With half a game of chess, I vanquish all demons!

"...Do not say that floating clouds will eventually obscure the sun, for fortune will eventually turn around."

"What does the teacher mean by this? Brother Zhou, do you have any insights?"

After Zhao Yao finished reciting the poem, he raised an eyebrow, looked away from the painting, and gazed at Zhou Pengju.

"The magistrate may be trying to subtly warn you that there is danger in the city."

Zhou Pengju attempted to provide an answer.

Danger……

I've come this far, why would I be afraid of danger in Zhoucheng?

And then there's fortune, fortune again. The fortune and danger in the city—does it refer to Su Shangtao, Princess Yun Chi, or the Heavenly Destiny Tower...?

Zhao Yao remained silent, unable to find an answer for a moment.

……

Next, the two traveled together towards Wangzhou City without any further incidents or encounters with other travelers.

Zhao Yao guessed that this was probably because the wooden stronghold had lured away all the unstable factors in the wilderness—the bounty hunters.

Just as they reached the city gates of Wangzhou City, thinking they could safely return, Zhou Pengju's gaze locked onto two tall, thin vendors outside the city. His expression changed, and he shouted urgently:

"Wait! There's murderous intent ahead!"

Zhao Yao stopped as instructed, followed Zhou Pengju's gaze, and asked softly:

"Brother Zhou, do you know them?"

"They are the leader and second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold... They glanced at us furtively; they're here to cause you trouble!"

Zhou Pengju quickly explained, and when he saw the Black Wind Stronghold's leader and second leader disguised as vendors at the city gate, their faces turned ashen.

Could it be that they've come to avenge Huo Xiaotian, Hu Xianfeng, and Hu Ya?

But how did they know I did these things?

Could it be that the white tiger girl told you?

Zhao Yao stared at the city gate, his brows furrowed, puzzled. He turned to Zhou Pengju beside him and asked:

"Now that they've spotted me, why don't they attack?"

"This... I see that the city gate is clean and bright, perhaps an important person has arrived... Sure enough, there is a county magistrate guarding the city gate! I guessed correctly."

The fact that these two remained still suggests they were hesitant to make any significant moves, perhaps out of fear of harming the innocent.

Is this disguise perhaps an attempt to emulate an assassin, waiting for you to get close before striking and fleeing?

Zhou Pengju guessed, and when he saw the familiar figure above the city gate, his eyes lit up, and he made a complete deduction.

"Is that so..."

Zhao Yao raised his head slightly and looked at the imposing county magistrate sitting on the city gate. He felt that Brother Zhou's guess was probably correct.

His gaze fell down to the two leaders of Black Wind Stronghold at the city gate. Recalling his journey, he couldn't help but complain in his heart.

Luck, luck, great luck! What great luck? What the hell is this great luck? It's practically a trap at every turn!

"Zhao Junzi, why don't you just stay in the city?"

They're blocking your way; you can't go back.

Don't forget the poem the county magistrate gave you: "Do not say that floating clouds will forever obscure the sun; fortunes will eventually turn."

"As long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of running out of firewood."

Zhou Pengju, worried that he might die at the hands of the two leaders of Black Wind Stronghold, earnestly tried to persuade him.

Upon hearing him recite this line of poetry again, Zhao Yao's heart stirred, and his eyes shone brightly.

If the county magistrate teacher really wanted to use this poem to tell me that there was danger in the city and to advise me to take refuge temporarily.

On my way back, I encountered Hu Xianfeng, Hu Ya, Shantang Yaoren, the people of Muzhai, and the two leaders of Heifengzhai. Weren't they trying to stop me from returning to the city?

Could it be that every step I take is a trap, and this is precisely where my great fortune is manifesting?

If we understand it this way, then Zhou Quan's inexplicable behavior on the desolate rock mountain can be explained!

He was initially filled with malice towards me, but after recognizing me as someone with great fortune, he stopped attacking and instead let me go. It turns out that letting me go was a way of harming me, a continuation of his malice!

And on the way back, there were several times when I was given the choice of whether to return to Wangzhou City. Was it all due to the influence of "great fortune"?

