Xiao Yan, atop that carriage, after enduring a day of excruciating jolts, finally managed to summon a faint thread of Dou Qi within his now depleted body. Though this strand of Dou Qi was still quite feeble, it at least allowed him to retrieve items from his storage ring as he wished. Additionally, though his injuries hadn’t healed much despite a day of careful recuperation, he could now, at the very least, walk off the carriage without lying there like a corpse.
Standing up from the carriage, Xiao Yan gently twisted his arms. The subtle pain that followed made him chuckle bitterly. At this moment, he was probably in the weakest state he had been in for years. Of course, while his physical form was weak, anyone who dared to harbor ill intentions toward him would certainly not get an easy meal. Not to mention the Earth Demon Puppet concealed in his storage ring, even Xiao Yan himself was not as frail as he seemed on the surface. After all, while he was a Dou Shi, he was also a highly ranked Alchemist. His soul power, even when compared to some Battle Sect level experts, was no less formidable. Although he wouldn’t claim that he could match a Battle Sect using just his soul power, at least, if he were to fully unleash it, an ordinary Battle Emperor might not gain any advantage against him in his current state. With these aces up his sleeve, Xiao Yan’s confidence was somewhat bolstered. Rubbing his face, he then lifted the carriage curtain.
As the curtain rose, what greeted his eyes were numerous carriages covered in cloth. Before each carriage trotted a black beast, similar to a wild ox but with especially sharp horns. On either side of the convoy, figures on horseback could be seen, most of them bare-armed and clad in rough leather, exuding a fierce and brawny air. Behind them, weapons with a cold luster glinted in the sun, casting a rather chilling light.
“Hey, this kid actually survived? Haha, Tseng Niu, you finally lost to me, eh?” As Xiao Yan raised the curtain, the many gazes around turned to him. A momentary silence hung in the air before a hearty, joyous laughter boomed from one of the burly men nearby. This man was quite well-built, his exposed arms covered in various scars. Behind him, a ghost-headed saber gleamed with a frigid light, its blade tinged red as if stained with fresh blood.
“Damn, really something. Such heavy injuries and he’s still alive. This brat is pretty lucky.” After the big man’s laughter, a gaunt-faced man sighed, shaking his head. Fixing the latter with a glare, he said rather gruffly, “Shouting your mouth off, I couldn’t care less about a little money. The bit you won isn’t enough even for extra play with those delicate girls in the Flower Pavilion.”
“Mind your own business…” The bulky man spat before guiding his horse to Xiao Yan. He scanned the latter, then chuckled, “Kid, I’m called Ghost Head, everyone calls me Old Ghoul. In the Northern Deserts, I found you first. You don’t have to thank me. That money you gave me is thanks enough, haha.”
“Thank you, Brother Ghost Head. My name is Xiao Yan.” Xiao Yan smiled, sitting down by the tail of the carriage. Most people he’d met over the years were old foxes, their strength terrifying. People from such lower ranks, he hadn’t encountered in a long time. It reminded him of his days in Wu Tan City, when he helped his father run the market and interacted with mercenary groups, crude and unrestrained men much like these.
With Xiao Yan’s soul power, naturally, he noticed that the strongest of the big men was around the Soul Level, and the weakest was just a Da Dou Shi. The Ghost Head in front of him was roughly a Two Star Spirit Level.
“Haha, considering you’re my brother, I’ll protect you along the way. But Xiao Yan, kid, your constitution needs work. You must train more. In the Central Region, without some strength, you’ll be looked down upon everywhere,” the recognition seemed to please Ghost Head. Looking at Xiao Yan’s frail figure, he frowned, offering guidance in a tone usually reserved for a senior talking to a junior, which made Xiao Yan smile slightly.
“Ghost Head, stop yapping. Don’t teach others randomly…” Shortly after Ghost Head finished, a clopping of hooves sounded from the front, followed by Han Chong’s chiding voice.
“Hehe, can’t say I’m wrong.” Seeing Han Chong, Ghost Head gave a dry laugh.
Ignoring the rambler, Han Chong glanced at Xiao Yan, noticing his improved complexion, and said, “Good, little Brother Xiao Yan. You recovered fast to be walking after such severe injuries.”
