Eternal Sword

Chapter 59 Wu'an County

At night, the caravan stopped to rest and lit several bonfires along the official road.

Li Boxiong stayed with the light cavalry under his command.

Chen Tang was still sitting around a small fire with the fat old man, Qing Mu, and Zhi Wei, and did not join in the fun with others.

During this time, Qing Mu noticed that Li Boxiong had a peculiar attitude towards Chen Tang. Curious, he asked around in a roundabout way.

Chen Tang either smiled and said nothing, or changed the subject.

After chatting for a long time, Qing Mu didn't get any useful information.

Mei Nianzhi and other wealthy people first went to Li Boxiong to toast, and then brought people to Chen Tang.

After what happened during the day, except for the few household heads who had conflicts with Chen Tang before, most of the wealthy people have greatly changed their impression of Chen Tang.

Moreover, Chen Tang had rescued them during the day, and everyone came to thank him.

Chen Tang was too lazy to pay attention to these things. He just responded with a few words and sent them away.

"Master Mei, please stay."

Finally, Chen Tang called Mei Nianzhi to stop.

Chen Tang asked, "What do you think of the snow thieves who appeared during the day, Master Mei?"

Mei Nianzhi thought for a moment and shook his head.

But he could tell there was something else behind Chen Tang's words, so he asked, "What do you think, nephew?"

"not sure."

Chen Tang shook his head and said, "I just think these snow thieves are coming for the Plum Blossom Martial Arts School."

Mei Nianzhi frowned.

Mei Yingxue was half-believing and half-doubting, and said, "This shouldn't be the case. We have no grudges against the martial arts hall or these snow bandits, so why would they come after us?"

Mei Nianzhi frowned and said, "My dear nephew, now that you mention it, I have the same feeling. However, I really don't know these snow bandits and have never come into contact with them. How could they target me?"

Chen Tang had a vague guess in his mind, but he was not sure.

According to Meng Liangyu, the Blackwater Gang wants to completely control Changze County.

In addition to eradicating the Evil Wolf Gang, the second thing to deal with is the Plum Blossom Martial Arts School.

If these snow bandits are related to the Black Water Gang, then the ambush during the day should be an action targeting the Plum Blossom Martial Arts School.

Chen Tang reminded: "Changze County may be in danger of a change. When that happens, the Plum Blossom Martial Arts School may not be spared. The owner of the Plum Blossom Martial Arts School should make preparations early."

"The change in the world that my dear nephew is referring to is..."

Mei Nianzhi was shocked.

Chen Tang did not answer, but just said: "We are going to Wu'an County this time, and we are going to settle down in Wu'an County."

Before this, he had discussed it with several people in his family.

After the Lantern Festival, the Black Water Gang should occupy the entire Changze County.

It would be difficult for Chen Tang to completely avoid the eyes and ears of the Blackwater Gang if he stayed in Changze County.

The fat old man naturally agreed with both hands.

Chen Tang’s room is too small.

It was really inconvenient for four people to live together, so he and Chen Tang had to sleep on the floor in the outer room.

Moreover, there are too few delicious foods and fine wines in Changze County.

It’s a good time to move to a bigger house in Wu’an County.

"Are you moving away?"

A hint of disappointment flashed across Mei Yingxue's eyes.

During this period, she often went to Chen Tang's house and got used to being with Chen Tang and his cousin, Xiao Zhiwei.

From now on, it will be difficult to meet again as we are separated by distance.

Qing Mu said: "This is what Chen Tang discussed with us before we left. I haven't had time to tell you yet. If you want to be able to move around more easily in the future, you might as well move to Wu'an County."

"I……"

Mei Yingxue looked at her father.

She definitely can't make the decision on this matter.

Mei Nianzhi shook his head slightly and said with a wry smile: "The Meihua Martial Arts School has been opened in Changze County for some years, and my relatives are all there, so it's not easy to move away." "I am a ninth-rank martial artist and have some reputation in Changze County, but after all, I am old and my physical strength is declining. It is difficult for me to make a name for myself in Wu'an County."

Having said this, Chen Tang didn't know what to say.

Everyone dispersed.

Silent all night.

The caravan set out early the next morning and, if nothing goes wrong, it should be able to arrive in Wu'an County before the city closes today.

Under the escort of Li Boxiong, the caravan had a relatively smooth journey.

Before sunset, the city wall of Wu'an County could be seen from afar. Li Boxiong did not continue to escort them. He said goodbye to Chen Tang and his men and left with his men.

The caravan was stopped at the city gate by guards on both sides, who carefully checked everyone's travel permit and the goods loaded on the convoy.

"Excuse me, everyone. The Lantern Festival is approaching. We need to watch carefully to prevent bandits from sneaking into the city."

The leading guard said to Mei Nianzhi.

Mei Nianzhi looked at his rank and recognized that he was the centurion guarding the city gate of Wu'an County, so he smiled and said, "Thank you, centurion and all the brothers in the army, this is the way it should be."

As he spoke, Mei Nianzhi took out a few taels of silver from his sleeve and tried to put it into the centurion's hand.

The centurion put his hands behind his back and shook his head in refusal.

Mei Nianzhi coughed lightly and did not insist.

"Is this a robbery?"

The centurion looked at the knife marks and bloodstains that had not been wiped clean on the caravan's carriage and asked with a frown.

"Yes."

Mei Nianzhi said: "Fortunately, a righteous man arrived in time..."

The two chatted briefly at the city gate.

Generally speaking, in Qian State, people are not allowed to walk around freely, in order to restrict population mobility and prevent refugees from spreading.

If you want to travel, you need a pass which explains the reason.

Of course, these restrictions are useful for ordinary people, but people from famous and powerful families can ignore them.

The guards guarding the city are generally not so blind as to stop these people.

As for those people in the martial arts world, they are like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each relying on their own means.

If you don't have an official pass, it will be difficult to enter the city openly.

The passes for Chen Tang and his companions had already been prepared under Meng Liangyu's arrangement.

When the guards at the city gate were inspecting the caravan, Chen Tang sat in front of the carriage, his eyes moving, inspecting the guard arrangements and mobile guards at various places on the Wu'an County city wall, silently memorizing them in his mind.

The city wall of Wu'an County is about thirty meters high. Chen Tang judged that it was probably as high as three or four floors in his previous life.

If it were a month ago, he would never have been able to climb this height.

But things are different now.

After staying at the city gate for a while, the caravan was found to have no problems and was allowed to enter the city at the signal of several guards.

After entering the city, each household in the caravan dispersed on their own, agreed on a time to return, and then went back together on the return journey.

"Let's find an inn to stay in. Tomorrow is the fourteenth day of the first lunar month. Let's walk around the county town and get familiar with it."

Mei Nianzhi said, "The day after tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, the day when warriors determine their rank. If you have nothing else to do, my dear nephew, come with us to take a look, and just join in the fun."

"Alright."

Chen Tang agreed casually.

Tired from the long journey, they found an inn nearby and stayed there temporarily.

As it got dark, the city gates closed.

Everyone had dinner and went to bed early.

After three days' journey of more than two hundred miles, I felt exhausted and tired. Although I took some rest along the way, it was too uncomfortable and I couldn't sleep well.

Now that I have entered Wu'an County, I can finally sleep peacefully.

However, Chen Tang did not rest. He left the inn alone and went to the alley near the city gate before the curfew began. He continued to observe the guard situation on the city wall.

(End of this chapter)