.
Although he did not turn his head, he could sense through his martial arts will the sense of superiority that emerged in the expression of the young warrior when he spoke just now.
Jizhou is vast, and the aristocratic families are far greater than before the fall of Youzhou. Moreover, there is a martial arts holy land like Bailu Blessed Land, which gives Jizhou warriors a sufficient psychological advantage over Youzhou warriors.
I just don’t know whether these young warriors are members of Jizhou’s aristocratic families or are the children trained by Bailu Paradise.
However, if it is as the young warrior said, Youzhou is a barren and remote place, what are these young warriors who are obviously of extraordinary origin doing here?
Shang Xia's expression was pretending to be dull, which made his face look more honest and honest, making him look more like a young hunter.
At this moment, Shang Xia's expression changed. In the perception of martial arts will, a young woman in her early twenties and not wearing heavy clothes, holding a child with a face red from the cold, was waiting to enter the city. The crowd slowly squeezed in. In Shang Xia's perception, this young woman's target seemed to be-himself!
At this moment, Shang Xia's left arm was suddenly hugged by someone, and a slightly shy voice whispered: "My father, didn't you promise to take us to the city to go to the market yesterday? Why? Did you leave on your own early this morning?"
As he spoke, Shang Xia could clearly feel that under the arm that was holding his arm, a sharp object was pressing against his ribs through the not too thick clothes, as if if he said something wrong, this object would You can stab yourself in the chest.
In Shang Xia's perception, it was really a very sharp dagger.
Shang Xia couldn't help but shiver, as if the winter morning wind had blown through his clothes. But to the young woman, it seemed as if the young hunter beside him was frightened, and he couldn't help tightening the dagger in his hand. tight.
At this time, Shang Xia's slightly embarrassed voice sounded: "Isn't it the cold weather? I don't want you two to go out. I'm thinking of selling the prey to you two and bringing back a pair of cotton clothes each."
"No need, we and I are just watching the excitement in the city. Dad, please buy more food!"
The young woman's words sounded like an ordinary village woman who had never seen the world.
Pedestrians nearby heard this and looked at the family of three with kind eyes.
After finally reaching the city gate, a city gate guard whose cultivation reached the Wuyuan realm came forward. His eyes first fell on the long bow Shang Xia carried on his shoulder, but he just glanced at the long bow wrapped around the bow arm. He glanced at the tattered piece of cloth, then turned over the bear skin wrapped up in a ball by Shang Xia, and said without raising his head: "What a big bear, and the bear skin is well preserved. You are a good hunter!" "
As soon as the city gate guard finished speaking, Shang Xia felt his arms tightened tighter by the building.
"Hey, I was lucky enough to find a blind bear hiding in a cave in the mountains."
Shang Xia scratched the back of his head and said with an honest smile.
"Well, go ahead, go ahead. This bearskin costs at least three silver dollars. Remember not to be tricked!"
The city gate guard waved casually and let the three people from Shang and Xia enter the city.
Shang Xia and the young woman thanked each other, rolled up the bear skin, picked up the grouse and went into the city.
After walking a few steps, the slightly flattering voice of the city gate guard soon came from behind: "Are you the four young masters Fan, Han, Lu, and Zhang in front of you? My young master Yang has given orders, and he has already taken care of the guests at Changfu Inn. I’ll book the best guest rooms, and a few of you can check in first, and my young master will take care of the four young masters tonight!”
When the voice came, Shang Xia raised his brows slightly and glanced behind him inadvertently. He saw the young warrior who was talking to the caravan steward before and said with a smile: "Thank you, my dear son, please thank Brother Yang for your kindness." !”
At this moment, a strange martial arts will emerged from the city gate, and its aura began to spread around, as if it wanted to explore something.
"This is……"
Shang Xia looked aside, but continued to walk towards the city calmly.
At this time, Shang Xia suddenly felt that the arms around him had loosened. He just pretended that he did not know the mother and daughter, and did not even take a closer look at each other, so he went to find a busy street by himself. Walked all the way.
In winter, when the mountains are covered with heavy snow, fresh game is rarely available in hotels and restaurants in the city.
The four grouse that Shang Xia was carrying were soon chased by a waiter from an inn. After asking about the price, he exchanged them for a silver dollar from the innkeeper.
As for his complete piece of bearskin, it attracted the shopkeepers of three leather goods shops at the intersection of a street. In the end, it was snatched by a fat shopkeeper wearing a dog-skin hat for a high price of four silver dollars.
In addition to the silver dollar that the four grouse had just exchanged, Shang Xia weighed the five silver dollars in his hands and put them into his sleeves.
But at this moment, a waxy voice came from behind him: "Mom, I'm hungry!"
Shang Xia turned around in surprise, only to see the young woman who was supposed to be separated from him after entering the city, now standing next to him with her child in her arms.
In her arms, a little girl who looked about three years old, her little face was a little red from the cold, was huddled up, looking at Shang Xia with a pair of big black eyes.
Shang Xia asked strangely: "Why are you two back again?"
The little woman lowered her head, her face was red, and she didn't know whether she was cold or ashamed. She said in a voice like a mosquito, "I, I have no money!"
This made Shang Xia feel surprised. According to his perception, the little woman in front of him was at least a warrior in the second level of martial arts.
At this moment, a "gurgling" sound came from the abdomen, making the little woman's face turn even redder.
Shang Xia glanced around and saw a wonton stall on the corner of the street. He smiled and said, "By coincidence, I'm hungry too. Come on, let's go eat Huan Chaos!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shang Xia had already taken the lead and walked towards the wonton stall.
Behind him, the little woman looked at Shang Xia's back with a strange look. Then she lowered her head, hugged the child, and walked quickly to follow Shang Xia.
"Boss, three bowls of wontons and six sesame seed cakes, bring the chili pepper and vinegar and we can put them in ourselves!"
Shang Xia shouted to the boss, then found a bench to sit down, and looked back at the mother and daughter behind him.
The little woman originally wanted to sit down next to Shang Xia, but after thinking about it, she moved to the side and placed the little girl in her arms between them.
