Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang's eyes blinked rapidly, one looking puzzled and the other completely bewildered.

Not a single good one among them, all putting on an act.

Everyone had explained it so clearly, and they even knew the real inside story, how could they not understand.

Both knew well the point that the Qi family dreaded, and they were quite pleased in their hearts; they hadn't thought that being falsely accused would turn from a misfortune into a stroke of good luck, that their fortunes would change so favorably, and the dark clouds ahead would clear away like that.

It seemed now that being thrown into jail and undergoing torture was worth it.

Just then, a worker from inside the building ran up, glanced at everyone, and reported, "Madam, the blockade on Zhixu City has been lifted, and the passage to the outside world is open again, our prepared goods can be dispatched anytime."

Lan Qiaoyan nodded slightly, stood up, and issued a command, "Then let's set out."

"Yes," Tan answered, then looked toward Shi Chun and asked, "The two of you, will you continue together, or are you planning to stay behind and have some more fun?"

Wu Jinliang quickly said, "Let's go, let's go."

Shi Chun also nodded, "Together, together."

This damned place, all settled matters were settled, all endured sufferings were endured; they truly didn't want to stay a moment longer. The both of them had long yearned for the fabled flourishing world outside, their eyes now unconsciously gleaming with anticipation.

Fortunately, Shi Chun, not lost in excitement, deliberately displayed a practiced gentle smile countless times, and bowed to Lan Qiaoyan, saying, "Thank you Madam for your care over these years, Shi Chun takes his leave now, I shall return the favor later!"

"That…" Wu Jinliang, also bowing, hesitated momentarily but eventually gritted his teeth and blurted out, "Mom, I'm leaving, take care. I too will return the favor later!" Then, somewhat fearfully, he bowed his head, picking up the broadsword he had put down on the ground, not daring to look up.

Dare to call her mom? Lan Qiaoyan's eyes rolled again, she thought to scold, yet strangely, she didn't know why, she actually felt a tug at her nose and pursed her lips, finding herself feeling quite haunted.

Uncharacteristically, she didn't scold the big fellow further, instead, she turned around, walked to the window, and with her back to them said, "The conditions of survival outside are better than here, yet people always want too much. Look after yourselves in the path ahead. Alright, you may leave now, Tan, take them."

"Yes," Tan replied and immediately offered his hand to the two.

Shi Chun and the other bowed again toward the woman's back by the window before turning and following Tan.

There weren't many people from the Bowan Building making deliveries, just ten, all empty-handed, carrying nothing.

Tan handed over Shi Chun and the other to them, personally seeing them off until they entered Weng City, then he returned.

Turning around, he noticed Lan Qiaoyan had followed, accompanied by that bare-chested, whirled-bearded blacksmith.

Tan was somewhat surprised, the Madam worrying about the goods was one thing, but what was the blacksmith doing here?

He walked over, and before he could speak, Lan Qiaoyan explained, "The blacksmith said he wanted to come send the big guy off."

Tan was suddenly intrigued, eying the blacksmith, "Sending Wu Jinliang? Since when have you two become such good friends?"

The blacksmith blew his beard, eyes glaring, "Friendship my ass! When he made that broadsword years ago, I told him he used too much material and it was too heavy, it's suicide to fight killers in the Land of Exile. He argued back, claiming I had it all wrong, saying it not only wouldn't get him killed but held the secret to survival. I didn't believe him then, so we made a bet that if he survived leaving one day, I would believe him. The wager was to send him off personally when he leaves."

Now Tan wasn't the only one curious. Lan Qiaoyan asked curiously, "So you lost?"

The blacksmith said irritably, "I lost to that big guy's shamelessness."

Tan couldn't help himself, "Come on, tell us, what survival secret does that broadsword hide?"

"Heh," the blacksmith showed a look half angry and half amused, "Previously when he came to the blacksmith shop to say goodbye, hearing that he was leaving, I asked him to reveal the secret. Turns out that scoundrel had forgotten our bet, and I remembered it for all these years; he only recalled it when I reminded him.

The hateful part is, after recalling it, he actually reneged, saying the broadsword's survival secret was a joke, to let it go. I'm not someone to be toyed with easily, so I naturally claimed he lost the bet and had to accept the penalty. Unable to withstand it, he finally revealed the truth."

Speaking of the "truth," his expression twisted peculiarly.

Eagerly waited on, Lan Qiaoyan urged, "Come on, what's the truth?"

The blacksmith scoffed coldly and shook his head, "He said over the years, not only had he survived countless battles, but every time two groups clashed, he'd be the first to leap out shouting and charging ahead, winning praise for his bravery. But in reality, he was always the last one to charge, unable to help it, everyone understands, who'd blame him with such a heavy sword, slowness was inevitable."

Lan Qiaoyan and Tan immediately choked in speechlessness, instantly understanding.

Especially Lan Qiaoyan, feeling a shiver of disgust, this was the same man who called her mother, and she had just felt a twinge in her nose, even impulsively followed along with the blacksmith to send him off.

