Chapter 5: The Cangqing Mountains

Early morning.

Qingshan Town, Shimen Tower.

Cheng Buzheng had been waiting here since early to await the arrival of the convoy. Although it was still well before the appointed time, he could no longer afford even a moment of carelessness.

Half an hour later.

A convoy of horse carriages slowly rolled out of the town. The lead carriage flew a black flag with white lettering, embroidered with a large character for "Money"—the unmistakable emblem of the Qian family convoy.

Pedestrians on the town streets were sparse. Seeing the flag fluttering in the wind, they hurried to the sides of the road. Even the local ruffians did not dare trouble the convoy, for they knew this was the transport for the Qian family, a powerful local clan.

Suddenly.

"Stop!"

A clear, sharp voice rang out from the most luxurious carriage in the middle of the convoy.

The convoy came to a slow, steady halt. The drivers were all experienced veterans; otherwise, such a sudden stop would have caused chaos and panic.

Inside the luxurious central carriage, a curtain was pulled aside, revealing the delicate face of a youth who appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old.

This person was none other than Qian Zhe, the eldest young master of the Qian family, with whom Cheng Buzheng had made an appointment.

"Buzheng... come up quickly!" Qian Zhe shouted to Cheng Buzheng, who was standing below Shimen Tower.

"Thank you, Brother Qian!" Cheng Buzheng cupped his hands in greeting to Qian Zhe inside the carriage.

Under the envious gazes of the surrounding pedestrians, Cheng Buzheng boarded the luxurious carriage.

Immediately.

The convoy began to move again, slowly pulling away until it disappeared from sight. Once the convoy was gone, the onlookers dispersed, returning to their respective lives.

Once out of the town, the speed of the convoy increased significantly, a change Cheng Buzheng felt quite clearly while seated inside.

Qian Zhe and Cheng Buzheng shared the carriage. One sat in the center, enjoying delicacies from a small table and occasionally sipping fine wine, while the other sat cross-legged to one side, pulling back the curtain to gaze out at the scenery with curiosity.

"Brother Qian, is that the Cangqing Mountain Range?" Cheng Buzheng asked, pointing out the window.

Hearing this, Qian Zhe glanced outside and said with a boastful expression, "Yes, that is the Cangqing Mountain Range. Only a place like that could be so treacherous! Many bandit factions occupy those mountains. Usually, convoys must leave a full amount of passage fees, or else they have to surrender their goods as collateral.

Of course, no one would dare charge passage fees to our Qian family convoy. If they tried, they’d have the life to collect it, but not the life to spend it!"

Cheng Buzheng was quite surprised. He hadn't realized the Qian family possessed such strength or what they relied on to look down upon so many bandit factions.

"Young Master..." Outside the carriage, an old servant of the Qian family couldn't help but offer a reminder.

Hearing this, Qian Zhe stopped his boasting. He cast a casual, resentful glance at the old servant, though the look vanished in an instant.

Being perceptive, Cheng Buzheng did not press the sensitive topic further

"Brother Qian, once we pass the Cangqing Mountains, how long will it take to reach Yaoshan Town?"

Qian Zhe calculated silently and said, "Hmm, about... another hour and we should be there!"

"By then, it will be nearly dark. If you aren't in a hurry, Brother, perhaps we should reach the county seat tomorrow? Traveling in the dark isn't very convenient," Cheng Buzheng said, acting as if he were concerned for his "elder brother's" safety.

Qian Zhe replied dismissively, "Once we reach Yaoshan Town, it's only another half hour to the county seat. We can make it before dark; there is no need for you to worry, brother."

Hearing this, Cheng Buzheng's mind settled. He now had a rough idea of the distance between the county seat and Yaoshan Town and knew he didn't need to fear running out of time.

Before long.

The convoy's speed gradually slowed as they entered a canyon pass. This was the mandatory route through the Cangqing Mountains and also the territory where bandits lurked.

Suddenly, the convoy stopped.

Cheng Buzheng pulled back the curtain and leaned out to look. Not far ahead, a small convoy of only three carriages was being blocked by bandits.

"Young Master... the convoy ahead didn't pay enough passage fees and is currently using goods as collateral. Please wait a moment," said the old Qian servant driving the carriage.

"Mhm," Qian Zhe responded softly, then smiled at Cheng Buzheng. "I suspect there are some rookies in the trade who don't know the rules. That convoy will be lucky if they even break even this time!"

"Every profession has its own rules. You certainly know a lot, Brother Qian!" Cheng Buzheng flattered him seamlessly.

"Of course..." Qian Zhe's expression turned pleasant, his tone brimming with pride.

It wasn't long before the convoy started moving again. Unsurprisingly, they were not obstructed by the bandits; it seemed the outlaws knew exactly who owned this convoy.

On a mountainside not far away, a newcomer who had just joined the bandits watched the convoy—marked by the fluttering "Qian" flag—pass through the canyon without hindrance. He asked a burly, bearded man beside him curiously, "Brother... that massive convoy looks like it's full of profit. Why did they let them pass?"

The burly, bearded man slapped the newcomer hard on the back of the head and growled fiercely, "That is the Master's convoy! Do you have a death wish? Do you want to go drink with the King of Hell early? Go ahead and try to stop them if you want. I won't stop you."

The newcomer glanced at the convoy at the foot of the mountain and muttered, "How would I dare? Even if I had the courage of a tiger, I wouldn't dare! I just... I didn't know."

As they crossed the Cangqing Mountains, the wild beasts became increasingly rare. Any beast that attempted to approach the convoy was hunted down by the riders on the flanks before it could get within a hundred feet.

Cheng Buzheng saw several fierce beasts with his own eyes—wild boars, tigers, leopards... He felt immensely fortunate to have joined the Qian family convoy. Otherwise, he likely wouldn't have even made it through the mountains before being left without a trace.

An hour later.

Inside the carriage, Qian Zhe gave an order to the old servant driving outside

"Master Liu, stop the convoy!"

The old servant replied, "Yes, Young Master!"

"By order of the Young Master... stop the convoy immediately!" The servant's loud voice echoed through the empty wilderness.

The convoy came to a slow halt.

Inside the carriage, after bidding farewell to Qian Zhe, Cheng Buzheng stepped off the carriage and began walking toward Yaoshan Town following the map in his memory.

Inside the carriage, Qian Zhe pulled back the curtain, watched Cheng Buzheng's retreating figure, and said coldly to the servant outside, "Master Liu, call Qian Qi over!"

A moment later.

A man in black arrived on a tall horse. Qian Zhe pulled back the curtain and spoke to Qian Qi without expression.

"Follow that boy who just got off. If he is not heading to Yaoshan Town, but instead changes course toward the county seat, kill him on the spot. If he is heading to Yaoshan Town, return immediately and do not cause trouble! Do you understand?"

The man in black remained expressionless and bowed respectfully. "Yes, Young Master!"

Shortly after.

As Cheng Buzheng was walking toward Yaoshan Town, he reached a bend in the road and suddenly dropped to the ground, pressing his ear to the earth. He heard the vibration of footsteps. A cold glint flashed through his eyes before he stood up and continued silently toward Yaoshan Town.

"Just as I thought. It's a good thing I stayed alert, otherwise, I would have been dead today! Qian Zhe, I, Cheng Buzheng, will remember this 'great kindness' of yours!"