"Everyone, don't panic!"

A darts master outside the carriage shouted, then pulled out the arrow stuck in the ground.

Then tied a small cloth pouch to the arrow.

On the pouch, the emblem of the "Huaiyang Escort Agency" was embroidered.

Su Que looked at the protruding outline on the pouch and knew it contained broken silver.

After that, the darts master took out a bow, placed the arrow with the pouch on it, drew the bowstring, and suddenly let go.

Immediately, the arrow with the small cloth pouch flew with a "whoosh" towards a mountain not far away, lodging in a tree on the mountain.

The darts master put down the bow and shouted loudly, "Friends on the mountain, thank you for your hard work. Our Chief of the Escort sends his regards to your leader!"

After speaking, the darts master returned to the convoy.

"What's going on?" Lv Qixiu stuck his head out of the carriage and asked the darts master.

The darts master replied, "This mountain is called 'Guyuan Mountain.' Three months ago, a Court Military Officer who caused trouble in the Central Plains escaped here, becoming a bandit."

"I've heard this Court Military Officer is a 'Four Blood Martial Artist,' pretty formidable."

"Our Chief of the Escort heard this information and went to visit the person with his team."

"And suggested that whenever our Huaiyang Escort Agency convoy passes through, we will pay a toll, but ask them not to rob the cargo and supplies of our escort team."

"This Court Military Officer also inquired about the followers he recruited here, knowing the strength of our Huaiyang Escort Agency."

"Since there's no need for fighting and killing, and he can have a stable income, naturally, he agreed."

"I see."

After understanding what was happening, Lv Qixiu, who was quite shaken earlier, felt greatly invigorated, no longer closing his eyes to rest.

He immediately started fanning himself and engaged in casual conversation with the foot soldier outside and the two businessmen, boasting and chatting.

Su Que listened quietly to their conversation and learned some things about the Escort Agency and road bandits.

Before moving the escort, Huaiyang Escort Agency usually surveys the route they will pass through.

If they know they'll pass by any mountain villages or forces, Huaiyang Escort Agency will first bring silver coins and visit the villages, asking them not to attack if they encounter their escort team.

Each year after, the escort agency will send silver coins and tribute to these mountain villages regularly.

For stronger mountain villages, more silver coins and tribute are given; for weaker ones, less is given.

The mountain village they just passed, the leader is a 'Four Blood Martial Artist,' equal in strength to our Chief of the Escort, cannot be treated like an ordinary mountain village.

So, besides sending silver coins and tribute every year, each time they pass the mountain village, an additional toll is given.

Listening to the conversation, Su Que thought to himself.

This is the Southern Domain of the Liang Kingdom; although it appears chaotic, the black, white, official, bandit, and merchant forces maintain a balance.

Of course, there are those who want to disrupt this balance, such as the White Lotus Sect and some rebel armies.

After all, unlike those Village Chiefs or Leaders, who act for profit, their goal is to overthrow the Liang Kingdom.

After passing Guyuan Mountain, nothing more happened to the escort team.

Afterward, although they traveled past several mountains, which also had mountain bandits.

But upon seeing the escort team's "Huaiyang Escort Agency" flag, the bandits quickly hid away.

It seemed that "Huaiyang Escort Agency" had already made arrangements with these mountain villages.

The convoy traveled by day and rested by night, and unknowingly, twelve days passed.

One evening, Su Que was still closing his eyes, leaning against the carriage, quietly circulating True Qi, expanding his meridians.

Gradually, he heard sounds of horses' hooves, footsteps, and conversations mixed with various noises coming from afar.

He opened his eyes and looked outside the carriage.

Gradually, he noticed the number of pedestrians around him had increased.

His convoy was merging with other convoys and pedestrians.

'Almost at Jiannan Prefecture City.'

Su Que thought to himself.

Jiannan Prefecture City is a prosperous place in this region, many businessmen and Jianghu wanderers converge here.

The convoy Su Que was in continued moving slowly with the other convoys and pedestrians.

After a while, the silhouette of a city appeared up ahead.

The tall city walls stood firm, exuding a heavy sense of history.

On the city walls, the word "Jiannan" was inscribed.

The evening sun cast its rays diagonally, casting a long and slanted shadow of the walls on the ground.

The nearly ten-meter-high city walls loomed, making Jade Water City incomparable.

At the gate, soldiers clad in armor were guarding.

Some held single sabers, others spears, their weapons glimmering red under the sunset.

'This military strength is something Jade Water City cannot match.'

'Although living in the Prefecture City is more difficult than in Jade Water City, the law and order are much better than in Jade Water City.'

The convoy slowly approached the city with the crowd.

As they passed the gate, the team leader whispered two words to the soldier and slipped him a small cloth pouch.

The soldier nodded and let the convoy pass.

Entering the city, the wide streets were bustling with carriages, and the noise seemed to erupt instantly.

The shouts, calls, conversations, and laughter mixed up, creating a lively atmosphere.

Though the night had not yet fallen, many buildings had already hung lanterns and decorative lights.

Once night descended, the city transformed into a sleepless spectacle.

'Surely, a place of prosperity.'

Su Que secretly admired.

Jade Water City, sparsely populated and economically underdeveloped, when night came, only a few streets of brothels and gambling establishments, and food stalls saw activity.

Other places were nearly pitch dark, with only faint lights coming from household windows.

Whereas in Jiannan Prefecture City at night, there's not just street vendors but strolling pedestrians making it as lively as the day.

Looking at the bustling Prefecture City, the expressions of those in the carriage varied.

Lv Qixiu's eyes sparkled, perhaps thinking of his destination tonight.

The two businessmen exchanged looks with laughter in their eyes.

Scholarly attendant Bo Shang, with graying temples, withdrew from the city's bustling scene, sighing heavily.

Soon, the carriage stopped, and the people of Huaiyang Escort Agency arrived at their inn.

Su Que and his companions disembarked one after another.

Lv Qixiu, coming from a wealthy background, well-off in silver coins, took his scholar's attendant to a comparatively luxurious inn in the city to stay.

While Su Que, though wealthy too, chose a more modest inn for accommodation, aware his money couldn't be openly seen.

After settling his belongings at the inn, Su Que ordered three plates of marinated beef, several dishes, and a few bowls of rice, half filling his stomach, then left the inn again.

At another place, he had another meal, then found a passerby to inquire about directions, and walked towards a specified direction.

He learned from the Tang Sect Assassin, "Greedy Wolf" Zhang Bengen's mouth, that Zhang Bengen bought a small house in Jiannan Prefecture City.

Inside it hid Zhang Bengen's night clothes, Tang Sect's hidden weapons, and silver coins he accumulated over the years.

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