The First Venerable of All Paths

"And what about this person?"

He Jun looked at the unconscious Zhou Yan, a murderous glint flashing across his face: "Should we just kill him?"

"No rush."

Fang Xuan's lips curled into a smile: "Keeping this person alive will be of great use."

He Jun hesitated for a moment, then smiled nonchalantly: "Okay, whatever you say."

Fang Xuan looked at He Jun and smiled.

He Jun is indeed a rare and intelligent person.

"Jun-ge, all cleanup is done!"

At this moment, Old Huang led everyone over, his face beaming with smiles.

"It seems we've gained quite a bit."

Seeing this, He Jun couldn't help but laugh.

"There are quite a few spirit stones and various resources, but unfortunately, several have run away."

Old Sun spat, looking indignant: "If Old Huang hadn't stopped me, I would have slaughtered them all!"

Old Huang quickly said, "Don't pursue a desperate enemy. They're just a few lackeys. Let them run away; they won't amount to anything."

"Old Huang is right."

He Jun nodded in deep agreement and said, "Besides, our main task is to get on the road, so we can't waste time here."

"It's getting late, let's start wrapping things up."

He Jun's eyes turned cold as he said, "Scarface, set the fire, raise the flag!"

Upon hearing this, everyone from the Azure Dragon Escort Agency immediately became solemn.

Amid Fang Xuan's puzzled expression, Scarface and the others began to light fires around the building.

Finally, a large black flag embroidered with a blue dragon was erected on the mountainside.

The flag fluttered in the wind, and the huge blue dragon on it seemed to come alive, soaring into the sky.

"Raising the flag is a rule for us镖师 (bodyguards/escorts)."

He Jun explained softly, "If you encounter trouble while escorting goods, trying to be polite first and then resorting to force won't work, and you'll have no choice but to fight it out."

"Once the matter is resolved, we must raise the banner of our escort agency and declare to the world: This is the consequence of opposing the Azure Dragon Escort Agency!"

Fang Xuan suddenly realized something.

He Jun then said awkwardly, "We owe today's events to Guard Fang; otherwise, my brothers probably wouldn't have made it back alive."

"I am also acting on the orders of the head of the family."

Fang Xuan said, "However, I hope that Captain He will help me cover this up when he goes back."

He Jun was taken aback, then said, "You can't even tell my second uncle?"

"It doesn't matter about the Third Master, but as for the others, forget it."

Fang Xuan said, "I don't want to be too high-profile."

"OK."

He Jun readily agreed, saying, "I'll explain to the brothers right away."

Soon, He Jun gathered his brothers together and gave them some serious instructions.

Since everyone had been saved by Fang Xuan and had unexpectedly made a fortune, they naturally had no reason to refuse.

"nailed it."

He Jun walked over and said, "We're all friends who've risked our lives for each other, and we won't tell anyone, but that's only for this journey. It might not be the case when we get back to Zhongzhou."

He Jun said somewhat embarrassedly, "After all, these guys will inevitably drink and brag when they get back."

That's enough.

Fang Xuan just wanted a quiet journey.

When we reach the halfway point, we'll all go our separate ways, so whether or not we say anything then won't have much of an impact on him.

Seeing the fire spreading and engulfing the buildings halfway up the mountain, He Jun said, "Let's go, it's about time."

The group quickly descended the mountain.

Before they even reached the foot of the mountain, a figure burst through the air and arrived.

Having just experienced a battle, everyone immediately went into a defensive stance.

"We're on the same side, no need to be nervous."

Fang Xuan looked up at the sky and reassured everyone.

Soon, a huge figure landed on the ground; it was He Tieshan.

"Second Uncle!"

"Three-headed bun!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Is everything alright?"

He Tieshan glanced at everyone and saw that they had only suffered minor injuries and there were no casualties, so he was relieved.

"Jun-ge, what's wrong?"

He Tieshan said in a deep voice, "Why didn't you send the signal sooner?"

He Jun said wearily, "Second Uncle, everyone is tired. Let's go back first."

But He Tieshan sensed something else in the other person's tone.

So He Tieshan waved his hand and said, "While there's still some time, let's try to get to the next supply point before dark."

Led by He Tieshan, the group walked down the mountain along the same path they had come from.

Soon they encountered several martial artists from the Bronze Escort Agency.

"The three heads have all been cleaned up."

The leading man wiped the blood from his face and said, "Strangely, the number of people is a bit small, which is not what we expected."

"Never mind that for now, let's get out of here."

Before long, the group met up with the convoy waiting at the foot of the mountain.

He Tieshan leaped onto his horse and said, "Everyone, speed up and head to the next supply point."

The sound of horses' hooves echoed, and the wheels of carriages rolled on.

The convoy sped straight through Qingyangang and headed towards the supply point ahead.

"Guard Fang, the next supply point is called Hongtang Town, which is also part of Hongbo County."

He Jun approached Fang Xuan and explained in a very fast voice, "After passing through Hongbo County and crossing a wasteland, you will reach the territory of the Dao Seeking Sect."

He Jun smiled easily and said, "Once we get there, our mission will be almost complete."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan's eyes flashed, and he feigned confusion, asking, "Why is that?"

"Haha, I'm a few years older than you, so I'll take the liberty of calling you Brother Fang."

He Jun laughed and said, "Brother Fang, it's obvious that this is your first time traveling so far. You really know nothing about the twists and turns of the road."

"Actually, for us bodyguards, the bigger the place we go and the better the road, the less we earn, but it's also relatively safer."

He Jun said, "As one of the largest sects in Qingzhou, the Dao Asking Sect rarely has bandits or rogue cultivators gathering to cause trouble in their territory. Otherwise, if the Dao Asking Sect disciples discover such gatherings, they will inevitably launch a crackdown."