Xiao Yan laughed, casually making an excuse, “I guess I’m just hardy.”
Han Chong, a straightforward and honest person, didn’t linger on the matter. Looking at the sky, he loudly instructed, “It’s getting dark. Miss said to set up camp. Ghost Head, take a few and scout for a good spot. Fang Ya, deploy some watchmen around. Steel Back, you take a few…”
Clearly, Han Chong held a high status in the convoy. His orders met no resistance; everyone responded with assent and moved to their tasks.
After issuing his orders, Han Chong let out a sigh, smiling at Xiao Yan, “Can you walk?”
Xiao Yan nodded, jumping down from the carriage. Though a bit unsteady, he steadied himself. Seeing this, Han Chong sighed, “Looks like you still need rest. With your injuries, it may be hard to fully recover. We should avoid any lingering effects, or it’ll be trouble for your training…”
Hearing Han Chong’s concern, Xiao Yan smiled, indicating he shouldn’t worry.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s nonchalance, Han Chong didn’t press, sighing inwardly before turning to manage the camp setup.
The convoy proved efficient. In less than half an hour, numerous white tents sprang up on a small hill, surrounded by a fence outside sprinkled with powder to ward off venomous insects. Due to his weakness, Xiao Yan didn’t do much, simply finding a spot in the camp to sit, his gaze lazily sweeping the surroundings.
According to Han Chong, the convoy belonged to the Han Family from Tian Bei City, likely escorting some goods. The guards were mostly at the Soul Level, with several at the peak, comparable to Han Feng. Naturally, the strongest presence did not escape Xiao Yan’s notice.
Thinking of this, Xiao Yan’s gaze unconsciously fell on a particularly luxurious carriage, exuding a faint fragrance. Clearly, a woman was inside, and the most notable thing was the presence of a Three Star Dou Wang. This, undoubtedly, was the strongest in the convoy.
*Creak*
Just as Xiao Yan observed, the tightly closed carriage door slowly opened, revealing a slender, smooth leg. Pausing, his gaze traveled upward, surprise flashing in his eyes. He hadn’t expected the owner of such a powerful aura to be so young and beautiful.
Slender eyebrows, skin as fair as snow, a tall figure dressed in purple, her curvaceous form wrapped perfectly in the garment. The only flaw was a slight coldness in her expression, her beautiful eyes exuding a stern feeling.
For some reason, Xiao Yan felt a faint sense of familiarity in her face, yet he was certain he had never seen her before.
Upon her appearance, the surrounding gazes inevitably fixed on her. While some looked with normal admiration, most radiated a sense of awe.
As she descended from the carriage, her beauty swept the camp, and those who caught her eye hurried to show busy work. Watching this, Xiao Yan suppressed a smile.
However, her gaze suddenly landed on him, her brows furrowing slightly. Walking over, she stopped before him, her elegant legs once again visible. A slightly chilly voice addressed him, “You are the one Sir Steward Han saved on the road?”
“Uh-huh,” Xiao Yan nodded, trying to stand out of politeness, but his weakness made him chuckle. He swayed and sat back down.
Seeing his frailty, her brows tightened further, “In the Han Family convoy, we have rules: no idlers or slackers. Considering your injury, I’ll overlook it this time. Next time, even if you can only place fences, don’t sit idle. Understand?”
Such a strict and serious woman was rare for Xiao Yan. Grinning, he nodded.
Seeing his agreement, her expression softened, and she tossed him a vial, “I’m Han Xue, the convoy’s overseer. If you need anything, find me. If you perform well, perhaps I can recommend you to join the Han Family Guards. It’s not a high life, but at least a living. This is a healing potion; it should help. Also, we’ll pass the area of the Snake Xia Mang tomorrow. Stay in the carriage.”
With that, Han Xue walked past Xiao Yan and into a tent. Catching the vial, Xiao Yan smiled. Despite her stern demeanor and cold exterior, she seemed genuinely kind. No wonder she commanded such respect. Yet, that nagging sense of familiarity…
Xiao Yan frowned. Could he really know her?
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