Just as Han Chong had said, after passing through the Ten Thousand Snake Gorge, the journey became quite smooth. Over the next few days, apart from a few minor troubles, nothing really slowed down the caravan. During these days of travel, they were getting closer and closer to Tianbei City.
In these few days, after recuperating, Xiao Yan’s strength gradually recovered to about 70-80%. The injuries in his body were also rapidly healing under the dual effects of his Dou Qi and medicinal pills. From this progress, it seemed that his recovery would be even faster than he had anticipated.
However, despite his gradual recovery, Xiao Yan still kept his strength hidden. He had a good impression of the honest and straightforward men in the caravan and did not want to make them feel uneasy or distant due to his revealed strength, which might add an unwelcome layer to their growing camaraderie. With Xiao Yan’s current strength, concealing his aura was something that even Han Xue would find difficult to detect. Furthermore, perhaps because of the spatial energy within him, if Xiao Yan wanted to conceal his strength, not only Han Xue, but even some peak Dou Wangs or even Battle Sects would find it challenging to determine his true cultivation level.
Although Xiao Yan felt that he was concealing himself perfectly, during these few days of travel, he noticed that Han Xue’s attitude towards him seemed to have improved. She stopped assigning any heavy work to Xiao Yan after instructing Han Chong. For this special treatment, Xiao Yan could only sigh inwardly. Is a woman’s intuition really that terrifying? He was confident that he hadn’t given away any clues, but somehow, Han Xue seemed to have sensed something. Occasionally, her eyes would flash with a hint of puzzlement and deep thought when she looked at him.
Moreover, in her free time, Han Xue would often appear before Xiao Yan and chat with him casually. However, the content of their conversations was actually aimed at secretly probing Xiao Yan’s identity and background. Of course, with Xiao Yan’s experience over the years, he naturally wouldn’t reveal anything to a mere girl. His vague and ambiguous responses always left Han Xue frustrated, feeling like she was hitting cotton instead of a target.
This situation made Xiao Yan both helpless and wary. He tried to maintain a distance from Han Xue to avoid being discovered by this sensitive woman. The journey passed swiftly with Han Xue’s constant probing and guessing. On the fifth day, when they set up camp, a messenger bird with the Han family emblem appeared, flying from the direction of Tianbei City.
Taking the letter from the messenger bird, Han Xue slowly opened it. Her beautiful eyes scanned the paper, and her face gradually turned icy cold, with even a hint of anger flashing in her eyes.
Seeing the change in Han Xue’s expression, the camp, which had been filled with laughter, became quiet. Everyone stood up, looking towards Han Xue in the center.
“Miss, what has happened?” Han Chong asked in a low voice.
“It’s a letter from the family. It says that the Hong family is planning to make a move against our Han family, and we need to be cautious,” Han Xue said, her hand clenching slightly, her voice icy.
“The Hong family? Damn, those bastards again!” A wave of angry curses erupted upon hearing the name “Hong.”
“What do they want this time?” Han Chong frowned.
Han Xue blinked, and then said indifferently, “The old bastard of the Hong family wants me and my sister to marry Hong Chen. But I think the ultimate goal is to annex our Han family and become the real tyrant of Tianbei City.”
Hearing this, the faces of many young people in the caravan darkened. The conditions proposed by the Hong family made them extremely angry.
“Damn, do the Hongs really think they can trample on us like a soft persimmon? They’re putting forward such outrageous demands,” Han Chong said angrily.
Despite Han Chong’s outburst, Han Xue’s face remained cold. Her eyes shifted, landing on the black-robed youth sitting by the fire. But the latter, as if not hearing the conversation, continued to throw wood into the fire. Seeing this, Han Xue’s brows furrowed slightly, and she turned her gaze away, saying coldly, “We will enter Tianbei City’s territory tomorrow. Everyone, be careful.”
“Yes!” Everyone answered in unison.
Han Xue nodded, then with a small huff, she turned and entered her tent.
As Han Xue disappeared, everyone sat back around the fire, their faces flickering in the firelight. In their eyes, the threat of the Hong family was even more daunting than the demonic snake Xia Mang.
“Big Brother Han, are the Hongs very strong?” After a long silence, Xiao Yan, who had been concentrating on the fire, finally straightened up, stretched, and asked with a smile.
“Actually, the Hong family is probably the strongest family in Tianbei City. Even our Han family is slightly inferior. The most important thing is that the Hong family has some connection with the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. This generation’s most outstanding member, Hong Chen, is a member of the Wind and Thunder Pavilion and is highly regarded.”
