Chapter 206
Chapter 206: Taking Action
The scar-faced man, who had just been about to leave, suddenly halted, his expression becoming troubled.
After seeing Hemp Robed Elder’s strength earlier, he knew this elder wasn’t someone he could provoke. He didn’t want to get entangled with him, but now, faced with this sudden request, he felt deeply conflicted.
In his heart, the scar-faced man wanted to refuse, yet feared angering the elder. However, agreeing would mean traveling alongside someone whose origins and intentions remained unclear—a great risk indeed.
As the scar-faced man hesitated, the sharp clatter of galloping horses and rumbling carriage wheels came from behind on the official road.
At once, both the scar-faced man and Hemp Robed Elder turned to look.
Soon, a group approached, slowing gradually until they stopped before everyone. Hemp Robed Elder narrowed his eyes slightly. Hu Rui An, seated steadily on horseback, scanned his surroundings before cupping his fists toward Hemp Robed Elder: “What a coincidence indeed, your excellency. I didn’t expect we’d meet again here.”
Hearing this, Hemp Robed Elder returned the gesture: “Truly, a remarkable coincidence.”
Logically, Hu Rui An’s group had taken the official road from Sheng Province to Lan Province, while Hemp Robed Elder and the scar-faced man traveled the smaller, hidden trails. Their meeting at this exact location should have been impossible—and yet, here they were.
“May I ask where your excellency is heading?” Hu Rui An suddenly inquired. He glanced at the scar-faced man, noticing his uneasy expression, and guessed that there must have been trouble between him and Hemp Robed Elder.
After a brief pause, Hemp Robed Elder finally replied with three words: “Fallen God Peak.”
At these words, Hu Rui An’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he glanced back at the carriage behind him. At that moment, Li Mu Sheng lifted the carriage curtain, his eyes meeting Hemp Robed Elder’s and then drifting toward the pink-clad girl on the pack mule.
The girl held a steamed white bun in her left hand and a piece of sauced beef in her right. Her dark eyes glanced sideways toward Li Mu Sheng.
Li Mu Sheng chuckled softly, amused: “A true little glutton—eating wherever you go.” He then addressed Hemp Robed Elder: “As it happens, we’re also heading to Fallen God Peak. If you’re willing, we can travel together. If not, that’s perfectly fine.”
After speaking, Li Mu Sheng glanced once more at the little girl before quietly dropping the carriage curtain.
Hu Rui An turned slowly, meeting Hemp Robed Elder’s gaze without further comment.
Hemp Robed Elder frowned slightly in thought. At this moment, the scar-faced man suddenly gritted his teeth and interjected: “Since we’re all heading to Fallen God Peak to celebrate the birthday, it’s surely best we travel together.”
Experienced in the martial world, the scar-faced man knew how to read subtle expressions. He sensed clearly that, despite appearances, Hemp Robed Elder remained wary of Hu Rui An’s party.
An enemy’s enemy could be a friend, after all. Whatever Hemp Robed Elder was planning, the scar-faced man had no courage to refuse him directly. It seemed simpler, then, to muddy the waters by traveling as a larger group. At least this way, they could keep each other in check.
Hearing this, Hu Rui An’s brow furrowed suddenly in confusion: “Birthday celebration?”
Seeing Hu Rui An’s puzzlement, the scar-faced man hastily explained: “In five days, it’s the birthday of the ‘Seven Saints’ peak lord. All the sects in Lan Province, large and small, will head to Fallen God Peak to offer their congratulations. Naturally, we from Tin Mountain Saber Sect must go as well.” He cast Hu Rui An a skeptical glance, adding, “Is your excellency not traveling there to attend the banquet?”
Hu Rui An quickly composed his expression, calmly glancing at the fully loaded carriages ahead before replying coolly: “We have no friendship with the Seven Saints leader, so there’s no need for us to attend any banquet. As for what we’re doing there…” He gave the scar-faced man a meaningful look, “you’ll know when we arrive.”
The scar-faced man froze momentarily, but seeing Hu Rui An’s unwillingness to clarify, he wisely did not press further.
At that moment, Hemp Robed Elder subtly exchanged a glance with the pink-clad girl, then nodded toward Hu Rui An: “Since your excellency does not mind the inconvenience of an old man and his granddaughter, traveling together would indeed be best.”
Hu Rui An nodded gently, refraining from asking Hemp Robed Elder’s purpose in visiting Fallen God Peak. After all, whether it was for the birthday or something else entirely, it had little to do with their own mission.
Their sole aim was to eliminate Fallen God Peak. This journey was a matter of life or death, and he had neither time nor energy for unnecessary matters.
Thus, Hu Rui An’s group continued onward toward Fallen God Peak.
Along the way, the scar-faced man from the Tin Mountain Saber Sect remained wary of both Hemp Robed Elder and Hu Rui An’s party. But as they traveled further, he noticed neither side interacted much with the other, merely focused on moving forward. Gradually, his nerves eased somewhat.
However, as they drew closer to Fallen God Peak, the scar-faced man and his fellow disciples began noticing something strange—not with Hemp Robed Elder or Hu Rui An, but with the entire Lan Province itself.
“Why are there suddenly so many Fallen God Peak disciples?”
Seeing the roadblock ahead, along with a group of martial experts dressed in dark Cloud Peak robes waiting in strict formation, the scar-faced man grew uneasy.
Throughout their journey, they’d encountered several groups of Fallen God Peak disciples—sometimes a dozen, sometimes dozens more. Each group was hurried, filled with murderous intent, yet ignored them entirely, focused only on their urgent travel. Such behavior from the typically aloof Fallen God Peak disciples was unprecedented.
The scar-faced man hesitated briefly, then couldn’t help turning toward Hemp Robed Elder and Hu Rui An: “Has something happened in Lan Province?”
Hemp Robed Elder knitted his brow. Naturally, he had noticed the same thing but was equally puzzled.
Hu Rui An, however, remained calm and composed outwardly, although inwardly he understood perfectly—the Great Li Heavenly Brocade Guard had already begun to move.
Given Fallen God Peak’s tight grip on Lan Province, it would be impossible for the Heavenly Brocade Guard to approach unnoticed. Moreover, because of the leaked information, Fallen God Peak had likely long anticipated their moves and made preparations accordingly.
At this moment, Hu Rui An pondered deeply: [Should I follow Li Mu Sheng’s instructions, pressing ahead alone to Fallen God Peak directly? Or would it be wiser first to reunite with other Heavenly Brocade Guard members or find the commander before making a unified attack?]