The escort convoy slowly moved through the mountain path.

Mounted on his horse, Captain Fang looked at Luo Feng heading to the Front Work Team and asked, "Miss, Feng Luo has enough strength to be an escort. Why have you assigned him to the Front Work Team?"

When Yao Qing thought of what had just happened, her face turned slightly red. She didn't want to tell Captain Fang that she was venting her personal anger, so she explained, "In these recent attacks, the Front Work Team suffered heavy casualties. They are short-handed, so I sent him there."

Captain Fang nodded. Since what Yao Qing said was true, he didn't doubt anything.

Taking out a map from his chest, Captain Fang carefully examined it and said to Yao Qing, "Miss, in two days, we will go through Black Wind Ridge. Should we detour?"

On hearing the words "Black Wind Ridge," a shadow of frost flashed in Yao Qing's eyes. She took a slight breath and said, "If we detour, it will take us a few more days, which may delay our escort mission. Let's go directly through Black Wind Ridge."

After hearing this, Captain Fang put down the map, looked at Yao Qing, and sighed, "Miss, I don't know whether I should say this or not."

Yao Qing smiled faintly and said to Captain Fang, "Uncle Fang, you've watched me grow. What do you want to say?"

Captain Fang nodded and said, "Miss, the chief of the convoy has been missing for over a month. I'm afraid the odds are not in his favor, and I don't think you need to risk going to Black Wind Ridge."

At these words, Yao Qing's face suddenly turned pale. Clenching her reins tightly, she took a moment to reply, "As long as there is a sliver of hope, I won't give up. The last time my father was on an escort mission, the last place he contacted me from was near Black Wind Ridge. I must go and see. Uncle Fang, if there is real danger, you lead everyone away then."

Captain Fang shook his head and chuckled. "We are all from the Shangfeng Escort Agency. As bodyguards, how could we abandon our leader and leave?"

"But…" Yao Qing's eyebrows knitted into a frown.

Captain Fang laughed and said, "Don't worry. Although the area near Black Wind Ridge is dangerous, we also have experts in our convoy this time."

With that, Captain Fang glanced at Luo Feng, who was at the front of the team.

"Expert? Uncle Fang, you're not talking about that pervert Feng Luo, are you?" Yao Qing bit her red lips and hummed.

Captain Fang, slightly startled, responded, "What happened?"

Realizing she'd misspoke, Yao Qing's face turned red. She hastily shook her head and said, "Nothing."

Luo Feng moved to the front of the convoy.

There were a dozen or so members in the Front Work Team. Seeing Luo Feng, they were all somewhat surprised. "Feng Luo, why did you come to the front?"

Luo Feng glanced at these men. They were all older, and their cultivation was around the Sixth Layer of the God Bravery Realm, with the strongest having cultivation at the initial stage of the Seventh Layer of the God Bravery Realm. No wonder that girl assigned me here, he thought with a wry smile.

"I've also joined the Front Work Team," Luo Feng admitted frankly.

The members froze. Once they realized Luo Feng wasn't joking, one man laughed heartily. "That's our good fortune! With you here, we all feel much more at ease."

The others nodded in agreement.

"Let me know if you need any help," Luo Feng said with a smile, not appearing prideful.

A sturdy, tall middle-aged man stepped forward, patted Luo Feng's shoulder, and said, "I'm Yu Kui, the captain of the Front Work Team. You don't have to worry about other matters; just take care of any dangers that arise. To be frank, our Front Work Team is responsible for clearing the path. We often encounter fierce beasts or Demon Beasts, and our strength is insufficient..."

Luo Feng immediately understood what he meant and nodded. "No problem."

"Alright, let's keep moving." Yu Kui clapped his hands, and the convoy continued forward.

Although Luo Feng was in the Front Work Team, the others didn't let him do anything. He was even more idle than before.

So, Luo Feng released his Soul Power to monitor his surroundings while practicing Martial Arts in his mind.

As the days passed, Luo Feng's comprehension of the Eight Wildernesses Dominating Flame Fist deepened. He felt he had already touched the threshold of the second layer.

「Two days later, at noon」

The sun blazed high, scorching the air until it seemed to sizzle. The convoy wound its way through the pitch-black mountain range.

The nearby mountains gradually became more precipitous, with treacherous peaks everywhere. Towering trees blotted out the sun, and the roars of beasts echoed intermittently, hinting at danger all around and making people tremble.

Everyone walked in silence, their eyes scanning the shadows, extremely vigilant against any sudden dangers.

SWISH!

As they passed a tall tree, Luo Feng's gaze suddenly shot upwards. A pebble flew from his hand, swift as lightning, its speed distorting the air with friction.

"CHIRP!"

A mournful cry echoed from the dark treetop, and a green shadow the size of a millstone dropped from the tree, landing at the feet of an escort.

It was a massive, pitch-black spider with a furry head that resembled a wolf's.

"AH!"

The escort standing closest to the spider screamed in fright and stumbled back several steps.

"It's a Poison Wolf Spider!"

The faces of several nearby Front Work Team members turned pale at the sight of the spider.

This Poison Wolf Spider was only a second-level Demon Beast, but its venom was extremely potent. A single bite could instantly kill any Martial Artist below the Eighth Layer of the Hell Realm.

Now, a bowl-sized indentation was visible on the spider's abdomen, from which green blood flowed copiously. It was already dead.

Yu Kui wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, looked at Luo Feng, and said, "Feng Luo, thanks to you. Otherwise, we would have definitely suffered casualties."

The others also looked at Luo Feng with admiration.