Han Chong sighed, “It’s this association with the Wind and Thunder Pavilion that has allowed the Hong family to grow in reputation and influence over the past few years. After all, the Wind and Thunder Pavilion is one of the top-tier forces in the northern region of the Central Plains, far surpassing our Han family.”
“The Wind and Thunder Pavilion?” Hearing this familiar name again, Xiao Yan’s eyes flashed with surprise. Truly, there were no coincidences in the world.
“So what about the Wind and Thunder Pavilion? If the Hongs dare to make a move, even if I can’t beat them, I’ll kill a few of them before I die,” said a young guard by the fire, his face flushed with anger.
Ignoring the outbursts, Han Chong patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder, “Brother Xiao Yan, it seems the Han family is about to face trouble. Once we reach Tianbei City, I’ll have Xiao Nu give you some money for your journey. You should leave on your own to avoid getting entangled.”
Xiao Yan smiled without comment, “Let’s all get some rest. Add more people to the night watch, and keep your eyes sharp tomorrow. Once we return to the family, we should be safe.”
Han Chong sighed, stood up, waved, and left, leaving behind a group of angry and frustrated men.
Watching the somewhat weary figure, Xiao Yan flicked his fingers, and a bamboo stick flew into the fire, embedding itself into the ground like an arrow.
Clapping his hands, Xiao Yan stood up, greeted the others, and slowly walked back to his tent. As he entered, he sighed softly, “Sigh… human relationships are indeed heavy…”
The sun was high, and the sky was clear, with rays of intense light pouring down. Even the trees by the roadside drooped slightly from the heat. The caravan galloped along the wide road, raising a cloud of dust.
“Everyone, pay attention! We are entering the territory of Tianbei City!” A stern voice suddenly rang out from the caravan, and everyone’s hearts tightened. They looked ahead at a stone marker, their hands gripping their weapons, and their hands tightening around the reins, sweating slightly.
The caravan, like a herd of furious wild beasts, thundered down the road, approaching the stone marker in just a few minutes.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Just as the caravan passed the stone marker, a sharp sound of arrows piercing the air resounded, and countless arrows shot out from the woods on both sides, enveloping the entire convoy.
The sudden rain of arrows caught many off guard, but they were prepared. With blasts of Dou Qi, they deflected the arrows.
“Ha ha, it seems you were prepared, but unfortunately…” A slow laugh came from the woods, and a large number of shadowy figures rushed out, blocking the path to Tianbei City. What drew the most attention was the two elders at the forefront.
Both wore light red robes, with a red emblem on their chests.
“Members of the Hong family.” Seeing the emblems, Han Chong and the others’ eyes narrowed.
“Ha ha, Miss Han Xue, please come out. The two of us are here for you,” the two elders ignored the guards, their eyes fixed on the carriage where Han Xue was, and said with a smile.
The carriage door creaked open, and a cold-faced Han Xue stepped out. Fixing her icy gaze on the two elders, she said, “I never expected that to catch a mere girl like me, the Hong family would send Elder Hong Mu and Elder Hong Lie. It’s truly an honor.”
Though she spoke with sarcasm, her heart sank. These two Hong family elders were around four-star Battle Emperor level, stronger than Xia Mang. If they attacked together, escape today would be nearly impossible.
“No need for empty words. We are only following orders. Come with us!” Hong Lie, with a blank expression, said after a glance at Han Xue.
“Only in your dreams!” Han Xue’s eyes flashed with coldness, and a sword materialized in her hand.
“Stubborn to the core.” Seeing Han Xue resist, Hong Lie shook his head, his eyes showing impatience. He stepped forward, appearing in front of Han Xue, and with a sweep of his hand, a powerful, oppressive force of fiery wind enveloped all of her retreats.
Seeing Hong Lie’s full-force attack, Han Xue’s face turned pale. She clenched her teeth and struck back.
Boom!
The clash sent shockwaves, and Han Xue’s body was like a kite cut loose, retreating several steps before stabilizing.
“To have withstood my palm, you do have some skill. No wonder Young Master is interested in you.” Hong Lie, unmoved, took another step forward, his palm wind roaring, and continued to assault.
Feeling the even fiercer attack, Han Xue’s face showed a desperate despair. She couldn’t resist such a Battle Emperor. The palm wind descended, but at the last moment, an invisible force surged forth, dispelling Hong Lie’s attack with a loud boom, sending him stumbling back several steps.
The sudden change startled everyone, and Han Xue, after a moment of shock, turned abruptly, her eyes locking onto Xiao Yan’s carriage.
“Ah, bullying the young with age, and still speaking so righteously. Their age has truly toughened their skin…,” a tired yet firm voice rang out, no longer the old, raspy tone from before.
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