The more Zhao Yao thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and the more excited he became.

At this moment, as he looked at Wangzhou City again, he seemed to sense an inexplicable force in the darkness, desperately telling him, "Don't go! Wangzhou City is in danger! Don't go! Wangzhou City is in danger!"

From this perspective, it seems that great fortune is about to personally appear and speak.

Given this situation, should we still go into the city...?

Zhao Yao calmed himself and fell into deep thought.

He prefers to believe in the results of his own thinking rather than in luck.

"Why did he stop there? Did he spot us?"

At the city gate of Wangzhou, the second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold pretended not to see Zhao Yao, tidying up the vegetables on his stall, and quietly asked the leader of Black Wind Stronghold across the street a question.

"Possibly."

Legend has it that a person with great fortune will sense danger, and their fortune will automatically issue a warning. Could it be that this person has been warned by their fortune?

The leader of Black Wind Stronghold, with his back to Zhao Yao, was peeling a piece of fruit in his hand, his brows furrowed. He also suspected that the other party had discovered them, and began to hesitate, wondering whether he should make a move now.

clap~

clap~

As Zhao Yao was pacing back and forth in deep thought, the Heavenly Dao Bureau jade token given to him by Yan Rouyun suddenly began to strike on its own.

He stopped in his tracks and took out the jade tablet to examine it.

The jade tablet contained information about Zhou Quan:

"The only member of the Heavenly Dao Division around here is Yan Rouyun, not Zhao Yao!"

You impersonated Yan Rouyun's identity jade token, a crime that cannot be forgiven, and the Heavenly Dao Division will not spare you.

"Now, you'd better confess your crimes and return to the desolate mountain to hand over the jade token; only then will you have a chance to live!"

Upon seeing this letter, Zhao Yao recalled what Yan Rouyun had said, and now it had indeed come true.

"When this person arrives, knowing I'm nearby, he will surely inquire about me through the jade pendant..."

Faced with Zhou Quan's threat from afar, he muttered to himself:

"Trying to intimidate me by wielding a trivial authority?"

Yan Rouyun also said:

"The jade tokens of those not officially registered with the Heavenly Dao Division are naturally circulated among themselves; it's not a big deal at all."

Zhao Yao could only scoff at someone like Zhou Quan:

"Tch~ Do you think I don't know anything? Trying to scare people by using the Heavenly Dao Division's name, ha~"

At the city gate, the two leaders of Black Wind Stronghold, who had been keeping a close eye on Zhao Yao, spoke again.

"What's wrong with him now?"

"Hmm, judging from his pause and the way he's checking something, perhaps it's the final warning from the Great Fortune Alert."

"Shall we get started?"

"Hmm, wait a bit, wait a little longer."

Zhou Pengju had been keeping a close eye on the movements of the two leaders of Black Wind Stronghold at the city gate, sweating profusely with tension. He couldn't help but turn to Zhao Yaoyan and say:

"Zhao Junzi, I can't take it anymore. Are you going to flee this place or break into the city? Make a decision quickly. Who knows when these two might come rushing over?"

Hearing Zhou Pengju's urging, Zhao Yao struggled internally.

How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's den? Or should you retreat from the rapids and make other plans?

He finally figured things out:

"If the danger comes from Su Shangtao, I will face it head-on and avenge my past grievances. That's exactly what I want."

If the danger comes from Princess Yunchi, she has already arrived in Wangzhou City, and it's probably too late to escape now.

If the danger comes from the Heavenly Destiny Tower... Yan Rouyun has already accepted my bounty, so before she officially fails, or before the time limit expires, no new people should come after me.

The only one to consider is Princess Yunchi.

The details of choosing a husband and determining one's fate should be recorded in the county school's books...

"Let's go into town! We need to at least figure out what's really going on with the princess's selection of a husband."

After thinking it over, Zhao Yao made a decision.

"Damn, why did he retreat?"

"Brother, what should we do? Chase after her?"

At the city gate, the second-in-command of Black Wind Stronghold, in a moment of excitement, stood up, overturned his stall, and looked anxiously at the leader of Black Wind Stronghold at the fruit stall across the street.

"..."