Although they had encountered many dangers in the past two days, Luo Feng had always managed to resolve the threats beforehand, ensuring no one was injured.

Though they didn't say it aloud, these men were all deeply grateful to Luo Feng.

Luo Feng smiled faintly and said, "This is my duty."

He glanced at the surrounding forest, his brow furrowed, and asked, "The Demon Beasts around here seem to be increasing in number."

Yu Kui, nearly forty and having roamed the Jianghu for half his life, was well-experienced. He nodded and said, "This is the Black Blood Mountain Range, the most dangerous stretch of our journey."

Luo Feng nodded slightly. He had heard of the Black Blood Mountain Range's notoriety; it was no less perilous than Red Flame Mountain.

What pleased him was that once they crossed the Black Blood Mountain Range, Green Wood City would only be a three-day journey away.

A moment later, the rear of the escort convoy also passed by. Seeing the corpse of the Poison Wolf Spider on the ground, Captain Fang and Yao Qing both wore solemn expressions.

It's a Poison Wolf Spider. Killed in a single strike. Feng Luo must have done it, Captain Fang thought.

He took a deep breath and, turning to Yao Qing, said, "Miss, it seems your decision to assign Luo Feng to the Front Work Team was indeed correct."

Hearing Captain Fang's praise, Yao Qing nodded, her expression somewhat unnatural.

My original intention in sending Luo Feng to the Front Work Team was to punish him, to make him suffer a bit. I never expected things to turn out like this, she thought.

Shaking her head slightly, Yao Qing took out the map again. Her gaze swept towards the dark mountain range ahead as she said, "After tonight, we will reach Black Wind Ridge tomorrow."

"Mm," Captain Fang nodded, his expression unusually grave.

「The night passed quietly.」

「The next morning」

Yao Qing ordered the convoy to depart immediately.

"Everyone, pick up the pace! We must reach Black Wind Ridge before sunset today!" Yao Qing announced loudly.

Hearing this, the expressions of all the escorts in the convoy changed.

"We're going to Black Wind Ridge!"

"The Young Mistress can't be serious! We're actually going to that godforsaken place, Black Wind Ridge!"

"And we have to get there before sunset? Isn't that too rushed? Even the horses won't be able to stand it."

The men muttered amongst themselves, surprised by Yao Qing's decision.

Luo Feng was also somewhat surprised. They had been rushing all day yesterday and had only rested for six hours that night. He felt Yao Qing was pushing too hard.

Yu Kui sighed. "So, the Young Mistress really intends to go to Black Wind Ridge."

Sensing an undertone in Yu Kui's words, Luo Feng walked over and asked, "Captain Yu, do you know what's going on?"

Seeing it was Luo Feng, Yu Kui glanced around, then nodded and said, "Only Captain Fang and a few others know about this. I'm telling you now, but don't tell anyone else, to avoid complications."

Luo Feng sensed the seriousness of the matter, nodded, and asked, "What is it?"

"Two months ago, Yao Qing's father, who is also the Chief Escort of our Shangfeng Escort Agency, accepted a mission to escort goods to Green Wood City. But contact was lost when he was passing through Black Wind Ridge. That's when Young Mistress Yao Qing shouldered the burden of the agency and personally took on the role of escort leader for this mission."

Luo Feng nodded. No wonder Yao Qing doesn't have the weathered look of someone long on the road, he thought.

Yu Kui shook his head and sighed. "I had long guessed that Young Mistress Yao Qing accepted this escort mission specifically to go to Black Wind Ridge and search for the Chief Escort. It's just... so much time has passed, and in a place like Black Wind Ridge... I'm afraid the Chief Escort is likely already..."

Yu Kui didn't finish his sentence.

Luo Feng frowned. "Is Black Wind Ridge that terrifying?"

With a solemn expression, Yu Kui nodded. "Never underestimate Black Wind Ridge! It's teeming with many powerful figures from the Jianghu, all renowned experts. Especially Black Wind Camp on Black Wind Ridge; its power is immense. The three chieftains are all experts at the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Court Realm, their cultivation unfathomable!"

"Isn't anyone in charge? Black Wind Ridge isn't far from Green Wood Peak. The Duanmu Family, as one of the six great families, surely wouldn't just sit by and watch, would they?" Luo Feng asked, somewhat puzzled.

Yu Kui shook his head. "That, I don't know. Perhaps they don't want to interfere, or perhaps they can't."

Luo Feng nodded. Suddenly, Yu Kui said, "Little Brother, I have a presumptuous request."

"Please, go on."

Yu Kui had a sincere and honest personality, and after a few days of contact, Luo Feng had developed a good impression of him.

Yu Kui glanced towards the rear of the convoy and said, "If we encounter danger in Black Wind Ridge, I hope you can protect our Young Mistress."

"As long as it's within my capabilities, I will."

Considering what happened at the hot spring, I owe that girl Yao Qing a favor, both logically and emotionally. Besides, I admire her courage for daring to enter Black Wind Ridge for her father's sake, Luo Feng thought. Thus, he didn't refuse Yu Kui's request.

"Thank you!" Yu Kui cupped his fist in gratitude.

To reach Black Wind Ridge before sunset, the escort convoy quickened its pace.

「By midday」

They arrived before a sprawling mountain range.

As far as the eye could see, the mountain range stretched endlessly, covered with lush trees and peaks as sharp as swords. Wind howled down from the mountains, its mournful sound sending an icy chill through everyone, involuntarily raising goosebumps.

"Ahead is Black Wind Ridge."

Gazing at the mountain range before them, his eyes grave, Yu Kui reminded them in a low voice.

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