Chapter 11: Passerby

“I see.”

Li Musheng nodded in sudden realization, while Cang Yinyue began leading him along wild, overgrown paths, deliberately bypassing the main thoroughfares.

Li Musheng did not mind this.

After all, Chong Prefecture was close to Jing Prefecture, and they were only a few days’ journey from Shangyang City; it made little difference which path they took.

Moreover, through his conversations with Cang Yinyue along the way, he had gained a rough understanding of the situation in the Great Li Dynasty.

Within the borders of Great Li lay nineteen prefectures, where martial arts sects were as numerous as trees in a forest. These sects boasted countless martial arts experts and possessed such vast, complex influence that they could even stand on equal footing with the imperial court.

It was no exaggeration to say that the entire Great Li was currently in a state of dual governance between the imperial court and the *jianghu*.

The martial arts factions were unwilling to provoke the court, and the Great Li court, surrounded by neighboring powers, had little recourse against those martial artists who frequently defied the law with their strength.

According to Cang Yinyue, the situation in the other four great dynasties was similar to that of Great Li.

In the north, the Great Wu Dynasty’s situation was even more severe; the entire dynasty was almost on the verge of being controlled by a few top-tier martial arts sects.

This was the reason Cang Yinyue was unwilling to deal with the Blood-Bathed Alliance; in the hearts of certain *jianghu* factions, they did not truly hold the imperial court in any regard.

Of course, Cang Yinyue was not afraid; she simply did not want to invite unnecessary trouble or allow uncontrollable factors to interfere with her journey.

The remote mountain paths were difficult to traverse, but they had the advantage of beautiful scenery.

Li Musheng’s previous black-maned yellow horse had been exhausted from days of travel and had been sold halfway, replaced by a mule with better stamina.

Although the mule was cheap and unattractive, it was an expert at climbing rugged mountain paths. Even on the most winding and tortuous sections, it could scramble up using all four legs.

“A breeze chases the clouds to this place, my steed carries me to the mountain peak!”

Amidst the vast, verdant mountain forest, Li Musheng patted the mule’s back and hummed a little poem as he walked alongside Cang Yinyue on the steep, winding path.

In the vast wilderness, the two people and two horses appeared incredibly small.

Cang Yinyue remained cold and composed, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Throughout this journey, she had found Li Musheng to be a rather strange person.

Although his knowledge was very limited due to having stayed in that small-town martial arts school, requiring him to ask her about many things, his ability to absorb information was remarkably strong. He understood everything with a single hint, and some of his insights were even quite unique.

Furthermore, he would occasionally come out with terms she had never heard before, yet when she pondered them carefully, she often found them to be incredibly incisive.

Cang Yinyue saw many contradictions in Li Musheng.

For instance, his martial arts—that acupoint-striking technique that even she found daunting—and his attitude, which alternated between playful banter and a carefree demeanor that seemed to see through the ways of the world...

In short, he gave people a strange feeling.

“Eh? Miss Cang, take a look at the mountain peak opposite us. Is there someone there?”

At this moment, Li Musheng spoke up, interrupting Cang Yinyue’s thoughts.

Her gaze sharpened as she looked in the direction he was pointing.

Sure enough, amidst the dense forest several miles away, three figures could be vaguely seen leading horses and trudging along the mountain path.

Their figures were occasionally obscured by thorns and branches, but with a slight observation, it was clear they were heading in the same direction as them.

“It seems these people have the same idea as you, planning to take a detour from here,” Li Musheng said, stroking his chin.

“The mountain paths in this area are extremely hidden. Most people wouldn’t think to travel to the capital from here like I did.”

A flash of brilliance crossed Cang Yinyue’s eyes. However, when she turned her gaze, she saw that Li Musheng had already patted his mule and continued forward.

He did not seem to think there was anything unusual about suddenly encountering a group of strangers in these deep, old forests.

“Be careful.”

Cang Yinyue offered a reminder, though she was not overly worried about Li Musheng.

After all, without any preparation, even she could not defend against his miraculous acupoint-striking technique; he should have no trouble protecting himself.

Not long after, the people on the opposite path also discovered Li Musheng and Cang Yinyue.

While they were very surprised, they also became extremely guarded.

Not only did they keep their eyes on them, but their hands never left the hilts of the blades at their waists while walking, as if they were ready to draw their weapons and kill at any moment.

Finally, the two parties met at a fork in the road ahead.

At once, Li Musheng’s duo and the other three stopped.

Li Musheng sized up the people before him: two men and one woman.

There was a spirited woman in green martial attire with a blade at her waist, a young scholar with a thin face carrying a book basket, and a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat and also carrying a blade.

Cang Yinyue was also observing the three. Her gaze lingered on the middle-aged man for a moment, then rested briefly on the woman and the scholar before she suddenly spoke

“Whose subordinate are you? Where are you currently serving in the Imperial Capital?”

She asked this while looking at the middle-aged man, and after hearing this, a look of clear astonishment appeared on his face.

Cang Yinyue explained calmly

“Your gait is steady and powerful, and your breathing rhythm is distinct. You must have practiced the ‘Mountain-Shaking Fist’ of the Great Li military, so you are likely a man of the armed forces.”

“Furthermore, although the blade in your hand looks ordinary, the style of the hilt is exquisite and unique; it should be from the ‘Yanbing Pavilion’ in Shangyang City.”

Hearing this, the middle-aged man’s expression shifted. Then, his aura suddenly climbed rapidly, and martial energy could be seen faintly circulating in the hand gripping his blade hilt.

He stared at Cang Yinyue and said in a deep voice

“Miss has a sharp eye to be able to discern my background. You must also be from the Imperial Capital, and certainly not an ordinary woman. May I ask if you are returning to Shangyang City?”

“That’s right.”

Cang Yinyue nodded, then suddenly gave a cold laugh

“It seems you must be under the command of General Wu’an, or perhaps you belong to the Wu’an Army, or are personal guards from his estate.”

Hearing this, Meng Shan’s expression was shocked once more.

He narrowed his eyes, a chill flashing through them, and asked

“How could you tell, Miss?”

“From your martial energy. You practice the ‘Heavy Origin Technique,’ which is the primary cultivation method of the Wu’an Army.”

Cang Yinyue’s voice was flat. Sitting upright on her horse, she remained indifferent to the killing intent the man had just revealed.

Meng Shan was stunned, staring at Cang Yinyue in silence. After a long while, he slowly nodded

“To be able to recognize even that, it seems your identity and background are far from simple.”

At this moment, Li Musheng, who had been like a transparent person on the side, suddenly clapped his hands lightly and praised

“Miss Cang is truly impressive. To see the big picture from small details and be so knowledgeable is truly eye-opening. If the Six Doors doesn’t invite you to solve cases, it’s their loss.”

After saying this, he looked at the middle-aged man opposite them and said

“I don’t think you look like bad people. Since we’re going the same way, let’s travel together. It’ll be good to have some support on the road.”

(End of chapter)