"According to him, being at the rear let him avoid strong opponents and choose to fight those advantageous to him, saying his survival to this day owed greatly to that treasured sword.

"He even asked me to keep his secret, saying that when he meets someone he likes in the Land of Exile, he could teach them the method to save their lives."

"That shameless scoundrel, I really give up on him. I obeyed the wager to bring him here, yet he forgot again. I came all the way here and didn't even see his face, just his butt."

"Forget it, don't be angry anymore." Tan, unable to hold back his laughter, quickly persuaded him to calm down, "It may not be that he's forgetful. He was captured by the city guards before and tortured. He's covered in injuries; it's normal that he forgot about it for a moment."

"Hmph." The blacksmith shook his head and left.

Lan Qiaoyan looked up at the sky and left with a tense face.

Only Tan stood at the entrance, keeping an eye out for anything abnormal.

Upon returning to the Bowan Building, Lan Qiaoyan found an esteemed guest in the room—Du Huoguan, standing alone, his hands behind his back, in front of the window, the window frame casting a shadow across his face.

Lan Qiaoyan waved her hand to dismiss her subordinates and smiled, "What wind has brought the Prison Inspection Envoy here?"

Du Huoguan did not turn around, and said indifferently, "The various affairs inside these twelve cities of Life Prison, if we really discuss them, perhaps even I am not as clear as you are. This too accounts for the capabilities of your Bowan Building. You usually do not intervene in matters outside business, especially those involving city guards. You wouldn't speak rashly without knowing the depths. Since you mentioned that batch of supplies, you must already know how they came in. Tell me, who is the mole inside the city guards?"

The smile disappeared from Lan Qiaoyan's face and, after a moment of flickering eyes, she smiled again, "The Prison Inspection Envoy flatters me, I truly do not know."

Du Huoguan, "I came here alone precisely because I did not want a third person to hear this, you can speak freely."

Lan Qiaoyan smiled, her response firm, "I truly do not know."

Du Huoguan suddenly turned around, glaring coldly at her, "I gave you face by coming to you, but with this way of doing business, I fear you won't last long."

Lan Qiaoyan paused briefly, then sighed, "Who the mole is, the Prison Inspection Envoy already has a target in mind, why trouble me? I truly do not know."

Du Huoguan looked thoughtful for a moment and then abruptly left without saying anything more.

Lan Qiaoyan respectfully saw him out.

Inside Weng City, the group from Bowan Building took out their Qiankun Bags hidden on their bodies and poured out a large amount of items for inspection.

Shi Chun and Wu Jin exchanged glances. It wasn't their first encounter with Qiankun Bags; they had seen them in the hands of Qi Ziru.

Unlike the goods from Bowan Building which were plentiful and required slow inspection, the few items on them were quickly cleared by a simple spell.

Afterward, following directions, they went to a small office by the wall base, where an old man with a white beard verified their identities and had them confirm whether their recorded merits were correct.

Their accumulated merits were neither too much nor too little, exactly six thousand.

In a previous allocation, they had distributed all other merits to others from East Nine Plain, keeping a round number for themselves.

And the required merits to leave were exactly five thousand.

After confirming the amount correct, the white-bearded old man took out a large roll of material resembling light gossamer silk, unfolded a portion on the table, revealing densely packed, uniform golden sand.

Each grain of golden sand, consistent in size and appearance like osmanthus grains, sported a golden orange hue with a hint of purple flame.

Despite seeing it for the first time, both men recognized it, having long heard of it—it was the currency used outside in the Cultivation World, known as Southern Floating Sandalwood Gold, commonly called Sandalwood Gold. Its inherent purple flame not only helped ascertain its authenticity but was also often used in crafting precious items and could illuminate darkness; a single grain could light up a dim room.

The white-bearded old man pointed to the golden sand on the silk, motioning, "This vertical line represents one hundred gold, cutting sixty stripes for you makes six thousand gold."

He counted sixty lines in front of them, swiftly cutting them off, handing them first to Wu Jin, who was asked to count and mark it right there. Once they left the premise, any discrepancies in the count would not be acknowledged.

Shi Chun naturally received the same, sixty stripes cut for him as well.

After both confirmed the amounts correct, they expressed their gratitude to the old man.

Then it was a matter of waiting for the people from Bowan Building to leave together. Although Lan Qiaoyan had said that the Qi family dared not make another move, who knew if the Qi family was informed or not? Both felt it better to be safe than sorry.

Bowan Building's goods were too numerous, and they waited almost an hour and a half before they could move together.

The exit from the city was a wide corridor inside Weng City; the deeper they went, the darker it became until they could not see their hands in front of their faces, but there was always a spot of white light ahead.

Though it was the first time Shi Chun and his companion were taking this route, they had heard about it countless times—the white light was the exit leading to the outer world. Their hearts surged with excitement, growing more exhilarated as they walked...

(Volume One Ends. Volume Two Preview: immovable as a mountain!)

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