"The disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect are the most enthusiastic about this matter."

He Jun laughed and said, "Not only can it be used as a training exercise to earn points, but it can also earn some extra money."

Fang Xuan couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.

It seems that even these sect disciples are not some otherworldly beings who are detached from worldly affairs.

"Judging from what Jun-ge'er is saying, he seems to know a lot about the Dao Seeking Sect?"

I wouldn't say I understand it.

He Jun said, "It's just that over the years I've traveled all over the country, and I need to know a little about the local customs and the various forces involved, in order to avoid some unnecessary trouble."

Fang Xuan nodded, and then started chatting with He Junxian about this topic.

He Jun truly lived up to his reputation as a young genius nurtured by the Azure Dragon Escort Agency, effortlessly recounting all sorts of interesting anecdotes and secrets.

Since Fang Xuan had saved his life, He Jun answered all of Fang Xuan's questions without holding anything back.

This gave Fang Xuan a better understanding of the Dao Seeking Sect.

As darkness fell, the group hurried on and finally arrived at Hongtang Town.

Hongtang Town is larger than any town Fang Xuan has ever seen; it's comparable to a small prefecture.

The Qinglong Escort Agency had arranged rooms at the largest inn in Hongtang Town well in advance.

After all the horses and cargo were arranged, everyone entered the room one by one, preparing to have a meal together later.

"Knock knock!"

A knock sounded at the door. Fang Xuan, who had just changed into clean clothes, knew with a quick scan of his soul that it was Li Guanlan outside the door.

"Come in."

Li Guanlan pushed open the door and entered, getting straight to the point: "What happened at Qingyangang today?"

Fang Xuan poured Li Guanlan a glass of water and gave him a brief account of what happened at Qingyan Ridge, including his own speculations.

"You mean, those people at Qingyangang were arranged by the Zhao family?"

Li Guanlan never expected that this matter would be related to the Zhao family.

"Not just that."

Fang Xuan said, "I also suspect that they are after the Azure Dragon Escort Agency."

"What's the reason?"

Fang Xuan said, "If it were just the Lu family or us who came, it's impossible that we would have deliberately made things difficult for the Qinglong Escort Agency when we passed by last time."

"The Qinglong Escort Agency travels all over the country, and its motto is 'harmony brings wealth'."

Fang Xuan continued his analysis: "If they were just ordinary forces, they would definitely not give Qinglong Escort Agency any face, but they knowingly violated the rules, so they must have some old grudge against Qinglong Escort Agency."

"So what do you plan to do?"

Li Guanlan looked at Fang Xuan and reminded him, "Although the Azure Dragon Escort Agency is not as powerful as the Zhao family, the ability to gather these rogue cultivators and set up an ambush along the way is something that ordinary forces cannot do."

"I had already considered this matter."

Fang Xuan said, "He Jun is a smart man. He should have noticed something. Just wait, if I'm not mistaken, he will come to see me tonight."

"Then I'll go with you."

Li Guanlan's tone was calm yet firm.

"OK."

After the meal, everyone returned to their rooms.

During this time, Lu Zhao sent someone to invite Fang Xuan, saying that he had something to discuss.

Fang Xuan went there.

Lu Zhao was actually asking about what happened during the day.

Fang Xuan did not hide anything from this and repeated it again.

"The Zhao family is really fast."

Lu Zhao sighed and said, "In that case, the journey ahead is probably not going to be peaceful."

"There's nothing we can do about it."

Fang Xuan said, "The Zhao family died in Mingyue County, they certainly won't let this go."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Fang Xuan."

Lu Zhao laughed and said, "Without your help, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to sleep peacefully."

"But I can only send you into the territory of the Dao Seeking Sect."

Fang Xuan stated bluntly, "From now on, we can only rely on the Azure Dragon Escort Agency."

"That's enough."

Lu Zhao said, "I have already sent word to the guards in the Chamber of Commerce to wait there early. With Captain He and the others accompanying us, there shouldn't be any trouble."

The two chatted for a while longer, but because it was getting late, Fang Xuan got up to say goodbye.

As soon as he came out of Lu Zhao's room, He Jun approached him and whispered, "Brother Fang, my second uncle wants to invite you over to discuss something."

coming!

Fang Xuan's eyes flashed, and he said, "Please ask Chief He to come to my room; it's safer there."

Although He Jun was puzzled, he still nodded in agreement.

Soon, He Tieshan, He Jun, Lao Huang, and Lao Sun entered Fang Xuan's room together.

He Jun was taken aback, not expecting Li Guanlan to be in Fang Xuan's room.

"What are you doing...?"

He Jun's eyes swept back and forth between the two men, his expression meaningful.

Don't overthink it.

Fang Xuan rolled his eyes and said, "She's a Soul Master. It's safer with her around."

Upon hearing this, He Tieshan spoke first, saying, "I didn't expect Miss Li to be a Soul Master. My apologies for my disrespect."

Soul Masters are extremely rare, even in the Central Continent.

Although he was unsure of Li Guanlan's soul cultivation level, someone who was treated with such care by Fang Xuan must be quite powerful.

"You guys talk, don't worry about me."

Li Guanlan nodded slightly, then expressionlessly formed a hand seal, enveloping the entire room with his soul power.

"What are you doing?"

Before He Tieshan could speak, Old Huang's expression changed, and he adopted a defensive posture: "Third Master, Jun-ge'er, you two go first, I'll cover the rear!"

Upon hearing this, He Tieshan suddenly sighed and said, "Old Huang, how long are you going to keep up this act?"

"Third Master, I don't understand what you mean."

He Jun said in a complicated tone, "Old Huang, be honest, whose side are you on?"